A4
The Afro-American, November 29, 2014 - December 5, 2014
VIP Room Owner Claims New Residents Are Shuttering Black Businesses With Intimidation and Discrimination increased inappropriate (even illegal) behavior, unwelcome liquor and beer-bottle litter and plenty of congestion.” Ronald Austin, ANC 4B06 chair, said that new residents told him on The VIP Room in Washington has stood as a staple of more than one occasion that they simply did not want the VIP African-American pride for decades. The family-owned Room to have a liquor license at all. social hall, founded in 1978 by Earline and Sam Sampson, “The VIP Room has operated for 40 years at its present has provided a venue for neighborhood and church functions, location. It is applying for a liquor license only so that it can national gatherings and musical performances that have stop applying for temporary one-day licenses every time an welcomed DC notables, such as media mogul Cathy Hughes. event is staged at the premises. There were no complaints As unofficial stewards of the Brightwood community, the from the surrounding neighborhood until it filed its application Sampson family poured hard work and tenacity into their for the regular liquor license. Only then, did its operation success by supporting local interests and become an issue for a small minority of rarely taking time off. residents in the neighborhood,” Austin The VIP Room in Washington has However, Sampson’s eldest son, Bo, said. stood as a staple of African-American who took over management of the hall The protest group, according to pride for decades. following his father’s passing in 2011, Austin, only included 11 people, although said he believes all of his family’s hard 35 spoke in opposition to the licensing work has been tapped for destruction at the July 28 hearing. Despite asking through recent attempts by a handful of that the Commission’s ruling that the new, mostly White residents to shutter VIP Room secure a license on Oct. 15, the business. the beverage administration denied the “We’ve been here for years with license based on its close proximity to flickr.com absolutely no problems—no law the National Children’s Center, a facility enforcement issues, no licensing serving children with various disabilities. infractions, no ordinance abuses or violations of any sort either Sampson said the “center” was only recently categorized as such inside or around our business—but suddenly, we are being and the facility is used primarily for administrative tasks. denied a liquor license because the new residents are reporting Sampson is among a growing group of Black business people urinating outside the building and loitering,” he said. owners who claim gentrification in the region is being led Bo’s siblings, Gary, Mike and Yolanda, also work with him to by patronizing and prejudice White newcomers with a continue their parents’ legacy. particular distaste for community-based, African-Americans Previously, temporary day/event licenses were issued businesses. The new supplants’ participation in local zoning through D.C.’s Office of Alcoholic Beverage Regulation and neighborhood advisory boards has helped paint Black Administration (ABRA) to the VIP Room for alcohol businesses they want removed as static, underdeveloped consumption for $300 per license. With the popularity of the neighborhood nuisances, or as a potential danger to neighbors. venue, Sampson was advised to apply for a tavern license, “We are prepared to fight for the livelihood of our which would offer an annual renewable liquor license and businesses because we didn’t suddenly become a hindrance to streamline the cost. It was during this new application the neighborhood. The VIP Room and loads of other Black process, Sampson said, that new residents began an aggressive businesses have supported our communities’ schools, churches, campaign to label the business a nuisance. elders, and been an extended family for them,” Sampson said. A one-page flyer announcing a July 28 Advisory “It is barbaric to lie and attempt to destroy a family’s legacy Neighborhood Committee (ANC) meeting circulated through because it doesn’t fit into your definition of viable.” the neighborhood and claimed a Class C Tavern Liquor License No calls for comments from Mayor-elect Muriel Bowser or offered to the VIP Room would “invite late-night noise, ABRA had been returned at press time.
HBCU Job Fair
Continued from A1
By Shantella Sherman Special to the AFRO
Thirty HBCUs were in attendance at the HBCU College Fair. “Coaches in colleges are different from coaches in high school,” said Danielle White, regional sales manager for the Washington Mystics. “Being a student athlete had made me who I am today because of my competitive spirit.” The fair included workshops on topics such as applying for scholarships, transitioning from high school to college, college life, ACT versus SAT and having a debt-free education. “Going to a HBCU is different,” said Andrea Sims-Parson, who served as the event chairperson. “The environment is different. The college experience is different. So in coming up with the workshops, we had workshops on college life where we brought in undergrads so they can talk to people about the experience.” Thirty HBCUs were in attendance, including Hampton University, Howard University, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, Prince George’s Community College, Virginia State University and Virginia Union University. “We are having this fair today because we need students to understand that going to an HBCU is still a valuable option,” said Danaeka Spear, vice president of the Upsilon Tau Omega chapter of AKA. “We want them to know that you can go to an HBCU and get the same education that you can get at a traditionally white school and come out and be competitive in the workforce.”
Butterfield
Continued from A1 Butterfield is the 24th elected chair of the organization and will officially begin his duties on Jan. 6, 2015, when the 114th Congress is sworn in. Butterfield, who has spent most of his public career as a jurist, said that he is humbled by his election. “I’m moved by the unwavering support the CBC has shown me throughout the years,” he said. “Each year they’ve continued to elect me to senior positions within the caucus, solidifying their confidence in me to steer and
“I am happy to pass the chairman’s gavel to my friend and colleague, Rep. Butterfield.” –Outgoing CBC Chair Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) now lead the conscience of the Congress as chair. I do not take their endorsement lightly.” A native of Wilson, N.C., Butterfield is a graduate of North Carolina Central University and its law school. He served as a Resident Superior Court Judge for the First Judicial Division, presiding
over civil and criminal courts in 46 counties. In February 2001, then Gov. Mike Easley (D) appointed Butterfield as an associate justice on the North Carolina Supreme Court. Butterfield authored opinions on such issues as the application of capital punishment, judicial sentencing
procedures and eminent domain. Butterfield lost his election bid to the court in November 2002, and he resumed his judicial career as a Superior Court trial judge. Butterfield will have to work with a strongly partisan Republican House of Representatives and President Obama, who is in the last two years of his term. Nevertheless, he feels there are opportunities for the CBC. “The new Congress provides a fresh start to address the issues that are important to all of us,”
Butterfield said. “Members of the CBC come from every region of the country. While we each have our own priorities, we speak with a singular, powerful voice in our fight to deliver on the expectations of Americans— to have a government that works for all of us.” In addition to Butterfield, Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.) was elected as first vice chair, Rep. Andre Carson (D-Ind.) as second vice chair, Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) as secretary and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) as whip. Butterfield and the
elected officers will lead 45 CBC members, the largest number in the organization’s history. Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) was elected as co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), a former CBC Chair, was elected whip and Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-Texas) got the nod for vice chair and liaison to the CBC. Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), a former CBC Chair, was re-elected as the House Democratic Caucus Assistant Democratic Leader.
Marion Barry
Continued from A1
Education, from 1971-1974 and served on the D.C. Council from 1974-1979 as an at-large member and represented Ward 8 from 1993-1995 and from 2005 to 2014. D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray (D), who had known Barry for over 30 years, said that political icon will be missed. “Marion was not just a colleague but also was a friend with whom I shared fond memories about governing the city,” the mayor said. “He loved the District of Columbia and so many Washingtonians loved him.” On the Nov. 24 edition of Channel 5’s Fox Morning News, Gray said that no concrete plans were in place as of yet to honor Barry. Barry has been credited for putting Blacks and women in higher level management positions in the District government and for strong advocating that up to 45 percent of city contracts be awarded to firms that were Black or that partnered with Black firms and professionals. “He did those things that he thought would make a difference in the lives of people in this city,” Maudine Cooper, Barry’s former chief of staff and director of Washington’s Office of Human Rights and Minority Business Opportunity Commission told the AFRO, referring to his tenacity in creating opportunity for Blacks in D.C. D.C. Mayor-elect Muriel Bowser (D), who served on the D.C. Council with Barry and was often seen with him at campaign events during the recent general election season, said that Barry “has been a part of my family for decades, and will continue to be an example of me and so many others.” Bowser’s parents, Joe and Joan Bowser, served as Ward 5 coordinators for Barry’s successful run for mayor in 1978. Barry was serving as a Bowser transition co-chair, along with former mayors Sharon Pratt, Anthony Williams and Adrian Fenty. D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) said that Barry “was a voice on the council for human rights and civil rights.” “Most recently he fought to restore benefits to families on welfare,” the chairman said. “It was on issues like this where he was persistent and passionate and his voice will be missed.” Mendelson said that the council will take all appropriate steps to honor Barry and celebrate his life. One of Barry’s strongest political allies on the council and his political life was D.C. Council member Anita Bonds (D-At Large). “Marion was a political genius, community outreach
expert, champion of the over-looked and the left-out while emphasizing inclusion of everyone,” Bonds, who serves as the chairman of the D.C. Democratic State Committee, said. “While his history of accomplishment began decades prior to his entry onto the D.C. political scene representing SNCC in the 1960s, even today he remains the city’s favorite politician and truly loved by most and many across the nation.” One of Barry’s hallmarks as mayor was the D.C. Summer Youth Employment Program and that is how D.C. Council
Marion Barry’s Funeral Arrangements Dec. 2 – 9 a.m. to Dec. 3, 9 a.m.
Marion Barry’s body will lay in state at the Wilson Building, located at 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Dec. 3 – 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
A community motorcade will commence from the Wilson Building through SE ending at Temple of Praise, located at 700 Southern Ave SE for a eulogy.
Dec. 4 – 9 a.m.
Public eulogy and ceremony at Walter E. Washington Convention Center, located at 801 Mt Vernon Pl. NW. D.C. government will close on Dec. 4. member Kenyan McDuffie (D-Ward 5) remembers his late colleague. “Marion Barry touched so many lives, including my own,” McDuffie, who is the council’s chairman pro tem, said. “Growing up in the District, I vividly recall stories of his political successes as well as his personal struggles. As a teenager, I benefitted from his summer jobs program, especially his Mayor’s Youth Leadership Institute.” McDuffie said that he “appreciated his [Barry’s] generosity of time and spirit, and am honored to have served alongside him on the council.” D.C. Council member-elect Brianne Nadeau (D-Ward 1) interacted with Barry during the election season and notes that she will not be able to serve with him on the council. “Barry was a larger than life presence in the District of
Columbia, and to our entire nation, first as a civil rights activist and later as a dedicated public servant who spoke often about the power of everyday people to come together to change the world,” she said. Carol Schwartz, a Republican D.C. Council member, ran against Barry for mayor in 1986 and 1994. While losing both times, Schwartz served with Barry on the D.C. Council from 2005-2009 and were amicable. “We were dear friends and there for each other over the years,” Schwartz said. “Marion personified D.C. and his passing is a great loss to all of us, especially those most in need whom he served. In spite of his foibles and having run AP Photo against him, I loved and appreciated Marion Barry Jr., and will miss him.” E. Faye Williams, national chair of the National Congress of Black Women, said she was glad Barry decided to title the last chapter of his autobiography “still standing,” a speech she wrote for him years ago. She said Barry should be credited with making a lot of progress in the city. “The thing that I credit him for is getting a lot of the positive things started in this city,” Williams said. Andre Byers, a Ward 8 resident and an expert on District economic development, spoke highly of his late council member. “Marion Barry was unapologetic and had a brilliant mind,” he said. “Many people in public life are afraid to speak their mind but not Barry. He said what needed to be said and his courage is going to be missed.”