Special Tribute Edition Celebration of Black History
CONTENTS ON THE COVER 04 EDITOR’S LETTER 06 MEANING OF BLACK HISTORY 07 LAMONT COLEMAN (An Artist everyone should Know)
08 ON THE COVER Rodney King Alton Sterling Trayvon Martin Ahmaud Aubery George Floyd Breonna Taylor
Celebration of BLACK HISTORY
14 BLACK MUSIC HONORS 17 WENDY WILLIAMS (LIFETIME MOVIE) 18 THE 15 WHITE COATS 22 CHEF JERNARD (CLEO TV) 23 ROSE ELLA SWEETS 29 MERVIN MAYO (ARTIST SPOTLIGHT) 32 WARRIORS EMPOWERMENT GROUP 34 DRINK 2 SHRINK With CEE
FASHION & BEAUTY
38 BUSINESS DIRECTORY
39 EXPOSURE SPOTLIGHT MAGAZINE PODCAST
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The National Black History Month in February celebrates the contributions that African Americans have made to American history in their struggles for freedom and equality and deepens our understanding of our Nation's history. The National African American History Month had its origins in 1915 when historian and author Dr. Carter G. Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. This organization is now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (“ASALH”). Through this organization Dr. Woodson initiated the first Negro History Week in February 1926. Dr. Woodson selected the week in February that included the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, two key figures in the history of African Americans. In 1975, President Ford issued a Message on the Observance of Black History Week urging all Americans to "recognize the important contribution made to our nation's life and culture by black citizens." In 1976 this commemoration of black history in the United States was expanded by ASALH to Black History Month, also known as African American History Month, and President Ford issued the first Message on the Observance of Black History Month that year. Black History Month gives everyone the opportunity to share, celebrate and understand the impact of black heritage and culture. More recently, greater attention has been paid to the importance of the Windrush generation and the Black Lives Matter movement, especially since the death of George Floyd in May 2020." One thing has not changed. That is the need to draw inspiration and guidance from the past. And through that inspiration, people will find tools and paths that will help them live their lives. Who could not help but be inspired by Martin Luther King’s oratory,
commitment to racial justice, and his ultimate sacrifice? Or by the arguments of William and Ellen Craft or Henry “Box” Brown who used great guile to escape from slavery. Who could not draw substance from the creativity of Madame CJ Walker or the audacity and courage of prize fighter Jack Johnson? Or who could not continue to struggle after seeing the knee of a policeman on George Floyd neck for eight minutes and forty-six seconds, or hearing the voice of Tamir Rice’s mother, and the list continue to go on. When life is tough, take the initiative to stand for justice, solace in the poetry of Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Langston Hughes, and many other great poets. I find comfort in the rhythms of Louie Armstrong, Sam Cooke or Dinah Washington. To draw inspiration from the anonymous slave who persevered so that the culture could continue. Let me conclude by re-emphasizing that Black History Month continues to serve us well. In part because Woodson’s creation is as much about today as it is about the past. Experiencing Black History Month every year reminds us that history is not dead or distant from our lives.
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The first one, equality of opportunity, is concerned with the equal potential of every individual access public services and rights. Liberal thinking considers equality of opportunity, in education, as fundamental precondition for a truly meritocratic system. The second aspect of equity, equality of outcome, is concerned with the actual outcome of asset distribution within or among countries. Policies to reach equality of outcome often include direct and indirect redistribution. ecentnational nationalprotests protestshave haveraised raisedsociety’s society’s RRecent
awareness awarenessabout aboutsocial socialinjustice injusticeand andracial racialinequality. inequality.And And inintoday’s interconnected world, even elementary-schooltoday’s interconnected world, even elementary-schoolage But agechildren childrenhave havelikely likelyseen seenevents eventsunfold unfoldininreal realtime. time. they may not fully understand or have the knowledge to But they may not fully understand or have the knowledge assess complex socioeconomic matters. HowHow can you to assess complex socioeconomic matters. can you productively productivelyexplore explorethe theissues issuesand andengage engageyour yourfamily familytoto bebepart partofofthe thesolution? solution? Talking Talkingabout aboutstructural structuralracism racismororsocial socialinjustice injusticefeels feels uncomfortable uncomfortableforformost mostpeople. people.And Andopening openingyour yourkids’ kids’ eyes—especially eyes—especiallyyounger youngerones—to ones—tohate hategoes goesagainst againsta a parent’s parent’sinstinct instincttotoprotect protectand andshelter shelterthem themfrom fromharm. harm. But Butignoring ignoringsystemic systemicinequities inequitieswill willnot notmake makethem themgogo away. away. Where Whereshould shouldyou youstart startyour yourcourageous courageousconversation? conversation? Take the time to engage children Take the time to engage childrenininwhat whatthey theyarearehearing hearing ororseeing, how it makes them feel, and what seeing, how it makes them feel, and whatthey theycan candodoto impact change. ThisThis creates awareness whilewhile allowing them to impact change. creates awareness allowing tothem ask questions, express their feelings, and eliminate to ask questions, express their feelings, and misinformation. It opens theItdoor forthe a dialogue eliminate misinformation. opens door foron a individuality, equity, and inclusion, providing an dialogue on individuality, equity, and inclusion, providing opportunity to explain differences in races and cultures an opportunity to explain differences in races and and to urge acceptance. Social injustice can be described cultures and to urge acceptance. Social injustice can be as a situation dominant population is made knownis describedinaswhich a situation in which dominant population ofmade the inequity that leads for others due to their relative known of the inequity that leads for others due to position in the position structureinofthe power. Social is also their relative structure ofinjustice power. Social the way unjust actions areunjust done in the society. Social injustice is also the way actions are done in the injustice occurs in a situation where the equals are treated society. Social injustice occurs in a situation where the unequally, the unequal is treated equals areand treated unequally, and theequally. unequal is treated equally. is concerned with disparities in the distribution Inequality ofInequality a certain metric, which with can be income,in health or any is concerned disparities the distribution other material or non-material asset. Inequality typically of a certain metric, which can be income, health or any refers within country inequality on individual group othertomaterial or non-material asset. Inequalityor typically level, such as between gender, urban and rural population, refers to within country inequality on individual or group race etc.such as between gender, urban and rural level, population, race etc. Inequality is closed linked to the ideas of equity, which has two contrasting concepts: opportunity Inequality is closed linkedequality to the of ideas of equity, and which equality of outcome. has two contrasting concepts: equality of opportunity and equality of outcome. 6
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Income inequality between the world’s richest and poorest is higher than ever before, with the richest 5 percent of people receiving one-third of total global income, as much as the poorest 80 percent.
Discrimination is found in education, housing, employment, voting, lending and credit, land use, health Discrimination is found in education, housing, care services, transportation, public accommodations, and employment, voting, lending and credit, land use, ishealth government benefits and services. Discrimination care services, transportation, accommodations, described as unequal treatmentpublic of persons, for a reasonand government benefits andwith services. Discrimination which has nothing to do legal rights or ability. is described as unequal treatment of persons, for a reason Discrimination is considered illegal by the federal and state which has nothing to do with legal rights or ability. laws of the United States of America. Discrimination Discrimination illegal by the federal and state always promotesisorconsidered reveals unfair treatment of a person or laws of the United States of America. Discrimination a particular group of people based on prejudice and always promotes or reveals treatment offrustration a person or partiality which could lead tounfair emotions such as a particular group of people based onis prejudice and and anger. Therefore, discrimination considered or seen partiality which could lead to emotions such as frustration as a social injustice issue in our society today. and anger. Therefore, discrimination is considered or seen What can we do to make or stand up against as a social injustice issue itinbetter our society today. Social Injustice? As the saying goes, life is not fair. The What iscan to makefrom it better or stand politics, up against world fullweofdo injustice, international to Social Injustice? As the saying goes, life is not fair. The unfair business practices, to how individuals treat each worldiniseveryday full of injustice, from international to other life. However, just becausepolitics, there has unfair business practices, to how individuals treat each always been injustice in the world does not mean there is other inyou everyday However, just because there has nothing can dolife. about it. By taking individual actions, always been injustice in the world doespeople, not mean is and partnering with other like-minded and there staying nothing you can do about it. By taking individual actions, informed, you can stand up to injustice and make the and partnering with other like-minded people, and staying world a better place. informed, you can stand up to injustice and make the world a better place.
Rodney Glen King (April 2, 1965 – June 17, 2012)
“CAN’T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG?” Rodney King2,(April 196517, – June 2012) Rodney Glen Glen King (April 1965 2, – June 2012)17, was
an American and activist who was aofvictim anwas American author author and activist who was a victim of police brutality by the Los Angeles Police police brutality by the Los Angeles Police Department. Department. OnKing March 1991, King wasofficers beaten by On March 3, 1991, was3,beaten by LAPD LAPD officers after a high-speed chase during after a high-speed chase during his arrest for drunkhis arreston forI-210. drunkAndriving on I-210. An uninvolved driving uninvolved individual, George individual, George Holliday, filmed the incident Holliday, filmed the incident from his nearby balconyfrom his nearby balcony and sent the footage to local news and sent the footage to local news station KTLA.[2]:85 station KTLA. The showed unarmed The footage showed anfootage unarmed King onanthe ground King on the ground being beaten afterarrest. initially evading arrest. being beaten after initially evading The incident The incident was covered by news media around the was covered by news media around the world and worldaand caused caused public furor.a public furor. a press conference, announcing officers AtAt a press conference, announcing thethe fourfour officers involved would be disciplined, and three would involved would be disciplined, and three would faceface criminal charges, Angeles police criminal charges, LosLos Angeles police chiefchief DarylDaryl GatesGates said:"We "We believe officers used excessive force said: believe thethe officers used excessive force taking him into custody. In our review, we find taking him into custody. In our review, we find that that officers struck him with batons between fifty-three officers struck him with batons between fifty-three andand fifty-six times." The LAPD initially charged King fifty-six times." The LAPD initially charged King with with "felony evading," later dropped charge. "felony evading," butbut later dropped thethe charge. On On his his release,hehespoke spoketotoreporters reporters from wheelchair, with release, from hishis wheelchair, with his injuries evident: a broken right leg in a cast, his his injuries evident: a broken right leg in a cast, his faceface badlycutcut and swollen, bruises body, a burn badly and swollen, bruises on on his his body, andand a burn areatotohishischest chest where had been jolted with area where hehe had been jolted with a a 50,000-volt stun gun. He described how he had knelt, 50,000-volt stun gun. He described how he had knelt, spreadhishis hands out, and slowly tried to move sonot as spread hands out, and slowly tried to move so as to make any 'stupid being hit the across tonot make any 'stupid move,'move,' being hit across facethe by face by a billy club and shocked. He said he was scared a billy club and shocked. He said he was scared for his for hisaslife as drew they drew on him. life they down down on him. Four officers were eventually tried charges of use Four officers were eventually tried on on charges of use of of excessive force. Of these, three were acquitted, and excessive force. Of these, three were acquitted, and thethe 8
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jury failed to reach a verdict on one charge for the fourth. Within hours of the acquittals, the 1992 Los Angeles riots started, sparked by outrage among racial minorities over the trial's verdict and related, longstanding social issues. The rioting lasted six days and killed 63 people, with 2,383 more injured; it ended only after the California Army National Guard, the United States Army, and the United States Marine Corps provided reinforcements to re-establish control. The federal government prosecuted a separate civil rights case, obtaining grand jury indictments of the four officers for violations of King's civil rights. Their trial in a federal district court ended on April 16, 1993, with two of the officers being found guilty and sentenced to serve prison terms. The other two were acquitted of the charges. In a separate civil lawsuit in 1994, a jury found the city of Los Angeles liable and awarded King $3.8 million in damages. In 2012, King was found dead in his swimming pool two months after publishing his memoir. The coroner found evidence of alcohol and other drugs in his system and ruled that based on his history of heart problems, he had likely experienced a cardiac arrhythmia which resulted in his accidental drowning. King is interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles.
ALTON STERLING
On July 5, 2016, Alton Sterling, a 37-year-old black
man,O was shot5,dead close range by atwo Baton Rouge n July 2016,atAlton Sterling, 37-year-old black Police Department officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. man, was shot dead at close range by two Baton Rouge The officers were attempting control Sterling's arms, Police Department officers intoBaton Rouge, Louisiana. and shot by them to while allegedly reaching for TheSterling officerswas were attempting control Sterling's arms, the loaded handgun in his pants pocket. Police were and Sterling was shot by them while allegedly reaching responding to a handgun report that in apocket. red shirtPolice was selling for the loaded in ahisman pants CDs that he had a gun man outside wereand responding to aused report thattoa threaten man in aared shirt was aselling convenience store. The owner of the store where CDs and that he had used a gun to threaten the a shooting occurred said that Sterling had owner startedof carrying man outside a convenience store. The the a gun a few days to theoccurred event as said otherthat CDSterling vendorshad had store where theprior shooting been robbed recently. He also said that Sterling was "not started carrying a gun a few days prior to the event as the oneCD causing trouble" during the situation other vendors had been robbed recently.that He led alsoto the being called. saidpolice that Sterling was "not the one causing trouble" during the situation that led in to Baton the police being The shooting led to protests Rouge andcalled. a request for a civil rights investigation by the U.S. Department The shooting led to protests in Baton Rouge and a of Justice. of Justice investigated request The for aDepartment civil rights investigation by the U.S.but in May 2017 decided that it would not file criminal Department of Justice. The Department ofcharges Justiceagainst the police officers. In response, Louisiana's attorney investigated but in May 2017 decided that it would not general, Jeff Landry, the the statepolice of Louisiana file criminal chargessaid against officers.would In open an investigation into the shooting the response, Louisiana's attorney general, once Jeff Landry, said Department Justice released the physical evidence.into In the state of of Louisiana would open an investigation March 2018, Landry's announced it would not bring the shooting once theoffice Department of Justice released charges against the officers stating that they acted in a the physical evidence. In March 2018, Landry's office "reasonable and justifiable manner". announced it would not bring charges against the officersa stating they in a "reasonable and semi During strugglethat with theacted arresting officer, a "black justifiable manner". auto gun fell from his waistband.” The owner of the store where thea shooting occurred said thatofficer, Sterlinga "black had started During struggle with the arresting carrying a gun a few days prior to the event as other semi auto gun fell from his waistband.” The owner CD of vendors beenthe robbed recently. He also the storehad where shooting occurred saidsaid thatthat Sterling Sterling was "not the aone trouble" had started carrying guncausing a few days priorduring to thethe event situation that led to the police being called. as other CD vendors had been robbed recently. He also saidpolice that Sterling "not the oneshooting causing trouble" The officerswas involved in the were Howie during the situation that led to the police being Lake II and Blane Salamoni. Lake had three yearscalled. of law enforcement experience; Salamoni had four. Lake The police officers involved in the shooting werewas Howie subsequently placedSalamoni. on a department-mandated leave. He Lake II and Blane Lake had three years of law was also involved in a previous shooting of an African enforcement experience; Salamoni had four. American male, where the fleeing suspect crashed his car
The police officers involved in the shooting were Howie Lake II and Blane Salamoni. Lake had three years of law enforcement experience; Salamoni had four. Lake was subsequently placed on a department-mandated leave. He was also involved in a previous shooting of an African American male, where the fleeing suspect crashed his car into a house and then began firing at the six officers pursuing him. The police returned fire, injuring the man in the torso. Salamoni and Lake had both been previously investigated and cleared by their department for allegedly having used excessive force. At 12:35 a.m., at 2112 North Foster Drive in the parking lot of Triple S Food Mart, Sterling was detained by Baton Rouge Police Department officers Blane Salamoni and Howie Lake. This came after an anonymous caller reported that a man was threatening him and waving a handgun while in the process of selling CDs. When Sterling refused to cooperate, the officers tasered Sterling for resisting several times, then forced Sterling to the hood of a sedan and then to the ground to subdue him. Sterling was pinned to the ground by both officers; one kneeling on his chest and the other on his thigh, both attempting unsuccessfully to control his arms. Sterling was shot a total of six times all within close range. The officers retrieved a loaded .38 caliber revolver from Sterling's front pants pocket. The officers then radioed for Emergency Medical Services. According to Parish Coroner William Clark of East Baton Rouge, a preliminary autopsy, on July 5, indicated that Sterling had died from multiple gunshot wounds to his chest and back.
On the night of July 5, more than 100 demonstrators in Baton Rouge shouted, set off fireworks, and blocked an intersection to protest Sterling's death. Flowers and messages were left at the place of his death. On July 6, Black Lives Matter held a candlelight vigil in Baton Rouge, with chants of "We love Baton Rouge", and calling for justice. On March 30, 2018, officer Salamoni was fired for violating use of force policies, and Lake was suspended for three days for losing his "NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE” temper. EXPOSURE SPOTLIGHT
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TRAYVON MARTIN TRAYVON MARTIN
Trayvon Benjamin Martin (February 5, 1995 – February 26, 2012) Photo Credit: Jerome Horton
Trayvon Benjamin Martin was a 17-year-old African American from Miami Gardens, Florida, who was fatally shot in Sanford, Florida by George Zimmerman, a 28year-old Hispanic American. Martin had gone with his father on a visit to his father's fiancĂŠe at her townhouse at The Retreat at Twin Lakes in Sanford. On the evening of February 26, Martin was walking back to the fiancĂŠe's house from a nearby convenience store. Zimmerman, a member of the community watch, saw Martin and reported him to the Sanford Police as suspicious. Several minutes later, there was an altercation and Zimmerman fatally shot Martin in the chest. Zimmerman was injured during the altercation with Martin. He said he shot Martin in self-defense and was not charged at the time. The police said there was no evidence to refute his claim of self-defense, and Florida's stand your ground law prohibited them from arresting or charging him. After national media focused on the incident, Zimmerman was eventually charged and tried, but a jury acquitted him of second-degree murder and manslaughter in July 2013. Martin was born in Miami, Florida, and attended both Norland Middle School and Highland Oaks Middle School, in north Miami-Dade County, Florida. He
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attended City School High School in Miami Gardens attended MiamiMiami Carol Carol City High in Miami Gardens for his freshman for his andfreshman sophomore andyears. sophomore At the time years.ofAtthe theshooting, time of the Martin was a shooting, junior at Dr. Martin Michael was M. a junior KropatHigh Dr. Michael School inM.north KropMiamiDade.High School in north Miami-Dade. Following Martin's marches and protests Following Martin's death,death, rallies,rallies, marches and protests were held acrosswere the nation. held across In March the nation. 2012, hundreds In March of 2012, students hundreds at hisofhigh schoolstudents held a walkout at his high in support school held of him. a walkout An online in support petitionofcalling him.investigation An online petition calling forofa Zimmerman full investigation and 2.2 for a full and prosecution garnered Zimmerman million surrounding millionprosecution signatures. of Also, in March, garnered the media2.2 coverage Martin's signatures. death became Also inthe March, first story the media of 2012 coverage to be featured surrounding more than the Martin's presidential death became race, which the was first underway story of 2012 at the to time. be A featured theprofiling presidential race, which was national debatemore aboutthan racial and 'stand your ground' laws ensued. underway The governor at the time. of Florida A national appointed debate a task about force racial to examine the state's profiling self-defense and 'stand laws. your Martin's ground' lifelaws wasensued. scrutinized The by the of Florida appointed task forcetotoMartin examine mediagovernor and bloggers. A memorial wasadedicated at the state'sWestside self-defense laws. Martin's lifea was by Goldsboro Historical Museum, blackscrutinized history museum in Sanford. the media and bloggers. The name Trayvon was tweeted more than two million times in the 30 days following the shooting. More than 1,000 people attended the viewing of his remains the day before his funeral, which was held on March 3, 2012 in Miami, Florida. He was buried in DadeMemorial Park (North), in Miami. A memorial was dedicated to Martin at the Goldsboro Westside Historical Museum, a black history museum in Sanford in July 2013.