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Volume 123 No. 2
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July 5, 2014 - July 5, 2014, The Afro-American
AUGUST 16, 2014 - AUGUST 22, 2014
Paulette Brown Begins Term as PresidentElect of the American Bar Association Holland, who was on hand to watch the event. Holland is a close friend of Brown’s and Paulette Brown began her one-year term as former Baltimore City Eighth Circuit Court judge. president-elect of the American Bar Association Aug. 12 at the conclusion of the ABA Annual “It was such a joyous Meeting in Boston. occasion. It just sent chills down my spine.” The move is a historic one – She said that lawyers who don’t usually attend ABA Brown is the first African-American meetings travelled to Boston female to hold just to be at the ceremony. the position in the “It was quite a showing of group’s 136-year African American support,” Paulette Brown began her one-year Holland said. “It will be an history. She will term as president-elect of the ABA even bigger celebration next serve one year as Aug. 12. president-elect year.” Holland also said that she before becoming knows Brown will make diversity a key part of her tenure. ABA president in August 2015. “She is very organized; she is a determined person; she “It was a historic day,” has a passion for access to justice and equality in justice.” Continued on A3 said Judge (Ret.) Marcella By Lisa Snowden-McCray Special to the AFRO
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New Twist on the ‘Red Skins’ Protest
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Michele Roberts Named Executive Director of NBA Players Assoc. First Woman to Hold Such a Position
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By Christina Sturdivant Special to the AFRO African-American lawyer, Michele Roberts, marks history as the first woman to be elected as the executive director of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA). The election took place July 28. “Throughout an extensive search, there were many terrific candidates, but Michele’s resolve, enthusiasm, and vision for the future of the NBPA made her the perfect fit,” stated a press release from the NBPA.
As the first woman to lead a major North American men’s sports union, the 57-year-old will represent current NBA players to ensure their rights are protected and every measure is taken to assist players in maximizing their opportunities and achieving their goals – both on and off the court, according to the mission of the organization that was founded in 1954. Roberts pleaded her case for leadership in a – Chris Paul Las Vegas meeting that included 117 NBA players, a record number to attend a meeting of this kind, according to union officials. “We talked about their rights, their interests, and their futures,” Roberts told
“Even though she’s a female, she’s very relatable to a lot of our players. I think that’s what really hit home for not only myself but some of these other guys as well.”
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ESPN. “I told them what I thought I can bring to the table and my absolute belief in their right to get a fair share going forward.” Continued on A3
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By Valencia Mohammed Special to the AFRO It’s easy for the majority of Americans, regardless of race, ethnicity and political affiliation to ignore the fact that in the nation’s capital hundreds of thousands of people are denied full citizenship. But many residents, like Julius Hobson, James Forman, Wilhemina and Calvin Rolark, Hilda and Charlie Mason, Monica and Lawrence Guyot, Nadine Winter, Angie
Alexander Crowned Miss Black USA 2014
Photo by Rob Roberts
Third Runner Up Terra Strong - Miss Black Ohio, First Runner Up Gabrielle Lewis - Miss Black Tennessee; Miss Black USA 2014 Jasmine Alexander - Miss Black Colorado, Second Runner Up Jasmine Johnson - Miss Black California and Fourth Runner Up Alexandra Morton - Miss Black Washington
13 By Shantella Sherman Special to the AFRO
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Michele Roberts is the first woman to be elected as the executive director of the National Basketball Players Association.
The Psychological Effects of Being Denied Statehood
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“Any time you are considered a subculture, it’s important to have your own reward system. If you try to assimilate, you will always be looking for validation from the majority group. That can do damage to your psyche,” Karen Arrington,
founder of Miss Black USA Pageant, said. “Miss Black USA contestants celebrate their own unique traits and differences . . . don’t have to conform to European standards. They define their own standards of beauty, which come in various shades and sizes.” This year’s Miss Black USA Pageant, themed,
“Redefining Black Women,” was held Aug. 10 at the University of the District of Columbia’s Arts Theatre and the finalists affirmed Arrington’s assessment. The newly crowned Miss Black USA 2014 – Jasmine Mone’ Alexander, 25, who entered the pageant as Miss Black Colorado USA – epitomizes Continued on A4
”We are surrounded on the North, South, East and West by the United States of America . . .” King Corley, Josephine Butler, Conrad Smith and hundreds of others fought for statehood before passing. Still other advocates continue the fight while other Americans can’t seem to understand the psychological effects of being denied statehood and allowing members of Congress, predominantly White males, control their existence. “Oppression has been described as a state of domination where the oppressed suffer the consequences of deprivation, exclusion, discrimination, exploitation, control of culture, and sometimes even violence,” Anne Anderson wrote in a published work titled, Hometown Washington, D.C.: A Case Study in Domination. Anderson, a clinical social worker and former coordinator of Psychologists for Social Responsibility, has lived Continued on A3
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