Volume Volume 124 123 No. No. 48 20–22
July 2, 2016 - July 2, 2016, The Afro-American A1 $1.00
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JULY 2, 2016 - JULY 8, 2016
Inside
Baltimore
Excerpt from Jesse Williams BET Acceptance speech.
By Laura W. Murphy
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What to Expect at Balto.’s African American Festival
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See story on A2.
• The Murder
of ‘Lor Scoota’ Leaves City Reeling
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Washington
Black Magic
National Black Church Initiative
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By Demetrius Dillard and James Wright Special to the AFRO The National Black Church Initiative, which says it is made up of 34,000 churches across America, has been in the news recently resulting from a series of bold statements and stances taken on a number of controversial social issues. In addition, the organization has published repeated press releases expressing their disdain with various public figures,
politicians, community leaders, social groups and religious leaders. According to its website, the NBCI’s purpose is, “to partner with major organizations and officials whose main mission is to reduce racial disparities in [healthcare, technology, education, housing and the environment]. NBCI offers faith-based, out-of-the-box and cutting-edge solutions to stubborn economic and social issues. NBCI’s programs are governed by credible statistical analysis,
Texas University Affirmative Action Policy Saved by Tie By Gloria Browne-Marshall AANIC Supreme Court Reporter Affirmative action was saved, again. Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court voted 4-4 in Fisher v. Texas allowing the University of Texas-Austin to continue using its affirmative action policy to assure diversity in college enrollment. The absence of Justice Antonin Scalia, a renowned conservative who died in February, lead to the tie. This is the second time the Texas affirmative action policy was placed on the chopping block. In the case Continued on A3
Join Host Sean Yoes Monday-Friday 5-7 p.m. on 88.9 WEAA FM, the Voice of the Community. 12 AP Photo/Evan Vucci
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The Rev. Anthony Evans, president and founder of NBCI, has faced backlash over his organization’s stance on gay rights.
science-based strategies and techniques, and methods that work.” The Rev. Anthony Evans is the president and founder of NBCI, which was established in 1991. As the spokesman and representative of the organization, Evans has been under scrutiny by various prominent figures for his outspokenness on a number of issues, particularly on the topics of same-sex marriage, LGBT rights and race. “We don’t dislike them [LGBT individuals]. We don’t hate them. We love them, but we want them to know that there’s two sides to the story and we’re not going to Continued on A3
Analysts Predict Impact of Brexit on Black Savings By Shantella Y. Sherman Special to the AFRO ssherman@afro.com Douglas and Theresa Moser had no particular interest in the United Kingdom’s surprising recent decision to leave the European Union in search of political and economic autonomy from the group. And whether precipitated by nationalist and racist propaganda or a move to simply stand alone, the Olney, Md.-based couple, considered the fall out to be far removed from their lives. But when the U.S. stock market – Greg McBride began an aggressive decline following the U.K.’s departure vote (known as Brexit), the Mosers realized their 401Ks and children’s college savings plans, could be in jeopardy. The true consequences of Britain exiting from the European Union, according to analysists will likely be gradual, however, the immediate impact on stock prices has proven quick and brutal. For Black families, like the Mosers, whose saving habits have been poor, heavy losses in their stocks could further aggravate saving. Continued on A4
“Financial markets are going to be ugly.”
Listen to Afro’s “First Edition”
In a major victory for affirmative action, a divided Supreme Court upheld the University of Texas admissions program that takes account of race.
Show Church, Leadership Disconnect
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Outspoken D.C.-Based Religious Group Garners National Attention
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• D.C. Bike Lanes AP Photo
Fairness for Black Travelers
“We’ve been floating this country on credit for centuries, yo. And we’re done watching, and waiting while this invention called whiteness uses and abuses us. Burying Black people out of sight and out of mind, while extracting our culture, our dollars, our entertainment like oil — black gold. Ghettoizing and demeaning our creations then stealing them. Gentrifying our genius and then trying us on like costumes before discarding our bodies like rinds of strange fruit. The thing is, though, the thing is, that just because we’re magic doesn’t mean we’re not real,” he said.
Copyright © 2016 by the Afro-American Company
Civil Rights Attorneys Attempt Block of N.C. Voter Bill By Zenitha Prince Senior AFRO Correspondent zprince@afro.com With the clock ticking down to the presidential general election in November, civil rights attorneys recently took to the court in another attempt to block North Carolina’s HB 589, which constitutional rights activists have called one of the most brutal attacks on minority voting rights in the modern era. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals on June 21 heard oral arguments in NC State Conference of the NAACP vs. McCrory, a case which could have a significant impact on the outcome of the elections, experts say. “The implications for the upcoming presidential election are huge,” said David Gans, director of the Human Rights, Civil Rights & Citizenship Program at the Constitutional Accountability Center. “Since the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act in the case of Shelby County v. Holder in 2013, we have seen a wave of new legislation that makes it harder for racial minorities and others to exercise their constitutional right to vote,” Gans further told the AFRO. “Seventeen states which comprise 70 percent of the electoral votes needed to win the presidency now have new or tougher laws that make it harder for Americans to Continued on A3