OUR TIME PRESS | June 15 – 21, 2017

| From the Villa ge of Brook ly n |

OUR TIME PRESS THE L OCAL PAPER WITH THE G LOBAL VIEW

| VOL. 21 NO. 24

June 15 – 21, 2017 |

Since 1996

Photo: Winston Wharton

Remembering The Ancestor of the Middle Passage, June 10, 2017, Coney Island, Brooklyn

The View from Here

“We’ve Seen These Times Before”

Juneteenth 1865 - 2017 ■■ David Mark Greaves

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he Emancipation Proclamation was signed on January 1, 1863, but it was not until June 19, 1865 that Union Army Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and the people held as slaves had been freed, finally ending slavery throughout the United States.

It is now Juneteenth 2017 and we find that we are still living in dangerous times. When pundits proclaim that this time of Trump is “not normal”, they mean it’s “not normal” for non-rich

Photo: Mark Stewart

➔➔ Continued on page 12

The Thinkers Notebook Marlon Rice

Bill Maher, Ice Cube and this alleged Repurposing and Repossession of “nigga”

W

hat if I took a gun, stuck a rose stem first into the barrel and called it a vase?

And then, every time me or my friends walked around with this gun with a rose stuck inside we called it a vase, but if we ever saw you with a gun we’d get upset and accuse you of having a gun? Wouldn’t that just be the silliest thing? I mean, just because you stick a rose into a gun, it doesn’t make the gun a vase. The gun is still a gun, capable of hurting or killing people, regardless of what you say it is or how you say you use it.

And oh, how hypocritical would it be for me to carry my gun that I call a vase everywhere I go, but become irate and angry when I see you carrying yours.

Last week, Bill Maher drew some negative attention when he responded to

Fred Powell, Founder of Barbara's Flowers, Passes.

See Victoria Horsford's What's Going On, Page 4

Republican Senator Ben Sasse’s comment about having Maher come and work in the fields of Nebraska by saying, “Senator, I’m a House Nigger.”

Almost immediately, Twitter and Facebook was filled with comments about Maher’s words. He’s insensitive. He’s racist.

His show should be cancelled immediately.

The word nigger and its remixed spelling nigga have always been and will always be a hot-button topic. Its origin is purely racist and evil, a word spewed from the mouths of overseers in the Antebellum South when referring to their chattel, their human property, the Black slave. It followed the degradation of the Black race out of slavery, and into Jim Crow, when people used the word to remind ➔➔ Continued on page 6

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OUR TIME PRESS June 15 – 21, 2017

Education

CUNY Leads the Way

In an op-ed published yesterday in The New York Times, David L. Kirp, a professor of public policy at the University of California, Berkeley, wrote that “CUNY Start holds some clues on how to solve an education crisis,” noting that the innovative remedial program is getting more than half of the students who complete the program ready for college in just one semester, “something that’s almost impossible with regular remedial courses.”

The success has prompted a pilot program to train New York City high school teachers in the CUNY Start model of teaching. “It’s the classic ounce-of-prevention approach — improve teaching in high school so students won’t have to take remedial math in college.”

The column also highlights the success of CUNY’s nationally acclaimed ASAP initiative that helps students receive associate degrees faster.

Kirp concludes by pointing out that “CUNY Start and ASAP aren’t City University’s only success stories. Researchers at Stanford, Berkeley and Brown Universities have shown that CUNY is a more powerful engine of mobility than almost any university in the nation.”

DBG MEDIA Publishers of Our Time Press, Inc. 358 Classon Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11238 (718) 599-6828 Web site: www.ourtimepress.com e-mail: editors@ourtimepress.com Publisher

African-Americans in New York City are two times more likely than white Americans to have Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month sheds light on the need for more research to understand the impact of race and ethnicity in Alzheimer’s and other dementias PR Newswire NEW YORK, June 12, 2017 NEW YORK, June 12, 2017 / PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Whites make up the great majority of the 5.5 million people in the United States with Alzheimer’s disease.

However, combining evidence from available studies shows that African-Americans are about two times more likely than white Americans to have Alzheimer’s and other dementias, and their numbers are growing every year.

Although the rate of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias in African-Americans is significantly higher than in whites, they are less likely than whites to have a diagnosis of the condition. Medicare data from 2013 show they were only 36 percent more likely to have a diagnosis. And, according to the 2006 Health and Retirement Study (HRS), AfricanAmericans with cognitive impairment are less likely than whites to say that a doctor has told them they have a “memory-related disease.”

“When they are diagnosed,

Readers’ Comments CONGRATULATIONS!

Editor-in-Chief

Consultant Bernice Elizabeth Green

African-Americans are typically in the later stages of the disease, when they are more cognitively and physically impaired and need more expensive hospital, physician, and home health care services,” stated Dr. Anafidelia Tavares, Director of Programs for the Alzheimer’s Association – NYC Chapter.

Early diagnosis is critically important, so all those affected by the disease–including family caregivers–have time to develop a care plan for the future and can take advantage of free care and support programs, clinical trials, and information about healthy aging.

While genetic factors do not appear to account for the greater prevalence of – or the greater risk for developing – Alzheimer’s, high blood pressure and diabetes are suspected risk factors for Alzheimer’s and other dementias among all population groups. High blood pressure and diabetes are more prevalent in the African- American community, making these conditions, among others, contributing factors to the greater prevalence of Alzheimer’s and dementia in this population.

PROOFED/JAMES & BG

DBG MEDIA

David Mark Greaves

VOL. 21 NO. 24

Yet another fantabulously informative edition of OTP. I especially appreciated the facts about college admissions officers and the Alzheimer’s story. It was at one of the

Alzheimer’s workshops I attended that I learned our community does not participate in the Alzheimer’s TrialMatches; I enrolled in the NYU “unmedicated” TrialMatch and will be followed for five years.

Better management of these conditions – especially if treatment were begun in people who have these conditions in midlife – may help reduce Alzheimer’s and dementia risk among African-Americans.

To meet the urgent need for Alzheimer’s education and support programs in the communities of color in New York City, the Alzheimer’s Association offers neighborhood programs throughout NYC, as well as online courses on the Training and Education Center at www.alz.org/nyc. These courses share information about healthy aging, how to “Know the 10 Signs® - Early Detection Matters”, and opportunities to participate in clinical trials through a free program called TrialMatch®.

The Alzheimer’s Association-NYC Chapter also offers free care consultations, both in person and confidentially online, with trained, bilingual social workers who can be reached 24/7 at the Helpline 800.272.3900.

SOURCE Alzheimer’s Association - NYC Chapter

Dr. Satcher, former US Surgeon General, believes our community is hesitant to participate in TrialMatches because of fear/ distrust and the dark history of the Tuskegee syphilis experiments.

Something to think about! Kudos to OTP for printing such an insightful article.

Elizabeth Rankin-Fulcher (Note to readers: Ms. Rankin-Fulcher also is a recurring contributor to Our Time Press.)

Legacy Ventures Contributors Victoria Horsford Selma Jackson Margo McKenzie Priscilla Mensah Aishamanne Williams Manager www.ourtimepress.com Liani Greaves Sports Eddie Castro

Office Manager Joanna Williams © 2015, DBG MEDIA Publishers of Our Time Press, Inc., printed in New York City.

All rights reserved.

No part of the publication may be reproduced without prior permission of the publishers. Publishers are not responsible for any ad claims.

MBE Certified in NYC, NYS and the Port Authority of NY & NJ

Black Woman Senator Publicly Cut Off For Second Time in Two Weeks

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alifornia Sen. Kamala Harris was blatantly interrupted during her questioning of Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

By Moses Frenck diversityinc.com June 14, 2017 During former FBI Director James Comey’s testimony before Congress last week, a Twitter user jokingly tweeted: “It’s Sen Harris’s turn to question Comey… wonder if she’ll get through questioning without a male colleague telling her to be

more polite.” The comment referenced the treatment of Sen. Kamala Harris during a Senate intelligence committee hearing a week prior, when she was interrupted and admonished by Republican colleagues during her questioning of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and told to let him finish his answers.

Harris, a Democrat from California and potential 2020 presidential contender, is the only Black woman in the U.S. Senate.

The interruption and her singling out was blatant enough that it did not go unnoticed

by news outlets and observers, including fellow Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who immediately following the incident tweeted: “Silencing @SenKamalaHarris for not being ‘courteous’ enough is just unbelievable. Keep fighting, Kamala! #NeverthelessShePersisted” Warren herself was silenced on the Senate floor in February by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) when attempting to read a letter written by Coretta Scott King in 1986 opposing the nomination of Jeff Sessions to become a federal judge.

Warren’s silencing spurred the Nevertheless She Persisted hashtag.

While Harris was not interrupted during the Comey hearing as those on Twitter joked last week, the tweets were somewhat prophetic. During the Senate intelligence committee hearing on Tuesday Harris was again blatantly interrupted by her Republican male colleagues — this time during her questioning of, ironically, Attorney General Sessions.

Harris was pressing Sessions to answer questions over conversations he may or may not have had with President Donald Trump, which Sessions repeatedly refused to answer and then was unable to explain policies he cited that he said entitled him not to respond.

As Harris became more adamant in her questioning, she was interrupted by Arizona Sen. John McCain, who was told by committee

Member: New York State Press Association

➔➔ Continued on page 8

VOL. 21 NO. 24

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OUR TIME PRESS June 15 – 21, 2017

Trump Administration Seeks ‘Drastic Remedy’ to Derail Kids Climate Lawsuit ■■

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By The Children’s Trust

he Trump administration filed a writ of mandamus petition with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Friday, seeking an extraordinarily rare review of a Nov. 10, 2016 decision by U.S. District Court Judge Ann Aiken to deny its motion to dismiss Juliana v. United States. Further, the Trump administration is seeking “a stay of proceedings in the district court” while the Ninth Circuit considers its petition.

The Trump administration argues the Ninth Circuit should “exercise its supervisory mandamus powers to end this clearly improper attempt to have the judiciary decide important questions of energy and environmental policy to the exclusion of the elected branches of government.”

The U.S. Constitution provides for three separate but equal branches of government, with no exception for energy and environmental policy.

Douglas A. Kysar, the Joseph M. Field ‘55 Professor of Law at Yale Law School who is not connected with the litigation, but recently co-authored Courting Disaster: Climate Change and the Adjudication of Catastrophe, said: “Writs of mandamus are reserved for the most extraordinary and compelling situations in which ordinary rules of appellate procedure must be overridden to avoid a manifest injustice. For the Trump Justice Department to even seek a writ of mandamus in the current context is offensive to Judge Aiken, to the entire federal judiciary, and, indeed, to the rule of law itself.

The writ should not be granted and we should all question why the Trump administration’s lawyers are willing to try such a trick rather than forthrightly defend the case.

“When the Framers divided power within the government, they did it so that the branches could not only check and balance each other, but also poke and prod when necessary. The Juliana litigation is a powerful poke and prod to the entire federal government on the question of climate responsibility. In that sense, Juliana might well be the most important lawsuit on the planet right now and the government knows it. That’s why Trump’s lawyers are so desperate to avoid an honest fight.”

Justice Anthony Kennedy, writing for the Supreme Court’s majority in Cheney v. U.S., explained in 2004 that mandamus is a “drastic and extraordinary remedy” reserved for “only exceptional circumstances.”

This Trump administration’s filing comes just one day after Judge Aiken shut down another rare path to Ninth Circuit review, with an order denying the U.S. government and fossil fuel industry’s motions seeking an interlocutory appeal.

“The U.S. Government is running from

some of its youngest constituents, and all we’re asking for is a plan to preserve our future,” said Victoria Barrett, 18, of White Plains, New York, one of 21 youth plaintiffs.

“The U.S. government is trying to use every possible tool they can to avoid trial,” Julia Olson, co-lead counsel for plaintiffs and executive director of Our Children’s Trust, said. “Because they know applying the law to the facts and science in this case will mean certain defeat for them at trial. If the Trump administration was at all confident it could defend itself at trial, it would be preparing for trial.”

Last month, motions were filed by three fossil fuel industry intervenor-defendants: the National Association of Manufacturers, the American Petroleum Institute and the American Fuel & and Petrochemical Manufacturers requesting the court’s permission to withdraw from the litigation. For any defendant to leave the litigation, U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas Coffin must grant permission. That matter is still pending.

“By this writ, the Trump administration

insists the federal government can continue to support the fossil fuel system and inflict harm on our children and grandchildren,” Phil Gregory, co-lead counsel for plaintiffs and partner with Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, LLP in Burlingame, CA, said. “We believe the Court of Appeals will affirm that our Constitution specifically protects our Nation’s Posterity. As Judge Aiken wrote, ‘the judiciary must not shrink from its role as a coequal branch of government.’”

An in-court case management conference, open to the public, is set for 10 a.m.

PST on June 14 at the Wayne L. Morse U.S. Courthouse in Eugene, Oregon.

Juliana v. United States was brought by 21 young plaintiffs, and Earth Guardians, who argue that their constitutional and public trust rights are being violated by the government’s creation of climate danger. The case is one of many related legal actions brought by youth in several states and countries, all supported by Our Children’s Trust, seeking science-based action by governments to stabilize the climate system.

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OUR TIME PRESS June 15 – 21, 2017

WHAT’S GOING ON ■■

Victoria Horsford

TALK OF THE TOWN Predictions and chatter about President Donald Trump’s impeachment are premature!

It is not going to happen until there is a changing of the guard from a GOP majority to a Democratic majority in the US Congress or Senate. That will not happen until November 2018, which seems like an eternity. While the GOP dominates both legislative houses, neither chamber has the will to initiate any drastic action against an incumbent president of the same party, despite the daily stories of corruption, improprieties and ineptitude that typifies the current White House.

Dennis Rodman returned to North Korea and in less than 24 hours, an American detained by that country was released. The former basketball player seems to have manifold diplomatic skills in dealing with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. He was responsible for détente with North Korea during

Kim Jong-un

be Oberlin’s 15th President and its first African- American leader in its 184-year history. Current President of Cedar Crest College, Ambar earned her bachelors at Georgetown, her master’s at Princeton and her Juris Doctor at the Columbia University Law School. She was an assistant dean at Princeton and worked as NYC Assistant Corporation Counsel.

President Obama’s watch.

Rodman won’t say if White House outreach encouraged a return visit to North Korea.

Politics, USA NEW YORK: Just finished reading NYC Councilwoman Laurie Cumbo’s report card re: all of her “incredible and exciting budget victories for Brooklyn’s 35th District from the new city budget. Her grades are exceptional. She got monies for schools, community-based organizations, NYCHA, libraries, parks. She got $20+ million for cultural institutions, $3 million for her five NYCHA complexes, $6 million for education running the gamut from Medgar Evers College to Brooklyn Tech to Fort Greene Prep. Moreover, Councilwoman Laurie Cumbo’s efforts will benefit most New Yorkers with the budget’s citywide women’s empowerment program and youth engagement after-school programs. This is an election year for all NYC Councilmembers.

It is hoped that other city people will share similar report cards with constituents.

Racist, GOP potty-mouth Carl Paladino is ready to oppose Governor Cuomo next year in the NYS gubernatorial race. Paladino remains on the Buffalo school board despite his loathsome Internet remarks about President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama last year.

Will 2017 be the year of AfricanAmerican governors? Three men are eyeing the top job in state houses. Ben Jealous, former NAACP president,

Caribbean Heritage Month

Ben Jealous announced his entry into the Maryland gubernatorial race. Attorney Jim Johnson is running as a Democrat in the New Jersey gubernatorial race. Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum is running for governor in Florida.

Andrew Gillum

Office of the Mayor

This is what winning $1.9 million in City contracts looks like.

Dunyo Awoonor President & CEO, Skyline Industries

Education News The Class of 2017: All 48 seniors attending Brooklyn charter school, UNCOMMON COLLEGIATE H.S, based in Bedford-Stuyvesant, are on their way to four-year colleges and universities in September, including Barnard, Dartmouth, Howard, Hamilton, Rochester, Hampshire, Amherst, SUNY and CUNY. About 60% of the graduating class will be the first in their family to attend college. Their scholarships exceed $1.5 million. The Uncommon Charter Schools in Brooklyn is a network of 22 schools, serving more than 7500 students, grades K-12, within the NYC Department of Education. A typical Uncommon School day is 9 hours, which includes breakfast and after-school studies.

Attorney Carmen Twillie Ambar was named President of Oberlin College, effective September 2017. She will

If you’re a minority or woman business owner, find out how the Department of Small Business Services can help you make NYC your next customer.

Call 311 or visit

VOL. 21 NO. 24

nyc.gov/getcertified Carmen Twillie Ambar

The Institute of Caribbean Studies petitioned for a formal recognition of the contributions of Caribbean Americans living in the USA in 1999. The petition considered Caribbean-Americans like Ambassador/ educator James Weldon Johnson, Secretary of State Colin Powell, W.E.B DuBois and Shirley Chisolm who were prominent in the American political cultural landscape.

Petition was circulated and tabled to the US Congress and Senate for a few years.

President George Bush issued a proclamation making June Caribbean-American Heritage Month, in 2006.

The latest Caribbean-American news emerged last Sunday when Puerto Ricans went to the polls to vote on what form of government the country should pursue – colony, independent nation, 51st state? Puerto Rico has been a US territory since the Spanish-American War in 1898.

Voter turnout was low and nonbinding, with about 85% of voters opting for 51st statehood. The next step is Congressional review, then for POTUS 45’s approval. This GOP Congress and executive branches do not have the appetite for the statehood option.

CARIBBEAN-AMERICANS, the business establishment: Benta’s Funeral Home, Jason Benta; Golden Krust, Lowell Hawthorne; REAL ESTATE: Edward Sisters Realty, founded in 1926, Russell Grey, Ramona Harris and Aden Seraile; The Horsford Group, Robert Horsford, Alyah Horsford Sidberry, Victoria Horsford; Yvonne Stafford Realty; Ed Poteat; Kenyetta Punter; Frank Hernandez, Tridez Realty, Michael Williams, Victor Wareham; and Karen Soltau; Harlem Fashion Week co-founders Yvonne Jewnell Designs and Tandra Yvonne Birkett. ATTORNEYS: Ernst Perodin, Andy White; Michele Rodney, former Bronx DA Robert Johnson, Adrienne Lopez, Romeo Adams: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: Laurent Delly, IDEACOIL; Maria Granville. ENTERTAINMENT: Rafee Kamaal, TV/FILM producer; Kamilah Forbes, Apollo Theater Executive Producer; and Grace Blake, film producer.

Newsmakers RIP: Fred Powell, businessman, owner of Barbara’s Flowers in Brooklyn and Harlem, died of a heart attack. A memorial service was held at the Billie Holiday Theatre, Restoration Plaza on June 14 at 6 pm. A tribute to Mr. Powell was held at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, located at Chadwick Avenue in Teaneck, NJ on June 15 at 10 am. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations should be made in his name to AUDELCO, the Harlem Arts Alliance or the New Federal Theater.

RIP: Pianist/organist extraordinaire James (“Sugar Bear”) Skelton, Jr. has died.

A Paris Blues Sugar Bear Jam is planned on Saturday, June 17 from 5-9 pm at 2021 Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Boulevard in Harlem. Contact 917.257.7831.

VOL. 21 NO. 24

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OUR TIME PRESS June 15 – 21, 2017

Make This a Reading Summer for African-American Boys

By Matt Levin

May 31, 2017 Three of four African-American boys in California classrooms failed to meet reading and writing standards on the most recent round of testing, according to data obtained from the state Department of Education and analyzed by CALmatters.

More than half of black boys scored in the lowest category on the English portion of the test, trailing their female counterparts. The disparity reflects a stubbornly persistent gender gap in reading and writing scores that stretches across ethnic groups.

The data provide a unique glimpse of how gender interacts with race and class in mastery of basic reading, writing and listening skills tested on state exams.

While California publishes separate figures on the performance of various ethnic and economic groups, it does not make public a more detailed breakdown of how boys and girls are performing within those groups. State officials say they do not sort the data that way because of complexity, cost and time constraints.

“I wouldn’t put this in the same category of severity or concern as other achievement gaps,” said Tom Loveless, an education researcher for the Brookings Institution, a public policy think tank in Washington, D.C. “But there needs to be greater awareness of this.”

The gap spans all grade levels. Boys in high school score better than those in grade school, but girls outperform them by consistent margins at every age. And Percentage of Students Who Met California State Reading Standards African American Boys - 24% African American Girls - 38% Asian Boys - 71% Asian Girls - 80%

Hispanic-Latino Boys - 32% Hispanic-Latina Girls - 42% White Boys - 59% White Girls - 70%

a higher family income does not appear to even things out.

The gap is not unique to California. The phenomenon is nevertheless worrisome because it may compound other educational disparities California has attempted to close for decades, without success.

“If boys don’t read as well as girls, and if that persists all the way through K-12, it means when you reach certain thresholds like college, it places the males at a disadvantage,” says Loveless. “The ability to read well has a lot to do with the ability to get into college and the ability to do well while you’re in college.”

Certainly scores aren’t the only educational area in which black boys trail their peers. African-American boys are more likely to be suspended and drop out of school than other demographic groups, in California and elsewhere.

But the reading data is sobering. As early as fourth grade, for example, nearly 80 percent of black boys failed to meet state reading standards. Of all ethnic groups for which the state collects data, black boys trailed black girls by the widest margin.

“Part of this may be structural, in having texts that aren’t relevant to the experiences and legacy of African-American boys,” said Chris Chatmon, founding executive director of the African-American Male Achievement program at the Oakland Unified School District. “When a lot of the curriculum you have access to isn’t familiar, or doesn’t acknowledge your past or your present, you have a tendency not to be engaged with it or want to read it.”

While the state makes it relatively easy for parents to look up the test scores of African-Americans at local schools, the data is not broken down by gender.

So it may be difficult to identify schools where black boys are performing well, as well as schools that are struggling.

Source: California Department of Education, results of 2016 state English tests.

Welcoming New Neighbors

Catherine Suarez (left) and Cheryle E. Williams (right) are joined by block resident Woody Freeman as they host one of several Block Association membership stations set up along Decatur St., between Stuyvesant and Lewis. Some history from their welcoming brochure: “The Decatur Street/Stuyvesant Avenue Block Association was established on July 25, 1943 by the property owners on Decatur Street between Lewis and Stuyvesant Avenues. It was originally named the Decatur Street Civic Association.

In 1982, the association voted to merge with Stuyvesant Avenue between Decatur Street and Bainbridge Streets to form a new association that is known today as the 200 Decatur Street/Stuyvesant Avenue Block Association.”

Anopen"T Thank h You" Y to t OTP O

An open "Thank You" toTOTP "Praise iss due d to those who h have merit" meritt" Swahili ah Saying

Dear David and Bernice: Because of you, the "community" was able to celebrate the life and times of the late Q Queen Leola Weaver Maddox in WORDS and DEEDS on June 3rd 2017.

We appreciate your commitment to the community.

We appreciate OUR TIME PRESS. We appreciate you!

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OUR TIME PRESS June 15 – 21, 2017

The Thinkers Notebook Marlon Rice

Bill Maher, Ice Cube and this alleged Repurposing and Repossession of “nigga” ➔➔ Continued from page 1 you who you were, and to reinforce that you were nothing more. Eventually, Blacks began using the word with and about other Blacks.

As the new tongue called slang began to take hold of the youth in inner cities, so too did this word. Comedians used it to incite laughter. The guys on the block used it to describe one another. Somehow, someway, this word was welcomed into Black urban vernacular.

I used it.

I used it in almost every sentence I spoke between the ages of 16 and 33. I used it, because as a child, I heard my uncles use it.

I used it because everyone did – my neighbors, my family, strangers in the community, Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, everybody. It was how I described my friend, “he’s my nigga”. It was how I described my enemy, “that nigga”. It was how I relayed my feelings on anything, like “nigga please”.

When elders would say that I shouldn’t use such a horrible word, I never could relate because I didn’t see the horror in it. I’d debate that we took the power away from the word by changing the spelling. Nigger was evil. But nigga was okay to use. Just as long as Whites didn’t use it, because when they use it they are being racist. But me, I’m using it as a “term of endearment”.

I knew a woman who is White but was born and raised in Jamaica. She came to America as a kid, and as a young woman she worked in the music business. All her friends were Black. Her husband was Puerto Rican.

Most of her business associates were Black.

But as I said, she is a White woman. When I was first introduced to her, we hit it off immediately. She was cool. We spoke about all kinds of things. One day we were with a bunch of friends and one of our mutual friends, who didn’t know that we were cool,

made mention to her that they didn’t know that she and I were friends. Her reply to that person was, “Oh yeah. Marlon is my nigger.”

Now, it is very possible that she meant Marlon is my nigga. But that’s NOT how it felt.

Her saying that bothered me. When we were alone I asked her about it, and she actually got upset with me. She said that all her Black friends are okay with her using the word because of how she was raised.

She said I was being too sensitive about it.

I smiled it off, but she and I were never as cool as we were before she used that word in describing me. I don’t care how many of her Black friends let her use it with them, it bothered me that she felt so familiar that she could use it in such a flippant manner. I never used or even looked at the word the same after.

Like my former friend, Bill Maher works in entertainment. He has Black friends, and has been linked to a number of Black women, most notably Karrine Stephens, who is affectionately known as “Superhead”. He has used the word on camera before. In 2001, Maher argued on his show, Politically Incorrect, that anyone should be able to use the word. So, I’m not totally surprised or

shocked by his use of the word, and moreso, I’m not convinced that he is contrite for using it. He has already stated that he believes he should be able to use the word. The question is why? Why does he feel that he should be able to use the word? In his own words from that 2001 show, “Blacks say that Whites cannot use this word. I disagree… The word has changed. It has been co-opted as a term of endearment.” His point was that because Blacks use the word in television and music, the word should be seen as less hurtful and is part of the popular vernacular.

The problem is that Blacks use of the word is rooted in our own cognitive dissonance. When the word began to appear in urban vernacular we were a people trying to deal with the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder of slavery, while trying to identify as free and equal, all the while still working to patch up the holes in our social, spiritual and emotional selves which were the results of generations of oppression and subordinance.

Even now, we suffer from many of the same maladies. Using the term nigga on each other was a sick way of trying to delineate how the White world at large addressed us, our way of taking the word and finding comedy in its use against us. For the Chinese, the

VOL. 21 NO. 24 word “chink” is derogatory. It equals nigger with regards to the way it feels when it is used on a Chinese citizen. But Chinese men and women do not use that word when describing each other the way that Blacks use nigger. The Chinese have never felt a need to co-opt that word, because it’s foreign to them. Chink is not a Cantonese word, or a Mandarin word, so the Chinese have never felt a need to use it to add to their vernacular.

The reasoning behind Blacks use of the word nigger is an indictment of the fact that Blacks still recognize the subordinance related to being Black and living in America.

So, when Ice Cube, during a taping of Real Time with Bill Maher, says in response to Maher’s statement that, “That’s our word, and you can’t have it back,” I have to disagree. Yes, it is obvious that we have accepted the word, and we have used it with such fluidity that it appears wherever you see examples of Black entertainment. But it isn’t our word. It’s an English word created to describe Black people in a derogatory light. Now, as with most words you can take it and do with it what you want, just like my example of using a gun like a vase, but don’t be misled. That gun is not a vase, because the moment it is used in its natural intent, someone gets hurt. Just like the word nigger. Blacks can reappropriate and reconstruct it, and then build ideals on why it is acceptable to do such a thing, but the moment that the word is used by its originators in its natural intent, someone gets hurt. The only way to move passed the pain and frustrations of that word is to never ever use it with one another.

The word nigger continues to hold its power because we have created a secondary taboo about it, where certain people can say it like water flowing from a faucet, while still others are totally outlawed to even mumble it. The controversy will continue for as long as Blacks maintain this confusing ambiguity about the meaning and use of the word. It isn’t acceptable.

In the same way that words like Kike, Spic and Chink aren’t acceptable, neither is nigger.

It isn’t acceptable when other races say it to Blacks, and it isn’t acceptable when Blacks use it on other Blacks.

That’s what Ice Cube should’ve said.

The Third Annual “Juneteenth” Justice Now Event at the Riverside Church in New York City Will Commemorate the Symbol of Freedom With a Concert And Honor the 2017 Women’s March Organizers, the Late Kalief Browder and Dr. Johnnetta Cole

This free event will bring together freedom warriors to commemorate the date and continue to work and organize to make freedom a reality for all.

N

ew York, New York — On Monday, June 19, at 7:00 PM, at The Riverside Church in New York City, community leaders will gather to commemorate Juneteenth with an exciting program for their ‘Third Annual Juneteenth Celebration’. Juneteenth continues to embrace a vision of a nation in which all persons are valued and have equal opportunities to enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The event is being hosted in collaboration with the Union Theological Seminary, Auburn Theological Seminary, New York Theological Seminary, Drum Major Institute, Healing of the Nations Foundation, and The Ebony Ecumenical Ensemble, Inc. “We work every year to keep the legacy of Juneteenth alive and make sure that generations to come will honor our country’s history and keep the work of our ancestors alive — for a smarter, stronger and more peaceful nation,” said Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes the Senior Minister Emeritus of the Riverside Church. “All racial, ethnic, religious and economic backgrounds are welcome. Join us to celebrate those who

capably labor for our justice today,” he added.

On the occasion of the ‘Third Annual Juneteenth Celebration’ the program will host the “Spirit Alive” Awards Ceremony (followed by a reception) and will feature Special Honorees: Tamika Mallory, Linda Sarsour, Bob Bland and Janaye Ingram, lead organizers of the of the 2017 Women’s March in Washington D.C. The late Kalief Browder, Criminal Justice Reform Leader (Posthumous Award); Dr. Johnnetta Cole, Director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art and former-President of Spelman College.

This year’s honorees have shown the country and the world how important it is to have champions of justice for oppressors and the oppressed.

Music from the African-American sacred tradition will be played throughout the event, including performances by jazz luminaries Cyrus Chestnut and Wycliffe Gordon; acclaimed soprano Brandie Sutton; pianist,

arranger, composer and musical director, Joseph Joubert; and The Ebony Ecumenical Ensemble & the Juneteenth Jubilee Singers (made up of members from choirs from the New York area).

April 1865 marked the end of the Civil War, but also the beginning of a new United States of America. Slavery in the rebellious states ended. Yet despite the victory of the Union, the promise of freedom was denied to many throughout the Confederacy. It was therefore not until Union soldiers made their way to Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, that slaves there received the joyous news denied to them by their pernicious masters: these men and women, their children and their children’s children would now and forever be free.

For more than a century and a half, African Americans well beyond the state of Texas have celebrated June 19th—“Juneteenth”—as a symbol of freedom achieved and a fuller freedom yet to come.

The Riverside Church – a place where heroes and heroines of the past have spoken truth to power and have inspired courageous

action for democratic ideal now awaits your presence. The Ebony Ecumenical Ensemble, Inc. and the institutions of Morningside Heights are delighted to join together in expressing gratitude to you for your unwavering commitment to justice and your sustained sense of “the fierce urgency of now” in regard to the dignity and rights of us all.

WHERE: The Riverside Church @ 490 Riverside Drive New York, NY 10027 TIME: 7:00 - 9:00 PM RSVP: www.juneteenth2017.splashthat.com MEDIA INQUIRIES: Please contact Rocio Guzman at 1-917557-5339 or hello@insidecrowd.co. **Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes and the honorees will be available for interviews.

Please visit www.juneteenth2017. splashthat.com to RSVP and for more information about Juneteenth. Join the conversation by using the hashtag #Juneteenth2017.

Follow @RiversideNYC on Instagram and Twitter.

VOL. 21 NO. 24

7

OUR TIME PRESS June 15 – 21, 2017

Remembering the Ancestors of the Middle Passage June 10, 2017

Photos: Winston Wharton

Photo: Mark Stewart

8

OUR TIME PRESS June 15 – 21, 2017

VOL. 21 NO. 24

Black Woman Senator Publicly Cut Off For Second Time in Two Weeks

Getting it done!

■■

I

By Eddie Castro

n sports, it is such a rare yet exciting occurrence when an athlete goes out and just dominates. We just saw it in the NBA as two of the best NBA players in LeBron James and Kevin Durant went toe-to-toe to capture the NBA Championship. We’re currently seeing it in the Bronx as Yankees rookie Aaron Judge is taking the baseball world by surprise with

his dominant play both with his bat and his glove. Another young star athlete is looking to make her mark in the Borough of Brooklyn. Her name is Aziza Chigatayeva, and she is really good.

This spring, the Brooklyn Tech junior has been nothing short of dominant. In the borough championships, Chigatayeva ran the best Steeplechase time in the city finishing in six minutes, 58.60 seconds.

She also added another first-place finish to her resume in the city championship with her best time coming in at seven minutes 5.49 seconds. If you were to ask the young and poised athlete about her success, she simply keeps it blue collar by not getting overhyped and not letting anything or anyone make her lose focus at the goal at hand.

She simply has a strong hunger for winning. Her first-place finish at the city Steeplechase books her a trip to the state tournament.

The young athlete has made such an improvement from last season. As a sophomore, Aziza

competed at the state championship meet.

However, she wasn’t quite as ready as she seems this year. This year, she’s a lot more prepared, a lot more focused. Aziza and fellow teammate Kino Cheltenham will compete in the 400-meter dash. It is safe to say that Aziza is ready and willing to get the job done and finish with the top time.

➔➔ Continued from page 2 chairman Richard Burr (R-N.C.) to “allow the chair to control the hearing.” But Burr proceeded to back him up, telling Harris to “let [Sessions] answer the question.”

It was McCain and Burr who interrupted Harris during the hearing two weeks ago.

Many people watching or hearing Tuesday’s exchange said the behavior toward Harris was not partisan in nature, noting that male Democrats on the committee, who also pressed Sessions to answer the questions, at times aggressively, were not interrupted during their similar line of questioning.

“Sen Harris is called down…again! Why is it that no male Senator is interrupted? This is ridiculous and untenable,” tweeted user @ chriscashgavo in response to CNN’s tweet highlighting the interruption.

“The true disgrace on display was the discourteous treatment of Sen. Harris by Republican colleagues. She was only Sen interrupted. Yet again,” added @jivelike.

“GOP Senators having issues with Sen. Harris is becoming something of a trend, and the optics of it are not great.,” tweeted @ MatthewNussbaum.

“Two GOP Senators interrupt Sen. Harris’s questioning. They don’t do this to anyone else on the committee,” noted @ jeffstrabone.

“What is it about Kamala Harris that makes her the only Senator Republicans interrupt at every hearing?” @matthewamiller, a former Department of Justice and U.S. House and Senate spokesperson, asked his more than 64,000 followers.

Sports Notes: (Baseball) How good is Aaron Judge?

The 6’-8”, 280-pound rookie slugger has dominated almost every statistical category and is currently leading the league in home runs. E-mail me at Castroeddie714@gmail. com and tell me what you think.

(Basketball) Congratulations to the Golden State Warriors on winning their second NBA title in three years by defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 129-120 to win 4 games to 1 in five games. Kevin Durant was masterful in all five games scoring thirty-plus points in each of the five games, on his way to his first-ever NBA Championship.

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visit us on facebook : Fort Greene Brooklyn Juneteenth Arts Festival Visit www.fortgreenebrooklynjuneteenth.org To make paypal donations contact springmcclendon@aol.com or call 718.455.4057

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OUR TIME PRESS June 15 – 21, 2017

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OUR TIME PRESS June 15 – 21, 2017

NEW BUSINESS FORMATIONS Notice of Formation of JL & MT Realty LLC. Arts of Org. filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 6/5/17. Office location: Kings County. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 187 Wolf Rd, Ste 101, Albany, NY 12205.

The name and address of the Reg. Agent is Business Filings Incorporated, 187 Wolf Rd, Ste 101, Albany, NY 12205. Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of formation of AMOROSA 5, LLC, a Limited Liability Company (LLC).

Certificate of registration filed with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 03/06/2017.

NY office location: Kings County. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to the United States Corporation Agents Service Inc., 7014 13th Avenue , suite 202, Brooklyn, NY 11228 Purpose: Any lawful activity.

LEGAL NOTICES SUMMONS AND NOTICE Index No. 18082-2014 Borough: Brooklyn Block: 1432 Lot: 53 SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF KINGS NYCTL 1998-2 TRUST AND THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, AS COLLATERAL AGENT AND CUSTODIAN, Plaintiffs,v. HEAL HOME OWNERS INC; ALEAH HOLLAND, if living, or if she be dead, her husband, heirs-at-law, next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, assignees, lienors, creditors, successors-in-interest and generally all persons having or claiming under, by or through said ALEAH HOLLAND, by purchase, inheritance, lien or otherwise of any right, title or interest in and to the premises described in the complaint herein, and all creditors thereof, and the respective husbands, or widowers of hers, if any, all of whose names and addresses are unknown to Plaintiffs; NIGEL POWELL, if living, or if he be dead, his wife, heirs-at-law, next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, assignees, lienors, creditors, successors-in- interest and generally all persons having or claiming under,by or through said NIGEL POWELL, by purchase, inheritance, lien or otherwise of any right, title or interest in and to the premises described in the complaint herein, and all reditors thereof, and the respective wives, or widows of his, if any, all of whose names and addresses are unknown to Plaintiffs; WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB DOING BUSINESS AS CHRISTIANA TRUST NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS LEGAL TITLE TRUSTEE FOR BRONZE CREEK TITLE TRUST 2013NPL1; NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT; NEW YORK CITY PARKING VIOLATIONS BUREAU; NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT AUTHORITY TRANSIT ADJUDICATION BUREAU; NEW YORK CITY ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOARD; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE and “JOHN DOE #1” THROUGH “JOHN DOE #100”, the names of the last 100 defendants being fictitious, the true names of said defendants being unknown to plaintiffs, it being intended to designate fee owners, tenants or occupants of the liened premises and/or persons or parties having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the liened premises, if the aforesaid individual defendants are living, and if any or all of said individual defendants be dead, their heirs at law, next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, committees,

SAMARKAND SERVICE LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 05/04/2017. Office location: Kings County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC, 1656 E19TH APT 1G, Brooklyn, NY 11229 . Purpose: Any lawful activity.

of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/17/2017. Office location: Kings County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC, 488 Carroll Street, Brooklyn, New York 11215 . Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of SMORKIN FAMILY MANAGEMENT LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/24/15. Office location: Kings County. SSNY designated as agent of GREENE AVENUE NATURAL LLC upon whom process against it may be WINES LP Cert. of Limited Partnership served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC, filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 5/18/2017. 1169 Ocean Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11230.

Office in Kings Co. SSNY designated as As amended by Cert. of Amendment filed agent of LP upon whom process may be with SSNY on 08/29/16, name changed to served. SSNY shall mail copy of process SMORKIN-EVERS MANAGEMENT LLC. to 292 Carlton Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11205, Purpose: Any lawful activity. which is also the principal business location.

Name and address of each general partner is NYC/VTR LLC Notice of formation avail. from SSNY. Purpose: food and wine of NYC/VTR LLC Arts. of Org. filed service. Latest dissolution date: 5/18/2117. with the Sect’y of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/21/2017. Office location, County of Integrated Bodywork Center of Kings. SSNY has been designated as agent Brooklyn, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of the LLC upon whom process against it devisees, legatees, and the assignees, lienors, creditors and successors in interest of them, and generally all persons having or claiming under, by, through, or against the said defendants named as a class, of any right, title or interest in or lien upon the premises described in the complaint herein, Defendants. TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS:YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in the above-entitled foreclosure action, and to serve a copy of your answer on Plaintiffs’ attorney within thirty (30) days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner than by personal service within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service hereof. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint. Kings County is designated as the place of trial. The basis of venue is the location of the subject premises.

Dated: December 22, 2015 TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: The foregoing summons is served upon you by publication, pursuant to an Order of Honorable Kathy J. King, a Justice of the Supreme Court, dated January 28, 2016, and filed with supporting papers in the Kings County Clerk’s Office and an Order of Honorable Kathy J. King, a Justice of the Supreme Court, dated February 10, 2017, and filed with supporting papers in the Kings County Clerk’s Office. This is an action to foreclose a tax lien covering the property known as 2089 Pacific Street, Borough of Brooklyn, New York and identified as Block 1432, Lot 53 (the “Tax Parcel”). The relief sought is the sale of the Tax Parcel at public auction in satisfaction of the tax lien. In case of your failure to appear, judgment may be taken against you in the sum of $11,327.03, together with interest, costs, disbursements and attorneys’ fees of this action, and directing the public sale of the Tax Parcel. PHILLIPS LYTLE LLP Anthony J. Iacchetta Attorneys for Plaintiffs NYCTL 1998-2 Trust and The Bank of New York Mellon as Collateral Agent and Custodian 28 East Main Street Suite 1400 Rochester, New York 14614 Telephone No. (585) 238-2000 aiacchetta@phillipslytle. com NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT: KINGS COUNTY FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION; Plaintiff(s) vs. ROSITA TORO; et al; Defendant(s) Attorney (s) for Plaintiff (s): ROSICKI, ROSICKI & ASSOCIATES, P.C., 2 Summit Court, Suite 301, Fishkill, New York, 12524, 845.897.1600 Pursuant to judgment

of foreclosure and sale granted herein on or about September 29, 2015, I will sell at Public Auction to the highest bidder in Room 224 at the Kings County Supreme Court, 360 Adams Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201. On July 13, 2017 at 2:30 pm. Premises known as 176 NICHOLS AVENUE, BROOKLYN, NY 11208 Block: 4121 Lot: 58 ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Brooklyn, County of Kings, City and State of New York. As more particularly described in the judgment of foreclosure and sale. Sold subject to all of the terms and conditions contained in said judgment and terms of sale. Approximate amount of judgment $519,666.58 plus interest and costs. INDEX NO. 10276/10 Michael F. King, Esq., Referee NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF KINGS U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE OF OWS REMIC TRUST 2015-1, Plaintiff, Against Index No.: 509325/14 CARLOS LIRIANO, JASSON LIRIANO, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered in the Kings County Clerk’s Office on 4/6/2017, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at Room 224 of Kings County Supreme Court, 360 Adams Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201 on 6/29/2017 at 2:30 pm, premises known as 905 Belmont Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11208 and described as follows: ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Brooklyn, County of Kings, City and State of New York and designated on the tax maps of the Kings County Treasurer as Block 4228 and Lot 40. The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $506,616.14 plus interest and costs. The premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 509325/14.

Dominic J. Famulari, Esq., Referee. STIENE & ASSOCIATES, P.C. (Attorneys for Plaintiff), 167 Main Street, Northport, NY 11768 Dated: 4/12/2017 File Number: 201401018 SLC NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF KINGS HSBC Bank USA, National Association as Trustee for Nomura Asset Acceptance Corporation, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series2007-1, Plaintiff AGAINST Luan Dzafa; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly dated November 24, 2014 I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Kings County Supreme Court, 360 Adams Street, Room

VOL. 21 NO. 24 may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: LEGALINC Corporate Services, Inc. 1967 Wehrle Drive, Buffalo NY 14221, STE 1 # 086. Purpose: any lawful act.

Notice of formation of PROGRESS THROUGH PROCESS LIFE COACHING, LLC, a Limited Liability Company (LLC). Certificate of registration filed with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 5/16/2017. NY office location: Kings County. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to the LLC at 671 Monroe Street, Brooklyn, New York 11221. Purpose all lawful activities.

Notice of formation of BRANKER & BRANKER LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the Sect’y of State of NY (SSNY) on 3/31/2016. Office location, County of Kings.

SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 125 S. Oxford St., Brooklyn NY 11217. Purpose: any lawful act.

224, Brooklyn, NY 11201 on June 29, 2017 at 2:30PM, premises known as 18 Brighton 4th Terrace, Brooklyn, NY 11235. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Brooklyn, County of Kings, City and State of New York, Block: 7262 Lot: 30. Approximate amount of judgment $788,195.69 plus interest and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 2136/2013. Steven Cohen, Esq., Referee Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 759-1835 Dated: May 3, 2017 45988 NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF KINGS, FIRST MORTGAGE STRATEGIES GROUP, Plaintiff, vs.

CLETUS PASCAL, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly filed on April 22, 2015, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Kings County Supreme Court, Room 224, 360 Adams Street, Brooklyn, NY on July 06, 2017 at 2:30 p.m., premises known as 953 Ashford Street, Brooklyn, NY. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Brooklyn, County of Kings, City and State of New York, Block 4403 and Lot 49. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 661/09. Regina Darby, Esq., Referee Law Offices of Alan J. Waintraub PLLC, 97-17 64th Road, 3rd Floor, Rego Park, New York 11374, Attorneys for Plaintiff NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF KINGS, CITIMORTGAGE, INC., Plaintiff, vs. DWAYNE N. MCKAY, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly filed on April 13, 2016, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Kings County Supreme Court, Room 224, 360 Adams Street, Brooklyn, NY on July 06, 2017 at 2:30 p.m., premises known as 966 Madison Street, Brooklyn, NY. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Brooklyn, County of Kings, City and State of New York, Block 3366 and Lot 19. Approximate amount of judgment is $779,050.85 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 507058/13. William D. Bowman, Esq., Referee Knuckles, Komosinski & Manfro, LLP, 565 Taxter Road, Ste. 590, Elmsford, NY 10523, Attorneys for Plaintiff ➔➔ Continued on page 11

VOL. 21 NO. 24

OUR TIME PRESS June 15 – 21, 2017

11

The ‘Voyager King’ Mansa Abubakari II - Africa’s Greatest Explorer ■■

By: Muslim News Magazine

A

n African emperor who ruled Mali in the 14th century discovered America nearly 200 years before Christopher Columbus, according to African griots. Mansa Abubakari II, the ‘Voyager King’ once ruled what was the richest and largest empire on earth - covering nearly all of West Africa.

According to a Malian scholar, Gaoussou Diawara in his book, ‘The Saga of Abubakari II... the emperor, who was a Muslim, gave up all power and gold to pursue knowledge and discovery.

Abubakari’s ambition was to explore whether the Atlantic Ocean - like the great River Niger that swept through Mali - had another ‘bank’.

In 1311, he handed the throne over to his brother Mansa Musa, and set off on an expedition with 2000 boats to cross the Atlantic.

His predecessor and uncle, Sundiata Keita, had already founded the Mali empire and conquered a good stretch of the Sahara Desert and the great forests along the West African coast.

Gold fields The book also focuses on a research project being carried out in Mali tracing Abubakari’s journeys.

“We are not saying that Abubakari II

was the first ever to cross the ocean,” says Tiemoko Konate, who heads the project “There is evidence that the Vikings were in America long before him, as well as the Chinese,” he said.

Black traders Mr Konate says they are also examining reports by Columbus, himself, who said he found black traders already present in the Americas.

They also cite chemical analyses of the gold tips that Columbus found on spears in the Americas, which show that the gold probably came from West Africa.

But the scholars say the best sources of information on Abubakari II are Griots - the original historians in Africa.

Mr Diawara says the paradox of Abubakari II, is that the Griots themselves imposed a seal of silence on the story.

The researchers claim that Abubakari’s fleet of pirogues, loaded with men and women, livestock, food and drinking water, departed from what is the coast of present-day Gambia.

They are gathering evidence that in 1312 Abubakari II landed on the coast of Brazil in the place known today as Recife.

“Its other name is Purnanbuco, which we believe is an aberration of the Mande name for the rich gold fields that accounted for much of the wealth of the Mali Empire, Boure Bambouk.”

Another researcher, Khadidjah Djire says they have found written accounts of Abubakari’s expedition in Egypt, in a book written by Al Umari in the 14th century.

“Our aim is to bring out hidden parts of Mansa Abubakari II - ‘The Voyager history”, she says.

King’

LEGAL NOTICES ➔➔ Continued from page 10 PROBATE CITATION File No. 20151271 SURROGATE’S COURT - KINGS COUNTY CITATION THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, by the Grace of God Free and Independent TO: unknown persons whose names or parts of whose names, and whose place or places of residence are unknown and cannot after due diligent inquiry, be ascertained, distributees heirs at law and next of kin of said Millicent Brown A/K/A Millicent Viola Brown and if any of the said distributees, heirs at law or next of kin of deceased, be dead, their legal representatives, their husbands or wives, if any, distributees and successors in interest whose names and or places of residence and post office addresses are unknown. A petition having been duly filed by Joseph Scantlebury, who is domiciled at 3829 Cullingworth Rd., Burtonville, MD 20866. YOU ARE HEREBY CITED TO SHOW CAUSE before the Surrogate’s Court, KINGS County, at 2 JOHN STREET, ROOM 319, BROOKLYN, New York, on July 11, 2017 at

9.30 o’clock in the fore noon of that day, why a decree should not be made in the estate of Millicent Brown A/K/A Millicent Viola Brown lately domiciled at 984 Lincoln Place, admitting to probate a Will dated January 5, 2010, a copy of which is attached, as the Will of Millicent Brown A/K/A Millicent Viola Brown deceased, relating to real and personal property, and directing that Letters of Testamentary issue to: Joseph Scantlebury.

Dated, Attested and Sealed, May 19, 2017 HON. Margarita Lopez Torres, Surrogate and Doreen A. Quinn, Chief Clerk Attorney for Petitioner Sonja M. Tanksley Telephone Number 914-479-5804 Address of Attorney 377 Ashford Avenue, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522 NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF KINGS U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE OF OWS REMIC TRUST 2015-1, Plaintiff, Against Index No.: 509325/14 CARLOS LIRIANO, JASSON LIRIANO, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered in the Kings County Clerk’s Office on 4/6/2017, I, the undersigned Referee,

“The Griots found his abdication a shameful act, not worthy of praise,” Mr Diawara said.

“For that reason they have refused to sing praise or talk of this great African man.”

Mr Diawara says the Griots in West Africa such as Sadio Diabate, are slowly starting to divulge the secrets on Abubakari II. ‘Hard-nosed historians But the research team says an even bigger challenge is to convince hard-nosed historians elsewhere that oral history can be just as accurate as written records.

Mr Diawara believes Abubakari’s saga has an important moral lesson for leaders

of small nation states in West Africa, which were once part of the vast Mande-speaking empire.

“Look at what’s going on in all the remnants of that empire, in Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea.

“Politicians are bathing their countries in blood, setting them on fire just so that they can cling to power,” says Mr Diawara.

“They should take an example from Abubakari II. He was a far more powerful man than any of them. And he was willing to give it all up in the name of science and discovery.”

“That should be a lesson for everyone in Africa today,” concludes Mr Diawara.

will sell at public auction at Room 224 of Kings County Supreme Court, 360 Adams Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201 on 6/29/2017 at 2:30 pm, premises known as 905 Belmont Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11208 and described as follows: ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Brooklyn, County of Kings, City and State of New York and designated on the tax maps of the Kings County Treasurer as Block 4228 and Lot 40. The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $506,616.14 plus interest and costs. The premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 509325/14. Dominic J. Famulari, Esq., Referee. STIENE & ASSOCIATES, P.C. (Attorneys for Plaintiff), 167 Main Street, Northport, NY 11768 Dated: 4/12/2017 File Number: 201401018 SLC

-against- CLEO CHARLES-PHILLIPS; ROBERT PHILLIPS; CITY OF NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PARKING VIOLATIONS BUREAU; CITY OF NEW YORK TRANSIT AUTHORITY TRANSIT ADJUDICATION BUREAU; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION & FINANCE; SOPHIA JOHNSON, Index No. 2713/2013. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly dated, February 21, 2017 and entered with the Kings County Clerk on April 6, 2017, Gregory Laspina, Esq., the Appointed Referee, will sell the premises known as 553 Lenox Road, Brooklyn, New York 11203 at public auction at Kings County Supreme Court, 360 Adams Street, Room 224, Brooklyn, New York 11201, on June 15, 2017 at 2:30 P.M. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Borough of Brooklyn, County of Kings and State of New York known as Block: 4845; Lot: 28 will be sold subject to the provisions of filed Judgment, Index No. 2713/2013. The approximate amount of judgment is $1,047,226.32 plus interest and costs. FRIEDMAN VARTOLO, LLP 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff.

NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC AUCTION Supreme Court of New York, Kings County.

SRMOF II 2012-1 TRUST, U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE, Plaintiff,

12

OUR TIME PRESS June 15 – 21, 2017

VOL. 21 NO. 24

Public-School Principals, Teachers, Parents Celebrated at Community Board 3’s 2017 Bed-Stuy “Excellence in Education” Event ■■

By Priscilla Mensah

A

cademic excellence and community life were in abundance at the Job Corps Center in Bedford–Stuyvesant on as Community Board 3 hosted its annual “Bed-Stuy’s Best 2017” event, last Thursday evening, June 8. The theme of the event was “A Celebration of Excellence in Education.”

Hosted by the Community Board 3 subcommittee of Education and Youth, “Bed-Stuy’s Best 2017” celebrated teachers, parents and principals who are doing notable work in various Brooklyn districts such as the 13th ,14th, and 16th.

At the event there were various categories in which the different community personnel were nominated for. Among those were Principal of the Year, Teacher of the Year and Parent of the Year. After being nominated, except for the Most Improved School category, nominees were chosen through public vote. As its title suggests, the Most Improved School was chosen wholly on the statistics

that showcased which Bed-Stuy school had the most academic growth. That honor went to Boys and Girls High School.

Opening the evening was Oma Holloway, who sits on the board of Community Board 3’s Education and Youth Committee. She stressed that vis-a-vis “Bed-Stuy’s Best 2017” her committee sought to “change the narrative of how we look at our schools, young people, and parents.”

The Community Board 3 Chair reiterated her sentiments in quoting Nelson Mandela who said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” He then addressed the audience and said, “If there were more people like you [ the community members in attendance], we wouldn’t have a lot of the problems we have now.” After other committee members such as Felicia Alexander, Natasha Perry-Perez and Nequan McLean were introduced, the different hosts of the evening introduced Robert Cornegy’s Chief of Staff Stephanie Zinnerman, Kings County District Attorney representative Shelton Jones, and District 16

Superintendent Rahesha Amon who were all in attendance.

The first award category was Parent Leader of the Year. Cynthia Hills of Leadership Prep Bed-Stuy Middle School Academy won that honor. At the elementary school level, Valerie Mayo received the award. At the high school level, Doratta Smith of Boys and Girls High School went home with the honor. Next up was the Student Awards which were handed out by Natasha Perry – Perez, who referred to the honorees as “our humble humanitarians.”

Jadel Hope of PS 5 won that acknowledgement for the elementary level. Carmen Talia of Leadership Prep Middle School took home the award for the junior high school level. Eidi Jamil of Brooklyn Academy and Global Finance took home the honor for the high school level.

The next category was the Teacher of the Year Awards which was presented by Richard Flateau. He started out by sharing “teachers are near and dear to my heart because I was married for 24 years to a teacher.”

Celebrating the Best of Bed-Stuy: Kesha Townsel, PS 5 Assistant Principal; Richard Flateau, CB3 Chairperson; Stefani Zinerman, Chief of Staff to Councilman Robert Cornegy; Annette Robinson; Lena Gates, PS 5 Principal; Valerie Mayo, PS 5 Parent Leader; Rahesha Amon, District 16 Superintendent; Oma Holloway, CB3 1st Vice Chairperson

The View from Here

“We’ve Seen These Times Before” ➔➔ Continued from page 1

white folks to find themselves so flagrantly under attack by delusional authority, even in respect to this morning’s shooting in Alexandria, Va. With shots fired at Republicans practicing baseball, Cong. Joe Baton said the Capitol Hill security detail attacked the shooter, James T. Hodgkinson, a 66-yearold middle-aged white male in blue jeans and blue shirt. The security detail was only present because of Steve Scalise, a member of the House leadership who was there. It is reported that the Capitol Hill Police pursued the shooter, even though wounded. Cong.

Rand Paul said, “Without the Capitol Hill police, it would have been a killing field.”

And yet the first response is “No apparent connection to terrorism” and “No links to terrorism.” Even with this, there is still the delusion that the actions by white males are not linked to terrorism.

We’ve seen these times before. In fact, we’ve never stopped seeing times like these.

When Africans in the Americas are under attack in the street by whites, by conscious efforts to deny us the right to vote, the right to health care and the right to remain outside of the only place slavery is allowed, the judicial-prison-industrial-complex, then it’s time to acknowledge the spirit of our ancestors

and what they went through to bring us to this place and time.

This Juneteenth remembrance of the Ancestors of the Middle Passage takes us back to when we were Black, before we became violently multicolored, before being subjected to 200 years of everyday terror, not on a screen but in the field and in the home. Starting as free people being captured and then held in the unbearable stench as a sailing ship’s cargo, packed and stacked with Africans for sale. And later the smell of burning flesh from branding and more. And then there was the sound of the hopeless moans, cries of agony and prayers for release from this inconceivable horror.

And millions of times that release came in death and a toss over the side, or a bolting to escape into the waters to be enveloped and cleansed of the fetidness and then brought into the presence of the God that loved them, safe at last.

At the elementary level, Ambrosia Johnson got the prize. At the middle school level, Jennifer Ozinegbe took the honor.

The high school level of this category had a unique situation in that there was a tie between Kerridene Small and Angela Filarakos.

Both awardees received the exquisite plaques that all other winners received. After each win, the winner gave a speech thanking their family, friends, school in which they represent, and at times God. Shortly after this, the audience enjoyed a musical selection from Joshua Walker’s “Avenue Music Group” (AMG), a not-forprofit association. AMG singer Ms. Ange (“Angie”) graced the audience members with songs that had them clapping thunderously at the end Closing out the event was Shelton Jones who presented the School Safety Awards which went to Bedford Academy High School. This award pitted me in a unique situation because as it turns out, there was not a representative from the school present, so as the older sibling of someone who goes to “Bedford”, I represented the school. I was honored to talk about the positive experiences that I had with the School Safety team which I noted spoke volumes about the school that I, someone who does not even attend the school, can speak so highly of the team.

Shortly thereafter, there was the Principal of the Year Awards. At the elementary level, Nikki Bowen took home the award. Meredith Anderson won at the middle school level. At the high school level, Adofo Muhammad of Bedford Academy High School received the honor. Once again, I was the “de facto” representative of “Bedford” as it is called for short, and sung the school’s well-deserved praise. I pointed out that Bedford Academy goes neck to neck with the number one school in Brooklyn, Brooklyn Technical High School (also this writer’s alma mater) in terms of academic achievement, statistically speaking. I was also quick to highlight the hard work and dedication that the faculty and staff put into ensuring that the students succeed, something that I have witnessed firsthand.

Finally, the Annette M. Robinson award was presented to Principal Lena Gates, whom Annette Robinson personally requested to receive the honor.

Priscilla Mensah is an avid reader and scholar whose passions include community development and empowerment. She can be reached at pmensahbrooklyn@gmail.com It was in their honor that hundreds came dressed in white to stand at the waters edge and give offerings and to toss flowers and think for a moment of the pain and the release.

Things were not always this way. And in remembering the Middle Passage, we need to also remember that it was the space in between what we were and what we are.

And what needs to be known more widely, is that we have crossed these waters before, not as captives but as master builders of sailing fleets, such as that of Abubakari the Second, Chief of Mali in 1311.

Want black boys to read? Tell them about African boat builders using papyrus reeds to fashion sailing vessels. Tell them about the African ship navigator using the night sky to plot the course. It is in their memory and against that history that we must measure ourselves and the obstacles and opportunities we have before us.