New York Beacon

Transcription

New York Beacon

New York
Beacon
website:
NewYorkBeacon.com
Vol. 16 No. 23
Showing the Way to Truth and Justice
E-Mail
[email protected]
75 Cents
June 11, 2009 - June 17, 2009
SENATE CRISIS
Does senate
coup aim at
unsettling
Paterson’s
government?
Sharpton planning bus loads
to Albany on Monday to protest
THE BRAIN BEHIND THE PLOT —Tom Golisano, the three time failed candidate for
governor of New York State, is said to be behind the defections that led to the Republicans taking over the senate.
(See Story On Page 3)
Mayor unveils stimulus program to spur economic growth
(See Story On Page 3)
NEW YORK BEACON, June 11, 2009 - June 17, 2009 newyorkbeacon.com
2
TERROR SUSPECT — Onta Williams, also known as Hamza, is led by police officers from a federal building in New York, Thursday, May 21, 2009,
after being arrested by the FBI on charges related to a plot to bomb targets in the Bronx section of New York.
Skepticism about dubious plot in New York:
Govt’s Muslim plot may have set up Black men
By. Saeed Shabazz
views, residents and community
Special to the NNPA from the leaders expressed doubt about
Final Call
the charges and said the men, including a Haitian immigrant with
NEWBURGH, N.Y.(NNPA) - a mental illness, were set-up and
“I am very concerned that the likely sucked in by offers for a
hard work of building bridges chance to make money.
here in Newburgh over the last
Although members of various
quarter of a century will now religious communities, politicians
be dismissed because of the and activists gathered at the
actions of a convicted felon,” mosque for a press conference
said
Imam
Salahuddin two days after the arrests —
Muhammad.
which garnered major news covImam Muhammad heads erage — to show support for the
Masjid al-Ikhlas, in this city of Muslim community, Imam
28,000 some 60 miles from Man- Muhammad believes irreparable
hattan. The “felon” he refers to harm has come to the reputation
is an FBI informant connected of the mosque and its members.
to the May 20 arrest of four
“They are making me out to be
Black men from Newburgh.
a teacher of hate, and I am hurt
The men are accused of plot- by that, and it has hurt my famting to use explosives to blow ily,” he told The Final Call in a
up synagogues and use a May 24 telephone interview.
rocket launcher to shoot down
Others fear the high profile case
a military aircraft. Federal offi- and the role played by the inforcials and New York’s police mant, who was apparently inchief said the men are former volved in other sting operations,
prison inmates who met at Imam is another sign of the targeting of
Muhammad’s mosque, wanted Islamic communities and Muslims
to do violence against Jews, that is troubling and needs to end.
and strike a blow on behalf of
Conspirators or fall guys?
suffering Muslims. But in interThe FBI complaint filed in the
Southern District of New York
charged the four men with conspiracy to use “weapons of
mass destruction.” The FBI said
the men allegedly plotted to
bomb synagogues in the Bronx
using cars packed with C-4 explosives and blow up a plane at
the Stewart Air National Guard
Base using a stinger missile,
planning the events at the alIkhlas mosque. Mosque officials say no planning happened
at their house of worship.
The imam believes a Middle
Eastern man, who was made to
feel uncomfortable enough that
he stopped coming to the
mosque, is the FBI informant
identified in varied news reports
as Shahed Hussain, a Pakistani.
Imam Muhammad believes the
visitor to his mosque “drove”
the four men to “do this thing.”
The men were also not regular
attendees, while some regular
worshipers were wary of the
visitor and suspected he was a
government agent. Some elders
at the mosque expressed concern about this man who spoke
of jihad and flashed cash, Imam
Muhammad continued.
In hindsight, “maybe I should
have reported this man to the
government. But, he was made
to feel unwelcome at the
mosque,” the imam said. Unwelcome inside, the man would wait
in his black Mercedes in the parking lot and approach younger
Black visitors.
James Cromitie, 44, Laguerre
Payen, 27, David Williams, 28,
and Onta Williams, 32, came into
contact with the visitor, met with
him outside of the mosque and,
law enforcement officials said,
the informant provided the fake
explosives and the inoperable
missile launcher reportedly
found in their possession when
police officers and federal agents
rammed their vehicle and arrested
them.
NYPD Police Commissioner
Raymond Kelley has continued
to tell the media the men were acquainted with each other through
prison contacts and the terrorism allegations have prompted
speculation about homegrown
terrorists inside correctional institutions.
Imam Muhammad rejects talk of
prison facilities as hotbeds of radical Islamic activity as false.
“I am a product of the great work
being carried out in the prisons by
Muslim chaplains,” he stressed. “I
earned a Master’s degree during my
stay in prison; and in 1985 I became a chaplain. I turned my life
around, and I have never looked
back,” the imam said. “We teach
young men to lead productive lives
— not to continue their criminal
ways; nor to harbor hatred towards
anyone.”
Family members and acquaintances of the accused men also denied hearing expressions of hatred
or radical thought.
“Our family is in shock,” said
Moleik Murphy, the stepbrother of
David Williams. “I saw him, maybe
in March; and he seemed like he
was getting himself together, lifting weights and all. We only talked
for a hot minute.”
Murphy said his stepbrother
never talked about politics and was
never known to espouse any militant philosophy.
(Continued on page 33)
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By Vinette K. Pryce
Sen. Pedro Espada
Sen. Hiram Monserrate
New Yorkers condemn
so-called coup d’etat
By J. Zamgba Browne
Special to NY Beacon
Reaction was swift to
Monday’s power struggle in
Albany that ended with Republican takeover of the Senate in
a coup led by two renegade
Democrats, one of them under
indictment accused of stabbing
his girlfriend in the face with a
drinking glass, and the other
under investigation.
Rep. Charles B. Rangel called
the situation a real embarrassment to New York’s congressional delegation which he
chairs. “This coup is not based
on principles of politics but
merely the self-aggrandizement
of individuals who have not
made contributions to either
one of the parties,” said Rangel.
“Both Republican and Democrat believe that people who
have been indicted can be welcomed into the Republican
Party,” said Rangel, referring to
Sens. Hiram Monserrate and
Pedro Espada, Jr. “It is a total
embarrassment to the State,” he
added.
Tony Williams, a Brooklyn
businessman said he wasn’t
too surprised about the “rude
takeover” of the Senate chamber. “It’s an old Republican trick
wrapped in a racist bag. You
don’t have to be a genius to see
through this,” he added.
“All they had to do is enlist a
few Latino uncle toms their bag
of tricks to accomplish their
goal,” said Williams.
Gerald Miller of Bedford-
Stuyvesant agreed. He said the
racist element in the Senate chamber cannot “stand seeing a Black
man as governor and another
Black man as head of the Senate.
That’s going too far.”
The Republicans immediately
named Espada as temporary
president of the Senate, making
him next in line to succeed Gov.
Paterson should anything happen to him, and Sen. Dean Skelos,
a Long Island Republican, its
majority leader to succeed
Malcolm A. Smith who led the
chamber for little over six
months.
This is not the first time that
Sen. Espada has attempted to
take control of the Senate. He
along with Sens. Ruben Diaz and
Carl Kruger had threatened to
pull one off last year, but Sen.
Smith was able to broker a deal.
A well placed Albany source
said Espada’s timing for the coup
came after seeing his allotment
of pork shrink for this year. In addition, Sen. Smith disciplined
Espada recently, ordering him to
file overdue campaign finance reports and pay thousands of dollars in fine for his failure to do
so.
A furious Gov. David Paterson
blasted the coup, saying that
“once again, Albany’s dysfunction raised its ugly head.” He said
that as far as he was concerned,
Sen. Smith is still the majority
leader and expects a legal battle
to follow.
The Governor took direct aim
Drama continues to unfold in
Albany after Monday’s Democratic Party revolt left Gov. David
Paterson hostage and Senate
Majority Leader Malcolm Smith
in exile clinging to keys to the
chambers with a Republican majority power reversal.
The alleged coup — usually applied to revolutionary takeover in
banana republics and military dictatorships — disrupted the New
York legislature when two Democrats sided with Republicans to
gain a coalition majority favorable
to Republican concerns.
Reportedly during a session,
Sen. Pedro Espada and Sen.
Hiram Monserrate -- two disgruntled party members defected
loyalty to deliver the 32-30 reversal votes Republicans
needed to gain control of the
senate. Although the Democrats
still maintain a majority membership, the Republicans now have
control of majority positions and
committee chairmanships.
“While I would like to be jubilant, it’s difficult to be jubilant,”
dissident Democrat Sen. Espada
said.
“This is a sobering moment
born out of the need to have a
coalition government - a need to
really give the citizens of New
York that we all work for, that we
all service, that we all care for,
the kind of coalition government
that will be focused on reform,
that will be focused on delivering to them government they can
be proud of…,”
His colleague and ally Sen.
Monserrate said: “I am a life-long
Democrat and remain a loyal
Democrat. After today’s proceedings, I am proud to form a
bi-partisan coalition that has
elected the first Latino President
pro Tem of the New York State
Senate, my colleague, the Honorable Pedro Espada Jr. We look
forward to conferencing with fellow Democrats to ensure that
real reforms become a reality in
the State of New York.”
The coalition vote threatens
Gov. Paterson and Majority
Leader Malcolm Smith as well as
decisions favorable to the city.
A press release from Sen.
Smith’s office stated: “This was
an illegal and unlawful attempt
to gain control of the Senate and
reverse the will of the people
who voted for a Democratic Ma-
Sen. Malcolm A. Smith
Gov. David Paterson
jority. Nothing has changed,
Senator Malcolm A. Smith remains the duly elected Temporary President and Majority
Leader. The real Senate Majority
is anxious to get back to governing, and will take immediate steps
to get us back to work.”
But late reports are that Sen.
Smith is now history and the new
leader of the Democrats may be
Sen. John Sampson.
Gov. Paterson said he would not
get involved in the party revolt
but stated he would not leave the
state due to his fractured leadership now threatened by Sen.
Espada who initiated the socalled “coup” and is now temporary Senate president. He is also
vice-chair of the Rules Committee.
According to protocol, as it
now stands, if Gov. Paterson was
called out of state, Sen. Espada
would be in charge.
“I would think the best thing for
me to do is stay here,” Gov. Paterson said.
Sen. Smith said he would not
open the doors to the senate chambers and threatened to shutdown
government until a resolution is
reached.
The two dissident democrats are
both facing investigations for alleged impropriety and financial
misconduct.
Sen. Monserrate is fighting
felony assault charges that could
lead to the loss of his seat if he’s
convicted of assaulting his girlfriend.
Sen. Espada is being investigated by Attorney General Andrew
Cuomo for misusing taxpayer’s
monies and lying about his legal
residence. It is alleged he lives in
Mamaroneck, Westchester county
and not Bedford Park in the Bronx.
There is also strong contention
that upstate billionaire Tom
Golisano may have engineered the
“coup.”
Golisano admitted “plotting
against” Sen. Smith since April
when allegedly the majority leader
focused on reading e-mails on his
Blackberry instead of paying attention to state business.
“When I travel 250 miles to make
a case on how to save the state a
lot of money ... and the guy comes
into his office and starts playing
with his BlackBerry, I was miffed,”
Golisano said.
The billionaire politician and
founder of the Independence Party
allegedly financed the Democratic
control of the Senate in the last
election. He said Sen. Smith and
the party leaders reneged on a
promise of reform and engaged in
a secretive budget process that resulted in $8 billion in new taxes
and fees.
New York City residents are being urged to “brace for the worse”
because revisions could be imminent with regard to mayoral control of education, tax revenues,
same sex marriages and MTA proposals.
At press time Rev. Sharpton said
he intends to take busloads to the
state capital on Monday to protest the political upheaval.
It is apparent Democrats have
lost control of leadership in the
Senate after taking over only five
months ago.
Republicans held power for four
decades.
The session ends June 22.
Stimulus funded bond program to spur commercial projects
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
this week announced the creation of the Recovery Zone Facility Bond Program to provide
financial assistance to commercial and industrial projects in all
five boroughs that are unable
to get traditional financing due
to current economic conditions.
The program, to be administered by New York City Economic Development Corporation, will be funded by what is
expected to be more than $200
million in funding made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
(ARRA). Eligible projects may
include the construction of office buildings, large industrial
facilities or retail complexes.
“The Recovery Zone Facility
Bond Program is another tool the
City will use to help get stalled
projects back on track and jumpstart those on hold due to lack of
adequate financing,” said Mayor
Bloomberg. “This program will be
tremendously helpful in ensuring
long-term growth for the future,
and building more attractive and
livable neighborhoods and creating jobs for New Yorkers.
“We urge anyone with a
project they think might be eligible to apply for this timely financing assistance. New York
City ’s Congressional delegation
deserves credit for helping create the program, particularly
Mayor Bloomberg
Senator Schumer and Congressman Rangel.”
“Anyone who has a project that
is stalled due to current economic
challenges should apply for this
program,” said EDC President
Seth W. Pinsky. “We intend to
use this program to attract applications for a diverse array of
projects. EDC can offer financial
assistance in a variety of ways,
including tax-exempt bond financing, sales, mortgage recording and real estate tax incentives
and discounted energy rates.
This new program is being offered on top of other programs
available for smaller projects.”
The Recovery Zone Facility
Bond Program will offer financial
assistance in the form of triple-taxexempt private activity bonds issued through New York City Industrial Development Agency or
the New York City Capital Resource Corporation. Triple-tax exempt bond financing allows borrowers to obtain lower rates and
longer and more flexible terms than
more typical forms of financing
because investors in the bonds are
not subject to federal, state or city
income tax on the earnings on their
investment. Recovery Zone Facility Bonds must be issued by December 31, 2010.
To allow for quick action when the
funds are allocated, the Industrial
Coup rocks NYS Senate
3
New York earmarks $29.02 million
in stimulus money for summer jobs
4
By J. Zamgba Browne
City Council Member Kendal Stewart
Stewart seeks to clean up
commuter van industry
Councilmember Dr. Kendall
Stewart (D-45h CD) has decided
to deal with the prickly issue of
streamlining and cleaning up
the commuter van industry.
Noting that this “alternative
transportation” form provides
a much-needed service and fills
a need in the City’s transportation system, Councilmember
Stewart said that this industry
was now in dire need of organization.
“Commuter vans now play an
important and vital part in the
daily lives of many residents
across this city. They have
stepped in and filled a need – a
vacuum - that the City’s formal
transportation system cannot
fill.
“This industry now transports
over 30,000 residents in the borough of Brooklyn each and every day and a similar number in
Queens. There are also growing
industries in Staten Island and
Manhattan. It is time that we
help this industry provide qual-
ity, safe and efficient transportation for our residents,”
Councilmember Stewart said.
The Councilmember added that
the commuter van industry was
also an important source of employment and income for many
immigrants and that in effect
these van owners are simply
small entrepreneurs. He said that
his proposed legislation when
passed into law would regularize
the commuter van industry and
hold it to the same regulations
and standards as the taxi and livery cab industries.
“In February this year the City
passed legislation that would
make it easier for passengers to
know and understand their rights
when in taxis or livery cabs. Under this law taxi and livery cab
drivers will be required to make
the taxi and livery cab bill of
rights accessible to all passengers, “Councilmember Stewart
stated.
New York City has earmarked
$29.02 million in federal stimulus money for summer youth
employment programs. The
funds will yield some 17,378 job
slots, internships, and similar
programs.
The money was made possible
through the intervention of Gov.
David A Paterson, Mayor
Michael Bloomberg, and Reps.
Charles B. Rangel, chair of the
House Ways and Means Committee; Carolyn Maloney, Gregory Meeks and others.
Bulk of the funds - $18.5 million is money from the American
Recovery and Reinvestment
Act, which enhances the New
York City Summer Youth Employment Program, a sevenweek job program for youth between the ages of 14 and 24.
“Unemployment among youth
has far reaching consequences
across society – from substance abuse to teen pregnancy
to increased crime in our communities,” said Gov. Paterson.
He said this makes finding employment for youth at this moment all the more critical, especially in light of the fact that
jobs traditionally filled by adults
adversely affected by today’s
economy.
“With this infusion of federal
funding, tens of thousands of
youth will have their lives
changed for the better. More importantly, they will be spending
their paychecks in communities
sorely in need of an infusion,”
the Governor continued.
Mayor Bloomberg said:
“None of us forget our first job,
and these federal funds will
support employment opportunities designed to provide young
people with the fundamental
skills they need to succeed in
the working world.”
“I want to thank President
Obama and our congressional
Gov. David Paterson
Cong. Charles Rangel
delegation for making sure that
New York City receives the resources we need to give the next
generation an economic jumpstart,” said Bloomberg.
“Stimulus funds will create
summer jobs for 13, 378 youth
who will have a real impact on
the lives and financial prospects
of young people and their families in all five boroughs,” he
added.
Rep. Rangel said the fate of the
nation’s economic future ultimately rests on how well children
are educated both in and out of
the classroom. “By helping to increase their job and volunteer
opportunities in the summer, we
assure ourselves that our youth
begin to acquire the skills that
employers need and that the global marketplace demands for
their future,” said Rangel.
He also stressed that increasing opportunities would help
keep young people off the streets
and out of trouble, especially during the summer.
“While this city has seen historic drop in crime, we elected officials go to too many funerals of
innocent youngsters taken by
gun and other youth-related violence,” said Rangel.
Working with city and state officials, partnering with businesses
large and small, we can bring
down the number of these tragedies by funding meaningful and
productive activities dedicated to
putting our children onto a path
of personal and professional success,” he added.
Reps. Yvette Clarke and Nydia
Velazquez praised the allocation
of funds for the program. “It is
truly gratifying to know that as a
strong proponent and one who
voted in favor of the Reinvestment Act, my efforts to reinvigorate our economy are beginning
to pay off,” said Clarke.
Velazquez said young people in
New York City need positive
places to go where they can learn,
develop new skills, and connect
with mentors. “The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act enables more of our youth to participate in summer programs expanding educational opportunities and helping to lay the
groundwork for a bright future,”
said Velazquez.
Stringer: Health food considerations must be part of growth
The availability of healthy
food should become part of
the environmental review process for evaluating proposed
new real estate development
projects, particularly in “food
desert” neighborhoods like
upper Manhattan that lack supermarkets, Manhattan Borough President Scott M.
Stringer said.
In letters to the City Planning
Commission and the Mayor’s
Office of Environmental Coordination, Mr. Stringer called for
adding “healthy food infrastructure” to the Commission’s
current review criteria, such as
the presence of health care facilities, in neighborhoods that
expect an influx of new residents.
This will allow the city to determine if increased density
will overburden the existing
food infrastructure and poten-
tially to require that developers
take steps to improve the
healthy food choices around
their projects, particularly in
neighborhoods the Commission
has identified as “food deserts”
for their lack of supermarkets.
Borough President Stringer,
whose office has an official role
in the review process for major
projects in Manhattan, said,
“Given the epidemic of obesity
in our city, particularly among
children, and the toll taken by
diet-related diseases such as
diabetes and heart disease in
too many of our neighborhoods, the city has to step up
and say ‘Enough.’ Healthy
food options are as important
as clean air and water, and we
have to do everything we can
to ensure that all New Yorkers
have access to fresh, wholesome food.”
Under the proposal, the City
Scott Stringer
Environmental Quality Review
(CEQR) process would be modified to insist that any development or rezoning proposal in
food deserts that would add
more than 100 residents and increase the population by 1% for
a quarter mile radius would require a detailed study of the
number, type and location of
food retail stores including fullline supermarkets, bodegas, restaurants, fast-food establishments; the frequency of farmers’
markets, green carts and fruit
stands; and the availability of
authorized food stamp retailers.
The study would also compare the availability of healthy
food retail options with the unhealthy food options.
Depending on the type and severity of the need for new healthy
food options, developers could
be required to create new onsite
or offsite healthy food suppliers
who accept food stamps, or
supplement existing resources
such as farmers markets.
Mr. Stringer added, “Making
healthy food available should be
a critical priority, but it is also
good for businesses and for
neighborhoods. Buildings located
within 500 feet of a supermarket
have higher property values.
New supermarkets will help reduce the loss of an estimated $1
billion every year that our residents spend in suburban food
stores. And the creation of a
30,000 square foot supermarket
results in 100 to 200 jobs, generally for local residents.”
According to the Department of
City Planning, “food desert”
neighborhoods include Harlem
a n d Wa s h i n g t o n H e i g h t s i n
Manhattan; the South Bronx,
Williamsbridge/Wakefield, portions of Pelham Parkway; Jamaica
and Far Rockaway in Queens;
Bushwick, Bedford-Stuyvesant,
East New York and Sunset Park
in Brooklyn; and St. George and
Stapleton in Staten Island.
5
Ku Klux Klan and hate groups
attacking churches across U. S.
6
Gov. David Paterson
Gov. to give foreclosure
law teeth for protection
By J. Zamgba Browne
In the wake of the ongoing foreclosure crisis, Gov. David A.
Paterson this week said he would
build upon a landmark subprime
lending reform law enacted a year
ago by providing additional critical protections for New York
State homeowners, tenants and
neighborhoods.
Paterson said the bill would
help homeowners currently at
risk of foreclosure and minimize
the negative impact that foreclosure can have on a community.
“While we have made great
strides in assisting distressed
homeowners and in reforming
lending laws to prevent current
predatory lenders from taking advantage of consumers, it is clear
that more must be done to protect the hard-working men and
women of New York,” said Gov.
Paterson.
“We cannot allow homeowners
who are simply seeking help to
lose their homes to loan modification scams and we cannot allow tenants who live in foreclosed properties to find their
leases terminated without reasonable notice,” he added.
The Governor said his legislation strengthens protections for
homeowners, tenants and neighborhoods by expanding previous
laws and establishing safeguards
against foreclosure rescue scams.
He said it has been shown that
New Yorkers could lose up to $64
billion in equity by the end of the
year due to foreclosed properties.
“We are working to protect New
York neighborhoods from decay
due to foreclosure, not only by
reducing the erosion of area property values but by also preventing these vacant homes from becoming a site for criminal activity
and drug use,” said Gov. Paterson.
By. Tony Brown Faire
is 107 years old. There have been
However, Texas is not alone in
Special to the NNPA from the at least four churches targeted racial hate group activities, beDallas Examiner
in Texas within the last year by cause there were racially motiracial violence and intimidation. vated acts within the last year that
(NNPA) - Immediately after the
Bob Lydia, the 1st vice-presi- sprung up nationwide. On Oct. 1,
election of President Barack dent of the Texas NAACP and a 2008, in Oak Harbor, Washington,
Obama, many felt the country national NAACP Board Member, an Oak Harbor thrift store, owned
was going in the right direction stated, “There is a rise in the by Unity Fellowship Church, was
in terms of racial relations, but Klan. There is a movement of vandalized and the statue of a
attacks of terror and hatred have folks who never had interest in Black mother was decapitated.
only intensified.
the KKK until Barak Obama be- According to the Whidbey News
Within 24 hours of his election, came President Barak Obama.” Times, Pastor Fannie Dean has
Nov. 5, 2008, Benjamin Haskell, The Anti-Defamation League also been getting threatening letMichael F. Jacques Jr. and Tho- listed over 18 known hate group ters from the KKK.
mas Gleason Jr., all of whom are activities in the state of Texas for
In April, the Bible Way Church
White, set fire to the Macedonia 2008. These groups include the in Sumter County, S.C., a predomiChurch of God In Christ, which Klu Klux Klan; America’s Prom- nately Black congregation of 110
is located in Springfield, Mass. ise Ministries; Crew 38, a skin people, had an upside down cross,
According to the Boston Globe, head group; Neo Nazi’s and swastikas and racial slurs painted
Haskell was asked by an associ- more. On Nov. 15, 2008 and Dec. on the church. The sheriff’s deate why they set fire to the 20, 2008 paramilitary training was partment stated it had no plans to
church. Haskell replied, “Be- even conducted by the Texas
cause it was a Black church.”
Militia.”
A CNN report stated that on
the day of the election of President Obama, a 55-year-old man
by the name of Don Black, former
Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard,
stated that more than 2000
people joined his website. Statistics suggest KKK and other
hate groups are gaining strength
because of the election of President Barack Obama.
In the state of Texas, there
have been many reported hate
crimes that have occurred within
the last 12 months and many
more that may go unreported out
of fear of the Klan or other hate
groups retaliating. An alarming
amount of Black churches have
been targeted in Texas by the
Klan and other hate groups.
In May 2008, Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in the
Marshall area had White KKK
Power painted on its walls. Also
in June of 2008, Center Hill Free
Will Baptist Church of Nesbitt,
Texas had KKK propaganda
KKK is stalking the country
painted on its walls. The church
Report: Maryland county suffering rampant racism
By. James Wright
history for the 1933 lynching of
Special to the NNPA from the George Armwood in Princess
Afro-American Newspapers
Anne—the county seat—which
was witnessed by 2,000 White
SOMERSET, Md. (NNPA) - spectators who cheered during the
Somerset County, Md., boasts a incident.
population that is 40 percent AfDesegregation of the county’s
rican-American and the presence school system occurred late into
of one of the state’s key histori- the 1960s and it was not until the
cally Black colleges.
late 1980s that the system of atYet, African-Americans are woe- large voting and non-resident votfully unrepresented in the county ing was struck down.
government’s workforce and leadAnd there are more recent
ership, concludes a report re- troubles. With Blacks representleased this month by the Ameri- ing 42 percent of its estimated
can Civil Liberties Union of Mary- 24,747 residents, Somerset
land and the county’s NAACP County trails only Baltimore and
branch.
Prince George’s county in the
“Somerset County’s motto is percentages of African-Ameri‘semper eadem’ which is Latin for cans in a state jurisdiction. De‘always the same,’” said Deborah spite that high number, the
Jeon, legal director for ACLU-MD. county government, particularly
“And it’s true, the sad legacy of its upper levels, are dominated by
Somerset’s history of racial seg- Whites.
regation and exclusion is all too Albert Bell, a lifelong Somerset
evident in county government to- County resident, said that the
day. But, it is time for a new chap- county has always been an uneasy
ter to begin, one of equal oppor- place for Blacks.
tunity for all the county’s resi“People accept it as the way it
dents.”
is,” said Bell. “It’s hard to underThe story of this southernmost, stand that unless you have expeEastern Shore county is fraught rienced it. You tell your kids that
with tales of terror for its Black they can do whatever they want,
residents.
but the reality here in Somerset
Somerset County is etched in County is that African-Americans
have to work a lot harder to get a
job and to keep that job once they
get it.”
The ACLU report, which examines demographics from the Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission filings by the Somerset
County government, support’s
Bell’s claim.
Highlights of the report include:
*No African-American has been
elected or appointed to a top job
in county government. Those
Blacks who are employed by
Somerset County are disproportionately hired for lower-level,
lower-paying jobs.
*Not one single African-American
was employed by Somerset
County in a professional capacity
in 2007. This was a step backward
from 2005, when there was one
Black professional.
*Only one Black was hired by
Somerset County in 2007—just 6.7
percent of all new hires, and this
single hire was to a service sector
job.
*Although 42 percent of
Somerset County’s population is
Black, EEO reports show that in
2007, the county spent in excess
of $5,715,000 on the salaries of
White employees, while only
spending about $750,000 on the
salaries of Blacks.
The low numbers of Blacks in
professional positions also contrasts with the fact that nearly 25
percent of all county residents
holding a four-year degree were
African-American — a fact possibly attributable to the presence of
the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, the county’s only
higher education institution and
an HBCU.
For some Blacks, the solution is
simple—move away.
“As an African-American young
person, if you want to better yourself, you have to move away,” said
Craig Mathies Jr., who works for
the U.S. Department of Treasury.
“It’s sad but true. There’s little
chance of getting a good job in
Somerset County...The issue of
race always lurks in the background, causing the cycle of racial tension to continue.”
In issuing this report, Jeon, the
ACLU representative said, “We
urge the community to come together and work together and work
to ensure that African Americans
no longer feel the dream of equal
opportunity and hope their
children’s futures are out of
reach.”
To change the county’s racial
disparities, the report recommended
that the leadership:
*Prioritize government diversity and
inclusiveness;
*Establish a policy that values diversity;
*Begin a process of community
conferencing or dealing with racial
issues in a dialogue- type setting;
and
*Create a racially integrated working group to develop a diversification plan for Somerset which includes disseminating job openings,
hiring a EEO/affirmative action officer and creating a mechanism for
career growth for Black county employees.
Somerset County NAACP President Kirkland Hall said such
change should come quickly saying, “Now is the time for meaningful action.
“The mission of the NAACP is to
ensure a society in which all individuals have equal rights and there
is no racial hatred or discrimination,
which is why we join with the
ACLU to release this important report exposing serious racial disparities in Somerset County,” said Hall.
“The NAACP is calling on our community to work together to remove
barriers created by Somerset’s long
history of discrimination.”
7
8
Editorial
Supporting Sotomayor
New York
Beacon
By. Julianne Malveaux
Walter Smith: Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
Miatta Haj Smith: Co-Publisher & Executive Editor
William Egyir: Managing Editor
Questions about Sonia Sotomayor
By. George E Curry
For President Dwight D.
Eisenhower, it was Earl Warren.
In Richard M. Nixon’s case, it
was Harry Blackmun and Lewis
Powell. And for George H.W.
Bush, it was David Souter. In
those instances, justices appointed to the Supreme Court
voted contrary to the way those
appointing them had expected.
Could Judge Sonia Sotomayor
join that list?
At this point, there is no way
for us to know. I began to have
second thoughts about this
nomination when I realized that
the same president who appointed Clarence Thomas to the
Supreme Court also appointed
Sotomayor to the federal bench.
Bill Clinton elevated her from a
federal district judge to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals but
that does not change the fact
that the elder Bush selected her
first.
Most civil rights leaders immediately jumped on the Sotomayor
bandwagon, largely because
President Obama said she will
make an excellent Supreme Court
justice. But that’s not good
enough. We do ourselves a disservice by accepting someone –
especially an appoinment as critical as this one – simply because
the first African-American president picked her or that, if confirmed, she will become the first
Latina to serve on the Supreme
Court.
Of course her life story is inspirational. Her parents moved from
Puerto Rico to New York during
World War II. Sotomayor’s father
died when she was 9 years old and
her mother, a nurse, reared
Sotomayor and her brother in a
South Bronx housing project. She
graduated summa cum laude from
Princeton University and distinguished herself at Yale Law
School, where she was editor of
the Yale Law Journal.
The emphasis on Sotomayor’s
background is an eerie reminder
of how Clarence Thomas’ nomination to the Supreme Court was
orchestrated. There were endless
stories about his humble upbringing in Pinpoint, Ga. His father left when Thomas was 2
years old and the family home
was destroyed by fire. Those
handling his nomination conveniently neglected to point out
that at the age of 7, Thomas
moved in with his grandfather, a
businessman in Savannah, assuring him of a life more comfortable than most Blacks in the city.
After completing Catholic
schools, he enrolled in Holy
Cross College and Yale Law
School. Clarence Thomas’ upbringing didn’t cause him to
have empathy for the plight of
African-Americans.
A. Leon Higginbotham Jr.,
former chief judge of the U.S.
Court of Appeals for the Third
Circuit, said, “I have often pondered how is it that Justice Thomas, an Afican-American, could
be so insensitive to the plight of
the powerless. Why is he no different, or probably worse, than
many of the most conservative
Supreme Court justices of the
century? I can only think of one
Supreme Court justice during the
century who was worse than
Justice Clarence Thomas: James
McReynolds, a White supremacist who referred to Blacks as
‘niggers.’”
Though there is no indication
that Sotomayor is another
Clarence Thomas, neither is there
evidence that she will become
another Thurgood Marshall.
The most alarming aspect of
Sotomayor’s record was discussed in a May 31 Los Angeles Times article titled, “Two
Sides to Sonia Sotomayor.” It
noted that Thomas Goldstein, a
Washington lawyer and expert
on the Supreme Court, had reviewed 50 appeals court cases
involving race in which
Sotomayor’s was a participating
judge. Of the 50 discrimination
cases, a three-judge panel rejected 45 of them. Sotomayor
declined to lodge a single dissent in any of the 45 cases.
The McClatchy News Service
reported, “Of 90 criminal-law
cases considered by an appellate panel on which Sotomayor
had served since January 2002,
she’s sided with the government 65 times and prisoners and
defendants 25 times.”
Prosecutors are required by
law to turn over any evidence
to defense lawyers that might
exonerate their client. But in at
least one instance, Sotomayor
demonstrated that even when
that requirement has been violated, she still favored the prosecution.
“In 1995, for instance, a man
convicted of bribery and
consipiracy named Wlodek Jan
Judge Sonia Sotomayor is
qualified to be a justice on the
Suypreme Court. If the Senate
chooses to confirm her she will
be only the third woman, and also
the first Latina justice to be confirmed.
But will they confirm her? Already we are hearing rumblings
that a woman spunky enough to
assert that a wise Latina might
differ from a white man in her
interpretation of the law is “race
conscious”. And those who are
sitting in a race neutral fog are
loaded for bear.
But this woman, this phenomenal woman, has paid her dues in
the judicial vineyards. She has
been an Assistant District Attorney in New York, a board member for any important organizations, including the Peurto Rican
Legal Defense and Education
Fund, and a judge who was nominated by President George
Herbert Walker Bush (not shrub)
to the Southern District Court of
New York.
She has cleared hurdles,
climbed mountains, and made legal history, including an injunction she issued that stopped the
baseball strike in 1994.
President Bill Clinton gave the
sister an upgrade, and the U. S.
Court of Appeals confirmed her
in 1998. Her nomination was delayed by a year because some
were afraid that she was moving
to the Supreme Court. Now she
is moving on up, again, as President Obama has nominated her
to the Supreme Court.
This is exciting, but our excitement has to be muted and focused
by the already mean-spirited
comments that are coming from
the right, comments that suggest
that there are those who will not
give this woman a fair hearing.
There are folks who truly believe that Judge Sotomayor is off
base for embracing her ethnicity,
or for making it clear that there
are too many women whose
voices are silenced, and for asserting that women like her will
lift their voices in support of those
who are silenced and sidelined.
We are excited, and yet also challenged at the nascent resistance
that comes from white men who
cannot wrap their brains around
the reality of a phenomenal woman
of color who is also quite qualified to be a supreme court justice.
This sentiment is echoed by several, including the President of
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, the Honorable Cynthia
Butler-McIntyre. She has written,
“Judge Sotomayor has live the
American dream of growing up
with very little, yet managing to
excel and become successful.
Sotomayor’s mother served in
the women’s Auxiliary Corps of the
Army during World War II. Her father, who had a third-grade education, died when Sonia
Sotomayor was 9. She turned to
books for solace and her love of
reading lead her to study law.
What a story! What a woman!
What an inspiration if she is confirmed as Supreme Court Justice.
And yet there are hurdles that
must be cleared. Questions that
need to be answered. Inappropriate litmus tests that must be addressed. Should this judge have
to tell folks whether she supports
the death penalty? Abortion? Affirmative action? Did those last
two judges, whose confirmations
were bum rushed through the Senate, have to do much more than a
cakewalk?
Judge Sotomayor should not
have to do more than the two white
men who preceded her did. She
has the confidence of a President
whose right is to appoint a Supreme Court justice. The senate’s
job is to advise and consent. Not
to intrude and dissent. For the
record.
This is a time for progressive
people to come together to support a wonderful woman whose
outstanding record qualified her
for this Supreme Court.
Importantly, while she is a
grounded, experienced and focused jurist, she is also a woman
President Obama changing Islam opinion of U.S.
By. Ron Walters
President Barack Obama’s recent trip to the Middle East
where he gave a speech in Cairo,
Egypt was a triumph in his attempt to change the opinions of
over 1.2 billion Muslims about
the character of the United
States.
It was a bold and audacious
attempt that was conceived to
place America, probably for the
first time in the eyes of Muslims,
as an honest broker for peace
and not so Israeli-centric that
negotiations were over before
they began.
I agree with Chris Matthews
of MSNBC this time, who said
that the people we have to worry
about that will create terrorism
against the United States are
now youths, many of whom are
aggrieved at the killing and maiming of their parents, the destruction of their homes by Israel or
the United States and their lack
of life options.
But there is also the potential
for a massive well of cooperation
with the United States from other
youths, based on the power of
American popular culture, the
pull of higher education, and the
engine of economic growth.
Which young Muslim will determine the nature of future alliances between the U.S. and the
Middle East?
Barack Obama went to Cairo
to answer this question by saying in effect that the U.S. must
hold out its hand in peace and if
the fist of Muslims is
unclenched, there is a chance.
But he also had to admit, like Bill
Clinton did on his trip to Africa
as President, that the U.S. had
not always been on the right
side of history.
Then, as now, right wing radicals have called the President an
apologist. In fact, here we have
a president who has captured
the attention of the entire Islamic world, whose speech has
been translated into 12 languages, and who is roundly accepted on the Muslim street as
a positive force.
But we find the reluctance to
accept this triumph of public diplomacy in his own country.
In the U.S., many media analysts, instead of acknowledging
an historic feat, have derided his
receipt of a medal by King
Abdullah of Saudi Arabia (I have
never seen pictures of medals
given to American presidents before); he has been criticized by
not using the word “terrorism”
in his speech; some said the
speech did not have one new
policy proposal; and he has even
been called an “apostate” (someone was a Muslim, but who has
backslid).
Most of this has come from
neocons, like Daniel Pipes who
during the campaign tried to say
that Obama is still a Muslim, or
Edward Luttwak who authored the
“apostate” charge in an op ed
piece in the New York Times. Why
would the Times publish such a
piece in the first place?
Obama’s goal was not to announce new policy, but to change
the tone of American relations with
the Muslim world and he could
not do that by using the inference
that all Muslims were “terrorist”
or that there is a “global war on
terror.”
The President was clear about
the American position with re-
9
How to structure a good minority business program
By. Harry C. Alford
Beyond the Rhetoric
Recently, I was asked by the
Pennsylvania Black Caucus of
State Legislators to come and
testify about good minority
business programs.
They are diligently trying to
improve their current program
and sought suggestions. We at
the National Black Chamber of
Commerce were more than happy
to respond to their request.
It is rare and special when
elected officials are focused on
this key issue. The interest displayed by our state legislators
in Pennsylvania is dearly appreciated. Here are the key elements of our testimony.
The most effective way to
manage a viable minority procurement program is to make it
centralized with serious authority and accountability. There
should be one (1) office that reports directly to the Chief Executive, i.e. the Governor.
The performance of this office should reflect on the record
of the Governor. Likewise, the
cooperation of each state
agency in its response to working with this office should also
reflect on the record of each
cabinet member, administrator,
director, etc. The executive of
this office should represent the
Governor in his/her administrative actions and carry out the intent of the legislature in the daily
duties of the office.
All agencies and departments
must submit reports (created and
structured by the Minority Procurement Office) to this office on
a quarterly basis. The data will
be edited, audited and compiled
by the Office and reported to the
Governor and Legislature on a
quarterly basis and with one annual report.
The agencies should not have
any sub-offices or departments
for minority business. All minority business direction should
come from this one office.
Sub-offices will provide nothing but confusion and lessen the
importance of the program. Direct
management should be between
the Minority Procurement Office
and the procurement staffs (per
the direction of cabinet officials)
of all agencies and departments.
In regards to key procurements,
the Executive has the authority
to veto any procurement decision
that is counter to the program or
the intent of Title VI of the Civil
Rights Act. The only veto override can come from the Governor.
Such was the case at the US De-
partment of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD). As a result HUD minority participation
exponentially increased under
Secretary Alphonso Jackson
and led the federal government
in every area. We strongly think
this should be emulated.
It would be important that the
executive of the Minority Procurement Office has the following staff structure within his
office:
--Administration: The department would be responsible for
compiling, editing and auditing
all participation reports. All
data collection would arrive
here. Also, the official certification process for businesses
who are eligible (small and disadvantaged) should be performed here. The minority and
women business directory
should be a living document
with daily updates and maintained at this office.
-- Construction: This department would be responsible for
all bid specifications related to
the minority procurement program for construction activity.
Compliance and verification
will be key issues as corruption and misrepresentation
runs rampant in this industry.
-- General Procurement: This
department would be responsible for proper bid specifications, bidding, quotes and historical review for basic goods
and services that are competed.
There should be much interaction with all procurement offices
and this department.
-- Professional Services: This department would be responsible
for key areas that are often overlooked in regards to minority participation. MD’s, dentists, sociologists, psychiatrists, attorneys,
law firms, architects, engineers,
accountants, actuarial services,
insurance, staffing firms, nursing,
IT, financial services, stenographers, construction management,
etc. provide significant opportunities for inclusion in these professions if they are allowed equal
opportunity.
Keep in mind that this type of
procurement is not a low bid
situation but a subjective decision. If minority participants are
adequately included in the mix
there should be no excuse for
exclusion.
-- Technical Support and Marketing: This department would
perform workshops giving bidding assistance, advice and resources such as lending agencies, Small Business Administration, pro bono consultants, etc.
to businesses enrolled in the minority procurement database.
It would provide networking between businesses and procurement offices and be an information source for all bidding news
and updates. It would publish an
eBLAST or electronic newsletter
as well as help produce an electronic bidding process for all applicable bidders.
This office would also recruit
viable minority businesses from
outside the state and assist in
their relocation. Targets of this
recruitment would be businesses
in industries that lack current minority involvement within the
state.
The Select Committee on Minority and Women Business Enterprise received the above testimony well. In fact, they said it was
the first time that someone
brought forth a suggestion of
how to create a program as opposed to just criticize. Please keep
in mind that this is a model for
state government. It could also
be adapted to a large city or
county program if the budgeting
exists. Good luck!
Harry Alford is the co-founder,
president/CEO of the National
Black Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
Website: www.nationalbcc.org.
Email: [email protected].
Celebrating civil rights in the shadow of civil wrongs
By. James Clingman
Blackonomics
On June 20, 2009, major
league baseball will hold its
annual Civil Rights Game in my
hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio.
The game was previously
held in Memphis, Tenn., the
city in which our most notable
civil rights leader, Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr., was assassinated in 1968. The game is the
crowning event of a weekend
comprising several other activities to celebrate the Civil Rights
struggle in America.
There will be awards, panel
discussions, dialogues, and a
Youth Summit on the city’s
downtown Fountain Square,
featuring TV stars, former Major League players, and local
personalities.
Former President Bill Clinton
will deliver the speech at the
awards luncheon honoring my
personal hero, Muhammad Ali,
along with Hank Aaron, and Bill
Cosby.
Who knows? Maybe Barrack
Obama will throw out the first
pitch, especially since our
Mayor, Mark Mallory, did such
a poor job of it on opening day
of 2007. It’s going to be a big
deal, folks, and it’s happening
in Cincinnati, Ohio.
You may recall Cincinnati in
2001-2004. In my book, BlackO-Knowledge, Stuff we need to
know, the section titled, Home
Cookin’, describes the state of
my city during that period. You
may recall that, in this city where
the 2009 Civil Rights Game will
be played, there was civil unrest
and a national boycott after
Timothy Thomas, a Black man,
was killed by a “frightened”
White police officer; and even
prior to that killing there was
Roger Owensby, a Black man, not
even wanted by police, who was
choked to death by overzealous
white officers during his arrest.
You may even recall a Black man
named Nathaniel Jones who was
killed by police officers on December 3, 2003. And, you probably have never heard of Lorenzo
Collins, a Black man who was
holding a brick and surrounded
by 15 police officers, two of
whom shot and killed him for
some strange reason. Or, you may
want to do a Google search on
Michael Carpenter, a Black man
who was shot in the back of his
head by a White police officer
while Carpenter was sitting in his
car trying to obey the cop’s order to exit. Not one day of jail time
was done for those murders.
While Cincinnati is known for
many civil rights issues, those are
just a few of the most egregious.
The Cincinnati Reds with the
support of Major League Baseball (MBL), while they will look
at the history of civil rights, will
also consider the current status
and, I am told, make plans to contribute to better relationships
among people of different backgrounds. Commendable objec-
tives, to be sure, but the Reds
have a big job ahead.
Margaret Kimberly, in an article on Black Commentator
(2003), wrote, “My father tells
the story of going to see a
Reds game as a boy and buying ice cream with his brother.
After making their purchase
they were ordered to eat outside.
It isn’t an occurrence associated with northern states, but
as my mother says, Ohio is ‘up
south’.
Unfortunately, the perception
of Cincinnati, is still that it is
“up south,” a city that really
doesn’t care much for Black
people.
Did you see the episode of
“Girlfriends” when the couple
was stranded in Cincinnati during a snowstorm and one of the
sisters asked, “Isn’t that the
city where they kill Black men?”
(Admittedly, things have improved somewhat with the
signing of the Collaborative
Agreement, thanks to the Racial Profiling Lawsuit filed and
won by the Cincinnati Black
United Front in 2002.)
Even more unfortunate
though is the reality of discrimination, inequity, injustice,
and economic exclusion for
many of us who live here. Thus,
as I suggested to our City
Council, during a public meeting on the disparities that exist in the city’s contracting
system, it is interesting that we
are having a Civil Rights Baseball game in a city that continues to commit “Civil Wrongs”
against its Black citizens, 48
percent of its population.
For every problem there is an
opportunity, with challenges of
course, but opportunities nonetheless. The Civil Rights Baseball Game and all of its accoutrements, celebrities, dignitaries, media coverage, can be a
springboard for positive
“change” in our city, if it is
viewed and used not only as a
moneymaking event but also as
an instrument to win our new
civil rights struggle: Economic
Empowerment.
The culmination of freedom
for Black people in this country
is economic freedom, which
comes from access to economic
opportunity via education,
training, equitable treatment,
and, of course, collective work
and responsibility, and cooperative economics on our part.
While I hope and pray something positive will come from
this event, as Patrick Henry said,
“I have but one lamp by which
my feet are guided, and that is
the lamp of experience. I know of
no way of judging the future but
by the past.”
Black folks in Cincinnati have
experienced many disappointments in this city after race and
civil rights dialogues, discussions, and roundtables. So we
must keep our feet on the gas
pedal when it comes to our options in response to mistreatment
and disparity.
To those who are coming to our
city for the game, we want you to
enjoy yourselves but we also
want you to know what is happening to Black people. You can
help if you are so inclined, or you
can come and go without having
said or done anything to make
positive change.
Regardless of what nonresidents do when they are here, we
who live here understand quite
well what we must do, so if you
see or hear something pertaining
to Civil Wrongs during the Civil
Rights Game, having read this,
you will at least understand why.
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Opinion
10
African Scene
Bongo’s son calls for Gabon calm
Desmond Tutu
Africa will change world,
declares Archbishop Tutu
Special to the NNPA from GIN
(GIN) - Africa is an emerging
continent with hopes that have
never been experienced in any
other continent,declared former
South African Archibishop
Desmond Tutu, in a convocation
address to the America University
of Nigeria, based in Yola.
“Africa is rising gradually but
steadily, notwithstanding its
many challenges. Africa is a continent that will bring hope to the
whole world,’’ the Nobel laureate
said.
Tutu used his speech to apologize for last year’s xenophobic
outbreak in South Africa, including attacks on Nigerians, calling
it “a totally shameless thing to
do.’’ Nigeria, he recalled, had led
the struggle against Apartheid as
the chair of the Committee on
Apartheid of the United Nations.
“We showed that we are ungrateful. Forgive us’’, he said.
But he cautioned those who
criticize Africa to recall the misdeeds of the western countries.
“Have you forgotten the holocaust? Have you forgotten the
gulags in Russia? Communism,
nazism, fascism did not come from
Africa. … A western country was
the first to use weapons of mass
destruction in Hiroshima and
Nagasaki. Those countries have
been able to rise. Africa, there is
hope,’’ he assured.
The 1984 Nobel Peace Prize winner was awarded an Honorary
Doctor of Humane Letters at the
ceremony.
The son of the late Gabonese
President Omar Bongo has appealed for calm following his
father’s death.
Defence Minister Ali-Ben
Bongo, a main candidate to succeed his father, made the appeal
on national TV. Mr Bongo was
Africa’s longest-serving leader.
Earlier, the defence ministry
said it was sealing Gabon’s borders and deploying security
forces.
Access to the internet in Gabon
has been cut since Sunday, and
state TV has been playing religious music.
In a written statement on Monday, Prime Minister Jean Eyeghe
Ndong announced the 73-yearold veteran leader had died of a
heart attack, hours after saying
Mr Bongo was alive and well.
It emerged in May that the president, who had led Gabon since
1967, was being treated in a Spanish clinic, amid unconfirmed reports he had cancer.
The leader of the Senate, Rose
Francine Rogombe, an ally of Mr
Bongo, should take over as interim leader and organize elections within 45 days.
But opposition leaders have
claimed that Ali-Ben Bongo has
already been lined up to take
over, and question whether any
election would be free and fair.
The BBC’s Linel Kwatsi, in the
capital Libreville, says there is
genuine mourning over Mr
Bongo’s death as, for many
Gabonese, he was the only leader
they ever knew.
Many civilians have been buying staple commodities, especially food, in case a curfew is
declared, adds our correspondent.
The city’s mayor has banned
large gatherings and ordered
nightclubs and bars to close,
while security forces are on patrol.
Ali-Ben Bongo has long been touted as a successor to his
father.
Observers say the ruling
Gabonese Democratic Party
(PDG) has been deciding who
should succeed him, with his 50year-old son a leading contender.
“ In these difficult circumstances, love of one’s homeland
should give one pause and constitute a sacred duty for all children of Gabon,” Defense Minister Ali-Ben Bongo, said.
In his address, Ali-Ben Bongo
said he was speaking as a member of the family, not a minister.
“I call for calm and quiet contemplation in order to preserve
the unity and the peace which
was so dear to our late father,”
he said.
“In these difficult circumstances, love of one’s homeland
should give one pause and constitute a sacred duty for all children of Gabon.”
The defense ministry said in a
televised statement that “all components of the defense forces
were put in place across the territory”, and that sensitive buildings were being secured.
The government has said
Gabon will observe 30 days of
mourning, and called on the
Gabonese people to “stand together in contemplation and dignity”.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy
said his country was “standing by
the people of Gabon and its institutions, at this difficult time”.
Gabon under Mr Bongo has maintained close economic and political ties to France, the former colonial power. France has around 1,000
troops stationed in Libreville.
Oil earnings mean that Gabon is
officially one of Africa’s richest
states but analysts say the political elite has kept most of the money
for themselves. Most of the
country’s 1.4 million people live in
poverty.
Mr Bongo was one of three African leaders being investigated for
alleged embezzlement by a French
judge. The others are Denis
Sassou-Nguesso of the Republic of
Congo and Teodoro Obiang
Nguema of Equatorial Guinea.
It is alleged that the properties
owned by Mr Bongo’s family in
France could not have been purchased with official salaries alone.
Mr Bongo denied any wrongdoing.
Sudan’s Bashir in Zimbabwe visit
Luis Cabral
3-day mourning for first
post-independence leader
(GIN) - The government of
Guinea-Bissau is calling for
three days of national mourning
for Luis Cabral, the first post-independence president of the
former Portuguese colony also
known as Slave Coast. His death
occurred in Lisbon, Portugal. He
was 78.
Half brother of the noted PanAfrican intellectual and liberation movement leader, Amilcar
Cabral, Luis Cabral was president from 1974 until his overthrow in 1980 by his prime minister, Joao Bernardo Vieira.
Cabral headed up a program of
national reconstruction and development, of socialist inspiration (with the support of USSR,
China, and Nordic countries). But
ethnic strife eroded his support
as sections of the ruling party
claimed that those with Cape
Verdean origins were dominating
the party. Cabral was sent into
exile, first to Cuba, then (in 1984),
in Portugal.
Cabral never publicly criticized
his former prime minister who
was himself overthrown in 2005
in a deadly coup.
Sudan’s President Omar al- ference, state radio says.
overseas trips.
Bashir, indicted by the InternaMr Bashir was indicted in
Zimbabwe has not ratified the
tional Criminal Court for war March but has not been ar- statute creating the court, and
crimes, is in Zimbabwe for a con- rested, despite making several therefore is not bound to arrest
Mr Bashir.
Mr Bashir is the first sitting
head of state to be indicted by
the world’s first international
rights tribunal.
The ICC has accused President
Bashir of two counts of war
crimes - intentionally directing
attacks on civilians and pillage as well as five counts of crimes
against humanity, including murder, rape and torture.
It is not the first time he has
traveled abroad since the indictment. Among other trips, he went
to Qatar in late March, and in
April he was in Ethiopia.
Ahead of the summit opening,
Mr Bashir visited President Robert Mugabe, host of the Common
Market for Eastern and Southern
Africa meeting, in Victoria Falls,
President Bashir has made several trips abroad without Zimbabwe’s state radio reported.
The summit will discuss aid and
being arrested.
investment for Zimbabwe.
11
12
Opinion:
Science-based, not scare tactics on climate
By Ted Glick
“Waxman-Markey is the only
game in town. If it fails, I see
no chance whatsoever of stabilizing anywhere near 350-to
450 ppm since serious U.S. action would certainly be off the
table for years, the effort to
jumpstart the clean energy
economy in this country would
stall, the international negotiating process would fall apart,
and any chance of a deal with
China would be dead. Warm-
ing of 5 degrees Centigrade or
more by century’s end would be
all but inevitable, with 850 to 1000+
ppm. If Waxman-Markey becomes
law, then I see a genuine 10% to
20% chance of averting catastrophe—not high, but not zero.”
—-Joe Romm, Climate Progress
blogger
Is Waxman-Markey—the 932page American Clean Energy and
Security Act of 2009 (ACESA)
passed by the House Energy and
Commerce Committee on May 21st
and likely going to the House
floor at the end of this month—
truly “the only game in town?”
Is it something we should all
rally behind as an essential part
of the answer to the climate crisis? Does it actually mandate
action that has a chance of solving that urgent crisis?
Most scientists and others
who have seriously studied
what is happening with our destabilized climate would agree
that, as far as solutions, there
are several key elements:
--dramatic reductions in green-
Another unjustified slaying:
It’s time to demand answers
By. Rev. Al Sharpton
On May 28, Omar Edwards
began his day like any other;
kissing his 18-month-old and 7month old children, hugging his
wife and going out for another
hard day’s work.
But later that evening, 25-yearold Edwards’ life was tragically
and violently cut short when his
body was riddled with bullets.
This wasn’t the work of a thug,
a mentally challenged person nor
a would-be thief. Instead,
Edwards was shot several times
by a fellow police officer – yes
police officer - while in pursuit
of an actual criminal. Another
young Black man unjustifiably
slain.
In cities and towns all across
this country we hear the stories
of young men and women of
color being ‘mistakenly shot at’
or ‘wrongfully killed’. There are
continuous investigations of
police department protocol and
police conduct, and a plethora
of excuses and justifications that
slowly emerge. But what is the
unfathomable excuse of police
officers killing a fellow comrade?
How can so-called ‘friendly fire’
take place? And more importantly, how can we not hold the
shooter, in this case 30-year-old
Andrew Dunton, accountable?
Now people will attempt to argue
that this isn’t a Black/White issue,
but how is it not when the only thing
Dunton had to go on was Edwards’
Blackness? Authorities will quickly
safeguard Dunton and say Edwards
was in plain clothes, but so was officer Dunton.
Once again, the presumed guilt
and criminalization of young Black
men was enough to warrant a shoot
first, ask questions later mentality.
Instead of attempting to tarnish
Edwards, those leading an investigation should look in to Dunton, his
record and the chain of events that
lead to Edwards’ untimely death.
Too often we focus on the victim
and not the perpetrator; it’s time to
demand more.
The Edwards, his young widow
Danielle and their two babies buried officer Edwards last week. It was
a moving procession with his family, friends and colleagues who literally lined the streets in uniform.
They recounted Edwards’ lifelong
dreams and pursuits of becoming an
NYPD officer. Mayor Michael
Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly both attended the
somber event and pledged to raise
Edwards’ status to that of a firstgrade detective in order for his family to obtain increased benefits. In
other words, his salary was raised
by about $60,000; a mere $60,000
while two children will forever be
fatherless, Danielle a widow and
his parents having to cope with
the realization that they buried
their own son.
This is not justice. We demand
an outside federal investigation
into what took place that tragic
night. We demand answers to this
inexplicable incident. We cannot
tacitly accept that this was ‘an
unfortunate accident’ or sit back
without calling in to question officer Dunton and others present
at the scene.
This, after all, wouldn’t be the
first time the NYPD has killed one
of its own. In 2008, a Black offduty Mount Vernon police officer
was gunned down by a
Westchester County policeman,
and in 2006, officer Eric Hernandez
was shot and killed by an on-duty
patrolman.
If race is irrelevant to these cases,
I ask, why are all of the countless
victims people of color? If all rules
and regulations were properly followed in Edwards’ case, then let a
federal investigation prove it. We
owe it to a man who sacrificed his
own life to truly serve and protect
others.
It’s time to demand answers because any justice delayed is undoubtedly justice denied.
house gas (ghg) emissions as
soon as possible. Leading world
scientists and government climate negotiators have called for
roughly a third or more decrease
in ghg emissions by industrialized countries within the next decade compared to the internationally-used baseline year of
1990;
--enactment of government policies that put a steadily-increasing price on fossil fuels and
other greenhouse gases to reflect their true social and environmental costs and to drive the
shift to clean, renewable energy
sources, conservation and energy efficiency; and,
--a moratorium on the building
of any new coal plants and a transition away from the use of coal,
the dirtiest and most polluting
of the fossil fuels, as quickly as
possible. Even enviromentalists,
most of them anyway, who support carbon capture and sequestration (css) support a moratorium on any new coal plants that
don’t capture most of their carbon.
How does the WaxmanMarkey bill, ACESA, measure up
in these three areas?
Poorly.
A best-case analysis would
conclude that, if passed, this bill
might end up reducing emissions by 20% by 2020 compared
to 1990 levels (although a maximum of 9-10% would be actual
in-the-U.S. emissions, the rest
coming via support for programs
in tropical countries to prevent
deforestation). That’s if everything went well, particularly if
the huge amount of “offsets”
didn’t seriously undercut U.S.based emissions reductions, a
very real possibility.
This bill, primarily through the
giveaway of fully half of the
emissions permits to the fossil
fuel industry and through the
problematic offsets, will at best
have a limited impact when it
comes to the raising of prices on
fossil fuels. This is particularly
the case with the coal industry,
which was the big winner in the
internal negotiations among
Democrats on the House Energy
and Commerce Committee that led
to this piece of legislation.
Not only will this bill NOT discourage the building of new coal
plants, it positively encourages it.
It does this by allowing new coal
plants to be built until 2020 without having to sequester any carbon until 2025. Leaving aside the
big safety and other issues with
currently-not-economically-viable
carbon capture and sequestration
(and even supporters of it don’t
see it coming on line for a decade),
does anyone really doubt that the
coal industry won’t pull out all the
stops in the early 20’s to use their
power to try to extend this 2025
deadline if css is not “ready for
prime time?”
There are other serious problems
with ACESA.
It strips the Environmental Protection Agency of much of the
power to do its job of regulating
dangerous greenhouse gas emissions. This is very serious.
It sets up an “everyone is welcome” cap-and-trade system that
allows Wall Street firms and speculators to get into the to-be-established carbon/greenhouse gas
market of buying and selling the
potentially valuable emissions permits. Among leading members of
both the House and Senate concern is being openly expressed
about the possibility of this market system being gamed (see more
below).
It proposes very weak targets for
increasing renewable energy and
energy efficiency. The Energy Information Administration, a government agency, has estimated
that as a result of existing state
renewable energy laws and other
factors, there could be more renewable energy generated without
this federal renewable energy provision than with it.
And there is very little in the bill
that is directly about green jobs
or worker assistance. There is an
increase in funding for the Green
Jobs Act from $125 million to $150
million (!!) half of a percent of the
funds raised from the program
A dramatic wake up call for us all
By. Dr. Barbara Reynolds
ABC-TV recently broke barriers with a self-described “different kind of journalism”
which showed that unless drastic environmental changes are
made that by the year 2100
much of humanity would be
destroyed and plunged into
the Dark Ages.
While rife with good intentions and despite the bold venture launching into deep and
different waters, this boat just
didn’t float.
In graphic detail, the documentary, entitled ‘’Earth 2100'’
and hosted by Bob Woodruff,
showed a doomsday scenario
where immense storms irrepa-
rably damaged major metropolises.
Streets, subway tunnels, and
buildings flooded and rotted. Stagnant water bred filth and displaced
residents, forcing them into
homelessness. Poverty levels and
death rates skyrocketed. A new
and virulent strain of disease developed - then mutated and spread
around the globe, claiming tens of
thousands of lives. It served as a
dramatic wake-up call to bring
home the point that we just might
be the terminal generation.
Then as the crisis exploded, looting grew rampant, major world
powers went to war over water,
and millions of people died from
famine. Civilization literally collapsed under its own weight.
Commenting on this worst-case
scenario brought on by climate
changes, population growth and
scare resources, E.O. Wilson, a
Harvard scientist, said, “A few
hundred years down the line,
they’ll look back and say the
dark ages began with the twentyfirst century.’’
For me, the apocalyptic documentary was a dramatic wake-up
call that the continuation of
mindless exploitation and ruination of our environment may
actually bring about the end of
humanity as we know it.
This scenario - as shocking as
it was - is not new. Apostle John
in the Book of Revelation graphically reported it more than 2,000
years ago. John, the favorite disciple of Jesus, wrote under the
direction of the Holy Spirit while
imprisoned on the Isle of Patmos.
The apostle detailed the terrible time of the Tribulation. Before that period, some Bible
scholars believe the faithful
church will be spared this devastation by being caught up in
the Rapture where Jesus Christ
will return to take the faithful
church onto heaven. (After the
seven-year period of agony on
Earth, the Bible says Jesus will
return with the faithful to establish his Kingdom on Earth.)
The Tribulation period, detailed in the Bible, shows the
wrath of God raining down
death, famine, war and plagues
on Earth’s unrepentant sinners.
John the apostle described a time
that would be worse than any in
human history - worse than the
destruction of Jerusalem in A.D.
with 1 million casualties, worse
than World War I where 20 million
were killed and worse than Hitler’s
holocaust which claimed more
than six million Jews, with gypsies
and Africans among them.
If that were not chilling enough,
Zechariah, a minor Jewish prophet
in the Old Testament wrote of how
the world could be destroyed,
which eerily seemed to describe
the impact of nuclear weapons.
“Their flesh shall dissolve while
they stand on their feet, their eyes
shall dissolve in their sockets and
their tongues shall dissolve in
13
14
YOUR MONEY MATTERS
Credit cardholders’ bill of rights
By Michael G. Shinn, CFP
NNPA Columnist
On May 22, 2009, President
Obama signed into law, the
Credit Cardholders’ Bill of
Rights Act of 2009. This new
law seeks to curb some of the
credit card industry’s most
abusive and deceptive lending practices. If you use a
credit card, you have probably been battered and
abused by a credit card company in some form or fashion. Your interest rate may
have suddenly increased for
some unexplained reason, or
you may receive your bill and
it seems the payment is due
in a week or if your balance
goes over the limit, you are
hit with an outlandish over
limit fee. The new law is a
welcome addition for consumer protection. So, what
is the new law and how will it
affect the average American?
Key Provisions
Most provisions of the
new law will not take effect
until July, 2010.
Prevents Unfair Increases
in Interest Rates- Prohibits
the increase of interest rates
for the first year an account
is open and requires that promotional rates last at least 6
months. Also prohibits the
arbitrary increase in interest
rates because of “universal
default,” which is the changing of rates based on a
client’s payment history with
other creditors.
Fairness in Timing of
Card Payments- Requires
that credit card statements
are mailed 21 days before the
payment due date rather that
the current 14 days. Also,
requires that payments in excess of the minimum payment,
be first applied to the credit
card charges with the highest
interest rate.
Prohibits Exorbitant FeesProhibits the charging of overlimit fees, unless the cardholder
elects to allow the issuer to complete over-limit transactions.
The law prohibits the charging
of a fee to pay a credit card debt
by mail, telephone or electronic
transfer, except for live services
for making an expedited payment. Also protects against excessive fees on low-credit limit,
high-fee credit cards.
Enhanced Disclosures for
Card Terms and ConditionsRequires 45 days notice of interest rate, fee and finance
charge increases. Also, requires
full disclosure on billing statements of payment due dates,
late payment penalties, and the
time and total interest it will take
to pay off the card balance if
only the minimum monthly payments are made.
Enhanced Safeguards for
Young People- Card issuers extending credit to consumers under age 21 must obtain an application that contains the signature of a parent, guardian or
other individual over 21 who
will take responsibility for the
debt; or proof that the applicant
has an independent means of
repaying any credit extended.
The law also increases the protections for university students
against aggressive credit card
marketing
and
limits
prescreened offers of credit to
young consumers.
Increased Credit Card Industry Oversight- Requires the
Federal Reserve Board to review
the credit card market, practices and the cost and availability of credit to consumers.
Also requires that the Federal
Trade
Commission
rulemaking to prevent deceptive marketing of free credit
reports.
It has been estimated that
the new law will cost the
credit card industry $10 billion a year in lost interest and
fees. As the industry tries to
recoup this income, the result
may be generally higher
credit card interest rates, more
restrictive credit for individuals with low credit scores and
fewer credit card reward programs.
Looking ahead over the next
12 months, continue to reduce
your number of credit cards
and level of credit card debt.
Be vigilant of any correspondence you receive from your
credit card companies, as
there may be changes in
terms and conditions on your
accounts. The new law is giant step forward in consumer
protection from credit card
abuse and deceptive practices. However, the best protection for you and your family is prudent use of credit
and vigilance regarding anything you sign.
Michael G. Shinn, CFP, Registered Representative and Investment Adviser Representative of
and securities and investment
advisory services offered through
Financial Network Investment
Corporation, member SIPC.
Visit www.shinnfinancial.com for
more information or to send your
comments or questions to
[email protected].
© Michael G. Shinn 2009.
Jay Nixon
NAACP urges clemency
for a man on death row
NAACP National Board Member Harold Crumpton and
NAACP Missouri State Conference President Mary Ratliff are
requesting Governor Jay Nixon
appoint a board of inquiry and
grant clemency to Reggie
Clemons who is on death row
scheduled to be executed on
June 17, 2009.
Clemons, 37, is an AfricanAmerican man sentenced to
death for the 1991 murder of two
young women who drowned after plunging from the Chain of
the Rocks Bridge into the Mississippi River. There was no
physical evidence linking
Reggie to the crime for which
he received the death penalty:
no fingerprints, no DNA, no hair
or fiber samples. Reggie’s case
is filled with many injustices, including police brutality, gross
prosecutorial misconduct and
ineffective defense counsel.
“Reggie Clemons was tortured
by police into making a statement that was used against him
at trial. But even after five hours
of violent interrogation, he never
confessed to murder,” stated
NAACP National Board Member
Harold Crumpton. “The two eyewitnesses failed to link Clemons
to the murder. One of them initially confessed to the killing, and
the other one got a sweetheart
deal for his testimony. The other
evidence was Clemons’ confession which was induced by hours
of torture.” Crumpton said.
“Governor Nixon should convene a board of inquiry immediately and grant clemency for
Reggie Clemons. More than 20%
of Black defendants who have
been executed in the U.S. were
convicted by all-white juries. Although St. Louis is more than 50
percent African American, there
were only two black people on
Reggie’s jury,” stated Mary
Ratliff, NAACP Missouri State
Conference president.
“It is wrong to put to death some-
Advocates urge youth to join movement for reparations
By Ebony Haynes
CHICAGO (Finalcall.com) Members of the National Black
United Front and the National
Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America joined other
activists, professors, students
and the public May 22 at the
Jacob Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies for an update
on reparations and an international anti-racism conference.
Guest speaker Omowale Clay,
of the December 12th Movement based in Brooklyn, New
York, told the audience progress
has been made in the battle for
reparations for the oppression
of Blacks and the horrors of the
slave trade, during the Durban
Review Conference Against
Racism held in Switzerland in
April. The Geneva meeting
evaluated progress since the
2001 World Conference Against
Racism in Durban, South Africa
and efforts to eradicate racism
and xenophobia.
“In 2001 we made history. We
took the aspirations of our
people and with a correct strategy and tactic had the United
Nations declare that the TransAtlantic slave trade was a crime
against humanity,” said Mr. Clay.
The Geneva gathering reaffirmed
slavery was a crime against humanity, which is an important
part of building the case for reparations, he explained.
According to Mr. Clay, since its
passage, the United States has
tried to deny the facts and disregard the declaration. But no matter what, the U.S. can’t change
history and its facts, he said.
“Facts are stubborn things.
Over 180 countries voted in the
declaration in 2001. Therefore
their (Western nations’) guilt has
already been determined and
they can’t change it. It pales the
test of time and will always be
recognized for what it is. So
they’re as guilty in 2009 as they
were 400 years ago,” he strongly
declared.
“Where we are now is at the
point of needing to continue to
build on the victory from 2001,”
said Mr. Clay. “We also need to
document, across the country
the kinds of progress that has
been made in carrying on the
Durban Declaration and showing how it has manifested itself
on a local, state and national level
in terms of resolutions, commissions and even apologies that
have been made and documented over these periods of
times.”
President Obama has been
heavily criticized for non-involvement with the reparations
movement but according to Mr.
Clay, it will take more than a
Black president to bring forth
complete change.
“I understand that he is the
president of the United States of
America, but he is not the president of the Black nation. And by
putting a Black man in a White
House that does not make the
house ours,” he said.
The activists encouraged
people to get involved, saying it
isn’t difficult. There are local
chapters of major organizations
fighting to make progress and
NBUF and NCOBRA have Chicago chapters and chapters
across the world, they said.
“People who want to get involved need to look at where
they are and look at what organizing efforts are going on where
they are,” Mr. Clay said.
Mr. Clay along with Dr. Conrad
Worrill, professor, activist and
dedicated member of NBUF and
NCOBRA, strongly believe it is
prime time for people, especially
young people, to get involved.
“Once they (younger people)
become aware, their energy and
commitment will help in the
progress of forward movement,”
said Dr. Worrill.
“Each generation comes in and
redefines its mission,” Mr. Clay
said. “You have a responsibility
to find your place in the historical continuum of our people’s
development and struggle for liberation. The reparations movement helps you identify where
you are and once you have identified that then your responsibility is to fulfill your mission. But
once you’re aware of it, you can
no longer claim you are ignorant
to it.”
According to Mr. Clay, plans are
underway for a conference within
the next year, possibly somewhere
in the Western Hemisphere, to accurately reflect the nature of the
affects of racism. The conference
will be a way to summarize the
state of the reparations movement
in Central, South and North
America.
15
This complacency about HIV/AIDS has got to stop
By. C. Virginia Fields
NNPA Special Commentary
It was an elegant and enjoyable affair on June 3, when
more than 200 guests gathered at the Chelsea Piers on
Manhattan’s West Side. But
when the program began, it
was clear that the event had a
serious purpose.
The gala – the annual
fundraiser for the National
Black Leadership Commission
on AIDS (NBLCA) – officially
launched a “National Call to
Action” against HIV/AIDS. It
is time to end the devastating
toll this disease takes year after year on everyone, but particularly on people of color.
Despite recent data showing
that HIV and AIDS are spreading faster than experts
thought, and that Black
Americans are being infected
at much, much higher rates
than anyone else, many believe AIDS is under control. A
Kaiser Family Foundation survey released in April found
that just 6 percent of Ameri-
cans name HIV/AIDS as the
most urgent health problem facing the nation. That’s down
from 44 percent in 1995.
This complacency has got to
stop.
As I told the gala participants, our National Call to Action is meant to sound the
alarm, to awaken the community that HIV/AIDS still exists
and it requires a much more
aggressive public response
than we’ve had in the past.
The gala attendees were there
not just to socialize, but to
lend their financial, political
and organizational support to
ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
That support is much needed
for our National Call to Action,
because it will take all hands
on deck.
Proceeds from the gala will
support an ambitious package
of NBLCA programs designed
to unite leaders working to end
HIV/AIDS, to promote the work
of our 11 affiliate chapters, and
to create model programs for
promoting testing, prevention
and treatment that will be rep-
C. Virginia Fields
licated around the country.
Our top priority is passage
of H.R. 1964, the National
Black Clergy for the Elimination of HIV/AIDS Act of 2009.
That proposal, which came out
of national conclave sponsored by NBLCA and was introduced into legislation by
Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-NY),
lays out a comprehensive plan
for the federal government to
lead the way in marshaling resources to support increased
HIV testing, prevention and
treatment for African Americans.
African-Americans accounted for 55 percent of
deaths due to HIV in 2004 and
their survival time after an
AIDS diagnosis is lower on average than it is for other racial
and ethnic groups. African
Americans were 12 percent of
the population in the United
States but half of new AIDS
cases diagnosed in 2006.
While the government needs
to be more aggressive – and
we’re grateful to see President
Barack Obama giving more at-
tention to the domestic AIDS’
problem than it has received in
years –there are steps individuals must take as well. The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention estimates that more
than one million people are living with HIV or AIDS and about
a quarter of them do not know
it.
The first thing that everyone
needs to do is get tested – even
if you do not think you are in a
high-risk group. Women absolutely need to be concerned.
Black women accounted for 61
percent of new HIV infections
among women in 2006. The incidence rate among Black
women is nearly 15 times that
of White women.
HIV/AIDS is everyone’s disease now.
C. Virginia Fields is President/CEO of NBLCA, which
was founded in 1987 to educate, organize and empower
Black leaders to meet the
challenge of fighting HIV/
AIDS in their communities.
For more information, visit
www.nblca.org.
N. General slates men’s health forum
Manhattan Borough President, Scott Stringer
Students put on scrubs
to learn about health care
Mount Sinai Medical Center
nutritionist Mandi Pek shows a
group of twenty-five elementary
school children from the Community Partnership School and
the Beginning with Children
Charter School in Brooklyn how
much fat is in fast food. The
cups are filled with actual fat to
illustrate how much fat is consumed when eating a breakfast
muffin or order of fries.
The eight to 10 year-old children donned medical scrubs and
spent the day with doctors and
other medical professionals at
Mount Sinai watching non-invasive procedures, handling medical devices, viewing EKGs, and
learning about healthy eating as
part of Operation B.L.U.E. (Believe, Learn, Understand, Excel),
the goal of which is to present
career options in various fields
of medicine and present physicians, nurses, nutritionists and
others in medical careers as role
models.
The spotlight will be on men’s
health when North General Hospital holds men’s forum at the
Apollo Theater on June 19 at
5:30 p.m..
Hosted by Samuel Daniel,
president & CEO, the evening
will feature roundtable discussions with North General’s
healthcare experts on free
screening for HIV, diabetes,
blood pressure, cholesterol and
depression.
Citing disparities in diagnoses
and treatment for a variety of
diseases which disproportionately affect African American
and Latino men—prostate cancer, diabetes, hypertension and
hepatitis C among them—Dr.
Daniel saw a need for a forum
specifically concerned with minority male health issues. Heart
disease, diabetes and cancer
stand in the way of leading a
long, healthy life: these leading
causes of death in men are preventable.
The free-to-the-public event
for men and women includes
roundtable discussions on
pressing health concerns and
practical ways to address them.
There will be live music provided
by the Robert Silverman Quartet
and a free buffet dinner. In addition, guest will receive the GO
GREEN East Harlem Cookbook
courtesy of Manhattan Borough
President Scott M. Stringer.
The event will be sponsored
by Pfizer, Inc. and Manhattan
Borough President Scott M.
Stringer. Event partners include
Pfizer, Inc. Global Healthy Living Foundation, the American
Diabetes Association, and The
Apollo Theater.
North General Hospital offers
a continuum of healthcare. Recognized as a medical and community leader in Harlem, North
General Hospital provides its
varied communities with stateof-the-art healthcare services,
highly qualified doctors and
quality treatment centers.
In addition to primary
healthcare for children, adults
and the aging, it offers comprehensive treatment programs in
diabetes, obesity, asthma, hypertension, HIV/AIDS, heart
disease, stroke, Hepatitis C,
cancer, psychiatric disorders
and addiction. For more information, please call us at (212)
423-4000 or visit our website at
www.northgeneral.org.
Health
16
Job fair brings hope, pride to young Brooklyn job seekers
By Donna Lamb
On Sat., May 30, people lined
up early for the job fair at
Brooklyn’s PS 92, sponsored by
the School Principal Diana
Rahmaan and Council Member
Mathieu
Eugene.
The
jobseekers were dressed for
success and carried their resumes.
Among those eager to go in
were Stevens Paul (age 20),
Claudy Deras (age 21) and
Fritzgerald Sainthubert (age 20).
Keeping it real, Sainthubert
said, “It’s hard out here for us
young Black men. Not all of us
want to be in gangs or in the
street. Some of us want to work
hard for a living. I hate it that
because of what a few guys do,
people tend to judge all of us
young Black men the same.”
His friends agreed. “All I’m
looking for is an opportunity to
show my skills and what I can
do,” declared Paul. “Anybody
who will give me a chance
won’t be disappointed. I’m responsible, hardworking and
dedicated.” Deras added that he
could hardly wait to get inside
and go around to all the companies to find out about them
and “show them the talent I can
bring to the table.”
Within a couple of hours of
meeting with representatives
from organizations offering job
training and discussing their
resumes with recruiters from
companies with job openings,
it was evident from the young
men’s faces that they were indeed finding what they were
looking for. All three stated that
they had made several promising connections and were confident of at least one job offer.
For example, after interviewing Stevens Paul and Claudy
Deras, Payless ShoeSource’s
Training Supervisor Simon
Rahiman said, “Both of them
have what we need, and we’re
going to try to get them into our
company immediately.” He
noted that Paul and Deras were
well groomed, energetic, spoke
fluently and smiled, plus they
had experience in retail. “In retail, you need somebody who
is brave, assertive and can look
straight into the customer’s eyes
and talk to them,” Rahiman concluded. These men have all the
ingredients.”
Rahiman said that he was also
pleased that he had found several other potential employees at
the Job Fair. He is looking for
about fifty candidates to bring
into Payless’ Brooklyn and Staten
Island stores, and anyone interested should call him at (718) 4210598.
As the day wore on, many others also found either the job
training or the job openings they
were hoping for, and the job recruiters were happy as well. The
event unfolded smoothly under
the helpful eyes of Dawn
McLeod, Mechelle Brunson and
Keisha Ragin, all of whom worked
closely with Principal Diana
Rahmaan and Council Member
Eugene’s staff to ensure the job
fair’s success.
Despite the all-day City Council budget negotiations being
held at City Hall, Council Member Eugene managed to stop by
for a little while to personally
Jobseekers pour into Job Fair at PS 92.
meet some of the jobseekers and
to extend his warmest greetings
to everyone present.
He said to the providers, “From
the bottom of my heart and on
behalf of everyone here, thank
you for taking time from your
very busy Sat. schedules to come
here. What you’re doing gives
hope and provides opportunities
to people looking for a better life.
As the whole country suffers
economic difficulties, it’s very
important that we stick together
and help each other. That is the
only way we will empower the
community and build this country we all love.”
Among the many participating
providers were: ACCESS NYC,
Affinity Health Plan, AHRC-NYC
Employment & Business Services, Armed Forces (Air Force
& Army) Brooklyn Chamber of
Commerce, Brooklyn Networks at
Brooklyn Workforce Innovations, Erasmus Neighborhood
Federation, Health Plus, MTA
NYC Transit, Non Traditional
Employment for Women and
Workforce 1.
Mechelle Brunson helps out at Brooklyn Networks at Brooklyn Workforce Innovations
table.
Representative of Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce Claudy Deras and Stevens Paul interview with Payless ShoeSource’s training supervishows job listing to jobseekers.
sor, Simon Rahiman, who plans to offer them jobs.
(Photos by Donna Lamb)
17
First Lady Michelle Obama
inspires D. C. graduating class
By. Dorothy Rowley
Special to the NNPA from the
Back Row – Barnes & Noble’s, Jo Ann Gwynn; Harlem
Dowling Board Member, Tim Mulvaney; Harlem Dowling,
Exec. Director, Dorothy Worrell; Harlem Dowling Board
President, Jaye Smith; After School Site Coordinator,
Jenny Fernandez; Assistant Site Coordinator, Wilson
Fete; The Comic Book Project Founder/Director, Michael
Biz, Ed.D Students - Michelle Tineo; Marlen Aquino;
Jarlene Gonzalez; Janie Canto; Geomaris Martinez;
Unique Jones: Kneeling – Shanelis DeLaCruz; Derek
Crothers; Elhadji Thiam; Michelle Guzman
Harlem Dowling students
win comic book awards
On Friday, June 5 New York City
once again paid tribute to its
youngest super heroes during an
award reception at Barnes &
Noble. The occasion was to
honor and acknowledge young
aspiring artists and writers who
were brave enough to share their
stories, ideas and provide their
keen insight as they addressed
the topic.“If I Ruled the World.”
Student participants of Harlem
Dowling after school program were
among those being honored. Ten
talented students from PS 161 in
Harlem earlier in the school year
participated in The Comic Book
Project a Columbia University
Teacher’s College art based literacy and learning initiative.
Under the supervision of
Harlem Dowling’s site coordinator Jenny Fernandez, the students collectively developed
characters and script to address
the assigned topic of being rulers of the free world. Their final
project entitled was not only selected but also for the second
time in a row grace the cover of
the final publication which was
printed and distributed by Dark
Horse Comics. “This year the kids
went high tech,” stated Ms.
Fernandez. “In addition to drawing they also learned how to use
PhotoShop to edit and layout their
project.”
The Comic Book Project, which
is produced in partnership with
the After School Corporation
(TASC), was created in 1998 to
enhance the quality, availability,
and sustainability of after-school
programs. It encourages children
to make a connection between
what they write and what they
draw while putting them in the role
of creator, rather than merely receivers of information. The program is headed up by Dr. Michael
Bitz, Ed.D, founder and director.
Harlem Dowling is a leading
multi-service child and family centered agency. The non-profit
agency is dedicated to serving
children and families in crisis and
distress.
WASHINGTON (NNPA) - First
Lady Michelle Obama told a high
school graduating class in the
District of Columbia last week
that she could relate to their anxieties as they prepare to tackle
their next round of educational
goals.
In commencement activities
held June 3 at Howard University, Obama shared with the
Washington Mathematics Science Technology Public Charter
High School Class of 2009 her
own fears about starting classes
at Ivy League Princeton University.
In doing so, she assured her
attentive audience that any
doubts they have about how well
they would perform in college
were not unusual.
“For those of you who may be
doubting and questioning yourselves – maybe, [because] you
may be just ready to roll,” said
Obama. “But if you are, trust me
I know how you feel. I can assure you you’re more than ready
so get to work, and congratulations.”
All 98 of the school’s graduating seniors are attending college.
Class member Jasmine Williams
wrote a letter to the Obamas inviting the first lady - or the president - to speak.
“Where we come from, being a
young minority means we have
little chance to succeed,” Jasmine
wrote. “The world already has a
predetermined thought that our
generation is full of criminals.”
She continued, “There are a lot
of us that live above the influence and strive to be our best.”
Obama also took the opportunity to pitch the Supreme Court
nomination of Judge Sonia
Sotomayor, who if confirmed, becomes the first Hispanic woman
to be considered for the post.
Judge Sotomayor also had her
share of anxieties when she enrolled at Princeton, according to
GRADUATION SPEAKER — First Lady Michelle Obama
assured high school graduates at a DC charter school that
nerves about college were the norm. (Credit: Courtesy Photo)
the first lady.
Obama, who quoted the Supreme Court nominee, said when
Sotomayor first stepped foot on
the celebrated school’s campus,
she felt like “a visitor landing in
an alien country “ and “she
never raised her hand her first
year because she was to embarrassed and too intimidated to ask
questions.”
Nevertheless, Obama said that despite all of Sotomayor’s academic
successes at both Princeton and
Yale universities, followed by career
advances in her professional life, she
still looks over her shoulders to see
if she measures up.
According to the first lady, “Judge
Sotomayor is more than ready.”
College Democrats readying for a campaign to turn NY-23 blue
First and foremost, the College Democrats would like to
congratulate President Obama
on continuing his campaign
pledge to govern in a bipartisan manner by nominating Republican Congressman John
McHugh to become the next
Secretary of the Army. “This
move shows the President’s
dedication to naming the best
qualified individual’s to initiate
his agenda, regardless of party
membership,” said Ian Rivera,
president of the College Democrats of New York,
“I believe that Congressman
McHugh will make an out-
standing Secretary of the Army,
considering his experience on
the House Armed Services Committee, and I am grateful for his
service to the men and woman
in uniform and their families at
Fort Drum and look forward to
his tenure as Secretary of the
Army ensuring our men and
women in uniform have everything they need to carry out the
President’s Defense Agenda.”
If Congressman McHugh is
confirmed, turning New York’s
23 rd Congressional District blue
will become a top priority of the
organization. We are confident
that under the leadership of
Chairwoman June O’Neill – who
has led New York Democrats to
victories in thirteen of the fourteen Special Elections during
her tenure as chair, the latest in
the Bronx Borough President’s
race – the eventual Democratic
candidate will succeed Congressman McHugh and will
head to Washington to help the
president enact his agenda.
CDNY is ready to mobilize our
chapters in the North Country
– as well as those across the
state – to do all that we can to
make sure that New York’s 23 rd
Congressional District turns
blue.
In addition to mobilizing students from around the state to
support the Democratic nominee, CDNY will also be watching very closely to ensure that
students within the district are
able to vote without facing a
challenge or intimidation.
“In close elections, we have
seen student disenfranchisement as a tool to limit democratic votes. We saw this in the
race for Senate District 11 in
2008, when students from St.
John’s University were subpoenaed during finals to defend
their ballot, and in 2009, when
students at Skidmore College
had their right to vote challenged
in Scott Murphy’s victory in the
NY-20. We hope that all parties involved will respect the right of
those students of St. Lawrence College, SUNY Potsdam, SUNY
Plattsburg, and SUNY Oswego to
participate in the upcoming election” said Rivera, in the hopes that
the upcoming Special Election
sees no student disenfranchisement.
“CDNY is looking forward to a
spirited campaign and cannot wait
to learn whom we will be supporting to become the next Representative of New York’s 23 rd Congressional District.”
Education
18
AUDREY'S
SOCIETY
WHIRL
National Minority Supplier Development
Council salutes trio of top businessmen
By Audrey J. Bernard
Lifestyles/Society Editor
When tall and tantalizing Earvin
“Magic” Johnson, chairman and
chief executive officer of Magic
Johnson Enterprises, launched
Magic Workforce Solutions, the
National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) – one
of the nation’s foremost corporate
membership organizations — certified the newly formed corporation as a 100% minority owned,
operated and financially controlled organization.
Last year, after having received the Southern California
Minority Business Development
Council 2008 Leadership Award,
the successful businessman attended NMSDC’s annual dinner-dance. The NBA superstar
was so buoyed by the event
that he made it known to
NMSDC’s fine and foxy president, Harriet R. Michel, he would
love to attend next year’s event
and play a more prominent role.
His wish was her command as
he was invited back to serve as
Master of Ceremonies for
NMSDC vice chairman Richard A. Hughes; honoree Alex Lopez Negrete; NMSDC president Harriet R. Michel;
Master of Ceremonies Earvin “Magic” Johnson; Lynn Marmer, group vice president of corporate affairs for The
Kroger Company, who accepted the corporate award on behalf of David B. Dillon; Kenneth “Mike” Ricketts; and
Honorary dinner-dance chairman Gerald J. Parsons
NMSDC’s annual leadership
awards dinner-dance on Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at the Hilton New
York and Towers in New York City.
The stellar event attracted
more than 1,250 guests including
CEOs and executives of Fortune
500 corporations and minority
business owners from across the
nation. The centerpiece of the
event was a salute to three iconic
business developers.
This year NMSDC honored
David B. Dillon, chairman and
chief executive officer of The
Kroger Company; Alex López
Negrete, president and chief executive officer of López Negrete
Communications; and Kenneth
M. Ricketts, president and chief
executive officer of Quality
Packaging Specialists Interna-
tional, at its annual leadership
awards.
“These three business leaders
have a legacy of unparalleled
commitment to minority business
development,” said Michel. “We
are proud to celebrate their longterm accomplishments and continued efforts to provide opportunities for all Americans to fully participate in our nation’s economy.”
Phyllis Ricketts, Bert Irigoyen, Scott McWilliams, Mike Avis Yates-Rivers, Hilton Carlton Bryant,
Ricketts and his mother Shirley Hargrove
O. Smith
Bryant-Howroyd
Macy's Ed Goldberg (center) with Harriet Michel and
Macy's guests
This event is always a classy
one and everyone was dressed to
the nines starting with Michel
who, along with her daughter-inlaws Michell Tollinchi Michel and
Valerie Michel, were all wearing
designs by b michael.
The dinner, music and reception
were beguiling. Adding to the
evening’s luster was the breathtaking ambience of the Grand Ballroom where the stage set-up included three giant screens flanking the NMSDC banner so every
seat in the house was orchestral.
Guests left with wonderful memories and a swag bag like no other.
Gerald J. Parsons, chairman and
chief executive officer of Communications Test Design, Inc.,
served as honorary chairman for
the gala event.
More than 170 chairmen of
America’s top corporations — including AT&T, Allstate, BristolJanice Myers Squibb, Chevron, Chrysler,
Coca-Cola, Colgate-Palmolive,
Eastman Kodak, Ford, Hilton,
Johnson & Johnson, Marriott,
Nestlé, Pfizer, Procter & Gamble,
Raytheon, and Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing —
served on the honorary dinnerdance committee.
Joy Crichlow (far right) with Con Edison guests
Michell Tollinchi Michel, Harriet R. Michel, Mark-An- Christopher Michel & Michell Tollinchi Michel, Harriet Swing dancers Lana Turner
thony Edwards, Valerie Michel and designer b michael
& Yves Michel and Valerie & Gregory Michel
and Calvin Keys
(Photos: Lonnie Major)
New CBC report may give peek at President’s Black Agenda 19
WASHINGTON (NNPA) - A biannual report released last week
by the Congressional Black Caucus may give a sneak peek at
President Barack Obama’s
agenda for Black America.
“We have a very forward-thinking, progressive, bold agenda
and that’s what we’re working on
in terms of the Congressional
Black Caucus agenda - but also
the president’s agenda - which
99 percent of the time is in sync,”
says CBC Chair Barbara Lee (DCalif.) in an interview with the
NNPA News Service.
“So, I see us as being in partnership as we should be as members of Congress with the executive branch to try to make sure
that we have an agenda that really speaks to – not only the
Black community and communities of color - but to the whole
country.”
On an election-eve phone conference with Black leaders, then
candidate Obama was emphatic
in a promised to never forget the
disparities in Black America. But,
since in the White House he has
not specifically outlined an
agenda for how these racial disparities would be addressed.
Lee reminds that President
Obama was a member of the CBC
before becoming president and
that the CBC’s 17 subcommittee
chairs and four committee chairs
are at the White House on a regular basis, working in tandem with
the President on various issues,
including those of racial and so-
cial injustice.
“And so members are at the White
House consistently and constantly
on the issues that revolve around
their committee, which also reflect
the perspective of the Congressional Black Caucus,” she says.
The bi-annual report, “Opportunities for All - Pathways Out of Poverty”, states that its purpose is to
push “for equal empowerment, including equal access to quality
education, public facilities and infrastructure, credit and public contracts, jobs and job training, affordable housing, and equal pay for
equal work. To supplement the priorities set forth by President Barack
Obama and Congressional Leadership, members of the CBC have introduced the following legislation
to address these needs.”
A letter from Lee, introducing the
report, states, “As our nation’s economic uncertainty continues, millions of Americans already struggling to overcome systemic poverty
are encountering greater hardships.
Millions more are grasping to maintain their quality of life during this
turmoil. This crisis is particularly
acute among African-Americans.
More than 24 percent of African
Americans live below the poverty
line and African-Americans are 55
percent more likely to be unemployed than other Americans.”
The report gives an account of
the CBC’s first six months under the
Obama Administration from January through June. It also gives a
list of specific bills to watch for the
remainder of the 111th Congress –
one bill from each member of the
42-member CBC.
An excerpt of the listed bills are
Connecticut anti death
penalty veto irks NAACP
NAACP President Benjamin
Todd Jealous joined with Connecticut House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan to condemn
Governor Jodi Rell’s veto of HB6578.
The NAACP Connecticut
State Conference launched a
campaign in support of the bill
which would have replaced the
death penalty with life in prison
without the possibility of
parole for all capital felonies
committed after the bill’s enactment. The bill was recently
passed by the Connecticut Judiciary Committee and by both
the House and the Senate, but
can be vetoed by Connecticut
Gov. M. Jodi Rell.
“Governor Rell’s veto of legislation will send innocent people
to death row. The State of Connecticut should invest the millions of dollars that death penalty cases cost into fighting
crime,” said Jealous. “The subjectivity and racial and socioeconomic disparities in death
row sentencing cannot be ignored. The cases of Troy Davis,
Reggie Clemons, and countless
other innocent men wrongfully
sentenced to death must give
pause to those with even a trace
of moral consciousness.”
Financial statistics show
that it costs taxpayers more to
execute a prisoner than sentence them to life without parole. A study by Duke University, for example, found that
the death penalty costs North
Carolina $2.16 million per execution over the costs of sentencing murderers to life imprisonment. The majority of those
costs occur at the trial level.
Several statistics suggest that
Connecticut’s death penalty is
applied in a discriminatory and
arbitrary manner. A recent
NAACP study shows that,
among states with at least 10
death row inmates, Connecticut
is tied with Texas in having the
highest percentage of death row
inmates who are minorities, at
70%. Half of the state’s 10 death
row inmates come from one town,
Waterbury, which makes up only
3% of the state’s population.
Other notables who attended
the press conference opposing
the Governor’s veto were Connecticut NAACP President Scot
X Esdaile, State Rep. Gary
Holder-Winfield, State Rep. Jason Rojas, ACLU of Connecticut Executive Director Andrew
Schneider, and Connecticut Network to Abolish the Death Penalty Executive Director Ben
Jones (CNADP).
Founded in 1909, the NAACP
is the nation’s oldest and largest
civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States
and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their
communities, conducting voter
mobilization and monitoring equal
opportunity in the public and private sectors.
Rep. Barbara Lee
President Barack Obama
below, along with descriptions obtained by NNPA from http://
Thomas.loc.gov, a search engine
for Congressional Legislation:
• H.R. 676, the United States National Health Care Act, introduced
by Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (DMich.): “To provide for comprehensive health insurance coverage for all United States residents,
improved health care delivery, and
for other purposes.” (D-Mich.);
• H. R. 1296, Access for All America
Act, introduced by Rep. James
Clyburn, also “To achieve access
to comprehensive primary health
care services for all Americans and
to reform the organization of primary care delivery through an expansion of the Community Health
Center and National Health Service Corps programs.”
• H.R. 795, the Dorothy I. Height
and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social
Work Reinvestment Act, introduced by Rep. Edolphus Towns
(D-N.Y.): “To establish the Social
Work Reinvestment Commission
to advise Congress and the Secretary of Health and Human Services on policy issues associated
with the profession of social work
and to authorize the Secretary to
make grants to support recruitment, retention, research, and reinvestment in the profession.”
• H.R. 1479 Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Modernization
Act of 2009 introduced by Rep.
Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas):
In part, “To enhance the availability of capital, credit, and other
banking and financial services for
all citizens and communities …”
• H.R. 2299 Minority Business Enhancement Act of 2009, introduced by Rep. Bobby L. Rush (DIll.), “To amend the Small Business
Act to enhance services to small
business concerns that are disadvantaged.”
• H.R. 1064/S. 435 the Youth Prison
Reduction through Opportunities,
Mentoring, Intervention, Support
and Education (PROMISE) Act, introduced by Rep. Robert C.
“Bobby” Scott (D-Va.): “To provide
for evidence-based and promising
practices related to juvenile delinquency and criminal street gang
activity prevention and intervention to help build individual, family,
and community strength and resiliency to ensure that youth lead productive, safe, healthy, gang-free,
and law-abiding lives.”
• H.R. 1728 Mortgage Reform and
Anti-Predatory Lending Act, introduced by Rep. Melvin L. Watt
(N.C.): “To amend the Truth in Lending Act to reform consumer mortgage practices and provide accountability for such practices, to provide
certain minimum standards for consumer mortgage loans.”
• H.R. 2451 Student Bill of Rights
introduced by Rep. Chaka Fattah (DPa.): “To provide for adequate and
equitable educational opportunities
for students in State public school
systems.”
• H.R. 265 Drug Sentencing Reform
and Cocaine Kingpin Trafficking
Act of 2009, introduced by Rep.
Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas)
• H.R. 1741 Witness Security and
Protection Grant Program Act of
2009, introduced by Rep. Elijah E.
Cummings (D-Md.): “To require the
Attorney General to make competitive grants to eligible State, tribal,
and local prosecutors to establish
and maintain certain protection and
witness assistance programs.”
By. Hazel Trice Edney
NNPA Editor-in-Chief
20
Beacon On
Opening Night
First Lady, Michelle Obama, attends
spring gala at American Ballet Theatre
Caroline Kennedy, Kevin McKenziee, Rachel Moore, First Lady First Lady Michelle Obama with Caroline Kennedy, Dr. Jill Biden and stuMichelle Obama, Sharon Patrick, Edward Fox, Dr. Jill Biden
dents of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre
post-performance gala dinner
under the posh Tent at Lincoln
Center.
The program featured ABT’s
President Barack Obama and
principal dancers in highlights
from the Company’s eight-week
served as Honorary Chairmen of
season, a special guest appearthe American Ballet Theatre’s
ance by jazz pianist Herbie
(ABT) 2009 Spring Gala at the
Hancock and a performance by
Metropolitan Opera House. The
the students of the Jacqueline
President sent his prettier half
Kennedy Onassis School at
to represent them.
American Ballet Theatre.
Mrs. Obama, who has beIn honor of the farewell seacome an iconic fashion plate,
son of principal dancer Nina
looked stunning in Azzedine
Ananiashvili, ABT Artist in ResiAlaia’s gunmetal cocktail dress
dence Alexei Ratmansky created
replete with a crinoline-lined
a pièce d’occasion, set to the
hemline as she was greeted by
waltz from Aram Khachaturian’s
VIPs including Rachel S.
Masquerade Suite, and performed
Moore, ABT’s executive direcby Ms. Ananiashvili.
tor.
Carolina Herrera, Caroline
This was the first visit for
Kennedy, Blaine Trump and
Mrs. Obama to ABT and she
Renée Zellweger served as
spoke compassionately about
Honorary Chairmen along with
the value of the arts and arts
the Obamas. Aileen Mehle is
education drawing hearty apChairman Emerita and Karin and
Stephen Sadove served as Corporate Co-Chairmen.
Henri Barguirdjian, Anne
Grauso, Ashley McDermott, Florence Low Sloan and Caryn
Zucker served as Gala Co-Chairmen and Danielle Ganek and
Ivanka Trump served as Vice
Chairmen of the evening.
American Ballet Theatre’s
2009 Spring Gala held on the
evening of May 18, was sponsored by Graff and Carolina
Herrera, Ltd. Superfund Asset
Management, Inc. is the sponsor of the 2009 Metropolitan
Opera House season. A portion
of the proceeds from the Spring
Herbie Hancock, Deborah Roberts, Desiree Rogers and Gala will support ABT’s education and community outreach
Al Roker
programs.
By Audrey J. Bernard
plause when she addressed the
commitment of this administration to the arts.
“It is with honor and great
pleasure that we welcome
Michelle Obama to American
Ballet Theatre’s Opening Night
Gala celebration,” said ABT’s
artistic director Kevin McKenzie.
“This administration’s commitment to the arts and, in particular, arts education, is music
to our ears. The combination of
seasoned artists and young talent on our stage is a true testament to the importance of that
ongoing commitment.”
ABT’s Opening Night Gala
kicked off at 6:30 p.m. with a regal reception in which seeing
Mrs. Obama was the topic of discussion with this crème de la
crème artsy crowd that anteed
up as much as $1,500, $2,000 and
$2,500 for the performance and
Kevin McKenzie, Rachel
Moore, Caroline Kennedy Annette Roque and Matt
and Ed Schlossberg
Lauer
Veronica Webb and Rachel
Roy
Renee Zellweger
(Photos: Mary Hilliard)
Thousands rally to renew Mayoral Control
in two day, five-borough school bus tour
More than 5,000 New Yorkers joined Learn NY’s
grassroots coalition over two
days and eight stops across
New York City’s five boroughs
to highlight the overwhelming
public support for mayoral control. With the deadline for renewing the mayoral control law
just weeks away, thousands of
people showed their support for
Mayoral Control by signing a
giant petition affixed to a yellow school bus thanking the
State Legislature for enacting
mayoral control in 2002 and calling on them to renew the law
this June.
Attendees at tour events also
sent postcards to their legislators
asking them to renew mayoral
control – approximately 2,000 let-
ters were sent in total. The fiveborough tour made stops in
Stapleton, Staten Island; Jamaica,
Queens; Co-Op City, Bronx;
Flushing, Queens; Canarsie,
Brooklyn; East New York, Brooklyn; Washington Heights, Manhattan; and Harlem, Manhattan.
The tour continued on to Jamaica, Queens, where the Reverend Dr. Floyd H. Flake led nearly
3,000 parents, students, educators and community leaders in a
large celebration at the Greater
Allen A.M.E. Cathedral. While
enjoying performances by student dance troupes and Calypso
legend Mighty Sparrow, families
showed their support by signing the pledge card affixed to the
Learn NY bus.
“It is absolutely essential
that New York City continues to
have mayoral control. Since 2002,
our schools have been moving
forward in a progressive manner.
The historical failures cannot rise
again. We need to make certain
that every child in our city has an
opportunity to receive the best
education. Mayoral control is our
chance to keep the progress going,” said Rev. Flake. (D.T.)
Rev. Floyd Flake signs the giant petition affixed to yellow school bus
Throngs of supporters applaud the Mighty Sparrow and his band during celebration held on the lawn of the Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral in
Jamaica, Queens, New York
The Scene
21
22
Mazeltov – America’s 1st Black female rabbi
By Vinette K. Pryce
On the anniversary veterans of
World War I and their families,
Europeans and a multitude of
Americans reflected on the historic nostalgia that ended June
6, 1944, a millennium generation
marked the date forging a new
chapter of unprecedented
achievement with the ordainment of the first Black, female
rabbi in the United States of
America.
D-Day regarded as the day of
liberation of Allied military
troops may also now be indelibly imprinted as the date in 2009
that 45-year-old African-American Alysa Stanton added a new
chapter to history books.
A former Christian who worshipped in the Pentecostal denomination, Stanton is now the
standout rabbi amongst an everchanging Jewish religious community.
Although African-Americans
are no strangers to the faith,
“Stanton’s ascendancy reflects
the slowly changing face of
America’s Jews.”
According to Diane Tobin, a
demographer with the San Francisco-based Institute for Jewish
and Community Research
(IJCR), 20% of American Jewry
is now non-Caucasian. Without
specific data related to Black
Jews, “a large percentage (of
non-white Jews) are African
American,” Tobin said. “Most
arrive via conversion, adoption
or mixed Jewish-Black marriages,” she added, “and are far
from Judaism’s fringes and part
of traditional communities.”
Ethiopian Jews have long established themselves in the religion
Also decades ago when actor/
dancer/singer Sammy Davis de-
clared his religious affiliation to
Judaism he immediately emerged
America’s declared “Black Jew.”
“Although I don’t think I could
worship with a woman holding
the Torah scroll, I think it is wonderful for women who feel they
would want to pray with a
woman,” Queens resident and
orthodox Lubavitch Behn Goldis
said.
“If it is a conviction that God is
directing her to, I hope God bless
her,” Rev. Herbert Daughtry, pastor of Brooklyn’s House of the
Lord Pentecostal Church added.
And Vivian Chew, a member of
Community Baptist Church in
Englewood, New Jersey said
“there’s no specification about
gender in the Bible” with reference to leadership. “The only
mention is that children of God”
should lead.
“We are living in very interesting times,” Rev. Daughtry added.
The activist preacher cited unprecedented and historic changes
such as the election of the first
African American president;
nomination of the first Latina to
the Supreme Court and the increased numbers of minorities to
key cabinet positions in government.
“I am getting tired of first,” Greg
Smith, a member of Abysinnia
Baptist Church said.
”This is the 21st century, the only
first, should be first in love. That
is what God wants.”
“This is an exciting next step in
my journey,” Stanton said. Embracing the pioneering status she
recently earned, added: “I’m
honored and awed by this
achievement.
“But I am foremost a rabbi who
happens to be African-American,
not The African-American
Rabbi.”
Born in Ohio 45 years ago in a
Black, female rabbi Alysa Stanton
family of Christians, Stanton
was ordained on June 6 after
completing seven years of rabbinical training at Hebrew Union
College – Jewish Institute of religion in Cincinnati. Reportedly,
her childhood in Ohio was a
conventional one, “propelled
early on by a search for spiritual nourishment.” She yearned
for more delving beyond her
Pentecostal roots seeking spiri-
tual direction. Stanton was attracted initially to Eastern religions and Evangelicalism, until
her family moved to a predominantly Jewish suburb of Cleveland. She attributed curiosity
and enticements as alluring to
embracing the Jewish faith.
Stanton sought guidance from a
Roman Catholic uncle who occasionally worshipped at a local
temple.
She had also enhanced her training studying for an entire year at
an Alabama synagogue. Reportedly the student rabbi did not believe the white, southern majority
would accept her or her marital
status as a divorced, parent of a
teenager named Shana.
Allegedly, some complained.
“Everyone has their initial impressions and outmoded stereotypes,” Stanton said of the experience. “But these people came to
embrace me and my child.”
Stanton was sure of her faith by
the time she reached her 20’s. With
that assurance after studying for
a year with a rabbi in Denver, she
converted fully to Judaism.
Some members of her family and
community were skeptical of her
defection from Christianity.
Perhaps they felt betrayal to beliefs she had been taught.
“I definitely don’t blend in,”
Stanton said.
“Worldwide, Jews come in every
color and hue, but in America,
mainstream Judaism is definitely
an Anglo demographic.”
“Thanks to other high-profile
rabbis, such as Capers Funnye, the
African-American leader of
Chicago’s Beth Shalom B’Nei
Zaken synagogue — and First
Lady Michelle Obama’s second
cousin — mainstream American
Jewry appears ready to embrace
leaders like Stanton.”
“And with African-Americans
becoming increasingly drawn to
Judaism, in part because of the
shrinking perception that they are
not welcomed by white Jews,”
Tobin said “the timing could not
be better for American Jewry to finally reconsider who and what
makes a Jew.”
Stanton is now bound for a synagogue in Greenville, North Carolina where she will preside over a
white congregation.
Obama reaches out to Islam in Cairo speech
By. Dorothy Rowley
mander-in-chief respect among
Special to the NNPA from the Muslims by acknowledging their
contributions to world culture
and science.
(NNPA) - President Obama’s
Obama used his June 4 address
speech last week to more than as a vehicle for repairing some of
900 million people in Cairo, the damage done to America’s
Egypt was suffused with refer- reputation as a result of the Iraq
ences of justice, tolerance and war, U.S. treatment of military dedignity aligned with the Islamic tainees and the lack of progress
way of life and earned the com- in Middle East peace talks, and
recalled that Morocco—also a
Muslim nation—was the first to
recognize American independence.
His presence in Cairo made
good on a campaign promise to
address the Islamic world from
a major Muslim capital early on
in his presidency, and during a
55-minute talk Obama often
quoted from the holy Quran.
Obama had stated during a
gathering earlier in the week in
the District of Columbia that he
wanted, “to use the occasion
[for] a broader message about
how the United States can
change for the better its relationship with the Muslim
world.”
About half of the Cairo crowd
were Muslim, as was Obama’s fa-
ther, a Kenyan. The president recalled living in Indonesia as a boy
and referred to Cairo as a “timeless city.”
Obama said he seeks a new beginning between the United States
and Muslims around the world,
one based upon mutual respect
and one based upon the truth that
America and Islam are not exclusive.
New Yorkers condemn so-called coup d’etat
(From page 3)
at billionaire Thomas Golisano,
who reportedly backed the takeover. He said Golisano has been
conspiring with a small cadre of
lawmakers to accomplish the
overthrow.
“Now anything goes: wealthy
donors walking around, taking
credit for it, moments after it happened. Is that reform?” the Governor asked.
Meanwhile, Golisano said he
began the process of pushing
for change two months ago because Sen. Smith was not reforming the Senate. He said he was
confident that the Skelos/
Espada team will bring about the
changes he seeks. The Roches-
ter businessman, who is relocating to Florida, said just a few
people, planned the overthrow.
In an interview, Sen. Smith said
he and his fellow Democrats are
still in control, though he said
there will be no legislative session until the smoke cleared and
the power feud was resolved.
He called the session that
ousted him “illegal” and pledged
to close the Senate until he could
be assured there would be no “circus.”
Sen. Espada has blamed the
coup on what he described as the
“sheer chaos” of the past six
month –including a secretive
state budget process and lack of
reforms. Since taking over control, the senator wasted no time
in instituting new rules, including an independent legislative
budget office and term limits for
legislative leaders.
Meanwhile, in addition to turning the Senate’s balance of
power upside down, the coup
raised the odds that the eight remaining days in this year’s legislative session, would be unproductive, political pundits
say.
Despite the fact he teamed up
with Republicans who voted
overwhelmingly to topple the
Democrats, Espada said he has
not switched his political party
affiliation. “I am still a Democrat,
but I just had to do what is necessary to bring about reform,”
he added.
Espada joined Sen.
Monserrate of Queens, to vote
with the Republicans for a rule
change that allowed the election
of a new leader. The remaining
34 senators, including Kruger
and Diaz, both of whom abstained from voting, stood with
hands held high to display their
support.
Sen. Smith on the other hand,
blamed the Republicans for moving to disrupt the Senate. “I
would hope the public is outraged,” the Senator said. He
urged voters to call their senators to keep the Democrats in
control. “This matter could end
up in court, though judges rarely
like to venture into the affairs of
the legislature,” he added.
Sen. Smith said he has been less
harsh with Sen. Monserrate, who
faces a maximum of seven years in
prison on assault charges. He is
free on $5,000 bail.
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said he is working with other
Democratic leaders to get the Senate back in Democratic hands.
Meanwhile, in addition to turning the Senate’s balance of power
upside down, the coup raised the
odds that the eight remaining days
in this year’s legislative session,
political pundits also say it will be
trapped in gridlock, as Republicanled Senate initiatives would have
to meet approval in the Democratic-controlled Assembly.
©
Fashion, Beauty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .& Stuff
By Audrey Adams
Consciously indulge
in feeling good
Audrey Adams
Does this sound like you? The
week’s not even over and you’re
already stressed about your
weekend chores: washing, ironing, cooking and cleaning, errands, family obligations and
preparing for the next week (such
as planning for what you
couldn’t get done over the weekend). You know the drill. So, it’s
no surprise that you are feeling a
bit frazzled, and wishing for
some, “Calgon take me away”
downtime. And don’t feel guilty;
it’s okay to take a few precious
minutes for weekend self indulgence.
Manicures, pedicures, facials,
getting your hair done, dinner at
a nice restaurant and the like are
great—and might help you look
and feel better—but they are
fleeting moments. So how about
thinking of another way to indulge? You can still do the regular stuff but, what I am about to
suggest is just an additional component, another perspective; one
that may actually have longerlasting results in making you feel
better and “beautiful” in spite of
your stress.
First start by counting your
blessings, then assess how significant your problems really are.
We all go through stressful times,
but regardless of what you are experiencing, you won’t have to look
far to find someone who has is less
fortunate. At least you are able to
consider spending a couple of
bucks on yourself to do something.
Look beyond yourself and do
something completely selfless for
someone else. Skip your manicure,
pedicure or facial, and instead give
it as a gift certificate to someone
who has never received one or
who is going through personal or
financial hard times.
There is also something else you
can give to others, and it’s free—a
smile, that’s right, smile with a love
that comes from your heart! It may
sound corny, but as the old song
goes, “What the world needs now
is love sweet love.” You are an integral part of the world environment,
so contribute your love to it. Then
you will see how the joy of giving
to others will make you glow from
the inside out in a way that no cosmetic treatment ever could. Your
true beauty will radiate from that
internal glow—a radiance that no
lipstick, moisturizer, hairstyle or facial could ever duplicate. Basically,
think of my suggestion of feeling
better and beautiful through “selfless indulgence” as in the old makeup rule: “Before you apply foundation, your face (e.g. your spirit),
should be a clean canvas.” Think
about it. See you next week. Visit
my website, TheAdamsReport.com
and checkout my online radio and
TV show, Talk! with Audrey for a
series of interviews that will inform,
motivate and inspire you. This
week, on AUDREY TV: I’d be
willing to bet that you have made
a few resolutions and among
them are . . . to lose weight and
get in shape this year!
It’s easy enough to make the
resolution, harder to followthrough, no matter how committed you are . . . or want to be . . .
life gets in the way and it’s easy
to fall back into old patterns. If
you have already fallen behind
and missed a few workouts meet
AJ Johnson . . . actress, fitness
expert and founder of The AJ
Zone and star of hit films House
Party, School Daze and Baby
Boy. A.J. graduated magna cum
laude in psychology from
Spellman College in Atlanta.
The AJ Zone has gained a
healthy reputation as a popular
Hollywood wellness concierge
business. A.J.’s enthusiastic
zest for health and wellness has
made her one of the most
sought-after lifestyle coaches
and wellness advocates in the
U.S. She shared her thoughts
with me about how to get moving and dieting.
Audrey Adams, former director of corporate public relations and fashion merchandising for ESSENCE continues to
motivate and inspire women
through her syndicated columns and motivational speaking engagements. E-mail your
fashion, beauty and lifestyle
questions or comments to her
at Audrey@THEADAMS
REPORT.com THE ADAMS
REPORT©
White House releases Black
‘100 Days’ after stimulus report
By. Hazel Trice Edney
NNPA Editor-in-Chief
WASHINGTON (NNPA) – The
administration of President
Barack Obama has released a
special report listing at least
“100 Projects” that it views as
highlights of projects underway
in Black communities around the
nation, funded by the $787 billion economic stimulus that he
announced about 100 days ago
on Feb. 17.
“Since President Obama
signed the American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act 100 days
ago, resources have made their
way into African-American communities with investments in
schools, health care, clean energy and other infrastructure
projects saving or creating thousands of jobs,” says a statement
leading into the list of projects.
“The Recovery Act is providing
relief in hard hit areas and extending opportunity to those
out of work and looking for a
new path to prosperity.”
The introduction continues,
“Here is a sample of the projects
from the ‘100 Projects, 100 Days’
report that have impacted the African-American community.”
The report states that since the
Recovery Act was signed, “more
than $112,000 billion in Recovery
Act funds has been obligated to
stimulative programs and projects
and over 150,000 jobs have been
created or saved by the Recovery Act.”
The report was sent by email
from Corey Ealons, the
President’s director of AfricanAmerican Media, in the form of a
news release. It was headlined,
“President Obama Marks 100
Days of Recovery With ‘100
Projects, 100 Days’ Report.” The
sub-headline said, “African
American families, businesses,
prepare for new opportunities
from Recovery Act”.
The release comes after last
month’s press conference during
which Obama, the nation’s first
Black president, was asked about
the rising rate of Black unemployment. His general answer “a rising tide lifts all boats,” drew widespread criticism on Black radio
and columnists around the na-
tion.
“It think the response to the
president’s strategy of the ‘rising tides lifts all boats’ was so
negative on the part of many
people, such as journalists,
bloggers, and across the community and radio shows that I
think the White House felt that
it had to respond by putting together a specific list of projects
for African-Americans who are
benefitting,” says University of
Maryland Politic Scientist Dr.
Ron Walters.
“There’s been quite a bit of
criticism that African-Americans were not feeling the weight
of the stimulus money that’s
coming into the communities.
Even though some of us have
been trying to say they should
be forming task forces and
things like that to begin to track
those funds, they still feel that
it has been a responsibility of
the White House to direct these
funds into those areas that need
them most. And so they haven’t
heard that message. And I think
this is an attempt to try to begin to get at that,” he said.
(Real People, Real Advice)
Ask Deanna! Is an advice column
known for it’s fearless approach
to reality-based subjects.
Dear Deanna!
I’m the babysitter for my neighbor and the kid’s father is starting to
make hints that he wants a relationship. He has given me flowers and we
shared a bottle of wine when his wife was out of town. He’s putting
pressure on me to be intimate but I don’t feel comfortable in his house.
I need to talk to him to see what he wants from me and what his plans are
for his marriage. How do I have this discussion?
Stressed Babysitter
Charleston, SC
Dear Babysitter:
The only discussion you need to have is the one asking for your check
from his wife and ending your services. This man only wants you for
sex because his wife is away working and he sees a willing babysitter.
Don’t be flattered by the wine because that was part of his game to get
you to give it up. You don’t need to discuss anything with him except
the fact you’re not interested and he needs to find another babysitter
and keep it moving.
Dear Deanna!
My sister has moved in with me and it’s a total disaster. She is a liar, a
thief and a master manipulator. I am used to a calm life that doesn’t
involve anyone opening my mail, answering my phone and acting as if
they live in a hotel with room service. I’m going to put her out but I have
to face drama from my family because she’s told them a pack of lies. Our
family is torn and she already has everyone on her side. How do I evict
her and still save face?
Anonymous
Los Angeles, CA
Dear Anonymous:
You need your sister and all of this madness just like you need a hole
in the head. However, your sister is someone you grew up with and you
knew most things about her before she moved in. This decision is quick
and to the point. If it’s your house, your rules and your money, then she
needs to shape up or ship out. If you have some joint agreements, then
you need to change some locks, make new rules and try again before
sending her packing.
Dear Deanna!
I am fresh out of a long term relationship and I really enjoy my single
life and freedom. My girlfriends all envy me and now their boyfriends are
accusing them of cheating and looking for men when they hang out with
me. I am not going to water down my lifestyle right now and my friends
are having a hard time with this. They say that I am acting loose and as
if I don’t have any morals. I think they’re tied down to balls and chains
and are jealous. Am I wrong?
Happy and Free
On-line Reader
Dear Happy:
The men of your friends are insecure and obviously don’t know their
women as well as they think. If your behavior is affecting them, you
need to cool off and slow it down a bit when you’re around them. These
are your friends and you need to still show some respect and regard for
the differences in your relationships, or lack thereof. At the end of the
day, enjoy your life and realize that everyone is responsible for their
choices. Yours just appears more fun right now
Ask Deanna is written by Deanna M. Write Ask Deanna!
Email: [email protected] or write:
Deanna M, 264 S. La Cienega, Suite 1283, Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Website: www.askdeanna.com
Among the national projects,
programs and benefits listed in
the White House ‘100 Days’ report that the Administration says
largely affected the Black community:
• Unemployed individuals, who
were laid off, began collecting an
extra $25 a week in unemployment benefits paying 65 percent
less for their COBRA health insurance premiums.
• Ninety-five percent of working
families saw their take-home pay
increase because of the Making
Work Pay tax credit.
• Qualifying families saw their
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits
increase by over 13 percent.
• Fifty-four million seniors received $250 Recovery Act relief
payments, with similar benefits
going to veterans and other
groups in the coming weeks.
• Thirteen different renewable en-
ergy and energy efficiency tax incentives were expanded or made
newly available to consumers and
businesses.
• The First-Time Homebuyer Tax
Credit was expanded to help
Americans receive a tax credit of
up to $8,000 after the purchase of
a new home and over $3 billion in
these tax credits were paid out to
qualifying homebuyers.
• $5 billion in temporary assistance
for needy families.
• $2.3 billion for child care and child
vaccinations.
• $1 billion in Community Service
Block Grants
• $1 billion for COPS neighborhood
policing program
• $2 billion to expand Head Start
and Early Head Start Programs
• $3 billion for improvements to
public housing including energy
efficiency upgrades
THE ADAMS REPORT Ask Deanna!
23
24
YOU GO, GIRL!
DeDe McGuire – radio’s reigning
‘Double Duty Diva’ of drive time
Edited by Audrey J. Bernard
DeDe McGuire, one of radio’s
most seasoned and successful
personalities, is now the undisputed Double Duty Diva of
drive time.
Currently serving as co-host
with Doug Banks of the nationally-syndicated, afternoon
show “The Ride with Doug &
DeDe,” she can now also be
heard every morning on the “Da
Playground” on legendary
KKDA-FM K104 (Service
Broadcasting) in Dallas.
This is radio history in the
making. It is rare in itself for a
female to be a leader in one drive
time shift, but in two drive time
shifts with two different formats, it has been unheard of until now!
“The Ride with Doug &
DeDe,” which is syndicated by
Citadel Communications, serves
the urban AC demo targeting
the 25-54 set, while “Da Playground” on K104 in Dallas targets the urban demo in the 1834 range.
The veteran radio jock’s return to K104 is actually a homecoming. In 1992 she took on the
afternoon drive shift at K104
which was another first as she
became the first female to host
the PM drive in that market.
“She’s such a natural, and
undoubtedly a team player,”
declares Skip Cheatham, K104
program director and the lead
“player” on the morning show.
“She brings energy and realness, no inhibitions. She will
talk about anything, good, bad,
positive or negative -- it’s all on
the table with an uncanny way
of engaging the listeners.”
Although initially hired as the
receptionist, management recognized her dynamic voice and
personality at a country station
in Killeen, Texas. It wasn’t long
before she went to work on air
and then to program cross-town
KIIZ.
She held down gigs at KTFM
in San Antonio before taking on
afternoons at K104. Her career
then took her to WPNT in Chicago, where she hosted a latenight dating show for two years
before heading to Top 40 WIQQ
in Philadelphia as the mid-day
afternoon drive personality.
Successfully hosting two
syndicated video programs and
after having made numerous
guest appearances on top local
and national talk shows,
McGuire was contacted by
Doug Banks to join him as cohost of his then morning show
“The Doug Banks Morning
Show,” which is presently heard
in the afternoons as the “The
Ride with Doug & DeDe.”
Per K104 OM Gary Saunders,
“I’ve always been impressed
with DeDe’s knowledge of radio.
She’s is not just a personality,
she stays up on the new technology, such as the PPM and
keeps that in mind with her delivery. She knows what it takes
to win.”
Saunders, who worked with
McGuire for nine years when
“The Doug Banks Show” was a
morning show, is confident she
demo I identify with in terms of
women and that core audience
member. A key difference –
there’s more info in the afternoons that allows me more personality and entertainment
news…straight and to the point.
In the mornings my role is different. I’m the fun girl on the
show that throws in the jokes
and gets you into a positive
mind set for the rest of the day,”
“I really enjoy it that much, even in this day and time. When
I’m on vacation, I can’t wait to get back and share my experience with the listeners. I’m in it for the long run with
my career. If I have my way, I will be walking up to a radio
station in my walker!” – DeDe McGuire
can handle both mornings locally
and afternoons with a national
audience. “McGuire is truly
making radio history conquering
two drive time shifts in two formats,” he affirmed.
As a versatile performer, in the
mornings she will handle the 1834 female target demo with ease,
talking about everything from
serious issues such as mental
health to the foibles of dating.
In the afternoons, she is just as
much at ease with the 25-54 set.
Split personalities? “Yes and
no,” McGuire laughs. “My roles
are so different. With Doug I’m
more of an information specialist. I give out the entertainment
buzz and the news, etc. It’s a
more mature delivery for 25-54;
with mornings it’s 18-34 and it’s
not that far off,” she admits.
“There’s definitely a central
she concluded.
“DeDe is more than a cohost, she is like a sister to me.
If there is anyone that can do
these two jobs successfully it’s
her,” says Banks.” She’s a great
partner. We’ve been together
for 12 years now. I know for a
fact that she works hard and I
am sure she will break new
ground with her new position.
As long as she doesn’t stay out
all night, I know she will be
great.”
Her personality, her hunger
for knowledge to pass on to her
listeners, her ability to be the
girlfriend next door as well as
the Cougar (nickname given to
her by co-host Banks due to
young men’s attraction to her
fresh, outgoing and lovable
personality) keeps her popular
for urban AC audiences nation-
wide on “The Ride With Doug
& DeDe,” and made her an easy
choice to join Dallas’ urban
leader, K104’s “Da Playground.”
McGuire says she loves being on the radio and can’t see
doing anything else. “I really
enjoy it that much, even in this
day and time. When I’m on vacation, I can’t wait to get back
and share my experience with
the listeners. I’m in it for the
long run with my career. If I have
my way, I will be walking up to
a radio station in my walker!”
DeDe McGuire was born in
Seattle, Washington in a home
where music permeated the air.
“My mother was a singer and
loved music and radio,” she recalls. “She used to do voice
over work for a local radio station in Seattle.”
McGuire’s childhood was
filled with her desire to perform.
“I loved singing, performing and
conducting talent shows at a
very early age so much that I
would hold mini concerts for my
family and friends,” she laughs.
McGuire also loved talking and
would often play DJ. “My mom
bought me a tape recorder and I
would sing and talk into it. I
would actually play DJ on it.”
So, it’s safe to say that at a very
early age, McGuire had a voice
for radio.
McGuire was also an avid
reader. “I loved reading and
was in the speech and drama
clubs as a kid.” She attended
Texas Womens University and
Central Texas College where she
would engage her fellow students in great conversations!
Today, McGuire is one of the
most recognized personalities in
modern radio.
In the mornings, she can be
heard in Dallas on urban KKDAFM (K104), the market’s leading
station, on “Da Playground.”
Afternoons, millions across the
country tune in on more than 50
stations as she co-hosts “The
Ride With Doug & DeDe.”
Talk about your fly jock!
Of course, Tom Joyner (one
of McGuire’s inspirations) is
the original fly jock. But the
similarities between McGuire
and Joyner are uncanny. In the
‘80s, Joyner broke new ground
by taking on the morning air
shift on K104 in Dallas and the
afternoon drive time in Chicago
on WGCI.
Technology wasn’t what it is
today, so Joyner flew back and
forth each day, thus the nickname the fly jock. In the mid’90s, Joyner’s show became nationally syndicated.
Like Joyner, McGuire does
mornings at K104 in Dallas and
she is heard in afternoon drive
in Chicago on V103, and like
Joyner, she is nationally syndicated.
She is undoubtedly the No. 1
female personality in the country,
heard on more than 50 stations
with an audience of millions.
But… McGuire has gone one
step further, as she is heard on
two different formats. Her ability
to serve two different demographic arenas comes from years
of experience as a personality for
different formats, and even a stint
as a programmer. She’s made her
way to the top with hard work, perseverance and pure love for her
craft.
The return to Dallas in April
was actually a homecoming for
McGuire. She took on afternoon
drive at K104 in Dallas in 1992.
That in itself was groundbreaking
– she was the first female to host
p.m. drive in the market.
Recently, K104’s news director
was out for a week and McGuire
came in to fill in. The energy she
brought was so incredible and the
listeners responded so positively,
Saunders says that KKDA knew
they had to have her.
Indeed, the drive diva is feisty
and fierce, yet feminine and fine.
Yes! FINE! This seasoned sister
is a Cougar in the true sense of
the word. Younger men are inevitably attracted to her. It’s her
fresh, outgoing and lovable personality.
“I attract them,” she admits. “I
go with what works for me. It actually started with Doug Banks. I
was always talking about a guy I
met or dated and they would always be younger. I couldn’t meet
a guy older than me. So Doug
started calling me a Cougar. It
really works for K104, too. I get
younger guys coming up to me
like crazy from the show.”
McGuire is the consummate
professional. She preps for both
shows daily, scouring the Internet
news sites, reading everything
she can get her hands on, and
most of all, talking to her audience. She also has a physical routine that keeps her fresh and energetic. “I take a lot of vitamins,
eat properly, get my rest and do
some kind of cardio. Red Bull is
my best friend.”
McGuire has always been active in the community, working
with the United Negro College
Fund and the NAACP. She is also
concerned about mental health,
especially among African-Americans.
“Mental health is very important. More people are talking
about it now, and that’s important.
A lot of mental health issues affect African-Americans and it
doesn’t get talked about. It’s
been a taboo subject.”
One thing about DeDe
McGuire, she is never boring. Her
hobby, in fact, is laughing! “I
have a very relaxing job. I laugh
so hard every day.” She also likes
going to the movies and she enjoys reading. And… she loves
the young men!
(Photo by Mandel Ngan of Getty Images)
Desiree Rogers, Valerie
Jarrett (Photo by Kyle Samperton)
25
Michelle Obama dazzles attendees at White
House Correspondent’s Association dinner
in pink sheath dress by
Michael Kors and a St.
Erasmus jeweled necklace
CATWALKIN’ with Fashion & Beauty editor Audrey J. Bernard
The 2009 White House Correspondents’ Dinner (WHCD) attracted as many Hollywood stars
as it did fashionistas, journalists,
politicians and other VIPs to the
recent, annual event at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C.
The red carpet was a designer’s
paradise as the ladies and gents
appeared in top designer’s black
tie attire. The stellar soiree held
on Saturday, May 9, also attracted
President Barack Obama and
First Lady Michelle Obama.
The gala was a charity
fundraiser dedicated to feeding
the hungry and funding journalism scholarships that were
handed out by NBC’s Brian
Williams and Mrs. Obama who
looked drop-dead gorgeous in
designer Michael Kors’ hot pink,
sheath-style dress topped off
with a jewel-encrusted necklace
by St. Erasmus. The stunning
First Lady dazzled the celebrityfilled crowd and throngs of onlookers and her ravishing look
did not go unnoticed by her
proud and lucky husband.
“It’s great to be here. It’s great
to see all of you,” said the Presi-
dent. “Michelle Obama is here, the
First Lady of the United States.
Hasn’t she been an outstanding
First Lady? She’s even begun to
bridge the differences that have
divided us for so long, because no
matter which party you belong to
we can all agree that Michelle has
the right to bare arms.” His comment garnered thunderous applause and admiring laughter.
Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise pose with scholarship win- Comic-In-Chief President Obama garners lots of laughter
ners
(Photo by Brendan Smialowski) at WHCA dinner
Trudie Styler & Sting
Al Roker & Deborah Roberts
Alicia Keys
Kate Capshaw & Steven
Spielberg
The Rev. Al Sharpton, Tyra Banks, Chris Tucker
Victoria Rowell
Wanda Sykes
Forrest Whitaker & Keisha
Whitaker
Director George Lucas with girlfriend Mellody Hobson
(Photos: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd. and Tim Sloan/AFP/Getty Images)
26
WHAT’S GOING ON
By Victoria Horsford
NEW YORK, NY
On Monday, June 8, while working on a final draft of a recent interview with Governor David
Paterson, news broke about two
NYS Senate defections to the Republicans. Senators Pedro
Espada of the Bronx and Hiram
Monserrate of Queens decided to
caucus with Republicans, making
the latter the Senate majority.
Their move was engineered, by
NYS billionaire and failed politico aspirant, Tom Golisano,
who initially financed the Democratic Senate control. He was
dissatisfied with the slow pace
of Senate reform, higher taxes,
and was dissed by Senate Majority Leader Smith, who disrespectfully blackberry-ed during
their tete-a-tete. Golisano has a
history of buying political influence. A NY Daily News editorial
about Albany is titled “Beneath
Contempt: Billionaire Tom
Golisano is the worst of the vile
crew in the Albany cesspool.”
Senators Espada and
Monserrate, character references
notwithstanding, do not lend
their services gratis. The NY Post
says. “We shudder to imagine the
promises Senator Skelos made to
engineer the coup, which was a
month in the making.” Espada
was named President Pro Tempore and next in the line of succession to the Governor and
would be in charge, if Paterson
travels out of state. It is scary!
Senator Espada is under investigation by the NYS Attorney
General’s office for questionable
campaign financing; and Senator
Monserrate faces felony charges,
cutting his girlfriend’s face, a post
11/4 election incident. Politics
makes for strange bedfellows.
Espada and Monserrate in bed
with the Republicans and deeppockets, loose cannon egomaniac Golisano.
The three local newspapers,
normally unfriendly to Governor
Paterson, have been sympathetic, NYT writer Jim Dwyer
says. And suddenly NYS has
very good reason to wish for
David Paterson’s continuing
good health.” A NYT editorial
“Albany’s Madhouse” says.
“Mr. Paterson has done the right
thing – to say the least- by
promising not to go out of state
for awhile.”
At NY Beacon press time, the
Democrats refused to cede
power to the chamber to the Republicans who meet in hallways; Reverend Al Sharpton is
organizing buses to Albany next
Monday to return order to the
unfolding tragedy; Monserrate
is vacillating and may return to
the Democrats, there are reports
of other Democrats defecting.
Who needs to go to the movies
when you live in NYS
If the Republicans take control of the Senate, it will alter
Governor Paterson’s agenda.
Last week, he scored points with
state labor unions, renegotiating contracts. His gay marriage
initiative, enormously, will be
stalled. Mayor Bloomberg’s will
probably retain control of the
schools without adjustments.
Today, NYS Senate politics is
fluid. It is a NY mess. You can
read the Governor Paterson in-
David Paterson
Malcolm Smith
terview re-write next week.
AROUND THE TOWN:
The Brooklyn Academy of Music BAM, the Asia Society and
the NYU Center for Dialogues copresent MUSLIM VOICES: ARTS
AND IDEAS FESTIVAL, from
June 5 to 14. The arts and culture
extravaganza offers film, music,
theatre and intercultural dialogue,
by more than 100 Moslem artists
from Brooklyn, Senegal, Algeria,
France, Morocco, Palestine, Iran,
Indonesia and beyond.
Moslem Voices headliner
Senegal’s Youssou N’Dour, a
Grammy Winner and Africa’s
equivalent of a pop music superstar, will perform live in concert
and attend the American premiere
of his new film I BRING WHAT I
LOVE, which will be screened at
the Paris Theatre in Manhattan
and at BAM. For the complete
MOSLEM VOICES directory of
events, visit moslemvoices
festival.org.
The NY and NJ Minority Supplier Development Council’s
(NYNJMSDC) Business Opportunity Expo 2009 will be held on
Tuesday June 16 at the NY
Marriott Marquis Hotel,1535
Broadway, Manhattan, NYC. The
2009 NYNJMSDC Expo theme is
Staying In The Game: Winning In
the New Economy and will examine growth and sustainability
strategies for minority businesses
during this economic climate.
Entrepreneurs such as Harvard
MBA and NBC-TV’s “The Apprentice” and former NBA cager
Walter Bond are among Expo’s
featured speakers. For reservations and a complete schedule of
the NYNJMSDC Expo which includes workshops, seminars,
power business breakfast and
luncheon, evening reception, and
a trade fair, call 212.502-5663 or
visit nynjmsdc.org.
If wanderlust is your habit,
check out one of Marlene
Melton’s worldwide tour packages, especially a summer plea-
sure to Brazil, from August 824. Itinerary: 7 days in Bahia,
the African heart and soul of
Brazil; 4 days in Rio and 3 days
in one of the most luxe hideaways in the New World.
There is also a 12 day tour to
Egypt, in October, where antiquity and the present co-exist.
Visit Cairo, The Pyramids,
Sphinx, Egyptian Museum,
Khan El Khalili Bazaar, and Nile
Cruises. You’re literally awake
in the past. For tour package
details call 212.280-4374 or visit
africanveneturesnyc.com
CARIBBEAN AMERICAN
HERITAGE MONTH
This is a special shout-out to
Caribbean Americans during a
month celebrating them. Publicist Sandra Black, Adolfo Carrion, Actor Anthony Chisolm,
Fine Artist LeRoy Clark, Real Estate Investor Al Cunningham,
Music executive Sandra TrimDaCosta, Cultural historian Pearl
Duncan, Rapper Fabulous/Entrepreneur Leon Eastmon, cultural historian Joy Elliott, Real
Estate baron Maurice Grey, Penguin Books editor Cherise Davis
Fisher, Filmmaker Bill Greaves,
Actor Dennis Haysbert, Real Estate broker Franklyn Hernandez,
Musical theatre producer Vy
Higginsen and US Attorney
General Eric Holder.
Also, actress Anna Maria
Horsford/ Real Estate investor
Robert Horsford; Entrepreneur
Clarence Jones; Pamela Joseph,
MD; Bank Street College Dean
Fern Khan, author Jamaica
Kincaid, who is really Antiguan;
Wall Streeter Maxine Larmond,
Wall Streeter/Writer Petra
Lewis, Writer Earl Lovelace,
Edgar Mandeville, MD; Writer
Rosalind McClymont, Wall
Streeter Victor McConnell, educator Stanley McIntosh; travel
executive Roy Miller, writer
Misani; John Mitchell, MD;
educator, Dr. Lorraine Monroe;
National Urban League Executive Director Marc Morial, Photographer Hakim Mutlaq/
Pulitzer playwright Lynn
Nottage, attorney Ernst
Perodin; actress Jada Pinkett.
Additionally, Gov. David
Paterson, Music executive
LaVerne Perry-Kennedy, statesman Colin Powell, real estate investor Eddie Poteat, George
Powell, actress Sheryl Lee
Ralph, Ways & Means Committee Chair, Cong. Charles Rangel,
a US Amb. to the UN Susan
Rice.
And Carib News Editor-inChief Karlissa Rodney, attorney/Monroe College Dean,
Michelle Rodney; TODAY
Show principal Al Roker, real
estate Investor Karen Soltau,
NYS Senate Majority Leader
Malcolm Smith, former NYC Finance Commissioner Martha
Stark, attorney Janette Seraile,
real estate investors Alyah
Sidberry and Yvonne Stafford/
Inner City Broadcasting
Chairman;CEO Pierre (Pepe)
Sutton, Queen Latifa, NYC
Comptroller and Democratic
Mayoral hopeful Bill Thompson, attorney William “Andy”
White: attorney Nathanael
Wright, filmmaker/journalist Eric
Tate and WBLS/Radio/TV journalist Wendy Williams.
Stimulus funded program
(From page 3)
Development Agency and Capital Resource Corporation Boards
gave preliminary approval to
amend their Uniform Tax Exempt
Policy to accommodate the program. The Boards also approved
designated Recovery Zones in the
five boroughs, which are made up
of economically distressed areas
lying within existing Empowerment Zones and Empire Zones,
and areas that are currently eligible for Industrial Development
Agency and New Market Tax
Credit benefits.
Applications for the program
will be available starting today.
Because the bonds must be issued by the end of 2010, applications for projects that can begin
or be re-started immediately will
be processed first, followed by
projects with longer lead times.
To be eligible for the program,
projects must be located in a
designated Recovery Zone, have
the ability to move forward and
obtain all required permits and
approvals quickly and require financing between $20 and $100
million. Projects requiring less
than $20 million may be considered if their return to the City or
impact on the community is
deemed significant.
Additional selection criteria
include a project’s return to the
City, job creation potential, and
economic and environmental impact on the community. Projects
will ultimately require approval
by the Industrial Development
Agency or Capital Resource
Corporation Boards. Applications for the Recovery Zone Facility Bond Program will also be
evaluated to determine eligibility for other Economic Development Corporation programs.
The Recovery Zone Facility
Bond Program is available to private development in a manner
similar to the New York Liberty
Bond Program, which was developed following the events of September 11, 2001, and was administered by EDC and Empire State
Development Corporation. The
Liberty Bond Program provided
low cost bond financing for major
projects that contributed a great
deal to the revitalization of Lower
Manhattan and ensured the City’s
long-term economic health.
The program is the newest tool
available to the Industrial Development Agency and Capital Resource Corporation to help New
York City companies prosper and
grow in the City, create and retain
jobs, and make the City’s neighborhoods more livable.
Since January 2002, they have
closed on 330 transactions, leveraging approximately $11.8 billion
in private financing, with 85,212
jobs retained in New York City as
a result. This past year has presented businesses of all sizes with
unparalleled challenges. However,
despite this difficult climate in fiscal year 2009, Industrial Development Agency and Capital Resource Corporation incentives
helped facilitate the private investment in New York City from
private companies of approximately $392 million.
These private investments are
being used to acquire, renovate,
furnish and equip industrial,
manufacturing and other facilities
throughout the five boroughs.
These projects are retaining and
creating approximately 8,550 fulltime equivalent jobs.
To apply for the Recovery Zone
Facility Bond Program, call 311, or
visit www.nyc.gov.
To maintain accountability and
transparency in the City’s use of
stimulus funding, all such funding allocated to New York City can be
closely tracked at www.nyc.gov/
stimulustracker. ARRA dollars can be
tracked from initial allocation through
project completion. In addition, the
public can track key performance measures – such as jobs created – showing how these projects and programs
benefit the City.
The City’s Five Borough Economic Opportunity Plan is a comprehensive strategy to bring New
York City through the current economic downturn as fast as possible. It focuses on three major areas: creating jobs for New Yorkers
today, implementing a long-term
vision for growing the city’s
economy, and building affordable,
attractive neighborhoods in every
borough.
Taken together, the initiatives that the City has launched to
achieve these goals will generate
thousands of jobs and put New
York City on a path to economic
recovery and growth. To learn more
about the plan, visit nyc.gov.
White House releases Black
‘100 Days’ after stimulus report
(From page 23)
• $8.4 billion for public transit
• $500 million for training in green
jobs
• $155 million for community
health centers across America
Black businesses and subcontractors across the nation have
also expressed dissatisfaction at
being able to secure contracts.
However, the White House report says all contracts are subject to equality and anti-discrimination laws.
“Resources used through the
Recovery Act are subject to the
same anti-discrimination policies as other funding made
available through the federal
government. The White House
Office of Management and Budget has also issued directions
noting that disadvantaged business enterprises should be given
full consideration as project managers seek out vendors for Recovery Act projects. Visit this site at
www.grants.gov to learn more
about grants available through
the Recovery Act.”
Simply finding information has
been another point of contention.
The report states that “Businesses interested in getting more
information about opportunities in
their area should consult their state
or local Recovery Act implementation director through office of
their local mayor or governor.”
NNPA Award Winner
27
By Don Thomas
A tribute project
Gospel singers celebrate President Barack Obama
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE Central South Distribution, the
largest independent Christian distributor in the United States of
America, will release “A Gospel
Tribute to President Obama” on
June 9, 2009. With an affordable
retail list price, the collection embodies a message of hope, inspiration and faith.
Gospel Stellar Award-winning
Donnie McClurkin of “We Fall
Down” fame contributes the affirmation “King Inside of Me” while
gold-selling artist Israel Houghton
offers up “Send Me to the Nations.” Other men raising their
voices include veteran vocalist
Jerard Woods on “I’m Gonna
Make It” and William Murphy on
“Changes.”
Micah Stampley’s sky-high tenor
mixes with Michael O’Brien’s jazzy
tones on “Brothers and Friends.”
Real life brothers, The Williams
Brothers, shone their light on the
warm and cozy retro soul-styled
tune, “Still Here.”
R&B veterans Kelly Price and
Shirley Murdock pay tribute to
President Barack Obama
Michelle Obama, who has graced
the cover of Time magazine and become a worldwide celebrity herself,
on “The Curtain’s Raised”
Gospel Dream contest winner
Benita Washington admonishes the
listener to look beyond the curtain
and to claim one’s destiny on the
sweeping ballad “This is Your Cue”
which features samples of an Obama
stump speech. Southern songbird
Dottie Peoples brings the engaging
“Closing In” to the party while singing evangelist Juanita Bynum adds,
“Change is on the Way.” The
project closes with the stirring “Path
in the Water” by Bishop T.D. Jakes’
Potter’s House Mass Choir.
The bulk of the CD was produced
by Grammy Award-winning production duo, Victor and Cedric Caldwell,
who have worked with an array of
best-selling artists ranging from
Whitney Houston to Take 6. Such
luminaries as Kevin Bond, Marc Harris, Tommy Sims and Myron Williams produced other tracks. For
more information on this and other
gospel projects, log on at
www.ilovegospelmusic.com (DT)
Bishop Greg O’Quin sings about clear new day
Compiled By Don Thomas
Greg O’Quin picks up right
where he left off. We remember
him showing us how to speak to
the storm around us, and his
new release will show us what is
on the other side. He returns
after 8 years to let us know what
life is and what life should be
after the storm. Replete with
messages of appreciation,
praise, breakthrough and joy, his
new CD, After the Storm reflects
the dawn of the clear new day.
“During the time between the
last project and this release, God
worked on me. In those years,
He called me to preach and at
first I ran from the call. But God
stopped me and I was reminded
that when I prayed and asked
God for my ‘gift’ years ago, He
gave it to me immediately so it
was time for me to do what He
wanted me to do.
“I never stopped writing or
being creative … but I dedicated
the time to doing Kingdom business – worked on the church and
on me. I have a new glow because of the time I spent doing
exactly what God asked me to
do,” O’Quin explained.
The new project has the passion of ‘old-school gospel’ with
the energy and relevancy of
‘new-school’ R&B. Emotionally
charged, it offers 15 diverse
tracks – from the brand new lead
single “Lead Me Jesus,” to the
reggae bounce of “Pray,” to the
ingenious “Say A Little Prayer”; all
perfectly-executed songs drawn
from O’Quin’s musicality and his
innate ability to connect with
people through simple and heartfelt lyrics.
“On this project, I was able to
write deeper in context to offer
what I call Reality Worship Gospel. This genre of gospel music
reflects a worshiper that is going
through a storm, yet determined to
get a praise through in the midst
of that storm. Their breakthrough
is engineered and manifested by
their worship.
“Now I know there are people
out there who are saying ‘God I
love you right now and want to
praise You – but I’m struggling, I’m
having a hard day.’ People need
something more than traditional
praise and worship to help them
get through … to help them figure
it out,” says Greg.
An industry veteran, O’Quin
had been making music and recording since 1992 and came to the
attention of Ruben Rodriguez,
CEO and founder, Pendulum
Records last year. Rodriquez relaunched his groundbreaking label
in 2007 with the gospel debut of
Grammy Award star, Regina Belle.
Proving his commitment to Gospel
music, Rodriguez heard O’Quin’s
music and saw the potential in this
outstanding release.
“Greg is an exceptional artist/
musician/producer and man of
God. I’m excited to welcome him
as a new member of the Pendulum
Bishop Greg O’Quin
Family. We are off to a great start
with ‘Lead Me Jesus’ which was
#1 most added at Gospel Radio
for multiple weeks and Top 20 in
just three and a half weeks. All
signs are pointing to ‘Lead Me
Jesus’ being a top charting song.
The soon to be released album is
an amazing body of work that
glorifies and praises God and
sheds light for which to see your
storm through. The songs are
compelling and real,” says
Rodriguez.
“I have been signed to major
labels and have worked with incredible people. This partnership
I have with Pendulum is the summit of my career. I love Ruben
and his staff... and I regard him
as a living legend. He is the per-
fect hybrid of old school and new
school. Pendulum represents the
way records use to be made and
now the way records will be made.
Much of the paradigm shifts I
have made is due to the swing of
‘tha pendulum,” says Greg.
O’Quin known best for the
ubiquitous single “I Told The
Storm” offers a sequel to that
classic hit with the powerful new
song “Survivor.” Much like picking up after a season ending cliffhanger, O’Quin opens “Survivor”
with lyrics from the last line of “I
Told The Storm” and continues
the story of the person who went
through a storm and is now on
the other side of it.
Using the original vocalist, P.
Jacobs, O’Quin’s lyrics and
Jacobs’ captivating vocals gives
us another sweeping and passionate story of overcoming and making it through. “I felt like I’ve survived a lot through my career and
my personal life. Things that
should have taken me out but I’m
still here because of God. I wrote
‘Survivor’ to speak to everyone
that has gone through their own
trials and storms. To remind them
that God is keeping you for something, He is preparing you to do
something for Him,” says Greg.
“Lead Me Jesus” the first single
is already a radio favorite. The
single shot straight to the Top 20
and was the most-added song at
Gospel radio in just three and a half
weeks. A nod to a throwback
sound, “Lead Me Jesus” is a downhome, gritty and bluesy track that
captures your attention. Definitively Gospel, this song clearly hits
home because it is the rallying call
for all believers.
“I intentionally produced and
composed the song as a throwback.
I wanted it to be reminiscent of
times past to reflect the struggle of
our people for freedom, equality
and direction while keeping it relevant to today. I wrote the song
during the week that President
Obama was elected as the 44th
President of the United States, and
was inspired, knowing that our new
leader does seek the direction and
leadership from the Lord. In my
humble offering, I hear and see
President Obama saying ‘lead me
Jesus, lead me!,” says Greg.
CELEBRATE ‘BLACK MUSIC MONTH’ 2009
Enter tainment
28
MELLOW FELLOW
Iconic interpreter of music, Lionel Richie, is back
with ‘Just Go’
Edited by Audrey J. Bernard
Oh, what a feeling! I’ve been
dancing on my own ceiling since
May 19th when singer,
songwriter, worldwide tour
headliner, producer, Oscar
recipient and five-time Grammy
of rhythmic energy to the album
via “Just Go” and “Nothing Left
To Give.”
“He writes straight melodies
that don’t require me to be a
vocal acrobat. He gives a great
lyric that just tells the story in a
very simple melodic way,” notes
Richie. “There’s that great is-
“When I started working on this album, I gave everybody the same mandate: ‘It’s 2009 – what does
Lionel Richie sound like? What would you like me
to sound like?’ The result is probably best album
I’ve done for Island and maybe my best album since
‘Dancing On The Ceiling.’” – Lionel Richie
award-winning Lionel Richie
dropped his first new studio album in more than two years . . .
Just Go . . . and I strongly recommend that you hurry up and
just go and buy it!
Just Go is Island recording artist Richie’s long-awaited follow-up
to the RIAA gold Grammy-nominated Coming Home, features
some of today’s biggest writers
and producers, including Christopher “Tricky” Stewart, Stargate
and Akon, with Lionel sharing
writer credits with Terius “TheDream” Nash, Ne-Yo, Johnta
Austin, The Movement and Taj
Jackson.
The lead single “Just
Go,” produced by rap and hiphop superstar Akon, was the #1
most added at mainstream AC radio. Akon brings his own brand
land flavor on ‘Nothing Left To
Give’ that makes it a continuation of ‘All Night Long,’” he exclaims.
Richie concludes, “It’s the
kind of song you’d want to play
while you’re on vacation - or
wishing you were! And I love
that he’s singing with me on
‘Just Go’ – it’s as if we had been
singing together for the past
twenty years!”
From the laidback easy-going
feel of the first single “Just Go”
to the pulsating, infectious
Stargate cut “Pastime,” Richie
sounds completely at home musically, bringing his timeless
style to a collection of contemporary material that is an obvious fit.
“I worked with Stargate on the
#1 hit on my last album (the
Grammy-nominated “I Call It
Love”) and those guys are absolutely the best in the world to
work with. The two guys in
Stargate are super R&B fanatics
so they know whatever they
bring me has to sound like something Lionel Riche would do.
They’ve mastered melodies so all
I have to do is bring me to the
table.”
Likewise, Richie says the experience of working with the team
of Tricky Stewart & The Dream
was “another great musical
union. They brought me a brilliant club song, “Somewhere In
London” which was amazing.
After that, we couldn’t stop recording! They write exactly how
I like to write: “Good Morning”
has a title that basically tells the
story of the song in the same way
that songs I’ve written do – like
“Hello,” “Endless Love,” “All
Night Long”… They coined a title
that’s a phrase everyone says.”
Keeping the truly international
flavor that has ensured Richie’s
consistent success on a global
level, the hypnotic “Face In The
Crowd” was produced in The
Netherlands by John Ewbank
during a time in 2008 when he
was performing as the first U.S.
artist to be featured at the annual
Symphonica In Rossa event in
Amsterdam. The album from the
event, Symphonice In Rosso,
went to #1 on both the album and
DVD charts.
No Richie album would be
complete without a classic ballad and the quintessential balladeer delivers “Eternity” (produced by famed Grammy winner
David Foster). The Richiepenned song, which started life
as some fifteen years ago for
possible inclusion in a movie or
television show, ended up being
used for President Barack
Obama’s election campaign.
“I rewrote the original content
so that it would be fitting for our
first black President and where
we stand as a nation in the
world,” says the original cowriter of the memorable “We Are
The World” anthem. “It required
a certain level of orchestration
and that there are only a few
people who can deliver that and
David Foster was the perfect
choice for the song.”
With Just Go, the singer’s
singer demonstrates his unparalleled ability to remain a constant musical presence of the
first order. From hitbound
Stargate tracks like “Forever” to
the innately melodic “Through
My Eyes,” Just Go is as contemporary as the latest hits by
labelmates such as Rihanna and
Ne-Yo (who co-produced the
standout track “I’m In Love”).
“When I started working on this
album, I gave everybody the
same mandate: ‘It’s 2009 – what
does Lionel Richie sound like?
What would you like me to sound
like?’ The result is probably best
album I’ve done for Island and
maybe my best album since
‘Dancing On The Ceiling.’”
The result is a remarkable musical marriage, Richie with his distinctive and instantly recognizable vocal style in a 21st century
production setting that brims
with universal, global appeal.
An international superstar,
Lionel Richie became a core member of the Island Records family
with the release of Renaissance
in March 2001, his first album for
the label.
The pop icon has sold more
than 100 million records worldwide in his career, and has the
honor of owning an Oscar and
Golden Globe Award (both for
“Say You, Say Me,” from White
Knights) and a total of five
Grammys (collectively for
“Truly,” Can’t Slow Down, and
“We Are The World”).
Richie has the distinction of
being the only songwriter in the
modern pop era to write #1 song
hits over the course of nine consecutive years. His stellar string
of 15 consecutive top 10 R&B hits
between 1981 and 1992 (five of
which hit #1) – 13 of which were
consecutive top 10 pop hits (also
including five #1’s) – stands as
one of the most enviable achievements in chart history.
Just Go caps a period of nonstop activity for the Alabamaborn entertainer, whose many career accomplishments include
NAACP Image Awards, ASCAP
Awards, five Grammy Awards, an
Oscar, eleven American Music
Awards, five People’s Choice
Awards and a “World Music Lifetime Achievement Award” with a
much-deserved Star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.
Grammy voters continued to
show their appreciation for
Richie’s work with two 2007 nominations, for Coming Home as
“Best R&B Album” and the
album’s memorable hit single, “I
Call It Love” for “Best Male R&B
Vocal Performance.”
The co-founder of The Commodores at Alabama’s Tuskegee
Institute in 1967, Richie experienced his first taste of success
after the group signed to
Motown Records in 1971, becoming one of the most popular U.S.
funk bands with “Machine Gun”
and “Brick House” before creating a slew of future slow jam
Richie-penned classics with
“Easy,” “Three Times a Lady”
and “Sail On.”
Richie began working outside
The Commodores in 1980, after
Kenny Rogers’ hit version of
“Lady” led to him producing the
singer’s 1981 album “Share Your
Love.” “Endless Love,” his 1981
chart-topping duet with Diana
Ross (covered in 1994 by Luther
Vandross and Mariah Carey),
was Motown’s most successful
single and further fueled Richie’s
solo ambitions. A quick update
on the group’s relationship is
that there is a concert in the
works that will reunite Richie
with The Commodores. Stay
tuned!
In 1982, the release of his selftitled solo quadruple platinum
Motown debut set Richie on a
record-breaking pathway to global
superstardom: 1983’s ten-millionselling Can’t Slow Down — which
won a Grammy for Album of the
Year – was followed by 1986’s massively-successful Dancing on the
Ceiling.
After a period of reflection and
personal growth, Lionel returned
in 1992 with Back to Front, followed by Louder Than Words
(1996), Time (1998), Renaissance
(2001), Encore (2004), the aptlytitled The Definitive Collection, a
worldwide multi-million-selling
retrospective, Just for You (2004),
Coming Home (2006), Sound Of
the Season (2006, his first Christmas album), and Live In Paris
(2007).
Ritchie’s continuing relevance
as a multi-generational artist was
evidenced by his inclusion as a
celebrity judge of “American Idol”
a couple of seasons back; the performance of his classic “Easy” by
one of the finalists during the 2006
season of the show was another
reminder of his enduring presence
on the contemporary music scene.
Conscious that throughout his
career he’s been willing to step out
creatively, Richie concludes, “I
remember when The Commodores
were doing so well with funky
tracks like “Brick House” and we
switched up and did ballads like
“Easy” and “Three Times A Lady.”
“Everyone was, like, ‘you’re
about to mess up your core audience.’ When I went solo and came
out with ‘All Night Long’ after the
ballad ‘Truly’! I never forget that
my international core audience is
there but I see ‘Just Go’ as the new
‘All Night Long’ or ‘Forever And
A Day’ as the new ‘Endless Love.’
I think they understand that I have
to keep moving musically and with
each new record I’m taking them
on a journey.”
Richie’s fans will be able to see
him perform vintage oldies and
selections from Just Go at the 2009
Essence Music Festival in New
Orleans July 3, 4 and 5. Richie last
headlined at the festival in 2007
and is looking forward to returning to the ultimate party weekend
and to pay tribute to the festival
that’s celebrating a milestone 15th
anniversary.
“Every Black person I have ever
known in my life has come to the
show. It’s like a family reunion.
It’s a college reunion. It’s my high
school reunion. It is absolutely
amazing. I’ve enjoyed the fact that
I’m home,” a jubilant Richie said
of the festival. Richie will hit the
mainstage on Sunday, July 5 along
with fellow icons Al Green, Teena
Marie, En Vogue and Raphael
Saadiq — just to name a few — in
a star-studded tribute to Maze featuring Frankie Beverly.
With all that he’s accomplished,
it would be easy for Ritchie to rest
on his laurels. But ever eager to
satisfy the loyal global audience
he has amassed over almost three
decades of solo music-making,
Richie is stepping up once again
with Just Go, his third Island set
since 2001.
In Performance
29
Brian Stokes Mitchell
By shirlee r. schwam
Contributing Scribe
As soon as Brian Stokes
Mitchell, multi-talented actor/
singer of stage, film and television, appears on stage at the
Dryfoos, Jr. Concert Hall in the
elegant Raymond P. Kravis Center (West Palm Beach, Florida)
the audience immediately greets
the entertainer with thunderous
applause. Graciously he acknowledges this accolade with a
smile remarking that “the sound
of applause is delicious”.
His first number “Make Someone Happy” is sung in an endearing and sensitive manner, emphasizing how personable, this entertainer is. For his next number,
Mitchell (whom everyone ad-
dresses as ‘Stokes’ ) sings “Where
Is The Life That Late I Led?” a
very recognizable song from “Kiss
Me Kate” (Tony, Drama Desk and
Outer Critics Circle Awards). According to the scene, on the night
that Petruchio (Mitchell) marries
the difficult, shrewish Kate, he laments the loss of his free, bachelor days.
As he peruses his little black
book, he recalls the revelry, the
romping and the lust he felt for
the women of his past. It is safe to
assume that the words of that lament are as true today as they
were when the show was presented on Broadway in 1999.
In a recent article, Mitchell, who
spent seven years, from 1979
through 1986 as Jackpot Jackson,
a doctor on the CBS series Trap-
per John, MD disclosed that
his true love was the theater.
“I love the theater; I just don’t
love television like that.” This,
perhaps, is one of the reasons
that Mitchell, a television star
before he came to the ‘Great
White Way,’ is considered the
current Prince of Broadway and
he has made it abundantly clear
that is exactly where he wants
to be.
Mitchell’s closeness to the
audience, and they with him, is
evident in his every nuance and
gesture whether he is singing,
dancing or acting. The dashing African-American baritone,
the youngest of five children,
was born in Seattle, Washington on October 31, 1957. He
spent his early childhood on
Navy bases in Guam and the
Philippines where his father,
George Mitchell, a former
World War II Tuskegee airman,
worked as an electronics engineer.
His mother, Lillian Stokes,
worked as a police woman and
school administrator. Mitchell
feels that a good deal of his success is due to the loving support and understanding he received from his parents. “Although our family was not wellto-do, we were given whatever
advantages they could afford
with one stipulation—that if we
were no longer interested in
special voice or piano lessons,
we were to tell them so that the
monies set aside would not be
needlessly wasted.”
Mitchell made his New York
legitimate theatre debut in 1986
and became a Broadway star
with his passionate performance of
the piano player Coalhouse Walker
in Ragtime (1998). He then showed
a lighter side of his talents as the
boastful Petruchio in Kiss Me, Kate
(1999) . His performances as the excon King in King Hedley (2001)
and Cervantes’ Don Quixote in
Man of La Mancha (2002) brought
him critical acclaim.. It has been
said of Mitchell, that he is an oldstyle musical theatre star, in that
he may be the principal in a production but chooses to approach
each role as a distinct character
using many different vocal sounds
and styles.
“I tend to change the quality of
my voice depending upon the character of the person I am portraying” says the charismatic and sexy
star. He is very focused and moves
with extraordinary grace. His voice
is remarkably resonant, warm in
color, and very rich. One might add
that it has a brilliance and a steady
burning intensity.
Mitchell’s next number
“Sililoquy” from the Rodgers &
Hammerstein classic Carousel is
replete with reflective feelings of
yearning. This is when Billy
Bigelow, the roustabout that
Julie Jordan married, learns that
he will soon become a father. He
sings hauntingly about his ‘Boy
Bill” who will have his two feet
planted firmly on the ground and
who will not let anyone push him
around.
Suddenly Bigelow asks ‘What if
he, is a she?’ This changes his
whole perspective because a little
girl needs a loving, stable relationship with her dad. Bigelow knows
he will need money to take care of
a little girl and this realization ulti-
mately leads him into ultimate danger.
Mitchell’s repertoire draws
heavily on his many Broadway experiences, i.e., his next two presentations are from South Pacific.
Upon meeting Navy nurse Nellie
Forbush, French planter Emile de
Becque (Mitchell) is immediately
smitten with her and sings his heart
out in a beautiful rendition of
“Some Enchanted Evening”. When
he and his love part, he consoles
himself with the song “This Nearly
Was Mine”.
The last 20 minutes of this unbelievably wonderful evening are
spent with the charismatic Mitchell
singing duets with the thrilling and
romantic Melissa Errico who entertained the standing-room only audience prior to Mitchell’s appearance. Some of the production numbers were “Tonight” from West Side
Story, “To Dream The Impossible
Dream” from Man of LaMancha.
The closing literally brought the
audience to its feet with the spirited and patriotic “God Bless
America” and “America The Beautiful”. It goes without saying that
this incredibly hard-working entertainer has an ‘electric presence’
both on and off stage, and his performances are always riveting and
mesmerizing.
In addition, his matinee idol
looks and smooth singing voice
serve him extremely well.
Mitchell has enjoyed working
with numerous charitable organizations including The March of
Dimes and the USO. Currently he
is President of the Actor’s Fund.
In 1994, he married actress Allyson
Tucker and they have a son,
Ellington.
Alvin Ailey concludes at BAM’s
Howard Gilman Opera House
The 50 th celebration concludes at the Brooklyn
Academy
of
Music’s
Howard Gilman Opera
House (30 Lafayette Avenue), 40 years after the
Company’s debut at BAM
from June 9 to 14. “Classic
Ailey” features excerpts
from Alvin Ailey’s most
popular and beloved ballets.
“Best Of” features selections from Ailey’s diverse
repertory, including a new
production of Judith
Jamison’s Hymn. The 2009
BAM season marks the culmination of Ailey’s 50th Anniversary celebration. Following a 26-city U.S. tour,
the Company returns to
Brooklyn with two programs
that showcase the artistry
and grace that have distinguished the Ailey company
for 50 years. “Classic Ailey”
features excerpts from
Alvin Ailey’s most popular
and beloved ballets. “Best
Of” features selections from
Ailey’s diverse repertory,
including a new production
of Judith Jamison’s Hymn.
(AJB)
Actress/singer and “Original Dreamgirl” Sheryl Lee Ralph and her husband Senator Vincent Hughes (left) joined family members to help celebrate the 80th Birthday
of her mother Ivy Ralph (center). They surprised the matriarch with a beautiful birthday cake. Mrs. Ralph of Hempstead, New York was also an honorary mother at a
community Mother’s Day program sponsored by Carib News. On hand to celebrate
with Ivy was her husband Dr. Stanley Ralph; son Tim Ralph, a BET executive and his
family; wife Miriam, daughter Jana Lee and son Timmy. The event took place at the
historic Prince George Ballroom in New York City.
(Photo: Margot Jordan)
Brian Stokes Mitchell displays ‘electric presence’
30
Theater/Review
‘Sundown’…. leaves characters underdeveloped and its audience confused
By Ernece B. Kelly
Theater Critic
When theatre audiences
laugh, instead of shuddering,
at a scene of a distraught
woman aiming a loaded gun at
the man who’s been using her,
y o u k n o w s o m e t h i n g ’s
wrong. And that’s exactly
what happens in Leslie Lee’s
“Sundown Names and NightGone Things” now playing at
Manhattan’s Castillo Theatre.
Plagued by two fundamental problems—excessive dialogue (much of it clichéd)
which stops forward movement and fuzzy focus—“Sundown…” leaves its characters
underdeveloped and its audience confused.
Set in Chicago, during the
Depression, the play looks at
the despicable practice of
burial insurance salesmen
taking (sexual) advantage of
the women who purchase the
policies. Financial difficulties
practically assure they won’t
be able to pay “a dime a week”
in a timely fashion, and the
men are ready to pounce, trading sex for payments.
“Being Black sho is fun
when ain’t nobody looking,”
claims one of the salesmen.
Their “fun” appears to consist of talking and having sex.
Both Act I and II have long
stretches of banter between Stephen Tyrone Williams and DeWanda Wise in scene
(Photo: Carmen DeJesus)
the salesmen—Boyd Henry from “Sundown…”
played by Ralph McCain,
Marcus Naylor as Travis
M c K i n l e y, a n d N a t h a n
Purdee as Arjay Thorton.
Most of the talk is about
women and their sexual exploits. At one particularly
distasteful point, they offer
to trade accounts based on
the attractiveness of the
woman holding them.
The youngest, least experienced salesman, Cairo
Biggs (Stephen Tyrone Williams), doesn’t play this game
at their casual level and has
gotten sexually and emotionally involved with only one
c u s t o m e r, R u b y M e e k s ,
played with sensuous grace
by DeWanda Wise.
Their scenes together—
most are set in her bedroom—
are electric. Ms Wise, who
has also appeared in film and
television, is perfectly cast in
the role of a seductive, golddigger using her body to get
what she wants. She shakes
and shimmies while Williams
skillfully uses stillness to
project surprise or shock.
One is yin to the other’s yang.
“Sundown…” follows, for
most of the play, two relationships—Biggs/Ruby and the
salesman McKinley who seduces Mrs. Broadneck. (she
tries to shoot him!). Then in the
Second Act, without warning, a
third salesman, Thorton, takes
center-stage with a verbose story
about a dream which abruptly introduces magical-realism in the
form of a dead man slapping
Thorton’s face! It’s no wonder
audiences don’t know quite how
to react when a playwright violates basic dramatic conventions
for no apparent reason.
Deeply textured with music,
“Sundown” has songs playing
before, during, and after the
play has ended—gospel, spirituals, and, especially gutbucket blues help bring the
Southern experience up North.
Kudos for Elliot Lanes’ sound
design and the casting director
Lawrence Evans’ impeccable
choices.
Each of the actors turns in a
fine performance in a play
which, for all its flaws, gives a
rare peek at middle class misogyny within a 1930’s urban
Black community.
KICKIN’ IT with Audrey J. Bernard
31
Village Care of New York’s Tulips
& Pansies floral fantasy is off the bush
Recently, Village Care of New
York (VCNY) hosted its 8 th annual floral headdress runway
show, Tulips & Pansies, at The
Edison Ballroom, the best kept
fashion ballroom secret in Times
Square.
The former Supper Club has
had a facelift and is now the
glamorous Edison Ballroom with
enough glitz and glam to light
up Broadway. Ironically, the
Ballroom is located on West 47th
Street in the heart of The Great
White Way.
This year, fashion’s top tier designers, b michael, Thierry
Mugler, Tory Burch, Alvin Valley, Lilly Pulitzer, Pamella
Roland, Chado Ralph Rucci and
Cynthia Steffe among many
others, hit the floral runway paired
with NYC’s finest floral designers
for a show of elaborate floral headdresses made entirely from living
plants and fresh cut flowers.
This extraordinary springtime
event which raises funds for
VCNY, a non-profit organization
providing vital healthcare programs to people living with HIV/
AIDS, was hosted by Full Frontal
Fashion and Style Network’s
James Aguiar and co-chaired by
USA Weekend editor Jack Curry
and People’s Revolution Founder
Kelly Cutrone.
Winners of this year’s floral extravaganza held on Thursday, May
14, 2009, included Zang Toi in collaboration with Tantawan Bloom
(Most Beautiful); Empress Sybil
Brunchen of Imperial Court of New
York in collaboration with Brian
Fischer for Morningside Greenhouse (Most Original); Sara Claire
& Esther in collaboration with
Fleurs New York (Most Entertaining); and Michael Vollbracht Designs in collaboration with
L’Olivier (Most Outrageous).
If there was an audience choice
award for “Most Beautiful” it
would have certainly been awarded
to the breathlessly beautiful dress
and floral design of b michael in
collaboration with Cote Fleurie
Studio. b michael’s sweetly sophisticated Pique’ Floral Gown was
topped off with clouds of white
hydrangea, vendela roses and
wisps of springeri evoking Cecile
Beaton’s love of Edwardian hats
and his fondness for a rare day in
June.
Another crowd pleaser was
Form New York’s collaboration
with floral arranger to the stars and
mighty, Preston Bailey. This impressive headdress was draped in
black and green sheer fabric at the
base. The top of the headdress
contained 4 feet tall wheatgrass
with green philanopsis and rose
petals sculptured on the sides.
Other outstanding collaborations featured in the fashion & floral designers’ show included:
Aristocratic Design Co., Celebrate Flowers, Cote Fleurie Studio, Davidelfin, Event Design Incorporated, Gotham Gardens,
Hunter Dixon, Imperial Court of
New York, Jordi Scott, Linda
Ferrando Floral Design, Ovando,
Rachel Cho Inc., The Designer’s
Co-op, Verde Custom Flowers, Inc.,
and Zezé Flowers.
Village Care of New York
(VCNY) is a community-based,
not-for-profit service organization serving seniors, persons living with HIV/ AIDS and individuals in need of medical and
rehabilitation services.
Tulips & Pansies benefits Village
Care of New York’s Network of
AIDS Services which includes two
day treatment programs, community case management, home health
care, Rivington House, Red Hook
Community Center, Treatment Adherence, Village Health Center and
The Momentum Project, a food and
nutrition program.
Host James Aguiar
Mark-Anthony Edwards,
Barbara J. Harris, b michael Imperial Court of New York in collaboration with Form New York in collaboration with Preston Bailey
(Photo by Audrey J. Bernard) Morningside Greenhouse
Sara Claire and Esther in
collaboration with Fleurs
NY
b michael in collaboration
with Cote Fleurie Studio
Mark-Anthony Edwards, Sha, b michael (Photo by Audrey J. Bernard)
Zang Toi in collaboration with Tantawan Bloom
(Photos by WireImage.com)
8th Annual
32
Bookin’ It
Hip-Hop Summit Youth Council launches
‘Read 2 Succeed!’
Books featuring world’s top artists fights to promote literacy, empower students to improve grades and help inmates obtain their G.E.D.
Compiled By Don Thomas
The Hip-Hop Summit Youth
Council (HHSYC), the group
responsible for the hugely
successful book series that
features the success stories of
music superstars in Hip-Hop,
R&B and dancehall (Mariah
Carey, Beyonce, Pitbull and
others, totaling 50 titles) has
launched the “Read 2 Succeed
Through Hip-Hop Project.”
Partnering with the Council
of the Great City Schools
(CGCS), the largest coalition
of public schools in the country and C-PAC (Chancellor’s
Parents Advisory Council) of
New York City, The Youth
Council has developed popular and culturally innovative
techniques to improve the literacy skills, academic grades,
graduation rates and safety of
public school students.
While plummeting test
scores and expanding technologies around the world
have threatened to overtake
our children and our status as
world leaders, the communitybased program is sparking the
minds of young people everywhere. It’s the resources that
have been lacking, given a
number of educational budget
cuts that impact the local
school board’s ability to augment their antiquated materials.
To address the negative
impact that continued budget
cuts in education will have on
schools that are already failing, the Hip-Hop Summit
Youth Council has been meeting with educators around the
country and abroad to develop
new ways to use the global and
positive influence of Hip-Hop
to help students achieve academic success.
The “Read 2 Succeed Through
Hip-Hop Project,” which is supported by the success of
HHSYC’s Hip-Hop Book Series,
will spearhead the efforts to
change our youth’s mindset
about reading and education,
while also standing in the gap
of systems that may not have
full resources given the recent
cutbacks in resource materials.
The Council’s project encompasses an innovative threeprong approach to help students achieve their educational
goals using the Hip-Hop
Books: the Read 2 Succeed
Through Hip-Hop Project, the
Hip-Hop Book Club and the Big
“E” Initiative (Education, Economics, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Equality).
“After attending the 52 nd annual conference of the Council
of the Great City Schools, meeting with Chancellor Klein of
New York City and meeting with
educators from all over the
country, we knew we had a hot
product supported by a strong
program that would be using
the influence of some of the top
Artists in the world, such as
Nas, Will Smith, Kanye West,
Jay-Z and Alicia Keys to help
students read and learn to really love education again.
“In addition, our program is
operating at Fishkill Correctional Facility in New York as
part of a discharge planning initiative to reduce recidivism by
helping inmates obtain their
G.E.D. They are being taught
through books and material they
can relate to that education is
the key to their successful transition back into the community.
“It is unfortunate but 8 out
of 10 inmates are high school
dropouts and close to 7 out of
10 return to prison placing a
burden on tax paying citizens”
stated Charles Fisher, Founder
and Chairman of the HHSYC.
“Since its inception, young
people have helped Hip-Hop to
become a multi-billion dollar industry and we now offer them a
unique opportunity to use our
Hip-Hop Books to graduate on
time, acquire a diploma, attend
college and receive gainful employment. Participants who
register with the Read 2 Succeed
Program will be able to win
scholarships, grants, computers, iPods, CD’s, DVD’s, meet
and greet opportunities with
artists and other prizes to help
them become a winner at
school.” said Randy Fisher, executive director, HHSYC.
“I believe the Hip-Hop Summit Youth Council is providing
a new and exciting approach
and I’m looking forward to
working with them to find creative ways to stimulate parent
involvement, while using the
positive facets of Hip-Hop to
improve grades in failing
schools and build upon the success we are experiencing in our
schools” stated Joel Klein,
Chancellor of New York City
schools.
“When the first set of HipHop books arrived at Grady we
were very surprised at the
number of students, who were
not into reading, who became
readers. The stories about the
lives of their favorite artist
aroused their curiosity and
awakened the reader within.
“Thanks to these books,
many of our students are now
spending their lunch time reading. Reading is contagious,
therefore the students will
benefit from the awakening
provided by the Hip-Hop
books. This was a splendid addition to our book collection.
Let’s put children first,” said
Carlston A. Gray, Principal,
William E. Grady High School.
“We support the work of
the Hip-Hop Summit Youth
Council and its offer to help
students achieve academic excellence through Hip-Hop
Books and the Read 2 Succeed
project. It is important for community groups to play a role
in improving public education
and work with local schools to
better prepare students for the
many challenges they face,”
said Tonya Harris, Communications Manager, Council of
the Great City Schools.
The Hip-Hop Summit Youth
Council is a non-profit, organization that uses the positive
influence of the Hip-Hop Culture to socially, politically and
economically empower our
Yo u t h a n d Yo u n g A d u l t s .
Since 2001 they have worked
as an advocacy group for
youth fighting for the rights of
young people in the United
States and abroad.
The New York City Department of Education is the branch
of municipal government in New
York City that manages the city’s
public school system. These
schools form the largest school
system in the United States, with
more than 1.1 million students
taught in more than 1,400 separate schools. The department
covers all five boroughs of New
York City. The department is run
by New York City’s School Chancellor.
The current Chancellor is Joel
I. Klein, appointed by Mayor
Michael Bloomberg in 2002, when
the city school system was reorganized. Control of the school
system was given to the mayor,
who began reorganization and
reform efforts.
The Council of the Great City
Schools is the only national organization exclusively representing the needs of urban public
schools. Composed of 66 large
city school districts with 7.5 million students its mission is to promote the cause of urban schools
and to advocate for inner-city students through legislation, research and media relations.
The organization also provides
a network for school districts
sharing common problems to exchange information, and to collectively address new challenges
as they emerge in order to deliver
the best possible education for
urban youth. For information
about how you can bring Read 2
Succeed Through Hip-Hop to
your local school, contact the HipHop Summit Youth Council at 212316-7639.
Popular HIV/AIDS community activist and open mic promoter Maria Davis (5th from
front-right) and her young adult group “The Mad Soul Runners” recently walked 6.2
miles during the AIDS Walk New York in Central Park. The 150 plus walked to raise
money for services needed for men, women, children and families infected and affected
by HIV/AIDS.
(Photo: Ronnie Wright)
(From page 2)
Bishop J.C. Woody, pastor of
the House of Refuge church,
told The Final Call Williams was
a member of his Star Academy
program for students at risk
some 10 years ago. “He was like
so many of our young men who
have trouble staying focused,”
Bishop Woody noted. “No
doubt in my mind that these four
young men were entrapped.”
Haitian immigrant Laguerre
Payen was homeless when an
assistant imam helped him find
shelter. Payen also suffers from
paranoid schizophrenia, was
unkempt and kept bottles of
urine in his room, according to
press reports.
Irma Amos, a lifelong resident
of Newburgh said she knew
Cromitie, and that he was “a
very nice guy.”
“Folks want to know where he
got the money to carry out the
alleged bomb plot,” Amos told
The Final Call.
The FBI supplied the suspected informant with the
money for the men to buy the
phony explosives and the missile system. Imam Muhammad
told reporters the man, according to the elders in the mosque,
may have had $25,000 at his disposal. The man had offered
some worshippers money to join
him, he said.
Black suffering, not terror, is the
problem, residents say
Larry Williams, 57, who has
lived in Newburgh for the past
40 years, said the problem is the
lack of jobs for Black men—not
terrorism. “We also need funds
for a community center for the
youth, because we have too
many killings and a lot of drugs
on the street,” he added.
“Black people in Newburgh
have been victimized by the terrorism perpetrated on them by
the system,” declared Natasha
Cotton, 40, who became an activist 10 years ago. “I saw Onta
Williams about a week ago, he
was working out; and talking
positive,” she recalled.
“We need financial support for
programs for brothers like Onta
from the city and the corporations.
This terrorist story is going to
stop a lot of movement that had
already begun to turn our community around,” Ms. Cotton said.
“We are the majority in this city
and we continue to elect a mayor
and a city council that won’t send
funds to the Black community so
that we can help get our people
such as the four brothers they arrested back on their feet. They are
behind the eight-ball because
they all have records, and have
served time,” said barber Brother
Stone.
“People keep complaining that
they have been let down by the
politicians, but have not come together to do something about it,”
he told The Final Call.
According to Census figures,
Newburgh’s total population is
28,201—with Latinos 36 percent of
the population, Blacks 33 percent
of residents and Whites represent
28 percent of the city. The median
household income is $38,324, with
25.8 percent of the population below the poverty line. Unemployment as of December 2008 was officially 5.8 percent.
Across the street from the barbershop, Mayor Nicholas Valentine, 58, operates the Broadway
Tailors, a tuxedo rental and tailoring business. The mayor, who is
White, told The Final Call he
wasn’t concerned about negative
publicity generated by the arrests.
“I am concerned how people
could be hiding below the radar, choosing not to be seen for
what they really are,” he said.
A group of men, all in their 50s,
talked about “old times” at the
corner of South and Chambers
in Newburgh. They were skeptical about the alleged terror
plot, but talked about the decline of the Black community
started in the 1960s and has
continued. Drugs, crime and
prison are not uncommon, they
added.
“Those four guys they arrested never had a chance to get
on the right track. There are no
decent jobs here for them; and
once you go to prison that’s
that,” said one man.
Plotting a crime or ‘television
drama?’
Shahed Hussain, the man the
government allegedly used to
snare the Newburgh 4, was recruited by the feds after pleading guilty in April 2003 for
scheming to get driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants.
He is believed to have become
an FBI informant in 2002 to
avoid deportation to Pakistan
after being arrested on fraud
charges. Many are skeptical of
his role and have ridiculed the
idea that the so-called plot was
serious, but express concern
that the government set-up a
scenario and sought “dimwits”
to fit its scheme.
“The real question, which certainly will not be addressed in
this case, is but for the snitch,
would these guys ever have
done anything besides talk
about stuff?” activist attorney
Ron Kuby recently noted on his
Air America radio show. He also
explained why the FBI allowed
the so-called Newburgh terrorist plot to go on for a year:
“There are two reasons — the
closer it is to completion, the
harder it is for defense lawyers
like me to claim that these guys
were just shooting the breeze.
And the longer you let it go, the
better the visuals—the actual
(bogus) bombs being driven to
the real synagogue that could
have really been blown up if any
of this was real. But, it isn’t. It’s
a made for television drama.’’
Wrote Richard Dreyfuss, for
The Nation magazine: “Without
the assistance of the agent who
entrapped them, they would
never have dreamed of committing political violence, nor would
they have had the slightest idea
about where to acquire plastic
explosives or a Stinger missile.
That didn’t stop prosecutors
from acting as if they’d captured
Osama bin Laden himself.”
He added, “Despite the pompous statements from Mayor
Bloomberg of New York and
other politicians, including Representative Peter King, the whole
story is bogus. The four losers
may have been inclined to violence, and they may have harbored a virulent strain of antiSemitism. But it seems that the
informant whipped up their violent tendencies and their hatred
of Jews, cooked up the plot, incited them, arranged their purchase of weapons, and then had
them busted. … It is disgusting
and outrageous that the FBI is
sending provocateurs into
mosques.”
In 1984, the U.S. House Subcommittee on Civil and Constitutional
Rights stated in a report that, “Because (federal) agents create
crime, rather than merely detect it,
they hold the power to create the
appearance of guilt; and many of
the values reflected in our Constitution are directly threatened by
these operations.”
Imam Talib Abdur-Rashid, of the
Harlem-based Mosque of the Islamic Brotherhood Inc., and the
Muslim Alliance of America, spoke
strongly in remarks at a press conference last month at the Riverdale
Jewish Center, one of the alleged
bombing targets. The press conference was held to condemn violence and promote religious understanding.
While the imam supported the
sentiment of faith communities
coming together and condemnation of attacks, he added: “We
want to make sure there are no recriminations against the Muslim
community because of the alleged
terrorist plot. We are against being probed, against having our
houses of worship surveilled. And
we are against the use of our
weak-minded for these set-up operations.”
Stewart seeks to clean up commuter van industry
(From page 4)
The Stewart Commuter Van Law
seeks to amend the administrative
code of the City of New York in
relation to displaying a
passenger’s bill of rights in commuter vans. This law would also
include the following:
· A properly licensed driver in
good standing with the commis-
sion-issued driver’s license information on display.
· A clean vehicle – inside and
outside;
· A driver who does not use a
cell phone (hand-held or hands
free) while driving;
· Working seatbelts;
· A safe and courteous driver
who obeys traffic laws;
· Air conditioning or heat on re-
quest;
· A quiet trip free of horn
honking or radio or other music
playing;
· A vehicle that is in good condition and has passed all required
inspections.
“Commuter vans play a very
important role in my district and
in communities underserved by
the City’s transportation system
that has not kept pace with both
demographic and numerical
changes in the city’s population.
The commuter van industry has
filled this vacuum. But it needs to
be organized, streamlined and
purged of negative elements. This
law would go a long way in helping this still nascent industry to
grow,” Councilmember Stewart
said.
President Obama changing Islam opinion of U.S.
(From page 8)
spect to those who would seek
to harm us, but without the baggage of the neocon-riddled
Bush administration’s ideology.
The underlying concept,
spelled out by Harvard Professor, Samuel Huntington was
that we were experiencing a “Clash
of Civilizations” between Islam
and the West.
Obama said straightforwardly
that America was not and will
never be at war with Islam; Bush
said that too, to his credit, but it
was not believable because he
also included Muslim countries in
his “Axis of evil.”
Undoubtedly, the President
will also be criticized by his view
that Iran has a right to the use
of peaceful nuclear power, under the scrutiny of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
It is my view that neither
America nor Israel will be able
to stop the spread of nuclear capability in the Middle East; the
view that only our guys can
have it is fast losing currency in
international affairs, no matter
how many resolutions the US is
able to wring out of the UN to
the contrary. So, the way forward
is to cooperate in aggressively
KKK and hate groups attacking churches across U. S.
(From page 6)
charge anyone with a hate crime.
On May 8, in the Rapides, La.
Area, a man named Jeff Duncan
was arrested by the local
sheriff’s department on weapons and narcotics charges after
a raid on his home. At the time
of his arrest, he had a Confederate flag with KKK on it, a homemade bomb, several fire arms
and various types of drugs.
There is a trend across the
United States of open aggression
and displays of racially motivated
violence toward African-Americans and other minorities. According to Lydia, “This is fueled by
the Skinheads and the Ku Klux
Klan as well as copy cats, and the
hatred is just now coming out.”
Yet these acts of racial intimidation are not only in the form of
burning crosses, nooses, or swastikas. Now people had never been
thought of as being racist are striking out across the nation, in
places never suspected. Lydia
says he is getting many reports
of such activities.
“People are saying mean spirited things,” Lydia said. One
such case was in Marshall. On
March 20, Artabus Driver filed
a lawsuit against Felderhoff
Brothers Drilling Company. The
complaint stated that the crew
leader had distributed leaflets
for the KKK and confederate
flag stickers that other workers
put on their hats. Driver further
complained that he was not allowed to use the White workers
restroom or sleep in the same
quarters with them. Driver said
he was concerned about his
safety.
The statistics are, in fact, alarming. It appears that, as President
Obama continues to reach across
political, socio-economic and racial divides in the U.S., as well
as around the world, the KKK
and other hate groups are mobilizing across the United States.
helping to manage the spread and
not to create a prohibition that is
the basis for interminable sanctions or even military actions.
To the extent that Obama has
taken the hardest line on the establishment of Israeli settlements
in the West Bank, he has moved
much farther into the middle as an
honest broker. By doing so, he is
also revealing that the key to
Middle East peace is not solely
located there, but to what extent
his position will be supported at
home.
Barack Obama is the right person at the right time to have made
this gesture of reconciliation, let’s
hope it is not messed up.
Dr. Ron Walters is the Distinguished Leadership Scholar, Director of the African-American
Leadership Center and Professor
of Government and Politics. His
latest book is: The Price of Racial Reconciliation (U Michigan
Press)
33
Govt’s Muslim plot may have set up Black men
34
Entertainment Special
Con Edison and Town Hall recently presented five talented New York City public school children with special awards and cash prizes for their
exceptional creativity at the 12th annual Black History Poster/Essay Contest. Teachers, parents, and friends joined the winners, which ranged
from 3rd to 8th graders, at the awards ceremony held at Town Hall. The program also featured the award winning essays and posters showcased in
an exhibition.
New York City Council Deputy Majority Leader Leroy Comrie (D-27th District) recently marked the occasion of National Foster Care Month by
honoring a local foster mother. St. Albans’ resident Brenda Parham received a Council proclamation in recognition of her exemplary service to the
community. The presentation took place in front of her fellow congregants at Harvest International Church, Jamaica, New York. Mrs. Parham, with
the support of her husband, Alexander, and their own six children, enlisted with the Little Flowers Children and Family Services of New York to
become a foster parent. After passing their training courses and home inspections, the Parham Family welcomed their first foster child eight years
ago. Since taking in her first child eight years ago, Mrs. Parham has fostered nearly 20 children and adopted two. (D.T.)
(Photo: Brent Denoon)
(From page 12)
over the first 10 years will go to
help workers displaced as a result of the transition away from
fossil fuels. Perhaps there is so
little money allocated because
the bill’s authors understand
that there’ll be very little
transitioning over the next decade or so.
Indeed, Congressman Mike
Doyle, a coal-state Democrat on
the House Energy and Commerce Committee who, with Rich
Boucher, had a lot to do with
the gutting of this bill, said several weeks ago, “Remember, this
is an 80 percent reduction by
2050. This is 2009. We’ve got
41 years in this deal, and we
shouldn’t be so worried about
the first 10 years.”
Ignorance, dangerous ignorance, has a firm foothold on
Capitol Hill. And not just within
the Republican Party.
Joe Romm says that WaxmanMarkey is “the only game in
town.” He’s wrong, but it would
be accurate to say that, among
far too many inside-the-beltway
environmental and climate
groups, Waxman-Markey is the
only game in town they’re playing.
There are two other major proposals for a different framework
than “cap-and-trade” to drive the
transition away from fossil fuels.
One is a “cap-and-dividend” proposal put forward by Congressman Chris Van Hollen, head of
the Democratic Congressional
Campaign Committee and part of
the House Democratic leadership. The other is a “carbon taxand-tax-rebate” proposal put forward by Congressman John
Larsen, head of the House Democratic Caucus and also part of the
House Democratic leadership.
Isn’t it amazing how these proposals by the third- and fourthhighest Democrats in the House
of Representatives are virtually
invisible when it comes to Joe
Romm and many environmental
and climate groups?
And it’s not just in the House
where there is serious consideration being given to options to
cap-and-trade. On May 7 th the
Senate Finance Committee,
chaired by Max Baucus, held a
hearing attended by most of its
Democratic and Republican members. The focus of the hearing
was on “Auctioning Under Cap
and Trade: Design, Participation,
and Distribution of Revenues.” I
attended this hearing, and I was
amazed by the heavy focus on
the potential for speculators to
manipulate a cap and trade system. Throughout the hearing
Senators kept bringing up the
question of a carbon tax, and not
in a negative way. They were
clearly open to the possibility
that a carbon tax-based framework might be a better way to go
than cap-and-trade. And when
the four members of the panel
who were testifying were directly
asked, all of them agreed that a
carbon tax-based system was a
more straightforward, easier to
administer and more effective
system.
Questions about Sonia Sotomayor
(From page 8)
Lech sought to sanction federal
prosecutors who’d kept secret
information that would’ve helped
the defense,” the McClatchy
story noted. “Sotomayor agreed
that the prosecutors’ actions
were ‘disturbing’ and ‘astonishing,’ and she said she was ‘placing them on notice’ that a recurrence could bring more serious
consequences. Nonetheless, she
sustained the prosecution’s
case.”
It will be good if we can learn
during the Senate confirmation
hearings what type of Supreme
Court justice Sotomayor will
make.
However, if the past is any indication, she’s likely to refuse to reveal her views on many substantive issues because, she will argue, they are issues that might
come before the court in the future. And she’ll prvovide the
usual pablum about making her
decisions based on the facts before her.
As I said at the outset, we don’t
know what kind of Supreme Court
justice Sotomayor will make. We
do know that presidents have
been wrong before when they
made such appointments. It
would be a mistake to support
Sotomayor because of her humble
background or because President
Obama vouches for her. We need
to learn as much as we can about
her now – not after the fact.
George E. Curry, former editor-inchief of Emerge magazine and the
NNPA News Service, is a keynote
speaker, moderator, and media
coach. He can be reached through
his Web site, www.georgecurry.com.
So maybe the problem isn’t
that if we don’t pass WaxmanMarkey we might as well just resign ourselves to the likely end
of life on earth as we’ve known
it. Maybe the problem lies
deeper, with the way in which
“Washington” has affected and
just keeps affecting too many
environmental and climate
groups who really do have the
best interests of the earth and
all its life forms at heart but who,
in the name of “practical politics,” just keep backsliding and
backsliding as “Washington”
works its corrupt ways.
Is Waxman-Markey a completely bad bill? No. There are
good things about it. A federal
law that aims to reduce emissions is certainly better than what
we had under Bush/Cheney. It
would provide a good deal of
support for various energy efficiency programs. It should cut
back on forest deforestation. It
will help drive the U.S. automobile industry toward the production of plug-in hybrids and electric cars. It has some support for
international adaptation and
clean energy technology transfer. It is good that it provides for
National Academy of Science review of the effectiveness of the
plan, although it should be more
frequent than once every four
years given the accelerating pace
of worldwide climate change.
Indeed, if there were just one
change that could make this legislation have some genuine viability, it would be to require a
NAS/scientific review every two
years starting in 2011 or 2012.
That review would assess the
state of the climate science combined with recommendations
with teeth in them as to what federal action and legislative
changes to this bill should be
made accordingly.
But taken as a whole, in its
present form, this legislation
comes nowhere close to being
what science demands, unless
your primary concern is the political science of Capitol Hill.
Efforts are underway by a coalition of environmental, climate
and other groups to mount an
effort to build support for several strengthening amendments
to this bill on the House floor.
Groups involved are 1Sky, Environment America, Sierra Club,
MoveOn, Green for All, ACORN,
Oxfam, USAction, Health Care
Without Harm, Democracia Ahora
and Rock the Vote. This effort is
certainly called for and should be
supported. We’ll have to see how
it and the work of other House
committees over the next couple
of weeks impacts ACESA.
In the meantime, wouldn’t
NOW be a very good time for
those of us who get it on the seriousness of the climate crisis to
openly discuss the options to
ACESA and open-to-Wall-Street
cap and trade bills? After all, if
Joe Romm is right and ACESA’s
passage means only a 10-20%
chance of averting catastrophe,
isn’t the responsible thing to do
to look for options, and different
tactics, that provide better odds?
Ted Glick is the Policy Director of the Chesapeake Climate
Action Network, although his
Future Hope columns are not
necessarily the positions or perspectives of CCAN. Past Future
Hope columns and other information can be found at http://
www.tedglick.com. To see his
more-specific analysis of ACESA
go to http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-03-guide-towaxman-markey-bill/.
A dramatic wake up call for us all
(From page 12)
their mouths.”
With all this material available,
it was disappointing that Woodruff made no room for any
theological perspectives. All
his experts on the show were
scientists. There was not a
preacher, theologian, priest,
pastor or rabbi among them.
Whether he knew it or not,
Woodruff had wandered
squarely on theological and
spiritual territory. When he
failed to recognize this, his
show’s credibility suffered.
It seems to me people of
faith and especially AfricanAmericans would have had
much to say about the fate of
our planet if their input had
been requested. Blacks, especially the poor and working
class, are more likely to live
near waste sites and breathe
the stench of chemical pollution. Moreover, the faithful are
encouraged to be good stewards and caretakers of all
earthly resources, not reckless
exploiters.
Humanity’s endings can no
more be described without God
than humanity’s beginnings —
although scientists have tried
hard enough.
For generations, scientists have
tried and failed to explain how
humans were created without
God through the banging together of atoms or the evolution
of apes.
Despite their elaborate scientific theories, science has never
been able to explain how life existed before the “big bang,” nor
how if humankind evolved from
apes, who created the apes. No
matter where science leads, God
has already been there.
It is sad that journalists, such
as Woodruff, continue to push
secular humanism when the
world groans for divine intervention.
Recently, the institutions that
so many people have put their
faith in are crumbling like a house
of cards. Banks are failing, GM is
going bankrupt, and home-ownership is losing its silver lining.
So now we are supposed to build
our hopes on scientific explanations?
Science can only explain how
God designs a world. At its best
science can lead us to God, not
away. I hope someone helps
Woodruff understand this.
Dr. Barbara A. Reynolds, an ordained minister, is an adjunct
professor at the Howard Uni- religion and social issues for the
versity School of Divinity, an au- National Newspaper Publishers
thor of five books and writes on Association.
Supporting Sotomayor
(From page 8)
In her letter to members of Delta
Sigma Theta Sorority, President
Cynthia Butler McIntyre offers
her servant’s heart to the women
she asks to reach out to the Senate about Judge Sotomayor ’s
confirmation.
All our hearts should join Sister McIntyre’s to lift up a woman
who can only be a positive addition to the Supreme Court.
who embraces her diversity and
brings it to the table of her decisions. She has participated in
over 3000 panel decisions and
authored more than 400 opinions. She is an open book, and
as we turn the page we see nothing but a great future for Judge
Sonia Sotomayor.
There are some senate republicans who would delay this proJulianne Malveaux is Presicess. The confirmation of judge dent of Bennett College for
Sonia Sotomayor needs to be Women. She can be reached at
expedited.
[email protected].
NAACP urges clemency for a man on death row
(From page 14)
one who clearly might be innocent. Our nation and our State
are better than that. It is not only
unjust for Reggie but for the
families of the victims who deserve to have the real killers punished. Executing the innocent is a
mistake that cannot be rectified,”
stated NAACP President and CEO
Benjamin Todd Jealous.
The Missouri State Conference
of the NAACP is calling on supporters to fax (573-751-1588),
send letters and emails to Missouri Governor Jay Nixon and to
sign a petition for clemency for
Reggie Clemons at http://
www.justicefor reggie.com.
Founded in 1909, the NAACP
is the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its
members throughout the United
States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in
their communities, conducting
voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the
public and private sectors.
35
Science-based, not scare tactics on climate
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Notice is hereby given that an
Order entered by the Civil Court,
New York County, on 05/29/2009,
bearing, Index Number NC001071-09/NY, a copy of which
can be examined at the Office of
the Clerk, located at 111 Center
Street New York, NY 10013, grants
Marc Antony Leone AKA Marc
Antony Opitz the right to assume
the name of Marc Antony Opitz.
The place of birth is Suffolk
County, NY, the date of birth is
Sept. 3, 1960 and the present address is 402 West 148 Street, Apt
#63, NY, NY 10031
Terlika Sharma the right to assume
the name of Terlika Pandit Sood.
The place of birth is India, the
date of birth is May 4, 1966 and
the present address is 245 Avenue C Apt 2H, New York, NY
10009
CLASSIFIED
New York County, on 05/26/
2009, bearing, Index Number NC000818-09/NY, a copy of which
Street New York, NY 10013,
grants Emily Nighttrain Dugan
the right to assume the name of
Emily Husiak Dugan. The place
of birth is New York, NY, the date
of birth is April 10, 1990 and the
present
address
is
15
Stuyvesant Oval, Apt 1B New
York, NY 10009
Notice is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court,
T’Yah Monique Powell the right
to assume the name of T’Yah
Monique Smith. The place of
birth is New York, NY, the date of
birth is Jan. 2, 2002 and the
present address is 485 Malcolm
X Blvd, Apt 8C New York, NY
10037
Notice is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court, New
York County, on 05/28/2009, bearing, Index Number NC-001145-09/
NY, a copy of which can be examined at the Office of the Clerk, located at 111 Center Street New
York, NY 10013, grants Wai Ann
Ruan the right to assume the name
of Jason Wai Ruan. The place of
birth is Manhattan, NY, the date of
birth is Aug. 9, 1986 and the
present address is 1 Eldridge
Street, Apt #5B New York, NY
Notice is hereby given that an Or- 10002
der entered by the Civil Court,
New York County, on 05/27/2009, Notice is hereby given that an Orbearing, Index Number NC- der entered by the Civil Court, New
001065-09/NY, a copy of which York County, on 05/27/2009, bearcan be examined at the Office of ing, Index Number NC-001162-09/
the Clerk, located at 111 Center NY, a copy of which can be examStreet New York, NY 10013, grants ined at the Office of the Clerk, loMinh Phan the right to assume cated at 111 Center Street New
the name of Sinh Thuc Ha. The York, NY 10013, grants Vider Harrell
place of birth is Vietnam, the date AKA Vidal Terry, AKA Vider
of birth is April 4, 1972 and the Harrell-Terry the right to assume
present address is 39 East Broad- the name of Vider Terry. The
way, Apt #401 New York, NY 10002 place of birth is Bronx County, NY,
the date of birth is Jan. 17, 1967
Notice is hereby given that an Or- and the present address is 709
der entered by the Civil Court, New Monroe St, Apt 1 Brooklyn, NY
York County, on 05/28/2009, bear- 11221
ing, Index Number NC-001105-09/
NY, a copy of which can be examined at the Office of the Clerk, located at 111 Center Street New
York, NY 10013, grants Andrew
Tang the right to assume the name
of Andrew Ieong Tang. The place
of birth is Manhattan, NY, the date
of birth is May 16, 2005 and the
present address is 39 East Broadway, Apt #401 New York, NY 10002
Joey Padilla JR the right to assume
the name of Joseph Joey Padilla.
The place of birth is Bronx, NY,
the date of birth is Sept. 27, 1971
and the present address is 16 East
177 Street Apt 2W Bronx, NY
10453
Sergio Leone the right to assume
the name of Enrico Dicaprio. The
place of birth is Bolu, Turkey, the
date of birth is May 6, 1962 and
the present address is 45 West 34
Street, #711, New York, NY 10001
Mouhaad Abdaica Shareff the
right to assume the name of
Mouhammed Abdula Shareff.
The place of birth is Brooklyn, NY,
the date of birth is Sept. 17, 1992
and the present address is 1590
East 49 Street, Brooklyn, NY 11234
Mahboob Hasan Shafiq the right
to assume the name of Hasan
Mahboob Shafiq. The place of
birth is London, the date of birth
is Dec. 27, 1970 and the present
address is 422 Amber Street, Apt
#3, Brooklyn, NY 11208
Chaveli Medina the right to assume the name of Chaveli
Borrero. The place of birth is La
Romana, Dominican Republic, the
date of birth is Jan. 24, 1985 and
the present address is 201 West
120 Street, Apt #1C New York, NY
10027
HOROSCOPE
ARIES
Any nervous energy you may be feeling can be dispelled
with some physical activity. You are doing just fine, so take
long walks or try a yoga class and leave your worries behind you. Everything is working out in a perfect way.
TAURUS
You feel centered this week and full of efficient energy.
Use this week to accomplish tasks, make plans, and finalize arrangements that need to be made. Face into personal
responsibilities with love and pleasure now.
GEMINI
You can build a bridge with your imagination to reach the
person you want to meet. Build the very best bridge your
imagination can afford. Your soulmate will then cross over
to you. Your intentions are warm and sincere.
CANCER
While those around you may seem disagreeable, mind your
own business and don’t take anything personally. Focus
your mind on the project you most want to work on this
week and put your beautiful energy into that with love.
LEO
A happy week is in store for sociable you. Lots of friends
and a party or two or three will keep your energy bright.
Use caution while driving and watch for a pleasant surprise or two this week.
VIRGO
Lots of creative energy available this week, and you can
use this in many creative ways. Whatever your heart tells
you to focus on, focus on that. Maintain emotional balance by taking periodic breaks from your work.
LIBRA
Your sense of self is feeling unusually well-defined. And
it’s causing you to look confident. People will notice your
regal bearing and noble outlook this week.
SCORPIO
The week may start off cloudy but will soon turn bright if
you keep your outlook positive and your thoughts on higher,
more optimistic ideas. Be thankful for your wise and generous heart. You have a shining spirit.
SAGITTARIUS
Who is your spiritual family? Celebrate your life with these
people this week. Offer praise and grace-filled vibrations,
and share your blessings. Things on the mundane level
are clearing up and working out perfectly.
CAPRICORN
Lots of creative energy available this week, and you can
use this in many creative ways. Whatever your heart tells
you to focus on, focus on that. Maintain emotional balance by taking periodic breaks from your work.
AQUARIUS
Your sense of self is feeling unusually well-defined. And
it’s causing you to look confident. People will notice your
regal bearing and noble outlook this week.
PISCES
PISCES
The week may start off cloudy but will soon turn bright if
you keep your outlook positive and your thoughts on higher,
more optimistic ideas. Be thankful for your wise and generous heart. You have a shining spirit. Soul Affirmation:
Jewelry reflects the beauty of my feelings about myself.
Shang-Wen Huang the right to
assume the name of Andy S.W.
Huang. The place of birth is
Guang Zhou, China, the date of
birth is Sept. 22, 2003 and the
present address is 1757 74th Street,
Brooklyn, NY 11204
37
38
SPORTS
39
By Jason Clinkscales
Defense is the most overlooked aspect in baseball. Of
course, it’s something we pay
little attention to until the left
fielder misreads the popup or
the shortstop makes an errant
throw to first or the pitch
passes the catcher by.
So the Yankees’ impressive
errorless streak – a Major
League-record eighteen contests after finishing a fourgame weekend series in Cleveland– is even more impressive
considering that this team
hasn’t been known for fielding
prowess over the past decade.
Beyond the home run shows
that Mark Teixiera has displayed lately or the consistent
contact hitting from Derek Jeter
and Melky Cabrera, it has been
the gloves that have catapulted
New York back into first place
in the American League East.
Tied for the AL’s second best
fielding percentage (a calculation of putouts, assists and errors) of .989, this team has done
a tremendous job of keeping
their eyes on the ball, literally
and figuratively. The stats may
not tell the entire story, but in
years past where rushed tosses
to first base or poor positioning have hurt, it’s nice to know
that the Bombers don’t have to
rely on just scoring runs to win.
The Yankees do allow the most
stolen bases in the AL, with 51
leading into Tuesday’s action,
but they have also caught 21 of
those attempts to lead the
league.
Stolen bases are not always
the fault of catchers as base
runners have the advantage
when deliberate pitchers are on
the mound. Yet, CC Sabathia,
Andy Pettitte, Joba Chamberlain
and the relief efforts of ChienMing Wang have helped the
cause tremendously. They’re
not just throwing strikes, but at
least on this last road swing
through Cleveland and homerfriendly Texas, they did not
throw pitches leading to the
long ball.
Most importantly, it’s easier to
play great defense with a twotime Gold Glove-winning first
baseman on the roster. Teixiera’s
size and athleticism have turned
what were errant throws and
bobbled balls into clean outs.
The streak will eventually be
broken as nothing lasts forever.
As any sport, defense is like a
fishing net; its usefulness lies in
how tightly woven the ropes are
and how strong the entire system is from one end to the other.
Though we’re just a quarter into
the season, it might be a safe bet
to say that the Yankees’ defense
may no longer be an issue going
into the warmer months.
Johnny Damon and his teammates have kept their eyes on the ball thus far.
(Photo by Marc Rasbury)
New York Beacon
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Gloves, not just bats, vault Yanks back on top
40
BEACON
Marc Rasbury
SPORTS
Don’t count the Magic out just yet
By Marc Rasbury
No matter who wins the 2009
NBA Finals, the real winner will
be the Disney Corporation.
DisneyLand or DisneyWorld will
be jumping with joy more than
normal because one of these two
areas will be celebrating a NBA
Championship within the next
two weeks. The Lakers, who lead
the series 2-1, make DisneyLand
possibly the place to be in the
next couple of weeks. But don’t
count the Magic out just yet.
The Lakers blew out the Magic
by 25 in Game 1. Then the Magic
basically gave the Game 2 when
they blew several chances in regulation to put the game away losing in OT 101-96. For all of the
brilliant moves that beleaguered
Magic Head Coach, Stan Van
Gundy made during the course
of the playoffs, the one miscalculation he did make, may cost his
team the series.
Force-feeding Jameer Nelson
into the heat of the action in the
first game, may have lost him not
only that game, but the team as
well. Rafer Alston’s help catapulted
Orlando into the Finals. However,
Van Gundy decided to go with his
All-Star point guard, out with a
shoulder separation since February giving him the bulk of the minutes in the second quarter of Game
1. Unfortunately, the Magic let a
close game get away from them
when they missed about 100 shots.
Nelson was a shell of himself, apparently was rusty, and did not
deserve all of those minutes.
Then, in Game 2, the Magic did
everything in their power to give
the game away. And they succeeded. Van Gundy’s crew commit-
ted 20 turnovers in addition to
blowing a number of easy shots
that would have won that game in
regulation. Now don’t blame this
on Courtney Lee. Yes, he missed
that apparently easy lay-up as time
expired in regulation. The Magic
cannot and will not win this series
playing a walk-the-ball-up tempo.
In Game 3, Orlando put it all together to squeak out a 108-104 victory as the series made its way
back to Disney World. The Magic
shot 75% in the first half, yet, they
went into halftime holding on to
four point lead. Dwight Howard
finally got it going, scoring 21
points, 14 rebounds and 2-key
blocks. Hedo Turkuglo and
Rashad Lewis killed the Lakers
from the outside and Alston
stopped pouting and had a solid
performance scoring 19 points.
The Magic even cooled off a white
Kobe Bryant
Jameer Nelson
hot Kobe Bryant, who scored 21
first half points, only finish the
game with 28 points. The Magic
basically played a perfect game at
home only to win by four points.
You can look at this as a glass
half-full or half-empty for the
Magic. They could have lost Game
3, and they should have won
Game 2. Orlando could easily be
up. 2-1, vs. being down, 2-1. The
bottomline is that we have a series, which I expect to go down to
the wire.
The Magic appear to have gotten over their bright light stage
fright. Van Gundy now realizes that
Nelson might be the better player
but, right now, Alston gives him a
better chances of winning right
now. Having Nelson back is a
luxury. Jeff’s brother should use
him sparingly and not forcefeed
him into the mix.
Now, if Kobe stops trying to do
too much and starts trusting his
teammates down the stretch, we
might be singing a different tune.
Two games in a row, Bryant
coughed up the rock trying to split
a double team in the closing minutes. Kobe would have found the
open teammate in both of those instances, this series for all intents
and purposes would be over. For
the most part, his supporting cast
has answered the bell. Kobe needs
to check his ego at the door and let
his teammates help him.
I looked forward to the remaining
games. This series could go either
way. All I know is, if the Magic play
the way they have over the last two
games, these Finals will be a nice
way to cap off the best Playoffs in
years.

New York Beacon

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