Prince George's County Afro-American Newspaper, August 07, 2010

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A4 The Afro-American, August 7, 2010 - August 13, 2010

Volume 118 No. 52 PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY EDITION

Copyright 2010 by the Aro-American Company

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AUGUST 7, 2010 - AUGUST 13, 2010

Blacks Split with ObamaOver Education Reform

By Zenitha Prince

AFRO Staf Writer

When will the checks arrive?Thats the question to which John Boyd, president

of the National Black Farmers Association, has been

seeking an answer for more than a decade. But witha Senate vote slated to take place this week, the

Virginia-based farmer said he hopes the government

will nally pay its debt.

This is taking too long; farmers are frustrated,

he told theAFRO one day before the vote. We have

a judgment against the government and we cant seemto collect. We need to talk to someone in accounts

payable because the government has defaulted on itsbill.

With Congress set to go into a seven-week recess,

Boyd has been lobbying for lawmakers to approve thepayment of a $1.25 billion settlement in a class action

lawsuit led on behalf of 80,000 Black farmers who

have been victims of loan discriminations.

Black Farmers

Government a Delinquent Debtor

Senate action postponed

By George Barnette

AFRO Staf Writer

Over the course of the foreclosure

crisis in Prince Georges County,

the dumping of mortgages becamea viable choice for some struggling

homeowners. While many people

fought through the process to savetheir homes and loss, some simply

walked away from the mortgage and

the property.People

have walked

away from theirmortgage and

simply saidgoodbye to

the debt, said

James Dula,chairman of

the Maryland

branch ofthe Southern Christian Leadership

Conference and former chairman of

the Prince Georges County Chamberof Commerce. Now, their credit rating

is affected for at least the next sevenyears and their purchasing power is

tremendously affected in many ways

therefore, they will not be able toreinvest in the county or state in which

they live.

Experts recommendmediation as opposed to

dumping property. This

especially true now thatMaryland has enacted a law

giving homeowners the rightto ask for mediation as soon

as the foreclosure process

begins.The goal of the law is to

help homeowners get relief

through a loan modication

if they qualify or to nd an

alternative to foreclosure, says astatement from the Maryland Home

Owners Preserving Equity (HOPE)

ofce. The law gives homeowners

a new opportunity to meet with the

lender and an independent party toensure that alternatives to foreclosure

have been considered and evaluated.

Even with this help available, manyfamilies saw mortgage dumping as

the only option, despite the long-term

repercussionsto their

credit and

purchasingpower. But

there is somegood news.

With the

economyshowing

signs of

improvement,the problem of families dumping their

mortgages has decreased. Assistance

from state and county agencies hasprovided relief to homeowners and

foreclosure rates have decreased to 1

in 180 housing units in June 2010 as

opposed to 1 in every 74 units from

June 2009.

By George Barnette

AFRO Staf Writer

Over four years ago, theRev. Robert E. Slade and

some members of Mount

Zion United MethodistChurch in Georgetown

brainstormed about ways to

make a contribution to thelives of young people. They

decided to invite youth down

to Slades farm in UpperMarlboro for a little country

living.

It was a vision that wehad over four years ago

in regards to seeing otherchildren ride at Rock Creek

Park, Slade said. Someof the cowboys in the areasuggested that we ought to

use what we have. I have

some horses and someproperty to go with it so I

thought it would be a good

opportunity to provide this

experience to young people.The ve-day camp has

drawn kids from all overthe Washington, D.C.

metropolitan area as well

as children from far awayas North Carolina and

Connecticut. They sleep

overnight at the church andtake a bus to Slades farm

for their morning equestrian

activities. Camp organizerssay many of them come with

a real fear, but it doesnt

take long for the youth toovercome that fear and start

riding.We had a young man that

stated that he was not goingto get on a horse. Within anhour, he was on a horse and

didnt want to get off, said

Novella Jackson, a campcoordinator. We had another

little girl who didnt get on a

horse until halfway through

the camp, but were at theend and shes still riding and

having fun.The participants do more

than just ride horses. The

camps head coordinator,Deedra Ross Jones, said they

took the children bowling,

roller skating and to seeChinese acrobats perform

at the Publick Playhouse in

Hyattsville. The kids wereeven allowed to sleep outside

in tents on the last night of

the camp.Organizers did this to

provide the campers with awell-rounded experience and

to help build better life skills.We know were buildingcharacter and building

relationships, said Slade.

Some of these youngsters

Entertainer Wycle Jean has wept and advocated orhis embattled homeland, Haiti, throughout his near

20-year career. Now, hes poised to take the premier

leadership role as president a massive undertakingor any political action and especially colossal or

Jean, 37, who has no background in politics.

In an interview with Times.com, the ormer Fugees

star said the January earthquake in Haiti promptedhis decision. I not or the earthquake, I probably

would have waited another 10 years beore doingthis, the Haitian-born superstar said Tuesday night.

The quake drove home to me that Haiti cant waitanother 10 years or us to bring it into the 21st

century. The Yele Haiti ounder continued, I I cant

take ve years out to serve my country as president,then everything Ive been singing about, like equal

rights, doesnt mean anything. Jean, let, is seen

here being interviewed on the Varney & Companyprogram on the Fox Business Network, July 23. Photo by George Barnette

Children at the camp learn a new hobby.

Camp Exposes Kids to Farm Living

Continued on A4

Foreclosure Fallout:Dumping Mortgages

Continued on A4 Continued on A4

John W. Boyd Jr., center, a armer rom Baskerville, Va., and ounder o the National Black Farmers

Association, is shown in this le photo rom Feb. 15. Boyd met with Sen. Harry Reid on July 28 tosee i he could impact movement by the Senate to und the settlement and nally help the Black

armer that are continuing to sufer.

Home Depot

INSERT

Concern Hovers overRedskins Training Camp

B2 A7 BeBe and CeCe StormPr. Georges B1

APPhoto/J.ScottApplewhite

Wyclef Jean EyesHaitian Presidency

AP Photo/Richard Drew


2/16


Sherrod Tells NABJ Convention She Will Sue BreitbartShirley Sherrod, the recently red director of the U.S.

Department of Agricultures rural development ofce in

Georgia, has said she will sue blogger Andrew Breitbart, whoused an excerpt of a speech she made to the NAACP out of

context and called it racist along with cable news network Fox

News.In a video posted on CNN.com Sherrod announced that she

intended to sue Breitbart and said while the blogger has notapologized, she also does not want an apology from him. Hehad to know that he was targeting me, she stated.

Answering questions at a panel discussion entitledContext and Consequences: Conversation with Shirley

Sherrod during the National Association of Black Journalists

annual convention July 29, Sherrod said, I knew it wasracism and no one had to tell me that.

After the media frenzy about racism that ensued after the

release of the video excerpt, Sherrod said she now knowshow the media can and should work in helping to get the

truth out.

When asked if she would accept a new position with theUSDA, Sherrod said that she had not and was far from being

able to do that. I havent had a chance to read it, she said.

The offer still says draft. I need to ask them whatdoes that mean.From what I know about that part of the

department, the Ofce of Advocacy and Outreach, I dont

think they have even budgeted the money to operate that partof the program. So I have many, many questions before I can

make a decision.

Deltas Convene in New

Orleans, Participate in

Day o ServiceMembers of Delta

Sigma Theta Sorority, aninternational non-prot

womens organization,returned to New Orleans

for the third time to

celebrate their 50th nationalconvention. The gathering,

A Sisterhood Called to

Serve: Transforming Livesand Impacting Communities,

not only allowed up to 16,000sorority members to reunite inthe Crescent City, but provided

them an opportunity to aid the surrounding community.On July 30, the organization hosted IMPACT Day, a series

of 22 service projects benetting local non-prot organizations

in New Orleans. According to the group, each service eventhonored of one of the sororitys founders.

Delta Sigma Theta has remained committed to supporting

the city of New Orleans inpost-Katrina recovery efforts

since the very beginning,

said the organizationsnational president Cynthia

M.A. Butler-McIntyre in

a statement. Throughnancial contributions,

donations, rebuilding

houses and opening up ourhomes to the Delta sisters

who lost everything in thestorm, Delta Sigma Theta

has demonstrated our

commitment to rebuilding thegreat city of New Orleans.

IMPACT Day is just one

more way that we hope toimpact the communities of

New Orleans.In addition, civil rights

activist Dr. Dorothy Heights

nal book,Living With

Purpose: An Activists

Guide to Listening, Learning and Leading, was unveiled

at the convention. Former U.S. Secretary of Labor AlexisM. Herman, who wrote the

introduction, described the

book as Heights nal gift ina statement and said President

Barack Obama received the

books rst printed copy.

Police Seek Gunman in

Shooting o Chicago Boy, 13

Chicago police haveidentied a suspect in themultiple shooting death of

eighth-grader Robert Freeman

Jr., 13, The Associated Pressreported. Freeman was shot 13

times on July 29 while riding his

bicycle on the citys South Side, and according to his family,the teen was the victim of mistaken identity.

According to the report, Chicago police said tips fromwitnesses point to a suspect, who has still not been found.

However, police ofcials said dont snitch culture has made

nding the suspect, identied only as a young male, difcult.Statistics posted on the Chicago Polices Web site show

that homicide is a troubling issue, with African Americans

comprising 77.1 percent of the citys crime victims betweenJanuary 2010 and June.

Freeman was the fourth teen killed in area shootings that

week.

Army Salutes National Urban League Women o Power

HonoreesCommand Sgt. Maj. (ret.) Michele S. Jones attended

the National Urban Leagues Women of Power Luncheonon behalf of the U.S. Army. Jones, the rst female in the

Army appointed as the Army Reserve Command sergeant

major, currently serves as special assistant to the secretary ofdefenses White House liaison.

The Army, the nations largest provider of education

scholarships, awarded more than $285 million merit-basedscholarships through the ROTC program in 2009. Army

representatives for ROTC, U.S. Army Recruiting Command

and U. S. Military Academy at West Point, which wasranked the nations top college by Forbes magazine in 2009,

provided conference attendees information on the vast rangeof education benets, more than 150 career specialties and

leadership development opportunities.

Diddy Sounds O on Nightline Host, Cries RacismIn a recent interview with Vibe magazine, music producer

and rapper Diddy called Nightline host Martin Bashira racist for questioning his decision to purchase his son a

Maybach car.

There were times in the interview when I had to givehim an ultimatum, Diddy told Vibe. The questions werent

being handled the right way. In hindsight, when I saw him, Ishouldnt have done the interview because I know the style

of interview that he does The whole thing about giving a

Maybach to my son, thatsreally like a racist question.The media mogul purchased

the silver-hued car, whichcosts about $360,000,

for his son Justins 16th

birthday.You dont ask Whitepeople what they buy theirkids, he continued. And

they buy em Porsches and

convertible Bentleys, and itaint no question. Its really

a racist question and put

things back in perspectivewith money and the way that

people still look at you.

Justins mega-birthdayparty and new car were

featured in an episode of

MTVs Sweet 16.

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AFRO National Briefs

Courtesy Photo

Robert Freeman Jr.

AP Photo

Diddy attends the opening

oGet Him to the Greekwith sons Justin, let, and

Christian, and his longtime

girlriends son QuincyBrown.

CourtesyPhoto

Dr. Dorothy Height's fnal

book was unveiled at the

Deltas 50th convention.


3/16

August 7, 2010 - August 13, 2010, The Afro-American A3

On September 14th,We Can Do Better.

Vince Gray will make economic development a citywide priority by capitalizing on existing tools, identifying new

opportunities for job creation throughout the District, and building public, private and civic partnerships.

I Create a long-term, coordinated economic development strategy.We need a bold strategic plan with a

roadmap to achieve specific economic goals.

I Create job opportunities for all. Vince Gray will focus job training on high-demand fields and develop working

industry partnerships with businesses, labor groups, local colleges, public schools, charter schools and the community.

IAttract new businesses and jobs. Vince Gray will enhance the Districts status as a Global Financial Center,

promote the growth of key industries and support small and locally-owned businesses.

I Position D.C. as a leader in the green economy. We can make D.C. a model city with a vibrant green economy

that creates green jobs, reduces our energy consumption, and improves our local environment.

IMake transportation and infrastructure work for residents.We need to create environments where local

retail, cars and people can co-exist while ensuring all residents have access to public transportation.

Vinces full jobs plan is online at www.vincegrayformayor.com/jobs

Vince Grays Plan for Jobs &Economic DevelopmentCreating real economic opportunity for all

Paid for by Gray for Mayor, 1004 6th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001. Betty Brown, Treasurer. A copy of our report is filed with the Director of Campaign Finance.

Identification StatementsBaltimore Afro-American (USPS 040-800) is published weekly by TheAfro-AmericanNewspapers, 2519 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4602. Subscription Rate:Baltimore - 1 Year - $30.00 (Price includes tax.) Checks for subscriptions should be madepayable to: TheAfro-American Newspaper Company, 2519 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD21218-4602. Periodicals postage paid at Baltimore, MD.

POSTMASTER:Send addresses changes to: TheAfro-American Newspaper Company, 2519N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4602.

The Washington Afro-American & Washington Tribune (0276-6523) is publishedweekly by theAfro-American Newspapers at 1917 Benning Road, N.E., Washington, D.C.20002-4723. Subscription Rate: Washington - 1 Year - $30.00. Periodical Postage paidat Washington, D.C.

POSTMASTER: Send addresses changes to: The Washington Afro-American& Washington Tribune, 2519 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4602.

Waters to be Tried by House Ethics CommitteeBy Larry Margasak

Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP)

California Democrat Maxine

Waters faces a House trial this

fall on three charges of ethical

wrongdoing, setting the

stage for a second election-

season public airing of ethicsproblems for a longtime

Democratic lawmaker.

The charges focus on

whether Waters broke the

rules in requesting federal

help for a bank where her

husband owned stock and

had served on the board of

directors. She denied the

charges Monday.

Persons familiar with the

case said Waters is accused of

violating:

A rule that House

members may not exert

improper inuence that

results in a personal benet.

The government

employees ethics code,

which prohibits granting or

accepting special favors,

for the employee or family

members, that could be

viewed as inuencing ofcial

actions.

A rule that members

conduct must reectcreditably on the House.

The persons were not

authorized to be quoted by

name on allegations not yet

made public.

Republicans quickly

jumped on the latest

news. The GOPs House

campaign committee

released a statement with

the headline: The Dirty

Details: Ethics Ofce Reveals

Waters Charges. Panel Has

Substantial Reason to

Believe Dems Have Another

Ethics Problem on Their

Hands.

Waters is a senior member

of the House Financial

Services Committee, which

handled the recent rewrite

of legislation that regulates

nancial institutions and

has strong protections for

consumers.

Rangel stepped aside in

March as the chief House tax

writer following a negative

report on his conduct in

a separate ethics case.

In addition to taxes, his

committee handles trade,

portions of health carereform, Medicare and Social

Security.

The charges against

Waters were led July 28 by

a four-member investigative

panel, but not announced

until Aug. 2. An eight-

member subcommittee of

four Democrats and four

Republicans will now conduct

the Waters trial. The specics

of the allegations wont be

made public until the panel

four Democrats and four

Republicans hold its still-

unscheduled organizational

meeting.

Brendan Daly, spokesman

for Speaker Nancy Pelosi

commented, As we have said

in the past about the process,

ethics proceedings are a result

of a bipartisan, condential

and independent process in

the House.

In a statement, Waters

said, I have not violated

any House rules. Therefore,

I simply will not be forced to

admit to something I did not

do and instead have chosen

to respond to charges made

by the House Committee on

Standards of Ofcial Conduct

in a public hearing.

Rep. Maxine Waters,D-Cali., will ace charges

o ethical wrongdoing in a

trial this all.

AP

Photo

Six Flags Grooming Policies to Face OppositionBy George Barnette

AFRO Staf Writer

In the wake of a spring controversy over Six Flags refusing

two women employment because of their hair , a group known

as Friends for Hair Freedom have started an online petition and

are planning a boycott of the amusement park.

Were just advocating for individuals whove been

discriminated against in the workplace based on their hair

texture, said Renee Prot, co-founder of Friends for Hair

Freedom. Weve been advocating for people primarily at the

Largo (Md.) location, but [Six Flags] policies are corporate.

The group believes Six Flags policy disproportionately

targets African Americans. They believe its discriminatory

and thats why theyve begun to take political action. They say

in this economy, its a shame people arent able to work just

because of their hair texture.

The biggest thing for me is there are so many people

without jobs and you can go to Six Flags or send your children

Continued on A4

Photo by George Barnette

Six Flags now aces fghts the courts -- o law and o public

opinion.


4/16


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Continued from A1

Black FarmersContinued from A1

Foreclosure Fallout

Continued from A1

Farm Living

Continued from A3Six Flags

Very good news. But it

took a while for everyone

to notice one of the moreinvisible negative effects

mortgage dumping has on the

community.When owners walk away,

with or without advancenotice to the mortgagecompanies, properties sit

vacant and no one cares forthem. These homes, over

time, suffer, making them

unattractive, targets forvandals and safety hazards for

the neighborhoods.

This became such an issuein Prince Georges County,

Councilman Will Campos, D.-

Dist. 2, sponsored legislation,that was passed, requiring

vacant homes to be registeredso the county can keep track.

The law went into effect

on Aug. 21, 2009 and states

that a person responsiblefor a vacant property must

register it with the PrinceGeorges County Department

of Environmental Resources.

A $50 penalty is assessed for

each day the property remains

unregistered once it is vacant.

As the author andsponsor of this legislation,

it was my goal to create

a registration system for

foreclosed properties that

would help identify theseproperties before they become

eyesores in the community,

Campos said in a statement.All too often we learn

about foreclosed properties

after their condition makesit plainly obvious. This

registration system will giveus advance warning and allow

the county to proactively

handle these properties.

Once a property isregistered, according to

the legislation, the county,using the fees from assessed

penalties, provides basic

landscaping and repairs

vandalism until the property

is sold.

While no statistics areavailable on how well this is

working, studies show that

well maintained properties are

easier to sell and do not have

a negative impact on the valueof property in the rest of the

neighborhood.

Things are starting to lookup, but the crisis is still not

over. Ofcials ask that anyone

struggling with their mortgagevisit www.mdhope.org or dial

the hotline at 1-877-462-7555.

have never seen each other

before, but theyve spent ve

days and ve nights with

each other learning how toget along.

Slade, the North

Carolina native and farminghobbyist, hopes the camp

can generate renewed

interest in equestrianism.With four years in and many

return campers, Slade says

this exposure can lead tothe children developing a

lifelong love of horseback

riding.We already have some

kids with strong potential out

there, he said. Some, you

can tell from the rst day,

are gifted and not afraid. Its

something that if they wantto embrace [it] and carry

into adulthood, it would be

great. We would love to seethat and I think some of them

will.

Boyd made his case toSenate Majority Leader Harry

Reid in a meeting on Capitol

Hill last week. Reid promisedto put the matter up for

unanimous consenta meansof expediting legislation by

means of a straight up ordown voteon Aug. 2 but itwas postponed to Aug. 4.

The progress of the lawsuit

against the U.S. Departmentof Agriculture, known as

Pigford v. Vilsack, through the

Congress has been rocky atbest. Attached to a number of

bills, such as the war funding

bill, tax extenders and FEMAdisaster assistance bill, the

settlement funding has beenapproved by the House in

two separate bills. In theSenate, however, it has been

stymied by Republicans bent

on cutting domestic spending.Of the six times the measure

came up for approval, not one

Republican voted in support,Boyd said.

Reid told the media in

this latest attempt, the Blackfarmers claim will be offered

as a stand-alone bill with costsalready offset. I know there

are too many still sufferingfrom treatment of the U.S.

government and we have anobligation to make things

right, the Gannet News

Service quoted Reid as saying.We have not given up on

passing this legislation.

I will continue ghting

Republican opposition tothe rights of Black farmers .. . who are affected by the

stalling of settlements to see

that justice is done.Boyd said he spoke to

Senate Minority Leader Mitch

McConnell, R-Ky., whoassured him of his support.

The Obama administration

also has expressed its support.But Boyd said the level of

support President Obamademonstrated as a senator

has not been evident since heentered the White House.

We need to get more of a

push from the president. Wewant him to get involved, the

way he pushed health care,

Boyd said. We were one ofthe rst Black organizations

to get behind the president

when the media and othershad counted him out. We took

a chance on him, and wereasking him to take a chance

on us.Pointing to efforts to

save and enact a measure,

sponsored by Arkansas

Democrat Sen. BlancheLincoln, that would disburse

$1.5 billion in disaster relief

to farmers that lost crops in2009, Boyd said the plight

of Black farmers also shouldbe treated as an emergency.Many of the plaintiffs

have lost their farms or arestruggling to maintain their

operations. Others have died.

I am concerned thatCongress will not act before

the settlement expires by

agreement amongst the partiesit had been extended 50 days

from June 29, 2010, he said

in a statement. This year Ihave attended the funerals

of many Black farmers whopassed before ever seeing this

case resolved.

He added, We have to pay

the farmers, and we have topay them right now.

AFRO Staff Writer Dorothy

Rowley contributed to this

report.

I know there are too many still suferingrom treatment o the U.S. governmentand we have an obligation to make thingsright.

This registration system will give usadvance warning and allow the county toproactively handle these properties.

there with natural hair, but

you turn around and cant gethired, said Marci Walker,

co-founder of Friends for Hair

Freedom. Its natural hair.Its the way it naturally grows

out of our heads. I dont see

that we should have to changethis in order to get a job.

The controversy rst

gained attention when

two women, Janet Bello

and Jackie Sherrill spokeout about being denied

employment because of

locked hair. Bello said amanager told her shed be

allowed to work there as long

as she was willing to changeher hair.

I asked, What do youmean by that? How can I

change my hair if this is the

way God created me, Bellosaid. Thats when he told me

I could cut it off or get a perm

and make it straight.For Sherrill, the issue was

even more upsetting because

she worked at the park lastyear. The retired teacher

received an invitation to workat the park this summer, but

when a supervisor saw herhair, she was told she needed

to change her hair. At rst I

was offended. I felt like they

were targeting a particularrace of people, Sherrill

said. So many of the kids

I worked with last year hadmy hairstyle or something

similar.

She was given thehandbook from last year

and told that the company isstrictly enforcing company

rules. She contacted the

ACLU when the incidenthappened and now the group

has agreed to take le a

lawsuit on her behalf.Even if these policies are

not illegal, I think they are

quite clearly racially offensiveand should not be adopted,

said David Rocah, an attorneywith the Maryland ACLU.

I think there is something

grossly offensive by sayingthat locked hair is inherently

unprofessional. There are lots

of very professional AfricanAmericans in Maryland and

around the country who wear

their hair locked for a numberof reasons.

Six Flags did not respondto the AFROs request for

a specic comment butspokeswoman Julia L. Filzsaid, Because we wish to

present to our guests at all

parks a consistent appearance,Six Flags requires that

hairstyles for all of our team

members and managementdo not include variations in

hair color, dreadlocks, tails or

partially shaved heads. Otherrequirements of our grooming

code include standarduniforms for front-line team

members and no visible

tattoos.


5/16


By AFRO Sta

Bowie State University has been recognized in the Centerfor Student Opportunitys 2011 College Access & Opportunity

Guide, a comprehensive guidebook created to help rst-

generation college-bound students from low-income familiesachieve their aspirations.

We are proud to be proled in the 2011 College Access &Opportunity Guide, said Don Kiah, assistant vice president forenrollment management at Bowie State, in a press statement.

This provides a signicant opportunity to showcase Bowie StateUniversitys quality programs, affordable cost, comprehensivenancial aid, and scholarship opportunities to prospective

parents and students, assisting them in realizing their dreams ofobtaining a college education.

In addition to beingrecognized by the 2011 College

Access & Opportunity Guide,

the Prince Georges Countyschool is making signicant

strides to ensure its students beatthe odds and graduate. MonicaTurner, director of Bowie States

TRIO-Student Support Servicesprogram, said the school is ndingnew opportunities every day.

As the director of TRIO,a program designed to assist

low-income, rst-generationcollege-bound students, atBowie State University, I am

especially excited about thepartnership with the Center for

Student Opportunity and theprole in the 2011 College Access & Opportunity Guide, saidTurner in a statement.These opportunities, combined with the

recent Walmart Minority Student Success Award granted to theuniversity, will signicantly enhance our efforts to enroll, retainand graduate our students.

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Community

By Gregory Dale

AFRO Staf Writer

In 1910, the average life

expectancy was 50, milk was32 cents a gallon and the

average cost of a brand newcar was $600. This was also

the year that Elmer Harris was

born. Now, 100 years later,Harris is welcoming life as a

centenarian.

It is something to marvelin, Harris told theAFRO,

referring to his age. Very few

people get to see 100 years.Ive had a very good life.

Reared in Northwest

Washington, D.C., Harrisgraduated from Armstrong

High School in the 20sand immediately found

employment following

graduation.I knew I had to work hard

to get where I wanted to be,

he said.Harris rst worked at a

shoe repair shop, often pulling

12-hour shifts until ultimatelysettling at a Navy yard in

the southeast section of theDistrict.

But it wouldnt be long

before Harris was drafted asthe country headed into World

War II.

In December 1941, Harris

was stationed in North

Carolina before later being

moved to Honolulu, Hawaii.But he noted that during

his time in the South, he

witnessed the rampant racismrsthand.

[If you were Black],

you couldnt even go in the

front of a store or restaurant,you had to go around back,Harris said. It was a heck of

a feeling to hear someone tell

me, Im sorry, you have to goaround back, and here I am

putting my life on the line. But

God let me live long enough toovercome all of that.

After serving in the Army,

Harris returned to the Navyyard until nally retiring in

1965.

Now a resident of Takoma

Park, Md., Harris leads a

life that people even 30

years his junior would envy.Despite recurring episodes of

arthritis, he doesnt take any

medication and cites keepingan active mind and body as

his secret to staying well.

In the days leading up to

his 100th birthday on July31, he received a specialletter from President Obama

congratulating him on his

lengthy lifespan and havingthe opportunity to witness

many famous events in

American history.It was a feeling that I

never would forget, Harris

said, speaking about the letter.Ive had some wonderful

memoriesall in all, the old

man is still blessed.

D.C. Native Celebrates Life at 100

By AFRO Sta

Communities east of the

Anacostia River are going

green thanks to the effortsof Project Dream Green,

a group of local youthsdedicated to environmental

conservation.

Ranging from 14 to 21years old, the 72 young

peoplewho come from

Northeast Washingtoncommunities most

impacted by pollution

and other environmentaldegradationare distributing

energy-efcient lightbulbs throughout their

neighborhoods, educating

residents about conservation,picking up trash along the

Anacostia and engaging

in entrepreneurship andadvocacy training.

Im excited to be a part of

Project Dream Green, becausewe all need to go green for

the future of our children andgrandchildren, said Shawnte

Smith, 21, a member of the

Project Green Team, in apress release. Everyone can

take action by recycling,

cleaning up their rivers andparks, and using energy-

efcient products. Going

green is good for the planet,good for people, and good for

your wallet.

Project Dream Green,which was funded by the

District Department of theEnvironment (DDOE), aims

to empower young people to

address the environmentalissues within their own

communities, strengthening

the community as a whole.All communities

should be green, healthy,

and prosperous, said ChrisBradshaw, executive director

of Dreaming Out Loud, whichdeveloped the campaign

along with another nonprot,

Groundwork Anacostia.Dreaming green can start

with just an energy-efcient

light bulb. The end goal isto work to environmental

sustainability and health

for our children andgrandchildren.

D.C. YouthsLead GreenRevolution

Bowie State Lauded in National

College Access Guide

Courtesy Photo

Monica Turner, director ofBSU TRIO-Student Support

Services.

Elmer Harris in a 1945 Army photo and today at 100.Courtesy Photos


6/16


By Stephen D. Riley

AFRO Staf Writer

Whats the next step in a

down economy where jobs

arent hiring and salaries

arent climbing? Simple

take a page from Sharan

Nixons playbook and

form your own self-made

conglomerate. The budding

business mogul is a one-

woman building crew. She

manages three businesses

along with three children but

still nds time to masquerade

in a normal life.

The founder of Baltimore

Fashion Week (BFW) is

way too busy right now.

Her annual BFW is fast

approaching its Aug. 19 startdate and her latest nonprot

creation, Nixon Development,

just launched in 2009 with

intentions set on remaking the

worldstarting rst with the

worlds core: its youth.

[Nixon Developments]

sole purpose and goal as an

organization is to save our

youth and guide them down a

pathway to a new normal that

will either introduce or re-

ignite them to a dream once

unfullled, Nixon says.

Its somewhat tting in

a way that Nixons newest

creation revolves around

adolescents. Nixon harvested

childhood dreams of

becoming a teacher because

she liked writing on the

blackboard and making

ditto copies for the class.

Although she didnt quite

make it to the schoolroom,

headlining her own youth-

salvation program is

rewarding enough.

Just like her current

business prole, Nixon had

her ideas in a little bit of

everything as an amateur. A

fashion fanatic as a teenager,

she spent her free time

reading style magazines and

presaging her move into the

industry. That fashion bug

eventually grew into BFW

but it was her work in event

management that sparked her

inner entrepreneur and led to

her rst enterprise, Buttery

Productions.

That was my husband[and] my life and it seemed

as if everything else revolved

around it, Nixon revealed.

Putting her all into her rst

business was rewarding but

success came at a cost for the

mother of three.

One [evening] I was

pulling an all-nighter and

my son came to me and

said Mom, youre always

working and we miss you,

Nixon recalled. I replied,

But Im right here [and] he

replied Its not the same. I

was working from home at

the time [but] it was a major

wake-up call for me whenmy son said that. After that

statement, I returned to being

a mom again.

With her priorities

balanced and family happy,

Nixon takes pleasure in

starring as a self-employed

business woman. The freedom

to come, go and do as she

pleases gives her all the

job security she needs; in

spite of a few life learning

experiences along the way.In the beginning, starting

my own business was a grand

idea, Nixon adds. But then

you have to learn how to live,

love, and work, and you also

have to learn how to separate

the three when the time

comes. Running any kind

of business large or small is

hard, but you need to have a

strong support system and a

grounded spiritual belief.

For upcoming dates

and locations on Baltimore

Fashion Week or more on

Nixons enterprises visit:www.butteryprods.com and

baltimorefashionweek.com

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BusinessHandling it All: Local Woman Moonlights as Mom and Manager

Photo by Jazzy Photos

Behind the ashionably styled exterior is Sharan Nixon:

mother o three and owner o many businesses. Nixons

Butterfy Productions company produces the annualBaltimore Fashion Week, which will run rom Aug. 19-22.

With her priorities balanced and familyhappy, Nixon takes pleasure in starring as

a self-employed business woman.


7/16


Last March, President

Obama invited me to joinhim at the White House as hesigned our Patient Protectionand Affordable Care Act

(H.R. 3590) into law.While waiting for the

president to arrive at that

historic ceremony, mythoughts went out to the

millions of Americans whose lives will be transformed for the

better because of what we had been able to accomplish.I thought back to July of last year when thousands of our

neighbors dialed into to my Healthcare Telephone Town Hall.They knew that health care reform was a challenge we had to

meet.

My neighbors expressed their deep concerns aboutskyrocketing insurance premiums, losing their coverage, and

being denied insurance because of pre-existing conditions.

They understood that out-of-control costs and bloated insurancecompany prots were stiing our economy and forcing

thousands into bankruptcy.

Most compelling of all, they testied to an even harshertruth. Tens of thousands of Americans have been dying each

year because they lacked insurance coverage.Our president and I realized that these premature deaths are

an unacceptable blight upon our national morality. Standing

there with him last March, I recalled a press conference I hadheld to project some humanity into a national healthcare debate

that was becoming too abstract.

I will never forget those who spoke then from their own lifeexperience.

Beverly Barkoye had suffered two strokes. Any humane

society would have assured her a regular doctors care but shewas living in fear because she had no insurance.

Mr. George Kelly and Ms. Sandra Teplica had lost theirinsurance coverage while being treated for cancer and, then,

were denied alternative coverage because they had preexistingconditions.

What are we to do? they asked

their nation.Now, we can give them the

answer they deserve.

Aug. 1 was the day our

Affordable Care Actbecame realfor people in Maryland with pre-

existing conditions, a day all of

us should remember and celebrate.Here in Maryland, thanks to

visionary action by Gov. Martin

OMalley and our MarylandLegislature, our state can expect

to receive $85 million in federalfunding to assure that neighbors

like Beverly Barkoye, George Kelly

and Sandra Teplica receive themore affordable, high-quality health

insurance that they need.

It is critical that we pass thismessage on to family and friends

who have no health insurance because of their medical condition.

Now, after being without insurance for six months,Maryland residents with pre-existing medical conditions can

apply for and receive insurance through the Maryland HealthInsurance Plan.

They simply need to call (443) 738-0067 or go on the

Internet to http://www.marylandhealthinsuranceplan.state.md.us. The MHIP Federal Insurance Plan covers a broad

range of health benets, including primary and specialty care,

hospital care and prescription drugs and it does so even whenthe health care treatment is for pre-existing conditions.

This insurance is designed to be affordable, not free.

Premiums range from $141 monthly for individuals under 30 to$354 monthly from persons 65 and older. There also is a $1,500

deductible and a $1,500 out-of-pocket limit.To be certain, this is not the national, single-payer health

insurance system based upon Medicare that I would prefer(and believe this nation will ultimately adopt). However, it is

a life-saver for the nearly 10,000 Marylanders like Beverly

Barkoye, George Kelly and Sandra Teplica whose lives would

be at far greater risk without it.For all of the ranting, partisan opposition, the debate

about health care reform is ultimately based upon a very

straightforward choice: Either we believe that every life hasvalue and that we all are in this life together or we do not.

No humane society can allow between 18,000 and 45,000

human beings to die every year, simply because they cannotafford a health insurance plan. That, however, is precisely what

the greatest nation in the world has been doing and what our

Affordable Care Actis designed to end.After all, our survival and the survival of those we love are

also pre-existing conditions to everything else in life that wehold dear.

Congressman Elijah E. Cummings represents Marylands

Seventh Congressional District in the United States House ofRepresentatives.

(NNPA) At the recentNational Urban League

convention, PresidentObamas speech took aim at

criticisms launched by the

Black civil rights communityover the educational reforms

proposed by Secretary of

Education Arne Duncan.The 17-page document,

Framework for

Providing All Studentsan Opportunity to Learn

through Reauthorizationof the Elementary and

Secondary Education Act,

was put together by the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights,the NAACP, the National Urban League, Rainbow PUSH

Coalition, National Council for Educating Black Children

and the Schott Foundation for Public Education. Theseorganizations discovered last year that Duncan was putting

together a draft proposal known as Race To The Top with

little input from the African-American community, and thisdocument stands as an important critique of that proposal from

our point of view.

I knew that something was terribly wrong about the Duncanproposals when Diane Ravitch, an architect of No Child

Left Behind in the Bush administration, wrote a piece in The

Nation explaining why she no longer supports NCLB. In that

piece she says, I expected that Obama would throw out NCLB

and start over. But, on the contrary, his administration hasembraced some of the worst features of the George W. Bush

era.

Specically she was talking about how her view of bothchoice and accountability had changed and her conclusion

that neither would improve American education. A radical pointof view!

So, President Obama at the NUL pointed to the

unprecedented amount of funds for education in theRecovery

Actthat saved the jobs of many teachers and the recent roll

out of the grant program that provided funds for Race To

The Top to the rst 18 states. He defended the criticism thatit was not supportive of minority students by saying that state

proposals had to have a robust minority program.

He spent a great deal of time suggesting that while hesupported teachers, they were, in effect, the lynchpin of

accountability for his new reforms. Again, this view verylittle different from the Bush administrations also goes after

teachers unions as a barrier to the concept of accountability.

Moreover, since civil rights groups criticize the Duncanplan as too charter school top heavy, the president defended

it by saying the bad ones [charter schools] would be closed

down. But this didnt challenge the concept, since a recentauthoritative study by Margaret Raymond at Stanford

University, for the pro-charter Walton Family Foundation,

found that only 17 percent of charters out-performed matchedpublic schools; the other 83 percent were either no better or no

worse.

These ndings are similar to those in Washington, D.C.,which has the largest number of charters in the country.

The support for charters and public funding of privateschools is the modern version of the segregated academies

of the period beforeBrown v. Board of Education. Today,

Whites ee public schools demanding choice as they becomesignicantly populated by Black and Hispanic students and so

the neoliberal paradigm that devalues public education where

most Black children are has become ofcial. Many Blackparents support choice because it has been sold to them as

providing the best education.The Obama administration has put the largest amount of

money on the table for education in the history of the country.

But he needs to change the paradigm of accountability aspunishment if a school doesnt turn around, to emphasize

what Barbara Arnwine, president of the Lawyers Committee,

says should be providing the necessary resources to enrich theacademic culture to enable these schools to succeed.

In this scheme of things, accountability should be changed

to supplement the deciencies in the resources foundation of aschool, not to assume that all the needed resources are there and

the teachers are the main culprit in lack of student achievement.Teachers are but one factor. In a 21st century model of

excellent education, the mountain of research that links

poverty to education suggests that a more rigorous social unitshould be developed for schools. Otherwise, the NCLB model

of blaming teachers is what has led the Washington, D.C.

Chancellor Michelle Rhee to re 241 teachers, with 700 moreon the list because they didnt evaluate well on a questionable

measurement standard.

The president suggests that while Duncan is trying to shakethings up, those who oppose him either resist change or are

comfortable with the status quo. Does he really believe that

these civil rights organizations dont want the best for Blackchildren?

Ron Walters is a political analyst and professor emeritus

of government and politics at the University of Maryland,

College Park. His latest book, with Toni-Michelle Travis is,

Democratic Destiny and the District of Columbia (Rowman

and Littleeld Publishers, 2010).

Racist Picture o Lynching in Your PaperI was appalled to open this weeks edition of theAFRO to nd a

racially insensitive, politically slanderous, and historically incorrectpicture of a lynching by an artist whose name appears to be Ko

Tyus. This picture appeared beside the opinion piece: The GreatAmerican Racial Abyss, which pretended to point out race-baitingon both sides of the political spectrum, but which was clearly slanted

to favor the Democratic Party and its devoted operatives in the Blackcommunity.

The photo which I am referring to features the words, Right

Wing Propaganda over a man in a hood and robe setting re to aBlack woman (Shirley Sherrod) tied to a post or a tree, with the word

FEAR underneath the re. This is an unmistakable association witha lynching, as many of my ancestors were tied to trees and burnedalive by White men in hoods and robes. This is grossly insulting, as

the so-called right wing was never among these types. In fact, ifMr. Tyus had done his research or knew his history, he would knowthat it was the Democratic Party that launched the Ku Klux Klan, and

which lynched Black people for over half-a-century, continuing theirdiscrimination well into the 1960s and beyond. This picture serves to

undo all of the equivocation that the article beside it pretends to do. Itleaves in the mind of the reader the impression that Republicans arelynching Black people. This is not very different from what I see in

your paper every week. Youve done a terric, though sophomoricjob of demonizing your opponent. If you cant compare them toNazis (this has already been done) then compare them to the Klan.

Ignore the truth or the facts, and just demonize, demonize, demonize.The other articles in your paper, especially the front-page article

titled Obama, NAACP Caught by Race Bait written by Zenitha

Prince, also serves to reinforce the Democratic Partys lie that

Republicans are racist, and it also brings the tea party into thesame umbrella, to be hated and vilied by any who dont know theirhistory or cant read between the all the misinformation contained

therein. You also printed a Letter to the Editor which attackedMichael Steele and other Blacks in the Republican Party, or whodefended the tea parties. Reecting back to your papers attempts to

defend the NAACP and the Obama administration, both for cryingracism during the health care rallies when there was no racism and

for ring Shirley Sherrod without checking their facts, it is clear thatyour paper is just a print version of the NAACP, which serves not toadvance the interests of colored people, but to advance and defend

the interests of the Democratic Partythe party that lynched myancestors, enslaved my ancestors, and which continues to persecutemy contemporaries and future generations through a godless, socialist

agenda based on self-hate, race-hate, and hatred of the founding, thehistory, and the continued existence of the United States of America.

We have a house divided once again, and with the continuedbaseless, devotedly partisan attacks like your paper is engaging in, itwill not long stand.

Robert Broadus

Candidate for Marylands Fourth Congressional District

The Tragedy o a Promised Unulflled Still No 40 Acres

and a MuleWhen will government ofcials in Washington keep their

promises to Black Americans? During the reconstruction period afterthe Civil War, government ofcials promised emancipated slaves that

instead of farming for someone else under the conditions of forced

labor, torture and abuse, they would be given the opportunity of fullcitizenship: to own land, protect land and farm their own land fortheir own prot and for the good of the community.

Well over 200 years later, the National Black Farmers Associationis still waiting for the approval of a $1.25 million settlement(probably the sum of the 40 acres and mules freed slaves should have

received in the rst place), as Black farmers have continued to sufferdiscrimination and losses in nancial opportunities and benets from

the very government department created to partner with them Itis important to note that for years, many Black Americans have feltthey were owed reparations for the years of toiling the land in

the slavery system of the United States. No bargains yet. However,it is also important to note that other ethnic groups have receivedreparations (Japanese-Americans due to the internment during

World War II; Native Americans due to lands stolen by the U.S.government). My next question is: when will Black Americans, who

spent over 200 years of slavery farming this land, be compensated?Where is the 40 acres and mule? When will Black farmers be repaidfor the years of discrimination since the Civil War? They dont

need another chief in the civil rights department of the USDA. TheUSDA secretary should use the full force of policy and programs toenforce the policies and share the benets with every farmer in this

country. There is a great need still, for governance in the government.Government ofcials, lets get it right!

Verinda M. Birdsong

Baltimore City, Md.

Letters to the Editor

Opinion

Ron Walters

Blacks Split With Obama Over Education Reform

Life is a Pre-existing Condition

Rep. Elijah

Cummings


8/16


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9/16

August 7, 2010 - August 13, 2010, The Afro-American B1

Gospel music lovers romacross the Washington, D.C.metropolitan area gathered at THE

PLATEAU at National Harbor, PrinceGeorges County, Md., to witness

the long-awaited reunion tour ogospel Grammy-winning duo BeBe

and CeCe Winans. Other notable

gospel perormers includedByron Cage, known as the Prince

o Praise, eight-time Grammy-

nominated saxophonist KirkWhalum and the award-winning a

cappella group Take 6. WHUR 96.3

FM radio personality Jacquie GalesWebb served as the mistress o

ceremonies. Despite the extremesummer heat, concertgoers lited

up their hallelujahs and oot-

stomping praises.

WHUR 96.3FM radio

personalityJacquieGales Webb

served as theofcial host.

Saxophonist Kirk Whalum

perorms at the GospelReunion Tour.

David Thompsono The SoulFactory Church,

springs up romhis audience

seat and singsalong with KirkWhalums Falling

in Love WithJesus.

Take 6 perorms

Saxophonist KirkWhalum, motivational

speaker Willie Jolley andlocal gospel artist JohnStandard

Pamela Harris, Sherry Patton, Monica Curtis,

Mechelle Williams and Sheila TabbsByron Cage and two o his ensemble members

CeCe Winans beltsout a soulul note

BeBe Winans and a backup singer

BeBe and CeCe

PhotosbyDanitaDelaney

More than 400 guests and amily

members gathered at the home

o ormer Washington Redskinsplayer Chris Samuels in honor o his

ormal retirement. Samuels, a six-time NFL Pro-Bowler, played with

the Redskins or 10 years.

The luau-styleparty included

loads o ood,

activitiesand a

perormance rom go-go music legend

Chuck Brown.

Special guests included Samuels motherShirley Samuels, Redskins head coach

Mike Shanahan, Redskins teammates andother NFL stars. Samuels spoke to guests

expressing his

gratitude or allwho helped him

along the way,

especially hismother.

Sheila Stewart, publicist

Chris Samuels and his mother

Shirley Samuels

Kelvin Siegler, Tyrone Madison, Chris Samuels and DejuanShambley

Chris Samuels answers questionsrom the media.

Volunteer models Melise, Teresaand Megan

Guests prepare to eat.

Monique (Hazel) Coxand Trenair Royal

Chris Samuels, Redskins head coachMike Shanahan and his son Kyle

Redskins playerMike Sellers and

his amily

Chuck Brown

Photos by Rob Roberts

On Aug. 7, Vashti-Jasmine McKenzie and Amos Saint-Jean will wedat Ebenezer Arican Methodist Episcopal Church in Fort Washington,

Md. The bride is a graduate o Howard University and the groom

attended the University o Central Florida. McKenzie writes aith-based column GospelFab! and Saint-Jean is a gospel music artist.

CourtesyPhoto

Invited guests enjoy the lavish pool


10/16

B2 The Afro-American, August 7, 2010 - August 13, 2010

By Perry GreenAFRO Sports Editor

Meet Joe Charles, a 6-foot-6-inch,350-pound Silver Spring, Md. native with theprototypical size and talent of a pile-drivingNFL offensive lineman. Unfortunately forCharles, he hasnt received the same exposuremost prospects receive upon entry to the prolevel.

While most of the 300-pounders seencolliding into each other on NFL Sundayscome from powerhouse collegiate athleticconferences such as the SoutheasternConference (SEC) or the Atlantic CoastConference (ACC), Charles dominated on a

much smaller stage.After attending junior college, the 25-year-old played two seasons for the Glenville StateCollege Pioneers under the direction of headcoach Alan Fiddler. Charles helped GlenvilleState win the West Virginia IntercollegiateAthletic Conference (WVIAC) championshipin 2008 and earned All-WVIAC 1st teamhonors in 2009. He led his team with morethan 100 knockdowns in his senior year, whichhelped him rank amongst the top 60 offensivelinemen listed in the 2010 NFL Draft.

But despite being one of very fewDivision II football players listed on theProfootballweekly.com NFL prospects list,Charles wasnt drafted or signed by an NFLteam this offseason. Charles hasnt quit yet,however. He signed earlier this summerwith the Richmond Revolution of the IndoorFootball League after graduating from

Glenville State.Revolution head coach Steve Criswell

coached Charles during the WVIAC All-StarGame and couldnt help notice his talent.Besides his obvious size and skills as a runblocker, Joe has excellent leadership skills,coach Criswell told the AFRO. He was astand-up leader throughout the entire All-Stargame experience, so when I noticed him at oneof our games at the end of the season, I had toget him on my team.

Charles wasnt offered a contract untilJune, but because the IFLs season runs fromspring through summer, he was still able tocontribute to the teams postseason play. TheRichmond Revolution had an outstanding13-1 record this past season led by formerVirginia Tech star quarterback and 2010 IFLMVP Bryan Randall. The Revolution earneda trip to the playoffs, but lost to the RochesterRaiders, 26-24, in the rst round.

Charles says hes already waiting for the2011 season to start. Im ready to get back on

the eld and continue proving why I belong,said Charles, who will more than likely takeon the vital responsibility of protecting hisquarterbacks blindside. The game is a littledifferent than what I played in college, but Ican handle the challenge.

Indoor football is different from standardAmerican football because the eld is only50 yards long and about 85 feet wide. Indoorfootball also allows only eight players fromeach team to take the eld each play versusthe 11-on-11 format of the NFL. With a muchshorter, less-wide eld, indoor football appearsmuch faster than the style of football Charleshas played throughout most of his career. Buthe thinks playing at this speed will help himwhen he does nally make it to the next level.The game is so fast so I have to get out inmy blocking stance quicker and make my runblocks with more explosion, Charles told theAFRO.

He also mentioned how former NFL MVPKurt Warner once dominated indoor footballand how it helped him become a better playeronce he made it to the NFL. Warner is bestknown for his quick passing release, and thatssomething he had to develop just to survive inan indoor football environment, Charles said,

so maybe Ill develop some good habits herethat will help me defenders off quarterbackslike Warner.

No Average Joe on the Path tothe Pros

Courtesy Photo

Maryland native Joseph Charles hopes theIndoor Football League will be a valuable

stepping stone in his path to the NFL.

By Stephen D. RileyAFRO Staf Writer

The Washington Redskinshave entered training campwith excitement before, butnever quite like this.

Redskins training campofcially kicked off lastFriday, and new head coach

Mike Shanahan is expectedto implement some of thesame offensive principles thathelped make him a two-timeSuper Bowl winner as thecoach of the Denver Broncos.

The Easter Day additionof franchise quarterbackDonovan McNabbimmediately put Washingtonback on the map as a teamto be recognized. AprilsNFL Draft brought in TrentWilliams, a young andagile offensive tackle, toman one of the end spots.And a June trade acquiredformer Pro Bowl left tackleJammal Brown to complete

the overhaul of a unit thatstruggled mightily in its lastcampaign.

Additionally, running backClinton Portis is reportedlyin terric shape, down to217 pounds from his normalplaying weight of 230. Aftera concussion ended Portisseason short last year, the

29-year-old is ready to returnto prominence.The prospect of grouping

the aforementioned with adefense that nished 10thoverall last season has severalfootball fans around theDistrict on high alert. Butgridiron groupies may haveto temper their enthusiasm.Despite a series of offseasonacquisitions, much of theRedskins summer wasovershadowed by the actionsof disgruntled defensivelineman Albert Haynesworth.Albert originally balked atthe clubs switch to a 3-4alignment after signing a$100-million contract in 2009under the premise that the

team would stick with a 4-3formatwhich Haynesworthplayed under in each of hiseight seasons in the NFL.Haynesworth then becamethe talk of the locker roomafter accepting a $21-millionroster bonus in April, thenproceeding to miss all of theclubs offseason workoutsand minicamps. The 29-year-old lineman has recentlysaid hes ne with the clubsswitch and reported to theteam the day before trainingcamp last week but failedback-to-back conditioningtests before being set back by

a swollen knee.Aside from Haynesworth,

the club has biggerproblems, including analways-competitive NFCEast division and a table ofremaining questions.

Due to the ood ofupgraded talent, the offensiveline needs to gel quickly in

camp and in the preseason.The unit could potentiallybreak in four new starters, soquickly established continuityis a must. A second receiveroption must emerge betweenthird-year veterans DevinThomas and Malcolm Kelly,who both failed to impressin the offseason accordingto early summer reports.And although the defenseperformed admirably at timeslast season, adjusting to anew scheme could pose as achallenge as well.

How Shanahan faresin his rst season as headcoach could also be timeconsuming. Washingtonunderachieved notoriously

last season and was booedoff its home eld habituallyby irritated fans. Mixingthe hard-nosed coach witha group of underachieverscould be problematic if theteam gets out to a slow start.The talent is denitely therein Washington, however. Theteam is littered with numeroushigh-prole players, butit will be interesting tosee how the club handlesbreaking in a new coach, anew quarterback, and newoffensive and defensiveschemes, along withheightened expectations.

Concerns Hover over RedskinsTraining Camp

AFRO File Photo/Khalid Naji-Allah

Redskins high-priced

defensive tackle AlbertHaynesworth failed back-

to-back conditioning tests

before succumbing to aswollen knee.


11/16


www.aro.com

By AFRO Staf

Desiree Jordan, a growing tour de force

on the Washington, D.C., music scene, is

prepared to showcase her vocal talents and

stage persona likened to Vanessa Williams,

Celine Dion and Dorothy Dandridge by

legendary vocal coach Wesley A. Boyd at

Silver Springs Local Live summer concert

series on Aug. 6.

The singer and pianist was born in

Washington, D.C., and raised in Silver

Spring, Md., and said she developed her

love for music growing up in church. Using

her gospel roots, Jordan went on to perform

with the Washington Performing Arts

Societys Children of the Gospel Mass Choir

and Psalms Ministries before entering her

freshman year of college at the University ofMaryland, College Park. There, she became

an active member of the gospel choir andbecame a youth director at church in the

District.

As an intern during her college years,

Jordan worked behind the scenes as concert

liaison and host of the information and

merchandise tents for the Silver Spring

Regional Centers Thursday night concert

series, Silver Spring Swings. Now, shes set

to make her debut on the foreground with

band DeseJo.

The concert is sponsored by Downtown

Silver Spring, Courtyard by Marriott and

DeseJo Entertainment.

The Silver Spring Friday Local Live

Summer Concert Series takes place 6:30-8:30 p.m. at 916 Ellsworth Drive. For more

information visit downtownsilverspring.comand desireejordan.weebly.com.

Homegrown Talent to HeadlineConcert Series

Courtesy Photo

Desiree Jordan

By Gregory DaleAFRO Staf Writer

The historic components of hip hopan emcee, microphone and disc

jockeychanged as the genre evolved over the years. The latter of the list,

once the fundamental backbone of classic hip hop, eventually started to fade

as music moved into a new era. But hip hop guru Eddie Myles aims to reassert

the DJ as a central gure in this genre and honor the masters of this forgotten

talent through an upcoming award show scheduled to take place in Atlanta.

The annual International DJ Trade Association Awards, founded by Myles,

spotlights DJsthose who are responsible for much of the music we hear today.

Throughout the years, DJs were never really concentrated on or respected

in the game for breaking records, Myles told theAFRO in a recent interview.

DJs dont make as much money as these artists do and DJs are the ones that

put them on the map.

Myles, deemed hip hops youngest forefather, witnessed the

unrecognized contributions of DJs rsthand. Recruited in 1973 by the

famous hip-hop DJ Afrika Bambaataa, Myles was given the duties of ensuring

the safety of Bambaataa and DJs Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash and Red

Alert. Over a decade later, he founded Edwin Myles Consulting Firm, an

organization that aims to promote numerous independent and major record

labels and artists.

As a veteran in the game and entertainment industry insider for over 25

years, Myles has helped to launch the careers of artists such as Master P, B2K,

Ginuwine and Mack 10, among many others. He launched the IDJ

Trade Association in 2008 and continues to extend his knowledge

to promote and consult artists, DJs, record labels and businesses

worldwide.

The IDJT awards, now approaching its third year, spotlights various

radio DJs on a local, regional, national and international scale. In

addition, club and mixtape DJs are also honored, as they often

play pivotal roles in the industry.

Theres over 3,000 DJs already registered this yearthe

response is overwhelming, Myles said. Its not just a hip-

hop situation; were dealing with all genres. Were honoring

the oldest DJ alive to todays DJ.

The event will also feature a lineup of big names in

the industry including Crime Mob, the Force MDs and

Waka Flocka. Singers Montell Jordan and Angie Stone

are set to host the show.

The three-day event will also feature a trade expo,

celebrity basketball game, empowerment seminars and

an entertainment workshop among many other events.

The Annual International DJ Trade AssociationAwards and Expo will take place on Aug. 8 and

will conclude on Aug. 11 in Atlanta, Ga. For more

information, visit: idjtrade.com.

By AFRO Staf

Black theater has long been a part of Americas

entertainment tradition, with stars such as Cosby Show

actress Phylicia Rashad and media mogul Sean Diddy Combs

frequently making appearances on stage. In honor of the craft,

the rst D.C. Black Theater Festival showcased the works of

more than 70 playwrights, directors and theater companies

from around the world Aug. 1-7.

According to festival Executive Director Glenn Alan, the

event highlighted traditional and urban theater projects that

speak to the Black experience.

The festival included an array of visual presentations,

workshops, a monologue competition and a nightly one-act

competition at various theaters in the District. However, the

highlight of the week-long event was the series of plays

dramedys, comedies, improvisations and more.

Among the featured production was Desi P. SheltonsIKilled My Babys Daddy, a one-woman play examining thejourneys of single mothers; The Black Man-o-logues, which

offers the male perspective on Black love and God is on

By AFRO Staf

Bens Chili Bowl has become an undeniable staple in the Districts food culture.

Chili-laden half-smokes, piquant hot dogs and mounds of French fries have made this

hometown hotspot an international destination.

But nearby Marylanders wont have to go far when the urge for a signature chili

dog strikes. Bens Chili Bowl has announced a partnership with Six Flags Americathat will bring their famed food to two locations throughout the Bowie theme park and

Hurricane Harbor Water Park. The new venue marks the rst theme park location and

only the fth place in the metropolitan area where Bens Chili Bowl lovers can nosh

on the comfort food delicacies crafted by founder Ben Ali more than 50 years ago.

Since 1958, Bens Chili Bowl has been a Washington, D.C. institution, serving

meals for blue-collar workers, students, international leaders and everyone in between.

The restaurant - and its upscale spinoff Bens Next Door is run by Alis sons Kamal

and Nizam.

Photo courtesy of benschilibowl.com

Bens Chili Bowl will now serve itscelebrated chili dogs and hal-smokes

at Six Flags America in Bowie, Md.

D.C.s Bens Chili Bowl Ventures into Maryland

By Kam WilliamsSpecial to the AFRO

After serving his country

in Vietnam, Henry Marrow

(A.C. Sanford) returned to his

hometown of Oxford, N.C.,

only to be murdered in broad

daylight for allegedly leering

at a White woman. On May

11, 1970, the 23 year-old

African-American veteran

left behind a pregnant widow

(Milauna Jemai) and two

young daughters, while the

perpetrators of the heinous

crime were found not-guilty

by an all-white jury, despite

credible testimony of several

eyewitnesses who identied

the perpetrators as Ku Klux

Klan sympathizer Robert Teel

(Nick Searcy) and his son.

The outcome of the trial

was no surprise, after all,

Black-White relations hadnt

changed that much in the tiny

Southern town since it was

founded during the slave days

by Samuel Benton, a wealthy,

politically-connected, tobacco

plantation owner. But what

was unexpected was the

rioting which erupted in the

wake of the verdict when

outraged young African

Americans took to the streets

in protest.

At that juncture, Marrows

cousin, a schoolteacher named

Ben Chavis (Nate Parker),

emerged to play a pivotal

role in ensuring that cooler

heads prevailed in the black

community. He organized a

peaceful, three-day, 50-mile

march joined by thousands

to the steps of the state

capitol in Raleigh where they

petitioned the governor for

both justice and integration.

And that valiant effort, which

kickstarted Chavis career as a

prominent civil rights leader, is

the subject ofBlood Done SignMy Name, a riveting historicaldrama directed by Jeb Stuart.

This harrowing tale of

hope and woe was based on

the moving memoir of Tim

Tyson (Gattlin Grifth) who

was only 10 years old at the

time the events in the story

unfolded. Tims father (Ricky

Schroder) was the pastor of

Oxfords lily-white Methodist

church, and what makes the

lm compelling is the way in

which the narration alternates

back and forth between

the perspectives of little

Timmy and the increasingly

emboldened Ben Chavis.

A bifurcated bio-pic

examining the equally

emotionally-charged points-

of-view of both Black and

White observers of the fallout

of the same ugly incident.

Excellent (HHHH stars)

Rated PG-13 for profanity,

mature themes and intense

violence.

Running time: 128

Minutes

Distributor: Image

Entertainment

Riveting, Real-Life, Civil Rights-Era Drama Released on DVD

On aro.comDC Fab! Exposed

All Hail the DJHip-hop pioneers honored at awards showcase

Courtesy Photo

Eddie OG

Eddie Myles

D.C. Black Theater FestivalMakes Summer Debut

the Devil$ Payrollan irreverent production that examines

good versus evil through the eyes of three men following the

earthquake destruction in Haiti.

Visit dcblacktheatrefestival.com for more information.

CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS FOR THEATERS AND SHOWTIMES

COLUMBIA PICTURES P R ES E NT S AGARY SANCHEZ/MOSAICPRODUCTION A FILM BYADAM McKAY THE OTHER GUYSEVA MENDES MICHAEL KEATON WITH SAMUEL L. JACKSON AND DWAYNE JOHNSONRAY STEVENSONSTEVE COOGAN

EXECUTIVEPRODUCERS DAVID HOUSEHOLTER CHRIS HENCHY KEVIN MESSICK

MUSICBY

JON BRIONWRITTEN

BYADAM McKAY & CHRIS HENCHYPRODUCED

BY

WILL FERRELL ADAM McKAY JIMMY MILLER PATRICK CROWLEYDIRECTED

BYADAM McKAY

INCLUDES PIMPS DONT CRY PERFORMED BY CEE-LO GREEN FEATURING EVA MENDES

FUNNY AND ORIGINAL...FERRELL AND WAHLBERG

ARE HYSTERICAL!Bill Zwecker, FOX-TV

THE SUMMERSFUNNIEST

MOVIE.Mark S. Allen, CBS/CW STATIONS


12/16

B4 The Afro-American, August 7, 2010 - August 7, 2010

/reeses

The Maryland Lottery encourages responsible play. Remember, its just a game.

2010 The Hershey Company. The HERSHEYS and REESES trademarks and trade dresses are used under license, MDI Entertainment.

Made in the USA.


13/16


ORIG. PRICES ARE OFFERING PRICES, AND SAVINGS MAY NOT BE BASED ON ACTUAL SALES. SOME ORIG. PRICES NOT IN EFFECT DURINGTHE PAST 90 DAYS. EXTRA SAVINGS VALID THROUGH 8/8/10. *Intermediate price reductions may have been taken. Extra savings are taken offalready-reduced sale prices; final cost prices reflect extra savings. Orig. items are available while supplies last. Fine jewelry at select stores,log on to macys.com for locations . Advertised items may not be available at your local Macys, and selections may vary. Prices and merchandisemay differ at macys.com. For store locations & hours, log on to macys.com.

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Community CalendarAug

. 5Prince Among Slaves

Busboys and Poets, 1390V St. N.W. D.C. 6-8:30p.m. Join in the speciallm screening ofPrinceAmong S

Prince George's County Afro-American Newspaper, August 07, 2010

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Transcript of Prince George's County Afro-American Newspaper, August 07, 2010