Washington D.C. Afro-American Newspaper, March 19, 2011

8/7/2019 Washington D.C. Afro-American Newspaper, March 19, 2011

1/16

Volume 119 No. 32 www.afro.com $1.00

Copyright 2011 by the Afro-American Company

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MARCH 19, 2011 - MARCH 25, 2011

Hear the AFRO on The DailyDrum, Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Join the AFROonTwitter and Facebook

D.C. NativesWork

Featured inFilm Fest B3

First All-BlackPolo Team WinsTitle B4

Sorry, Sessoms,WE DONT BUY IT A7

OpinionLinks WearRed forHeart Health

Continued on A4

Continued on A4

B1

Rap mogul 50 Cent, inset, has angered fans with his

tweeted comments in which he made jokes about the

earthquake-precipitated tsunami in Japan late last week,that has left thousands dead and many more injured or

missing. In this photo, members of the Japan GroundSelf-Defense Force walk in a deployment line as they

search tsunami damaged parts of Ofunato, Japan, for

survivors, March 15. See story on afro.com.

Opinions Mixed on KwameBrowns Growing Pains

Kweisi Mfume Stepping Down AsCEO of National Medical Association

Rapper 50 Cent Inames Fans

with Japan Tsunami Jokes

AP Photos

By Valencia Mohammed

Special to the AFRO

The athan, a Muslim call to prayer, sounded throughout

Masjid Muhammad in the Washington, D.C.s northwest asit has for decades to a quiet group of predominantly African

Americans. Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar (God is great. God is

great), the melodious chant would begin.It was time for Jumah, Friday congregational prayer, the

gathering that some American political leaders want to make

illegal. Doctors, nurses, lawyers, accountants, cab drivers,educators, journalists, bankers, elected ofcials, government

workers, laborers, construction workers, business owners,

homeless and the needy stood side-by-side to give reverence toAllah, whom they consider creator of all things.

We are involved in every aspect of American life. We own,

rent, buy and sell. We are intertwined in the fabric of America.We mean no harm, said Sabir Abdus Samee, a Muslim for

over 40 years, before the prayer. Our religion encourages us tocontinue to educate ourselves and be the best. It demands that

we respect others and our community.

Just one day prior on Capitol Hill, Rep. Keith Ellison,

(D-Minn.) and several Muslim leaders testied before Rep.Peter King (R-N.Y.) about what he believed to be radical Islam

developing in America. The hearing came as no surprise withRepublican legislators across the country calling for the many

Local Islamic LeadersCall CongressionalHearing a Witch HuntSay Religion a Positive Force

By Gregory Dale

AFRO Staf Writer

Kweisi Mfume, formerU.S. Congressman and current

chief executive ofcer of the

National Medical Association

(NMA), recently announced

he was stepping down fromthe position, effective in June.

Ive had the opportunity

to work with a great numberof very talented physicians

and scientists, as their chiefadministrator who runs the

ship day in and day out,

Mfume told the AFRO in arecent interview. Ive really

enjoyed my time working

there.The NMA is the nations

oldest and largest medical

association representing theinterests of more than 30,000

African-American physiciansand their patients.

Mfume, who also once

served as president of

the NAACP, notied theNMAs board last week of

his departure thats set tooccur on June 7. Despite his

imminent exit, hes offered to

stay longer in the position to

ensure a smooth transition for

the organizations next leader.Mfume said the organization

has not announced a new

leader.He joined the NMA in

2010, and explained that at thetime of his hire, he agreed to

stay in the position for a year

to try to help it reach its goalof becoming more effective

among plethora of healthcare

and medical organizations.Quite frankly, I feel like

Ive been able to do just

that, working with boardand committee members to

create a more efcient scaloperation, Mfume said.

After working so hard, Im

just going to take a break and

try to recharge my enginesfor whatever my next step

or endeavor might be. Imnot even in a rush to try to

come up with solid plans [for

my next step], but Im suresomething will present itself.

Mfume added that some

of the highlights duringhis tenure at NMA include

helping to reshape it to further

cater to its physicians andpatients needs.

The biggest thinghas been to work with the

physicians there in breathing

a whole new sense of lifeback into the association

and having an opportunity

to make it much more of anadvocacy organization on

behalf of physicians around

the country, Mfume said.The industry is changing

so rapidly and so many ofthose physicians have been

really working hard to ght

those disparities that exist inour communities like cancer,

cardio vascular disease ...hypertension and AIDS.

Additionally, he explained

that hes fought to ensure the

organizations mandate andconcerns were heard among

ofcials on Capitol Hill.

Mfume also workedclosely with the Student

National Medical Association,a subdivision of the

organization, to provide more

mentorship opportunities tohelp them successfully lead the

organization into a new era.

Ive made a big push mywhole time there as I did at

the NAACP, to make sure

that the younger aspect of themovement is not left out,

Mfume said. We ought to beprepared to help them lead the

way into the future.

Kweisi Mfume, seen here in this 2006 photo, hasannounced his plans to resign as president/CEO of

the National Medical Association.AP Photo/Chris Gardner

Alfred Coates, retired government worker

District of ColumbiaCouncil Chairman Kwame

Brown has probably barely

broken in the chair or newdesk in his new ofce. And

in the weeks and months

ahead, things will likely get

more uncomfortable given thescandals that have enveloped

the new chairman.Voters seemed to

forgive Brown when it

was discovered, during his2010 campaign, that he had

personal money troubles,including $50,000 in credit

card debt.

But news this week thatChairman Brown may have

failed to disclose $250,000 in

campaign fundscoming onthe heels of SUV-gate, the

revelation of Browns request

for a fully-loaded SUV andthe resulting hefty costs to the

cityis tipping the scale ofpublic opinion.

The Washington Post

on March 13 reported thatthe Ofce of Campaign

Finance mistakenly or

inadvertently leaked ndingsthat Brown may have failed

to report a quarter-million

dollars in contributions andexpenses during his 2008

bid for reelection to the D.C.Council. The ofce launched

an audit of Browns campaign

nances last September afterofcials became concerned

about irregularities in his

report.

Here, District residentssound off on the scandals and

whether the Council chairmanwill or should resign.

Yes, he should resign because

every time someone gets in

these high political positions

they end up doing something

wrong unless strong ethical

standards are established. I

theres evidence that he

committed something

unethical, he

should resign

beore it ruins

his lie.

With all the bad press, scrutiny andinvestigations at diferent levels, I

think hes going to resign. It makes

you think he was doing this or

years and got away with it until

now. Hes lost all credibility.

Dion Lightfoot, audio visual technician

Photos by

ValenciaMohammed


2/16

A2 The Afro-American, March 19, 2011 - March 25, 2011

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AFRO National BriefsFamed PhotographerBrian Lanker Dies

Pulitzer Prize-winningphotographer Brian Lankerdied March 13 at his home inEugene, Ore., the Register-Guardnewspaper reported.

He was 63.The photojournalists

images were featured in IDream a World: Portraits ofBlack Women Who ChangedAmerica and Track Town,USA.

Brian was a mastercraftsman who didnt needwords to communicate,Register-Guards editor andpublisher, Tony Baker, saidin an article posted on thenewspapers website. Hiscamera work alone made forextraordinary storytelling.He was a consummateprofessional, always preparedwhen on assignment forthe paper. He was a bigpersonality with a big-pictureview of life and of his craft.Brian made everyone aroundhim better at what they did.

Pa. Teen Accused of KillingMom over ConscatedVideo Game

A Philadelphia teen isfacing murder charges afterhe allegedly killed his motherfor taking away his videogame console.

Kendall Anderson, 16,is being charged as an adultfor the alleged murder of hismother, 37-year-old Rashida

Anderson. Following aheated argument on Nov. 26concerning a laptop stolenfrom school, Andersonsmother conscated hisPlayStation video gameconsole.

I couldnt stand thearguing, Anderson saidin a confession read byhomicide Detective ThorstenLucke of the PhiladelphiaPolice Departmentduring a preliminaryhearing. According to ThePhiladelphia Inquirer, theteen deliberated for threehours before he decided tokill his mother.

In his confession,Anderson said he struck hismother with a claw hammer20 times while she slept. Thegruesome confession alsorevealed that he attempted tocremate her body. When hisattempts failed, he proceededto beat her head with achair and dispose of herbody in an alley behind theAndersons home. The bodywas discovered two dayslater, after family memberssuspicions led them to callthe police.

Anderson is chargedwith murder, possession ofan instrument of crime andabuse of a corpse.

If I could, I would notdo it again, Anderson saidin his confession, accordingto reports. I really miss mymom. . . She was the onlyperson who cared for me.

Similar video-gamerelated deaths have occurred

in the past few years. In2008, Tyrone Spellmanof Philadelphia murderedhis 17-month-old daughterafter she broke his Xbox. In2010, Alexandra Tobias ofJacksonville, Fla., pleadedguilty to second-degreemurder after shaking herbaby to death for disturbingher while she played popularFacebook game Farmville.

President Obama, FirstLady Call for United FrontAgainst Bullying

President Obama and rstlady Michelle Obama metwith more than 150 parents,teachers, non-prot leaders,advocates, and policymakersat a White House conferenceon March 10 in an effort toaddress the problem of youthbullying.

Those in attendance

discussed methods toachieve safer schoolsand communities for thenations students. One of theobjectives of the conferencewas to dismiss the idea thatbullying is a part of growingup.

Bullying can have

destructive consequencesfor our young people.And its not something wehave to accept. As parentsand students; teachers andcommunities, we can takesteps that will help preventbullying and create a climatein our schools in which all ofour children can feel safe,Obama said in a preparedstatement.

As parents, this issuereally hits home for us. Itbreaks our hearts to think thatany child feels afraid everyday in the classroom, on theplayground, or even online,the rst lady said. I hope

that all of youand everyonewatching onlinewill walkaway from this conferencewith new ideas and solutionsthat you can take backto your own schools andcommunities.

The conference alsohighlighted private, nonprot,and federal commitments toprevent bullying. MTV andFacebook were among theorganizations that unveiledinitiatives against bullying.

Courtesy Image

Brian Lankers work was

featured in I Dream aWorld: Portraits of Black

Women Who Changed

America.

Courtesy Photo

Kendall Anderson

President Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, broughtthe issue of bullying center stage during a recent WhiteHouse conference on the issue.

Courtesy Photo


3/16

March 19, 2011 - March 25, 2011, The Afro-American A3

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

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questions or to schedule an appt to view bid documents and plans. Quotes

may be faxed to 301-953-2611.

Corman Construction is an Equal Opportunity Employer,

M/F MBE WBE DBE SBE.

By Hazel Trice Edney

TriceEdneyWire.com

WASHINGTON (TriceEdneyWire.com) On the 184th

birthday of the Black Press, March 16, an odd debacle is

underway. The NAACP, the nations oldest and largest civil

rights organization, is under re from Black newspapers around

the country over an issue of economic injustice.NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous admits

that a grave mistake was made right under his nose when

advertising inserts were placed only in White newspapers

on the eve of the organizations annual image awards, which

aired March 4. Danny Bakewell, chairman of the National

Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), a federation of

more than 200 Black-owned newspapers, is demanding justice.

The NAACP needs to know that by ignoring the Black

Press they are cutting off their nose to spite their face,

Bakewell said in a March 7 letter to NNPA publishers, obtained

by the Trice Edney News Wire. We have marched side by

side with them and been their voice in the African American

community. It is truly disheartening to be on the battleeld with

someone and not be able to share in the spoils.

In his rst public response to the issue, Jealous released

a statement on Sunday after he was contacted by the Trice

Edney News Wire. He said a grave mistake was made as the

circular was supposed to appear in both mainstream and Blackcommunity papers.

The advertising debacle has sparked a restorm of criticism

from the Black Press family of which Jealous has long been

a member. Jealous is a former NNPA executive director and a

former editor ofThe Jackson Advocate, an NNPA newspaper.

NAACP insiders said he is set to meet with NNPA leaders and

members this week during the organizations annual trek to

Washington for Black Press Week activities.

I am very sensitive to the need to support Black community

newspapers. They are the only way to assure Black readers in a

given community that you actually want your ads to reach them

directly. In the past, I personally have both sold and purchased

ads in Black community newspapers across the country.

Moreover, I dedicated years of my life to working for them

directly, Jealous said in the statement.

Notwithstanding, Black newspapers across the nation have

long fought advertising discrimination from mainly White

corporate communities which ignore the economic worth of

their readers Black consumers, who spend billions on goods

and services. Therefore, Black publishers have expressed shock

at nding this kind of omission associated with the 100-year-

old NAACP, which has a rich history of ghting alongside theBlack Press for racial and economic equality.

As a unied response to the omission, Bakewell asked

NNPA members to refrain from writing anything about the

Image Awards in the weeks following its airing on FOX.

Scathing articles and editorials joined Bakewells letter.

Robert W. Bogle, publisher of the Philadelphia Tribune,

said in a March 3 Tribune story reprinted by Target Market

News: In (Thursdays) Philadelphia Daily News, the 42nd

NAACP Awards Magazine was inserted and not one copy

was inserted in the Philadelphia Tribune, Americas oldest

and Americas largest daily newspaper serving the African-

American community.

He continued, This action is an insult to the men and

women who work at the Philadelphia Tribune and should be

an insult to Black Americans in this country. The very right of

full inclusion and participation of African Americans has been

denied by the organization that purports that African Americans

should be fairly included in all aspects of American life.New York Beacons Publisher Walter Smith, president of

the 17-member Northeast Publishers Association, wrote in

an editorial, We credit our leaders of the NAACP with good

sound judgment and common sense at least. What were they

thinking when this decision was made? Who were they trying

to attract, and or who were they trying to impress?

Due to legalities, according to the NAACP, Jealous withheld

the name of the advertising agency, which has distributed the

guide for ve years. But, his statement sought to explain howthe omission occurred:

The advertising company originally conceived the guide

and presented it as a fundraiser to the NAACP. It is solely

responsible for selling the ads and handling the distribution. It

pays the NAACP a licensing royalty which is used to support

our ongoing diversity efforts in Hollywood, Jealous states.

Accordingly, I requested and received assurance from the

advertising company that their distribution plan included Black

community newspapers. However, the advertising company has

failed to follow through. This year, when the guides came out,

they did not show up in any Black community newspapers.

He concludes, The NAACP does not condone the agencys

decision to exclude Black community newspapers. It is

contrary to our explicit instruction, and we were not aware of

the agencys decision until after the guides hit the papers, he

said. Nonetheless, it was made for a publication that bears

our name, and as CEO I take ultimate responsibility for it. For

that reason, I have apologized to the NNPA and promised theirleadership this will not happen again.

Black Press Rebukes NAACP in Image Awards Advertising DebacleBen Jealous Admits Grave Mistake


4/16

Continued from A1

Local Islamic Leaders

Continued from A1

Opinions Mixed

A4 The Afro-American , March 19, 2011 - March 25, 2011

School Admissions Director Fights Truancy at Students Front DoorsSpecial to the AFRO

WASHINGTON, D.C. David Clarke isnt a cop or a

truant ofcer, but for a few years now he has taken his ght

against truancy directly to students front doors. Behind those

doors, Clarke often nds students and their families in crisis

causing unexcused absences.

Clarke, the admissions director for the six Washington,

D.C. schools operated by Specialized Education

Services, Inc. (SESI), said student truancy oftenhas complicated underlying causes.

Most of our students are not skipping

school just for the heck of it, Clarke said.

I have found some of our kids with no

food, no electricity, no heat or hot water.

Some were left to babysit younger siblings.

Others were afraid to leave home because

of neighborhood beefs, said Clarke.

Some had no clean clothes, no

money to do laundry and

were embarrassed to come

to school because they

didnt feel presentable.

Mary Rinder, co-

director of SESIs High

Road Academy for high

school students with

learning disabilities, saidgetting these students

back into the classroom is

the rst step.

Our rst priority is to

get these students back in school where we can get them the

help they really need to ensure they keep coming back, she

said.

SESI staff works with the students, their families, the

D.C. Public Schools and the citys Child and Family Services

Agency to secure that assistance, Rinder explained. Our

students and their families may need additional help from D.C.

Public Schools or help from a social service agency, she said.

Sometimes, helping means that we make legally-mandated

reports to the proper authorities. We do everything we can toassist our students and help them to succeed.

Rebecca Williams, director of SESIs High Road Upper

School for high school students with emotional and

behavioral challenges, said SESI administrators often go

beyond the call of duty to meet their students needs.

Our staff has helped students get warm coats,

clothes and shoes, made food runs, helped students get

Social Security cards, replaced missing fare cards for

Metro buses, and rearranged their class schedules to

accommodate child care needs or to allow them to be

home when younger brothers and sisters get there,

Williams said. I recently picked up one of our

students every day for a week to make sure he got

to school.

But the organizations point man in this effort

is Clarke.

Getting help for our students begins

with David Clarke, said Michael Kaufman,CEO of the Yardley, Pa.-based SESI,

which serves District students ages 5-21

with learning disabilities, emotional and

behavioral challenges. Davids approach is

proactive. When our students see David at their front doors,

it demonstrates to them and their families how much we care

about their well-being as well as their education.

Truancy has become a hot-button issue in Washington,

where the number of habitually and chronically truant students

exceeds 8,000 children per year. Those numbers prompted the

D.C. Council to tighten truancy requirements last fall and to

quicken the pace at which child welfare and police intervene.

Clarke began to make home visits to truant students a few

years ago, and says he averages 60 home visits each schoolyear. I want to intervene with our students before their

truancy becomes chronic, said Clarke, who ventures out into

some of the Districts toughest neighborhoods when a student

racks up six to eight unexcused absences.

Clarke is sometimes accompanied on home visits by fellow

SESI admissions director Tina Stith-Twine or by a school

social worker, but often he goes alone. A former Hofstra

University football player, Clarke still cuts an imposing gure,

but he said he still times his home visits between 11 a.m. and

2:30 p.m., when its likely to be safest.

Said Kaufman of Clarkes efforts, The only way we can

make a difference in our students lives is for them to come

to school and stay in school. Nothing is more important to

us than to help them learn, grow, develop social skills and

graduate.

In addition to the High Road Upper School and High Road

Academy, both on Edgewood Street N.E., SESI operates four

other schools in the District including the High Road MiddleSchool on 1st Street and the High Road Academy on Kansas

Avenue, N.E.; and the High Road Primary School and High

Road Primary Academy, both on Taylor Street N.W. You can

learn more about SESI Schools at www.sesi-schools.com.

David Clarke

Islamic practices, includingwashing of feet, to be

considered as acts of terrorism

and punishable as a felony for

15 years.

The fears and negative

reactions towards Muslims

have been mounting since

Sept.11, 2001, after the

attack on the World Trade

Center and the Pentagon by a

group claiming to be Muslim

extremists. The attacks killed

over 6,000 Americans. There

have been other terrorist

attempts on American soil

since that time involving

young radicals here and

abroad.Its a kind of delicate

walk because we cant deny

Muslims were involved in the

Sept. 11, tragedy, Saleem

said. [But] if someone thinks

that Muslims credibility is

diminishing with the negative

depictions from the media,

its not. More people are

interested in Islam than ever

before.

Talib Shareef, 49, resident

imam at Masjid Muhammad,

pointed out another

perspective. What concerns

me is that an Arab face is

being depicted as a reection

of the 1.6 billion Muslimsaround the world when in

actuality we are in every race

and country. Even if terrorists,

regardless of their nationality,

identify themselves as

Muslims, they are not seen by

us as Muslims, said Shareef.

Sitting in his ofce

before Jumah prayer, Shareef

reected on the struggle to

build a mosque for African

Americans. This masjid was

the rst one built from the

ground up among thousands

across America. For 75 years,

it represents good citizenry

and people who are involved

in every aspect of communityand government life, said

Shareef.

Now Muslim gatherings

have become the target of

some political campaigns,

rhetoric, headlines and

debates. More than 12 states

are considering legislation to

ban Muslims from practicing

Shariah religious laws,

including washing of feet

and congregational prayer. If

successful, Muslims would

be the only group in America

without the freedoms to

practice their religion.

Some American political

leaders also want Muslims tohave a careful eye for budding

terrorists and turn them into

the authorities before any

harm is done to be prosecuted.

However, some Islamic

leaders believe a different

approach is more suitable.

I believe that when we

see radicalization developing

and people going astray, we

should reach out and teach

them that what they are doing

is wrong and can only bring

us harm, said Saleem.

Zarinah Shakir, 62, has

been involved in promoting

interfaith dialogues for over

three decades. As producerand host of Perspectives of

Interfaith, a local cable show,

she said many interfaith

ministers have spoken against

the hearings and turmoil

against Muslims.

They realize that this

a witch hunts and there is

no basis for this. What do

they want from decent tax

paying people upholding the

laws? Today its Muslims.

Tomorrow it will be another

religious group, Shakir said.

Valencia

Mohammed

reported on

this story.

Frederick Mudd, retired brick mason

I think hes going to

resign with the situation

the way it is. But I

dont think he should

because despite all the

allegations, hes

doing a good

job.

Florita Walker, mother of 11 children

I dont think he should resign. As

far as I know hes doing a good

job. People can always nd

something negative when

they need to focus on

the good.

Roxanne Armstead, new resident

Kimberley Bennett and daughter, Bryjeh

Armstead, northwest residents

He should resign on his own.

Remaining would bring too

much controversy to

D.C. politics.

He needs to admit what he did publicly.

Charges should be brought against him and

he should pay for his cr ime. I hope the AFRO

keeps this issue in the paper until the end.

Many times things like this are on the

front page one week and when the

person is convicted theres little

coverage.

Courtesy Photo


5/16


The 12th Annual Youth Law Fair, hosted

by the D.C. Superior Court and the D.C.

Bar, brings cyberbullying and its harmful

effects to the limelight this year. The annual

fair brings lawyers, high school students,

judges and educators together to examine

local social and legal issues. Chief Judge

Lee F. Sattereld, Judge

Melvin Wright and D.C.

Bar President Kim Keenan

are among the participants

slated to attend the daylong

program.

The event also includes

a mock trial, speaking

sessions and rafe

giveaways, providinglocal teens an opportunity

to develop hands on

experience with practicing

law and understanding

Americas judicial system.

Students will also

receive breakfast and lunch,

and participate in exhibits

and tours of the courthouse

and holding cells.

The 12th Annual Youth

Law Fair takes place March 19, 9 a.m.-

4 p.m., at the Moultrie Courthouse, 500

Indiana Courthouse, N.W. Free. For more

information and to register, go to ezregister.

com/events/1670 or visit dcbar.org/youthlawfair.

Teens to Discuss Cyberbullying at Annual Law Fair

WASHINGTON Howard University students, inresponse to a news report of a Washington, D.C. high school

that doesnt have enough books in its library, have launched

a campaign to collect and donate more than 1,000 books toWashington Metropolitan High School as part of their annual

Alternative Spring Break program.

The students are asking faculty, staff and students atHoward University, as well as bookstores, publishing

companies and individuals throughout the Washington, D.C.

area, for high school appropriate ction, non-ction and

reference books.

The books will be presented to Washington Metropolitan

High School, which is in its rst year and is now setting up its

library with Howard students help. During the week of March

14, Howard students helped label and categorize the books andstock the librarys shelves. Their work will be presented March

21, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the schools library.

Tanishia Williams-Minor, principal of the school, praised

the students for their efforts.

This book drive initiative is truly amazing, Williams-

Minor said. The teachers and staff here at Washington

Metropolitan work hard every day to encourage the students to

pursue an education after high school.

As adults it is hard to effectively convey that message.

This book drive is the rst step to showing the students that the

community wants to invest in their future as well.

Antonita Pratcher, a junior health education major atHoward, is the site coordinator for the students effort in the

Washington area during the Alternative Spring Break program

and is leading the book drive.

Pratcher is asking every faculty and staff member atHoward University and Howard University Hospital to donate

at least two books.

We are really looking to the Howard University family tolead this campaign, Pratcher said. We ultimately hope to

not only stock the schools library, but to also give the students

enough books to start their own personal collection.Through this book drive, we hope to help instill an

appreciation for reading and learning in the students.

Donation centers are available at Howard at HowardUniversity Bookstore at 2225 Georgia Ave., N.W., Founders

Library; Cramton Auditorium and at Howard University

Hospital, 2041 Georgia Ave., N.W.In addition to the on-campus sites, there will also be

donation centers set up in the Howard University School ofDivinity and School of Law and at Washington Metropolitan

High School.

The public can drop off books at the HUB, and for large

donations, students will pick up 50 books or more. For pickups

or for more information, contact Pratcher ataspratcher@

howard.edu or 623.341.9280.

CommunityStudents Launch Book Drive or Public High School Library

Morguefle

Howard University students launched a book drive aspart o their Alternative Spring Break program.

Morguefle

D.C. students participating in the Annual Youth Law Fair

will discuss cyberbullying and its efect on their peers.

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Silver Spring, MD

301-637-4404

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Family and friends are welcome!

Corporation Boosts Anti-Hunger EfortByAFROStaf

Efforts to reduce hunger

among Washington, D.C.s

students received a signicant

boost from the Wal-Mart

Foundation on March 10.

The foundation awarded

$400,000 to D.C. Hunger

Solutions for the citys

schools breakfast programs.

The foundation made the

announcement during aspecial breakfast at the Center

City Public Charter Schools

Trinidad campus in honor of

National School Breakfast

Week.

The grant, which D.C.

Hunger Solutions will

administer, will help provide

equipment, training and

technical assistance to

increase participation in the

school breakfast program in

D.C. schools. It can have a

far-reaching impact. Amongthe 12.9 percent of District

of Columbia households

struggling with hunger, 4.5

percent were considered

to have very low food

security. Shockingly only

49.5 percent of eligible low-

income children participate in

the School Breakfast Program

in the District.

At a time when our citys

families are struggling, it is

crucial programs like free

breakfast in the schools thatgive children the nutrition

they need to learn, stay

healthy, and be active, said

Alexandra Ashbrook, director

of D.C. Hunger Solutions,

an initiative of the Food

Research and Action Center

(FRAC). Grants like this

one give the community the

support needed to ensure

that the breakfast program is

being as effective as it can be,

and reaching the thousands of

low-income children in D.C.who desperately need school

breakfasts.

The award was part

of Wal-Marts national

commitment to help end

hunger.

As part of our $2 billion

commitment to hunger relief,

were proud to support

initiatives that are helping

children get the healthy food

they need to learn and grow,

said Margaret McKenna,

president of the Wal-Martfoundation in a press release.

Bringing breakfast to

classrooms in D.C. will

ensure students are getting

the nutrients they need to

support healthy development

and to live better.

D.C. Hunger Solutions

was founded in 2002 as

to create a hunger-free

community and thereby

improve the nutrition, health,

economic security, and well-

being of low-income Districtresidents.


6/16


Compiled By Herb Quarles]

Tournament CalendarVIP ABA Headquarters

Benet (3-20-11) 2:30 p.m.

Dinner served at 2 p.m. Call

Shirley Wilson at 301-589-

8425.

Kings & Queens Open

Pairs C Regional (3-25-11)

11 a.m. Call Louis Garner at

301-894-1141.

Dubridgettes Open

Pairs C Regional (3-28-

11) 11 a.m. Call Virginia

Eggleston at 301-577-7176.

Tournament ResultsEastern - Thursday

Teams of Four (2-24-11)

1. Karen Pollock, Dorcas

Glascoe. Elizabeth Wilson,

Cornelia Proctor, 2. Rachel

Moore, Virginia Eggleston,

Clara Berryhill, Carrothers

Moore, 3. Audrey Bourke,

Alice Harriston, Ann Moss,

Louis Carpenter, 4. Costella

Tyler, Deloris Parker, BJ

Martin, Cleveland Lewis.

Kings & Queens (2-25-

11) 1. Reginald Chapman-

Faye Burke, 2. Frances

Power-Clara Berryhill, 3.

Mattie Barrow-Barbara

Garner.

WBU Open PairsC Regional (2-26-11) 1.

Reginald Chapman-Clarice

Reid, 2. Carrolena Key-

Dorcas Glascoe, 3. Faye

Burke- Victor Stewart. [New

Players] 1. Tawana Clark-

Ernestine Johnson, 2. Wilma

Bonner-Linda Lindsay.

WBU Cherry Blossom

Open Pairs A Regional

(3-4-11) [A] 1. Winston

Edwards-Herbert Pelham, 2.

Anderson Williams-Willetta

Phipps. [B] 1. Catherine

Marshall-Sandra Brown,

2. Wilma Middleton-Mary

Smith. [C] 1. Alice Harriston-

Louise Carpenter.WBU Open Pairs A

Regional (3-5-11) [A] 1.

David Smith-Louis Garner,

2. Winston Edwards-Jimmy

Pelham, 3. Foster Miles-

Daisy Smith, 4. Catherine

Jones-Angela Jones, 5.

Joe Anne Williams-Robert

Williams, 6. Frederick

Joynes-Celestine Howard.

[B] 2. Ray Moseley-Elizabeth

Moseley, [C] 3. Joseph

Hillery-Carol Hillery.

Eastern Thursday

Teams of Four (3-10-11)

1. Karen Pollock Dorcas

Glascoe, Elizabeth Wilson,

Herb Quarles, 2. AudreyBourke, Alice Harriston, Ann

Moss, Louise Carpenter, 3.

Gloria Cobbs, Mary Smith,

Delores Mills, Elve King, 4.

Elaine Neal, Odell Mouzon,

Wilma Middleton, Josephine

Caldwell.

Bridge in D.C.

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TOREWIDEITEMS

: :

Photo by Herb Quarles

Jane Lee, Carrolena Key,

Elaine Conway, and BrendaGreen made up the team

that was second in Flight

A o the Modifed RoundRobin hosted by the

Washington Bridge Unit.

The team that won theevent was not available

or a photo but it included

Reginald Chapman, LuisF Pietri, Regena Edwards,

and George Hudson.


7/16


A nearly $8,000 ticket to Egypt? A $2,000 trip to SanAntonio? A chauffeur-driven Lincoln Navigator? Does the

controversial University of the District of Columbia PresidentAllen Sessoms really believe he can simply explain away such

extravagant travel expenses as justication for attempting to

transform the only land grant urban university in the nation intoa rst class institution?

We dont buy it. Neither, apparently does the universitys

faculty association which issued a no vote of condence inSessoms autocratic leadership last month. Add to that growing

list of skeptics the D.C. Council, which questioned him as he

stumbled through a long afternoon hearing last week.Sessoms raised the ire of protesting students and the scrutiny

of the D.C. Council after Fox 5 News reports revealed that airlineand hotel tickets had been purchased for him at prices far above

market rates to luxury destinations including Egypt, Hawaii,

Torrey Pines, Calif., and Jackson Hole, Wyo., where the entireSessoms family traveled during the July 4 weekend.

Sessoms has been making the rounds to various news

outlets to do damage control, since news of his extravagancieslinked out. However, the more he doth protest with his weak

explanations, the more absurd his explanations play.

In answer to the latest uproar, he speaks of the need to travelto raise the universitys prole and prestige. He speaks of the

need to travel (in a business class seat bed) with his feet abovehis head because of a medical condition. He speaks of the

questionable funds being expended ascoming from private foundations and

grants rather than city funds, as if usingthat private pool of money absolves a

public institution from frugality and

nancial responsibility.A public institution, by the way, that

serves a student body primarily of low-

income, low-literacy or working adultstudents who are making do with fewer

resources offered by the historically

underfunded school.In the midst of all of this, we are

forced to ask what has the universitysboard of trustees been doing while

news of Sessoms spending spree has

been circulating? In one televisioninterview this week, Sessoms stated he

hadnt traveled as much this year as he

has in the past.When students complain of increased

tuition, of not getting refunds in a timely

manner, of not being able to obtain books in a timely manner,and of not being in safe or comfortable classrooms, the university

trustees must fulll their duciary duties to ensure that no one,particularly its president, is spending money government or

I have recently been

shocked and appalled by

ads that I and other Black

publishers saw in severalmajor newspapers (The New

York Times, Chicago Tribune,

etc.) conrming that Toyota

spent hundreds of thousands

of dollars to advertise in

White mainstream daily

newspapers THANKING

their general market

consumers for their loyalty

and patronage to Toyota

during their time of major

controversy and concerns over the safety of Toyotas vehicles.

Thanking their customers is a smart move on Toyotas

behalf and one that I applaud. However, we cant overlook

the fact that Black people represent almost 10 percent of

Toyotas American market share, and with a $1.2 billion annual

advertising budget it is not unreasonable for the Black Press to

always expect to have a stake in Toyotas advertising (includingBlack advertising agencies). Nevertheless, Black newspapers

were left off Toyotas latest marketing campaign, sending a

clear and direct message that the Black consumer is still being

taken for granted and Black people are still being disrespected

and undervalued. This is disappointing behavior from a

company who was all too eager to send us their press releases

and ask us to write stories and editorials to inuence Black

America to stay with them in their time of trouble. But now

that Toyotas pain has been essentially easedfor nowby

a report issued by the Federal Transportation Department and

NASA that found no faults with Toyotas electronic accelerator

controls, the Black press has once again been forgotten along

with the Black consumer.

Toyota should note that it is going to take more than a

passing grade on a federal transportation report card to bring

back the consumer safety condence enjoyed for years by

Toyota from American consumers prior to one of the largestvehicle recalls in U.S. history.

So when the decision was made to advertise in mainstream

newspapers from coast to coast thanking their customers for

their loyalty, where was Toyotas loyalty to the 10 percent of

African- American consumers? DONT WE ALSO DESERVE

A GREAT BIG THANK YOU?

Historically, there has always been an imbalance between

what goes out of the Black community and what comes into

the Black community relative to retail goods, services and

representation. Despite the fact that the buying power of

Americas Blacks is reported to be roughly $1 trillion this year.

And it is highly doubtful that Black-owned businesses will

report revenue numbers that are the same and/or reap any of

the benets proportionate to our buying power. However, the

question still remains, why is Toyota undervaluing the Black

consumer and showing our community such blatant disrespect?

Tried, true, and tested the NNPA (Black Press of America)

remains the gatekeeper for reaching the Black community.

Corporations and advertising agencies wanting and needing

to reach the African-American consumer must understand the

relationship of the Black Press with Black people. They must

remember to place their advertising messages on the pages of

Black newspapers throughout America, and Black consumers

will respond in kind (Black advertising agencies could help

them with this). The days of being silent and complaining

among ourselves regarding these unethical and immoral

business practices are over.When Toyota wanted our help, it had no problem seeking all

200 Black newspapers in America to do just that. Their message

to Black people was, Please help us. We value your business.

We do not want Toyota to use us for editorial coverage and then

overlook us with their advertising dollars.

Black newspapers are not afraid to demand fair representation

and a seat to dine at Toyotas table, especially when their food

is purchased with approximately 10 percent of Black consumer

dollars. We are not interested in ghting with Toyota however,

Toyota has enjoyed healthy African-American consumer support,

and despite last years set back we have remained loyal. If you

want to thank Black consumers for our loyalty and keep our

business, do it on the pages of the Black newspapers that Black

people read, respect, trust and

own.

As chairman of the

National Newspaper Publishers

Association, I represent 200Black publishers throughout

America. I am challenging

Toyotas chairman and CEO

to do the right thing and meet with me to discuss the future of

their relationship with Black consumers and whether or not

we as Black newspaper publishers should continue supporting

Toyota or should organize a campaign to take Black brand

loyalty to Toyota elsewhere. WE WILL NOT BUY WHERE

WE ARE DISRESPECTED.THAT IS A PROMISE!

Danny Bakewell Sr. is the chairman of the National

Newspaper Publishers Association, parent organization to more

than 200 independently owned Black newspapers.

What we witnessed March

10 on Capitol Hill duringhearings led by Rep. Peter

King (R-N.Y.), chairman of

the House Homeland SecurityCommittee, was a shameful

example of the excesses ofpower. Claiming concernover the alleged radicalization

of Muslims in America, Rep.King conducted nothing

short of a witch hunt, by

singling out a single groupof Americans as an internal

threat to the nations security

worthy of suspicion by theirfellow citizens. The insult was enough to bring Rep. Keith

Ellison (D-Minn.), one of two Muslims serving in Congress,

to tears as he defended American Muslims, and emotionallydescribed the sacrice that some Muslims made on Sept. 11,

2001.The arrogance of Rep. King was evident as he maintained

that the threat of radical elements among the nations Muslim

population was extensive enough to warrant a McCarthy-like

probe. This, despite the fact that Kings earlier claims that morethan 80 percent of imams in our country were radicalized has

never been substantiated and widely ridiculed. To add insult,and further fan the ames of hate toward Muslims, King had

pictures of the devastation of 9/11 on the walls of the hearing

room. It was one of the worst examples of the immorality ofpolitical leadership of recent memory.

Meanwhile, as King works to pin the scarlet letter of

terrorism on Muslims, and make Islam a dirty word in America,the suspect in the attempted bombing of the Martin Luther King

Day parade route in Spokane, Wash., Kevin William Harpham,

was a member of the neo-Nazi National Alliance according to

the Southern Poverty Law Center. Like Timothy McVeigh, heis a former soldier in the U.S. Army, who sympathizes with

White supremacists. Had the bomb placed where it was

intended to do major damage detonated, the crowd wouldhave been sprayed with lead pellets coated with rat poison. Yet,

despite the very real existence and continued threat of Whitesupremacist groups and militias, Rep. King is invested in usinghis ofce to harbor his personal prejudices.

In Detroit, a family is grieving over the deaths of twochildren, 8-year-old Alaya Cook and 10-year-old Lataya Cook,

who lost their lives in a re that investigators have deemed

arson. The girls were too afraid to jump from a second-storywindow at the urging of their father, who was injured in the

blaze. The home had been rebombed. While the perpetrator(s)

have yet to be caught, and the cause remains unknown, the

incident is eerily similar to the tragic re that took the life ofa Baltimore family several years back. In that incident, drug

dealers had set the house ablaze because the parents werespoke out against the illegal drug activity occurring in their

neighborhood. Whether drug dealers or gangs are responsible

for the tragedy in Detroit, there is one thing that is certain:Alaya and Lataya are just the latest victims of an epidemic

of urban violence that is stealing the dreams and futures of a

generation of children.In cities, big and small, in every corner of our nation, gangs

and drug dealers are terrorizing communities, and their prey is

mostly Black and Latino children and families. Perhaps that is

why Rep. King does not show the same concern or expressesthe same outrage over the domestic terrorism of which there is

ample evidencejust as Timothy McVeigh showed no concern

for the life of children when he helped plot the bombing ofthe Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, a building

that contained a day care center; and in the same way KevinWilliam Harpham apparently had little regard for the lives ofchildren on the streets of Spokane celebrating the birthday of

Americas prince of peace, Dr. King. The congressman shouldtalk to funeral home directors and shock trauma medical

professionals who, every day, witness the result of the carnage

that has taken over communities. Put the faces of our deadchildren on the walls of your hearing room Mr. King, and let

America see what real domestic terrorism looks like.

We are treading ondangerous waters here. Peter

King is not making us any

safer. In fact, he is givingreason for Muslims and others

to hate us. It is his ilk, andother demagogues, who put

the security of our nation

in jeopardy. If he was serious and sincere about the safety

of American citizens Rep. King would be examining theresurgence of White supremacist groups, the proliferation

of gangs across America, including in seemingly safeWhite suburban communities, and the unfettered access to

rearms and explosives. The Long Island, N.Y. congressman

is perpetrating a fraud and he needs to be called out. AllAmericans deserve better from our political leadership than the

equivalent of Bozo goes to Congress.

Walter Fields is the executive editor of NorthStarNews.com,

where this article was originally published.

OpinionOur View

Sorry, Sessoms, WE DONT BUY IT

Danny J. Bakewell Sr.

Toyota Disrespects and Devalues the Patronage of their Black Consumers

Put the faces of our dead children on the walls of your hearingroom Mr. King, and let America see what real domestic terrorismlooks like.

we cant overlook the fact that Black people represent almost

10 percent of Toyotas American market share

The Real TerrorismPeter King is looking in all the wrong places

Walter Fields

otherwise in a frivolous manner.On behalf of students and taxpayers, we demand better

answers and most importantly, a clear structure of improvedaccountability moving forward.


8/16


March 17

DC Live With Colie Williams

Queen Makeda, 1917 9thSt., N.W. D.C. 8 p.m. Singer

Colie Williams will bring hersultry mix of jazz and classic

R&B to the District. $7. For

more information: colieindc.eventbrite.com.

March 18

Montpelier Jazz Series: Inside

Out

Montpelier Arts Center, 9652Muirkirk Road, Laurel, Md. 8

p.m. At this event, hear a blendof go-go, old school soul, hardbop and hip-hop. $20. For moreinformation: 301-377-7800.

Mardi Gras Extravaganza 2011

Martins Crosswinds,

7400 Greenway Center Drive,Greenbelt, Md. 9 p.m.-2 a.m.The Gamma Pi Chapter of the

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity willpresent this semi-formal eventfeaturing dinner, dancing, asilent auction and live music.

$75. For more information: 301-390-6668.

March 19

Springs Metamorphosis

Fashion Luncheon

Calvary Family Life Center,11150 Berry Road, Waldorf,Md. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Enjoy thisspring fashion show that helps

raise money for the DomesticViolence Victims Shelter. $40.For more information: 301-919-

6840.

National Single Parents Day

Celebration & Ice Cream

Social

Giant Foods, 5500 Silver HillRoad, District Heights, Md. 2-5

p.m. If you are a single parent,celebrate National Single ParentDay with your family at this ice

cream social featuring televisionand radio personality JeannieKitty of the City Jones. For

more information: 202-834-4686.

NCBW Annual Shirley

Chisholm Trailblazer Awards

Washington D.C. Navy

Conference Center, 1454Parsons Ave., S.E. D.C. 12:30-2 p.m. The National Congressof Black Women, Washington

Chapter, invites you to attendthis annual awards luncheon thatwill recognize various leaders

in the community. For moreinformation: 202-583-7426.

March 20

International Bridal Expo 2011

The Waterford of Springeld,

6715 Commerce St., Springeld,

Va. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. This eventhelps brides-to-be plan their

entire wedding with over 150exhibitors and the areas topwedding planners. $7-$10.

For more information: www.intlbridalexpo.com.

Hair Care Workshop

Bo26 Hair Studio, 173814th St., N.W. D.C. 2-4 p.m.Hairstylist Lynne Wooden

will host a workshop to helpyou nd the best products, ageappropriate hairstyles and will

discuss the benets of naturalhair vs. chemically treated hair.For more information: 202-234-

7575.

March 23

Redemption Wednesdays

Patty Boom Boom, 1359U St., N.W. D.C. 8 p.m.-1 a.m.

Each Wednesday, unwind at thismidweek party featuring the bestmix of reggae and soca music. Formore information: 571-435-5166.

March 24

Prince Georges Community

College Poetry Slam

Prince Georges CommunityCollege, 301 Largo Road, Largo,

Md. 12-2 p.m. Students willshare original writings aboutwomens history. For more

information: 301-336-6000.

D.C. Men Aint Boys FilmPremiere

Avalon Theatre, 5612Connecticut Ave., N.W. D.C. 8p.m. This lm offers a thought-

provoking look at issuessurrounding Black manhood, theresults of effective fatherhood

and the requirements formaintaining lasting love. $10-$20. For more information: www.

menaintboysdc.eventbrite.com.

March 26

The Backpack Monologues

Covenant Baptist Church,3845 S. Capitol St., S.W. D.C. 3

p.m. Experience this theatricalperformance that will empoweryoung women to promote social

change in their communitieswhile addressing sexual andsocial issues. $10-$20. For moreinformation: 202-562-5576.

Show Your Colors Bowling

Party

Fort Myer Bowling Center,411 McNair Road, Fort Myer,Virginia. 8 p.m. The Psi Nu

Chapter of Omega Psi PhiFraternity will host a bowlingparty at Fort Myer Bowling

Center. Ticket includes twogames, shoe rental, foodand drinks. $25. For more

information: 703-606-6434.

Foreclosure Prevention and

Credit Recovery Workshop

Suitland High School, 5200

Silver Hill Road, Suitland, Md.10 a.m.-2 p.m. The NID HousingCounseling Agency is hosting

a free foreclosure preventionworkshop that will feature aspecial credit recovery sessionfor homeowners who have

gone through foreclosure. Themain sessions of the workshopwill provide opportunities for

homeowners to meet with theirlenders and also gain adviceon their options from certied

housing and legal counselors.For more information: 1-866-993-4643.

. :

Community Calendar


9/16

March 19, 2011 - March 25, 2011, The Afro-American B1

The Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Gospel Service hosted its annual Black

History Month Worship Service recently at the Memorial Chapel, Fort Myer, Va.

The service included inspirational musical selections from the American UniversityGospel Choir and the Men of Christ gospel quartet, along with a powerful message

by chaplain, Col. James Walker (Ret.). Keeper of the Community awards were

given to Lesli Foster, anchor, WUSA9 News Now; Dr. Elsie Scott, president/CEO,Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF); Michael Blake of the White Houses

Oce of Public Engagement and the famed Bualo Soldiers, D.C. chapter.Army ROTC Cadets from Howard University assisted with ushering duties and the

afternoon service concluded with a fellowship dinner. The programs theme was,

Our Church, Our Family, Our History: This Far by Faith.

Ushers and ROTC cadets are briefed beforethe program starts.

Capt. Sansom, Paul Monteiro, Dr. Elsie Scott, Lesli Foster,Maj. Tyra Sellers, chaplain, 1st Lt. Dwayne Jackson and Jas

Stephenson

Musicians

prepare for theirperformance.

The Gospel Service Praise and Worship Team sings the opening selection.

Bill Douglas

provides the

call to worshipand scripture.

Some of the many guests whoattended the program.

Chaplain Maj. Santiago Cruz

receives a copy of the BlackHistory Month Presidential

Proclamation from Paul Monteiro,

Oce of Public Engagement,White House.

Miss Black DC USA

2010 Dr. AllisonHilll and Chelsey

Rodgers, Miss

DC International2010, were in

attendance.

American University Gospel Choir under thedirection of Sylestra Sledge provides a selection.

Junior Bualo Soldiers

Maj. Santiago Cruz,

chaplain, presentsthe Keeper of the

Community Award to

Lesli Foster, WUSA 9News Now anchor

Dr. Elsie Scott,president/CEO of

the CBCF, receivesthe Keeper of the

Community Award.

Men of Christ from Victory Temple Baptist

Church sing a rousing selection.

Maj. Santiago Cruz,

chaplain, presents the

Keeper of the CommunityAward to the Bualo

Soldiers, D.C. chapter.

The Webb family, members

of the Gospel Service

Bualo Soldiers

Howard University Army ROTC cadets with their cadre,

Maj. Sellers, far left, and Capt. Sansom, far right

Col. (Ret.) and Mrs. William Stephens, left,Chaplain (Col. Ret.) James Walker and wife, and

chaplain and Mrs. David Santiago Cruz

Lillian Wilkinson, Army Soldierand Family Readiness; Joi Alston,

PNC Bank; and Flora Marsh, NY

Life Insurance

Attendees enjoy dinner after an

inspirational worship service.

Photo by Rob Roberts

The Arlington, Va., chapter of The Links held its thirdannual National Wear Reception in support of HeartHealth Month at the prestigious Army Navy CountryClub in Arlington, Va. The award-winning chapter has

a longstanding commitment to raising heart diseaseawareness and under the leadership of President LavernJackson Chatman, leads eorts to educate women aboutthe tragic disease and its prevention.

The event, chaired by Links Karen Hughes, programcoordinator, and Avril Sisk, National Trends and Serviceschairwoman, commenced with a lavish reception ofdelicious healthy food fare, along with red wine, whichdoctors say is good for the heart.

Patrons enjoyed the ambiance of the evening. Thepanelists, Dr. Deborah Williams,a noted cardiologist atHoward University and JETmagazine medical expert, wasthe lead speaker. Dr. Jennifer Ellis, a cardiac surgeon atWashington Hospital Center, shared vital information andelded questions.

However, the star of the evening was rst- grader,Olivia Grace Jones, 7, who is truly a living miracle. A heartrecipient, Olivia and her mother shared some of the joysand pains of having a child plagued with a serious illness.Born with an enlarged heart, Olivia has endured much

throughout her young life,

but is now learning toenjoy simple childhood

pleasures. Oliviasinfectious smile wonover the crowd of over

200 patrons.

Doris McMillion, left, Linda Washington, Lisa

Noguera and Penny Koger

Lavern Chatman, president of the Arlington Links and theNational Urban League Young Professionals

Evelyn Gee, Lauren Parker

and DeVera Redmond

Lavern Chatman introduces the panel: Dr. Deborah Williams, cardiologist at Howard University Hospital; Dr. Jennifer

Ellis, cardiothoracic surgeon at Washington Hospital Center and Schonay Jones, mother of Olivia Grace Jones

Alexandria, Va., Mayor William Euille,

honorary chairman of Red Dress Day

Dr. Deborah Williams,

cardiologist, shares

vital statistics on heartdisease and obesity.

Olivia GraceJones, a 7-

year- old heart

recipient, andher mom,

Schonay Jones

Courtesy Photos


10/16

B2 The Afro-American, March 19, 2011 - March 25, 2011

By Stephen D. Riley

AFRO Staf Writer

Continuing with

the design to revitalize

Washington, D.C.s

Southwest Waterfront, mayor

Vincent Gray announced

on March 10 that Graduate

School USA signed an

agreement to establish what

will be called the Center for

Education and Training at the

heart of The Wharf project.

The decision to construct

a facility makes Graduate

School USA the rst major

business to commit as a

long-term tenant as part of

the development scheduled

for erection along the

Washington Channel in the

coming year. Joining Gray

were Council Chair Kwame

Brown, Councilmember

Harry Thomas Jr. and Rep.

Eleanor Holmes Norton along

with other local government

afliates who welcomed the

new project.

The creation of this

center represents a huge

commitment to prepare our

residents for careers through

training and education,

Gray said at his presentation.

The Graduate School USAs

90-year history of training

and educating people in the

public sector makes themthe ideal partner for The

Wharf neighborhood. We

are excited they decided

to expand their mission

right here in this landmark

waterfront development.

Expected to break ground

in 2012, The Wharf will be

a $2 million residential site

that will also host retail,

hotel, ofce and recreational

space. It is expected to open

in 2015. The site will cover

27 acres on land and 24 acres

across the water, making it

one of the more anticipated

construction projects taking

place in the District.

Creating this

vibrant mixed-use urbanriverfront brings new and

distinctive retail, restaurant,

neighborhood living and

cultural destinations to the

District, said Deputy Mayor

for Planning and Economic

Development Jose Sousa.

We know this project will

deliver on the promise of

becoming one of the marquee

waterfront destinations for

Washington, the region and

the nation.

As the developments

rst multi-purpose project,

the Center for Education

and Training could drive

immediate trafc to The

Wharf after its completion.

The center will provide

resources for career seekingindividuals interested in

federal, state and local

positions in addition tooffering training for a variety

of vocational openings and

other jobs.This center demonstrates

our extensive commitment tothe DC community, Dr. Jerry

Ice, CEO and president of

Graduate School USA, saidin a press release. We are

working closely with the city

to understand areas with themost potential and the highest

need for workers. Our goal is

to bring a variety of training

options to residents in onelocation to prepare them forrewarding careers now and in

the future.

For more on The Wharf,

visitwww.swdcwaterfront.

comTicket s: 240.644.1100or ROUNDHOUSETHEATRE.ORG

MARCH 16 APRIL 3

Classic play. New vision.

The 1stproduction ofHorton Footesbeloved play

with an African-American cast

Bethesda

4th Annual Governors Leadership in Aging Award

Older Americans/Marylander Month

Celebration

May 10, 2011, 12 noon 2pm

Catonsville Senior Center

501 N. Rolling Rd., Catonsville, MD 21228

CategoriesTrailblazerAn individual, community group, business or organizationthat has demonstrated leadership in advocacy or developed aninnovative program, research or training for seniors.

Visual and Performing ArtsAn individual, 60 years of age or older, or a group (membersmust be 55 years of age or older), who has demonstratedexcellence in the visual or performing arts.

PhotographyAn individual 60 years or older who demonstrates excellencein photography or photojournalism that portrays SuccessfulAging.

Health and VitalityAn individual 60 years or older who demonstrates acommitment to healthy living and who serves as a role modelto others.

Instructions

Select a Category. Complete the nomination form and attach

a 500 word or less description of recommendation(why the nominee meets criteria).

Visual Arts nominations must be accompanied byphotos, slides, or CD of artwork.

Performing Arts nominations must be accompaniedby a DVD or web link to a video sharing site

(i.e. YouTube). Photography nominations must be in .jpg or .gif and

must not exceed 5 MB in size. Nominations that do not require supporting materials

can be faxed to: 410-333-7943

All nominations must be postmarked or e-mailedno later than April 8, 2011.

You may download copies of the nomination form by visiting

the website at: www.mdoa.state.md.us

For more information, call: 410-767-1064 or 1-800- 243-3425

Nomination Information

DEPARTMENT OF AGING

For Excellence and

Outstanding Contributions

to the Field of Agingand Quality of Life for Seniors

Graduate School USA Signs On as First Major Tenant of NewWaterfront Project

News21 photo by Justin Karp

The distinctive ootbridge at the Yards Park in Southeast

Washington will connect a 5.5-acre park to the AnacostiaRiverwalk Trail. The park is part o a 42-acre mixed-use

development, which will include 2,800 residential units,

nearly 1.8 million square eet o ofce space and 400,000square eet o shopping and dining.


11/16

March 19, 2011 - March 25, 2011, The Afro-American B3

A UNIVERSAL RELEASE2010 UNIVERSAL STUDIOS

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BY GREG MOTTOLADIRECTED

BYSOUNDTRACK ON UNIVERSAL RECORDS

STARTS FRIDAY, MARCH 18CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS FOR THEATERS AND SHOWTIMES

MOBILE USERS: F

or Showtimes - Text PAUL with your ZIP CODE to 43KIX (43549)!

www.afro.com

By Kam WilliamsSpecial to the AFRO

This book is notexactly a family memoir, butneither is it traditional socialhistory. It is a narrative thatlies somewhere in between. Itrecords my search to fnd myfathers New York family; mysuccess in uncovering manydocuments [which] serve asa pathway to a larger publichistory: the history of socialmovements, political events,and cultural inuences

Ive written Black Gothamout of a sense of obligationto the dead, to give a face tothose left faceless by acts oftrauma and erasure. I alsofeel I owe something to myfamily and my communityBlack Gotham is meant tobe an act of reparation, anact to repair the tears of

memorytears in the senseof both sorrow and rupture.

-- Excerpted from theIntroduction (pgs. 6, 30 &31)

Before undertaking thisdaunting project, CarlaPeterson was aware ofprecious little about herroots. In fact, although shesAfrican American, the only19th century ancestor shereally knew anything aboutwas a Caucasian great-grandfather from Haitinamed Philip Augustus

White (1823-1891).But despite that lack of

genealogical information,Peterson, a professor ofEnglish at the University ofMaryland, embarked on afruitful quest which began inthe manuscript room at thefamed Schomburg Center forResearch. And the upshot ofher tireless efforts is BlackGotham: A Family Historyof African-Americans in 19thCentury New York City.

Among the surprisingdata unearthed by the authorin the course of her studywas that she had descendedfrom New York Citys Blackupper class, a cosmopolitancommunity comprised notonly of doctors, businessmenand other professionals but ofwriters, artists and musicians,too. This information ies inthe face of the conventional

wisdom which wouldsuggest that the HarlemRenaissance of the 1920s and1930s represented the rstowering of Black culture inthe city.

While Petersons familytree certainly provesfascinating, what makes herseminal opus so signicantis how she painstakinglyreconstructs her forefatherspast in light of the overallAfrican-American strugglefor emancipation andequality in the 1800s. Thus,we learn here about the

collective, New York CityBlack lobby for everythingfrom abolition to qualityeducation to the right to voteto the protection of fugitiveslaves.

Such demands for dignityin the face of virulentracism and constant threatsof violence often came at agreat cost, given that backthen the Dred Scottdecisionwas still the law of the land.For in issuing that landmarkruling, the U.S. SupremeCourt had deemed Blacksas beings of an inferiororder, and altogether unt toassociate with the white race,either in social or politicalrelations, and so far inferiorthat they had no rights whichthe white man was bound torespect.

A shameful legacywhich makes Carla

Petersons overdue tributeto her intrepid ancestors aninvaluable addition to theannals of African-Americanliterature.

Book Review

Black Gotham: A Family History ofAfrican-Americans in 19th CenturyNew York City

By Gregory Dale

AFRO Staf Writer

When an e-mail from the

D.C. Independent Film Festival

appeared in lmmaker David

Lee Roberts inbox, he initiallydisregarded it.

I thought it was junk

e-mail, Roberts told

the AFRO in a recent interview.

But to his surprise, it was

a message to inform him that

his lm Isaiah Waithad been

selected for entry in the annual

festival, which only chooses 110

lms out of 2,000 worldwide

submissions.

When I found that out it

really made me feel good, he

said.

Now, fresh off its world

premiere at the event, Roberts

hopes the lm will be a beacon

of encouragement for viewers

across the globe that are

experiencing tough times.

The lm gives you a greater

appreciation for what you may

be going through, Roberts said.

Set in the District, IsaiahWaittells the story of a

grandmother named Mrs.

Bennett who is raising her

teenage grandson, Isaiah. While

struggling to pay bills, various

circumstances strip her of her

nances and she winds up with

a mere $60 in her pocket. While

Isaiah wants his grandmother to

use the money for groceries, she

opts to continue tithing to her

church, despite her grandsons

wishes. While Isaiah struggles

to understand her faith, he later

nds that those who are patient

and trust in God are ultimately

blessed.

Based on a true story, Isaiah

Waitexplores many pertinent

issues in the Black community

that countless people can identify

with.

When I heard the story,

it inspired and encouragedme to hear how faithful this

grandmother was in the midst of

all her struggles, Roberts said.

He added that he also

wanted to tell the story to dispel

some of negative perceptions

some people hold about spiritual

practices, like tithing.

Tithing itself in many

cases has been looked upon in

many negative lights, he said.

I wanted to show some of the

positive things that can come

about [as a result of tithing.]

The 20-minute short

premiered at the lm festival

on March 8 and was nominated

for a handful of awards. Roberts

said he felt honored that his lm

was selected from such a myriad

of participants, mainly because

spiritual lms are rarely featured

at the event.

The D.C. Film Festival isnot a Christian lm festival,

he said. I found out during the

premiere that they generally get

a lot of spiritual lms, but they

[generally] dont accept them.

But, they looked beyond that and

found quality, so that made it a

little bit better for me.

The experience at the

festival opened more doors for

the District native, as he was

approached by a few sponsors at

the event who offered to fund his

next project.

The recent success is like a

dream come true for Roberts,

who became interested in lming

while attending Morgan State

University. After graduating, he

enrolled at Ohio Universitys

school of lm. But his love for

his hometown drew him back to

the District, where he currently

resides.

Though many may believeRoberts faces a tough road ahead

in todays industry as a Black

lmmaker, he insists otherwise,

and recalls a message that was

given to him early on in his

career.

My advisor told me, You

are not a Black lmmaker,

you are a lmmaker who just

happens to be Black, and I

understood and appreciated that,

Roberts said. I want people to

remember the quality that I bring

to them, rather than who I am as

a person. So, regardless of what

color I am, Im going to always

push to work with a diverse

group of people to embrace a

universal concept that everyone

can appreciate.

For more information visit

the D.C. Independent Film

Festivals website at dciff.org.

District Natives Isaiah Wait Featured in Independent Film Festival

By Gregory DaleAFRO Staf Writer

Sylvia Harris had reachedrock bottom. She was homeless,she had lost custody of one ofher children, and above all, shewas battling mental illness. Ather emotional peak, she neededan escape.

When a twist of fateelicited a fond childhoodpastimehorseback ridingshe

nally found the answer to her

whirlwind of despair. Afterutilizing the activity as outlet tocurb her problems, she went onto break barriers in the process.Her incredible story is detailed inthe book, Long Shot: My BipolarLife and the Horses Who Saved

Me.

Released on March 8, LongShot, is a memoir that capturesHarris ascent from a singlemother facing bi-polar disorderto her status as just the secondAfrican-American female jockeyin the country to win a major

thoroughbred race.I dont even know how I

made it out alive, Harris toldthe AFRO as she reected on herpast. I had low points before,but it had never gotten to thepoint where I was homeless. Itwas kind of devastatingto the

point wher

Washington D.C. Afro-American Newspaper, March 19, 2011

Documents

Transcript of Washington D.C. Afro-American Newspaper, March 19, 2011