COMMUNITY VOL. XXXIX Number 45 June 10, 2015
The Milwaukee
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W I S C O N S I N ’ S L A R G E S T A F R I C A N A M E R I C A N N E W S PA P E R
Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin holds 12th Annual
AFRICAN AMERICAN WALK FOR QUALITY HEALTH
Parents and their children complete unique education program that takes family learning to a new level
The Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin (BHCW) held its 12th annual “African American Walk for Quality Health” last Saturday under clear skies and pleasant temperatures that allowed the walking enthusiasts to traverse up Dr. Martin Luther King Drive from the offices of the Milwaukee Urban League on 5th and North Avenue, to and down Center Street to the Wisconsin Black Historical Society/Museum to enjoy lunch, entertainment by the Roselette Dancers, and get helpful information from a variety of health organizations from in and outside our community. The focus this year was on men’s health. More photos from the event are on page two. (Photos by Yvonne Kemp)
PULSE OF THE COMMUNITY Photos and question by Yvonne Kemp
Graduate families and officials during the recent graduation program at Andrews Toyota.
“We asked four attendees and participants who were at Milwaukee Enviromental Sciences School for the graduation of participants in the Toyota Family Learning program if it represents a new approach in education and if it could replace the traditional methods of teaching children in school today?”
JAMAHL R. TURNER: “The reason I believe this opportunity is essential is because it allows families to not only participate, but actively engage is because of “possibility.” Anything is possible once you put your mind to it; And with the proper support system such as a family, possibilities become endless. An opportunity like the Toyota Family Learning Program not only influences, but also enhances the family structure at its core and the learning experience for years to come.”
Sharon Darling, president and founder of the National Center for Families Learning (center) is flanked by (far left) Roseann Lococo, principal of Milwaukee Environmental Sciences School; and Dr. Alisia Moutry (far right), executive director of the Milwaukee Teacher Education Center.
Over sixty parents/guardians and their children from Milwaukee Environmental Sciences (MES) recently celebrated their completion of a 24-week intergenerational program that took learning to a new level beyond textbooks and school walls. Milwaukee was chosen as one of 10 communities to participate in the Toyota Family Learning program via a three year grant totaling $175,000 per city. The graduation program was held at Andrew Toyota, 1620 W. Silver Spring Drive. Families in the program had to have regular attendance in Parent Time and Parent and Child Together (PACT) time, which--aside from learning--included mentoring and service learning, using technology together, reading together and taking family trips. The program illustrates a true partnership for the betterment of the community, i.e., bringing together the non-profit (the National Center for Families Learning (NCFL), education (Milwaukee Environment Sciences School) and corporate (Toyota) arenas to act as one. Partnerships such as these could be the answer to helping those in need. (Photos by Yvonne Kemp)
QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
Darling poses with former Community Journal Managing Editor Kia Marie Green, her Husband Darvin and their three children: Son Zakai (being held by his mother), daughter Zion-Elon (center), and daughter Zuri (being held by her dad). The Greens participated in the program. Their daughter ZionElon attends Milwaukee Environmental Sciences School. (All photos by Y. Kemp)
DARVIN GREEN: “A structure is only as strong as its foundation. Families that have a strong structure have been able to accomplish goals and weather unthinkable storms. Once our children were a dream. Now they are our reality. Whitney Houston believed the children were our future, but they are the present, our present. Milwaukee Environmental Sciences captured my attention when they made it mandatory for the children to drink water throughout the day because of the benefits water has on a young, still developing mind. Our children need all (the) available opportunities and tools that can help them advance, not only in school, but in society.”
KIA MARIE GREEN: “As the concept of ‘family’ is ever changing, I believe it essential to enroll my children in a family learning school. Not only does it enhance the structure I provide at home but it also reinforces core values that are crucial and necessary to help my children become productive citizens.” SYRENTHIA PYLES: “I think it’s important because it bring families back together and show that there are more ways of having family time and learning together. I think more schools should be a part of the Family Learning Program.”
The Milwaukee Community Journal June 10, 2015 Page 2
THE PULSE
The WHO•WHAT•WHERE• WHEN of YOUR Community!
F o r m e r l y
t h e
4 W
C o m m u n i t y
H a p p e n i n g s
PULSEPHOTOP
BLACK HEALTH COALITION’S ANNUAL WALK
Photos by Clarene Mitchell and Yvonne Kemp
PERSPECTIVES Cutting through the overgrowth of media sensationalism SIGNIFYIN’ in order to reach the increasingly elusive destiny of truth W
The Milwaukee Community Journal June 10, 2015 Page 3
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “I GUESS HIP-HOP HAS BEEN CLOSER TO THE PULSE OF THE STREETS THAN ANY MUSIC WE’VE HAD IN A LONG TIME. IT’S SOCIOLOGY AS WELL AS MUSIC, WHICH IS IN KEEPING WITH THE TRADITION OF Public Enemy BLACK MUSIC IN AMERICA.”--QUINCY JONES
By Mikel Kweku Osei Holt
hat does it say when the first five ‘news’ features on a local television station’s early evening broadcast are about crimes in the central city, including three murders?
And the sixth story was about the proposed new Bucks’ stadium, which at a cost of $400 million for taxpayers has some folks thinking the deal is a “crime” against taxpayers who will shoulder half the burden for an arena that is being built for billionaire owners. There is no doubt Milwaukee has seen more than its share of violence this year; murders are up 100% over last year at this time, and shootings, assaults and car jackings have increased significantly. It’s a well-known edict in the news media (print or broadcast) that violence sells. And let’s face it, people are attracted to sensationalism, and the media-particularly television—feeds that hunger. But it’s also true that there is far more “good news” than there is bad. Yet, for reasons already articulated few of those stories find there way before the cameras or in print on the front page. That creates a paradox that shapes our society, and our insensitivity to the negative side of our ever-morphing culture. Moreover, a constant barrage of bad or negative news not only insulates some, it turns off a large percentage who become simultaneously apathetic
Part II: Blacks must make Memorial Day memorable every day
Civil War--Although enslaved Blacks played an integral part in the Revolutionary War, a 1792 law actually barred blacks from bearing arms in the US army. In the early 1860s, Blacks who volunteered for the Union army were initially rejected. President Lincoln wrestled with the idea of employing the help of freed blacks and slaves for the Union. For several years, he abstained from this idea for fear that the Border States would secede if Black regiments were created in the Union. However, in 1862 the number of Union volunteers plummeted and the untapped resource of Black soldiers became more and more appealing to Lincoln and Congress. Black leaders, such as Frederick Douglass, urged Blacks to pick up the cause and fight for freedom. In
THE MILWAUKEE COMMUNITY JOURNAL
May 1863, Congress established the Bureau of Colored Troops in an effort to organize Black efforts in the war. By the end of the Civil War, about 179,000 Black soldiers had fought for the Union Army. This number comprised approximately 10 percent of the total Union troops. In addition, about 19,000 blacks served in the Union Navy with nearly 40,000 black soldiers dying in the process. World War I, II – World War I was a global war that centered in Europe that began in July 1914 and lasted until November 1918 with more than 7 million causalities becoming one of the deadliest conflicts in history, paving the way for major political changes, including revolutions in many of the nations in-
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to the new reality of life in the central city, where most crimes are committed. The barrage of negative news also fuels prejudices, frequently against the victims, who are blamed for their victimization. That’s a double-edged sword. While there is a legitimate need to know what’s happening in our city, prejudices and stereotypes become ingrained over time when Whites only see negative stories about our community and its inhabitants. Give it some (unprejudiced) thought. If you were a White suburbanite, living in a middle class nuclear family and working hard to maintain your property as well as pave the way for your children to attend college and their share of the American dream, what would your impressions of the central city be? We may not want to admit it, but our community is a cesspool of violence, out of wedlock births, and drug activity. While the bad folks are a small minority, their actions receive all of the media attention and political scrutiny. Over 80% of the shootings occur in the central city, and drugs are as common as high blood pressure and spoiled meat at the corner “grocery” store. By most comparisons, Milwaukee is far cleaner than most cities of like size, but in the central city, litter decorates many blocks, broken glass covers the floors of many bus shelters and small children can be found playing on the sidewalks and streets long past the time when they should be in bed, dreaming of basketball careers and hair extensions. To many suburbanites, the central city is a septic tank full of you-knowwhat. They believe the tur…er…inhabitants are lazy, sex crazed and prone to violence. No matter how absurd that template, prejudice needs but a grain of truth, and when fertilized by a news media bent on sensationalism, it sprouts and grows…and grows. volved. This war drew in all the world's economic super powers with two opposing alliances “good versus the bad.” By the end of the war, the German Empire, Russian Empire, AustroHungarian Empire and the Ottoman Empire ceased to exist. The maps were redrawn, with several independent nations restored or created, and Germany's colonies were parceled out among the winners. During the Paris Peace conference of 1919, the Big Four (Britain, France, the United States and Italy) imposed their terms in a series of treaties. This, however, failed with weakened states, economic depression, renewed European nationalism, and the German feeling of humiliation contributing to the rise of Nazism. These conditions eventually contributed to World War II. World War II was also a global war and considered as the good war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's nations, including all of the
great powers, eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. It was the most widespread war in history, and directly involved more than 100 million people from more than 30 countries. Marked by mass deaths of civilians, including the Holocaust (during which approximately 11 million people were killed) and the strategic bombing of industrial and population centers (during which approximately one million people were killed, including the use of two nuclear weapons in combat), it resulted in an estimated 50 million to 85 million fatalities making World War II the deadliest conflict in human history. Black soldiers served in the United States Army in both wars. More than 200,000 Blacks fought with American Expeditionary Force (AEF) in France and another 175,000 were stationed in Europe during World War II. But none of them fought alongside white American troops. Instead, the fully segregated Black units fought with the French Army and took orders from French commanders.
Our Milwaukee streets and neighborhoods were second to none By Richard G. Carter
“I’m a man of my times, but the times don’t know it yet…” Eric Todd Dellums, “Boycott” (2001)
Whenever I return to Milwaukee for a visit, I am struck by changes in the character of the town where I was born, raised and educated. And most of my memories are pleasant. Of late, I am impressed by new buildings downtown, love the atmosphere of Bastille Days, the energy of Summerfest on the gorgeous lakefront, love touring the Mitchell Park Conservatory and tromping around the ever-wonderful Zoo. They are local treasures. But what really sticks in my mind after returning to the overpowering canyons of Manhattan and the suburbs of Westchester County, is the disappearance of the middle-class Black, near North Side neighborhoods and shopping areas of my Milwaukee youth. They simply are no more -- many having given way to urban blight, expressways, White gentrification and a shifting population. Where once stood grocery stores, two-family houses, familiar alleys, recognizable corners, taverns with memorable names and memorable reputations, now there is mostly nothing. And it’s a shame. Two churches where I worshipped are no longer there, replaced by empty lots. Two schools I attended are gone or boarded-up -- playgrounds dotted with weeds and crawling with cracks. A notable exception is Lincoln High, which has assumed a new identity. Barbershops, beauty parlors, restaurants, movie houses, drugstores, supermarkets and department stores -- and even trees that were a part of my formative years in town -- are extinct. And so are the backyards where I picked crab apples and plucked grapes. Landmarks and events I swore by vanished. Fourth of July fireworks at Kilbourn (Reservoir) Park are a distant memory. Neighbors’ homes are nowhere to be seen, houses I lived in are gone and the house where I was born -- at 117 W. Vine St. -- has died. For me, few events compared to holiday baseball doubleheaders at old Borchert Field cheering the minor league Milwaukee Brewers. Located in a mixed racial neighborhood, it filled the block between N. 7th and 8th and W. Chambers and Burleigh Sts. Seating less than 12,000, the iconic park was torn down in 1954 to make way for the I-43 Expressway. As a wide-eyed youngster, I recall watching my late father, Sanford Carter
And not all of those who subscribe to this unfair view of Black Milwaukee are racists, or any way bigoted. I was talking to a medicab driver recently who lamented how fearful he often felt when picking up clients in the central city. His head is always on a swivel. He walks cautiously when he has to physically meet his clients at the doorstep He has often driven past a client’s house with a group of teens are nearby. Fortunately, he has never been accosted, and he believes most residents have a degree of respect for his occupation, and the invaluable service he provides. But there is always the fear, real or imagined, that he shares with many other drivers, including Black ones. So let’s be honest. Are there neighborhoods you wouldn’t visit in our central city? Do you walk across the street when a group of young brothers approach? Would you buy that tainted meat from the corner store if you had the means to travel to Pick N Save? And therein lies the dichotomy. When we laid out the format for this newspaper nearly four decades ago, we decided not to perpetuate the negatives that plague our community. As part of that template we decided not to publish crime stories, but instead publish stories reporting solutions to crime, and the positive acts of individuals and CBOs (Community Based Organizations) to eradicate crime and other social ills. Our motto was to “accentuate the positives” of our community, while recognizing the phenomenon that defines our existence and to tear down the walls of American and Milwaukee apartheid that limit our socioeconomic goals. We understood the agenda of the majority media and those entities that ex(continued on page 8) This was partly a bargain struck by General Pershing to appease the French, who needed fresh troops in their lines ASAP. Mostly, however, it was a sign of how pervasively racist the United States and the AEF were. White troops refused to fight alongside Black troops, even though they were all fighting on the same side with 171 Black soldiers being awarded the French Legion of Honor for their heroism in battle, and the 369th Infantry, an all-black unit, was one of the most decorated American units of the war. At war's end, over 600 AfricanAmericans had been commissioned as officers, a rank denied to them before the war. Though still segregated and suffering terrible prejudice, Black soldiers made important strides for race relations during the war. Vietnam War - The Vietnam War was a highly controversial war for America because it represented a public challenge of political leaders committing to war. The U.S. government viewed its involvement in the war as a way to
prevent a communist takeover of South Vietnam. This was part of a wider containment policy, with the stated aim of stopping the spread of communism. The North Vietnamese government and the Viet Cong were fighting to reunify Vietnam under communist rule. They viewed the conflict as a colonial war, fought initially against forces from France and then America, and later against South Vietnam. Direct U.S. military involvement ended in August 1973. The capture of Saigon by the North Vietnamese Army in April 1975 marked the end of the war, and North and South Vietnam were reunified the following year. During this war, there were alarming instances of outright racism and discrimination of Black soldiers with the highest proportion of blacks ever to serve in an American war. During the height of U.S. involvement, Blacks representing nearly 11 percent of the nation’s population made up of nearly 13 percent of the soldiers in Vietnam. (continued on page 8)
-- a slick-fielding third baseman-outfielder in his 30s -- making great plays for his Negro League team, the Milwaukee Tigers, at Borchert Field. A strong right-handed batter with unrealized major league potential, he hit home runs into the bandbox center field bleachers 392-feet from home plate, and over the much closer left and right field fences. Recently driving in one of my old neighborhoods, I passed a steep, winter sled-riding alley of my pre-teens -- in the shadow of a great Milwaukee brewery that has departed the city of its birth. I stopped, got out and fondly reminisced, recalling where the stately brick house stood. I also remembered a small grocery store across the street -- also long gone. Heading west two blocks, I came to N. 3rd St. (now King Drive) and turned north, passing remnants of what was one of the city’s most convenient and varied shopping areas. From the late 1940s-’60s, this part of 3rd St. seemed to have everything. There was Niss Furniture and Schuster’s department store. There was Kresge’s and Woolworth’s, W.T. Grant’s and Walgreen’s. There was Radio Doctors for buying records and the Gay Garden for eating Chinese. There were the Atlas (Century), Fern and Garfield theaters for movies and Rosenberg’s for outer garments of quality. Patti Brothers sold accordions, Bitker-Gerner sold ladies’ dresses, Pivar Brothers sold men’s apparel and Kinney’s sold shoes. Fresh fish were available, as were dogs and cats and many other kinds of pets. J. Kornely Hardware Co. did a landslide business in nuts and bolts, big-name supermarkets occupied choice corners on N. 3rd and nearby W. North Ave., and Brills outfitted generations of fathers and sons. I could buy comic books at a small drugstore at the corner of 3rd and Vine, drop off my dry cleaning at Universal at 3rd and Reservoir, shop for baby furniture Buetow’s at 3rd and Brown, pick from a wide selection of paints at Sherwin-Williams at 3rd and Lloyd, and do my banking at 3rd and Garfield or 3rd and North. Yes, N 3rd St., on the near North Side, was incredible. But there were other memorable streets, places and names for me, from those mostly happy times. Walnut St. was the center of the Black community. It boasted the Chicken Shack, Colonial Barbershop, Larry’s Frozen Custard, Clara’s Restaurant, O’Bee Funeral Home, Roosevelt Jr. High School, V&V and Co-Op supermarkets, the 700 Tap, 711 Tavern, Rose Room, Savoy Lounge, Art’s Shine Parlor, the Bop Shop, Manny’s Harlem Records, the iconic Regal Theater and my father’s Milwaukee Globe newspaper, among others. On W. North Ave., there was the A&P Supermarket at N. 5th St., the old Northside YMCA at 6th, Sangor Drugs at 8th, the Ron De Voo Ballroom at 12th, the Prince Hall Masonic Temple near N. Teutonia Ave., and Roosevelt Theater at N. 14th. Such streets and neighborhoods of my first 21 years around 5th and Walnut, 5th and Lloyd, 1st and Vine and 1st and Clarke, left an indelible impression on me. They gave my Milwaukee its true character, and this native son lasting memories. Those were the days, my friends, we thought they’d never end. But times change.--Milwaukee native Richard G. Carter is a freelance columnist
RELIGION
The Milwaukee Community Journal June 10, 2015 Page 4
On Sunday, June 7, the Catholic Church and some other churches, observed “Corpus Christi” (Body of Christ). The readings are: Deut 8: 2-3, 14b-16a, 1st Cor 10: 16-17 and John 6: 51-58. In our Church every Sunday we gather around the altar and we celebrate God's Word as we proclaim the Word of God from the Hebrew Scripture and the Christian Scripture. We "break open" and share it, as we know it is food for the soul. We then take the bread and wine; place it on the Welcome Table, pray over it and prepare ourselves to receive the Sacred Body and Blood of Jesus the Christ. And we remember what St. Augustine said: "We become what we eat." This sacred action has three components: memory of the past, a present grace, and hope for eternal life. Recall what Jesus did at the Last Supper as he gave us his body and blood. We recall His dying on the cross; and we celebrate at the altar God's love and God grace given to nourish us as we go forth from the Welcome Table to serve others with loving compassion. This "One Bread" that we place on the altar and the "Cup of Blessing," which we bless, is as St. Paul says, participation in the body of Christ. "Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf." In John's Gospel for this feast, we hear some of the same things we hear today: "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" But Jesus persists: "My flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood
BREAD IN THE WILDERNESS
“CORPUS CHRISTI” By Fr. Carl Diederichs, All Saints Catholic Church
remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me." Every time we gather for our Eucharistic Celebration (Mass) we come together around the table. We listen to the Word of God and, hopefully, we are changed by it. We come to the altar and take a piece of bread and a sip of wine and we are changed. We have just shared in the Body and Blood of Jesus. We are strengthened to now make that "Eucharist," that "Thanksgiving," real in the lives of others. For we know, that while there are hungry people anywhere in the world, our Eucharist is incomplete. All of God's People become our concern. What are the varied hungers right in front of us? How do we, strengthened by the Body and Blood of Christ, reach out to those still hungry and sick, homeless and poor?
What’s Happening in the Faith-Based Community
Evangelist Margaret Adams will celebrate her birthday Saturday, June 13, 5 p.m., at Heritage International Church of God in Christ (COGIC), 1036 W. Atkinson Ave. The theme will be: “Another Level of Praise-Faith-Love.” Bishop Nathaniel and Pastor Carolyn Stampley, will be the host pastors.There will be Intercessory Prayer (starting at 5 p.m.) and musical guests. Everyone is welcome. ••••• Family and Friends Day will be held Sunday, June 14, 4 p.m., at Peace Temple Church of God in Christ, 3332 W. Lisbon Ave. (On the corner of 34th and Lisbon). The special guest speaker will be Sup. Victor C. Davis, Sr. of Greater Mt. Sinai Church of God in Christ (COGIC). Special guest soloist will be Evangelist Betty Burns of Christian Faith Fellowship.
IN THE BLACK
LOSING FAITH
Survey finds Millennials are less religious than previous generations
Article courtesy of USA TODAY via “The Rundown”
The younger generations of Americans are far less likely to identify with a religious group than those who came before them, according to a recent survey issued by the Pew Research Center. The survey - conducted in 2014 from June 4 to Sept. 30 as part of the Religious Landscape Study - compares the prevalence of various religious affiliations across generations, starting with the Silent Generation (1928 to 1945). It found that 35% of Millennial's surveyed said they are religious "nones," which includes atheists, agnostics and those who believe in "nothing in particular." "I think that we've seen the decline first in their parents being active in church., says Leslie Long, an associate professor of religion at Oklahoma City University. "The average of church attendance for a family is very different than it once was. For many families, if they get there a couple times a month, then that is good enough attendance for them." Long says one of main causes for this generational decline in religious affiliation is mainstream media's negative portrayal of religion. "There is just so much negative press about a lot of issues, especially when we look at issues like homosexuality," Long says. "Often the church comes across very negative, and what we know about this generation is that's not as big an issue to them as it was to their parents."
Are We Too Focused On Spiritual Labels?
Science, Philosophy & Theology Offer Insight On Same Truth, Says Multidisciplinary Leader
If you’re a traditional religious person and pay attention to population trends, then 2015 probably isn’t your year. A new survey by the Pew Research Center shows that the latest generation of adults – Millennials, those Americans born between 1981 and 1996 – are rapidly changing the country’s religious landscape. Thirty-five percent of Millennials account for the U.S.’s largest “nones” population, the religiously unaffiliated, and the youngest among them are even less likely to be affiliated than those who are older. The latest figures support other studies in recent years indicating America’s evolving perspective on spirituality. Another Pew survey from 2012 found that 20 percent of Americans considered themselves “spiritual but not religious.” “Many religious traditionalists won’t like the trend, and I think we need to be careful to not throw out the baby with the bathwater, but I think wiggle room is good in the context of strict religious interpretation,” says Ron Walter, a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army, successful businessman and advocate of ecumenical Franciscan spirituality. “There are more ways than one to glimpse God’s work. Forget about a single religion; what are the chances that a single area of human knowledge completes the narrative of God’s truth? We need to have all tools of knowledge at our disposal, which I believe includes theology, philosophy and science.” Walter, author of “Theory of Everything: Franciscan Faith and Reason” (RonaldWalter.com), explores his spiritual concepts that are derived from the three disciplines. • God is greater than any religion. Pope Francis is the perfect man for
his job. To a significant extent, the Catholic Church and other denominations have failed to keep pace with changes evident in geocentric views of the cosmos. Embracing differing currents of thought in philosophy, theology and pastoral practice, Pope Francis has written that such differences, if open to being reconciled by the Spirit, can enable the Church to grow since all of them help express more clearly the immense riches of God’s word. “Some people may believe that the truth of their religion is being compromised by change, but I think Pope Francis sees this as a positive opportunity,” Walter says. “Humanity and the cosmos are evolving toward an ever higher state of consciousness. We have to be open to the knowledge that’s given to us.” • We don’t have to fight how the spirit is revealed to us. The Franciscan spiritual tradition has always been in line with other forms of Christianity, yet it also emphasizes more of the many ways that creation is good and the life we have been given is a joyous opportunity.
The Milwaukee Community Journal June 10, 2015 Page 5
Racism costs the U.S. billions every year By Freddie Allen
WASHINGTON (NNPA) – Closing the income gap between Whites and minorities, would boost earnings by 12 percent, an economic windfall of $1 trillion, for a nation burdened by debt and an anemic job market, according to a recent study by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the Altarum Institute. The study titled, “The Business Case for Racial Equity” looks at the legacy of racism in the United States and how addressing racial disparities would have a significant impact on the American economy. The study looked at a number of racial disparities that have plagued
“When God is seen as spirit and when spirit is seen as truth, light and love, an emerging picture becomes almost self-evident: As the incarnate manifestation of matter, energy and time – God is the ground of all being,” he says. “Each part of God’s self-creating creation is imbued with a vestige of God’s presence. I call this love-energy, which I would equate to the concept of spirit.” • Our souls are guided by love-energy, a relationship described with different verbiage in science and philosophy. The human soul represents a very specific part of a person’s bodily make-up. It has evolved in humanity to include faculties such as reasoning, perhaps not currently present in other creatures; and as a consequence, humans currently appear to represent the tip of the evolutionary arrow. However, the human soul, the mind, is still an essentially corporeal entity that is guided by the Holy Spirit. Humanity must seek the Holy Spirit (within) to benefit from its
Blacks and other minorities, including health, housing, employment, income and wealth. “There is a tendency to frame the disparities and the gaps as a burden to the nation seldom do we frame it as a business case,” said Gail Christopher, vice president of program strategy for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. “We wouldn’t be having these deficit conv ersations, if we put our energy into making economic viability an option for people of color.” The shifting demographics of the American population make the argument for racial equity even more
proper disposition toward perfection of the soul. And the concept of free will plays an important role in humanity’s achievement of this proper disposition. About Ron Walter Ron Walter (RonaldWalter.com) is an author, commentator and guest speaker with expertise in human spirituality, business management and military leadership. A retired corporate executive with more than 20 years active military service, Colonel Walter currently serves on Boards of Directors for the Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale, Ariz., and Vesuvius Press Inc. in Phoenix. He is a Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM). “Theory of Everything: Franciscan Faith and Reason,” recounts Walter’s spiritual awakening following chemotherapy in the winter of 2012/2013. It explores the natures of God, humanity and the cosmos from the perspectives of noted philosophers, theologians and scientists. A major conclusion of the book is that finite beings emerge within Trinitarian relations of divine Love.
compelling. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that racial and ethnic minorities will account for more than 50 percent of the United States population by 2043. Minority births in the United States exceeded White births for the first time in 2012. Minority babies today will become the workforce of tomorrow, making critical contributions to entitlement programs largely enjoyed by a graying White population. Yet, minority communities continue to suffer systemic discrimination that weakens the U.S. economy. The W.K. Kellogg racial equity report found that closing the earnings gap now would lift gross domestic product by $1.9 billion. The report also analyzed what closing the earning gap would look like at 2030 and 2050 and found even more striking results. “Minorities make up 37% of the
working age population now, but they are projected to grow to 46% by 2030, and 55% by 2050. Closing the earnings gap by 2030 would increase GDP by 16%, or more than $5 trillion a year,” stated the report. “Federal tax revenues would increase by over $1 trillion and corporate profits would increase by $450 billion.” According to the Kellogg study, if the income gap between Whites and minorities were closed by 2045, minority consumers would account for 70 percent of all purchases. “A consumer driven economy requires people who have the income that enables them to fuel the engines,” explained Christopher. Failing to address health disparities continues to eat away at the United States economy’s bottom line. “An Urban Institute study found that the differences in preventable (continued on page 6)
Y&E
The Milwaukee Community Journal June 10, 2015 Page 6
YOUTH&EDUCATION
Getting the grand tour!
Voice of the Fatherless Child (VOFC), a local organization focused on helping youth face the challenges of life and reaching their full potential through the arts, recently held the Grand Opening/Open House of its newest location, 4009 W. North Ave. Monte Mabra (far left wearing cap), the founder of VOFC gave the grand tour to a grandmother and her grandsons; as well as Ald. Russell Stamper, II (center), who was instrumental in persuading VOFC to locate their new facility in his district. (Photo by Yvonne Kemp)
$5 Swim Lessons Starting Week of June 22
Beginning June 22, 2015, the Milwaukee Y will offer swim lessons in five Milwaukee County Parks that are geared toward non-swimmers to learn basic swim skills and water safety, including how to recognize dangerous situations when in and around water environments. Lessons are available for children ages six and above, as well as non-swimming adults. Swim lessons will be taught in age-appropriate groups to ensure optimal skill and safety outcomes. Spots are available for these introductory classes that are offered at different times throughout the metro Milwaukee area, so parents are sure to find swim lessons that fit their child’s needs and their schedule. Additionally, lessons are taught by certified YMCA swim instructors. Sessions are $5 per individual or $10 per family and much of the costs of these lessons will be covered by community donations. No family will be turned away due to a lack of financial resources. The program begins June 22 – August 22. For children ages 6-8 years old and 9-12 years old – lessons take place Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10-10:45 am and from 11-11:45 am. Children 13 and older – lessons take place Wednesdays and Saturdays from 11-11:45 am. Individuals age 21 and older – lessons take place Saturdays from 11-11:45 am. The five Milwaukee County Park locations are: David F. Schultz Aquatic Center in Lincoln Park,1301 W Hampton Ave.; Jackson Park, 3500 W Forest Home Ave., Pelican Cove Family Water Park in Kosciuszko Park, 2201 S. 7th St.; Sheridan Park, 4800 S Lake Dr., Cudahy; Washington Park, 1859 N 40 St., Milwaukee For children ages 1 to 14, fatal drowning remains the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adding to this grave problem is the fact that nationally, 70 percent of AfricanAmerican children, 58 percent of Hispanic children and 40 percent of white children have little or no swimming ability. The Y is committed to reversing these preventable and troubling statistics by collaborating with the Milwaukee County Parks to offer Milwaukee Swims, a partnership designed to bring swim lessons to more locations throughout Milwaukee County.
Racism costs the U.S. billions every year (continued from page 5)
disease rates among African Americans, Hispanics, and whites cost the health care system $24 billion annually,” the Kellogg report stated. That price tag will double by 2050 if left unchecked. The Affordable Care Act will have a disproportionate benefit for Blacks who currently survive with lower-levels of health insurance and lack access to quality health care, suffering and dying from largely preventable and chronic diseases. According to the report, 19.5 percent of Blacks lack health insurance compared to 11 percent of Whites. The infant mortality rate for Blacks is more than double the rate for Whites. AIDS diagnoses are 10 times higher among Blacks community than Whites. Black women are 40 percent more likely to die from breast cancer than White women. In the richest nation in the world with the highest health care costs, the life expectancy for Black men is almost five years shorter than the life expectancy of White men. Black women face a three year deficit when measured against White women. Discrimination in housing, once supported by federal policies, now permeates the balance sheets of the nation’s largest banks and continues to drive the wealth gap between Whites and Blacks. “The black/white wealth gap increased from $85,000 in 1984 to $236,500 in 2009, driven primarily by the racial difference in the number of years of homeownership,” stated the report. In 1934, Federal Housing Authority officials took actions that set up roadblocks homeownership opportunities for people of color. According to the W.K. Kellogg study on racial equity, the FHA issued a manual to its loan officers that sanctioned “‘redlining,’ which made home purchases in many non-white, largely urban neighborhoods ineligible for FHA-backed mortgages, without consideration of the credit worthiness of the applicant.” Most of the loans during the first decades of
the program flowed to Whites living in middle class neighborhoods, forcing Blacks to live in resourced-starved, segregated neighborhoods. “While housing discrimination in the U.S. was outlawed in the Fair Housing Act of 1968, legal forms of housing discrimination were built into, or sanctioned in, prior federal, state and local laws,” stated the report. At the close of World War II, federal government officials actively steered home and business loans ,supplied through the GI Bill, to White veterans and deprived Black veterans of those same opportunities. The racial equity report found that 44 percent of Black families owned homes compared to 74 percent of White families. Christopher said that attempts to fully integrate neighborhoods, schools and the workforce failed, because people still believed in the false premise of a hierarchy of human worth based on physical characteristics; that Blacks and other minorities were inherently inferior and that they were less than human. In order to deal with racial inequality in the United States, Christopher said, Americans must confront the consequences of embedding that belief into the very DNA of our country. “We have to be intentional and we have to have a strategy that is grounded in how we know how to change people’s minds and hearts,” said Christopher. “It’s an effort. It takes work, it takes reason, it takes research, it takes re-description, and it takes strategies to overcome resistance.” Christopher continued: “It takes real world events that you are able to capitalize on and it takes resources.” Those resources continue to be squandered in the political quagmire and obstruction, instigated by the far-right wing of the GOP that some critics argue, has reduced the effectiveness of Congress as they veer from one crisis to the next. The recent federal budget agreement that ended the partial government shutdown, only delayed the inevitable, and set up two more battles over the budget and the nation’s debt limit at the top of next year. “The cost of the health disparities, the cost of the educational and achievement gaps are going to bankrupt our country,” said Christopher. “And they have been overshadowed by these superficial political discussions.”
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KALEIDOSCOPE the MCJ lifestyle & entertainment section Zelda Corona
Tara R. Pulley
Sista Speak...Speak Lord!
BELIEF SYSTEM
Sonya Bowman
Alchemy We cannot serve both God and money. God is real, money is man created. We must not walk by the laws of this world. We must change our frequency and radiate higher. We must first go
within to determine which we will cast our belief upon. It is not enough to simply wish and think that luck has anything to do with it. We must intuit spirit by feeling and knowing that the thing we want is within our midst. We must speak aloud into the ether what we want, what we deserve. God knows you deserve it, don’t you? Then if you do…SPEAK UP! Once you have made your request, let it go and leave the rest to Him to work out the “how it will happen.” This is the alchemy of
Local Groups Offer Free Alzheimer’s Information Event
On Saturday, June 20, 2015, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute will present, “Addressing Dementia as a Family Affair, Block By Block.” This education program breaks the silence surrounding Alzheimer’s Disease and other types of dementia by offering informational presentations about the disease and the array of resources and services available in the Milwaukee area to patients, families & caregivers. A series of workshop-style informational presentations will be held from 10:30 a.m. -12:00 p.m. at the COS Building in Lapham Park, 650 W. Reservoir Avenue, Milwaukee. There will also be free health and memory
true belief. Sonya M. Bowman “It Is What It Is”
Law of Success I am a magnet of possibilities. Nothing is outside of my reach. I am capable of anything. My life is full of opportunities. God contends with what concerns me. Man has no control over my destiny. My light is bright. I believe in me. Zelda Corona “Vision Represents Faith!” BOOK OF LIFE The Book of Life for some of us consist of not many or a lot of planned chapters. We find as we live, laugh, cry and love in our Book of Life some or all of our chapters are subject to change from our initial plan. When the chapters in our Book of Life begin we all would like to see an end
screenings, resource tables by local organizations and a performance by the Amazing Grace Chorus. A catered lunch will be served from 12:00-1:00 p.m. From 12:301:30 p.m., there will be a block walk through the Lapham Park, Carver Park and surrounding neighborhoods. The mistress of ceremonies for the event is Cassandra McSheperd, host of Real Milwaukee on Fox-6 TV and spokesperson for the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute. Admission is free but registration is required, as space is limited. To register, please contact Ramona Williams at (414) 289-5866. Registration ends on June 18. Free parking is available. The event is sponsored by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Milwaukee Chapters; the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute in the UWM School of Medicine and Public Health; the Milwaukee County Department on Aging; the Social Development Commission; the Alzheimer’s Association; and Hayat Pharmacy. For more information, please contact Ramona Williams, Event Coordinator, at (414) 289-5866.
The Milwaukee Community Journal June 10, 2015 Page 7
to some of our chapters. Of course we want the end of our chapters to have a happy ending. We may need to find closure and move on. This is when we, if not from the beginning have a belief system in place...Mine is God first and a circle of positive friends to keep me on the right track. God will give you the lead needed in how our chapters turn out in our Book of Life. Allow God to provide the Belief that He knows best...What is Your Belief System??? Tara R Pulley "Keeping it Real"
Universally Speaking
The Milwaukee Community Journal June 10, 2015 Page 8 THE NATION OF ISLAM will host The 10-10-15 Justice… or Else Rally for the 20th Anniversary of the Million Man March Saturday, June 13th beginning (continued from page 3) at 2:00PM at the Wisconsin Black HisThis number becomes more exagtorical Museum 2620 W. Center St. gerated when you consider the true Keynote Speaker – Student Minister Ishpercentage that we should be focusing on is more like four percent, mael Muhammad, National Assistant to which only focuses on Black men bethe Honorable Louis Farrakhan. tween the ages of 17 and 35. AUSAR AUSET SOCIETY – MILWAUKEE And in spite of this alarming disparity, life for most Black soldiers HESP – “Reclaiming Our Spiritual was very oppressive to say the least. Power” classes will begin Sunday, June Some have describe Blacks treatment 14th from 2:00PM -3:30PM. This class By Tony Courtney as facing almost as bitter a hostility will provide an overview about the reality of our ‘spirit’ - what it is and what from their fellow white Americans than from the enemy. it is not- and how you can connect with your spirit’s power to achieve your In 1962 President John F. Kennedy goals in life. Class cost is $5.00 and open to the public. Class will be held at reactivated the President's Committee on Equal Opportunity in the 4712 W. Fond du Lac Ave. (upstairs) Armed Forces. OLD SCHOOL: WE AIN’T THROUGH YET! There will be two meetings of Black The committee found uneven promen over 60 years old that will take place at the Wisconsin African American motion, token integration, restricted opportunities in the National Guard Women’s Center 3020 W. Vliet St. on Monday, June 15th at 4:30PM and on and Reserves, and discrimination on Tuesday, June 16that 12pm noon. The discussion will be about how we can military bases and their surrounding play a role as Elder Black Men to provide solutions to change our community. communities as causes for low Black enlistment. If you are interested, call 374-2364 for more information. Before the government could react “DEDICATED TO BLACK MEN THAT GOT BLACK MEN’S BACKS” – The deadto the committee's report, the explosion of U.S. involvement in Southline for black men participating on this page is Saturday, June 27th. Brotheast Asia changed the problem. ers, take this opportunity to honor the Black men in your life that help to An expanded military, a discrimisteer you on the right road in your life whether still living or deceased natory draft, and other government programs brought not only increased (joined the world of your ancestors). African American participation but These men could have been or is currently your Father, Grandfather, accusations of new forms of discrimUncle, Brother, Cousin, Teacher, Coach, etc. It is time that as Black men that ination. From the outset, the misuse of we pay tribute to these men that looked out for us when we were young and Black troops brought charges of ignorant of what was going on in the world. The cost to recognize the man racism. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., you want to honor is only $25.00. If you are interested call Tony Courtney at described the Vietnam conflict as racist,"a white man's war, a Black 414-374-2364. man's fight." King maintained that The N’COBRA National Conference June 25-28 will be held in Milwaukee, Black youths represented a disproportionate share of early draftees and Wisconsin at the Wisconsin African American Women’s Center 3020 W. Vliet that African Americans faced a much St. We are looking for drummers to participate in our opening night intergreater chance of seeing combat. generational drum circle and poets to participate in our intergenerational These wars have never been about the soldier because political leaders open mike sessions. make these decisions supposedly in There will be people attending this conference from all over the country the best interest of America and the and we want to showcase Milwaukee’s conscious talent at our Meet and soldiers were there to do a job. This is why we must honor them. Greet event on the opening night of the conference at our meet and greet While they have a number of reasons session. for participating, the fact that they The opening night of the conference is free to the public so you can also loved their country shouldn’t go unnoticed. find out what N’COBRA is all about. In the mean time check out N’Cobra on The sad reality is that for the thouGoogle to learn about its history and what is going on with the reparations sands of participants, this is usually movement around the world. If you are interested in participating as a drum- not a question or concern, when they are called to serve they must do so mer or poet, call Tony Courtney 414-374-2364, Josephine Hill 933-1652 or (draft or volunteer) and our Black Janette Herrera 828-1410. men served honorably as if they were
FROM THE BLACK
Signifyin’
(continued from page 3) ploit the negatives to justify a scheme that maintains a status quo that guarantees a substandard existence for the poor and fans the flames of prejudices We are an arm of the civil rights movement, but our pendulum swings both ways. Apparently, an ever growing segment of our readership, including White progressives and those with an interest in balanced news reporting, understand and/or appreciate the role we play in this fairy tale. Unfortunately, it takes time and seemingly endless energy to grow those numbers and penetrate the cloud of ignorance and indifference that covers this city. That said, and as contradictory as it may sound, I encourage everyone to continue watching and reading as much as possible. Take in the good and the bad, but know the difference and the fact that news, like poverty and prejudice, is big business. Which means that as consumers, we must “demand” greater accountability from the media and balanced reporting of our community. It’s not just about how we are falsely perceived, but about putting water on the fire of smothering stereotypes and prejudices. Hotep.
equal in the eyes of America when they weren’t. Each war represented a different set of discrimination for Black solders not only during the wars, but most importantly when they returned home they were still treated like second class citizens despite their service to the country. In spite of the obvious prejudices and outright discrimination, Black soldiers gave their lives disproportionately, yet them and their offspring received the least. During these wars, the horror stories of racism against Black soldiers ran the gambit from the actual “murders” of Black soldiers by white soldiers to whites not wanting to fight next to Blacks. Many Black soldiers were placed in extremely vulnerable positions and as a result they became more expendable than the white solders. Generally speaking, Black treatment by
white officers and other white soldiers was similar to the treatment that Blacks received on a regular basis from whites in America (not much had changed). Blacks were rarely ever promoted to become officers and they were primarily relegated to the hardest and least sought after jobs and responsibilities, and even today the accolades are being posthumously given because many accomplishments of valor and courage were not allowed to be honored during the war. Blacks commonly received jobs that were reminiscent of slavery, such as cooking and manual labor and during the Civil War Blacks were paid $10 a month with a $3 charge for clothes. Whites, on the other hand, were paid $13 a month and received clothes for free. In June 1864, Congress passed laws guaranteeing equal pay to US colored troops. It took legislation for Blacks to receive equal rations and basic medical care during war
Black soldiers returning home suffered even more humiliation and extreme prejudices. Angered at the humane treatment with which the French had treated Blacks during World War I, white mobs lynched nearly 100 Black veterans, many of them still in uniform. Even as the physical sting of racism has lessened, it is very clear that Black soldiers were not afforded the same benefits as White solders. Whites who sacrificed their lives for their country were justified because their families enjoyed the American dream. But for so many Blacks soldiers that sacrificed their lives for their country their families suffered with the American nightmare. In addition to outright racism that was unleashed against Black people for nearly 450 years by white America, when it came to defending the American democracy in America and abroad, Blacks’ sacrifices and loss of life meets and/or exceeds any other group.
In addition to outright racism, which has nearly permanently damaged Blacks, Blacks now are at the mercy of structural poverty and structural racism, which makes the sacrifice of Black soldiers even more remarkable. Blacks rank dead last in every positive demographic and lead by as many as 50 basis points on every negative demographic. The contributions of fallen heroes wasn’t enough to change the climate and culture of American racism. The great Stevie Wonder wrote and song about Black soldiers who suffered the hardest injustices when serving in Vietnam “They had me standing on the front line but now I stand at the back of the line when it comes to getting ahead.” Black men who died in these wars were the GREATEST OF SOLDIERS AND THE GREATEST HEROS, and this is what our community should be celebrating on Memorial Day and every day.
The Milwaukee Community Journal June 10, 2015 Page 9
SPORTSPHOTOOP
WELCOME HOME!
Milwaukee Brewers Catcher Martin Maldonado “Slides� triumphantly into homeplate and is than mobbed and showered with Gatorade by teammates after his game winning walk-off homerun in their extra-inning win over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Miller Park recently. (Photos by Yvonne Kemp)
The Milwaukee Community Journal June 10, 2015 Page 10