Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin Loses Major Federal Infant Mortality Grant
COMMUNITY Milwaukee Healthy Beginnings Project will end in January 2015
By Clarene Mitchell, Director of Communications and Collaboration for BHCW
Dr. Patricia McManus
Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin, Inc. (BHCW) will discontinue operating its Milwaukee Healthy Beginnings Project (MHBP) as of January 31, 2015 due to the non-renewal of its federal National Healthy Start Initiative-Eliminating Racial/Ethnic Disparities Program grant totaling $750,000 annually. BHCW’s grant application for the National Healthy Start Initiative’s Eliminating Disparities in Perinatal Health application was
VOL. XXXIX Number 6 September 3, 2014
The Milwaukee
PULSE OF THE COMMUNITY Photos and question by Yvonne Kemp
QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
“During the annual ‘Welcome Back’ North Division High School students received from the school’s alumni, we asked four alums what did they do on Labor Day?”
mestic violence services, AODA services, breastfeeding education and support, the Milwaukee African American Infant Mortality Task Force and community forums. MHBP also had a strong level of collaboration with other agencies and made referrals to them for prenatal care, infant and child health care, nutrition education, immunizations, housing, etc. BHCW has successfully managed the MHBP since 1998. This National Healthy Start Initiative grant is awarded through a competitive process every five years, with annually renewal applications. This loss was for the 2014 competitive cycle. The current full (continued on page 2)
www.communityjournal.net 25 Cents
BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN PERMIT NO. 4668
North Division alumni and PresidentObama speaks at Laborfest staff welcome students back to the legendary high school for another year! W I S C O N S I N ’ S L A R G E S T A F R I C A N A M E R I C A N N E W S PA P E R
President Barack Obama gave a fist bump to a gentleman as other people reach out to shake his hand after his speech at Milwaukee’s Labor Fest on Monday at Henry Maier Festival Park along the city’s lakefront. The president praised unions and working people in Milwaukee and America noting their continuing contribution to America’s industrial prowess, the revved up economy while urging Congress to raise the minimum wage. The president’s visit on Labor Day was the traditional kick-off to the mid-term and local election season which concludes in November. (Photo courtesy of the Associated Press via Google)
JULIA DEAN: “We celebrated our youngest daughter Simone’s birthday, Sept. 1, by barbequing.”
ALFRED JOHNSON: “Between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. worked at Office Max where I assisted with last minute school supplies and Backto-School computer/office needs.”
AT&T Pioneers Donate 660 New Backpacks to Milwaukee Elementary School Students AT&T Pioneers donate new backpacks filled with school supplies to students at Clarke Street School in Milwaukee.
‘Tools for Learning Project’ Provides Backpacks Filled With School Supplies to Needy Students
DOROTHY DYER: “I got a lot of rest, watched movies, enjoyed family and friends.”
Ned Moton: “My nephew invited me and my family over for a traditional Labor Day Cook Out!”
JOURNAL
approved, but not funded. Even if BHCW had received the grant, there still would have been a $150,000 reduction from its current MHBP grant budget of $900,000. “At a time when Milwaukee needs additional resources to tackle the complex and important issue of infant mortality, the loss of this funding is a significant setback to the efforts to ensure that more infants are born healthy and live to celebrate their first birthdays,”said Mayor Tom Barrett in a statement. MHBP offered an array of services and programs including, outreach and enrollment; targeted prenatal and interconceptional case management, fatherhood case management and peer community education, health education, mental health services, do-
Members of the North Divison High School Alumni Association joined the school’s principal and faculty in greeting students at the central city school located on Center Street. Students were greeted with hugs, hand-shakes, and school supplies as they walked through the door to begin the school year. Local political figures joined administrators at MPS and the state Department of Public Instruction in greeting students at various schools across the city to kick-off the 2014-2015 school year. (Photos by Yvonne Kemp, who is herself a North Division alum.)
About 660 Milwaukee elementary school students have new backpacks filled with school supplies for the new school year, thanks to a donation today from the Milwaukee area AT&T Pioneers.
The AT&T Pioneers visited the Milwaukee schools to donate the new backpacks and school supplies as part of their annual "Tools for Learning Project." Each year, the Pioneers work to raise money, purchase supplies, and stuff backpacks to help needy students start the school year fully supplied and ready to learn. "Through our Tools for Learning Project, the AT&T Pioneers are making sure hundreds of students have the supplies they need to achieve and succeed in the classroom," said Scott T. VanderSanden, president of AT&T Wisconsin. "For some families, shopping for new backpacks and school supplies is not always an option. The AT&T Pioneers have really stepped up to ensure these students have
the tools they need to be successful in the new school year." Members of the Broadway AT&T Pioneers chapter donated backpacks and supplies to the following six Milwaukee elementary schools: * Clarke Street School * Brown Street Academy * Silver Spring Elementary School * Institute of Technology & Academics * Oliver Wendell Holmes School * Albert Story Elementary School "These backpacks and supplies will help hundreds of Milwaukee students be prepared for the new school year and be successful in the classroom," said State Senator Nikiya Harris Dodd (D-Milwaukee). "I applaud volunteers like the AT&T Pioneers for stepping up to meet the needs of our students." Last year, the Pioneers donated nearly 750 backpacks to 18 elementary schools around the state. The AT&T Pioneers are a local organization of employees and retirees who volunteer their time to various community causes. This year, the AT&T Pioneers received a $425 donation from the Greater Milwaukee Generosity Project, which enabled volunteers to purchase 90 backpacks for students at Clarke Street School. The Generosity Project is a movement of passionate people dedicated to increasing charitable giving to nonprofits by passionate people. Walgreens in Brookfield also assisted by offering a bulk purchase of supplies at their lowest price.
Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin Loses Major Federal Infant Mortality Grant The Milwaukee Community Journal September 3, 2014 Page 2
(continued from page 1) grant was initially schedule to end May 31, 2014 but was extended, along with the other 105 Healthy Start sites across the country, until August 31, 2014. Now with the news of the nonaward, BHCW will be able to continue its operation of the project until January 31, 2015 thanks to the judicious management of the MHBP project funds for almost 20 years. BHCW will continue to work with the current MHBP clients, but will no longer be taking new referrals. “I am totally stunned by our loss of these funds”, stated Dr. Patricia McManus, President/CEO of Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin. “In a city such as Milwaukee where the Black/White infant mortality disparities continues to widen,” McManus continued. “Losing this vital resource will no doubt worsen the status of infant health in our community.” MHBP was the only culturally specific community based program in Milwaukee that was addressing the issue of infant mortality and poor birth outcomes with documented success. “Reducing Milwaukee’s overall infant mortality rates and the troubling racial disparities in birth outcomes requires a broad collaboration of partners,” added Mayor Barrett. “African-American infants in Milwaukee are three times more likely to die before their first birthdays than white infants, and Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin’s work has been key to the communitywide response needed to improve birth outcomes.” Unfortunately, there were other long-standing high performance programs in cities with high infant mortality disparities like BHCW that did not get renewal funding either. BHCW was one of two agencies in Wisconsin that had received this grant.
The other Wisconsin organization, Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Agency, did not receive a new competitive grant award either for their Honoring Our Children Project. MHBP provided comprehensive culturally respectful services to 500750 pregnant and interconceptional women, infants, children and families annually. The clients are often the most vulnerable in the community, having overall complex medical and social conditions. Through the years BHCW has worked to stabilize their clients. This work has helped to prevent low-birth weight births and infant deaths for thousands of families. Unlike other programs that work with pregnant women, BHCW doesn’t turn clients away. The other programs, considered evidence-based programs, tend to work with the ‘cream of the crop’ clients; clients who are experiencing their first pregnancy, are in their first trimester, have stable homes, etc. MHBP on the other hand works with incarcerated pregnant women, homeless women, women who make first contact with BHCW during their second and third trimesters, families who have open child welfare cases, and other complex cases. The Healthy Start funding makes up a substantial percentage of BHCW’s operational budget. “This funding loss will necessitate restructuring of our organization,” Dr. McManus expressed, “There are still pressing health needs in our community, our structure may change, we may struggle a little, but we will still continue to be here to be a voice for the voiceless.” BHCW celebrated its 25th anniversary in October 2013. In addition to its infant mortality program, the organization also has the African American HIV/AIDS program and the Wisconsin African American Eliminating Health Disparities Insti-
Joseph Ellwanger has added the title of Author to his name with the release of his book STRENGTH FOR THE STRUGGLE. The book is both a biography and a manifesto on congregation building, community organizing and activism, and courage. All this based on faith. It is a page turner that, at times, reads like a list of “Who’s who in activism in Milwaukee.” Ellwanger’s commitment to his faith and principles of social justice qualifies him to write this book with authority. Commitment to his faith led him to accept his first assignment as pastor of an African American congregation in Birmingham, Alabama. The assignment turned out to be a defining place and time for the young pastor. A traditional way of life was changing for white people in Birmingham and Ellwanger was on the wrong side. So he was told. His commitment to his
faith told him he was on the right side. History proved him right. In Milwaukee, first at Cross Church and later at Hephatha Lutheran, Ellwanger continued to be involved in struggles of racial matters, LGBT issues, AODA issues, immigration, housing, a dual judicial system, etc. His strength is in his faith. Sometimes he leads, sometimes he follows, but he is always involved and committed to the just cause. STRENGTH FOR THE STRUGGLE is an engaging read that offers insight and “back stories” to events, policies and practices we take for granted today. Ellwanger will hold Conversation & Signing at The Reader’s Choice book store on Thursday, September 11th at 6:00pm. The event is free and open to the public. The Reader’s Choice is located at 1950 N. Dr. M.L. King Drive.
Local retired minister Joseph Ellwanger turns author with his book, “STRENGTH FOR THE STRUGGLE”
THE MILWAUKEE COMMUNITY JOURNAL
BOOKSHELF
Published twice weekly, Wednesday & Friday
3612 North Martin Luther King Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53212
Phone: 414-265-5300 (Advertising and Administration) • 414-265-6647 (Editorial) • Website: communityjournal.net • Email: Editorial@communityjournal.net/Advertising@communityjournal.net
Jimmy V. Johnson, Sales Rep. MCJ STAFF: Joan Hollingsworth, Sales Rep. Patricia O’Flynn -Pattillo CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Publisher, CEO Taki S. Raton, Robert J. Thomas Rev. Roxanne Cardenas, Assoc. Publisher PHOTOGRAPHER: Yvonne Kemp Todd Thomas, Vice Pres. Mikel Holt, Assoc. Publisher Thomas E. Mitchell, Jr., Editor Teretha Martin, Technical Consultant/Webmaster Billing Dept./Publisher’s Admin. Assist. Colleen Newsom, Classified Advertising Opinion and comments expressed on the Perspectives page do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or management of the MCJ. Letters and “other perspectives” are accepted but may be edited for content and length.
tute. The African American HIV/AIDS program provides comprehensive education and awareness through pastoral workshops, SISTA African American women HIV/ AIDS groups, youth leader’s workshops, task force and consumer issues groups, the annual Black Church Week of Prayer event and interventions for young men who have sex with men (MSM). Through the Institute, BHCW holds its African American Walk for Quality Health on the first Saturday in June annually. This Walk provides active attention on racial health disparities and the route goes through the community most affected by health disparities. Over three-hundred people participate each year. BHCW is also a Navigator agency; providing Affordable Care Act outreach, education and enrollment.
PERSPECTIVES James H. Hall, Jr.
President, NAACP Milwaukee Branch
Ald. Stamper invites residents to join “Arms Around Us” event
Ald. Stamper
Alderman Russell W. Stamper, II invites Milwaukee residents to attend the “Arms Around Us” Community Call to Action & Resource Fair on Saturday, September 6 at 1:30 p.m. at the Fitzsimonds Boys and Girls Club, 3400 W. North Ave. This event aims to bring together residents, partners and friends by physically linking arms to demonstrate a commitment to improve the quality of our neighborhoods, Alderman Stamper said. During the event, rally point leaders will assemble at 1:30 p.m., the community call to action & linking will take place at 2:30 p.m., and a march around the Boys and Girls Club location will follow from 2:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. For more information, please email leilaniloopez.bncp@gmail.com or cross_danell.bncp@yahoo.com, or call (414) 238-5676.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “BLACK CONSCIOUSNESS IS AN ATTITUDE OF THE MIND AND A WAY OF LIFE, THE MOST POSITIVE CALL TO EMANATE FROM THE BLACK WORLD FOR A LONG TIME.”--STEVEN BIKO
It’s Time to Do Some House Cleaning Part 2
FIRST PERSON
The right to vote is the most fundamental right in our democracy. Wisconsin was one of the first states in the union to guarantee the right to vote for all citizens with the Supreme Court establishing in 1866, in Gillespie v. Palmer, that Black citizens had the right to vote in Wisconsin. That right is guaranteed and protected by the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, and the 15th Amendment, and by Article III Section 1 of the Wisconsin Constitution. That right has been cherished and protected in Wisconsin even during the period after reconstruction when many states (particularly those in the South) enacted provisions specifically designed to suppress the rights of African Americans and other minorities to vote. In 1866, the Wisconsin Supreme Court protected the right of Ezekiel Gillespie, a Black man, to vote in state elections. But, in 2014, the unfortunate effect of the Supreme Court’s decision upholding Wisconsin’s voter ID law would be to impact the rights of hundreds of thousands of minority and low income voters, elderly and disabled persons and students. Evidence has shown that the reasons given by proponents for enacting the law do not hold water. It is no different than the post-reconstruction voter suppression
The Milwaukee Community Journal September 3, 2014 Page 3
laws. It is Jim Crow revisited. The important thing for citizens and voters to know is that at the present time Voter ID is still not in effect in Wisconsin elections, as United States District Court Judge Lynn Adelman found this ugly tactic of voter suppression to be unconstitutional. That decision has been appealed and the case will be heard on September 12 by the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago. We are confident that the appellate court will uphold Judge Adelman’s well-reasoned decision. In the meantime, we must make every effort to: 1. Educate citizens about the political process, the upcoming election in November and pertinent issues 2. Assist with registering as many individuals as possible to exercise this most sacred right 3. Remain vigilant in continuing to vigorously oppose all efforts to reduce access to the ballot and opportunities to vote 4. Collaborate with our partners in these efforts Securing the right to vote was a priority of the NAACP when it was founded in 1909 and it is one of the five “Game changers” of the organization today. The national organization, the Wisconsin State Conference and all units are steadfastly committed to this end.
ALL SMILES FOR A GOOD CAUSE!
Legendary Home Run King Henry Aaron was all smiles recently at Miller Park. The reason? For the 11th year, Aaron’s Chasing The Dream Foundation made dreams come true for five “Dream Chasers” from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee. The Brewers Community Foundation hosted with the event. Forest County Potawatomi Foundation was the presenting sponsor and Major League Baseball was the major sponsor. (Photo by Yvonne Kemp)
In part one of this series, I tried to describe the state of the Black community in peril (Black’s have lost significant ground with nearly every “positive” demographic decreasing and nearly every “negative” demographic increasing – creating alarming disparities and multiple “risk” factors) in addition to shrinking resources coupled with losing PUBLIC OPINION. I talked about ACCOUNTABILITY and how Black people want to hold others accountable but rarely do we hold ourselves accountable. A perfect example of this is the current public protest of the murder of Michael Brown, an unarmed Black male, by a White police officer. I feel the pain of the community and am overwhelmed with emotions for the family. – These actions are valid (?) What troubles me is: Where is the same outcry for the thousands of Black males that are murdered annually by other Black males? Are not the losses to those mothers and families equal? Are not those deaths, in many cases, equally tragic and unfair especially those murdered by just being in the wrong place at the wrong time? Brothers and sisters, were are sending a very lethal message that ultimately supports the prevailing opinion held by many in and outside of the Black community that a Black Male has no value. We discussed the concept of “Do
for Self” with the understanding that we must DEFEND THE BLACK CULTURE. I likened the immune system in the body to our culture. The immune system (the ultimate defense mechanism) is a system that protects the body from disease. The Black community’s immune system (Black Culture) is broken because we have allowed the disease of ignorance to invade our community, potentially threatening our very existence. This can be seen clearly through generational failure; multiple manifestations of selfhate; and the deterioration of the Black male/female relationships tied directly to the near complete erosion of the leadership capabilities of the Black Man via: Mass incarceration of Black Men Current disproportionate level of academic gains of Black Women over Black men Increased levels of violence and homicides Black men have the highest levels of stress than any other group If we examine the root cause to many of these issues, one must wonder how this is possible. Even our staunchest defenders have themselves adopted language and attitudes that demean our people and reflect a significant level of discomfort and dislike for being Black. There is no greater disease that threatens the Black community and ultimately impacts our culture and our ability to succeed, than the rami-
UNIVERSALLY SPEAKING By Rahim Islam
fications of selfhate perpetuated by the media. “The media's the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that's power. Because they control the minds of the masses” (Malcolm X). Brothers and sisters, we must Do For Self and wage war against those that wage war against us even if it means at-
Divine Destiny School accepting fall applications YOUTH&EDUCATION
(continued on page 5)
In Your Faith-Based Community...
Calvary Baptist Church celebrates 119th anniversary
Come celebrate 119 years of serving God with Calvary Baptist Church, the oldest African American Baptist church in Milwaukee, Sunday, Sept. 21, at 9:30 a.m. Calvary is located at 2959 N. Teutonia Ave. Rev. Dr. John R. Walton, Jr. is the senior pastor. The guest preacher for the worship service will be the Rev. Dr. Russell B. Williamson, pastor of Milwaukee’s Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church. There will be a dessert tasting reception after the service. For additional information, call 414-372-1450.
ALL PEOPLES CHURCH HOSTS REVIVAL IN HARAMBEE NEIGHBORHOOD
All Peoples Church in Milwaukee is hosting a three-day revival from September 11 – September 13, 2014. Beginning at 5:30 p.m. each evening, there will be food, music, testimonies, and preaching. The revival’s theme, “The Power of God to Renew, Reform, and Revive” will be the focus of three wellknown guest preachers: • The Rev. Stephen Marsh from Lake Edge Lutheran Church in Madison will kick off the revival on Thursday, September 11, 2014. • The Rev. Wanda Washington, formerly of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago and Grace United Church of Christ in Milwaukee, will preach on Friday, September 12, 2014. • The Rev. Yehiel Curry of Shekinah Chapel in Chicago will preach on the final night of the revival, Saturday, September 13, 2014. Music, under the leadership of All Peoples’ Minister of Music, David Nunley, will include choirs from All Peoples Church, All Saints Catholic Church, and Cross Lutheran Church. "This is a Holy Spirit moment," says Rev. Steve Jerbi, senior pastor at All Peoples Church. "At this time in our city and our community we need to celebrate what is 'good in the hood.' These services focus on how we join in God's work to renew our lives, reform our church and revive our city." The community is welcome to attend any or all evenings, beginning at 5:30 p.m. All Peoples Church is located at 2600 N. 2nd Street in Milwaukee, WI. Street parking is available.
By Taki S. Raton
Divine Destiny School, Inc. (DDS), 1230 South 61st Street in West Allis, announces its fall opening serving children in the K4 through 6th grade levels, The mission of the child-centered academy is, in part, to "dedicate ourselves to Christ in the pursuit of academic excellence and artistic challenge while growing in knowledge and wisdom through God's abundant grace."
Inspired by the their mantra, “Educational Excellence With Kingdom Purpose,” DDS will additionally build in their students the character traits of citizenship, job skill readiness, organization and time management, Biblical work ethic instruction, compassion and respect for others, and the application of Biblical principles in personal relationships. “Our school offers a balanced program geared towards preparing young people for college,” says DDS CEO and Founder, Dr. LaQuetta Hutchinson. “Using the Word of God as a foundation to complement our academics, we strive to teach students to be Christ-Like in all areas of their lives,” she adds. Included in the goal listing, the DDS student will be able to Know the Person of Jesus Christ; be spiritually discerning to seek God's will; help students to utilize their unique gifts and abilities; cultivate integrity and high moral character; develop Godly leadership service skills; teach the integration of current technology in the daily course of study; groom students to apply learned skills to real life circumstances, and assist learners to communicate ideas through effective speaking and writing skills.
She further shares that partnering with parents, “is vital to this endeavor.” Working within this home partnership, DDS will nurture Christian ethic cultivation in the family; support the area Christian community by encouraging regular attendance and commitment to the local church; educate parents on the popular cultural imagery and programing impacting on the homes and on the raising of children; assist parents in understanding the schools mission, vision and goals; encourage volunteer service, and inspire parental input regarding school policy mandates and implementation. A participant in the Milwaukee School Choice Program, the vision of the fully accredited Divine Destiny School is to provide a Christ-centered educational program focusing on spiritual growth and academic excellence which honors God in all divine attributes. "Our philosophy," says Hutchinson, "is that each child is unique and we are dedicated to encouraging our students to achieve their academic potential." She adds that the school will "offer a balanced curriculum that develops the social, intellectual, physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of each child through challenging course work, artistic and creative expressions, and spiritual training by the finest Christian educators." DDS hires the best educators in their respective instructional arenas who serve as key partners in the actualization of the school's vision and mission. Administrators and teachers proudly assume the responsibility for the building of future scholars and leaders by molding students in the realizations of their God-given academic, talents, skills and ingenuous gifts, Hutchinson reveals. Applications for the fall term are now being accepted. For enrollment information or for questions regarding transportation and uniform policy, please contact the Divine Destiny School at (414) 264-3374.
RELIGION The Milwaukee Community Journal September 3, 2014 Page 4
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
A Blatant Disregard for Human Life
While we may want to believe that Human trafficking, a trade in huhuman trafficking and slavery are mans most commonly for the purhorrific aspects of our past, this seripose of sexual slavery, forced labor ous abuse of human rights has exor commercial sexual exploitation for isted in some form globally and in the trafficker, is condemned as a recent years has made a dramatic regross violation of human rights and vivification. blatant disregard for human life. Human Trafficking is not just a Traffickers of young girls into foreign problem; but a domestic one prostitution in many foreign countoo. According to Shared Hope Intertries are often “women who have national at least 100,000 American been trafficked themselves. As adults children are trafficked each year, and they use personal relationships and another 100,000 to 300,000 are at trust in their villages of origin to reBIBLICAL COUNSELING risk with 12 being the average age of cruit additional girls. In some cases, traffickers approach very vulnerable entry into illegal porn and prostituFOR TODAY’S women (including underage girls) to tion. CHRISTIAN FAMILY offer them "legitimate" work or the Many children do not realize they By Rev. Judith T. Lester, promise of an opportunity for educaare being lured until it is too late; B.Min., M.Th. tion. most were living on the street and In order to obtain control over their lured by an older boy. Pimps can earn victims, traffickers will use force, drugs, emotional tactics up to $632,000 per year by selling 4 young women or and financial methods. On occasion, they will even resort children. (Source: Baptist Press 2008). to various forms of violence, such as gang rape and menThe Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) reports tal and physical abuse. people are being bought, sold, and smuggled like modSometimes, the victims will succumb to Stockholm ern-day slaves. They are trapped in lives of misery— Syndrome (which is a psychological phenomenon in often beaten, starved, and forced to work as prostitutes which hostages express empathy and sympathy and have or to take grueling jobs as migrant, domestic, restaurant, positive feelings toward their captors, sometimes to the or factory workers with little or no pay. The FBI is workpoint of defending and identifying with them). ing to stop human trafficking because of the personal and This is particularly effective with younger victims, be- psychological toll it takes on society. cause they are more inexperienced and therefore easily If you believe you are the victim of a trafficking situamanipulated.” (Source: Wikipedia.com). (continued on page 8)
We must give up our lives to save our lives!
T
he scripture readings for discussion are: Jeremiah 20:7-9, Romans 12: 1-2, and Matthew 16: 21-27. Again, I hope and pray that we not only read the scripture but also ponder how it can transform our lives.
And the Gospel today will not go down easily for us. We hear the "Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Wow. Last week we heard Jesus praise Peter for knowing that Jesus is the Anointed, the Son of God. Today we get quite another story. Peter counsels Jesus that he would not die, God forbid that Jesus should die! Now Jesus calls Peter a devil, not a rock. How could Peter get it so wrong? Jesus certainly did not want to die, as none of us do. He also knew already early in his ministry that if he kept up the harangue of the powerful religious leaders he, like many whistle-blowers today, would have a hard time and maybe even face death. Some think because Jesus really knew that Peter was correct and Jesus should not have to die for simply telling the truth, that Jesus got so angry. The devil made sense, it was so tempting not to go down the path leading to death for just speaking up for the poor. Just stop it, and live. So, Jesus knew pretty early in the ballgame that his fate was sealed if he did not lighten up. And this challenge belongs to all those who claim to be Christian. The truth lies in the fact that we must give up our lives to save our lives. I hope and pray that your life will not end violently as Jesus' life did. But daily "death" comes from the difficult work of realizing that life is not all about you and your wishes and your private relationship with God. Your life must be about God, love, truth, others, the bigger world. And that can cause death to self and self-
BREAD IN THE WILDERNESS
RELIGIOUS COMMENTARY
A Psychology of Rioting:
My glimpse into Ferguson By Pastor Darryl R. Williams
not riot, more often than not it is the The murder of Michael Brown in economically and socially oppressed Ferguson, MO has stirred up a myrwho do. iad of reactions. One of the most The helplessness and hopelessness common and the one I want to focus that they feel is as such that they will upon in this article is, “Why are they resort to violence to get attention, choosing to respond by rioting, looteven if it’s violence to their own ing, and tearing up their own comcommunities. The anger and frustramunity?” tion of a rioter has fomented to such It’s to be noted that this question is a high level until any moral reticence usually asked by middle to high inthat an individual may have had succome people denoting the failure to cumbs to the mindset of the group, the psychology or mindunderstand that is why you may see people who set of the powerless and poverty may not ordinarily engage in some stricken in our society by us who are acts alone, find themselves doing more fortunate. them when they are part of a group. Some of the conservative news Rev. Williams Group behavior supersedes individchannel commentators have been even more mean-spirited in their analysis, referring to the ual behavior. I am certainly not trying to justify rioting, in fact it is rioters as “hoodlums.” While it may be some truth that there are criminals that take advantage of these situations, counter-productive; it rarely works. Revolutions are sucto dismiss all rioters as “hoodlums” is just too easy and cessful because they are well thought out and organized. may be our way of turning a blind eye to what is really Riots do not because they are emotional and lack organbeing said when people riot. ization. The riots of Ferguson, MO that occurred in the afterThey only benefit a rioter derives is some emotional math of the tragic death of Michael Brown was not sim- relief for some long felt frustration and anger. Dr. King ply the result of this one incident, but riots, as Dr. Martin says they know they cannot win, that is precisely why Luther King noted, is the “language of the unheard.” It is they riot. It is not a response to the system, but a reaction. the reaction of a people who feel helpless, hopeless, and It is the way the powerless display frustration. I merely unempowered. They have suffered a series of real or per- lift up the psychology of a rioter not to justify it but so ceived injustices, and finally there’s one trigger incident we can understand them and seek ways to provide more healthy ways to combat a system that has often proved it that pushes them “over the top.” Riots have everything to do with being keenly aware is not for you. Is there also a psychology of looting? Let’s be clear; It of the economic and social gap that exists between the rioter and those who have more. They don’t feel in charge is a criminal behavior. But what is driving this criminal of their lives and have little hope in changing their cir- behavior? I know a person who is now deceased who was cumstances. To prove this theory, it is interesting to note fired from her job at Walgreen’s for taking items that did that people who are part of the country’s mainstream do (continued on page 8)
In Loving Memory
Offering pre-need, at need and after-care services to families in Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha and other communities throughout our state.
By Fr. Carl Diederichs, All Saints Catholic Church
centeredness. We will not be the center of the universe as we think we are. Your life is not about you. You and I are one little piece of the great Mystery of human life going on for billions of years. And what we must do is surrender to the Mystery that is God, a God bigger than you, more loving than you, more wonderful than you, and powerful enough to draw you in to the Mystery. The bottom line is that Jesus died
for caring about others so much that he could not allow the powers to continue to control the life and death of the poor, the weak, and disenfranchised. That's what did it. We will not get into trouble saying our prayers in private, worshiping God in the privacy of your home or church. You will get into trouble and "lose your life" when the reality of Jesus in your life is so compelling that you speak up, act up and be part of the arc of the universe that bends towards justice.
Quality Service... a tenured tradition sincere concern at your time of need.
J C Frazier Ernestine O’Bee Funeral Director Founder Services scheduled from Aug. 25 to Sept. 3, 2014
McMillian, Arthur Jr. Age 69 yrs. August 27, 2014. Funeral services will be held on Friday, September 5, at 11AM. Visitation Friday 10AM until time of services at:
ices will be held on Thursday, August 28, at 11AM at Holy Redeemer COGIC 3500 W. Mother Daniel Way. Visitation Thursday 10AM at the CHURCH until time of services. The family is served by:
Bailey, Carrie B. Age 81 yrs. August 22, 2014. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 30, at 11AM at Canaan Baptist Church 2975 N. 11th St. Visitation Saturday 10AM at the CHURCH until time of services. The family is served by:
Hortman, Leon Sr. Age 89 yrs. August 24, 2014. Beloved father of Lethoria Kimble, Ernest Hortman, Andrew Hortman, Virginia Hortman, Leon Hortman Jr., Robert Hortman, Elizabeth(Larry Sr.)Odom and Leisa Hortman. Loving brother of Liller P.(Elder Rudolph Sr.)Bates, Alex Sr.(Ida)Hortman, Ellie(Maurice)Day and Shirley(Elder O.C. II)Tatum. Also survived by 20 grandchildren and a host of other loving relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 30, at 11AM at Bethesda COGIC 2810 W. Highland Blvd. Visitation Saturday 10AM at the CHURCH until time of services. The family is served by:
Northwest Funeral Chapel O'Bee, Ford & Frazier 6630 W. Hampton Ave. (414)462-6020
Northwest Funeral Chapel O'Bee, Ford & Frazier 6630 W. Hampton Ave. (414)462-6020
Summer, Robert Sr. Age 69 yrs. August 22, 2014. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, September 2, at 11AM. Visitation Tuesday 10AM until time of services at: Northwest Funeral Chapel O'Bee, Ford & Frazier 6630 W. Hampton Ave. (414)462-6020
Thomas, William L. Jr. Age 59 yrs. August 20, 2014. Funeral serv-
Northwest Funeral Chapel O'Bee, Ford & Frazier 6630 W. Hampton Ave. (414)462-6020
Northwest Funeral Chapel O'Bee, Ford & Frazier 6630 W. Hampton Ave. (414)462-6020
Families served by:
Northwest Funeral Chapel O’Bee, Ford & Frazier
Milwaukee 6630 W. Hampton Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53218 Telephone: (414) 462-6020 Fax: (414) 462-9937
Racine 800 Barker St. Racine, WI 53402 Telephone: (262) 637-6400 Fax: (262) 637-6416
Universally Speaking
(continued from page 3) tacking another “unconscious” Black person. I contend that in the area of SelfHate, the legacy of slavery is alive and thriving. How else can we explain these deep rooted fears and behaviors of our people both externally and internally (if you have another reason, I’m all ears). If we truly examine what we think about ourselves and what others think about us, it’s not good. The American media has consistently portrayed Blacks as subhuman beasts, and/or animals that can never be civilized. Blacks are fundamentally just above animal and born as inferior. This belief of bestiality and inferiority of Black people are held when: Reparations Not on the Table America has participated in addressing reparations for several groups/countries over the past 150 years (i.e. Jewish, Japanese, Indian, WW1, etc.), so the concept isn’t a foreign one. In Congress a bill continues to languish which seeks to just acknowledge the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality and inhumanity of slavery and to study the impact of slavery on Black people today. This is hypocritical when you understand that Congress creates legislation to study some of the most obscure things (i.e. ants, birds, sand, etc.). In addition to contributing the blood of our fathers in every war waged by America to protect freedoms that we didn’t even have, Blacks were integral to building America’s multitrillion dollar economy and its multibillionaires making it the world leader it is today. I will present information to support this fact in subsequent articles but EVERY BLACK POLITICIAN THAT GOES TO CONGRESS COULD DO NO MORE THAN GET THIS BILL PASSED –NUMBER ONE MANDATE); Legacy of Slavery and PostTraumatic Stress – With only 45 generations removed from chattel slavery and 12 generations removed from the grips of Jim Crow, our people continue to suffer from all types of extreme posttraumatic stress and the psychological scars that has been inherit in many of our customs, beliefs, expectations, and culture. Are Black people not supposed to be harmed by this experience, an experience that was supported by the laws, courts, government of America? This was not some accident. Are we not human? For many, especially those who are in control, we’re not. The general response to slavery is “get over it’ or “that was a long time ago. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. Blacks have never received treatment for, nor has public opinion recognized the need to treat the psychological scars left by slavery and negative portrayal of Blacks by the media. Slavery has been more damaging to Black people and their offspring than anything we can point to. The rub comes when experts rush to address the need for longterm psychological treatment to the victims of violent events. The shootings at Columbine and the return of our veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan are recent examples. I asked you: What was more violent than the American institution of Slavery on the Black people? Mass Incarceration of Black Men – Forget about perception and/or subjective hyperboles, this is a real structural war against Black men. The United States leads the world in incarceration, with over 2.4 million people behind bars—a 500 percent increase over the past 30 years. The United States has 5 percent of the world population, yet approximately 25 percent of its prisoners. Where else in the world can we point to one group’s population domination in a prison system? Black men represent approximately 67% of the male population in America but occupying more than 53% of the prison population. Some call this a “new slavery” because the outcomes are just as lethal to the Black community as was the American institution of slavery. In fact, if we study the impact of wars and the loss of the men and the impact on society, we would have to go back thousands of years to see when this many of any one group of men have been removed from society. This upside down statistic (we have more than 1.4 million Black men in prison) and nearly twothirds
of Black men have been impacted by the prison system (incarceration, probation, parole, etc.) should warrant the highest level of inquiry and investigation – but nothing, the beat goes on. This is not some issue we can just brush over. This is catastrophic, but domestically there is not a mention of this “school to prison” pipeline (America has been called on the carpet by several international human rights organizations but none domestically). I would suggest that the general opinion is that Black men aren’t equal to White men. Degradation of Black Women – No place on the planet does a group’s women receive so much coverage. The attention is crippling. What is the need to define Black woman? Why are they singled out? If everything was remotely equal, we would know about the woman of all groups. What do we know about the White woman, Asian woman, Irish woman, Italian woman? Not much. Not only are Black woman highly described, they are consistently degraded throughout the majority of media mediums. Our women are routinely called bitches, sluts, and hoes in all forms of media. Images of our woman (sometimes in very raw visuals) are portrayed as welfare moms, overly sexed, unsophisticated and ignorant. The current media trend is now promoting and encouraging singlehead of household by woman. The “I don’t need a man” is a constant and continuous propaganda seen now everywhere. In fact, when Black women are complimented as “strong”, it’s a back handed denigration of both: Black woman she is now perceived void of emotion, tenderness, affection; and Black men – the Black woman must now be the
mother and the father. Other Issues that Support Inferiority Black men have been much maligned and have been relegated to “deadbeat” and “sperm donor” and when a Black man upholds the concept of “father” (protector and provider) he’s given an award and is celebrated. This type of behavior further alienates our community and widens the perception that the Black man doing the right thing as an exception. This is not an exception for any other group. Over the years, Blacks have been the guinea pigs for numerous medical experiments. If I told you how the practices of the medical community evolved using Black men, women and children, you would throw up (it’s actually criminal). Our people have suffered through secret and damaging health experiments that many of us just weren’t aware of. In every American city where Blacks have been a large percentage of the population, the morgues are filled with Black male bodies (nearly 75% of the homicides victims are Black men). Where is the outcry? America gives more attention to the treatment of animals than Black people (i.e. dogs, whales, birds, etc.). Remember Michael Vick. I was listening to an interview the other day with a White woman who has been in porn for some time and how she stated that she could never do a movie with a Black man because it would lower her value!?! She also stated that if she was to do a scene with a Black man, they would market her with a beast (these are her words). I’m not making this stuff up. We must come to understand how we are viewed and how we view ourselves.
The Milwaukee Community Journal September 3, 2014 Page 5
If you were a visitor from another planet and didn’t have any contextual history, but relied only on the current visuals and the media, you would conclude that Blacks are inferior that Whites. If you were to do the math and a sidebyside comparison of neighborhoods and communities, housing and open spaces, education content and education facilities, economic and retail ownership, cultural and religious facilities and institutions, etc., what do you think you would you come up with? To make matters worse, go to the movies,
watch television, read the local and national newspapers, and then listen to what Black people say about themselves and one might fundamentally conclude Black inferiority and White superiority. Now, brothers and sisters, replace the visitor from the another planet that doesn’t have access to history and the context to our plight with OUR CHILDREN. This is how we are under siege and why our conditions won’t improve unless we mount a campaign to restore Black pride and begin to counter these multitudes of negative images. How do you
think others will stop portraying us in such negative terms, when we do it ourselves? We must do some house cleaning…..We will continue this discussion next week. Peace Rahim Rahim Islam is a National Speaker and Writer, Convener of Philadelphia Community of Leaders, and President/CEO of Universal Companies, a community development and education management company headquartered in Philadelphia, PA. Follow Rahim Islam on FaceBook(Rahim Islam) & Twitter (@RahimIslamUC)
SMALL BUSINESS
The Milwaukee Community Journal September 3, 2014 Page 6
Small Business Profile
Bliss Lash & Nail Bar
Bliss Lash & Nail Bar, which opened this spring, boasts a Downtown/Chic décor in the heart of the city. The design of the space is surprising to all that enter. The décor offers a mixture of modern and sultry designs among 3 to 4 different Purple hues, Ceramic Tile, Mosquito Net Curtains, Plush Couches and a Sparkling Glass Chandelier. The Nail Bar offers communal-style seating. It satisfies the desire to meet new people. The bar design is comfortable offering foot rest and a well thought out purse hooks for ladies to free their hands during service. Bliss creates
an ambience of luxe, which is delicately fragranced by scented candles and burning oils. The Lash Lounge is a separate room offering a comfortable chair for reclining for Eyebrow Threading or Eyelashes. The Makeup room is dedicated for just that. Our experienced Makeup Artists include Bridgette Blackmon of Kiss-n-Makeup. Bridgette has over 33 years of experience providing custom makeup blends, eyebrow sculpting and Eyelashes. Serenthia Griffin, Makeup artist has over 30 years of experience working with various makeup lines and providing detailed skin analysis. She specializes in bridal parties providing makeup, eyebrow arching and lash application. Bliss offers affordable Beauty Bar treatments in a blissful, contemporary spa. More elegant than the traditional nail salon, but not nearly as expensive as the typical spa, offering Full Service Nail Care, Eyelash Extensions, Makeup Artistry, Tattoo Makeup and Massages.. Host a Spa Party with us, all sizes of groups and parties are happily accommodated in the lash lounge & nail bar’s 2000 sq. ft. space. We specialize in Girls Night Out, Bridal and Bachelorette parties, Wedding showers, Birthdays, Sweet 16’s, and corporate events. Bliss Lash & Nail Bar is open Tuesday- Saturday from 10am-6pm and by appointment only on Sundays and Mondays. Appointments are recommended and walk-ins are always welcome. For more information contact Tara Ali, 414.466.5274 or mkelashlounge@gmail.com. Or visit the location Bliss Lash & Nail Bar 3616 W. Villard Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53209.
Are We Looking Through Our Own Glasses? By Greta Schulz
There is a glass sitting on a table with water filled halfway up the glass. Some see the glass half full, some half empty. Which is correct? Neither. Both.
This old saying is a terrific illustration of seeing things through your own filter. Most things in life are subjective, merely subjective. When you hear a salesperson say, “I had a great meeting and this guy is very interested. I feel like it’s 95% closed”. You analyze the account yourself and realize it really wasn’t qualified properly, your salesperson didn’t discuss the dollars it would take to get the job done and most importantly, he isn’t truly the decision maker. You would put a 50/50 chance on this at best. The salesperson was bonding with the guy. They talked baseball for 25 minutes of the meeting, then laughed about their toddlers and how into the team they are already. This convinced him that he would buy. On the other hand, You feel since the proper questions weren’t asked and the proper presentation wasn’t done, it is bound for failure or luck, alone. Who is right, who is wrong? No one really knows which makes forecasting pretty difficult and illustrates the point that we see things the way we see them. Why do they see this sales call so differently? Mostly it is because of those glasses. The sales guy sees the bonding as a huge buying sign be-
Greta Schulz
cause that is what he looks for when he buys. The sales manager sees the technique of the call and without the proper steps it can‘t work except for luck. He is a guy that doesn’t believe in luck, he believes in fact and process. All of the tees need to be crossed and the I’s dotted then and only they will buy. So who is correct? Not that there is necessarily a right answer besides the fact that everyone sees things very different. How important is that to know? Well let’s take this from a few angles. First, as a sales manager. Do you see how an enthusiastic salesperson can paint a picture so rosey that you have it practically booked and it isn’t even close? Or a salesperson says the prospect doesn’t like her, but really she is calling on a quiet, deep-thinker type and he was just going through the questions he felt were important, quietly and consciously. Actually he had all intentions in
buying the product but the glasses she sees through is, “he doesn’t like me” which to her means, no sale. As a salesperson, we do this most often in the presentation stage. We give all of the “features and benefits” of the product as we see them or worse as someone in corporate decided the benefits should be. This reminds me of a car sales encounter I had years ago. I was looking for an SUV. After looking at several of the “this car reminds me of something that totes a small village” type, I looked at a smaller version. I began telling this salesmen a little about my situation. He obviously had some training because he did ask me a few questions. “Is anyone in your family tall?” No, no one’s tall” I curiously answered while walking toward the car. “I got in the car to drive and he proudly started telling me about the 12 extra inches of headroom that this car had as opposed to the other I had been looking at. He asked me the question, but didn’t truly listen to the answer because someone in “Marketing felt this was an important feature”. Back to our rose colored glasses, apparently his were made at the big and tall shop. Greta Schulz is a sales consultant for businesses and entrepreneurs. For more sales training tips and tools, please sign up for her free tips at www.schulzbusiness.com or join her new online sales training course at www.b2bsalesplaybook.com.
ASpoon Full of Salesmanship Antoine Miller
By Antoine Miller
No Matter your field of expertise, great salesmanship opens doors for you. If you haven’t looked into salesmanship, Merriam Webster defines salesmanship as having ability or effectiveness in selling or in presenting persuasively. When will you need to be persuasive on your job is not the question. Instead, you should already understand that you will need to be persuasive before you can even get a job! From there, even if your professional title doesn't contain the word sales in it, you will need to learn how to communicate effectively and persuasively to function as a wellrounded professional. Learning how to sell your way into the door of your career path is only the beginning. There are perks that come along with learning how to sell that will help you advance in your career. One of the most obvious perks is the ability of a professional with a sense of salesmanship to rise above the ranks of the simply good professionals to the land of the exceptionally great professionals. All things being equal, when you are a good professional you may have some job security. However, when you are a great professional you become somewhat indispensable or at least harder to let go of. Plus, sales people are always among the first to be promoted to leadership roles within a business or organization. This is due to the fact that sales people are convincing, generally charismatic, outspoken and have the natural desire to courageously lead and win. Who wouldn’t want to hire a person with such characteristics and who wouldn’t like to be led by such a person? It doesn't matter what the economy looks like, businesses will always need salespeople. The worse off the economy the better the salesperson will need to be. Regardless, great salespeople will always have great job security. Selling develops courage and vision. Even if your professional title doesn't contain the word sales in it, you should read books and blogs about selling. These learning activities can only enhance your success.
You can further enhance your salesmanship qualities by memorizing an elevator pitch or a short story to explain what you do and how what you do helps others. You should practice public speaking, especially if your professional goal includes leading a department, division or company. Finally practice the idea of selflessness. Sales is all about helping the people you interact with answer the question
they are asking internally of WIIFM (what’s in it for me). Show them how they win and your salesmanship will help you win as well.
Antoine Miller is Founder of 99 SALES iDEAS for Business Development. Miller is excited to help business owners sell more of their products and services. Contact Miller at 414-219-1989 or amiller@99salesideas.com with your sales and marketing or business startup questions.
The Ice Man cometh to the Brew City!
Golden Times MPS employee Acey Farmer retires after 37 years of “duty”
The Milwaukee Community Journal September 3, 2014 Page 7
Legendary rapper and actor Ice Cube got the audience rockin’ on some of his well known hits during the recent “All White Affair on the Lake.” The event was held at the Johnson Controls Stage on the Summerfest Grounds. Christopher’s project also performed on the “Jazz Stage.” (Photo by Francesca GuytonJohnson)
KALEIDOSCOPE the MCJ lifestyle & entertainment section
Twelfth Cycle of Fellowship program for visual arts announced
The Bradley Family Foundation, in collaboration with the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, announces the twelfth cycle of the prestigious fellowship program for visual artists. The program, funded by the Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s Mary L. Nohl Fund, provides unrestricted funds for artists to create new work or complete work in progress. Under the terms of the program, seven fellowships will be awarded in 2014: three for established artists ($15,000 each) and four for emerging artists ($5,000 each). The program is open to practicing artists residing in the four-county area comprised of Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee, and Washington counties. Seventy-four fellowships have been awarded since the program began in 2003. Applications and guidelines for the twelfth cycle of the fellowship program will be available beginning Tuesday, September 2, 2014. The electronic application will be available on the web at http://lyndensculpturegarden.org/nohl beginning at 10 am.Completed applications are due no later than Thursday, October 2, 2014. If you are unable to access the electronic application, you may receive application materials and complete eligibility requirements by contacting Polly Morris at (414) 446-8794 or by e-mail at pmorris@lyndensculpturegarden.org. Awards will be announced on Monday, November 3, 2014.
Three public workshops will be offered to help applicants better understand the application process. Polly Morris, executive director of the Lynden Sculpture Garden, who administers the fellowship program, will be joined by current and past Nohl Fellows at these informal sessions. The workshops are free and open to new applicants as well as those who have applied in the past. • Monday, September 8, 2014, 6-7:30 pm at Ayzha Fine Arts Gallery, The Shops at the Grand Avenue Mall, 275 W. Wisconsin Ave., 2nd floor (enter at 3rd Street & Wisconsin Avenue). This session is co-sponsored by Wisconsin Visual Artists. • Wednesday, September 10, 2014, 67:30 pm at Walker’s Point Center for the Arts, 839 S. 5th St. This session is co-sponsored by WPCA. • Sunday, September 14, 2014, 10:30 am-12 noon at Jazz Gallery, a Riverwest Community Art Center, 926 E. Center St. This session is co-sponsored by Riverwest Artist Association. Artist Mary L. Nohl of Fox Point, Wisconsin, died in December 2001 at the age of 87. Her $9.6 million bequest to the Greater Milwaukee Foundation is one of the largest gifts the Foundation has received from a single donor in its 99-year history. The Fund, by supporting local visual arts and arts education programs, keeps Nohl’s passion for the visual arts alive in the community. The 2014 Nohl Fellows will be se-
lected by a panel of recognized visual arts professionals working outside the four-county area: Courtney Fink, Executive Director, Southern Exposure, San Francisco; Daniel Fuller, Director of the Institute of Contemporary Art at the Maine College of Art, Portland; and Naima J. Keith, Assistant Curator at The Studio Museum in Harlem, New York. In addition to receiving an award, the Nohl Fellows will participate in an exhibition in the autumn of 2015. An exhibition catalogue will be published and disseminated nationally. A reception honoring the seven fellows selected in the 2013 cycle of the competition—Ray Chi, Sheila Held and Special Entertainment (Bobby Ciraldo & Andrew Swant) in the Established Artist category; and Emerging Artists Cris Siqueira, Tim Stoelting, Eddie Villanueva and Josh Weissbach--will be held in conjunction with the opening of the Fellowship Exhibition on Friday, October 10, 2014. The opening of the exhibition at INOVA, 2155 N. Prospect Ave., begins at 5 pm and is free and open to the public.
Acey Farmer (pictured at right) recently retired as operations supervisor with Milwaukee Public Schools. He worked with MPS for 37 years. Reflecting on his career with MPS, Farmer credits his work ethic to his parents, Lenord and Bobbie Farmer (both deceased), as well as the love of his family which inspired him to get up and “report for duty” everyday. He is a dedicated husband and father to his wife Carol and his five daughters: Reecy, Shekeya, Tamika, Atoya and Tyann and his 21 grandchildren. Farmer’s family is very proud of the example he has given to his brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, grandson and granddaughters regarding hard work and persevering regardless of what obstacles you face. Farmer officially retired on August 29, 2014 which was the same day as his departed mother’s birthday.
My glimpse into Ferguson The Milwaukee Community Journal September 3, 2014 Page 8
(continued from page 4) not belong to her. After it happened, I asked myself why did she do this? I came to this conclusion: because she lacked education she saw items that she had no reason to believe would ever be hers legally. It didn’t matter how she got them, but getting them made her feel powerful. This person made bad choices but there are people who didn’t make the choices this person made, who are still unemployed or underemployed who still feel powerless and because
of that, given the opportunity such as in the mass confusion of a riot, would be tempted to resort to this kind of behavior. The Church’s Response Psychology and theology are connected in this sense: If I can understand someone’s behavior, then there is hope that I can find the corrective to treat it. Our response as African Americans shouldn’t be to dismiss rioters as hooligans, thugs, and opportunists, but to understand what is being said by their rioting and loot-
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
(continued from page 4) tion OR you may have information about a potential trafficking situation, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) at 1-888-3737888 or visit them at: http://www.polarisproject.org/what-we-do/nationalhuman-trafficking-hotline. NHTRC is a national, toll-free hotline, with specialists available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year related to potential trafficking victims, suspicious behaviors, and/or locations where trafficking is suspected to occur. Y ou can also submit a tip to the NHTRC online. The NHTRC can assist in identifying resources in Wisconsin and help victims coordinate with local service organizations. Many of the referrals made are for advocacy to ensure rights of those who have been trafficked; transportation to appointments; legal advocacy when reporting being a victim of a crime (e.g. kidnapping, sexual assault, trafficking); sexual abuse/assault advocacy; sexual abuse/assault support groups: domestic violence advocacy; domestic violence support groups, to name a few. Beloved, the bottom line is, human trafficking represents a human catastrophe on a global scale. On August 23, 2014 Community leaders gathered in Milwaukee to search for a solution to this colossal problem. The public also heard from victims. In addition to being a blatant disregard for human life, human trafficking is also an insult to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Victims of human trafficking who have been turned into illegal and disposable commodities, is the new class of the unreached. Spurred by the call of Luke 4:18, it is this writer’s prayer the faith community and community leaders will continue to respond by educating and raising awareness of human trafficking to stem the tide of foreign and domestic human trafficking of persons. The writer does not assume responsibility in any way for readers’ efforts to apply or utilize information or recommendations made in these articles, as they may not be necessarily appropriate for every situation to which they may refer. If you would like to contact Rev. Lester, write to her c/o P.O. Box 121, Brookfield, WI. 53008.
ing. The theme that I have put forth is that they riot because this is how disenfranchised, oppressed, and unempowered people express themselves. I am reminded that Jesus took 12 unempowered Jewish men who, along with all their people, were being oppressed by the Roman Government. And he poured into them until these men did not react to their government, or to their Jewish authorities, but they did respond by staying true to the principals and truths instilled in them by their Master. The result: they turned the world upside down! Too many of our people feel hopeless, victims of their circumstances, so rather than embarking on the journey to better themselves, or constructively engage social systems that seek to keep them down, they do what hopeless people do- they riot and they loot. If hopelessness is the root cause of this kind of behavior then don’t we, the church, have the proper antidote? Not criticism and judgment, but Christ! And I’m not suggesting giving them Christ means just a message on Sunday. But it also means literacy and GED programs; it means job training; it means teaching about their African heritage and the contributions of their fore parents; it’s teaching them how to be responsible parents; it’s loving them for who they are; it’s showing them how to be politically engaged; it is teaching them to respect themselves and others; it is teaching them one of the truths of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and that is we can have hope because life always wins out over death, victory over defeat, and light over darkness. As Bishop Reginald Jackson often says, “A world at its worst needs a church at its best.” We can do it! The future of our people offers us no choice. Darryl. R. Williams is pastor of St. Mark A.M.E Church in Milwaukee. Like us on Facebook or visit us at
www.st.markame-milwaukee.
Milwaukee Brotherhood of Firefighters hosts its annual “Big Poppa” Scholarship Golf Classic
On behalf of the brave brothers and sisters of the Milwaukee Brotherhood of Fire Fighters are extremely proud to announce the 3rd annual MBFF “Big Poppa” Scholarship Golf Classic. This exciting event will be held on Saturday-September 13, 2014 at the beautiful Kettle Hills Golf Course in Richfield, Wisconsin. The event begins with registration at 7:00 am golf shotgun start at 8:00 am with live and silent auctions, awards and an exceptional lunch. The format for the outing is a four-person scramble, choosing the best ball of your team for each shot. Prizes for the event include a flat screen TV. “Space to participate is still available, and we are counting on the great people of Milwaukee to help make this a successful event and an investment in our youth, the future leaders of tomorrow “states Lawrence Jenkins, Tournament Director. To register yourself or your team contact Lawrence Jenkins at 414.397.1911. All proceeds from the event sup-
port student success through scholarships. For over 35 years, the Milwaukee Brotherhood of Firefighters has been a beacon of hope and vision for community residents in the City of Milwaukee. MBFF is vigilantly, promoting interracial progress, diversity and equality throughout the Milwaukee Fire Department and its subsidiaries. In addition, the Brotherhood sponsors academic scholarships, recruitment, mentoring and training of potential fire cadet candidates. Algier Sinclair became a member of the Milwaukee Fire Department in 1976, a 27 year career as a Firefighter and Paramedic. Algier had a tremendous desire to help others combined with enormous personality, earned Algier the name “Big Poppa”. Big Poppa enjoyed many activities however golfing was his true passion. MBFF has dedicated its efforts to honor an exceptional man and brother with this annual Memorial Scholarship Golf Classic. The planning team has set an ambitious goal to provide scholarships to several deserving graduating high school seniors pursuing a career in Fire Science. Everett Cocroft, MBFF Presidents shares “Firefighters respond to emergencies no matter how big, how small or how dangerous it's what we do. Some call us Heroes but we are simply people who really care. You too can be a Hero, as you Tee Off for future Heroes in our community.”
The Milwaukee Community Journal September 3, 2014 Page 9
The Milwaukee Community Journal September 3, 2014 Page 10