Daytona Times, March 7, 2019

EE FR

40 YEARS

CELEBRATING

DR. E. FAYE WILLIAMS: WE NOW SEE THE SMOKING GUNS PAGE 4

OF CONTINUOUS WEEKLY PUBLISHING

East Central Florida’s Black Voice

FIRST BLACK TO FLY WITH BLUE ANGELS SPEAKS AT EMBRY-RIDDLE SEE PAGE 5

MARCH 7 - MARCH 13, 2019

YEAR 44 NO. 10

www.daytonatimes.com

From Congregational to Tubman-King Iconic Daytona church, named after abolitionist and civil rights leader, was founded by a group of White worshipers.

Editor’s note: Volusia County is home to dozens of churches with predominantly Black congregations. Only a limited number can claim to have stood the test of time for 100 years or more. Mass Communication students at BethuneCookman University visited some of these churches to find out what makes them special. This is one in a series of stories about the local religious institutions.

BY SARITA MASON SPECIAL TO THE DAYTONA TIMES

Tubman-King Community Church did not start out named after two icons of Black history.

Likewise, the church, which

has been around from more than 100 years, did not come into being as a staple in the city’s African-American community.

It was a group of White Christians – 19 to be exact – that came together on April 1, 1879 to form the First Congregational Church, which was one of the first churches built in the city of Daytona Beach.

The Rev. C.M. Bingham was the first pastor, according to church history. The church was originally located in downtown Daytona Beach, but after a donation of land from an anonymous source in 1965, the church relocated to its current site, which caused a split in the congregation.

Another move The congregation, now located in a predominantly AfricanAmerican community, saw its makeup change to reflect its surrounding in the 1970s and 1980s.

This led to an even larger split in the congregation and a racial transition within the church, according to the church’s website.

Some members wanted to continue as First Congregational and move back to the downtown location. The congregation, which had grown to 245 at one point, numbered 48 people, records show. They voted 42-6 to keep the church in the new location and continue to “preserve its rich heritage as a Congregational Church” and “meet the needs of the people in the community surrounding its facilities.”

See CHURCH, Page 2

DAYTONA TIMES / 40TH ANNIVERSARY

Worthen appointed, Smith celebrated

Tubman-King Community Church of Daytona Beach

Longtime Midtown doctor retires; heading to Jamaica

BY ANDREAS BUTLER DAYTONA TIMES

After 22 years of service at Halifax Health’s Keech Pediatric Neighborhood Care, Dr. Andrea Thorpe officially retired on Feb. 28.

She was the medical director in pediatrics at the center located at 431 S. Keech St., Daytona Beach.

Thorpe had worked for the center since 1996 and had been with Halifax Health since 1990.

The facility is located in Daytona’s Midtown, which has had high numbers of health disparities.

Halifax Health threw a retirement party Thorpe outside the newly renovated Halifax Keech Health Center on Feb. 21. The fa-

cility reopened on March 1 as a location of the Florida Department of Health in Volusia County.

‘Mission is over’ The party drew Thorpe’s family, friends, members of the community, public officials, health care professionals and the Halifax Health family. Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry spoke at the event.

“To be honest, I heard a little voice in my head from up above that said it is time to go. I think the mission is over. I’m at peace.

I originally planned to retire in 2019 but now I just feel like it’s coming from God that it is time See THORPE, Page 2

Dr. Andrea Thorpe (center) is shown with guests at her retirement party.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HALIFAX HEALTH

Flagler students to present project at state safety meeting SPECIAL TO THE DAYTONA TIMES

Thirty years ago in 1989, the Daytona Times reported on Gov. Bob Martinez’s appointment of Attorney Fred Worthen to a County Court judgeship, and a community ‘roast’ in celebration of longtime educator LeRosa H. Smith.

ALSO INSIDE

Flagler Palm Coast High School’s community problemsolving group, “FPC Bulldog Patrol,” has been invited to present their project to the next meeting of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety Commission.

The meeting is April 9-10 at the BB&T Center in Sunrise. The invitation comes from Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, who chairs the commission.

Damien Kelly, who heads Florida’s Office of Safe Schools travelled the state following his appointment to that position to see how security improvements are being handled at each district.

Survival kits, drones His visit to Flagler County in January was the first time he saw students have input into this process. After watching the FPC Bulldog Patrol give their presentation, Kelly suggested to Gualtieri that the students and their teacher give their presentation to the full commission, highlighting their innovative ideas.

The group has assembled classroom survival kits with the help of fellow students in FPC’s Fire Leadership Academy, facilitated getting first-aid training for teachers, coordinated with students in the school’s aeronautics program and Air Force JROTC to work on a plan for first responders to use drones to monitor the campus during an emergency, collaborated with members of the school’s television production team to create a safety video, and worked with Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly to have FCSO K-9 units randomly patrol their school.

See PROJECT, Page 2

COMMUNITY NEWS: PROGRAM AT ORMOND LIBRARY WILL HIGHLIGHT BLACK WOMEN IN BUSINESS | PAGE 4 SPORTS: CITY OF DAYTONA SEEKING YOUTH TO PARTICIPATE IN SOCCER AND BASEBALL PROGRAMS | PAGE 6

7 FOCUS

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MARCH 7 – MARCH 13, 2019

Allen Chapel celebrating 109th anniversary The Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church of Daytona Beach will celebrate its 109th anniversary at the 9:45 a.m. service Sunday, March 10. The church is located at 580 George W. Engram Blvd.

This year’s theme is “God Rewards Our Works.”

The Allen Chapel AME Church was organized on March 8, 1910 under the first pastor, J.W. Allen, for whom the church was named.

The first church building was erected on 1914 on Second Avenue, now known as Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard and McLeod Street. In 1993, the congregation relocated into the current church building on Cypress Street, now known as George W. Engram Boulevard.

The guest preacher will be the Rev. Dr. Jamin Ahmad Powell, pas-

Votran service interruptions during Bike Week

Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church of Daytona Beach is located at 580 George W. Engram Blvd. tor of Bethel A.M.E. Church in Kissimmee.

“The community is invited to join in the celebration and especially the family members of Allen Chapel who attended from its be-

ginning in 1910,” said co-chairs Ivyl Lesane and Robert Rhoulac.

The Rev. Dr. Nathan M. Mugala is pastor of Allen Chapel.

For more information, call the church at 386-255-1195.

Bike Week will bring heavy traffic to Volusia County and Votran riders should expect numerous delays, interruptions and route deviations.

Schedule delays can occur from March 8 to 17.

From March 14 to 17, Votran vehicles will not use the Intermodal Transit Facility at the Ocean Center. Route deviations include: • Routes 1, 18 and 19 will make service stops on State Road A1A. • Route 3 will not serve Riverside Drive between Second and Third streets.

• Route 8 will make service stops on Halifax Avenue.

• Buses will use U.S. 1 from Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune

Long to Kaufman The Rev. John T. Long III was called by the congregation as pastor in 1994. Long is the longest pastor to serve at TubmanKing so far with 21 years under his belt. He strived for spiritual worship, leadership, service to the community and more. He resigned in June 2016.

Today, the Rev. Dr. M.L. Kaufman serves as the senior pastor. Kaufman most recently served at Nicey Grove Baptist Church in Marshville, North Carolina.

In an interview, he spoke about change within the church, empowerment and leadership among the congregation, growth within the community, and growth among Bethune-Cookman University students.

“Historically, most Black churches have been welcoming to other people and the doors have been open and it’s no different here,” Kaufman said.

Women of Tubman-King Community Church participate in a program.

CHURCH from Page 1

‘An identity problem’

The Rev. Dr. M.L. Kaufman and his wife, Ivy, came to Tubman-King in 2018.

PROJECT from Page 1 ‘Making a difference’ FPC student Gabrielle Jackson said, “It is an honor to be invited and I hope this will make other students want to do the same and have a voice in their safety.”

Fellow FPC Bulldog Patrol member Sydni Leon added, “I think it’s absolutely incredible to see how high schoolers are really making a difference in improving our school environment. I am so proud to be a part of a project helping our school enhance our safety, which will hopefully inspire others to follow too.”

Of her students’ project, Diane Tomko related, “These students are problem solvers whose passion has enabled them to share their voices in a proactive manner. This is what ed-

In 1979, the Rev. Glen C. Misick became the first Black minister of First Congregational Church.

The church at that time had 20 White members and four Black members. Misick began recruiting new members and getting the church involved in the community. Membership once again fell. Misick, meanwhile, accepted a call to pastor a church in San Francisco.

In 1985, the Rev. G. Wesley Raney was called to serve as pas-

ucation does...empowers students to find and use their voices to better humanity.”

Makeup of patrol Flagler Schools Superintendent James Tager, who will accompany the team to Sunrise next month agrees.

“When it comes to campus safety and security plans, we need our students to have a seat at the table. The members of the FPC Bulldog Patrol are proof that if you educate and then empower your students, they will never stop amazing you with their innovation.”

The FPC Bulldog Patrol is made up of students freshmen Nicholas Blumengarten, Abbigail Carver, sophomores Sydni Leon, Gabrielle Jackson, seniors Katia Martynuk and William Patin.

Diane Tomko is their teacher. Winnie Oden, safety consultant with Flagler Schools, will also accompany the team.

tor. During his tenure, Raney realized that the church had an “identity problem.”

Under him, the church’s name was changed to Tubman-King Community Church. The name change, honoring the memory of Harriet Tubman and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was very important to the church because of its location in the African-American community. The church wanted the name to represent the Black community and its history.

Raney also ordained deacons Lionel Earl, George Tye, Rowland Fulton and John Rutledge.

He resigned as pastor to accept a call to another church in Raleigh, North Carolina, in May 1991.

He noted that traditional churches now have some challenges, especially among younger generations. “The church is not the central voice anymore and you have a lot of competing voices as well as a struggle for the churches relevance,” Kaufman noted.

But, he said, it is nothing that cannot be overcome.

“One thing they taught us in school, especially in my foundational seminar at Virginia Union, they taught us that if you fail to critique your tradition, it will become stale,” he added.

Growing pains Ron Dickens has been a deacon since 1989. Dickens said he has seen many things come

and go at Tubman-King, including pastors and members. He recalled that during the 1980s, there were many thriving businesses in Daytona Beach that brought local community members jobs, which eventually brought them to a church family-Tubman-King.

“When companies picked up and left, so did some of our members which, affected the church tremendously,” he said.

Gerald Chester, another deacon, has been serving the church since 1996. Chester said that over the past few years, Tubman-King has had a few issues with stabilizing the church members and welcoming change to older members.

“Revisiting church politics and creating a better paper constitution will better our church,” Chester said.

Longtime members reminisce Wilburn Williams, minister of music and choir director at Tubman-King, has been attending the church since he was born.

Williams, who attended Bethune-Cookman, said his family grew up in the church and he has been there ever since.

“I love the overall warmth that still lingers in this place,” he said.

“I couldn’t imagine it in any other way.”

Belinda Williams-Collins is an usher at the church. WilliamsCollins joined the congregation more than 20 years ago. She says she loves the new direction that Kaufman is working toward and hopes to be part of the new change.

“The coming of new pastors has changed things slightly, but the tradition of this church will never change,” she said.

THORPE from Page 1

to go on,” Thorpe stated.

The Jamaica native doesn’t plan to be idle during her retirement.

She told the Daytona Times, “I am heading back to Jamaica. The Jamaican government paid for all of my education. I need to go back and give back to the country. I may get involved in mission work. I will also get some rest. I’ve been in medicine for 33 years.”

Like family She calls the time spent with Halifax Health and at the Keech Street Health facility as priceless.

“Many of the parents coming in now have been my patients and now their children are my patients. For me personally, it has been a very challenging time, but it is also has been very rewarding,” Thorpe explained.

“I got to learn the stories of each family. These families have become my family over the years. I have a longstanding relationship with these families.’’

‘An awesome doctor’ Her patients have fond memories of her as well.

Daytona Beach resident Mona Brown had four children who are now all adults. They were Thorpe’s patients when they were children.

“She was an awesome doctor. She loved the kids, her patients. She was good to my children. She treated all the kids with love. She was always there if anything went wrong. My kids had asthma bad. She jumped on it real quick,” Brown told the Times.

‘Not for the money’ Above are members of the “FPC Bulldog Patrol.’’

‘Competing voices’

Boulevard to Fairview Avenue. There will be no service to Volusia Square and the Daytona Flea Market.

• Route 1 will use International Speedway Boulevard to State Road A1A and will end at Vining Court and Granada Boulevard. There will be no service on the Granada Bridge.

• Routes 3, 4 and 10 will use Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard, Beach Street and Michigan Street to Fairview Avenue outbound and inbound.

• On Sunday, Route 10 will be the same as night service from the Votran Transfer Plaza but will not serve the Daytona Flea Market.

• Route 15 will use Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard to Beach Street.

Riders may learn more by visiting votran.org.

For inspiring doctors or any other career goals, Thorpe had this to say.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HALIFAX HEALTH

Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry honors Dr. Andrea Thorpe at the Feb. 21 event.

“You must want to be a doctor for the right reason, which is to help people. It’s not for the money. Coming to work every day as a doctor requires dedication and wanting to help your patients. Medicine is one of the professions where you become close with your patients where they can share things with you that they won’t with anyone else,” she reflected.

“You cannot pass judgment. When they become your patient, you have to try to walk in their footsteps to try to see where they come from. You can’t put your views on them because their situation is different from yours. Your day goes on even when you leave the office. Trying to balance your life is difficult. Balancing family and work is difficult.”

Born in Kingston Thorpe was born in Kingston, Jamaica. She graduated from Wolmer Girls School in 1971.

She earned both her Bachelor of Science in 1975 and medical degree in 1989 at the University of the West Indies in Mona, Jamaica which is five miles south of Kingston.

Thorpe did her residency at the Bronx Lebanon Hospital in the Bronx, New York. She also did an internship and a residency at Cornwall Regional Hospital in Jamaica.

She also had been the medical director for pediatrics at Halifax Keech Street Center since 1996. Previously she was the medical director for pediatrics for the Volusia County Health Department (1990-1996).

Other affiliations Thorpe also worked as an assistant professor of pediatrics at Bronx Lebanon Hospital in the Bronx, New York City, New York (1986-1990).

She has several medical certifications, licenses and affiliations, certification with the American Board of Pediatrics.

Thorpe also serves as the chairperson for the professional advisory committee for Easterseals of Volusia County in Daytona Beach. She served as chair for the board for the Sickle Cell Disease Association from 1990 to 2011.

She has two adult sons – Fred and Andre – who currently reside in Atlanta.

3 7

M A YNEWS OR

MARCH 7 – MARCH 13, 2019 COMMUNITY DECEMBER 14 - 20, 2006

Library program to highlight local women in business The commemorative observance of Women’s History Month initiates a go-to, must-see event about the roles that women play in shaping the community and our nation.

A place where women’s voices will amplify as motivational speakers is the Ormond Beach Regional Library, 30 South Beach St., Ormond Beach.

That’s March 10 to see the speakers for Women’s History Month, another program by Linda Epps and Lawrence Green.

This time it’s titled “Women in Business.”

Gerri Wright-Gibson will introduce Dr. Primrose Cameron at 1 p.m., which will be followed by Imani Kinshasa with poetry at 2 p.m.; Monnik McLeod, an Angels of Praise dancer, 2:30 p.m., and Donna Gray-Banks introduced by Wright-Gibson at 3 p.m.

Dr. Cameron, Ed.D., a motivational speaker and empowerment coach facilitator, will speak on “BuildDr. Primrose ing Community ConnecCameron tions.”

She resides and also has worked, advocating for families in Volusia County for two decades.

front so that assistance can be rendered.

It is a long-range goal to put the festival on the road, but, in the meantime, GrayBanks will put as much effort in making a difference in our own community, where she has expanded the festival to include music, poetry and art.

And, in doing so, she has touched more people, and sees the fruits of her labor with the expansion of other events – like Conversations by Milton McCulloch, which are held in Orlando.

Gray-Banks also has collaboration with other organizations to present books and baskets for Easter, and of course, the Children’s Book Festival every June at the Midtown Cultural and Educational Center in Daytona Beach. In it’s third year, it features Vincent Taylor and his character Cornbread.

PALM COAST COMMUNITY NEWS JEROLINE D. MCCARTHY

The best part is the sense of accountability communicated to the audience that denies excuses and sparks action and results through her motivational speaking.

Dr. Cameron creates opportunities and possibilities through Cameron Enterprises’ organized events – fashion shows, image clinics, vision-board parties, community seminars, grandparents-raisinggrandchildren group sessions, teen-building seminars, the Sisters Build Network, and the Calling a Few Good Men: A Call to Action Conference.

She was the mistress of ceremonies for the Legacy Brunch, PRM guest speaker, “The Ultimate Journey to an Empowered and Engaged Employee;” commencement speaker for Southern Technical College in St. Mary, mistress of ceremonies for the Reverberation poetry event, among other speaking engagements.

Advice on writing books

Life coach, teacher She has a wealth of experience as a motivational speaker, life coach, master of ceremonies, classroom teacher, professional development specialist, radio show host, and counselor helping young adults and their families.

As a motivational speaker, like no other, she genuinely is caring about establishing a healthy balance in one’s life.

She captivates the attention of everyone in her presence, whether it’s an auditorium-filled engagement, or one-on-one coaching, Regardless of where you are now, you will find yourself propelled to the next level.

Donna M. Gray-Banks will show her influence on “I Want to Write A Book, Now What.”

She is president of Ila’s Diamonds, LLC, and founder/director of the F.R.E.S.H. Book Festival, held each January in Daytona Beach.

She spent many years working for the federal Donna government in WashingGray-Banks ton, D.C. Upon relocating to Florida, she has spent years working for the

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE FOR BLACK STUDENTS. NO EXCUSES. The classic guide from Florida Courier publisher, lawyer and broadcaster CHARLES W. CHERRY II

COURTESY OF LINDA SHARPE MATTHEWS

Donald Matthews passed away on Feb. 11.

Central Florida Community Development Corporation, where she developed and managed a community resource center in Spring Hill in DeLand.

Banks was given an opportunity to work for the City of New Smyrna Beach as a community resource coordinator. She is currently employed with the city.

Ila’s Diamonds creator Ila’s Diamonds, LLC, was developed to manage and direct the marketing and development of the “Ila’s Diamonds’ book series.

From Ila’s Diamonds came the F.R.E.S.H. Book Festival, which was developed to assist young, inspiring authors with marketing, and introduce them to veterans of the book business at the festival.

Most first-time book writers are eager to learn more about the business, and the F.R.E.S.H. Book Festival gives them the opportunity to receive information from other authors, publishers, script writers and editors.

F.R.E.S.H, a boutique festival, has the capability for authors to interact on a personal level with their fans, facilitate workshops on their books, and introduce their books to the community.

F.R..E.S.H - the acronym for Fiction, Romance, Erotica, Spiritual, Health, and more - has the mission of making literacy a legacy for the future of our children and our children’s children.

Focus on literacy Gray-Banks ascribes that making literacy an important component of everyday life gives children every opportunity to read, even if it is the labels at the grocery store. It also means no longer having to hide in the shadows because one has a literacy problem, but bringing it to the fore-

Church hosting Black museum trip A bus trip to Fernandina Beach has inspired interest in visiting the LaVilla Museum of African-American History and American Beach, founded by Black millionaire A. Lewis, so African-Americans could vacation during the Jim Crow era.

Sponsored by the Women’s Day Committee of First Church – the Rev. Gillard S. Glover, pastor – the bus will leave at 9 a.m.

March 14 from 91 Old Kings Road North, Palm Coast.

Lunch will be included in the $40 ticket price.

For further information, call 516-4135899 or 386-237-7024.

Mathews memorial service is March 9 Donald Mathews’ memorial service will be held on March 9, 11 a.m., at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, 75 Pine Lakes Parkway, Palm Coast – the Rev. Edwin Coffie, pastor.

Mr. Mathews passed away Feb. 11.

He was the Flagler County NAACP treasurer, former Freedom Fund Chairman, and a retired New York City Housing Authority director.

Mr. Matthews was the husband of Linda Sharpe Mathews, Flagler County NAACP president.

Any questions regarding the service may be directed to 386-446-7822.

••• As always, remember our prayers for the sick, afflicted, the prodigal son, or daughter, and the bereaved.

Celebrations Birthday wishes to Diedre Robinson, March 7; Errol Hooke, March 10; and Loretta Pete, March 13.

Happy anniversary to John and Sybil Lucas, March 10; and Kwando and Imani Kinshasa, March 11.

PRAISE FOR ‘EXCELLENCE WITHOUT EXCUSE’: “This guide for African-American college-bound students is packed with practical and insightful information for achieving academic success...The primary focus here is to equip students with the savvy and networking skills to maneuver themselves through the academic maze of higher education.”

– Book review, School Library Journal • How low expectations of Black students’ achievements can get them higher grades; • Want a great grade? Prepare to cheat!

• How Black students can program their minds for success; • Setting goals – When to tell everybody, and when to keep your mouth shut; • Black English, and why Black students must be ‘bilingual.’ …AND MUCH MORE!

www.excellencewithoutexcuse.com Download immediately as an eBook or a pdf Order softcover online, from Amazon, or your local bookstore ISBN#978-1-56385-500-9 Published by International Scholastic Press, LLC Contact Charles at ccherry2@gmail.com

Black history at Golden center “Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future’’ was the theme of a Black History Month program last month featuring area students.

Held at the Yvonne ScarlettGolden Cultural and Educational Center, it included performances by the C-Squad Steppers, the Inner-Acting Theater Ensemble, and the PTE Drumline.

The speakers were Ahmad Dixon as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; Solace Curinton as Katherine Johnson, the mathematician whose life was featured in the movie “Hidden Figures; Zahir Allen as Malcolm X; Program Director Leroy Meadows; Breyanna Ivey as former Florida Rep. Carrie Meek; and Carlie Collins as Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune.

Derrick Henry Jr. spoke on the ABC’s of Black History.

Facebook ccherry2 excellencewithoutexcuse

for info on speeches, workshops, seminars,

PHOTOS BY DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR./HARDNOTTSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

Twitter @ccherry2

book signings, panel discussions.

Visit us online at daytonatimes.com

East Central Florida’s Black Voice

Fresh Start enrollment set for April 1 Daytona State College’s Fresh Start program is a free, four-week workshop for men and women.

After completing the Fresh Start program, graduates will be better prepared to enroll in a career or technical program at the college. Participants must be 18 and up and not enrolled in public school; have completed a high school diploma or GED;

and want to enroll in a vocational certificate or an associate of science program.

The program will help students build self confidence, build communication skills that employers are seeking, improve personal and professional boundaries, learn about new vocational work-ready programs; and explore financial aid opportunities.

Enroll at http://www.daytonastate.edu/ centerforwomenandmen/freshstart.html For more information, call 386-5063068.

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7 EDITORIAL

MARCH 7 – MARCH 13, 2019

CBC sometime in headlines, never on sidelines What does the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) do? It takes U.S House Majority Whip James Clyburn to make it understandable.

“It’s not only what we make happen, but what we stop from happening,” Clyburn told a standing room-only crowd at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Black History Month celebration on February 26.

His words are instructive for folks who get their news from soundbites and tweets. The legislative process is rarely fully televised, and those who put brakes on nonsense proposals never make the headlines. The February 26 event made it clear that the CBC is often effective on the front lines and the sidelines.

Diverse group The 116th Congress includes 55 CBC members, an incredibly diverse group of African-Americans who approach Black liberation differently. There are five who now chair House committees, including Maxine Waters (DCA), who chairs the Financial Services Committee, Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) who chairs the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, Robert “Bobby” Scott (D-VA) who chairs the Education and Labor Committee, Bennie Thompson (D-MS) who chairs the Homeland Security Committee, and Elijah Cummings (DMD) who chairs the Government Oversight Committee. Cummings

JULIANNE MALVEAUX TRICE EDNEY NEWS WIRE

was the only one of the five who was not present ‒ understandably so when one reflected on his leadership in the hearing that examined Michael Cohen, the jailbound attorney who formerly represented the nation’s Prevaricator-in-Chief.

Each of them talked about the challenges they face in their roles, especially the fact that progressive legislation that leaves the House of Representatives is often unlikely to pass the Republican-dominated United States Senate and the obstreperous Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (my words, not theirs). But each also talked about issues they will address in their leadership.

Real power Congresswoman Waters can subpoena tax returns and bank records. She spoke of the many ways banking boards lack diversity and plans to establish a diversity and inclusion subcommittee as part of the Financial Services Committee. Bennie Thompson and Eddie Bernice Johnson talked about directing money to HBCUs and about the ways that some universities are able to get the majority of federal dollars.

#OscarsSoWhite beginning to yield change The latest Academy Awards ceremony marked a paradigm shift for an industry that has struggled with diversity. Of the four acting awards, three were won by people of color: Mahershala Ali, Regina King and Rami Malek; Ruth Carter of “Black Panther” was the first AfricanAmerican to win an Oscar for Costume Design; and Hanna Beachler was the first to win for Production Design; and the writing team behind “BlacKKKlansman” included two Black artists, Spike Lee and Kevin Willmot.

Response to criticism The industry made significant steps in the last few years. Following two years of Academy Awards voting that produced no acting nominees of color, the Na-

MARC H. MORIAL TRICE EDNEY WIRE

tional Urban League responded with blistering criticism.

In a 2016 letter to the thenpresident of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, I pointed out that the overwhelmingly White, male, and older membership of the Academy dismally failed to reflect the vibrant creative filmmaking community.

At the time, the Academy was 94 percent White, 77 percent male, 86 percent age 50 or older, and had a median age of 62.

Activist April Reign created the

We now see the smoking guns Michael Cohen gave us several smoking guns in his congressional testimony last week.

He came to the hearing confessing his sins, asking for forgiveness and armed with provable facts. He showed a copy of the check that Donald Trump reimbursed him for paying women to keep quiet about No. 45’s lies about sleeping with women other than his wife and lying about it. Looks like No. 45’s hush-money didn’t hush a lot.

Many of us were glued to our televisions as Michael came before the U.S. House’s Oversight Committee. He was remorseful and admitted his own faults before telling the committee that No. 45 engaged in multiple criminal acts. He told us about the bank fraud, insurance fraud, tax evasion and suborning perjury. He laid out evidence of a cheat, a racist, a con-man.

DR. E. FAYE WILLIAMS, ESQ. TRICE EDNEY NEWS WIRE

Knew it would come Nobody I know was surprised.

In 2016, Dick Gregory told us how the election was going to come out. He said we were going to experience chaos. We all know that prediction came true.

No matter what you’ve thought of Michael in the past, at the hearing he was on it, and I believed him. After he sat before that committee for several hours with Republicans hurling every insult possible at him and never mentioning the real culprit ‒ No. 45 ‒ Michael just kept on giving up information the public need-

Congressman Bobby Scott intrigued me when he talked about the way the media is interested in drama, not substance. On a day when he dealt with both the minimum wage and higher education legislation, most of the questions he got from the media were about “blackface” and other scandals in Virginia.

The search for the salacious has been the theme of No.45’s administration. One does not have to search far to find payments to prostitutes, pandering to potentates, and other chicanery. The real trickery, however, is happening when our regulatory structure is being decimated; when payday lending rules are hanged by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to make predatory lending easier and more exploitative; when education regulations are being changed to make access for Black and other students of color even harder than it is now; when labor regulations are being changed to exploit unions.

The federal minimum wage, at $7.25, has not increased in a decade. As such, the Raise The Wage Act should be making headlines. Instead, all cameras, all eyes are on the scandals that dominate this administration.

In celebrating the CBC, I’m not touting their perfection, because the collective caucus is as flawed as any other organization.

My biggest bone to pick with Caucus members is all of them won’t sign or align themselves with HR 40, the reparations legislation that

hashtag #OscarsSoWhite in 2015, but the industry resisted change and when the following year produced no acting nominees of color, pressure – including our demand for a clear and specific blueprint for change – intensified.

Fortunately our efforts produced results, and the Academy changed its membership rules.

Increased diversity The class of members admitted in June 2016 was comprised of 46 percent women and 41 percent people of color. The June 2017 class was 39 percent women; 30 percent were people of color. In 2018, 49 percent of new members were women and 38 percent were people of color.

The percentage of voting members of the academy who are people of color has doubled since 2015, from 8 percent to 16 percent.

That’s still far below the 27 percent of the U.S. population that identify as non-White, but it is a

ed to hear.

The Republicans just kept on trying to pretend the president wasn’t the lead bad guy. Democrats who were doing the questioning were well prepared.

They brought out the facts and left no doubt that No. 45 committed criminal acts.

No. 45 thought the campaign was a great marketing opportunity, and never believed he was going to win. At the end of Michael’s testimony, I think No. 45 is wishing he had not won. (I say “won” cautiously because it’s obvious somebody messed with the votes.)

We heard that executives at the Trump organization knew No. 45 inflated assets when he wanted to look important. On the other hand, he pretended he had fewer assets to avoid higher taxes.

Michael was in a room with No. 45 when Don, Jr. came into the room, walked behind No. 45’s desk and said, “The meeting has been set.” He testified that it is most likely they were talking about the infamous Trump Tower meeting. We heard strong ev-

VISUAL VIEWPOINT: CHILD SEX ABUSE IN CHURCHES

GARY MCCOY / CAGLE CARTOONS

Congressman John Conyers (DMI) introduced 30 years ago.

Not impractical Many say the reparations conversation is impractical. From my perspective, if you are interested in economic justice, you must be interested in restorative and reparatory justice for the descendants of the enslaved people who built this country.

That means developing public policy to close the wealth gap.

That means developing public policy to increase access to education. That means educating a nation with leaders and teachers who seem to think it is okay to run around in blackface, hand children cotton bolls or more alarm-

welcome development.

Asked if lack of racial diversity is still an issue in Hollywood, April Reign answered, “Absolutely yes…Until we are no longer having these conversations about firsts in 2019, until we see everyone having the opportunity, whether it’s race and ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, indigenous people in this country. Until we all have an opportunity to see ourselves represented on screen, not just during awards season but all year long, I’ll still continue to talk about #OscarsSoWhite.

“The work continues, but I am thrilled to be able to celebrate the incremental progress that has been made, even if only for a night,” she added.

It’s worth noting that change began only after the Academy instituted specific rules designed to increase diversity. A vague push for diversity after the #OscarsSoWhite campaign began appeared to produce no significant results.

idence that No. 45 committed crimes.

The worst That hearing must have been the worst day of No. 45’s days living in public housing! This was pretty clear as he strutted around in Hanoi with his new friend. In fact, he said he’d fallen in love with the North Korean leader.

Republicans behaved badly with no intention of seeking the truth. The show reached the pit several times, but one of the most insulting acts was Rep. Mark Meadows bringing in a Black woman prop and told her to stand up so we could inspect her as though she was a slave on the block to prove No. 45 was not racist because he’d hired her.

Rep. Elijah Cummings made

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Doesn’t fix itself “It seems that the Academy’s board of trustees believes diversity is a problem that will resolve itself,” we wrote in our 2016 letter to the Academy. “The nominations show otherwise.”

As we noted at the time, a lack of diversity in the entertainment industry is a complex issue without a simple solution, and we are well-aware the problem neither begins nor ends with awards nominations. But award nominations translate into box office success, and the potential for box office success determines which projects are greenlighted.

“Black Panther,” with a nearly all-Black cast and a Black director, broke box office records for 2018. We hope its success, both critically and financially, bodes well for the future of diversity in American cinema.

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Rep. Elijah Cummings made us proud. He directed his closing remarks to Michael, thanked him for his testimony and reviewed the scenario of Michael leaving the courthouse with his daughter.

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ingly, have children (in South Carolina) actually pick cotton and sing slave songs. That means examining the ways that racist legislation has exacerbated, not closed, the wealth gap.

Our CBC and the Democratic Party that all of them belong to is flawed. But there are accomplishments as well. The challenge for us is to lift up the accomplishments amidst a culture that values scandal instead of achievement.

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us proud. He directed his closing remarks to Michael, thanked him for his testimony and reviewed the scenario of Michael leaving the courthouse with his daughter.

Mr. Cummings told us it hurt him as he thought about his own daughters. He concluded by hoping this part of Michael’s destiny will lead to a better Cohen, a better Trump, a better country, a better world.

He said, “When we’re dancing with the angels, the question will be asked, ‘What did we do to keep our democracy intact?”

Dr. E. Faye Williams is national chair of the National Congress of Black Women, Inc. Contact her via www.nationalcongressbw.org.

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5 7

M A YNEWS OR

MARCH 7 – MARCH 13, 2019 COMMUNITY DECEMBER 14 - 20, 2006

PHOTOS BY DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR./HARDNOTTSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

Retired Navy Captain Donnie L. Cochran speaks at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on Feb. 28.

First Black to fly with Blue Angels speaks at ERAU Retired Navy Captain Donnie Cochran talked about his storied career as a pilot on Feb. 28 at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Daytona Beach.

Cochran was part of the university’s Black History Month Speakers Series sponsored by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

Cochran logged more than 1,500 hours and over 240 airshows as the first African-American pilot to fly with the Blue Angels, later becoming the elite precision flying team’s commanding officer and flight leader.

His career includes leading two fighter squadrons, serving as the deputy commander of the Navy’s Recruiting Command and as the Navy ROTC Commanding Officer and professor of Naval Science at Florida A&M and Florida State Universities.

Cochran also is the author of “Glad to Be Here: My Lessons Learned as A Blue Angels Flight Leader and Pilot.’’

The Georgia native graduated from Savannah State College in June 1976, earning a degree in civil engineering technology and commission in the United States Navy.

A cadet at Embry-Riddle asks Cochran a question during the Black History Month program.

African American Council of Christian Clergy installs new officers The African-American Council of Christian Clergy (A.A.C.C.C.) of Central Florida held its installation ceremony and fellowship dinner on Feb. 17 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel at SeaWorld in Orlando.

Roderick Zak, founder and pastor of Rejoice in the Lord Ministries in Apopka and Derrick L. McRae, founder and pastor of The Experience Christian Center in Orlando were inducted as president and vice president, respectively.

Over 300 members of neighboring communities attended, which included clergy, ministers, community leaders and elected officials.

The event was co-hosted by Bishop Allen T.D. Wiggins and Lady Deborah Wiggins of

Cochran shows the audience a miniature replica of the Blue Angels’ aircraft.

The Hope Church in Orlando. Special presentations were given by U.S. Rep. Val Demings and Orange County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Barbara Jenkins.

Other elected officials and dignitaries in attendance included Orange County Commissioner Victoria P. Siplin, Orange County Sheriff John Mina and City of Orlando Commissioner Sam Ings.

Zak’s vision During the keynote address, the A.A.C.C.C. president described the organization’s goals as a “Vision of Faith for Partnership” and said he looks forward to growing the more than 100 membergroup.

Zak’s presentation further encompassed the importance of banding together through public-private partnerships, developing greater team-building abilities, and public service through com-

munity initiatives to mobilize continued growth.

“I’m honored to be able to work alongside Pastor McRae as we further the agenda of impacting lives in our Central Florida communities,” he noted.

About the pastors Serving Greater Orlando as a pastor since 1988, Zak is CEO and founder of Need to Read, Inc., co-founder and former chairman of the Minority/Women Business Enterprise Alliance, Inc., past president of the Orlando chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, as well as the former board member of the Central Florida YMCA and the Metropolitan Orlando Urban League.

McRae is founder and senior pastor of The Experience Christian Center. Launched in 2009, it is a family-based ministry with campuses in Orlando and Tampa.

Cochran’s appearance at ERAU was presented by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

Actress to speak at FAMU alumni gala in Daytona The Volusia County Alumni Chapter of the Florida A&M University/National Alumni Association will host its sixth annual Scholarship & Recognition Gala on March 30 in Daytona Beach.

The keynote speaker will be actress Angela Robinson, best known as Veronica Harrington of Tyler Perry’s “The Have and the Have Nots” on OWN. The gala is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort, 100 N. Atlantic Ave, Angela Daytona Beach. Tickets are Robinson $75.

For tickets and more information, call 386-738-0708 or 386-8046136.

R6

7 SPORTS

MARCH 7 – MARCH 13, 2019 back soccer because there are a lot of kids interested. We want to be able to provide this service for the kids,’’ said Terry Johnson, recreation specialist for Cultural & Leisure Services.

Meanwhile, baseball interest in the city has not really caught on.

“This is our second season back during this stint. Last year, we were able to interleague with other leagues. Our numbers have been down with kids just not coming out. We do the best that we can as far as marketing the program the right way,” responded Johnson.

Area soccer teams

HEATHER KHALIFA/TNS

Julio Reyes dribbles a soccer ball off his head at the Kensington Soccer Club in Philadelphia. The program is one of the programs around the country that offers high-quality soccer and development activities for youth.

Daytona reboots youth soccer; still needs young baseball players

BY ANDREAS BUTLER DAYTONA TIMES

After a seven-year hiatus, youth soccer returns to Daytona Beach. The city’s Cultural & Leisure Services Department is rebooting the program.

Instructional clinics began on Monday and are set to run from Monday through Wednesday 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Derbyshire Sports Complex, 849 Derbyshire Road. The clinics are for ages 4 to 12 years old.

At the same time, the city is struggling to find players for its youth baseball program after two weeks of instructional clinics.

Baseball instructional clinics take place at Bethune Point at 11 Bellevue Ave. Mondays through Friday from 5:30 to 8 p.m. for ag-

The rise in soccer’s popularity can be seen all across the United States. Professional and semi-pro leagues are having success.

There are also successful franchises locally with the Orlando City Soccer Lions in Major League Soccer, the Orlando Pride in the National Women’s Soccer League, and Orlando City B in the United Soccer League.

Daytona State College started its men’s and women’s soccer programs in 2016.

A new United Soccer League 2 franchise at Daytona State College begins play in 2019 with home games at Daytona Stadium.

“Soccer is growing in popularity even with the youth. You see it among other countries with many of their immigrants coming to the United States. Soccer is cultural with these immigrants and they are bringing it here even to our community. It’s also a sport that anyone can play,” noted Johnson.

Competitive sports

Coach Matthew Mehalko volunteers his time to help kids learn baseball. es 7-12.

T-Ball clinics also are ongoing at Derbyshire Sports Complex Monday through Wednesday from 5:30-7 p.m. as well for ages 4-6.

Kids want soccer There is an interest for soccer.

“We used to have a soccer program a few years ago, but the kids lost interest. We are bringing

Meanwhile, baseball could not be catching on in Daytona for various reasons including economics, culture, demographics, race.

There is also competition with other sports for players such as 8-on-8 football and track and field.

There could also be competition with other municipalities youth baseball programs such as Ormond Beach, South Daytona and Port Orange.

The city rebooted its youth

baseball program last year and its T-ball program in 2017.

The city had youth baseball from 2008 through 2014 after the sport was absent for 10 years.

Daytona Beach has a high population of African-American kids who participate in its youth athletics. They like others across the country are more attracted to the sports of football and baseball.

The city also has successful youth football and basketball programs.

‘A tough game’ Major League Baseball rosters are less than 8 percent African American today compared to 19 percent in 1981 and 27 percent in the mid 1970s.

Leisure and Cultural Services personnel still believe that they can have a successful program.

Johnson explained, “The lack of a baseball culture is a yes and no answer in regards to struggling to get players. There is a lack of interest in the Black community as compared to back in the day.

“Also, football and basketball has the interest of most of the kids. Baseball is also a tough game to play. It’s a game where you must work on your skills just about every day.”

Benefits of sports More can be done to attract kids to the game at every level.

“When we were growing up, we were exposed to the game.

There was always someone who played or knew how to play. We also played some kind of stick ball, softball or something. Kids just aren’t seeing that nowadays.

We must continue to find ways to introduce them to the game,’’ Johnson related.

Regardless, there are benefits to playing both soccer and baseball.

Johnson emphasized, “Sports teach teamwork, character building, sportsmanship, leadership and interacting with others. Both baseball and soccer have international appeal. They also introduce kids to other cultures. Playing youth baseball and soccer helps you learn the games and get ready to play them at the travel ball and high school levels.”

$65.3 MILLION TO UNITED WAY! A special thank you to Publix associates and Publix Super Markets Charities for helping our communities by generously supporting United Way in 2018.

Publix associates pledged $38.7 million, and Publix Charities donated $26.6 million.

Learn more at publix.com/community.