Insight News ::: 09.14.15

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Insight News September 14 - September 20, 2015

Vol. 42 No. 37 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

Nguzo Saba Murals

The WE WIN Griot Festival Mural Project

Students of WE WIN Institute created several Nguzo Saba murals during the recent Griot Invasion at Bethune Park.

The Nguzo Saba are the seven principles of Kwanzaa – umoja, which means unity, kujichagulia, which means self-determination, ujima, which means collective work and responsibility, ujamaa, which cooperative economics, nia, which means purpose, kuumba, which means creativity, and imani, which means faith.

Marilyn Lindstrom worked with youth

throughout the summer to create the seven murals. Lindstrom has directed and created hundreds of community created public works of art since 1971. She founded Wall Painting Artist, which was a community mural painting group with other local Minnesota muralists including Ta-Coumba Aiken.

Lindstrom said painting on walls can be traced to the beginning of known human history.

GRIOT TURN TO 7

Spanish police arrest notorious ‘blood diamond’ trafficker (GIN) – A U.S.-based businessman whose dealings in ‘blood diamonds’ replicated scenes from the 2006 movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio was pulled him off an aircraft by police in Malaga, Spain. He was said to have a ticket for New York.

The arrest was based on a complaint filed against Michel Desaedeleer in 2001 by five former diamond mine slaves.

“This is the very first time that a businessman has been arrested for his alleged involvement in the international crimes of both pillage of blood diamonds and enslavement of civilians,” said Civitas Maxima, a Genevabased organization that helped build a case against Desaedeleer.

Robert L. Johnson

BET founder pushes Black hiring, launches new network

By Stacy M. Brown Special to the NNPA from The Washington Informer

DIAMONDS TURN TO 2

Demonizing ‘Black Lives Matter’ Black Press of America

In an attempt to shift the emphasis from the unjustified police killing of unarmed African Americans, conservatives are raising the issue of so-called Blackon-Black crime

By George E. Curry NNPA Editor-in-Chief Led by Fox News, conservatives are trying to discredit the #Black Lives Matter Movement by claiming incorrectly that it is a Black hate group that encourages the killing of police officers.

On the Aug. 31 edition of Fox & Friends, Elizabeth Hasselbeck asked, “Why has the Black Lives Movement – Black Lives Matter Movement – not been classified yet as a hate group? I mean, how much

more has to go in this direction before someone actually labels it as such?”

Conservative pundit Katie Pavlich, without a thread of evidence, told Fox’s Megyn

Kelly on Sept. 2 that Black Lives Matter is “a movement that promotes the execution of police officers.”

At a news conference on Aug. 30, the Harris County

Sheriff Ron Hickman acknowledged that no motive had been established for the previous day’s fatal shooting of Deputy Sheriff Darren H. Goforth outside of Houston.

But that did not prevent him from linking the brutal cop murder to the grassroots group dedicated to curtailing violence.

He said, “This rhetoric has gotten out of control.” So much so, he said, “to the point where calculated, cold-blooded assassination of police officers happen.” Hickman added, “We’ve heard Black lives matter, all lives matter. Well, cops’ lives matter, too. So, how about we drop the qualifier and just say lives matter?”

Of course, there is not a

LIVES TURN TO 2

Robert L. Johnson keeps tabs on BET because, well, he cofounded the network and, he said, it’s like a grandparent making sure the young ones are OK.

The network, like so many other business ventures that the distinguished entrepreneur has owned and operated, continues to do well and remains a beacon in the Black community.

A symbol of leadership and an innovator, Johnson has a legacy that could ultimately be defined by what

BET TURN TO 5

Minnesota gets U.S. Department of Education grant for Excellent Educators for All initiative WASHINGTON, D.C. – As part of its Excellent Educators for All initiative – designed to ensure that all students have equal access to a highquality education – the U.S. Department of Education announced the approval of 16 states’ plans, including Minnesota’s, to ensure equitable access to excellent educators.

The states approved for the federal program are Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maine, Missouri, Minnesota, New

York, Nevada, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Wisconsin.

“All parents understand that strong teaching is fundamental to strong opportunities for their children. We as a country should treat that opportunity as a right that every family has— regardless of race, ethnicity or national origin, zip code, wealth, or first language,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.

“Few issues in education are more important than

EDUCATION TURN TO 7

Business

Commentary

Education

Community

Simple things you can do to advance your career

How low will the GOP go?

Americans spending more out-of-pocket for college

Families are going home

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Hayden, Anderson awarded for creation of Healthy Eating, Here at Home initiative Sen. Jeff Hayden (DFL-62) and Rep. Sarah Anderson (R-44A), who championed legislation to promote healthy, local eating among low-income families and seniors were recognized at the Minneapolis Farmers Market by a coalition of hunger advocacy organizations.

The Healthy Eating, Here at Home law, signed by Gov. Mark Dayton, will provide $325,000 a year in matching funds to farmers markets statewide that accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) dollars from participants

using an EBT card for healthy purchases. The funds will be in the form of a $10 matching voucher and will be available next summer.

Hayden and Anderson led the effort with bipartisan support in the Minnesota House and Senate.

“Expanding SNAP benefits at farmers markets will grant those least able to afford healthy options access to affordable, locally grown produce—an option all Minnesotans deserve,” said Hayden. “I know firsthand how beneficial these new dollars

Lives From 1 scintilla of evidence that the Black Lives Matter Movement has at any point remotely supported the killing of law enforcement officers. Rather, they have highlighted the troubling number of unarmed African Americans killed by police officers. And for that, they should be commended, not condemned.

After studying FBI data, USAToday found, “Nearly two times a week in the United States, a white police officer killed a black person during a seven-year period ending in 2012…The reports show that 18% of the blacks killed during those seven years were under age 21, compared to 8.7% of

Diamonds From 1 According to media accounts, Desaedeleer collaborated with rebel leader Foday Sankoh who gave him a monopoly on all gold and diamond mining in the rebelcontrolled areas of Sierra

table. Minnesota grown foods that help kids grow up to be healthy and strong so they do well in school. It’s a great day for the health of our state.”

Rabbi Harold Kravitz, former president of MAZON, a Jewish-based response to hunger, praised the legislators for their efforts.

“Rep. Anderson and Sen. Hayden were diligent in their efforts to make this a reality.

We cannot thank them enough for their commitment to helping address hunger in this meaningful way,” said Kravitz.

The Healthy Eating, Here at Home initiative is modeled after a 2014 Blue Cross Blue Shield pilot program that demonstrated increased access and consumption of fruits and vegetables when SNAP participants were given the resources to participate.

Minnesota Partners to End Hunger is a is a statewide network of service providers and advocates working to end hunger in Minnesota by motivating decision-makers to take supportive action on state and national hunger policy issues.

Sen. Jeff Hayden (DFL-62)

Rep. Sarah Anderson (R-44A)

will be and applaud increasing fresh food options for SNAP families.”

“Every mom wants the

best food for their kids,” said Anderson.

“This legislation will give families another tool to put healthy foods on the supper

whites.”

Despite the highlypublicized killing of police officers in Texas and Illinois, the number of law enforcement officers killed over the first eight months of 2015 is 16 percent lower than it was over a similar period in 2014,according to FBI figures compiled by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

So far, 26 officers have been killed this year by firearms, down from 31 over a similar period last year. More officers – 38 – died this year in traffic-related incidents than by gunfire and another 21 died from other causes.

Felony killings of law enforcement officers decreased by 50 percent from 1992 to 2013, from 10,000 to 5,000 annually.

In an attempt to shift the emphasis from the unjustified police killing of unarmed African Americans, conservatives are raising the issue of so-called Black-onBlack crime – as if that’s an issue that truly concerns them.

Fox reporter Doug McKelway said on Sept. 1, “The often heard mantra that ‘Black Lives Matter,’ some say, falls flat when you consider just how many Blacks are killing other Blacks. That remains the majority of homicides across the country.”

Larry Elder, a Black conservative, made the same point, the same day on the same network: “This is about people whining and bitching and moaning about nonsense.

If they really want to talk about Black Lives Matter, the fact is that last year 6,000

Black people murdered other Black people. Where are they on that? And the number one preventable cause of death for young black men is homicide at the hands of other Black men.”

If Elder and McKelway wanted to be accurate, they would have pointed out that just as most Blacks kill other Blacks, most Whites kill other Whites. Yet, there is no mention of White-on-White crime.

According to 2013 figures compiled by the FBI, of the 3,005 White homicide victims, 2,509 – 83 percent – were killed

by Whites. Of the 2,491 Black homicides that year, 2,245 – 90 percent – were committed by Black assailants.

It’s not just a matter of Blacks killing other Blacks and Whites killing other Whites –

most homicides are committed by people who know their victim. The assailant is usually an acquaintance, spouse, or other family member.

In its annual report on Black homicides, issued in January, the Washingtonbased Violence Policy Center found that in cases where the relationship between the killer and victim was known, 70 percent of the victims were killed by someone they knew; only 30 percent were killed by strangers.

Furthermore, 52 percent of the homicides involved an argument between the victim and the offender.

In an editorial, the New York Times accused “the Republican Party and its acolytes in the news media” of trying to demonize the Black Lives Matter Movement.

It said, “They [Black Lives Matter] are not asserting that black lives are more precious than white lives. They are underlining an indisputable fact – that the lives of black citizens in this country historically have not mattered, and have been discounted and devalued.”

Leone. With his offshore company BECA, Desaedeleer forced enslaved civilians to mine for diamonds in Sierra Leone’s eastern district of Kono between 1999 and 2001.

Later, he is alleged to have tried to sell the territory back to Sierra Leone for $10 million.

The diamond trade, according to U.N. estimates, was valued at between $25

and $125 million each year, most of which was spent on weapons and war materiel.

According to Civitas Maxima, working with the Center for Accountability and Rule of Law in Freetown, preparing the case against Desaedeleer took several years.

Desaedeleer’s name was mentioned in a United

Nations report in 2000. He denies any wrongdoing, telling Newsweek magazine in 2000 that he had a legitimate contract for exclusive mining and development of diamonds in areas of Sierra Leone controlled by the Revolutionary United Front and saying all his actions were above board.

“This is a landmark case,

the first of its kind, and it will help to raise awareness of the pivotal role played by financial actors in the trade of mineral resources that fuel armed conflicts’ in Africa and elsewhere,” said Civitas Maxima director Alain Werner.

Unregulated mining came up again this week when torrential rains over the past weekend submerged

several bridges and highways, stranding thousands of traders.

Significantly, the bridge linking the eastern Kenema district to the capital is out of service. Local traditional leader says many villages in the surrounding area may also have been submerged. Seventy houses have been washed away, according to Umaru Fofana, a local reporter.

George E. Curry, former editorin-chief of Emerge magazine, is editor-in-chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service (NNPA) and BlackPressUSA. com. He is a keynote speaker, moderator, and media coach.

Curry can be reached through his Web site, www.georgecurry.com.

You can also follow him at www. twitter.com/currygeorgeand George E. Curry Fan Page on Facebook. See previous columns at http://www.georgecurry.com/ columns.

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Insight News • September 14 - September 20, 2015 • Page 3

BUSINESS Simple things you can do to advance your career

By Rashida Maples, Esq. Special to the NNPA from The Chicago Defender Complacency in the workforce should be avoided at all costs.

Though some employees tend to settle into a work routine that is predictable and on cruise control, those who set short term and long term goals know that advancement in their career has to be thought out, planned and properly implemented to make it to the next level.

If we are going to spend so much time seeking work, at work, doing work and/or thinking about work, we should strive to make this whole employment thing beneficial for us via positive matriculation through the ranks with our employers, and also obtaining and maintaining clients and wealth as entrepreneurs as well.

If you are seeking to further

rate is for people with your experience and background.

Understanding where you are in your career, and how other employers view you as a contribution to their company may give you insight into how/if you need to make any adjustments.

your career, no matter what stage you are in, here are seven tips to implement into your everyday work life to do so: 1. Sit with your vision and make a plan If you are seeking to make a return to the workforce, coveting the corner office along with a promotion and a raise, or even thinking about making a move to another company or a different industry from which you are currently working in, writing down your vision and making a plan will kick start the road to achieving your goals.

You can’t keep your dreams bottled up without acting on them, therefore you should write them down and get to moving.

2. Network I prefer networking in an organic fashion. Meeting people at a barbecue, wedding, conference and just letting the conversation flow until we realize we may be

an asset to and for one another and acting on that has worked wonders for me. Even if you prefer the standard networking tactics of attending receptions and conferences, with the strict goal of networking with potential clients and employers, this angle continues to serve

as a great way to broaden your network for future work related considerations.

3. Know your worth Even if you are not looking to make a move, continue to apply for new positions and interview so you know what the going

4. Volunteer If your employer, client or local not-for-profit organization is seeking assistance, offer it. As long as you are not overextending yourself, or spreading yourself far too thin, putting your name out there will allow others to see what you have to offer and may open doors you never knew existed.

5. Revisit your education This includes going to back to school to finish your undergrad degree, taking a few courses at your community college, or taking continuing education course in your particular field.

As long as you can make

yourself more marketable by acquiring new skill sets and knowledge, then by all means, do so !

6. Get a mentor or coach There is nothing like listening to wisdom. This holds true in the workforce as well. Some ropes you should skip, and some ropes you should know in order to be both effective and efficient in matriculating through your career. Having access to someone who has been in your shoes and can help guide you to the next phase will work wonders for goals.

7. Ask If you want more responsibilities on your job, then just ask for it.

Proving to your boss that you can effectively handle new jobs and responsibilities in the workplace will definitely set you on a path to more recognition and eventually more opportunities.

Ten solutions to a board who won’t fundraise FUNdraising Good Times

By Mel and Pearl Shaw What do you do if your board doesn’t have the connections, experience or willingness to be involved in fundraising? How will your nonprofit secure the money and resources it needs to deliver on its mission?

We encourage boardled fundraising. We believe that when board members

are actively involved in fundraising the nonprofit organization or institution will be more successful. Boardled fundraising includes active involvement in determining fundraising goals; identifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding donors; making a gift of their own; and engaging others in giving and fundraising.

But what if your board is reluctant to fundraise or simply refuses to “give and get?”

There are many reasons for this response. Members may not have been recruited to fundraise.

They may be engaged in campaigns for other nonprofits.

They may not know how to provide guidance and direction

as it relates to fundraising.

If you find yourself in this position here are 10 things you can do as a nonprofit executive: 1.

Appeal to your board to increase their participation in fundraising in spite of original board responsibilities which might not include fundraising 2.

Visit each board member individually to learn more about the “hidden gems” – those ways an individual board member could be of service, or the reasons for reluctance to fundraise 3.

Take your board on “field trips” to observe other nonprofit boards in action 4.

Ask board members to recruit someone they know –

who has experience fundraising – to work with each as a partner. Working in teams with colleagues from outside the board can build capacity and expertise.

5.

Develop an alternative fundraising group such as a development taskforce, advisory council, special development committee of the board, or friends committee. These are people who can open doors, solicit, and provide guidance and strategy. They should be recruited with an explicit request to assist with fundraising.

6.

Hire a consultant to work with the board to help increase their knowledge of fundraising responsibilities

and ability to participate in fundraising 7.

Assume more responsibility for fundraising.

You and your staff will have to be more active and proactive.

8.

Scale your fundraising needs/goals to meet the capacity of board members and staff.

9.

Work with board members to determine which fundraising projects they could take the lead on. This can help build experience and confidence and hopefully increase their appetite for more involvement.

Don’t involve board members in a big project they don’t have the capacity or experience to achieve.

10. Keep the board

informed on a consistent basis regarding the status of fundraising, funds received, prospective donors identified, potential shortfalls or surpluses and the implications.

We live in an imperfect world. Work with your board, recognize their strengths and offset their challenges.

Copyright 2015– Mel and Pearl Shaw Mel and Pearl Shaw position nonprofits, colleges and universities for fundraising success. For help with your fundraising visit www. saadandshaw.com or call (901) 522-8727.

Page 4 • September 14 - September 20, 2015 • Insight News

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Transforming the law school classroom into the training ground for social justice advocacy Women Leading Change

By Dr. Artika Tyner “Schools are the garden for leadership -- the places where seeds are planted and first green shoots spotted, tended, and encouraged.”

John Adair, “How to Grow Leaders: The Seven Key Principles of Effective Leadership Development” As the new school year approaches, parents are filling backpacks, college students are buying textbooks, and teachers are finishing their final lesson plans.

In the haste of preparing for back to school, a time for reflection is often missed. This leaves questions unanswered such as, what is the purpose of education?

What skills will students develop in the classroom? What is in the hands of students to make a difference in the world?

Back to school time is also a critical time to pause and reflect

on the transformative power of the educational experience.

The classroom should become a training ground for leadership development and social justice advocacy. Educators are uniquely positioned to prepare and equip the next generation of leaders. The leadership profile of Professor Nekima Levy-Pounds, University of St. Thomas, featured in my book, “The Lawyer as Leader: How to Plant People and Grow Justice,” provides inspiration for educators to pick up the mantle of leadership. Levy-Pounds empowers each student that she comes in contact with to lead. She sees the leadership potential in her students and aids them in unveiling this gift. This is evidenced in her teaching. As a passionate educator, she is committed to empowering the next generation of law students to serve and lead in their communities. She begins by sharing her personal experiences related to what drew her to the practice of law. Her story begins with her childhood as she recalls the challenges experienced by her community at the intersections of race and poverty. Her passion for justice was ignited during her early childhood experiences growing up in South Central Los Angeles.

Nekima Levy-Pounds She witnessed firsthand the ills of oppression, disenfranchisement and marginalization from society experienced by communities of color.

“When you grow up in that type of environment . . . it plays a role in your outlook/perspective and at least for me my desire to change things when it comes to people experiencing oppression,” said Levy-Pounds.

This desire to change society led Levy-Pounds to create a clinical program, the Community Justice Project (CJP), with an explicit focus on serving in marginalized

populations and working in partnership with the community to facilitate the process of social change.

Since the inception of the CJP in 2007, Levy-Pounds has become a leader in Minnesota’s civil rights community.

Currently, she serves as the president of the Minneapolis NAACP and host of “Real Talk.” She and her students work closely with several key partners, such as the St. Paul branch of the NAACP and the Aurora/St. Anthony Neighborhood Development

Corporation, to further social change. With these key partners, Levy-Pounds works diligently to dismantle systems of oppression that keep poor communities of color disenfranchised. She believes lawyers have a moral responsibility to engage in this process of eliminating oppression and transforming these systems.

“I want to see the world transformed into an oasis of fairness and justice and that can only come by knowing the power and the privilege and responsibility that I have and being willing to use it,” said the professor, lawyer and activist.

This is a call to action. On a daily basis, Levy-Pounds works to build this oasis in partnership with community members, social justice organizations, and the future generation of lawyers, her law students. She seeks to raise the social consciousness of many as she challenges anyone who is willing to listen to become a leader who seeks justice for all. She reaches this goal by providing a critical analysis of the social conditions that disenfranchise and marginalize poor communities of color.

After empowering others to

lead, she seeks to compel them to action. She often quotes the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s prophetic plea to take action due to the “fierce urgency of now.”

We are now faced with the fact, my friends, that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there is such a thing as being too late. Procrastination is still the thief of time. Life often leaves us standing bare, naked, and dejected with a lost opportunity. The tide in the affairs of men does not remain at flood ... it ebbs. We may cry out desperately for time to pause in her passage, but time is adamant to every plea and rushes on.

Over the bleached bones and jumbled residues of numerous civilizations are written the pathetic words, “too late.” There is an invisible book of life that faithfully records our vigilance or our neglect.

Through this call to action, she has compelled many to take a stand by leading within their sphere of influence. She has motivated many to move from the sidelines to the forefront of a racial justice movement.

everything we grapple with; Black on Black violence, police corruption, the combination of both, as well as what Twin Cities must not become.

Critiques of Black Lives Matter, ask the question, “Where is the outrage” of what I call Black on Black Siblicide (the killing of our brothers and sisters). This question presumes that the only action we take as parents, elders, communities, is in regards to unarmed Blacks being shot by police.

In response to the call for outrage we are many in the trenches, aggressively shouting for peace in city streets. But why are you asking? Are you seeking factual information,

or simply offering rebuttal, in order to marginalize the Black Lives Matter movement?

This was about the fourth street fight I broke up this year.

But I’m no lone ranger. There are countless others working for peace in many ways. There are multitudes of peace warriors who contribute generously and effectively in their own way, as it is revealed to them. These are too numerous to itemize.

So when asking about outrage, you are calling us out. But FYI, we accepted this challenge, long before the question was asked. So now, pick a peace team and join us in whatever way inspires you.

Raging peace is a team sport.

Straight Outta Compton At-Large

By Melvin Carter, II So, there we were, Sept. 1, Tuesday afternoon.

Toni and I, westbound on University Avenue, minding our own business, approaching Dale Street, in route to see the movie “Straight Outta Compton.” A bunch of commotion up ahead set my spider senses tingling. Alert.

Take emergency evasive measures. Turn off University.

But no.

Against my better judgment, my car proceeded due west.

As we approached, on the sidewalk just ahead, a group of teens attacking another came into view. While stopped for the red light, the fight rolled out into the street directly behind my car. Up to this point, the lone victim had been holding his own. But now he was on the ground getting punched and kicked. Toni and I watched as my hand slid the gear into park. I exited my vehicle and ran back, like I was gonna do somethin’ ‘til I suddenly realized I ain’t got no business intervening in nothin’. My feet

came to a screeching halt in the nick of time, remaining just out of reach, I repeatedly yelled.

“No, no! Stop it!” Others in surrounding vehicles joined in, yelling through car windows and honking. Two ladies behind us also exited their car yelling.

The attackers glanced up, distracted and surprised to see us in their face. For a moment they seemed embarrassed, let go, backed off and fled on foot.

A female bystander captured this on video.

I hopped back in my car.

The light turned green. Toni said, “Good job.” My gear slid into drive. We rolled alongside the fleeing assailants as they veered the corner, looking to see if anyone was following,

holding up their falling pants.

Toni, observing our eye contact asked, “Do you know them?”

Well that depends on what you mean, now doesn’t it?

Anyhow, this happening on the way to see “Straight Outta Compton” has to have some kind of meaning, doesn’t it?

Initially, I had no intention of seeing it. I remember NWA and “Boyz in the Hood.” Dope slinging, and Black on Black violence depresses my spirit, causing me PTSD and personal flashbacks. Besides, if we are made in His image, ain’t the N-word blaspheme? Makes me shudder, cringe, and sometimes duck, whenever I hear it.

The street fight and movie brought me face to face with

Aunt Jemima found after nearly 100 years

By Erick Johnson Special to the NNPA from The Chicago Crusader Far from the elaborate crypts at Chicago’s prominent Oak Woods Cemetery, the original Aunt Jemima lies in an unmarked grave in an area that’s more fit for the forgotten Her name was Nancy Green.

Away from the elaborate tombs and ornate grave markers bearing the prominent names of national celebrities, Chicago’s upper class and Black elite, she has been buried for nearly 100 years somewhere in Oak Woods Cemetery in Woodlawn.

But for decades, no one knew where her grave was located.

She never had a marker or headstone. She was born a slave, but rose to become a fascinating

Photo by Erick Johnson

The remains of Nancy Green, the original Aunt Jemima, lie in section R3 a less attractive area in Oakland Cemetery that’s also one of the oldest portion in the burial ground.

Nancy Green would inspire an original image of Aunt Jemima on Pancake mix products.

American success story. During her illustrious life, she was the original Aunt Jemima, whose face was on the label of millions of syrup bottles in American kitchens and supermarkets.

In life, Green had fame and fortune. But in death, she lies in obscurity. While the exquisite crypts and graves of Chicago’s first Black mayor Harold Washington; Ebony magazine publisher John H. Johnson; and Olympian Jesse Owens attract thousands of visitors, Green would remain six feet under for decades in an area more fitting for the forgotten.

Amid the remains of politicians, business moguls, sports legends, and journalists, lie a woman whose legacy may suffer from a career portraying a “mammy” archetype that many today view as demeaning to Black women.

But in her time, Green parlayed her talents to sell a product to millions of Americans

at a time when opportunities were few for people of color. With her success, Green is considered an important figure in Black history.

Though without a marker, Green’s significant impact on American culture, Chicago’s rich Black history and efforts to desegregate Oak Woods Cemetery during the Jim Crow era, would fade long after the Great Depression, World War II and the Civil Rights Movement have ended. Her mysterious and humble burial would earn her fame in death that would rival the fame and reputation she gained in life.

Longtime Chicago resident Sherrie Williams said she had been searching for Green’s grave for 15 years. Fascinated by Green’s life, Williams poured through records, documents and researched dozens of addresses to find Green’s remains. Her searches would turn up empty. On the popular website Find A Grave, Green has a page, but there is no picture of a marker or grave containing her remains.

A search through the Chicago History Museum also turned up empty. “I was getting nowhere,” she said. “It was so frustrating and discouraging, but I kept searching.”

FINALLY FOUND But the 93-year-old mystery began to unfold this spring when Williams, who is also president of the Bronzeville Historical Society, discovered an old obituary in the Chicago Defender that listed Green’s death as September 8, 1923.

When Williams called Oak Woods’s front office with the date listed in the Defender, her years of frustrations finally ended.

Green’s grave was finally found after 93 years. “I was speechless.

I immediately drove to the cemetery to see her,” Williams told the Chicago Crusader. “I was so glad I found her.”

Green is buried in section R3, Lot 291 in one of the oldest sections of Oak Woods Cemetery.

Located in the northeastern corner of the 183-acre burial ground, there are no neoclassical crypts or

JEMIMA TURN TO 5

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Jemima From 4 towering obelisks here. Most of the graves have flat headstones, many of which have been eclipsed by grass or covered with dead leaves.

Unlike Oak Woods’s serene lakes and lush English landscaping, Section R3 is close to the cemetery’s six-foot brick wall that runs along busy 67th Street and an elevated train track.

The rumbling sounds of the trains and the humming sounds of car engines make Section R3 a noisy area that’s far from the tranquil, park settings of Oak Woods Cemetery.

To Williams, the unkept area was an insult when she arrived to find Green’s gravesite. Her disappointment grew when she couldn’t find the exact location of Green’s grave.

“It’s as if she was thrown away or forgotten. When I was there at the cemetery, I wanted to

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Insight News • September 14 - September 20, 2015 • Page 5 tell her [sic] she wasn’t forgotten,” Williams said.

Upon the discovery, Williams began a campaign to secure a marker for Green’s grave. On Saturday, May 9, she gave a presentation on Green’s life and her burial during a Black Chicago history forum in Bronzeville.

Buried in 1923, Green is perhaps the first prominent Black who was interred at Oak Woods, which was then a segregated cemetery that did not sell plots to Blacks. Another famous Black pioneer, journalist and activist Ida B. Wells-Barnett, was interred at Oak Woods in 1931.

CHALLENGES AHEAD In keeping with the cemetery’s rules for Section R3, Williams’ organization plans to purchase a flat headstone for $1,600 to honor Green. Williams could secure a larger memorial that would be more fitting to Green’s legacy, but to do that would be costly.

Green would have to be exhumed and re-interred in a section that would allow elaborate markers and crypts.

Although Oak Woods tried to keep Blacks out in its early years, Blacks in the 1920s and 30s would secure plots through White families and friends, a practice that reportedly helped WellsBarnett secure her final resting place at Oak Woods. But for the most part, clandestine business practices kept Blacks from being buried at Oak Woods.

In the 1960s, Leak and Sons

BET From 1 he’s accomplished to level the playing field for AfricanAmericans and other minorities in corporate America.

His RLJ Rule has grabbed the attention of some executives at Fortune 500 companies after already being endorsed by

Over the years, Aunt Jemima’s face has been altered to reflect changing attitudes toward Black stereotypes.

Funeral Home and the NAACP led a march to desegregate Oak Woods after the cemetery rejected the remains of a Black girl. Along with Graceland and Rosehill cemeteries, Oak Woods is considered to be one of Chicago’s most prestigious and coveted burial grounds.

BIRTH OF AN ICON Green was born into slavery on March 4, 1834 in Montgomery County, Kentucky. As a young nurse, Green moved to Chicago after 1865 to work as a cook and maid for the Walker family, whose children grew up to be the late

President Barack Obama and by members of the United States Senate who, led by Republican Tim Scott, recently passed a resolution establishing business best practices to fully utilize the potential of the country based on the RLJ Rule.

“It’s a way to break up the old boys system, the mindset,” said Johnson, 69.

“Hiring is a process busy people do when they have to fill a

Chicago Judge Charles M. Walker and Dr. Samuel Walker, a wealthy physician who lived on the city’s North Side, according to an old article in the Defender.

According to several reports, Green was a founding member of Bronzeville’s 165-year old Olivet Baptist Church, 3101 S. King Drive. During that time, the church had 10,000 members according to church officials and several news articles.

As a domestic, Green was known for her homemade cooking and warm, affable personality. She was referred to two businessmen – Chris Rutt and Charles Underwood – who bought the Pearl Milling Company to sell ready-mixed and self-rising pancake flour.

After watching a vaudeville show that featured a character named Aunt Jemima, the two men decided to market a product based on the fictional character.

After hearing of Green’s skills and personality, they hired her to help sell their product. The men gave her a booth at Chicago’s World Columbian Exposition in 1893, where Green would help sell 50,000 orders for Aunt Jemima pancake mix.

News reports said Green was such a crowd pleaser that special policemen were hired to keep the lines moving. Green was then proclaimed the “Pancake Queen” and was awarded a lifetime contract with the R.T. Davis Milling Company, which was later purchased by the Quaker

Oats Company in 1926.

Green lived at 4543 S. Indiana Ave. in a 135-year old building that still exists today. According to news reports, Green died at 89 on August 30, 1923 when she was struck by a car while walking near 46th Street in Bronzeville, then known as Grand Boulevard. The driver of the car, a doctor, said he was trying to avoid colliding with a laundry truck.

FUTURE AUNT JEMIMA Since her death, several Blacks have portrayed Aunt Jemima.

Over the years, Aunt Jemima’s appearance has been altered to reflect the changing attitudes about the character. On the label, the famous bandana is gone and her hairstyle reflects mainstream tastes.

Last year, a lawsuit was filed in Chicago by Green’s heirs and

descendants of Black women who portrayed Aunt Jemima, claiming they are entitled to a share of an estimated $2 billion fortune and a future share of revenue from product sales. Quaker Oats, the company that owns the Aunt Jemima brand, claims the character was never real.

Now that Sherrie Williams has finally found Nancy Green, it bothers her that Green has not been properly memorialized – and may not be. To secure a headstone, a relative or descendent must approve the marker before it’s installed. For a person who died long ago, this may seem impossible.

“I wouldn’t have a clue of where to look and where to begin,” Taylor said. “That’s an awful lot of work to track someone.”

position. It’s a natural kind of behavior when a position is open to check their email list, see who they went to school with, who they play golf with and the next thing you know, African-Americans are left out.”

That’s exactly what Johnson proposes to change with the RLJ Rule, which encourages companies to voluntarily implement a plan to interview a minimum of two qualified minority candidates for every job opening at the vice president level and above.

Johnson also wants companies to interview at least two qualified minority-owned firms for vendor and supplier services contracts before awarding a new company

BET TURN TO 7

Associate Editor Leadership and Social Enterprise Dr. Anita Davis-DeFoe Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Sr. Content & Production Coordinator Ben Williams Production Intern Sunny Thongthi

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Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Contributing Writers Melvin Carter, Jr. Harry Colbert, Jr. Julie Desmond Fred Easter Timothy Houston Penny Jones-Richardson Alaina L. Lewis Darren Moore Carmen Robles Lydia Schwartz Ryan T. Scott Toki Wright Photography David Bradley 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.

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Page 6 • September 14 - September 20, 2015 • Insight News

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COMMENTARY

How low will the GOP go?

By Lee A. Daniels NNPA Columnist Karl Marx famously wrote, “History repeats itself, first time as tragedy, second as farce.”

So, his ghost must have eagerly joined the many living in this dimension who last week thoroughly enjoyed the two spectacles that underscore the chaos within – and perhaps even the coming-apart of – the Republican Party.

One was Donald Trump’s playing the same racist trick on Jeb Bush that three decades ago Jeb’s dad, George H.W. Bush, used to grievously damage the 1988 presidential candidacy of his Democratic opponent, Massachusetts Gov. Michael

Lee Daniels Dukakis, and capture the White House.

That’s the “soft-on-a“colored”-criminal gambit.

During the 1988 campaign, the elder Bush released an ad blaming Dukakis for the rape of a White woman committed by the convict Willie Horton, an African-American, while he was out of prison on a state-sponsored furlough program Dukakis had supported.

On Monday, August 31,

Trump’s supporters especially have taken to heart the behavior of the GOP leadership itself during President Obama’s tenure

Trump posted a video implying that Jeb Bush’s past statements of compassion for undocumented immigrant families translated to support for allowing

undocumented immigrant criminals to remain in the U.S. The Trump video showed photos of three Latino men who were charged with murder this

year. Two are awaiting trial; one was convicted and given a 50year sentence. The video ends with the bannered words: “It’s time to get tough!”

Jeb Bush’s response that day was a statement touting his “eight-year record of cracking down on violent criminals” as Florida’s governor and blasting Trump for his past support of “liberal politicians” and proposing an unconstitutional and unworkable scheme to deport all of the nation’s 11-12 million undocumented immigrants.

But, as usual since Trump barged into the GOP’s presidential-primary sweepstakes, the former Florida governor’s response seemed to garner almost no traction. Instead, a comment veteran GOP operative Steve Schmidt made to the online

publication Politico the very day Trump’s ad and Bush’s response appeared succinctly identified the devastating predicament of both Bush and the GOP as a whole.

“Jeb Bush left office in 2006 as indisputably the most conservative governor in the U.S.,” said Schmidt, who had managed John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign. “That was a moment in time when conservatism was defined by the positions you held and the actions you took.”

Now, he went on to say, Trump has shown that “For huge sections of the [conservative] electorate, the definition of who is a conservative is based on who’s making the most incendiary

GOP TURN TO 7

‘Angry Black’ gunmen Opinion

By Julianne Malveaux Alison Parker, a rookie news reporter at WDJB, the Roanoke, Va. CBS affiliate, had turned 24 just days before she was murdered on August 26. Her work partner, cameraman Adam Ward, was about to move to Charlotte, N.C. because his fiancé, a producer at WDJB, had

a new job.

Both Parker and Ward were described in superlative terms by their bosses, she as a “star” who lit up the screen and had a limitless future, he as a capable and thorough cameraman, dedicated to his jobs. By now, most have still photographs or footage of them being murdered on camera as Parker was interviewing Vicki Gardner, who led the local chamber of commerce. She was shot in the back, and has survived.

These on-air murders are about as grisly as they come, and there can be no explanation, except insanity, to account for them. What was wrong with

Bryce Williams, whose real name was Vester Flanagan?

Why did he stalk and then kill two of his former colleagues?

He’d sued his former employer for racial discrimination and had his claim rebuffed.

Still, he maintained a sense of outrage because he felt he was treated unfairly.

You probably have never heard of Lonnie Gilchrist, a Wharton MBA, who was dismissed, he said, because of racism. He walked into the Merrill Lynch office in Boston and shot his boss, George Cook, saying, “No billionaire is going to ruin my life.” He worked on commission, and according to

many, was treated more like an office boy than a professional.

Charles Ogletree, now a Harvard Law professor, defended him in 1988-89, along with two other attorneys.

Gilchrist pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, and his lawyers used “racial rage” as one of the reasons that Gilchrist killed Cook. The jury took five days and nearly 30 hours, and deadlocked before reaching a conclusion. The case might have been a slam-dunk, but the jury obviously found at least some merit in the racial rage defense.

Nobody deserves to be massacred at any stage of their life. The folks at Mother

Emanuel AME Church had their lives cut short. The little children at Sandy Hook Elementary School, in Newton, Conn. had full lives ahead of them. Anyone who picks up a gun and decides to fire at a group of people publicly has clearly taken leave of their senses.

Yet, there is a difference in the way crazed people are discussed in the media. Vester Flanagan was immediately described as angry and crazed, a judgment the media did not rush to when Dylann Roof, the shooter at Mother Emmanuel in Charleston and Adam Lanza, the shooter at Sandy Hook, embarked on insane massacre

activity.

Can race be a factor? What happens when mental illness collides with racial rage?

The man who shot Alison Parker and Adam Ward either experienced or perceived racial slights. The station manager Jeff Marks said Flanagan was “a man with a lot of anger.” If even a fraction of the slights Flanagan said he’d experienced were true, he had a right to be angry.

Watermelon jokes? Monkey slurs? In the 21st century? Come on people.

Some of us can turn the slur around or ignore it. White

GUNMEN TURN TO 7

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Insight News • September 14 - September 20, 2015 • Page 7

EDUCATION PERSONAL FINANCE

Americans spending more out-of-pocket for college (StatePoint) The Bank of Mom and Dad is open for business, as parent out-of-pocket spending has become the number one source of college funding. In fact, 62 percent of families did not borrow to pay for college last year, according to a new report.

The national study, “How America Pays for College 2015,” from Sallie Mae and Ipsos, now in its eighth year, found that parent income and savings covered the largest share of college costs -- 32 percent -- surpassing scholarships and grants at 30 percent, for the first time since 2010.

Families covered the balance of college costs using student borrowing, student income and savings, parent borrowing, and contributions from relatives and friends.

While families spent 16 percent more on college in academic year 2014-2015, the report found that fewer families are worried that economic factors would affect their ability to pay for college, fewer eliminated colleges from consideration due to cost, and fewer took cost-saving measures to control college costs.

“The increase in the amount families are spending appears to be less about the rising cost of college and more about the choices parents and students are making about how they pay for college,” says Michael Gross, vice president and head of the higher education

BET From 5 contract to a vendor.

He said the decision by Xerox this month to implement their version of the RLJ Rule will hopefully motivate other

Education From 1 ensuring equitable access to high-quality teachers, and the Department of Education is right to focus attention on this topic. Clear action plans are a first step, but we’ve got to make sure that these plans are actually enacted,” said Kati Haycock, president, The Education Trust.

“We know that access to great teachers makes a big difference for all students, and even more so for students facing the challenges of concentrated poverty and racial

Griot From 1

GOP From 6 comments. What Trump is conveying in every speech he makes is strength. If you respond to someone who is attacking your character by talking about issues, you’re in the wrong type of fight.”

In other words, Trump’s supporters especially have taken to heart the behavior of the GOP leadership itself during President Obama’s tenure: distort the issues or ignore them altogether in favor of the personal insult and the outrageously irrational beliefs.

Just as the GOP has ignored the American political tradition

Gunmen From 6 folks might find this funny and some African Americans might find themselves profoundly offended. Those who already feel beleaguered might feel so offended that they’d respond angrily enough to be labeled “hostile” by a human resource manager.

Lonnie Gilchrist was also labeled an “angry” man. One of his bosses said he got so angry at criticism that he reacted with such an outburst that “we were

(c) Yuriy Rudyy - Shutterstock

are,” says Raymond Quinlan, Chairman and CEO, Sallie Mae. “It’s gratifying to see families are borrowing responsibly and making efforts to reduce costs.”

In an effort to move that stubborn statistic and encourage more families to make a college financing plan, the experts at Sallie Mae are expanding their suite of free tools and information. To get started, they recommend these three steps: • Start with money you won’t have to repay. Supplement your college savings and income by maximizing scholarships, grants, and work-study.

• Explore federal student loans. Apply by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.

• Consider a responsible private education loan. Fill the gap between your available resources and the cost of college.

To view the complete report, visit SallieMae.com/ HowAmericaPaysForCollege.

For free tools, such as a college planning calculator, scholarship search and the College Ahead mobile app, visit SallieMae. com/PlanforCollege.

For many families, college is one of the biggest investments they will ever make. Fortunately, as the cost of college trends upward, so too is the incidence of responsible decision-making when it comes to financing an education.

practice at Ipsos Public Affairs.

“Traditional economic concerns, such as job loss, declining home values, and decreased value of savings, are less worrying for parents this year, allowing

families greater freedom to concentrate on college.”

Still, while the majority of families agree college is an important and worthwhile investment -- and are making

such responsible decisions to help pay for it as filing for federal aid, reducing personal spending and working while attending school -- only 40 percent of families have a plan

to pay for college.

“College remains a priority for parents, and they are feeling more confident as they reach into their own pockets and put their money where their values

Fortune 500 companies to recognize the compelling need to encourage minority and ethnic diversity in hiring at every level and to encourage procurement opportunities for qualified minority businesses.

“We are not telling people that they have to hire AfricanAmericans; what we want is for

them to be given an opportunity,” Johnson said, noting that the approach has worked well for him.

“Tom Baltimore, who is responsible for all of the activities of my RLJ Development, was working at Hilton Hotels, and he wasn’t in line to be a CEO. I gave him a chance and now he’s

a CEO,” Johnson said.

“The point is to make certain that minorities are given an opportunity to compete as equals and contribute with their talents to the growth of the economy both nationally and on a global scale. Also, once you bring them in for an interview, it may be that they don’t get that job, but when

something else comes up, they are in your database and you know them.”

Naturally, Johnson said he’s not trying to bully anyone into adopting the rule or mandating that they hire minorities.

“The RLJ Rule is principally designed to encourage companies to voluntarily establish a best

practices policy to identify and interview the tremendous talent pool of minority individuals and businesses that are often overlooked because of traditional hiring or procurement practices,” he said.

isolation. I am encouraged to see that the Department of Education is moving forward on this important equity issue,” said Wade Henderson, president and CEO, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.

According to the Department of Education, the 16 states receiving approval of their plans today are taking promising steps to eliminate the gaps some students face in access to excellent educators by implementing strategies and innovative solutions to challenging problems that meet local context and needs.

Each of these states engaged a variety of stakeholder groups to

ensure that these plans include strategies that will actually be effective.

The strategies that states are implementing to eliminate equity gaps include, for example, working to support, strengthen, or modify teacher preparation programs, to help ensure that all teachers are ready to provide high-quality instruction to their students, and are prepared for success in high-need schools. This work is occurring in states such as Minnesota, Delaware, Nevada, Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Missouri, Connecticut, Oklahoma, Massachusetts, Arkansas, Wisconsin, South

Carolina and Maine.

Additionally, states are investing in strategies related to school leaders. This work is occurring in states such as Minnesota, Nevada, Delaware, Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Connecticut, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Maine and South Carolina.

Also, states are implementing strategies that provide financial incentives designed to reward teachers for exceptional work and to encourage excellent educators to remain in the highest-need schools. This work is occurring in states such as Minnesota, Delaware, Nevada, Rhode

Island, Kentucky, Missouri, Wisconsin, New York, Maine and South Carolina. Minnesota has proposed providing financial support through grants to paraprofessionals seeking full teacher licensure, providing forgivable loans to teacher candidates in highneed subject areas, offering forgivable loans for already licensed teachers who want to add licenses in high-need subject areas.

In July 2014, the U.S. Department of Education announced a comprehensive Excellent Educators for All Initiative. As part of this initiative, states were asked to create new, comprehensive

plans that put in place locallydeveloped solutions to ensure every student has equal access to effective educators. These plans are required by Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). All 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have submitted their plans for review.

The Department of Education is currently reviewing the remaining state plans to determine whether they meet all of the requirements set in ESEA, and will make determinations regarding the plans on a rolling basis.

According to Lindstrom, in South Africa, the Ndebele people began painting on walls in the mid-18th century.

“These paintings were often done by the women (and)

expressive symbols were used for communication of continuity and cultural resistance to their circumstances of living under a repressive system,” said Lindstrom. “The vibrant symbols and expressions portray

communications of personal prayers, selfidentification, values, and emotions. The women of the Ndebele people were often the tradition carriers and the main developer of the wall paintings of their homes. The tradition and

style is passed down in families from generation to generation.

Lindstrom said the women who made them could be considered the griots of their community.

“Our contemporary murals in the African-American

communities of the U.S. have in part, grown out of the African wall paintings of cultural resistance and traditional symbolic visual communication of the Ndebele people,” said Lindstrom.

of being the “responsible opposition” to the party that occupies the White House, Trump’s supporters show little or no interest in the GOP’s façade of “philosophical conservatism” or its time-honored traditions of choosing a nominee. They just want someone who promises the “strength” – read: bigotry and callousness – to “take our country back” to a time when (they like to believe) White conservative rule was unchallenged.

The “trick bag” that reality has put the GOP in led to the week’s second spectacle. On Thursday, September 3, Reince Priebus, chair of the Republican National Committee, journeyed to Trump’s gaudy business

headquarters in Manhattan to sign, in effect, the GOP’s articles of surrender to Trump’s insurgent campaign.

True, technically speaking, the document Trump signed was his pledge to not mount a third-party campaign for the presidency. But all the optics of the event told the real story. No other contender was personally visited by Priebus; and when, after the private signing in Trump’s office, Trump held a, in the words of the New York Times news article, “deeply theatrical and meandering press conference,” Priebus was nowhere in sight – as if he were a mere underling unworthy to share the spotlight with the GOP’s new

boss.

Even before last week, several conservative pundits had been wearing their gloom on their sleeves about Trump’s effect on the party and warning the GOP itself was close to disintegration.

Now that Trump is in the driver’s seat, with supporters who, as Steve Schmidt said, favor those “making the most incendiary comments,” the question that must be considered is this: How low-down will the Republican Party primary campaign get and how will that affect the 2016 general election campaign for the presidency itself?

His essay, “Martin Luther King, Jr.: The Great Provocateur,” appears in Africa’s Peacemakers: Nobel Peace Laureates of African Descent (2014), published by Zed

Books. His new collection of columns, Race Forward: Facing America’s Racial Divide in 2014, is available at www.amazon.com

very frightened.” How much stereotyping goes into labeling some Black men as frightening?

Do they have to be taller?

Larger? Or, simply blacker?

Descriptions of Flanagan as an angry Black man need to be contextualized. Some describe him as an arrogant man with a chip on his shoulder. Some of those terms are subjective.

How many African Americans have been described as “angry” when they simply attempt to hold their own in a mostly White space? One coworker said Flanagan was angry because he responded crisply when she described him

as “too quiet.” I guess if he laughed aloud he may have been considered “too boisterous.”

Even as we mourn Alison Parker and Adam Ward, we have to ask why their murderer snapped. We have to ask why there are so many “angry Black men.” They don’t all scream, they don’t all shout, they don’t all shoot; most let their corrosive anger swallow them from inside. Many of those outwardly functioning Black men die a decade earlier than their White counterparts because of the anger they’ve internalized.

What happens to a dream deferred, wrote Langston

Hughes? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Does it fester like a sore and then run. Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or, does it explode?

Lonnie Gilchrist exploded.

Flangan exploded. We can call them deranged, disturbed, or simply angry. Yet, we do ourselves a disservice if we fail to examine race as one source of their explosion.

Lee A. Daniels is a longtime journalist based in New York City.

Help Plan the Future of Minneapolis Parks Share your opinion about what you want in parks over the next 25 to 30 years, and about options for funding those needs.

Get Involved!

Attend a public meeting: • Monday, Sept. 21, 6:30-8:30 pm – Farview Rec. Center, 621 29th Ave. N • Tuesday, Sept. 22, 6:30-8:30 pm – Bryant Sq. Rec. Center, 3101 Bryant Ave. S • Thursday, Sept. 24, 6:30-8:30 pm – Audubon Rec. Center, 1320 29th Ave. NE

Julianne Malveaux is an author and economist based in Washington, DC. She can be reached atwww. juliannemalveaux.com

• Monday, Sept. 28, 6:30-8:30 pm – Keewaydin Rec. Center, 3030 E 53rd St.

Take a 15-minute survey by Sept. 30: • https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ourparks

Attend the Closing the Gap: Insider Insights for Park Funding event to hear how other cities funded their parks: • Tuesday, Sept. 29, 6-8:30 pm – Walker Art Center, 1750 Hennepin Ave. Limited seating; RSVP to closingthegap@minneapolisparks.org or 612-313-7789 with your name, number attending. Co-sponsored by City Parks Alliance and The McKnight Foundation.

If you need a meeting modification in order to participate, email ewolfe@minneapolisparks.org or call 612-230-6415 in advance.

www.minneapolisparks.org /closingthegap Soomaali: 612-230-6574

Page 8 • September 14 - September 20, 2015 • Insight News

insightnews.com

LIFESTYLE Seasonal relationship tips to live by Man Talk

By Timothy Houston Fall is in the air, and this season is changing right before our eyes. Relationships have their season as well, and it is similar to what you would expect to see in nature. Leaves will begin to change colours, days will get shorter, and temperatures will begin to drop. Whether it is the fall, winter, spring or summer,

they all require change and adjustments. The sooner you are able to determine the season you are in, the easier it is to make the right type of adjustment. Here are a few seasonal tips to live by.

First, fall is a season for change. In this relationship season, things may have cooled off, but there are clear signs that winter is coming. This is the period in the relationship where the signs of trouble are obvious. The first sign is the falling away, followed by slow decaying of those things that were once so beautiful. Both people in the relationship find themselves covering up, but the chill in the air is still apparent.

Winter, spring, summer, and fall all have one constant, you.

All relationship seasons should begin with self-love.

The best advice for this season is to practice self-love and let go of those people, places, and things that have already fallen away.

Secondly, winter is a season of rest. Relationships in this season are self-sustaining at this point, but the winter of the relationship will test the resolve of the people involved.

There are no new harvests, and no new discoveries. Growth

and development has ceased, and rigidness has settled in.

The things that have been stored deep in the heart of the individuals are the substance the relationship will live on.

They will be forced to embrace each other or emotionally freeze to death. The best advice for this season is to rekindle the fire of love and cuddle as much as possible.

Thirdly, spring is a season

of growth. This relationship season is the most fruitful, but it also requires the most amount of work. The heart of both individuals must be tilled, removing all the residue of the previous season. Planting good emotions, watering them with gifts of affections, and pruning away the unproductive behaviours are all key activities.

Once the relationship begins to grow, it must be supported by new experiences that are built on the previous day’s growth.

These experiences become roots that are the foundation of a strong relationship. The best advice for this season is to dig deep, establish meaningful communication, and enjoy new discoveries.

Finally, summer is the season of strength. This relationship season is the most powerful time of the relationship.

Every relationship should have its summer. The sun is shining.

Laughter, love, affection, favour, and fellowship are shared in abundance. Both the

individuals are better together.

Like the days of summer, visibility is clear, and love is long and strong. Because of transparency, communication is at its best. Summer is fun.

The best advice for this season is to bask in it. Enjoy every day as if it were your last.

Determine your relationship season. This will help you to best determine your course of actions. Winter, spring, summer, and fall all have one constant, you. All relationship seasons should begin with self-love. It is in your selfevaluation that you are able to make self-improvements. May this relationship season be your summer and be the most powerful and productive ever!

Timothy Houston is an author, minister, and motivational speaker who is committed to guiding positive life changes in families and communities. For copies of his books, questions, comments or more information, go to www.tlhouston.com.

Who’s in control?

Motivational Moments

By Penny JonesRichardson Is there something that you want to do right now but fear keeps you from doing it? Is there some place that you always wanted to go, but fear continues to tell you that it is not the right time to make that move? Maybe it’s loved ones who keep telling you that you need to wait until the time is right to do make your dreams

come true. If this is the case with you, then I ask, “Who’s in control?” Fear should not be a reason why you do not follow your dreams! What others think about your dreams and goals should not be your concern either.

I remember a person from my past who waited for someone in her life to tell her when she could start working on her dreams. She ended up working a job she hated and supporting others while they worked on their goals. Not until later in life did she realize how unfair she had been to herself and how she should have NEVER put someone else’s needs before hers.

As I always say, your

journey belongs to you and no one else. You have to concentrate on what is best for you. Bettering your life should be your first priority. Your dreams belong to you and don’t expect others to understand.

Your job is to make sure that your life is worth living and that each day you are doing your best to enjoy it.

Some dreams are yours because they have been placed in your head to do them. Your goals are connected to those dreams. If you’re believing that life will be better for you and that there is something out there that you should be doing, or a place that is calling you, then you should map out your plans and follow your dreams!

You don’t want to live a life of fear because all that does is stop your greatness!

My advice is to step out there on faith, and believe the impossible for your life!

Never let someone else dictate what’s best for you! It’s your life and it belongs to you! Get busy doing the things that make you feel complete!

And as always, stay focused, stay determined, and keep striving for greatness.

Penny Jones-Richardson is a published author and life coach. She can be reached via her website at www. thequeensproject.com or email at penny@thequeensproject.com.

Greenway Heights to celebrate opening of affordable, large family rental housing on the Midtown Greenway

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Greenway Heights hosted a celebratory open house on Sept. 10 to showcase recently completed work at 2845 Bloomington Ave. S. in Minneapolis.

Tours of the building’s two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments offered attendees the opportunity to interact with the project management team, city leaders and building residents. Greenway Heights is an affordable housing complex catering to residents who fall under certain income guidelines.

“There are some basic steps that we can take as a city to make sure that every resident in Minneapolis is on the path to prosperity,” said Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges.

“Ensuring the availability of affordable large family rental housing is the prefect ingredient to both, reducing financial burden and keeping low and middle income families together, particularly our growing diverse families.”

Co-developed by PRG and Phoenix Development, Greenway Heights is the product of years of community planning efforts by the East Phillips Improvement Coalition (EPIC).

“When every day, you’re seeing a new high-end luxury building break ground, seeing a stylish, affordable family housing project on one of the city’s biggest amenities – the Midtown Greenway – is gratifying,” said Kathy WetzelMastel, executive director of non-profit co-developer PRG. “Greenway Heights is a great example of community persistence and perseverance.

It’s the right project at the right place,” said Loren Brueggemann, principal of Phoenix Development Company.

Greenway Heights features 42 affordable family-

HEIGHTS TURN TO 9

insightnews.com

Insight News • September 14 - September 20, 2015 • Page 9

COMMUNITY

Families are going home

By Sara Liegl, Director, Project Home

girls have a safe, stable place to lay their heads each night,� said Carmen.

Over the years, watching hundreds of local families find brief refuge in Project Home, we saw the need to develop a program for those who needed and wanted more support.

Many of our families only need the safe nighttime respite we offer through Project Home and find the resources to restabilize through our key partners, The Family Place and Coordinated Access to Housing and Shelter (CAHS). However, some families have cycled in and out of homelessness many times and need more. Some parents are currently unable to work, or have never held a job consistently, due to physical or mental health issues. Families with these types of barriers do not flow through the emergency shelter program quickly. It takes time to find the right housing program for them.

Going Home is an opportunity for interested parents waiting for their housing placement to begin to delve into their personal history, examine how their lives are now, and challenge themselves to create a brighter, healthier future for themselves and their children.

Interfaith Action provides a 16-bed short-term supportive

Building healthy futures Communal living at Going Home means everyone pitches in and everyone helps care for each other. Each Sunday night, the families enjoy “Chef Night� where a local chef shares simple, low-cost, healthy recipes and cooking techniques with the families. After a meal together, everyone gathers for the weekly house meeting. Updates are given, concerns are discussed, successes are celebrated, and weekly chores are assigned.

Beyond normal household cleaning chores, families also sign up to make a weeknight snack for everyone.

Recently, Going Home participant “Queen� and her family worked with staff to recreate a marvelous treat from a Bon Appetit magazine — fresh vegetable flatbread pizza.

Toppings included roasted beats, donated from the local farmers market stand and fresh basil picked in their new garden boxes built by a Boy Scout from a local troop as his Eagle Scout project. “I really enjoy being able to take the time to think about my week to week goals. I know what I want to do in the future.

Going Home is helping me get there,� said Queen.

When Project Home is hosted at Mount Zion Temple, volunteer Phil Goldman, takes family photos and makes prints to give to each family. “Carmen� is pictured here with her youngest daughter only, since she was separated from her oldest daughter while in shelter. housing component for families, pairing four months of communal housing with life skills training. This endeavor is a partnership between Interfaith, Casa Guadalupana House of Hospitality, and The Family Place.

Helping families stay together Sometimes when families enter shelter, they are not complete.

Older children are occasionally

taken in by a relative. It is a very complicated and difficult decision to make. While it may give older children a more stable environment for school purposes, the separation affects each household member deeply.

Such is the case with one of our Going Home participants, “Carmen.� In need of emergency shelter, Carmen entered Project Home with just her youngest daughter, leaving her 9-year-old

Going Home participant “Queen� showing off her homemade flatbread pizza. daughter with her grandmother.

Carmen began attending the Going Home life skills classes at The Family Place and soon moved into the Going Home supportive communal housing program located at Casa Guadalupana.

After several weeks, Carmen asked if her oldest daughter could join them at Going Home. Interfaith Action staff met with Carmen, her mother and her oldest daughter.

After learning that in Carmen’s particular situation, the right

stable housing program might take a few months to secure, and that Carmen was working so hard to make positive changes, everyone agreed that it was time for the family to reunite. Now, as the school year begins, Carmen will be able to walk both of her daughters to school, just down the street, as the youngest enters kindergarten and the oldest begins fourth grade – together. “When I walk in the door, I feel like I’m home, not in a shelter. I have a chance to learn and grow during the day, and my

New International Peace site to be celebrated in Minneapolis A new international peace site will be dedicated in downtown Minneapolis Sept. 20 at Open Book, which houses the Loft Literary Center, Minnesota Center for Book Arts and Milkweed Editions at 1011 Washington Ave. S. The event is free and open to the public. Exhibits will be open at 1 p.m. and the celebration begins at 2 p.m.

Organized by the Loft’s Peace and Social Justice Writer’s Group, the event is intended to link the forces of peace and literature on the day before International Peace Day, Sept.

21.

World Citizen, who sponsors

New International Peace Site, at Open Book

Heights

transportation (including the light rail) developers said the building’s units were in high demand. “We had people calling for a year before the building was even open,� said Pam SchmidtCree of Premier Housing Management, which manages Greenway Heights. “We closed the interest list when we reached 300.�

Organizations that financed the development of

From 8 sized apartment units on the Midtown Greenway with community-inspired amenities including balconies, a youth activity center, a fitness room, a community room and an indoor play area.

With rents starting at $840 and easy access to

Classifieds

Greenway Heights Interior Community Space

Phone: 612.588.1313

the event, will provide online and onsite resources for peace education as a basis for classroom discussions around cultural understanding, human rights, conflict resolution, peace, and social justice.

Showcasing the work underway at Open Book, the event also includes a dedication ceremony and open house. The writing groups Equilibrium, TGI Frybread Native American Writers Group, Open Voices Writing Group, Finote Tibeb Literary Group and the Peace and Social Justice Writers Group will offer readings. Multimedia works by A Peace of My Mind and The F Word, a program of

The Forgiveness Project, will be on display. Twin Cities-based singer, songwriter and activist Larry Long will be the musical guest. The Asiginaak Singers, an all-female, Native-American hand-drum group, will close with songs for the site. Family activities, including matchbook and bookmark making, will be offered by the Minnesota Center for Book Arts. “Literary and artistic expression lead to empathy.

Empathy leads to a caring, connected and conscious community. Open Book fosters that sense of community,� said Jocelyn Hale, the Loft Literary Center’s executive director.

Greenway Heights, including Minneapolis’ department of Community Planning and Economic Development, were recognized at the event. “The biggest challenge of any affordable housing project is funding,� said WetzelMastel. “With 11 sources of funding, it’s like putting a puzzle together. We’re grateful for their support.�

Sources of funding for Greenway Heights included

the city of Minneapolis, City Real Estate Advisors, Dougherty & Company LLC, the East Phillips Improvement Coalition, the Family Housing Fund, Hennepin County, the Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, the Metropolitan Council, the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency and U.S. Bank.

Fax: 612.588.2031

Email: info@insightnews.com

Whispering Pines Apartments

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Central Minnesota Legal Services seeks full-time attorney for its Minneapolis office. Fam. Law including representation of non-custodial parents; some work in other poverty law. Licensed in MN pref’d. Postlaw school pov. law exper., fam. law or clinical exper. pref’d. Spanish or Somali language a plus. Salary $45,000+D.O.E. Excellent benes. Resume with references and writing sample to Lynelle Wells, CMLS, 430 First Ave. No., #359, Minneapolis, MN 55401. Appl. deadline: 9/28/15 or until filled. EOE.

West Falls Estates Int'l Falls, MN

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7 NE 5th Ave. Forest Lake, MN 651-464-4406 Public Housing Waiting List Closing October 31, 2015

STAFF ATTORNEY

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Now Accepting Housing Applications Mission Oaks Townhomes is accepting housing applications for our waiting list for 2 and 3 BR apartments with Section 8 rental assistance. The waiting list will open on 9/7/2015 and close on 11/7/2015. Income limits apply. For a housing application, please call 952-876-9203. EHO.

Assumed Name 1. State the exact assumed name under which the business is or will be conducted: Govva Photography 2. State the address of the principal place of business: 4540 Ximines LN N Plymouth MN 55442 USA 3. List the name and complete street address of all persons conducting business under the above Assumed Name OR if an entity, provide the legal corporate, LLC, or Limited Partnership name and registered office address. Attach additional sheet(s) if necessary: Rebecca Susan Rabb, 4540 Ximines LN N Plymouth MN 55442 USA 4. I certify that I am authorized to sign this certificate and I further certify that I understand that by signing this certificate, I am subject to the penalties of perjury as set forth in Minnesota Statues section 609.48 as if I had signed this certificate under oath.

Signed by: Rebecca Susan Rabb Date Filed: 8/28/20145

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Insight News 9/7/2015 & 9/14/2015

SECTION 8 ONE BEDROOM WAITLIST OPENING Chicago Avenue Apartments will be opening the Section 8 one-bedroom waitlist from 11:00am to 3:00pm on Tuesday, 15 September 2015. All parties who feel they qualify should go to the Chicago Avenue Apartments community room located at 1500 Chicago Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55404 to fill out a pre-application. Please note: Pre-applications will only be accepted between the hours of 11:00am and 3:00pm. All adult applicants must be present in order to fill out the pre-applications; the maximum household size for a one-bedroom apartment at this location is three. Questions? Call Aeon’s Leasing Call Center 612-333-9284.

Volunteer Greeters Hennepin County is seeking volunteer greeters for its North Minneapolis human service center at 1001 Plymouth Avenue North to welcome and guide visitors, answer questions and assist with special projects. Reliable adults who enjoy working with people and who are available for a few hours twice a week are encouraged to apply.

Ideal candidates will be able to volunteer for a minimum of three months. Volunteers are integral to Hennepin County’s mission of enhancing the health, safety and quality of life of its residents and communities in a respectful, efficient and fiscally responsible way. Get involved by visiting http://www.hennepin.us/humanservicevolunteer and submitting a volunteer application.

DUMP TRUCK DRIVER Wanted experienced dump truck driver.

Only experienced need apply: Call Jesse Green (651) 815-7197 or email jessegreen625@ yahoo.com

Townhomes

Available Fieldcrest in Moorhead, MN Rent based on 30% of income

2 & 3 bdroms open MetroPlains Management

701-232-1887 www.metroplainsmanagement.com

Page 10 • September 14 - September 20, 2015 • Insight News

The Grammy-nominated Heritage Blues Orchestra is coming to the Dakota Jazz Club, Wednesday, Sept. 16 for two shows

insightnews.com

Heritage Blues Orchestra is billed as the grit of low-down country and urban blues with the bold brass of New Orleans with the hand-clapping fervor of gospel punctuated with fiery postmodern, jazzinfused horn arrangements. A Heritage concert takes the audience on a journey across the Middle Passage, on a drive down Highway 49 from Clarksdale, La. to New Orleans, from chain gangs and juke joints to orchestra pits, church

pews and even back porches. Heritage Blues Orchestra’s music is an inspiring testament to the enduring power, possibilities and boundless beauty of African-American music.

The Wednesday shows at the Dakota, 1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, are 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Tickets range from $25 - $45. For more information call (612) 332-5299 or go to www.dakotacooks. com.

insightnews.com

Insight News • September 14 - September 20, 2015 • Page 11 Manny Duke

DJ Enferno

$8 advance, $12 doors Manny Duke is a hip-hop/ EDM/rock drummer that rhymes and sings while playing the drums.

Saturday, Sept. 19 SNEAKER EXCHANGE/ BLOCK PARTY

Sept. 14 - 20

Aesthetically It! is a list of picks from the editors of Aesthetically Speaking.

Aesthetically It! features venues, events, outings and more that are worthy of “It” status. If you have a venue, event or outing that you feel is “It” worthy, email us at aestheticallyit@ insightnews.com

Monday, Sept. 14 HEALTH/DANCE Free Zumba class Powderhorn Park 22 Orlin Ave. S.E., Minneapolis 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Rainbow Health Initiative invites everyone to join a free Latin inspired Zumba dance movement class.

Tuesday, Sept. 15

Why Khaliq

Jordan specialty store, Studiyo 23 celebrates its fifth anniversary with an all-star block party featuring Greg Grease, Sarah White, Finding Novyon, DJ Enferno and more.

Roxane Gay

PLAY/THEATRE “To Kill a Mockingbird” Guthrie Theater 818 S. 2nd St., Minneapolis 7:30 p.m. $15 – $59

8 p.m.

21-plus No cover

HIP-HOP/PERFORMANCE

“FROM:TO:2 (The Burgess)” is part two of a four part series created by MNtality and FRiends. “FROM:TO:2” highlights the experiences of living in a house with multiple litters of cats and the best of friends. This legendary homestead was soon dubbed, “The Burgess.” Additional performances are provided by With MycDazzle, Smokebox, Ben Davidson and the Wash Street Orchestra, Black Magick and Kool 9 Lives.

MNtality album release party Nomad World Pub 501 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis

Thursday, Sept. 17

See the Guthrie’s adaptation of the classic Harper Lee novel about race set in 1930s Alabama.

Wednesday, Sept. 16

TCSAX6 Studiyo 23 2319 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis 12 p.m. -6 p.m. $5

LECTURE/READING NOMMO Author Series: Roxane Gay Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs Cowles Auditorium 301 19th Ave. S., Minneapolis Free with RSVP Roxane Gay’s writing has appeared or in “Best American Mystery Stories 2014,” “Best American Short Stories 2012,” “Best Sex Writing 2012” and more. Her reading is presented by the Givens Foundation. RSVP at www. eventbrite.com/e/nommoauthor-series-roxane-gaytickets-18102564257.

HIP-HOP/PERFORMANCE

#BigTenThursday Honey 205 E. Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis 9 p.m. $7 advance, $10 door 4Seen Magazine #BigTenThursday with performances by up and coming MCs WhyKhaliq, Cashinova and Taylor J.

Friday, Sept. 18 REGGAE/PERFORMANCE Manny Duke Fine Line Music Café 318 1st Ave. N., Minneapolis 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 20 BENEFIT CONCERT 7.8 Rock the Rubble: Albatross benefit concert Bedlam Lowertown 213 4th St., St. Paul 1 p.m. $20 students, $25 GA, $35 VIP Nine thousand plus are dead, more than 22,000 were injured and 8 million people were affected by the twin quakes in Nepal in April and May. This benefit featuring the Nepali band Albatross will raise awareness and funds for recovery.

Sanaa Lathan: “The Perfect Guy” interview is to be imperfect. I find that I get to know people from the inside out. So, I don’t really have a type. It’s more about how I feel when I’m with them. I like people who love to communicate and who have a good sense of humor. And I like a confident man, somebody who is not afraid to stand by my side and then let me shine sometimes.

By Kam Williams Tony-Award nominee Sanaa Lathan delivers a striking presence and undeniable energy to each project she takes on and continues to build on an already impressive career. She recently completed production on two films.

In the independent feature, “Ad Inexplorata”, she plays Emily Maddox, a captain on one of four spaceships making a one-way trip to Mars. The film, which was developed in the Sundance Lab, also stars Mark Strong and Luke Wilson. In the highly anticipated sequel, “Now You See Me 2”, Sanaa plays FBI Agent Natalie Austin in an ensemble cast that includes Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Daniel Radcliffe, Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman.

It was recently announced that she will star in and executive produce the screen adaptation of Omar Tyree’s “Flyy Girl” trilogy. Most recently, she was seen in the smash hit, “The Best Man Holiday” with Taye Diggs, Terrence Howard, Regina Hall and Morris Chestnut.

Sanaa starred in the title role in the play “By The Way, Meet Vera Stark” at The Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, a role she originated at the Second Stage Theatre in New York. She received the Lucille Lortel Award for Best Actress for her leading role in the play.

Prior to that, Lathan starred as “Maggie the Cat” in the West End (London) in the criticallyacclaimed and Olivier Awardwinning revival of “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.”

Among her other film credits include “Contagion” directed by Steven Soderbergh; “Something New” opposite Simon Baker; Tyler Perry’s “The Family that Preys”; “A Wonderful World” opposite Matthew Broderick; “Brown Sugar” alongside Taye Diggs, Queen Latifah and Mos Def; “Love and Basketball” with Omar Epps; and “The Best Man”, one of the highest

KW: Harriet also asks: With so many classic films being redone, is there a remake you’d like to star in?

Sanaa Lathan stars in Screen Gems’ “The Perfect Guy”. grossing African-American films in history.

Here, Sanaa talks about her latest outing opposite Michael Ealy and Morris Chestnut in the psychological thriller “The Perfect Guy”.

their history, because that will naturally inform you when you’re on set.

KW: Harriet Pakula-Teweles asks: What exactly is a perfect

guy? And how is your perfect guy in real life different from the one your character, Leah, is looking for in the movie?

SL: I think there is no perfect guy. I believe that to be human

SL: None that I can think of off the top of my head, Harriet, but let me know if you have any suggestions.

KW: Lesley Carter says: I saw you on the Boris & Nicole show in July. I’ve been a forever fan!

You look fantastic. We just don’t see enough of you.

SL: Awww, thanks Lesley.

KW: She says: Congrats on the new movie. I’m also a huge fan of Michael Ealy and Morris

LATHAN TURN TO 12

Heritage Blues Orchestra Field Hollers. Spirituals and Blues

Kam Williams: Hi Sanaa, thanks for the time. I’m honored to have another opportunity to speak with you.

Sanaa Lathan: My pleasure, Kam. KW: I told my readers I’d be interviewing you, so I’ll be mixing their questions in with mine.

SL: Okay, fabulous!

KW: Sangeetha Subramanian says: The movie “Something New” makes me melt to this day.

SL: Oh, I love that!

KW: She asks: What’s the difference in preparing for a thriller like “The Perfect Guy”?

SL: You know, there’s really no difference, Sangeetha. You prepare by kind of trying to create the world of the character, and by doing rehearsals. It’s really about reading the script and letting ideas come to me over and over, kind of building

"Heritage Blues Orchestra is a welcome new sound bringing a sense of urgency to the blues" - All About Jazz

Sept 16

7 & 9 pm tickets: 612.332.5299 dakotacooks.com

Page 12 • September 14 - September 20, 2015 • Insight News

insightnews.com

Lathan

Sauvignon.

KW: Your co-star, Michael Ealy, gave me this question: If you could meet any historical figure, who would it be?

SL: I’d like to meet all these people, but I’d definitely like to sit and talk to James Baldwin because I love his work. It’s wonderful!

From 11 Chestnut. What was it like working with those two hot, sexy African-American men?

SL: It was great! I mean, who wouldn’t want to go to work and look at that every day?

But as sexy and as hot as they are, they’re really great actors, too. And they happen to be really cool human beings. Just nice guys! They’re both about teamwork and really wanting the other person to shine. I was really impressed with how they’d ask, “Is there anything you need from me?” A lot of actors are very self-centered and narcissistic. These guys are just the total opposite, so it was really a treat to work with them.

KW: Yeah, I get the sense that you’re all very grounded from interviewing all three of you.

SL: Oh, good.

KW: What message do you want people to take away from “The Perfect Guy”?

SL: I think people are so different that each person will get their own message, depending on where they are in life. So, I just want people to come to the theater and enjoy the ride.

KW: Teresa Emerson says: I love your work Sanaa, and I’m looking forward to “The Perfect Guy”. But wasn’t there a project for “Macbeth” in the works starring you and Terrence Howard? It sounded very interesting. What happened to that? Is it still being made?

SL: In this day and age, sometimes projects come and go. I don’t know whether this one’s ever going to happen. But once word of it is leaked to the press, it’s out there forever, even though it’s not really something that’s certain to happen.

KW: Dr. Karanja Ajanaku,

KW: The Pastor Alex Kendrick question: When do you feel the most content?

SL: When I’m surrounded by friends and enjoying a conversation over a meal.

Leah (Sanaa Lathan) smashes Carter’s computer in Screen Gems’ “The Perfect Guy”. executive editor of The New Tri-State Defender in Memphis, asks: Ms. Lathan, if you were cast as the mother of Trayvon Martin, what would you try to bring to the role?

SL: Oh my God! What would I try to bring to the role? Her pain. It’s really about her pain and transforming that pain into the fire that, hopefully, inspires our communities to raise our voices and create some change.

KW: Marilyn Marshall asks: Which African-American actress do you most admire?

SL: I really love Viola [Davis]...

Ruby Dee... Eartha Kitt... There are so many.

KW: Editor/Legist Patricia Turnier asks: Are you interested in producing or directing in the future?

SL: Yes, I produced this picture, and I am actively developing other projects.

KW: Patricia would also like to know how you would describe your role of Leah in “The Perfect Guy”?

SL: She is a professional woman, a lobbyist who wants it all. Her biological clock’s ticking and she’s in a relationship with Dave [played by Morris Chestnut]

who’s kind of dragging his feet.

So, they break it off. She then meets this seemingly perfect guy [played by Michael Ealy] with whom she has amazing chemistry. He says and does all the right things during their whirlwind romance until the day she sees a side of him that’s pretty scary. And her journey goes on a real roller coaster from there.

KW: Patricia’s last question is: How has your acting style changed over the years?

SL: Every role is different, so I don’t think of my acting as a style. This role certainly presented some new challenges for me which were great, since I got to play so many different colors. It had romance to it... It had terror to it... it had strength... It was great to be able to play Leah Vaughn.

KW: The Viola Davis question: What’s the biggest difference between who you are at home as opposed to the person we see on the red carpet?

SL: I really have a down-toearth, simple life. The celebrity aspect is something I really only feel when I’m out promoting a movie. My life at home is very normal. I wear sweats. I’m not

always in full hair and makeup.

KW: What was your very first job?

SL: I was a cleaning lady. My grandmother had a friend who owned a building in Harlem.

So, I used to clean houses on the side.

KW: Who loved you unconditionally during your formative years?

SL: Certainly my mother and father. I was very fortunate that my family was always so supportive.

KW: What was the biggest obstacle you had to overcome on career-wise on your way up the showbiz ladder?

SL: To hang in there on those days when I just didn’t feel like continuing. My first acting teacher in drama school said on the very first day of class that only 1% of people who try to make a living as actors actually do it. He said one of the keys to success is persevering. So, as low as I sometimes felt, I never really allowed myself to think about the possibility of giving up. But there were certainly days when I wanted to.

KW: What is your guiltiest

pleasure?

SL: I have so many. [Laughs] But as a foodie, I guess I’d have to admit that I love going to dinner with friends at a fine restaurant. I live for great cuisine. I just love it!

KW: The Dana Perino question: What keeps you up at night?

SL: I don’t know... Nothing keeps me up right now.

KW: AALBC.com founder Troy Johnson asks: What was the last book you read?

SL: “Forks over Knives.”

It’s a book about how your diet can really help prevent many diseases. http://www. amazon.com/exec/obidos/ ASIN/1615190457/ref=nosim/ thslfofire-20 KW: Let’s say you’re throwing your dream dinner party— who’s invited… and what would you serve?

SL: Definitely James Baldwin...

Angela Davis... Katharine Hepburn... and maybe Bette Davis.

KW: And what would you serve?

SL: What would I serve? I don’t know. Maybe a seafood pasta with a green salad and Cabernet

KW: Pastor Alex also asks: What do you wish other people would note about you?

SL: Nothing. It’s not really about me; it’s about the stories that I tell. I’m doing this because I’m a storyteller and I love entertainment, whether it’s comedy, a thriller, or a drama.

I think stories can reflect back to us, get conversations going about our lives. That’s my passion!

KW: Attorney Bernadette Beekman asks: Do you have a favorite charity?

SL: Yes, I’m just starting the Sanaa Lathan Foundation which will be helping girls in the foster system. I’ll be working in conjunction with the HerShe Group which is a great organization dedicated to giving foster girls the tools they need to stop the cycle: self-esteem, a college education and jobs.

KW: Finally, what’s in your wallet?

SL: Some credit cards... a little cash... business cards.

Everywhere I go, people give me their cards... Let’s see... A bunch of pennies and some earrings I took off... [Chuckles] Nothing really exciting.

KW: Thanks again for the time, Sanaa, and best of luck with The Perfect Guy. SL: Thanks you so much, Kam.