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Newspaper VOL.2 NO.43 VOL.2 NO.18 The CSRA’s
JULY 18 - 24, 2013
D E R Y T R A M , D E R E D R U M , N O V TRAY Millions mobilise to end murder of black children
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Look Here! FRONT ‘N’ CENTER TAKE NOTE
March for Justice on Sat., July 20 Bring your kids, family, and friends to The Official Peace March for the Department of Justice to continue to Investigate the murder of Mr. Trayvon Martin will be held on Saturday July 20, 2013 at 10 a.m. Starts at 530 Greene Street Municipal Building and to end at 735 James Brown Blvd. There will be a voter registration and petition signing. Bring your signs. This is a peaceful event. All are invited to attend. For more information please call: 706. 210.9142 or 706.306.5009
Baiesha Johnson, former Paine College grad, competes in Europe as a professional athlete.
Baiesha Johnson, former Paine star launches pro track career AUGUSTA Recently, Baiesha Johnson, a 2013 Paine College graduate embarked upon her professional athletic career in Europe. She won her first track meet that took place in France on June 30th at the Meeting de Mulhouse with a jump of 6.12 meters. She finished 3rd in her first 100 meters dash the same night and was the center of attention at the Mulhouse meeting. Her second meet was of a higher competition. While still in France, she competed in a pro tour among world class athletes in Nancy. She finished 6th place (6.07) in the long jump behind World Champion Eunice Barber of France. “This was a great experience for Baiesha who will know now what level to expect on the European circuit,” said Coach Lionel Nau who guided Johnson to compete abroad. “She knows that she has to jump 6.40 or more meters to get some wins and she is absolutely capable of doing so. Her time is currently 6.31 meters.” While at Paine, Johnson trained under the watchful eye of Coach Nau who is also a native of France. Her third competition took place Sunday, July 7th at the track meet in Chaux de Fond in Switzerland. She competed in the 100 meters dash in heats and finals where she ran 12.42 seconds and participated in the 200 where she placed 8th with a time of 25.50. When Johnson’s story first broke in June 2013, alumni, fam-
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ily and friends donated over $2,000 to help finance her trip to Europe. She is still in need of nearly $2,200 to cover the costs for travel, lodging and meals for competitions that will take place in Belgium, Italy and other European countries. Coach Nau and his mother have opened their home to Johnson during her stay in France. The public is invited to make donations payable to Baiesha Johnson and deposit funds into the Wells Fargo account (553774-6678) that has been established to hold funds for Johnson’s European travel fees. The public is also invited to make checks payable to Baiesha Johnson and drop off donations in care of the Paine College Institutional Advancement office located in Haygood-Holsey Hall, Room 115. Upon receipt of donations at the College, the funds will be deposited into the Wells Fargo designated account for Baiesha Johnson. For more information, contact the Paine College Office of Institutional Advancement at 706.821.8233 or email Leadra Collins: Lcollins@paine.edu. Johnson is scheduled to return to the U.S. at the end of the month and has indicated that she wishes to meet and thank all of the well-wishers and supporters personally. For more information on Paine College, please visit http:// www.paine.edu, or contact Leah Suggs in the Office of Communications & Marketing at (706) 821-8322, (803) 524-3195 or lsuggs@paine.edu.
Publisher Ben Hasan 706-394-9411 Managing Editor Frederick Benjamin Sr. 706-836-2018
Sales & Marketing Phone: 706-394-9411 Photography and Social Media Courtesy of Vincent Hobbs
“Daughter of Osun”
Lucy Craft Laney Museum to host Women’s Art Exhibition Series
The Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History will feature New York-based artist Brittany Fields’s collection Daughter of Oshun for its Women’s Art Exhibition series. Fields draws from Yoruba folklore to illuminate the mysticism of ancestry and the creation of myths. The museum will hold a reception on Sunday, August 11th from 3-5:30 pm at which the artist will be present. The installation will open on Thursday, August 1st and will remain for the remainder of the month.
email: Ben Hasan bzhasan54@yahoo.com Frederick Benjamin Sr. editor@urbanproweekly.com Vincent Hobbs coolveestudio@gmail.com
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the nation Reaction to the George Zimmerman trial verdict From church pews to the broadcast airwaves, to tweets and hastily organized protests, Americans have reacted strongly to the news that George Zimmerman has been acquitted of all charges in the killing of teenager Trayvon Martin. ENTERTAINER STEVIE WONDER announced that he will not perform in any Stand Your Ground state.
“Wherever I find that law exists I will not perform in that state or that part of the world.”
Donna Adams brought her two sons, Elisha, 8, right, and Emmanuel, 10, joined a gathering for Trayvon Martin sponsored by the Howard University NAACP. “I am outraged about the verdict,” Adams said. “It could have been one of my children.” Astrid Riecken / For The Washington Post
Perfect storm of outrage races across the nation
After verdict, groups urge boycott of Florida Within days of the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the death of Trayvon Martin, calls to boycott Florida, where the shooting and trial occurred, began. A petition published on MoveOn.org, a liberal advocacy group, encouraged people to boycott Florida, a popular tourist destination, until it repealed its Stand Your Ground law, which allows people to use lethal force to defend themselves if they “reasonably believe” they might be killed or suffer severe injuries, even if they can retreat from the conflict. While Mr. Zimmerman’s defense team did not invoke Stand Your Ground in the courtroom, the trial focused attention on the law, which some opponents say makes prosecuting self-defense cases in the state difficult. Others have taken to Facebook and Twitter, using hashtags like #BoycottFlorida or #NotFlorida, to advocate boycotts of Florida vacations and of buying products like orange juice from the state.
NAACP vows to fight racial profiling in U.S. ORLANDO The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People released the following statement on the acquittal of George Zimmerman for the killing of Trayvon Martin: Chairman Roslyn M. Brock: “Today, justice failed Trayvon Martin and his family,” said Roslyn M. Brock, Chairman of the NAACP. “We call immediately for the Justice Department to conduct an investigation into the civil rights violations committed against Trayvon Martin. This case has re-energized the movement to end racial profiling in the United States.”
STAND YOUR GROUND STANDOFF: Ebony Pirtle staring at LAPD officers guarding the Baldin Hills Crenshaw Mall because they won’ let him in to recover his property left inside. He was in the rally protesting the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, at Leimert Plaza Park, Monday, July 15, 2013.
And during a concert in Quebec City on Sunday night, Stevie Wonder announced that he would not perform in Florida until the Stand Your Ground law is repealed. He added, “Wherever I find that law exists I will not perform in that state or that part of the world.” Similar self-defense laws are on the books in about two dozen states. In 2012, Florida, which counts Disney World, Palm Beach and Miami among its many attractions, had 91.4 million visitors generating $71.8 billion in tourism spending and $4.3 billion in state sales tax revenue, according to Visit Florida, the state’s tourism marketing company. The boycotts are directed at at the tourism business. The MoveOn.org petition, which by Wednesday morning had drawn more than 8,000 signatures, says that “if the murder of Trayvon Martin isn’t enough to get lawmakers’ attention, maybe a loss in revenue to the state will be.”
NAACP President Benjamin Todd Jealous: “We are outraged and heartbroken over today’s verdict,” said Benjamin Todd
Jealous, President and CEO of the NAACP. “We stand with Trayvon’s family and we are called to act. We will pursue civil rights charges with the Department of Justice, we will continue to fight for the removal of Stand Your Ground laws in every state, and we will not rest until racial profiling in all its forms is outlawed.” Florida State Conference President Adora Obi Nweze: “We lost a young man due to senseless violence, but justice did not prevail,” said Adora Obi Nweze, President of the Florida NAACP State Conference. “Last year we pushed for the arrest of George Zimmerman and a thorough investigation and trial. Today, we are still called to act. No one should be allowed to use this law to commit a senseless crime again.”
The weird case of Marissa Alexander Woman jailed for 20 years for firing weapon in self defense Late Saturday evening, George Zimmerman was found not guilty in the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. The issue of self-defense played a central role in Zimmerman’s not guilty plea and his defense’s argument against the second-degree murder charges, and his acquittal is drawing comparisons in the media to the verdict of another high-profile Florida shooting incident: the case of Marissa Alexander. Alexander, an AfricanAmerican Florida woman, was sentenced to 20 years in
prison in 2012 for shooting what she described as warning shots into a wall during a confrontation with her husband. A lexander’s law yers claimed self-defense in the case, and said her husband had a history of abuse in their relationship. They invoked Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law, which gives people the right to use lethal force if they feel their life is threatened. The jury ultimately sided with prosecutors in deciding Alexander’s actions were not in selfdefense, WJXT reported. Her sentencing fell under
the guidelines of what’s known in Florida as the “1020-Life” law, which set certain mandatory minimum sentences for crimes committed with a firearm. The law enacted in 1999 requires that any crime committed with a gun earns the perpetrator a minimum ten year sentence, as the Florida Department of Corrections explains. If the firearm is discharged, the convicted will receive a 20-year minimum sentence, and if shots fired from the gun injure or kill Marissa Alexander is serving a 20-year prison sentence anyone, the minimum sen- for firing a weapon in self defense in Florida. tence is 25-years to life. petitions Ironically, she was pros- A lexander” ecuted by Angela Corey, on MoveOn.org’s platthe same state attorney form and elsewhere calling who attempted to convict for freedom and pointing Zimmerman for murder in out the disparity between her fate and Zimmerman’s. the case of Trayvon Martin. W hi le A lex a nder Many critics have argued Medal of Freedom Award on that the Zimmerman ver- attempted to use “Stand Wednesday, July 17, 2013 at the dict proves that Alexander Your Ground” laws in her NAACP National Conference deserves to be released from defense and was thwarted, in Orlando, Florida. Ms. prison or, at least, given a Zimmerman is believed to Norman was presented the have largely benefited from new trial. award by Congressman John Her supporters have his and the acquitting jury’s Lewis at a special banquet. launched “Free Marissa interpretation of the law.
Jessye Norman receives NAACP’s highest award ORLANDO Internationally known opera singer Jessye Norman became the 98th recipient of the NA ACP’s Spingarn Jessye Norman Spingarn Medal of Freedom recipient
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Tyrone E. Smith, Sr. does some research in the downtown Augusta Public Library on Wednesday. Smith, who is retired from the military, usually visits the facility several times a week to use library services. Photo by Vincent Hobbs
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BUSINESS PERFECT STATEMENT Consignment Fashion Passion started early for Tamara Lewis Bing By Vincent Hobbs
134 8th Street 706-432-6989
Monday – Saturday 11AM – 6PM Closed on Sundays
A few doors down from the corner of 8th and Broad Street is a doorway that leads to one of the most interesting clothing shops in Augusta. Recently opened, Perfect Statement Consignments is an upscale women’s boutique filled with designer clothing, shoes and accessories – all priced at a discount. Proprietor Tamara Lewis Bing, along with siblings LaMonica Lewis and Tremayne Lewis, came up with the idea to create an upscale downtown clothing boutique as a means to express their love for fashion, shopping and finding bargains. The sibling’s “fashion passion” began when they were young girls. “With our creative ideas and passion for fashion, we know that this will be a great partnership.” A clean, contemporary look enhances the interior of the shop. A muted palette of colors evokes calmness and tranquility. Signs with words like “dream” and “laugh” adorn the walls. Sparkling rings and necklaces fill a display case and an impressive assortment of designer shoes fill a shelf. Several racks of colorful, gentlyused and never worn designer clothes entice customers to browse. The business is starting to attract attention. “A shopper came in and she looked around and the first thing she said was ‘Oh, wow, this feels like a big-city boutique’ – and that was a great feeling,” Tamara reflected. “That’s what we’re going for – when Proprietor Tamara Lewis Bing, along with siblings LaMonica Lewis and Tremayne Lewis, came up with the you think of downtown in any big city, idea to create an upscale downtown clothing boutique. All photos by Vincent Hobbs. you envision lots of people and activcould be hundreds and hundreds The store’s motto, “In the world of ity. And we are hoping that our store formula. “Most women that I know love but you can come here and get it for fashion, your personal style speaks will help to bring more people to the finding bargains, especially with much less.” volume. You can make the perfect downtown area.” The three Augusta sisters with a visual statement without saying a Consignment shops are an ideal designer items. If you can find that solution for buyers who want quality item at a bargain price, that’s excit- dream to make an impact in the local word, and that is what we offer clothing merchandise, without the ing for most women. And that’s what upscale clothing market have taken at Perfect Statement Consignments,” major expense. They are also a great we offer – we have lots of great items confident steps to provide a new sums up the focus of these three here, where normal retail prices resource to “fashionistas” in our city. young fashion entrepreneurs. way to make some extra money! “Our shop is great for the woman who constantly adding to her wardrobe. Eventually those closets get overstuffed. There may be new or perfectly good items in her closet that she simply doesn’t need or want anymore,” Tamara explained. “If she brings them to us, we will sell them and split the final selling price 50/50. There is a one-time $20 consignment fee and we keep the items for 60 days. After that 60 day period is up, the consignor may choose the option of having the items returned to them.” Customers wishing to sell items on consignment should be aware that those old 1970’s pant suits in Grandma’s attic probably won’t make the cut. The boutique looks for clothing items that are fairly new (two years or less), free of stains or odors, no holes - and preferably on hangers. Handbags and other accessories can be more vintage. “We are seeing all types of women customers, all types of demographics and ages,” Tamara said. “It’s been really great. I’ve met a lot of people and I’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback.” The appeal to the fashion-conscious bargain shopper is a strong element in the consignment shop business
9 UrbanProWeekly • JULY 18 - 24, 2013
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Community Media The Prometheus Radio Project
The next generation of community radio is coming by Amy Goodman A microphone and a radio transmitter in the hands of a community organizer imparts power, which some liken to the life-changing impact when humans first tamed fire. That’s why the prospect of 1,000 new community radio stations in the United States, for which the Federal Communications Commission will accept applications this October, is so vital and urgent. Workers toiling in the hot fields of south-central Florida, near the isolated town of Immokalee, were enduring conditions that U.S. Attorney Doug Molloy called “slavery, plain and simple.” Some worked from dawn to dusk, under the watch of armed guards, earning only $20 a week. Twenty years ago, they began organizing, forming the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. Ten years later, working with the Philadelphia-based nonprofit Prometheus Radio Project, the workers started their own radio station, Radio Consciencia, to serve the farmworker community and inform, mobilize and help the struggling workers forge better lives. As the largest media corporations on the planet have been consolidating during the past two decades, putting the power of the media in fewer hands, there has been a largely unre-
ported flowering of small, local media outlets. An essential component of this sector is community radio, stations that have emerged from the Low-Power FM (LPFM) radio movement. This October, community groups in the U.S. will have a oncein-a-generation opportunity to apply to the FCC for an LPFM radio-station license. But the mainstream media are hardly reporting on this critical development. “This is a historic opportunity for communities all over the country to have a voice over their airwaves,” Jeff Rousset, national organizer of the Prometheus Radio Project, told me on the “Democracy Now!” news hour. “The airwaves are supposed to belong to the public. This is a chance for groups to actually own and control their own media outlets.” The Prometheus Radio Project formed in 1998. It was named after the Greek mythological hero who first gave fire to humans to make their lives more bearable. Back in the 1980s and ‘90s, “pirate” radio stations, unlicensed by the FCC, were launched in communities across the U.S. by people frustrated with the failures of the commercial and public media system, which was increasingly closed to the communities and seemingly beholden to corporate underwriters and interest groups. Harassed
for their broadcasting efforts by federal agents, the pirates formed Prometheus, intent on changing the federal laws and opening the radio dial to a new generation of noncommercial, community-based stations. After 15 years of organizing, they won. Rousset said, “We’re going to turn static into sound and use that to amplify people’s voices all over the country.” Across the U.S. from Immokalee, farmworkers in rural Woodburn, Ore., were fighting against oppressive conditions similar to the tomato and watermelon pickers in Florida. The largest Latino organization in Oregon, PCUN, Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (in English, the Northwest Treeplanters and Farmworkers United), founded an LPFM radio station, Radio Movimiento (Movement Radio). PCUN’s president, Ramon Ramirez, explained: “We’ve been able to use Radio Movimiento: La Voz del Pueblo ... not only to organize farmworkers, but also to provide information. ... For example, we’re broadcasting in four indigenous languages from Mexico and Central America, and we’re giving those folks a voice in the community that they never had.” When I was covering the Zapatista uprising in Chiapas, Mexico, in early 1994, I attended the first press confer-
ence held by the Zapatista military commanders, including Subcomandante Marcos and Comandante Ramona. They called it specifically for Mexican radio journalists. Radio, Marcos said, was the most accessible form of mass communication. Even the poorest village had at least one radio around which people could gather, he said. Social-media platforms like Twitter and Facebook have been rightly credited with supporting social movements like the Arab Spring in recent years. But the fact remains that most people in the U.S. receive their news from traditional sources, especially radio and television, more so in groups separated by the “digital divide”—the poor, immigrants and other marginalized communities. LPFM applications must be filed in October, and significant advanced planning is required by any applicant group that hopes to succeed. The Oregon workers knew nothing about radio. Prometheus recruited 300 media activists from around the world to help get them on the air with a radio “barn raising” where volunteers literally built the station from the ground up. The airwaves are a public treasure, and we have to take them back. The Prometheus Radio Project is waiting to hear from you.
Tabernacle Child Development Center to host Open House Parents and students to get opportunity to tour facility; meet with staff and preview curriculum AUGUSTA Tabernacle Child Development Center (CDC) will host an open house session for parents of prospective students on Sunday, July 28th starting at 2:00 p.m. CDC will introduce a new curriculum to enrolled students during the 2013- 2014 school year. The Tabernacle Child Development Center has been a staple in the Augusta community for over 50 years. The program has prepared thousands of students that now hold positions of leadership in the community and various industries. The Tabernacle Child Development Center’s new curriculum will introduce children to language development, listening skills, shapes, counting, as well as recognition of name, sound, and short vowels. “Adopting a new curriculum is important,” said Sierra Combs, director of the Tabernacle Child Development Center. “This curriculum will help our students gain a better grasp of these concepts prior to the start of elementary school.” The open house will be a chance for parents of prospective students to meet the energetic and experienced staff, tour the bright and spacious classrooms as well as the outside
playground. Staff will also be sharing the new A Beka Academy curriculum, which is founded on biblical principles that address the nature of the learner, and learning, the nature of truth and authority, and what is important to learn and know. “This is an awesome opportunity for parents to observe our safe and caring environment,” said the Rev. Dr. Charles E. Goodman, Jr., pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church. “Parents can preview a curriculum that is based on biblical teachings to provide children with a moral foundation for their development as well as prepare them for the next level of education.” The open house session will be to enroll prospective students and introduce parents to the new curriculum. These events are open to parents with children ages one to four years old. The open house session will take place at the Tabernacle Baptist Family Life Center located at 1230 Laney –Walker Blvd., Augusta, GA 30901. For more information, contact Sierra Combs at (706) 922-‐1954 or via email at children@tbcaugusta.org Visit the Tabernacle Child Development Center website at www.tbcaugusta. org or visit the CDC location between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Harold V. Jones II ATTORNEY AT LAW
Criminal Law • Divorce • Personal Injury • Employment Law
SHEPARD, PLUNKETT, HAMILTON & BOUDREAUX, LLP 429 Walker Street Upper Level Augusta, GA 30901
Phone 706-722-6200 Fax 706 722-4817 hjones@shepardplunkett.com
SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVALS
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Day-long festival offers mix of music, food & fun 96.3 Kiss FM will host the fourth annual Kiss Family Reunion on Saturday, August 31st; 1p-7pm at the Augusta Exchange Club Fairgrounds. The event offers a place where old friends and close family, alumni associations and social clubs can meet up for great fun, good food and R&B musical performances by both national and local artist and more. This day long outdoor festival will offer a smorgasbord of vendors, adult recreation and fun, a health and wellness pavilion, a car and bike show, old school artists, new school R&B and popular local bands along with a feel good “party” atmosphere. The line up includes national and local entertainment, Marshall Thompson & the Chi-lites, Hi-Five, Theodius Ealy, The Klass Band Brotherhood, and Eric Mayweather just to name a few. For vendor details and VIP packages call 706-396-6000 Ext 113. Tickets are on sale now at www.Etix.com and both locations of Pyramid Music & Video (Gordon Hwy and Broad Street). Group tickets are ten or more for $10 each and regular tickets are $12 each. Portions of proceeds from Kiss Family Reunion benefit local charities and organization from here in the CSRA. Get additional details about Kiss Family Reunion 2013 online at 963kissfm.com. Kiss Family Reunion is brought to you in part by Virginia College, Vic Hawk Law Firm, and the East Central Health District Hypertension Management Outreach program. Fans can listen to96.3 Kiss FM, on the station’s website at 963kissfm. com, as well as on iHeartRadio.com and the iHeartRadio mobile app, Clear Channel’s best-in-class customizable digital listening experience, offering more than 800 of the nation’s most popular live broadcast and digital-only radio stations, plus user-created Custom Stations which provide listeners more songs, better music intelligence, more user control and deeper social media integration, all combined in one free, fully-integrated service.
Jennifer Norman-Dixon Independent Cruise & Vacation Specialist
Hephzibah, GA 30815 Phone 706-925-2929 Toll Free (877-790-6082 Fax 404-601-4492
Email:jdixon@cruisesinc.com www.cruisesinc.com/jdixon
Presented by American Family Insurance and Windsor Jewelers
Theodis Ealey (left) and Marshall Thompson (above) & the Chi-lites are among the national acts that will be on hand Sat., August 31, 2013 at the Kiss Family Reunion 2013.
UrbanProWeekly • JULY 18 - 24, 2013
Kiss Family Reunion 2013
UrbanProWeekly • JULY 18 - 24, 2013
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Commentary What’s next for the NRA: arming young black & Hispanic males? “. . . we can expect black-oriented gun rights organizing to become the lion’s share of NRA activity any day now. Second priority will . . . be given to young Hispanic males who face next highest level of risk. By Spencer Critchley According to the NRA, guns are lifesavers. The group credits rising gun ownership (albeit among a shrinking share of the population) and the spread of concealed carry laws for the decline of violent crime from its peak in the 1990›s. According to the NRA, there are as many as 2.5 million defensive uses of guns per year. “An armed society is a polite society,” goes a favorite NRA quotation, borrowed from science fiction writer Robert A. Heinlein. To say the least, these assertions are. But let’s accept them for now, if only to see where they lead. That would be to what surely will become the NRA’s next urgent priority: Arming young black males. The NRA’s own principles and policy positions cry out for it: Americans need to be armed, so they can protect themselves from violent crime. The police can’t be relied upon, especially since they usually show up after an attack has occurred. “The only thing that can stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun,” as NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre says. Regulating guns is no good. It infringes Second Amendment freedoms, and only law-abiding people will obey the regulations -- “If guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns,” as another favorite quote has it. There are also risks from terror-
ists, Latin American drug gangs, the deranged and even the imminent breakdown of society, according to LaPierre. Again, only by being armed can citizens defend themselves. Obviously, the NRA should therefore focus its efforts on those who are most at risk from violence. Who are most at risk? By far, young black males. Let’s look at the numbers, as collected by the federal Centers for Disease Control. In 2010, for the first time since 1965, homicide fell off the list of the top 15 causes of death for the US population overall. But not if you were a young black male. According to the CDC’s 2009 figures, for you, homicide was the number one cause of death. For black males aged 15 to 24, half of all deaths were by homicide. Think about that: half. Here are some comparisons of percentages of deaths by homicide, by age group: It’s a horrifying crisis, as many in law enforcement, public health and government have been saying for years. So, since the NRA believes guns make their owners and others around them safer, I’m sure we can count on the group throwing the bulk of its effort into making sure young black males are carrying guns, ASAP. Hang on a minute, some may say. Some of those young black males were probably criminals. After all, a higher
percentage of black people live in poor, urban areas with high rates of violent crime. True, but remember what the NRA teaches us: The only thing that can stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. We can’t keep guns out of the hands of criminals by regulation, and regulation puts the Second Amendment at risk. Society is crumbling. According to LaPierre, our violence-plagued cities are a preview of what we can expect. But hang on another minute. Doesn’t the NRA say we should enforce existing gun laws, which would help reduce gun violence among black Americans, and all Americans? Yes, but also per the NRA, that can’t be allowed to happen if it involves actual enforcement, because then the ATF would take away our freedoms. More research into gun violence is also off-limits. Now, as it happens the NRA has already begun to reach out to black people. There’s room for it, given the profile of the current membership. March of this year saw the debut at NRANews.com of commentator Colion Noir, an African-American gun rights advocate. No way this is just a token gesture. Given the critical need, I’m sure we can expect black-oriented gun rights organizing to become the lion’s share of NRA activity any day now.
Second priority will no doubt be given to young Hispanic males, who face the next-highest level of risk. It can’t be that there are already too many guns flooding high crime minority communities. Remember, guns make people safer -- if these particular armed societies are less than polite, obviously, they need to be more heavily armed. Now perhaps you think I’m being ironic. You may be right.* But it could be that the joke will be on me: after all, think of the profits being left on the table by the NRA’s clients, the gun-makers. They may want to go for this multicultural outreach stuff, big time. Because no matter how confusing they may sometimes seem, there›s one simple thing that always makes the NRA›s positions perfectly coherent: the gun industry money behind them. *Let me emphasize that the targets of my irony are the NRA leadership and its exploitation of fear, in particular xenophobia. I am not saying that all NRA members think of race when they imagine law-abiding Americans defending themselves against criminals, or even that all members buy into the NRA’s vision of an armed citizenry fighting crime and terror. For example, the great majority of NRA members disagree with the group’s leaders on the issue of sensible gun regulations, like universal background checks (which members overwhelmingly favor).
The Trayvon Martin verdict: breaking habits In these United States we have a habit of implicitly rejecting the humanity of our darker citizens. By Kristie Robin Johnson You live and you learn. At least that’s what the old folks often tell me. I believe them. I also believed the often quoted words of philosopher, George Santayana, that warn us that “those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” I cannot speak for the entire African-American collective. But I do believe it is safe to assume that we not only recall the horrors and injustices of our past, but we also have worked very hard to try not to repeat our difficult past. So if this is so; if my hunch is correct, then what just happened? Some fifty-eight years ago, Emmit Till was infamously murdered by white assailants in a racially moti-
vated crime. Like Trayvon Martin, Emmit Till was a child, indeed somebody’s baby. Like Trayvon Martin, Emmit Till’s death garnered national attention and inspired a movement. Like Trayvon Martin, Emmit Till’s murderers were acquitted by a jury of their peers. Like Trayvon Martin, Emmit Till’s mother became a symbol of strength and prayed that her son’s life would not be in vain and that a nation would learn and grow from the terrible miscarriage of justice. Like Trayvon, Emmitt’s only crime seemed to be that has was a little too free and a little too black at the same time. If we remember Emmit and the countless other nameless, faceless black victims of lynchings and hangings that almost always went unprosecuted, some-
times barely even noticed, then why do we as a nation continue to repeat this tragic pattern? It seems to me that in my humble, woefully brief thirty-three years that we (Americans) have consciously and unconsciously subscribed to a legacy, in fact created a certain American truth, and that so-called ‘truth’ declares the following two assumptions to be facts: (1) Black life has little or no value; (2) The disproportionate suffering of black people is not only common place, but an expected part of the American experience. This is just my simple theory, my opinion. Everybody’s got one. If this theory lacks substance, then how do we explain the “three-fifths” concept, Jim Crow laws, four little black girls
murdered at Sunday school, the killing of Latasha Harlins, the beating of Rodney King, the less than lackluster response to Hurricane Katrina victims, and the list goes on and on and on and on? Saturday night, we added Trayvon Martin to that horrendous list. We added him because in these United States we have a habit of implicitly rejecting the humanity of our darker citizens. This is not exclusive to white people. It applies to us all. It is apart of the American psyche. Its a part of the cloth from which our great nation is cut. Like all ingrained, old habits, it is going to be hard to break. So I sat in front of my television on Saturday night, as many people Continued on next page
FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH
The Zimmerman trial & the issue of race By David Walker The issue surrounding George Zimmerman is not about white people versus black people; however, it is very much about race. It is about the value that our country and judicial system places on the lives of black young men. More importantly, it is about the value that black people place on the lives of one another. Honestly, given the history of breakins in Mr. Zimmerman’s neighborhood, I do not fault him for his concerns and apprehensions. I understand what the situation may have looked like through his eyes: He saw something that he thought was suspicious and felt that law enforcement would arrive too late to intervene. He may have felt frustrated that criminals
seemed to evade capture. He chose to act. That’s not surprising. I also understand what the situation may have looked like through the eyes of a 17-year-old black boy: Mr. Zimmerman was a stranger to him. He may have assumed that Mr. Zimmerman was a sexual predator, or worse. He was not thinking that he was the one that was supposed to be cautious of looking “suspicious.” He did not consider that the crime of one black person can create suspicion around any black person. He did not consider that an average citizen is not breaking the law by following him and asking him questions about where he lived. He did not consider that any form of anger or discontent that he showed towards a stranger could be perceived as uncontrolled,
life-threatening aggression. He did not understand that the law often only protects those who are knowledgeable of it. He probably responded to what he thought was a threat to his safety by doing what he knew: He fought. He was just a child. Putting the ‘not guilty’ verdict aside, what does it say when a man can kill an unarmed black boy and be allowed to walk free (the same night) based on nothing outside of his own account of the event? What does it say when that same man is tried in a court of law only after the public calls for his arrest? It’s the helplessness that I feel that is at the heart of much of my frustration. What are the parents of black boys supposed to do? How do we
prevent tragedies like these from happening again? Are we supposed to tell our black boys to cooperate with any adult that questions them? Why? What if that adult has bad intentions? Do we tell them to never get in any trouble in school because it may be used against them to justify their killing? Do we tell them to abstain from “suspicious” behavior wherever they go? Why should our black boys carry such a burden? Though this incident is an unfortunate tragedy, I find it even more disheartening that when a non-black person kills a black person there is a public outcry for justice yet the same outcry is not heard after the deaths of blacks at the hands of other blacks. It’s just a sad state of affairs all around.
incredibly valuable, purposeful, and meaningful. We will tell them that they have a place at the table in this nation and that their destiny is not to suffer, but to succeed. We will tell them that their dreams matter and that they need not be limited to athletics and entertainment. Then, with the grace of God, through our living example and commitment to their
success, we make it so. Much easier said than done, nevertheless, necessary if we are ever going create new habits and new assumptions about black life. This is how we begin to break the habitual cycles that leave our hearts so heavy today. Justice delayed is justice denied. But we do not have to be defeated.
BREAKING HABITS from page 12 did, saddened but not surprised. If, in the year of our Lord 2013, Trayvon cannot find justice, then what does that mean for my boys and all of the little black boys in my life. What about Bobby? What about Patrick? What about Markell and Mario? What about Baker? What about Ross and Ben? What do we tell young black youth about their odds?
I imagine that we must tell them the truth. We explain that we have a terrible habit, maybe even an addiction, but we’re working tirelessly to break it. We will go through withdrawals and relapses but we will conquer this demon. We must. We will tell them that the real truth is that their beautiful black lives are
BURKE COUNTY HEAD START
Center Director
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF POSITION: Work involves the supervision and coordination of the Center operations. Reports to the Operations Manager. Serves as a resource person for the staff and prepares monthly reports for the Supervisor and other appropriate Administrative Staff. Supervises the Center Staff. Schedules field trips. Ensures that the physical environment is safe and clean. Supervises and assists with the planning of classroom activities. Conducts center meetings at least monthly and prepare bus monitor schedule. Keeps adequate records and insures their confidentiality. Desire College study with course work in Early Childhood Education. AA degree in Management or related field is required. Three years experience working in a preschool setting. A minimum of two years supervisory experience. Must have reliable vehicle, and a valid driver’s license. QUALIFIED STAFF MEMBERS interested in applying for these positions must send a written notice to the Personnel Office no later than July 23, 2013. Detailed job descriptions are available in the Personnel Office, 1261 Greene Street, Augusta, GA. Fax: 706 722-8565
All Richmond County Parents, Business Leaders & Stakeholders Please Join Us for an Informational and Involvement Meeting on the Title I Flexible Learning Program (FLP) & Comprehensive LEA Improvement Plan (CLIP) Tuesday, July 29, 2013 At 12 noon In the RCSS Title I Classroom 864 Broad Street Augusta, GA 30901 For additional information, call the Title I Office, 706-826-1134
UrbanProWeekly • JULY 18 - 24, 2013
Opinion / National Forum
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3114 Augusta Tech Drive Augusta, GA 30906 Contact Manager: Wilma Moffett
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UrbanProWeekly • JULY 18 - 24, 2013
ARE YOU AT RISK?
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