Feb 17 - New York Beacon

Transcription

New York
Beacon
website:
NewYorkBeacon.net
Vol. 18 No. 07
Showing the Way to Truth and Justice
February 17, 2011 - February 23, 2011
E-Mail
[email protected]
75 Cents
PEOPLE POWER
Freedom Party holds first NYS convention
UNITED WE STAND – At its recent first convention in Harlem, Freedom Party leaders Attorney Ramon Jimenez, Rev. Lydia Lebron and Councilman Charles Barron, pose for
a historic photo.
(See Story On Page 3)
NAACP unit joins court battle to free Mumia
(See Story On Page 3)
Sen. Gillibrand bill seeks relief
for New York City homeowners
NEW YORK BEACON, February 17, 2011 - February 23, 2011 newyorkbeacon.net
2
By J. Zamgba Browne
Special to NY Beacon
Valeisha Butterfield
Tycoon transforms racial
remarks into conglomerate
By Stephen D. Riley
live broadcast.
Special to the NNPA from the
Coincidentally, one of the comAFRO-American newspapers
ponents that Imus unknowingly
angered was the executive director
Controversial radio host Don of the Hip Hop Summit Action NetImus infamously outraged sec- work, led by rap mogul Russell
tions of the Black community, Simmons. Emerging from the fallApril 4, 2007, when he shrewdly out of Imus’ remarks, Valeisha
called members of the Rutgers Butterfield, the network’s executive
University basketball team
(CONTINUED ON PAGE 25)
“nappy-headed hos” during a
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has introduced legislation to provide
property tax relief for 1.1 million
New York’s homeowners, including nearly 300,000 in New York
City.
Gillibrand’s bill would enable all
New Yorkers who pay property
taxes to deduct the full amount of
money they pay from their federal income taxes. Currently, only
homeowners who itemize their
federal taxes can deduct the cost
of property taxes.
Sen. Gillibrand said the Homeowner Tax Fairness Act would allow property taxes to become
fully deductible for all Americans
nationwide.
Under the Gillibarand’s bill, an
estimated 290,000 New York City
homeowners would save approximately a combined $210 million
annually under the new legislation. And about 1.1 million homeowner across the Empire State
would save an estimated $1 billion annually.
“I know how hard families and
seniors are struggling with the rising cost of property taxes,” Sen.
Gillibrand. “Property taxes in
nearly every part of New York are
putting a financial strain on many
families,” she added.
The Senator called for the need
to provide these families with
some relief by allowing all
homeowners with some relief by
allowing all of them, even those
who don’t itemize deductions on
their tax returns, to deduct the full
cost of their property taxes.
“It is not a Democratic idea or
Republican idea – it is a good idea
and we have to get it done this
year,” said the New York junior
senator.
Supporters said that
Gillibrand’s Homeowner Tax Fair-
Sen. Kristen Gillibrand
ness Act would expand and make ily in New York City earning under
permanent federal property tax re- $68,000 that does not itemize their
lief for individuals who do not item- deductions, Gillibrand said they
would save an estimated $455. She
ize their federal tax deductions.
Under the legislation, filers who also said for a family earning $90,000,
do not itemize their taxes would they will save an estimated $758 anbe able to deduct the full amount nually.
Gillibrand pointed out that prior
of their property taxes. On the average, only one-third of taxpayers to 2008, only taxpayers who itemized
their deductions could claim a deitemize their deductions.
According to calculations duction for state and local property
based on data from the Tax Foun- taxes. Congress temporarily allowed
dation and the U.S. Census, about non-itemizing taxpayers to deduct
290,000 New York City homeowner their property taxes in 2008 in an efdo not itemize their taxes and there- fort to help alleviate the housing crifore currently cannot deduct their sis.
However, this deduction was
property taxes.
Experts say these New Yorkers capped at just $500 and expired at
could benefit from Sen. the end of 2009. Sen. Gillibrand’s bill
Gillibrand’s legislation and save would allow all filer to deduct the full
approximately a combined $210 amount of their property taxes and
make this property tax relief permamillion on their federal taxes.
For the average tax paying fam- nent.
Rep. Rangel denounces GOP budget spending plan
Congressman Charles Rangel
[D-NY] denounced the irresponsible spending plan released by
House Republicans Friday that
threatens jobs, undercuts
American innovation and clean
energy, jeopardizes our safety
by taking cops off the street,
and reduces investments in rebuilding America.
“As President Obama
stressed, creating jobs and reducing the deficit are our
country’s top priorities and we
should be working together to
meet these goals. But instead,
the Republicans are trying to
make harmful cuts at a time when
our economy can least afford
it,” Rangel stated after a local
Town Hall meeting in Washington Heights organized by NYS
Assembly Member Herman
“Denny” Farrell and Manhattan
Borough President Scott
Stringer.
The GOP’s spending bill pro-
poses devastating cuts in education, from Pell Grants for college
students to Head Start for preschoolers; American innovation,
ranging from research for cures for
disease to cutting-edge breakthroughs for a clean energy future;
rebuilding American roads, transit
and rail that will create jobs; and
public safety, from state and local
law enforcement to firefighters.
“Republicans have failed to take
a single step to create jobs. They
do not even have a credible plan to
reduce the deficit,” said Rangel.
“Democrats are committed to living within our means, while investing in the future. We must work
to root out waste, fraud, and
abuse in our federal budget by
subjecting every taxpayer dollar spent to the toughest scrutiny. But we will do so responsibly – not at the expense of
good jobs, a strong middle class,
and a growing economy for the
American people.”
Charles Rangel
“GOP’s irresponsible spending
plan is merely jeopardizing American jobs and our economic future
by rolling back investments that
will help our private sector grow
and put people back to work,” the
Congressman added.
Irresponsible Impact of the Republican Spending Bill:
Education – Ensuring that the next
generation of students is prepared
to become the educated workforce
of tomorrow
·
More than 200,000 children
kicked out of Head Start and thousands of teachers would lose their
jobs
·
$800 reduction per student in
the maximum Pell Grant award
Innovation – America’s competitiveness depends on our ability to
innovate and keep America number one
·
20,000 fewer researchers supported at the National Science
Foundation
·
$1.4 billion reduction in sci-
ence and energy research to spur
clean energy economy of the future
·
$2.5 billion in cuts to the National Institutes of Health, representing a significant setback in cancer
and other disease research.
Rebuilding America – key investment in roads, schools, bridges that
are critical for businesses to grow
and that create good-paying American jobs
·
Rescinds $2.5 billion for highspeed rail projects already awarded
·
Loss of 25,000 new construction jobs and the cancellation of 76
projects in 40 states
·
$234 million in cuts to improve
our nation’s air traffic control system
Public Safety – keeping American
families safe
·
1,330 fewer cops on the beat by
eliminating the COPS hiring program
·
2,400 fewer firefighters on the
job protecting their communities by
eliminating funding for SAFER
grants
The New York Beacon (USPS 011-156), serving Metropolitan New York is published weekly by Smith Haj Group at 237 W. 37th Street, Suite 203, New York, NY 10018.
Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY. POSTMASTER; send address changes to The New York Beacon - 237 W. 37th Street, Suite 203, New York, NY 10018.
(212) 213-8585 Fax: (212) 213-6291, Web Site: www.newyorkbeacon.com, Email:[email protected], The New York Beacon Subscription rate: $35.00 per year.
‘INNOCENT PRISONER’
3
Special to the NNPA from the LDF in a statement. “Unless and
AFRO-American newspapers
until courts acknowledge and correct these historic injustices, death
The NAACP Legal Defense sentences like Mr. Abu-Jamal’s will
and Education Fund has joined invite continued skepticism of the
Mumia Abu-Jamal’s defense team criminal justice system by the Afto represent him in his ongoing rican American community.”
appeal of his capital murder con- Abu-Jamal was convicted in 1981
viction.
for the killing of Philadelphia Po“Mumia Abu-Jamal’s convic- lice Officer Daniel Faulkner. He was
tion and death sentence are rel- sentenced to death. He and his
ics of a time and place that was defense team have been fighting
notorious for police abuse and to initially, get him off of death row,
racial discrimination,” said John but now to get him out of prison.
Payton, director-counsel of the His sentence was vacated in 2001
when a federal court found error in
the jury instructions and verdict
form used in his initial trial.
In 2008, a formal petition from
Abu-Jamal seeking reconsidera- THE BRAINS – Conferring at the recent first convention of the Freedom Party are Jitu Weusi, Viola
tion of the conviction was denied Plummer and Bob Law, who are considered the brains behind the founding of the party.
by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, while the United States Supreme Court also denied his appeal. However, on Jan. 19, 2010,
the Supreme Court ordered the
appeals court to reconsider its decision.
party in the United States is participated in the round table
LDF will serve as co-counsel By Amadi Ajamu
built on unity and struggle. The discussion and are building a
with Judy Ritter of Widener Law
Mumia Abu-Jamal
The birth of a new political new Black and Latino led Free- solid coalition.
School.
dom Party founded on June 27,
“A sister of mine went to
2010, held its first convention Washington to the Congress this
on Feb. 12-13, 2011 to lay out past week and told me about all
its program of action and the the Tea Partiers petitioning the
need for a united front.
congress members with the hope
After a mere four month cam- that they will be axing all social
paign, the Freedom Party made programs to the tune of $100 bilsignificant gains in the Novem- lion,” said Jimenez. “And I
ber 2010 state-wide election. thought - whose going to save
According to NYS Board of u s ? T h e R e p u b l i c a n s ? T h e
WASHINGTON – President weeklong debate on their own president himself supports.
Eager to please their conser- Elections statistics the Freedom Democrats? I thought about
Barack Obama’s $3.7 trillion package of deep cuts in domesbudget for 2012 was quickly tic spending for the current fis- vative tea party supporters, Party led all third party candi- Governor Cuomo who told us
Republicans are championing dates among voters in New York what he was going to do and he
dismissed Tuesday by House cal year.
is now doing it. With a $10 bilRepublicans for taking a pass
White House budget director $61 billion in cuts to hundreds City.
The historic first party con- lion dollar deficit, he will not exon tackling historically huge J a c o b L e w k i c k e d o f f t h e of programs for the remaining
administration’s defense of its seven months of this federal vention was held at the Na- tend the millionaire tax, he is cutfederal deficits.
Obama told a news confer- proposed 2012 budget on Capi- fiscal year under a bill the tional Black Theatre on Fifth ting pensions, ending seniority,
ence, meanwhile, that the tol Hill with an appearance be- House planned to debate Tues- Ave and 125 th Street in Harlem and freezing wages. Who is gobudget he sent Congress will fore the House Budget Commit- day. AmeriCorps and the Cor- on Feb. 12 and at the Nazarene ing to save us?”
“Mayor Bloomberg is now tryhelp meet his goal of cutting tee. Rep. Mike Simpson spoke poration for Public Broadcast- Congregational United Church
the deficit in half by the end for most of the Republicans on i n g w o u l d b e c o m p l e t e l y of Christ in Brooklyn on Sun- ing to decide whether he is goof his first term and said he the panel in saying he doesn’t erased, while deep cuts would day, Feb. 13. Both venues held ing to lay-off 9000 or 21000
hoped to find common ground view the proposal — which be carved from programs for capacity crowds. Clearly, there teachers, cutting 100 senior citiwith Republicans. He also de- mostly ignores the recommen- feeding poor women and chil- is a movement afoot building a zen centers, putting less firemen
fended his decision to avoid dations of Obama’s fiscal com- dren, training people for jobs new direction for working class and women on the trucks. Who
is going to save us?” Black and
and cleaning the Great Lakes. people in New York State.
overhauls in entitlement pro- mission — as a serious one.
The Freedom Party has made Latino elected officials continue
Reductions of that magnigrams like Social Security and
“In our nation’s most pressMedicare, saying the two par- ing fiscal challenges, the presi- tude this late in a fiscal year jobs a key issue and Ramon to smile and shuffle along with
ties need to work together to dent has abdicated his leader- would have a jarring impact on Jimenez, Esq., the Freedom the program. “How could anyfind compromise.
ship role,” said House Budget many programs. The GOP-run Party candidate for Attorney body question that we need a
“There’s going to be a lot of Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, House planned to approve the General, set the tone for the Freedom Party? A party that inconvention on Saturday. Mr. cludes working class African
ups and downs in the coming R-Wis. “When his own commis- measure Thursday.
The proposed reductions Jimenez recently held a labor Americans, Latinos, Asians, Armonths as we get to that so- sion put forward a set of fundalution,” the president said. mental entitlement and tax re- have “showdown” written all and community forum in the abs, progressive Whites, people
over them. Republicans in- Bronx sponsored by the Free- from all over the Caribbean. We
“I’m confident that we can get forms ... he ignored them.”
this done.”
Lew countered that the cluded them in a must-pass bill dom Party and the South Bronx need to bring all these forces toCommunity Congress. Union (CONTINUED ON PAGE 38)
House Republicans, though, Obama plan is a “tough budget”
leaders from all over the city
w e r e e a g e r t o l a u n c h a filled with cuts to programs the
Like the colossus, Freedom Party
rising to rousing acclaim, wonder
GOP mocks Obama budget,
House weighs spending cuts
Black Starbucks workers allege mistreatment, wrongful termination
By Brian Stimson
the last two years from the
Special to the NNPA from The St a r b u c k s - o w n e d c o m p a n y.
Skanner Group
The Skanner News was able to
only speak to three of them. A
Several Black workers who fifth employee – now deceased
say they were improperly – was also dismissed, but The
treated and fired from the Tazo Skanner News was unable to
Tea factory in Southeast Port- confirm details of his employland have filed complaints ment.
with the Oregon Bureau of
While the complaints and
Labor and Industries. The situations around their firings
state agency has launched an from Tazo are different, each
investigation into the allega- man tells a similar tale of distions.
parate treatment and dismissal
In total, The Skanner News by management when compared
has confirmed that four Black to the actions of their White coworkers have been fired within workers. All of the Black work-
ers were employed in the manufacturing/shipping section of
the Tazo Tea factory in Portland. The complaint alleges
that Black employees were
placed under closer scrutiny
than any other employees at the
plant. The former employees
who spoke to The Skanner
News say the atmosphere made
the working conditions hard to
bear. Shakur Shabazz — a four
year employee –was fired in
September 2010 for arriving
late, soon after an injury
caused doctors to put him on a
light work schedule and man-
agers had given him a flexible
schedule, he says.Steve
Murray – a 12-year employee —
was fired in July 2010 after management told him he wasn’t doing a good enough job on a position he wasn’t fully trained to
accomplish.
Lawrence Willis – a fouryear employee — says he was
fired for “no call, no show” in
May 2009 when he was sick. He
says he did call in to report his
absence that day. The Skanner
News was unable to speak with
the fourth employee.
Stacey Krum, a spokesperson
for Starbucks, says they “certainly deny the allegations” of
disparate treatment or wrongful
firing. “Mr. Shabazz’ complaint
was the first and only indication
of any such concerns at the
plant,” wrote Krum in an email
response to The Skanner News’
inquiry. “We take this issue very
seriously and are cooperating in
the investigation. We are confident that the evidence will show
that the actions involving Mr.
Shabazz and others individuals
he has named were made for le(CONTINUED ON PAGE 35)
NAACP joins court
battle to free Mumia
Pride vs. Policy:
4
Who wins and who loses when more
folks choose the multi-racial option?
By TaRessa Stovall
Special to the NNPA from
Thedefendersonline.com
Rep. John Conyers
Conyers: GOP waste time
debating the unnecessary
House Judiciary Ranking
Member John Conyers, Jr. (DMich.) challenged the Republican
House’s decision to spend ten
hours of floor time and federal tax
resources debating a function
Congress already performs in
overseeing regulations.
During a floor debate,
Republicans claimed that legislation passed by Democrats in
the 111th Congress impeded
job growth. However, according
to findings from the Bureau of
Labor Statistics just a few weeks
ago, 1.1. million private sector
jobs have been created since
health care reform was enacted.
Moreover, 207,000 jobs in the
health care industry have been
created since the enactment of
health care reform. By contrast,
under President Bush, 673,000
private sector jobs were lost.
“This resolution we are discussing today directs certain
committees to conduct oversight - a function they already
perform, and have been performing for as long as I have
been in Congress,” said
Conyers. “Instead of spending our time discussing what
we already do, we should be
working in our committees to
develop and consider meaningful legislation that helps
American families stay in their
homes, secure good paying
jobs, and pay their bills.
“I also challenge the myth
that regulations ‘destroy jobs
and waste taxpayers’ money.’
Nothing could be farther from
the truth. In fact, the benefits
of regulations consistently exceed the costs, and regulations
have been shown to create
jobs.
The President’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) found
under both the Bush Administration and the Obama Administration
that the major rules issued by executive branch agencies have produced net benefits -of at least $73
billion over a ten year period - to
our economy.
“Given that regulations yield
significantly greater benefits
than they cost, the effort that
my colleagues across the aisle
have been spending on the effort to impede regulations, or
make their issuance more difficult - efforts like the destructive REINS Act, H.R. 10, that has
been introduced in Congress should make us extremely concerned, especially in these troubling economic times.
“I would also like to debunk
the myth that some of my colleagues across the aisle have been
making, claiming that health care
reform law has destroyed jobs.
“Let’s stop perpetuating dangerous myths, and get back to the
work we were elected to do: the
work of creating jobs and making
life more decent and just for the
American people.”
The growth of multi-racial
people and their assertion that
their Census choices should reflect their presence in the population is presenting an interesting
quandary. After decades of
loosely-organized lobbying by
multi-racial people (and sometimes
their families) nationwide, both the
2000 and the 2010 Census included
a “Some Other Race” option to
capture people who did not identify with single-race or ethnic
group categories provided on the
form.
While official figures haven’t
yet been released, The New York
Times Jan. 30 story, “Black?
White? Asian? More Young
Americans Choose All of the
Above,” reported that, “Multiracial and multiethnic Americans
(usually grouped together as
“mixed race”) are one of the
country’s fastest-growing demographic groups. And, experts expect the racial results of the 2010
Census … to show the trend continuing or accelerating.”
The latest statistic comes from
a Feb. 8 Washington Post article
which states that, “Preliminary
census estimates also suggest the
number of multiracial Americans
jumped roughly 20 percent since
2000, to over 5 million … based on
fresh government survey data,
[which] offer a glimpse into 2010
census results that are being released on a state-by-state basis
beginning this week.”
Pew Research Center data suggests that one in seven new marriages are between spouses of different races or ethnicities, based
on 2008 and 2009 statistics.
“The crop of students moving
through college right now includes the largest group of mixedrace people ever to come of age in
the United States; and they are
only the vanguard: the country is
in the midst of a demographic shift
driven by immigration and intermarriage, ” The New York Times
stated.
“According to estimates from
the Census Bureau, the mixed-race
population has grown by roughly
35 percent since 2000,” The New
York Times reports. It’s not clear
how much that growth is due to
more multi-racial people being born
or the increase in those who take
Kimberly Liu
advantage of the multi-racial op- come at the expense of the number
tion on the Census form. “We’re and influence of other minority
working to figure out what are the groups, particularly African-Ameriways in which we can further cans,” according to The New York
move forward so people can find Times.
themselves on the questionnaire,
Every time the Census has been
find themselves and their commu- performed—even before there was
nity to have a portrait of them- a multi-racial option– the Census
selves,” said Nicholas Jones, Bureau has failed to fully count
chief of the Racial Statistics Blacks and other people of color.
Branch of the U.S. Census Bureau. During the 2000 Census, an incred“There was no option for multi- ible 628,000 Blacks, and a total of 1
racial people to respond to the million people of color, were not
Census until 2000,” Jones said, counted. In contrast, the 2000 Cenwhen there were 57 combinations sus double-counted the non-Hisof race tabulated, with white and panic White population by approxiblack the most common. “Up un- mately 2.2 million. Communities that
til 2000, if you checked more than were under-counted in the 2000 Cenone box, only one would be tabu- sus lost more than 4.1 billion dollars
lated,” he said. Progress or Prob- in federal and local funding. Offilems?
cial multi-racial designations—boxes
The issue of who checks multi- to check—bring their own set of
racial is a matter of policy as much challenges. “This issue has come up
as pride. Census data is used to recently in the context of our edudetermine a wide range of govern- cation cases, particularly desegrement activities; they include de- gation cases that are in the enforcetermining the number of seats ment stage,” said Kimberly Liu, aseach state will have in the U.S. sistant counsel, Education Practice
House of Representatives and cre- Group, of the NAACP Legal Deating voting districts for Con- fense and Educational Fund, Inc.
gress, state legislatures, school (LDF). “The federal scheme has
boards and city councils, to the changed recently to account for the
allocation of billions of dollars of increased existence of multi-racial
funds to communities for schools, persons in America,” Liu explained.
roads, hospitals, senior centers, In 1997, the Office of Management
and other services.
and Budget (OMB), a federal
“Pessimists say that a more agency, revised the standards for
powerful multiracial movement
will lead to more stratification and
State Senate Dems to GOP:
Don’t stand in way of a new Albany
With the Senate GOP leadership
quickly backing away from preelection promises of reform, Senate Democrats called on the Republican Majority to join them in
passing a comprehensive ethics,
campaign finance, and independent redistricting reform package
that will finally deliver the change
Albany needs and taxpayers deserve.
Prior to the elections, 54 senators from both sides of the aisle
pledged to change Albany. How-
ever, recent reports indicate that
the 32 Republicans, including their
leadership, who campaigned as
“heroes of reform” are backing off
their promise to voters and stonewalling progress on an ethics reform package. To renew the
people’s call for reform, Senate
Democrats unveiled a sweeping
reform package and urged immediate action on one of Governor
Cuomo’s top priorities for the new
session.
The Democrats’ six-point plan
John L. Sampson
will:
* Establish an independent commission on governmental ethics
(S.31/Squadron).
* Increase financial and client disclosure requirements (S.382/
Rivera).
* Eliminate Pay to Play (S.1565/
Addabbo).
* Restrict the personal use of campaign funds (S.3053/Krueger).
* Implement a clean elections system for public financing (S.2740/
Smith).
* Create an independent redistricting commission (S.2543/Gianaris).
These reforms will change the way
Albany does business – bringing
transparency and accountability to
a government that has shielded itself from public scrutiny, reducing
the influence of money on elections,
and allowing people to decide elections, not politicians
Senate Democratic Leader John L.
Sampson said, “With our state at a
5
6
NAACP to bestow President’s Award on Gen Colin Powell
General Colin L. Powell, USA
(Ret) will receive the NAACP’s
2011 President’s Award at the
42nd NAACP IMAGE AWARDS,
broadcast live from Los Angeles
on Friday, March 4 (8:00-10:00
PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on
FOX, it was announced by
Vicangelo Bulluck, executive
producer of the telecast and executive director of the NAACP’s
Hollywood Bureau.
This prestigious award will be
presented by NAACP President
and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous
in recognition of special achievements and distinguished public
service. Previous President’s
Award recipients include Van
Jones, Muhammad Ali, Susan
Taylor, Reverend Jesse Jackson,
Ryan White, Bryant Gumbel,
Alexis Herman, Venus and Serena
Williams, Tavis Smiley, Tom
Joyner, Condoleezza Rice, President Bill Clinton, Bishop T.D.
Jakes and Ella Fitzgerald.
“General Colin Powell has led
an extraordinary life of public service” stated Jealous. “As the
first African American to serve
as chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff, and later the first to
serve as Secretary of State, General Powell holds a unique place
in American history. He is a man
of conscience and conviction,
who uses his vast influence to
promote education and self esteem to our country’s youth. Although his position on the Iraq
War was controversial, he was
often the voice of reason in the
prosecution of that war. He rose
from humble roots as the son of
Jamaican immigrants to become a
distinguished military leader, a
statesman, a humanitarian and a
philanthropist. He is an inspiration to us all.”
General Powell became the 65th
Secretary of State on Jan. 20, 2001.
He brought extensive experience
with him to his office. Before becoming Secretary of State, Colin
Powell served as a key aide to the
Secretary of Defense and as National Security Advisor to President Reagan. He also served 35
years in the United States Army,
rising to the rank of Four-Star General and serving as chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff (1989 – 1993).
During this time he oversaw 28 crises to include the Panama intervention of 1989 and Operation
Desert Storm in the victorious 1991
Persian Gulf War.
General Powell is a recipient of
the Spingarn Medal, which is the
highest award given by the
NAACP. In addition, he is the recipient of numerous U.S. military
awards and decorations including
the Defense Distinguished Service Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Distinguished Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Defense Superior Service
Medal, Legion of Merit (with Oak
Leaf Cluster), Soldier’s Medal,
Bronze Star Medal, and the Purple
Heart.
General Powell’s civilian awards
include two Presidential Medals of
Freedom, the President’s Citizens
General Colin L. Powell
Medal, the Congressional Gold
Medal and the Secretary of Energy
Distinguished Service Medal. He
has received awards from over two
dozen countries to include a French
Legion of Honor and an honorary
knighthood bestowed by H.M.
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain.
General Powell is the founder of
the Colin Powell Center for Policy
Studies at his alma mater, the City
College of New York. The Center is
student-focused with a mission to
develop a new generation of publicly engaged leaders. He is also the
founder and chairman Emeritus of
the America’s Promise Alliance,
dedicated to forging a strong and
effective partnership alliance committed to seeing that children have
the fundamental resources they
need to succeed. He has also been
a member of the board of trustees of
Howard University and the board
of directors of the United Negro
College Fund.
The General also served on the
board of governors of The Boys &
Girls Clubs of America and was a
member of the advisory board of the
Children’s Health Fund.
Since returning to private life,
General Powell has become a strategic limited partner at Kleiner Perkins
Caufield & Byers, the renowned Silicon Valley venture capital firm., and
he is helping to raise funds for the
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in
Washington, DC and for the construction of an education center for
the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. He
is the author of his best-selling autobiography, My American Journey.
Green Party of U.S.A.
hails Mubarak overthrow
Demonstrators in Egypt
The Green Party of the
United States has congratulated the Egyptian people and
called
President
Hosni
Mubarak’s resignation a huge
step towards democracy, human rights, and stability for
their country.
“The Egyptian revolution is
a victory for the people of
Egypt, and also the victory for
an idea — the idea that violent
regimes can be overthrown
through nonviolent means,”
said Romi Elnagar, member of
the Green Party of Louisiana
and wife and mother of Egyptian-Americans. “While police
and rampaging pro-Mubark
thugs killed 350 and injured
thousands more, the protesters
themselves remained overwhelmingly peaceful.”
US Greens hoped for an
end to the 30-year-old ‘emergency decree’ and for a
broad-based transitional
government that embraced
opposition parties, to begin
the work of dismantling the
brutally oppressive Mubarak
regime. The next step will
take place when the military
relinquishes power and
Egyptians establish a civil
government with a constitution, free and fair elections,
democratic institutions, and
the means to solve problems
like unemployment and poverty.
Greens also urged the
Obama Administration to cooperate in an investigation of
the alleged $70 billion that
M r. M u b a r a k ’s a c c u m u l a t e d
during his corrupt regime and
to freeze any of his assets that
are held in the US.
“We call on the US government to avoid meddling and respect the right of Egyptians to
rule themselves. Aid for Egypt
must be for humanitarian purposes, not military, and without strings attached. If the
Obama Administration tries to
press the new Egypt into subordination, to satisfy the US’s
strategic military and economic interests in the region,
we will betray the Egyptian
people and their right to democratic sovereignty,” said Laura
Wells, 2010 Green Party candidate for Governor of California.
US Greens noted that much
of the conflict in the Middle
East and resentment of the US
by Egyptians and other populations in the region centers
around the unresolved Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
“Since making its 1979 ‘cold
peace’ with Israel, the Egyptian
government has supported
Israel’s ongoing ethnic cleansing of Palestine, most recently
complying with the siege of Gaza,
in return for billions in aid from
the US. We look to the formation of a democratic Egypt which
adheres to international law and
reflects its citizens’ long-standing opposition to Israel’s oppression of Palestinians,” said
Dr. Justine McCabe, co-chair of
the Green Party’s International
Committee.
By Richette L. Haywood
of Congress to participate in the
NNPA Contributor WASHING- legislative process by giving tesTON, DC
timony on a bill that directly affects
the District,” Norton said. “We will
Congressional Black Caucus not give up on our efforts to use
Chair, Emanuel Cleaver, II, (D- every legitimate means to stop all
MO), was outraged over the Re- anti-home rule attempts to roll
publican-led U.S. House of Rep- back the progress the District has
resentatives refusal to hear testi- made over the past four years, inmony from Washington, D.C. cluding today’s attempt to prevent
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes D.C. from funding abortions for
Norton on spending local tax- low-income residents.”
payer-raised funds to provide
A 20-year veteran of the legislaabortions for low-income resi- tive body, Norton said, she has
dents.
never seen a Member of Congress
“I am extremely concerned that turned away from testifying, parCongresswoman Norton was shut ticularly when the bill under conout of a very important hearing sideration directly impacts the
that affects the community in representative’s district.
which she represents. Not only
“I strongly oppose the harsh
is it unfair, it’s disrespectful and I anti-choice H.R. 3, the No Taxplan on speaking with Chairman payer Funding for Abortion Act,
Franks about this matter,” said in its entirety, but I am specifically
Cleaver.
compelled to discuss an unprecCongresswoman Norton also edented provision of the bill, Secreleased a statement strongly ob- tion 310, “Application to District
jecting to being denied the oppor- of Columbia,” said Norton, in a
tunity to testify during the House prepared statement. “This proviJudiciary Subcommittee Hearing sion is entirely unrelated to the
on a Bill targeting Washington, purposes of the bill, which seeks
D.C. Norton was denied the op- not only to write the Hyde amendportunity to testify by Chairman ment into federal law and extend it
Trent Franks (R-AZ), although permanently, but to go much furRanking Democratic Member ther, threatening the health of milJerrold Nadler, of New York, sub- lions of women.”
mitted Norton’s request to give
Last month, one of the first acts
testimony in advance, and al- of the Republican-controlled
though members of Congress are House was to strip the floor votroutinely given the courtesy to ing rights of six delegates repretestify at any hearing of their senting areas such as the District
choosing. “Not only do Repub- of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam
licans seek to trample on D.C.’s and American Samoa. Five of
rights as a self-governing juris- those delegates are Democrats,
diction, they apparently seek to while one, from the Northern
trample on my right as a Member Marianas Islands, is an indepen-
Eleanor Holmes Norton
dent.
1993 when they controlled the
The Republican-led decision House, Republicans took it
to rescind the delegates’ abil- away when they regained conity to vote on amendments on trol of the House in 1995 and
the House floor was no sur- Democrats restored it in 2007.
prise considering Democrats When stripped of the voting
extended the voting rights in r i g h t s , Vi rg i n I s l a n d s D e l .
Donna Christensen, told the Associated Press, “This is a very
undemocratic way to start the
112th Congress.” In January,
Norton’s offer to establish a special committee to study the delegate voting rights issue was
defeated along party lines.
Last week, after being denied the
opportunity to testify before the
committee, Norton said, “The
District of Columbia is not a
colony of the Congress.
We refuse to submit the funds
we alone raise and decisions
about how to spend our own local funds to Members of the
House. We will not let the Majority get away with supporting
democracy everywhere on earth
except its own nation’s capital.
The House [Republican] Majority
goes many steps too far when they
introduce a bill with such potential
harm to all women and then try to
make it worse for the women of the
District of Columbia by taking down
part of the local government’s authority in the process with such
potential harm to all women and
then try to make it worse for the
women of the District of Columbia
by taking down part of the local
government’s authority in the process. The new House [Republican]
majority says it supports limiting the
federal government’s power and devolving that power to the states and
localities.
This bill does the opposite by using federal power to snatch local
authority from the District of Columbia and its people. The time has
come to practice what the House
Majority preaches.”
People of color are susceptible to cancer too
While reflecting on the past,
it’s important to remember people
of color who were lost to skin cancer including legendary reggae
musician Bob Marley. Unfortunately, many people of color are
under the impression that they are
immune to skin cancer and delay
treatment until its later stages
when it is potentially fatal. The
Skin Cancer Foundation would
like to deliver an important health
reminder during this time of reflection that skin cancer can affect
everyone..
People of color may be less
likely than Caucasians to develop
melanoma, the deadliest form of
skin cancer, but those who develop melanoma are more likely
than Caucasians to die from it.
Studies have shown that the fiveyear survival rate for African
Americans with melanoma is 59
percent, compared to 85 percent
for Caucasians.
While skin cancer comprises
only one to two percent of all cancers in African Americans, patients in this population are more
likely to be diagnosed later with
advanced cases. Experts say it’s
partly because of the widespread
misconception that non-Caucasians are immune to skin cancer.
In fact, everyone, regardless of
skin color, can fall prey to it.
“Skin cancer is one of the easiest cancers to treat successfully,
if diagnosed early,” said Perry
Robins, MD, president, The Skin
Cancer Foundation. “It is important for us to reach out to the African American community regard-
ing the importance of prevention,
early detection, and prompt, effective treatment.”
In addition to adopting a sun
protection regimen (see the Prevention Guidelines, below) everyone should perform monthly
self-exams to check their skin for
warnings signs of skin cancer.
During a self-exam, note any
changes in the skin, such as
increases in size or changes in
the shape or color of any
growth, spot, sore, mole or lesion. People of color should pay
particular attention to non-exposed skin with less pigment,
such as the palms, soles, mucous membranes and nail regions, as up to 60-75 percent of
their tumors arise in these areas.
Furthermore, these tend to be
among the most dangerous and
fast-moving form of the disease. If
your skin shows any warning
signs of skin cancer, consult your
physician. For a complete selfexam how-to guide, visit
www.SkinCancer.org/Self-Examination.
However, a self-exam should
not replace an annual skin exam.
Everyone should see a physician,
preferably one who specializes in
diseases of the skin, once a year,
or more often if you have a history
of skin cancer. If you do not have
access to a dermatologist, check
www.SkinCancer.org/Tour to see if
The Skin Cancer Foundation’s
Road to Healthy Skin Tour, presented by AVEENO and Rite Aid,
is coming to your area. The Tour
Dr. Perry Robins
provides free, full-body skin exams
by local dermatologists.
The Skin Cancer Foundation’s
Prevention Guidelines
* Seek the shade, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. · Do not
burn.
* Avoid tanning and UV tanning
booths.
* Cover up with clothing, including
a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses. · Use a broad
spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen
with an SPF of 15 or higher every
day. For extended outdoor activity,
use a water-resistant, broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an
SPF of 30 or higher.
* Apply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of
sunscreen to your entire body 30
minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours or immediately after swimming or excessive
sweating.
* Keep newborns out of the sun.
Sunscreens should be used on babies over the age of six months. ·
Examine your skin head-to-toe every month.
* See your physician every year for
a professional skin exam.
The Skin Cancer Foundation is
the only global organization solely
devoted to the prevention, detection and treatment of skin cancer.
The mission of the Foundation is to
decrease the incidence of skin cancer through public and professional
education and research.
For more information, visit
www.SkinCancer.org.149 Madison
Avenue Suite 901 | New York, NY
10016 US This email was sent to
newyorkbeacon
7
Republican-led House blocks DC delegate from testifying
8
Editorial
We should leave no
community behind
New York
Beacon
Walter Smith: Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
Miatta Haj Smith: Co-Publisher & Executive Editor
William Egyir: Managing Editor
The Obama Budget faces
Valentine Day massacre
By George E. Curry
NNPA Columnist
President Obama released his
$3.7 trillion budget proposal
for fiscal 2012 on Valentine Day
and it immediately became the
object of a Valentine’s Day
Massacre by Republicans in
the House and Senate who
want deeper budget cuts.
Lost amid the GOP criticism
was that President Obama proposed $61 billion in cuts. His
plan includes a 50 percent cut
($2.5
billion)
in
the
government’s program to help
low-income people pay their
heating bills and slicing $300
million in community development block grants. At a time
Obama is highlighting the need
for infrastructure spending
and a clean environment, he is
proposing eliminating almost
$1 billion from grants that go
to states for water treatment
plants and infrastructure programs. Republican leaders say
that Obama’s budget was dead
on arrival. GOP leaders have
proposed returning federal
spending to 20.6 percent of
gross domestic product (GDP),
the average of federal spending from 1970 to 2008. “Limit-
ing spending to a historical
average of some kind has been
a longstanding goal of very
conservative organizations
such as the Heritage Foundation,” noted a report by Paul N.
Van de Water of the Center on
Budget and Policy Priorities, a
non-partisan think tank in
Washington, D.C. “The reality
is, however, that policymakers
will find it virtually impossible
to maintain federal spending at
its average level back to 1970
without making draconian cuts
in Social Security, Medicare,
and an array of other vital federal activities.” Trying to peg
federal spending to an arbitrary
figure from the past ignores the
enormous changes in American
society that ranges from increased federal responsibility
in the post 9/11 environment to
a flood of baby boomers reaching retirement age. There are
three key reasons why trying
to roll back federal spending to
1970 or even 2000 levels ignores
today’s reality, according to
the Center on Budget and
Policy Priorities report:·
* The aging of the population
– the percentage of Americans
aged 65 and older will grow by
more than half during the next
25 years – and that growth will
increase the cost of the three
largest domestic programs:
Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. * Federal responsibilities have grown. Since
2000, for example, federal responsibilities have expanded
in the aftermath of the September 11, 2002 terrorist attacks;
aid to veterans has increased
as a result of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars; the Medicare
prescription drug benefit
added by Congress in 2003
along with health care reform
will also expand federal spending, even though health care
will eventually lower the deficit.·
* Spending on federal debt will
be substantially higher than it
has been the past 40 years.
The combination of the Iraq
and Afghanistan wars, the
Bush-era tax cuts and their extensions and a severe recession have contributed to the
public debt being almost twice
as large (as a percentage of
GDP) as it was in 2001. Higher
interest costs have accompanied the rising debt.
The budget debate isn’t
By Rep. James E. Clyburn (SC06)
Assistant Democratic Leader,
U.S. House of Representatives
COMMENTARY
In my home state of South
Carolina, Orangeburg County
is home to a 5400 ft. runway airport, two Class A railroads, two
interstate highways, eight U.S.
highways, two universities, a
technical college, 67 miles of
shoreline along the state’s largest lake and more than 90,000
citizens. Orangeburg seems to
have all that is necessary to be
a strong and vibrant economic
engine. The County, however,
has a median income of $32,694
and is consistently ranked
among the nation’s ten poorest
counties with a population
greater than 65,000, ranking
eighth based on 2008 data.
When I was elected to Congress, I was told that in spite
of the infrastructure enumerated above, Orangeburg and
other counties along the I-26/
I-95 corridor would always be
drags on the state’s economy
unless we solved their most
pressing challenge: access to
clean, safe, drinkable water. I
immediately went to work to
solve this problem. Today, because of good cooperation and
planning by local officials and
targeted congressional expenditures, in the Orangeburg
County town of Santee located
on I-95, we have a state-of-theart water plant with reaches
into four surrounding counties.
We have great hope that we can
begin to turn the economic conditions around in these historically depressed communities,
but further assistance is
needed.
In the United States, there are
474 counties where 20 percent or
more of the population has been
living below the poverty line for
the last 30 years. The counties
are as diverse as our great nation; Appalachian communities
in Kentucky and North Carolina,
Native American communities in
South Dakota and Alaska, Latino
communities in Arizona and New
Mexico and African American
communities in Mississippi and
South Carolina. They lack access to quality schools, affordable quality health care and adequate job opportunities.
This is not a partisan issue. In
2009, these counties were represented by 43 Democrats and 84
Republicans in the Congress.
Democrats represented 149 of
them, with a total population of
8.8 million; Republicans 311, with
a total population of 8.3 million;
and 14, with a total population
of 5. 3 million, were split between
Republicans and Democrats. I
represented seven such counties.
When we drafted the Recovery
Act, I fought to ensure that no
communities were left behind.
We a l l k n o w t h a t P r e s i d e n t
Roosevelt’s “New Deal,” which
was credited with ending the
Great Depression, was not a good
deal for many of these persistent
poverty counties. At my urging,
the Recovery Act included a provision that directed at least 10
percent of Rural Development investments to communities where
20 percent or more of the population had lived below the poverty line for the last 30 years.
Unemployment dropping for everyone but Black folks
By Julianne Malveaux
NNPA Columnist
The first Friday of every month
is the time when we learn what is
happening with the prior month’s
employment. Many are excited
that in a two month period the unemployment rate dropped from 9.8
percent in November to 9.0 percent in January. Good news? Not
really. Only 36,000 new jobs were
created. The unemployment rate
drop is mostly a function of
people dropping out of the labor
market.
More importantly for those
who concern me, the Black unemployment has scarcely changed.
So while the overall unemployment rate is down, the Black unemployment rate has held constant at 15.7 percent. The old adage of last hired, first fired holds
true. African Americans are not
really participants in this so-called
economic recovery. If any other
community had these recalcitrant
rates we could expect a targeted
program to improve or fix the matter. African Americans, however,
have been ignored by public
policy, being relegated to the
“suck it up” school of development. African American workers
have had no opportunity to experience this so-called recovery. We
are out of luck, out of line, at the
periphery of the employment situation.
So there are a group of Republicans that have come to Washington shooting for bear. They want
to cut government spending.
They think that their cuts will create jobs. But, there are no jobs,
not for African Americans, and few
jobs for others. To be sure, employment creation is a lagging indicator, and we won’t see the real
results of economic recovery for
months after it has actually occurred. At the same time, it is most
discouraging to see unemploy-
ment rates drop while African
American unemployment rates
stay high.
African American workers
have been sitting at the periphery of this economic recovery for
more than three yeas. People
want to call our world post-racial,
but there is no post racialism in
these high unemployment rates.
Indeed, the fact that recovery
does not trickle down means that
President Obama must take time
to look at what is happening with
African American workers.
Congressman Jim Clyburn (DSC) says that recovery funds
need to be targeted to those communities that have the greatest
burden of recession. Communities with more than 20 percent unemployment should get 10 percent
of the recovery funds that are provided for the next 30 years. He
calls it the 10-20-30 plan, an opportunity for specific communities to roar back from recession.
I call it a good idea.
It’s not enough. It is to post
racial to be post racial. It suggests that distressed communities are the only communities
that need help. It takes race
away, when race is so much
there, when African Americans
are sitting, like little children,
with their noses to the glass
wall of economic recovery. The
data suggest that other communities are recovering. The reality is that the African American
community is not. Here is how
it shows up for me – students
who are excellent, exceptional and
qualified cannot find work because there is little work out there
for them. They do what they can
to participate in the economy using entrepreneurship to create income producing situations for
themselves. Still, they want work
that provides benefits - health insurance and sick leave, especially.
These jobs just are not there. If
they owe Bennett College a balance,
they cannot pay it much as they
want to. They can’t pay because
they just aren’t earning the dollars.
Yet accreditors will look at our
college’s balances and say that
there is a problem, that students failing to pay means that we have not
done due diligence. What diligence
can we offer when the unemployment rate is so high? What dollars
can we collect when the dollars are
not there? Our nation’s high unemployment rate reverberates. People
are struggling and this struggling is
unaddressed.
Many will applaud the drop in the
unemployment rate. Who will remind us that the Black unemployment rate remains at a crisis-level
high?
Julianne Malveaux is president
to Bennett College for Women. Her
most recent book, surviving and
thriving: 365 Facts in Black Economic History can be ordered at
lastwordprod.om.
9
A new year: A worsening crisis
By Lee A. Daniels
Special to the NNPA from
No, the virus that’s gripped
growing numbers of Black
Americans is a longstanding
economic ailment intensified
to a devastating degree by the
consequences of the Great
Recession, America’s worst
economic crisis in 70 years. It
proves once again the old adage about the economic fortunes of Black America compared to White America when
White America has a cold,
Black America has pneumonia.
It is true, of course, that the
Great Recession itself, which
officially ended two years ago,
has wrecked the job prospects
and careers of millions of all
kinds of Americans, not just
Blacks – as a substantial number of governmental and private-sector studies and reports have documented with
both dry statistics and oftenwrenching personal stories
At the high levels of the national economy, a slow-moving
recovery appears underway —
the stock market is back over
12,000 again, and a cautious
confidence is more and more
being expressed by those in
the government and in the financial sector. But, strikingly,
the news last week that the
unemployment rate for January
fell to 9.0 percent — its lowest
level in more than a year —
provoked no cheering at all.
Indeed, it was quickly dismissed as meaningless, because it was accompanied by
an anemic job growth of about
36,000 new jobs. However,
January’s 9.0-percent unem-
Black America has pneumonia, and the fact
that it’s winter has nothing to do with it
ployment rate does have meaning – a grim significance. It underscores the fact that the official number of out-of-work
Americans hovers around 14
million, six million of whom have
been jobless longer than the
base unemployment measure of
26 weeks. Given that monthly job
growth continues far below the
hundreds of thousands of jobs
needed to make a real dent in unemployment and that there are
no jobs for more than three out
of every four jobless workers,
prospects that those numbers
will decline appreciably are dim.
That reality has driven millions of discouraged jobless
workers to stop, at least temporarily, looking for work.
“One can only take ‘no’ so
many times,” one erstwhile jobseeker told The Huffington Post
recently after spending the last
three years fruitlessly sending
out hundreds of job applications. The holder of a master’s
degree in biology who had
worked for a biotechnology firm
before being laid off in 2008, the
married father of two said, “I
thought, ‘I’ve got over 12 years
of experience … with excellent
success. So I looked for a year
and a half and got nowhere. All
these years of experience and
this fabulous degree, and no one
cares.” Such stories prove that
beyond the boundaries of those
who can afford to view the crisis with a certain amount of detachment, the vast pool of pain
persists – the more so because a
cloak of invisibility seems to
have been thrown over the
millions of the jobless. The
possibility that America may
be building a huge class of the
once-employed-but-now-permanently-unemployed has all
but disappeared from most
media venues since President
Obama and the Congressional
Republicans forged a compromise tax bill that extended
emergency unemployment
benefits for another 13
months.
That extension has eased the
pressure on those who’ve
been out of work for more than
26 weeks; but a social and
economic catastrophe looms
in both the short- and the
long-term. Both consequences spring from the same
source: the combined dynamics of globalization and technological advances have
made it possible for more and
more businesses to “produce”
profitably with fewer and fewer
workers.
That means that
more and more skilled and
even highly skilled workers,
like the worker mentioned
above, have become surplus
labor. To put it bluntly, some
significant number may never
again regain the income and
status of their previous jobs
– if they ever again work at a
stable job at all.
What is now happening to
millions of American workers
has a bitter resonance in the
recent history of Black
America. In the 1960s and
1970s, the inexorable disap-
pearance of industrial jobs that
required only a high school diploma, and the movement of
many other jobs out of the cities – out of “transportation
reach” – to suburbia (today, for
American workers as a whole
it’s the movement of jobs to
foreign shores), along with the
persistence of discrimination
which made many jobs from the
lowest to the highest rungs of
the occupational ladder “offlimits” to Blacks, set seemingly
in concrete the social structure
of Black American society today: a highly-credentialed “opportunity class” that is doing
well co-exists with a sizeable,
and now growing, segment
who seem to be locked in poverty.
That dynamic is why the
Black unemployment rate for
every category of Black workers from those who are school
dropout to those with advanced degrees has always
been nearly double that of
Whites at the comparable level.
Today, for example, while the
White unemployment rate is 8.0
percent, the Black unemployment rate remains in its usual
place of being the highest of all
the racial and ethnic groups at
15.7 percent.
In many communities, and for
particular groups of AfricanAmerican, the crisis of joblessness is even worse. For example, a new report from the
Community Service Society, of
New York City, found that in
Gotham from 2009 to mid-2010,
only one in four Black males
aged 16 to 24 had a job and that
the overall Black unemployment
rate of 14.9 percent was more
than twice that of Whites.
The racial disparity also
showed itself in the predicament
of those out of work more than
26 weeks. Among the long-term
unemployed, 30 percent were out
of work for more than a year; but
40 percent of all Black jobless
New Yorkers had been out of
work for more than a year. The
data about New York City are part
of a welter of statistics showing,
as a report from the Center for
American Progress, a liberalleaning think tank based in
Washington, D.C., states, “All
U.S. households were severely
hurt by the recession but communities of color experienced
larger losses than Whites. This
also means that, as the economic
recovery deepens and the labor
market recovers, communities of
color will have to climb out of a
deeper hole to regain the same
level of economic security as
they had before the crisis.” The
report identified three policy directives that are needed to pave
a road to recovery: the enactment of policies that ensure
those at the lower rungs of the
socio-economic ladder are able
to regain solid economic footing;
specific proposals to help communities of color, because they
are most in need of aid; and, finally, the pursuit of policies that
reduce the extraordinary degree
of income inequality in the society.
Lee A. Daniels is director of
Communications for the NAACP
Legal Defense and Educational
Fund, Inc., and editor-in-chief
of TheDefendersOnline.
Young people falling behind economically
By Marian Wright Edelman
NNPA Columnist
While there is a lot of talk today
about jobs, there has been far too
little attention paid to the job prospects of young people. A new
report prepared for the Children’s
Defense Fund shows young
people have lost more ground
economically than any other age
group during the last three decades. Dr. Andrew Sum, professor and director of the Center for
Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University, and his colleagues paint a grim economic
picture for the futures of young
workers and young families, and
Black young people and young
families fare the worst.
The widening income inequality and declining real incomes of
young Black families with children raise serious questions
about the economic and social fu-
tures of their children. The American Dream for poor young people
and their children is vanishing on
our watch. Why does employment
for these young people matter so
much? The researchers have
pointed out that what might seem
like “just” a first job is much more
important: early work experience is
a form of “human capital investment” that influences the future
employment and annual earnings of
young adults. But, employment
rates for teens and young adults
often decline at above average rates
during economic recessions and
jobless recoveries. The number of
teens and young adults ages 16 -29
who were “underutilized” in the labor market grew substantially between 2000 and 2010. These are
young people who were unemployed (jobless but actively looking and available for work); not actively looking for work (but still
wanting to work); or underemployed
(in part time jobs but wanting to
work full time).
Black young adults, and especially Black males, had the
highest labor underutilization
rates, at 40 percent and 43 percent respectively. As the
Children’s Defense Fund relaunches the Black Community
Crusade for Children to
strengthen our children’s futures,
these vanishing employment opportunities are one part of the
huge crisis for which we need to
find solutions.
Dr. Sum and his colleagues
found the young people who
need applied work experience
most were the least likely to receive it, with negative consequences for their own future
school retention, employability,
wages, and earnings. Between
2007 and 2010, the number of
young people 16 to 29 officially
unemployed rose by nearly 80
percent. Education levels make an
enormous difference in the employability of young people.
Black high school dropouts 16 to
29 were four and a half times as
likely to be underutilized as Black
young people in the same age
group with master’s or higher degrees. Employment rates of the
nation’s 20-24 year olds ranged
from a low of 49 of every 100 high
school dropouts to a high of 85 of
every 100 bachelor’s degree holders.
The deteriorating labor market
has also resulted in another problem—a rise in “mal-employment”
among young college graduates,
meaning more of them are holding
jobs in occupations that don’t require much schooling beyond high
school. And, this ultimately hurts
younger and less educated workers too, as mal-employed college
graduates often displace their less
educated peers from these jobs.
These gaps based on educational
attainment widened between 2000
and 2010, reducing the opportunity
for young adults without post secondary schooling to form households, marry, and support their children in young families. Along with
the decline in employment opportunities, family income inequality
has risen for young families, and the
median real incomes of young families have declined—once again, taking an especially great toll on young
Black families. The median income
for young Black families in 2009 was
slightly under $20,000—a decline of
24 percent over the last three decades, and only 45 percent of the
level for White families. Once again,
education levels mattered: the median family incomes of young Black
families ranged from under $9,000
when the family householder did not
have a high school diploma to
Opinion
10
African Scene
Sudan seeks debt forgiveness
before independence for South
Special to the NNPA from the GlN
Former Liberian President Charles Taylor
Exhausted Charles Taylor
attends wrap up of trial
Special to the NNPA from the GlN
The three year long prosecution of former Liberian President
Charles Taylor has reached closing arguments in a windup to the
notorious war crimes case. Taylor was in court in The Hague last
week as his alleged atrocities committed on neighboring Sierra
Leoneans were read out. Sparks
flew at the hearing as Taylor’s lawyer, Courtenay Griffiths, protested
the refusal of the judges to accept
his closing trial brief submitted
after the deadline.
The defense lawyer had sought
extra time to review new information in cables released by the
whistleblower Wikileaks. In the
leaked diplomatic cables, the prospect of Taylor’s case being discontinued due to massive cost
overruns was discussed.
Taylor’s trial, the first such for
an African president, is said to be
the most expensive in the history
of international justice. At one
time the Taylor defense was paid
a monthly budget of $100,000.
If set free, some fear that Charles
Taylor would take revenge against
the governments of Liberia’s Ellen
Johnson-Sirleaf and that of Sierra
Leone, which helped set up the
court and the former warlord’s subsequent arrest, detention and trial.
Taylor, 62, faces 11 counts for
war crimes and crimes against humanity, allegedly committed in
neighboring Sierra Leone during
the 11-year brutal war there that
ended in 2002.
In Liberia, the Taylor War as it is
remembered, killed an estimated
250,000 people and left razed
towns and villages in its trail.
Taylor’s trial offered some closure for those scarred by the wars.
But, the prospect that the trial
could be discontinued thus setting
him free threatens to reignite the
terrible memories all over again.
The defense is scheduled to
present its closing arguments
followed by two hours of rebuttal for both sides on Friday.
The U.N. judges will retire to
consider their decision, expected later this year.
Consensus breaks down
over Ivory Coast dispute
Special to the NNPA from the GlN the embattled incumbent president, Laurent Gbagbo who has
Growing divisions among Af- been threatened with removal
rican leaders are confounding a by force. “As we talk now, there
regional initiative to settle the cri- is a South African warship
sis of two men claiming to be docked in Cote d’Ivoire. Acpresident of the West African nations such as that can only
tion of the Ivory Coast.
complicate the matter further,”
“Our position …is that complained ECOWAS president
(Alassane) Ouattara won the elec- James Victor Gbeho.
tion. But now, when you begin to
In the latest tragic development,
get some sections of the African a mysterious fire broke out at the
continent to suggest that is not economic ministry building on
the case, then we begin to have a Tuesday, burning five floors in the
problem,” said Sonny Ugoh, of high-rise building and destroying
the Economic Community of West an as yet unknown number of fiAfrican States (ECOWAS).
nancial records.
The unexpected arrival of a
President-elect Alassane
South African naval vessel in Ouattara continues to work out of
the port city of Abidjan, alleg- a hotel in the downtown capital,
edly on a training exercise, ap- surrounded by security guards of
pears to be giving support to the U.N.
Sudanese authorities hope
to unload much of the
country’s $38 billion foreign
debt before Southern Sudan
becomes independent in July.
Sudan has been barred from
taking new loans from the
World Bank since 1993 because
of unpaid obligations on the
old loans. This could leave the
south, one of Africa’s poorest
regions, ineligible to borrow
from the bank.
A region the size of Texas
with just 30 miles of paved
roads, Southern Sudan has no
steady power supply, large
farms or factories. Half of its
eight million people live on less
than $1 a day and need food
aid, according to the U.N.
Money earned from oil extraction makes up 98 percent of the
budget.
Of the $38 billion owed, $20
billion is interest, payable to
lenders in England, the World
Bank and affiliated institutions,
Arab oil-producing states, the
U.S. and other countries.
Meanwhile, the U.S. lost no
time in coming to the aid of the
new South Sudan. An electrification project in the village
of Kapoeta, funded with U.S.
aid, has installed power lines,
electricity poles, and street
lamps not far from rusting
tanks and shot-up buildings.
The Kapoeta project is one
of many USAID initiatives in
the region. Another top
project is the funding of a $200
million highway from Uganda
Omar al Bashir
to Juba, the southern capital of
newly independent southern
Sudan.
“The development needs of
Southern Sudan are absolutely
enormous,” Barrie Walkley, the
top U.S. diplomat in Southern
Sudan, said at the opening last
week of the electricity project.
But, Juba activist Lorna
Merekaje urged caution towards
the incoming flood of American
dollars.
“It is a great support to Southern Sudan but it needs to be
managed well because if people
are not careful then we end up
implementing the donor agenda
and not the agenda of the
people.”
President Zuma gets calls for
jobs on Twitter and Facebook
To the NNPA from the GlN
In a novel experiment with social media, South African President
Jacob Zuma urged users of
Facebook and Twitter to send input for his State of the Nation
speech slated to take place later
this week.
“How can we improve the lives
of all South Africans? This is your
platform, the president is listening,” Mr. Zuma, known informally
as “JZ” asked on social networking sites. Hundreds of tweets
and Facebook entries responded.
Feedback ranged from “create
jobs”, “fix potholes” to “end corruption” and “improve the
schools.” Zuma was told to get
rid of the shacks in which 1.8-million South African families still live,
and to crack down on graft and
poor government services. ”JZ all we need is just water & electricity, the rest is fine. Our area is
more than 30 yrs without Electric-
Zuma is under pressure to show
that earlier promises have been
fulfilled. Unofficial estimates put
the percent of workers without
jobs at 40% or higher.
Meanwhile, newly-appointed
labor minister Nelisiwe Oliphant
outlined proposed rules intended
to bring South Africans “decent
work.”
One rule would eliminate “labor
brokers” or “temporary employment services” that provide
short-term contracts, which
Zwelinzima Vavi of the labor federation COSATU said “have condemned so many to new slavery
by human traffickers.” Also proposed are new rights for unions,
improved unemployment benefits and the criminalization of
President Jacob Zuma
employer actions that defy the
new rules.
ity,” one citizen pleaded. “Jobs is
Zuma’s speech will be broadwhat we NEED, I have a diploma cast live on television, on radio,
and I’m unemployed”.
on big screens and streamed live
This being an election year, on Parliament’s website.
By Kenneth J. Cooper
system for certifying juveniles to
Special to the NNPA from be tried as adults. Alexandra
Rieck, a third-year law student,
researched and wrote a “user’s
Despite an unusual state law guide” on that part of the state
requiring judges to consider juvenile code and the racial disracial disparity when deciding parity it has permitted. “I did
whether to try juveniles as not find comparable data about
adults, Missouri prosecutes a racial disparity in certification
disproportionate number of for other states, because I beBlack youth accused of seri- lieve that Missouri is one of the
ous crimes in regular courts, only states, if not the only one,
where they can be sentenced to have a requirement about ento prison alongside hardened suring there is no racial disparcriminals.
In recent years, ity,” Rieck says.
African-American teenagers
Missouri law requires juvenile
have faced trials in adult courts judges to consider 10 factors
at a rate three to four times when making those decisions,
higher than their proportion of such as the severity of the alMissouri’s youth population. leged crime, any personal injury
They were defendants in 57 done, and the defendant’s age
percent of such prosecutions and record. Racial disparity is
in 2008, the latest year statis- the tenth factor. The user ’s
tics are available, even though guide published in December
they make up only 14 percent concludes that proof of disparof state residents between ity “should weigh against” prosages 12 and 17.
ecuting a juvenile as an adult.
One possible reason for “the The state has some evidence of
high amount of disparity,” the the racial disparity. The Miswording of a free legal clinic souri Division of Youth Services
at Washington University in has published statistics showSt. Louis that defends lower- ing that Black youth were defenincome juveniles, is that Mis- dants in nearly half of the cases
souri does not require juvenile tried as adults during an eightj u d g e s t o h o l d a p r o b a b l e year period ending in 2008. The
cause hearing before transfer- disparity has been generally on
ring a case. Nor do a dozen an upward trend, from a low 33
other states, including Califor- percent in 2001 to a high of 57
nia and Maryland, and also percent in 2008. Black youth
Wa s h i n g t o n , D . C .
T h e faced the possibility of going to
nation’s courts have a long prison with adults about 400
history of meting out harsher times during that time.
punishment to African AmeriThe state agency warns on its
cans when judicial discretion website that the numbers reflect
is relatively unfettered. Juve- a count of cases, not children
nile courts in those 13 states prosecuted as adults, because
and the nation’s capital could more than one court may have
be violating a Supreme Court tried the same youth using a difruling, Kent v. United States, ferent identifying number. Anwhich states judges must de- nual figures for each court show
termine, before transferring St. Louis City, which is 48 percases to adult court, that they cent Black, has treated juveniles
are strong enough to secure a as adults most often, followed
grand jury indictment. That by St. Louis County.
1966 decision requires that
Together, those two courts
s u c h c r i m i n a l c o m p l a i n t s have tried about 70 percent of
against juveniles must have the cases statewide. Last fall,
“prosecutive merit” and “mea- Washington University’s clinic
sure up to the essentials of due succeeded in getting cases disprocess and fair treatment.” missed against two youth who
Mae Quinn, the legal clinic’s faced the possibility of punishco-director, suspects that Mis- ment as adults. In one case, the
souri prosecutors actually law students convinced the
have an incentive to take weak prosecutor to drop the charges
cases into adult court, where “for lack of evidence,” Quinn
young defendants can feel says, and in the other, “after a
pressured to accept a plea bar- full-blown hearing and rehearing
gain. Even though probation on this probable cause issue,
is often the result, she says the the court decided to dismiss the
threat of prison time repre- charges entirely—and it ’s very
sents a form of punishment in unusual.”
itself.
In the user’s guide, Rieck en“That’s actually the perverse courages other juvenile defendr e a l i t y f o r s o m e o f t h e s e ers in Missouri to raise the lack
cases,” explains Quinn, a law of a probable cause requirement
professor at Washington Uni- to increase pressure for changes
versity and co-director of its in the juvenile code.
Civil Justice Clinic. “This is a
Her research found at least 12
case that was weak, and no states besides Missouri and D.C.
one screened it for probable do not have a statute or court precause in a significant way.”
cedent requiring juvenile judges to
Quinn and law students in assess probable cause before transthe clinic represent young de- ferring a case to adult court. They
fendants in St. Louis County include: Arkansas, California, DelaJuvenile Court, whose juris- ware, Hawaii, Idaho, Maryland,
diction is separate from the city Massachusetts, Nebraska, Oregon,
of St. Louis. The county is 22 Rhode Island, South Dakota, and
percent Black, according to lat- Wyoming.
est census estimate, and enKenneth J. Cooper, a Pulitzercompasses a number of pre- Prize winning journalist, is a
dominately Black suburbs. freelancer based in Boston. He also
Last fall, the clinic focused on edits the Trotter Review at the Unichallenging Missouri’s loose versity of Massachusetts-Boston.
11
Trying juveniles as adults
in the ‘Show-Me’ state
12
Opinion
On revolutionary leadership and mass action
the huge first step of the Egyptian democratic revolution, the
driving out of Hosni Mubarak,
SOME
the man about whom Vice President Joe Biden said, two weeks
“Some stood up once
before his departure, “I would not
and sat down.
refer to him as a dictator.”
Some walked a mile
Fortunately, the masses of the
and walked away.
Egyptian people weren’t acting
Some stood up twice
on behalf of the U.S. governthen sat down.
ment, and they found the courage and the tactics to make hisI’ve had it, they said.
tory. February 11 th, 2011 may end
Some walked two miles
up being more important to world
then walked away.
history than September 11 th ,
2001.
It’s too much, they cried.
I know very little about the
ins and outs of the groups which
Some stood and stood and
have been organizing for democstood.
racy and justice for decades in
They were taken for fools
Egypt . But I do know enough
They were taken for being
about revolutions to know that
taken in.
without the work of those brave
individuals and organizations,
Some walked and walked and those “taken for fools, taken for
walked
being taken in,” those jailed, torThey walked the earth
tured, killed or risking those
They walked the waters
things, the successful uprising
They walked the air.
of the millions over the last three
weeks would never have hapWhy do you stand
pened.
they were asked, and
It is clear that in the new poWhy do you walk?
litical situation with the military
in formal control of the governBecause of the children, they ment, and with a protracted prosaid, and
cess taking place over many
Because of the heart, and
months to try to deepen the
Because of the bread.
revolution
and
prevent
Because
cooptation or even a counterThe cause
revolution by pro-Mubarak eleIs the heart’s beat
ments, both the leaders and the
And the children born
masses will be repeatedly tested.
And the risen bread.
I fervently hope that this latest “laboratory of revolution”
-Daniel Berrigan
yields more positive results than
what we have too often seen in
I am writing two days after the 20 th century after the taking
By Ted Glick
of power—which has not yet
happened in Egypt—by the
revolutionary forces. Given the
positive interplay so far between the organized groups
and the masses, there is reason to have hope.
This issue, the relationship
between the organized, dedicated political forces working
for fundamental change and
the broad masses of the oppressed and disenfranchised,
is the most decisive issue as
far as the long-term success of
efforts at social transformation.
There are at least two elements involved, one programmatic and the other process.
The programmatic element
has to do with the policies advocated by the organized political forces. A truly democratic
revolution, for example, would
support an electoral system
which was about proportional
representation in government
and which curtailed the ability
of the rich to dominate it (neither of which are the case in
the supposedly-democratic
USA). It would be about a redistribution of economic resources from the obscene rich
to low-income and working
class people. It would support
land reform, improved health
care and education for all and
the replacement of proMubarak elements in the judiciary, the government, the police forces and elsewhere. It
would consciously reject an
approach of changing faces in
high places with little of substance happening at the
grassroots of society.
The process element has to
do with HOW the advocacy for
change and eventual implementation of it takes place. Structures and mechanisms need to
be put in place that provide for
accountability and meaningful
input by the people into both
the processes of determining
the strategy and tactics of the
revolution prior to the creation
of a genuine popular democracy and the actions by a new
government.
This is not a new idea. In
both post-revolutionary Russia
and Cuba , for example, conscious consideration and actual steps were taken toward
this objective. In Russia , after
Lenin died and Stalin rose to
power, these beginning efforts
were smashed. Cuba has had
more success and continues to
struggle with this issue.
What does all of this mean
for those of us who are not
in pre-revolutionary or revolutionary situations, who
must slog along as best we
can to keep the hope of positive social change alive and
growing?
First, while we draw inspiration from the heroism
and successes thus far in
Egypt , we should look for
articles, interviews and information that can help us
better understand more objectively all that happened
that led to the February 11 th
victory. We should continue
to follow and learn from all
that will be unfolding in
coming weeks and months
and provide support to on-
going progressive and democratic efforts.
Secondly, the amazing, dayafter-day, mass actions in Cairo ,
Alexandria and elsewhere should
strengthen our commitment to
the kind of outreach and education among grassroots people
that leads to more of them coming forward to become activists
and organizers themselves, in a
constantly growing and widening circle.
Finally, we need to consider
the mix of tactics in Cairo that
worked to neutralize the armed
forces and eventually forced
them to move to push out
Mubarak. It was more than mass
action in the streets. It was mass
action that attempted to be nonviolent, but people were prepared
to defend themselves, to defend
their right to demonstrate and
demand change, to fight with
stones against the pro-Mubarak
thugs when they attacked. This
mass movement could not be
called pacifist, but it also could
not be called adventuristic or
violent. From what I saw, the
movement as a whole was open
to the possibility and made efforts to try to bring about a generally nonviolent revolution,
without being rigidly locked in
to that approach.
Power to the people.
Ted Glick has been a progressive activist and organizer since
1968. His main work since 2005
has been focused on the climate
crisis. Past writing and other
information can be found at
http://www.tedglick.com.
Why the federal government lacks Black business
By Harry C. Alford
Beyond The Rhetoric
The Civil Rights Act was
passed in 1964. We are going
into 47 years of this great law
but the memo has never been
circulated around to federal employees who deal with the massive procurement system of the
federal government. From one
presidential administration to the
next nothing of substance seems
to happen in terms of Black businesses winning procurement
dollars. There is a lot of corruption, discrimination, and bullying that disallows a small Black
business to get a foothold.
There needs to be a massive
overhaul in how diversity in federal procurement should be set
up. Here is some food for
thought to change this pitiful
state of affairs.
Forty-seven years and we
cannot do more than two percent of the total for Black owned
businesses in any given fiscal
year. There is a lack of accountability. Growth and robust activity should rest on the shoul-
ders of agency secretaries – the
President’s Cabinet. It should affect
their bonuses and annual evaluations. Likewise, Deputy Secretaries
should bear the same burden. If this
were to happen you would see a
great amount of attention given to
the issue. Procurement officials
would be pushed into good performance and pitiful performance
would not be tolerated.
The Office of Small Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU)
is at every agency. However, I have
been in D.C. for 19 years and may
have met eight of them at best. They
hide behind their desks and just
count the years before their retirements. This position should change
from a career type hire to a political
hire. Each OSDBU would have four
to eight years to make his mark and
set his legacy. The political hires
should have a good amount of entrepreneurial experience and understand what the Black business
owner is going through. Laziness
and corruption should not be tolerated and the Secretary of each
agency must watch and measure the
activity of his respective OSDBU.
“Small Disadvantaged Business”
(SDB)? I was shocked when my
sons requested a SDB certification application for one of their
companies. The Small Business
Administration (SBA) wrote them
back saying that they no longer
certify companies for SDB status.
Their reason was that SDB’s probably wouldn’t win any federal contracts anyway. Isn’t it confusing
that we have an office there in each
agency to help SDB’s and the SBA
is eliminating any certification for
them. Thus, they are going to rely
on self-certification and that will
open the door to mass fraud and
corruption. It will contaminate the
reporting process.
In regards to reporting, there is
much room for updating. The SBA
and federal agencies love to aggregate their contracting numbers. They want to hide the paltry performance they do in Black
business procurement. They
don’t want to directly answer any
inquiries about Black business
procurement by announcing or
reporting what minorities per se
are doing. “We are doing 10%
with minorities or 15% with minorities and are meeting our goals.”
We want to know exactly what
they are doing with Black firms not
Native Americans, Hispanics,
Asians, etc. They love to hide
their anemic performance with
Black firms.
Then we need to stop the games
played by major federal contracting firms. How much SBA is in on
this is yet to be determined. Are
they that corrupt or that stupid?
Contracts, many of them no bid,
are let out in amounts of billions
of dollars. Before the contract is
awarded the SBA comes in and
does a review of the subcontracting list for utilization of small businesses inclusive of minority and
disabled veteran owned businesses. The prime contractors will
go out and verbally agree with
Black businesses to utilize them
on the massive contract. The SBA
comes in and sees the printed list
of small and minority owned businesses and approves the contract. Funny thing, after the prime
contractor has the contract he
never speaks to the Black contractor again. It was all a written
sham. Does the SBA include
these forecasted numbers in their
reports like they actually happened? Right now I have two such
complaints against Lockheed and
Fluor corporations on Department
of Defense projects. We may file
suit, if the SBA won’t “buck up”.
One of the worst agencies is the Department of Transportation. An example would be their Federal Highway Administration that does less
than 1.2% with Black businesses
(their figures). We can’t get business at airports like we used to and
the new high speed rail they are proposing will not have a minority business program at all. Yet, the SBA
awards this agency with their
“Agency of the Year Award” for the
last three consecutive years. What
are they thinking?
The above
would be a start to improvement.
What if the Congressional Black
Caucus would form a taskforce and
analyze quarterly reports from each
agency? Would Pelosi put them in
“time out”?
Mr. Alford is the co-founder, president/CEO of the National Black
Chamber of Commerce, Inc ®.
Website: www.nationalbcc.org.
Email: [email protected]
www.twitter.com/nationalbcc
13
14
YOUR MONEY
REALLY MATTERS
By Michael G. Shinn, CFP
NNPA Syndicated Writer
An attitude of gratitude
Jim Tressel, head football
coach at the Ohio State University wrote in his book, The
Winners Manual, “We constantly talk to our players
about having an ‘attitude of
gratitude.’ I think life is a lot
more fun if we take stock of
our blessings and live in the
light of them. We all have
things we’re not excited about
and things that don’t go the
way we want them to, but
when we really step back and
count our blessings, we find
they far outweigh the hardships that seem for the moment
to be so earthshaking.”
When you go to your local
b a r, b a r b e r s h o p o r b e a u t y
shop, do you encounter
people that complain about the
inadequacies of their spouse,
or the lack of achievement of
their children or the problems
on their job or the flaws in their
home or shortcomings of their
friends or even the failings at
their church? Well, they are
probably like most Americans
that are media conditioned to
feel inadequate! According to
the media, we all should be
s k i n n i e r, s e x i e r, p r e t t i e r,
healthier, wealthier and wiser.
Our kids should be like Rudy
and Theo and our home life
like the Huxtabels of the Cosby
Show..
We are disappointed when
the media’s projection of the
“good life” conflicts with the
truth of our “real life” and we
perceive ourselves as coming
up short. Even with all of their
supposed inadequacies, our
spouses, children, jobs,
homes, friends and even our
churches are in most cases a
blessing in our lives and we are
a complimentary blessing to
them. So given all of the conflicting signals in our everyday
life, how do you develop an attitude of gratitude?
Developing an Attitude
of Gratitude
The first step in developing
an attitude of gratitude is to put
our lives and goals in perspective. A friend told me that he
had recently run in the Boston
Marathon and my first question
was to ask him how high he finished in the race. His response
was, “I finished in first place.”
He could tell that I seemed a
little perplexed and so he continued. “Yes, I finished first in
my class for 55 year old black
males with a PHD, from the east
side of Cleveland, Ohio. He had
run and won his race. His goals
and performance were in line
with his perceived skills and
abilities. He was grateful that
he was able to run and finish
the race. Our challenge is not
to outrun the “Jones” but to be
the best that we can be. A
healthy perspective is a key to
developing a winning attitude.
The next step is to count
your blessing. To be able to
see is a blessing to the blind;
to be able to walk is a blessing to the crippled; to have a
home and family is a blessing to the homeless; and to
live in freedom is a blessing
to those under persecution.
Start counting your blessi n g r i g h t n o w. I f y o u a r e
reading this column you are
more fortunate that almost
two billion people in the
world that cannot read. Get
a piece of paper and start
your list. First, look at yourself, next look at your relationships and finally look at
your family’s outlook for the
future. For most people,
their blessings far outweigh
their hardships.
Finally, give thanks to God
and then share your blessings with others. Follow
your charitable passions.
Are you naturally drawn to
social service agencies such
as the Salvation Army or
Goodwill? Has your family
had some medical issues
that would make you favor
organizations such as the
American Heart Association
or the Cancer Society? Do you
fund your local church or religious missionary organizations? Sit down with your family and develop a list of organizations that you are passionate about? Then share your
time, talents and treasury with
those organizations.
Having an attitude of gratitude will bring fulfillment and
joy to your life.
When you go to bed tonight,
count your blessing and when
you wake up tomorrow be a
blessing to those around you.
Michael G. Shinn, CFP, Registered Representative of and
securities and investment advisory services o f f e r e d
through Financial Network
Investment Corporation,
member SIPC.
Vi s i t
www.shinnfinancial.com for
more information or to send
your comments or questions to
[email protected].
© Michael G. Shinn 2011
President Barack Obama
Obama Administration
celebrates Black History
By winning the future
During Black History Month,
Americans from around the country will celebrate the creativity, determination, and progress that
African Americans have made to
our nation’s identity and culture.
This year’s celebration of Black
History Month will be an opportunity not just to look back and
celebrate the achievements of our
community, but also to honor the
legacy of those that have come
before us while fostering the leaders of tomorrow. Throughout the
month, cabinet members, administration officials, and senior staff
will participate in events to highlight the various ways African
Americans are winning the future
by out-innovating, out-educating,
and out-building our global competition.
“During National African
American History Month, we recognize the extraordinary achievements of African Americans and
their essential role in shaping the
story of America. In honor of their
courage and contributions, let us
resolve to carry forward together
the promise of America for our children,” —President Obama’s National African American Heritage
Month Proclamation.
In addition to events, the
White House will feature African
Americans from agencies
throughout the Administration
that contribute to the President’s
vision of winning the future through
their efforts to move America forward. Each profile will post on the
“Celebrating Black History by
Winning the Future” webpage.
This week, whitehouse.gov will
feature administration officials that
are using Innovation to win the future:
Featured Blog Posts: Innovation
* Introduction blog post: Black
History Month: “Shaping the Story
of America”
* Christopher Smith, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oil and Natural Gas
in the Office of Fossil Energy of the
U.S. Department of Energy. Link
* Lisa P. Jackson, Administrator of
the Environmental Protection
Agency. Link
* Dr. Cecilia Rouse, Member of the
President’s Council of Economic
Advisers. Link
* Charles Bolden, Administrator for
the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration. (This post will be
released on Saturday)
Throughout February guests
that tour the White House will
be welcomed by volunteers and
given a Black History Month
brochure with photos and text
that showcase Presidents and
African American icons throughout history. One of the display
cases on the tour will showcase
photographs with a similar theme
to the pamphlets. One day each
week during Black History Month
will feature a musical performance.
Did you know that President Lincoln was elected by Black vote?
By Dr. Frank Smith
(TriceEdneyWire.com) Well here is the story. The
1860 Presidential election was
a very close race in which
President Lincoln did not even
get a majority of the popular
vote. By carrying the state of
Ohio, Lincoln did, however,
win a majority of the votes in
the electoral college and therefore was declared the winner.
As things turned out, the
state of Ohio was one of the
few states in the Union to allow free Blacks to vote in 1860.
In the 1860 race for President
in the swing state of Ohio there
were 8,900 Black Republicans
who voted in the general election in a state that Lincoln carried by 6,000 votes. The Ohio
and Pennsylvania newspapers
carried the story first saying
that the Black vote was decisive in carrying the state for
Lincoln. But the southern papers soon picked it up and
started to call Lincoln a Black
President. The Confederates
used the information to spread
racial hatred toward Lincoln and
the Republican Party.
There was also the issue of
the Dred Scott Supreme Court
decision that had established
that Blacks - neither slave nor
free - were recognized as citizens under the Constitution.
The Confederates argued that
in light of Dred Scott, it was illegal for Ohio to have permitted Blacks to vote; and therefore the Lincoln election should
be declared null and void and
Lincoln should not be allowed
to take office.
As a result, President Lincoln
would take office inheriting a divided nation because several
states, led by South Carolina,
would meet in special session and
vote for disunion. One by one
these states in their widely circulated “Causes of Secession “ cited
Lincoln and the Republican
Party’s hostility to slavery. They
would come together in Montgomery, Ala. to form the rebel republic
that would be called the Confederate States of America. They
would elect Jefferson Davis as
their president, Robert E. Lee to
head their rebel army, and set themselves on a course to declare war
on the United States of America.
On April 12, 1861, the rebels
would fire on Fort Sumter and
bring the country to its knees.
After two years of trying to
save the Union without disturbing slavery, President Lincoln - as a military necessity would be forced to issue the
Emancipation, free the
slaves, and enlist 200,000
Blacks as soldiers into the
Union army in order to save
the nation. Citing the argu-
ment that the United States
Colored Troops (USCT) had
earned the right to freedom,
citizenship and vote, Congress would amend the Constitution to end slavery and
pass still another Amendment to end slavery and
make Blacks citizens. Blacks
played a decisive role in the
Ohio election of President
Lincoln and came to his aid
on the battlefield to help decide the outcome of the Civil
War.
April 12, 2011 will mark the
150th Anniversary of the firing
on Ft. Sumter and the start of
the American Civil War. The
African American Civil War
Memorial Foundation will commemorate the beginning Civil
War with celebrities reading
from Civil War period newspapers, speeches, and other
documents announcing the
coming of the war and its pro-
found effect on the ending of
slavery in America. We will also
have celebrities read from selected press responses to the
election of President Lincoln and
the anti- slavery platform of the
Republican party of 1860.
The African American Civil
War Memorial lists the names of
209,145 Black union soldiers who
joined President Lincoln to save
the Union and keep it united under one flag. The monument, located at the corner of 10th and U
Streets NW Washington, D. C.,
was built by a private foundation
that operates a museum. On July
18, 2011 the museum will host a
Grand Opening for its newly renovated 5,000 sq. ft. space with new
exhibits, artifacts, and state of
the art educational programs adjacent to the monument.
Dr. Frank Smith Jr. is executive director of the African
American Civil War Museum and
Monument.
15
Black journalists group plans annual
media institute on health disparities
Dr. Brian L. Harper
Best and effective way
of preventing cancer
By Brian L. Harper MD, MPH
Cancer is the second leading
cause of death in the United
States according to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention. Although there are many
forms of cancer, all cancers essentially result from an overgrowth
of tissue cells. Cancers are
broadly named after the organ
from which these tissue cells derive. Examples include lung cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, and so on.
It is important to understand
that screening tests do not exist
for all forms of cancer and research is on-going for the development of additional screening
tools. Unfortunately, when there
is no effective screening test, clinicians generally must wait for a
person to have symptoms before
diagnostic tests can be performed. This can often result in a
late diagnosis when cancer is
more difficult to successfully treat.
However, screening tests do
exist for some of the most common cancers in the United States.
The four types of cancer for which
there are established screening
tools include breast cancer, prostate cancer, cervical cancer, and
colon cancer.
The primary screening test for
breast cancer is mammography.
The primary screening test for
prostate cancer is blood analysis
for the PSA (prostate specific antigen) and physical examination.
The screening test for cervical
cancer is analysis of cervical cells
via what is called a “pap smear”.
The screening tests for colon
cancer include stool analysis
and/or visual inspection of the
colon via sigmoidoscopy or
colonoscopy.
Colorectal cancer is the second
leading cause of cancer death in
the United States after lung cancer. The good news is that colon
cancer, in particular, is one of the
most preventable cancers! Routine
screening via colonoscopy helps
to prevent deaths via early detection of both cancer and precancerous growths called polyps or adenomas.
The ability to not only visualize
these growths, but also remove
these polyps, contributes to making colonoscopy a very effective
cancer
prevention
tool.
Colonoscopy is generally recommended for people 50 and older as
this is the age group most at risk
for developing the disease. Although progress has been made in
NYC, screening rates among the
African American and Latino community can still be improved. This
is very concerning since the people
most likely to die from colon cancer are members of the African
American community.
The Harlem community is very
fortunate to have facilities that offer the colonoscopy procedure.
One such facility is the Ralph
Lauren Center for Cancer Care located at 1919 Madison Avenue
at the corner of 124 th Street. The
endoscopy suite where the
colonoscopy procedures are
performed is a “state-of-theart” medical unit. Most insurances are accepted at this facility, and the administration actively seeks and obtains grant
funding to provide the test to
those who lack health insurance or financial resources.
The best way to prevent cancer
is not to smoke, increase fruit and
vegetable consumption, and avoid
obesity with diet and exercise.
These preventive measures combined with timely screening tests
and rapid diagnosis and treatment
can significantly reduce the cancer death rate in Harlem!
The National Association of
Black Journalists (NABJ) will host
its third annual Media Institute on
Health, Health Policy, and Health
Disparities from March 24- 26, at
the Barbara Jordan Conference
Center at Kaiser Family Foundation in Washington, D.C.
NABJ’s Media Institute on
Health, Health Policy and Health
Disparities is the only conference
of its kind to focus exclusively on
health disparities in communities
of color and providing print,
broadcast and digital journalists
the tools to effectively report on
the impact of health care reform
and
health
policy
on underserved communities.
Journalists and media professionals will leave with resources to inform and empower readers and
viewers to action in their lives.
“There has never been a more
key time to cover the health scene,
after the massive legislative
changes that took place last year
with our health system,” said
NABJ President Kathy Y. Times.
“Expert panelists from across the
country will join us and weigh in
on the long-term change that the
overhaul of the health system will
have for people of color in the
United States. Given the steadily
high unemployment rates, epidemic levels of chronic disease,
and disproportionately high rates
of premature death in communities
of color, journalists must take a
deeper look at the future of the
health policies that impact our
health and well-being.”
This annual Media Institute has
garnered headlines and the attention of newsmakers in the fight to
bring awareness to health care disparity. Previous keynote presenters at the conference have included; Secretary of Health and
Human Services Kathleen
Kathy Times
Sebelius, U.S. Surgeon General journalists can come together with
Regina Benjamin, M.D., former experts to have an open dialogue
U.S. Surgeon General David about health and the way health
Satcher, M.D., Marian Wright policies impact our communities,”
Edelman, founder and president said Andrea King Collier, longtime
of the Children’s Defense Fund, NABJ member and Conference
and Phill Wilson, founder of the chair.
Black AIDS Institute.
Topics addressed at the Media
“We work hard to bring our Institute will include understandmembers and guests provocative ing and covering the social deterhealth subjects and a diverse minants of health, creative commugroup of health experts each year.
There is probably no place that
Cong. Rangel hails nationwide
efforts to raise HIV awareness
Congressman Charles Rangel
(D-NY), a vocal leader in the fight
to reduce the spread of HIV/
AIDS, released the following
statement Feb. 7 in recognition of
National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.
“I applaud the growing efforts
in the black community to get educated, get tested, get treated, and
get involved with HIV/AIDS prevention, because it has been a
serious epidemic that has devastated African Americans throughout our country and my constituents in the Upper Manhattan District. “That’s why I have proudly
co-sponsored a resolution that
supports the goals and ideals of
National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. One of the goals include
encouraging state, local governments, and their public health
agencies to publicize its importance among their communities,
and to encourage all individuals,
especially African-Americans, to
get tested for HIV/AIDS.
Promoting awareness in our
communities can save lives.
Blacks are seven times more likely
than Caucasians to become newly
infected with HIV/AIDS, and even
though Blacks make up less than
15% of the U.S. population, we
account for about half (49%) of
the people who get HIV/AIDS in
our country. It’s almost scary that
one in 74 New Yorkers has HIV.
What’s even more frightening is
that the number increases to 1 in
32 in Harlem.
“It is abundantly clear that the
spread of HIV/AIDS is a serious
epidemic. I applaud the efforts of
local organizations, such as the
Harlem AIDS Center, that are at
the forefront of combating this
deadly disease. I also would like
to emphasize the need to focus
attention, not only on the prevention, but on the recovery of those
infected. It’s so important, because
life has to go on. And we have to
help one another to overcome difficulties.
“There is no magic pill to cure the
disease. But I believe HIV/AIDS is
preventable, and one day, we can
eliminate it altogether —especially
with the help of the nation’s clergy.
For that reason, I will soon reintroduce the National Black Clergy for
the Elimination of HIV/AIDS Act of
2009, which lays out a comprehensive plan for the federal government
to lead the way in marshaling resources and targeting them where
they are most needed.
“Raising awareness is the first
step to elimination. We have a long
way to go, but together, we will get
there faster. Indeed, this year’s
theme sums it up: ‘It Takes a Village to Fight HIV/AIDS,’”
Health
16
THE ADAMS REPORT
©
Fashion, Beauty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .& Stuff
By Audrey Adams
Do you ms. judge?
Audrey Adams
Well, I promised you “stuff”
from time to time . . . and now,
it is that time again! You see,
there are times when you think
that you are doing all you can
do to be your best and
wouldn’t you know it . . . right
on your heels there are those
girlfriends who would try to
tear you down because they
feel threatened by your indomitable spirit. What to do?
What to do? Become the
Teflon President? Easier said
than done . . .
If you are at all human then
you know it hurts, especially
when they try to tear you
down while disguising it as
“constructive criticism” or a
“friendly aside.” At first you
listen intently and as the conversation progresses you begin to recognize the tell-tale
signs of insidiousness creeping into the so-called “wellmeant” intentions. Or, maybe
you listen to the entire conversation, missing their intent
completely and the maliciousness of the review hits you
much later! Ouch!
So, how does one separate
the wheat from the chaff when
trying to decipher the message? Clearly the answer will
not be found in a Cracker Jack
decoder ring. No my dear, you
have to develop a highly sophisticated radar system to
track all in-coming bull . . . oney
(smiles)! Some women have the
bad habit of trying to sabotage a
friend’s success instead of supporting her efforts. And . . . Some
women are so accustomed to sabotaging that they are unaware that
they even engage in it!
How on Earth did you get yourself into this mess, you ask? Part
of the answer lies in misplaced trust
and personal admiration; the other
part is simple—you lack street
sense and get blind-sided. But
when you interact with friends and
acquaintances remember that not
everyone is your friend! Someone
reminded me that if you don’t expect anything from anyone then
you won’t get hurt, but I’m not one
to think that way because I look
for the good in people. There is,
however, some truth to knowing
who and what you are dealing with
when choosing who to tell what.
Below are some fictitious types
that you might run into . . . .
Ms. Negativity: Will listen to
your good news and then proceed
to puncture your balloon by pointing out all that could go wrong.
Ms. Subterranean: Will listen to
your good news, hug you, jump
up and down with joy, even organize a celebration in your honor,
then unbeknownst to you, points
out all that could go wrong to your
mutual friends.
Ms. Can’thandleit: Will listen to
your good news, and then disappear for a long time afterward, even
though she seemed to be so happy
for you at the time.
Ms. Ditto: Will listen to your
good news, and then try to copy
your success for herself.
Ms. Righton: Will listen to your
good news and then offer to do
anything that she can to help and
follow through with the promised
support.
It would be easy to just limit your
conversations and interactions
only to tried and true friends and
professional relationships, but
real time in the real world gets in
the way. It would be so boring to
wait until the perfect moment,
friend or acquaintance to come
along when you have good news
. . . If you choose to ignore your
instincts, just remember that even
a Teflon coated skillet gets
scratched if you use the wrong
utensil. Think about it. See you
next week.
Visit my website,
TalkWithAudrey.com and checkout my online radio show, Talk!
with Audrey for a series of interviews that will inform, motivate
and inspire you. Discover your
personal power and use it to create the life you want. Tune in to
listen to a live broadcast of TALK!
with AUDREY . . . every Tuesday
from 6:00 to 7:00 P.M. on Harlem’s
WHCR 90.3 FM.
TALK! with AUDREY RADIO:
As if you didn’t know, tax season
is kicking into high gear but; do
you know how the last minute tax
changes will affect your upcoming tax filing? Greg Rossica, tax
partner in Ernst & Young’s Personal Finance Services group has
up-to-date
information about what you need
to consider when filing your 2010
tax return and how to set a clear
action plan for the current filing
year and beyond.
Do you want to take charge of
your love life and create the relationship you want? . . . . America’s
leading expert in female sexual
health and host of in the bedroom
with Dr. Laura Berman on Oprah
Radio and OWN TV . . . Dr.
Laura Berman joins me to talk
about her latest book . . . It’s Not
him, It’s you . . . And believe me .
. . you’ve got to hear this! To
listen to these interviews visit:
www.TalkWithAudrey.com.
Doctors group hails
Conyer’s Medicare plan
A nationwide physicians’ group
has hailed the reintroduction of a
popular federal bill that would
quickly upgrade the Medicare
program and expand it to cover
the entire population.
The “Expanded and Improved
Medicare for All Act,” H.R. 676,
sponsored by Rep. John Conyers
Jr., D-Mich., would replace
today’s private health insurers –
and the Obama law’s individual
mandate, which is being challenged as unconstitutional – with
a single, streamlined public
agency that would pay all medical claims, much like Medicare
works for seniors today.
“There’s no doubt that expanding Medicare to all is both constitutional and the most cost-effective way to cover everyone,” said
Dr. Garrett Adams, president of
Physicians for a National Health
Program. “A national single-payer
program would save over $400
billion a year on bureaucracy and
paperwork alone. Plus, it would
use proven, effective cost-control
techniques like negotiating drug
prices and hospital budgets.”
“An improved Medicare-forall program would provide comprehensive coverage to all of the
51 million people who are currently uninsured and enhance the
coverage that everyone else has,
by eliminating co-pays and
deductibles,” Adams said. “It
would go far beyond the new
health law, which would still leave
23 million people uninsured in
2019.”
“In these difficult economic
times, with lack of health coverage leading to thousands of
deaths and personal bankruptcies
each year, and states struggling
to pay the high costs of Medicaid and health coverage for state
workers and retirees, everyone’s
taking another look at single
payer,” he said. “Legislation that
could lead to a single-payer plan
was just introduced last week in
Vermont, led by a push from the
governor and a report by Harvard
economist William Hsiao that
single payer would cover every-
Rep. John Conyers
one and save the state $490 million
in 2015 and at about four times that
much by 2024.”
“Surveys have repeatedly shown
that about two-thirds of the public
supports a Medicare-for-all approach,” Adams said. “And a recent
survey of physicians shows that a
solid majority now favor government legislation to create national
health insurance.”
“As the founder of a free medical
clinic in rural Tennessee, I can assure you that the need for fundamental health care reform has never
been greater,” he said. “It’s time to
stop putting the interests of private
insurance companies over patient
needs and adopt a single-payer national health program in the U.S.”
Physicians for a National Health
Program (www.pnhp.org) is an organization of 18,000 physicians who
advocate for single-payer national
health insurance, an improved Medicare for all.
Age-old question for Blacks remains: How can we build wealth?
By Charlene Crowell
NNPA Columnist
As the annual, month-long
Black History observance
continues, now is a timely moment to revisit the struggles
of succeeding generations of
African-Americans to gain access to financial institutions,
fair lending, and for many —
the elusive opportunity to
build family wealth. When we
examine this aspect of our history, what affects our lending
and wealth-building in 2011 is
in many ways the latest version of a journey that began
more than 200 years ago.
According to the National
Archives, more than 185,000
African-Americans served in
the United States Colored
Troops during the Civil War.
For nearly all of these servicemen, military wages and
bounty monies were the first
time in their lives that they
were paid for their services.
As a result, having a bank account represented a source of
measurable pride and progress.
Starting in 1864, the first banks
created for African-American
soldiers were largely in the
South. Military Savings Bank at
Beaufort, South Carolina later
became known as the South
Carolina Freedmen’s Savings
Bank. In Louisiana, the Free
Labor Bank served AfricanAmerican soldiers and former
slaves who worked on plantations controlled by the federal
government. Regardless of locale, the goal was to incorporate economic opportunity into
the transition from slavery to
freedom.
Chartered in 1865 to serve
the financial needs of former
slaves, the Freedmen’s Savings
and Trust opened in January
1866. Eventually Freedmen’s
grew to 37 branches in 17 states
with an estimated 70,000 depositors and $75 million in value.
However, a series of man-
agement errors and fraud
prompted Frederick Douglass in
1874, in a new role as bank president, to ask Congress that the
bank be closed. Although chartered by Congress, there was no
federal regulatory agency comparable to today’s Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
(FDIC) to protect depositors.
As a result, many depositors
received nothing and others
only a fraction of their monies.
Douglass also lost the $10,000
he had on deposit.
In 1874, the resentments of
so many Blacks literally losing
their life savings began a deep
distrust of banks in the Black
community – a distrust that still
lingers for many African-Americans today.
It was not until 1888 that
Capital Savings Bank opened in
Washington, DC. In its first
four years of operations, deposits grew to more than $300,000.
Until its closing in 1902, many
Black
businesses
and
homeowners were its customers.
Between 1888 and 1934, a
total of 134 Black banks were
established. Additionally, the
number of Black businesses
increased from 4,000 in 1867 to
50,000 in 1917.
Unfortunately, the 1930s Great
Depression caused a panicked run
from which many banks, including Black-owned ones, never recovered. From 1924-1942, the National Negro Bankers Association
sought to provide a forum for
consultation and cooperation
among its more than 70 member
institutions.
Today the number of AfricanAmerican-owned banks does not
reflect our populace as a people.
While we are more than 39 million, or 12.9 percent of the U.S.
population, the Federal Reserve’s
most recent reports reveal that as
of late 2010 only 28 U.S. banks
are owned by African-Americans. Our lack of ownership – as
a people – is a significant contri-
bution to others with a distinctly
different American experience becoming wealthy.
When we do not control our
collective wealth, it becomes more
understandable why we have so
little of it. Latino and African-American communities together represent
more than 60 percent of the nation’s
unbanked households. Further,
when we turn to alternative financial services instead of full-service
banking, each year, $11 billion from
the pockets of moderate and lowincome households become lucrative fees for alternative financial services.
From Reconstruction forward to
2011, African-Americans still have
an unanswered question: How do
we, as a people, trust financial institutions to serve our banking needs
in a manner that broadens the opportunity to accumulate more
wealth?
Charlene Crowell is
the Center for Responsible
Lending’s communications manager. She can be reached at:
[email protected]
17
Students learn ins and outs of fashion
industry from top designers, leaders
Chancellor Cathie Black
5984 eight graders for
specialized high schools
Schools Chancellor Cathie P.
Black has announced that 5,984
eighth graders have received an
offer to attend one of the City’s
nine specialized high schools beginning in September 2011.
Offers to eight of the schools
are based on the results of the
Specialized High Schools Admissions Test, a competitive exam
taken by approximately 28,000
students this year. Admission to
a ninth school, Fiorello H.
LaGuardia High School of Music
& Art and Performing Arts, is
based on a rigorous audition and
a review of academic records.
The specialized high schools
that admit students based on the
results of the Specialized High
Schools Admissions Test
(SHSAT) are The Bronx High
School of Science; The Brooklyn
Latin School; Brooklyn Technical
High School; High School for
Mathematics, Science and Engineering at the City College; High
School of American Studies at
Lehman College; Queens High
School for the Sciences at York
College; Staten Island Technical
High School; and Stuyvesant High
School.
“Today is an exciting day for
the thousands of eighth graders
who received an offer to attend one
of our specialized high schools,”
said Chancellor Black. “Those students have admirably pushed
themselves and we look forward
to watching them succeed in high
school and beyond.”
This year, 5,404 students received an offer to a specialized
school based on their exam scores,
compared to the 5,261 students
who received one last year. Students applying to LaGuardia may
The New York City Department
of Education (DOE), the New York
City
Housing Authority
(NYCHA), the Council of Fashion Designers of America
(CFDA), Mercedes-Benz Fashion
Week producer IMG Fashion, and
Lincoln Center welcomed 125
public high school students, 15
of which are NYCHA residents,
who are interested in entering the
fashion industry to hear from top
designers and industry leaders at
the second annual Life in Fashion Forum.
Panel members included Patrick
Robinson, executive vice president of Global Design for the Gap;
Lubov Azria, chief creative officer
of BCBG Max Azria Group; Lori
Goldstein, Stylist; and Terron
Schaefer, executive vice president
and chief creative officer for Saks
Fifth Avenue. The event was held
at the David Rubenstein Atrium
at Lincoln Center and moderated
by Teri Agins, a columnist for the
Wall Street Journal and author of
“The End of Fashion.”
“The Life in Fashion Forum is a
great opportunity for our students
to learn more about careers in the
fashion industry, broaden their
horizons, and participate in the
excitement of Mercedes-Benz
Fashion Week,” said Schools
Chancellor Cathie Black. “The
City’s fashion industry employs
over 165,000 New Yorkers and we
are thrilled to encourage our public high school students to become the industry’s next generation of designers, retail buyers,
patternmakers, merchandisers,
and fashion publicists.”
“Only in New York can we give
our students access to unique
Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott
and exciting events such as, The
Life in Fashion Forum,” said
Deputy Mayor for Education and
Community Development Dennis
Walcott. “I am grateful to Lincoln
Center, CFDA, and IMG Fashion
for partnering with the NYC Department of Education and the
NYC Housing Authority to inspire and reach out to our students who are interested in pursuing a life in fashion.”
“The New York City Housing
Authority appreciates the partnership of Lincoln Center, the
CFDA, IMG and Mercedes-Benz
Fashion Week,” said NYCHA
Chairman John Rhea. “Their support lets our youth know that the
swirl of events on and off the runway could be a part of their future as contributors. The beauty
of creating new opportunities for
our youth lies in broadening their
horizons and educating them on
how to pursue a career path that
engages and inspires them.”
“Now that Mercedes-Benz Fashion
Week made the move to Lincoln Center in September 2010, I am proud to
see the West Side spirit of openness
and cooperation that embraces all the
members of our community,” said
New York City Council Member Gale
A. Brewer. “To New Yorkers,
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is important for more than eight days. This
collaboration between IMG, Lincoln
Center, NYCHA, and our local public
schools is big news for us and for
our kids. I thank Mercedes-Benz and
the other event sponsors for recognizing that here on the West Side the
tents of Fashion Week at Lincoln
Center are big enough for both the
stars of today and the undiscovered
ones of tomorrow.”
“The Life in Fashion Forum is a
terrific opportunity for Lincoln Center and Mercedes-Benz Fashion
Week to partner with our local community and help empower the next
generation of fashion professionals
right here in New York City,” said director of Fashion at Lincoln Center
Stephanie Winston Wolkoff. “We are
excited to pursue more partnerships
like this in the future and to work actively with our neighbors in supporting and enriching the community.”
“This forum is a remarkable opportunity for New York City students
interested in pursuing fashion careers
and a shining example of the good
we can do through creative community-industry partnerships,” said senior vice president and managing director of IMG Fashion Worldwide
Peter Levy. “IMG is honored to have
been a part of this event and hopeful
that we’ll see some of these students
back at Mercedes-Benz Fashion
Week in the near future.”
Buick Achievers Scholarship Program offers $4.5M yearly to students
Buick and the General Motors
Foundation announced a $4.5 million-a-year Buick Achievers
Scholarship Program to recognize
and reward 1,100 college-bound
students nationwide who excel
both in the classroom and in the
community.
What distinguishes the Buick
Achievers scholarships is that
they are renewable for four years,
which could bring the total individual scholarship to as much as
$100,000. The GM Foundation
plans to start a new group of 100
students on renewable scholarships of up to $25,000 each year.
Buick Achievers, designed to
inspire, celebrate, and enable human achievement, also will provide 1,000 students with $2,000
scholarships renewable for up to
four years. Majors covered include science, technology, engineering, mathematics, design,
marketing and business administration.
The foundation’s annual funding could reach $18 million annually after four years.
“As a company, and as a nation, we have a responsibility to
support opportunities for higher
education,” said Dan Akerson,
GM chairman and chief executive
officer. “The Buick Achievers
scholarship will help foster the next
generation of leaders destined to
develop future innovative solutions to global issues.”
According to the College Board,
college tuitions rose at least six
percent last year, making it increasingly difficult for students to pay
for their education. The Buick
Achievers Scholarship Program
was developed to help address
this need.
“The Buick Achievers Scholarship Program is one of the premiere
scholarship programs in the country,” said Donald E. Lassere, senior vice president, Scholarship
America, the nation’s largest nonprofit, private sector scholarship
and educational support organization. “The high-dollar value and
renewability of the awards will provide recipients with a tremendous
benefit throughout their college
careers.”
To be eligible for the Buick
Achievers scholarship, applicants
must be high school seniors or high
school graduates entering college
for the first time in the fall of 2011;
plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited
four-year college or university for
the entire 2011-12 academic year;
and demonstrate an interest in the
automotive industry. Applicants
must be U.S. citizens and have
permanent residence in the
United States. Other criteria in-
clude being a first-generation
college student, female, minority,
military veteran or a dependent
of military personnel.
Information and applications
are
available
at
www.buickachievers.com. Applications will be accepted through
March 31, 2011, and scholarships
will be awarded for the 2011-2012 academic year.
The Buick Achievers Scholarship
Program is the latest example of GM
Foundation education initiatives to
invest in the youth of America. The
GM Foundation has provided more
than $26 million in education-related
initiatives since 2005.
Bronx Community College to offer
Displaced Homemaker computer class
Bronx Community College’s
Displaced Homemaker Program
will offer a free beginner level computer class in Microsoft Word and
basic computer typing-along with
job readiness workshops and job
placement assistance-to all eligible persons. The class will be
held at Bronx Community College,
2155 University Ave., in Gould
Residence Hall, room 309. The
class will be divided into two
groups:
Group 1: March 28-June 13, 2011
on Mondays and Tuesdays from
2 to 5 p.m.
Group 2: March 30-June 15, 2011
on Wednesdays and Thursdays
from 2 to 5 p.m.
Registration for the class will be
held on Wednesday, Feb. 23 (2-5
p.m.) and Thursday, Feb. 24 (9
a.m.-1 p.m.). You must be able to
attend both days to complete the
registration process. Please arrive
on time for registration.
Please call the Displaced Homemaker Program at 718-289-5828 to
make an appointment for registration. You must register before
you can be admitted to class.
The following is important reg-
istration information:
* Students must be fluent in English
(a reading test will be given prior to
registration)
* Provide a photo ID, proof of U.S.
citizenship or employment eligibility
* Social security card for self and eligible children (18 years and under)
* Proof of income, which can include:
an HRA budget letter,
two current pay stubs, two unemployment check stubs, or
an SSI award letter or other letter of
financial support.
For further information, contact
Juana Minaya at 718-289-5828/5824.
Education
18
AUDREY'S
SOCIETY
WHIRL
8th Annual Awards
New York Urban League honors
Champions of Diversity
By Audrey J. Bernard
Lifestyles & Society Editor
Back in 2004, the New York Urban League (NYUL) established
what has become one of its signature events, the Champions of
Diversity awards, as a result of
the 2003 U.S. Supreme Court decision that upheld the basic principles of affirmative action. The
League’s support was also
buoyed by corporate America’s
interest in this powerful issue.
Under the banner of Champions
of Diversity awards breakfast,
NYUL salutes companies that
understand the need for diversity
in the job market. These companies embrace diversity to its fullest potential and truly understand
to succeed in today’s competitive
market; diversity must be reflected in every aspect of the
workplace.
Corporate leadership, employment policy, supplier relations and
corporate giving are held as a
fundamental tenet of the
organization’s philosophy. “We
hope by paying tribute to the accomplishments of our annual
honorees we can raise the diversity bar not only in for profit sector but not-for-profit organizations as well,” stated NYUL’s pert
and pretty president and CEO
Arva R. Rice.
The 8th annual Champions of
Diversity awards breakfast took
place at the tony Four Seasons
Restaurant on Monday, February
7, 2011 from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.,
where Rice was joined by NYUL’s
chairman of the board Michael
Robinson in presenting the
awards to this year’s deserving
companies: Adecco Group North
America, Interpublic Group,
Johnson & Johnson and Macy’s,
Inc.
Accepting the triumphant
awards on behalf of their companies were: Michael I. Roth, chairman & CEO, Interpublic Group;
Tig Gilliam, CEO, Adecco Group
North America; Anthony P. Carter,
vice president, global diversity &
inclusion, and chief diversity officer, Johnson & Johnson; and Ed
Goldberg, senior vice president of
external affairs, Macy’s Inc.
“I must applaud this year’s
award recipients for upholding
diversity as a fundamental tenet
of their corporate philosophy,”
remarked Rice. “As you have already discovered, diverse workplaces produce more dynamic
corporations better capable of
serving a more global clientele in
an ever-changing marketplace.
Our nation’s competitiveness in
Michael I. Roth, Tig Gilliam, Dwight Johnson, Arva Rice, Marilyn F. Booker, Michael Robinson, Anthony P. Carter, Ed Goldberg
Noel Hankin, Michael Robinson, Hon. David N. Dinkins, Honoree
Ed Goldberg
(standing) Chris Chaney, Diane Thompson, Shawn Outler, Ty-StoneAdams, Sharne Jackson (seated) Iasha Rivers, Honoree Ed Goldberg,
Andrea Shapiro-Davis
Marilyn F. Booker, Jon S. Corzine, Teresa Wells, Arva Rice, Michael
Robinson
the 21st century depends upon it.” tee chair and organized the prizeFormer New Jersey Governor and winning event.
Senator Jon S. Corzine, chairman
Darlene Rodriguez, co-anchor
and CEO MF Global Holdings Ltd., of “Today in New York” on
was the keynote speaker. In his WNBC-TV, served as Mistress of
powerful address Corzine re- Ceremonies.
marked, “I am a true believer that
Hon. David N. Dinkins and his
diversity is not only a concept to bride, Joyce Dinkins, served as
talk about … but that it works.”
honorary chairs. NYUL’s vice
This breakfast was a great way chair Marilyn F. Booker, managto start off your day leaving guests ing director, head of office of corwith lots of food for thought. porate engagement, Morgan
Dwight Johnson of Dwight Stanley, served as breakfast chair.
Johnson Design was the commit- Kenneth Theobalds, vice presi-
(seated) Janine Dorsett, Arva Rice, Jon S. Corzine, Teresa Wells (standing) Marcus Samuelsson Vanessa Wakeman, Michael Robinson, Rev.
Michael Walrond
Anthony P. Carter who accepted diversity award on behalf of Johnson
& Johnson poses with fellow Johnson & Johnson colleagues
Sidney Holmes, Ken Theobolds, Larry Dais, Gregory Winston
dent, governmental affairs,
Entergy Nuclear, served as founding chair. Corporate Sponsors included Adecco Group North
America, Interpublic Group,
Johnson & Johnson and Morgan
Stanley.
The breakfast attracted many
corporate champions who have
triumphed over diversity in their
workplaces. Attendees were presented with fabulous swag bags
filled with things champions are
made of. However, the awesome
gift bags were second to what they
were saying about Rice and the great
job she’s doing at the League.
The New York Urban League was
founded by a group of prominent
New Yorkers concerned with the
poor state of blacks migrating to
New York City from the south. From
its inception it provided employment and connections for migrating blacks bridging the adjustment
from the agricultural/rural life to the
industrial urban center. (Photos by
Gerald Peart and Seitu Oronde)
Celebrating Black History Month 2011
1926. During the years we
have come to celebrate Black
History Month in the month of
February not only in America,
but also throughout the world.
Black people are often, in
too many instances, the object
of daily racial stereotypes and
negative cynicism in the mainstream media. The month of
February each year, at least for
the majority of African Americans and others who have a
sense of the value of diversity
and inclusiveness, is the time
for reflection and celebration
of the progress and achievements that African people have
made in the United States and
across the globe. Black History Month, therefore, is an
annual time when there is a
more visible, positive ene r g y, a n d c o n s c i o u s n e s s
about African American
progress.
Of course, we all know that
our struggle for freedom, justice, and equality continues
even while we recognize our
achievements. It is also most
important that we take the time
to share the teachings and
learning from our history with
the children of our communities. African American youth
will be proud of our history to
the extent to which we will take
more time to tell it, explain it
and to make sure that our
youth will understand and appreciate it. Again, this is why
the African American press is
important in all of its multiple
media formats. The good news
is there is a hunger and thirst
by millions of young people in
our communities for more
awareness and knowledge
about African American and
African history.
Mumia Abu-Jamal
The historic transforma“Can’t Jail the Spirit: The Re- case serves as a touchstone for t i o n o f E g y p t d u r i n g t h i s
sistance of Mumia Abu-Jamal and many social justice movements bePolitical Prisoners,” a film and cause of the myriad of issues it endiscussion event being held in compasses: the rise in prison popuHarlem, will center on the incar- lations, police brutality, the death
ceration of Abu-Jamal, impris- penalty, persecution of political disoned on death row since 1983 for sent, and racism.
Esmaeli and Torres will address
the shooting death of a police ofthe incarceration of African Amerificer in Philadelphia.
The event will include a cans as the civil rights issue of the
The Music Ministry at Elim
screening of the recently re- 21st century, and participants will
International
Fellowship will
leased film “Justice on Trial” discuss how to build a movement
which features Abu-Jamal’s case in support of Abu-Jamal and po- host a Black History Month
as an example of greater problems litical prisoners. Says Francisco celebration concert 0n Sunday,
in the criminal justice system: Torres, “As events unfold in Feb. 27, at 4: p.m. The concert
judicial bias, prosecutorial mis- Egypt, we see that it is the will be held at Elim Internaconduct, racial discrimination in people who are the determining tional Fellowship, 20 Madison
jury selection, police corruption, factor in the movement, and we S t . ( b e t w e e n C l a s s o n a n d
and tampering with evidence to too shall be the determining fac- Franklin).
The concert was develobtain a conviction. Guest tor in undoing the injustice and
oped by Frank Haye, direcspeakers include the filmmaker, oppression here in the U.S.”
“Can’t Jail the Spirit” will be tor of the Choir Academy at
Kouross Esmaeli, and former
Black Panther Francisco Torres. held Saturday, Feb. 19, at 7:30 p.m. t h e E l i m C o n s e r v a t o r y o f
Mumia Abu-Jamal is a re- at Freedom Hall, 113 W. 128th St., Music at Elim International
nowned journalist from Philadel- in Harlem, with a $3 door donation. Fellowship, to celebrate the
phia convicted in the 1981 killing The program will be preceded by a rich musical history of Brookof a police officer and sentenced Savory Southern Supper at 6:30 p.m. lyn and to highlight exciting
to death, despite negligence in for a $9 donation. Childcare is pro- new groups that are sure to
have a future impact on the
the police investigation, evi- vided.
The event is co-sponsored by borough, New York City and
dence tampering, and manipulation of prosecution witnesses. the Freedom Socialist Party and the gospel and music industry
Known as the “voice of the Radical Women. For informa- nationwide. The concert will
voiceless,” a broad international tion, call (212) 222-0633, email feature The Brooklyn Interdeor
v i s i t nominational Choir, MANImovement of millions has formed f s p @ n y c t . n e t ,
FEST, the Elim Cathedral Choir,
in support of him. Abu-Jamal’s www.socialism.com .
By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. remember to thank historian
NNPA Columnist
Carter G. Woodson for first establishing Black History Week
The importance of knowing as a “celebration” of African
history is to learn from it. We American achievement back in
History Month event
to address racism in
the justice system
Black History Month observance is noteworthy. Egypt
is one of the oldest nations
in the world. Sixty percent
of the population in Egypt is
under the age of 30.
The dramatic changes in
Egypt that were led by the
youth of that African nation
should serve as a global reminder that the future destiny of the world is not in the
hands of those who live vicariously in the past blindly
with no vision, hope or plan
to make social, economic,
political
and
cultural
progress. The future is the
hands of young people who
know their history and take
their responsibility for freedom and progress seriously.
February 11, 2011 was the
day of transformation in
Egypt. But, we also should
remember and continue to
celebrate that February 11,
1990 was the day that
Nelson Mandela was finally
released from prison in
South Africa after spending
27 years in prison unjustly as
a political prisoner held by
the apartheid regime.
Mandela stated, “Our march
to freedom is irreversible”
Here in the United States,
one of the most significant
recent historical moments
was the election of President
Barack H. Obama in November of 2008. Not surprisingly, the U.S. Census Bureau is now reporting the
voter “turnout rate” in the
2008 national elections was
the highest for Black Americans (65%) as compared to all
other racial groups identified
by the U.S. Census Bureau.
We all should know that the
age group within the African
American community that
had the largest percent increase in voter turnout from
2004 to 2008 was the “18- to
24-year-old citizen black
p o p u l a t i o n . ” N o w, b e t w e e n
Black History Month 2011 and
2012, we got some homework
to do to make sure that this
trend in Black American civic
participation and historic
voter turnout continues.
Let’s make sure here
in the United States that our
march to freedom is also “irreversible.” Once again, the
history of voting and the
blood-soaked price that African Americans, in particular,
had to pay to get the right to
vote should never be forgotten or taken for granted. Yes,
we have a lot to celebrate.
There has been progress.
But, we also have a lot to be
sober about: high unemployment, imprisonment, high
school dropout rate, poverty,
and too many in a state of disillusionment. But, we must
not be cynical and self-destructive. There are solutions
to all these problems. If
“Black History” has taught us
anything that we should always remember, it is that our
struggle for freedom is protracted. We will have victories and we will have defeats,
but through it all we must
never let our spirit be broken.
Trials and tribulations
should strengthen us, not
weaken us. We have come too
far to let new winds of oppression blow us off course.
Let’s raise up a new generation of freedom fighters.
Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr
is senior advisor to the Black
Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO) and president
of Education Online Services
Corporation.
Elim International Fellowship
to host Black History concert
and other special guests.
The Brooklyn Community
Choir (BIC) is a new community
choir under the direction of accomplished musician, choral director, composer and producer
Frank A. Haye, a co-founder of
the group. The group will make
its first official appearance
when it performs in the Black
History Month Celebration
Concert.
With a motto of “One Great
City, One Great Choir to the
Glory of God,” BIC both reflects and celebrates the diverse cultures and neighborhoods of the Borough of
Brooklyn and The City of New
York. The auditioned choir of
talented and dedicated vocalists and musicians are ambassadors who are committed to
bringing people together
through artistic expression. To
that end, BIC performs at music
festivals, concert halls, houses
of worship, community activities
and private functions throughout the city and around the
c o u n t r y. B r o o k l y n B o r o u g h
President Marty Markowitz and
City Council Member Letitia
James co-hosted the event at
Brooklyn Borough Hall announcing the formation of BIC
in June 2010.The group will hold
its first full concert in the late
spring.
The concert is free and open
to the public. A special offering
will be collected during the concert to raise funds for the
church’s much-need restoration
project. Elim supports a number
of community-based activities in
its facilities and lends support
to BIC and MANIFEST by providing them with rehearsal
space.
Black History Month Supplement
19
20
Huntington Cinema Art Center
African American History Month Film Fest
February 21 and 23 and
March 1 2011 - Celebrate African American History Month at
Cinema Arts Centre’s Film Fest,
screening four films- “Haiti: One
Day,” “One Destiny,” “Freedom
Riders,” “Night Catches Us” with
filmmakers in person or live via
Skype, and culminating with a
screening of Tyler Perry’s “For
Colored Girls.” Affordable tickets can be purchased online,
www.CinemaArtsCentre.org at
the box office during theatre
hours.
Mon., President’s Day, Feb. 21
at 1pm - “Haiti: One Day,” “One
Destiny,” a multi-media portal of
stories about Haiti after the di-
Anthony Mackie
sastrous earthquake of 2010.
Screening, discussion and reception with Haitian-American filmmaker Michelle Stephenson, a
human rights attorney and awardwinning documentarian who lives
in Brooklyn and has received international honors.
Mon., President’s Day, Feb. 21
at 2:45pm - “Freedom Riders”
about the Black college students
who rode a Greyhound bus to the
deep south in 1961. “LIVE via
SKYPE: Producer Laurens Grant.
Wed., Feb. 23, 7:30pm - “Night
Catches Us,” a narrative that captures the political and emotional
tension in a racist Philadelphia in
1976 starring Anthony Mackie and
Kerry Washington
WEDDING DRESS FINALIST
Denise Coke 17, is a Senior at the High School of Fashion
Industries in Manhattan. She is also One of the Ten Finalist
whose Wedding Dress Design has been selected for Princess
Kate Middleton. The announcement was make February 1st
2011, by Darryl Blank, Principal and S. Manning, Fashion Department Asst. Principal. The designs including Ms. Coke’s
are headed to England for consideration by the Next British
Princess. The contest is sponsored by High School of Fashion
Industries. Denise Coke is also the granddaughter of Don
Thomas, the entertainment editor of the New York Beacon.
CONGRATULATIONS! (Photo: Ronnie Wright)
Kerry Washington. Sundance Film
Festival Nominee: Grand Jury
Prize.
LIVE via SKYPE: Post-screening
Interview with Director Tanya
Hamilton.
Thursday, March 3 at 7:30pm “For Colored Girls” directed by
Tyler Perry, adapted from Ntozake
Shange’s Obie Award winning play,
featuring performances by Thandie
Newton, Janet Jackson, Phylicia
Rashad, Kerry Washington, Loretta
Devine, Anika Noni Rose and
Whoopie Goldberg.
21
22
Perry Ellis Fall 2011
collection is splendiferous
Designer Perry Ellis
Perry Ellis Fall 2011 show was
as comfortable as a favorite old
chair and as effortless as a peanut
butter and jelly sandwich. Just
YUMMY all around!
The collection’s colors were na-
ture inspired — warm and sensuous with infrequent bursts of
color. Charcoal, camel, black,
pewter, olive, Captain’s blue and
Brownstone with a touch of Vanilla put me in mind of Bahamian
island relaxation. The entire collection was vintage PE – wearable
perfection. My favorites were the
wool herringbone jacket, wool pea
coat, lambswool turtlenecks, blazers, cargo pants, cord trousers,
denim herringbone,. Also, loved the
accessories – beanies, fingerless
gloves, voluminous scarves.
The neutral colors made my nature rise!
(Photos by Yannis Vlamos)
Nautica Men’s Fall 2011 Collection was inspired by the Maritime Heritage of the Sleeping Bear-Dunes region of Lake Michigan and featured all things good and preppie —
toggle coats, blazers, plaid dress shirt, striped boating sweaters. The show, which was held at the Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center, consisted of 30 looks that
were stationed on platforms. This brand is solid and will be around for a very long time. There’s nothing sexier than a man sportin’ sail white cotton. A Nautica man is a
naughty man! (Photo by Mike Rosenthal)
CATWALKIN’ with Fashion & Beauty Editor Audrey J. Bernard 23
24 YOU GO, GIRL!
JPC’s new dream team – Linda Rice Johnson,
Desirée Rogers and Amy DuBois Barnett
Edited by Audrey J. Bernard
In November 2010,
Johnson Publishing Co, Inc.
(JPC) sold its historic Michig a n Av e n u e h e a d q u a r t e r s
building to Columbia College
Chicago and launched its
search for a new home as the
legendary publisher opens
the next chapter in its history.
T h e 11 - s t o r y, 11 0 , 0 0 0
square-foot historic building, which has been home to
Ebony and Jet magazines as
well as Fashion Fair Cosmetics for almost 40 years, was
completed in 1972 as the first
major downtown Chicago
building designed by an African-American since Jean
B a p t i s t e P o i n t D u S a b l e ’s
trading post, built two centuries earlier.
“The sale of 820 S. Michigan is part of the continuing
evolution of the company
that my father and mother
started in the early 1942s,”
said JPC’s chairman Linda
Johnson Rice. “Just as when
JPC moved to this location
in 1972, my father would be
the first to say it makes
good business sense to relocate to space that serves
the current needs of the company.”
The move is another step
in JPC’s corporate strategy
to advance its business plan
and serve the current needs
o f t h e c o m p a n y. E b o n y
marked its 65th anniversary
in 2010. Jet celebrates its
60th anniversary in 2011.
As head of the organization, Rice has implemented
several innovative initiatives throughout JPC. Under her headship, the company remains the No. 1 African-American owned-andoperated publishing company in the world.
Her leadership has delivered consistent growth for
the company as she championed the revitalization of
layout and design for Ebony
and Jet, in addition to the
new advertising, packaging
and product launches for
Fashion Fair Cosmetics.
These initiatives have resulted in increased productivity for both the publishing and cosmetics sectors of
the business.
A sought-after speaker,
she has delivered commencement speeches to
graduates of the Sam M.
Walton College of Business
at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville as well as
t h e A n n e n b e rg S c h o o l f o r
Communication at the University of Southern California.
She also has addressed numerous organizations including the
Yo u n g P r e s i d e n t s ’ O r g a n i z a t i o n , Bausch& Lomb,
“My father would be the first to
say it makes good business
sense to relocate to space that
serves the current needs of the
company.”
– Linda Rice Johnson
“I am humbled to have such
an incredible opportunity. I
consider it an honor to help
continue the 68-year legacy of
such a phenomenal company
and its iconic brands.”
— Desirée Rogers
“Ebony has always represented
the best of African-African
achievement, society and culture,
and I couldn’t be more honored
to be at the helm as we enhance
this icon for the 21st century.”
— Amy DuBois Barnett
Rochester Black Business
Association, Starcom advertising agency and the Advertising Club of Chicago.
Rice also has spoken before U.S. and foreign dignitaries and received national
service appointments including her participation in President Bill Clinton’s Economic
Summit and her work as a
member of the United States
Presidential Delegation to
the inauguration of His Excellency Nelson Mandela,
President of South Africa.
Rice demonstrates a
strong belief in enhancing
the future of today’s youth
by supporting several education initiatives and corporate
internship programs as well
as the John H. Johnson
School of Communications at
Howard University. Through
Ebony Fashion Fair, JPC has
donated more than $55 million
to charitable causes, many
related to education.
In recognition of her leadership and achievements, the
Chicago Sun-Times named
R i c e a m o n g C h i c a g o ’s 1 0 0
M o s t P o w e r f u l Wo m e n a n d
The Top 10 Women In Media.
She also received the Women
of Power Award from the National Urban League, The
Trumpet Award from Turner
Broadcasting, the Alumni
Merit Award from the University of Southern California,
and the Alumni of the Year
Aw a r d f r o m J . L . K e l l o g g
Graduate School of Management
of
Northwestern
University’s Black Management Association.
Rice was included in
C r a i n ’s C h i c a g o B u s i n e s s
lists of 40 Under 40 and 100
M o s t I n f l u e n t i a l Wo m e n .
Working Woman magazine included Rice and JPC among
the Top 500 Women-Owned
Businesses.
Rice holds a Bachelor of
Arts degree in Journalism
from the Annenberg School
for Communication at the
University of Southern Cali-
fornia and a Master of
Business Administration
degree from Northwestern
U n i v e r s i t y ’s J . L . K e l l o g g
Graduate School of Management.
As part of her enhancement of JPC’s senior management team, Rice appointed Desirée Rogers as
chief executive officer of
JPC and Amy DuBois
Barnett as Ebony’s new editor-in-chief.
Desirée Rogers has
earned a reputation as one
of America’s most successful businesswomen. As
CEO, Rogers oversees the
day-to-day operations of the
c o m p a n y. S h e i s r e s p o n sible for aligning core business strategies for all
brands, including Ebony and
Jet magazines and Fashion
Fair Cosmetics.
”Desirée has a proven track
record of successful business
leadership,” said Rice. “She is
a longstanding confidant and
a savvy businesswoman who
is committed to the strategic
growth of Johnson Publishing
Company. I look forward to
working side by side with her
as we embark upon this next
phase for the company.”
Rogers is recognized as an
innovative leader with a proven
track record of developing creative solutions to transition
organizations. She is known as
an exceptional communicator
and a committed community
advocate. Rogers is expert in
repositioning brands, utilizing
their core essence to engage
customers and extending them
into the communities they
serve.
These traits will complement
Rice’s institutional knowledge
of the business and her new
role in preserving the legacy of
the company. “I am humbled
to have such an incredible opportunity. I consider it an
honor to help continue the 68year legacy of such a phenomenal company and its iconic
brands,” said Rogers.
The New Orleans native received her bachelor’s degree in
political science from Wellesley
College and earned a master of
business administration degree
from Harvard University’s Business School. She has served
on numerous non-profit and
corporate boards including the
Museum of Science and Industry, Blue Cross Blue Shield of
Illinois, Equity Residential, a
REIT and the Northwestern
Memorial Foundation.
A bold visionary, Rogers has
the ability to develop creative
solutions for mature organizations facing changing industry
dynamics or consumer tastes.
She is credited with having
spearheaded the development
of the social networking
strategy for the Allstate Corporation. Thomas Wilson,
chairman and CEO of the
Allstate Corporation recruited Rogers and in a few
short months, she had
“started to extend her influence and drive change inside
the company from her position on the executive committee,” he remarked.
With her prestigious degrees
and stellar business experience, Rogers has redefined every leadership position that
she has held while playing a
major philanthropic role in the
communities in which she has
lived.
Consistently acknowledged
as an innovative leader with a
proven track record, her career
milestones include turning the
Illinois Lottery, a mature organization facing rising competition and anti-gaming forces,
into a stable, reliable and popular revenue producer that revolutionized the sale of instant
tickets through promotional
partnerships. During her tenure, instant ticket sales
doubled.
In 2004, Rogers was
elected president of People
E n e r g y ’s t w o n a t u r a l g a s
utilities where she facilitated
the 150-year old company’s
transition from a traditional,
under the radar entity to a responsive, customer-centric
organization. During the
company’s acquisition by the
$7 billion Integrys Energy
Group, Rogers led the integration of the two utilities.
In 2008, President Obama
named Rogers the first African
American social secretary. As
social secretary her mandate
was to help “people visualize
what the Obama presidency is
about, the values Americans
voted for — -inclusion, transparency, the embracement of
all people — and translating
t h e s p l e n d o r, t h e s w e e t n e s s
and comfort of the White
House to everyone.”
Under her direction, she repositioned the Obama’s’ nontraditional vision of the White
H o u s e t o t h e “ P e o p l e ’s
House.” Her office produced
350 events in her 14-month
tenure and turned the White
House into a showcase for
American art and culture. Her
legacy will be her ability to
create and produce innovative
concepts for events at the
White House which, to this
date, continues to redefine
operational approaches.
Amy DuBois Barnett is the
new editor-in-chief of Ebony
magazine. Barnett is an awardwinning media executive,
writer and brand architect.
M o s t r e c e n t l y, s h e w a s t h e
deputy editor-in-chief of
Harper ’s Bazaar. Prior to that
stint, Barnett held top masthead positions at Teen People,
entering history books as the
first African-American woman
in the country to head a major
mainstream consumer magazine, and at Honey Magazine,
where she doubled the circulation.
“I am extremely pleased to
bring Amy DuBois Barnett on
as part of the new leadership
team,” said Rice. “She brings
with her a wealth of experience,
a keen journalistic eye and
solid editorial judgment,
which will serve well to help
redefine the EBONY brand
within the ever-changing marketplace.”
Barnett is a Brown University graduate and also has a
M.F.A degree in creative writing from Columbia University.
She is the author of Get Yours:
How to Have Everything You
Ever Dreamed of and More, a
NAACP Image Award-nominated book for Black women.
“Ebony has always represented the best of African-African achievement, society
and culture, and I couldn’t be
more honored to be at the helm
as we enhance this icon for
t h e 2 1 s t c e n t u r y, ” s a i d
Barnett. “I’m excited to bring
the Ebony brand to multiple
media platforms and to engage
new audiences who will surely
be moved by its resonant, provocative and authoritative
perspective on today’s African-American experience.”
(from page 17)
director at the time, then hosted
a meeting at her house featuring
some of the most powerful Black
women working in media to come
up with a counterpunch to Imus’
verbal onslaught. That same year,
Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network (WEEN) was born.
Butterfield, co-founder of
WEEN, has successfully created a
coalition that stretches to more than
43,000 young women worldwide.
WEEN hosts programs year
round designed to educate
women in the areas of health, financial literacy, career development, and personal advancement.
The company recently celebrated
its three-year anniversary and will
Pride vs. Policy:
Who wins and who loses when more
folks choose the multi-racial option?
(from page 4)
federal data on race and ethnicity.
Among the changes, OMB required federal agencies to allow
individuals to identify themselves as more than one race, a
reaction to increasing numbers of
multiracial children and the desire
to capture this increased diversity in a measurable way.”
“The new methodology was
used on the Census 2000 questionnaire, and all federal agencies
were supposed to adopt the new
standards by Jan. 1, 2003. So in
sum, for federal purposes, school
districts have to allow students
to identify by more than one
race,” Liu said. “The difficulty is
that many of the remedies for our
desegregation cases rely on
single-race categories to monitor
compliance.
For example, let’s say 20 years
ago, a court found that a school
district was operating a segregated school system. In order to
determine whether that school
district is properly desegregating,
the court would check on what percentage of black students and what
percentage of white students are
in each school. That was an easy
calculation when students identified as a single race. But now the
question has become how do you
count a student who identifies as
both black and white for purposes
of this remedy?”
There are other considerations
as well. “For criminal justice purposes, the thing to remember is that
perception will dominate reality,”
said Christina Swarns, director of
the Criminal Justice Practice Group
at LDF. “So no matter what ‘box’ a
person checks or what their racial
heritage actually is, people are likely
to be treated by law enforcement
based on the way that they look. If
they look black, they will be treated
like they are black. If they look
white, they will be treated like they
are white. Thus, darker skinned
people (even if half white/Asian/
Latino/Indian/etc.) will continue to
be subjected to a disproportionate
number of stops, searches, seizures by the police; will continue
to face harsher sentences in
court; and will continue to be excluded from the opportunity to
participate in jury service in disproportionate numbers.”
The complexities of the movement toward embracing and acknowledging multi-racial identity
based on “and” rather than “either/or” will challenge our
nation’s policies and politics for
the foreseeable future. The biggest challenge is human nature
vs. institutional efficiency.
“I think it’s really important
to acknowledge who you are
and everything that makes you
that,” Laura Wood, vice-president of the Multiracial and Biracial Student Association at
the University of Maryland
told The New York Times. “If
someone tries to call me black
I say, ‘yes—and white.’ People
have the right not to acknowledge everything, but don’t do
it because society tells you
that you can’t.”
TaRessa Stovall is managing
editor of TheDefendersOnline.
State Senate Dems to GOP:
Don’t stand in way of a new Albany
(from page 4)
crossroads, our next step must finally bring us to the reform the
public expects and Albany needs.
Passing comprehensive ethics,
campaign finance, and independent redistricting reform will tear
down the walls of dysfunction
and build a state government
more accountable and responsive
to the needs of the people. By
changing the flawed ways of the
past, New Yorkers can once again
trust their leaders enough to follow them toward a brighter future.”
Senator Daniel Squadron (DBrooklyn/Manhattan) said, “For
Albany to do the people’s business, we must change the way
Albany does business. More
than a month into the legislative
session, we have yet to enact the
fundamental reforms that almost
every sitting Senator has pledged
to support. Passing ethics, campaign finance and redistricting
reform will lend much-needed
transparency and accountability
to our state government, helping
restore New Yorkers’ trust in their
elected representatives and allowing us all to better tackle the
dire challenges facing our state.”
Senator Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan) said, “Governor Cuomo
has made it clear that it’s high time
Albany cracks down on the
power of special interests and my
legislation unveiling the relation-
ships between lawmakers and lobbyists will do just that. Lobbyists
sole job is to persuade legislators
and influence legislation, so it only
makes sense that we should monitor their campaign contributions
and professional relationships with
public officials. A lot of money is
funneled into campaigns and the
public should know where it comes
from and how it is spent. Once a
campaign is over, there’s no reason
that campaign funds should suddenly become the personal piggybank for the candidate. That money
was raised and donated for the very
specific purpose of winning an election and it should only be used to
achieve that objective.”
Senator Joseph P. Addabbo (DQueens) said, “I introduced the
S.1565 section of this bill to amend
the state finance law to prohibit
‘pay to play,’ which forbids political contributions by businesses
that have been awarded state contracts. Passing this legislation and
putting elections back in the hands
of voters will not only create a more
competitive electoral environment,
but produce better representatives
for all New Yorkers.”
Senator Gustavo Rivera (DBronx) said, “It’s no surprise that
New Yorkers have a lack of confidence in government – in their
elected officials. Common-sense
legislation has been bogged down
for decades because of partisan
politics and special interests — and
for too long, money has had a
louder voice than the people of
the state from Buffalo, to the
Bronx and out to Brookhaven.
We must restore the people’s
trust in their elected officials. That
is why the first bill I introduced in
the Senate focuses on ethics reform. That is why I am calling on
my colleagues to follow through
with their promise to pass ethics
reform and start to clean up Albany.”
Senator Michael Gianaris (DQueens) said, “Our state government is in desperate need of reform. For too long, the people of
New York have been shut out by
unaccountable representation.
The enactment of the reforms we
embrace today will send a strong
message that we hear the calls of
a public restless for change and
are ready to rise to the occasion.”
Senate Democratic Deputy
Leader Neil D. Breslin said, “Passing comprehensive campaign finance, ethics and independent redistricting reform will help make
our state government more accountable, while at the same time
help to restore the people’s faith
in our ability to effectively respond during these challenging
times. There is a clear public mandate to reform government and
now is the time to deliver the
change that Albany needs.”
Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins (35th District-D/WF/I) said,
“This ethics package will go a
long way in restoring the public’s
host its first WEEN Summer Academy where 60 women will undergo
a six-week crash course in the entertainment business that will acclimate them to an industry of
which most are begging to be a
part. Butterfield’s vision has exploded before her very eyes into
a growing movement.
But, it was a vision that successfully grew despite a controversial comment that helped unite
the African-American community.
“From that meeting we decided
that something had to be done and
one day I decided to put my foot
down and make a stand,”
Butterfield said. “As a woman who
worked in the business, I felt like
it was my responsibility and my
obligation to do my part to create
more balance in the way women,
like me, are portrayed in the media.” WEEN’s achievements
haven’t totally caught the selfassured Butterfield by surprise,
but it is a feat the soon-to-be 33year-old Wilson, N.C. native is
most proud of. “It’s amazing because not only has it been successful but it’s gotten a lot of ex-
posure,” Butterfield admits. “With
exposure you have to have substance and it was important for me
to make sure we were backing up all
this access that we had with real programs that touched young women
in a real way.”
After working with Simmons and
now the driving force behind
WEEN, Butterfield has also applied
her services to working with President Barack Obama as the deputy
director of public affairs for the International Trade Administration in
the U.S. Department of Commerce.
She has also served as the director
of diversity for the national office of
the Alzheimer’s Association.
With a laundry list of duties and
accomplishments firmly in her
pocket, Butterfield’s drive earned her
a spot in ESSENCE magazine’s Top
40 executives under 40 for 2010.
When asked about her many accolades, Butterfield alluded to her personal secret: “Having no fear,” she
revealed. “As kids we have no fear
and as we become adults we kind
of, you know, over think and over
analyze everything. I’ve always
jumped in feet first.”
Young people falling
behind economically
(from page 9)
$17,000 for high school graduates
and to nearly $65,000 for those
headed by a householder with an
advanced degree.
Overall, 55 percent of young
Black families with children were
either poor or near poor, and
nearly three-fourths were low-income. Three of every four single
mother families with a head lacking a high school diploma were
poor in 2009. The gap in young
families’ income has risen so dramatically that children in the bottom half of the distribution are falling backwards.
What does all of this mean? It
means no discussion of continued
economic recovery and how to
add jobs can be complete without
a special focus on how to help
young workers—and no discussion on ending child poverty or
securing the futures of our
nation’s children, especially Black
children, can be complete without
special attention to the economic
status of young families.
Creating more employment opportunities for younger workers and
making sure young people graduate from high school and move on
to higher education are essential to
address the needs of young families and their children.
Their children’s economic and
social futures depend on it. To
read the full report, Deteriorating
Employment Rates and Incomes
Threaten the Future of Young
Workers and Young Families:
Black Young People and Young
Families Fare the Worst, visit the
Black Community Crusade for
Children’s Web page.
Marian Wright Edelman is president of the Children’s Defense Fund
whose Leave No Child Behind®
mission is to ensure every child a
Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair
Start, a Safe Start and a Moral
Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help
of caring families and communities. For more information go to
www.childrensdefense.org.
faith in State government. It calls
for an independent redistricting
commission, requires legislators
to disclose their outside incomes
and improves transparency in
campaign financing, which are all
significant reforms to the way we
do business in Albany. We owe it
to the public to pass this ethics
package so that New Yorkers have
a government that they are proud
of.”
Senator José Peralta (D-Queens)
said, “There has been no shortage of talk about reform. Talk is
cheap. It’s time to deliver on the
pledge that we made to voters to
fix Albany.”
Senator José M. Serrano (DBronx/Manhattan) said, “It’s clear
that Albany needs to change the
way it conducts business, and
now is the time to step forward to
build a state government that is
more accountable. By strengthening our ethics laws, improving the
campaign finance system, and implementing an independent redistricting process, we can begin to build a
state government that is more open
and transparent. My colleagues
from both sides of the aisle signed
Mayor Koch’s pledge to clean up
Albany and I believe we should work
together to keep our promises by
passing these comprehensive reform measures.”
Senator Timothy M. Kennedy (DWestern New York) said, “Over the
past decade, more Albany politicians
have resigned amid scandal than
have lost general elections. Flawed
ethics have disgraced our capitol
and embarrassed all New Yorkers.
That’s why we need to act swiftly
on this package of reform bills. We
must end Albany’s culture of corruption and dysfunction and
build a government that is responsive and accountable to the
hardworking men and women that
we represent.”
25
Tycoon transforms racial remarks into conglomerate
26
WHAT’S GOING ON
By Victoria Horsford
HOT TOPICS
President Barack Obama unveils
a $3.73 trillion budget for 2012 to
Capitol Hill on Valentine’s Day;
and no one is happy, least of all
House Republicans, who want
deeper cuts. The DNC also balks.
Now the political-battle season
begins in earnest. Budget calls
for dramatic reductions in foreign
aid and Pentagon spending. Education is spared. Budget is available online.
To be sure, February is the shortest month; but it is also the culturally busiest month. It hosts
Black History Month, The
Grammys, NY Fashion Week, and
the Academy Awards, a ritual celebrating excellence in the film industry. Media coverage of Black
History Month has receded dramatically. However, two precincts
of American pop culture – fashion and film – appear to be unable
to shake the nation’s racist legacy
of inclusion. The 2011 Oscar nominations are lily white. The US fashion world and beyond still enjoy a
dearth of Black models on couture runways.
The 2/17 NY Times article
“Hollywood’s Whiteout Year:
Few Blacks on the Silver
Screen” by Manohla Dargis
and A.O.Scott is a thoughtprovoking survey piece with
much food for thought about
the absence of Blacks at 2011
Oscars, a 21 st Century rarity.
Article rightfully acknowledges
Hollywood’s modest role re:
the 2008 Obama presidential
victory. They quote a line from
Obama’s autobiography “the
fluid state of identity” and the
exploitation of same as something inimical to Hollywood
and more a pop music industry
jurisdiction. Moreover, President Obama confounds an industry basically “conservative
which caters to … the perceived prejudices of the audience.” “Whiteout” considers
class, culture, and the
economy into its analysis of
Hollywood, its arcane film production metrics, and the 2011
Oscar season.
The current NY Magazine
double issue includes an insightful piece by former WAPO
Pulitzer Prize winner Robin
Givhan titled “Why Is Black
Face Still Okay? Fashion’s Enduring Race Problem; The
Paint-chip problem, revisited”
a holistic meditation on the
absence of Black models during Fashion Week rituals on
American and European runways. Essay is an insightful
window into the infectious
glamour world where Black is
still not that beautiful to haute
couturiers.
FOREIGNAFFAIRS
Haiti’s presidential election is
scheduled for 3/20. The runoff
protagonists, favored by the international community - US,
France and Canada - are Mirlande
Manigat and Michel Martelly, but
were not approved by Haiti’s Provisional Electoral Council nor its
Diaspora. President Rene Preval
remains in office through 5/14. The
situation is fluid and there are too
many outside nations manipulating events.
It is difficult to report on Africa,
the continent of so much turmoil.
In the North, the democracy fever
which began in Tunisia, then
Egypt is spreading like a contagion. The new nation of South
Sudan will soon emerge. On the
continent’s West Coast, there is
business as usual in the Ivory
Coast where political impasse and
economic decline continue to rule.
The country has two presidents
Laurent Gbagbo, who is Christian
and Alassane Ouattara, who is
Moslem, despite elections which
resulted in an Ouattara victory.
The country seems to be divided
along those religious lines. While
African regional groups like
ECOWAS (Economic Community
of West African States) and the
AU are working to negotiate a
peaceful solution to Ivory Coast
impasse, it was reported that
South Africa deployed a naval
ship to the besieged nation.
Wassup, Mr. Zuma?
educator; its program content; and
its outcomes. He says that HEAF
graduates 100% of its students on
time from HS. And 94% of HEAF
students graduate from college in 6
years, which doubles the 45% norm
typical of Black and Latinos. He asks
why don’t we know about HEAF,
the model, its successes. He concludes that NYC DOE nor US Department of Education educrats are
not interested in sustainable scholastic achievement by Black and
Latino students, in Harlem. Visit
www. heaf.org to learn more about
program successes
BLACK HISTORY EVENTS
NEWSMAKERS
NYS Governor Andrew Cuomo
appoints Brooklyn Assemblyman
Darryl Towns as the next Commissioner and CEO of the NYS Homes
And Community Renewal Agency.
Towns, the son of Brooklyn Congressman Edolphus Towns, will
have oversight of the consolidation of all NYS Housing and community renewal programs and
agencies and of the Housing Finance Agency and State of NY
Mortgage Agency. The Towns
appointment necessitates a special election.
Bill Russell, Olympian gold
medallist, Basketball Hall of Famer
is on the list of 2010 Presidential
Medal of Freedom honorees,
which includes eminences such as
Maya Angelou, Congressman
John Lewis, Warren Buffet, former
President George H.W. Bush and
Germany President Angela Merkel.
REST IN PEACE: New Yorker
Edna Burt Morris, 79, died,
three days shy of her 80 birthday.
BLACK ENTERPRISE
Magic Johnson, cager turned
successful business man, has
invested millions into Vibe
Holdings, the media conglomerate parent company of Vibe
Magazine and the “Soul Train”
television show and its considerable archives. Johnson will
be the new Vibe Holdings chairman.
The Johnson Publishing
Company named New Yorker
Stephen Gregory Barr, 41, Senior Vice President, Group Publisher of Ebony and Jet Magazines, whose combined circulation reaches 19 million readers.
At 65, the iconic media giant
JPC continues to be the most
effective and efficient conduit
to Black American across all demographic platforms. Barr will
be based in New York.
Sade, Harlem’s long-reigning
empress of skin care and cosmetics has relocated to 11 East 125
Street and officially opened for
Magic Johnson
Bill Russell
212.749.4533.
Since 1995, seven of playwright Lynn Nottage’s richly
textured plays have appeared
Off Broadway in NY. Her latest
Off Broadway drama, “Ruined,” about women whose
lives were devastated by the
Congo’s never-ending war,
won the 2009 Pulitzer Prize. Her
new play “By The Way, Meet
Vera Stark,” a comedy set in Hollywood during the 30s about a
Black woman who gets a role in a
movie with her white boss, opens,
yes, Off Broadway at the Second
Stage in April. Maybe, this will find
its way to Broadway.
Gregory Barr
business on February 12. Sade
Skincare and Cosmetics emporium
is a one-stop beauty and
bodyworks indulgence. Her menu
of services lists facials, makeovers,
massage, manicure and pedicures.
Sade’s water-based makeup line
is a bold array of colors customized for the rich rainbow of African-American complexions. Call
SCHOOL DAZE
In his 2/14 NY Daily News column, titled “Good For Egypt, but
What About Us? StanleyCrouch
tells it like is about an exemplary
after- school nonprofit called the
Harlem Educational Activities
Fund (HEAF), founded in 1989,
and its remarkable executive director Danielle Moss Lee, herself an
The Brooklyn College Graduate
Center for Worker Education presents a Photographic Exhibition on
Hubert Harrison, at the Bowling
Green Gallery, located at 25 Broadway, 7th Floor, in Manhattan, from
M-F, 11 am to 4 pm, through 2/28.
Born in St. Croiz, then relocated to
Harlem, Harrison was a skilled writer,
orator and radical political activist
who influenced young men like A.
Philip Randolph and Marcus
Garvey.
Literary muse Maya Angelou
hosts a special talk one-hour, national show during Black History
Month for National Public Radio
stations. The show, underwritten by
AT&T, will include guests prominent in academe, politics, arts and
entertainment. Dr. Angelou’s show
airs on WNYC/NY on 2/18 at 8 pm.
The Art That Saves Lives! Sports
Art Exhibition and Awards and Charity Auction which will showcase the
works of top sports fine artists Ernie
Barnes and Tafa, will be held on 2/
17 at the California African American Museum. Awardees are NBA
mothers such as Deloris Jordan,
Mary Anthony, Amber Rondo, and
Elaine Maron. Auction proceeds
benefit Unity One, She Cares Foundation, Art Share LA and Inner City
Industry.
The SOM (Shrine of the Masters)
Jazz Gallery, Home of the Lee Morgan Legacy Exhibit, hosts a CD
Release Reception for music legend/
virtuoso Louis Hayes of the Jazz
Communicators, on Sunday, February 20, from 3-6 pm, at 314 West 140
Street, between Frederick Douglass
Boulevard and Edgecombe Avenues, Harlem, from 3-6 pm. RSVP
by 2/17 to [email protected]
or call 212.368.9588 .
The Museum of African Art and
Chef Pierre Thiam offer a unique 3course cooking class, an afternoon
of cooking, wining and dining, at
Thiam’s Le Grand Dakar bistro at 285
Grand Avenue, Brooklyn, 11238 on
Saturday, 2/19, 2-5 pm. Class is $75.
Contact [email protected].
The Red Harlem Readers group will
host a book party for Dr. Henry
Miller’s new non-fiction, “Theorizing Black Theatre, Art Vs. Protest in
Critical Writing 1898 to 1965,” at the
Indian Café, 107/108 Streets, in
Manhattan, on February 27 at 4 pm.
Dr. Miller will read, discuss and sign
books. Reservations 212.749.9200
**********************
A public relations consulta n t , Vi c t o r i a H o r s f o r d i s
also a Harlem-based journalist and culture historian.
Email:[email protected]
NNPA Award Winner
27
By Don Thomas
At MSG
‘His Purple Majesty’ bestows heartfelt
donations on community youth programs
Prince rocked Madison Square Garden with a performance of his
classic arrangement of “Purple Rain.” The Tour included with three
standing ovation encores, leaving the sold-out crowd stomping their
feet and begging for More! More! More! (Photo: NPG Records 2011)
Prince, affectionally known
globally as “His Purple Majesty” is continuing his mission
to pay forward the knowledge
and pave the way for the next
generation to attain its greatness.
The seven-time Grammy
Award winner held a well attended special press conference at Madison Square Gar-
den prior to the conclusion of
his “Welcome 2 America” Tour
concert.
Internationally recognized
motivational speaker Harriet
Coles, who is Prince’s advisor
served as mistress of ceremonies and made the announcement that he was bestowing a
$1 million line of credit upon the
Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ)
and made special gifts to the
Uptown Dance Academy
(TUDA)and the American Ballet Theatre (ABT).
During the a press conference HCZ’s President and CEO
Geoffrey Canada and students
from the community-based
educational organization,
Robin Williams, executive artistic director of the Uptown
Dance Academy and Rachel
Moore, executive director of
ABT, whose ballerina, Misty
Copeland, performed with
Prince during the tour each
accepted $250,000 lines of
credit from the music icon.
The three groups can tap
into the funds for the resources they need to grow and
develop their programs. The
lines of credit were issued so
that Prince can remain informed
of the needs of and help foster
the three organizations.
“A function of our love for
the next generation is instilling
in them our own hard-fought
knowledge. We can’t wait and
see or only hope for the future
of those coming after us. We
must actively take responsibility for ensuring their success,” said Prince.
30 students of the Harlem
Children’s Zone chosen for
their musical aspirations got
the chance to stand on the
stage of the world’s most famous arena. After the press
conference, t h e s e v e n - t i m e
Grammy winner met the youth.
“We are honored that
Prince is teaching our kids how
to dream big and to work hard
to make those dreams a reality.
His efforts s h o u l d i n s p i r e
others to recognize that
these kids belong to all of
us and that we all need to
s t e p f o r w a r d t o h e l p them
succeed,” said Canada.
As Prince works with Live
Nation to bring the tour to new
cities across the country, he
plans to make similar donations to other exemplary educational and cultural institutions.
The six New York City area
dates included an eclectic mix
of established artists like Mint
Condition, Cassandra Wilson,
Sinbad, Maceo Parker, Larry
Graham and Sheila E, who have
paved the way for others.
Emerging and established
artists like Janelle Monáe,
Esperanza Spalding, Sharon
Jones and the Dap-Kings, Cee
Lo Green and Lalah Hathaway
have also performed.
Geoffrey Canada and students from the Harlem Children’s Zone displays $100, 000 check
Robin Williams and Uptown Dance Academy students and several community activists display $250,000 check
Harriet Cole congratulates Robin Williams and Misty Copeland of
American Ballet Theater
(Photos: Ronnie Wright)
Celebrate 'Black History Month' 2011
Enter tainment
28 MELLOW
FELLOW
Terrance McKnight celebrates Black
History Month with special programming
introduced a wide array of musical artists through interviews, live
studios sessions, and commercial
recordings. Guests included John
Adams, Osvaldo Golijov, Marin
Alsop, Marcus Roberts and
Michael Eric Dyson.
The program so grew in popularity and influence during
McKnight’s five-year tenure that
it was expanded from one night a
week to a daily show. While at
GPB, McKnight also initiated and
hosted the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Broadcast series, which
featured live performances and interviews with conductors, guest
soloists and orchestra members.
All Ears was honored with an
ASCAP Deems Taylor Award in
December 2010. Past programs
are available at www.wqxr.org.
In addition to his radio work,
McKnight joined the faculty of
Morehouse College in 1998,
teaching music appreciation and
applied piano. An accomplished
pianist, McKnight got his start in
public radio as the first resident
of NPR’s Classical Music Diversity Initiative Program, working on
NPR’s Performance Today and
eventually hosting Evening Music on WNYC-FM, NPR’s New
York City affiliate, from 2008-2010.
In 1997, McKnight performed
the world premiere of Broke Baroque at the National Black Music Caucus 25th Anniversary Celebration in Atlanta as part of a
musical tribute to T.J. Anderson.
McKnight’s varied musical experiences — from glee club soloist and accomplished pianist, to
professor at Morehouse College,
and finally as producer and host
of several music programs for public radio — opens his listeners’
ears, hearts and minds.
What’s most unique about
McKnight, however, is that he is
committed to not only presenting
new music, but showcasing the
influence of other musical art forms
on the classics, from Gregorian
chant to African American spirituals.
During the Black History Month
celebration, the phenom pianist
will celebrate great Black visionaries by broadcasting live tributes
for his All Ears show on Classical
105.9 FM WQXR including special programming tributes to Bill T.
Jones, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,
Dr Billy Taylor and the late great
pianist Hazel Scott, who was as
known for her outspoken activism
and marriage to Adam Clayton
Powell, Jr., as she was for her music.
You won’t hear anything like this
programming on any other station
as All Ears showcases a suite of
programs celebrating the musical
influences of key African American cultural figures.
All Ears, a ‘classical’ music program that surprises and delights
its listeners with cross-genre juxtapositions and unexpected connections, kicked off a stellar lineup with a two-hour musical journey with renowned choreographer
and dancer Bill T. Jones (February
5) followed by a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through the
music of his time (February 12), and
a warm farewell to Lena Horne,
Abbey Lincoln, Shirley Verrett, Dr.
Billy Taylor and others we lost in
2010 (February 19).
On Tuesday, February 22,
McKnight will host a special onehour exclusive presentation of the
work of African American composers. In particular, McKnight will
feature William Grant Still, the
“Dean of African American classical composers.” Still’s granddaughter, Celeste Headlee, is a part
of the New York Public Radio family as a host of WNYC’s national
m o r n i n g d r i v e s h o w, T h e
Takeaway.
On Saturday, February 26, All
Ears presents Still Swinging, Still
Classic: A Musical Biography of
Pioneering Pianist Hazel Scott, a
two-hour musical portrait of the
wife of late Congressman Adam
Clayton Powell, Jr. and Julliardtrained pianist who performed in
the most prestigious concert halls
in the world.
Known as the “darling of Café
Society,” Hazel Scott became a
trailblazer in Hollywood; an outspoken civil rights activist which
made her a political target; and ultimately, an outcast, ostracized by
the Church community because of
her music.
“Though Hazel’s amazing story
grabbed me immediately, I was astounded to find she is overlooked
and under-appreciated, despite activism and trailblazing positions in
the entertainment industry that rivaled Paul Robeson,” said
McKnight.
“She was so gifted that she was
admitted to Julliard as an eightyear-old; she was touring with established female bands and was
being mentored by Billie Holiday,
Fats Waller and Art Tatum by 14.
And before Oprah, there was Hazel – the first African American to
host her own television show. It’s
my deep hope that this special will
shine a light on her astounding accomplishments,” McKnight concluded
McKnight will also be the guest
speaker at the third annual Black
History Month celebration of the
Harlem Chamber Players on Sunday, February 27 at 3 p.m. at St.
Mary’s Episcopal Church, located
at 521 West 126th Street between
Broadway and Amsterdam in
Harlem. General admission is $15
and $10 for senior citizens and students
The Harlem Chamber Players is
an ethnically diverse collective of
musicians, all trained at the world’s
finest conservatories, which seeks
to build an audience for classical
music through community and
educational outreach.
All Ears with Terrance
McKnight airs Saturdays at 10pm,
with encore plays on Sundays at
4pm and on Q2, WQXR’s web-only
stream dedicated to new music, on
Mondays at 8pm. Still Swinging
also aired on sister station WNYC
on February 14 at 8pm (on both
93.9FM and AM 820) and if you
missed it, it will also be aired on
Sunday, February 20 at 4pm (93.9
FM only). All broadcasts are
streamed live and archived on
www.wqxr.org and www.wnyc.org.
McKnight holds a B.A. from
Morehouse College and toured
with the College Glee Club as an
accompanist and soloist. He also
earned an M.A. in Music from
Georgia State University, where he
performed with the 20th Century
Chamber Ensemble.
Now a proud resident of Harlem,
McKnight’s varied musical experiences — from glee club soloist and
accomplished pianist, to professor
at Morehouse College, and finally
as producer and host of several
music programs for public radio —
opens his listeners’ ears, hearts and
minds.
New York Public Radio is New
York’s premier public radio franchise, comprising WNYC-FM,
WNYC-AM, W Q X R , a n d T h e
Jerome L. Greene Performance Space, as well as
www.wnyc.org, www.wqxr.org
and www.thegreenespace.org.
As America’s most listened-to
AM/FM news and talk public radio
stations, reaching 1.1 million listeners every week, WNYC extends
New York City’s cultural riches to
the entire country on-air and online,
and presents the best national offerings from networks National Public Radio, Public Radio International,
American Public Media, and the British Broadcasting Company.
WNYC 93.9 FM broadcasts a
wide range of daily news, talk, cultural and music programming, while
WNYC AM 820 maintains a stronger focus on breaking news and international news reporting.
Classical 105.9 WQXR is New
York City’s sole 24-hour classical music station, presenting
new and landmark classical recordings as well as live concerts
from the Metropolitan Opera, the
New York Philharmonic, among
other New York City venues, immersing listeners in the city’s rich
musical life.
In addition to its audio content,
WNYC produces content for live,
radio and web audiences from The
Jerome L. Greene Performance
Space, the station’s street-level
multipurpose, multiplatform
broadcast studio and performance space. For more information about New York Public Radio, visit www.nypublicradio.org.
“WNYC is a rare place that allows its music hosts the room to
not just play recordings, but to
take the audience on a musical
journey that’s personal, unexpected and completely new every day,” said McKnight. “I’m
excited and challenged by the
opportunity to introduce listeners to music they may not be familiar with yet, as well as to hear
familiar music in new ways. It’s
truly an honor to be here.”
Hazel Scott
Dr. Billy Taylor
Lena Horne
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“WNYC is a rare place that allows its music hosts the room to not
just play recordings, but to take the audience on a musical journey
that’s personal, unexpected and completely new every day. I’m
excited and challenged by the opportunity to introduce listeners to
music they may not be familiar with yet, as well as to hear familiar
music in new ways. It’s truly an honor to be here.”
– Terrance McKnight
Edited by Audrey J. Bernard
Terrance McKnight, a talented, classically trained pianist,
Morehouse grad and former professor of musical appreciation and
theory and applied piano, moved
from Atlanta to New York City in
2008.
He became a nightly fixture in
Manhattan when he joined
WNYC and revamped his Saturday evening program, All Ears
with Terrance McKnight, resulting in him becoming the evening
voice of New York City’s classical music station WQXR-FM.
Since his arrival, McKnight
has become a respected and
beloved radio personality who
brings to the airwaves his
wide-ranging interest in music
that might include a mix of
“Mozart, Olivier Messiaen, the
medieval composer Guillaume
de Machaut and the Monks,
Meredith and Thelonious” (New
York Times, 2/25/08).
All Ears continues to cast a
wide net, trying to put even centuries-old pieces into context as
groundbreakers of their time.
Gregorian chant and AfricanAmerican spirituals “are based on
the same modes,” he said in an
interview. “These slaves hadn’t
heard Gregorian chant, but they
were expressing a similar emotion.” He said he would try to
convey that continuum, “not necessarily by talking about it, but
also just by playing it.”
A celebration that places the
European classical tradition
alongside the American classical
tradition – jazz, gospel, African
American spirituals, country,
among others — McKnight’s All
Ears strives to make these genres
accessible to everyone with his
inimitable blend of music, popular culture, news and archival excerpts.
McKnight previously worked
at Georgia Public Broadcasting
where he was creator, producer
and host of Studio GPB, which
Interview
29
Hood,” “Friday,” “Alfie,” “Soul
Food,” “In Too Deep” and “Big
Momma’s House 1 & 2.”
People Magazine named the
gorgeous ingenue one of the
Wo r l d ’s 5 0 M o s t B e a u t i f u l
People in 2000, and she also
landed the #3 spot on Black Men
Magazine’s 10 Sexiest Women
By Kam Wiiliams
List. Later that same year, Nia
Movie Critic
had a son, Massai, Doresy, Jr.
who she is currently raising in
Nitara Carlynn Long a/k/a Los Angeles, California.
During our interview Long
Nia Long was born in Brooklyn, New York on October 30, talks about her new movie,
Actress Nitara Carlynn Long a/k/a Nia Long
1970, but was raised mostly in “Mooz-Lum,” a dysfunctional
South Central Los Angeles, family drama where she plays
California in the wake of her Safiyah, the long-suffering wife
parents’ divorce.
of an overbearing, religious
The accomplished thespian zealot.
of Trinidadian extraction first
Kam Williams: Hi Nia,
found fame on TV on “The thanks so much for the time. Nia
Fresh Prince of Bel Air,” and Long: No worries. How are you?
she’s since enjoyed recurring KW: I’m fine. I have a lot of
roles on such series as “Judg- questions for you from my reading Amy” (2001-2002), “Third ers, so why don’t I launch right
Watch” (2003-2005), “Boston into them. NL: Absolutely! Why
Legal” (2007), “Big Shots” not?
(2007-2008) and, most recently, KW: Children’s book author
“The Cleveland Show” (2009- Irene Smalls says: You’ve done
present).
an impressive body of work covLong’s breakout perfor- ering comedic and dramatic
mance on the silver screen was roles. What attracted you to the
in 1997 when she starred op- script about this mother conposite Larenz Tate in “Love flicted between her son and her
Jones.” And her resume’ in- husband?
cludes outings in such films as
NL: Hmmm… That’s a good
“Are We There Yet,” “Are We question. . I just thought the film
Done Yet,” “The Best Man,” had so many wonderful layers
“Boiler Room,” “Boyz ‘N the of the journey that women take
with motherhood. There’s no
book out there that tells you
how to be a good parent. So
much of parenting is following
your instincts, and taking the
time to actually know your
child.
“I’m raising a 10 year-old
boy, and my son in the film,
Ta r i q [ E v a n R o s s ] g o e s
through the traditional growing pains associated with
transitioning from a boy to a
young man. When I read the
script, I immediately thought
to myself, “Wow! This is a really special movie. It’s entertaining, it deals with a lot of
social issues, and it addresses
practical parenting concerns
that everyone can relate to,”
said Long.
KW: Irene adds: Did having a son yourself help in portraying the mother in the
movie? NL: Absolutely! The
minute your child is born, your
life is changed forever. I think
I’ve become so aware of how
important balance is in life. I
have to constantly make sure
that it stays that way for myself and for my son, because if
I’m not emotionally available
for him it will impede his development.
“Yet, if I don’t work, we’ll
be living in a cardboard box.
So, that calls for a tremendous
amount of balancing constantly. Therefore, working on
this film, I understood
Safiyah’s search to balance
being a devout Muslim woman
with allowing her child his
natural curiosity and desire to
explore in life,” said Long.
KW: Felicia Haney asks:
What were your feelings about
Islam before taking the role
and after the film wrapped?
NL: When I was a young girl,
my mother traveled to Abu
Dhabi, which is a Muslim country. When she returned home,
she taught me a lot about Islam. So, I was already familiar
with the religion’s basic teachings. But in preparation for this
role, I definitely got to experience Islam on a much more intimate level.
“The one thing that stands
out in my mind is the commitment Muslim women make to
each other. They are so supportive and so loving, and they
do everything together. It’s really all about family, and I like
that, because I’m a family-oriented person.
“I believe that whatever
Nia Long portrays (Safiyah) in
new movie “Mooz-Lum”
your religious preference, there
has to be a commitment to family because everything really
does start there. Hopefully, this
film will help to eliminate stereotypes, because Muslim
women are misunderstood.
They’re strong, beautiful, classic, contemporary and so much
more,” said Nia.
KW: Attorney Bernadette
Beekman says: Here in France,
especially in Marseilles where
I was for dinner this evening,
the issue of women wearing
chadors in public institutions
has been hotly debated and
legislated over. As a child, you
attended Catholic school where
I suppose you had to wear a
uniform. How did that experi-
ence influence your performance
as a Muslim woman wearing a
head-wrap? Were you more sensitized to a group of people who
wish to acknowledge their religion in an overtly public way?
NL: Hmm… My son goes to a
Catholic school where he has to
wear a uniform. I attended a
Catholic school where I had to,
too. I think it’s a beautiful thing
when you wear a uniform or a
garb which represents a group of
people, because what it immediately symbolizes is oneness, togetherness. I believe everyone
should have the freedom to represent what they believe-in in
their own way.
KW: Editor/Legist Patricia
Turnier asks: What is your favorite scene in Mooz-Lum? NL: I’d
say the pivotal scene where I notice the scars on Tariq’s back.
KW: Patricia also wants to know
whether
t h e r e ’s
a novel
that you would like to see turned
into a movie and also star
in? And which African-American
icon would you love to portray
in a film?
NL: There’s a novel I just
read called Queen Pin that I’ve
been talking to the author about
optioning. I encourage everyone
to read it. It’s a great story. As
for an African-American icon, I
was very interested in portraying Nina Simone until I heard
that Mary J. Blige is doing it. I’m
sure she’ll do the role more justice, because I am not a singer.
“I just think Nina was a very
mysterious woman, and a trailblazer who came along at such
an important time in our history.
She did it her way, and she has
one of the most unique voices in
jazz history,” said Long.
KW: Thanks again for the interview, Nia, and best of luck with
the film. NL: This was a treat!
Call me any time.”
To s e e a t r a i l e r f o r
“ M o o z - L u m , ” v i s i t : http://
www.youtube.com/
watch?v=V4axp5V_j6E
(L-R) Actor and singer Tyrese Gibson, Howard University President Dr. Ribeau and celebrity chefs
the Neelys, huddle at Howard homecoming game.
Spending quality time with Nia Long
30
Oscar winner Jamie Foxx to present
award winning music documentary
Scene from "Thunder Soul"
Compiled By Don
year’s Oscar contender movie
“Precious,” Academy Award
Much as Oprah Winfrey winner Jamie Foxx has jumped
and Tyler Perry were inspired on board to present the musical
to put their weight behind last documentary, “Thunder Soul.”
Nominated for Best Documentary at the upcoming Spirit
Awards and winner of 2010 Audience Awards at South by
Southwest, the Los Angeles
Film Festival, the Dallas International Film Festival, the Aspen Film Festival and Toronto’s
Hot Docs Festival, “Thunder
Soul” follows the alumni from
Houston’s storied Kashmere
High School Stage Band, who
return home after 35 years to
play a tribute concert for the
92-year-old Conrad “Prof”
Johnson, their beloved band
leader who broke the color barrier and transformed the
school’s struggling jazz band
into a world-class funk powerhouse in the early 1970s.
Foxx, a Texas-native himself and an outspoken advocate
of music education in schools,
heard about the film after its
South by Southwest premiere,
and sought it out immediately.
“I can’t wait to share ‘Thunder Soul’ with the world so that
everyone can enjoy this one of
a kind experience. It’s such an
entertaining and inspirational
story that touches your soul
and awakens the human spirit
in the way that only love and
the power of music can,” said
Foxx.
“Having Jamie Foxx on
board with us is incredible. His
enthusiasm and excitement for
t h e m o v i e i s p a l p a b l e . We
couldn’t be happier that he’s
mentoring the film in the same
way that “Prof” mentored his
Kashmere High music students
to greatness,” said Eric
d’Arbeloff, Roadside Attractions co-president.
S n o o t E n t e r t a i n m e n t ’s
Keith Calder and Jessica Wu
produced “Thunder Soul”
along with director Mark
Landsman. Foxx will present
the documentary and will
s e r v e a s e x ecutive producer,
along with his FoxxKing Entertainment partner Jaime King.
In addition to the multiple Audi e n c e Aw a r d s i t h a s w o n ,
“Thunder Soul” received the
Jury Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 2010 Indie
Memphis Film Festival and was
the Heartland Film Festival’s
2010 Crystal Heart Award recipient. The film was also nominated
for the International Documentary Association’s Music Award.
Roadside Attractions, who
scored big with such documentaries including Chris Rock’s
“Good Hair,” R.J. Cutler’s “The
September Issue,” Morgan
Spurlock’s “Supersize Me” and
the Academy Award-winning
“The Cove,” plans a September
release.
On the TUBE
A Miami Night of Praise on TBN
(L -R) Ann Nesby, Bishop Glen Staples, Bryan Wilson, Myers, Dr. Mark and Mayra Wade and Dr.
Clifton Davis
Some of today’s leading figures in the entertainment and
faith communities recently came
together for a spectacular night
of testimonies, praise and worship at Trinity Broadcasting
Network’s TBN Miami facility. In
the two-hour “Praise The Lord”
primetime program, veteran entertainer/preacher, Dr. Clifton Davis,
served as host of the evening of
music and ministry.
Davis sat down with soul music legend Ann Nesby who sang
two of her classic tunes and shared
a heart-tugging story of a medical
issue that changed her life. Bishop,
Glen Staples a mega church pastor
in the nation’s capitol, spoke about
some issues pressing the church
community now.
Veteran Dove/Stellar Award
nominated singer, Bryan Wilson,
sang a variety of tunes and spoke
on his experiences as an evangelist. Husband and wife medical
team, Dr. Mark and Dr. Mayra
Wade expounded upon their glo-
bal outreach work that uses medicine to draw people to Christ. Dr.
Clifton Davis, who is currently
touring the country with Nesby
in David E. Talbert’s new stage
play “What My Husband Doesn’t
Know,” closed the evening with
a rousing sermon that had the
studio audience up on its feet.
The program is scheduled to air
Mon., April 11, 2011 at 10pm.
(EST). on TBN. Visit www.tbn.org
for more information closer to the
date.
KICKIN’ IT with Lifestyles & Society Editor Audrey J. Bernard
31
Eunice W. Johnson
Back in 1956, beloved Eunice
W. Johnson, who died in 2010,
founded and created the nonesuch Ebony Fashion Fair; the
nation’s largest traveling fashion
show which is presently on hiatus. The spectacular runway
show brought the collections of
top designers to predominately
African American audiences for
50 years, raising more than $55
million for charity. Johnson is
credited with including Black designers in her shows and affording them the same exposure she
gave to other top American and
European designers.
In honor of Black History
Month Macy’s partnered with
Ebony magazine to honor the
fashion maven and her famous
Ebony Fashion Fair at a reception
held on the 8th floor of Macy’s
Herald Square on Thursday, January 27, 2011 that brought
fashionistas out in droves to pay
respect to the First Lady of the
Johnson Publications Company
(JPC) empire that included Ebony
and Jet magazines and Fashion
Fair Cosmetics. Over 100 fashion
plates attended the special salute
and to pay respect to the woman
who transported Black fashion to
the masses.
“It is an honor for Macy’s to
stage a celebration of Eunice
Johnson’s contributions to fashion, beauty and American history,”
said Martine Reardon, executive
vice president of marketing,
Macy’s. “This is a wonderful opportunity for us to partner with one
of America’s most iconic and revered lifestyle authorities.
Through the Ebony Fashion Fair
shows, Mrs. Johnson filled a void
in fashion by producing runway
presentations that brought a new
sense of style, drama and diversity
to the industry, and we’re excited
to present a glimpse of these historical shows to our customers.”
JPC’s chairman Linda Johnson
Rice opened up her mother’s cherished fashion vault and contributed haute couture designs from
Johnson’s private collection that
MACY'S CEO & Chairman Terry Lundgren, Desiree Rogers,
Linda Johnson Rice
Mark-Anthony Edwards, Iasha Rivers,
b michael
Audrey Smaltz, Linda Rice
Johnson
included iconic images, exceptional couture designs and other
memorabilia for the Eunice
Johnson Retrospective Exhibit.
The celebration of Johnson’s
unique legacy was on display at
Macy’s thru February 1 and the
beauty, fashion and lifestyles tribute to the life and style of the fashion doyenne is now touring 10
Macy’s locations across the
country throughout Black History
Month.
Ebony Fashion Fair productions often lasted several hours
and incorporated a live band
and entertaining performances
by the models, including two
men and a full-figured woman.
The show toured for nearly 10
months with some 200 shows
in the United States and the
Caribbean. “You would be in a
Reggie Canal, Darlene Gillard, Gary Lampley
Amy DuBois Barnett, Sam Fine,
June Ambrose
Iasha Rivers, Edna Sarr
different city every day,” says
Port Arthur native Rebecca
Briscoe, who walked the runway in 2003.
“Even supermodels don’t
work that hard, but it was a
once in a lifetime experience to
be an African-American model
in an all African-American production. You felt you were part
of a legacy,” Briscoe concluded
The month-long exhibit features designs by some of the
World’s most renowned and
critically-acclaimed designers,
including Lanvin, Yves Saint
Laurent, Vivienne Westwood,
Carolina Herrera, Stephen
Burrows and b michael to
name a few.
“It is a sign of my mother’s
determination, confidence, and
creativity that more than 50
Ebony Fashion Fair Exhibit
years after launching the renowned Ebony Fashion Fair
show, her timeless sense of style
endures as a guidepost for
today’s fashion loving women,”
said Rice. “We are honored that
Macy’s, a 30 year retail partner
of Fashion Fair Cosmetics, selected Eunice Johnson as the anchor for these exciting exhibits.”
(Photos by Audrey J. Bernard,
Margot Jordan and Ronnie Wright)
Jeanne Parnell, Barbara J. Harris, Evonne Swan, Diane Thompson
Carol Sutton Lewis, Linda
Johnson Rice
Pat Cleveland, b michael
Michelle Miller Morial, Linda Johnson Rice, Marc Morial, Jocelyn R.
Taylor
For the love of color, Macy’s & Ebony
magazine salutes Eunice W. Johnson
32
An Elegant Affair
Caribbean Images TV host
MLK Awards dinner dance
Compiled By Don Thomas
Caribbean Images TV is an informative and entertaining television program which reaches
out to the Caribbean and Afri-
can-American communities in the
New York tri-state area. It covers
local news and feature stories that
focus on a wide range of topics
including entertainment, culture,
sports, as well as social and politi-
cal issues.
The organzation recently held
its 15th annual MLK Awards dinner dance at JFK International Hotel (Formerly Hotel Inn). The event
was hosted by Peter Pouchon,
founder of Caribbean Images TV.
The program is based in Brooklyn, New York and features reports
from Haiti and other Caribbean islands, broadcasting in both Creole and English. The keynote
speaker at the MLK Awards dinner
dance was Honorable Joseph
Champagne. Also addressing the
audience was Mayor Toms River,
New York’s first Haitian American
Mayor of New Jersey.
Peter Pouchon honoree Donovan Gopie and Joseph Placide
Keynote Speaker Hon Joseph Champage, Mayor of Tom River, New
Jersey. He is the first Haitian American Mayor of New Jersey.
Gerard J Cadet Introduce honoree Rodneyse Bichotte
Vicki Sylvain and Isabel Chatelain -Fleming 1199 SEIU Child Care
Fun
Council General Felix Augustin and Congresswoman Yvette Clark
(Photos: Lem Peterkin)
Theater/Review
By Ernece B. Kelly
Drama Critic
Even before “The Man Who
Ate Michael Rockefeller” begins,
the on-stage spectacle is riveting.
A Black man—most of the cast is
African-American—at center
stage, with colorful body designs,
dressed in a loincloth, lies almost
motionless on a raised platform.
Surrounding him are multi-colored cloth strips stretching from
floor to ceiling. Huge Africanlooking pieces can be spotted behind this mobile “curtain”.
A voice-over narrates the Creation Story of the Asmat people of
New Guinea, while dancers and actors re-enact it. These are the “primitive” people that Michael
Rockefeller—the 23 year old son of
billionaire Nelson Rockefeller—was
seeking when he disappeared in
1961.
Suddenly we’re confronted by
two men, Designing Man (Daniel
Morgan Shelley) and Half Moon
Terror (David King) arguing fiercely
in an unintelligible language. Just
as abruptly, they switch to English,
and the laugh is on the audience—
they’re fluent with impressive vocabularies!
The two are joined by Bringing
Man (David Brown, Jr.) who leads
Michael Rockefeller (Aaron Strand)
to them because, impressed by De-
signing Man’s art, he wants to
commission pieces for a museum
Rockefeller plans to establish in
the U.S. Wary of the earth-shaking changes his presence will
eventually bring to these
people—they’ve lived in isolation for thousands of years—he
has no way of knowing what
negative forces he’s already put
into play both among the people
and their spirits.
These are the central players,
and the remainder of the brief
piece—it clocks in around sixty
minutes—resolves around
Breezy, the wife of Designing
Man, played by Ayesha Ngaujah
who’s a featured dancer along
with Tracy Jack who also plays
Plentiful Bliss the wife of Half
Moon Terror.
To My Friends & Family....
Harold Dow poses with his loving Mother Mrs. Evelyn S. Dow. “I want to thank all of you for your
calls, emails, kind words of encouragement and support during my mother’s brief illness.
“She died peacefully in her sleep on Wed., Feb. 9, with me by her side. Thank you and as my Mother
would say, “Keep On Keeping On.”
Mrs. Evelyn S. Dow final viewing will be today (Thurs. Feb. 17) At 9-10am. Funeral services will be
at 10-11am, at St. Albans Congregational Church, UCC, 172-17 Linden Boulevard, St. Albans, Queens,
New York 11433 (718) 657-8282.
Rev. Henry T. Simmons, Senior Minister. http://stalbanscc.org/Home.asp In lieu of flowers, please
send donations to... The Norman S. Dow Foundation (2011 Scholarships). Evelyn S. Dow 115 - 06 168th
St · Jamaica, NY 11434
“The Man…” is funny and sobering. Much of the humor comes
out of cultural conflicts, both verbal and physical (Rockefeller
commits a no-no in reaching for
the headpiece of a tribesman and
innocently calls him a monkeyf******!)
At the same time, a sadness
pervades this piece growing out
of the realization that tragic
change is coming because of
whites and their views of art as a
commodity while the Asmat view
art as central to life!
“The Man Who Ate Michael
Rockefeller” is skillfully directed by Alfred Preisser, perhaps best known for his work
as artistic director of The Classical Theatre of Harlem. But
his fine cast, stunning costum-
ing (Kimberly Glennon), imaginative sets (Heather Wolensky)
and Tracy Jack’s dazzling choreography are wasted on the inadequate, thin material here.
The Stagebill notes that “The
Man…” is based on Christopher
Stokes’ short story. That might be
the heart of the problem since there
actually isn’t enough here to sustain a play with a dramatic arc rich
enough to pull audiences into the
characters’ lives.
Those are the only facts “The
Man…” is based on. The rest of
the sixty minute piece spins out of
the imagination of playwright Jeff
Cohen (inspired by Christopher
Stokes’ short story). “The Man Who
Ate Michael Rockefeller” runs thru
March 13 at the Arclight Theatre
in Manhattan
In his first gallery show in New York, renowned photographer Henry Leutwyler will display selections from
his series “Neverland Lost – A Portrait of Michael
Jackson” at the Foley Gallery from February 24-April
6, 2011. There will be an opening reception and book
signing on February 24 from 6-8pm, and the artist will
talk with Hollis King, a design consultant and former
creative director of the vervemusicgroup, about the
works on Thursday, March 17 from 7-8pm. Foley Gallery (www.foleygallery.com) is open Tuesday-Saturday,
11am-6pm and is located at 548 West 28th Street, 2nd
Floor. Gallery phone is 212-244-9081.
'The Man,' isn’t enough to pull
audiences into the characters’ lives
33
34
TV One returns with new series and specials
Toccara
Cathy Hughes, Butch Lewis
Karen Wishart, Cathy Hughes, Keith Bowen, Smokey Fontaine
By Audrey J. Bernard
An exuberant Cathy Hughes,
the powerful and likeable Radio
One founder/chairperson, could
hardly contain her excitement at
the special programming presentation TV One hosted on
Wednesday, February 2, 2010 for
the media at Cipriani, on 42nd
Street in Grand Central. Hughes’
contagious excitement was also
caused by her TV station having
celebrated its highest-rated and
most viewed year ever!
The real-life and entertainment
network for African American
adults has introduced a high energy, new talk/variety series for
Black History Month, Way
Black When, and will bring back
new seasons of its most popular
series throughout the year, including a reality series, a reality
competition series and its two
beloved bio-pic series.
Launched in January 2004, TV
One (www.tvoneonline.com )
serves more than 51.5 million
households, offering a broad
range of real-life and entertainment-focused original programming, classic series, movies, and
music designed to entertain, inform and inspire a diverse audience of adult African American
viewers. In December 2008, the
company launched TV One High
Def, which now serves nearly 10
million households.
In 2010, TV One delivered its
highest-rated year in the network’s
history, experiencing double digit
growth in primetime among households, adults 18-49 and adults 2554. Season to date (2010-2011), the
trend is continuing, with ratings up
by double digits over the same
period last year among households (13 percent), and among
adults 25-54 (16 percent) and 1849 (18 percent).
The success of TV One is attributable to its stellar staff – many of
whom attended the luncheon —
including TV One EVP/chief legal
officer Karen Wishart; TV One/
Radio One EVP and chief revenue
officer Keith Bowen; SVP of original programming Toni Judkins; TV
One president and CEO Johnathan
Rodgers; SVP of program strategy
and acquisitions Maureen
Guthman; Interactive One chief
content officer Smokey Fontaine;
actress Tatyana Ali, star of TV
One’s first original scripted series;
Bentley Kyle Evans, creator of
Love That Girl!; and Jodi Williams, publisher of Radio One’s The
Frequency Magazine.
Bel Biv Devoe and Mint Condition entertained guests at the programming luncheon. During the
program, Hughes, who also hosts
the popular One on One show, announced plans for new and returning series through fourth quarter
2011 and here’s what viewers can
Tatyana Ali, Phil Morris
eagerly look forward to:
Way Black When – is a highenergy, one-hour talk show designed to reflect back on the
golden age of black culture that
emerged during the 1970s, ‘80s and
‘90s. The talk show will showcase
Black pop culture icons across
three decades – the ‘70s, ‘80s and
‘90s — including actors, comedians, athletes, musicians and many
more — from Black Power through
Hip Hop. Each week a host who
embodies the decade’s essence
guides a live studio audience and
television viewers on their trip back
through ‘blackness,’ including
Sinbad for the ‘70s; Niecy Nash
for the ‘80s and Chris “Kid” Reid
for the ‘90s. Providing the music
for the prime time odyssey will be
the house band, Mint Condition,
known for its diverse musical style
and captivating live performances.
LisaRaye: The Real McCoy —
TV One’s top-rated series returns
for a new season. Filmed in Puerto
Rico, Los Angeles, Chicago and
Las Vegas, LisaRaye continues
working to fully re-establish her
critically acclaimed acting career,
while balancing a far-flung and
complex personal life. This season the beautiful, outspoken star
of film and television is kicking her
own acting career back into high
gear with a new scripted series;
burnishing her brand with a new
line of jeans; raising money for
charity to help friends; helping to
get her daughter Kai’s career off
the ground, and looking for love –
and spirituality.
Donald J. Trump Presents The
Ultimate Merger — Toccara, the
super model, Celebrity Fit Club
and America’s Top Model contender, and Essence magazine contributing style editor, will set out
in search for her perfect mate in
season two of Donald J. Trump
Presents the Ultimate Merger by
putting a cool dozen hot and successful bachelors through a gauntlet of tests in her search for Mr.
Right. These challenges are designed to play upon their weaknesses, test their business acumen, measure their seductive
strengths, and draw out their true
intentions. Donald J. Trump and
Trump Productions president Andy
Roland Martin, Lisaraye
Jodi Williams, Tatyana Ali, Bentley Kyle Evans, Cathy Hughes
Mint Condition performs
Bell Biv Devoe performs
Litinsky created the eight episode reality series that is produced by Trump Productions LLC
and Juma Entertainment.
Unsung — This series of onehour biography specials celebrates the lives and careers of
successful artists or groups who,
despite great talent, over the years
have been under-recognized or
under-appreciated. The 12 new
episodes of the critically acclaimed NAACP Image Awardnominated bio series reveals the
multiple factors that have kept
these artists from achieving the
iconic commercial status they deserved. And, in the process,
these specials “sing” the praises
and celebrate the artistry that has
kept fellow artists and fans talking about them for years.
Life After — TV One returns
with 10 new episodes of its buzzed
about series Life After, the real, behind-the-scenes story of how some
of America’s favorite celebrities have
dealt with major turning points in
their lives, be those moments public
or private, triumphant or tragic. Part
biography, part confessional and all
celebration of the human spirit, each
episode of Life After focuses on a
well-known person or group and tells
the story of a transformative event
in their lives and its effects upon
them ever afterward.
Trumpet Awards — TV One again
in 2011 serves as the television home
for the Trumpet Awards, which were
created in 1993 to honor AfricanAmerican achievement in diverse
fields such as law, religion, politics,
public service, sports and entertainment.
(Photos by Ronnie Wright)
Black Starbucks workers allege mistreatment, wrongful termination
gitimate, performance-related
reasons.”
Shabbaz – like
Willis – said his troubles began when he “challenged the
company’s policies” regarding his constant shift
changes.
“I got hired the same day as
a Caucasian man and I got
changed regularly to swing,
graveyard and day shift,” he
said. In the month before he
was fired, Shabazz said he began having severe spasms and
pain in his foot – a foot that
had nearly been severed when
a forklift fell on it back in 1979.
He visited two different doctors, both of which recommended he be put on “light
duty.” He was to work no more
than 6 hours a day, according
to a note from his doctor, although he said he was still put
on duty that kept him on his
feet.
In addition, he says he was
not allowed to take his prescription pain medication during the day. “So I’d take it at
night,” he said. “One night, I
overslept because of that. I
don’t normally take medication … it kind of overwhelmed
me.”
The week before, Shabazz
says managers had told him he
could be flexible when coming
to work. But, on Monday
morning, he was fired for arriving slightly past 9 a.m., despite calling in. Murray was
hired on Oct. 16, 1998 in the
shipping department and said
his troubles began when he
asked one manager to sit in on
his weekly meetings with his
direct supervisor. He said he
wasn’t “comfortable” with her
and feared she’d misrepresent
his concerns during the meetings. His request was never
granted.
On Dec. 17, 2009, Murray
called in sick. The next day he
showed up, he got a write-up.
They told him there was a single
order left in the in-box when he
left his last shift – an order he
said was not there on Dec. 16.
“I tried to explain (to the manager) that the order wasn’t there
when I left,” he said. “In all the
years I’ve been there, I’d never
heard of anyone else being
treated with such harshness.”
Then in May of 2010, Murray
was told he was to engage in
mandatory cross-training on a
job in a different part of the
warehouse. Because of the previous write-up, he said he was
not eligible. Murray said he
was given “no support that was
meaningful on the new position.” Others put on “cross
duty” were not assigned fulltime to their positions and he
says White workers were not
given mandatory cross-training.
He said he was fired when
managers told him he wasn’t
suitable for the new position –
a position he did not want to fill.
He had been told he could not
make more than three mistakes
in a month – however minor –
or be fired.
“We can’t comment on Mr.
Murray’s performance, why he
was moved into another role or
why he was separated,” Krum
said. “His supervisor met with
him regularly to ensure that he
was being given the appropriate resources and training to
succeed.”
Willis says his troubles also
began when he started questioning procedures and policies
during meetings that were designed for such a purpose. According to Krum, Starbucks has
an “open door” policy for such
ideas.
“Most of my issues came in
meetings,” he said. “They’d
say they were trying to empower us … but when we
brought issues to them … it
seems like they always stuffed
them under the rug.” When he
was fired for his “no call, no
s h o w, ” t h a t h e d e n i e s h a p pened, he said he applied for
unemployment and was granted
it by the state, until Starbucks
appealed the decision. He said
he didn’t have the funds to pay
for either the appeal fee or to
mail and produce copies of his
records. He is now being forced
to pay back more than $5,447 he
received in unemployment insurance compensation that he
says was used to pay bills and
other
living
expenses.
Starbucks says they maintain
resources for employees to report concerns and mismanagement.
“In addition to the various
hotlines and other resources for
partners to report concerns, including anonymously, we survey our partners regularly
throughout the company,” according to Krum. “All partners
at Tazo had the opportunity to
respond to an anonymous survey last year. … As far as we
know, neither Mr. Shabazz nor
any other individual at the
plant has raised this as an issue. When our partners raise
complaints we promptly investigate and seek to resolve their
concerns.”
BOLI spokesperson Bob
Estabrook says an investigation
into a complaint of employment
discrimination can take anywhere from 5 months to a year,
with lots of variables. Many
cases will be dropped by complainants before they reach a
conclusion, for a variety of reasons, he says.
After an investigator completes their investigation, the
file is given to a compliance
manager, who reviews the case
and makes a determination.
The file – if a complaint is
deemed to have validity – is
The Obama Budget faces
Valentine Day massacre
(from page 8)
just a matter of numbers. The
budget also defines us as a
country. “There are limits to
how much Social Security can
be cut without undermining its
crucial role in reducing poverty and replacing income lost
when a wage earner retires,
dies, or becomes disabled,”
the Center on Budget and
Policy Priorities report states.
“Social Security benefits are
quite modest, averaging only
$1,175 a month (or $14,105) a
year) for a retired worker. Social Security checks now replace about 37 percent of an
average worker’s pre-retirement earnings –one of the lowest of any western industrialized country –and that figure
will gradually fall to about 32
percent over the next two decades, largely because of the
scheduled increase in the full
retirement age to 67.”
Obama’s pledge to freeze the
pay of federal employees and
any tampering with Social Security would have a disproportionate impact on people of color.
According to the latest “State
of the Dream” report by United
for a Fair Economy, 59.1 percent
of Blacks and 64.8 percent of
Latinos depend on Social Security for more than 80 percent of
their family income. And, African-Americans are 70 percent
more likely than Whites to work
for the federal government.
In his budget, Obama proposed allowing the Bush tax
cuts to expire in 2012, ending
subsidies to oil and gas companies and eliminating tax breaks
for companies that do business
overseas. Unfortunately, Obama
provided no details or specific
proposals. GOP leaders who
insisted on extending the Bush
era tax breaks for the wealthy
are unlikely to favor curbing
corporate welfare. Eliminating
$125 billion a year in corporate
welfare would be more than
enough to offset the proposed
cuts in domestic spending.
It is clear than neither
Obama nor Republicans will
on their own volition protect
the interests of the truly
needy in the budget debate.
That’s why Americans need
to mobilize to force them to
make more sensible decisions. It’s easy to admire how
protesters in Egypt and Tunisia have rallied in recent
weeks to force a change in
their government.
It’s time to raise our voices
in the U.S. We have social media and technology at our disposal. Let’s use it to now let our
elected officials know we want
them to protect average Americans, not big business and the
wealthy.
George E. Curry, former editor-in-chief 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 You can
also
follow
him
at
www.twitter.com/currygeorge.
then moved to the Administrative Law Process, which resembles a civil or criminal
court. After a trial is conducted, where both sides can
call witnesses and submit evidence, a decision is made by
one of BOLI’s administrative
law judges. That decision is
presented to the BOLI commiss i o n e r, w h o s i g n s o ff – o r
doesn’t — on the final order of
judgment.
BOLI investigates about 2,000
complaints a year, the vast majority of them labor-related.
5984 eight graders for
specialized high schools
(from page 17)
receive an offer to more than one
program at the school, as well as
an offer to one of the other specialized high schools. In all, 962
students received one or more offers to LaGuardia. Of these 962 students, 382 are also receiving an
offer to one of the testing schools.
Students began receiving noti-
fication of their offers Feb. 11. The
deadline to accept an offer is Feb.
28. Students who do not accept
their offer by Feb. 28 will forfeit
their seats and be entered into the
main round of the high school admissions process. Students who do
not receive an offer are automatically entered into the main round.
Results of the main round will be
announced by early April.
Black journalists group plans annual
media institute on health disparities
(from page 15)
nity solutions to health care access and prevention, updates to
the Affordable Care Act, HIV/
AIDS in the black community,
mental health, childhood obesity,
and understanding studies and
data.
The convening is hosted by the
NABJ Media Institute, which offers professional development opportunities, technical training, historical documentation, educational programs, workshops, entrepreneurial guidance as well as
Web seminars, which consist of
quality content and provide resources for students and journalists of colors.
Pre- registration rates for the
conference are: $79 for NABJ
members and $129 for other participants, on or before March
10, 2011. For the full listing of
workshops, please visit our
website here. For program information, media, advertising
and sponsorship inquiries regarding this Media Institute,
contact NABJ program manager,
Irving Washington.
We should leave no
community behind
(from page 8)
I understand that my 10-2030 amendment in the Recovery
Act was responsible for funding 4,655 projects totaling
nearly $1.7 billion in persistent
poverty counties. I can speak
of two counties in my district
that benefitted from this program. Construction began last
year on 51 miles of water lines
to the Brittons Neck, Centenary and Gresham communities
of Marion County, South Carolina. These communities had
tried for decades to replace
their contaminated wells with
a water system, but could not
afford the matching funds required by traditional federal
programs. Through the 10-2030 program, the Marco Rural
Water Company received a $5.8
million grant and a $2 million
loan to provide clean, potable
water to these communities for
the first time.
In Orangeburg County, three
similar water projects are being
funded through the 10-20-30
program. One of those is a $5.6
million investment to bring potable water to a Global Logistics Triangle on I-95 at U.S. 301
that will soon be home to a
Jafza logistics, industrial and
distribution park. That public
investment is leveraging an estimated $600-$700 million in private investments that may ultimately create up to 10,000 new
jobs in this persistent poverty
county. That is an investment
in innovation and creativity that
will yield significant dividends
in the near future and hopefully
lift Orangeburg County out of
its quagmire as one of the ten
poorest counties in the nation.
I am urging Congress to include the 10-20-30 approach in
future funding proposals, and
expand it to all federal agencies. It doesn’t require additional funding — only the stipulation that at least ten percent
of any agency’s appropriated
programmatic funds be invested
in 10-20-30 communities.
We have been so heavily
focused on easing the national unemployment rate
that we have not given adequate attention to communities that are suffering from
chronic distress and Depression-era levels of joblessness. They must be included
in our efforts to get the entire nation on the right track.
If we provide them the engines they have been lacking,
these communities can join
the rest of America to compete and “win the future.”
(from page 3)
35
36
Hazel Rosetta Smith
Cast of “To You, Mr. Hughes”
written and directed by Hazel
Rosetta Smith bows into the
Langston Hughes Auditorium of
the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, 515
Lenox Avenue on Sat., Feb. 26,
2011. Two shows at 3 and 7 p.m.
(L-R) cast, Kevin Sibley, Lynnard
Williams, Angela Bourelly,
Myke Liverpool, Denise Morgan
and Jeff Bolding. It’s a comedic,
dramatic musical tribute to
Langston Hughes, Poet Laureate
of Harlem. For information, call
the Schomburg Gift Store (212)
491-2206.
(Photo: Gerald Peart)
Black History Month Celebration
Concert at Elim Fellowship in
Brooklyn Features Brookyn Interdenominational Choir, MANIFEST,
Elim Cathedral Choir and Special
GuestsSunday, February 27, 2011 at
4:00 p.m. The Music Ministry at
Elim International Fellowship will
host a Black History Month Celebration Concert on Sun., Feb. 27 at 4p.m.
The concert will be held at Elim International Fellowship, 20 Madison
St re e t ( b e t w e e n C l a s s o n a n d
Franklin). The concert was developed by Frank Haye, director of the
Choir Academy at the Elim Conservatory of Music at Elim International
Fellowship, to celebrate the rich
musical history of Brooklyn and to
highlight exciting new groups that
are sure to have a future impact on
the borough, New York City and the
gospel and music industry nationwide. The concert will feature The
Brooklyn Interdenominational
Choir, MANIFEST, the Elim Cathedral Choir, and other special guests.
Admission: FREE
CLASSIFIED
Adoption
PREGNANT? Why answer
only one adoption ad... Forever Families Through Adoption offers you many different families/ option to consider. Call Joy: 866-922-3678.
Financial assistance available.
ADOPTION: Happily married, professional couple
wishes to start family. Can
offer child lots of love and
s t a b i l i t y. E x p e n s e s p a i d .
Please call Maria and
Michael. 1-800-513-4914
A truly happy couple with
so much love to share hopes
to give your precious newborn a lifetime of happiness.
Michael and Eileen 1-877955-8355
[email protected]
L O V E L I C O R I C E ? Vi s i t
www.LicoriceInternational.com
the largest selection oldfashioned, gourmet/European licorice nationwide. 1800-LICORICE (542-6742).
Fast delivery! Free sample w/
order, $5 off w/code NYC5
thru 4/30/11.
Upstate NY Land Bargains 7.5
Acres w/ Beautiful Trout Stream
Frontage- $29,995. 23 Acres w/
Road & Utilities $39,995. 7.75
Acres w/ Beautiful Views, Road
& Utilities- $19,995. Financing
Available. Call 800-229-7843 Or
visit
www.LandandCamps.com
Lots & Acreage
New York ATTENTION HUNTERS! 90 acres- $99,900, Abuts
State Land, 6 acre pond, great
deer hunting! Save 10% on 2/
19 ONLY! Hurry! (888)479-3394.
ADOPTION: A young, finan- www.NewYorkLandandLakes.com
cially secure couple will give
your baby the best in life. NY FARM LIQUIDATION! 20
Exp.paid, Debi & Kevin, 1- acres -$39,900 10% off ON 2/19
ONLY! Across from State Land!
888-449-0803
eep Woods, stonewalls, town
rd, survey! Call now! (888)701Autos Wanted
7509
D O N AT E V E H I C L E : R E - www.NewYorkLandandLakes.com
C E I V E $ 1 0 0 0 G R O C E RY
C O U P O N . N O A H ' S A R C 1 D AY A B S O L U T E L A N D
SUPPORT NO KILL SHEL- SALE! SAVE 10% ON 2/19 ONLY
TERS, RESEARCH TO AD- 10 acres- $24,900 Near State
VA N C E
V E T E R I N A RY Land, town road, utilities, near
TREATMENTS FREE TOW- lakes. Prime NY Southern Tier
I N G, TA X D E D U C T I B L E , location! (888)905-8847
NON-RUNNERS ACCEPTED www.NewYorkLandandLakes.com
1-866-912-GIVE
Misc for Sale
Business Opportunity
RUG LIQUIDATION SALE!
Do you earn $800 in a day? 75% Off Every Rug. FREE SHIPYo u r O w n L o c a l C a n d y PING/BUY NOW. 200,000 Rugs
R o u t e ! 2 5 m a c h i n e s a n d Must Go. www.eSaleRugs.com
candy All for $9995. 877- 1-866-647-3965
915-8222 All Major Credit
Miscellaneous
Cards Accepted!
Business Services
BUSINESS LOANS- Bank
Lines of Credit. Let us finance
your contract with your client.
G R E AT l e a s e s n e w / u s e d
equipment. SBA Loans 130%
LTV. LEARN MORE: 1-888-9064545 www.turnkeylenders.com
Drivers
Driver Training CDLA: Tractor
Trailer Learn to Earn $36$45,000 per NTTS grad employers, D.O.L.,A.T.A., National Tractor Trailer School,
Liverpool, NY www.ntts.edu 1888-243-9320
ATTEND COLLEGE ONLINE
from home. *Medical, *Business, *Paralegal, *Accounting,
*Criminal Justice. Job placement assistance. Computer
available. Financial Aid if qualified. Call 888-201-8657
www.CenturaOnline.com
Agency Opportunities Available NOW... Be an Allstate
Agency Owner. No company
out there offers a faster-to-market opportunity like Allstate.
Join one of the most recogniaed
brands in American To find out
how~ call 1-877-711-1015 or visit
www.allstateagent.com
Vacation Rentals
TRUCK DRIVERS WANTED!
2011 PAY RAISE! UP TO $.52
PER MILE! HOME WEEKENDS! EXCELLENT BENEFITS! NEW EQUIPMENT!
HEARTLAND EXPRESS 1-800441-4953
www.heartlandexpress.com
OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND.
Best selection of affordable
rentals. Full/ partial weeks. Call
for FREE brochure. Open daily.
Holiday Real Estate. 1-800-6382102. Online reservations:
www.holidayoc.com
Financial
Wanted to Buy
CASH NOW! Cash for
your structured settlement
or annuity payments. Call
J.G.Wentworth. 866-494-9115.
Rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau.
WE BUY ANYTHING OLD.
C o s t u m e J e w e l r y, f o u n t a i n
pens, old watches, world fair
and military items. Cigarette
lighters; anything gold. Call
Mike 718-204-1402.
LEGAL NOTICES
CLASSIFIED
37
38
GOP mocks Obama budget, House weighs spending cuts
(from page 3)
financing the government,
which otherwise runs out of
money on March 4. The Democratic-controlled Senate and
Obama himself are sure to turn
them down.
“We have consistently said
it’s not our intention to shut
down this government,” House
Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-
Va., said Monday of one possibility should there be an impasse. “That’s political talk and
we ought to get that off the
table and we ought to go about
the real business of trying to
cut spending.”
Lew downplayed the possibility of a government shutdown.
“If we all work together in a
bipartisan way to look for the
Like the colossus, Freedom Party rising to rousing acclaim, wonder
(from page 3)
gether! We have got to understand unity politics! We must
build a new type of party under a principled united front,”
Jimenez concluded.
Freedom Party co-chairs:
Viola Plummer and Jitu Weusi,
NYC Councilman Charles
Barron, and Bob Law; also
emphasized the importance of
pro-active participation.
Plummer said, “We can’t just
talk, we have got to do our work.
We have to get out into the
streets and do the mobilizing and
organizing that needs to be done.”
Plummer directed those interested
in building the Freedom Party to
contact the borough coordinators:
Brooklyn - Omowale Clay at 718398-1766, Queens - Gregory Perry
at 347-494-9939, Bronx – Kamau
Brown at 347-721-8606, Manhattan – Roger Wareham, Esq. 646730-2562.
Councilman Charles
Barron presented a 12- point
program focused on a structural
transformation of the political
and economic system that in-
cluded: An equitable redistribution of wealth, progressive taxation, free education from pre-k
to post baccalaureate, jobs,
reparations, housing, political
prisoners, women’s rights, support for youth and seniors, end
to police brutality and deadly
force, and clean and renewable
energy.
Other dynamic speakers included Amiri and Amina Baraka,
N a n a C a m i l l e Ya r b o r o u g h ,
Kalfani Nkrumah, Esq., the
p h e n o m e n a l m u s i c i a n M r.
Donald Smith, Assemblywoman
Inez Barron, Rev.Conrad Tillard
of the Nazarene Congregation
United Church of Christ, Rev
Liz Butler of the Church of New
Beginnings, Rev. Lydia Lebron
of The Ressurection United
Methodist Church, Rev. Mark
Taylor of the Church of the
Open Door, and others. An intense open mic discussion was
held to hear issues confronting
the masses that came out to
participate.
For more information contact the Freedom Party Headquarters at 718-398-1766.
things we can agree on and take
some of the things that we can’t
agree on off to the side, we can
accomplish a great deal,” Lew
said.
Obama unveiled his fiscal blueprint a day earlier, a plan that
mixes tax increases on the
wealthy and some businesses, a
five-year freeze on most domestic programs, and boosts for elementary schools, clean energy
and airport security. The outline
is a first step in what is likely to
be a bitter partisan fight as Congress translates it into a parade
of tax and spending bills.
Despite its savings, Obama’s
budget projects a record $1.65 trillion deficit this year, falling to
$1.1 trillion next year and easing
thereafter. Even so, it stands to
generate a mammoth $7.2 trillion
sea of red ink over the next 10
years, a number that would be
even larger had the president not
claimed over $1 trillion in 10-year
savings by winding down the
wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Glaringly missing from the
president’s budget was a substantial reshaping of Social
Security, Medicare and other
massive, automatically paid
benefit programs that bipartisan members of his deficit-reduction commission had reco m m e n d e d l a s t y e a r. T h a t
leaves the nation under a
black fiscal cloud as its aging
population,
prolonged
lifespans and ever costlier
medical procedures leave the
government with enormous
I.O.U.’s.
Most Republicans have also
shied away from calling for
savings from so-called entitlement programs, but that’s not
stopped them from criticizing
Obama’s failure to do so. Rep.
Paul Ryan, R-Wis., chairman of
the House Budget Committee,
has called for such reductions, but would not predict
Monday whether they would
be included in the 2012 spending plan his panel plans to
write this spring.
“The president punted on
the budget, he punted on the
deficit,” Ryan told reporters.
“That’s not leadership, that’s
an abdication of leadership.”
O v e r a l l , O b a m a ’s b u d g e t
claims $1.1 trillion in deficit
reduction from tax increases
and spending cuts over the
next decade while protecting
some — but not all — programs that Democrats cherish.
By 2021, Obama projects
that $844 billion out of the $5.7
trillion federal budget would
go toward paying interest on
the government’s debt. Such
interest payments would exceed the size of the entire federal budget in 1983.
Federal budgets often burrow into the minutest details
o f t h e b u r e a u c r a c y, a n d
Obama’s was no exception.
The State Department said it
expected to save $5.3 million
over the next three years by
painting the roofs of its embassies and other offices in a heatreflecting, energy-saving white
color. And the U.S. Agency for
International Development projected hundreds of thousands in
savings by reducing the font size
in its documents to reduce paper usage.
SPORTS
39
By Marc Rasbury
It has been a long time since the
St. John’s men’s basketball program has mattered. But you could
not tell that to the 12,000 fans
who were in attendance at the
UCONN game last Wednesday.
The Red Storm pounced on the
9th rank Huskies, 89-72, in a commanding fashion. The Garden
was rocking. As the crowd left the
building everyone was reminiscing about the good old days.
Throughout the promenade,
folks were conjuring up memories
of Chris Mullin, Walter Berry,
Mark Jackson and Little Louie
Carnesseca. Trust me, we have a
ways to go before we can start
comparing the current squad to
that legendary Band of Merry
Men, but first year head coach
Steve Lavin has this program well
on its way back to prominence.
There was a time when the Red
Men, as they were referred to in
the ‘80’s, were one of the hottest
tickets in New York. This included
Broadway, the Knicks, the Giants
and Mets, who owned the city
back then. In ’85 a ticket to that
Georgetown-St. John’s game at
the Garden commanded almost
ten to fifteen times its face value
and entrance to the ensuing Big
East Championship game between
the two teams cost you even
more.
That seemed such a long time
ago. The tide is turning and turning in a big way. The Garden is
alive again, when the Red Storm
takes the court. They have beaten
four top ten teams including
Georgetown and Notre Dame earlier in the year and they crushed
the Duke Blue Devils two weeks
ago, 93-78. Those victories just
proved that the UCONN game was
no fluke. Then this weekend they
went out to Cincinnati and defeated the Bearcats, 59-57 to bring
their record to 15-9.
They are currently ranked 7th in
the vaunted Big East and with a
couple of more regular season
wins along with one in the Big East
Tournament they should be a lock
for the NCAAs, something they
have not accomplished since 1999.
Former head coach Norm Roberts did not leave the cupboards
bare for Lavin, who inherited a
senior laden team. Dwight Hardy,
who torched UCONN for 33 points
last week, is averaging 16.6 ppg.
He was named Big East Player of
the Week after he torched the
Huskies for 33 points. Hardy’s
classmates DJ Kennedy (12.6 ppg
and 5.6 rpg), Paris Horne (7.8 ppg)
and Justin Burrell (6.5 ppg and 5.0
rpg) gave Lavin a solid foundation
to build upon. Look for Freshman
Dwayne Polee II to emerge as a
leader for Lavin for the next two to
three years. .
Although things are looking up
n o w, t h e f u t u r e l o o k s e v e n
brighter. Lavin has established
an excellent staff including Hall
of Fame coach Gene Keady who
transformed Purdue into a powerhouse and local coaching legends Mo Hicks and Tony Chiles
who are destined to help Lavin
keep the local area talent at
home. The Red Storm already
has one of the better recruiting
classes coming in next year so
their gradual rise to top of the
Conference should take no one
by surprise.
St. John’s hit a home run when
they signed Lavin. Most people
thought that the school needed
someone with more New York
roots at the helm but with Lavin
it is clear that he understands
what he needs to do to prosper in
this neck of the woods. He knows
the Xs and Os of the game and he
can recruit his behind off, two key
ingredients to winning at this level.
There is a renaissance going on here
Hardy: Dwight Hardy’s performance against UCONN earned him in Red Storm Country but the best
BIg East Player of the Year.
(Photo by Marc Rasbury)
is yet to come.
Every free agent owes Curt Flood
By Marc Rasbury
Some say it has enhanced
sports, while others claim it has
destroyed the games we love.
Some franchises have used it to
better their organizations yet others have foolishly misused it. No
matter where you stand on the
issue of free agency, it truly has
changed the game. But there is
one historical fact that no one can
argue, every athlete that has benefited from free agency owes a
debt of gratitude to the late St.
Louis Cardinals Curt Flood.
Most baseball players are
known for what they accomplished on the field first and foremost. Flood was a defensive
standout who won two gold
gloves, led the league in put outs
four times and fielding percentage twice while covering the spacious Busch Stadium grounds. He
wasn’t too shabby with the bat
hitting close to .300 for his career.
Yes, he was a five tool player with
some impressive stats. But Flood
will not be remembered for the
stats on the back of his baseball
card.
Flood’s impact on the National
Pastime goes way beyond stats.
Following 1969 season Flood refused to accept a trade to Philadelphia, which set the wheels in
motion for breaking down
baseball’s long standing reserve
clause. That clause restricted any
player from moving from one team
to another without his existing
team’s consent basically making
the player in question an indentured servant.
This allowed baseball franchises to
treat players as they saw fit regardless of
the player’s production. Just to show you
how the teams abused this rule, Joe
DiMaggio won the MVP one year and the
Yankees forced him to take a pay cut the
following season. Now if Joe D didn’t have
any leverage, how do you think the other
players were treated?
Flood refused to report to the Phillies in
1970 forfeiting over a $100, 000 in the process. He had several public confrontations with Cardinals Management during
his last season there which many believed
that led to him being jettisoned from St.
Louis.
After a consultation with Players Union
President Marvin Miller, Flood decided
to take on the reserve clause in court after the Players Union stated that they
would pay for his legal expenses. Miller
saw this as the Union’s opportunity to
finally challenge the reserve clause. After
a written request to declare Flood a free
agent was denied by Commissioner
Bowie Kuhn, Miller filed a million dollar
anti-trust law suit, Flood v. Kuhn (407
U.S. 258) indicating that the reserve clause
limited a players ability to maximize their
earning potential according to Flood’s attorney former Supreme Court Justice
Arthur Goldberg. Jackie Robinson, who
faced a similar situation with the Dodgers, baseball legend Hank Greenberg and
Chicago White Sox Owner Bill Veeck all
testified on Flood’s behalf. It was interesting that none of the active players
went to bat for Flood, although a Flood
victory would have been in their best interest.
The case went all the way to the Su-
Curt Flood
preme Court which ultimately ruled in favor of Major
League Baseball. Three years later, however, an
arbitrator Peter Steitz struck down the clause due
to the fact that pitchers Andy Messersmith and
Dave McNally played an entire season without a
contract. He ruled that they should have become
free agents.
This ruling allowed players, in all professional
sports, to move freely to the highest bidder once
their existing contract expired. The Yankees George
Steinbrenner reaped the benefits as well as the pit-
falls of free agency. He rebuilt the fledgling
Yankees with the signings of Reggie Jackson
and Catfish Hunter. However, future signings
like Ed Whitson and Danny Tartable almost
ran the club towards ruins. Jackson and
Hunter had the moxy to win and thrived in
New York, where as Whitson and Tartable
folded under the pressure. The Washington
Redskins Owner Daniel Snyder has spent
millions on over the hill free agents with nothing to show for it. There is no exact science
regarding a team achieving success with this
concept. However, one thing is for sure every player has profited from Flood’s sacrifice.
Flood would take that sacrifice to his grave.
He would return to baseball in 1971 accepting a trade to the Washington Senators where
he would retire at the end of that season. He
was basically blackballed from baseball for
the rest of life. He did return to baseball as
an announcer for the Oakland Athletics in
1978 and would become involved as a partner with the United Baseball League. However, the stress stemming from financial problems and excesses drinking and smoking took
their toll on his health. He would succumb to
throat cancer in 1995.
After witnessing the behind the scenes
dealing of professional sports, I’m all for the
players getting as much as they can get from
these owners. There are retired athletes in
their 40’s and 50’s who can not get out of bed
until 12 noon due to injuries they’ve suffered
and played through during their careers. Free
agency allows them to maximize their earning
potential during the short time which they
can capitalize on their remarkable skills. I
just wish that some of them could think
of Curt Flood as they floss and gloss at
their introductory press conferences, after they’ve signed their lucrative free
agent contracts.
There is a storm brewing
40
BEACON
Marc Rasbury
SPORTS
Knicks play Denver hold Em
By Marc Rasbury
By the time this issue hits the
stands, this may be moot point
and this “Is he coming or is he
staying game” might be resolved in one way or another.
It is just that this Carmelo Anthony drama is starting to get
on my nerves. It is not that I
do not want to see the versatile scoring machine wearing a
Knick uniform but this unfolding saga is starting to resemble a high stake poker
game with an unlimited pot.
It seems as if you can not
turn on your TV these days
without seeing folks playing
poker with the outcome of a
man’s existence on this earth
depending on every hand.
That is what the “Melo Drama”
has turned into where the careers and job security of numerous participants depend on
the outcome. The general consensus is that Donny Walsh
will lose his job if Melo is not
here by the trading deadline.
Conversely, some feel that
heads will roll if Denver accepts the package that Knicks
are offering. No one knows for
sure where Carmelo will end
up. The one thing we do know
is that several teams and careers will be impacted based on
the outcome of this made for
TV, or Sports Center, drama.
What makes this game of
bluff so interesting is that this
one of those rare times that
the player has a major say on
how his future will turn out
while he is still under contract.
Anthony has made it unequivocally clear that he wants
to play for New York and only
New York. There are those
who believe that he wants to
be in this area so that his wife,
La La, who has TV aspirations,
could be in the center of the
media capitol. Whatever the
reason for Melo’s yearning to
be in New York it has handcuffed Denver ’s ability to
trade and get something of
near value for their disgruntled
superstar.
There have been several
players at the card table. This
past off season the Lakers
made preliminary inquiries
about a trade centering around
their big man Andrew Bynum.
Those talks quickly fizzled and
Los Angeles folded. News
came out recently that they
were trying to get back into the
game but many felt that it was
released by the Nuggets only
to put pressure on the Knicks
to make a deal.
The New Jersey Nets got into
the picture. They made the
best deal to date when they
offered Devin Harris, Derrick
Flavors and two first round
picks. Denver was ready to
pounce on that one. The only
hold up was that there was no
guarantee that Melo would sign
a long term extension with the
Nets. Without that extension
the Nets would not pull the trigger. New owner Mikal felt that
the team was being played and
held hostage by Anthony and
Denver ’s management so he
told his team to fold em.
Then you had a few teams like
Dallas and Houston who were
even willing to rent Anthony for
this year and take their chances
with signing him to an extension
after the season. Then they took
into account the long term risk
and decided to take the chips
that they still had left and excused themselves from the
table.
So now that just leaves our
Knicks, who are still feeling the
pain of being jilted by LeBron
James this summer. It has been reported that Donny Walsh has offered Wilson Chandler, Eddie
Curry’s expiring contract and either
Danilo Gallinari or Landry Fields
and Denver scoffed at this proposal. Most people feel that Walsh
is hoping to hold on to both
Gallinari and Fields if possible and
is willing to wait to the end of the
season to sign Anthony as a free
agent this summer. Now this is
where things get interesting.
If Walsh gambles and waits until
the end of the season, he risks losing Anthony with several scenarios. With the NBA’s Collective
Bargaining Agreement set to expire
in July, no team can sign a free
agent or make a trade until a new
CBA has been signed. Moreover,
within that new CBA there may a
franchise tag similar to what the
NFL has and the owners are
looking to put a cap of eleven
million dollars per year and with
a maximum of three to four years
on any new contract. If that is
the case, Anthony could loose
up thirty nine million dollars
between what Denver has on
the table and what he could
sign this summer. And we are not
going even talk about the possibility of him getting hurt between now and the new CBA is
signed.
Everybody has something on
the line with this card game.
The Nuggets are hoping that
the Knicks feel the pressure
from their fans and give up the
house. The Knicks hope that
Denver bows to the pressure of
losing Anthony and end up getting nothing in return like Cleveland and Toronto this summer.
Anthony does not want to leave
over thirty five million on table
even at the risk of upsetting the
Mrs. who wants to return to the
Big Apple. There are plenty of
interwoven career changing decisions that will be made in the
upcoming months during this
poker tilt. It is going to come
down who blinks first.
Carmelo’s future is up in the air.
(PhotobyMarcRasbury)

Feb 17 - New York Beacon

Transcription

Similar documents

Company profile Dutch fashion house Oilily has been a hallmark of

Emerging African News

the cybex trazer

Walk-for-a-Cause-Bos..

Saturday, June 16th 2:00 to 5:00 pm Tickets: $15

Ozwald Boateng ``I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT WHERE AFRICA

Sew Fun! - Australian International School Hong Kong

OCTOBER 2005 ISSUE 1 KRABBESHOLM

2009-2010 Facts

To become No. 1 Women Fashion Marketplace in South