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EGACY

INSIDE What’s your plan for your death? - 3

Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow.

WEDNESDAYS • April 22, 2015

Richmond & Hampton Roads

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Police, officials resign after town elects first black female mayor

Most of the police force and several officials resigned after the small town of Parma, Missouri elected its first African American woman as mayor, according to local televised reports. Tyrus Byrd, a former city clerk, was officially sworn in as mayor last week after beating incumbent Randall Ramsey. Ramsey had served as mayor of Parma for 37 years under two terms. The outgoing mayor said five of the city’s six police officers submitted their resignation, citing “safety concerns.” Parma’s city attorney, clerk and water treatment supervisor also quit. Some Parma residents say they aren’t worried about safety now that the police force has shrunk. “I think it’s pretty dirty they all quit without giving her a chance,” resident Martha Miller said in local reports. “But I don’t think they hurt the town any by quitting, because who needs six police for 740 people.” At her swearing in ceremony, Byrd said that she is looking to getting things in order for the city. Some say they’re relieved about the situation and that Parma doesn’t have that many problems in town to require so many officers. “They say we have six cops on the payroll. How can we have six cops and we go days without cops patrolling and we have these recent break-ins?” asked one Parma resident. Mayor Tyrus Byrd began her first

It’s business as usual for new Parma, MO Mayor Tyrus Byrd, 2nd left. day in office with a clean slate. Literally. Mayor Byrd said the resignation letters cannot be found and that the computers were cleared. “We needed somebody young and energetic to help our town and that is what we need,” said one Parma resident.

As for why the police and three other city employees resigned, Mayor Byrd is still trying to figure that out. She said she is receiving outside help from other communities and folks are reaching out to help their town rebound. Some residents agree the city needs the help.

“Just ready to get the town back to the way it was, back to the flow of business,” said another Parma resident. The mayor said her experience as city clerk years ago will help. As for when the vacant positions will be filled, it’s unclear at this time.

2 • April 22, 2015

The LEGACY

News

Republicans blast ‘most-traveled’ McAuliffe KENRIC WARD Gov. Terry McAuliffe told a national audience Sunday that Virginia’s economy is “roaring,” thanks to him. But economists aren’t so bullish, and McAuliffe’s critics say presidential politics is Job One for the Democrat. “I’m one of the nation’s most traveled governors. … I’ve brought business back,” McAuliffe said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “I’m all about trade and economic activity.” John Whitbeck, chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia, accused the governor of promoting a different agenda. “Governor McAuliffe’s appearance on ‘Meet the Press’ underscored that his entire reason for running for governor was to help get Hillary Clinton elected president. As Chuck Todd correctly pointed out, we don’t know what Hillary Clinton’s message is, and if it’s anything like the governor’s agenda, Virginia voters are sure to say ‘no thanks,’” Whitbeck said. “Since he was elected, the governor’s signature policy initiative, Medicaid expansion, was defeated. Other than that, he has accomplished nothing other than agreeing to Republican legislation and then taking credit for it,” Whitbeck said. “Maybe he should spend less time being the self-proclaimed most traveled governor and more time working on behalf of Virginians.” McAuliffe said his global economic development efforts, ranging from China to Korea to Japan and Europe, have yielded $6.5 billion in investment in the state — “double that of any previous governor.” The former chairman of the Democratic National Committee has also raised hundreds of millions of dollars for former President Bill Clinton and current presidential candidate Hillary Clinton during his 35-year relationship with the couple.

McAuliffe once touted the North American Free Trade Agreement as one of President Clinton’s “greatest accomplishments.” That prompted Todd to note, “Many no longer trust politicians to negotiate” such deals in the public interest. Vince Haley, a Republican state Senate candidate from Henrico County, said McAuliffe’s “new economy apparently is rooted in his giving state grants to lure new business and in advocating for draconian increases in state energy costs to boost his favored alternative energy companies.” Earlier this month, the American Legislative Exchange Council criticized Virginia’s economic environment. The market-oriented group ranked the state’s top marginal corporate income tax rate 31st out of 50 states and gave Virginia a zero on “tax expenditure limits.” Mike Thompson, president of the non-partisan Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy, said Virginia’s economy is “at best, simply doing OK.” “Our state’s status vis-à-vis other states is falling in many categories (including), business competitiveness, manufacturing, etc.,” Thompson said Sunday. Economist Chris Chmura recently reported that inflation is outstripping wage increases in Virginia. Chmura found that in the five years prior to the 2009 recession, professional jobs grew by 76,000 (30 percent of all jobs created), with an average wage of $83,700. In the past five years, Virginia gained just 9,000 such jobs, while layoffs mount. “So ‘roaring’ is a sales pitch definition by our state’s top salesman — Governor McAuliffe — and not reality,” Thompson told Watchdog. “What we need is a creative, revenueneutral tax restructuring that would

eliminate our gross receipts tax and machine and tool tax among other changes.” The Jefferson Institute’s dynamic tax model shows that such a program would create almost 70,000 new jobs over the next five years. © Watchdog.org Virginia Bureau

Gov. Terry McAuliffe

Crime Victims’ Rights Week engages communities, empowering victims The Virginia Department of Corrections is holding events to recognize Crime Victims’ Rights Week, which runs through April 25. This year, Virginia marks the 20th anniversary of the passage of the Virginia Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights. The theme for the 2015 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is Engaging Communities, Empowering Victims. The Victim Services Unit (VSU) of the Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) provides notification assistance and referral services to victims of offenders in the custody of the Department. “The Victim Services Unit works closely with crime victims to keep them informed regarding the status of the offenders who harmed them and to answer their questions about how the system works,” said VADOC Director Harold Clarke. “The VSU also educates our staff regarding victim awareness and works with

offenders concerning the impact of crime – a vital component of our reentry efforts.” In 2014, more than 1,400 new victims were registered for notification through the VSU. Based on Virginia law, registered victims are notified of inmate transfer, work release, name change, escape, interstate compact, civil commitment, death, release, and parole. Additional services offered to victims include explanation of the criminal justice process, referrals, and the Victim/Offender Dialogue Program. Reaffirming the Department’s commitment to victims of crime, the VSU will offer training and information sessions to Department staff and other allied professionals this week. VSU is again hosting a poster challenge for offenders, which encourages them to take responsibility for their actions and to focus on the impact of crime on victims.

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April 22, 2015 • 3

Planning ahead: VDH touts Advance Health Care Directive Registry Do you have a plan for your death? That was the question on April 16 as Virginia and other states commemorated National Healthcare Decisions Day. According to the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), it was a day for Virginians to make sure they have plans in place for advance health care and that those plans are up-to-date. It also provided an opportunity for health care providers to discuss the subject of advance planning with their patients. “Having an advance health care directive allows individuals to make clear, in writing, their wishes regarding life-sustaining medical treatment and end-of-life care, should the time come when they are unable to express those wishes themselves,” said State Health Commissioner Marissa J. Levine, MD, MPH, FAAFP. “Equally important, establishing these plans in advance lessens the emotional burden and anguish for loved ones who would otherwise be left to make such agonizing decisions.” The VDH implemented a statewide Advance Health Care Directive Registry (AHCDR) in 2011 to make the process easier for Virginians. The secure registry, available to all legal Virginia residents, stores documents that detail and protect medical care wishes in the event a person is incapacitated. These documents include medical power of attorney, do-not-resuscitate wishes and other treatment wishes needed when a person is unable to speak for themselves. Ever since Congress passed the Patient Self-Determination Act in 1990, health professionals and consumer advocates have urged Americans, especially older adults, to draw up advance directives and distribute them to families and doctors. The documents allow people with terminal illnesses to accept or reject medical interventions and to appoint surrogate decision makers if

they become incapacitated. The campaign to publicize advance directions has paid off. Among Americans over age 60, the proportion who had advance directives when they died rose to 72 percent in 2010 from 47 percent in 2000, according to data from the national Health and Retirement Study. Too often, though, an advance directive hardly seems to matter. Stories abound of documents misplaced, stashed in safe deposit boxes, filed in lawyers’ offices. One doctor remembers a frantic search to unearth a directive that was eventually found tucked into a Bible. Frequently, “the directive never gets to the right place, or isn’t referred to when a decision needs to be made,” said David M. English, chairman of the American Bar Association’s Commission on Law and Aging. And when hope trumps documentation, the patient’s instructions can be overridden by distraught family members. A hospice staffer one shared the story of an older woman whose directive prohibited life-sustaining measures. Nevertheless, her sister assented to feeding tubes, which a physician had encouraged “just to see if it would help.” The woman lived for months with interventions she had expressly rejected. But advance directives also fail because they are not medical orders. Their vague or outmoded language — When is a condition “terminal”? How long must a “persistent vegetative state” last? — doesn’t tell physicians exactly how to proceed. In Virginia, individuals may authorize health care providers, hospitals and other health care organizations to submit advance health care documents to the Registry on their behalf. By greatly expanding the potential for Registry participation while reducing the barriers to document accessibility for

medical providers in times of crisis, Virginia continues to demonstrate national leadership in advanced care planning. VDH notes that documents submitted to the registry are available online 24/7 to anyone the registrant chooses to authorize,

such as family, friends, treating physicians and hospitals. Virginia residents can visit www. virginiaregistry.org and create an account for themselves free of charge. Once an account has been created, documents may be submitted online, by fax or by mail.

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The LEGACY

4 • April 22, 2015

TowneBank becomes Official Bank Sponsor of 2015 UCI Road World Championships

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TowneBank sponsored events include partnering with Richmond 2015 on “Happenings Around Towne,” a community calendar of events that local businesses can use to post their World Championship-themed events. TowneBank will also be involved in helping spectators “getting around Towne” with shuttle services and a bike valet service to assist fans who want to use bike transportation to view the races. T. Patrick “Pat” Collins, president of TowneBank Richmond, said TowneBank places a priority on becoming involved in the communities where it does business. “The partnership with Richmond 2015 is the perfect way for us to introduce our community banking philosophy to our new neighbors in the greater Richmond area and to support Richmond as it welcomes the world.” “We’re excited to welcome TowneBank to Richmond and help introduce it to the worldwide audience for the 2015 UCI Road World Championships,” said Flohr.

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Richmond 2015, the organizer of the 2015 UCI Road World Championships, has partnered with Richmond’s newest bank of the nineday cycling event that will be held in in September. TowneBank recently acquired Richmond-based Franklin Federal Savings Bank and is listed as one of the largest banks headquartered in Virginia. Wilson Flohr, CEO of Richmond 2015, said TowneBank will be designated the “Official Bank Sponsor” of the 2015 UCI Road World Championships, which is expected to attract a total of 450,000 spectators from the Richmond region and across the globe over the nine days of racing held September 19-27. As a major corporate sponsor, TowneBank will partner with Richmond 2015’s Société 2015, a 700-plus member-strong, local business engagement program designed to help the local business community maximize the opportunity presented by the UCI Road World Championships. Other

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April 22, 2015 • 5

“Equality Means Business” campaign encourages housing industry to support LGBT community This past General Assembly session, the Virginia legislature had the opportunity to expand Virginia fair housing laws to protect sexual orientation and gender identity, joining 22 other states and DC that already outlaw discrimination on these bases. HB 1454 (Simon, D-Falls Church) and SB 917 (Wexton, D-Leesburg) died early in the session. HJ 648 (Villanueva, R-Virginia Beach) offered a chance for the Housing Commission to study LGBT housing discrimination, but it too was killed in subcommittee.

“It makes no sense to consider someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity when deciding whether to rent or sell a home to them,” said state Sen. Jennifer Wexton (D-Leesburg). “Unfortunately, we know these considerations are blocking housing for LGBTQ Virginians. “I plan to reintroduce legislation in 2016 to outlaw this invidious discrimination. In the meantime, housing providers can show their support for these important rights by joining Equality Means Business.”

Campaign supporters note that housing opportunities should be based on the ability to qualify, not on sexual orientation or gender identity. To celebrate fair housing month in April, Equality Virginia and Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) are encouraging housing professionals and companies to join the new multistate campaign “Equality Means Business” designed to showcase businesses that know how vital LGBT customers and employees are to their success in a modern economy. Realtors, builders, mortgage brokers, rental managements companies, home insurance businesses, and other housing professionals are encouraged to complete the membership form at www.virginiafairness. org/equality-means-business which guarantees that their LGBT employees and clients will not be denied employment or service because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Participating individuals and businesses will be listed in the Equality Means Business online directory and will receive marketing materials that will signal their support of inclusiveness. “Businesses that welcome LGBT customers and clients and take a stand for workplace non-discrimination deserve to be recognized for moving Virginia, the region, and indeed the whole country in the right direction,” said James Parrish, executive director of Equality Virginia. In 2014, HOME conducted a study into the prevalence of housing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the Richmond rental market. HOME’s research showed a 31 percent rate of differential treatment by which same-sex couples were treated worse than equally-qualified different-sex couples in their search for housing. “All Virginians should be treated equally in the housing market,” said State Del. Marcus Simon (D-Falls Church). This study raises serious doubts as to whether that is true for same-sex couples in Virginia. “I look forward to the day when all Virginians are judged on their merits when seeking a place to live and make their home.”

Route 633 Reconstruction Greensville County Willingness to Hold a Public Hearing Find out about the proposed reconstruction of Independence Church Road (Route 633) in Greensville County. The limits of the project are from 0.678 miles north of the Brink Road intersection (Route 627) to 1.236 miles north of the Brink Road intersection (Route 627). Review the information and the draft Categorical Exclusion (CE) document at the Virginia Department of Transportation's Hampton Roads District Office located at 1700 N. Main Street, Suffolk, VA. 23434, 757-925-2500 or 1-888-723-8400, TTY/TDD 711. You can also review the project information at VDOT’s Franklin Residency Office located at 23116 Meherrin Road in Courtland VA. 23837, 757-346-3072. Please call ahead to ensure the availability of appropriate personnel to answer your questions. If your concerns cannot be satisfied, VDOT is willing to hold a public hearing. You may request that a public hearing be held by sending a written request to Mr. Wali Zaman, P.E., Project Manager, Virginia Department of Transportation, 1700 N. Main Street, Suffolk, VA. 23434 on or prior to May 4, 2015. If a request for a public hearing is received, notice of date, time and place of the hearing will be posted. In compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act, Section 106 and 36 CFR Part 800, information concerning the potential effects of the proposed project on properties listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places is provided in the environmental documentation. VDOT ensures nondiscrimination and equal employment in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If you need more information or special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, contact VDOT’s Civil Rights Division at 757-925-2519, TTY/TDD 711. State Project: 0633-040-706, P103, UPC 84207 Federal Project: STP-040-5(021)

6 • April 22, 2015

The LEGACY

Op/Ed More protections needed to reduce payday lending’s crippling effect BRODERICK JOHNSON Recently, I had the privilege of traveling with the president to Selma, Alabama, to commemorate events that led to passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. As we walked across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in the footsteps of heroes like Rep. John Lewis and other brave men and women who put their lives on the line for freedom 50 years ago, I was struck by how far we’ve come as a nation. When the president traveled back to Alabama, he continued drawing attention to the concerns of the middle class and working Americans, this time focusing on the needs of consumers trapped by debt that threatens their ability to prosper. Those debt burdens often affect communities that face the greatest economic hardships; and quite often, they are communities of color. The statistics speak for themselves. For example, according to a study by The Pew Charitable Trusts, 12 percent of African Americans have taken out a payday loan, compared to six percent of Hispanics and four percent of whites. Many payday loans trap borrowers in a cycle of debt; eighty percent are rolled over or followed by another loan within fourteen days. The LEGACY NEWSPAPER Vol. 1 No. 11 Mailing Address 409 E. Main Street 4 Office Address 105 E. Clay St. Richmond, VA 23219 Call 804-644-9060 • 757-244-5654 Online www.legacynewspaper.com

But the disparities don’t stop there. When purchasing a car, borrowers of color receive worse pricing and are nearly twice as likely to be sold multiple add-on products. The statistics for mortgage lending are equally as troubling. Academic studies routinely find evidence of higher pricing for blacks and Hispanics in the mortgage market, which in turn challenges their opportunities for wealth building. The president and first lady have often been candid about the challenges they faced to repay their student loans, which they only paid off in 2004. They are not alone; 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 © 2015

more than four out of five AfricanAmerican college graduates have to borrow to pay for college and carry nearly 15 percent more debt than their peers. Fifty years after the march in Selma, we have come a long way, but we still have more work to do. That’s why, five years ago, we passed historic Wall Street reform and, as part of that reform, created the independent Consumer Financial Protection Bureau with the sole mission of looking out for consumers. Under Director Richard Cordray, the CFPB has taken steps to eliminate unfair, deceptive and abusive practices in the market for financial products and services. Since its creation, through enforcement actions, the CFPB has returned $5.3 billion to more than 15 million consumers. Alongside the CFPB’s efforts, the administration continues fighting to protect consumers. Last month,

the president announced steps to crack down on backdoor payments and hidden fees that incentivize retirement advisers to recommend bad investments with high costs and low returns. And this month, the president rolled out a Student Aid Bill of Rights and signed a Presidential Memorandum directing the Department of Education and other agencies to do more to help borrowers afford their monthly student loan payments. As the president has said, our economy works best when it’s working for everyone. By putting in place protections that not only aid communities of color but all Americans, our country will continue to thrive and grow. Johnson is assistant to the president and cabinet secretary. He also serves as the chair of the White House Task Force on My Brother’s Keeper.

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April 22, 2015 • 7

P.T. Hoffsteader, Esq.

‘Cesspool of corruption and inefficiency’ Many people know but to our knowledge, those that are in position to address this issue, do absolutely nothing. Since 2011, we carefully analyzed and documented the abuse of Medicaid funded mental health services for poor children in Richmond schools. The disheartening aspect of this boondoggle was not the fraud, corruption and disservice but the wanton willingness of public officials in league with their public and private sector cohorts to blatantly ignore and disregard the widespread negative impact of this travesty on poor children and their parents that are desperately in need of mental health interventions. We naively assumed that once empirical facts were presented, corrective action would be forthcoming. Yet over the course of three years (2011-2014), countless attempts to prompt governmental intervention were ignored and rebuffed. From the former governor’s office, deputy health directors, state agencies, government officials, state legislators and private provider groups did not act. To this day, the problem persists unabated. From the outset we acknowledged the apparent Medicaid billing fraud amongst some private mental health service providers and recommended that they be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We conveyed this to those we thought were the appropriate state and federal authorities that were capable of

addressing the problem. Nothing of substance was done other than minor rather benign public relations charades that amounted to pennies compared to the multi-million dollar fraudulent enterprise. Therefore, it is no wonder that far too many of our at-risk children end up in jail, prison and the cemetery because their obvious psycho-social and economic problems are systematically and intentionally ignored. The children are labeled educationally challenged when in fact they are sentenced to death at an early age due to bureaucratic indifference, injustice and neglect. Everyone involved in this system except those most in need continue to benefit and profit while the suffering or children and parents festers. King Salim Khalfani Commonwealth Consultation, LLC & former Executive Director, VA State Conference NAACP Dr. Gerald A. Foster Children’s Mental Health Advocate & former NAACP Mental Health Task Force Consultant

The key to success Throughout my life, I have held hard work and solid ethics at high regard. While these life lessons may seem old-fashioned, I’ve learned that they’re indispensable to success in career, love and life. You don’t have to come from wealth or have the perfect upbringing to become successful. Working hard in school, and being prepared and

punctual in the workplace can separate you from the pack and gradually build into a successful career. Yet, success is about getting to a favorable outcome, and achieving

your goals. Success doesn’t always equate to being very wealthy or famous. There are a lot of successful people who aren’t wealthy or famous. Matthew Drayton Author, “Secceeding While Black”

The LEGACY

8 • April 22, 2015

Keeping the Faith To die trying A religious leader once asked Jesus a question. “If loving God and loving my neighbor is all that religion requires, then tell me, who is my neighbor?” Jesus answered with a parable, a parable that is one of his most well known stories: The Parable of the Good Samaritan. This story turns up everywhere in our culture, even in places where people do not know what a Samaritan is or that it was Jesus who first told the story. With such familiarity, we typically think of the Parable of the Good Samaritan as a story about being a good neighbor. Yet, this is not Jesus’ point at all. Jesus does not even attempt to define the word “neighbor,” though that is what the religious questioner wanted. Jesus takes another course altogether. He defines, instead, what it means to “love your neighbor.” He speaks of a love that involves itself in unexpected, revolutionary, boundarybreaking ways. Of course, the only way to explain such a love as this is with a story: Paul Rusesabagina is the former hotel manager who inspired the movie Hotel Rwanda. Beginning in April of 1994 (has it really been more than two decades?), over the course of a hundred days, an estimated one million Rwandans were killed after extremists in the majority Hutu population turned on the Tutsi minority. Fifteen percent of the population was annihilated. For perspective, that would be the percentage equivalent of a genocide wiping out nearly fifty million Americans, the total combined population of the greater Southeastern United States: Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee – every human being living in those states, gone in three months. Hotel Rwanda focuses on the 76 days in which Mr. Rusesabagina transformed the luxury hotel over which he was responsible, into a refuge for the terrified. On the first day of violence, 26 people came to

Paul’s home for shelter. They knew he was a person of influence with high connections and that he could help them. That is why they came, of course, but they also knew he was a person of compassion. They bet their lives on him, and it was a bet that paid off. At the end of that three month massacre, Paul Rusesabagina had saved 1,268 people in his hotel. Somehow, Paul kept corn and beans in the kitchen; he rationed the water in the pool for drinking when militia cut the utilities; and he took all the room numbers off the doors and burned the registration records, so the roving bands of machete-welding killers would not know the identities of those under his protection. At one point, Paul and his family were given the opportunity to leave Rwanda. He packed his bags to depart. It was then the residents of his hotel came to him and begged him to stay. “Paul,” they said, “we know you are going to be leaving this place tomorrow. But please, if you are really leaving, tell us, because we will go to the roof of the hotel and jump. A better death would be to jump and die immediately.” Paul said, “By that afternoon I had made the toughest decision of my life. I said to myself, ‘If you leave, and these people are killed, you will never be a free man. You will be a prisoner of your own conscience.’ I then decided to remain behind…and if I was to die, I would die helping my neighbor.” So, who is your neighbor? That question is incidental, really, as anyone you meet along life’s way fits the definition. “Will you love your neighbor?” - that is the primary question, and one we have the opportunity to answer daily. Will we be called upon to love with the fearsome intensity of Paul Rusesabagina? It’s not likely, but I hope that when the time comes for us to leave this world, we die trying; we leave knowing we have helped and loved our neighbors. This is so much more than a story. It’s the way we save and heal the world. McBrayer is a syndicated columnist, pastor, and author/ronniemcbrayer.me.

RONNIE McBRAYER & MORE

Local church to host community yard sale The Greeter’s Ministry at Zion Baptist Church hosts a “Community Day/Yard Sale” on April 25 from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Zion Baptist Church, 2006 Decatur St. in Richmond.

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April 22, 2015 • 9

Feminist theologian to speak at Union Presbyterian Seminary Harvard Divinity School Professor Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, a pioneer in feminist theology and biblical interpretation, is the keynote speaker for Union Presbyterian Seminary's 104th annual Sprunt Lecture Series May 4-6 in Richmond. The title of this year's lecture series is “Liberating Scripture: Reading against the Grain.” Dr. Schüssler Fiorenza is a cofounder and co-editor of the Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion and has been a founding co-editor of the feminist issues of the journal

Methodist University and Augustana Theologische Hochschule in Bayern. In 2011, she received the Jerome Award of the Catholic Library Association. Her teaching and research focus is on questions of biblical and theological epistemology, Concilium. She was elected the first hermeneutics, ethics, rhetoric, and woman president of the Society of the politics of interpretation, as well Biblical Literature and has served on as on issues of theological education, the boards of major biblical journals radical equality and democracy. and societies. In 2001, she was Worship services will be led by elected to the American Academy Theodore J. Wardlaw, president and of Arts and Sciences. In recognition professor of homiletics at Austin of her work, she has received Presbyterian Theological Seminary, honorary doctorates from St. Joseph's on May 5th and 6th. College in Connecticut, Denison Glenn Q. Bannermanis the 2015 University in Ohio, St. Bernard's Sprunt Lectures Distinguished Institute, Rochester, New York, Alumnus. Bannerman taught the University of Uppsala, Sweden, recreation and outdoor education the University of Würzburg, the ministry at the Presbyterian School Perkins School of Theology, SouthernT:10.25” of Christian Education, now a part S:9.75”

of Union Presbyterian Seminary, for 31 years before retiring. He is now Professor Emeritus of Recreation and Outdoor Education and continues to teach at Union Presbyterian Seminary. Recently, Bannerman was honored by the National Folk Dance Organization and the San Antonio College Folk Festival with the Heritage Award for outstanding leadership and preservation of folk dance. The Sprunt Lectures began in 1911 through a generous gift by James Sprunt of Wilmington, North Carolina, to bring speakers of outstanding quality to the seminary to discuss aspects of Christian thought and work. The lectures are free and open to the public. To register, call 804-278-4245. Registration is open through April 22.

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10 • April 22, 2015

The LEGACY

Author Toni Morrison: ‘I want to see a white man convicted for raping a black woman’ The Nobel prize-winning author Toni Morrison has delivered a frank assessment of race relations in America, declaring that until racial disparities in the criminal justice system are resolved, the conversation about racism will never be over. Morrison, who won the Pulitzer prize in 1988 for her novel “Beloved”, which told a story of racism and slavery in 19th-century Kentucky and Ohio, drew on a recent spate of high-profile killings of unarmed African Americans by law enforcement officials to illustrate the ongoing struggle. “People keep saying, ‘We need to have a conversation about race’,” Morrison told reporters. “This is the conversation. I want to see a cop shoot a white unarmed teenager in the back.” She added: “And I want to see a white man convicted for raping a black woman. Then when you ask me, ‘Is it over?’, I will say yes.” Since the fatal police shooting of unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, in August last year, thousands of protesters have taken to the streets around America, demanding criminal justice reform under the banner of the Black Lives Matter movement. High-profile fatal police shootings of African American boys and men,

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Toni Morrison: ‘Race is the classification of a species. And we are the human race, period.’ PHOTO: Tim Knox including 12-year-old Tamir Rice in Cleveland last November and 51-year-old Walter Scott in North Charleston, South Carolina, earlier this month, have continued throughout the year. Morrison also argued that economic forces still drove racial inequality and racism in the US. “Race is the classification of a species,” she said. “And we are the human race, period. But the other thing – the hostility, the racism – is the moneymaker. And it also has some emotional satisfaction for people who need it.” Morrison argued that slavery had “moved this country close to the economy of an industrialised Europe, far in advance of what it would have been”, and added, in reference to controversial New York police tactics employed regarding racial minorities: “They don’t stop and frisk on Wall Street, which is where they should really go.”

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April 22, 2015, • 11

Rap & hip-hop artists invest in technology Rap and hip-hop music has become an artistic and economic power. Rap artists have become cultural icons and trendsetters. These black men rose from the hard streets of the inner city to the glass covered corporate towers of American business. Along the way they raked in billions of dollars investing everything from jeans to vodka to water. Black rap artists, with little or no college education, are proving they are top notch businessmen. And now these brothas have set their sites on the technology sector. Rapper Nas, whose real name is Nasir Bin Olu Daren Jones, has accumulated a $20 million dollar fortune. The rapper invested in technology by becoming a key backer of the technology start up that created the Fixed app. The smartphone app helps the user fight parking tickets. Nas invested in another San Francisco technology company called Proven. The company makes an app that helps job seekers apply to online job postings through their smartphones. Nas said in an interview, “Jobs are a concern for the nation and Proven is all about that, so I’m all about Proven.” Nas and his manager, Aymen Anthony Saleh, are not shy when it comes to the technology game. Since 2013, the two invested their own capital into 40 startup technology companies. These companies stretch across the spectrum of services and ecommerce including fashion, business communications and even healthy eating. Nas strongly believes in diversifying his start up investments. Rapper TI has invested in a start up known as YOPIMA which stands for “Your Opinion Matters.” TI dropped a healthy $600,000 on this latest app for searching out entertainment. It allows the user to read what the clubs are like in whatever city they may find themselves. Users can decide where to go and what to do based on things like whether you’re hitting a bar or event based on a number of

Bruno Nas factors, like drink specials and V.I.P. privileges. Funk artist Bruno Mars jumped aboard the music startup Chromatik which makes digital versions of sheet music for both the web and iPad. Bruno also invested in electronic cigarette company NJOY. A product he personally uses. Unquestioned rap mogul Jay-Z recently acquired Swedish tech company Aspiro for $56 million. Jay-Z is breaking into the hot music streaming market against such powerhouse services like Spotify. Aspiro operates WiMP and hi-def service Tidal. These streaming services target committed audiophiles by offering daily track recommendations, curated playlists and interviews with artists. The music and audio streams and download in the FLAC format. Jay-Z is not limiting his tech investments to music related businesses. He also invested in Duracell’s Powermat that charges batteries for smartphones and other mobile devices. He also partnered with Will Smith to kick-off the popular video-sharing app Viddy. Dr. Dre, hip-hop’s first billionaire, got that way by selling his Beats

headphones business to Apple. The rap icon and his business partner, Jimmy Iovine, sealed a $3 billion deal with Apple Inc. Dre and Iovine are getting $2.6 billion in cash, $400 million in Apple stock and jobs with the company. The Apple CEO Tim Cook hasn’t said what exactly Dr. Dre would

Ask Alma

be doing in his Apple job. But what he did say was the Beats music streaming service is a powerful selling point. Beats expects to put Apple, the world’s biggest seller of music, into the lucrative streaming music business. Beats will compete with YouTube, Pandora, Spotify and Jay-Z’s new music streaming acquisition. Dre, a product of the hard streets of Compton, CA, helped turn rappers Eminem and 50 Cent into huge stars as a producer. As always there is the problem of dealing with people who don’t take rappers seriously when it comes to investing. Rapper 50 Cents, who reportedly made $100 million from his VitaminWater investment, waited patiently to put his money into Gunnar Optiks. The company makes various types of glasses designed for today’s digital lifestyle. One pair helps reduce eye strain associated with staring at LCD screens all day long. Gunnar Optiks originally only wanted a celebrity endorsement deal with 50 Cent. But the rapper said, “Come on, I don’t know what you take me for but let me be a proper investor.”

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Parting but not departing Dear Alma, My boyfriend and I broke up 3 months ago. I don’t want to move and he won’t move. I have asked him again and again to get out. What can I do? B.B., Culpeper, Va. B.B., You two aren’t done yet, you’re still playing games, acting like you don’t care when you really do. When a relationship is over and you’re ready to move on, that’s what you do and no one can stop you. In

the end, you walk away, accepting the unanswered questions and nonexistent apologies. Make up your mind. If you want him, work on the relationship. If it’s over, make your move. ***** Want advice? E-mail questions to alwaysaskalma@yahoo.com. Follow her on Facebook at “Ask Alma” and twitter @almaaskalma *****

12 • April 22 2015

The LEGACY

Study: Mouth, as well as gut, could hold key to liver disease flare-ups In a recent study, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine researchers predicted which cirrhosis patients would suffer inflammations and require hospitalization by analyzing their saliva, revealing a new target for research into a disease that accounts for more than 30,000 deaths in the United States each year. The findings could trigger a change in the way researchers study chronic liver disease and associated microbiota, the network of tiny organisms in the human body such as bacteria and fungi that can either

bolster an immune system or weaken it. The breakdown of defenses in the mucosa of the gut has long been a signal of inflammation in those with cirrhosis, which sees healthy liver tissue replaced by scar tissue. The recent findings suggest that another part of the body also can produce warning signs. “It has been believed that most of the pathogenesis of cirrhosis starts in the gut, which is what makes this discovery so fascinating,” said Jasmohan S. Bajaj, M.D., associate professor of hepatology in the VCU

School of Medicine and Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center.“The fact that saliva, along with fluid in the gut, can be an indicator of inflammation tells us that we need to further explore the oral cavity and its connections to liver disease.” Bajaj is the senior author of a paper, “Salivary Microbiota Reflects Changes in Gut Microbiota in Cirrhosis with Hepatic Encephalopathy,”accepted March 29 for publication in the journal Hepatology. The paper describes a study of more than 100 cirrhosis patients from VCU and VA Medical Center, 38 of which had to be hospitalized within 90 days because of flare-ups. Researchers found that the ratio of good-to-bad microbes was similar in the saliva as in the stool of these patients who required hospitalization.

Another part of the same study looked at an additional group of more than 80 people with and without cirrhosis. Those with cirrhosis had impaired salivary defenses, mirroring the immune deficiencies that take place in the gut. “The data suggest that there may be a change in the overall mucosalimmune interface in cirrhosis patients, allowing a more toxic microbiota to emerge in both the gut and oral cavity,” said Phillip B. Hylemon, Ph.D., professor of microbiology and immunology in the VCU School of Medicine and coauthor of the paper. In addition to using oral microbiota to predict the disease status of cirrhosis patients, Hylemon said the new evidence could provide a useful tool for testing treatment protocols for patients with cirrhosis or other diseases driven by inflammation.

Court to decide on environmental justice case A crucial environmental case is currently being deliberated by the U.S. Supreme Court that could potentially save thousands of lives in the black community and determine the state of the community’s health for generations to come. While the case hasn’t gotten much attention from the mainstream media, it is one of the most important that the court has heard in years directly affecting the plight of black people. The federal Environmental Protection Agency in 2011 issued new guidelines, called the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), for the first time ever limiting the toxic air pollution that coal- and oil-fueled power plants were allowed to emit. It required these plants to reduce emissions by upgrading their facilities to more public healthfriendly systems. While few plants run on oil, coal plants provide the U.S. with nearly half of its electricity. But these regulations did not go over well with the power industry. Plants argue that the rules impose an unfair financial burden on them and hamper their ability to turn a profit. It’s a familiar complaint from

Jacqui Patterson

industry whenever they’re hit with a new requirement. Why is this of such import to the black community? Because these coal-powered plants spew extremely poisonous toxins of pollutants into the air every day that cause diseases and conditions like cancer, chronic heart conditions, ADD/ADHD, and respiratory diseases ranging from asthma to lung cancer in the surrounding communities. Not only that, 68 percent of the 42 million African-Americans in this country live within 30 miles of one of these coal-fire plants. Yes, you read that correctly. It is not a coincidence. For a long list of reasons that mostly come back to racism and exploitation, these dangerous plants are far more likely to be built in poor areas mostly populated by black and Hispanic people. Black children are the most likely to be exposed to mercury, in particular, which is a neurotoxin that after long-term exposure can cause fetal birth defects, brain damage or delayed development, emotional disturbances and psychotic reactions, (continued on page 14)

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April 22, 2015 • 13

Steve King: President Obama “importing…illegal aliens” to create “massive electorate” for Democrats like Civil Rights Act Republican Rep. Steve King said President Barack Obama’s executive action on immigration was done to create an entire class of voters for the Democratic Party. King, an immigration-hardliner from Iowa, says Obama’s move is reminiscent of African-Americans voting for Democrats in large numbers following the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. “To put it simply, the president is importing millions of illegal aliens who when they arrive here he thinks, and he’s right, they are undocumented Democrats, and so the next phase of this is to document these Democrats so they can vote,”

King told the Virginia radio program, the John Fredericks Show last week. King likened the executive action on immigration to President Franklin Roosevelt’s plan to add seats to the Supreme Court in the 1930s when the court was challenging New Deal legislation. “This is the president of the United States trying to stack the electorate with millions of people, lawlessly bringing them into the United States of America and giving them a presence here, and thinking and realizing that the longer you can keep them here the less likely it is that they will go home,” added King. King called the Democratic Party

Work at home U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Derick Carmichael, with Transportation Services Company (TS Co.), Combat Logistics Battalion 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, assist with a set up for motor pool during Deployment for Training at Fort A.P. Hill, Va., last week. The motor pool was established to support the Marines of 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, during their annual training exercise. PHOTO: USMC/ Cpl. Anthony Quintanilla

“the beneficiaries” of the action. King said many undocumented immigrants “don’t understand the law” because “they come from lawless counties. “And they will see Barack Obama and his party are the beneficiaries, that they are the beneficiaries of his lawlessness. They don’t understand the law, they come from lawless countries. So they’re not at all likely to defend our Constitution or the rule of law. They take an oath to it when they are, when they are naturalized, and I speak at those services as often as I can.” King said Obama’s action would create a “massive electorate” that votes for Democrats the same way the 1964 Civil Rights Act

made African-Americans vote for Democrats. “It erodes the politics of this country, the respect for the rule of law, and it creates this massive electorate that will likely vote in large numbers for Barack Obama and his party, just like African Americans have done so after Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act, which by the way took the majority of Republicans in the House and Senate to make sure that that passed.” The 1930s historically marked the first large for African-Americans shift to the Democratic Party but party identification remained even until the 1948 election, according to data from the Joint Center for Political Economic Studies.

14 • April 22, 2015

The LEGACY

Want to cuddle? New cuddling business comes to town Local business owners Mary Tucker and Robert Castelvecchi recently opened Cuddle RVA, Richmond, Virginia’s first professional cuddling salon at 1805 Monument Ave, suite 600. It’s an unusual venturre for many in the public, but the owners note that professional cuddling offers soothing touch, platonic companionship and comfort in a safe, calm and relaxing environment. Similar businesses, such as The Snuggery in Rockester, NY and

Cuddle Up to Me in Portland, OR, see a steady influx of the cuddlecurious as well as a loyal following of regulars, and have garnered national and international attention. Sessions cost $60 for one hour, with a 30 minute minimum and longer options available. Clients can opt to cuddle in bed, read together on the couch, or simply enjoy a cup of tea and pleasant conversation in the quiet atmosphere of the salon. Other packages, such as“Movie Night” with a movie and snacks

provided, and “Midday Break” with 20 minute sessions during lunchtime for stressful workdays, will be offered in the near future. Sessions are by appointment only and must be prepaid. The owners note that numerous studies cite the health benefits of touch, such as lowering blood pressure and heart rate, increasing immune function and relieving pain by reducing cortisol and increasing oxytocin levels in the body. It has even been shown to improve the (from page 12)

Interstate 64 Capacity Improvements – Segment II City of Newport News, York County and James City County

Design Public Hearing Thursday, April 30, 2015, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Double Tree Hotel Williamsburg 50 Kingsmill Road, Williamsburg, VA 23185 Come and see the proposed project plans for capacity improvements on I-64 Segment II in the City of Newport News, James City County and York County. The purpose of this project is to extend the three-lane section of I-64 approximately 7.08 miles west, with widening occurring in the existing median of the interstate from 1.05 miles west of Route 199 (Humelsine Parkway/Marquis Center Parkway) to 0.54 miles east of Route 238 (Yorktown Road). Proposed improvements include the pavement reconstruction of existing lanes, additional 12-foot wide travel and shoulder lanes, and the repair and widening of existing bridges and culverts within the project corridor. Review the proposed project plans and the environmental documentation at the public hearing or at the VDOT Interstate Maintenance Office, 757-494-5478 or 1-888-723-8400, TTY/TDD 711, or at the VDOT Williamsburg Residency Office, 4451 Ironbound Road, Williamsburg, VA 23188, 757-253-4869. Please call ahead to ensure the availability of appropriate personnel to answer your questions. Property impact information, relocation assistance policies and tentative construction schedules are available for your review at the above addresses and will be available at the public hearing. Give your written or oral comments at the hearing or submit them by May 10, 2015, to Ms. Janet Hedrick, P.E., Project Manager, VDOT, 1992 South Military Highway, Chesapeake, VA 23320. You may also email your comments to Janet.Hedrick@VDOT.Virginia.gov. Please reference “I-64 Segment II Capacity Improvements Comment” in the subject line. In compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act, Section 106 and 36 CFR Part 800, information concerning the potential effects of the proposed project on properties listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places is provided in the environmental documentation. VDOT ensures nondiscrimination and equal employment in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. For more information or special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, contact VDOT’s Civil Rights Division at 757-925-2500 or TTY/TDD 711. State Project: 0064-965-264, P101, R201, C501, B627, B628, B629, B630, B631, B632, B633, B634, B635, D603, D604, D605, D606, D607, D608 Federal Project: IM-965-5(086) UPC: 106665

and more. Jacqui Patterson, director of the NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Program, which is backing the EPA in the case before the Supreme Court, said that AfricanAmerican children are two to three times as likely to miss school, be hospitalized, or die from asthma attacks than White children. “For us, it’s very much a civil rights issue if certain communities are being disproportionately impacted by the pollutants that come from these coal plants,” she said, according to a story by Jazelle Hunt, Washington correspondent for the NNPA, the Black Press organization. To make its case, the NAACP referred to a report it issued called “Coal Blooded: Putting Profits Before People.” The organization assigned a grade and rank to nearly 400 coal plants around the nation, in addition to listing the worst plants, the worst companies and the toll these plants take on the surrounding communities. According to the report, four million people live within three miles of the 75 worst plants, and nearly 53 percent of them are black and brown. The five plants with the worst environmental justice performance were: Crawford Gen. Station and Fisk Gen. Station in Chicago; Hudson Gen. Station in Jersey City, N.J.; Valley Power Plant in Milwaukee, Wis.; and State Line Plant in Hammond, Ind. The most failing plants are in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan,

health and prognosis for premature infants. Prior to scheduling their first session, clients will meet with a Cuddler in a neutral public location, such as a coffee shop, to discuss policies and expectation and to get to know one another. Cuddlers have complete autonomy to refuse clients and to cancel or reschedule sessions for violations of the client contract, such as behavior or hygiene. There is a strict no nudity, kissing, or sexual contact policy. Virginia, and Colorado. In addition, the Black community is in for a double whammy—after the pollutants do their damage and alter the climate, then Black communities bear the worst effects of climate change. “Indeed, Hurricane Katrina and the tornadoes in Pratt City, AL have already vividly demonstrated that the shifts in weather patterns caused by climate change disproportionately affect African Americans and other communities of color in the United States—which is a particularly bitter irony, given that the average African American household emits 20 percent less [carbon dioxide] per year than the average white American household,” the report states. “The six states with the largest proportion of African-Americans are all in the Atlantic hurricane zone, and all are expected to experience more severe storms as a consequence of global warming.” If the EPA regulations are allowed by the Supreme Court to take effect, EarthJustice, a nonprofit environmental justice organization, estimates that they would reduce mercury emissions by 75 percent, preventing up to 11,000 premature deaths, nearly 5,000 heart attacks, 130,000 asthma attacks, and more than 540,000 missed work days each year. After hearing oral arguments for 90 minutes last week on the case, known as National Mining Association v. Environmental Protection Agency, the Supreme Court is expected to issue a decision by summer.

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April 22, 2015 • 15

16 • April 22, 2015

Calendar

4.24, 7:30 a.m.

Richmond Public Schools Education Foundation’s fourth commemoration of Pride of RPS: Living Legacies Breakfast takes place April 24, 7:30 a.m. at The Jefferson Hotel. Eight alumni “living an extraordinary life as an inspirational leader” will be honored as family, friends, and the general public join in the celebration. The Pride of RPS: Living Legacies Breakfast was created by Richmond Public Schools Education Foundation to recognize and applaud alumni of RPS who have great accomplishments both in their personal and professional lives. Richmond Public Schools Education Foundation is a nonprofit organization established to support educational enrichment opportunities for students in Richmond Public Schools. Over the past five years, Richmond Public Schools Education Foundation has partnered with local businesses, foundations, the city of Richmond and individuals to raise more than $4.4 million dollars to support our students, teachers and schools. For more information and honorees, see www. RPSeducationfoundation.org.

4.24, 10 a.m.

While not everything is available online, you can still get a start on your genealogy research by using the internet. Join Library of Virginia archivists to explore the online world of genealogy research. For registration and information, go to http://tinyurl.com/LoVGenWrkshp.

National Megan’s Law Helpline & Sex Offender Registration Tips Program

Call (888) ASK-PFML (275-7365)

The LEGACY

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

1000 Young Men Success Conference

4.25, 8 a.m.

“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” - Frederick Douglass April 25, 10:00am-2:00pm Ages: 13-19 years old Mt Gilead FGIM 2501 Mt Gilead Blvd, Richmond Bringing together 1000 young men to train them in the areas of moral values, educational success and civic responsibility. Help us to reach young men in Richmond, Chesterfield and the surrounding areas! Want to help? Need more information? Contact Dwayne Bennett: 804-617-2640 Email: 1000youngmen@gmail.com Website: www.1000youngmen.org 16 • April 1, 2015

MOTHER’S DAY STORIES

The LEGACY

SHARE THE STORY OF YOU AND YOUR MOM Submit with photos to:

NEWS@LEGACYNEWSPAPER.COM Deadline: April 30, 2015 Publishing date: May 6, 2015

Submit your calendar events to calendar@legacynewspaper.com and include contact infomation that can be published.

Register, raise funds, and run – that’s all it takes to be a hero in the eyes of a person facing lung cancer. Hundreds of local residents will join the nationwide movement to double lung cancer survival by participating in the fifth annual Richmond Free to Breathe 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, April 25 at the Innsbrook North Shore Commons. All proceeds from the event support Free to Breathe, a lung cancer research and advocacy organization dedicated to ensuring surviving lung cancer is the expectation, not the exception. This year’s event will feature a 5K run/walk and 1-mile walk with awards for top fundraisers. The day will also include music, speakers, entertainment and fun for the whole family. Help double lung cancer survival by 2022. To register and begin fundraising, visit www.freetobreathe.org.

4.25, 3 p.m.

Great Hope Baptist Men'’s Day Weekend Celebration April 25-26 “Experience God’s Power with Us” The event will featured the Sensational Five; J-unity; Temple of Judah; Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church Male Chorus and Great Hope Baptist Church Male Chorus. Join us for a spiritual and uplifting afternoon through songs, worship and praise. Sunday Men’s Day Celebration 10:00 Worship Service Minister Alvin Hill III. For more information call the church 648-8041 2101 Venable St.

4.29, 1 p.m.

The Library of Virginia’s African American Database Project takes placeat the Conference Rooms Library archivist Greg Crawford provides an update on the massive effort to collect the names and stories of enslaved Virginians from the Library's archives. This program complements To Be Sold: Virginia and the American Slave Trade. Presented as part of Preservation Week.

April 22, 2015 • 17

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