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EGACY
WEDNESDAYS • May 8, 2019
Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow.
Richmond & Hampton Roads
Look inside to read about: Pg. 2- Virginia is for learners Pg. 4- Flooding preparation Pg. 9- Tribute to John Singleton Pg. 14- The Carnival Sunrise LEGACYNEWSPAPER.COM • FREE
Remembering John Singleton
Read about the groundbreaking director that introduced some of the most impactful films of his time. (Pages 9-13)
The LEGACY
2 • May 8, 2019
News
“Virginia is for Learners” education initiative Gov. Ralph Northam has launched Virginia is for Learners, an initiative to engage students, parents, educators, and employers with the commonwealth’s efforts to better prepare Virginia students for success in the 21st-century workforce and adapt to a changing world. The initiative includes a public information campaign and a coordinated set of future-focused strategies to accompany recent major changes the commonwealth has made to public education. “Over the past few years, the commonwealth of Virginia has worked
to transform the way we deliver public their communities, and their future education, aligning our approach with aspirations.” the needs of a modern economy,” said Each of the pillars of the initiative Northam. “The goal of this initiative is supports the goal of modernizing to provide Virginians with information curriculum, instruction, and testing to on each of these changes, why we are ensure that students master important making them, and what we hope those content while also developing the realchanges will achieve. Virginia is for world skills that are more important Learners represents our commitment to employers than ever. The future of to do everything we can to offer every work is changing—and this initiative student, no matter where they live, is designed to change the future of the world-class educational experience learning in Virginia to meet the need of they need to build successful lives as B:9.75”students and suit the needs of modern adults, and an opportunity to learn in T:9.75”employers. ways that are relevant to their lives, S:9.75” The Virginia is for Learners
initiative includes the Virginia Department of Education, the Virginia Board of Education, and partner organizations including Jobs for the Future, the Virginia Association of School Superintendents, the Virginia Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, the Virginia School Consortium for Learning, and several schools of education, including those at William & Mary and George Mason University.
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FILL UP ON FLOOD FACTS. These are a few of the simple, indisputable facts about the growing chances for flooding and why you need to contact your insurance agent about flood insurance. FLOODS ARE THE MOST COMMON NATURAL HAZARDS. Ninety percent of all natural disasters in the U.S. involve some type of flooding. ANYWHERE IT CAN RAIN, IT CAN FLOOD. It’s true; rain causes flooding in Hampton Roads. Over the past 70 years, heavy rainfall events have become more intense and frequent in our area and will only continue to increase. HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS INSURANCE POLICIES DO NOT COVER FLOOD DAMAGE. Damage resulting from flooding must typically be insured by a separate policy. ONE INCH OF FLOODING CAN COST MORE THAN $25,000. One inch of water inside the home could cause over $23,000 in damages and more than $3,000 in personal property costs on average. WE ARE SURROUNDED BY WATER. Waterways permeate every corner of Hampton Roads, making it especially susceptible to flooding. LOW-RISK DOES NOT MEAN NO-RISK. More than one in five claims to the National Flood Insurance Program in South Hampton Roads have been for properties outside of high-risk flood zones. Flood insurance can offer you some peace of mind. YOU NEED TO PROTECT YOURSELF AS OUR FLOOD RISKS CONTINUE TO GROW. In Hampton Roads, uninsured residents impacted by Hurricane Matthew received around $4,000 in assistance from FEMA whereas those with flood insurance received an average of $35,000.
WANT MORE FACTS? GETFLOODFLUENT.ORG GETFLOODFLUENT.ORG is a regional outreach campaign spearheaded by the 17 localities of the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission to encourage area residents to purchase flood insurance.
To find out how to get coverage, contact your insurance agent or the National Flood Insurance Program’s Help Center at 1-800-427-4661.
Find more facts at GETFLOODFLUENT.ORG
The LEGACY
4 • May 8, 2019
New website separates fact from fiction about flooding in HR Last year’s hurricane season was one for the records, producing 15 named storms, eight of which were hurricanes. Hurricane Florence devastated Eastern North Carolina with catastrophic flooding that took weeks to subside. If you think you don’t need flood insurance, think again. To separate fact from fiction when it comes to flooding risks in Hampton Roads, the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (HRPDC), working with an advisory group of local planners and emergency managers, has just launched www. GetFloodFluent.org. Developed with support from the City of Newport News, the website and regional public awareness campaign educate about flood risks in Hampton Roads using easy-to-understand language, an interactive challenge to test your
flooding fluency, video stories of local residents whose homes were devastated by local flooding, and facts—lots of facts: •Floods are the most common natural hazards. •Anywhere it can rain, it can flood. And the area’s rainfalls have become more intense and frequent over the past four decades. •It doesn’t have to be raining for flooding to occur. Flooding can come from storm surge, high tides, and wind direction. •Hampton Roads is experiencing the highest rate of sea level rise on the East Coast, and the region is sinking by an inch or two every 20 years. •You don’t have to be in a highrisk zone to experience flooding. •Flood damage typically isn’t covered by homeowners or renters insurance. That last fact is the one the
advisory group really wants to drive home. “The damage of just one inch of water in your home can cost more than $25,000 in repairs,” said Ben McFarlane, a senior regional planner with the HRPDC. “You could hope you’re never impacted by flooding, or you can protect yourself from devastating loss by signing up for flood insurance.” According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the cost of flood insurance depends on different factors, including the amount of coverage you need, your deductible, the risk level of your flood zone, the age of your home, how your home was constructed, and more. In 2018, the average yearly premium for flood insurance in Virginia was about $737, or $61.40 a month. Flood insurance is not only recommended for homeowners; renters and business
owners should also be insured. McFarlane and fellow advisory members also want to strip away the misconception that the uninsured can rely on federal disaster assistance after a flooding event. Relief is only available following a presidential disaster declaration and is usually in the form of a low-interest loan that must be repaid. They further advise checking with your insurance company for a specific quote, and to remember there is a 30-day waiting period before your flood insurance policy goes into effect. “This is not just about whether you live on or near the water or even if your neighborhood has already experienced flooding or not,” McFarlane said. “This is about the fact that if you live in Hampton Roads, you are at risk of flooding.”
Henrico high schools ranked among best in the Commonwealth and nation Henrico County high schools have again been ranked among the best in the nation and Virginia by U.S. News & World Report. Of the 330 Virginia high schools ranked by the magazine, HCPS placed three in the top 50 and five in the top 100. Deep Run was ranked the No. 10 high school in the commonwealth, while Mills Godwin, Glen Allen, Douglas Freeman and J.R. Tucker were Nos. 33, 41, 71 and 97, respectively. All five schools were ranked in the top quarter of high schools nationally. This year the magazine changed the way it ranks high schools. Besides using a revamped methodology, it ranked more schools. Previously only a small percentage of high schools qualified
to be ranked. This year the magazine ranked 17,245 of the 23,000 public high schools they examined. Schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia were part of the process. The rankings look at data from the 2016-17 school year and incorporate six elements: •College readiness, based on proportions of 12th-grade students who took and passed Advanced Placement and/or International Baccalaureate exams. •The breadth of a school’s college curriculum, based on proportions of 12th-grade students who took and passed AP and/or IB exams in multiple content areas. •Math and reading performance, based on whether a school’s
performance on state tests exceeded expectations, given the school's proportion of underserved students. •How underserved students did on state tests, based on how a school’s black, Hispanic and low-income students performed compared
with state students who aren’t underserved. •Graduation rates. This is based on the proportion of students who entered ninth grade in 2012-13 and graduated four years later.
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6 • May 8, 2019
Op/Ed & Letters
The LEGACY
The case for reparations heats up Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr.
The LEGACY NEWSPAPER Vol. 5 No. 20 Mailing Address 409 E. Main Street 4 Office Address 105 1/2 E. Clay St. Richmond, VA 23219 Call 804-644-1550 Online www.legacynewspaper.com
The LEGACY welcomes all signed letters and all respectful opinions. Letter writers and columnists opinions are their own and endorsements of their views by The LEGACY should be inferred. The LEGACY assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material. Annual Subscription Rates Virginia - $50 U.S. states - $75 Outside U.S.- $100 The Virginia Legacy © 2016
Henry Louis Gates did the movement for reparations for African Americans a huge favor by producing his latest documentary now airing on PBS, “Reconstruction: America After the Civil War.” The two-part series confirms that the atrocities against black people didn’t end with the abolition of slavery. Rather, the vestiges of the decadeslong system of legalized racism, bigotry, violence and white supremacy are still apparent in the lives of black people who, across generations, still suffer economically, socially, politically and educationally. Gates’s film provides proof for the call for reparations that followed the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation 156 years ago. It offers convincing evidence as to why reparations should be considered a serious matter and a means by which the U.S. government and others can be held accountable to the descendants of black people victimized by slavery and its
aftermath in the U.S. Former Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) saw it that way when he introduced bill H.R. 40 Commission on Reparations in 1989. When Conyers retired two years ago, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) picked up the mantle and reintroduced the bill. Last week, a companion bill was introduced in the Senate by New Jersey Senator and presidential candidate Corey Booker. Alongside them, the bill’s supporters also include Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and 36 other cosponsors, mostly members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Additionally, several Democratic presidential candidates are expressing their support for reparations including Julian Castro, Beto O’Rourke, Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris, to some degree.
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May 8, 2019• 7
P.T. Hoffsteader, Esq.
(from page 6) HR 40 establishes the Commission to Study and Develop Reparations Proposals for African Americans to examine slavery and discrimination in the colonies and the United States from 1619 to the present and recommends appropriate remedies. In Booker’s announcement, he said he was “proud” to introduce legislation that “will finally address many of our country’s policies — rooted in a history of slavery and white supremacy — that continue to erode black communities, perpetuate racism and implicit bias and widen the racial
wealth gap.” Despite the ongoing debate about reparations, Gates’s film holds nothing back and reveals the facts the American people were never taught as well as many of the findings the commission will seek. We are encouraged that conversation continues but anxious to see the legislation move forward. We also appreciate Mr. Gates, Jr. for telling the stories that some would have us forget.
The LEGACY welcomes opinions from our readers. ************************************************
Letters should be typewritten and include your full name, address and telephone number where you can be reached during business hours. Email: letters@LEGACYnewspaper.com
8 • May 8, 2019
The LEGACY
(from page 2) The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation provided initial support for policy and practice activities that made the launch of this initiative possible. The key components of Virginia is for Learners include: •A Stronger Focus on Deeper Learning: Students in every grade are experiencing an approach to instruction that deepens the focus on key skills for success in a modern world— critical thinking, creative thinking, communication, collaboration and citizenship skills. This approach ensure students develop the content knowledge and the skills they need to succeed after graduation. •New High School Graduation Requirements and Career Pathways: Virginia high school graduation requirements have been revised to incorporate the “Profile of a Virginia Graduate,” which ensures graduates have the knowledge, skills, and experiences identified by employers and educators as most critical for life after high school. For the first time, all
Virginia graduates will leave high school with life changing work-based learning experiences that put them on the path for career and economic advancement. This Profile went into effect for this year’s freshman class. •Modernizing the Virginia Standards of Learning: Over the past several years Virginia has reduced the number of high-stakes tests. The Commonwealth is also updating testing to better track not only what a student knows, but how ready they are to apply their knowledge and skills in the real world. Parents will begin to see these new testing approaches—such as performance assessments—in their kids’ schools as students are asked to demonstrate their true understanding of concepts through short essays, projects and other vehicles. •An Increased Emphasis on Early Childhood Education: The Virginia Department of Education helps prepare all children to become lifelong learners, which is critical in the modern economy, and recognizes the need to build that foundation in a child’s earliest years.
The Commonwealth supports birth to five programming, including the Virginia Preschool Initiative and Early Childhood Special Education. Virginia is for Learners promotes key classroom practices, such as using of high-quality curriculum and assessment, supporting positive teacherchild interactions and ongoing family engagement. •New Standards of Accreditation for Virginia Schools: Standards of Accreditation for school performance place new emphasis on cultivating realworld skills, eliminating achievement gaps and incentivizing continuous school quality improvement. Virginia’s new accreditation system measures what matters, gives credit for student growth, and focuses on equity outcomes.
These new standards use the latest research and technology to advance Virginia’s position as a national leader in school accountability. The Virginia Department of Education remains focused on excellence and accountability while ensuring that Virginia is a place where every student is has the opportunity to succeed. positioned to achieve equitable academic outcomes for all students.
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JOHN SINGLETON January 6, 1968 – April 29, 2019
From “Boyz n the Hood”, which he wrote and directed at age 22, through “Poetic Justice” and “Higher Learning’”and beyond, John Singleton infused his stories with the richness and depth of black America. Here’s a glimpse at some of his priceless work.
10 • May 8, 2019
The LEGACY
“Boyz n the Hood” in 1991 (L to R: John Singleton, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Ice Cube and Morris Chestnut) From Wire Reports John Singleton became both the first African American and the youngest person ever nominated for the Academy Award for best director for the 1991 film. He would revisit its themes of alienation and coming-of-age among young African Americans in Los Angeles in several subsequent films, including 1993’s “Poetic Justice” and 2001’s “Baby Boy,” and in his final project, the FX crime drama “Snowfall.” The director, screenwriter and producer suffered a stroke on April 17 and was removed from life
support Sunday. He died at the age of 51. Former President Obama paid tribute to Singleton. “[Singleton’s] seminal work, Boyz n the Hood, remains one of the most searing, loving portrayals of the challenges facing inner-city youth,” Obama wrote. “He opened doors for filmmakers of color to tell powerful stories that have been too often ignored.” To be a visionary—to recognize the shape things will take moving forward—is to have an acute grasp of what’s happening in the present. Singleton, blessed with this sixth
sense, was always outspoken about the material situation black people face in America. Singleton saw the beauty, nuance, and influence of black people, and made it his life’s work to tell those stories on the biggest possible stage. “We make up 20 percent of this country, but we make up 95 percent of what’s cool and hip about this country,” Singleton said in 1995. “Every time something comes up that’s like, down and cool, we’re on the hub of it, right? And then the dominant culture gets a hold of it, right, and by that time we’ve moved on.” This interview was far from the
first instance of Singleton being frank about the reality that black Americans have long shaped popular culture. He was characteristically honest about it following the release of his highly influential debut film, “Boyz n the Hood”, in 1991. “Everybody else copies young black men,” he once said. “If I reach them, everything else will fall into place.” Although that sentiment ignores the deep and profound influence of young black women, Singleton sought to reach black people as an audience, a community, and a whole.
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