MESSAGE FROM DUS
Volume 27 Number 8
November 2013
PUBLISHER Rosalind J. Harris
GENERAL MANAGER Lawrence A. James
GUEST MANAGING EDITOR Angelia D. McGowan
Current events have delivered a few punches to the African American community, but none as surprising as the unexpected death of former Lt. Gov. Joe Rogers, who served 1999-2002. His death on Oct. 7 reminded us of the accomplishments one can make when expectations are great. In this issue you’ll read about the public services held for this “man of principle.” You’ll also read about the Colorado Black Roundtable’s summit addressing the “Losing Ground” report, developed by the I-News Network ─ the public-service journalism arm of Rocky Mountain PBS. The report provides a balance sheet for the progress of Colorado’s African American and Latino communities over six decades. Another story of historical relevance is the 148th Anniversary of Zion Baptist Church, happening in November. It is a testament to how long a mission can live when you plan for those who will come after you. As part of the celebrations, the church will honor 102 members who have been with the church for more than 50 years. Art stories include a piece on the recently-created Colorado Black Arts Movement and Paul Hamilton’s African art collection which speaks to the rich history and contributions of the African community to the world. Angelia D. McGowan Guest Managing Editor
CONTRIBUTING COPY EDITOR Tanya Ishikawa COLUMNISTS Earl Ofari Hutchinson Theo Wilson
FILM and BOOK CRITIC Kam Williams
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS James Ainsworth Charles Emmons Angelia McGowan Norma J. Paige Annette Walker ART DIRECTOR Bee Harris
PRODUCTION AND OFFICE ASSISTANT Cecile Perrin CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Lens of Ansar Sweetz Photography
ADVERTISING SALES CONSULTANT Robin James DISTRIBUTION Glen Barnes Lawrence A. James Ed Lynch
The Denver Urban Spectrum is a monthly publication dedicated to spreading the news about people of color. Contents of the Denver Urban Spectrum are copyright 2013 by Bizzy Bee Enterprise. No portion may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The Denver Urban Spectrum circulates 25,000 copies throughout Colorado. The Denver Urban Spectrum welcomes all letters, but reserves the right to edit for space, libelous material, grammar, and length. All letters must include name, address, and phone number. We will withhold author’s name on request. Unsolicited articles are accepted without guarantee of publication or payment. Write to the Denver Urban Spectrum at P.O. Box 31001, Aurora, CO 80041. For advertising, subscriptions, or other information, call 303-292-6446 or fax 303-292-6543 or visit the Web site at www.denverurbanspectrum.com.
Giving Thanks...
In a few weeks, friends and families will be gathering around the table for a festive Thanksgiving dinner. Although this holiday was a favorite for former Lt. Gov. Joe Rogers, his family will unfortunately be sharing it without him. Many people will express the most common words of condolences but for others, silence is chosen because sometimes the hurt is too big for words. Our hearts go out to Joe’s wife Juanita and his three children – Trent, Jordan and Haley – for whom he was a blessing to – by being the man and father he was. So as we approach this holiday season, don’t just count your blessings but be thankful for them. God bless you Joe and rest in peace.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Children’s Future Is At Stake
being funneled down life paths that often lead to arrest, conviction, incarceration and even death. The urgent challenge for each of us and for our nation is to prevent this waste of our children’s lives and our state’s capabilities. Unfortunately, there isn’t a silver bullet when it comes to dismantling the achievement gap or improving public safety. Rather it’s the collective efforts of parent and family engagement, mentorship, good schools and teachers, accountability, and well-funded schools. On November 5, 2013 you will have an opportunity to cast your ballot and vote in favor of Amendment 66. Amendment 66 will: increase funding for, poor, special needs and underperforming students, provide all day kindergarten and preschool, and ensure money follows the student and not the administration. We have a fundamental obligation and duty to leave our country, state, and neighborhoods better off- Invest in our children’s future by voting YES on Amendment 66!
Editor: Approximately eight years ago, my brother Javad Marshall Fields was brutally gunned down with his soon to be wife Vivian Wolfe. Less than 30 days after graduating from Colorado State University with a degree in communications, he was robbed of a bright and prosperous future. We were utterly devastated with grief, blame and agony. Javad and I were raised by a strong, resourceful, and loving mother, who sacrificed her all to give us a good education, “ Education is the Equalizer, you have to be better than the rest - arrive early and stay late, because people of color only get one shot” she would say. She strived to make sure we were corporate bound and not statistics. The hardest part of losing my brother is knowing he didn’t have an opportunity to harvest the love, knowledge and wisdom sown into his life. As hard as my mother fought, prayed and believed, he was unable to escape the statistics that plague our community. Since his death, my mother Representative Rhonda Fields, and I have worked tirelessly to improve public safety and educational outcomes of black youth. Through scholarship, community service, advocacy, and legislation, we have chiseled away at the economic and social barriers that lead to poor health and educational outcomes. Tens of thousands of youth are
Healing The Country
Maisha Fields Denver
Editor: Congress has a big mess to address. Reports from Washington, D.C. are suggesting that our country will reach its debt limit next month. Our nation is 3 weeks away from defaulting on bills. There has been pressure to raise the debt ceiling (again). As citizens, we do not have the luxury of increasing our credit card limits
Denver Urban Spectrum — www.denverurbanspectrum.com — November 2013
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Rosalind J. Harris Publisher
when we reach them. Our debit cards will be rejected when we run out of money. We have all learned to some extent how to budget. Many of our Congressional leaders had successful careers prior to serving in office. Some even worked in the financial industry. Yet, collectively, they cannot come together to figure this out. It has only been two years since the ceiling was first raised. Clearly, problems have not been addressed. Budgeting is simple. Determine how much income is coming in. Spend less than that number. If spending is too high, find areas to cut back. It’s time to eliminate the waste. Let’s encourage our Congressional representatives to do their part to resolve this issue. No more band-aids!
Ozeme J Bonnette The Christian Money Coach www.thechristianmoneycoach.com
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