Prince Georges Afro-American Newspaper September 3 2016

February 6, 2016 - February 6, 2016, The Afro-American A1 PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY EDITION

Volume 125 No. 5

SEPTEMBER 3, 2016 - SEPTEMBER 9, 2016

Inside

Prince George’s

• Prince George’s

County Leaders Disturbed by Lack of Head Start Funding

Black Women Who Excel

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Commentary: Colin Kaepernick Sits Down to Stand Up

By Ken Morgan

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Baltimore

21 Years-Free At Last Chuck Liddy/The News & Observer via AP Darryl Howard and his family smile after Superior Court Judge Orlando Hudson threw out Howard’s conviction in a double-murder case tried 21 years ago. Hudson ordered Howard’s release because of DNA evidence that was not available at his 1995 murder trial in Durham, N.C. on Aug. 31.

Man Freed After 1995 Double675k Murder Conviction Tossed That’s how many people have liked the AFRO Facebook page. Join last week’s 2,500 new fans and become part of the family.

By Emery P. Dalesio, Associated Press

A North Carolina man was freed from jail Aug. 31 after a judge tossed his conviction in a double-murder case tried 21 years ago by the prosecutor who was later disbarred for lying and misconduct in the Duke University lacrosse rape case.

The judge threw out the convictions and ordered Darryl Howard’s release because of DNA evidence unavailable at Howard’s 1995 murder trial.

The former district attorney in

“I’m thankful this is over and I can move on with my life…”

AFRO Archived History

GARVEY’S NUMBER 19,359 IN PEN February 14, 1935

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the Duke case, Mike Nifong, had been expected to testify Wednesday afternoon about his handling of Howard’s case and whether misconduct from police and prosecutors helped win a conviction. But prosecutors decided not to appeal the judge’s order tossing the conviction, which meant Nifong did not have to take the stand and cleared the way for Howard to be freed.

“There’s no time to be angry,” Howard said in the courtroom. “I’m thankful this is over and I can move on with my life and do other things.

I’m just happy right now.”

He later left the jail hand-in-hand with his wife, Nannie, whom he –Darryl Howard Continued on A4

• City Council Crafts

Port Covington TIF Legislation

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Black Caucus Foundation Set to Hold 46th Annual Legislative Conference

By Zenitha Prince Senior AFRO Correspondent About 10,000 policy makers, activists, business executives, and others are expected to gather Sept. 14-18 at the Walter E. Washington Continued on A3

Sharpton Eulogizes George Curry: ‘I Have Fought a Good Fight, I Have Finished My Course, I Have Kept the Faith!’

Admonishes Black Press: ‘Keep Telling the Story!’

Marcus Garvey, handcuffed to detectives, passes through Baltimore Saturday night, en route from New York to the Atlanta penitentiary. Garvey was arrested in 125th Street Station Thursday

by James Emos, a colored agent of the Department of Justice, after the higher Federal court of New York State had refused his appeal for a new trial from a sentence of five years in Atlanta and a $1000 fine for using the United States malls to defraud in selling stock of the Black Star Steamship Line.

Was in Detroit Garvey was in Detroit when Federal Judge A.M. Hand turned down the appeal. Word that he was wanted was immediately broadcasted throughout the United States and he was arrested as soon as he stepped off the Grand Central train from the West.

Garvey Makes Appeal He was arraigned before federal

Continued on A6

By Hazel Trice Edney Special to the AFRO TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (TriceEdneyWire.com) - One minute the congregation was somber and in tears; the next minute they were rocking to choir music in the pews; the next minute they were laughing in fond memory; and then they were shouting and applauding on their feet.

That was the range of emotions that marked the packed house during the “Celebration of Life” for legendary journalist George Curry at Weeping Mary Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Aug. 27.

Copyright © 2016 by the Afro-American Company

Continued on A4

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The Afro-American, September 3, 2016 - September 9, 2016

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Al Roker’s Outburst over Ryan Lochte’s Lies Reportedly Draws Censure from NBC

By Zenitha Prince Senior AFRO Correspondent

While many gave a mental high-five when NBC Chairman of the Board/Publisher - John J. Oliver, Jr. weatherman Al Roker went in on American swimmer Ryan Lochte for his sketchy tale about being robbed during the Rio President - Benjamin M. Phillips IV Olympic Games, reportedly, network bigwigs and talent were Executive Assistant - Sallie Brown - 410-554-8222 Receptionist - Wanda Pearson - 410-554-8200 not similarly pleased.

Lochte and his teammates reported they had been robbed at Director of Advertising Lenora Howze - 410-554-8271 - lhowze@afro.com gunpoint by men dressed as Brazilian police officers after they spent a drunken night on the town. NBC’s Billy Bush was the Baltimore Advertising Manager Robert Blount - 410-554-8246 - rblount@afro.com first to score an interview with Lochte after the alleged holdup.

Local authorities and others began to poke holes in the Director of Finance - Ronald W. Harrison - 410-554-8242 swimmers’ tale, however, in a subsequent interview with “Today” host Matt Lauer, Lochte’s story further unraveled.

Assistant Archivist - Shelia Scott - 410-554-8265 Even worse, while Brazilian authorities detained the other swimmers for Director, Community & Public Relations Diane W. Hocker - 410-554-8243 questioning into the misleading account, Editorial Managing Editor - Kamau High Lochte hightailed it Washington D.C. Editor - LaTrina Antoine back to the U.S. Associate Editor - James Bentley In an Aug.19 Editorial Assistant - Takiea Hinton segment on the “Today” Production Department - 410-554-8288 show, which was Baltimore Circulation/Distribution Manager broadcast live from Sammy Graham - 410-554-8266 Rio, Bush seemed to downplay Lochte’s Washington Office 1816 12th Street, N.W. role in the international Washington, D.C. 20009-4422 scandal, but Roker 202-332-0080 • Fax: 1-877-570-9297 wasn’t having it.

(Washington Publisher Emerita - Frances L. Murphy II) “He lied to you, he General Manager lied to Matt Lauer, he Washington Circulation/Distribution Manager (AP Photo/Victoria Will) lied to his mom,” Roker Edgar Brookins - 202-332-0080, ext. 106 NBC weatherman Al Roker. said to his co-host.

Director of Advertising “He left his teammates Lenora Howze - ext. 119 - lhowze@afro.com hanging while he skedaddled. There was no robbery, there was Advertising Account Executive Vetta Ridgeway - ext. 1104 - vridgeway@afro.com no pull over. He lied.”

According to Page Six, “Today” show executives and Office Administrator - Mia Aguilar - ext. 100 on-air personalities were “embarrassed” by Roker’s spirited Customer Service, Home Delivery and Subscriptions: comments.

410-554-8234 • Customer Service@afro.com “There were several producers and talent who were left Billing Inquiries: 410-554-8226 trying to explain Al’s over-the-top behavior,” said a source, Nights and Weekends: 410-554-8282 according to the news site. “Several insiders found themselves wanting to distance themselves from his response.

“It was a great thing to watch online, but a lot of NBC staff thought that he took it way too far for something that, while it was certainly a legitimate issue and certainly bad behavior by Lochte, outrage to that level just wasn’t justified.”

According to the Washington Post, the onair disagreement mirrors reports of infighting at the network morning show. The newspaper also cited the hosts’ awkward attempts to smooth over lingering effects of the Lochte dust-up.

“People don’t know that … we’re friends. We’ve known each other a long time,” Roker said during the Aug. 22 taping. “And that this is what we do on this show.”

But, according to Page FOUR SEASONS HOTEL BALTIMORE Six, an NBC exec denied any internal blowback at all: “This is not true. No one feels this Founded by John Henry Murphy Sr., August 13, 1892

SUPPORT SARCOIDOSIS PATIENTS & RESEARCH.

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way. In fact, everyone here is happy — specifically with the ‘Today’ show’s great ratings.”

Lawyers Plan Civil Suit in ’44 S.C. Electric Chair Execution of 14 Yr.-Old Black Youth

By The Associated Press

(The Item via AP)

These undated mug shots show George Stinney, who was executed in Columbia, S.C., in June 1944. Stinney is of the youngest defendants executed in American history and the youngest executed in the 20th century. An all-white jury took only 10 minutes to decide Stinney’s fate.

Attorneys hope to bring a civil-rights lawsuit in the case of a Black teenager electrocuted more than 70 years ago for the killings of two white girls in a segregated South Carolina mill town.

George Stinney was 14 when he was arrested, convicted of murder in a one-day trial and executed in 1944. A state judge in 2014 tossed out the conviction, saying a grave injustice had been done.

Charleston School of Law President Ed Bell said Aug. 26 that attorneys assisted by law students will research grounds for bringing a suit on behalf of the Stinney family.

It’s not clear who would be sued, but Bell said depending on the research, the defendant could be the state or Clarendon County, where the trial was held.

Dwyane Wade’s Cousin Fatally Shot Pushing Baby in Stroller

By The Associated Press

(Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

Family members and supporters hug Diann Aldridge during a vigil for her daughter Nykea Aldridge at the Willie Mae Morris Empowerment Center, Aug. 28, in Chicago A family spokesman says a cousin of Chicago Bulls star Dwyane Wade has been fatally shot while pushing a baby in a stroller on the city’s South Side.

Pastor Edward Jones says 32-year-old Nykea Aldridge was walking to register her children for school Aug. 26 after recently relocating.

Basketball star Wade posted on Twitter: “My cousin was killed today in Chicago. Another act of senseless gun violence.

4 kids lost their mom for NO REASON. Unreal.”

Chicago police say Aldridge was killed when two males walked up and fired shots at a third man on the afternoon of Aug. 26 but shot Aldridge in her head and an arm. Police say she wasn’t the intended target.

Police say the baby wasn’t hurt and that one of the males who fired shots was being questioned Aug. 26.

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Diversity Career Fair Tuesday, September 27th 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

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The Afro-American, August 27, 2016 - August 27, 2016

September 3, 2016 - September 9, 2016, The Afro-American

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National Action Network Rallies for Gun Control

By Linda Poulson Special to the AFRO A large crowd gathered Aug. 27 for the National Action Network (NAN) gun control laws reform rally at the National Rifle Association’s (NRA) headquarters. Protesters began marching to the NRA from Folger Park in Southeast Washington D.C. “We are here because 53 years ago Dr. King and others led hundreds of thousands of people to Washington to change the hateful culture and to change regressive legislation,” the Rev. Kirsten John Foy, northeast regional director for NAN, said at the rally. “We’ve come back today for the same message, the

“My purpose here is to rally against gun violence.”

– Matthew Smith same mission, to change America’s hateful culture and to get legislation passed.”

More than 40 groups participated in the rally, including American Federation of Teachers, Gays Against Guns, The Center for Black Equity, Disarm Hate 2016, and Lawyers Committee on Civil Rights.

“We need assault weapons banned, we need criminal background checks, we need to prevent people that are not allowed to fly in this country from purchasing automatic weapons,” Foy said. “America’s leaders have turned their backs on the responsibility for our safety.”

Photo by Linda Poulson

Area residents gathered at a National Action Network gun control rally in Southeast D.C. on Aug. 27.

Black Caucus Foundation Continued from A1

Convention Center in Washington, D.C., for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 46th Annual Legislative Conference. The yearly conclave is one of the premier platforms for examining critical issues facing the Black community and setting an

agenda for its empowerment.

“The ALC is one of the nation’s most influential conferences of AfricanAmerican entrepreneurs, business leaders, legislators, and community activists,”

said R. Donahue Peebles, chairman of the CBCF board of directors, in a statement.

“This year more than ever, it is imperative that beyond measuring the status of racial democracy and economics we take actionable steps towards equalizing those disparities.

SCHEDULE OF HIGHLIGHTED EVENTS Sept. 14

The Celebration of Leadership in the Fine Arts, 8-10:30 p.m.: The event recognizes inspirational Black luminaries in the fine arts and raises scholarship funds for students who have demonstrated exceptional talent in the arts. The 2016 honorees include musical legend Dionne Warwick, actress and Broadway star Cicely Tyson, and actor Richard Roundtree.

Sept. 15

National Town Hall, 9-11 a.m.: Moderated by CBC twitter Chairman Rep. G.K. Butterfield, D-N.C. Gospel Extravaganza, 8-10:30 p.m.: Featuring The 2016 honorees include several choirs including: The Georgia Mass Choir, of musical legend Dionne Atlanta, Ga.; Word Tabernacle Choir, of Rocky Mount, Warwick.

N.C.; The Coahoma Community College Gospel Choir, of Clarksdale, Miss.; and the E. L. Clyburn Memorial Choir, of Sumter, S.C. Jazz Concert: 8-11 p.m.: Featuring saxophonist Yosvany Terry

Sept. 17

Prayer Breakfast, 7-10 a.m.

Phoenix Awards Dinner, 6-9:30 p.m.: Hosted by yosvanyterry.com Trevor Noah, host of The Yosvany Terry will perform Daily Show on Comedy Sept. 15.

Central, and actress Sanaa Lathan, the event will honor Democratic Presidential Nominee Hillary Clinton, U.S. Reps.

Charles B. Rangel and Marcia L. Fudge, business magnate and philanthropist Robert F. Smith, and Emanuel A.M.E. Church.

President Obama will offer his seventh and final keynote address. imdb.com

Sept. 18

Trevor Noah will host The Donald M. Payne Memorial Fellowship Cruise, 11:30 Phoenix Awards Dinner. a.m.-2:30 p.m.

For more information, including tickets and a full schedule of events visit: https://www.eventscribe.com/2016/ALC/

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We intend for this conference to accelerate solutions to the most threatening problems facing African Americans.”

Reflecting this year’s theme, “Defining the Moment – Building the Movement,” the conference will look to the past – highlighting key moments in American history that define the Congressional Black Caucus and the Foundation – as it seeks to define a clear path to an economically, politically, and socially brighter future for the

NAN representatives came from New York, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky. “My purpose here is to rally against gun violence – gun violence especially in the Philadelphia area that has taken a tremendous toll on people,” Deacon Matthew Smith from NAN’s Pennsylvania Chapter told the AFRO. “There is gun violence daily, it’s getting worse. Kids innocently playing are being shot. A young girl last night was shot in Camden, N.J. It’s totally out of control.”

According to Gun Violence Archive, a not for profit corporation formed to provide public access to information about gun-related violence in the United States, there have been 9,462 gun-related deaths so far this year. “Our purpose for being here is to take action to fight for what we believe in.

There should be some common laws for gun restrictions for people in general,” Jackie Mayfield, who is with the NAN’s Louisville, Kentucky chapter told the AFRO. “Not Black, not White, but everyone. Our children are dying.”

Mayfield said that the crime rate has risen significantly in Louisville. “There’s no hope anymore, no job opportunities, convicted felons don’t have a chance, we’re trying to bring back hope.”

According to Louisville’s Courier-Journal, the homicide rate is at it’s worst in 36 years. In 2015, there were 84 homicides compared to 57 in 2014, a 47 percent jump with two thirds of the victims being Black, who make up 22 percent of the population. “We’ve reached our saturation point,” Foy said. “This is not a one-shot deal. We have to make sure both candidates are talking about this issue. We came to say to the NRA – your time has come.”

The Rev. Al Sharpton, founder of NAN, was not present at the rally because he was attending the funeral of journalist/civil rights activist George Curry in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Ex-Atlanta Police Officer Indicted in Death of Unarmed Man

By Kate Brumback Associated Press A grand jury charged a white former Atlanta police officer Aug. 31 with felony murder and other crimes in the death of an unarmed black man.

The Fulton County grand jury also indicted James Burns on charges of aggravated assault, making a false statement and two counts of violation of oath of office in the June 22 killing of 22-year-old Deravis Caine Rogers, according to defense attorney Drew Findling. Burns has been out on bond since his arrest.

Prosecutors said Burns fired into Rogers’ vehicle while responding to a call about a suspicious person, even though Burns wasn’t in danger and had no way to identify Rogers as the reported suspicious person.

Atlanta police Chief George Turner fired Burns July 1 after an internal investigation determined Burns used unnecessary and excessive force.

Burns responded after an off-duty officer working as a security officer at an Atlanta apartment complex called police dispatch to report a suspicious person, prosecutors have said. When Burns arrived, he tried to block a 2011 silver Ford Fusion that was leaving the complex.

The Fusion, driven by Rogers, didn’t try to hit the officer and Burns was standing at the rear of his patrol vehicle, authorities have said. They also said Burns had no information describing Rogers as a threat and no way to identify Rogers as the man the off-duty officer had reported.

But Burns fired one shot into the side of Rogers’ vehicle, hitting Rogers in the head, prosecutors have said.

Rogers’ mother Melva Rogers last month filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Burns, Turner and the city. Burns violated Rogers’ civil rights by using excessive and deadly force and failing to grant him due process, the lawsuit says.

Community groups organized a 24-hour demonstration that started on the evening of Aug. 30 outside the Fulton County courthouse to call for an indictment and to remember other people who have been killed by law officers in Georgia. A few dozen were outside Wednesday during the grand jury proceeding.

Georgia police officers facing grand juries for use of deadly force have traditionally been allowed to sit in on the grand jury proceedings, along with their attorneys, and to make an unchallenged statement at the end. That practice was unique to Georgia and drew broad criticism amid increasing scrutiny of police use of force nationwide.

State lawmakers this year passed a law limiting those special privileges. Under the new law, which took effect July 1, officers can no longer sit in on the entire proceeding and, while they are still allowed to make a statement to grand jurors if they want, they now must answer questions from prosecutors and grand jurors.

Because this shooting happened before July 1, the old rules are still in effect.

Black community in the U.S. “During ALC, we will learn from our history and leverage those lessons towards a movement that builds mutual understanding and can help us safeguard our contributions to the social and economic development of our communities,” said U.S. Rep. William Lacy Clay (D) of Missouri, a co-chair of the convention.

The five-day event will feature more than 70 public policy forums, with a particular emphasis on concerns around voter suppression, police brutality, and economic opportunity.

Additionally, the ALC will feature a variety of events including an onsite employment fair and authors’ pavilion, the National Town Hall, Celebration of Leadership in the Fine Arts awards ceremony, Gospel Extravaganza, Black Party, the annual Prayer Breakfast, a jazz concert, exhibit showcase, and the culminating event, the

Phoenix Awards Dinner, where President Obama is expected to give his last

address before he exits the White House.

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The Afro-American, September 3, 2016 - September 9, 2016

August 27, 2016 - August 27, 2016, The Afro-American

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Colin Kaepernick Takes a Stand by Not Standing for the National Anthem Kaepernick’s ex-teammate Alex Boone, now a member of the Minnesota Vikings, said “I understand it…but at the same time you should have some respect for people who served, especially people that lost their life to protect our freedom.”

Therefore Kaepernick responded to those who felt he disrespected the military. “I have great respect for the men and women who have fought for this country…I mean people are dying in vain because this country isn’t holding their end of the bargain up as far as -you know- giving freedom and justice and

By Terrance Smith Special to the AFRO San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is exercising his constitutional right to protest. However, during the most recent preseason game against the Green Bay Packers his protest derived national attention.

Protesting, for Kaepernick’s case, is sitting out the National Anthem during the 49ers preseason games. Reported by NBC News, the reason to protest from Kaepernick himself, is “There are a lot of things that are going on that are unjust and people aren’t being held accountable for and that’s something that needs to change.”

For some this isn’t the best method or way to warrant change. Some feel that Kaepernick should respect the flag. As reported by USA Today, in reaction to Kaepernick, New York Giants Wide Receiver Victor Cruz said “Regardless of how you feel about the things that are going on in America today and the things that are going on across the world with gun violence and things like that, you’ve got to respect the flag and stand up with your teammates.”

Cruz believes that it is more so about comradery instead of pledging allegiance to the United States, however standing at all for Kaepernick seems difficult to do.

“When there is significant change and I feel like this flag represents what it is suppose to represent and this country is representing its people the way that it is suppose to then I’ll stand”, said Kaepernick.

In a statement released by the National Football League in

AP Photo/Jack Dempsey

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick holds the football during warmups before a preseason NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Aug. 20 in Denver. wake of these events, the NFL says players are “encouraged” to stand during the National Anthem but not required. So Kaepernick won’t face any penalty for his actions, in which he said he will continue to do so, but the public backlash may not be so kind.

The outrage on social media and news outlets mostly point to his actions instead of the reasons why he is protesting. Many feel that he is disrespecting veterans in this country.

Man Freed Continued from A1

married three years after he was imprisoned. Howard credited her with pursuing lawyers who work on wrongful conviction cases; his conviction and 80-year sentence was eventually taken up by the New York-based Innocence Project. Howard said they look forward to building a life together.

“The journey has been long, but we made it,” Nannie Howard said, adding she’s finally able to hug her husband without restraints on his arms. “We have a lifetime of memories to create and do things that we haven’t had a chance to do, so we’re looking for that next great chapter.”

Howard was convicted of the 1991 strangling and sexual assault of 29-year-old Doris Washington and her 13-year-old daughter, Nishonda. But DNA evidence shows Howard did not rape the women, and no other physical evidence connected him to the crime. Superior Court Judge Orlando Hudson said Wednesday that evidence would have created a reasonable doubt for jurors.

Hudson said prosecutors would have to retry Howard, who was convicted based heavily on the testimony of witnesses at the Durham public housing project where the slayings occurred, or drop the case.

The judge had first ordered Howard’s release from prison two years ago. But prosecutors appealed at the time, and a state appeals court ruled this spring that Hudson failed to hear enough evidence before making a decision.

Defense attorney Barry Scheck said he thought it was unlikely that prosecutors would retry Howard because of the contradictory evidence offered by witnesses at his original trial, signs of misconduct by prosecutors and police and lack of physical evidence. The fact that prosecutors didn’t seek the death penalty against Howard for such a brutal crime and murder signaled that they knew even then that they had a weak case, said Scheck, who also defended O.J. Simpson at his 1995 murder trial.

One courtroom observer said it was no surprise prosecutors decided not to retry the case, which would have involved Howard’s lawyers presenting evidence of misconduct by the Durham district attorney’s office during Nifong’s tenure.

It would have “unearthed the skeletons in the district attorney’s office once again for the public to hear,” said Jamie Lau, an attorney with the Wrongful Convictions Clinic at the Duke University law school. “Given the history of the DA’s office, having their past skeletons paraded out again is likely something that nobody wanted.”

The judge said in his 2014 ruling that Nifong failed to share with defense attorneys a police memo and other evidence that pointed to suspects other than Howard. A Durham police detective testified at Howard’s trial that investigators never considered that the sexual assaults were linked to the killers. Nifong repeated that claim despite a police memo in the prosecution’s files that contradicted him.

In the Duke case, three athletes were accused of raping a stripper hired to entertain a team party. State investigators later determined Nifong lied and buried evidence proving the lacrosse players were innocent.

DNA evidence presented at Howard’s 1991 trial showed he was not responsible for sexually assaulting Nishonda Washington before her murder. Whoever did assault Nishonda hasn’t been identified.

But DNA tests unavailable at the time of Howard’s original trial identified the man who had sex with Doris Washington shortly before her 1991 death as Jermeck Jones, who dated Nishonda before her death. He was identified from DNA samples stored in a federal database, which was collected after Jones was sentenced to prison in Tennessee.

Jones served nearly four years in Tennessee prisons before his release in late 2007 for crimes including possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, failure to appear in court, drug possession and reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon.

Jones refused to answer questions from Howard’s attorneys Aug. 30, citing his constitutional right against incriminating himself.

“When there is significant change and I feel like this flag represents what it is suppose to represent … I’ll stand.”

– Colin Kaepernick liberty to everybody.

But regardless, Kaepernick has his reasons for opting out of the National Anthem.

“Ultimately it’s to bring awareness and make people realize what’s really going on in this country,” said Kaepernick. “This country stands for freedom, liberty and justice for all and that’s not happening for all right now.”

Sharpton Continued from A1

The Rev. Al Sharpton gave a eulogy of the Black press journalist, columnist, commentator and editor that soared from a touching and sometimes humorous tribute to a fiery sermon that shook the sanctuary. Stately Black journalists and publishers were among those moved by the Spirit as Sharpton’s message pointed largely to how they must now escalate their voices as they continue telling the story.

“There were many Black writers that have gone mainstream. But George Curry made mainstream go Black,” said Sharpton to applause. “He was smart enough to play the game and stay in certain newsrooms.

But he chose not to do that because he chose the path of why Black Press started in the first place.”

Sharpton was eluding to the first Black Press editorial, published in the 1827 inaugural edition of Freedom’s Journal. That editorial stated, “We wish to plead our own cause. For too long have others spoken for us.”

Curry, who died of heart failure Aug. 20, started his career at Sports Illustrated, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the Chicago Tribune.

But he died as a hero, having found his calling in the Black Press. He was editor-in-chief of his beloved Emerge Magazine for seven years until it went defunct.

Then he took up the banner becoming editor-in-chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service (NNPA), the Black Press of America. When he died, he had founded Emergenewsonline.com, a digital version of the hard copy magazine, which he never gave up hope to revive.

Curry’s death hit the journalistic community particularly hard as it came amidst one of the most controversial and heated presidential elections in history. Sharpton made clear where the Black Press must go from here.

“George Curry left us in a critical time in history,” Sharpton said. “In five months will be the first time in American history that we will see a White succeed

a Black president. We’ve never been here before... which means those of us who write the story are going to have to follow a script that’s never been written before.

If we ever needed a strong independent, but ethical Black Press, we’re going to need it now,” he said.

Dozens of Black publishers, writers, photographers, former interns and mentees, mostly from NNPA, took up the first two pews of the church. The sanctuary was also packed with hundreds of people, including his family and Tuscaloosa residents who came to say farewell to their hometown hero.

Sharpton said among the encouraging principles that Curry taught him was, “It’s not what everybody else

fire you anyway...George was a man’s man. And a proud man. That’s why George mattered.”

Smith, who called Curry her “hero”, was among the speakers, which also included journalists Ed Gordon and Roland Martin. NNPA President/CEO Dr. Benjamin Chavis and SCLC President/ CEO Dr. Charles Steele also spoke. A childhood friend and Tuscaloosa native, Steele also presided at the funeral and the memorial service the night before, where the keynote speaker was the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

Ultimately, it was the Biblical text of the eulogy that brought the congregation to their feet at the end of the three-hour service.

Sharpton preached from II Timothy 4:6-7, 11-13 when

“There were many Black writers that have gone mainstream. But George Curry made mainstream go Black.”

–Al Sharpton thinks of you. It’s about what you think of yourself. And if you grab a hold to what your calling is and believe what you think you can be, everybody else’s judgement won’t matter.”

Sharpton said it was Curry’s courage that marked his unique style of reporting and column writing.

“Progress has never been as a result of people who didn’t take risks.

George knew he wasn’t going to benefit by telling Kemba’s story. He knew he’d lose advertisers. He knew he wouldn’t be on ‘Face the Nation’ if he put a handkerchief on Clarence Thomas’ head.”

The audience applauded vigorously at the recognition of both - the Kemba Smith and Clarence Thomas stories, which appeared on the cover of Emerge.

“But he told the truth. He chose his integrity. He chose the roots he got in Tuscaloosa rather than getting a pat on the back from folk that’s going to

Paul, knowing his death was near, said, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith!”

But, then Paul told Timothy to bring certain things to the jail, including “parchments”, which interpreted, means his writings.

“Bring my books and bring my papers because I did what the rest of the Apostles didn’t do. I wrote the story.

And the story would be distorted unless we that lived the story, wrote the story!”

Sharpton preached.

He admonished Black journalists and publishers, “Keep telling the story...

George never stopped.

Until the very end, he never backed up and he never compromised. And he never negotiated his dignity for a contract or for a favor. That’s why when we say ‘so-long’, we’ve lost something that we’ll never see that way again. George Curry was part of a long tradition. But he was one of a kind.”

September 3, 2016 - September 9, 2016, The Afro-American

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COMMENTARY

America the Beautiful and the Freedom of Speech

When one thinks of the phrase “…America the beautiful” much comes to mind. To many of us, the words remind us of the song, “America the Beautiful” and its many references to the physical beauty of our 50 states and four U.S. territories.

It tells of “…amber waves of grain,” and “…purple mountains majesty” and “…fruited plains.”

While those words are poetic and truthful, from my foxhole, the real beauty of America is its people and the freedoms and liberties we own. Yes, the references to the beautiful physicality of our country have been a part of the song since it was written in 1893 and throughout all of its edits up to its last official version written in 1911, another part of the song that has endured all versions of the song that speaks to my feelings about a beautiful America have survived as well: “…and John R. crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea.”

Hawkins III From my foxhole, one of the most important “good” parts of our Nation is the Freedom of speech, which for years has been interpreted by the supreme court as many different methods of “…freedom of expression.”

Now, we all know that expression is not only what one does; but equally as expressive can be what one refuses to do, like the recent refusal to stand during the playing of the national anthem by San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick; and for those old enough to remember or who have been taught in Black history, the action of raising ones fist during the playing of the national anthem by Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Olympics instead of placing their hands over their hearts.

As a U.S. Army veteran of 37 years, 10 months and 9 days, personally, I would not have chosen as Kaepernick to sit during the national anthem as my way of expressing my discontent with horrific activities in America; however, during my years of service all over the world, I have seen many ways many different people have chosen to bring attention to national issues and I find his in keeping with his right to freedom of speech and expression. Moreover, if his intent was to bring additional attention to an issue requiring immediate attention in this country, he succeeded and courageously so, given the potential personal and financial “fallout” that may occur.

While there is no country on this planet with the freedoms and justices and opportunities as the U.S., there is much that must be fixed in our land for us to continue to prosper. Yes, we have “…amber waves of grain,” but also we have urban food deserts. Yes, we have freedoms and justice, but some may argue that some freedoms and justices are unequally distributed and enjoyed. This does not mean our nation is bad, from my foxhole, this means we must work harder than ever to ensure that in fact liberty and justice “is” for all.

How dare candidate Trump state when addressing the recent inaction of Colin Kaepernick, “…he should find a country that works better for him.” As one who served my country in uniform and doing my best to continue to champion what I consider to be the greatest nation on the planet, Colin Kaepernick already is in the country that works best for him; and maybe – just maybe, we need to ponder the way to make Our nation such that one does not feel obliged to remain seated during the time best served by rendering honors to Our freedoms.

Maj. Gen. U.S. Army (ret) John R. Hawkins III, JD, MPA is president and CEO of Hawkins Solutions Intl., a government relations and lobby company. His last military assignment as a “two star” was as director, Human Resources Directorate for the Army world-wide and prior to that deputy chief, Public Affairs for the Army, world-wide.

Colin Kaepernick Sits Down to Stand Up Diehard American nationalists have mostly Ken Morgan frowned upon political activism among Black athletes. Colin Kaepernick, quarterback for the pro football team, the San Francisco 49ers, is the latest Black athlete to unleash a firestorm of controversy.

The fact that he sat down, instead of standing up when the National Anthem played was his supposed sin. Colin assertive in justifying his actions said, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses Black people and people of color.” I say right on Colon. Not only is it your right, it displays your solidarity with the Black struggle not as an athlete first, but as a Black person. “An injury to one is an injury to all.”

Colin Kaepernick stands for a cause that all true patriotic Americans need to embrace. The diehard and mis-directed patriots say he does not support our troops. His comments have nothing to do with supporting or not supporting the

troops.

You know what? No one should blindly support America’s wars. These wars and interventions have been fought to make, defend, and secure profits for the rich. Too many soldiers to be counted have been killed, maimed, or wounded to fight for stuffing big business pockets.

We need to still remember those Blacks that put their sports celebrity second in the modern civil rights era such as Bill Russell, Jim Brown, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, on their support of Muhammad Ali when Ali refused to be drafted.

Remember the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico where sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos “bowed their heads while standing with only their sweats and Black socks to symbolize poverty in America. They raised their black-gloved fists during the playing of the “Star Spangled Banner”. These modern day pioneers set the stage for today’s athletes.

Derrick Rose wore the “I Can’t Breathe T-Shirt” – the words from the mouth of Eric Garner before he succumbed at the hands of the police. NBA stalwarts LeBron James, Kyrie

Irving, Jarrett Jack, Alan Anderson, Deron Williams, and Kevin Garnett took Derrick’s lead.

Lest we forget the brothers from the St. Louis Rams Jared Cook, Kenny Britt, Stedman Bailey, Chris Givens and Tavon Austin stopped near the tunnel and raised their hands in protest to the killing of Michael Brown.

The WNBA Minnesota Lynx team adorned their “Black Lives Matter T-shirts” to support the movement against police misconduct. LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, and Dwayne Wade called for social action at the Espy awards.

So brother Colin Kaepernick, you are in good company.

Continue to sit down to stand up.

The struggle continues.

Kenneth O. Morgan is an assistant professor and coordinator of the Urban Studies Program in the Department of Criminal Justice and Applied Social and Political Sciences at Coppin State University in Baltimore.

A Blueprint for a Healthier Baltimore In thousands of conversations with community members, businesses, grassroots organizations, and elected leaders across Baltimore, I have seen how our City continues to wrestle with deeply-rooted issues of poverty, racial inequality, and structural racism.

Here in Baltimore, there are neighborhoods just blocks apart where the life expectancy differs by 20 years. We have made significant strides in reducing infant mortality, and yet Black babies continue to die at twice the rate of White babies.

Homicide continues to be the leading cause of death among 15-24 year olds in the city – more than 90 percent of homicide victims in 2016 have been Black.

These disparities tie intimately into the fabric of the work we do at the Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD).

Since our founding over two centuries ago, our responsibility has always been to ensure the health of all of our citizens.

But there is a higher standard to which we should hold ourselves accountable.

We cannot expect to markedly improve health and wellbeing in our city without simultaneously fighting the social inequities that our communities continue to experience. It has been said that it is the role of public health to diagnose the problem—to call it as it is. Well, count us in.

First we must acknowledge that racism, poverty, and historical exclusion are unequivocally public health issues, and therefore require public health solutions. Improving health for our most vulnerable is the only way that we can ensure health

Leana Wen

for our entire city. When we prevent an overdose or a shooting, the emotional and financial benefits are to us all. When we keep our children healthy and in school, we even the playing field for their futures and ensure the right of all communities to thrive.

Secondly, we must go beyond applying “the lens of health equity” to conversations on these issues. We need a magnifying glass…and a bullhorn.

In Baltimore, we have never taken a back seat to public health, and have never been afraid to be bold. That is why in Healthy Baltimore 2020, our newly released blueprint for health in the city, we are going to go even further. Our community members have spoken, and we have listened. We cannot be content with simply aiming to improve health. We must call it as it is and specifically address the issue of health disparities.

Together, we commit to cutting health disparities across Baltimore City in half over the next decade.

As we tackle the opioid addiction epidemic facing our city, we will be laser focused on reducing the disparity between Black and White overdose deaths. We will ensure that there is no difference between access to vision care for students in our lowest-performing schools and those in our highestperforming schools. We will not only reduce the rate of new HIV incidences across our population, but also among those who have been marginalized including our elderly and transgender residents. And as we continue our multi-pronged fight against chronic disease, we will reduce the disparities for our citizens who live in a food desert, test positive for lead, or

are at risk for obesity and heart disease.

While this aspiration may seem ambitious, it is in fact grounded in the work that the health department tackles each day, from comprehensive wellness services for our most vulnerable children to ensuring that seniors are able to age with dignity and respect.

That is why we have chosen to focus on four key priority areas for cutting disparities where we have a proven track record, but also where much work remains: behavioral health, violence prevention, chronic disease prevention, and life course core services (including youth health and wellness and care for older adults).

We commit to pouring everything we have into achieving this vision. But we at the department cannot do so alone. That is why we invite all of you, our community partners, to access the plan and share your feedback with us and to work with us.

On Aug. 30, we are also scheduled to hold our first Healthy Baltimore Community Conversation at the Druid YMCA to launch this work.

Tackling health disparities will require embracing difficult conversations together as a city. It is through these conversations, however, that we will instigate change.

Healthy Baltimore 2020 is the North Star, our guiding principle and our shared vision. We must all work together to achieve it—to improve health for all of our residents, and to cut disparities in half over the next decade.

Dr. Leana Wen is the Baltimore City health commissioner.

She can be reached at health.commissioner@baltimorecity. gov. Twitter: @DrLeanaWen and @BMore_Healthy.

The opinions on this page are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the AFRO. Send letters to: The Afro-American Newspaper • 2519 N. Charles St. • Baltimore, MD 21218 or fax to 1-877-570-9297 or e-mail to editor@afro.com

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The Afro-American, Afro-American, September August 27, 3, 2016 2016 - August - September 27, 2016 9, 2016

Joint Center for Economic and Political Studies

Richard Clemmons Pegged as New COO

By AFRO Staff The Joint Center for Economic and Political Studies hired Aug. 29 Richard L. Clemmons, Jr. as its new chief operating officer.

Clemmons comes to the Joint Center with a wealth

on eight ships deployed to Southeast Asia. He also served as the Commanding Officer of the USS Roosevelt (a warship of 31 officers and 282 enlisted personnel), transformed his ship from a satisfactory (75%) to outstanding (95%+) rating

“His mastery of strategic planning, operations, and literally running a ‘tight ship’ is essential…”

– Joint Center President Spencer Overton of leadership and managerial experience, having spent over twenty years as an officer in the United States Navy. In that capacity, he served as the Commander of Destroyer Squadron 31, where he trained, developed, and motivated 2,000 personnel

by focusing crew on superior standards, and won the Vice Admiral James B. Stockdale Award for inspirational leadership. Clemmons also worked for three years in the Department of the Navy’s Office of Legislative Affairs securing support for critical

ship/submarine building program goals.

For the past three years, Clemmons served as the Vice President and Chief of Staff at UNCF, where he played a critical role in the transformation of the 70-yearold civil rights organization.

Clemmons reorganized the management process to allow leadership to better monitor organization-wide performance, and led a team that secured UNCF’s single largest gift in the last 10 years.

Clemmons is a graduate of both Florida A&M University (BS in Business Administration) and Auburn University (MPA).

“Rich joining our team in a leadership role is a pivotal moment in our rebuilding of the Joint Center,” said Joint Center President Spencer Overton. “His mastery of strategic planning, operations, and literally running a ‘tight ship’ is essential as we most Courtesy photo effectively and The Joint Center for Economic and efficiently marshal Political Studies hired Richard the resources Clemmons Jr. as its new COO. entrusted to us to implement our of each of our team members. mission. Rich is a dynamic Also, Rich has a deep and inspiring leader who is commitment to serving committed to the development others, as exhibited by his

service to our nation and our community. I am so grateful and excited to work with him.”

“We are thrilled to have Rich join us. His track record of distinguished leadership and commitment to public service make him an ideal choice to serve as the Joint Center’s Chief Operating Officer,” said Joint Center Board Chair Barbara Johnson.

“Rich’s skills and talents are needed more than ever in the not for profit community.

Fortunately for us, he has chosen to work with the Joint Center to help us achieve our critical mission of helping to improve the lives of people of color.”

Garvey

Continued from A1

judge Winslow immediately Garvey pleaded with the judge to be permitted to remain at liberty pending an application which his attorney would make to the United States Supreme Court for a writ of certiorari. This was refused and Saturday at noon he was put aboard a Pennsylvania train bound for Atlanta. At the station a few of the faithful gathered to see him off. He arrived in a “Black Mariah” from the tombs.

Shackled to two detectives.

Gathering Small The gathering would have been bigger had not federal authorities chosen an unobtrusive exit from the Tombs for the first “President of the African Republic” and slipped

him out of the Lafayette street exit while the crowd waited at the Centre street entrance for Garvey to appear. At the Pennsylvania station Garvey’s friends were allowed to shake his hand.

Not in Court Reporters were unable to get a glimpse of the prisoner when the train stopped at Union Station, Baltimore. Garvey had been expected to appear in the federal court of New York, Tuesday, his counsel explaining that he had been detained in Detroit. When he failed to appear by Wednesday, a bench warrant was issued for him and there was talk of forfeiting the $15,000 bail put up by his wife.

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*0% APR FINANCING UP TO 60 MONTHS AND UP TO 72 MONTHS AVAILABLE TO QUALIFIED BUYERS THRU TOYOTA FINANCIAL SERVICES. TOTAL FINANCED CANNOT EXCEED MSRP PLUS OPTIONS, TAX, TITLE, LICENSE AND DEALER FEES. 60 MONTHLY PAYMENTS OF $16.67 FOR EACH $1000 BORROWED AND 72 MONTHLY PAYMENTS OF $13.89 AT 0% FOR EACH $1000 BORROWED. NOT ALL BUYERS WILL QUALIFY. **$500 BONUS CASH FROM TOYOTA. CUSTOMERS CAN RECEIVE CASH BACK FROM TOYOTA OR CAN APPLY TO DOWN PAYMENT OR AMOUNT DUE AT LEASE SIGNING. ***ALL LEASE OFFERS: LEASE OFFERS AVAILABLE ON APPROVED CREDIT TO QUALIFIED CUSTOMERS FROM TOYOTA FINANCIAL SERVICES. CUSTOMER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR EXCESSIVE WEAR AND EXCESS MILEAGE CHARGES OF $.15 PER MILE IN EXCESS OF 36,000 MILES. NOT ALL CUSTOMERS WILL QUALIFY. RAV4 LEASE DUE AT SIGNING INCLUDES $2301 DOWN, FIRST $198 PAYMENT, AND NO SECURITY DEPOSIT. EXAMPLE BASED ON 2016 RAV4 MODEL 4430, MSRP $25,340 AND CAPITALIZED COST, WHICH MAY VARY BY DEALER, OF $25,123. CAMRY LEASE DUE AT SIGNING INCLUDES $1820 DOWN (AFTER APPLICATION OF $1300 TOYOTA LEASE CASH INCENTIVE FROM TOYOTA FINANCIAL SERVICES), FIRST $179 PAYMENT AND NO SECURITY DEPOSIT. EXAMPLE BASED ON 2016 CAMRY MODEL 2532, MSRP $23,905 AND CAPITALIZED COST, WHICH MAY VARY BY DEALER, OF $21,874. COROLLA LEASE DUE AT SIGNING INCLUDES $2561 DOWN, (AFTER APPLICATION OF $1000 TOYOTA LEASE CASH INCENTIVE FROM TOYOTA FINANCIAL SERVICES) FIRST PAYMENT OF $138 AND NO SECURITY DEPOSIT. EXAMPLE BASED ON 2016 COROLLA 4 CYLINDER AUTOMATIC MODEL 1852, MSRP $19,570 AND CAPITALIZED COST, WHICH MAY VARY BY DEALER, OF $18,473. LEASES DO NOT INCLUDE $350 DISPOSITION FEE DUE AT LEASE END. INCENTIVE AVAILABLE ON APPROVED CREDIT TO QUALIFIED CUSTOMERS THROUGH TOYOTA FINANCIAL SERVICES. CAPITALIZED COST IN EXAMPLES INCLUDE $650 ACQUISITION FEE AND ASSUMES DEALER PARTICIPATION. YOUR PAYMENT TERMS MAY VARY BASED ON FINAL NEGOTIATED PRICE. DEALER FEES ARE EXTRA. NOT ALL CUSTOMERS WILL QUALIFY. †PURCHASERS CAN RECEIVE $750 BACK FROM TOYOTA ON RAV4, $2500 CASH BACK FROM TOYOTA ON CAMRY AND $1500 CASH BACK FROM TOYOTA ON COROLLA OR CAN APPLY CASH BACK TO DOWN PAYMENT. ††BUYERS CAN RECEIVE A $1,000 FINANCE CASH INCENTIVE FROM TOYOTA IN ADDITION TO SPECIAL APR FINANCING IF VEHICLE IS PURCHASED AND FINANCED THROUGH TOYOTA FINANCIAL SERVICES. INCENTIVE WILL BE APPLIED FIRST TO THE DOWN PAYMENT. ONE INCENTIVE PER FINANCE TRANSACTION. FINANCE INCENTIVE IS AVAILABLE ON APPROVED CREDIT TO QUALIFIED CUSTOMERS THROUGH TOYOTA FINANCIAL SERVICES. NOT ALL BUYERS WILL QUALIFY. SEE DEALER FOR DETAILS. VEHICLE MUST BE TAKEN FROM DEALER STOCK BY 9/6/16 AND IS SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY. SEE DEALER FOR DETAILS. OFFERS MAY NOT BE COMBINED WITH OTHER OFFERS UNLESS SPECIFIED OTHERWISE. SEE PARTICIPATING CENTRAL ATLANTIC TOYOTA DEALER FOR DETAILS. DEALER FEES ARE EXTRA. VEHICLE SHOWN MAY BE PROTOTYPE AND/OR SHOWN WITH OPTIONS. ACTUAL MODEL MAY VARY. OFFERS END 9/6/16. †††TOYOTACARE COVERS NORMAL FACTORY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE FOR 2 YEARS OR 25,000 MILES, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. 24-HOUR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE IS ALSO INCLUDED FOR 2 YEARS AND UNLIMITED MILES. THE NEW VEHICLE CANNOT BE PART OF A RENTAL OR COMMERCIAL FLEET, OR A LIVERY/TAXI VEHICLE. SEE TOYOTA DEALER FOR DETAILS AND EXCLUSIONS. VALID ONLY IN THE CONTINENTAL U.S. AND ALASKA. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE DOES NOT INCLUDE PARTS AND FLUIDS, EXCEPT EMERGENCY FUEL DELIVERY.

September 3, 2016 - September 9, 2016, The Afro-American

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PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY-AREA Prince George’s County

D.C. Students Show Gains in Math and English Language Arts

Ubiquitous Expo

Seat Pleasant Residents Vent Their Police Issues

By James Wright Special to the AFRO jwright@afro.com Joe Clair, WPGC disc jockey and comedian, is disturbed about public safety issues and the police’s perceived hostility toward the residents of Seat Pleasant, Md. So, he decided to do something about it.

Clair, in conjunction with the Seat Pleasant Police Department with the Deputy Police Chief Earl Ivey, held a community meeting on Aug. 25 at the Seat Pleasant Recreation Center. Clair told the crowd of 45 people that

Courtesy Image

Benjamin Banneker High School improved its PARCC scores significantly.

By James Wright Special to the AFRO jwright@afro.com

Photos by Rob Roberts

A host of entertainers gathered in D.C. at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center for the Ubiquitous Beauty, Hair and Health Expo Aug. 27-28 to learn about tips for Black beauty and health. The event included workshops, seminars, panels, contests and live performances by Yolanda Adams (center), Chante Moore, Glynn Jackson, Comedian Marcus D. Wiley and others.

Prince George’s County

Courtesy Photo

Joe Clair is a Seat Pleasant native and WPGC radio personality. there needs to be a discussion of police-community relations in Seat Pleasant and in surrounding municipalities.

“We have to start somewhere,” Clair said. “I am a native of Seat Pleasant.

I worked at this recreation center when I was 13 because I was too young to get a job and my family wanted me to stay off of the streets.”

Seat Pleasant is located in the far western section of Prince George’s County bordering some of the predominantly Black working-class neighborhoods of far northeast Washington, D.C. The city’s population is 4,542 according to the 2010 census and is 91 percent Black, five percent Latino, and two percent White.

For decades, Seat Pleasant has been perceived as having public safety concerns. CityContinued on B2

Edwards, County Leaders Disturbed by Head Start Brush

By James Wright Special to the AFRO jwright@afro.com U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards recently articulated her views on the ongoing flap regarding the loss of federal funding for the Prince George’s County Head Start program. Edwards, a Democrat, represents a large portion of Prince George’s County and part of Anne Arundel County in the U.S. House of Representatives. The representative made her comments on Aug. 26, a day after the Prince George’s County Board of Education decided not to appeal the decision of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to terminate the county’s funding for Head Start.

“For more than 50 years, Head Start programs have given our most vulnerable children a true head start in Courtesy photo life,” she said in a statement Rep. Donna Edwards obtained by the AFRO. (D) along with other “This program is one of our government officials in nation’s best investments in Prince Georges County early education, providing are troubled by the Health children with quality Department’s termination education in a nurturing, of funding for Head Start.

Prince George’s County

supportive environment, and connecting them and their parents with health, nutrition, and social services.

However, the partnership between federal funding and local coordination relies heavily on the oversight and accountability of our local school systems and its leaders on behalf of the children and families they serve.”

Two weeks ago, it was reported by the media that the funding loss due to the Prince George’s County public school system’s inability to address child abuse practices by Head Start staff such as making a child clean up his urine, ordering preschoolers to hold heavy books above their heads and a child walking home from school not accompanied by an adult or an older minor. Prince George’s County Board of Education member Edward Burroughs III (District 8) told the AFRO that he, and four of his colleagues, Verjeana M. Jacobs (District 5), Sonya Williams (District 9), Zabrina Epps (District 1), and Beverly Anderson (county executive appointee), have publicly called for the resignation of the board’s chairman Segun C. Eubanks (county executive appointee) and vice chairman Carolyn M. Boston (District 6). “The leadership of our board didn’t tell us anything substantive about what was going on with Head Start when we first got the letter in April,” Continued on B2

Students in the District of Columbia public and charter school systems are showing improvement in math and English Language Arts, according to results of a standardized test in the second year of use.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), joined by

“It shows that we are making great improvements in our schools….”

– David Grosso Deputy Mayor for Education Jennie Niles, D.C. State Superintendent of Education Hanseul Kang, D.C. Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson, and Deputy Executive Director of the Charter School Board Naomi DeVeaux, trumpeted the improving scores on the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) on Aug. 30 at Banneker High School in Northwest D.C. “The gains we are seeing in these results highlight that more students in our public schools are learning the real-world skills that they will need for future success,” the mayor said.

Continued on B2

Prince Georges County

Business Delegation Heading to Cuba Homicide Rate Continues to Climb

By Lenore T. Adkins Special to the AFRO

Prince George’s County, Md. officials and businesses will embark on a 5-day exploratory mission to Cuba in November. The goal is to uncover current and future businesses opportunities that could emerge if Congress lifts the longstanding embargo against the communist island.

The inaugural trip, which starts Nov. 15, gives local entrepreneurs and county leaders a chance to meet Cuban officials and lay the groundwork that could lead to business deals later. County officials will also learn about and meet leaders from Cuba’s education and art scene for future exchanges and collaborations. The trip will target the following industries:

information technology, hospitality, engineering, construction, and medical/life sciences.

County Executive Rushern L. Baker III will lead the delegation of approximately

20 business people and an undetermined number of county officials. The trip costs $5,850 per person, a hefty price tag that includes round-trip airfare from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to José Marti International Airport in Havana, five nights at the historic Hotel Nacional, meals, security, transportation, entertainment, and more.

Entrepreneurs are responsible for their own costs. Meanwhile, sponsorships will cover county employees’ expenses, said Lori Courtesy photo Valentine, director of communications at the Prince George’s County Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker Economic Development III will lead a delegation on Corporation. an exploratory mission to Cuba in November.

Continued on B3

By Linda Poulson Special to the AFRO The addition of five more homicides in Prince Georges County over two weeks, has contributed to the urban area’s spike in violent crime. According to the police, there have been 63 homicides in the county as of Aug. 31, an increase from 40 homicides during the same time a year ago.

Two homicides occurred during the weekend of Aug. 19, including Taiwo Oduwole, 31, at the 7-11 convenience store located at 9705 Prince Georges County Police Department Brandywine Road in Clinton on Aug 20. Reilly Douglas Brooks, known as “Dirty Swipey,” said Oduwole was from Nigeria, a night clerk is a local rap star who was shot to death at a local 7-11, and had been in the U.S. for five on Aug. 21 in Suitland, Md. Police are still months. searching for suspects.

“When we arrived we found the victim suffering from two gunshot wounds. He was rushed to the hospital and died of his injuries,” Reilly said. “Our investigation shows that a suspect entered the 7-11, armed with a handgun, walked behind the counter, confronted our victim, and announced a robbery. The suspect assaulted the victim; the victim fearing for his life, jumped over the counter and fled toward the Continued on B2

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The Afro-American, September 3, 2016 - September 9, 2016

Seat Pleasant Continued from B1

Data.com, a national website that tracks trends dealing with urban and suburban matters, reports that in 2014 the national average for property crime was 232.8 crimes committed per 100,000 while Seat Pleasant’s (adjusted for reporting purposes) was 272.6 and for violent crime, Seat Pleasant had 424.5 while the national average was 204.3. While those Seat Pleasant numbers are high, they are a substantial improvement over 2004 that was 332.9 per 100,000 on property crime and 746.6 in violent crime.

Seat Pleasant Mayor Eugene Grant, who took office in October 2004, has worked to increase the number of police officers and his efforts have shown results. In 2014, according to City-Data.com, there was an average of 2.76 police officers per 1,000 residents in Seat Pleasant as opposed to 2.66 officers per 1,000 residents overall in Maryland.

Nevertheless, there were some residents who expressed problems with law enforcement and Ivey said he wants to make amends. “I would like to submit an apology to anyone who has been the victim of the sins of law enforcement,” he said. “We are here to serve and to protect.”

Some residents questioned Ivey’s contention. “I would like to thank you for having this community meeting,” William

White IV of Capitol Heights said to Clair. Then he proceeded to list his gripes with the Seat Pleasant, Prince George’s County police, and the District of Columbia’s police forces. White talked about being talked down to by Seat Pleasant and being hostilely confronted by Prince George’s and District police officers over traffic stops and behavior at a Union Station

“I would like to submit an apology to anyone who has been the victim of the sins of law enforcement.”

– Lt. Earl Ivey eatery.

“My father was a police officer and I remember the stress he had to deal with,” White said. “It seems that things have gotten worse since he left the force. I feel there is a sense of hostility

between the people and the police.

Maryland Del. Darryl Barnes (D-District 25) said “I remember growing up in this county when the police used to beat us down.” Barnes doesn’t represent Seat Pleasant in the House of Delegates but came to the meeting to get some ideas for his Sept. 19 town hall meeting on community policing to be held at Largo High School in Largo, Md. Seat Pleasant resident Whop Craig said he has a solution to the problem of an abusive police officer. “All of these officers have to be bonded and insured,” Craig told the crowd. “If a police officer violates you, let them do what they want and make a claim on their insurance. In order to deal with the police, you have to get smart, tactical, and hit that insurance.”

A number of comments from members of the audience had to do with the behavior of young people. Charnelle Ferguson, the president of the Bowie State University chapter of the NAACP, said students on her campus can be reached through social media and flyers, and the police should be friendlier to young people. “We need to see the police more [in the community] when there isn’t any trouble,” Ferguson said. “You only see the police when there is an issue or a problem. Police officers need to engage the community.”

Head Start Continued from B1

Burroughs said. “All board members had the right to know what was going on.”

Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker III stands by Eubanks and Boston and on Aug. 29, assured parents of Head Start students that the program will continue despite the termination of the $6.4 million grant.

However, Edwards said that the Head Start controversy is an indication of a deeper problem in the school system.

“They are indicative of a systemic breakdown

within the entire leadership chain that has placed children in danger and now jeopardizes the education prospects for 932 children,” the representative said. “I urge any other families

that a thorough, independent investigation can root out bad actors, at every level of leadership. Anyone who ignored a problem, minimized abuse or in any way interfered with the investigation of

“Heads need to roll on this.”

– Joe Brice who have experienced such mistreatment to come forward and report their children’s experiences so

allegations of abuse and neglect of our children must ago.”

Joe Brice is the president

English Language Arts (ELA) from the previous school year of 2014-2015 and there was a three percentage improvement in math from 2014-2015 to 2015-2016. Students from the third to eighth grades and high school were tested and the numbers were compiled for the D.C. Office of State Superintendent of Education.

In the District of Columbia public schools 25.5 percent of its students met or exceeded expectations in ELA while 23.9 percent met or exceeded expectations on the math assessments.

“The PARCC scores show that our approach of helping great educators teach rigorous content is producing real results at many of our schools,” Henderson said.

“But there is no shortcut to the hard work of improving student outcomes.”

The school that made the greatest gains in the PARCC was Banneker with an increase of 24.1 percent in ELA and 30 percent in math. Banneker, the District’s premier public academic high school, is led by Principal Anita Berger and she was happy with the results. “We already have great teachers and a great curriculum in place, but we were deliberate in our increased offering of Advanced Placement courses, our emphasis on content mastery and relaying the importance of this exam to our students and families,” Berger said.

Black students saw increases in ELA and math as well as Latinos and Asians.

Whites were the only group that saw a decline in scores with ELA and Henderson speculated on the reason.

of the Prince George’s County Civic Federation, and is critical of Baker’s past attempts to get rid of an elected school board.

Brice agrees with Edwards that school system staff must be held accountable for abusive actions.

“Heads need to roll on this,” Brice told the AFRO. “The heads of Eubanks and Boston should roll and those down the line who abused children should have their heads roll, also. Prince George’s County is a poor county. We need every bit of that $6.4 million that we

can get.”

Edwards doesn’t blame the HHS for the Head Start strife, saying “our federal partners are doing exactly what they are supposed to do and working to protect children who are being put at risk.”

She called on Baker to ensure that there is funding for the program for the “entire 20162017 school year.”

Burroughs said there are negotiations between a private contractor from Denver and school system leaders to take over the program. Brice notes

that if those negotiations fail, then the board of education will have to find the money to keep Head Start going.

“There will be cuts in the school system’s $1.6 billion budget and where will they fall?” Brice asked rhetorically.

“Will they have to furlough public school employees?

Will they have to cut funding of school activities? This is an example of an incompetent, screwed up political process where the citizens are kept in the dark and the children will have to suffer for it.”

“White students aren’t as a whole struggling but there were other factors that prevented them from performing as well as they could on the test,” the chancellor said. Henderson said that when the PARCC was administered this spring, it was at the same time as the AP tests and some White parents, particularly those with children at Wilson High School and School Without Walls, told their children to minimize the exam’s importance.

Henderson said that will not happen again and stressed the PARCC’s importance to the D.C. public school system and parents. “PARCC helps us to measure how college ready students are and how we as a school system are preparing students for post-high school life,” the chancellor said. “The teachers and administrators want to know how to better prepare their students and the parents need to know how prepared their students are for college.”

Henderson did confirm

that in the near future the careers of teachers and school-level administrators may be tied to PARCC results.

“It shows that we are making great improvements in our schools and that the teachers, principals, and administrators are taking the testing seriously,” D.C. Council member David Grosso (I-At Large) said. “With the results we see here, I can tell that we are committed to improve in the long run.” Grosso is the chairman for the council’s Committee on Education.

Brooks aka “Dirty Swipey” was shot several times in the upper body, according to Reilly. “The investigation revealed that Brooks was standing in a parking lot of an apartment complex in Suitland, Md. when several male suspects approached him and shot him. He was pronounced dead on the scene,” Reilly said.

Police are still searching for suspects. A motive has not been identified. Reilly said that the rapper’s girlfriend is

not a suspect.

On Aug. 21 Damien Rowlett, 22, of Medallion Terrace in Upper Marlboro, Md. was fatally shot on the 3600 block of Endsley Place.

“All I know is he went to a party and then I find out he’s dead,” Rowlett mother, who did not give her name, told Fox News affiliate WTTG. On Aug. 17, Oscar Colindres Garcia, 31, was found in his car outside his home in the 7200 block of Joplin Street suffering from gunshot wounds. He died hours later at a local hospital. The murder suspect is described as a Black male between the ages of 20-30, 5’10” to 6’ tall, and weighing about 185 to 200 pounds.

“I think it’s sad, it’s tragic,” Terry McCrea, a resident of Temple Hills, Md., told the AFRO.”The killings are getting younger and younger. It’s not only in P[rince] G[eorge’s] County but across the country . . . it’s sickening.”

Anyone with information on the Johnson, Garcia, Rowlett, or Brooks cases is urged to call the Prince George’s County Police Department’s Homicide Unit at 301-772-4925 or Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-8477. You will never have to give your name.

D.C. Students Continued from B1

“We will continue to work hard to ensure that more and more of our students are meeting and exceeding expectations on this exam.

We will not be satisfied until all of our students are making remarkable gains in those areas.”

The PARCC exam emphasizes a students’ ability to think critically and solve problems. Unlike many standardized tests where students answer multiplechoice questions, the PARCC offers students a problem and grades them on the method used to reache a solution. The PARCC exam is conducted mostly online and is offered in the spring.

Overall, the results of the exam show that in the 20152016 school year, there was a two percentage improvement – 25 percent to 27 percent – in

Homicide Rate Continued from B1

exit. At that point the suspect raised his gun, pointed it at the victim, and shot him in the back one time.”

The suspect was identified as having a backpack connected to a jacket that was captured on a surveillance video from the store and a nearby hotel. Reilly said he believes another suspect, who was the driver, was involved.

A reward for information that can help solve the case has been raised to $50,000.

On Aug. 21, Douglas

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September 3, 2016 - September 9, 2016, The Afro-American

Prince George’s County Murder Convict Adds 30 Years to Life Sentence

By The Associated Press A judge has added 30 years to the sentence of a Maryland state prison inmate who beat his cellmate to death.

Thirty-eight-year old Darnell Thompson was sentenced Aug. 30 in Cumberland for killing Jason Wallace at Western Correctional Institution in 2013. A jury convicted Thompson of second-degree murder in May. The sentence will run consecutive to Thompson’s life

sentence for a 1995 murder conviction in Prince George’s County.

Twenty-nine-year-old Wallace was found unconscious in a pool of blood from skull fractures in their cell at the maximumsecurity prison. He was serving a 32-year sentence for armed robbery and drug convictions in Harford County.

Thompson was found mentally incompetent to stand trial in 2015 but was found competent last March after another examination. He represented himself at his trial in May.

B3

WASHINGTON AREA

COMMUNITY CONNECTION Herndon, Va.

Oil About You Hosts Workshop for Natural, Essential Oils

Oil About You will be hosting an event on Sept. 1 at 1410 Kingstream Drive at 7 p.m. The event is a workshop for people who want to use essential oils to improve their overall health.

Essential oils are open to all ages, can be used as natural alternatives to harsh over-the-counter medications, and can help improve the health of athletes, students, women, and children. For more information, visit oilaboutyou.com.

Takoma Park, Md.

KanKouran West Africa Dance Company’s 33rd Annual African Dance, Drum Conference

KanKouran’s 33rd Annual African Dance and Drum Conference will be held at 7117 Maple Avenue from Sept. 2-4. The event will run from at 12:30 p.m.-9 p.m. on Sept. 2, from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. on Sept. 3 and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sept. 4. The event will include several West African performances. Tickets cost $20 for general admission and are $15 for children 16 and under. For more information, visit kankouran.org.

Silver Spring, Md.

N Natural Hair Studio’s Model Call for Naturalista Hair Show

N Natural Hair Studio will be hosting a model call for the 2016 Naturalista Hair Show. The event is scheduled to be held on Sept.

3 at the studio, 11207 Lockwood Drive #B, at 5:30 p.m. All models with natural hair are able to attend, and are encouraged to bring a headshot and resume. For more information, call 301-910-4247

Suspect in convenience store murder

Washington D.C.

The Kennedy Center’s Labor Day Capital Concert

The start of the 2016 Labor Day Capital Concert, an annual concert that is located on the west lawn of the U.S. Capital, will be held on Sept. 4 at 8 p.m. Gates are scheduled to open at 3 p.m. for an open rehearsal at 3:30 p.m. The concert is free of charge and has an approximate run time of two hours. For more information, visit kennedy-center.org.

Homicide Count 2016 Total

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Past Seven Days

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Look closer at your energy use.

Data as of Aug. 31

Cuba

Continued from B1 They’ll spend the first full day getting face time with Havana Mayor Martha Hernandez, representatives of ProCuba, which promotes foreign trade and investment on the island, the Ministry of Commerce and Trade, the Ministry of Foreign Relations, and the Chamber of Commerce of Cuba. Other days will focus on the arts and education, urban planning, and Havana’s history.

Tour options include visiting the Viñales Tobacco Farm, Old Havana, and the biggest fort in the Americas.

Interestingly, Margaret Pulles Machado, a distant relative of former Cuban President Gerardo Machado, is organizing the county’s trip through her company, VamosGlobal.

The trip is part of Baker’s long-term plan for international business development that he released this year. Future trade missions will involve Canada, a return trip to China, Mexico, South Africa, and South Korea.

The Cuba trip will likely be the first of several to the island.

The mission trip would commence nearly two years after President Barack Obama an ease to relations with Cuba at the end of 2014, following more than 50 years of hostility between the former Cold War enemies. Obama’s subsequent Cuba policy eased the decades-old embargo

in areas like travel, trade, telecommunications, financial services, and remittances. The overall embargo will remain in place, even after Obama’s term, and can only be removed with Congressional action.

Following Obama’s historic announcement, business and government-led delegations from across the United States and the world descended on Cuba, seeking deals of their own. Jim Coleman, president and CEO of Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation, insists the county isn’t too late to the game.

“Would it have been nice if we went down there last year?

Maybe so, but this is still early in the relationship, very early,” Coleman said. “And so the county executive is doing the

right thing by getting this trip put together right now, so we don’t feel like we’re behind one bit. Now if we waited five years, now that’s too late.”

There have been many trade visits from U.S. groups since the rapprochement, but John Kavulich, president of the U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council, argues most haven’t amounted to much, since Cuban officials are not interested in transactions that require them to invest significant amounts of money.

“The vast majority of representatives of U.S. companies who have visited Cuba have not done so because of a specific focus – they’ve done it for general interest,” Kavulich said. “If they were going down for specific

transactional opportunities then, based upon what’s happened within the last 19 months, most of them wouldn’t go.”

Javier Torres, president and CEO of The Corporate Group LLC in Prince George’s County, knows he can’t sell his janitorial products and chemicals in Cuba until the embargo falls. Even so, he’s going on the trip to build relationships with Cuban officials to use the island as a hub for Latin America and the Caribbean once it’s legal for him to do so. “I want to be positioned so that two, three, four years from now our company is one of the many that will be doing business with the local Cuban government and the local (private sector) businesses in Cuba,” he said.

Obituary

Kim Queen Boyd Leathers

Kim Queen Boyd Leathers on Sunday, August 28, 2016, at Mount Vernon Christian Church. Beloved wife of Rev. Dr. Terence K. Leathers, her loving husband of 28 years; precious daughter Kimille Queen Leathers of Apex, N.C., a loving mother in law, Carrie F. Leathers; two aunts, Maude B. Shelton, Philadelphia, PA and Flora Boyd Maclin (Murry), Teaneck, NJ; cousins Patricia S. Hudgins, Philadelphia, PA, Warren Benbow, Jr., New York City, NY, Paula D. Boyd Dell (Tyrone), Cameron, NC, Denise B Capria (Al), Boyton Beach, FL, Peggy Palmer, Albany NY, Lorraine Palmer, Coxsackie, NY, Frances Turner, Catskill, NY, Tracy Palmer, Washington, D.C., Mary Jones and Nannie Irving, Washington, D.C., Joyce Syres, Philadelphia, PA and Frances Ragsdale, Roanoke, VA and a host of other

relatives, godchildren and friends that will miss her dearly.

The Wake and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Ivy Beyond the Wall Ceremony will begin at 1:00 PM until time of funeral service at 2:00 PM on Sunday, September 4, 2016 at Poplar Christian Church, 6115 Old Stage Road, Raleigh, NC., Rev. Charles Brooks officiating; Internment at 2911 S Wilmington St, Raleigh, N.C. Arrangements made by Sanders Funeral Home, Smithfield, NC. For Live Stream at Poplar Springs: Go to website: poplar-springs.org. At top of page, click on “Live Stream.” Watch Homegoing Celebration beginning at 1:00 pm.

Hugh Sanders • Sanders Funeral Home 806 East Market • Street Smithfield NC 27577 P(919)934-8416 • F(919)989-8234 Website: www.rlsandersfuneralhome.net

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B4

The Afro-American, September 3, 2016 - September 9, 2016

Taydra Mitchell-Jackson(far left) with pastors: Mia Wright, Shauna Jackson, Gospel recording Artist Maurette Brown Clark and Pastor Haywood Robinson

Singer Chante’ Moore

Glynn Jackson’s Production model

Toni Robinson; Pastor Shauna Jackson, Oil of Joy Church Ministries; Micheline Bowman, Bernard Bronner, Germmaine Bolds-Leftridge, singer Yolanda Adams, Marsha Jews, Maurette Brown Clark and Marcus D. Wiley

The 2016 Ubiquitous Beauty, Health and Hair Expo was held on Aug. 27-28 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Northwest D.C. The FOX 5’s Micheline Bowman, emcee, Germaine expo featured Bolds-Leftridge, Ubiquitous chief creative several panels officer and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on Black hair care and beauty, along with performances by gospel recording artists Vivian Green and Yolanda Adams.

ORS Olive Oil

Photos by Rob Roberts

Gospel artist Vivian Green

Singer Maurette Brown Clark

Ida’s Idea Boutique model

Angela Stribling, Radio Host, WHUR talks about “ What Do Men Really Want” Gospel Comedian Marcus D. Wiley Nicole Ari Parker

Crème of Nature

Caring for Caregivers panel discussion Boris Kodjoe

Grammy Award Winning Recording Artist, Yolanda Adams

Book author Zane

Panel on building your brand in the beauty industry

Glynn Jackson, founder, Golden Scissors Awards “Beauty Talk by Beauty Experts” panel

Edgar Brookins, DC AFRO General Manager

September 3, 2016 - September 9, 2016, The Afro-American

ARTS & CULTURE

C1

AFRO Book Review

‘Here Comes the Sun’ Portrays Jamaica as More than Marley

By: Morgan Reid Special to the AFRO “Here Comes the Sun” is a gloomy unrelenting portrayal about a paradise that is anything but that, to the inhabitants that occupy the island of Jamaica. Dennis Benn goes beyond the superficial by revealing a Jamaica that is so much more than the white sand beaches, titillating reggae beats and the legacy Bob Marley left behind.

In this new novel, poverty dictates the actions and pursuits of those on an island where opportunities for advancement are slim. The story follows the lives of a family of three women spanning three generations in the village of River Bank that sits right next to Montego Bay, a city that is dominated by the hotel industry.

Margot, the focal point of the story, works at the nearby hotel, Palm Star Resort, and sells her body on the side to male tourists looking for a good time. She convinces herself that the reason why she is engaging in her own sexual exploitation is to help pay for her younger sister’s education. Thandi, the younger sister, attends Saint Emmanuel, an elite high school

in Jamaica. Throughout the novel, Thandi is more concerned with becoming an artist and bleaching her skin with the hopes of finally being viewed as beautiful by her peers. She is in constant search of validation from a culture that she perceives as preferring both women and men, alike, to have a light skin tone. Delores, the matriarch of the family, makes her living selling trinkets to tourists. Delores, along with Margot, believes that she will one day escape the poverty that she lives in if only she encourages Thandi to pursue nothing else but her education.

There aren’t many happy moments in “Here Comes the Sun” but the few happy moments that do make it in, revolve around sexuality and who feels the most comfortable in showing their true selves. There is a mask of strength that all three women attempt to wear, but it’s in their vulnerable and self-reflective moments that we truly get to see who they really are and what they really desire.

While Margot is consumed with taking her career to new heights in the hotel industry by recklessly selling her body to men and leads the way in selling the bodies of others, she finds pleasure in the arms of a woman. Verdene is Margot’s lover

and an outcast in River Bank. Historically, homosexuality has been a taboo topic and concern in Jamaica. Hate crimes against those who are gay are frequent and subsequently rationalized, thus we see how same-sex partners are dealt with through the display of Verdene and Margot’s relationship. Benn does a good job of showing what it means to be gay in an overly religious society that condemns homosexuality.

Though prostitution, colorism and homosexuality are the popular topics of note, arguably, all of these problems stem from how one’s negative view of Blackness manifests into dysfunctional behavior. Though Jamaica is a majority-Black island where most can trace their lineage back to West Africa, the lingering effects of slavery persists.

A plethora of negative comments are made in regards to the sun and most are in relation to the horrors it can create to those with darker skin. “Remembah to stay outta the sun like ah tell yuh,” one character says. “God nuh like ugly.” Unfortunately, this is the prevailing sentiment about Blackness, which is not uncommon.

“Here Comes the Sun” is a heartfelt debut novel that incites conversation and brings to light the conditioning of Black people within the Diaspora.

AFRO Exculsive

Margot Shetterly: The American Dream and the Untold Story of Black Women Who Helped Win the Space Race

By Jannette J. Witmyer Special to the AFRO

Courtesy Photo

The movie based on Margot Lee Shetterly’s book, “Hidden Figures: On The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race” will be released on Sept. 6.

As excitement continues to build around the highlyanticipated Sept. 6 release of Margot Lee Shetterly’s book, “Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race,” no one is more excited than the author. After all, the major motion picture, bearing the book’s name, will hit movie theaters by January 2017. But, according to the doctoral student at University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce, that was only part of her reason for excitement.

“It’s like a dream come true,” she told the AFRO. “To have your book, I mean your first book, made into a movie . . . But for me, it’s really about the history. I fell in love with it. I’m just in awe that these women did this.”

Shetterly said that as she researched for her book, she was “startled” by the number of women she found who had worked as mathematicians and “computers,” cloistered within NASA’s Langley Research Center, during the space program’s early days. “There were scores of Black women, but, then, the larger group of all the women (Black, White, and otherwise) was huge,” she said. “And honestly, very few of the White women got their due as well . . . They were like no big deal. Men were the engineers. Women were the computers and mathematicians . . .”

While writing the book, her passion for the research, the deepest respect for the women’s work and the determination that they gain their rightful place in U.S. History, led Shetterly to launch The Human Computer Project (thehumancomputerproject.com) in 2014, to tell their stories.

“I really want to, as a course of this research, try to recover all of the names of all the women who did this work and who really were the ground forces of the space program. And, not

just the space program, but airplanes [too] . . . ,” said Shetterly, who went on to explain, “This started out being all about airplanes you know, and these women were the ones who made airplanes safer. They did all of the calculations to make them fly faster, higher . . . ,” which she said is something that she thinks about each time she boards an airplane.

Shetterly’s dedication to the history of the women known as the West Computers (Black) and East Computers (White) goes beyond the book, and she doesn’t want to leave anyone out. So, with her publisher’s permission, Shetterly plans to publish all of her notes in full, available to anyone, on her website (margotleeshetterly.com).

From the sale of the book’s concept prior to its completion to its immediate movie deal offer, support for Hidden Figures and its research has been high. Shetterly credits the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities and Alfred P. Sloan Foundation as early supporters and the Hampton Roads Chapter of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History as founding sponsors of The Human Computer Project.

She is also immensely grateful to Black newspapers (Norfolk Journal and Guide archives, Baltimore AfroAmerican, Pittsburgh Courier, and Chicago Defender) who covered the community, preserved the history and allowed her go back and relive an era. “This book would not have been possible in the same way without the Black press, who covered these women, these communities in detail and in full and preserved it for people like me to go back and pick up.”

Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race} will be published September 6 but is available for pre-order from Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and other book distributors.

SPORTS

Cato June’s Second Act in Football Continues at Howard U.

By Mark F. Gray Special to the AFRO

All Cato June has ever done is win.

Whether as a championship winning D.C. high school football and track athlete or as a Super Bowl champion with the Indianapolis Colts success has always followed him, so as Howard University gets set to open its season at the University of Maryland Sept. 3, Bison fans say they hope that June’s Midas touch will continue as the second act of his football life continues on the hilltop.

The ironies are many for June as he takes the sidelines for the first time as a college coach. As a former all B1G conference player at the University of Michigan, June will look across to the Maryland sidelines to see his alma mater’s former offensive coordinator - D.J. Durkin - making his debut as the Terps head coach. This is a big stage for the Howard program because they are playing a nationally televised game on the B1G Network at a power five conference school. But if there’s one person who won’t be overwhelmed it will be June, who routinely played before crowds in excess of 100,000 fans.

“Whether you’re playing in front of 200 people or 200,000, when the game starts you’re dialed into the game,” said June.

“There is no greater rush than when you run out of the tunnel and on to the field, but once the ball is kicked off its 22 guys flying around having a good time.”

June is literally back in the old neighborhood as he begins his first year as the running backs coach of the Bison. For a program that needs an infusion of positive energy after a 1-10

Cato June is Howard University’s new running backs coach. season in 2015, they may have found it in the new running backs coach who grew up on the other side of McMillian Reservoir in northwest D.C. Although he was never recruited

by Howard, while earning all-met honors at Anacostia High School, June and some of his teammates took advantage of

the school’s facilities to perfect their skills while preparing for college life.

“We would sneak into [Greene] Stadium and workout on the old turf since our [Anacostia] stadium was dirt and rocks,” said June. “It wasn’t the best place to train but it was better than what we played on so I spent a lot of time in [Howard’s] stadium working on our skills so we could get better.”

June was anything but a privileged star athlete pampered on his way to a successful NFL career. He was part of the nation’s top recruiting class at Michigan one year after they won the national championship in 1997. Despite being given the number two jersey worn by Heisman Trophy winner and ultimate Pro Football Hall of Famer Charles Woodson, June didn’t start until late in his redshirt freshman season.

After an injury plagued his college career, June wasn’t drafted until the sixth round in the 2003 draft. He worked his way from special teams to starting linebacker in Indianapolis and started for the team that beat the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI. Now instead of trying to stop running backs he is charged with the task of helping Howard’s group get better.

“Running backs and linebackers have a lot in common,” said June. “Typically, they are guys who are very knowledgeable and very physical. A lot of things about running backs and playing linebacker that just come naturally.

You can’t teach vision or instincts. Those guys are one and the same in a sense and just doing it from different vantage points.”

The running backs are the strength of Howard’s offense and June said he hopes to make them better one play at a time.

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BALTIMORE CITY INVITATION TO CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS WORKSHOP FOR STORMWATER CONSTRUCTION OPPORTUNITIES The Baltimore City Department of Public Works, Office of Engineering and Construction invites existing and new contractors interested in bidding on future stormwater and environmental restoration construction contracts to attend a workshop. The workshop is intended to provide contractors an overview of the construction opportunities in the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit compliance program. The purpose of the MS4 program is to design and construct stormwater management, stream restoration, stream repairs, environmental site design (ESD’s), water quality retrofit, and lot greening projects to achieve compliance with the City’s MS4 permit. The workshop will inform contractors of upcoming bidding opportunities, schedules, contractor pre-qualification requirements, minority business opportunities, inspection requirements, and additional details about these upcoming City projects.

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The Afro-American, September 3, 2016 - September 9, 2016

AS ONE JOURNEY ENDS, ANOTHER BEGINS. CONGRATULATIONS!

Eight Howard University students were selected to take the journey and DISCOVER THE UNEXPECTED—a first-ever fellowship program sponsored by the all-new 2016 Chevrolet Malibu in partnership with the National Newspaper Publishers Association. Congratulations to our brilliant fellows!

Thank you for taking us on this wonderful journey. May you continue to discover new roads that help you shatter perceptions and inspire us all.

#discovertheunexpected

DISCOVER MORE OF THEIR STORY AT NNPA.ORG/DTU

Send your news tips to tips@afro.com.

September 3, 2016 - September 9, 2016, The Afro-American

D1

BALTIMORE-AREA

Teen Faces Charges for Multiple Crimes

Race and Politics

THIS IS MOBTOWN …2016 Baltimore has many nicknames, but I’m going to focus on two for the purposes of this week’s Sean Yoes column: “Charm Senior AFRO City,” and Contributor “Mobtown.”

One was manufactured, the other was earned.

According to Baltimore historian and long-time newspaper man Gil Sandler, the Charm City handle was attached to our rough and tumble port town in 1975 during the administration of Baltimore Mayor William Donald Schaefer.

Schaefer, who had big plans to make the city more of a modern tourist attraction, by turning a powerful public relations spotlight on a glittering crown jewel for the city, the yet to be built Harborplace. But, until his gleaming vision for the Inner Harbor could manifest he had to grapple with the reality of Baltimore’s dilapidated reputation; a disrespected and downtrodden stepchild obscured in the hierarchy of East Coast hubs, juxtaposed to the so-called, “great American cities,” of Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and of course, New York. So, Schaefer charged a team of local marketing gurus to come up with a pretty moniker for our rugged town and Charm City was born.

I can think of several adjectives when I ponder Baltimore and its residents (resilient always comes to mind), but, “charming,” isn’t one of them.

Mobtown is an organic Continued on D2

Baltimore City Police Department

Kyree Trimon Greene was charged with shooting a 42-year-old man in Maryland.

By Michelle Richardson Special to the AFRO

Photo by Anderson Ward

State, city and community leaders gathered on Aug. 25 to honor Carla Hayden’s Senate confirmation as the 14th Librarian of Congress at the central branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library. See more photos from the event on D4.

Baltimore City Council Crafts Port Covington TIF Legislation

By Deborah Bailey Special to the AFRO

some of the contentious issues surrounding the proposal such as affordable housing, commitment to local hiring, and related issues. Stokes said he wants to ensure that the Port Covington TIF proposal doesn’t create “a segregated community paid for with public funds.”

Long before Port Covington became a household word in Baltimore, Sagamore Development’s first stop was with the

The Baltimore City Council has called a temporary timeout from the complicated web of issues surrounding Sagamore Development’s $535 million Port Covington TIF (Tax Increment Finance) proposal ($660 million including interest and fees). The temperature inside the War Memorial Building rose as high as the record breaking heatwave outdoors during a recent meetings held by the City Council’s Taxation, Finance and Economic Development Committee to craft legislation establishing what will be, Maryland’s largest TIF, supporting infrastructure for the $5.5-billion Port Covington Project, if passed.

City Councilman Carl Stokes (D-District 12), the Tax, Finance and Economic Development committee chair, postponed a third work session on the Port Covington proposal until after Labor Day. Judging from the “heat” inside the War Memorial Building, it seems that council members needed a little more time to work out A rendering of the planned Port Covington development.

Wanda Q. Draper Named New Reginald F. Lewis Museum Exec. Dir.

By Zanha Armstrong Special to the AFRO The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture has appointed a new executive director. Wanda Q. Draper, currently the Director of Programming and Public Affairs at WBAL-TV 11, will assume her new role on Sept. 28.

Draper was selected as executive director of the Reginald F. Lewis Museum following an extensive national search. She succeeds Askew “Skipp” Sanders who retired earlier this year.

“We feel that she has the right mix of leadership and management skills, community connections, museum knowledge and values that will help strengthen the capacity of the Reginald F. Museum,” said Board Chair Beverly Cooper.

Courtesy Photo “The members of the board are looking forward to working with Wanda Q. Draper is and supporting Wanda as she leads the museum into the future.” the newly appointed As a native of Baltimore and a founding board member, executive director of Draper co-chaired the museum’s grand opening in 2005. She the Reginald F. Lewis served for 10 years as co-chair of the Marketing and Public Museum of Maryland Relations Committee. The University of Maryland graduate has African American also held positions as director of community affairs and visitor History and Culture. services at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, a reporter and columnist for the Baltimore Sun, and a television panelist on the PBS program “Maryland NewsRap.” “I am more than honored to take on the challenges of growing and sustaining this great treasure that is named after one of Baltimore’s finest native sons,” said Draper. “I am looking forward to taking the museum forward...I want to continue to celebrate our past, explore our present, and I definitely want to look at what we can do futuristically, specifically with technology and some of the things that are available in the museum.

Particularly in terms of distance learning, and capturing some of our stories in the Maryland African American community so that they’re there for the future.”

Public Defender to Police: Suspend Use of Surveillance Plane

By The Associated Press Baltimore’s public defender’s office is asking the police department to suspend its use of a private plane that had until last week been flying above the city streets recording aerial surveillance without the public’s knowledge.

Baltimore Deputy Public Defender Natalie Finegar sent Commissioner Kevin Davis and State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby a copy of the written request Aug. 29.

In the letter Finegar writes that the program should not continue without “in-depth conversations” and that without judicial approval in the form of a warrant or court order, analysts should not view footage. Finegar also asked Davis to turn over all information in cases where images captured by the surveillance plane were used.

The program, run by private firm Persistent Surveillance Systems, was first disclosed in a Bloomberg Businessweek article last week.

Continued on D2

Sagamore Development

A teen charged with robbing another teen as he walked to pick up his cap and gown from Frederick Douglas high school in June, has been charged with the shooting of a 42 year-old Owings Mills man in July.

Kyree Trimon Greene of the 2600 block of Francis Street in Baltimore’s Penn North, is charged with attempted first-degree murder and other charges for shooting the 42 year-old man in Baltimore County on July 17th.

Greene who just turned 19, was charged prior in the botched robbery of a 17 yearold student going to pick up his cap and gown. The student told police someone stuck a gun to his back and tried to rob him. In the process, a struggle ensued and Greene accidently shot himself with the victim gaining control of the gun. Greene fled on foot and Baltimore Police did not know at that time if Greene was a student. Using video surveillance, police later identified Greene as the suspect in that robbery.

A quick search of the Maryland Case Search shows various charges for Greene in Continued on D2

Mystery Surrounds Death of Morgan Grad Student

By Michelle Richardson Special to the AFRO Just a few days after the start of the fall semester, a body was found on the campus of one of Baltimore’s HBCUs. The body of a 45-year-old graduate student was found after he was last seen earlier this month going into the engineering building that holds classrooms, labs, and offices for the design department according to Baltimore Police spokesman Donny Moses.

The student, who was last seen or heard from, on Aug. 4, was found around 10:50 a.m when students noticed a foul odor and contacted maintenance personnel. Officers responded to the second floor of the CBEIS building (Center for the Built Environment and Infrastructure Studies) at 1700 East Cold Spring Lane. Authorities located the student in his second floor office.

“This individual had been dead for probably several days, maybe even a couple of weeks,” said Morgan State University

Continued on D2

6

Past Seven Days

200 2016 Total

Data as of Aug. 31

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The Afro-American, September 3, 2016 - September 9, 2016

First Day of School

By Maliik Obee Special to the AFRO

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake surprised students at three Baltimore City Schools to kick off the first day of classes on Aug. 29. Blake and Baltimore City Schools CEO Sonja Santelises surprised students at Lillie May Carroll Jackson Charter and Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High School.

Senator Catherine Pugh and Delegate Antonio Hayes joined Santelises at John Eager Howard Elementary School at the start of the school day to speak to children and sit-in on classes. Students were greeted at the entrance by teachers in traditional African clothing.

The warm greeting from the faculty and the presumptive new mayor was enough to impress parent Michael Johnson.

“For the black boys and girls having someone of that stature talk to you is major, kids never forget.”

At Lillie May Carroll Jackson Charter School, Blake walked the halls, checking in on several classes, speaking with students about their summers and what they’ve learned.

Teachers struggled to keep the disciplined young ladies focused at the appearance of the mayor, one who shares the skin color of the majority of students. Unlike the other schools visited, the all-girls school has been in session since August 1.

Students at Lillie May Carroll Jackson Middle School were caught by surprise when Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake stopped by to pay them a visit.

Photo by Maliik Obee

“I’m at this school because I felt like I could learn and be a better student and I feel that Lillie May Jackson can help me do that” said Kayla Bonet, a seventh grade student.

As noon approached, the mayor and her peers visited teens at Mergenthaler, better known as Mervo, observing and engaging with students there as well.

Port Covington Continued from D1

Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC), a public/private sector non-profit entity contracted out by the city to promote economic development. Sagamore Development approached BDC in 2015 to start conversations about a major TIF to support their Port Covington Project, according the corporation’s meeting minutes.

“We’ve spent months and months analyzing this TIF and we’re confident that this is a project worthy of consideration and ultimately approval by the City Council,” said Bill Cole, president and CEO of the corporation. The BDC conducted financial analysis of the plan and vetted the Sagamore Development TIF proposal utilizing existing city laws as their guide.

Cole said he and his board were careful to ensure that the Port Covington TIF would not backfire on Baltimore’s public schools.

“Our board made it clear that we would not be supportive of moving this forward if this (TIF) had a negative impact on school funding” he said. “We now have a letter directly from the Speaker of the (Maryland) House of (Delegates) and the President of the (Maryland State) Senate; and certainly the efforts of the Chairperson of the (Maryland State Senate) Appropriations Committee stating on record that they will be fighting to fix this formula so as not to impair Baltimore’s ability to do economic development projects,” Cole said.

Based on current Maryland State appropriations, as the overall tax revenue for the city increases, the funding available

to the city’s public schools from the State of Maryland would decrease leaving a gap in funding that would disproportionately hurt the city’s most vulnerable children, according to community groups like BUILD, who currently oppose the Port Covington TIF. With a goal of developing more than 7000 residential dwellings as part of the multi-billion-dollar development deal, Port Covington TIF opponents and several city council members have been sharply critical of the project’s tepid commitment to affordable housing units. “I know a lot of the discussion about

“…we’re confident that this is a project worthy of consideration…”

– Bill Cole Port Covington is about the current shortcomings of the city’s inclusionary housing law. I’m not in a position to fix or address that. We can only ensure that the project itself complies with current law – and it does,” Cole said.

But, City Councilman Bill Henry (D-District 4) said that a “fix” is on the way. “One of the reasons I am trying to fix

the city’s existing inclusionary housing law now – rather than waiting for the next term – is so that we can establish a minimum in the law for how much inclusionary housing Port Covington will need to provide, “ he said.

Henry recently introduced legislation before the city council requiring development projects that include housing, like the Port Covington project, meet a 10% minimum Affordable Housing Unit threshold based on 60% of the Area Median Income. Baltimore’s Median income in 2014 (latest year data was available) was a little more than 40,000 according to the American Community Survey. The survey, established by the U.S. Census Bureau helps local officials, community leaders and businesses understand the changes taking place in their communities.

Currently, Sagamore Development Corporation has signed a memorandum of understanding with the City of Baltimore to include 10 percent of affordable housing units in their proposed 7000 residential housing complex.

“An agreement won’t be as strong as having the law applied, that was one of the arguments for trying to get this fixed to the inclusionary housing law now rather than wait until the next term,” Henry told the AFRO. “As long as the inclusionary housing legislation goes into effect before they start building housing at Port Covington it will apply to them.”

Race and Politics Continued from D1

tag that took root in the early 1800s when violence was first interwoven into the city’s soul. The application of mob justice was commonplace with marauding gangs of hooligans striking fear in the hearts of many in the city, including members of the massive free Black population, which outnumbered slaves 8 to 1.

Indeed, violence, murder and mayhem have weighed heavy on our people like the city’s infamous humidity, suffocating so many of us directly and indirectly for more than 200 years.

Today, we continue to fight what seems to be a losing battle to shake off our homicidal pedigree. Last Friday (Aug. 26), a man who was stabbed to death just west of Downtown at the Heritage Crossing community (built on the land where Murphy Homes once stood), became the city’s 200th homicide victim.

Yet, beyond the criminal milieu, Baltimore’s “public

servants,” seem to have adopted the Mobtown mentality, wielding it like a cudgel with great ferocity in recent weeks.

Of course, American politics is a bloodsport (see Clinton v. Trump), but Baltimore politics often mimics an eternal steel cage deathmatch, with those hovering on the fringes suffering the brunt of the bludgeoning.

This week, the Office of the Public Defender called for the end of the Baltimore City Police Department’s “secret” surveillance of mostly poor, mostly Black communities, a program funded by private donations, circumventing proper fiscal channels (and perhaps governmental constraints).

After dangling the prospect of bringing a $15/hour minimum wage to Baltimore --buoying the hopes of the city’s thousands of low-wage workers -- the City Council abruptly yanked $15 and hour off the table last month.

Also last month, the United States Department of Justice told the world what everybody Black and poor in the city has known for generations; that the Baltimore Police routinely violate our Constitutional and civil rights often with menacing fury.

City Hall has been bending over backwards since last year to deliver $660 million in Tax Increment Financing to

“…violence, murder and mayhem have weighed heavy on our people like the city’s infamous humidity…”

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Sean Yoes is a senior contributor for the AFRO, and host and executive producer of, “First Edition,” which airs Monday through Friday, 5-7 p.m. on WEAA, 88.9.

Morgan

Teen Charged

Spokesman Clinton Coleman in a media briefing on Aug. 30.

The student, who is not being identified as of yet, was studying engineering.

Morgan State released the following statement: “The University is saddened to report the death of a member of its family. The body of a graduate student was discovered earlier today in his second-floor office of the CBEIS building. The 45 year old engineering student was found unresponsive by staff who then called paramedics. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Both Morgan State University Campus Police and Baltimore City Police are investigating this matter and have not released his identity pending notification of family. While the cause of death has not been determined, police do NOT suspect foul play. No other information is available at this time.”

People who knew the man said he had been ill for quite some time.

“It’s crazy and a little scary to know that he was in here for so long. It’s sad,” one student told the Afro.

Homicide detectives are investigating the incident and the cause of death will be determined by a pending autopsy.

Classes were cancelled in the CBEIS building for the rest of the day.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to call BCPD Detectives at 410-396-2100.

the Frederick Douglas robbery including Fire arm use, First and Second degree assault, reckless endangerment, and discharging a firearm.

Greene is also charged in the shooting of another teen. A 16 year-old that was walking home with friends in Howard Park in May when a masked man opened fire hitting the teen in the thigh. Police later identified Greene as the shooter.

According to Maryland Case Search, Greene has been charged with Attempted First and Second degree murder, First and Second Degree assault, Firearm on a minor and reckless endangerment as well as discharging a firearm.

In the Owings Mills shooting that happened in July, police were called to Reisterstown Road and Pleasant Ridge Drive for a person shot multiple times. Police found a 42-year-old man. The victim got out of his car to confront Greene when Greene made a U-turn in front of him, cutting him off. Greene then fired several shots at the victim.

Greene was arrested in Baltimore, five days later according to case search. Officers near Druid Hill Park noticed Greene was armed and a chase ensued before he was caught.

Greene is being held without bail in Baltimore.

Continued from D1

Join the Women of ABC’s Board of Directors for a Candid Discussion and

Director of Programming and Public Affairs WBAL-TV

billionaire Kevin Plank towards the completion of the massive Port Covington development.

Yet, a recent report out of Harvard (which flew mostly under mainstream media’s radar) says Baltimore is the worst big city for Black boys to escape poverty.

“In Baltimore, boys who grow up in below-median income households earn 1.4 percent less in adult family income for each year that they’re exposed to the neighborhood. So, a man who spent the first two decades of his life in Baltimore would earn about 28 percent less compared to the national average earned by other adults,” writes AFRO Senior Correspondent Zenitha Prince.

This is the reality of Baltimore’s underbelly inhabited by poor, mostly Black, mostly Brown people, at the mercy of the nefarious on the streets and those who occupy the city’s corridors of power.

Mobtown is a place where the police run roughshod over the people they are paid to, “serve and protect,” sometimes murdering them with impunity. Mobtown is a place where politicians don’t fear their constituents, they secretly scoff at them and then ask for their vote. That all needs to change. But, until it does, this is Mobtown…

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Continued from D1

September 3, 2016 - September 9, 2016, The Afro-American

“MANDELA” THE PLAY DEBUTS LABOR DAY WEEKEND Hello everyone, how was your weekend? I hope it was good. So far the weather has been hot as our summer should be. Compared to other parts of the East Coast, we are doing wonderful.

So you can stop complaining how hot it is.

I want to start out by telling you about a wonderful play coming to Baltimore from New York City called, “Mandela” presented by the East Harlem Repertory Theater, written by John Ruiz and Yolanda Brooks and directed by John Ruiz on Sept. 3 and Sept. 4 at the Creative Alliance at the Patterson, 3134 Eastern Avenue.

Making its Baltimore debut this Labor Day weekend, the play “Mandela” is a moving theater performance about the life and struggles of Nelson Mandela. This play, which originally premiered at the National Black Theater in New York City in 2014, is full of scenes that include laughter, dance and thought provoking moments that will have the audience experience the struggles and joys of Nelson Mandela, Winnie Mandela, and the courageous men and women who stood by Mandela’s side. The director, co-writer and co-producers was a personal friend of Mandela. For ticket information, call 443-827-1693.

FYI: Carver Vocational Technical High School class of 1966 is having their 50th Class Reunion on Sept. 3 from 8 p.m. to midnight at the Forum Caterers, 4210 Primrose Avenue. The event will include an all you can eat Fish Fry Buffet and a wine and beer open bar. For ticket information, call Wayne Carter at 443-807-9304.

FYI: JB Brown Radio is scheduled to host an “Oldies Dance Party at the Parkville VFW Hall Post 9083, 8123 Harford Road, Parkville, Maryland on Sept. 10 from 7 p.m. until midnight. It is Cabaret style; BYOB and BYOF. For tickets and information, call 443-4258739.

FYI: Jazz Expressways Foundation is scheduled to host a “Jazz Breakfast show” featuring the sounds of Craig Alston and his Band on Sept.

Lloyd Goodman as portraying the part of Nelson 10 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Mandela in the “Mandela” performance at Creative at the Forest Park Senior Alliance Theater, Sept. 3- 4.

Center, 4801 Liberty Heights

Avenue. Serving a full Buffet Breakfast, vendors for your shopping and BYOB. For tickets, call Rosa or Shorty at 410-833-9474.

Well, my dear friends, it is about that time, time for the fat lady to sing. I am out of space. Just remember, if you need me call me at 410833-9474 or email me at rosapryor@aol.com. UNTIL THE NEXT TIME, I’M MUSICALLY YOURS.

D3

Jim “Magic” Johnson and The Old School Runners will host their 14th Annual Crab Feast Sept. 3 from 1-5 p.m. at the Columbus Gardens, 4301 Klosterman Avenue Nottingham, Maryland. For tickets and information, call 443-676-9038.

BALTIMORE AREA

COMMUNITY CONNECTION Send your upcoming events to tips@afro.com. For more community events go to afro.com/Baltimore-events

Vivien T. Thomas Medical Arts Academy‘s Family Festival

The Vivien T. Thomas Medical Arts Academy is scheduled to host a back to school community festival on Sept. 3 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m at 100 North Calhoun Street in Baltimore. The event is free and open to the public and will include food and a movie. For more information, visit facebook.com/vttmaa. info.

Greater Baltimore Leadership Association Affiliate Service Award Celebration

The Greater Baltimore Leadership Association Affiliate Service Award Celebration is scheduled to be held on Sept. 3 at Elite Lounge, 1517 Ridgley Street in Baltimore at 9 p.m. Music will be provided by Society Beats. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit gblaimpact.org.

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The Afro-American, September 3, 2016 - September 9, 2016

An overflow crowd gathered at the Central Branch of the Enoch Pratt Library Aug. 25 to honor Carla Hayden’s Senate confirmation as the 14th Librarian of Congress. Sen. Ben Cardin (DMd.), Rep. Elijah Cummings (DMd.), former Mayor Kurt Schmoke and former Sen. Paul Sarbanes attended the celebration along with other community leaders.

Jennifer Franciotti (WBAL TV) was the emcee. Hayden’s mother, Colleen, was also present. Hayden came to Baltimore in 1993 and was the former chief librarian of the Chicago Public Library. She is leaving Baltimore to become the first woman and the first African American to head The Library of Congress. She is also the former president of the American Library Association. Originally from Chicago, Ill., Hayden is credited with modernizing the Pratt library with new IT equipment, healthy food programs, and computers.

Pat J. Lasher, board chair, Enoch Pratt Library, Collen Hayden, Congressman Elijah Cummings, Dr. Carla Hayden and Senator Ben Cardin JoAnn Jolivet and Sen. Verna Jones-Rodwell

Prof. Larry Gibson and Lisa Robinson (WBAL TV)

Dr. Carla Hayden Sen. Nathaniel McFadden and Leonard Attman (Bd. Chair. Future Care)

Photos by Anderson R. Ward

Retired Pratt employees, Delores Thomas and Mary Peterson

Lainy Lebow-Sachs

Visionary of Word and Praise Faith Ministries held a fun-day for youth campers on Aug. 13, at a small park in the Park Heights and Belvedere community. Youth campers arrived at the park for face painting, free snowballs, a gaming truck, a moon bounce and hot dogs and hamburgers.

U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, Myrna Cardin and Rev. Jerome Stephens

Encina Roswell (spokesman for Enoch Pratt Library)

Brenda C. Hardy providing the kids with balloons

Colleen Hayden (Dr. Hayden’s mother)

Former State School Superintendent Nancy Grasmick

Former Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke

The youth summer camp and Pastor Shelly Barber

Photos by Chanet Wallace West providing free snowballs Thelma Gaither and Tanella Jennings

Face painting

Summer Youth Camp Brandon and Remy Baublitzgatson

Rosalie Garland and Florence Cook

Fred Brown