Insight News ::: 5.21.12

‘Unsung’ video contest celebrates everyday heroes; benefits charity Photo courtesy of the artists

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Mint Condition

INSIGHT NEWS May 21 - May 27, 2012 • MN Metro Vol. 38 No. 21 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • www.insightnews.com

Meals for Minds Target Corporation Foundation partners with Harvest Prep, Best Academy and the new Mastery school to provide new library and free food to all of its students MINDS TURN TO 5

Courtesy of Target Foundation

Laysha Ward, the CEO of Target Foundation with students in new library

OPEN LETTER TO THE COMMUNITY

HIRE MN: Stadium can advance employment equity Next week, the city of Minneapolis will have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to provide more jobs and career options for people of color in Minneapolis now and for the next 30 years.

Minneapolis has the worst

employment disparities by race of any major city, meaning that white people are three and a half times more likely to be employed than Black people. HIRE Minnesota, a community-based coalition, is fighting hard to change this

situation. The new Vikings stadium legislation, which was signed into law by Governor Dayton last week, outlines clear and immediate opportunities to provide both short- and long-term employment for people of color.

While coalition members within HIRE Minnesota have different opinions about whether public funds should be used to build a stadium, we all agree that if the Minneapolis City Council votes in favor of it next week, it should

make the most of the opportunity to advance employment equity in Minneapolis.

The stadium will produce up to $1 billion of new investment in the downtown area, and hundreds of jobs over the next 30

years. HIRE Minnesota believes a fair share of the construction and permanent jobs need to be available to people of color in general and Blacks in particular,

HIRE TURN TO 2

Will gay marriage divide the Black electorate?

By Larry Miller Special to the NNPA from the Philadelphia Tribune

Courtesy of Minneapolis Urban League

Andrew Young

Andrew Young to keynote MUL gala Civil Rights icon Andrew Young will deliver the keynote address at the Minneapolis Urban League’s (MUL) upcoming Gala.

The gala is being held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thurs., May 31, at the Minneapolis Convention Center, located at 1301 2nd Ave. in Minneapolis.

This year’s theme for the gala is “Picking Up the Torch.” Scott Gray, president and CEO of the MUL, said he is proud to have Andrew Young speaking at its annual event.

GALA TURN TO 3

Hazel Trice Edney

Historic capital press club elects leadership, new team

PAGE 3

Right on the heels of North Carolina becoming the 31st state in the Union to pass a ban on homosexual marriage, President Barack Obama announced his support of matrimony between same sex couples.

The president’s public support of same sex marriage could either be a boon or a curse for his re-election campaign; it’s too soon to tell, despite the fact that he’s just received a million dollars in campaign contributions. But one thing is certain; the president’s public stance in favor of homosexual marriage has drawn a dividing line among voters. Will it have an affect among AfricanAmerican voters, some members of the Black clergy think it will.

“I think it will to some extent,” said Bishop Ernest C. Morris Sr., Jurisdictional

Aesthetics

N’dambi and Keite Young set to rock the Fine Line

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Prelate for Koinonia Jurisdiction.

“A large percentage of Black Christians believe that marriage should be between one man and one woman. What he may be banking on is the AfricanAmerican community’s love for the first Black president but he should consider that large numbers of Black churches won’t agree with this. There are too many passages in Scripture that denounce homosexuality and I can’t see how to fully justify it from the Word of God. Don’t misunderstand me; this is not about hatred of homosexuals because we are all sinners in need of a savior and God is so gracious. It is the continuous practice of this that the Bible is against. I also think that as the nation’s first Black president, he’s seen not just as the political leader of our country but as more than that. Many people see him as a moral and spiritual leader as well.”

On Wednesday May 9 President Barack Obama took what some political experts

Pete Souza

In this photo released by The White House, President Barack Obama participates in an interview Wednesday May 9 with Robin Roberts of ABC’s Good Morning America in the Cabinet Room of the White House. are saying was a risky move — especially during an election year — and voiced his support of same sex marriage. Like the issue of legalized abortion, same sex marriage is one of those hot button issues that draw a clear division between those who support it and those who oppose it. Republican presidential front runner Mitt Romney said he opposes same sex marriages.

“Well when these issues

Health

Healthy vision: Make it last a lifetime

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were raised in my state of Massachusetts, I indicated my view, which is I do not favor marriage between people of the same gender, and I do not favor civil unions if they are identical to marriage other than by name,” Romney said in a published report.

A bill that would have allowed civil unions for same-sex couples in Colorado

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Full Circle

Think like a man?

PAGE 11

Page 2 • May 21 - May 27, 2012 • Insight News

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Leaders embrace Obama’s position on same-sex marriage Reverend Al Sharpton, President of National Action Network, along with Julian Bond, Chairman Emeritus of NAACP, Melanie Campbell, President and CEO of the National Coalition for Black Civic Engagement, and Reverend Dr. Joseph Lowery, Civil Rights Icon and President Emeritus of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, released an open letter recently embracing President Obama’s position on equality for gay and lesbian individuals in this country. _______________ May 11, 2012

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

As leaders in today’s Civil Rights Movement, we stand behind the President Obama’s belief that same sex couples should be allowed to join in civil marriages. We also affirm that individuals may hold different views on this issue but still work together towards our common goals: fair housing and equitable education, affordable health care and eradicating poverty, all issues of deep and abiding concern for our communities.

President Obama stated his view that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry.

File photo

NAACP

The Reverend Al Sharpton

Julian Bond

This is a view that we concur with, because as civil rights leaders we cannot fight to

gain rights for some and not for all. At the same time, we acknowledge that the President stated his personal opinion, which everyone is entitled to – both those who agree with him, like us, and those who disagree.

The President made clear that his support is for civil marriage for same-sex couples, and he is fully committed to protecting the ability of religious institutions to make their own decisions about their own sacraments.

There will be those who seek to use this issue to divide our community. As a people, we cannot afford such division. It is

HIRE From 1 most of whom live in the shadow of downtown but don’t benefit from investments there.

Thanks to the leadership of Rep. Bobby Joe Champion and Sen. Linda Higgins, the signed stadium bill contains two key provisions that should ensure new job access for people of color.

The key players, including the contractors and the Vikings, will have to make good faith efforts to hire 32 percent people of color in the construction of the stadium.

Over the life of the stadium, all parties will have to make special efforts to hire people of color for the many long-term jobs an NFL stadium creates.

Rep. Champion and Sen. Higgins outlined a detailed plan in the legislation to make these words more than just talk. If all the right steps are taken, hundreds

NCBCP.org

File photo

Melanie Campbell

The Reverend Dr. Joseph Lowery

our hope that conversations on strengthening African American families continue in a civil and respectful way, on all sides, both with those who support the ability of same-sex couples to marry, and those who do not.

We are glad that President Obama has joined Dr. Joseph Lowery, Dr. Julian Bond and so many others in full embrace of equality for gay and lesbian individuals in our country. We also welcome the civil debate on this issue that will surely spring. And we encourage all individuals to keep all issues of import to our communities

in mind in the days ahead, and we seek to secure equal justice, opportunity and dignity for all God’s children.

of people of color will obtain jobs to build, manage and maintain different aspects of the project.

However one piece of the puzzle remains. It’s a big one, and it is in the hands of Mayor R.T. Rybak and the Minneapolis City Council. Eight members of the city council have endorsed HIRE Minnesota’s equity principles for the stadium, including a plan for the city to commit $1 million per year over the next 30 years to fund job training activities in hospitality, property management, sports and convention facility management and construction.

This is one of the most important things the city could do to erase the disgrace of our racial employment disparities, which are an economic drain on the city and are also bringing us undesired national attention. It’s an issue our city leadership has an interest in paying close attention to.

In his recent state of the city address, Mayor Rybak

called for investments in communities of color as a way to stimulate economic growth for the entire city. Fortunately, Councilmembers: Kevin Reich, Cam Gordon, Diane Hofstede, Robert Lilligren, Elizabeth Glidden, Meg Tuthill, John Quincy and Betsy Hodges had already heeded that call to action by pledging to include a job training fund for low-income people and people of color in the stadium plan. Not all of these councilmembers will vote for the plan, but each of them has said any proposal that they will entertain must include this key element.

These councilmembers should be commended for their leadership in taking steps to address one of Minneapolis’s most persistent and troubling issues. We call upon the rest of the city council and the mayor to join them in making it happen.

Reverend Al Sharpton, President & Founder, National Action Network Julian Bond, Chairman Emeritus of NAACP Melanie Campbell, President and CEO of the National Coalition for Black Civic Engagement Reverend Dr. Joseph Lowery, Civil Rights Icon and President Emeritus of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference

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Insight News • May 21 - May 27, 2012 • Page 3

Historic Capital Press Club elects new president, leadership team

Hazel Trice Edney

Roy Lewis / CPC

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) Award-winning journalist Hazel Trice Edney, editor-inchief of the Trice Edney News Wire and President/CEO of Trice Edney Communications LLC, has been elected president of the historic Capital Press Club (CPC).

Edney, a veteran reporter, who is also former editorin-chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service and BlackPressUSA.com, was elected by the CPC board April 19. She took office May 1.

“I nominated Hazel Trice Edney because she is able to be the proactive advocate for communications professionals of color needed in the (Washington) D.C. area,”

said CPC President Emeritus Derrick Kenny, owner of Bold American Marketing.

“She boasts a stellar track record as a seasoned journalist and has earned numerous awards. In addition, she has the proven ability to manage a non-profit communications organization, educate young communications professionals, motivate volunteers and establish partnerships with valued corporations and newsmakers. She is ideal for this office. She has the vision, strength, integrity and faith that are needed to move CPC forward into the future.”

The new leadership team also includes First Vice President Robyn Wilkes, Director of Communications,

Marriage

The president also said that he respected the beliefs of others and the right of religious institutions to act in accordance with their own doctrines but he said that he believed that in the eyes of the law all Americans should ne treated equally and no federal law should invalidate same sex marriages in a state that enacted it.

Reverend Clarence James, a Black minister based in

From 1 died in the legislature this week. The president’s public endorsement of homosexual marriage followed a vote in North Carolina where constituents came out in favor of a ban against same sex marriage. North Carolina is

“‘I believe that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry,’ the president said. ‘I’ve always believed that gay and lesbian Americans should be treated fairly and equally.’” now America’s 31st state to enact legislation against it.

In a prepared statement, the president said he was asked a direct question and gave a direct answer regarding same sex marriage.

“I believe that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry,” the president said.

“I’ve always believed that gay and lesbian Americans should be treated fairly and equally.

I was reluctant to use the term marriage because of the very powerful traditions it evokes.

And I thought civil union laws that conferred legal rights upon gay and lesbian couples were a solution. But over the course of several years I’ve talked to friends and family about this. I’ve thought about members of my staff in longterm, committed, same-sex relationships that are raising kids together. What I’ve come to realize is that for loving, same-sex couples, and the denial of marriage equality means that, in their eyes and the eyes of their children, they are still considered less than full citizens. So I decided it was time to affirm my personal belief that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry.”

Gala From 1 “We are excited to welcome Andrew Young, the tireless torchbearer, whose life illustrates our theme,” Gray said. “As a living legend of the Civil Rights

Chicago said he definitely believes the president’s move is going to hurt him among African-American voters, many of whom oppose same sex marriage.

“Many of us oppose this in every form and may decide to vote against the president because of this,” James said. “From a medical and psychological point of view homosexuality is a mental illness; for male homosexuals anal sex is medically dangerous.

The president is coming at this as a civil rights issue but there is no correlation even though the homosexual community is trying to make it one. The Civil Rights Movement was about freedom and equal rights, this is a moral issue. For the president and other elected officials it’s easier to go along with popular opinion rather than to do what’s right.”

But some members of the African-American clergy have a different point of view regarding this issue.

They believe the AfricanAmerican community should find ways to address same sex relationships and that there can be reconciliation between sex and spirituality.

Movement, Young has dedicated his life to ensuring the torch of economic and social justice remains ignited.”

WCCO-TV anchor, Angela Davis, will emcee the program.

Additionally, selected area students representing the Minneapolis Public School District will be acknowledged and receive

Greater Washington Urban League; Second Vice President Sherrie Edwards-Lassister, Senior Account Manager, Campbell and Company; Treasurer Joan Davion of The Davion Group; Immediate Past President Nyree Wright, Senior Vice President, MSLGROUP Americas; and Kenny, who is also Digital Media Manager, Montgomery CountyOffice of Cable and Broadband Services.

“Newsrooms across America are shrinking. That means the numbers of Black journalists in the newsrooms are diminishing while the numbers of injustices facing African-Americans are increasing,” said Edney, who has reported for the Black Press for more than 25 years.

“In addition to the destructive forces of racism in our communities, we also see its economic impact on our media outlets. This climate reveals that this organization of Black media professionals is just as necessary and just as relevant as ever. The Capital Press Club will not shrink from the front lines in the war for justice and equality for others as well as ourselves.”

It was 68 years ago - in 1944 - that the Capital Press Club was established; as the National Press Club refused to accept African-American members. The CPC has a diverse membership of journalists, marketing, public relations, advertising and communications professionals from all disciplines, and is dedicated to maintaining superior standards of ethics, promoting cooperative business competition and addressing the recruitment and retention of qualified minority communications professionals.

For more information on the Capital Press Club, visit www.capitalpressclub.org.

“If every gay person in our church just left or those who have an orientation or preference or an inclination, or a fantasy, if everyone left, we wouldn’t have — we wouldn’t have a church,” said Bishop Carlton Pearson who heads Chicago’s New Dimensions Ministries in a published report.

“Homophobia is hardly unique to the AfricanAmerican community. It’s a social malady that’s due largely to the influence of fear based-theologies, particularly fundamentalist Christianity, Islam and Judaism, all of which grow out of the Abrahamic tradition. The African-American church has traditionally used a kind of ‘don’t ask don’t tell’ approach toward homosexuality.”

Dr. Janice Hollis who heads Progressive Believer’s said the African-American community should look at the president’s record not just on this issue but on others and determine if the quality of their lives has improved.

“I think it’s an insult for the president to intellectualize on morality as if the Church doesn’t already have a mandate from God on this,” she said.

“This is a political move and even though he may not see it, he’s only a fleeting moment in history; God has always been there. I think the president is promoting a way of life that deters people away from the Word of God.” Reverend Bill Owens, a minister with the Church of God in Christ (COGIC) and who is based in Memphis, Tennessee, said there’s no doubt that the president’s endorsement of same sex marriage is going to hurt him among Black voters.

“Absolutely it will and especially among the Black churches where the conviction against same sex marriage is so strong,” Owens said. “I think many Black Christians feel somewhat betrayed by the president on this — this is something that Black churches have always stood firmly against.”

scholarship awards made possible by corporate contributions.

Sponsors of this year’s event include Target Corporation, General Mills, Geico, Comcast, Best Buy, and Wells Fargo.

For more information and tickets call 612.302.3105 or visit www.mul.org.

Page 4 • May 21 - May 27, 2012 • Insight News

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AESTHETICS N’dambi and Keite Young set to rock the Fine Line With the summer concert season coming, several national acts are making their ways to the Twin Cities, but sorely there are not too many options for fans of soul, neo-soul and R&B. One exception to this is the upcoming concert starring neo-soul luminaries N’dambi, a Grammy nominee; and former Hidden Beach Records recording artist, Keite Young.

The two are set to play the Fine Line Music Cafe, 318 1st Ave. N, in downtown Minneapolis, 8 p.m., Thurs., May 24.

Those most familiar with the genre of neo-soul recognize N’dambi as a former background singer and writer with Erykah Badu. Now as a solo artist on the legendary Stax Records, N’dambi’s “Pink Elephant” CD garnered a 2011 Grammy nomination with singles including “Can’t Hardly Wait,” “Nobody Jones” and “What It Takes.” N’dambi’s “Imitator” was selected by the Bose speaker company to showcase its latest line of speakers and headphones.

Young, a Dallas native, broke on the scene in the late-2000s with his Hidden Beach Records (Jill Scott, Kindred and the Family Soul) release, “The Rise and Fall of Keite Young.” The project gained rave reviews and enticed comparisons to Marvin

Keite Young Gaye, Al Green, Sam Cook and Sly and the Family Stone. Young is an accomplished musician who plays multiple instruments.

His single, “If We Were Alone,” a duet with N’dambi, helped to make the project one of Hidden Beach Records bigger successes.

The Thurs., May 24 show at the Fine Line also features the Solomon Witherspoon and Ten17 and The Devine Collection.

Tickets are $20 in advance via www.brownpapertickets.com

SoulBounce

and $25 at the door. The event is presented by Thee Urbane Life and Canvas Ent., producers of two recent Eric Roberson shows in Minneapolis.

N’dambi and Keite Young Thurs., May 24 8 p.m.

Fine Line Music Cafe 318 1st Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN 55401 $20 in advance $25 at the door

N’dambi

Brian Guilliaux

‘Unsung’ video contest celebrates everyday heroes; benefits charity GiveMN partners with Minnesota R&B Band Mint Condition and Shanachie Entertainment to celebrate ‘unsung heroes’ and give to the winning video producer’s favorite cause GiveMN, a nonprofit organization enabling individuals to donate to other nonprofits online, is partnering

with R&B band Mint Condition and its record label, Shanachie Entertainment to sponsor the “Unsung” video contest.

Individuals are invited to visit www.shanachie.com to download Mint Condition’s song “Unsung” for exclusive use in creating a video to honor their own unsung hero.

The song “Unsung” was

written by Mint keyboardist Lawrence Waddell in honor of his own unsung hero; his foster mother.

“My mother shaped my life in an incredible way and I will always be grateful to her for what’s she’s done,” Lawrence said. “This song is for all the unsung heroes out there like my mom.”

“The nonprofit world is full of unsung heroes; everyday people who are making a difference against difficult odds,” GiveMN Executive Director Dana Nelson said.

“We’re delighted to join forces with one of Minnesota’s most talented bands, Mint Condition, and (its) label, Shanachie Entertainment, to shine a light

on those unsung heroes through a video contest.”

The video contest will accept submissions until 11:59 p.m. on Mon., Jun. 11. The winning video will be chosen by band members Stokley Williams, Ricky Kinchen, Homer O’Dell, Lawrence Waddell, and Jeff Allen. The winner will be announced on Jun. 25. Videos

should be uploaded to a video sharing site such as YouTube or Vimeo and then the link can be emailed to info@givemn.org.

The producer of the winning video will receive a a $500 cash prize courtesy of Shanachie Entertainment and a $1,000 Giving Card courtesy

UNSUNG TURN TO 5

UNIVERSAL PICTURES PRESENTS A ROTH FILMS PRODUCTION “SNOW WHITE &THE HUNTSMAN” KRISTEN STEWART CHARLIZE THERON CHRIS HEMSWORTH SAM CLAFLIN IAN MCSHANE MUSIC EXECUTIVE BOB HOSKINS RAY WINSTONE NICK FROST TOBY JONES SCREENPLAY

BY JAMES NEWTON HOWARD PRODUCERS PALAK PATEL GLORIA BORDERS PRODUCED SCREEN STORY

BY JOE ROTH SAM MERCER

BY EVAN DAUGHERTY

BY EVAN DAUGHERTY AND JOHN LEE HANCOCK AND HOSSEIN AMINI DIRECTED A UNIVERSAL PICTURE

BY RUPERT SANDERS SOUNDTRACK ON UNIVERSAL REPUBLIC RECORDS

© 2011 UNIVERSAL STUDIOS

STARTS FRIDAY, JUNE 1 CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS FOR THEATERS AND SHOWTIMES

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Insight News • May 21 - May 27, 2012 • Page 5

Courtesy of Harvest Prep and Best Academy

Harvest Prep, Best Academy and Master School Founder Eric Mahmoud, along with his mother Annie McLaughlin, and Harvest Prep and Mastery School Principal, Dr. Callie Lalugba.

Minds From 1 On May 11, 2012, more than 600 families of students from Harvest Prep and Best Academy, located at 1300 Olson Memorial Highway in north Minneapolis, attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for the brand new library and “Meals for Minds” free food distribution program donated by Target Corporation Foundation (Target).

Target donated more than 2,000 books, 20 Netbook computers and 10 iPads to the new library, and along with Heart of America Foundation provided more than 200 volunteers to totally renovate the Harvest Prep and Best Academy school library into a state-of-the-art facility. In addition, Target distributed approximately 25 pounds of free food to every family in attendance at Harvest Prep and Best Academy.

Laysha Ward, the President of Target Foundation, opened up the ribbon cutting event with words of encouragement to families and students in attendance about the importance of reading and literacy.

In 2011 Target Corporation Foundation (Target) made an incredible commitment to literacy and the students at Harvest Prep, Best Academy, and the new Mastery School which will open this August,

Unsung From 4 of GiveMN, which can be used to donate to any of the nearly one-million U.S.-based nonprofit organizations listed on www.GiveMN.org. Mint Condition is also providing an autographed guitar to the video producer whose video receives the most online views. The guitar is provided courtesy of Guitar Center. Both winners will also receive a “grab bag” of artist merchandise from Mint Condition and Shanachie Entertainment. For complete contest details, visit www. shanachie.com.

when it selected Harvest Prep and Best Academy to be the only charter schools in the state of Minnesota to be a part of its Target PRESS Initiative, and selected Harvest Prep, Best Academy and the new Mastery Schools to participate in its Target’s “Meals for Minds” program.

PRESS is an acronym that stands for Pathways to Reading Excellence in School Sites. PRESS is a K – 3rd grade initiative that provides tutors, literacy coaches, as well as reading experts from the University of Minnesota to support students in grades K – 3rd grade that are behind in reading.

In addition to this initiative Target, on two separate occasions during the 2011/2012 school year, provided all of the Harvest and Best students with free books.

In addition to the outstanding PRESS commitment, Target designated Harvest Prep, Best Academy and the new Mastery School as a part of its “Meals for

MINDS TURN TO 12

Page 6 • May 21 - May 27, 2012 • Insight News

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The Virginity War… Never bowed

By Ahmed Tharwat It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.

Invictus William Ernest Henley.

In a glorious 18 days of massive demonstration in Egypt, 18-million people went to street to demand their dignity and freedom.

On Feb. 11, 2011, Egyptian Ex-dictator Housni Mubarak stepped down and marked the end of 30 years of absolute dictatorship. That night the chant in Tahrir Square changed from, “The people want toppling of the regime,” to, “Military and the people one hand.” A month later, on Mar. 9, 2011, the Egyptian military, which had seized power, had its hand tainted forever when it arrested, tortured and killed protestors in Tahrir Square, but – and for the time in Egyptian military history – forced women activists to go under virginity test.

The virginity test allegations first surfaced after a rally in Cairo’s Tahrir Square that turned violent when men in plainclothes attacked protesters and the army intervened forcibly to clear the square. Amnesty International further documented the abuse allegations in a report that found 18 female detainees were threatened with prostitution charges and forced to undergo virginity tests. The women were also beaten up and given electric shocks, the report said.

As was reported in the news, Major General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said that virginity tests had been carried out on female detainees in March to “protect”

the army against possible allegations of rape, but that such forced tests would not be carried out again. He also added that the army would avoid detaining women in the future. This was not the only perverse excuse we heard from the generals.

With the help of Karim Reda, an fBook activist friend in Egypt, I was able to get the phone numbers of two of these young women who had lived the forced virginity test ordeal – Rasha Abdelrahman, a 28-year-old college student and Jihan Mahmoud, a 29-yearold social worker. I called Abdelrahman, introduced myself as Ahmed Tharwat, an Egyptian American, doing a TV story about the Egyptian revolution and the role of women. I let her know I would love to talk to her about the (I wasn’t sure if I should say virginity test in Arabic in our first conversation) ordeal with the Military. She got my drift.

“Oh, you mean Kashf Elozrayah (virginity test),” Abdelrahman causally said. “Sure, give me your number and I will call you back.”

I was a little taken aback by her forthcoming attitude considering the cultural taboo and the ordeal.

I was the one who held back, but, sure enough, two days later Abdelrahman called and asked if she could bring her friend, another young lady who was also a victim of the ordeal, to which I gratefully obliged.

I chose a public place for our first meeting, the famous Groppi Café in downtown Cairo. I took my small flip camera and went to the café on a Tuesday afternoon.

The time we set to meet was 2 p.m., but knowing Egyptian time I freed up the whole afternoon for this meeting.

Groppi is an old-fashioned café. Its glory days have passed by – nothing in the interior or

exterior has changed since about the 1960s including the spacious entrance, the breeze coming in the open doors, the tall windows, the smiling dark waiter, the broken tiles, the leaky faucet, ceiling fans, and, of course, the man with the tissue in the bathroom.

Abdelrahman called.

“I’m in the subway now, another half an hour at most,” she explained.

Of course, the Egyptians use the traffic as a pretext for anything out of their control although, ironically, the subway is the only thing in Egypt now that is working and is actually under control, but once you are in the subway, there is nothing you could do, but wait.

It is your fate. An hour later she called again and asked if I could meet them outside the café. I stood up and headed outside. I had never seen them before, and they never seen me. They had never talked to the media or had a presence in YouTube universe. I expected to see broken women in traditional dress. Wandering outside, I looked around and saw none of the kind of women I imagined. Finally, I spotted two young ladies talking, smiling and walking back and forth in front of the café.

“Are you Rasha?” I asked them.

“Are you Mr. Ahmed?”

Abdelrahman giggled.

“Yes, Ahlan Wasahlan.

Welcome, and thank you for coming,” was my reply.

Abdelrahman was wearing a stylishly modern hijab – the one that just covers the head, and not the face, and a red dress over her jeans. She had an infectious laugh, and did most of the talking. Jihan, another young woman subjected to the virginity test, was the quite one. She had stylish short hair, a scarf around her neck, and magnetic deep dark eyes. Her dress was of a rebellious nature.

“Anything to drink?” the waiter asked.

Everyone ordered lemonade.

“There is no lemonade,” said the waiter. “The blender is broken.”

The dark skinny waiter said with a shy smile. The Groppi cafe has been known for its excellent fresh lemonade since it opened.

It is a very comfortable homey place, where a waiter can give

you excuses like this. We ordered drinks that don’t require blender work. Jihan never touched her drink; she was very quiet, and she didn’t say a word for more than 30 minutes. Abdelrahman took control of the conversation.

I first asked them to tell me what actually happened that day of Mar. 9 2011.

“The military wanted to

the officer said according to Jihan.

According to the women with whom I spoke, military guards tied the women to the Egyptian Museum fence like animals, beat and verbally abused them. Four hours later, they took them away to the military jail in El Hexisteb, a military base in Cairo.

“Once I saw a big picture of Mubarak hanging on the wall

They were surprised to find themselves arrested, beaten, and verbally abused by military security. “You are whores, decent girls stay home and don’t come to Tahrir,” the officer told them. break us, and humiliate us,” Abdelrahman explained. “We were there at Tahrir for the general strike. We thought it would be like all other demonstration.

“We went to Tahrir, as usual,” Jihan explained. “The day was uneventful. Later at about 4 p.m. we found people in plain clothes, started attacking us with rocks, and Molotov cocktails. I had to get a stick to protect myself.”

Abdelrahman and Jihan talked to me in more detail about the most tragic day of their life – about their abducted friends, who were taken away to the Egyptian Museum and had not returned. They went to find out what happened. They were surprised to find themselves arrested, beaten, and verbally abused by military security.

“You are whores, decent girls stay home and don’t come to Tahrir,” an officer told them.

“The beating started,” Jihan said. “I told the officer who I had seen before in another confrontation, ‘No matter what you do to me, nothing will break me tonight.’ This was a challenge to him and he wanted to break us,” said Jihan.

“You are my game tonight,”

of the office, I told myself, this can’t be good,” Abdelrahman remembered. “Then the general came and asked if we had any health problems.”

Next, a female jailer took the women to a room, which was missing its door. The female security guard started frisking them, touching them all over. They complained about the overzealous security female guard. “This is wrong, sir,” Abdelrahman told a male officer.

“Either this female guard or we get a male one,” the male officer threatened.

“It was very humiliating,” Abdelrahman said.

The female security asked the women to undress. The women removed just their jackets and scarves.

“No, everything. Take all your cloth, off, even your underpants,” the security ordered them with a firm voice.

“I could see the soldiers and officers standing outside watching what was going on inside the room,” Jihan said. “All this was done by our military; the ones who claimed they protected the revolution,” she

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said incredulously. “If it was the security police (known for their brutality and abuse), I would understand it, but this was our military.

“I just got rid of an old corrupt regime, to get this?” Jihan wondered aloud.

A military physician, Ahmed Adel, walked into the room, and without saying a word, forced the women to have their hymens checked. A military court later found Adel innocent of any wrongdoing.

In all, 18 women suffered together through a long night of beatings and humiliation. Then the military security took them to the military administrative center where they put Molotov’s bottles on table on front of them and started taking pictures of the women.

“You are taking picture of us, so you can distort our images in your media,” Jihan told the officer.

Then the officer did something Jihan said she will never forget.

“He kicked me so hard. It was personal, between me and him, not a security issue,” Jihan explained.

Jihan and Abdelrahman believed that the forced virginity test was all planned and not just an oversight or mismanagement by a few angry individuals.

“They had higher orders,” Abdelrahman said.

In such a patriarchal society the military wanted to discredit the young activists and the young revolutionaries’ movement all together as decadent young troublemakers.

Then Jihan looked at herself and said, “My clothes have to stay on my body until I get my day in court, but in the jail, I was forced to take my clothes off, and forced to have my virginity checked.”

According to the two, the officers kept humiliating them, telling them angrily it is their entire fault, repeating, “Decent women don’t do this, they stay home, they don’t protest or go to Tahrir.”

“This officer doesn’t read or understand history,” said Abdelrahman. “Egyptian women

EGYPT TURN TO 13

insightnews.com

Insight News • May 21 - May 27, 2012 • Page 7

HEALTH Healthy vision: Make it last a lifetime

By National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health Family matters. Few things are more gratifying than watching the children play at your family reunion, cooking your special dish, or laughing at old family photos. But imagine for a moment that you lost your ability to see.

Enjoying these familiar sights

INSIGHT NEWS www.insightnews.com

Insight News is published weekly, every Monday by McFarlane Media Interests.

Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane CFO Adrianne Hamilton-Butler Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford Vice President of Sales & Marketing Selene White Culture and Education Editor Irma McClaurin Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Sr. Content & Production Coordinator Ben Williams Production Intern Natalie Benz Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Facilities Support / Assistant Producer, Conversations with Al McFarlane Bobby Rankin Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Staff Writer Ivan B. Phifer Contributing Writers Cordie Aziz Maya Beecham Harry Colbert, Jr. Brenda Colston Julie Desmond Fred Easter S. Himie Oshana Himot Timothy Houston Marcia Humphrey Alaina L. Lewis Lydia Schwartz Stacey Taylor Photography Suluki Fardan Tobechi Tobechukwu Contact Us: Insight News, Inc. Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis., MN 55411 Ph.: (612) 588-1313 Fax: (612) 588-2031 Member: Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium (MMMC), Midwest Black Publishers Coalition, Inc. (MBPCI), National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Postmaster: Send address changes to McFarlane Media Interests, Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55411.

would no longer be possible.

Americans agree that eyesight has a huge impact on their day-today lives and is one of the senses they fear losing most. However, people often do not pay attention to their vision unless they notice a problem. Many eye diseases and conditions have no early warning signs, so a person can have a potentially blinding eye disease and not even know it.

African Americans are at higher risk of developing eye diseases like glaucoma and diabetes-related eye problems.

These diseases have no warning signs, and, if left untreated, can cause permanent vision loss. In fact, glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in African Americans.

One of the most important things you can do to protect your vision is to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam. In this procedure, an eye care professional places drops in your eyes to dilate, or widen, the pupil to allow more

National Eye Institute

light to enter the eye the same way an open door lets more light into a room. This allows your eye care professional to examine the

back of the eyes for any signs of eye disease. Early detection and treatment can help to reduce your risk of vision loss and blindness.

“Diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration [AMD]

affect millions of Americans,” says Dr. Paul Sieving, director of the National Eye Institute (NEI) of the National Institutes of Health. “These conditions were once untreatable, robbing people of their vision, mobility, and independence. Thankfully, in the last decade, medical researchers have developed highly effective, sight-saving treatments. However, these treatments are only effective if the disease is diagnosed before it causes vision loss. Since there are often no warning signs, regular dilated eye exams are important to early detection and treatment.”

Talking to your family members about their eye health history is also important, as many eye diseases and conditions tend to run in families. Make sure you pass on your history to the next generation so they can take care of their vision, too. And, tell your eye care professional if anyone in your family has an eye disease or condition.

Other simple steps to keep your vision at its best include the following: Make healthy food

choices—A variety of vegetables, especially dark leafy greens such as spinach, kale, or collard greens, should be an important part of your diet. Researchers have found that people with diets that contain higher levels of vitamins C and E, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids (found in salmon, tuna, and halibut) are less likely to develop AMD. Quit smoking or never start— Tobacco smoking has been linked to an increased risk of AMD, cataract, and optic nerve damage, all of which can lead to vision loss.

Wear eye protection—If you play sports or even work on home projects, it is critical to wear appropriate eye protection to prevent eye injuries. It’s also important to wear sunglasses with 99 to 100 percent UV-A/UV-B protection.

For more information about eye health and tips for finding an eye care professional or organizations that provide financial assistance for eye care, visit http://www.nei.nih.gov/ healthyeyes.

HIV/AIDS: The Facts and The Fiction Book Review

By Kam Williams kam@insightnews.com “Unfortunately, a series of interlocking misconceptions have distorted scientific and public perceptions of HIV and the AIDS epidemic… Given a sober review, the scientific literature is clear: (1) New York City is the epicenter of the AIDS epidemic; (2) the theory that HIV came from monkeys

is a fallacy; and (3) the African AIDS epidemic-as-holocaust never manifested.

The goal of this work is to reconfigure the conceptual paradigm of the HIV/AIDS epidemic such that resource allocations and healthcare interventions work to serve the benefit, and not the detriment, of the populations at need.”

-- Excerpted from the Preface (pg. xiii) A few years ago, I saw a documentary about AIDS which began by asking which of a number of places had the highest HIV infection rate. I was shocked to learn that the correct answer to the question was the only American city on the list, Washington, DC, since all the other choices were either in Africa or the Caribbean.

I had unwittingly fallen prey to the conventional wisdom which has led most people to believe that AIDS originally started in Africa where it had infected millions of victims for decades prior to crossing the Atlantic and arriving on these shores around 1980. That piece of propaganda simply isn’t true, according to Chris Jennings, a Harvard-educated medical writer who has staked his career in the field of HIV research.

He has devoted much of the last 20 years in quest of the truth about the AIDS epidemic. The upshot of that herculean effort is HIV/AIDS: The Facts and The Fiction, a seminal work which does an excellent job of dispelling myths in the hope

of educating the populace and encouraging politicians and the medical community to reorder their priorities.

For example, the author argues that because of the widespread belief that Africa is the epicenter of AIDS, a disproportionate amount of resources are wasted on circumcisions and/or antiretroviral drugs on patients there who aren’t apt to be infected.

Meanwhile, the readilywinnable fights against more lethal diseases on the continent, like pneumonia and diarrhea, go underfunded.

Such surprising revelations abound in Jennings’ informative reference text. Though academic in nature, his encyclopedic treatise nevertheless arrives augmented by a helpful glossary which makes it all accessible to the layman by explaining the meanings of dozens of such obscure terms as “cytotoxic,” ”immunoglobulin” and “neurotropic”.

A priceless primer which corrects plenty of prevailing misconceptions about AIDS merely by accurately reporting medical evidence rather than recirculating false rumors.

HIV/AIDS: The Facts and The Fiction

by Chris Jennings Health Alert Communications Paperback, $45.00 212 pages ISBN: 978-0-936571-11--9

Page 8 • May 21 - May 27, 2012 • Insight News

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COMMUNITY Calendar • Classifieds Send Community Calendar information to us by: email, natalie@insightnews.com, by fax: 612-588-2031, by phone: (612) 588-1313 or by mail: 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN 55411, Attn: Natalie Benz. Free or low cost events preferred.

Events Tapestry FUNdamentals of Dance-African-based movement May 10, 17, 24, and 31 Tapestry Folkdance Center will be hosting FUNdamentals of Dance: African-based movement with Patricia Brown teaching. 7–8:30pm $8 general, $6 members, $5 students, free admission to kids under 13 (must be supervised by an adult). 3748 Minnehaha Ave Mpls, MN 55406 www.tapestryfolkdance.org Wanting to build your summer paddling, mountain biking and trail running skills? May – June Join the City of Lakes Tri-Club!

Using Minneapolis’ chain of

lakes and one-of-a-kind trail network in Theodore Wirth Park, participants will learn from expert instructors the many ways to have fun during a Minneapolis summer. Stay active and expand your recreational horizons. Club meets Wed. 5/23-6/20, 6–8pm. http://www.loppet.org/adultprogramming/loppet-tri-club/ 5th Annual Fakoly Dance & Drum Project May 23 – 27 Master drummer Fode Bangoura will be hosting his 5th Annual Fakoly Dance & Drum Project!

5 days of daily drum and dance classes taught by Master Drummers and Dancers from West Africa. @ Cowles Center for Performing Arts 528 Hennepin Ave. Mpls., MN. The workshop will culminate in a Guest Artist performance Sat. May 26 at The Heart of the Beast Theater. More info: www.duniyadrumanddance. org

Phone: 612.588.1313

May 27 at Bloomington Kennedy High School 9701 Nicollet Avenue, Bloomington. Doors open at 2pm. Show at 3pm.Tickets $12/person in advance through Wednesday, May 23 and $15/ person at door, purchase tickets at the dance studio which is located at 1213 Washington Avenue North, MplsQuestions and more info call the studio at 612-339-1128.

Loppet Tri-Club May 23 – June 20 Perfect your paddling strokes, mountain bike maneuvers and trail running skills with this five week course. Get to know the water and trails before the TriLoppet.Boats provided for the Tri Club, but must have own bike and running shoes.Club runs Wed, 6:30 – 8pm, May 23 – June 20. Cost: $50. Contact Ingrid at 612.604.5334 for more info.

Artists Who Cook 2012 and Related Events June 1 & 2 Art of Dance Studio Two days and 3 programs with presents 10th Annual Dance 9 talented Black artists create Recital ”Dance a unique fusion of art, food, Masquerade” May 27 and soulfulness. Community Tap, ballet, Afro-modern, Conversation: Why Soul Food RENTALS hip-hop and jazz dances. Restaurants Fail and Healthy Delton Manor is accepting applications for future 1, 2, & 3 Bedrm apartment openings.

You will see dancers Soul Food (free): Fri June 1, Delton Manor has 3 two-bedrm handicapped ranging in age from 3 – 56, 7pm –8:30pm at Sunnyside Deli/ accessible units located in the building. Delton girls, boys, women and Elite Catering, 1825 Glenwood Manor promotes equal housing opportunities for all perspective residents regardless of race, men. Sat. May 26 and Sun. Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55405. color, creed, sex, sexual preference, religion, Artist Talk: Points handicap, marital status, familial status, national Past and Present origin or source of income. For applications and qualifications, contact NANCY at 218-759-2523.

– The Works of Rush Riverview Townhomes AN EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY. Larry Walker Now accepting applications for our Section 8 waiting list.

Please call 320-358-3917 or email us at (free): Sat. June 2, rushriverview@metesbounds.com 11am –12:30pm City of Saint Paul Human Rights and Equal Housing Opportunity at Obsidian Arts, Equal Economic Opportunity Director 3501 Chicago Salary Range: $94,224 - $129,000 Boy Scout Program Leader Avenue South, The City of Saint Paul is seeking a visionary and inspiraBoy Scouts of America seeks coordinator to run youth program up Minneapolis, MN tional executive to lead its Department of Human Rights to 15 hours per week. Will work with African-American boys & parand Equal Economic Opportunity. Functional areas of 55407. Artists Who ents at community sites in Twin Cities. Weekly meetings are held in the department include: human rights enforcement; afternoons/evenings, activities on some weekends. Training will be Cook ($40): Sat. public bidding; capacity building and outreach; and conprovided. Compensation: $10/hour + mileage. Req: Willing to be a June 2 5pm –8pm tract monitoring, investigation and enforcement. leader and serve as a positive role model for youth; some experience at Marquette Place, working with youth ages 7-21; high school diploma with some college BA/BS degree and seven years of progressively repreferred; age 21 or older; teaching or Scouting exp. preferred but not 1314 Marquette sponsible management experience in any of the funcrequired. Must be able to drive to work sites, complete training & paAvenue, 35th floor, tional areas listed above required. Advanced degree perwork, track participants’ progress in achieving goals, keep accurate Minneapolis, MN preferred. records. Must have valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, be 55403. For more able to drive to program sites, & current automobile insurance at levels Please review the official position profile at www.stpaul. of $100,000/$300,000/$100,000. Apply: Email resume to agoke@ info 612.787.3644 gov/jobs.asp, email jobs@stpaul.gov, or call 651-266nsbsa.org, fax to 763-231-7202, or mail to Northern Star Council, Attn: obsidianarts@ 6500 for application information. Deadline: 6/26/12.

A. Goke, 5300 Glenwood Ave., Minneapolis MN 55422. For more ingmail.com. formation about Scouting, see www.northernstarbsa.org An AA/EEO Employer

Equal Opportunity & Veteran Friendly Employer

Fax: 612.588.2031

African Nights 2012, African’s in the Snow June 1 & 2 Two evenings of African inspired performance as well as refreshments, trivia, and prizes, hosted by Ms. Kenna and Auntie Beverly as the storyteller. Diverse lineup of local artists sharing their work around the theme “Africans in the Snow.” Performances by spoken word artist IBé, Voice of Culture Drum and Dance, and vocalist Paul Maybon, among others. 8pm Patrick’s Cabaret 3010 Minnehaha Ave S Mpls MN 55406 $10 general admission $15 V.I.A. advance tickets at www.voiceofculturedance.com Celebration of Bikes, Art, Games, and Community: The Northeast Ride, June 2 Creative cycling tour of Northeast Minneapolis. The ride will tour past historical landmarks like the Casket Arts Building and the Grain Belt Brewery. June 2 10am–2pm Starting and ending with registration tables, speakers, and ride info at Northeast Armory (across from Beltrami Park For more information, visit www. northeastride.org Women Vessel Ministries Fellowship: “Royal Bride” June 9 Workshops for women, door prizes, prayer, testimonies, healing, uncovering issues that women face. Light breakfast and lunch will be served. Sat. June 9, Registration 8am – 8:45am and program 9am – 3pm at 245 Ruth Suite 107 St. Paul, Mn 55119. Women of all Races and Ethnicities are encouraged to attend. White attire requested.

Suggested donation of $10.00 Limited to 40 spaces. Please RSVP BY: May 18, 2012. Please contact for more information: Maisha Barrett barrettmaisha@ gmail.com 651-815-2896 or Jennifer Lewis-Watson jenniferlewiswatson@yahoo.com 651-734-8575.

Supernatural play- June

the stage 9 and 10

Email: natalie@insightnews.com

Directed by William Johnson, Supernatural, is an enchanting and amusing stage play centered around Guardian Angels. Sat. June 9, 7:30pm and Sun June 10, 3pm at the Empowerment Center, 5801 John Martin Drive, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430. Tickets $20.00 and can be purchased at www.afterworkprogram.com or 312.488.9311.

Regina Marie Williams is Live on the Drive June 16 With Thom West on piano, Dave Karr, sax, Kevin Washington on drums and Jay Young on bass Thur. June 14., 6– 8pm.

Victory Memorial Parkway at 34th Avenue North, Minneapolis.

FREE, For more information, call 612.588.1155 or visit www. liveonthedrive.org.

MPR presents Tying the Knot: Songs for Our Fathers June 16 Emmy-winning actor T. Mychael Rambo curates and hosts an evening’s celebration of the unbreakable bonds that connect the richness of African-American culture to the vital and universal role of fathers and fatherhood in our communities. Sat. June 16 8pm at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul. Tickets $32 and MPR members receive a discount. For tickets call MPR box office at 651.290.1200.

2012 Juneteenth Festival “Building the Future” - June 16 Juneteenth celebrates the freedom of African Americans.

The festivities take place from 10am-6:30pm Sat June 16 at North Mississippi Regional Park 5114 North Mississippi Drive in Minneapolis.

Community venders, groups, and planners are invited to participate in the festival. Contact Mary Pargo at 612-238-3733 or info@ juneteenthminnesota.org 2012 Juneteenth Celebration June 16 Saturday, June 16, 10 a.m.6:30 p.m. at North Mississippi Regional Park, 5114 North

Mississippi Drive, Minneapolis.

This year’s theme is “Building the Future.” The Juneteenth Festival observes the June 19th 1865 proclamation of the abolition of slavery in Texas.

This celebrates the freedom for people of all racial backgrounds.

Schedule: 12:30pm to 1pm: Exotic Animals Petting Zoo Creative Creatures Live Animals Presents: Noah’s Ark. 1:30pm to 2:30pm: African Exhibit BiOkoto African Drumming & Dancing. 3pm to 4pm: Free Ice Cream for Kids. 4pm to 6pm Step Show and other Activities 6pmto 10pm DJ in the Park.

Autographs by Yeremiah Bell Formally of the Miami Dolphins.

4pm Gospel Celebration.

Vendor Deadline is May 31st, 2012 at 12:00 noon. Questions: 612.238.3733 or send email to info@juneteenthminnesota.org It’s the BIG FIVE for Live on the Drive! June 14, July 12, Aug 9 Celebrate by packing a picnic, bringing your family and inviting your friends to the fabulous fifth anniversary summer concerts on June 14, July 12 and Aug 9. The free concerts are held from 6 to 8pm on Victory Memorial Drive at 34th Avenue North in Minneapolis.

For further information, call 612-588-1155 or see www. clevelandneighborhood.org Dip Your Toes or Dive In to Music This Summer at Camden Music School June 25 – July 19, July 23 – August 16 Dip or dive in to Musikgarten classes for ages birth to 8, individual, team and group instrumental and vocal lessons for ages 8 and up and a great variety of ensembles for ages 5 and up – including our new bluegrass class and rock ‘n roll and movie music for strings. Registration is now.

Summer scholarship applications are due by 5pm Monday, June 18. Check out the CMS website for all your great options, www. camdenmusicschool.com, or call 612-618-0219.

insightnews.com

Insight News • May 21 - May 27, 2012 • Page 9

One year and growing Gone to Ghana

By Cordie Aziz Columnist This week marks my one year anniversary in Ghana.

I have learned so much on this journey I decided to dedicate this column to the top 10 things I have learned since moving across the Atlantic. I shall list them in descending order.

10. Being Practical Does Not Make Sense - At age 30 I learned I could do whatever I wanted to do, no matter how impractical it seemed to the outside world. Now, since I live

without the restrictions of logic the grass does seem a little greener. In fact, the mantra of my life has now become, “Eh, why not?”

9. Advantage of a United States Passport- Before living in another country, I never appreciated the restriction-free travel my American passport gave me. Then I moved to Ghana, where people line up outside of embassies for hours trying to get approved to enter into places such as the U.S. and the United Kingdom. As I watch them suffer in the African sun, I must admit, I am happy to have a passport that advances me directly to go.

8. Make Happy Yourself - This is a popular saying in Ghana, which means you have to do what makes you happy in life. Since moving, I have realized that happiness truly is

a personal thing. The only real challenge, to this, is putting your happiness first.

7. Play the Guitar - What more needs to be said? Everyone knows that playing the guitar is one of the coolest talents ever.

Yes, ever.

6. Live Without Running Water - When I moved to Accra I knew there was a water issue.

Therefore, one of my worst fears was living some place where I had to fetch water every day. Now I am proud to say that I have not had to fetch water every day, but I have had to fetch water. In the past year, I learned more about water pumps and poly tanks than any non-professional should ever know. I’ve learned to self-flush a toilet and bathe from a small rubber tub. Water conservationists would be proud of my adaptation. In fact, if life worked liked the Girl Scouts, I would definitely be receiving a badge for mastering water storage.

5.

Six Degrees of Separation; True Theory - I

moved to Accra knowing no one in my peer group. Now it seems like I know everyone in Accra. And if I take it one step further, I am amazed at how many of my friends here know people that I know in the States.

The number of connections that my past and current lives have is astounding. Sometimes it just feels like I am just in another city and not another country. I guess the old saying is true, “Birds of a feather flock together;” no matter what part of the world in which they are.

4. Lights Out Does Not Mean Lights Out - That’s right, folks, a person can still live life with no electricity, if that person has learned to play the guitar. Just remember not to open the refrigerator.

3. Respect Immigrants Becoming an immigrant has given me an entirely new respect for immigrants in the U.S. I must go on the record and say that immigrating to another country is, by far, one of the most challenging things an individual can do; especially

if he or she is financially responsible for his or her own relocation. Being a foreigner can make even the strongest person feel vulnerable and brings out a humility only seen under the most extreme pressure. It can be overwhelming learning the new cultural norms and acceptable behavior and even more challenging conforming to them all. It is definitely a challenge that only the best of the best can handle. After this experience I definitely think any individual who can go to another country and successfully restart his or her life, should be entitled to the same rights as people who are natural born citizens of that country; especially if that person is actively contributing to the economy.

2. I love the Internet -

Coming to Ghana has reaffirmed that I cannot live without the internet. In fact, I will sacrifice both running water and power for a strong and steady internet connection. I am not ashamed.

1. It Is Worth Writing a Book - That’s right, the blog, www.goneiighana.blogspot. com has done incredibly well.

So I have decided to write a full manuscript about the experience. “Gone to Ghana” will appear on a bookshelf nearby in 2013. After all, how could I not share this colorful journey with the world?

Cordie Aziz is a former congressional staffer who moved to Ghana after losing her job in January, 2011. Follow her daily adventures at www. goneiighana.blogspot.com

Page 10 • May 21 - May 27, 2012 • Insight News

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EDUCATION “The Road to Brown” documents historic decision

By Maya Beecham Contributing Writer The names are Sarah Bulah, Spottswood Boiling, Oliver Brown, Harry Briggs, Barbara

Rose Johns and Linda Brown.

From 1949 to 1951 these names represented countless African-American families, parents, and students at the heart of five separate school desegregation cases in Delaware, South Carolina,

Virginia, Kansas and the District of Columbia. They were the voices of an outcry for justice within the AfricanAmerican community. In 1952 these cases, initiated with the help of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, headed by Thurgood Marshall, were consolidated by the U.S. Supreme Court under the name Brown v. Board of Education.

On May 17, 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional, overturning the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson case, establishing the doctrine “separate but equal.” As we revisit the historic ruling of Brown v.

Board of Education during the 58th year anniversary, many are evaluating how we have

progressed since 1954.

On Fri., May 25 at 6:00 p.m., Solidarity, an advocacy committee, dedicated to promoting a progressive agenda in politics, education and culture is sponsoring Community Building Movie Night at Capri Theater, 2027 West Broadway Ave. N., Minneapolis, MN 55411. The event will feature “The Road to Brown,” a documentary profiling events leading to the Brown v. Board of Education ruling, and honoring the father of civil rights lawyering, Charles Hamilton Houston.

The free event includes admission to the film, food, community building and a panel discussion featuring Dr. Rose Brewer and Dr. John Wright from the University of

Minnesota.

“It has been kind of a boomeranging 58 years (since the ruling)”, said Wright who has a personal connection to the case. “One of my uncles was part of Thurgood Marshall’s legal team that presented the case in 1954. It’s hard to think about the case without thinking about my uncle’s role in the process.”

Wright along with Brewer and key community members will gather to inform the community of its history and its present day and future implications.

It is through events such as the coming Brown v. Board of Education event that Solidarity aims to advance the community through education.

“We, Solidarity, embrace

this as our guiding principle; in the name of our children, to make our community—local and national—a better place for all,” said Solidarity member John Abanu.

“Solidarity is comprised of volunteer social activists whose (group) mission is to revive and maintain the struggle for social justice. In the spirit of our ancestors, we are committed to creating a non-racist, nonwhite supremacist, open-ended and democratic society; one in which the human personality of everyone will be respected.”

The event is being jointly presented by the partnership of Solidarity, African-American Leadership Forum, PCYC, African American Leadership Forum, and Headwaters Foundation.

Sarah Nyamari selected outstanding nursing student Sarah Nyamari has a knack for receiving stellar student honors.

In 2009, she was selected outstanding student at Hennepin Technical College (HTC), where she was also chosen the school’s student commencement speaker. And now the Brooklyn Park woman has been selected as an outstanding student at Metropolitan State University.

Nyamari received her bachelor of science in nursing Apr. 26 at Metropolitan State’s 90th commencement ceremony.

She was chosen spring semester Outstanding Student in the university’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

“I am humbled, (to receive the award)” said Nyamari. “It’s an honor and a privilege.”

“Sarah has shared her fierce determination and positive attitude with me,” said Sandi Gerick, her Metropolitan State advisor. “She has encouraged other women to pursue educational goals they felt were unattainable and provided support and encouragement to

Sarah Nyamari them.”

Nyamari, a Kenyan native who arrived in the United States in 2000, received her associate degree in nursing from HTC. She is a member of an HTC task force

that is exploring the viability of a domestic abuse shelter catering to immigrant women.

A licensed practical nurse, Nyamari is a supervisor at Richfield Health Center. She volunteers as a women’s

Metropolitan State University

ministry leader at Faith Church International, Brooklyn Park.

Nyamari, a mother of three, is considering plans to teach nursing at HTC or pursue a master’s degree in nursing education.

insightnews.com

Insight News • May 21 - May 27, 2012 • Page 11

FULL CIRCLE

Think like a man?

Man Talk

By Timothy Houston The topic of thinking like a man was first presented in a book by Steve Harvey and more recently in a move titled with the same name. On Saturday, May 18th at the Hotel Ivy in downtown Minneapolis, Dr. Karen Flynn, assistant professor in the Department of Gender and Women’s Studies at the University of Illinois presented the keynote message questioning the topic of thinking like a man. I was asked by LnL Consulting to be on the panel for the discussion that followed the presentation, and I was excited to be a part of the powerful discussion.

In preparation for this event, I asked myself the question, what does it mean for a woman to think like a man? What are the benefits?

What are the outcomes and consequences? After my own quiet contemplation, I came to the conclusion that a woman thinking like a man is not always a good thing. Although I saw the movie and enjoyed it, I left feeling that a woman

Sony Pictures

putting the concept of thinking like a man into practice in real life would be more difficult.

Here are my top three why I question the concept.

First, in order for the concept of thinking like a man to be beneficial to a

woman, the man’s thoughts must remain static. If not, the woman will be constantly adjusting to his changes. This in time will cause her to second guess herself in her ability to think like a man. In the movie, once the men realized that the

women had inside information to how they thought, they simply changed their behavior.

For example, the character that was the mama’s boy changed his mother’s name in his phone to display “work” so it appeared that he was getting more calls from work and less calls from his mom. The other men in the movie made similar surface changes, but inwardly they were all still the same.

Because these men’s thoughts and behaviors were never consistent, the women were never able to truly distinguish truth from fiction. This is true for real life as well. A woman will never be able to baseline a man’s thoughts.

Because a man’s thoughts are not stagnant, they will always adapt and evolve depending on the situation.

“For as he thinks in his heart so is he. (Proverb 23:7 NKJV) Secondly, to think like a man means on some level the woman will have to behave like one. You cannot truly act like a lady while thinking like a man.

As she thinks more and more like a man, she will behave less and less like a woman. She will be limited to imitating the thoughts of a man without a clear understanding of where they come from. Because of this, the woman may on some level try to be the better man. A

MAN TURN TO 12

Page 12 • May 21 - May 27, 2012 • Insight News

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Target Foundation CEO Laysha Ward addressing audience at Library ribbon cutting

Minds From 5 Minds” program. Target helped create and currently supports a “school based pantry” program in 37 schools nationwide.

Branded as “Meals for Minds,” -- the program provides more readily accessible source of food assistance to lowincome families, but is open to all students at the selected elementary school. Sites are

Man From 11 man’s thinking is a byproduct of the condition of his heart, and what he thinks in his heart

in the same location of the school’s campus, have set distribution schedules and offer ongoing food assistance services.

The “Meals for Minds” programs are located in elementary schools with 65% or greater free and reduced lunch participation in order to serve families with the greatest need. At Harvest Prep, Best Academy and the new Mastery School, there will be one Meals for Minds distribution each month for each and every child

enrolled at any of the schools.

The monthly food distribution will be after the 15th of each month in order to address food insecurity as monthly SNAP benefits are depleted for families. Each child will receive approximately 25 pounds of free food at each distribution.

This equals approximately 17 meals per child. The goal is to have 25% of this food being fresh vegetables and fruits. The local food bank is responsible for delivering food at each distribution, participating in

the monthly distribution, and picking up any remaining food immediately following each event. The food distribution will be a “market style” or “client choice” distribution, with volunteers helping families as they move through the market. The distribution is open to all students enrolled at the school and their families.

The first “Meals for Minds” distribution took place on May 11, 2012 in conjunction with the opening of the schools’ new library makeover. The Meals

is what he will become. If a woman thinks like a man while remaining a lady in her heart, she will be at conflict within herself. This conflict will work against the very relationship that she was trying to improve.

Finally, the concept of a woman thinking like a man

will limit the relationship to the intellectual level. This will cause the relationship to appear more like a chess match where the man and woman will try to out maneuver each other.

Real relationships require the man and woman to be their authentic true selves

with no games or pretences.

The movie did a good job of bringing this out in the end. All the characters in the movie came to the realization that only open honest communication can bring about a healthy relationship. Healthy relationships will never be

Photos courtesy of Target Foundation

The new library for Minds program has the full support of Harvest Prep, Best Academy and the new Mastery School founders Eric Mahmoud and Dr. Ella Mahmoud.

For families interested in enrolling their students at Harvest Prep (K-6 co-ed), Best Academy (K-8 gender

separate) or the new Mastery School (K-2), call right away as enrollment is filling-up fast.

Contact Ms. Gaynell Ray, Enrollment Coordinator at 612-381-9743 ext. 2201; or, send an e-mail to gray@ themasteryschool.org.

based on how a man thinks, but who he truly is. And who he is a based on the condition of his heart. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

Timothy Houston is an author, minister, and motivational speaker who is committed to guiding positive life changes in families and communities.

For questions, comments or more information, go to www. tlhouston.com.

insightnews.com

Insight News • May 21 - May 27, 2012 • Page 13

Wells Fargo names Yvette Hollingsworth CCO

Yvette Hollingsworth

Courtesy of Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) has named Yvette Hollingsworth chief compliance officer. Hollingsworth, who most recently served as managing director and global head of Operations Compliance and Financial Crimes Compliance & Risk Management for Barclays Corporate & Investment Bank, will begin her new role on June 1, 2012. She succeeds Tim Marrinan, who announced his retirement late last year.

Hollingsworth will be based in San Francisco, California and will report to Caryl Athanasiu, executive vice president and chief operational risk officer in the Corporate Risk group.

“We are delighted to

welcome Yvette to our Corporate Risk team at Wells Fargo,” said Mike Loughlin, chief risk officer and head of Corporate Risk. “Given the intensity of the current regulatory environment, it’s absolutely critical that we maintain a strong compliance team, and Yvette has demonstrated that she has the values, depth of knowledge and experience to effectively lead regulatory compliance for our company.”

As chief compliance officer, Hollingsworth will be responsible for ensuring that all areas of the company meet compliance management responsibilities and abide by all applicable laws and regulations. Her team will

continue to provide independent oversight of business-based compliance management activities.

Hollingsworth has extensive experience in compliance and risk management, having spent approximately 10 years as a regulator with the Federal Reserve System with roles at the Federal Reserve Banks of San Francisco and New York as well as the Board of Governors. Her industry experience includes a variety of senior compliance/ anti-money laundering (AML) roles for financial institutions including Barclays Corporate & Investment Bank and Citigroup, where she served as managing director and regional

head of AML Compliance for the Markets & Banking North American division.

Hollingsworth previously served on the Supervisory Committee of the Federal Reserve Credit Union, as vice president of Administration and Operations and as a member of the Board of the New York Chapter of the National Black MBA Association, and currently serves as a Board member and Vice Chairman of INROADS New York/New Jersey Region.

She earned an M.B.A. from Syracuse University and a bachelor of science degree from the State University of New York Institute of Technology.

General Mills named one of 25 “Best Companies for Multicultural Women” Working Mother has selected General Mills as one of 25 “Best Companies for Multicultural Women” in the U.S. for its ability to hire, retain and advance multicultural women.

“We’re proud of Working Mother’s consistent support of our long-standing commitment to creating an inclusive workplace for all employees,” said Ken Charles, vice president of Global Diversity and Inclusion for General Mills.

“We’ve worked hard to build a culture that is performance

driven, yet inclusive and supportive. We believe that our success at maintaining an engaged and diverse workforce directly impacts our ability to compete globally.”

This year marks General Mills’ ninth consecutive year on the list, and the company received special recognition by ranking among the Top 10 “Best Companies” with companies such as American Express, Deloitte, The New York Times Company and Procter & Gamble, among

others. The full list appears in the June/July issue of Working Mother magazine and online at www.workingmother.com.

“The Best Companies for Multicultural Women value the power of a diverse workforce and work hard to make sure their pipelines are filled with talented women of color,” said Jennifer Owens, director of the Working Mother Research Institute.

“Even beyond mentoring and networking programs, these companies are reaching out to professional

and school groups and sponsoring recruitment events to attract the best multicultural female talent.”

An article in this month’s Working Mother Magazine on networking features Kim Nelson, senior vice president of External Relations and president of the General Mills Foundation. In the article, Nelson explains how she realized the importance of networking several years into her career at General Mills.

Nelson is also featured in a

video discussing this award and her personal experience as a multicultural mom on General Mills’ corporate blog, A Taste of General Mills.

The Working Mother Best Companies for Multicultural Women were selected based on their answers to 391 questions on representation, hiring, attrition and promotion rates, recruitment, retention and advancement programs, and company culture. The Working Mother Research Institute created a scoring algorithm

based on the previous year’s benchmark results to determine the winners.

Golden Valley based General Mills is one of the world’s leading food companies, operating in more than 100 countries. Its consumer brands include Cheerios, Häagen-Dazs, Nature Valley, Yoplait, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Green Giant, Progresso and Old El Paso.

Egypt

The women were charged and energized. Everyone was. This was the day where all the political factions came for one thing; to reject the military mishandling of the country affairs. Abdelrahman and Jihan walked through the square and visited the same places where they were taken away, beaten and abused. This was the first time they came back and talk about the incident.

“This is the tree that I was hiding under when they attacked us,” Abdelrahman said. “I have a vey a great affinity to this tree, it saved my life.”

We walked to the Egyptian

Museum, passing all the Salfay tents and banners spreading all over Tahrir. Abdelrahman was very talkative that night, meeting and greeting everyone there.

Then she suddenly stopped by the Egyptian Museum fence.

“Here is where we were dragged and tied to that fence,” Abdelrahman said as she reenacted the way she was tied to

the fence, standing spreading her arms, her back against the fence as if she were crucified.

Jihan who was a little quite, pointed at a spot inside the museum and said, “There is where the officer screamed at me and said, ‘On your mom soul, you are my toy tonight.’”

I finally asked both of the women how this virginity test

ordeal had affected their lives.

“March ninth, 2011; this day was a great honor, and to me it was the first day of the Egyptian revolution,” Abdelrahman said in a very deep, serious voice.

Jihan looked at me with her deep dark eyes, smiled and said nothing. Her look still haunts me.

This was their stories, the stories of two amazing young Egyptian

women who exposed the Egyptian military – the Egyptian military that lost its virginity on Mar. 9, 2011.

From 6 played a major role in revolution, starting a long time ago, in the 1919 revolution, and Hoda Sharawi with her women rights movement that started in Egypt in the (19)30s.”

I asked the two women if we could meet again at Tahrir Square.

There was another Molyonia (One Million Man March) coming the next Friday. We met there at the famous Kentucky restaurant in Tahrir Square, at about 10:30 p.m.

Ahmed Tharwat is a Freelance writer with Foreign Press Fixer, and host of BelAhdan. The show airs on public access cable Saturdays at 10:30 p.m. or on www.ahmediatv.com.

Page 14 • May 21 - May 27, 2012 • Insight News

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BUSINESS

Dear graduate: You have found your way Plan Your Career

By Julie Desmond julie@insightnews.com Dear Graduate, Congratulations.

You have found ways to get up every morning and show up in a classroom or online; you have talked to people, listened, followed instructions, met requirements, overcome obstacles, learned a few things and crossed the finish line.

Graduating, whether from grade school, high school, college or medical school, is an accomplishment no one can take away from you. It sets you apart from all those who never got there. You are a graduate.

You have much to be proud of.

You do have much to be proud of. And, as a graduate, you have more to be responsible for than you did as a student.

Now that you’ve finished your race, take a look behind you at

the other runners on the track.

Who is struggling? Who has fallen? Who is hurt? Did you know that every 26 seconds, someone drops out of high school? You know it’s true because you know what it took to get where you are. You know it was not always easy.

What can you do to help one person who might see their 26 seconds coming up, someone who thinks it might be easier to quit than to keep moving forward toward graduation?

What would you say to someone who asks, “Is it even worth it?”

It was worth it to you, wasn’t it?

For whatever reason, you decided to keep trying, to keep showing up.

Maybe you thought about crossing the stage to get your diploma. Maybe you saw a better job opportunity ahead if you just got that piece of paper in your hands. Maybe you did it to prove that you could, to your parents, to your pals or to yourself. Now it is time to share that motivation with someone following in your footsteps. Now is the time to find someone who could use a little encouragement and give

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them some of yours. Now that you’ve experienced success, it’s your turn to look back and tell someone else, you can, too.

You are exceptional.

You have found your way through the maze that is school and come out shining on the other end.

You have reached a goal.

You have worked hard, persevered and found success. It won’t be the last time you prove your worth to the world. But it is a moment to celebrate.

And when the party is over, when the celebrating subsides, as you head toward other goals, take a minute to reach back and bring someone else along with you, because you can, and because you should.

Congratulations!

Julie Desmond is Talent Manager at Express Employment Professionals and Lake Region Staffing. Write to Julie@ lakeregionstaffing.com.

PhotoXpress

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Insight News • May 21 - May 27, 2012 • Page 15

Page 16 • May 21 - May 27, 2012 • Insight News

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