Volume Volume 124 123 No. No. 45 20–22
June 11, 2016 - June 11, 2016, The Afro-American A1 $1.00
www.afro.com
$1.00
JUNE 11, 2016 - JUNE 17, 2016
Inside
Washington
Tribute to Muhammad Ali
• AFRO Endorsements
for D.C. Council
B1
A4, A5
Baltimore
Muhammad Ali
Ike Turner’s Widow Pens Memoir on Singer’s Violent Bipolar Condition
C1
1942-2016
• Son Allegedly
AFRO file photo
Muhammad Ali, the three-time world heavyweight boxing champion who died on June 3, is an icon and widely regarded as one of the most significant and celebrated sports figures of the 20th century. Ali was known as inspiring, controversial and polarizing throughout his life. He was a fighter inside the ring and out, whether he was fighting against racism, the Vietnam War, religious bigotry or Parkinsons’ disease. The champ always answered the bell. See how the AFRO covered his life and legacy over the years on pages A4 and A5.
AFRO Sports Desk Faceoff
Was Ali the Best Boxer of All Time?
661k
By Stephen D. Riley and Perry Green AFRO Sports Writers
That’s how many people have liked the AFRO Facebook page. Join last week’s 1,600 new fans and become part of the family.
The heart-breaking news of boxer Muhammad Ali’s passing on June 3 sent shockwaves not only through the sports community but also the world. Ali’s defiant spirit was appreciated by many and his overwhelming popularity made him “the champ” to every fan and citizen – even when he wasn’t. Ali, the boxer, was a bad man. Several noteworthy wins and a mesmerizing charisma left permanent impressions in every boxing fan’s life. Although he was constantly referred to as “the greatest,” there is some dispute
over whether that was actually the case. Other boxers had better records and more skill, but Ali’s confidence and coolness made him a living legend. There have been a handful of great boxers but was Ali the greatest? Perry Green and Stephen D. Riley, of the AFRO Sports Desk, debate this question. Riley: You’ll never find a better packaged professional athlete than Ali. He was controversial, competitive and cool. His accomplishments in the ring are almost secondary to his huge following and fame. As the most iconic boxer through the 1960s and 1970s, Ali emerged as a political icon when
AFRO Exclusive
afro.com
Your History • Your Community • Your News
Terry McMillan Talks Latest Novel, ‘Empire’ and Inspiring Readers
Join Host Sean Yoes Monday-Friday 5-7 p.m. on 88.9 WEAA FM, the Voice of the Community. 09
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Green: The social aspect for Ali obviously elevated him past the sports Continued on A3
Tera Poole Becomes First Black Valedictorian at Oldest Dental School By Crystal Nunn Special to the AFRO
By Crystal Nunn Special to the AFRO
Listen to Afro’s “First Edition”
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make some major changes in her life and embarks on a wild journey. Best-selling author About her latest Terry McMillan is protagonist, back with a new Dr. Georgia, novel, “I Almost McMillan said, Forgot About “She’s a middleYou.” McMillan aged-woman who recently spoke was successful and with the AFRO did it all right. about the novel, She went to the how she hopes right college, is to empower a professional, her readers, she’s successful, and even gave divorced and her her thoughts kids are adults. on the show She reaches a Empire’s plateau and she portrayal of realizes, like unhealthy so many relationships. millions Courtesy photo “I Almost of women who Terry McMillan will Forgot About are afraid to be talking about her You,” released on own it, that latest book ‘I Almost June 7, is about Dr. Forgot About You’ in she’s bored Georgia Young, Baltimore on June 14. with her life who seemingly has and she’s like, it all but starts feeling stuck ‘Where else can I go?.’” and restless, and decides to Continued on A7
he was needed the most. Even if you just kept it in the ring and took his social dominance out of it, he was still spectacular. The footwork and quick hands were trademark but the trashtalking was impeccable. He took a few extra losses in the twilight of his career that he probably wouldn’t have suffered in his prime but so what? Ali’s success was two-fold and his range in both areas made him a megastar boxer that we’ll probably never see anything close to again.
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Courtesy photo
Tera Pool takes a moment during her Valedictorian speech at the University of Maryland’s School of Dentistry.
Tera Poole recently made history when she became the first black valedictorian at the University of Maryland’s School of Dentistry in May. Known as the world’s first dentistry school, the university was established as Baltimore College of Dental Surgery is 1840. Poole talked to the AFRO about becoming the first black valedictorian at Continued on A3
More Officers File Suit Against Baltimore’s Top Prosecutor By Juliet Linderman The Associated Press Two more officers charged in the death of a 25-yearold Black man in police custody have filed suit against Baltimore’s top prosecutor.
Officers Edward Nero and Garrett Miller, who were charged with misdemeanors in the death of Freddie Gray, have sued State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby and Maj. Sam Cogen of the sheriff’s office
Copyright © 2016 by the Afro-American Company
Continued on A7
Shoots Own Father at Sandtown Winchester Funeral
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Where Did the Black Banks Go? By Patrice Gaines Urban News Service America has half as many Black-owned banks as existed 15 years ago. “People assume [Black bankers] don’t know what they are doing,” said Alden McDonald, CEO of New Orleans-based Liberty Bank and Trust. “Put yourself in these shoes: We are located in communities in which all of the large banks have moved out of because it’s not profitable for them to do business there.” The number of Blackowned banks fell 54 percent between 2001 and 2016, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Historically, these banks have stimulated and revitalized their communities while also financing customers whom major banks have shunned. “From 1888 to 1934, African-Americans owned more than 130 banks in the U.S., and the number of Black-owned businesses rose from 4,000 to 50,000,” McDonald said at a January ceremony in which the U.S. Treasury Department named an annex the ”Freedman’s Bank building” after the bank Congress incorporated to help “freed” Blacks transition from slavery. Integration ended that economic boom. Black business districts disappeared as Black consumers spent their dollars elsewhere. Many Black banks, the institutions that extended loans for start-ups and Continued on A3