noted educator, scholar and historian Taki S. Raton passes
CoMMuniTY
Article compiled by MCJ Staff Historian, educator, scholar, mentor and Community Journal contributor Taki S. Raton died Tuesday morning of a heart attack according to reliable sources from within the community, though an official cause of death has yet to be announced.
Raton was an Adjunct Professor at Springfield College, Milwaukee on the undergraduate and graduate levels. Raton was a noted writer and lecturer on the national stage detailing African World Historiography, urban community concerns with an emphasis on education, the social development of Black youth and African American male issues. He additionally hosted the weekly Thursday evening radio show, “MenThink”
VoL. XXXiX number 49 July 8, 2015
The Milwaukee
www.communityjournal.net 25 Cents
CHECK MATING SUMMER BOREDOM! Youth Chess program at McGovern Park targets Inner City youth
Milwaukee County Supervisor Martin Weddle, a former state chess champion, comtemplates a move during a game with oversized chess pieces after the offical unveiling of the chess program designed to teach youths how to play chess. (All photos by Yvonne Kemp)
Milwaukee County Supervisor Martin Weddle, a former state chess champion, and Sup. Khalif Rainey helped unveil a new program Monday designed to teach youth how to play chess and engage in games of chess Tuesday, at the McGovern Park Pavilion, 5400 N. 51st. Blvd. The program targets youths in grades 2 through 12, and will include chess instruction, coaching and accessible equipment for the purpose of learning the game and skills of chess with the potential of competitive participation in tournaments.
The Safe Zone Initivative will establish “safe zones” in four of the city’s most troubled neighborhoods, where community leaders will be available to intervene in potentially violent situations and counteract the root causes of violence, like poverty and educational disparity. Eleven community members (pictured above right during a news conference last Thurdsay kicking off the initiative), called “H.O.O.D. (Helping Others Obtain Direction) Ambassadors” have been hired and trained in crucial skills like conflict resolutions, de-escalation, communication, community mapping and counter-
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Photo by David James-MATC
BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN PERMIT NO. 4668
Milwaukee County Transit System Announces Strike Reimbursement Plan
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
Sup. Weddle (left) and Sup. Khalif Rainey after the program unveiling
In a year where Milwaukee homicides have continued at a pace doubling recent years, Milwaukee Ald. Ashante Hamilton and other community leaders introduced an initiative aimed at curbing the violence through community-driven intervention.
JouRnAL
on the Harambee Radio & TV Internet Broadcast network. A former teacher in Milwaukee Public Schools, Raton was especially known in the community as the former founder and principal of Blyden Delany Academy, a Parental Choice School. Operating under the African Centered instructional and student-centered developmental model, this all-Black private school served area children from 1998 to 2008 in K4 through 8th grade learning levels. Raton’s work and authorship in the education of African American youth has been referenced in “A House Divided No More – Time for Indigenous Communal Healing” (James, 2011), “Why aren’t African Centered charters running turnarounds” (Herold, “The NoteBook” – February 2011), “The Afro-Centric Educa-
Youths play games of chess at McGovern Park Pavillion.
Said Weddle: “Chess is an excellent self-esteem builder and studies show participation in chess correlated with higher math and reading test scores.” Said Rainey: “This (the chess program) is an important step toward giving inner city youths an activity that can actually improve their critical thinking skills, and I applaud Sup. Weddle for sponsoring this measure. “I’m excited for the youths who will soon have the opportunity to play this fascinating game.”
Alderman and community leaders kick off Safe Zone initiative
human trafficking. “Sometimes the most effective help has to come from within a troubled area,” said Hamilton. “The ambassadors who will work in the safe zones are people who are from these neighborhoods. “They have a stake in turning them around, they know the people and they know what it means to struggle with poverty.” Throughout the summer, “H.O.O.D. Ambassadors” will work
in the safe zones Tuesdays through Saturdays from 1 to 11 p.m. The city-backed effort is made possible by a partnership with community leaders Khalil Coleman and Shawn Moore, as well as Muhammad Mosque #3, New Hope Baptist Church, Northwest Side Community Development Corp., the Garden Homes Neighborhood Association, Peace for Change Alliance, True Strength Group Milwaukee, We Got This, I Will Not Die Young cam-
paign, Cross Jordan Ministries, Alpha and Omega Ministries, the Coalition of Hope and the Universal Companies. Safe Zones will be located in each of the four “Promise Zones” designated under Ald. Hamilton’s “Milwaukee Promise” legislation: Division/Harambee, Washington Park, Greater Old North Milwaukee and the Near South Side. “With the support of our neighbor-
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The Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) is issuing reimbursements for passengers who had active 7-day or 31-day passes during last week’s strike by the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 998. ATU leaders went on a three-day strike despite a new contract proposal from MCTS that would significantly increase bus drivers and mechanics pay. The strike stranded tens of thousands of people across Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha Counties who rely on MCTS to get to work, school and medical appointments. MCTS is updating RideMCTS.com with a FAQ page that has more information about the contract and debunking false rumors some union leaders are spreading. Reimbursement Info M•CARD holders: M•CARD reimbursements must be obtained by phone (414-9370470) or email (mcardservices@mcts.org). For each day your 7-day or 31-day M•CARD pass was active during the strike, you will receive the value of three free rides ($1.75 per ride in stored value) on your M•CARD. 1 day reimbursement = $5.25 in stored value 2 days = $10.50 in stored value 3 days = $15.75 in stored value If you are requesting your reimbursement via email, please provide your name, contact phone number and M•CARD serial number located on the back of your card (number starts with 05-). Emails will be responded to within three business days. Note – it may take up to 48 hours for the reimbursement to show up on your card. Paper Passes: If you have a weekly paper pass for June 28, 2015 - July 4, 2015 or a monthly pass for July 2015, please bring your pass to: • MCTS Administrative office - 1942 N 17th Street, 8am- 4:30pm • Kinnickinnic Station - 1718 S. Kinnickinnic Ave, 8am – 4:30pm • Fond du Lac Station – 3201 W. Fond du Lac Ave, 8am - 4:30pm After submitting your ticket, you will be given a booklet of 10 tickets to use any time. Note - you need to hand in your paper pass in exchange for the reimbursement, so July monthly pass holders will not want to come in until August.
PULSE OF THE COMMUNITY Photos/question by Yvonne Kemp
QueSTion of The WeeK: “During the recent 72 hour work stoppage by Milwaukee County Bus Drivers, did you have a difficult time celebrating the fourth of July without bus service? Why or why not?”
SAMUEL HOLT: “Yes, because I wanted to see my family. I always ride the bus. I enjoy riding the bus because you get to meet people; connecting with the neighborhood. I live in the middle of the inner city and the busline can take me anywhere I want to go.”
ZOINISHIAYIA CRAPE: “I work(ed) at Summerfest on the Fourth. Getting to work was very difficult. People were offering rides, but they were taking advantage of us by charging over the top prices.”
ALEXANDRIA UNDERWOODBROWN: “Yes, because I couldn’t get to work and I couldn’t get my grocery shopping done like I usually do. I couldn’t even get to Summerfest.” WILLIE RILEY: “I depend on the bus whereever I go. I am a devoted bus rider. I am a senior citizen, so I had to walk everywhere I wanted to go. This was a great inconvenience. I enjoy riding the bus and meeting people.”
The Milwaukee Community Journal July 8, 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
CLASSIC SOUL AT THE LAKEFRONT
The Isley Brothers (above, left and right) and Otis Clay (at left) brought some “Ol’ School Flavor” to the worlds biggest music festival, Summerfest at the Henry Maier Summerfest Grounds on the lakefront. (Photos by Kim Robinson)
MAC DADDY...AND GRANDDADDY!
McArthur (Mac) Weddle (far right) takes time out from his stewartship of Juneteenth Day activities to proudly pose with his son, Milwaukee County Sup. Mark Weddle (far left), and his grandchildren. The festival, which is a state holiday, was held June 19 along MLK Drive. (Kemp photo)
PERSPECTIVES brutal murder of Emmett Till stunned SIGNIFYIN’ The Milwaukee and America
The Milwaukee Community Journal July 8, 2015 Page 3
Marva Collins: The “Mother of Black Academic excellence” By Mikel Kweku osei holt
Don’t try to fix the students, fix ourselves first. The good teacher makes the poor student good and the good student superior. When our students’ fail, we as teachers, too, have failed. —Marva Collins If I have any influence over it, ‘our’ history will describe to the world how two African American women were catalysts for America’s 20th century educational revolution. The first was Milwaukee’s own AnMarva Collins nette Polly Williams, the Mother of School Choice. Williams died last year after a distinguished—albeit sometimes tumultuous--career in the state legislature. Polly, as she was affectionately known, was the author of the school choice initiative, a program that was first suggested by the superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools and his deputy, Robert S. Peterkin and Deborah McGriff, as an option for Black parents who were being failed by the public school system. The program has become a key component in the national campaign to empower low-income families, and to bring about greater accountability within the public school eduocracy. Central to Polly’s campaign was the realization that several small Black and Hispanic private schools were able to do what the public schools could, or would not: educate and inspire Black students. Williams, and Peterkin, were impressed with the success of the second educational revolutionary, Marva Collins. Williams once called Collins an inspiration and pioneer, and an advocate for Black educational achievement and high expectations. She was all that and more, and her name became a rallying cry for frustrated Black parents, and a thorn in the side of the eduocracy, which was embarrassed by the fiery educator’s ability to accomplish what they were not. Collins, who could easily have held the title of “The Mother of Black Academic Achievement, “came to national prominence after the Black students in her startup private school outperformed their public school counterparts. Many of today’s educational and political leaders would do well to study Collins, who became a catalyst for educational revolutionaries in the 1980s and 90s. Those of us, who grew frustrated with the failure of the educracy, following the so-called School Integration settlement, learned that the best weapon against educational apartheid was providing low-income parents with educational options. In a nutshell, providing them with the resources to find local Marva Collins’-type schools. Excellence is not an act but a habit. The things you do the most are the thing you will do best—Marva Collins A former public school teacher who grew disenchanted with the failure of the Chicago public schools to educate its Black charges, Collins took $5,000 out of her retirement fund and started the Westside Preparatory School on the second floor of her home. She also introduced what has become known as the Collins’ Method, a curriculum that emphasized phonics, and great detail to math, reading and English, particularly the classics. I’m a teacher A teacher is someone who leads. There is no magic here. I do not walk on water. I do not part the sea. I just love children. Collins’ school accepted all students but she specialized in Black students categorized by the Chicago district as ‘learning disabled.’ Collins believed most of the students were merely stigmatized because of the inability of teachers to teach them. "If Abraham Lincoln were enrolled in public schools today, he would probably be in a learning disability program. Lincoln didn't learn to read until age 14. No one should rule any child out of the educational picture."---Marva Collins Collins’ system worked beyond expectations, and her name and teaching methodology were embraced, in whole or part, around the country. The educator was a frequent visitor to Milwaukee where she campaigned on behalf of Black children who had been failed by the educracy. She and Williams became friends. And several local community schools embraced her teaching methodology, including Harambee and Urban Day. She also helped open a school named after her. The school ultimately changed its name to Milwaukee College Prep, one of the best private academies in Milwaukee. Collins’ impact on the educational revolution can’t be overstated. A movie about
The MiLWAuKee CoMMuniTY JouRnAL
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Colleen newsom, Classified Advertising Jimmy V. Johnson, Sales Rep. ConTRiBuTinG WRiTeRS: Taki S. Raton, Richard G. Carter, fr. Carl Diederichs, Rev. Joe McLin PhoToGRAPheR: Yvonne Kemp
opinion and comments expressed on the Perspectives page do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or management of the MCJ. Letters and “other perspectives” are accepted but may be edited for content and length.
Remember when…
Quote of the Week: “This war on drugs and mass incarcerations have decimated the Black male population...It’s Slavery!” --Film maker Quentin Tarantino
For me, and countless other Black people who lived it, the summer of 1955 -- 60 years ago -- will always be with us. Why? Because of the vicious murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till. And I recall it as clearly as yesterday. That long, hot summer was the kind we used to called “the dog days.” But my teen memories of those sweltering months that year have little to do with searing heat. They are about the vile event in Mississippi that burned hotter than the sun in the hearts and minds of countless Black Milwaukeeans. Sadly, this horrific event will never leave our memories. Why? Because it could have happened to any of us who often spent part of our summers down South with relatives. The gruesome killing of Till, who lived in nearby Chicago, reinforced the often violent reality of racial segregation. For many of us, the horror was relived by graphic photos in Jet Magazine showing his grotesquely disfigured face as he lay in his glass-covered coffin. They sent shock waves throughout Black America. All of this recently came rushing back as I recalled the especially cruel way young Till lost his life to fiendish, adult White racists in the Mississippi delta country. To put things in proper perspective, it must be understood that in the 1950s and ‘60s, America in general -- and the deep South in particular -was strictly segregated. And although northern Whites wouldn’t admit it, Black people faced roadblocks everywhere. I can’t count how often I was stopped and hassled by White police in Milwaukee simply for being out at night. For example, this happened while waiting at a downtown bus stop about 3 a.m. after my night shift at the Post Office, in an alley walking home from my girlfriend’s house and driving through a White neighborhood. And, of course, we suffered severe job and housing discrimination. As a brand new graduate of Marquette University’s College of Journalism, I was turned down for a reporter’s job at The Milwaukee Journal while a halfdozen of my White classmates were hired. As a brand new husband and father, I was turned down in efforts to rent an apartment in certain areas of the city. And this was in the North. Ironically in 1963 -- as an editor-reporter with the Black-owned Milwaukee Star -- I interviewed the late William Bradford Huie. It was this celebrated White novelist and screenwriter whose sensational Look Magazine article on the Emmett Till case contained confessions by two White men that they had done the killing. In those days down South, it still was not unusual for Black men to be lynched or simply disappear without a trace. This often happened to someone accused of raping a White woman. So in mid-summer 1955, when young Till’s hideous murder was made known, most Blacks were not really surprised. But we were saddened and horrified. Till, who left Chicago by train on Aug. 20, 1955 for a family visit, was abducted the night of Aug. 28, and disappeared. This was a few days after his speech impediment apparently caused him to whistle in the direction of a 21-year-old, White female, Carolyn Bryant, co-owner of a grocery store in Money, Miss. -- a tiny, single-street, redneck town. On Aug. 31, his body was found in the Tallahatchie River -- weighted-
By Richard G. Carter
emmett Till before and after his lynching.
down by a 75-lb. cotton gin fan tied around his neck with barbed wire. An unthinkable atrocity. On Sept. 23, the White J. W. Milam and Roy Bryant -- husband of Till’s accuser -- were acquitted of the murder by an all-White jury after their lawyers argued that the body in the river was too disfigured to be identified. This, despite Black eyewitnesses who saw them abduct Till, and a Black man who was forced to wash blood out of Milam’s car. Till’s mother, the late Mamie Till Mobley, insisted on an open-casket funeral on the south side of Chicago, so the world could see her son’s un-retouched, horribly mutilated face. The Sunday ceremony was attended by 50,000 people, many of whom were overcome with emotion. Years later, Mrs. Mobley said that Emmett Till was “the sacrificial lamb of the Civil Rights Movement,” and that “his death was the real beginning of the movement.” According to published reports, a latter-day initiative in the Till case was inspired by TV documentaries of two Black filmmakers: “The Untold Story of Emmett Till,” by 32-year-old Keith Beauchamp, and “The Murder of Emmett Till,” by Stanley Nelson, 52, also well-known for his 1999 history of the Black press “Soldiers Without Swords.” Beauchamp’s film and Nelson’s critically acclaimed Till documentary -the latter shown nationally in 2003 on Public Television’s “American Experience” -- came to the attention of U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel (D-Harlem) and U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.). They carried the ball in a successful attempt to convince the U. S. Department of Justice to reopen the Till case. Kudos to them. In the best of all possible worlds, Milam and Bryant -- the two deceased White men who confessed to killing Emmett Till -- posthumously will be found guilty in court. And their names will be mud. For those of us who recall how it all went down in the long, hot summer of 1955, it won’t be a moment too soon. Perhaps some semblance of justice will be done. Finally.--Milwaukee native Richard G. Carter is a freelance columnist
Black Self-Determination
The self-determination for Black people in America has been and will continue to be a long and arduous struggle and any interruption can/will seriously cripple the movement possibly permanently. Complicating our efforts is the fact that the clock is still running. No matter where we are in the struggle and/or what we want to accomplish, the American machine continues to move at an unbelievable speed (the speed of a free market) which makes slowing it down to allow for Black people to catch up IMPOSSIBLE. Blacks face extinction or the relegation to a permanent second class citizenship if we don’t figure out how to restart the movement and design, build, and fly the plane at the same time (this is why we can’t afford any interruptions in the movement for self-determination). Brothers and sisters, what direction are we heading in now? What are the current goals and objectives for the Black family in America and who is managing the outcome of those goals? To make a point, I would like to use a football analogy, everyone from the front office to the players is working to win the game on the field and everyone has a role to play. The team is led by a host of coaches under the leadership of the head coach, who creates a “game plan“ that directs the offensive team (quarterback, running back, offensive line, wide receivers, tight-end, etc.): their job is to score against their opponents every time they hit the field; the defensive team (defensive line, cornerbacks, safety’s, tackles, etc.); their job is to stop their opponent from scoring; and the special teams (kickers, punters, players, etc.); their job is to make life very difficult for the opponent by putting them in the worst position on the field to mount an offensive (this makes the defensive teams jobs very easy). The Black community is under extreme pressure because it too has an opponent that has a game plan to continue the oppression of Black people at every point in American life and the sad reality is that the Black community has, not only no offense, but has no defense. If all of this coordination, planning and plotting is being done for a football game, where is the effort and energy being deployed for the game of life that is being waged on behalf of the Black community for its self-determination? The answer is that it’s not happening and the sad reality is that we have no chance at maintaining and/or advancing the movement without this type of ”planned“ approach: NONE. Most, if not all of the issues that impede our ability to chart our own destination resides in our inability to have capital. Many have confused capital with income and my argument is that while we have passed the one trillion income mark, this number is very misleading because 1) if you factor in the nearly two thirds of our population living at or near poverty; the high rate of incarceration among Black men; the high level of unemployment and underemployment especially amongst our Black men; the one trillion income number should be more like four trillion and 2) income doesn’t equate to capital which is needed to create wealth; when you compare the ownership structure of America’s wealth, Blacks own nearly zero percent, this where it all begins and if parity was achieved, Blacks would be nearly $14 trillion wealthier (this is true freedom and independence). If Blacks don’t own any real portion of America’s economy and wealth, we can never chart our destiny; we can never achieve self-determination. And if we’re unable to achieve our own self-determination, technically the Black man in America is still not free; therefore he has the dubious distinction of being the highest paid slave in the world. The Black man must be determined to achieve full and complete freedom jus-
tice and equality in America but that won’t come without a well-organized and sustained fight (movement). What does full and complete freedom, justice, and equality look like? • Freedom (real freedom is economic freedom):The Emancipation Proclamation signaled the end of the American institution of slavery. When you consider the following two key facts (there are so many more): 1) Black ownership of the nation’s wealth remain where it was in 1860 near the end of slavery (pre-emancipation) at one half of one percent. After 150 years and 100percent physical freedom; America’s token addressing of social issues, Blacks still only own one half of one percent of the nation’s wealth. Why is this? Wealth inheritance is the passing of past benefits and gains from previous generations to future generations. Currently, nearly 90percent of all of the nation’s wealth was passed from one generation to another, this wealth is forever locked up (i.e. cash, stocks, bonds, land, business, trust accounts, endowments, foundation, etc.). While not all white people are rich, there is a massive disparity between the net assets of the average white family versus the average Black family ($100K+ vs $6-8K). This plays out in educational opportunities, housing and neighborhood selection, capitalization of entrepreneurial aspirations, and a genuine ability for selfdetermination for Black people. A recent report valued the promise of 40 acres and a mule at nearly $7 trillion (that is the minimum owed). • Justice (real justice is the abolishing of structural and institutional racism) In spite of this unforgivable economic position that Blacks faced after emancipation, Blacks would make real progress in nearly every area (i.e. literacy attainment, education, land ownership, small business development, functional community life, etc.) but this progress was met with a vicious and lethal attack and terrorism and an adaptation of slavery and oppression by racist whites in the form of the Ku Klux Klan and Jim Crow laws which were designed to undermine any and all social and economic gains by Black people. Blacks responded with a civil rights fight, battle that would consume them for nearly 60 years that ultimately placed Blacks further behind economically. Not having both economic and political freedoms was extremely damaging to the ”infant“ Black community. While Blacks might have won the civil rights battle, we continue to lose the economic war (this needle hasn’t moved since emancipation). Since the 1960s, as a result of hundred years of chattel slavery and then outright structural and in-
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RELIGION
The Milwaukee Community Journal July 8, 2015 Page 4
RELIGIOUS
COMMENTARY
“Black Lives Truly Do Matter” Guest Columnist Camille B. Lester, B.S. Psychology
The guest columnist this month is my daughter, Camille Bryana Lester. She is a recent graduate of DePaul University, where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and African & Black Diaspora Studies. Currently, she is a graduate student at Marquette University receiving a Master’s of Science degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Her ultimate goal is to become a Child Psychologist and make mental health services readily available and accessible by opening up her own private practice in the black community. Camille is also a past recipient of the Terrence N. Thomas Memorial Scholarship (“TNT”) and has foregone the awarding of the TNT Scholarship this year to allow another young person in the community to be blessed by the scholarship. Her submission is a young person’s perspective on the issue of “Black Lives Truly Do Matter.” “If we have the courage and tenacity of our forebears, who stood firmly like a rock against the lash of slavery, we shall find a way to do for our day what they did for theirs.” – Mary McLeod Bethune What is to be said about the state of black America? As my eyes peruse the daily headlines and I overhear the subtle murmur of the news reports, it is no secret that black America is in a state of all time crisis. The smell of fire and ashes blowing in the southern wind, countless churches burning and the incessant no indictments; we as a community are only rewarded with lifeless black bodies strung out on the
pavement. With no one, truly held accountable. It is a reoccurring theme that black life consistently does not matter. I often times feel myself burning with pain, anger and fear, screaming with my mouth sealed shut. What can we do? What is next for America? More importantly, what type of world do I hope to curate for my children, in tomorrows black America? The first order of business is to address the nihilism in black America. Nihilism in respect to blackness can be defined as psychological depression, despair and feeling of worthlessness that can be found on every corner of the inner city and internally burning in our souls as we matriculate through corporate America, dodging micro aggressions and feelings of inferiority. This nihilism is a vicious cycle; starting with feelings of despair and hopelessness, resulting in acts of violence to self or those around us. It is that ever repeating, “What do I have to lose” mindset. What do we have to lose? We are living in the age where sit-ins and boycotts are proven sadly ineffective. We are fighting a hidden, covert and institutional fight. What I charge you to do, is do what you are passionate about. Make your passion your career, curate a life that includes interests that make you unapologetically happy. With that career or interests, work to make resources and services accessible, shed light and be a catalyst of light to the African American community. We are an infinitely strong race of people. People who have survived the middle passage, slavery, the reconstruction period and Jim Crow. I often times feel weak and unsure if I am able to do this work. In these moments of fear and weakness, I think of who I am, and who’s I am. I am a child of God, and through Him all things are possible and all feats conquerable. What I am calling for our community to do is be tenacious, give back, and think back. There is hope, there are brighter days on the horizon—but it all begins with us. Because our ancestors could, we can. This is our community, we are a family. Black lives truly do matter.
Praise in the Park at Washington Park bandshell
Brothers of unity recently held “Praise in the Park: The Great Commission” at the Washington Park bandshell. The event called the community to unite in song, prayer, praise and worship. (Photos by Yvonne Kemp)
In Loving Memory
The Neffs celebrate 25 years of wedded bliss
Tony and Tia neff (seated center) were given a surprise 25 wedding anniversary party at Celebrations recently. They are flanked by their two children and surrounded by parents, relatives and friends. (Photo by Yvonne Kemp)
ernestine o’Bee, founder
Quality Service... a tenured tradition sincere concern at your time of need.
Offering pre-need, at need and after-care services to families in Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha and other communities throughout our state.
Aaron, Marjorie Age 93 years. July 6, 2015. Beloved mother of John L.(Margaret)Browder. Loving grandmother of Deadra (Dewayne)Richelle-Purifoy and Evan(Sherry)Browder. Loving sister of Marcel Butler, Adastine(Odell)Henry, Doris Renfro and Rose(Berkley)Fudge. Also survived by a host of other loving relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 10 at 12 Noon at Greater Mt. Zion Baptist Church 2479 N. Sherman Blvd. Visitation Friday 11AM at the CHURCH until time of services. The family is served by: Northwest Funeral Chapel O'Bee, Ford & Frazier 6630 W. Hampton Ave. (414)462-6020 Barry, Clyde Sr. Age 92 yrs. July 4, 2015. Funeral services will be held on Friday July 10 at 11AM. Visitation Friday 10AM until time of services at: Northwest Funeral Chapel O'Bee, Ford & Frazier 6630 W. Hampton Ave. (414)462-6020
Golden, Mary Louise Passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 30, 2015 at the age of 81. Beloved mother to Jerri A. Stanford, Charles Alan Golden (Andrew Johnson), the late Jacqueline
J.C. frazier, funeral Director
and Bruce Golden. Sister of Martha E. Carter. Also survived by a host of other loving relatives and friends.Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, July 11, 2015 at 11:00am at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 2207 N. 2nd St. Visitation Saturday 10:00am at the CHURCH until time of services. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Mary’s name to be made to Mt. Zion Child Development Center. The family is served by: Northwest Funeral Chapel O'Bee, Ford & Frazier 6630 W. Hampton Ave. (414)462-6020 Ragsdale, Henry C. Age 80 yrs. July 1, 2015. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 11 at 12 Noon at New Covenant Baptist Church 2315 N. 38th St. Visitation Saturday 11AM at the CHURCH until time of services. The family is served by: Northwest Funeral Chapel O'Bee, Ford & Frazier 6630 W. Hampton Ave. (414)462-6020 Banks, Otha B. Age 71 yrs. June 28, 2015. Visitation Only Tuesday, July 7 at 1PM at: Northwest Funeral Chapel O'Bee, Ford & Frazier 6630 W. Hampton Ave. (414)462-6020
Families served by:
Northwest Funeral Chapel O’Bee, Ford & Frazier
Milwaukee 6630 W. Hampton Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53218 Telephone: (414) 462-6020 Fax: (414) 462-9937
Racine 800 Barker St. Racine, WI 53402 Telephone: (262) 637-6400 Fax: (262) 637-6416
universally Speaking
(continued from page 3) stitutional racism, Blacks have continued to lose ground in nearly every category. After emancipation, every American system was legally, morally, and physically blocked to Blacks in America. From 1865 until the massive migration of Blacks to the northeast and Midwest, Blacks lived in segregated and contained areas where extreme levels of racism and hatred were committed against them, by denying them access to the multitude of American systems offered to whites. .. Today Blacks suffer from structural and institutional racism. We have countless stories of discrimination and unfair treatment of Blacks under these systems across every business sector. As a result, there are few Blacks represented in the CEO suite of big businesses. • Equality (equal representation of both the good and bad of American life) - Equality is a state of being equal in quantity, degree, value, rank, ability, and opportunity. I will primarily focus on “quantity.” This has been and continues to be the struggle in America for Black people. Black people, because of their start in this country, don’t have the equality of ”quantity.” Basically, if Blacks represent 13percent of the nation’s population, Blacks should own 13percent of the good demographics (i.e. wealth, income, businesses, etc.) and also 13percent of the bad demographics (i.e. academic failures, incarceration, unemployment, health, etc.). The sad reality is that Blacks are nearly invisible in the good demographics and dominate the bad demographics (the disparities can range between 15 and 60 points). For example, if equality was achieved based on equal quantity, Blacks would own 13percent of the nation”s wealth and good demographics and own 13percent of the nation’s problems. For example, Blacks should have nearly 13percent of the nation’s $110 trillion in wealth, yet Blacks only have 0.5percent of the nation’s wealth - this disparity is nearly a $14 trillion differential. This disparity is lethal and impacts every aspect of Black American life. The wealth disparity for Black people will remain and/or worsen when you consider key components that are direct contributors to wealth creation (i.e. business participation, unemployment and underemployment, long-term education failure, demise of the Black family, etc.). The fight for self-determination (movement) must continue just like it did in the 19th century when we had to destroy the nearly 300 year vicious and most inhumane American institution of slavery, Blacks had to escape the physical violence (THE BLACK AGENDA AND BLACK SELF-DETERMINATION WAS CRYSTAL CLEAR). After emancipation and the United States government’s termination of reconstruction (there were no resources allocated for the transition of millions of Black people from enslavement to freedom), the turn of the 20th century presented wholesale and legal segregation of Black people, outright racism coupled with violence and terrorism unleashed against Black men that, in many cases rivaled en-
slavement with race prejudice existing within every American institution. Blacks had to escape being relegated to becoming a permanent second class citizenship (THE BLACK AGENDA AND BLACK SELF-DETERMINATION WAS CRYSTAL CLEAR). Now the 21st century presents a whole different set of challenges for the Black community in America. Today, the Black agenda is not “crystal” clear as it was for the previous generations (escape physical violence and open racism) and as with previous generations, the Black community has a number of leaders with different approaches and focuses (the difference is that the agenda for the previous leaders was crystal clear). Today, because the problems are so material and, in many cases, the opponent is invisible, there are some Black leaders who are championing an African centered re-education; some are focused on reparations; some are focused on Black males and the mass incarceration of Black men; some are focused on health issues; some are only focused on business growth; and some are focused on social issues like drugs and alcohol, teen pregnancy, workforce development, while many others solely focus on religion as the sole solution to the issues facing the Black community. Some have put all of the lack of progress on the Black elected officials, which is flawed. While one of the more visual gains made by Blacks over the past 50 years has been increased political participation with Black representatives at local and state government elections on city council, state representatives and senate and in some cases mayor, it hasn’t been equitable – there is still too few. In fact Blacks, while having the largest voting bloc in many urban cities, lack any real political power because the Black elected officials have refuse to work together as a caucus. Our issues are more complicated because the millennial generation, those that have grown up in this so-called postracial environment all of their lives, have neither ventured out of their Black enclaves, or have been blessed with resources and have seen limited or no racism to date so they’ve become disconnected from their Black cultural heritage (i.e. having a real understanding of Black history, respecting and honoring elders, etc.) and the need for the ongoing fight (movement). Because of this and other factors like individualism and self-destructing behavior, many young Blacks don’t understand the real threat of white supremacy – they don’t believe in the power and impact of this opponent. By deduction, because of the alarming disparities of Blacks compared to white, if they don’t understand the influences and the legacy of slavery then they must believe (subconsciously) in Black inferiority. Many have bought hook, line, and sinker into the idea of assimilation “if I act correctly (good N) at every turn then I might be accepted in by white people” – this is the illusion of inclusion that many of our elders have already attempted. While we have a number of proposed solutions, none seem to be coordinated and consolidated. Yes we still have too many leaders and too many different strategies, which unless combined and coordinated will not have the capacity to move the needle for Black people. If the Black community is unable to organize and restart this movement, it’s the equivalent of having the peewee football team (unorganized Black movement) playing against the world champion New England Patriots.
Marva Collins
The Milwaukee Community Journal July 8, 2015 Page 5
(continued from page 3)
her that starred Cicely Tyson only touched on the greatness of this Black educational activist and brought before the public how educational apartheid doomed millions of Black children to second-class citizenship. Marva Collins was not about the blame game, but instead advocated that Black parents also beared responsibility for their children’s’ success or failure. If the public school didn’t provide for their needs, it was the parents’ responsibility to challenge the system, or seek options. They must also commit time and energy toward assisting their children in achieving academic success. "Parents, particularly black parents, have to be willing to make sacrifices to make sure their children are educated properly."—Marva Collins Obviously, if we followed Marva Collins’ advise, and words of wisdom, we could finally obtain some of the rocks needed to knock down the walls of educational apartheid in this country. Following are quotes by Marva Collins, followed by the creed each of her students were required to learn, and recite: “Trust yourself, Think for yourself, Act for yourself, Speak for yourself. Be yourself Imitation is suicide. Success doesn’t come to you, you go to it There is a brilliant child locked inside every student Character is when you know you are, not what others think you have… The older you get the more you realize that it isn’t about material things, or pride or ego. It’s about our hearts and who they beat for. The essence of teaching is to make learning contagious to have one idea spark another. Determination and perseverance move the world, thinking that others will do it of you is a sure way to fail THE CREED by Marva N. Collins Society will draw a circle that shuts me out, but my superior thoughts will draw me in. I was born to win if I do not spend too much time trying to fail. I can become a citizen of the world if I do not spend too many energies attempting to become local. I will ignore the tags and names given me by society since only I know what I have the ability to become.
I will continue to let society predict, but only I can determine what I will, can, or cannot do. Failure is just as easy to combat as success is to obtain. Education is painful and not gained by playing games, but I have seen failure too destroy millions with promised hopes and broken dreams. While I have the opportunity, I shall not sit on the sidelines bitter with despair and wish later that I had become a literate lifter of this world instead of a failing leaner. I will use each day to the fullest. I promise that each day shall be gained, not lost, used, not thrown away. Yet it is my privilege to destroy myself if that is what I choose to do. I have the right to fail, but I do not have the right to take my teacher and other people with me. God made me the captain of only one life, my own. Therefore, if I decide to become a failure, it is my right. We were all promised a pursuit of happiness, and that is what I must do, pursue happiness and success for myself. No one will give it to me on a proverbial platter, and no one will care as much about me as I must care about myself. But I must be willing to accept the consequences for that failure and I must never think that those who have chosen to work while I played, rested, and slept, will share their bounties with me. I will wave proudly my flag signifying that I am a failure by choice. But I will never envy those who have selected to wave their unfurled banners announcing their success. My success and my education can be a companion which no misfortune can depress, no crime can destroy, no enemy can alienate. No envy or names can hurt me. Education and success can be a lifetime solace. It guides goodness; it gives at once grace and genius to governments, communities, cities, townships, villages, homes, and palaces. Without education, what is a man? A splendid slave, a savage, a beast, wandering from here to there believing whatever they are told. God is not some cosmic bellboy who comes at my beckon and call. If I want to achieve, the first step must be my own undertaking. Likewise, if I want to fail, that too is my choice. Time and chance come to us all. Whether I decide to take that time and chance is indeed my own choice. I can either be hesitant or courageous. Life does indeed maroon the hesitant and inspire the brave. I can swiftly stand up and shout, "This is my time and place. I will accept the challenge, or I will let others make my decisions for me." Hotep.
Y&E
K
The Milwaukee Community Journal July 8, 2015 Page 6
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YOUTH&EDUCATION
Gilbert Brown hold his annual Football Camp for community youth
former Green Bay Packer Defensive Lineman Gilbert Brown held his annual football Camp for central city youth. The camp not only teaches the youths the fundimentals of the game, but also focuses on values necessary to be well-rounded citizens and contributors to the community. (Photo by Yvonne Kemp)
KALEIDOSCOPE the MCJ lifestyle & entertainment section on Stage
“Motown the Musical” a finger-snapping flashback to R&B’s golden age
By Warwees Holt
Early in the play ‘Motown the Musical,’ Berry Gordy visits a pop radio station seeking to get airplay for a new Miracles’ record. A apprehensive white disc jockey adamantly rejects the request, asking, ‘what make you think White people will pay for your (R&B) records?’
Well, history answered that question, and given the enthusiasm of the slightly majority White audience who showed up for the opening of the musical at the Marcus Theater Tuesday night, they not only loved the sound, but they embraced the culture that came with it. In fact, most of those in attendance apparently knew most of the lyrics for the pioneer company’s endless parade of hits featuring such legends as the Temptations, Four Tops, the Supremes and the Jackson Five. ‘Motown’ is loosely adapted from founder Gordy’s book, ‘To be Loved, The Music, The Magic, the Memories of Motown,’ and scans the period from the label’s inception to the 25th anniversary television special that cemented the company as the world’s preeminent soul music company. The storyline details Gordy’s hesitancy and sense of betrayal by artists he founded and groomed who later abandoned the label for creative and financial reasons. Nearly all of them returned for the anniversary special, as much to celebrate the label as to honor Gordy. Interestingly, a major subplot of the play dealt with racial turmoil during the early years of Motown. There is an eye-opening scene in which two southern police officers keep (continued on page 9)
Zelda Corona
TRuST! Tara R. Pulley
Sista Speak...Speak Lord! Sonya Bowman
The Results What is it that you need to see happen? What is it that you need to see move in your favor? Who is the soul mate that your heart doth seeketh? Who is the one person in this world that you can truly call your friend? What monkey do you need to get off of your back? What obstruction stands in your way of happiness? What promise did you make to another? What promise did you keep to yourself? Which way will you choose to handle all of this? Will you choose faith or fear? Will you on this day… let go and let God… grant you the best desired results for your life? Sonya M. Bowman “It Is What It Is” In God We Trust We all want to believe and trust in those close to us. We may even cover for someone as
we believe and trust they do have the potential to do better. We believe and trust in mankind that change is going to come in this world. We believe and trust relationships will last forever...as we put our trust in that one person. We believe and trust as parents… our children will take care of us as we grow older. With all this being said let's take the time if you can relate… that We only need to Believe and Trust in God. Tara R Pulley "Keeping it Real" Restating the Importance of… Faith is believing in the unseen. Faith is hoping for a desired outcome. Faith is conviction of a firm opinion. Faith is confidence that success is inevitable. Faith is expecting the impossible. Faith is reliance on the All Mighty. Faith is committing without question. Zelda Corona Vision Represents Faith!
The Milwaukee Community Journal July 8, 2015 Page 7 old School: we Ain't Through Yet! - Black men 60 yrs. old and older are invited to attend a meeting at the Wisconsin African American Women's Center 3020 W. Vliet St. on Monday, July 13th from 4:30PM - 5:55PM to discuss solutions that can address the conditions in our community. The discussion will center around Mentoring, Outreach, Philanthropy, Health and Resource Gathering.
FROM THE BLACK By Tony Courtney
heal the hood and BnD presents heal the Womb and heal the nation! There will be women advocates addressing women's issues, spoken word artists and vendors. Sunday, July 19th at 2PM at the Wisconsin African American Women's Center 3020 W. Vliet St.
Respecting the humanity of Prisoners - A encounter with the stories, poems, art and witness of Wisconsin prisoners. Family members of those in prison will share their stories. This event will be held at The First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee 1342 N. Astor St. on Saturday, July 25th from 10AM-1PM. This event is sponsored by MICAH, The Body and Soul Healing Center, ACLU of WI, Project Return, Wisconsin Community Services, Prison Action Milwaukee and Justice Point.
"Stress free for Life" - Order a copy of this book today for yourself and order a copy for a loved one that is incarcerated. You can order this book by calling 718-469-3199 at Tauienterprises. This book will give you the insight of how to eliminate, not manage the stress in your life.
Alderman and community leaders kick off Safe Zone initiative
(continued from page 1) hoods, our faith community and our dedicated corps of ambassadors, and working together with police and city officials, it is my hope that we can begin to steer would-be offenders away from the path to violence and dispair,” the alderman said. “Eradicating violence is a big job,” Hamilton continued, “and it will take no less than a total commitment from each member of our community. I challenge every one of our neighbors to get engaged with this critical effort.” After the news conference, residents of nearby Garden Homes Neighborhood rallied together for a neighborhood cleanup with the ambassadors.
noted educator, scholar and historian Taki S. Raton
The Milwaukee Community Journal July 8, 2015 Page 8
(continued from page 1) tion Debate Alive in Milwaukee” (Asmerom, The Atlanta Post – November 22, 2010) “Brother to Brother – A Message of Hope” (James, 2008), American Journal of Education (Merry and New, 2008), and “Why our children hate us – How Black adults have betrayed Black children” (Grimes and Slaughter, 2006). Raton was known for organizing panel discussions and lectures, bringing to the community not only local Black scholars and historians, but also wellknown and little known--but still important--Black authors, documentary film makers and historians from around the country, whose books and documentaries challenged and debunked the preconceived notions that Blacks made very little or no contributions to world history and achievement. Raton’s lectures, panels, workshops and scholarly guests revealed that people of Africa and of African descent--made incalcuable contributions to civilization, including the creation of “civilization” itself. Some of the most notable presentors Raton helped bring to Milwaukee were Dr. Umar Johnson, Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu, and Dr. Joy Degruy-Leary. Raton also organized and moderated two panel presentations on Tom Burrell’s book, “Brainwashed” in Milwaukee at UWM and Chicago’s Black Start Project in
Community expresses sorrow, remembers Taki Raton
2010. Raton was a consultant with private schools in obtaining their pre-accreditation and accreditation standard requirements. Since 2009 under the co-sponsorship of 100 Black Men Chicago and Milwaukee chapters, Raton coordinated an annual trip to Chicago for the annual Honors Student Reception, attended by the top African American high school seniors from Milwaukee, Kenosha, Beloit, and Madison. These students would join over 200 other Chicago area seniors, to interact with national college and university representatives to explore admissions and scholarship opportunities. Invitational student criteria include 3.3 GPA and a 23 cumulative or above on the ACT. For several years, Raton has been responsible for in putting together an extensive Black History Month display at Milwaukee Area Technical College’s (MATC) downtown campus. Raton was a regular contributor to the MCJ writing on Black culture, attitudes, religion and history that challenged the preconceived and accepted ideas and beliefs about Americans of African descent and Africa’s place on the world stage of history and contributions in science, medicine, politics, the arts, the family, Black male and female relationships. His writings on current issues confronting Black America were often con-
In 1990 this man Baba Taki S. Raton changed my life and my entire way of thinking with one question? What is your nationality? Unable to answer this question sparked a desire in me like a bolt of lightning and roaring thunder!!! Thanks to him I know now who I am and where I come from. It all started with a picture of a Kemet Queen that he "gave" to me and said girl that is you in this picture now study it and let me know if you need help. He taught me something very valuable that day and every day since that day. He continued to teach me from 1990 - 2015 so graciously. Any questions or gudiance I needed he made sure I had the tools to educate myself especially in regards to my history. Rest In Power Baba Raton you will truly be missed.
Russell Stamper Sr.
Bro Taki, We last spoke on May 16, 2015 when you were one of our panelists at Brainstorming, the last of your many presentations there. Over the years you have never said no when asked to share your wisdom and knowledge with the community in one of our early Saturday morning forums. We could always depend on you to bring it straight, no chaser. Yet, you were always the most gracious one to say thanks for inviting you, the giver expressing gratitude. We will miss you, dear Brother! Peace!
Debra Flint-Salter
(Courtesy of facebook)
Lacesha Edwards
troversial not only to Whites, but to many Blacks as well. His last article for the Community Journal best demonstrated his pincence for “shaking things up” within the status quo of the Black and White communities. In the article, printed in the July 1 edition, Raton questioned the focus by the media, civil rights and religious leaders, and others on the attitude of forgiveness shown by the families of nine individuals fatally shot by an avowed racist while they were having Bible study at Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Said Raton in the article: “...Expressions of forgiveness, prayer vigils around the country, and finally resolution in the form of swaying circles of Blacks and Whites together singing, ‘We Shall Overcome’ has presented--in this writers mind--a shameful view of a Black people with no sense of dignity or self-respect in the eyes of themselves, in the eyes of America, the world’s people or even in the eyes and hearts of our children.” Raton also contributed articles to the Milwaukee Courier newspaper. His series, “Young, Gifted & Black” appeared bi-monthly in the Courier highlighting exemplar achievements of African American youth elementary through college. Funeral arrangements are still pending.
Thomas E. Mitchell
I guess it's true...though I didn't want it to be! My friend, teacher, and mentor Taki S. Raton has gone home to the ancestors and fellow scholars who went before him. I have few brothas I call friend! Taki was one of my friends. He was one of my groom's men in my wife Clarene and I's wedding. The other groom's men had trouble staying in step with the processional. But not Taki. He stayed in step by snapping his fingers to the beat in his head, just like stepping he told me later. Taki was one of the brothas who awakened my consciousness as a Black man! I will miss my friend, mentor, teacher, and scholar! Rest in peace my friend. Rest in blessed peace!
I'm still trying to grasp the news I read today of the passing of a friend. Taki S. Raton was an honorable human being, a man of convictions, a proponent for the scholastic achievements and development of Black students, who required to know of the history and culture of our race. He was an adjunct professor, columnist, author, activist,and would keep us educated with his postings of past and current events, as they related to us, and mankind. Taki was also a very respectful man, and would sometimes refer to me as 'ma'am', which I asked him one day, why. He told me that he was raised to respect women, no matter the age difference, and the fact that he was older than me, and dutifully did respect women, and man alike. In my former residence, I would host New Year's Eve parties, and he was at attendance at a few. When I posted a throwback pic last year, he messaged me that if I were to give another one, he would be honored to attend. Well, I did....and he came. He lived in Milwaukee, but would still visit his hometown, Chicago. The other thing I remember about Taki, was his ability to 'step' better than most I've seen! He had a gentle smoothness as he would glide you on the dance floor, with a style all his own. All of his friends and family will mourn his loss for years to come, and the students he touched, have lost their advocate. May his gentle soul rest in Heavenly peace.
James Causey
We lost a good brother this morning. Taki S. Raton was a mentor and a strong advocate for our community. In my last conversation with Taki, he told me to "keep doing what you doing brother." I told him I'm trying, and he said "No brother, you are doing." I shook his hand right in front of the blue building and we went our separate ways. I wish I would have told Taki that I loved him. I didn't because like most of us, I thought I would see his smiling face again. Never take these small moments for granted. Tell the person you love that you love them because tomorrow is not promised.
“Mister Speaker, I am proud that the Milwaukee Community Journal hails from the 4th Congressional District. It has consistentlyinformed, analysed and entertained readers for nearly 38 years. I am pleased to give praise to Patricia O’Flynn Pattillo and her staff for providing a voice to the community and providing educational opportunities to students. I wish them many more years of success.”
--A segment from Cong. Gwen Moore’s remarks she made on the Congressional Record paying tribute to the Milwaukee Community Journal’s Dr. Terence N. Thomas Scholarship Annual Brunch
Review of...
“MoToWn The MuSiCAL”
e (continued from page 7) Whites and Blacks apart during a show in the south. y Gunfire mars another southern performance. And racial strife is highlighted with both of the deaths of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King. History records that Gordy did not use the influence of his music empire to impact the civil rights movement, and in fact resisted Marvin Gaye’s landmark social commentary album, ‘What’s Going n On.’ But those inconsistencies, as well as the origins of his relationship with superstar Diana Ross are secondary to the music that makes the play one of the most engaging and entertaining to open in Milwaukee in some time. y Speaking of Ross, Allison Semmes steals the show playing that role. Josh Tower as Gordy is the star, and noteworthy roles are performed by Jesse Nager as Smokey Robinson and Jarran Muse as Marvin Gaye. Give two thumbs up to Elijah Ahmad Lewis’s impersonation of Stevie Wonder and Nathaniel Cullors as Michael Jackson. Cullors’ performance in particular had the audience rocking in their seats. But it is the intoxicating acting and superb singing of Semmes that stands out. Her acting was believable, and her singing top notch. (I saw the Broadway version of ‘Motown’ and with the exception of the Smokey Robinson role--the Broadway cast member was a slightly stronger singer and looked more like Robinson) the traveling musical was equally remarkable.) If you were around in the 1960s and 70s, Motown the Musical is a journey down memory lane. And if you didn’t, the musical will illuminate why that time span was called the ‘golden age of Black music.’ If I found fault with the music it was that too many songs were crammed into the two and one half hour performance. Motown was considered the bellwether of soul music and social protest in the turbulent years of civil rights and social unrest, and some of the 50 plus songs in the musical attest to that fact. But it was somewhat disappointing that longer versions of some of my favorites from the era had to be sacrificed because of time constraints. That minor--and albeit personal--problem aside, Motown the Musical is the perfect end to a summer day. If you grew up during the height of Motown’s soulful sovereignty, take a younger family member to the play to brag about what they missed. The play runs through July 12 at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts.
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The Milwaukee Community Journal July 8, 2015 Page 9
The Milwaukee Community Journal July 8, 2015 Page 10