Baltimore Afro American Newspaper January 17 2015

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JANUARY 17, 2015 - JANUARY 23, 2015

Sojourner Douglass Appeals to Preserve Accreditation

AFRO Series

What is America’s Racial Digital Divide?

By Roberto Alejandro Special to the AFRO African Americans connect to the Internet,

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and have broadband access in their homes at lower rates than their White counterparts, according to the Pew Research Center.

Diversity numbers for the nation’s largest tech firms are woefully inadequate, with Blacks in particular making up only one percent of those employed in tech positions at Facebook, Google, and Twitter; and no more than six percent at Apple, Microsoft and Ebay.

Only 14 percent of African-American eighth graders score at or above proficient in math, compared to 44 percent of Whites, according to a report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

While these numbers are troubling, there is some evidence to suggest that this “digital divide”—the racial gap in access to and proficiency in digital technology and related areas—could close over time.

Pew has found that Internet connected smartphone ownership among Blacks and Whites is roughly the same, and that younger African Continued on A5

By Roberto Alejandro Special to the AFRO

Sojourner Douglass College is facing a fight to preserve its accreditation after changes to the federal Pell grant program in the earlier part of the decade caused significant declines in funding and enrollments, leading to budget shortfalls. Dr. Charles Simmons, president of the college, tells the AFRO that while he is confident Sojourner Douglass can win its appeal hearing in Feb. and preserve the accreditation it lost last Nov., he feels that the school has not been treated the same as other, traditionally White institutions (TWIs) in analogous or worse financial shape by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), the body that oversees the accreditation process.

Sojourner Douglass was originally established in 1972 as a branch of Antioch College, which is in Yellow Springs, Ohio, and became an independent institution in 1980, according to Simmons. The college, located in east Baltimore, mostly serves working adults (most of whom are female heads of households)

and has organized its academic calendar to make it easier for adults, with their incumbent family and work obligations, to complete a degree program.

The school offers three semesters per calendar year, so that a full-time student could finish what would traditionally be a four year bachelor’s program in three years, says Simmons.

The U.S. Dept. of Education changed its rules concerning Pell grant (education grants for low-income students) distributions for the 2011-12 academic year, allowing only two disbursements per year rather than three. Sojourner Douglas lost $5 million in federal student aid as a result of this change.

The Pell grant was also limited to a total of 12 semesters (equivalent of six years), down from the previous cap of 18 semesters, on the reasoning that one should be able to complete a four year degree in six years.

“Many of our students are transfer students,” explained Simmons. “They start at the community college, they may stop Continued on A4

Commentary

Impending Budget Cuts Could Hit Baltimore Hard

By Roberto Alejandro Special to the AFRO Cuts to the Red-Line transportation project, education, and to the number of public employees could be on deck for Baltimore City with Governor-elect Larry Hogan scheduled to submit a budget by Feb. 2. The incoming governor has largely avoided discussing substantive policy or budget plans in public since

defeating Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown last November, leaving many in the city with little more than speculation about what Hogan might cut to meet the state’s projected budget shortfall of around $750 million for the next fiscal year.

Charly Carter, executive director for Maryland Working Families, a progressive advocacy organization dealing with issues affecting workingclass families, said in November that

Commentary

From 12 Years a Slave to Selma to Obama Some would want us to focus on the progress made, not on the continued breach of America’s allegiance to racial equality and justice. The needle on the Richter scale of racial injustice has undoubtedly moved down The movie 12 Years a Slave rather brutally reminded us not only of the raping, lynching and progressively, but that is not the issue. The issue is that public lashing our ancestors suffered, but also of the institutional racism is tolerated, if not perpetuated, by sheer humiliation of being stripped naked in public our government in 2015. The intergenerational pain that they endured. America’s continues to flow uninterrupted revered creed - the self evident from slavery to Jim Crow and truth that all men are created from Selma to Obama. equal - did not apply to them. “A President Obama often speaks Black man has no rights a White of “the most evident of truths man is bound to respect” was the that all of us are created equal - is law of the land as established by the star that guides us still.” I am the U.S. Supreme Court Chief here to tell the President that at Justice Roger B. Taney in the the World Bank, the third largest landmark 1857 Dred Scott case. employer in our nation’s capital, Coming on the heels of 12 African Americans are reminded Years a Slave, another movie, that his high-minded words – Dr. E. Faye Williams daily Selma, took us back down the lack moral resolve behind them. memory lane of recent past of The World Bank, where Blacks what our parents suffered. We are seen as mere numbers without human dignity and rights, serves as a metaphor for are barely two generations removed from the daily our government’s lack of moral resolve to show zero humiliation of institutional racism, not to mention the tolerance for institutional racism. physical attacks by cattle prods and police dogs. The Dr. E. Faye Williams, chair of the National lesson we draw from the two movies is not how far Congress for Black Women, highlighted in a recent America has come in exorcising its racial evil, but the institutional racism its Black citizens suffer still.

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By Marie Brown Special to the AFRO

“A simple Google search will confirm the breathtaking racial injustice in the World Bank…”

the easiest way to balance the budget for a self-professed conservative with a small-government mantra like Hogan is to shrink the size of government.

“How many public employees can we cut? I think that’s a concern,” said Carter in an unpublished portion of our interview. “Can we furlough people?

Can we just shrink (the government) by hiring freeze? O’Malley froze Continued on A5

Coalition to March on Annapolis for Law Enforcement Reforms

By Roberto Alejandro Special to the AFRO A large coalition of advocacy organizations will march on Annapolis this week, the first week of the legislative session, to demand changes to state laws they believe insulate police from accountability and impede operational transparency in law enforcement. Over eleven organizations are coming together for the march on Jan. 15, organized by the Rev. Dr. Heber Brown of Pleasant Hope Baptist Church and Farajii Muhammad of Young Leaders for Peace.

Among the organizations involved in the march are the Annapolis Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, the Anne-Arundel County NAACP, the Metropolitan United Methodist Church, Repair the World Baltimore, Bmore Bloc, and Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle (LBS), according to Brown. He added Continued on A6

Copyright © 2015 by the Afro-American Company An imagining of the real night Cassius Clay, soon to be Muhammad Ali, celebrated his 1964 world heavyweight victory with activist Malcolm X, singer Sam Cooke, and football star Jim Brown.

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held on $1.5 million bond.

The Florida Department of Children and Families is providing counseling for the girl, who is in the custody of her family, and is investigating how the two met in the first place.

“Our focus is helping the child. It’s not just the abuse that is heinous, but you’re also concerned about the long term effects that can linger many years after the scars go away,” John Harrell, a spokesman for the department told WFOX-TV.

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The Columbia Journalism Review recently named CNN anchor Don Lemon the “Worst Journalist of 2014.”

CNN news anchor Don Lemon recently received a dubious honor when he was named the “worst journalist of 2014” in the Columbia Journalism Review’s “recap of this year’s most cringe worthy news blunders.”

In its “Darts & Laurels” section of the magazine, authored by David Uberti, Lemon was blasted for a series of questionable and controversial choices. Uberti cited, among other examples, the questions Lemon posed during an interview with an alleged Bill Cosby rape victim and the comments he made while covering the Ferguson, Mo. protests, writing that “Lemon’s gaffes this year offer a case study in how to choose words wisely — or not.”

Uberti wrote: “As one of the most recognizable anchors on CNN, Don Lemon has helped lead the cable network’s coverage of the biggest stories of the year. Live television is exceedingly difficult to produce, of course, but Lemon’s gaffes this year offer a case study in how to choose words wisely — or not.

On March 20, he asked guests whether Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 could have been swallowed by a black hole: “I know it’s preposterous, but is it preposterous?” He later compared spanking children to training dogs and probed similarities between the release of US Army POW Bowe Bergdahl and the Showtime series Homeland. When an alleged Bill Cosby rape victim appeared on his show on Nov. 18, he lectured, “You know, there are ways not to perform oral sex if you didn’t want to do it…Meaning the use of teeth, right?” Less than a week later, as protests turned violent in Ferguson, MO, he described the scene: “Obviously, there’s a smell of marijuana in the air.”

Lemon’s job isn’t easy. But he’s earned a DART for going there. Obviously.”

Whites more often attribute negative stereotypes to the label “Black” than they do to the label “African American,” according to a recent study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.

Whites also associate less warmth, and lower socioeconomic status with the label “Black” than with “African American.”

The study, conducted by Erika Hall, Katherine Phillips, and Sarah Townsend, asked 106 White participants to assign each of 75 attributes to the labels “Black,” “African American,” “White,” and “Caucasian” in order to determine their stereotype content—that is, what traits participants stereotypically associated with each label.

According to the study, “participants perceived the racial label Black more negatively than the racial label AfricanAmerican.” The study also found that Whites attribute less warmth to the label “Black,” but that they attribute similar levels of warmness to the labels “White” and “AfricanAmerican.”

The researchers also tested the stereotype content of the label “Caucasian” to attempt to determine whether the difference in how Whites perceive the various labels was a function of a preference for non-color based labels. The participants generally attributed similar traits to the labels “White” and “Caucasian,” however, indicating that any negativity associated with the label “Black” was not driven by a more general distaste for color based labels versus non-color based labels.

“The choice of commonplace racial labels can have profound effects on the expression of prejudice in the United States,” the study’s authors wrote. “Although the terms African-American and Black are used synonymously, our work indicates that the label used to identify an [American of African Descent] can have material consequences for that person.”

“The same individual is perceived differently if he is labeled African-American instead of Black, and this may lead to bias in criminal, educational, and employment spheres,” they continued. “Thus, counter to Shakespeare’s statement, a rose, by any other name, does not smell as sweet.”

60-Yr.-Old Florida Man Accused of Impregnating 12-Yr.Old Girl

Judge Could Rule in King Heirs Dispute Over MLK Bible and Noble Medal Walter Lewis Johnson was charged with three counts of sexual battery.

A Florida man has been arrested after police said he allegedly impregnated a 12-year-old girl.

According to WFOX, Jacksonville’s local Fox affiliate, Walter Lewis Johnson is charged with three counts of sexual battery on a person under the age of 18.

The 12-year-old girl told police that Johnson was the man responsible for getting her pregnant, and a pregnancy test taken Dec. 31 confirmed that she was expecting. The minor told police that Johnson performed a variety of sex acts on her, according to the television station; police believe she conceived in early October.

After finding out that the girl was pregnant, Johnson called 911 and threatened to commit suicide, WFOX-TV reported. He subsequently denied having any sexual contact with the girl, and was taken to a Duval County, Fla. prison, where he is being

Veronica Smith Donate these items to the Smithsonian where they will be properly preserved with the stipulation that future heirs will retain the rights to the items at a certain age.

Laura Harrison Such a shameful situation that has brought out the worst in a family that should be exhibiting the best of both parents. Shameful.

Steven Bryant Whichever way the judge rules it is too bad the dispute got to this level. Personally from what I understand, I agree with Bernice. These items should not be sold.

2 Tuskegee Airmen Die in Los Angeles at 91 on the Same Day Earl Scott David Thank God, for the example that he has given us as a people through the work dedication and determination of these two men and others like them. They left us a very impressive example overcoming the hardships of life as a Black in America.

Dexter B. Reid Recognition is due. Thank you or your service and sacrifice. Fly on!

Trina Fuller Thank you for blazing the way for the younger generation and thank you for your service.

January 17, 2015 - January 23, 2015, The Afro-American

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Baltimore’s Civil Rights Elders Reflect on Martin Luther King Jr., Voting Rights

By Roberto Alejandro Special to the AFRO Living for justice even in the face of imminent death is Martin Luther King Jr.’s enduring legacy and example, say a number of Baltimore’s prominent civil rights elders. This year will mark the 50th anniversary of King’s famous march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala., and the Voting Rights Act (VRA) it helped spur into law. But these elders, who started their activism in the ‘60s and have continued the fight since, say more must be done to take advantage of the franchise so many gave their lives to earn.

Leo Burroughs, chairperson of the Community of Concerned Citizens in Baltimore City, was a member of the Baltimore chapter of the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee when the civil rights organization had its regional meeting in Baltimore in April 1964.

“What I was most impressed about Dr. King . . . I was impressed with his sense of humor. Aside from the fact that he was brilliant and committed, and a brilliant orator – because he spoke that day at that conference – was the fact that he was a regular guy, down to earth, and really a lot of fun. . . . But again, the man sacrificed his life, as have others, in the fight for justice and liberation in America,” Burroughs said.

AFRO File Photos

March 1965 - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and wife, Coretta, center, lead marchers from Selma to Montgomery in protest against racial discrimination in Alabama.

“I think not only did he do it, but it was clear that he knew that his days were numbered,” Cheatham continued. “But he still saw fit to give his life and speak truth to power, to challenge people to do better, and be willing to lose his life and to lose his health because he was fighting for others. I think that’s a legacy that money can’t buy. He gave his life, and knew he was losing his life, because of it. He lost his family and everything as a result of it.”

Cheatham also shared his thoughts on the significance of the VRA, which was signed into law in 1965 by President

the importance of the franchise, which is driving his current effort to bring the total number of registered voters in Baltimore City back to 400,000 people. “It’s an injustice that we’re perpetrating on our foremothers and forefathers that we don’t understand the importance of voting rights,” said Cheatham.

Tessa Hill-Aston, president of the Baltimore City NAACP, said King’s greatest legacies were standing firm, and his gift for

“There will never be another Martin Luther King.

He was my hero.”

– Ronald Flamer Lyndon Johnson, recalling that, prior to passage of the federal law, Baltimore City had many ordinances controlling where African Americans could and could not live. “Voting rights was important because we needed representation to fight these ordinances,” said Cheatham.

Cheatham added that younger adults today do not appreciate

oration. Hill-Aston agrees with Cheatham that folks must take greater care of their right to vote.

“Right now we have people that won’t go two or

Stokley Carmichael, Dr. King and Jesse Jackson Ronald Flamer, 2nd vice president for the Baltimore City NAACP, was a student at Morgan State University from 1961 to 1965 and active in the city’s desegregation efforts.

“Every Saturday I would go out on a freedom march, or a demonstration, to integrate a number of restaurants, and different department stores here in Baltimore,” Flamer said.

Flamer called King “the Moses of our people,” and recalled attending the meeting Burroughs mentioned, which Flamer says was held at Cornerstone Baptist Church, where the Rev. Logan I. Kearse, who had studied with King in seminary, was pastor.

“One of the speakers, before Martin Luther King arrived, said that the Baltimore City police had just announced that a bomb was in the church, and I remember nobody left,” said Flamer, of the crowd’s resolve not to be cowed by threats of violence. “They said, ‘we’ll blow up in the name, the cause of freedom.’”

For Flamer, “there will never be another Martin Luther King. He was my hero.”

Burroughs recalls King with similar warmth. “I have nothing but accolades and adulation for the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. What a marvelously dedicated man to have risked his life and that of his children, his family to fight and to struggle in the way that he was struggling. I have nothing but admiration for a man who would, as a tactic and strategy, engage in civil disobedience, and go to jail, and do those things,” said Burroughs.

When asked what he thought King’s greatest legacy was, Dr. Marvin Cheatham, former president of the Baltimore City NAACP and current president of the Matthew A. Henson Neighborhood Association, said, “Knowing that he was giving his life to help others.”

Dr. King is commemorated in many cities by streets named for him.

AFRO artist Thomas Stockett won first place honors in many art shows for his original oil painting of Dr. King rendered from a photograph taken at the Selma march. The painting was later turned into a postcard.

three blocks in their nice cars, or come out of their house and walk a block to where they could vote, so we have a problem because if people who can vote, and don’t vote – and Martin Luther King went through all this so that we all could vote . . . and those people in Selma could walk across that bridge and go do what they did, there’s no excuse for anybody not to vote right now in this day and age,” said Hill-Aston.

Burroughs, who turns 73 in March, says that he thought the VRA would bring African Americans further than they have come so far, but remembers that King’s assassination in 1968 was a call that he continues to answer 50 years later. “I was very much in despair about that,” said Burroughs, “[but knew] that we had a charge and a responsibility to go forward and continue.”

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The Afro-American, Afro-American, January January 17, 17, 2015 2015 -- January January23, 17,2015 2015

Baltimore’s Humble Servant Rev. Lynwood H. Leverette Called Home

By Ajoya Long Special to the AFRO The Rev. Lynwood H. Leverette died from pneumonia at Northwest Hospital on Dec. 13th. He served for more than two decades as the pastor at Mt. Pisgah Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.

Rev. Leverette’s work extended beyond the church. He affected the community through his work with “The Bea Gaddy Foundation,” founded and run by the one-time homeless woman who became a tireless advocate for the homeless.

“Before she passed she passed the mantle on over to him. For the last Thanksgivings he’s had his hand in the distribution of foods and turkeys on Thanksgiving,” Clarence Leverette, 68, of Baltimore, said about his brother.

“He was not one to rush to judgment,” said the Rev. Brenda Thomas, a Mt. Pisgah member and longtime friend of Leverette. Being the longest standing pastor came with great authority, yet Leverette was humble. “He gave every minister an opportunity to preach the gospel,” Thomas said.

The Rev. Joanne Jackson, interim

pastor, said, “He was the pastor of the church, but yet, he didn’t have to constantly say or prove it. He didn’t want to eat off of gold plates and his people off of paper plates.

He didn’t have the ‘chief seat’ in the assembly.” Jackson co-pastored with Leverette for over 20 years. “My role will be to carry on the vision as laid out by the Pastor Leverette; infused with the lessons he has taught me,” Jackson said.

“Dr. Leverette’s style of leadership allowed people to blossom into who they are and

insult or grievance perpetrated against him, he didn’t hold grudges.

He sought to restore relationships,” Jackson added.

Leverette leaves behind a legacy of service. He served in the Navy Seals from 1966 through 1968 as a patrol boat trainer, family members say. He later went on to earn his doctorate in human letters from Eastern Theological Seminary in Lynchburg, Va. Mt. Pisgah’s website lists Rev. Leverette’s achievements: leading the church to burning the mortgage,

“Rev. Leverette lived by the philosophy of keeping the joy in worship. Mt. Pisgah is a place wherein the worshippers are engaged and valued.”

– Bishop James Walker what they can be. He didn’t micromanage. He gave instructions or assignments and allowed individuals to get the job done. He trusted in the person’s ability to do the assignment.

Discernment was another of his qualities.

“Most importantly, forgiveness was his mantra. If there was an

renovating the lower fellowship hall, adding handicap accessible restrooms to the main level of the sanctuary, purchasing an outreach and administrative building adjacent to the church, and developing the church’s transportation ministry.

Last year his church hosted the General Conference for the Christian

Facebook

Rev. Lynwood H. Leverette Methodist Episcopal Church, held at the Baltimore Convention Center.

There over 5,000 people attended, including 3,000 delegates from all 50 states and representatives from Haiti and several African countries.

Rev. Leverette was ordained as a Christian Methodist Episcopal minister in 1982, and was pastor of St. John CME Church in Harrisburg, Pa., from 1982 to 1984. From 1984 to 1993, he was pastor of Brown Temple CME Church in Asheville, N.C.

His funeral took place on Jan.9 at New Shiloh Baptist Church located at 2100 N. Monroe St., Baltimore, Md. Bishop James B. Walker, presiding prelate of the 7th Episcopal District of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, gave the eulogy.

He shared some other thoughts with the AFRO. “ Rev. Leverette lived by the philosophy of keeping the joy in worship. Mt. Pisgah is a place wherein the worshippers are engaged and valued,” he said. “ While Rev. Leverette will be missed, his work anticipated this day. Pastor Lynwood leaves us a living legacy. During his life, this pastor mentored pastors, ministers, laypersons, as well as members of his family. The race that Rev. Lynwood Leverette ran in life will not end at his grave. He passed on the baton to the multiple persons with whom he shared his life and imparted his ministry. He indeed planted trees of leadership for the generation that follow him to enjoy.”

He was married to the former Valensey Mitchell and was the proud father of Suzette, Lynette (deceased), Lynwood Jr., Myesha, and Sir Michael.

Sojourner Douglass Continued from A1

out to get a job, they may stop out to get married, they come back, they may stop out to have a child, so we had a number of students who were transfer students, and so we had a number of students who had reached that 12 semester cap, so we lost another $2 million.”

By the end of fiscal year 2013, Sojourner Douglass was facing an over $5 million budget deficit as a result of the changes to the Pell grant program. This occurred just as the college was required to submit a periodic review report to MSCHE, demonstrating that they continued to meet the commission’s standards for accreditation.

At this point, two things occurred according to Simmons.

The bank that holds the commercial mortgage on one of Sojourner Douglass’s buildings saw the revenue shortfall caused by the changes to the Pell grant program and called the mortgage due rather than renewing it, creating a further debt obligation for the college. At the same time MSCHE was reviewing Sojourner Douglass’s continuing accreditationworthiness, and seeing the revenue shortfalls and debt obligations of the college, determined that Sojourner Douglass had failed to meet the commission’s standard on fiscal resources and informed the institution that their accreditation would be revoked if it could not demonstrate that its operations were fiscally sustainable.

Sojourner Douglass had to respond to six items in order to avoid this impending loss of accreditation, and while the

college was able to satisfy most of the items, it was held back by the inability to complete a sale-leaseback agreement—in which an investor would purchase one of their buildings, relieving the college of the debt it owed on the property, and then lease it back to the college for continued use—because the investor would only agree to the sale-leaseback on the condition that Sojourner Douglass was fully accredited to ensure that the investor would have a viable, long-term tenant.

MSCHE, however, wanted the sale-leaseback agreement

accreditation was not based on academics, we’ve satisfied all of the academic criteria. Our students do well, our students graduate, they get good jobs; they’re in management positions throughout the state. So this is all just finance.”

The Baltimore City NAACP is assisting Sojourner Douglass in its appeal of the MSCHE decision and looked into other, similarly situated, institutions and found that MSCHE has renewed accreditation for at least eight schools facing similar or worse fiscal deficits, including one school with a deficit of $47 million, all of whom are TWIs, according to Simmons.

“It appears that we’ve been treated differently,” said Simmons.

Tessa Hill-Aston, president of the Baltimore City NAACP, indicates that Sojourner Douglass is the only institution founded and run by Black –Dr. Charles Simmons people among those the NAACP looked at with similar financial issues, and was also the only one completed prior to renewing Sojourner Douglass’s whose accreditation was revoked. accreditation, and though MSCHE was informed that the sale“Even though some of the other schools have a lot of leaseback would be completed upon renewal of accreditation, African American [students], they’re not run by African MSCHE revoked that accreditation nonetheless, effective June Americans, so that makes a difference,” said Hill-Aston. “A lot 30, 2015. The school now faces an appeals hearing on Feb. 2, of times schools can have African American students . . . and in Philadelphia. they’re making money off the population but they’re not run by “We’ve been in operation for 42 years, we’ve served the African Americans . . . So I do feel there has not been the same community well,” said Simmons. “This act to remove our opportunities given and I’m hoping that will change.”

Hill-Aston says that now is the time for alumni to step up and help Sojourner Douglass with whatever contribution, regardless of size, that they can afford, as the institution works to revamp its finances and demonstrate the viability of its enterprise.

Simmons said the loss in financial aid due to the changes in the Pell grant program, and the subsequent negative publicity from the loss of accreditation have cut the college’s enrollment by almost half, going from approximately 1400 students in 2013 to 800 now.

In spite of the current challenges faced by the college, Simmons says he fully expects to win the appeal, and is encouraging students to remain with the institution rather than flee out of concern their credits or degrees will not be valid.

“We intend to continue to serve our community,” said Simmons. “The credits are still good, credits are transferable, the degree is still good. As long as we are an accredited institution—and we won’t issue any degrees or any credits, if we lose, after June 30, 2015, but any credit that any student earns, or any degree that a student earns up to that point is good.”

“We’ve been in operation for 42 years, we’ve served the community well. This act to remove our accreditation was not based on academics.”

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Happy 85th Birthday!!!

Dorothy A. Williams New York native, Dorothy A. Williams will celebrate her 85th birthday, Jan. 18, at her Owings Mills home with family and friends.

Advertiser: BGE Williams is the mother of Diane W. Hocker, director Publication: Afro American of Community and Public Relations for the Afro InsertionNewspapers; Date: Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014 American Denise DeLeaver, Ad Size: with DeLeaver 7.28” x 8” consultant Consulting and Doreen Title: master barber, Winter Ready/Sled Frazier, Detroit, Mich. One of her If you have this publication material favorite placesreceived in the city error, or have any questions about it please isinthe Forest Park Senior contact the traffic dept. at Weber Shandwick Center, where she plays at (410) and 558sings 2100. pinochle in the Center Choir.

January January17, 17, 2015 2015 -- January January 17, 23, 2015, 2015, The The Afro-American Afro-American

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Digital Divide

Continued from A1 Americans (ages 18-29) utilize social media at somewhat higher rates than Whites in the same age group.

Those numbers are only cause for hope, however, if tech companies, and the

country as a whole, are putting themselves in a position to take advantage of such developments.

The AFRO is presenting a four-part series addressing the digital divide in

America. Among the topics covered will be net neutrality; employment diversity in Silicon Valley; funding for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education

efforts; and the way the discriminatory practice of redlining has made the digital divide worse in parts of the country.

With this series, the reader will have a focused look at

the current state of the digital divide and the challenges it presents. Each challenge, however, is also a locus of opportunity, an arena in which sustained effort can alter the current, unequal trajectory if

there is willingness to act.

We begin this week with Saschane Stephenson’s article on what has come to be known as net neutrality. ralejandro@afro.com

Net Neutrality—Protecting Open and Free Communications

By Saschane Stephenson Special to the AFRO What Is It? The term is just about as engaging as an ice cold drink on a frigid day; but if we slow it down a bit, there’s much more to what has been a raging debate between supporters and detractors. The “Net Neutrality” or the “open Internet” encompasses a demand for Internet service providers (ISPs) like Comcast and Verizon to treat all data transmitted across their lines fairly.

The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “Commission”) is the federal agency that holds the statutory authority to regulate—monitor and punish—ISPs. The FCC has been wrestling with whether or not to and how to police the Internet since its inception.

The current debate, which is truly an all-out fight, boils down to whether or not the FCC should change the classification of the service that broadband companies provide from “information service” to “telecommunications service.” Advocates of net neutrality want the FCC to reclassify broadband service providers as “common carriers.”

Why does it matter?

Because under Title II of the 1934 Communications Act, a “telecommunications service” tag (1) initiates a long list of obligations the companies must adhere to and (2) places restrictions on how the broadband companies can run their businesses. Service providers want to continue operating under Title I of the 1934 Act so they’ll have to comply with fewer regulations.

Those on the side of protecting an open Internet believe that a Title II categorization would prevent “paid prioritization.” Not fully a North Korean free-speech subversion act, but close enough, paid prioritization occurs when Internet service providers discriminate between the data generated for the public by different websites. To put it simply, cable companies could choose who gets more or broader access to web traffic and speed based on how much is paid, or they can decide which websites are good for consumers to visit by censorship or simply by “prioritizing” who pays them more to route consumers away from competitors.

A Brief Background on the History of Regulating the Internet In the 1980s, the Commission instituted rules under what was known as the Computer II regime. Then, they established a distinction between providers of “basic services” and providers of “enhanced services.” The difference between enhanced and basic services was that the former involved the processing of information rather than simply its mere transmission.

Back then, providers of basic services (mostly telephone companies) were subject to regulations under Title II of the Communications Act of 1934, and were categorized as “common carriers.” To further elaborate “common carriers” means any person engaged as a common carrier for hire, in interstate or foreign communication by wire or radio or interstate or foreign radio transmission of energy. And to go just one step further, under the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (47 U.S. 153, 51, 53), a “telecommunications carrier”—i.e., any provider offering telecommunications services for a fee directly

to the public—shall be treated as a common carrier … only to the extent that it is engaged in providing telecommunications services.”

[1996 needed] Where do we stand now?

Today, Internet service providers are categorized as “information service” providers.

The term “information service” means the offering of a capability for generating, acquiring, storing, transforming, processing, retrieving, utilizing, or making available information via telecommunications, and includes electronic publishing.

On January 14, 2014, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit struck down some key parts of an FCC order attempting to require broadband companies “treat all Internet traffic the same regardless of [its] source.” At the heart of the controversy is competition (translation “money”), freedom of expression and access.

When the Court decided to reject a substantial portion of the FCC’s Open Internet Order rules as a threat to Internet openness and innovation, many felt that it was a flawed decision. Opponents saw the decision as a triumph against menacing government regulation of the Internet.

Abuses of net neutrality are a very factual problem.

Several U.S. and international ISPs interfere with and discriminate against traffic on their networks in ways that threaten the innovative fabric of the Internet. Golden Frog, a technology company, testified before the Federal Communications Commission in June 2014 of instances where Internet providers were throttling traffic and impeding the encryption/privacy capabilities of users.

The ISPs best argument to date is that being reclassified under Title II would turn them into a public utility and therefore they would no longer have any “incentives” to invest in new technologies.

Advocates of net neutrality want the FCC to reclassify broadband service providers as “common carriers.”

The President Asks: Meddling or Saving the American Consumer?

The message is a simple one. President Obama believes there should be “no gatekeepers” between consumers and their “favorite online sites and services.”

He upped the ante when he asked the FCC to craft new rules to “safeguard competition and user choice.” The President laid out a clear plan in his November 2014 State of the Union speech, and called for a free and open Internet. He wants the FCC to classify broadband and Internet service providers as “common carriers” under Title II of the 1934 Communications, because “for most Americans, the Internet is an essential part of everyday communications and everyday life” and their usage should be protected.

Reiterating that over 4 million consumers have voiced their support for open Internet, President Obama’s ask is for the FCC, as a regulating body, to yield to the wishes of the majority and not the wealthy corporate minority. There should be no blocking, no throttling, increased transparency, and no paid prioritization in the provision of Internet services.

Impending Budget Cuts Continued from A1

wages for public employees for four years.

They just got a raise. . . . But we might look at that kind of freeze (under Hogan), so I think that we might have to be concerned about that.”

Pay freezes and staff cuts could hit Baltimore City particularly hard, as the state is one of the city’s larger employers, accounting for just over 10 percent of the labor force in 2013, the last year data is available, according to Maryland’s Dept. of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.

In early December, Sen. Joan Carter Conway (D), chair of the Education, Health,

Questionable Call of Civil Rights Groups: Advocates or Mouthpieces?

Sometimes we give an ear to the opinions of national civil rights groups because they tout that they represent thousands and thousands of people.

Back in late 2014, the leadership of the NAACP and the national Urban League reportedly lined up against the FCC’s rules to protect net neutrality. Their curious arguments are somehow that the FCC’s steps to reign back a pay-for-play and unchecked enterprise will somehow harm communities of color.

The claim from the civil rights groups is that by subjecting big broadband companies to oversight, such actions “would deter broadband companies from expanding service in their

and Environmental Affairs Committee, told a gather of ministerial leaders that she did not expect the new governor to do away with the Red-Line transportation project, a light rail transit line running from east to west in lower Baltimore. But as Louis Peck of Bethesda Magazine has pointed out, Maryland’s constitutional organization gives the governor enormous power over the budget when it comes to items like this.

While the proposed Purple-Line connecting Montgomery and Prince George’s County is a more likely target of cuts, without further indication from Hogan himself, it

communities, preventing more minorities from adopting the Internet.”

Let’s be plain on one thing. Financial support and authenticity are strange bed fellows..

Relationship building is a key component for any business, and it is no different for broadband services. Fancy names like “government affairs” are the covert halos for lobbying and the tangible check-writing support extended to politicians and nonprofits.

Nonprofits like the National Urban League, National Hispanic Media Coalition and the NAACP. In 2010, when Comcast was merging with NBC it launched a well-orchestrated campaign with minority-led organization toeing the line as “diversity” supporters. The company followed what can be called the “blueprint of public support” where it garnered hundreds of expressions of support for its deal so the federal government (which looks for local communities and diversity in public support) would approve the merger.

As expected, top executives at these companies will be quick to divert careful scrutiny by denying any suggestion that their corporate practice of supporting charities and nonprofit groups that serve Asian, Latinos, and African Americans isn’t solely motivated by the need to have political allies in their back pocket.

But the contributions received by civil rights groups make you think twice about the authenticity of testimonies or statements in support of corporations resisting the balancing arm of federal agency regulations meant to protect the public.

From 2004 to 2012, the NAACP and National Urban League respectively received $30,000 and $835,000 in funds from ISPs. It’s also noteworthy that David Cohen, executive vice president of Comcast Corporation, served on the Urban League’s board of trustees since 2008. In addition, according to the Center for Public Integrity, from 2012 to 2013, the Comcast Foundation, headed by Cohen, contributed almost $2 million to the National Urban League and more than 100 of its affiliates.

In a 2014 New York Times’ article highlighting the tangled web of philanthropy (charitable giving) and lobbying, a Comcast lobbyist who wanted to remain anonymous said the “relationship with some groups had a cannot be assumed that the Red-Line project will not be affected.

Education is another area the city may find itself facing cuts as the state looks to balance its books. Baltimore’s 21st Century Schools construction plan has been affected by inflation, Conway said. While Conway seemed confident in the city’s ability to return to the legislature for future funding needs, the current deficit raises the question of whether the governor, or the General Assembly, may try to roll back some of the funding to balance the budget.

School budget financing could also see cuts under Hogan. Bebe Verdery, director of the Education Reform Project for the ACLU MD, told the AFRO in November that “under a new administration that has vowed to roll

transactional flavor.” He went further by saying that, “If you have a company like Comcast that has been with them for a long time and continues to support them, they will go to bat for them even if it means they have become pawns.”

A group called the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council, which received minimum $725, 000 from net neutrality opponents (including Time Warner, Verizon, and the National Cable and Telecommunications Association) between 2009 and 2011, eagerly filed comments along with the 40 other “funded” organizations opposing FCC oversight.

However, when the position of the National Hispanic Media Coalition changed to one of opposition, their president Alex Nogales reported “that was the end of the relationship” with Verizon. “If you have programs with any of these companies, you feel beholden to go along with what they believe.”

Choosing Between Section 706 and Title II The pundits aren’t sure on which side of the fence FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler is going to stand. Some speculate he wants to be the champion for net neutrality; but no one knows for sure what rules Wheeler and the 5-member team are set to release in February 2015.

Chairman Wheeler’s options are either to classify ISPs under Section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 or to opt for Title II of the 1934 Act. It’s believed that Section 706 would give the FCC the authority to regulate ISPs, to “promote competition in the local telecommunications market,” and to “remove barriers to infrastructure investment,” but it’s not totally clear how that would allow the Commission to safeguard net neutrality.

Section 706 has been called “Title II Lite,” and some advocates are encouraging the FCC to establish rules under Section 706 with Title II as the backup measure to survive any future Court challenges. However, it’s not likely to be selected as an option by the FCC. Good or Bad Law There just is no easy solution to protecting net neutrality; therefore to ask if the upcoming FCC regulations are good or bad law isn’t sufficient.

Undoubtedly the answer will vary based on whether you’re big business trying to fend off competition and maximize profits, and dictate who has priority access to the Internet.

According to Michael Weinberg of Public Knowledge, the categorization of broadband companies as “common carriers” would not be the complete solution toward net neutrality.

However, classifying the Internet as a utility might just be the best option available to protect consumers and restrict Internet service providers from charging content providers for faster Internet access.

In 2014, the numbers show that ISPs spent a little over $42.4 million fighting net neutrality, with Comcast alone spending close to $4.5 million in the second quarter.

The rebellion of Chairman Wheeler, a former cable lobbyist, came as a surprise to the telecom industry. No one knows which way he’ll come out on the issue of net neutrality; but he has warned that he’s not afraid to advance the President’s plan to protect consumers by using Title II and to upset the virtual monopoly that cable companies enjoy. back some taxes, we would have a concern that education could be one place you decide to cut.”

State funding for public schools is largely determined by a formula that can only be changed by the General Assembly, a largely Democratic body likely to resist changes that could seriously impact Baltimore’s public schools. Nonetheless, Verdery said the formula is under review, meaning Hogan could work with the General Assembly to change the formula to squeeze more savings from the state’s education spending.

Discretionary education funding from the state could also be done away by a Hogan budget, said Verdery, and Baltimore’s public schools are not exactly in a position to easily absorb such cuts.

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The Afro-American, Afro-American, January January 17, 17, 2015 2015 -- January January23, 17,2015 2015

Dickson Sees Art and Culture As Keys to Community

By Roberto Alejandro Special to the AFRO Art and culture are the keys to building community for businessperson and restaurateur Terence Dickson. Combine those keys with healthy, affordable eating and community service, and you have the recipe for Dickson’s Terra Cafe in Baltimore’s Charles Village.

Dickson, originally from Orangeburg, S.C., said he learned the essence of food, and the importance of natural and organic ingredients there. “I think that my food thing really started when I was young,” said Dickson, “because I was the oldest, and my responsibility was to make sure that the food was prepared for my sisters and brothers and my family, because my mother and father – they always worked.

That’s what you had to do in order to take care of a family.”

Dickson’s professional background is in automotive sales, fashion design, and real estate. He purchased the building in which the Terra Cafe is housed around 1999 with a vision to open a restaurant that would achieve community development through non-traditional means. “You build community, not with money first,” said Dickson, “but you build it with art, you build it with culture, you build it with community, and then the money will come later.”

At the time, says Dickson, people found it difficult to buy into that broader communityoriented vision, which made securing financing very difficult. Dickson’s idea for a restaurant did attract investors, but their willingness to fund the venture was tied to a more direct partnership role in the development and management of the restaurant than Dickson was offering at the time.

Dickson opened the cafe in 2009, but the period between purchasing the building and opening his restaurant was not idle. “The nice part about [owning the building] is I’ve had the privilege and the honor to help nurture maybe 30 or 40 businesses,” said Dickson about the various entrepreneurial ventures he’s been able to assist by providing a home in his building.

Photo by Roberto Alejandro

Terence Dickson, owner of the Terra Cafe in Baltimore’s Charles Village.

When he was finally in a position to open the restaurant, Dickson made a commitment about the role he would play in his neighborhood. “The commitment was that prayer at the beginning that I promised God that you take care of my business, and I’m going to stay on my assignment and take care of your people,” said Dickson, who feeds homeless persons in the area every second Sunday of the month through his ‘Neighbors without Walls’ initiative in furtherance of that promise.

That sort of commitment to community is central to Dickson’s vision for the Terra Cafe, to the point that its catering arm, a more recent extension of the Terra Cafe brand, is reserved for events related to community-based efforts. Dickson also does healthy eating and cooking demonstrations, forums, and makes space in the cafe for various forms of artistic expression.

The art on the walls is produced by local artists and are not charged a fee or commission for displaying their work. Musician’s are invited to come and share their work, an effort to bring more expressions of culture to the area.

See more at afro.com

March on Annapolis Continued from A1

that that the majority of the core organizers are college students.

“That list [of organizations] is growing more and more,” said Brown, who called the march a natural outgrowth of efforts taking place in Baltimore City for several months.

According Dayvon Love, director of research and public policy for LBS, his organization’s involvement stemmed from ongoing conversations with Brown and Muhammad, as well as LBS’s legislative agenda for 2015 which consists of reforming the law enforcement officers bill of rights, strengthening Baltimore’s civilian review board, and improving the Maryland’s for expunging criminal records.

“I think that prospects [for achieving our goals] are very great,” said Love. “We’ve been in Annapolis a couple of times on various efforts – stopping the construction of a youth jail, Christopher’s law – so we feel pretty good about our acumen in dealing with the legislative process. So [with] that, plus the outpouring of support that has been generated by

Rev. Heber Brown

Farajii Muhammad a lot of national events and the increased awareness of activity, I think we have a pretty good shot of getting some things through.”

Brown says that any effort to reform current law enforcement policies will likely face resistance from the law enforcement community,

and possibly the governor’s office, citing Governor-Elect Larry Hogan’s comment earlier this year that Ferguson had little to do with Maryland.

“I’m under no illusion, it’s going to be a very intense struggle to get something done this session, but it also was an intense struggle to stop the planned construction of a $104 million youth jail in Baltimore,” said Brown.

“This time around we’ve got a little more seasoning, we’re battle tested a bit,” Brown said. “We know what it means to connect the power of grassroots demonstrations with legislative advocacy.

We know how to build those bridges more tightly now.

While we’re launching things this week, I’m prepared and we are prepared to stay with it for some time to come.”

The goal of organizers was to have between 75-100 people in Annapolis for the march, but both Brown and Love expressed optimism that the crowd could very well be larger. “The response that I’ve gotten since we announced [the march] and started promoting it has been huge, so I’m hoping it will be more than that,” said Love.

From 12 Years a Slave…

Continued from A1

article: “A simple Google search will confirm the breathtaking racial injustice [in the World Bank], producing several pages of [citations of] articles with shocking titles that seem to describe another era or a faraway place. The Rev. Jesse Jackson’s column in the Chicago Sun Times entitled ‘Apartheid Avenue two Blocks from the White House’ is one example.

‘World Bank puts Blacks at the Back of Bus’ is another. For those who prefer French or Spanish there are ‘Apartheid á la Banque Mondiale’ and ‘Discriminación racial en el Banco Mundial’ to start with.”

Three indisputable facts demand emphasis.

First, the World Bank is unapologetic. Its own six reports have documented that Blacks are “rated inferior” and acknowledged that Blacks are paid race-based salaries, consigned to low profile assignments, segregated in one building, and denied access to an independent and impartial justice system.

Second, the US government is well aware of the systemic racial discrimination. In 1999, a report by the US government found that victims of discrimination in the World Bank were denied access to justice. In 2003, the US Senate Appropriations Committee accused the World Bank of defending accused managers rather than protecting aggrieved staff. Neither the US government nor the World Bank took action to remedy the situation.

Third, the World Bank is hosted by the US government. The US has more voting power on the World Bank Board than France, Germany and the UK combined. It is the only country that wields veto power in critical areas of the Bank’s governance. Since the Bank opened its doors in 1946, every World Bank president has been an American citizen.

Most importantly, as the largest fund provider to the World Bank, the US has significant financial leverage to influence the institution’s governance framework and operational decisions. But it lacks moral resolve to expend its political and financial capital to protect the rights of its Black citizens.

Residing in the blind spot of conservatives and enjoying unconditional support from liberals, the World Bank has become a legal and moral no-man’s-land where institutional racism is financed by our tax dollars. In 2014, America’s leading civil rights organizations and leaders of over 500 faith-based organizations joined the chorus of outrage demanding justice, but all to no avail.

Why not sue the World Bank? The World Bank enjoys absolute immunity from US laws. It is answerable only to an internal Tribunal whose judges evidently believe that “Blacks have no rights that other races are bound to respect.”

In 2009, an African filed racial discrimination complaints with the Tribunal after he was told that he could not become the global manager of a high profile international program because “Europeans are not used to seeing a Black man in a position of power.”

The first question he was asked by one of the Tribunal judges was “What was it being designated Global Manager that is so magical to have led you to this stage where you think

it was a loss to the rest of the world?” The staff member’s lawyer interjected politely “May I ask a clarifying question?” The judge snapped: “Asking me? No. You can’t ask me questions, obviously. That’s not permitted.”

During the same hearing the Bank’s lawyers were allowed to ask clarifying questions.

Since its establishment in 1980, the Tribunal has rejected all racial discrimination claims it has reviewed with such utter disregard for the due process rights of Black complainants.

In 2010, the US Treasury and the US Board of Directors to the World Bank approached the Bank’s senior management to resolve an egregious racial discrimination case through external arbitration citing the Lugar-Leahy Amendment (2005). The Amendment required that World Bank staff have access to external arbitration. The Bank rejected the request. The Treasury sent the aggrieved staff member a note stating: “We believe that further engagement in your case with the World Bank would not be productive… We are continuing to explore the possibility of pressing it to look harder at external arbitration…”

The Treasury’s statement speaks volumes about our government’s unwillingness to protect Blacks from institutional racism half a century after the end of Jim Crow.

Since 2010, the US has passed two more laws – the Consolidated Appropriations Acts of 2012 and 2014. The two Acts stipulate without ambiguity that the US would withhold its financial support to the World Bank as leverage to ensure that its staff are granted access to independent adjudicative bodies, including external arbitration. The World Bank is also on the record stating without ambiguity that it will not comply with US laws.

In a twist of irony, the Bank is currently run by President Obama’s appointee and golf buddy, Jim Yong Kim. The Korean American uses his minority status both as a shield to fend off his critics and as a sword to subjugate Blacks. Under President Kim the problem has gotten worse, as documented by Frank Watkins, public policy director for Rainbow/ Push Coalition, in an article titled “Has the ‘Asian Takeover of the World Bank’ Worsened Discrimination Against Blacks?” In 2014, President Kim rejected many requests from Black applicants for external arbitration, without losing a penny in US financial support.

The problem for not enforcing the aforementioned laws resides with the US Treasury and the Department of State. There is no chance in hell that Secretary John Kerry and Secretary Jacob Lew would have breached their legal obligations to enforce the above noted US laws had the victims of institutional segregation been Irish or Jewish Americans.

No chance in hell, as well, that President Kim would have allowed the segregation of Asians without legal remedy.

As an American citizen, a descendent of slaves and as a current victim of institutional discrimination, I demand that my government accord me access to justice now, not some time in the future.

January 17, 2015 - January 23, 2015 The Afro-American

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EDITORIAL

The Evil that is Boko Haram There is nothing—no religion, no grievance, no way of thinking-- to justify what Boko Haram did over the weekend when they sent what appeared to be a 10-year-old girl wearing a bomb into a crowded market in Northern Nigeria. The Nigerian Islamic terrorist group has been behind some of the most despicable acts of violence in Africa over the past several years. Their textbook play is to kidnap and rape large groups of girls who are simply trying to get an education.

That they are so opposed to education is just one of their many problems, but it speaks to an ignorance on an almost unimaginable scale. Beyond the obvious damage of having an entire generation of African girls who won’t go on to invent, build or design some wonder that hasn’t been thought of yet, the group’s fear of education speaks to its own stupidity.

Sending a young girl with a bomb into a market is only the latest act of depredation and horror from this group. Boko Haram has killed thousands of people over the past six years it has been battling Nigerian government forces and their tactics are the lowest of the low: sending suicide bombers into high schools and burning teenage boys alive. With those kinds of actions, it is not surprising that Boko Haram is affiliated with Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb in West Africa.

After Boko Haram sacks and captures a town they impose Shariah law and ultimately are trying to establish an Islamic caliphate in Nigeria. Imagine the chaos and terror the Islamic State has brought to Iraq and Syria happening in Africa.

Boko Haram is led by Abubakar Shekau, a wretched human being who said in a video taped message about the

250 kidnapped young girls who received an outpouring of support from celebrities, politicians and concerned citizens with #bringbackourgirls last year, “All of them have accepted Islam and are now married. Anybody that said plans are underway for the release of the girls is just daydreaming.” For the record, the girls have yet to be returned despite Nigerian and American military forces looking for them, and even more girls have been kidnapped since then.

Boko Haram’s despicable actions in support of the extreme views of their religion, in the eyes of most of the enlightened world reflect them being inhumane agents of the Devil. The atrocities of this group can no longer be ignored and cry out for a stronger international movement to address and finally eliminate them as the threat their continued existence represents to all humanity.

COMMENTARY

Free Associate’s Degree: A Solution, But Not the Solution

We should all congratulate President Barack Obama for pulling the education debate into the 21st century, or perhaps dragging it into the late 20th century, by proposing access to free education through at least an associate’s degree. But this merely restates the obvious.

As the White House documents supporting this policy point out, in the late 19th century and early 20th century, as the economy William E. transformed into the modern Spriggs era, Americans embraced the call of Progressives to extend public education from 8th grade to 12th grade. New job skills were required in the age that brought about automobile, telephone and airplane manufacturing and new occupations like electrician, motion picture projectionist, X-ray technician, truck driver, bus driver and radio operator-jobs that could not have been imagined in 1880.

So, too, common sense dictates that a high school degree in a world of computer processors and cell telephone communications cannot meet the needs of a changing world where web page designers, “app” writers and cyber security specialists are in high demand.

The President is simply asserting the obvious in extending free associate’s degrees as a democratic right. The price of the basic ticket to the game has changed. That means the full access to society has a new predicate.

Unfortunately, we live with a dysfunctional democracy where anti-democratic forces are strong. There are those who are fighting hard to limit voting rights instead of the American ideal to protect and strengthen those rights. So it isn’t surprising that voices are being raised to limit economic rights, and to instead rail against “government” extension of opportunity. Of course, the movie “Selma” reminds us that small minds have sought to limit opportunity in America for a long time.

But beyond the obvious need to redefine the right to a basic

education in a world in which “basic” has clearly changed, the rest of the president’s case is short on the fuller problems and issues facing America.

First is the notion that the extension of the educational right is a solution to the sagging earnings of Americans. At the beginning of this century, in 2001, the median earnings of American men was $42,755, but in 2013 they had dropped to $39,602. This was despite an increase in the share of men with associate’s degrees from 7.5 percent to 9.1 percent and declines in the share of men with less education than an associate’s degree from 63.4 percent to 58.1 percent. It also came despite an increase for those holding bachelor’s degrees or higher from 29.0 percent to 32.8 percent.

So, despite increasing educational attainment, the income of men fell. More to the point, the income of men holding associate’s degrees fell from $51,144 to $42,176. More emphatically, the median earnings of men with bachelor’s degrees fell from $65,769 to $58,170.

Second is the argument that a better educated workforce will lead to a more productive workforce. This is clearly the case. Productivity of America’s workers increased from 2001 to 2013 by 27 percent. And increases in productivity are traditionally the source of increasing wages. But wages did not increase.

The president’s proposal deserves immediate support. But it must be supported in the framework of extending rights and opportunities that is the hallmark of America-the nation that always looks forward. And we must fight against those who want to take us backward.

Still, as the AFL-CIO’s recent National Summit on Raising Wages highlighted, the United States is facing a more fundamental structural problem that must be addressed. We have a better educated and more productive workforce, but a workforce that is getting paid less. Those lower wages are not the workings of the market or some economic necessity. Those lower wages are the result of clear choices to feed corporate coffers at the expense of an economy that functions for all.

As AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said, we must have policies that treat corporations as part of America, not above America.

We must commit ourselves to reinvest in America. Those who look backward will see costs; those who look forward see dividends.

Follow Spriggs on Twitter: @WSpriggs.

Taking the Path toward Justice “We Must Accept Finite Disappointment, But We Must Never Lose Infinite Hope” Martin Luther King, Jr. The recent deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner, followed by the tragic killings of NYPD Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos, have put our nation at a crossroads.

We face two very distinct Elijah Cummings paths. We can look away and ignore the events that have brought us to where we now stand. Or we can acknowledge the work to be done and make this a transformative moment for our criminal justice system.

We have built a society in which the rule of law is enforced by those with badges. We rely on them to make decisions on a daily basis that impact generations yet unborn.

Law enforcement officers place their lives on the line every day they put on their uniforms. They face immense danger to keep our homes and neighborhoods safe.

There are very few who would want to make the choice between saving one life or another, and yet that is exactly what they are called on to do—with the other life sometimes being their own.

These are incredibly difficult jobs, and we mourn the loss of officers who have paid the ultimate price in the line of duty.

They are our brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, friends and family.

Yet, that job does not place the police above accountability

or eliminate the need for change.

Here in Baltimore and throughout the nation, we understand that there are times when our police officers must use force to protect us and themselves— but when unarmed Americans lose their lives at the hands of law enforcement, we must acknowledge the problem and act to address it.

We are living at a moment in history when the actions of our police, our prosecutors, and our entire system of justice and public safety are receiving extraordinary scrutiny—and criticism.

The vast majority of people marching on our streets, rallying at our government buildings, and calling for change are not anti-police. They are seeking to renew the trust upon which our criminal justice system relies.

Our higher values of reason, cooperation, and support for the Rule of Law are being buffeted by a storm of passions and fear. We must quiet that storm and replace it with a more productive and constructive climate.

Effective law enforcement depends upon public cooperation and support. This is why we must take a hard look at the actions that lead to the killings of unarmed African Americans across the country and the response of our criminal justice system when these deaths occur.

Restoring trust will require hard work and understanding from all sides. It will require an honest dialogue and a willingness to put ourselves in each other’s shoes.

Restoring trust will require us to ask ourselves why, according to data collected from 16 states by the CDC, African Americans are killed during legal intervention by law enforcement at a rate three times higher than their White peers.

It will require us to ask why police officers of color are raising complaints about being subjected to racial profiling when they are off duty or in plain clothes.

Perhaps most importantly, restoring trust will require detailed inquiries at the national level into how we train police and how communities interact with officers.

My colleagues in the House of Representatives and I have a sworn responsibility to respond effectively to those calls. Congress must investigate these matters on a bipartisan basis to ensure that all Americans are treated equally, proportionately and fairly by the law.

Last month, I joined Ranking Member John Conyers Jr. of the Judiciary Committee and Ranking Member Bennie Thompson of the Homeland Security Committee in requesting hearings on criminal justice reform -- a call that also came from some Republican leaders.

There are many issues that deserve our attention, including the use of force by police departments; police department hiring, training, and outreach practices; and proposals to help rebuild communities by fostering dialogue and trust between law enforcement and those they serve.

We also need to consider the role prosecutors play in holding police accountable and how to ensure justice is carried out appropriately.

The path we must choose, as a nation, is one that translates the lessons we have learned in Ferguson, Staten Island, Cincinnati, and elsewhere into broad and constructive reforms - and expanded federal support - for police forces across the country.

A balanced strategy is the key — one that supports both the safety of police officers and the civil rights of every American. I welcome the participation of all viewpoints in the hearings to come.

Rep. Elijah Cummings represents Maryland’s 7th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives

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The Afro-American, January 17, 2015 - January 23, 2015

TECHNOLOGY “ THERE IS A SPIRIT,

AND A NEED, AND A PERSON AT THE BEGINNING OF EVERY

By Maria Adebola Special to the AFRO

GREAT HUMAN ADVANCE.

Silicon Valley is once again under immense pressure to diversify its workforce in the coming year.

EVERY ONE OF THESE MUST BE RIGHT

Leading the push is the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, which seeks to correct the lack of minority presence in tech companies such as Facebook, Google, and Twitter. During the organization’s annual conference on Dec. 12 in Dallas, several members called for the ratification of the “Supporting the Diversification of Tech Industry’s Empowerment” resolution.

The resolution, which calls for more employee diversification among major Silicon Valley tech companies in 2015, was sponsored by State representatives Gilda Cobb Hunter (D-S.C.), Joe Armstrong (D-Tenn.), Alan Williams (D-Fla.), Laura V. Hall (D-Ala.), Floyd McKissick (D-N.C.), and Geraldine Thompson (D-Fla). The lawmakers seek additional outreach programs, training and increased hiring of minorities in their communities.

“When Google and Facebook released their dismal diversity statistics of their workforce earlier this year, it became clear that the lack of diversity in the technology firms was not just a trend, it is a reality,” CobbHunter said in a statement.

“This resolution is an opportunity to identify both the problem and potential solutions to this pressing issue.”

Though the number of jobs in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields are projected to grow by 17 percent by 2018, according to the STEM Education Coalition; lawmakers argued that if minorities cannot contribute to the field, they will lag behind in reaping those economic benefits.

According to USA Today, the tech field’s workforce predominantly consists of White and Asian men.

On average, only about two percent of technology workers at seven Silicon Valley companies were African American, and three percent were reported to be of Hispanic descent.

As a part of the initiative to raise awareness on diversifying Silicon Valley, the state lawmakers hope to take further action by providing training on a local scope, especially in schools, universities and through business partnerships, according to Newsone.

FOR THAT PARTICULAR MOMENT OF HISTORY

OR NOTHING HAPPENS. “ - Coretta Scott King

JOIN MACY ’S IN CELEBRATING THE LIFE, LEGACY, AND LOVE

of

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

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Lawmakers Continue Pressure on Silicon Valley Tech Giants to Hire More Minorities

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January 17, 2015 - January 23, 2015, The Afro-American

Rev. Jerome and Paula Stephens, Dr. Joann Christopher Hicks, Del. Adrienne Jones

Newly inducted Continentals from left are Barbara Lee, Gloria Taylor, Jasmine MyersDuncan, Nia Blackmon, LaTonya Lynn Lawings, Gail V. Tucker

Robert Johnson, Dr. Tasha Johnson, vice chair, Lynetta Parker, chair, Bill Folk, Angela Humphrey, vice chair, James Smith Mother-daughter, Doris Cole and Stephanie Cole Hill

Dolores Winston is presented the Continental Memorial Award

by Dr. Joann Christopher Hicks, president Raymond English, Marietta English, Lisa Cooke-Moore, Capt. Thel Moore Jr. Dr. Rehema Gray, James Smith, Dr. Judith Smith

Ivy Gates-Smith, Corey Hill, Geraldine Gates.

Danard Smith

Robin Beamer, charter member Margaret Turner

Germaine Turner-Jones, Dorothy Turner, Fenton and Myrna Pugh

Talmadge Hill, Shirley T. Hill, Angela Gibson, Charles “Chuck” Thomas

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The Baltimore Chapter of Continental Societies hosted its annual Charities Gala on Dec. 28 at Martin’s West.

The event is one of the largest attended fundraisers in Baltimore during the holiday season.

In order to provide financial aid to deserving students in the Baltimore Metropolitan area, the Baltimore Chapter raises funds for its Baltimore Continental Scholarship Fund.

The Chapter also continues to promote and develop the welfare of disadvantaged youth, by improving their recreational facilities, advancing their educational opportunities, and sponsoring a climate of security and well-being in their environment.

Stephanie Lee, Tiera York Jones, Jill Johnston, Tyrone and Joi Dabney

Dr. Marco Merrick and mom, Jean Merrick

Jane Green, Rhonda R. Wilson, Yvonne Woods-Howard, Ann Taylor Ross, Lorna Byers Kimberleigh De Laine, Laverne Nasea

Harolyn Blackwell

Ernestine Shepherd, Linda Hollis, Vanessa Logan, Martena Clinton

The Boy Scouts presented flowers and escorted the presidents to their seats.

Doris Cole, Harry Peaker

Photos by Dr. A. Lois De Laine

Barbara Briscoe, Marian Finney, Maggie Caples

Catherine Burks, Judith Adams

Stan Stovall and Anthony McPhail

Diane McPhail, Anthony C. McPhail, co-chair, Estelle Pinkett

Members of Planning Committee and family are Erica Waters, Rosa W. Brooks, Namina Waters, Dr. Clayton Stansbury, Catherine Stansbury, Sandra Waters

The 30th Anniversary of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Breakfast sponsored by the Howard L. Cornish Metropolitan Baltimore Chapter and the Morgan State University National Alumni Association (MSUNAA) was held, Jan. 10, in the Calvin and Tina Tyler Ballroom at Morgan State University.

The annual breakfast is designed, not only to commemorate the life work of Dr. King, but to honor Baltimoreans and organizations for their community service, and to recognize the

academic achievement of Baltimore’s most deserving students.

The students were awarded scholarships and laptops.

The MLK honorees included the Rev. Dr. Richard T. Adams, Appreciation Award; Dr. Samuel T. Ross, CEO, Bon Secours Hospital, Humanitarian Award; Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles, Community Award; Bert J. Hash, CEO (retired) Municipal Employees Credit Union, Drum Major Award; Janet Y. Briscoe, Distinguished Service Award.

Scholarship students Brianna Dorsey, Ashley B. Johnson, Kel-e Johnson, Brian Melton Jr.

Scholarship students Nico Cloyd, Rudy Daniel, Christina Davis, Michael Faulkner

Jacqueline Lawson, president MSUNAA; Delores Cooke, president, Howard L. Cornish Alumni Chapter; Rev. Dr. Richard Adams, Howard L. Cornish Appreciation Appreciation Award recipient

Presidential Salute to Howard L. Cornish Chapter presidents: Virginia Coleman,’50, Gloria Wayman,’90, Julia Randall,’64, Delores Cooke,’64

Scholarship students Jhyana Brummmell, Georgina Coker, Angela Njob, Damien Taylor

Scholarship students Michelle N.Oriaku, Duane Saunders Jr., Namina Waters, Raigan Wheder

Scholarship students Jhenelle Anglin, Chabeli Arroto, Olivia Askew, Audrey Bagby, Anwar Battle

Honoree Dr. Samuel Ross, CEO, Bon Secours Hospital; Bert Hash, CEO (retired) Municipal Employees Credit Union; Dr. David Wilson, president, Morgan State University; Calvin G. Butler Jr., guest speaker Photos by Dr. A. Lois De Laine

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The Afro-American, January 17, 2015 - January 23, 2015

“Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.� —Proverbs 31 28:31 KJV The death of three women at the end of 2014 was a time for reflection on Proverbs 31:10 “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.�At age 97 Violet Stanley lived a spirit-filled life; the mother of 8 children, and countless grandchildren and numerous greats and great great grands .She filled her home with love and family believing it takes a village to raise a family yet there was always room for one more.

Priscilla Phillips-Lansey, 96, a genteel mother of five; she generated warmth and humility throughout her lifetime, always extending a kind word and a smile to anyone she met, opening her home and heart to countless friends and family. Then there is Eugenia “Genia� Mattison-Gibson at the age of 50 “gone to soon� a proud mother of six-yearold Taylor and dedicated wife to Eddie. She extended her love to her family, her Delta Sigma Theta sorority sisters and the community. Her perpetual smile illuminated any room she entered emanating a sense of warmth and trust.

Rest in Paradise Violet, Priscilla and Genia; you were our virtuous woman. “Someday, when I’m awfully low, when the world is cold, I will feel a glow just thinking of you and the way you look tonight.â€? —Frank Sinatra Dean and Mert Evans’ golden anniversary dinner party at the Pikesville Hilton exuded “the look of loveâ€? as family and friends celebrated a match made in heaven. “La rivedrĂ nell’estasiâ€? (“With rapture I shall look upon herâ€?) —Un Ballo in Maschera Verdi “When a man loves a woman.â€?

Mert Evans said, “I told a friend that I’d been married 50 years, the friend responded, ‘that’s a whole lot of good mornings’ and I replied ‘and a whole lot of GOOD NIGHTS!’�

The anecdotes of their courtship and marriage had guests, University of Baltimore president Kurt and Pat Schmoke, Dr. Vallen and Michele Emery, Carolyn and Steve Wainwright, Dr. Frankie Martin. Billie Hall, Herb and Deanna Brown, Judge Yvonne Holt- Stone, Dr. Guy and Gladys Bragg and 200 plus guests laughing as they took us “back down memory lane� through pictures and songs. Among family members, paying tribute to the couple was Mert’s mother Thelma Evans. “Real people do real things. A collective of a whole bunch of people who do things in their own locale, in their own neighborhoods, the sum is bigger than the parts, and the parts will grow.� —Chuck D Howard Park’s new supermarket Shop Rite is reminiscent of the old marketplaces where neighbors gather to chat and catch up on “what’s happening.� The market was bustling as people lined up at the various stations chit chatting about the latest neighborhood news or family matters while purchasing freshly prepared meals to order. AFRO Mrs. Santa, Diane Hocker, said the treats baked on the premise, especially the sweet potato pies, are worth the ride. “Ain’t no stopping us now� Danielle Tidline, graduated in December from Florida International University with a master’s in Latin American and Caribbean Studies has plans to start a foundation to address Latino/African race issues in Baltimore and pursue a doctorate in anthropology. Fluent in Spanish and Portuguese the Spelman 2012 honor graduate is the daughter of Sheila and Dennis Tidline.

My grandson, Matthew Packer will be attending The College of William and Mary, the nation’s second-oldest institution after Harvard University and considered one of the original “Public Ivies� this fall. Matthew will pursue a double major in biology and Spanish.

Matthew will follow in the footsteps of many notable alumni like Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, Bob Gates, Glenn Close, Michael Powell and Mike Tomlin and most notably his older brother, Gregory Packer Jr. who will graduate in May 2016 with a double major in international relations and Spanish. Matthew, an Eagle Scout, is currently a senior at South County High School in Fairfax Station Virginia and a member of his school’s 2014 Patriot District championship golf team. Matt is president of the Northern Virginia Chapter of Jack and Jill of America senior teams and the son of my son-in-law and daughter Colonel Gregory and Lisa Lee Packer. “The thing to judge in any jazz artist is, does the man project and does he have ideas.� —Miles Davis Jazz aficionados Yvonne Brown, Arthur Hoffman Eleanor Janey, Ronald Bailey, Sheri Kober, Ruth and Mike Binsky, Brenda and Gus Allen, John Henderson, Anthony Watkins, Lester Buster, Dollie Owens, Azania Welling and Maxine Smith were among the guests enjoying a Saturday evening jam session hosted by Be Mo Jazz. Jazz artists Craig Alston, Warren Wolf, Alex Brown, Romeir Mendez and John Lampkin III delivered an upbeat night of music. “You can’t help getting older but you don’t have to get old.� —George Burns Happy Birthday Darnell Moses, Jo Lewis, James Lewis, Ann Branch, William “Billy Bones� Andrew, Dr. Charles Towns, my sister Cheryl Johnson, Berlinda Redfern, Norman Branch, Randy Dennis, The Place owner Ann Winder, Bobby Williams, Candes Daniels and Happy 85th Birthday to Dorothy “The Queen� Williams. “May all your troubles last as long as your New Year’s resolutions.�— Joey Adams “I’ll be seeing you in old familiar places.� —Valerie and the Friday Night Bunch

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LEGENDARY PICTURES AND UNIVERSAL PICTURES PRESENT A LEGENDARY PICTURES/FORWARD PASS PRODUCTION A MICHAEL MANN FILM CHRIS HEMSWORTH “BLACKHAT� TANG WEI VIOLAEXECUTIVEDAVIS RITCHIE COSTER HOLT MPRODUCED CCALLANY YORICK VAN WAGENINGEN AND WANG LEEHOM MUSIC

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B3

ARTS & CULTURE 2015 Golden Globes Recap

By Kam Williams Special to the AFRO

The 2015 awards season was officially underway with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s annual recognition of the best in film and television.

An early indicator of Academy Award potential, the Golden Globes have established Boyhood as the early Oscar favorite. Directed

by Richard Linkater, the time-lapse comingof-age drama won in the Best Picture, Drama, Best Director and Best Supporting Actress (Patricia Arquette) categories.

The festivities were co-hosted by Tina Fey

and Amy Poehler, who again toned down their act in comparison to their raunchy predecessor, Ricky Gervais. The celebrity-friendly emcees’ only exception involved a couple of potshots taken at two-time Golden Globes-winner Bill Cosby (for The Cosby Show).

During an opening monologue mention of the movie Into the Woods, Poehler stated that “Sleeping Beauty just thought she was getting coffee with Bill Cosby,” a reference to the dozens of women claiming the comedian once raped them after slipping a knockout drug into their drinks. The two followed that joke by

FILM ma: Boyhood st Hotel Best Picture, Dra The Grand Budape l: ca si u M or y med Best Picture, Co d Linklater, Boyhoo rd ca Ri r: to ec ir Best D ything , The Theory of Ever ne ay dm Re e di Ed a: Best Actor, Dram re, Still Alice ma: Julianne Moo an ra D , ss re ct A t Bes hael Keaton, Birdm ic M y: ed m Co or cal g Eyes Best Actor, Musi y: Amy Adams, Bi ed m Co or l ca si u Best Actress, M hiplash : J.K. Simmons, W or ct A g n ti or p p yhood Best Su tricia Arquette, Bo Pa : ss re ct A g n ti Best Suppor ything , The Theory of Ever on ss nn ha Jo a nn ore: Joha nd, Common), Selm ge Le hn Best Original Sc Jo by ic ng: “Glory” (mus Best Original So ain Your Dragon 2 Tr to ow H : lm Fi , Feature Nicolas Giacobone u, rit ar Best Animated In z le za on Alejandro G Best Screenplay: man , Armando Bo, Bird is ar el in D r de an ussia) Alex Film: Leviathan (R e ag u g n La n ig Best Fore

trading imitations of the conspicuously-absent Cosby in which he confesses, “I put the pills in the people.”

Turns out there was no truth to the rumor that Selma would win for Best Picture despite an accidental, early posting on Friday to that effect on the official Golden Globe website.

In fact, the stirring civil rights saga’s only trophy came for Best Song, “Glory,” a hip-hop anthem by John Legend and Common. It looks like Selma’s prospects might have been diminished by the allegations that it contains a couple of historical inaccuracies in its portrayal of President Lyndon Johnson.

TELEVISION Best Miniseries or Made-for-TV Mov ie: “Fargo” Best Comedy Seri es: “Transparent” Best Dramatic Se ries: “The Affair” Best Actor, Dram a: Kevin Spacey, “H ouse of Cards” Best Actress, Dra ma: Ruth Wilson, “T he Affair” Best Actress, Mus ical or Comedy: Gi na Rodriguez, “Jane th Best Actor, Music e Virgin” al or Comedy: Jeffr ey Tambor, “Transpa Best Actor, Miniser re nt ” ies or Made–for-TV Movie: Billy Bob Th “Fargo” ornton, Best Actress, Min iseries or Made-fo r-TV Movie: Maggi Gyllenhaal, “The Ho e norable Woman” Best Supporting Actress, Series, M iniseries or MadeMovie: Joanne Frog for-TV gatt, “Downton Abbe y” Best Supporting Actor, Series, Min iseries or Made-fo Movie: Matt Bomer r-TV , “The Normal Hear t”

Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award: George Clooney

Book Review

The Lawyer as Leader: How to Plant People and Grow Justice

By Kam Williams Special to the AFRO “The social challenges of our time are enormous. About one in seven U.S. residents live in poverty, and the disparity between the haves and have-nots is wider than at any point since the Great Depression…

Imagine if community members across the world began planting seeds of social change, justice, and freedom. Could you be the one who plants the seeds for the promotion of access to affordable housing, fair sentencing, educational equity, or racial justice? This is your beckoning to lead— will you answer the call?

[This book] is an inspiring roadmap designed to help you become an effective agent for social change and transformational leader. ” — Excerpted from the Introduction (page vii) Most people think of ministers like Dr. Martin Luther King and Reverends Ralph Abernathy, Andrew Young, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, when it comes to iconic, African-American civil rights leaders. However, black attorneys have played a critical role in the movement, too, most notably, Thurgood Marshall who went on to become a Supreme Court Justice.

But since you can’t major

in “Black Leadership” in law school, how is it that an aspiring African-American attorney might be groomed for such a calling? That is the concern of Dr. Artika R. Tyner, former professor with the Community Justice Project, an award-winning clinic designed to train law students “to serve as social engineers who create new inroads to justice, freedom and equality.”

In The Lawyer as Leader, Dr. Tyner chastises law schools for omitting leadership development from the curriculum, before attempting to fill that void with her seminal ideas. While the book is admittedly designed

with of the bar in mind, it nevertheless has much to offer future torchbearers in any line of work.

After all, she defines leadership as simply, “an individual’s ability to exercise influence by organizing others around a shared vision.” Perhaps more importantly, she goes on to offer a new definition of leadership repositioning the role as a shared collective responsibility rather than hierarchical or positional.

The author’s game plan rests on these three pillars: (1) Social Justice Lawyering; (2) Lawyers and the Exercise of Leadership; and (3) Facilitating Social

Change through Public Police Advocacy, each of which is discussed at length in its own chapter. The ultimate goal?

To plant seeds of change that will bear fruit by galvanizing generation after generation of civil rights leaders.

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The Afro-American, January 17, 2015 - January 23, 2015

SPORTS

AFRO Sports Desk Faceoff

Will Jameis Winston Succeed in the NFL?

Green: I agree, Riley. No other quarterback in college football showed more clutch ability than Winston. The kid is confident and knows he can win, and that’s the biggest aspect of being a quarterback. I know the kid has done a lot of stupid things off the field, but what 19- or 20-year-old hasn’t? Winston will mature more and more as he grows older, and so will his already pro-ready passing skills. I’ve said this before, but I wouldn’t mind seeing Jameis drafted by the Washington NFL franchise. I think he’s just what that team could use to bring back a winning attitude.

By Perry Green and Stephen D. Riley Special to AFRO

Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston wasted no time in deciding whether to return to school next season. The 2013 Heisman Trophy winner announced in early January that he will declare for the NFL Draft after starting two full seasons at Florida State and amassing a 29-1 record to go along with a national championship and his trophy.

While the ex-Seminole became infamous for his offthe-field antics, it was on the field where the 6-foot, 4-inch, 230-plus pound quarterback demonstrated some of the traits that should make him a high-round draft pick this offseason.

Despite his accolades and accomplishments, does the Florida State signal-caller have what it takes to succeed in the NFL? Perry Green and Stephen D. Riley of the AFRO Sports Desk debate the question.

Riley: In his two years under center as a Seminole, Winston made every throw, made a collection of clutch plays and always stood strong as a leader, three traits that will take him very far in his professional career. Florida State faced adversity several times in Winston’s second season, and each time he brought them back from the brink of disaster, until their finale against Oregon in the Rose Bowl a couple of weeks ago. If the draft rules were different, Winston could have entered last year’s draft as a redshirt freshman and would still have been a high pick—he was just that good over the course of his collegiate career. The attributes of a leader should never go unnoticed,

Jameis Winston and even with the circus surrounding Winston at times during his career, those distractions never phased him on Saturdays.

He was a flat-out clutch quarterback in 96 percent of the games that he started.

Morgan State Starts MEAC Campaign with Win at Delaware State

By Perry Green AFRO Sports Editor After two straight losses to start the New Year, Morgan State finally broke through with its first win since Dec. 16, beating Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) foe Delaware State, 73-69, on Jan. 10 in Dover, Del. The Bears fell at California State-Northridge on Jan. 2, and at St. Mary’s on Jan. 6. But those were the last two games of a tough West Coast road trip filled with superior non-conference teams.

Morgan State’s MEAC campaign officially began with the win over Delaware State.

The Bears leaned on junior forward Cedric Blossom, who dropped a doubledouble of 24 points with 10 rebounds. The hot-scoring Blossom helped spark an 11-8 run in the second half to give Morgan State a decisive lead. Senior guard Blake Bozeman followed up with 22 points for Morgan, and senior center Zech Smith added his own double-double of 10 points and 12 rebounds.

The win snapped a six-game losing slump for the Bears, who carry a 3-14 overall record.

Morgan State is now 1-2 against the MEAC with 13 more conference games left this season.

afro.com • Your History • Your Community • Your News

Riley: Winston’s off-field antics were the only blemish on his career. Granted, they were a big part of his career and how people viewed him, but ultimately, critics stirred much of that venom to downplay his accomplishments. It all stemmed from the fact that he made Florida State a national power again, and he was predominantly responsible for their return to greatness. He took more verbal and critical abuse than most college quarterbacks and he always stood strong, smiled in his press conferences and continued to dominate on the field. I think his off-the-field behavior and the criticism he took from that behavior made him a better player in my opinion. He has already been subjected to the type of real-world pressure that signal-callers and high draft picks face from the media and fans, and he still succeeded. He’s going to mature with age and sweep out a bunch of his bad habits—but his penchant for coming through in big games, with all kinds of pressure on his shoulders, might be his best attribute. It’s a trait that will elevate him in the next stage of his career inside the NFL.

Ohio State Runs Over Oregon for National Championship

By Perry Green AFRO Sports Editor

Sophomore running back Ezekial Elliott ran for nearly 250 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Ohio State Buckeyes to a 42-20 win over the Oregon Ducks in the 2015 NCAA College Football Championship on Jan. 12 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

It marked the first national title for the Buckeyes football team since 2002, and the eighth in school history.

Ohio State turned the ball over four times, including one interception and three fumbles. But a strong defense and an explosive running game helped the Buckeyes overcome their mistakes to capture the title in the first year of the college football playoff system.

The Buckeyes ran the ball at will against the Ducks the entire game, pounding Oregon’s interior defensive line with rush after rush. Ohio State scored its first points of the game on a 33-yard touchdown run right up the gut of the defense to tie the score at 7-7 in the first quarter. The score was pushed to 21-7 after two straight touchdowns by sophomore quarterback Cardale Jones, including a one-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Ohio State led 21-10 at halftime.

The Ducks threatened the Buckeyes’ lead with two straight scores in the third quarter, including a 70-yard touchdown pass by Heisman Trophy-winning junior quarterback Marcus Mariota to junior receiver Byron Marshall. A subsequent Oregon field goal cut the score to 21-20.

But Ohio State put the ball into the hands of Elliott, who ran for two more touchdowns to push the Buckeyes’ lead up to 35-20 in the fourth quarter. Mariota and Oregon’s offense were shut out from that point onward, and Ohio State sealed the victory with a fourth touchdown run during the final minute of the game.

Elliott, named the championship MVP, finished with 246 rushing yards on 36 carries. Jones added 38 rushing yards, and also completed 16 of 23 passes for 243 yards and a touchdown.

Mariota completed 24 of 37 passes for 333 passing yards, two touchdowns and an interception; he ran for just 39 yards on 10 carries.

3rd annual

And the

$10,000 winner is...

Sarah M. Roach Elementary School!

Students from Sarah M. Roach Elementary created their own version of BGE’s “Wires Down” TV commercial, which teaches school-aged children about the dangers of downed wires. $30,000 was awarded in total to schools throughout central Maryland for their winning videos in this year’s challenge. To see all the winners, go to BGEVideoChallenge.com.

BGEVIDEOCHALLENGE.COM

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Advertiser:

BGE

Publication:

Afro American

Insertion Date:

1/17/2015

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January 17, 2015 - January 23, 2015, The Afro-American

B5

HBCU NEWS

Bowie State University Winter 2014 Commencement Bowie State University held its Winter 2014 Commencement on Dec. 19 at the Leonidas S. James Physical Education Complex. Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole, director of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African Art, served as the event’s speaker. Also during the event, the university recognized one of its oldest alums, Barbara Fletcher Martin, who graduated in 1943.

Graduates of 2014

Courtesy Photos

One of Bowie State’s oldest alums, Barbara Fletcher Martin, from the class of 1943

Dr. Johnnetta Cole

A graduate shows her unique cap

The graduates listen to remarks

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TYPESET: Wed Jan 14 15:24:38 2015 LEGALEST NOTICES HOUSING AUTHORITY OF BALTIMORE CITY Request for Proposals (RFP) Legal Services RFP Number: B-1784-15 The Housing Authority of Baltimore City (”HABC”), through its Office of Legal Affairs, is seeking the services of one or more qualified and interested law firms to provide legal services involving various legal fields.

These services include consultation on various legal issues; representation of HABC in litigation, including but not limited to defense of mold claims or other matters not covered by HABC’s insurance (except for lead paint defense), real estate matters; or other legal services as HABC may require.

PROPOSALS WILL BE DUE no later than 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, February 25, 2015.

A non-mandatory pre-proposal conference will be held on Wednesday, February 4, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. in the Charles L. Benton Building, 417 E. Fayette Street, Room 416, Baltimore, Maryland, 21202.

HABC has established a minimum goal of twenty percent (20%) of the total dollar amount of the proposed contract for Minority Business Enterprise (”MBE”) utilization, applicable to all minority and non-minority businesses proposing to provide the requested services as the prime contractor. No goal has been established for participation of Women-owned businesses (”WBEs”), however, HABC strongly encourages and affirmatively promotes the use of WBEs in all HABC contracts.

Bidders shall also comply with all applicable requirements of Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968, 12 U.S.C. Section 1701u.

The RFP and all supporting documents may be obtained on or after Monday, January 26, 2015, from the following location: Housing Authority of Baltimore City Division of Fiscal Operations, Procurement Department 417 E. Fayette Street, Room 414 Baltimore, Maryland 21202 Attention: John Airey, Chief of Contracting Services Tel: (410) 396-3261 Fax: (410) 962-1586 Questions regarding the RFP should be directed in writing to the address and individual indicated above, and must include the reference: HABC RFP B-1784-15.

TYPESET: Wed Jan 14 15:23:54 EST 2015 CITY OF BALTIMORE DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL SERVICES NOTICE OF LETTING Sealed Bids or Proposals, in duplicate addressed to the Board of Estimates of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore and marked for GS 14814RWater Street Garage Repair will be received at the Office of the Comptroller, Room 204, City Hall, Baltimore, Maryland until 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, February 11, 2015. Positively no bids will be received after 11:00 A.M. Bids will be publicly opened by the Board of Estimates in Room 215, City Hall at Noon.

The Contract Documents may be examined, without charge, in Room 6 located on the first floor of the Abel Wolman Municipal Building, 200 N. Holliday Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202 as of Friday, January 16, 2015 and copies may be purchased for a non-refundable cost of $50.00.

Conditions and requirements of the Bid are found in the bid package.

All contractors bidding on this Contract must first be prequalified by the City of Baltimore Contractors Qualification Committee. Interested parties should call 410-396-6883 or contact the Committee at 3000 Druid Park Drive, Baltimore, Maryland 21215. If a bid is submitted by a joint venture (”JV”), then in that event, the document that established the JV shall be submitted with the bid for verification purposes. The Prequalification Category required for bidding on this project is E13004Rehabilitation of Structures Cost Qualification Range for this work shall be $500,000.01 to $1,000,000.00 A ”Pre-Bidding Information” session will be conducted at The Site: 414 Water Street, Baltimore, MD 21202 on Tuesday, January 27, 2015 at 10:00 A.M. Principal Items of work for this project are: 1. Concrete Repair The MBE goal is 27% The WBE goal is 9% CONTRACT NO. GS 14814R

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Mail in your ad on form below along with CHECK or MONEY ORDER to: WASHINGTON AFRO-AMERICAN CO. 1917 Benning Road, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20002-4723 Attn: Clsf. Adv. Dept.

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BALTIMORE AFRO-AMERICAN NEWSPAPER Legal Advertising Rates Effective October 1, 2008 PROBATE DIVISION (Estates) 202-332-0080 PROBATE NOTICES a. Order Nisi $ 60 per insertion b. Small Estates (single publication $ 60 per insertion c. Notice to Creditors 1. Domestic $ 60 per insertion 2. Foreign $ 60 per insertion d. Escheated Estates $ 60 per insertion e. Standard Probates

CIVIL NOTICES a. Name Changes 202-879-1133 b. Real Property

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APPROVED: Bernice H. Taylor Clerk, Board of Estimates APPROVED: Steve Sharkey Director, Department of General TYPESET: Wed Jan 14 15:23:34Services EST 2015 City of Baltimore Department of Finance Bureau of Purchases Sealed proposals addressed to the Board of Estimates of Baltimore, will be received until,but not later that 11:00a.m. local time on the following date(s) for the stated requirements: JANUARY 28, 2015 *SURVEYING EQUIPMENT B50003924 FEBRUARY 11, 2015 *GASOLINE AND DIESEL FULE B50003771 *ELECTRONIC MATERIAL COLLECTIONS & RECYCLING SERVICES B50003903 FEBRUARY 25, 2015 *MAINTENANCE, REPAIR & INSTALLATION SERVICES FOR ELECTRONIC SECURITY SYSTEMS B50003927 THE ENTIRE SOLICITATION DOCUMENT CAN BE VIEWED AND DOWN LOADED BY VISITING THE CITY’S WEB SITE: www.baltimorecity.org TYPESET: Wed Jan 14 15:23:15 EST 2015

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MARYLAND Annapolis, Maryland ANNOUNCEMENT REQUEST FOR BIDS On or after December 29, 2014, Plans and Specifications may be obtained from the Anne Arundel County Web Page at the following address: http:// www.aacounty.org/CentServ/Purchasing/index.cfm Bids will be received until time/date shown below, at the Purchasing Office, Heritage Office Complex, 2660 Riva Road, 3rd Floor, Annapolis, MD 21401. Bids received after the date and time set will be rejected.

Due by 1:30 p.m. Local Time, Tuesday, February 3, 2015 Project: Sands Road Bridge Replacement over Wilson Owens BranchProject No.: H428001Contact: Dennis Fretz 410 222-7345

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January 17, 2015 - January 23, 2015, The Afro-American LEGAL NOTICES

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ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE INSIDE SALES ADVERTISING ACCOUNT Advertising SalesEXECUTIVE Professional needed for the AFRO-American Newspapers, Washington, D.C. or Baltimore office.

Entry-Level Advertising Sales Rep needed for the AFRO-American Position provides: Newspapers, Baltimore, M.D. • Competitive compensation package • Salary andprovides: commission plan Position benefits after trial period • • Full Competitive compensation package • • Opportunity Salary and commission plan for fast track advancement • Full benefits after trial period • Candidates Opportunity for fast track should be: advancement • Self starters

• Money motivated Candidates • Goal-oriented should possess: • Good typing/data entry skills • Experienced in online/digital sales

• Excellent customer service skills • Confident in ability to build strong territory • Previous telephone sales experience sales experience preferred • • Previous Excellent written and verbal

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Please email your resume to: Pleasedhocker@afro.com email your resume to: lhowze@afro.com or mail to or mail to AFRO-American Newspapers, Afro-American Newspapers Diane W. Hocker, Director of Human Resources, Diane W. Hocker, 2519 N. Charles Street, Director of Human Resources Baltimore, MD 21218 2519 N. Charles Street Baltimore, MD 21218 TYPESET: Wed Jan 14 15:39:42 EST 2015 EDUCATION INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT COORDINATOR CARROLL COMMUNITY COLLEGE has a full-time, 12 month position as an Institutional Advancement Coordinator.

Additional information may be obtained at www.carrollcc.edu .

EOE/M/FWed Jan 14 15:40:01 EST 2015 TYPESET: EDUCATION DIRECTOR, WORKFORCE TRAINING & BUSINESS SERVICES TECHNOLOGY & LEARNING INNOVATION CARROLL COMMUNITY COLLEGE has a full-time, 12 month position as Director, Workforce Training & Business Services Technology & Innovation. Additional information may be obtained at www.carrollcc.edu TYPESET: Wed Jan 14 15:40:27 EST 2015 EOE/M/F EDUCATION CYBER TECHNOLOGY NAVIGATOR CARROLL COMMUNITY COLLEGE has a full-time, 12 month position as Cyber Technology Navigator. Additional information may be obtained at www.carrollcc.edu EOE/M/F

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The Afro-American, January 17, 2015 - January 23, 2015

A Grateful Nation?

The Doris ‘Dorrie’ Miller Story - Part Four

By MarshaRose Joyner Special to the AFRO

Did He or Did He Not? During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the United States pursued an aggressive policy of expansionism, extending its political and economic influence around the globe from Africa to Asia to Latin America and the Islands of the Pacific and the Caribbean.

Based on the influence of Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan, a lecturer in naval history and the president of the United States Naval War College, who in 1890, published “The Influence of Sea Power upon History, 1660–1783”, a revolutionary analysis of the importance of naval power as a factor in the rise of the Empire, all of the American presidents from Theodore Roosevelt thru President Franklin D. Roosevelt followed his lead in creating American Imperialism, which is no different than racism. Notice all of the lands taken are non-white.

As ships crossed the vast ocean to trade in Asia, islands in the Pacific became important stops for coal, provisions and repairs. In the South Pacific, the American navy negotiated with awestruck natives for the rights to build bases on the islands of Midway and Samoa. The Hawaiian Islands, which lie closest to the American mainland, had long been an important stop for the Pacific fleet. Pearl Harbor, on the island of Oahu, offered one of the most attractive natural bases in the Pacific.

In 1939 FDR in a successful bid for his fourth term, promised to keep the American people out of the war in Europe. He then followed a deliberate course of bringing America into the war by transferring ships and planes to Great Britain, creating the Lend-lease plan and repealing the Neutrality Act. Congress would not give FDR an act of war on Germany. The only way into that war had to be “another country.” That country was to be Japan. Japan had committed atrocities in Asia and therefore made a great target. The decision to relocate the Hawai’i local Japanese was made in 1936 by Lt. Col. George S. Patton, as a part of his Orange Plan, and President Franklin Roosevelt. The plan was to move all of the Islands’ Japanese to the “Big Island” of Hawai’i, where they could be watched. But Hawai’i’s Asian population was much too large for this sort of an effort. Later plans called for relocation to Molokai, a smaller island with fewer natural resources than Oahu.

In the 1930’s during the worst world-wide depression the American Army and Navy had invested more than several billion dollars on Oahu, secured it with 40,000 soldiers and sailors; making it the strongest defended sea-fortress in the world. From 1940-1941 the Federal Government invested $12 Billion ($12,000,000,000 in 1941 had the same buying power as $198,339,574,468 in 2014) in Hawaii military facilities.

danger to ourselves?”

FDR is on record as having told Congress on the 4th of December 1941 “do not take a recess for more than three days.”

In the meantime the US Flying Tigers were conducting a secret air war against Japan over China against American & International law.

The New York Times in its 12/8/41 PH report on page 13 under the headline “Attack Was Expected” stated the U.S. had known that Pearl Harbor was going to be attacked the week before.

In 1942 Ambassador Joseph Kennedy writes in his memoirs “that he had been exploited by the President in the course of Roosevelt’s secret efforts to bring the United States to war.” He went on to tell Herbert Hoover “that the memories would put an entirely different color on the process of how America got into the war and would prove the betrayal of the American people by Franklin D. Roosevelt” The manuscript documents three years of conversations beginning in 1938 at Hyde Park, (FDR’s home) between the President and the Ambassador continuing until American Intervention. As history has recorded the President was a master at ambiguous diplomacy!

The claim that Japan attacked the United States without provocation was typical rhetoric. It worked because the public did not know that the administration had expected Japan to respond with war to anti-Japanese measures it had taken in July 1941. There was no 24-hour cable news.

The public had to rely on what the Roosevelt Administration told them.

The Attack Though the attack on Pearl Harbor was the most crippling and caused the most American losses, Japanese forces also struck the Philippines, Wake Island, Guam, Malaya, Thailand and Midway that day. In the Philippines, the capital fell to the Japanese in January 1942 and U.S. forces surrendered in May. In the Pacific, Wake Island was shelled by Japanese aircraft and ships until Dec. 11, when the Japanese attempted the first of two invasions before the island finally fell.

Guam was bombed and later invaded on Dec. 10. Malaya (now Malaysia) was invaded and fell early the following year. The invasion of Thailand lasted only a few hours before that country surrendered in December 1941. Other than Hawaii, Midway was the only target on Dec. 7 not to fall under Japanese control.

7 December - 7:55 A.M. Hawaii time AIR RAID PEARL HARBOR. THIS IS NOT DRILL.

The McCollum Memo: The Smoking Gun of Pearl Harbor: On Oct. 7, 1940, Lt. Commander Arthur McCollum of the Office of Naval Intelligence submitted a memo to Navy Captains Walter Anderson and Dudley Knox. Captains Anderson and Knox were two of President Roosevelt’s most trusted military advisors.

The memo, detailed an eight step plan to provoke Japan into attacking the United States.

President Roosevelt, in 1941, implemented all eight of the recommendations contained in the McCollum memo. Following the eighth provocation, Japan attacked.

Summer of 1941 the U.S. placed an embargo around Japan.

Secretary of War, Henry Stimson recorded in his diary, October, 1941 “we face the delicate question of diplomatic fencing. Japan must make the first bad, overt move.” Again in December he writes “how can we put them into the position of firing the first strike without too much

Pearl Harbor under attack Dec. 7, 150 ships of the Navy’s Pacific Fleet were in Port. The mobile radar units operated every day except Sunday.

Lots of men and Officers had gone ashore the night before and were still asleep below when the strange sounds echoing from above put a very final end to yesterday. The world was forever altered.

Sunday morning services had just concluded . . . the band was playing . . . the bugler was in place . . . the colors were about to be run up and . . . 7:55 a.m.

The battleship, West Virginia, with 1,587 men aboard was moored alongside the Tennessee. The ill-fated Arizona was forward, the Missouri, the Utah, the Maryland, the Oklahoma battleships and most of the entire Pacific Fleet was anchored in the beautiful waters of Pu`uloa.

Wave after wave of Japanese planes pierced the clouds hovering over the Koolau Mountains, across the Schofield plateau and down Kolekole pass of the Wai`anae Mountain range straight for Pearl Harbor.

“The sky was filled with huge, black, billowing clouds of smoke. Those clouds suddenly were illuminated with gigantic flashes of fire. The sounds of explosions were a crescendo of awesome noise, bloodied white uniforms were everywhere.”

Loren Bailey, a Pearl Harbor survivor, reported. “Expressions upon the faces of survivors were an example of the entire range of human emotion.”

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The USS West Virginia