July 27, 2013 - August 2, 2013, The- Afro-American A3Washingt November 1, 2008 November 7, 2008, The
Washington View
Jennifer Hudson and Relatives Identify Body of Her Slain N
Did the Stark Signs Read: ‘Am I Next?’ Or ‘I Am Next’ By Alan King AFRO Staff Writer
Jennifer Hudson and other Had to do a dyslexic relatives positively double-take afteridentified seeing the
sport-utility vehicle sought in from a neighbor about a suspiconnection with the murder of cious vehicle. The man noticed Hudson’s mother and brother. the vehicle while walking his The white, protection of 1994 youngChevrolet black lives? dog. According to the Chicago Suburban with Tribune, theRep. boy Eleanor had been shot “People areIllinois lookinglicense for something to do,” multiple times in the back Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) told the AFRO this week. They needseat of the vehicle. The SUV, a place to put “the frustration out there and funnel all that registered to Hudson’s murdered energy; we need a real legacy for Trayvon and for what we think brother, was towed with the happened out there,” to him the night he died. boy’s body inside and is being To that end, Norton suggests increasing efforts to repeal or processed by evidence techniprevent the Stand Your Ground self-defense laws that crept on cians and workers. The body the books in state legislatures with little notice, and was read to was later removed and taken to the jury in the Zimmerman trial. the Cook County Medical Also, this week Norton and Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.), coExaminer’s office. chairs of the Congressional Caucus onHudson Black Men and Boys, and other family scheduled the caucus’ first hearing,members entitled “The Status ofMedical Black arrived at the Males: Ensuring Our Boys MatureExaminer’s Into Strongoffice Men.”mid-afterTracy Martin, Trayvon’s father, is slated to givethe opening noon to identify body. remarks. The hearing was scheduled before the Trayvon Martin Given the choice between looktrial, Norton said, but now it is “causing a lot of ing directly at excitement.” the body or Norton hopes this inaugural hearing on it theoncongressional viewing a wall-mounted
that they can and not assume that society will do anything for them.” In addition, he said older black men will also have to emphasize to younger ones that they “have got to assume control over their own lives, as well as be aware that this can be a cruel and racist society in which they’re going to be judged before they open their mouths.” Mfume also plans to focus his comments on developing skills and building strong families. Who is next? All our hopes for our budding future John Legend-like songwriter and Romare Bearden-like artist are clouded by genuine worries for their safety and their psyches as they navigate a world that besieges them daily with negative black stereotypes and racist rants. What father, mother, or “auntie” does not wrestle with the words to explain racism to a child as they necessarily warm the young, andJennnifer male to beHudson’s careful around certain people and in Julianblack King, nephew. certain situations? Who among adult guardians does not live in spokesman forchild the office the murders but is day being fearAthat their black might not live to see another in held a in told the newspaper that Hudson jail for parole violation after world that devalues their humanity because of the color of their skin? Read even the poignant Internet words of a white father concerned about his biracial son: “Although I can never fully appreciate the experiences and fears of a black man, I now know “remained strong famibeing convicted of attempted the fear in the heartfor of her every black father.” ly”Now and is was clearly its leader. murder and vehicular hijackthe time to capitalize on the increased national racial “She held hands with her famiing. Cook County records show dialogue to forge sustainable solutions as one way to honor not ly,” the spokesman said. “It that he pleaded guilty to both only Trayvon’s legacy, but also countless and nameless others was obviously a very emotional charges in 1999. He was also like him. We need to stop little black boys from worrying “Am I moment.” convicted in 1998 for possesNext?”
posted graph Sunda for the her ne blog, s porter offere anyon alive. Sin Hudso after a Idol,” Acade the mo stayed The ed tha slowly Mond news v
photo of three little black boys holding up sings with that gut-wrenching Tupac lyric, “Am I Next,” during a weekend protest rally, as I was trying to digest all the Internet twitter following George Zimmerman’s acquittal for the death of Trayvon Martin, the unarmed black Florida teenager who has become the iconic symbolic of all the racial ills Adrienne America sustains. Washington Just ask America’s first AFRO Columnist African American president who was so moved by this level about the status of young black males “can frame the issue Courtesy Photos polarizing case that he risked and will set the stage for a national discussion and assist states in Jennifer Hudson and her mom, Darnell Donerson who his ratings to lecture about this country’s deep-rooted racism and focusing on help for “black boys on their way to manhood and was killed, as well as her brother, Jason. racial profiling practices. As President Obama painstakingly said, how to get there.” screen, the that’s familywhat chose violen “Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago.” “First, we have to approach thevideo subject face-on; plate X584859was wasdoing,” found on In f body of her 7-year-old The list of unjustly murderedthe black boys keeps growing. So the president she said.the latter. According to the Chicago’s Side hearing after speakers Tribune, Hudson “Yes, home, nephew hours much so that I coined a new word for theMonday, Americanjust lexicon: Other West scheduled include formersaid, NAACP police received a 7Mfume, a.m. callGeorgetown that’sUniversity him.” and ho body wasunder foundcurious in a “Trayvoned,” meaning a young, after blackhis male killed President Kweisi professor kiss th circumstances simply for being black in the wrong place at the Michael Eric Dyson, and Executive Director of the White House ing the wrong time. Next up: Jordan Davis, 17, shot and killed at a Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans The boy – the son of Julia sion of a stolen motor vehicle. Jason. Jacksonville, Fla., gas station apparently for playing music too David J. Johns. Hudson, Jennifer’s sister – had He was released from prison in “Ev loud. Mfume, former NAACP president and Maryland Veteran journalist Adrienne Washington writes weekly for years been missing since Friday, 2006 after serving seven throug Protests, boycotts and rallies against these racial injustices congressman, is the father of six males ranging in age from 23 to the AFRO about relevant issues in the Maryland and and when a relative found Julian’s forDistrict, the attempted murder West, serve a visible purpose, but what’s next to jumpstart initiatives 42. At the hearing he intends “to talk frankly and openly about Northern Virginia. Send correspondence to her at charges. editor@afro. grandmother, Darnell car hijacking area to and laws that will actually make By a difference in the safety and the need for black men to take hold of their destiny to the extent com. No wonder Obama’s campaign is Donerson, 57, and his uncle, and Dallas Cowboys players Alan King The boy remained missing have t trying to distance him from the Tony Romo and Terrell Owens, AFRO Staff Writer Jason Hudson, 29, shot to death through a long weekend in young group, saying, “Barack Obama among the names submitted to in his grandmother’s home in which police and volunteers for wh Never Organized with ACORN.” the 7000 block of South Yale election officials. Presidential candidate John Hurd said those workers, who But Obama’s ties to ACORN run McCain’s attack on ACORN – Avenue. Continued from A1 long and deep. He taught classes were doing those things without Associated Community An Amber Alert – a desigthe Justice Department in Washington, D.C. for Reform that now that have a Black president, being for ACORN. thatmissing state legislators can introduce and push in “I don’t want us toendorsed get so caught in the They even knowledge or permisOrganization Now – we ACORN’s nation for high-risk him for President. sion, of the to express their concerns about theconfirms “Stand the success Black is no longer an were issue.fired. theirFriday states.” personality that we miss the principle,” said children – was issued But now ACORN is in trouble. “The evidence thatsaid has surorganization, of the very far from Your Ground” self-defense statutes and the the head“That’s the truth,” The watchdog group said that ALEC Bryant. “The principle is unequalafter sentencing Julian was discovered There are atinleast faced so far shows they faked group says. missing after the murders. dangerous message that the Zimmerman Bryant. eventually dismantled the task force that andReporter: other [disparities] the judicial system. investigations across the the banner 11 forms to get paid for work they “This is testimony to the work Police verdict carried. Rev. L.B. West, pastor of the Mount Airy helped Florida state legislators craft its “Stand There are 30 states under of arrested William country involving thousands of didn’t do, not to stuff ballot we’ve we’ve Balfour, the missing boy’s step- law, after coming under fire for Sharpton said if we don’t change the done and success Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., said Your Ground” ‘stand your ground.’ It’s bigger than George boxes.” ACORN, she said, is the potentially fraudulent ACORN had,” Maude Hurd, president of father and estranged husband “Stand Your Ground” laws, we risk having Black clergy members always played Zimmerman. He’s just the representation of the also promoting controversial voter suppression forms. victim have of fraud, not the perpetraACORN, said in an interview of the Julia, at his girlfriend’s more Trayvon Martin cases, because the law critical leadership roles in shaping local, state, laws. principle of stand yourvoter ground. So, focus Announcer: Massive tor of it. with the AFRO. Southside apartment several emboldens people. and national dialogue surrounding social During a national pastors’ conference in has to be much bigger than that.” fraud. And the Obama campaign hours after the murders. Hurd said the only things “When this attack started, we “There is a license through the George justice and civil rights issues. West added that Working with the Florida state legislators, Miami, Fla., bogus are the charges thempaid more than $800,000 to an had just announced that we had Balfour’s mother, Michele, hasthis week, Sharpton addressed Zimmerman verdict that any White registered male that 1.3 million it was for their the National Rifle thereporters thataher number of key issues that came to light selves. And congregations factcheck. org to ACORN front for getAssociation out the vote andtold newalso vot-critical son had efforts. ers,”and shebe said. “That’s say alsoagrees. feels threatened can shoot a Black boy see just thattothey struggled with the not guilty American Legislative Exchange Council during the George Zimmerman trial, including nothing to do with the slayings. It concluded, “Neither Pressuring banks issue risky “StandBalfour that someone’s scared justified,” said the Rev. Anthony Evans, president running verdict in the George Zimmerman trial. West helped craft the to controversial Your remains ALEC’s involvement in Hudson shaping “Stand Your a suspect in Jason ACORN norangry its employees have loans. Nationwide voter fraud. because of ACORN’s of the National Black Church Initiative. “We’re Ground” laws across the nation. Even though, saidsuccess.” that he was personally that a young Ground” law in 2005. The law basically been found guilty of,could or even Barack Obama. Bad judgment. running forthat did going to have to teach our boys how toMcCain, be safe. who isBlack many of the pastors present at the news boy, nothing wrong, lose extended the “Castle doctrine” [a person’s charged with, casting fraudulent Blind ambition. Too risky for president on the Republican tickWe’re going to have to teach our young boys his life, and no one is held accountable. home is his or her castle and can be defended conference last week hinted at boycotting votes.” America. et, lashed out at ACORN in the what the law says are their rights and how to companies that financially support ALEC, no “It’s important for people to see that even with lethal force] to the streets, allowing The problem came about prifinal debate against Barack protect themselves and using a buddy system. specific plans had been developed at that time. spiritual people can have anger and it’s a people in what they feel is a life-threatening Since McCain’s comments, Obama, contending the group “is marily because of the way We’re going to have to do something significant The Black SQUARE pastors pushed back on the HIGH righteous anger,” said West. The District pastor situation outside of his home to defend ACORN operates. Rather than ACORN’s 87 offices have been on the verge of maybe perpetratto protect our young boys.” notion that Black leaders are simply fanning added thatinthe anger not peoguilty bombarded themselveswith withthreats deadly rely surrounding on volunteers,the it pays andforce, rather than ing one of the greatest frauds Other Black pastors said it’s not justhistory our in thisverdict racial flames instead of addressing the crime in the George Zimmerman trialor needed retreat. ple, many of them poor unem- racist mail. voter country, ployed, to sign up acts new voters. The day aftertothe maybe destroying thebe fabric of young Black men that need an education, but to channeled into constructive instead and gun violence that claims the lives of According Inpresidential the Public Interest, a The idea was to help both those debate, vandals into the democracy.” also anyone that believes that the election of of destructive ones. thousands of young Black males in our resource centerbroke on privatization and public being registered and those doing organization’s Boston and Seattle Factcheck.org, a non-partisan President Obama ushered in a new, post-racial Sharpton’s National Action Network nation’s largest cities. contracting, “ALEC plays an important role thefor registration. offices and stole computers. with valuable and Web site, found those claims to chapter in American society. organized “Justice Trayvon” vigils in 100 Bryant’s Empowerment Temple will host a NOT ON TH of providing corporations BREAD Maud explained, “We have a After a Cleveland representative with “no evi- mother, “When people believe that racebeis“exaggerated,” not a cities. Martin’s Sybrina Fulton, joined gun buy-back program on Aug. 6. unfettered access to state legislators. ALEC zero tolerance policy for deliber- appeared on TV, an e-mail was dence of any such democracyfactor in the Trayvon Martin case, when people Sharpton for the ate See more at afro.com. vigil and rally of in registration.” New York works with its office members to she draft model bills falsification sent to the local saying destroying fraud.” believe that class and culture are not Hurd [factors] City, N.Y. Most news account neglect to “is going to have her life ended.” believes the McCain in this case, there is some serious charges education Even though it’s important to honoris the point out that ACORN A worker in Providence, R.I., were politically motivatthat needs to be done,” said the Rev. Lisa memory of Trayvon Martin, the required by law toBlack turn inpastors all reg- received a threatening call sayed. LEFT RIGH Jenkins, pastor of Saint Matthews Baptist wanted to ensureistration that thisforms. tragicAnd moment they also fail ing, “We know you get off work She said, “Because it’s lowthat it was the organizaat 9” and uttered racial epithets. and moderate-income people, Church in Harlem. would not be losttotonote history. tion, in many instances, A caller to one office left a andpastor peopleof of color, I Bryant believe the The Rev. Jamal-Harrison Bryant, said the laws and the climatethat thatfirst brought registrations McCain thinks thosethis case Empowerment Temple in Baltimore, Md.,campaign said catapulted ontothe thephony international stage message on the answering to the attention of authorities. machine, saying: “Hi, I was just voters are going toneed vote to be addressed. many people fooled themselves into believing The McCain camp apparently calling to let you know that Democratic, which is not necesisn’t interested in those fine Barack Obama needs to get sarily true.” points, preferring to air misleadhung. He’s a (expletive deleted) ACORN is no stranger to ing ads that seek to link Obama nigger, and he’s a piece of controversy. For 38 years, the non-partisan to ACORN, thereby undercutting (expletive deleted). You guys are his political support.managed fraudulent, and you need to go to has fought for social Karen Dale, executive directororganization of AmeriHealth District of Columbia, a Medicaid McCain: I’m John McCain hell. All the niggers on oak trees. and economic justice for lowcare organization serving members in the District of Columbia, will emphasize the importance and I approve this message. They’re gonna get all hung honand moderate-income 1 BANANA of expanding primary care to women’s healthWith in the Medicaid and offer solutions eys, they’re going to get assassiAnnouncer: Who is Barack Americans. 400,000 mem-community for doing so during a presentationber at the 2013organized Nationalinto Urban Conference at the Obama? A man with “a political nated, they’re gonna get killed.” families moreLeague Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. Another message said, “You baptism performed at warp than 1,200 neighborhood chapDale’s presentation, part of a workshop Our Sisters:speed.” Expanding Preventive Care liberal idiots. Dumb (expletive Vast ambition. After colters in 110titled cities “Save nationwide, deleted). Welfare bums. You lege, he moved to Chicago. for Empowered Lives,” will take place 10:30 July 26.seen The workshop will feature Dale and ACORN has a.m., over the years guys just (expletive deleted) Became a community organizer. itswho sharewill of criticism a panel of other health care experts convey while ideas advofor making women’s health care more come to our country, consume There, Obama met Madeleine cating for affordable housing, accessible and building additional community-based resources to help patients obtain needed every natural resource there is, Talbot, part of the Chicago living wages, healthcare for the primary care services. and make a lot of babies. That’s branch of ACORN. He was so underserved— and while organA seasoned executive with 25 years of experience in health care operations, program all you guys do. And then suck impressive that he was asked to izing voter registration drives. development and financial management, Dale became the executive director for AmeriHealth up the welfare and expect everytrain the ACORN staff. But none has been as withering District of Columbia on May 1. She vicedid president ACORNofinstrategic Chicago one else to pay for your hospital andpreviously baseless as served this one.as the executiveWhat health solutions for D.C. Chartered Health Plan, which was acquired by AmeriHealth Caritas. bills for your kids. I jus’ say let engage in? Bullying banks. With the presidential election AmeriHealth District of Columbialess is the Medicaid care plan intactics. the District, Before age five, every room is a cl your kids die. That’s the best Disruption thanlargest two weeks away, managedIntimidation serving almost 100,000 members.ACORN’s detractors allege the move. Just let your children die. of business. ACORN forced Fun learning opportunities are everywhere. Simple Forget about paying for hospital banks to issue home loans. has engaged in mas“Building a healthier America organization requires shifting the health care paradigm fromrisky a focus counting and identifying shapes activate a child’s learn bills for them. I’m not gonna do The same types of loans sive voter registrationthose fraudproblems after on treating problems when they occur to preventing in the first place. Thethat and help them enter school more prepared. That’ it. You guys are lowlifes. And I caused the financial crisis we’re the reported discovery of bogus Affordable Care Act’s making many preventive care services free is only the first step to founded Grow Up Great and its Spanish-language equiva hope you all die.” in today. names, such as Mickey Mouse accomplishing this,” says con Éxito, a 10-year, $100 million program to help pre Hurd thinks the hate calls will Dale. children for school and life. Pick up a free bilingual Sesa cease soon. “Health plans need to “Happy, Healthy,personal Ready for School” kit at a PNC branc We’re looking forward to bringing Cardinal’s high-touch “In two weeks, I think these with all kinds of simple, everyday things you can do to h encourage more primary service and attention to Georgetown businesses and families! attacks will be over. But I think it learn. Together, we can work with our communities s care physicians and will be harder for us to get our generation won’t just grow up... but gro women’s health specialists 1825 Wisconsin Avenue, NW name back on good graces Identification Statements to practice in underserved because Monday they really–trashed us in8:30am – 5:00pm Thursday: Baltimore Afro-American — (USPS 040-800) is published weekly by The Afro-American the last few weeks.” Newspapers, 2519 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4602. Subscription Rate: communities, build strong Friday: 8:30am – 6:00pm To find out more, go to pncgrowupgreat.com Baltimore - 1 Year - $40.00 (Price includes tax.) Checks for subscriptions should be made But ACORN will9:00am not be – 2:00pm relationships with community Saturday: or call 1-877-PNC-GROW. payable to: The Afro-American Newspaper Company, 2519 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD deterred. 21218-4602. Periodicals postage paid at Baltimore, MD. organizations and offer Sunday: 11:00am – 2:00pm “We’ve been fighting for a POSTMASTER: Send addresses changes to: The Afro-American Newspaper Company, 2519 educational programs that long time, for over 30 years, for N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4602. help people understand why the rights of low- and moderateThe Washington Afro-American & Washington Tribune — (0276-6523) is published preventive care is important income peopleMember all across the weekly by the Afro-American Newspapers at 1917 Benning Road, N.E., Washington, D.C. FDIC 703.584.3400 and how they can access it.” 20002-4723. Subscription Rate: Washington - 1 Year - $40.00. Periodical Postage paid country,” Hurd said. “We’re at Washington, D.C. going to continue to fight for POSTMASTER: Send addresses changes to: The Washington Afro-American economic justice in our commuwww.cardinalbank.com & Washington Tribune, 2519 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4602. nities.” TM /©2008 Sesame Workshop. All rights reserved. ©2008 The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. All r
“She held hands with her family. It was obviously a very emotional mome
ACORN Fights Back
Leader Calls Voter Registration Fraud Charges ‘Bogus’
Black Clergy
Health Care Executive Stresses Need to Expand Primary Care
NEW BANKING OFFICE WE WILL BE OPENING A
IN GEORGETOWN
COMING SOON