HAPPY HOLIDAYS LA DODGER DAY A2 Heralding the First Amendment: Freedom of the Press and the Public’s Right to Know!
VOL. 1 NO. 12
‘PEACE IN THE ‘HOOD’
uNchArTed A2
COMPTON
HERALD www.comptonherald.com
MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2014
HAM IS AGAIN ON THE MENU FOOD A8
16 PAGES
Street resurfacing project moves ahead COMPTON (MNS) — Boulevards, streets, avenues and thoroughfares in the “Hub City” are in major disrepair in need of resurfacing, a major contention of the mayor and city council, which has made street rehab one of the city’s foremost projects.
Glen W. C. Kau, P.E., director of Public Works/ Municipalities issued a status report outlining the scope of the work underway to 88 thoroughfares in the city. “The City of Compton has developed an extensive plan to rehabilitate its
aging infrastructure,” As part of that overall plan, plans and specifications have been developed for street improvements at various locations throughout the city,” said Kau, who added, the plans include the replacement of sidewalks, curbs, gutters, drive-
ways, corner accessibility ramps, and roadway pavement treatments such as slurry sealing and cape sealing. “These efforts are specifically designed to improve pedestrian accessibility, safety and prevent more costly repairs in the future,”
Kau said. APA Engineering Inc. is administering the project on behalf of Compton. American Asphalt South has been under contract since Sept. 2, 2014 to perform the constructive job, which is targeted for completion by mid-February
2015. A weekly project schedule will be published by Herald each week to reflect actual locations of the work to be performed and to keep residents and businesses apprised of the progress until completion through Feb. 15.
L.A. mayor wants Ezell Ford autopsy
Council dismisses G. Harold Duffey HERALD STAFF REPORT
COMPTON—G. Harold Duffey, on the forefront of public service for 25 years and the city manager here since July 2012, was terminated by the City Council on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2014. Duffey was the latest in a number of city managers seen by the council as having fallen short in effect i v e l y managing the daily operations G. Harold of this Duffey municipality with a staff exceeding 300 employees and a budget of nearly $160 million. Duffey was under contract and the only major figure in city government appointed by the council. To terminate his service to the city required a majority vote, which was 3-2— with Mayor Aja Brown, Councilpersons Isaac Galvan, and Yvonne Arceneaux voting to terminate, and councilpersons Willie Jones and Janna Zurita voting to retain Duffey as city manager. Mayor Brown issued the following statement: “We appreciate Mr. Duffey's service and look forward to starting the new year with new management. I believe 2015 will be an exciting year for our city. “We are starting the year off right, focusing on providing our residents with the service they deserve by filling potholes citywide while we develop a comprehensive mid- and longterm action plan to repair and maintain our streets, generate new sources of See DUFFEY page 15
CUSD PHOTO
Jason Morgan (left, front) earned a degree in economics from Stanford University and worked as a financial consultant before realizing teaching was his passion.
LOS ANGELES—L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti said he expects the results of an autopsy on an unarmed black man shot by police in August will be released by the end of December, probably in the next week. Police have said two officers shot and killed 25year-old Ezell Ford, described by a family lawyer as mentally challenged, in South L.A. on Aug. 11, after he allegedly struggled with an officer. “I think we’ll see it
before the end of the year,” Garcetti told KNX 1070 during an interview. “I felt like it was time for the family, for the community, to release the body, [and] results, that was taking too long. So I [ordered] the police chief to do that.” Ford’s death drew some 500 protesters to Parker Center the Sunday after the shooting, following the controversial slaying of teen Michael Brown by white Ferguson, Mo. policeman Darren Wilson.
Facing trial on sex offense CUSD teachers in running for
Shining Stars ‘Educator of the Year’ honor BY RON SUAZO
COMPTON—Not one, but two Compton High School teachers are in the running for the California League of High Schools’ Region 8 Educator of the
Year Award. Dominguez High’s Jason Morgan, and Centennial High’s Theresa Choice, were honored Dec. 5, as finalists for the honor at the Woodland Hills Country Club. Each year the award
RAW
Street
is presented to distinguished teachers statewide who provide students with high quality instruction. For nearly a decade, Morgan has dedicated himself to preparing students See TEACHERS page 2
Six thousand Mike Browns he molten hot protests boiling in cities and towns nationwide over the police slayings of unarmed black males will cool no time soon. A single person slain by errant cops is one too many. Any grieving See BLIND page 15
T MAYHEM IN URBIA By J arret te Fellows, Jr.
BY BETTY PLEASANT COMPTON—Skyye De’Anthony Fisher, a member of the Compton Unified School District Board of Directors, was ordered by a Superior Court judge Dec. 4, 2014, to stand trial in San Diego on a sex charge. Fisher, 31, was scheduled for arraignment on Thursday, Dec. 17 on a felony charge of having sex with an unconscious person. If convicted, the district attorney’s office said he faces a maximum of eight years in prison. Fisher’s various personal legal matters have created considerable controversary in Compton since his 2011 election to the school board. His last arrest on July 23 was on suspicion of having sex with a sleeping 26-year-old man with whom he shared a motel room during a
Skyye D. Fisher vacation in San Diego. During the preliminary hearing, the man testified that he was asleep the room and was awakened by Fisher performing oral sex on him. He was arrested by the San Diego police. Fisher’s sex arrest led to demands by the mayor, school board, the NAACP, local activists and outraged citizens for his resignation, but he ignored the demands and retained his seat.
“Agitate, Agitate, Agitate!” — Frederick Douglass, 1895
PAGE 2 COMPTON HERALD MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2014
CITY BEAT Jarrette Fellows, Jr.
uNchArTed
G
OD HELP US! I RECALL AT LEAST two fathers who were violently taken from their families at the hand of trigger-quick cops over the past several months. Eric Garner died from a chokehold (the brain only needs to be deprived of oxygen for 15 seconds to kill a person; any martial artist knows that!), despite the medical examiner’s finding that a heart attack caused the fatality. The other victim was Rumain Bisbon, 34, who was slain by a white Phoenix policeman who thought Bisbon was a drug dealer reaching for a gun. Bisbon was no drug peddler and what the cop mistook for a weapon was a vial of prescription medication. Just like that, two daddies erased from among the living leaving 10 fatherless children—not to mention two widows. Rage makes you want to holler! But there is an answer: The sword of the spirit. 2 Chronicles 7:14: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” Some people think prayer is milque-toast, but they must be atheists, because there is an all-powerful, allwise God who deals with injustice and disdains hatred of any kind. He will deal with this latest outbreak of injustice in America, too! Besides, the idea of a “life for a life,” retaliating against cops—as some speak—is extreme folly, utter insanity. That would be like the John Brown massacre at Harper’s Ferry—by modern standards a torrent of blood in the streets! If you’ve never listened to classical music and you’re a lover of music, treat yourself, go to your computer and Google “James Brown and Luciano Pavarotti Sing It’s A Man’s World” on Youtube. This mix of orchestral opera stylings and soul music will stir your soul, it’s so dynamically
thrillingly awesome—the blend takes the JB classic to another dimension. The way the great tenor Pavarotti delivers his rendition of “It’s A Man’s World,” will have you listening to it again and again and again. I’m at about 30 earfuls and just can’t get enough! I have a whole new respect and admiration for opera singers. BRAVO! E-mail and let me know if this duet moves you as much as it moved me! “Hood Peace Coming to a Hood Near You,” is an emerging social movement within the African American community to clean-up and re-cast the African American brand. Our community may be the least respected on Earth! Why? Largely because we don’t respect ourselves. Why would anyone else do so? We kill one another at an alarming rate averaging hundreds of murders per year in large urban areas. Many of us denigrate one another constantly with descriptive slurs like n-----, b----,h--, mutha ------, and so on. We must somehow get to our young males and discourage the violence, the fratricide; We must initiate Hood Peace. No one else will. Stay tuned for updates.
COMPTON
HERALD Monday, Dec. 22, 2014 PUBLISHER and EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Jarrette Fellows, Jr. MARKETING DIRECTOR
Marshall Crawford DIGITAL MARKETING DIRECTOR
Tyrone Gaines COMMUNITY RELATIONS DIRECTOR
Alonzo Williams COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
Kingsley B. Jones DISTRIBUTION / CIRCULATION
Pedro Martin
Editorial: (310) 908-9683 Advertising: (562) 719-7096 1217 W. Carson St., S-256, Torrance, CA 90502
website :www.comptonherald.com e-mail: thecomptonherald@gmail.com ads@comptonherald.com
Centennial science teacher Theresa Choice (standing, center) surrounded by some of her young students.
Teachers honored for prowess Continued from front page f o r c o l l e g e a s AV I D (Achievement Via Individual Determination) coordinator. Morgan uses many approaches preparing students to perform at a higher level, steering them to advanced placement courses and guiding them in a host of areas from the college application process to writing on a university level, and subsequent careers after they leave college. “To bridge the gap I need let them know my pitfalls and my failures. It helps them relate to me,” said Morgan, who also teaches
algebra. “It builds ‘buy-in’ and lets them [know] I am speaking from actual experience. “Most of the time students look at teachers as superhuman, but we all had to struggle. They see only the finished product, but if you can show it while it’s still being developed they will see they too can succeed. Everything is a learning process.” Morgan graduated from Stanford University with a degree in economics and spent a year working as an independent financial consultant before realizing teaching was his passion.
After earning a teaching credential through the Los Angeles County Office of Education, he began his career at Dominguez High School in 2006. Morgan said upon learning of his nomination he was humbled. “It was a shock. I thought it was a joke because there are so many [other] teachers who [also] do a whole lot, who work so hard,” he said. A South L.A. native, Morgan said his desire to teach in Compton came from wanting to help students from a similar background.
“I grew up in South Central where there were many stereotypes I had to overcome as a young black man. I was determined not to let those things define me,” he explained. “I see myself as a guide to usher students towards whatever their dreams are. Whether it’s through providing them with resources or helping them get into the right mind set.” Science teacher Theresa Choice’s mission has remained unchanged since she began teaching biology and chemistry at CentenSee SCIENCE page 12
LA Dodgers thrill Roosevelt students COMPTON (MNS)— The Compton Unified School District’s partners, the Los Angeles Dodgers whacked a home run for more than 100 Roosevelt Elementary students when they invited the team for a day of fun at Dodger Stadium ON Dec. 11. The Compton students were among 400 LA area students invited to the Major League Baseball team’s Annual Children’s Holiday Party where they played games, slid down a snow slide, and were served lunch in the Stadium Club, where they also met Dodgers alumni before receiving new shoes and toys. “What a magical day for our students,” said Princi-
Youngsters served lunch in the famed Stadium Club.
pal Salvador Aquino. “Roosevelt Elementary is very grateful for the generosity of the Los Angeles
Dodgers who went out of their way to put smiles on the faces of our children. “It’s great to have part-
ners like the Dodgers supporting our school,” he said. For Dodgers fan and third-grader Ruben Moreno, the day was a dream come true. “I like the Dodgers a lot. I’ve never been to the stadium,” he said. "I want to say ‘thank you’ to the Dodgers.” Fourth-grader Steve Vargas was equally excited to visit Dodger Stadium. “My favorite player is Yasiel Puig, so it’s cool to be here today,” he said. Vargas also shared his favorite parts of the field trip. “It was cool to eat in the Stadium Club, to play in the snow, and meet people who played for the Dodgers,”Vargas said.
PAGE 3 COMPTON HERALD MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2014
LOCAL L.B. residents have little faith in citizen oversight police body
SOULVINE BY BETTY PLEASANT THEM AGAINST US AND US AGAINST US—It’s bad enough that the United States of America has unleashed its law enforcement goons across the country to massacre unarmed black and brown people by any means necessary, as most recently evidenced by the New York City grand jury’s refusal to indict white police officer, Daniel Pantaleo, for the July chokehold death of Eric Garner, a black unarmed father of six, whose grisly demise was video taped and shown to the world. This flagrant miscarriage of here-to-fore touted “American justice” led to huge protests by the people of New York and followed a mere week after a Ferguson, Mo. grand jury cleared police officer Darren Wilson of the fatal shooting of 18-year-old unarmed and black Michael Brown, precipitating destructive riots in Ferguson and demonstrations around the country, including here in Los Angeles. We have a problem in Los Angeles that threatens to undermine our fight against the fascist forces in the country determined to annihilate us: the petty, divisive undermining of those few altruistic souls who are leading us in a fight to survive. Blogger Jasmyne Cannick has referred to dyed-in-the-wool activists Najee Ali, Earl Ofari Hutchinson and the Rev. K.W. Tulloss as “so-called black leaders” for their roles in organizing and leading Los Angeles’ anti-police violence protest marches. That is a nasty, belittling denigration of men who have done nothing but fight for the rights of black and brown people in our community and we rely on them—and more like them—to lead us out of our present peril. Instead of thanking them for their leadership during these and other troubling times, Cannick, who leads nothing and does nothing, wrote of an anonymous rumor that Najee, specifically, was a police snitch who ratted out protesters and caused them to be arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department when they violated the law by marching on the freeway, closing traffic. Cannick was among those arrested, which she blamed on Najee. In response, Najee said the allegation against him is a lie and I would believe him over her any day. For the record, Najee explained that, in anticipation of civil unrest, the LAPD convened a meeting with him, Earl and Tulloss—as well as the leaders of more than 30 different churches and groups—from the Nation of Islam and the US organization to the NAACP to insure that the violence that erupted during last year’s Crenshaw Boulevard Trayvon Martin march does not occur again. “Our only goal was peace in our ‘hood,” Najee said. “To say we worked with the police to have people arrested is a big lie,” he added. We don’t need this from Cannick or from anybody else with a black or brown face. Know why? Because the white faces are moving right along toward their goal, while we lie on each other and foment divisive dissemination among our ranks. We need all the unity we can get and we need to be led by whomever has the will, the way and the skill to lead us. Those of us who don’t, need to just shut up and follow. In case you missed it: A white Phoenix police officer gunned down another unarmed black man on the night of Dec.1. Rumain Bisbon, 34, the father of four, was killed by the cop, who thought he was making a drug bust, after the cop mistook a pill vial for which Bisbon was reaching to be a gun. Lord have mercy! How can anyone mistake a pill vial for a gun?! An obviously hallucinating cop can! And did you see this video? While the Phoenix cop was busy shooting Bisbon to death, three Denver cops were videotaped pounding the head of David Nelson Flores into the pavement in an attempt to make him spit out drugs they believed were in his mouth. The witnessing videographer said one of the cops pounded Flores six times in the face, closed-fisted, so hard that his head was seen and heard smacking against the pavement. Flores’ very pregnant girlfriend and his young child were in the car. Concerned about the beating her man was taking, the woman got out of the car, so one of the cops flipped her onto her immensely pregnant belly and smacked her in the stomach and face. The woman-beating cop said he attacked her because he thought she was going to kick him! The three Denver cops are said to be “under investigation” (whatever that means) for what they did to Flores and his woman. See what I’m talking about? It’s like Nazi Germany in this country. We black and brown people are the Jews and the cops are the Gestapo, (or the Geheime Staatspolizei, as my high school German is recalled) whose only function is to eliminate us by any means necessary. The other day, President Barack Obama requested that federal agencies submit recommendations to ensure the U.S. is not building a “militarized culture” See SOULVINE page 15
Peace On Earth!
.
BY MICHAEL LOZANO
LONG BEACH (NAM) —The Long Beach Police Department recently told Pamela Fields, a local resident, that she could not pick up her late son’s cellphone, but she could “collect his bloody clothes.” Donte Lamont Jordan, a 39-year-old African American male was shot and killed by Long Beach police in late 2013, when, according to their account, Jordan fired a weapon at a dark-colored vehicle. Fields said her legal team’s findings change that narrative. They say Jordan was holding a cellphone and not a gun, when police shot him. “He was on his cellphone at the time of his assassination with his back turned,” she said witnesses reported. That “doesn’t justify shooting a man in his back.” Jordan was just one of 22 officer-involved shooting victims by Long Beach police officers in 2013. A new layer of oversight has entered some police agencies with some departments requiring their officers to wear mini-cameras to record their interactions with people. The recorded data will allow investigators to determine if racial bias exists. Locally, the Citizen’s Police Complaint Commission (CPCC) has served as Long Beach’s oversight body reviewing police misconduct allegations since 1990. According to CPCC Chairman Jeffrey Price, the commission can use data from the cameras to subpoena witnesses, but not police officers.
“The officer has an officer’s bill of rights which protects them,” he said. In 2012, the commission received 654 total allegations, 86 percent of which were closed with a “No Further Action” finding, according to its annual report posted on the city’s website. About a third of the remaining allegations were found as “Not Sustained,” meaning evidence was insufficient to prove allegations of misconduct. Even if allegations are sustained, the commission’s charter does not give it the authority to discipline officers, said Price. “We only recommend to the city manager what our findings are. It’s up to the city manager to take that back to internal affairs and decide what, if anything, the punishment will be,” he explained. Said CPCC executive director Anitra Dempsey, while the commission is limited in providing confidential recommendations on individual cases to the city manager. “We never comment on stats. We are complaintdriven,” said Dempsey. “There are incidences that may make the news that this body may not see if complaints are not filed.” In fact, Fields has never filed a complaint with the CPCC because she was not familiar with them. That’s also the case for Jessica Loarca whose 21-year-old son, Jesse Delgadillo, was killed by Long Beach police on April 28, 2013. “When we hear there are people not aware of us, we recognize that,” Dempsey said. “We take advantage of every reasonable and ethical opportunity to share
information about what this body does. “The commissioners are individuals who represent the community and take their job very seriously,” Dempsey said. “We hope that you don’t need us, but if you do, we are here, and we handle every case as if it was our own.” The 2012 CPCC Annual Report reflects African Americans as 43 percent of complainants, even though they only comprise 13 percent of the city’s population according to the 2010 census. Latinos, who make up 41 percent of the population, account for 19 percent of complainants. In the CPCC’s last public meeting on Nov. 13, 2014, one individual attended at city hall. Activist Michael Brown said the dismal turnout was due to the CPCC’s lact of promotion, and because residents don’t have faith in the commission’s power to change. He says the commission is a “rubber stamp institution.” “They don’t have any teeth,” he said. “[There are] individual police officers who people in certain neighborhoods know are ba There’s no mechanism in place to remove [these] problem officers.” As for solutions, Brown says that community control has to be a starting point, with local communities deciding how they want to be policed. “The community should have direct control; they should have subpoena power, [and] the power to remove a police officer from the street,” Brown said. “Everything will flow from there.” The mothers of those killed by local officers also
expressed some ideas. “If there’s a policeinvolved shooting, we need an outside agency like the federal government to investigate instead of a local agency,” Fields said. “The way they did my son was just wrong. I think there needs to be a federal investigation.” All police shootings in Long Beach are reviewed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and LBPD Internal Affairs. To date none of the officers involved in any of the 2013 shootings have been charged, according to the district attorney’s office. The department did not respond to inquiries on the use of force. Last year former Long Beach Police Chief Jim McDonnell, now L.A. County Sheriff, announced the establishment of a Use of Force Advisory Board in response to the abnormally high number of policeinvolved shootings in Long Beach in 2013, when 22 individuals were gunned down by police. McDonnell said earlier this year that “in almost all of these incidents, the suspect shot at or used a weapon, either directed at an officer, or at a third party.” Mark-Anthony Johnson, head of the Dignity and Power Now organization, said statistics on excessive force is what’s needed. “There’s no local reporting of data or patterns of who is most affected by excessive force by race, gender, or mental health condition,” he said. “We [only] see these national trends that define a crisis that needs to be shifted.” See LITTLE page 15
Say It With Love! PERSONAL
ANNOUNCEMENTS
I Love You, Happy Anniversary, Congratulations, Rest In Peace, Thinking of You, Get Well Soon, Praying for You, Happy Birthday, Engagement, Condolences, Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, Let’s Make Up, Welcome, Goodbye, As–Salaam Alaikum, Feliz Navidad, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Valentine’s Day, Be My Valentine, Happy Mother’s Day, Happy Father’s Day, Be My Girlfriend, Be My Boyfriend, Will You Marry Me? I’m Sorry, Please Forgive Me? Business Card Size 3 1/2” x 2”
$25 per week
Includes a Black/White Photo (extra photo add $5)
Personalize it. Make it special! Call Dennene Jones, sales executive (323) 681-1168 COMPTON HERALD Voice of the City
PAGE 4 COMPTON HERALD MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2014
CALIFORNIA Ayotzinapa: Mexico’s ‘Ferguson, Mo.’ BY ALFREDO CAMACHO BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (NAM) — As thousands take to the streets in cities nationwide to express outrage over the police shooting of an unarmed black teenager in Ferguson, Mo., another protest movement is sweeping through Mexican American and immigrant communities. Both are aimed at what participants say is statesanctioned violence against unarmed civilians. Last month hundreds
the streets. Now their countrymen across the border in the U.S.—and around the globe—are doing the same. “Those students you see in the pictures may as well be my students,” said Cal State Bakersfield sociology professor Dr. Gonzalo Santos, who organized the Bakersfield vigil. The pictures were part of an arrangement of 43 empty school chairs, in reference to the missing students. On each empty chair was placed a burning candle, with a photo and the
NORTH-SOUTH OF THE BORDER U.S.-MEXICO
gathered in mostly-Latino enclaves around California, including the moderately-sized city of Bakersfield, where over 40 people rallied as part of a “Global Day of Action for Ayotzin- apa” where 43 university students disappeared late September after they were confronted by Mexican police in the state of Guer- rero. Six students died in the ensuing altercation. Many believe the students were handed over to a local drug gang on orders from the city’s mayor. In the days and weeks since, Mexicans have expressed their outrage in
name of each victim. At the culmination of the ceremony, a rose was laid on each seat. “I see my students’ faces in their faces,” said Santos. “Imagine coming to class one day and 43 of your students have simply gone missing.” But Santos said the protest movement in Mexico that flared up in the wake of the revelations could be a key moment in the country’s future. “What will make the movement in Mexico succeed, I think, is [protestors] need to come up with a program that addresses [Mexican] society’s prob-
lems, and that program has to be popularized among those in the movement,” explained Santos. Esperanza Guzman is one of Santos’ students and attended the vigil. “This event is to let the people know we are united with the people of Mexico in protest of the forty-three students,” she said. “We’re here with people from Bakersfield and nearby towns, Delano, Taft, Arvin, Shafter ... who are here to show support.” Guzman, who has been following the Ayotzinapa developments, said she agrees that this is a historic moment for Mexico. But it will be a long time, she added, before change materializes. “It takes time, but the people of Mexico are united to speak out and say, ‘We need justice for what’s happened,’” said Guzman. “We’ve got to tell the Mexican state, ‘Enough!’ and … bring these students home.” Guzman said she thinks more Americans need to show their solidarity with Mexico’s protestors for the missing students. “We are all human beings; we ought to all support each other no matter where [these things] happen,” said Guzman. “It happened in Mexico, but it could have happened anywhere—here even, and we should be ready to support each other.” As for the Mexican government, Guzman echoed others at the vigil in calling
Protesters in Bakersfield display placards to draw attention to 43 students missing in Mexico, whose kidnapping is believed to be gang related.
for more accountability. “The president and other [officials] need to do their jobs and find these students. That would be justice for their parents and the people,” said Guzman. “They need to root out officials who are working with cartels who are adding to so much of the violence,” he said. Adriana Utado was also among those in Bakersfield. She came to the U.S. recently from Mexico City, where she studied biology at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). “I’m united with [the students] in this cause because I witnessed and lived many injustices while in Mexico.
COMPANION STORY
Students feared dead: Incinerated REUTERS
MEXICO CITY — A bone fragment belonging missing student Alexander Mora is displayed on a television screen during a press conference by Mexico’s Atty. General, Jesus Murillo Karam in Mexico City, Dec. 7. Karam confirmed that one of the college students missing since September, has been identified among charred remains found several weeks ago near a garbage dump. He said the student is Alexander Mora, based on material extracted from the bone fragment and anal Mounting evidence and initial DNA tests confirmed that 43 trainee teachers who were abducted by corrupt police 10 weeks ago were incinerated at a garbage dump by drug gang members. Karam told reporters that one of the students had been identified by experts in Austria from a bone fragment in a bag of ash and bits of burned tire found in a river where drug gang members said they tossed the remains of the students. “This scientific proof confirms that the remains found at the scene coincide with the evidence of the investigation,” Karam said. “We will continue with the probe until all the guilty have been arrested.” President Enrique Pena Nieto is facing his deepest crisis over his government’s handling of the probe. The case laid bare Mexico’s deep problem of impunity and corruption and it has overshadowed Pena Nieto’s efforts to focus on economic reforms.
One month ago, Karam said that drug gang members had confessed to murdering the students and burning their bodies in a pyre of tires at an isolated dump. But parents of the missing students have refused to accept the government’s version and at a demonstration in Mexico City on Saturday night they said they would continue to demand more answers even after they had heard word of the DNA test results. The apparent massacre has spurred widespread and sometimes violent protests throughout Mexico. Federal authorities waited 10 days after the students disappearance to intervene in the case, insisting it was a local matter. Murillo said that 80 people have been detained in the probe, including the mayor of Iguala and his wife who are accused of ordering the police to get rid of the students from a radical left-wing college after they staged a demonstration in his town. Karam promised more arrests, including 16 fugitive policemen. During the search for the students in the state of Guerrero, dozens more bodies were discovered in mass graves. More than 100,000 people have been killed in Mexico in gangrelated violence since 2007. “There is a lot of rage, but it is not just this case,” said political science student Jimena Rodriguez at the Saturday night march. “There are so many missing, and they do not have the least interest in really investigating.”
ONLINE
JOURNALISM INTERNSHIPS!
INQUIRE AT
(310) 908-9683
PAGE 5
COMPTON HERALD MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2014
NATION & GLOBE NY prosecutor to probe cop killings of unarmed people NEW YORK (REUTERS)—The state’s top prosecutor said on Dec. 8, he seeks the power to probe all police killings of unarmed civilians in his state of New York, following sometimes violent U.S. protests over two grand jury moves to clear officers in the deaths of unarmed black men. The day after angry crowds in northern California hurled rocks and other objects at police who responded with tear gas, and other demonstrations fumed from Berkeley, San Francisco, and Los Angeles in California, to Milwaukee, Wis., Ferguson, Mo., and New York City, New York Atty. General Eric Schneiderman said action was needed to address a “crisis of confidence” in the criminal justice system. It remained unclear whether New York’s Gov. Andrew Cuomo would grant Schneiderman the powers he is seeking. Like the Democratic mayor of New York, Cuomo has tried to walk a fine line between expressing concern about a grand jury’s decision not to charge a
police officer in the July killing of Eric Garner without alienating police. That decision in the Garner case came slightly more than a week following a Missouri grand jury decision to clear an officer in the August fatal shooting of an unarmed black teen, Michael Brown. “The horrible events surrounding the death of Eric Garner have revealed a deep crisis of confidence in some of the fundamental elements of our criminal justice system,” Schneiderman said in a statement. “Nothing could be more critical for both the public and the police officers who work tirelessly to keep our communities safe than acting immediately to restore trust,” he said. Schneiderman said he was seeking a temporary executive order from Cuomo shifting authority to investigate police killings of unarmed civilians to the state from local prosecutors, who work closely with local police, until lawmakers could pass a more permanent measure. It is unclear whether Cuomo will issue the order,
despite the governor’s own call for reform of the criminal justice system. “We are reviewing the attorney general’s proposal,” said Cuomo spokeswoman Melissa DeRosa, adding that the governor plans a “top to bottom review” of the system. The order, if signed, would only affect new cases of unarmed civilians killed by police, not Garner or Akai Gurley, 28, whom a police officer shot dead in the dark stairway of a Brooklyn apartment building last month. U.S. Atty. General Eric Holder, whose office is investigating the Garner case, on Dec. 8 unveiled a set of changes to federal law enforcement guidelines intended to set an example for local police, according to a Justice Department official. Several members of the New York City Council joined in the protests over the decision not to indict Garner on Dec. 8 when they staged a “die-in” on the steps of City Hall. In Cleveland, where the U.S. Justice Department last week said police rou-
Peaceful protest in Berkeley, Calif. in contrast to violent displays where people looted stores and pelted police with rocks and other objects.
tinely use excessive force, Samaria Rice, the mother of a 12-year-old African American boy shot dead by police in November, spoke to the media for the first time since her son’s death. Rice’s son, Tamir Rice, was shot near a recreation center, while carrying a pellet gun that was a replica of a real gun. The boy’s family has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city and the two officers involved, one who shot Rice on Nov. 22 and one who was driving the police car. “I’m actually looking for
conviction,” Rice told reporters. “Tamir was a bright child, he had a promising future and he was very talented in all sports, soccer, basketball, football. He was my baby.” Berkeley Riots Police in Berkeley, Calif., on Dec. 8 said they made five arrests during night protests on Dec. 7, when a crowd of more than 500 people threw rocks and other objects at police and a number of stores were looted. One protester who tried to prevent the looting was assaulted, police said.
The two nights of looting on the West Coast contrasted with mostly peaceful demonstrations elsewhere around the United States following the decision not to indict New York Police Department officer Daniel Pantaleo for the July death of Garner, 43. While no criminal charges have been brought, the NYPD is conducting an internal investigation into the case. The probe into whether Pantaleo broke any department statutes. Many community leaders have voiced distrust in police probing themselves.
Border Patrol seeks more female agents at border REUTERS
SAN DIEGO—The U.S. Border Patrol is launching a recruitment effort to hire more women to work along the U.S. border with Mexico, in part because of a rise in the number of women being apprehended, a Border Patrol spokesman said, Dec. 8. The number of women apprehended at California’s San Diego border with Mexico has increased 20 percent in the last year, according to Border Patrol statistics. Nationwide, that number jumped 173 percent between fiscal year 2012 and 2014, according to spokesman Timothy Hamill. But only 5 percent of U.S. border patrol agents are female, he said. “In most law enforcement agencies the percentage of women has topped out at 20 percent to 25 percent,” said Stanford University Professor David Sklansky. “Five percent is appalling.” Hamill wouldn’t say whether the arrival of more than 100,000 Central American refugees, including more than 45,000 unaccompanied minors, in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas since 2013 is driving the spike in females being apprehended. Women make up about 16 percent of most federal law enforcement agencies, Hamill said. Women comprise about 18 percent of customs officers but accounted for just 5 percent of the Border Patrol’s armed enforcement officers in 2012, according to an internal report. “Law enforcement tends to have the same problems that the military has in making women feel valued and welcome,” Sklansky
said. “A lot of law enforcement agencies have a macho ethos that can make it harder for women to feel like they belong.” Border Patrol Agent Monica Slack said she was treated well once she was on board with the agency. “It’s not a boy’s club,” Slack said. “The requirements are equal for everyone and, once you put on the uniform, we’re all the same.” Patrol agents’ starting pay is between $39,000 and $44,400 a year, and can
reach $70,000 in five years not including overtime pay, and generous benefits that include a retirement plan. Agent Melissa Pena said the training academy—55 days long— was tough. “We are treated as equals. We don’t get [to do] modified push-ups and running times, and that adds to the respect we have for each other as equals,” Pena said. “Every woman that signs up is a strong-minded [person] who will be supported as an agent and a woman,” she said.
306 W. Compton Blvd., Ste. 200, Compton, CA 90220 Class A and C Drivers - We can get Your Citations dismissed. Failure To Appear - We can get Your Driver’s License back in 24-72 hours. Includes the case dismissed! Failure to Pay - We can get you back into court even in Collections. And in most cases fines Exonerated! Learn more. Call or visit the office for free consultation and a plan.
DEFENSES THAT WORK! www.etrafficticketdefenders.com
PAGE 6 COMPTON HERALD MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2014
THE AMERICAS Unheralded History These were the ‘Harlem Hellcats’ of WWI
S
ome Americans are still predisposed to the mindset that A f r i c a n Americans are undeserving of full respect and honor as American citizens. That amounts to an evil mindset as, not only did African Americans build the foundation of the most power nation on Earth as slaves for better than 300 years, but also fought valiantly to maintain its freedoms in successive wars from the Revolutionary War to the conflict in Afghanistan to this present
day. For this edition and the next, the Compton Herald will present the historical exploits of the segregated Harlem Hellcats of the U.S. Army’s 369th Infantry, and their significant contributions to American victory in World War I. While the war raged in Europe for three long years, America steadfastly clung to neutrality. It was not until April 2, 1917, that President Woodrow Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany. “The world,” he said, “must be
made safe for democracy.” Quickly, Americans swung into action to raise, equip, and ship the American Expeditionary Force to the trenches of Europe. Under the powers granted to it by the U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 8) “to raise and support Armies,” Congress passed the Selective Service Act of 1917. Among the first regiments to arrive in France, and among the most highly decorated when it returned, was the 369th Infantry (formerly the 15th Regiment New York Guard), more gallantly known as the
LATINO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Dedicated to Latino Commerce in Compton RATIFYING NEW BOARD MEMBERS JANUARY 23, 2016 Founded in 1981 Licensed Nonprofit Newly-elected president Politically connected Legal Assistance Official Chamber
“We know business. Come join us!”
JOIN TODAY! Only $25!
Call Us @ (323) 217-0668 (310) 631-2426
Members of the legendary Harlem Hellfighters of the U.S. Army’s 369th Infantry.
“Harlem Hellfighters.” The 369th was an all-black regiment under the command of mostly white officers including their commander, Colonel William Hayward. Participation in the war effort was problematic for African Americans. While America was on a crusade to make the world safe for democracy abroad, it was neglecting the fight for equality at home. Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) established that the 14th Amendment allowed for separate but equal treatment under the law. In 1913 President Wilson, in a bow to Southern pressure, even ordered the segregation of federal office workers. The U.S. Army at this time drafted both black and white men, but they served in segregated units. After the black community organized protests, the Army finally agreed to train African American officers but it never put them in command of white troops. Leaders of the African American community differed in their responses to this crisis. A. Philip Randolph was pessimistic about what the war would mean for black Americans; he pointed out that Negroes had sacrificed their blood
on the battlefields of every American war since the Revolution, but it still had not brought them full citizenship. W.E.B. DuBois argued that “while the war lasts [we should] forget our special grievances and close our ranks shoulder to shoulder with our white fellow citizens and allied nations that are fighting for democracy.” And in full force, America’s black population "closed ranks.” During World War I 380,000 African Americans served in the wartime A r m y. A p p r o x i m a t e l y 200,000 of these were sent to Europe. More than half of those sent abroad were assigned to labor and stevedore battalions, but they performed essential duties nonetheless, constructing roads, bridges, and trenches in support of the frontline battles. About 42,000 saw combat. American troops arrived in Europe at a crucial moment in the war. Russia had just signed an armistice with Germany in December 1917 freeing Germany to concentrate her troops on the Western Front. If Germany could stage a huge offensive before Americans came to the aid of her war-weary allies, Germany could win the
war. The 369th Infantry helped to repel the German offensive and to launch a counteroffensive. Gen. John J. Pershing assigned the 369th to the 16th Division of the French Army. With the French, the Harlem Hellfighters fought at Chateau-Thierry and Belleau Wood. All told they spent 191 days in combat, longer than any other American unit in the war. “My men never retire, they go forward or they die,” said Hayward. Indeed, the 369th was the first Allied unit to reach the Rhine. The extraordinary valor of the 369th earned them fame in Europe and America. Newspapers headlined the feats of Corporal Henry Johnson and Pvt. Needham Roberts. In May 1918 they were defending an isolated lookout post on the Western Front, when they were attacked by a German unit. Though wounded, they refused to surrender, fighting on with whatever weapons were at hand. Part II of “These Are the ‘Harlem Hellcats of WWI” continues next issue.
PAGE 7 COMPTON HERALD MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2014
SPORTS LA Galaxy win fifth MLS Cup First team to win five MLS Cup trophies CARSON — The LA Galaxy notched their fifth MLS Cup with a victory over the New England Revolution Sunday afternoon at StubHub Center. The Galaxy are the first team in Major League Soccer to win five MLS Cup trophies. After New England leveled the match on a secondhalf goal from Chris Tierney, MLS MVP Robbie Keane provided the gamewinning goal in the second period of extra time to give the Galaxy the victory. Gyasi Zardes provided the first goal for the Galaxy in the 52nd minute. The Galaxy have now won the MLS Cup in 2002, 2005, 2011, 2012 and
2014. The 2014 MLS Cup marks the third time in the last four years the Galaxy have captured an MLS Cup in Carson. The victory also marks the third time the Galaxy have defeated New England in an MLS Cup Final, previously earning victories in 2002 and 2005. The MLS Cup was the final match in the historic career of LA Galaxy forward Landon Donovan, the most accomplished player in MLS history. Donovan finishes his MLS career as the all-time leader in goals (144), assists (136), playoff goals (25), game-winning goals (41) and MLS All-Star goals (six). He is tied for the all-time MLS lead in game-winning assists (41) and playoff assists (14). Donovan is a winner of six MLS Cups (2001, 2003, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2014) — the most in MLS history — a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup (2005) and two MLS Supporters’ Shields (2010, 2011). LA Galaxy head coach
Bruce Arena, the most successful coach in MLS postseason history, captures his record fifth MLS Cup as a head coach. He is now 3010-5 all time in the MLS Playoffs. The Galaxy finish the 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs with a 3-1-1 record, scoring nine goals and allowing just three. In the Western Conference Semifinal series, the Galaxy defeated Real Salt Lake 5-0 on aggregate behind a 5-0 win at StubHub Center in the second leg. In the Western Conference Championship series, midfielder Juninho provided the series-clinching goal when he scored on the road at CenturyLink Field in the second leg as the Galaxy advanced on away goals with a 2-2 aggregate score line. In the 2014 MLS Regular Season, the Galaxy recorded one of their best seasons in club history, going 17-710 while scoring 69 goals and allowing just 37. LA’s +32 goal differential was
Galaxy exult after 2-1 victory to win the 2014 Major League Soccer Cup. the best in MLS this season and the second-highest in League history, trailing only the 1998 Galaxy side
that recorded a +41 goal differential. The team ended the regular season with only seven
losses in 34 matches, the fewest in MLS, losing only only four matches in the team’s final 26 games.
“ISSUES IN THE ‘HOOD” HAS RETURNED!
Hosted By Lonzo Williams
Every Thursday LIVE FROM THE LOFT!
6 pm - 7:30 pm
LIVE AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION WELCOMED!
SPEAK UP! SPEAK OUT!
12823 S. AVALON BLVD. LOS ANGELES
Free Admission VIEW LIVE ON UPSTREAM!
PAGE 8 COMPTON HERALD MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2014
FOOD ‘TASTE OF SOUL’ CHRISTMAS
Ham, yams, greens, mac ‘n’ cheese
T
his ham tastes very much like the famous honey baked ham but costs much less, and there’s no need to fight the crowds at holiday time. You can even buy the ham presliced to make it easier and more like the original. It is very good. (I do this while preparing the rest of the meal in the kitchen so that I don’t forget to baste!)
juice, orange juice, and water. Sprinkle ground cinnamon over top of yams. Cover yams and bake in 400 degree preheated oven for approximately 40-50 minutes or until yams are fork-tender. Kickin' Collard Greens By Ken Adams
By Coleen
pepper. Fold the macaroni into the mix and pour into a 2quart casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese. Melt the butter in a saute pan and toss the bread crumbs to coat. Top the macaroni with the bread crumbs. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and rest for five minutes before serving.
Original recipe makes 15 servings. Cook time: 1 hr., 35 min. Honey Glazed Ham Ingredients: 1 (5 pound) ready-to-eat ham 1/4 cup whole cloves 1/4 cup dark corn syrup 2 cups honey 2/3 cup butter Directions: Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Score ham, and stud with the whole cloves. Place ham in foil lined pan. In the top half of a double boiler, heat the corn syrup, honey and butter. Keep glaze warm while baking ham. Brush glaze over ham, and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Baste ham every 10 to 15 minutes with the honey glaze. During the last 4 to 5 minutes of baking, turn on broiler to caramelize the glaze. Remove from oven, and let sit a few minutes before serving. Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Cook Time: 1 hr 5 min
Cook: 45 min Yield:6 to 8 servings Ingredients: 1/2 pound elbow macaroni 3 tablespoons butter 3 tablespoons flour 1 tablespoon powdered mustard 3 cups milk 1/2 cup yellow onion, finely diced 1 bay leaf 1/2 teaspoon paprika 1 large egg 12 ounces sharp cheddar, shredded 1 teaspoon kosher salt Fresh black pepper Topping: 3 tablespoons butter 1 cup panko bread crumbs Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large pot of boiling, salted water cook the pasta to al dente. While the pasta is cooking, in a separate pot, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour and mustard and
Candied Yams By Richard Jones Yield:6 servings Ingredients: 4 pounds #1 yams 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1 tablespoons ground cinnamon 1 cup fresh pineapple juice 1 cup fresh squeezed orange juice 1 cup cold water Directions:
keep it moving for about five minutes. Make sure it’s free of lumps. Stir in the milk, onion, bay leaf, and paprika. Simmer for
ten minutes and remove the bay leaf. Temper in the egg. Stir in 3/4 of the cheese. Season with salt and
‘RESTAURANT ROW’ IS COMING! Shouldn’t your restaurant be among the ‘Row?’
Call (310) 908-9683
Peel yams and cut in one-inch pieces. Place yams in cold water until all yams are peeled and cut. Drain yams. Place cut yams in deep baking dish. Add sugar, pineapple
If you like greens you will love this recipe. The bacon and onions give them a wonderful flavor. Add more red pepper for a little more spice. Makes 6 servings Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil 3 slices bacon 1 large onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon pepper 3 cups chicken broth 1 pinch red pepper flakes 1 pound fresh collard greens, cut into 2-inch pieces Directions: Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add bacon, and cook until crisp. Remove bacon from pan, crumble and return to the pan. Add onion, and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, and cook until just fragrant. Add collard greens, and fry until they start to wilt. Pour in chicken broth, and season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 45 minutes, or until greens are tender.
EAT HEARTY; BE MERRY
Eat more fruit, veggies Nutrients in fresh fruits and vegetables work together, says Kristine Cuthrell, RD, research nutritionist for Hawaii Foods at the Center on the Family at the University of Hawaii. Cuthrell says that in the past five to 10 years, many large research studies have found that vitamin supplements don't provide the benefits that foods do. The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, created jointly between HHS and USDA and reviewed every five years, say that foods are the best sources of nutrients because they contain naturally occurring ingredients, like carotenoids and flavonoids. “In addition to the substances we are aware of, there are many present in fruits and vegetables that have yet to be discovered. Food and the nutrients they contain aren’t consumed singly, but with each other. As such, they may act in synergistic ways to promote health,” says Cuthrell. For instance, eating ironrich plants, like spinach, with an iron-absorbing enhancer, like the vitamin C in orange juice, is great for people who don’t get enough iron (typically
young women). Fruits and vegetables may prevent many illnesses. Eating fruits and vegetables may reduce your risk of cardiovascular diseases, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and even cancer. The Nurses' Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-up Study examined nearly 110,000 people over the course of 14 years. The study revealed that the more fruits and veggies people ate daily, they lessened the chance to develop cardiovascular diseases. The relationship between fruits and vegetables and cancer prevention has been more difficult to prove. However, recent studies show that some types of produce are associated with lower rates of some types of cancer. For example, the World Cancer Research Fund suggest that mouth, stomach, and colorectal cancers are less likely with intakes of foods like broccoli, leafy greens and cabbage. Though studies have been mixed, lycopene, a carotenoid that gives tomatoes their red color, may help stave off prostate cancer. The power of prevention may lie in a salad bowl or a plate of fruit.
PAGE 9 COMPTON HERALD MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2014
FOOD Mediterranean diet could slow aging
V
egetables, fruits, nuts, copious amounts of olive oil and a glass of wine with a meal —while the Mediterranean diet sounds like a the makings of a delicious lifestyle, it has also long been regarded as one of the healthiest ways to eat. Now, researchers have suggested that the diet could also help slow the aging process. An array of components of the Mediterranean diet. The Medi- terranean diet— involving a high intake of fruits, vegetables and fish, is associated with several health benefits. The study, published in The BMJ, has found that the Mediterranean diet is associated with longer telomere length, considered to be a marker of slower aging. Telomeres are DNA sequences situated at the end of chromosomes. They help to protect the physical integrity of the chromosome, preventing them from fraying, which would scramble the genetic code held within. Telomeres naturally shorten as people age, halving during the progression from infancy to adulthood, then halving again during the onset of old age. Shortened telomeres are associated with a decreased life expectancy and increased rates of developing age-related diseases. Previous research has suggested that following the Mediterranean diet can reduce overall mortality, incidence of chronic diseases—such as major cardiovascular diseases—and increase the likelihood of healthy aging, according to background information in the study.
GET
Peter Nilsson, of Lund University in Sweden, suggests that genetic factors could explain differing telomere length, “as ancestry and cultural influences could play an important role in both how we live
our lives and how lifestyle preferences such as dietary patterns are developed.” Nilsson calls for future studies to take into account the possibility of interactions between genes, diet and sex, but he describes
the findings of the current study as “reassuring.” The Mediterranean diet is considered to be one of the most healthy and is recommended as an eating plan by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Get your grub on! “SPECIALS ONLY” JAN. 1, 2, 3, 4, 2015 The Mediterranean diet is characterized by a high intake of vegetables, fruit, nuts, legumes, unrefined grains; olive oil but low intake of saturated fats; moderately high intake of fish; low intake of dairy products, meat and poultry; regular (but moderate) intake of alcohol (wine with meals). Lifestyle factors such as obesity and sugar-sweetened drinks have been linked to shorter-than-average telomeres, as have oxidative stress and inflammation. Key components of the Mediterranean diet —fruits, nuts and vegetables—are known for their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant effects, suggesting they could influence telomere length in a positive way. Researchers, led by Immaculata de Vivo from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, utilized data from the Nurses’ Health Study to examine whether there was an association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and longer telomere length. There were 4,676 participants in the study, all healthy middle-aged women who completed detailed food questionnaires and had a blood test to deter-
mine the length of their telomeres. Each person was assigned a diet score ranging from 09 points, corresponding with how close their diet resembled the Mediterranean diet. The researchers adjusted the findings for other potential confounding factors, such as high body mass index. They found that greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet was significantly associated with longer telomeres; a change in one point along their diet scoring scale corresponded with 1.5 years of telomere aging on average. Importantly, none of the individual components of the diet were found to be associated with telomere length. The authors state that this finding emphasizes the importance of examining whole dietary patterns as opposed to individual dietary factors in relation to health. Future research could examine genetic factors The study was limited by the cross-sectional design that only saw telomere length assessed at one point in time and the use of a cohort as a sample predominantly featuring women of European ancestry. In a linked editorial, Prof.
YOUR GRUB ON
IN 2015!
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
ONLY
Baby Back Ribs
Chitterlings
$10
99
Smothered Ox Tails
Fried / Smothered Turkey Chops
1 ENTREE + 3 SIDES + CORN MUFFIN Greens w/Cabbage, Candied Yams, Rice and Gravy, Gravy, Potato Potato Salad Black Eyed Peas, Red Beans and Rice, Mac & Cheese, BBQ Beans
Specials: Gumbo w crab, med. $10.99; 10 Chicken Enchiladas $9.99; 10 Chicken Tacos 9.99; 10 Ground Beef Tacos ($9.99) 10 Turkey Tacos ($9.99) 20 pc. Wings $12.99 (Taxes not included
MAGIC FINGERS
1116 E. El Segundo Blvd., Los Angeles (El Segundo/Central — Across from Smart & Final)
310-608-1100
PAGE 10 COMPTON HERALD MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2014
HEALTH Yogurt could stump the onset of diabetes METROPOLIS NEWS SERVICE
A recent study conducted by researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health has found an association between yogurt consumption and type 2 diabetes risk, suggesting that increased consumption of the food could lower the risk of the condition developing. Yogurts contain probiotics—micro-organisms that play an important role in regulating digestion and intestinal function. “We found that higher intake of yogurt is associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, whereas other dairy foods and consumption of total dairy did not show this association,” says senior researcher Dr. Frank Hu. “The consistent findings for yogurt suggest that it can be incorporated into a healthy dietary pattern.”
The study, published in BMC Medicine and funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), sought to assess the association between total and individual types of dairy consumption with the incidence of type 2 diabetes among adults. Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease that causes high blood sugar levels. Around 90 percent of diabetes cases are type 2 diabetes, whereby the body either does not produce enough insulin or suffers from insulin resistance, meaning that the insulin produced is unable to process glucose properly. In the U.S., type 2 diabetes affects approximately 26 million people. Globally, around 366 million people are affected, with this number estimated to rise to 552 million by 2030. People with type 2 diabetes are at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular
diseases, such as coronary heart disease and stroke. For the study, the researchers compiled the results of three large cohort studies. These studies recorded the medical histories and lifestyle habits of health professionals, including dentists, nurses, pharmacists, podiatrists, physicians and vets. A total of 194,519 participants were eligible for the study. All participants filled out a health and lifestyle questionnaire at the beginning of the study and were followed up every two years with further questionnaires. All participants were free from diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer at the start of the study, and participants were excluded if they did not include information in their questionnaires about dairy consumption. Within the three samples, a total of 15,156 cases of
type 2 diabetes were identified during the follow-up period. Overall, no association was found between total dairy consumption and type 2 diabetes. Consumption of individual dairy products such as cheese, skimmed milk, whole milk and yogurt was analyzed. After adjusting their findings for dietary factors and chronic disease factors such as age and BMI, the researchers found an association between high yogurt intake and a lower risk of type 2 diabetes development. A meta-analysis was then carried out, comparing these findings with those from other studies that had examined the association between dairy products and type 2 diabetes up until March 2013. This analysis found that eating a 28 g serving of yogurt every day was associated with an 18 percent lower risk of type 2
Researchers found an association between high
yogurt intake and a lower risk of type 2 diabetes development. diabetes developing. Prior to this study, earlier research had suggested that the presence of calcium, magnesium or certain fatty acids within dairy products could lower type 2 diabetes risk. It is now thought that probiotic bacteria in yogurt, with their fat profile and antioxidant status improving qualities, could lower the risk. “Our study benefited from having such a large sample size, high rates of follow up and repeated assessment of dietary and lifestyle factors,” says lead author Mu Chen. The authors also acknow ledge that their study has limitations. Although large, the cohort samples predominantly consisted of health professionals of European ancestry, suggesting that the findings may not be representative of the whole population. Furthermore, the findings
of the study are observational and do not guarantee causation. “The consistent findings for yogurt suggest that it can be incorporated into a healthy dietary pattern,” write the authors. “However, randomized clinical trials are warranted to further examine the causal effects of yogurt consumption as well as probiotics on body weight and insulin resistance.” Medical News Today recently reported on another potential health benefit of yogurt. Probiotic yogurt successfully protects children and pregnant women from the effects of heavy metal poisoning, according to researchers from the Canadian Centre for Human Microbiome and Probiotics. This article was first published in the December 2014 issue of Medical News Today.
Compton Herald Online www. comptonherald.com
HOOD PEACE! There will be peace in the ‘hood if you allow it!
PAGE 11 COMPTON HERALD MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2014
FILM STAGE TV HOLIDAY FILMS
Whole Family Enjoyment his holiday season, the movie theaters have some great options for the entire family—tots to grandpops and grandma, from action films to animated comedies, there is something for everyone to see in theaters. Here’s a sampling.
T
been favorable from critics with Rotten Tomatoes citing 84 percent of the current reviews as positive.
“The Penguins Of Madagascar” (PG) is a spin-off of 20th Century Fox’s “Madagascar” franchise. The film follows Skipper (Tom McGrath), Kowalski (Chris Miller), Rico (Conrad Vernon) and Private (Christopher Knights) as they join a special task force that helps other animals. Benedict Cumberbatch and John Malkovich also star as voice actors in the animated film. “While there are plenty of madcap antics to fill a feature, all that manic energy ultimately proves to be more exhausting than exhilarating,” the Hollywood Reporter said of the film.
“Antarctica: A Year On Ice” (PG) documents the lives of researchers living in Antarctica for a year. Anthony Powell directed the film, which promises stunning views of the Antarctic landscape.
“Horrible Bosses 2” (R) features the return of Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis as friends who kidnap people. After investor Bert Hanson (Christoph Waltz) steals their invention called the Shower Buddy, the guys kidnap his son Rex (Chris Pine) to pay off their debt. The film also stars Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Spacey and Jamie Foxx. Despite an all-star cast, the film hasn’t been well received by critics. Many reviews note that the film uses a lot of rape jokes. “If your answer to the question ‘When are rape jokes funny?’ is anything aside from ‘never,’ the good news is that you may still find a lot to hoot over throughout ‘Horrible Bosses 2,’” Slant reported. “Women Who Flirt” (NR) is a Chinese romantic comedy. The film follows a girl who realizes she is in love with one of her close friends. The foreign film with English subtitles stars Xun Zhou, Huang Xiaoming, Sui Tang and Xie Yi Lin. While it doesn’t have any reviews yet, the trailer makes it appear to be a typical romantic comedy. Opened Nov. 28 “The Imitation Game” (PG-13) stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Alan Turig, a gay scientist who helped the Allies win WWII. Despite helping his country win a war, he is prosecuted for being homosexual in 1952. The biopic also stars Keira Knightley and Matthew Goode. Reviews have
“Touch The Wall” (NR) is a documentary following Olympic swimmers Missy Franklin and Kara Lynn Joyce on their journey to the 2012 London Olympics.
If this holiday season is the first time you’ve been able to get to the movie theater in a while, there is plenty to catch up on. “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1” (PG13) is the third installment of the “Hunger Games” franchise and the first part of the finale. Based on Suzanne Collins’ book, the film follows Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) as she helps lead a revolution and get Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) back from the Capitol. The movie also stars Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Liam Hemsworth, Natalie Dormer and Donald Sutherland. The film received mixed reviews, but fans of the first films will definitely want to see this. The installment earned $123 million in its opening weekend. “Foxcatcher” (R) depicts Channing Tatum as a wrestler who trains with an older millionaire (Steve Carell). As the two become closer, their relationship grows unhealthy which ultimately, leads to a tragedy. The film has received rave reviews and is rumored to be an Oscar contender. The film is in limited release. Despite being in less than 25 theaters, the film has earned $822,000, according to
Book your 2014 holiday party EXTRAVAGANZA
Call Lonzo Williams (310) 715-6255
SUBSCRIBE TO THE
COMPTON HERALD “A great read reflecting a Great City!” $125 per year for 52 issues. Less than $10 a month (postage and handling included).
Call (310) 908-9683
Box Office Mojo. “Interstellar” (R) is another rumored Oscar contender. Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway star as astronauts who are looking for another planet that could be home to humans. Jessica Chastain, Michael Caine, Bill Irwin, Ellen Burstyn, Mackenzie Foy and Timothee Chalamet also star. The film has already made over $120 million in the U.S. “Big Hero 6” (PG) is an animated film from Disney based on a Marvel comic of the same name, an action-packed comedyadventure about the spe-
“Big Hero 6” cial bond that develops between Baymax, a plussized inflatable robot, and prodigy Hiro Hamada. When a devastating event befalls the city of San Fransokyo and catapults Hiro into the midst of dan-
ger, he turns to Baymax and his close friends adrenaline junkie Go Go Tomago, neatnik Wasabi, chemistry whiz Honey Lemon and fanboy Fred. Determined to uncover the mystery, Hiro transforms
his friends into a band of high-tech heroes called “Big Hero 6.” The film received 89 percent positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes and has earned over $130 million domestically.
STOP PAYING RENT! 1st Time Home Buyer’s Program Get Pre-Approved Today! CREDIT PROBLEMS OK! Apply Online: C21McCombs@gmail.com
BUY or SELL (310) 365-9652
Barbara J. McCombs License #000430243
...
PAGE 12 COMPTON HERALD MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2014
BUSINESS How to find scholarships for minorities Next year, 2015 promises to be a bounty for students seeking to attend colleges and universities because a record-number of foundations and organizations are planning to award billions of dollars in college scholarships. The scholarships request varying criteria to qualify, but once obtained can be used to pay for college tuition, books, and room and board. Here are the top 2015 scholarship programs for minority students.
enroll full-time in a twoyear or four-year college or university. The deadline to apply is in January 2015.
1. Tom Joyner Foundation “Full Ride” Scholarship: Awards a full scholarship to one student to attend a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). The scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors with high academic records. The deadline to apply is in January 2015.
4. Go Red Multicultural Scholarship Fund For Women: Aims to ease the financial burden to students and increase the number of underrepresented minorities in medicine. Also champions greater inclusion of multicultural women in the nursing and medical industries. The deadline to apply is in December 2014.
2. The Gates Millennium Scholars Program (The Bill Gates Scholarship): Awards scholarships each year to African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian Pacific Islander, and Hispanic American students who plan to
3. Burger King Scholars Program: Designed to help high-school seniors. The program awards more than $1.4 million in scholarships annually to more than 1,000 students. Applicants must be residents of the United States or Canada, and must be graduating high school seniors. The deadline to apply is in December 2014.
5. Foot Locker Scholar Athletes Program: Gives high school students who are active it sports and in their communities, and outstanding students, the opportunity to win a
High school graduation is not the end of learning. In 2015, hundreds of foundations will be awarding billions in college scholarships.Those planning to attend college must apply for the money. There is still time.
$20,000 college scholarship. Students must be The deadline to apply is in December 2014. 6. Ron Brown ScholarProgram: Provides scholarship awards to AfricanAmerican high school sen-
HERALDO DE COMPTON VIENE!
iors excelling in academics, exhibiting exceptional leadership, and actively serving in their community in a volunteer capacity. The deadline to apply is in January 2015. 7. Dell Scholars Program: Recognizes students who have overcome significant obstacles to pursue their education, and serve as positive role models in their communities. Awards hundreds of scholarships annually, and since 2004, has given away more than $31 million in college funding. The deadline to apply is January 2015.
8. Generation Google Scholarship For Minorities, Women and Disabled Students: Helps minority students who plan to attend college and study computer science and technology. Eligible students must be African American, Hispanpanic, American Indian, and female. The deadline to apply is January 2015. 9. United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Scholarships: Provides extraordinary amounts of scholarship opportunities for minority students with financial need. Scholarships include educational assis-
tance for students attending participating Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). 10. Ronald McDonald House Charities Scholarships For minority students: Awards financial aid to academically eligible Black, Hispanic and Asian high school students with high academic attainment and community service involvement. The deadline to apply is January 2015. Each scholarship is listed by name on the Internet. To apply for hundreds of other
Science teacher says educating students is her life’s passion Continued from page 2 nial High School in 1979. For more than 35 years Choice has striven to help students see the “real-life” applications of science and math, to enable academic success. “I want to build students’ lives so they can determine what they want to be,” Choice explained. “I’m a facilitator who gets students to invest in what they’re learning through projects, lab assignments
and presentations “In the real world that’s what is expected of them,” she said. “You have to mold students. You have to help them develop skills they can use in their careers. For example, our students regularly [do] research in our computer lab.” Choice spent a portion of her formative years in San Pedro, Calif., before her family moved to segregated Okmuglee, Ok. at age
Advertise Your Business! Let the public know what you have to offer. Call Marshall Crawford at (562) 719-7096
nine nine to live with her aunt and uncle. Although she was initially shocked by her new life, Choice didn't let it stop her from succeeding academically and attending college. She eventually graduated from Langston University in Oklahoma, with a bachelors of science degree in biology. Choice initially set out to become a nurse but decided she wanted to impact the lives of children as a teacher. Upon her return to California, she learned Centennial High School was in need of science teachers so she immediately jumped at the opportunity. Over the years nothing has pleased her more than to see her students succeed in the classroom. "When someone comes back and tells you they made something of themselves, that's better than money," she said. "That's why I'm very humbled to be named a finalist for Educator of the Year. Just to be named along with great instructors is an honor.” Choice added that after more than three decades at Centennial the students never cease to motivate her. “The kids are the reason why I’m still here. I want to be where I can really serve a purpose. I’m here for them.”
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!
PAGE 13 COMPTON HERALD MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2014
RELIGION Southland Shepherds Rev. George L. Thomas, Jr. Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr., Churches of God in Christ, Int’l.
‘Black lives do matter!’ “I am saddened by the decision of the Staten Island grand jury not to indict New York City police officer Daniel Pantaleo. With no indictment in two national cases in less than a two-week period, and to hear and see Garner—a father and grandfather—placed in a banned chokehold and repeatedly say, ‘I can’t breathe,’ takes us back years in the struggle for equal justice. “We must find a way, through God’s help, to continue emphatically telling [all] that will listen— “Black Lives Matter!” said Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr.
Rev. George L. Thomas is the Herald’s charter profile “Southland Shepherd,” a weekly feature on pastors in the Southland. George Thomas was on a path to a divine calling to serve God and his people as early as January 1975, when he preached his first sermon. Officially licensed on April 6 of that year, Thomas received an ordination on Jan. 23, 1977, several months later. It wouldn’t be for another nine years had drifted by like fleeting clouds before Rev. Thomas would finally accept the call to the pastorate. That day came on Aug. 7, 1986. Thomas was 35 at the time and had grown considerably in the things of God, including the sensitive and intricate job of running a church and caring for the people of God. But, in view of the awesome responsibility of tending to God’s flock,
Thomas was ready to move to higher pastures s, having already shepherded the Greater Rock of Ages Baptist Church in Los Angeles, from July 1980 to August 1986, when Holy Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Compton became his new assignment under God, where he has served one year shy of a quarter century to the present day. At Holy Chapel, Rev. Thomas placed a strong emphasis on Christian Education revitalizing the church’s Bible Study ministry. Under his leadership, Thomas fashioned a strong business foundation for Holy Chapel, implementing church policies and procedures; a regular posting of employment positions; a church leadership council, a board of christian education, and a full time business office to manage the now thriving church. But Thomas wasn’t done.
Soon to follow was a reorganized Youth Department; a new members orientation class, and an evening radio broadcast airing weekly on KTYM 1460 AM at 10 p.m. On top of all the innovations Rev. Thomas added to Holy Chapel, the church was debt free in only two years into Thomas’ pastorate by 1988. The church celebrated with a ceremonial burning of the church mortgage. Ironically, in a twist of fiery fate, Holy Chapel, was destroyed by fire in 1991 due to spontaneous combustion, Rev Thomas would later learn. But, as leadership is required during challenging times moreso than good times, Thomas kept the congregation together, worshipping with unfettered spirits utilizing the facilities of Mt. Hebron Baptist Church and the New Mt. Calvary Baptist Church. The church then leased
the Compton Community Seventh Day Adventist Church to accommodate the church’s worship needs while Thomas led a fundrasing/rebuilding effort as general contractor.. Thomas will attest to the challenge, but on Oct. 31, 1993, the Holy Chapel family celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony to move into a newly-reconstrusted edifice. Today, Holy Chapel is thriving under Thomas’ leadership. The church meets for two morning worship services where he preaches each Sunday, never preaching the same sermon, twice., With strong emphasis on education and more specifically Christian education, he is involved in the ongoing development of a complete and comprehensive Bible study program. “Every Christian should be in some arm of the teaching ministry,” Thomasa says, stressing the importance of Sunday school. He also conducts the weekly bible study on Wednesday evenings. Some other noteworthy accomplishments at Holy Chapel are a drug ministry,
Rev. George L. Thomas, Jr. and a day care center. For nearly 10 years, Pastor Thomas has served as adviser to several churches within the Los Angeles community, helping to keep congregations together, which might have otherwise become “scattered sheep.” As part of his support of community organizations that serve God’s people, he was instrumental in the formation of the Southern Area Clergy Council, where he has served as executive secretary for two years. Other affiliations include Rainbow Push; Los Annelks Metropolitan Churlchess (LAM); Concerned Citizens for Compton; and Pastors for Compton, where he currently serves as vice president. . Rev. Thomas earned a bachelor of arts in religion from the University of LaVern in LaVern, Calif., and a master of arts in religion from the Claremont School of Theology in Claremont, Calif. Married to his wife Ruby for 40 years, Thomas and his wife are the parents of three grown children, and the grandparents of 11 grandchildren.
Family TV not friendly NASHVILLE (BP) — Contemporary television series showcasing family life will likely include sex, profanity and violence that make the entertainment unsuitablefor family viewing, the Parents Television Council has found. As many as 99 percent of the broadcast television shows about family that PTC studied contained some form of adult content in 2013, they noted in a Dec. 10 report. Profanity was found in 94 percent of shows; sexual content in 84 percent; 33 percent contain violence. Among all 202 episodes of family-themed shows studied, only two episodes of “The Millers” were found suitable for family viewing, the PTC told Baptist Press. The sitcom has since been cancelled. “Parents often assume that TV shows about families are ‘safe’ viewing choices,” PTC President Tim Winter said in a press release, “but our study shows that families who watch TV shows about families will be barraged by sex and profanity— even on TV-PG-rated shows. This is unacceptable.” Shows marketed specifically to families are at fault, Winter said.
Read the Herald online: www. compton herald.com
PAGE 14 COMPTON HERALD MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2014
EDITORIAL JARRETTE DEAN FELLOWS, JR PUBLISHER, CEO and EXECUTIVE EDITOR FOUNDED 2007
VIEW FROM the ‘Church’ on Garner travesty BY JONATHAN MERRITT
T
he quickest way to a person’s heart is often through their ears. This is a good lesson for a columnist like myself, who is rarely short on words, in the wake of a tragedy like the Eric Garner decision. I started searching for the right words since it was announced that the police offer who choked Garner to death would not be indicted. “Just wait a few days,” I told myself Wednesday night, “and the words will eventually come.” Well it’s Friday, and my dictionary’s pages are still blank. In one sense, I don’t have to speak in such a moment because Garner has already said enough. His final pleas fell on the deaf ears of those who claimed to be his protectors: “I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe.” But perhaps this isn’t the time for me— and other white Christians—to speak. Maybe we should listen, instead, to people of color. To our brothers and sisters. To those who’ve been trying to tell us that there is a problem in this country. According to Russell Moore, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Com mission (ERLC), “it’s high time we [listened] to our African American [brethren] in this country who know what it feels like to be Eric Garner—who know what it means to be black. when they tell us they are experiencing a problem.” That’s why I reached out to a few friends whose voices need to be heard. Their voices ring out today. May we have ears to hear, even as we repent for so many years of tone-deafness. It seems like our nation is out of control, and some of this is the result of our polarization and our own victimization in both the black and white community. We have not found ways to confess to each other our wrongdoings and haven’t been able to make the kind of peace that could come from having that type of conversation. We haven’t been able to take the responsibility as God’s people or as citizens. As a nation, as individuals, and as communities, we need to start taking responsibility for our communities. As blacks, we need to take some responsibility for how we raise our children, and the whites need to take responsibility for their lack of forgiveness and imperialism and for some of the failure in our school and education systems. We also need to take responsibility for not training our police officers to affirm the dignity of humanity. We are all victims and have not found ways to truly reconcile to each other. I think that is the issue before us, and our task is learning how to actually communicate and have conversations so we can get at some of these issues. —John M. Perkins. Civil rights activist, minister, and author of “Let Justice Roll Down.”
When I heard that the grand jury was close to a decision on the Eric Garner homicide (as it was ruled), I told my skeptical friends I’d be shocked if there wasn’t an indictment. Of course, this case would at least go to trial considering it was all caught on video. What more could they need? So when I heard that they would not indict the officers involved, I was dumbfounded. I was honestly shaken up for a few hours. It’s painful to watch case after case where unarmed black men lie dead and no one is held accountable. It should cause us to grieve. As Christians, we know that God is in control even when things seem out of hand. We know He works all things for good, but that doesn’t mean we should merely sit around and wait to see what He’ll do. We should also actively look for ways to respond to these horrible events in God-honoring ways….I’m saddened when I look at the state of our world— from racism, to poverty, to religious persecution. But I’m also rejoicing, because I know God values every life and I can’t wait for Him to make all things right. —Trip Lee. Rapper and pastor I’m experiencing depths of sadness, pain, and confusion like I haven’t in years over the Eric Garner injustice. The man was killed by an illegal choke hold on video for the world and grand jury to see. I hurt for this man’s six children, grandchildren, and wife. This horrific injustice reminds me of stories my grandmother would tell as little boy about how black men would be killed in the 1940’s in the deep South. Last night, as I went for walk in my own neighborhood, I found myself saying, “I need to get home before it gets dark so I am not mistaken for someone I’m not.” Thoughts like this use to be common growing up as a teenag.The only thing I know to do is partner with God the Father to teach people to love each other by being color blessed, not color blind. — Rev. Derwin Gray, pastor, Transfomational Church
The violent chokehold applied to Eric Garner by a New York policeman not only robbed Garner of his life, but it forever robbed a family of a husband and father.
The decision not to prosecute the officer that killed Eric Gardner is deeply hurtful. It further sends a message that my life and the life of my sons and family don’t matter. I find myself still looking for the system to work for me and for black men but, after continued disappointment, I am now convinced it won’t work for me, nor my sons. It is with extreme pain that I speak these words. May God take this pain and one day change it to joy–but for today it just hurts. — Leroy Barber, global executive director of World Made
Eric Garner, a father and grandfather, placed in a banned choke hold and repeatedly say “I can’t breathe” takes us back years in the struggle for equal justice. We must find a way, through God’s help, to continue the work of emphatically telling everyone that will listen, that, “Black Lives Matter!” I am asking those who know the value of prayer to pray for his widow, Mrs. Esaw Garner, his mother Mrs. Gwen Carr and the entire family during this time. — Bishop Charles, pastor and presiding bishop of the Church of God in Christ, Intl.
I watched, as did most of America, first the video of the incident, then the report of the grand jury in the Eric Garner case. I am saddened by the decision of the Staten Island grand jury to not indict New York City police officer Daniel Pantaleo. With no indictment and to hear and see
Based on on the events surrounding Eric Garner, I’m reminded that we are in a reality of sinful, broken people and sinful, broken systems. And these have a more damaging effect in under-resourced, predominately African-American communities. This causes deep grieving in my heart. The church is held more captive to the matrix of race and political sound bytes than we’re ready to admit, and we have to allow God to liberate us from that. It is important for the church right now to be a vehicle of reconciliation, compassion, and justice. —Efrem Smith, president of World Impact
“ [listened] It’s time we to our African American [brethren] in this country when they tell us they are experiencing a problem. ”
Jonathan Merritt is senior columnist for Religion News Service. He has published more than 1,000 articles in outlets like USA Today, The Atlantic, and National Journal. Jonathan is author of “Jesus is Better Than You Imagined” and “A Faith of Our Own: Following Jesus Beyond the Culture Wars.” He resides in Brooklyn, NY.
This space represents a Wall of Remembrance for the black and brown males who are gunned down by police in America under questionable circumstances every year, whose cases will never come to public knowledge, and whose names we will never know.
WRITE TO US. SEND LETTERS TO THE COMPT ON HERALD Include your name and phone number to: thecomptonherald@gmail.com
PAGE 15 COMPTON HERALD MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2014
COMPTON HERALD
CLASSIFIEDS - COMING! To place an advertiserment call (562) 719-7096. Deadline is Tuesday at 5 p.m. E-mail to: thecomptonherald@gmail.com
Blind eye in Urbia is insane Continued from front page parent will affirm that. But there is another story to the “grim reaping” of black males by murderous cops. The story is largely untold; a gruesome tale written in the blood of a people. African American people confined to a place called Urbia — a zone of poverty, violence, apathy and cynicism. Sable predators reside in Urbia. Worse than the “bogeymen” of Haitian lore, worse than the shadowy creeps of your worst nightmares. Let’s be clear about one thing — these Sable predators have far surpassed the vilest race killers black people have ever been associated with. These are bloodletters of the worst sort driven by a diabolic code of immorality, a song of evil written by one such as the devil. The Violence Policy Center (VPC) a national nonprofit educational organization that conducts research and public education on violence in Amer-
ica, concluded a study for 2011 titled “The Epidemic of Black Victimization,” a report on black-on-black homicide in the U.S. This study might startle you. It startled this writer. The devastation homicide inflicts on black teens and adults is a national crisis, yet it is all too often ignored outside of Urbia. Bad cops notwithstanding, perhaps the boiling protests should be gridlocking streets in Urbia, shutting down matters here to make Urbians look at our own faults. What you are about to learn is deeply tragic. The study examines the problem of black homicide victimization at the state level by analyzing unpublished Supplementary Homicide Report (SHR) data for black homicide victimization submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The information is for the year 2011 and is the most recent data available. This writer doesn’t know how
DUFFEY TERMINATION Continued from front page tywide while we develop a comprehensive mid- and long- term action plan to repair and maintain our streets, generate new sources of tax revenue, continue to reduce crime and improve service levels in our city.” District Two Councilmember Isaac Galvan said he voted to part ways with Duffey because work was progressing too slowly on city projects. “When I’d
ask [Mr. Duffey] why was this so, he’d never give me a straight answer.” The Herald also sought comnment from councilmembers Janna Zurita, Yvonne Arceneaux, and Dr. Willie Jones. A spokesperson for Arceneaux said she would have no comment. Zurita and Jones did not return calls by presstime. Duffey is succeeded by Johnny Ford, who served as assistant city manager.
SOULVINE
Charles Barkley supporting the Ferguson grand jury’s decision and praising police officers? I never liked him anyway.
Continued from page 3 within police departments. Duh! The president also said he wants more police to wear cameras that capture their interactions with the people. Eric Holder, head of the U.S. Justice Department, said “In the coming days, I will announce updated Justice Department guidance that will codify our commitment to the very highest standards of fair and effective policing.” Uh huh. Yeah, well that sounds good, but I still l think Great Britain should send troops into the United States to train our country’s police forces how to keep the peace without killing every black and brown person they see. And what is this about
OTHER STUFF—The deadline for filing for George McKenna’s full term on the LAUSD Board of Education was yesterday and as of today, no one has filed to run against him in the March election. Therefore, he’s running unopposed and I can use the break! More than 100 guests gathered at Jerry’s Flying Fox the other day and night to celebrate the establishment’s 55th anniversary and Jerry Edwards’ 45th year as its owner. Jerry acquired it 10 years after the late Hildegarde Bostic opened it. Me and my running buddies Najee and
Little faith in CPCC Continued from page 3 Nationally, black youth are 21 times more likely to be killed by police than white youth, according to a ProPublica analysis of federal data. Advisory board member Sandy Cajas, said reviewing federal statistics is the agency’s primary function. “We are there just to know what the City of Long Beach is doing to communicate with the community,” she said. Meanwhile, Fields is still in a legal battles with the police department, seeking
justice for her son. For support, she and Loarca have leaned on the shoulders of other mothers whose children have been killed in police shootings. These mothers have formed a group called the Young Survivor’s Legacy Network with supporters ranging from L.A. to Orange Counties. “There’s a burgeoning movement happening out here,” said Brown. “It’s unprecedented. Don’t wait for it to happen to your family member. Get out here and be proactive.”
many blacks males have been slain by rogue and poorly trained law enforcement personnel over the last 10 years, not even over the last year because law enforcement conceals these numbers. Ten 25, 50, 75, 100 deaths nationally. Onehundred would certainly cause a social earthquake. Bearing this in mind, black-on-black murder predation should be akin to a Rhode Island-sized asteroid slamming into the Earth, because in 2011, alone, 6,309 blacks, mostly males, were slaughtered by other blacks, largely at the point of a handgun; 5,452 (86 percent) were male, and 854 (14 percent) were female. The homicide rate for black male victims was 31.67 per 100,000. The homicide rate for female black victims was 4.54 per 100,000. Four hundred eightyseven black homicide victims (8 percent) were less than 18 years old and 100 black homicide victims (2 percent) were 65 years of age or older. The average age was 30 years old. Multiple these numbers by 20 years and black-onblack murder could top 100,000 souls—more lives than the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan claimed, combined! The comparative numbers for whites who vastly outnumber blacks in the U.S. was a fraction of the black statistics. The weapon of choice in the killings was the universal handgun. “Raw Street: Mayhem In Urbia,” continues next week.
Christine Manning partied and ate prime rib and chicken all day and all night. Even my old pal Reve Gipson Parks dropped by. And a good time was had by all. I wonder though, how many Los Angeles black-owned establishments have been in business for 55 years?
PAGE 16 COMPTON HERALD MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2014
NOTICE TO RESIDENTS OF COMPTON FROM THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS City of Compton 2014 Street Resurfacing Project Phase I of IV Dear Compton Residents, The City of Compton has contracted with American Asphalt South to complete street improvements adjacent to your home. The project will begin in October 2014 and continue through February 6, 2015. A variety of improvements will be made over the next several months including repairing damaged sidewalks, curbs and gutters, driveways, handicap ramps and street improvements such as slurry sealing and cane sealing. The streets effected are residential and no street closures are expected. Trash collection will continue as scheduled with minimum street sweeping interruptions. These improvements are designed to improve pedestrian safety and improve the street surfaces from more costly repairs in the future.
Aja Brown MAYOR Janna Zurita Councilwoman District 1
Isaac Galvan Councilman District 2
Yvonne Arceneaux Councilwoman District 3
Dr. Willie O. Jones Councilman District 4
Concrete Asphalt R ehabilitation Effort Paving the Way to a Better Compton Contractor - American Asphalt South - 800-678-4007 Construction Manager - APA Engineering - 949-679-2600 x1003
www.comptoncity.org/care