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Fifth Third Bank to pay $21.5 mil P. 4
Volume 88 • Issue 10
Midtown Madness for Mayor
Malcolm X 50 years later P. 5
Taraji P. Henson stuns on Essence cover P.8 October 15-21, 2015
October 15-21, 2015
COVER STORY
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Mayor Reed under fire for dramatic increase in violent crime in middle-class neighborhoods the New York Police Department, who are known for foot and bicycle patrols, would deter many criminals. Foster was at the town hall because she got the scare of her life when she took a routine trip to a salon at the bottom of her apartment high rise. “I’ve had a gun put in my face while I was getting my nails done,” Foster said. “I’ve seen many times where police are in the cut, and I don’t know if they are are doing paperwork in their cars. But they could be out patrolling. I was robbed at 6 p.m., in daylight, because I was the only one in the nail shop. Starting Wednesday, officers working desk jobs will pick up shifts on the street to increase visibility. Roll call will be done in public and stream online so officers will be seen by more people. Assistant Chief Jones reported that officers have made a number of significant arrests in Zones 5 and 6, including many repeat offenders who have been arrested multiple times, for crimes including armed robbery, burglary and car break-ins. The Department also announced additional steps it is taking to address crime throughout the city, including: By Terry Shropshire Residents of the mostly middle class and upper middle class neighborhoods in Midtown Atlanta had already been shaken and paranoid by an inexplicable spike in violent crimes that included burglaries, robberies, shootings and even rape. But this angry energy reached a critical mass and rolled down Peachtree Street toward Atlanta City Hall when a horrifying episode popped off recently: A husband, Aaron Coe, looked out the window of his home on Charles Allen Drive to find his terrified wife on her knees with her hands in the air, a gun pointed at her head. Their daughter was in the car screaming. “As I’m looking out the window, she’s on her knees with a gun to her head,” Coe recounted, according to multiple media reports. Three men were demanding his wife’s keys. When Coe opened his front door to defend his wife, the armed men scattered. Mayor Kasim Reed immediately took responsibility for the episode that changed the family’s state of mind and sense of safety forever. “On behalf of the city of Atlanta, I apologize to you and your wife and children,” said Reed. Reed along with members of Atlanta City Council and the Atlanta Police Department held a town hall meeting at Grace United Methodist Church, which was bulging at the seams with many angry and frazzled residents looking for answers to a spike in crime in zones 5 and 6. Reed was joined at the meeting by his command staff and several council members including President Ceasar Mitchell, Andre Dickens, Kwanza Hall, Mary Norwood and Alex Wan. In addition to announcement of a $25,000 reward for information that leads to arrests in the case of the Coes. He then pledged to do everything in his power to make residents feel safe. “From my first day in office, public safety has always been my top priority,” said Mayor Reed. “Crime is at forty-year lows and the Atlanta Police Department is the strongest it has ever been, yet we can do more to ensure all our neighborhoods are safe. My Administration is working to deploy new strategies to address repeat offenders, and APD has set a goal to reduce crime in Midtown by 20 percent, immediately. This is what
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City residents and visitors deserve and expect.” Reed also pointed out that Atlanta Repeat Offender Commission recently completed a report that shows that 461 individuals have been responsible for a total of 14,412 arrests due to crimes including murder, aggravated assault, carjackings, robbery and gun crimes. The areas of greatest contention are what are officials and police called Zones 5 and 6 (the city is broken into 6 zones). Zone 5 includes: downtown, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, the Georgia DomePhillips Arena-Georgia World Congress Center campuses, Piedmont Park and Atlantic Station. Zone 6 encompasses the likes of Virginia Highlands, Edgewood, Reynoldstown, East Atlanta, Inman Park and Candler Park. Reed received some support from the overflowing crowd when he discussed ways to give wayward teens other outlets to channel their energies and times, including the reopening of community centers that were closed and that “that the ones that were open were in neighborhoods that were doing well anyway.” The mayor also talked about reducing crimes through safe havens. One man accused the mayor and city hall of regurgitating the same political rhetoric that has produced little results. Andrew Adler, who lives down the street from the church, criticized officials for offering few solutions for how residents can protect themselves. “You guys are talking politics and social programs. These people are afraid they’re going to get killed in their driveway,” he said do thunderous applause. Another man was even more indignant: “I’ve been robbed twice. I’ve been assaulted. I’ve walked into the precinct of where I live to be ignored by the police department,” said Tone Lane, who lives in the Pittsburgh community. “I don’t want to feel this way and I don’t want to continue to invest in my house.” The mayor promised Lane he will visit his neighborhood next week to check out what he’s talking about. Another resident, Nikki Foster, a senior producer at Turner Network/Cartoon Network, complains that there are more patrols around her the corporate campus from security cars than from the APD. She and others believe that if APD adopt the method of
• Repeat Offender Unit – the Atlanta Police Department has created a repeat offender tracking unit to monitor repeat offenders after their arrests in an effort to deter future offenses. Serious crimes will be assigned, investigated and reviewed by a Repeat Offender Officer. The unit will work closely with community prosecutors to make sure those arrested are brought to justice. •Operation Shield– the Atlanta Police Department will continue to utilize a video integration center (VIC) to track more than 5,700 security cameras in private and public sector facilities. The VIC is expected to grow to 10,000 cameras in the next two years. • Special Police Details – a total of 22 officers and four sergeants have been deployed for a special detail and will focus on checkpoints to control possible DUI activity after hours, conduct sweeps through Piedmont Park and patrol with their vehicle blue lights on at night for visibility. Since 2010, the Reed Administration has made unprecedented investments in public safety. Today, the Department boasts the largest force in the city’s history with more than 1,900 officers and overall crime is down 24 percent since 2009 YTD.
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Founded August 5 1928; Became Daily, March 12, 1932 W.A. Scott, II, Founder/Publisher August 5, 1928 to February 7, 1934 Published weekly at 100 Hartsfield Centre Parkway Suite 500 Atlanta, Georgia 30354 Periodicals Postage Paid at Atlanta Mailing Offices. Publication Number 017255 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Atlanta Daily World, 100 Hartsfield Centre Parkway Suite 500 Atlanta, Georgia 30354 Subscriptions: One Year: $52 Two Years: $85 Forms of Payment: Check, Money Order, VISA American Express, MasterCard MEMBER: Associated Press Atlanta Business League Central Atlanta Progress Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce National Newspaper Publishers Website: www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com Lorraine Cochran General Manager lcochran@realtimesmedia.com
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NEWS
October 15-21, 2015
Georgia Piedmont Technical College makes historic move MARTA offering escort
By ADW Staff As a student-centered institution, Georgia Piedmont Technical College (GPTC) is delighted to announce that it is
the first technical college within the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) to sign a contract with Chicago-based Credentials Solutions for transcript processing. “We are on the forefront of implementing this cuttingedge technology,” said Dr. Jabari Simama, President, Georgia Piedmont Technical College. “This initiative will make the transcript ordering process more efficient, while also helping to fulfill one of our five-year strategic goals---management excellence,” he said. “Credentials Solutions is the gold standard in transcript automation, so once again we have secured the best possible provider to serve our students and alumni,” concluded Dr. Simama. The TranscriptsPlus® system is a fully automated online transcript ordering service that is tailored to fit each institution’s policies and procedures. TranscriptsPlus® provides a self-service platform for Georgia Piedmont’s students and alumni. “We chose Credentials Solutions because of their reduced processing time, 24-hour online ordering and outstanding customer service,” said Registrar Joana Blankson. “The execution of this contract makes Georgia Piedmont the first technical college within TCSG to sign with Credentials Solutions, which is exciting,” she added.
Million Man March unites black Americans across decades
By Michael H. Cottman Washington-Bill Murrain, a lawyer from Conyers, Georgia, traveled to the National Mall for the 20th anniversary of the Million Man March and stood side-by-side with three generations of black males: his sons, son-in-laws, and five grandsons. And last weekend, as Murrain walked near the White House, he spoke with pride about the accomplishments of black Americans over the years, which includes the historic election of President Barack Obama, the nation’s first African-American president. “The fact is, for all of its imperfections, we live in the most magnanimous country in the world,” said Murrain, who voted for Obama in both presidential elections. “I am reassured that the next generation of black males has a brighter future ahead of them.” “They awaken to a First Family and a nation lead marvelously by one of their race, President Obama, and my grandsons take it as a normal occurrence,” Murrain said. “It is their reality.” Murrain joined thousands of Africa-American men and women who assembled on the National Mall for the 20th anniversary of the Million Man March, which boasted a modernday theme that resonated with many African-Americans and other people of color: “Justice or Else.”
As a civil rights attorney in the 1960s who rallied for social justice, Murrain said he was reminded of his racial confrontations with police in places like the Mississippi Delta, Stockton, California and Benton Harbor, Michigan. Racial profiling and the number of young black men who have been wounded or killed by police is a crisis, Murrain said, twenty years after the Million Man March. “It pains me greatly that in these days, in these times, we must still respond to the cry that “BLACK LIVES MATTER,” Murrain said. “Our quest and our charge, having been here today, is to recognize that it is our responsibility to strive to assure that our good days must increasingly outnumber our bad days.” But some key observers and civil-rights activists assert that, since the original Million Man March, life for many young black men has grown progressively worse. More black men are being incarcerated at higher rates and young African-American men are falling behind their peers in the classroom, according to a PBS report on the dropout rate. Only 54% of African-Americans graduate from high school, compared to more than 75% of their Caucasian and AsianAmerican peers. African-American males are filling up prisons nationwide in disproportionate numbers, the NAACP estimates, comprising 1 million out of a total of 2.3 million incarcerated men.
service for fearful riders
By Terry Shropshire Due to recent violence experienced by travelers using Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), last week they announced the launch of a service to assist fearful patrons ensure they get home safely. The MARTA police will provide an officer to wait with a lone customer at bus stops and walk or drive female patrons home within a 5-mile radius of their stations. MARTA officers handed out safety literature and whistles at transit stations on Thursday. MARTA Police Chief Wanda Dunham told WSB-TV that the assistance follows three sexual assaults on MARTA property in four months. Dunham encouraged women to text MARTA police if they feel unsafe walking home and need someone to meet them at a station or if they are alone at night waiting at a bus stop. For information on this and other safety tips visit www.itsmarta.com. In fact, if current trends continue, according to the NAACP, “one in three black males born today can expect to spend time in prison during his lifetime.” Also, 49% of African-American males have been arrested before age 23, and one in three AfricanAmerican men age 18-24 is unemployed. Meanwhile, Saturday’s rally differed from the first march. From the stage, speakers from multiple ethnic backgrounds took to the microphone, including Native Americans, Latinos, Haitians, and Palestinians, who spoke of racial injustice among all people of color. Dwayne Morgan, 36, drove nine hours from Indianapolis to Washington, D.C., with his nephew and four cousins. “I wanted them to witness this event, and I wanted them to learn about what’s happening around them,” Morgan said, as he stood on the Mall. “And I wanted them to learn something about themselves.” “I came because my parents want me to learn about our history,” said Laurence Shelton, 14, who came to the Million Man March from Gary, Indiana. And Lewis Allen, 14, from Indianapolis, said his family expects a positive change from his experience at the Million Man March, adding that he has a responsibility as a black teenager to learn more about African American history. “They want me to leave Indianapolis as a boy,” Allen said, “and come back as a man.” Thousands of young black males like Allen could experience racial profiling in their lifetime. In fact, California police now must report racial characteristics of any person they stop, under a new law intended to respond to public controversy over the high-profile, police-related deaths of unarmed black men including Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, Freddie Gray in Baltimore, and Eric Garner in New York City. “I came because I wanted to be a part of something positive,” said Tinzelow Baldwin, 40, who traveled from Charlotte, North Carolina. “I’m tired of seeing so many young black men being shot by police. I’m just tired of it.”
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BUSINESS
October 15-21, 2015
Fifth Third Bank to pay $21.5 mil in federal auto lending and credit card discrimination case The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has announced two separate actions against Fifth Third Bank, for discriminatory auto loan pricing and for illegal credit card practices. The joint CFPB and Department of Justice (DOJ) auto-lending enforcement action requires Fifth Third to change its pricing and compensation system to minimize the risks of discrimination, and to pay $18 million to harmed African-American and Hispanic borrowers. The CFPB’s action against Fifth Third’s deceptive marketing of credit card add-on products requires the bank to provide an estimated $3 million in relief to eligible harmed consumers and pay a $500,000 penalty. “We are committed to promoting fair and equal access to credit in the auto finance marketplace,” said CFPB Director Richard Cordray. “Fifth Third’s move to a new pricing and compensation system represents a significant step toward protecting consumers from discrimination. We are also obtaining millions of dollars in relief today for consumers affected by deceptive marketing of credit add-on products.” Fifth Third Bank is a regional bank and insured depository institution. It is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, primarily serving states in the Midwest and Southeast. The bank operates approximately 1,300 branches in 12 states, offering financial services including credit cards, mortgages, home equity lines of credit, and auto loans. Auto-Lending Enforcement Action Auto loans are the third-largest source of outstanding household debt in the United States, after mortgages and student loans. When consumers finance automobile purchases from an auto dealership, the dealer often facilitates indirect financing
through a third-party lender like Fifth Third, which is the ninth largest depository indirect auto lender in the United States. As an indirect auto lender, Fifth Third sets a risk-based interest rate, or “buy rate,” that it conveys to auto dealers. The bank then allows auto dealers to charge a higher interest rate when they finalize the deal with the consumer. This is typically called “dealer markup.” Markups can generate compensation for dealers while giving them the discretion to charge consumers different rates regardless of consumer creditworthiness. Over the time period under review, Fifth Third permitted dealers to mark up consumers’ interest rates as much as 2.5 percent. According to CFPB, Fifth Third’s actions: Resulted in minority borrowers paying higher dealer markups: Fifth Third violated the Equal Credit Opportunity Act by charging African-American and Hispanic borrowers
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www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com higher dealer markups for their auto loans than non-Hispanic white borrowers. These markups were without regard to the creditworthiness of the borrowers Injured thousands of minority borrowers: Fifth Third’s illegal discriminatory pricing and compensation structure meant thousands of minority borrowers from January 2010 through September 2015 were charged, on average, over $200 more for their auto loans. Under the CFPB order, Fifth Third must: Substantially reduce or eliminate entirely dealer discretion: Fifth Third will reduce dealer discretion to mark up the interest rate to only 1.25 percent above the buy rate for auto loans with terms of 5 years or less, and 1 percent for auto loans with longer terms. Fifth Third also has the option under the order to move to non-discretionary dealer compensation. Pay $18 million in damages for consumer harm: Fifth Third will pay $12 million into a settlement fund that will go to harmed African-American and Hispanic borrowers whose auto loans were financed by Fifth Third between January 2010 and September 2015. Based on a determination by the DOJ and the CFPB, Fifth Third will receive credit of between $5 million and $6 million for remediation it has already provided to harmed consumers whose auto loans were financed by Fifth Third from January 2010 through June 2015. Fifth Third will then pay any additional funds necessary into the settlement fund to bring its total payment to harmed consumers to $18 million. Pay to hire a settlement administrator to distribute funds to victims: A settlement administrator will contact consumers, distribute the funds, and ensure that borrowers who were harmed receive compensation. The Bureau will provide contact information for the settlement administrator once that person is chosen to address questions that consumers may have about potential payments. The CFPB’s order also requires that Fifth Third provide $3 million in relief to roughly 24,500 customers, cease engaging in illegal practices, and pay a $500,000 penalty to the CFPB civil penalty fund.
Banking legend Aubrey Lee life to be celebrated and remembered
Featured Topic: Violence America’s Challenge Featured speakers include:
Dr. Bernice King, The King Center Xernona Clayton, Trumpet Foundation Dr. C.T. Vivian, Minister, Author, Civil Right Pioneer Elizabeth Omilami, Hosea Feed the Hungry
October 28, 2015
8:30am – 5:00pm | Hyatt Regency Hotel 265 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30303
Free and Open to the Public Register in advance at www.thefdha.org
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By Atlanta Daily World Staff The first Black manager of any bank in the region in 1966, Aubrey Lee, died last week at the age of 80. “Everybody know of Mr. Aubrey Lee,” said New Detroit Inc. President and CEO Shirley Stancato, who worked as regional manager at NBD under Lee early in her career, told Crain’s last year in a story about his career. “He was a hero among us.” Lee was the first Black manager at the National Bank in Detroit, resulting in him
paving the way for minorities in the finance industry. He is credited with giving commercial loans to minorities and was instrumental in the careers of many prominent Detroiters, including former Mayor Dave Bing and Emmett Moten, co-owner of the DoubleTree Fort Shelby and a longtime Detroit development figure. “Through attentiveness and competence, able to glide through the worlds of smallbusiness owners and corporate chairmen alike,” said Moten about Lee’s ability to unite the unknown in the banking industry earlier this year. “Both sides respected his ability. If I need help, I know who to call. I have unbelievable respect for Aubrey.” The life of Lee will be celebrated this week. Visitation is from 2-8 p.m. Oct. 14, with an Omega Psi Phi service at 6:30 p.m., at A.J. Desmond & Sons in Royal Oak. The funeral will be held 11 a.m. Oct. 15 at Cross of Christ Lutheran Church in Bloomfield Hills. Visitation at the church begins at 10 a.m. Memorial tributes may be made to the American Heart Association or Cross of Christ Church. Lee was survived by Jeane, his wife of 59 years; a sister, Nellie; three sons, Aubrey Jr., David and Mark; six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
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COMMUNITY
Malcolm X 50 years later: The legacy of moral leadership By Lorraine Cochran-Johnson
October 15-21, 2015
Judge Strong honored as National Bar Association Hall of Fame inductee
The Center for Civil and Human Rights and the Laney Legacy in Moral Leadership Program at the Candler School of Theology, is proud to present Ambassador Attallah Shabazz as the guest lecturer for Malcolm X 50 Years Later: The Legacy of Moral Leadership. Hosted by the James T. and Berta R. Laney Legacy Program in Moral Leadership at the Candler School of Theology, the program is designed to enlighten and explore the moral leadership of Malcolm X. Ambassador Shabazz, the eldest daughter of civil rights leader Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz, is an accomplished writer, producer and diplomat who has spoken and led initiatives throughout the U.S., Europe, Central America, Africa and the Caribbean. She will speak about the importance of moral leadership, her parents’ legacies, and the lessons that today’s leaders can learn from Malcolm X’s life and leadership. This free lecture taken place at The Center for Civil and Human Rights, 100 Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard, Atlanta, GA, on October 29, 2015 at 6:30 PM. The lecture is free but guests should visit www.civilandhumanrights.org to register.
Atlanta regional memorial service to celebrate life of Julian Bond By Bunnie Jackson-Ransom Morehouse College will host a farewell tribute to one of its favorite sons, H. Julian Bond ’71 on Sunday, October 25, 2015 at 5:30 P.M. in the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel. Dr. Lawrence Edward Carter Sr., dean of the MLK Chapel, will preside. Speakers for the occasion include Morehouse College President John Silvanus Wilson Jr. ’79; Robert M. Franklin ’75, president emeritus of Morehouse College and professor at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University; former Georgia Governor Roy Barnes; Georgia Congressman John Lewis; veteran journalist Charlayne Hunter-Gault; former Atlanta City Councilwoman Carolyn Long Banks; and a selection of peers, close friends and family members. The service is open to the public and an Atlanta University Center Combined Chorus will provide music. Horace Julian Bond, known to most as Julian, was born in Nashville, TN; his parents were Julia Agnes Washington, a librarian, and Horace Mann Bond, president of Fort Valley State College (GA). Bond’s family moved to Pennsylvania when he was five years old where his father became the first African American president of Lincoln University (PA), his alma mater. Bond graduated from the Georgia School, a Quaker preparatory boarding high school. He attended Morehouse College in Atlanta and won a varsity letter for swimming. He also founded a literary magazine called The Pegasus and served as an intern at Time magazine. While a student at Morehouse, Bond helped found the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), traveling throughout the south to organize voting registration. As a founding member of SNCC, he served as communications director from 1961 to 1966. From 1960 to 1963, he led student protests against segregation in public facilities in Atlanta and Georgia. Bond graduated from Morehouse in 1971 receiving a degree in English; returning to the campus to complete his course work after a short break to follow his heart in hands-on civil rights activism. “Nobody did it better than my father,” says Michael Julian Bond, Atlanta City Councilman. “He was a young charismatic civil rights activist who became one of this nation’s most treasured statesmen. Many Atlantans have expressed their affection and appreciation for Julian Bond to our family. He loved this city and its people; this was his home.” After his election to the Georgia House of Representatives in
1965, most of the white members of the House refused to seat him because of his opposition to the Vietnam War. However, in 1966, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the House had denied Bond his freedom of speech and had to seat him. From 1965 to 1975, he served in the Georgia House and served six terms in the Georgia Senate from 1975 to 1986. In 1968, Bond led a challenge delegation from Georgia to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, and was the first African-American nominated as Vice President of the United States. He withdrew his name from the ballot because he was too young to serve. Bond ran for the United States House of Representatives, but lost to civil rights leader John Lewis. He served as the president of the president of the Atlanta Chapter of the NAACP, and was later elected Board Chairman of the NAACP in 1998. “From his days as a young activist to his years as both an elder statesman and NAACP Chairman Emeritus, Julian Bond inspired a generation of civil rights leaders,” said NAACP Chairman Roslyn M. Brock. “From my days as a youth board member of the NAACP to my present tenure as NAACP Chairman, like so many of my generation and before, I am yet inspired by the depth and breadth of Chairman Emeritus Bond’s exemplary service: activist, writer, historian, professor, public intellectual, public servant and an unrelentingly eloquent voice for the voiceless. Many of the most characteristically American freedoms enjoyed by so many Americans today were made real because of the lifelong sacrifice and service of Julian Bond.”
By ADW Staff Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Craig S. Strong was inducted into the National Bar Association’s (NBA) Hall of Fame at its 90th Annual Convention in California last month. “I look at the National Bar Association as being a great organization and when you are a part of an organization that has such a legacy and history, it is humbling,” said Strong. “It is great and an honor to be mentioned in the same company as some prominent black pillars of law.” The National Bar Association was founded in 1924 and is the largest and oldest nationally recognized network of predominantly African American law professionals. The association bolsters numbers unlike any comparable organizations. “It (the National Bar Association) has 84 affiliate chapters throughout the United States and affiliations in Canada, the United Kingdom, Africa Morocco and the Caribbean,” according to the NBA website. “It represents a professional network of more than 20,000 lawyers, judges, educators and law students.” Strong is a director of the Wolverine Bar Association and is a founding member of the Association of Black Judges of Michigan of which he also served as president. The judge’s work in the community beyond the bench was equally valued in his nomination to the National Bar Association Hall of Fame. Strong is known for his classroom visits to local schools, guest speaking engagements and community activism. “It also says the work you are doing in the community and for the youth has worth,” he said. “Our focus is on the number of kids enrolled in law school and making sure the graduation rates are higher than they have been.” In addition, Strong has served on the National Bar Association Board of Governors and is former chair of the Judicial Council. He is a Michigan State University law school graduate. “This award and honor is really encouraging,” he said. “It motivates me to do more.”
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ENTERTAINMENT
October 15-21, 2015
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‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ members attend Million Man March
By Terry Shropshire WASHINGTON -- While some blacks decried the fact that BET allegedly did not provide live coverage of the 20th anniversary of the Min. Louis Farrakhan’s Million Man March, there were some who were just as surprised to see members of the “Real Housewives of Atlanta” in attendance. RHOA stars Phaedra Parks, Sheree Whitfield and Porsha Williams made the pilgrimage to the District of Columbia’s Washington Mall and got absorbed into the ocean of blackness where hundreds of thousands of other blacks and celebrities were on hand
to digest empowering messages and words of edification, including Russell Simmons, J. Cole, Diddy, Young Jeezy, Common and others. Parks was seen meeting with the leader of the Nation of Islam and even spoke during the momentous occasion’s weekend of activities. Estimates put the crowd about a million people, approximately the same number that attended the previous incarnation of the mass migration of blacks to the center of power in America. Take a look at some of the photos of the RHOA members at the Million Man March:
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Bobby Brown inks deal for ‘raw and unvarnished’ memoir By EURWeb A new Bobby Brown memoir is scheduled to hit the streets in June. My Prerogative will be released through Dey Street Books, who signed the singer before the death of his daughter Bobbi Kristina in July. In a statement issued through the publisher, Brown calls the memoir a journey through his “crazy, exciting, fascinating world.” “Right after I signed on to write my story, I went through one of the most agonizing traumas I had ever experienced with the death of my daughter,” Brown said, referring to the July 26 death of 22-year-old Bobbi Kristina, who was found face-down and unresponsive in a bathtub Jan. 31 at her home in Roswell, Georgia. Whitney Houston, Bobbi Kristina’s mother, was found dead in a bathtub in Beverly Hills, California, in 2012. “But I was surprised by how therapeutic it was to work on this project, to look at the entire arc of my life and to realize that although there has been considerable pain, I have also been incredibly
blessed,” Brown said. “I hope my fans and other readers of this book will be entertained by this trip into the crazy, exciting, fascinating world of Bobby Brown. And I hope they will feel that I have been as honest and open with them in these pages as I have tried to be my entire life.” Financial terms for My Prerogative were not disclosed. Dey Street Books called the memoir “raw and unvarnished” and promised that Brown will “tell the full story of his life and set the record straight, particularly about his relationship with Whitney Houston.” “My Prerogative is the story of a man who has been on the top of the mountain and in the depths of the valley and who is now finally ready to talk about his career and family life, from the passion and the excess to his creative inspirations and massive musical success,” according to the publisher’s statement. The memoir will be co-written by Nick Chiles, who has worked on books by the Rev. Al Sharpton and former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, among others.
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ATLANTA DAILY WORLD
October 15-21, 2015
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October 15-21, 2015
ENTERTAINMENT
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Taraji P. Henson stuns on Essence cover, questions reality stars By Allison McGevna Taraji P. Henson is a certified Hollywood star and she has no issues admitting it. On the November cover of Essence magazine, the beautiful Empire star says, “I’m just gonna keep amassing an audience. Everything was strategically planned. This is what all my efforts are for.” “Even though people are just finding me now as Cookie, thank God for Netflix because people are so moved by my performance they’re like, ‘Where has she been?’ I’ve always said I want to do the type of work that people study.” Looking stunning in Fausto Puglisi, she also mentions that she is not here for people who don’t take the acting craft seriously. “These kids are thinking they can do reality TV and come and do this craft that I studied, sweated and grinded,” she said. “People forget it’s a craft because it’s so pop now…Can they make me believe the words coming out of their mouth.” The full issue hits newsstands October 16.
Young Jeezy tells Marc Lamont Hill he’s ‘father of trap music’ By Terry Shropshire With unmistakable resolution in his voice, yet without the slightest trace of arrogance, multiplatinum rap impresario Young Jeezy proclaimed to the overflowing crowd in the Loudermilk Conference Center, in his signature baritone, that he is the “Father of Trap Music.” Speaking with former Huffington Post commentator and BET social critic Marc Lamont Hill, Jeezy touched upon a multiplicity of topics during the one-hour chat, including his new album, Church in These Streets, the concept behind the rapper’s new single, “GOD,” the Ferguson riots, police brutality and the #BlackLivesMovement that swept the county in a fury. In discussing the album that comes out on the 10th anniversary of his entry into the business Jeezy said, “In a world where everyone is bringing us down as a culture, I want to uplift us because Gods don’t kill Gods, we just speak highly of each other.” Hill broached the topic of Jeezy’s growth from street pharmacist to an artist to a businessman with more than 200 employees, the rapper also revealed his newfound sobriquet, Pastor Young, which took many in the audience aback. Hill asked about why he and other hip hop stars traveled to Ferguson or were involved in some kind of way, while most entertainers avoided the city as if it were a coiled cobra. Jeezy kept it as real and raw as his music: “A
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lot of people just care about the money and that’s it. They’re more focused on selling themselves and selling records. They don’t care about the people.” “The Father of Trap Music” was asked how he wanted to be remembered as an artist: “Remember me as a Black man that had a dream, fulfilled that dream, and stayed true to himself and what he believed in.” Jeezy also said that, despite being reared to respect superstitions, such as never splitting a pole or allowing a black cat to cross his path, Jeezy said he was always the kind of person who believed he made his own way and his own luck. This one of the reasons why he is dropping his album Friday the 13th in November.
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LIFESTYLE
October 15-21, 2015
Brighten up your day in these simple ways By Britta Lee Many of us get caught up in the day to day grind, and allow it to stress us out. However, eliminating some of that angst and capturing happiness on a daily basis might be easier than you think. Research finds that nearly half of our happiness is within our control, and most of that depends on the choices we make everyday. Here are a few simple habits to adopt to brighten up your overall mood: Get your heart pumping Because it releases endorphins, exercising makes you instantly feel happier, not to mention you’re working toward feeling more confident about your body. Dress in bolds and brights If you’re accustomed to wearing black or darker shades, it could be affecting your mood. Studies reveal that those who wear brighter colors tend to feel happier. Crank up the ‘upbeat’ music Music has been shown to have a tremendous affect on your how you feel. It impacts how you see the world, so don’t hesitate to turn up the volume and dance your favorite hype song. Get out and get fresh air Getting outside can benefit you in several ways. Exercising speaks for itself, as being outdoors increases your vitamin D intake, reduces stress,
and promotes an overall positive mood. Don’t shy away from commitment Studies show that couples are typically happier than singles. So, if you’re constantly just “hooking up” with people, consider commitment. Besides, constantly wandering in the land of casual dating can drive you crazy. Get more sleep While you might be tempted to scroll through Instagram at night, its best to put the phone down and get an extra hour of sleep. Doing so can hugely impact your happiness and satisfaction levels. Do something special for someone No matter how big or small, doing some nice for someone else can surprisingly bring you joy. It’ll also mitigate selfish tendencies where you’re only thinking about yourself. Plan a ‘vacay’ somewhere warm Save your hard-earned money on something you actually need, a getaway! It’s easy to get caught up in thoughtless spending, but investing in a vacation somewhere warm gives you a chance to relax and enjoy the environment. What a great way to boost your happiness! Meditate Setting aside just a few minutes of daily meditation can work wonders for your happiness levels, and help alleviate anxiety. Say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’
That’s right, using the “magic” words on a daily basis will make you feel better simply because you’re expressing gratitude. It also helps you look at things in a positive way instead of dwelling on the negative. Be social Instead of spending so much time on the phone and texting, try engaging in more face-to-face interaction. Studies show that being around others, as opposed to by yourself all the time, can reduce feelings of depression.
‘You Revealed’ to address women’s health and emotional needs By Christine Benton
You would be hard pressed to find any woman who doesn’t strive for lower stress, higher personal and professional achievement and greater satisfaction in relationships. These are all qualities in life that many of us long for. Question is, how does one achieve it? Well, an upcoming empowerment event entitled “You Revealed Experiential Conference: A Woman’s Guide to Personal Power” promises to give women of diverse backgrounds valuable tools on how to do just that. On Saturday, October 24, the Loudermilk Conference Center in downtown Atlanta will serve as ground-zero for a life-changing empowerment “boot camp.” This Experiential Conference better known as EX-Conference is presented by InView Empowerment and Naledge in Action (NIA). It is designed to address the health and emotional needs of women. “There is a pervasive need for women to reclaim their personal power; the power that only comes from being emotionally self-aware and authentically who she is,” said Tracey Knight, founder and president of InView Empowerment. “Many of us are functioning on a wing and a prayer – juggling the countless demands on our energy. The Ex-Conference gives women the tools and support system to step back, take a self-assessment and do the inner work that will bring them back to center and into balance.” During this full-day conference, which begins at 8:00 a.m., InView Empowerment will provide a team of transformational life coaches who will help equip Ex-Conference participants with tools to develop healthier lifestyle habits
while tapping into their personal power. The morning will begin with welcome remarks from world-renowned spiritual teacher and author Marianne Williamson. Ms. Williamson will address conference participants via video screen. Essence Magazine Editor Emerita Susan L. Taylor will be on hand to deliver remarks during the afternoon session. The EX-Conference will teach attendees how to improve themselves and address complex and sometimes sensitive personal and professional issues through hands-on activities that promote self-exploration and practice. These unique experiences jump start the journey to forming new habits in a safe, fun and highly interactive environment. Additionally, an optional 40-Day post conference support program is offered to Ex-Conference participants. “This important work promises to empower women of diverse backgrounds, between the ages of 25-65, to live a happier, healthier, more holistic lifestyle that is in alignment with the mission, values, and vision she wants for herself,” said Ms. Knight. A portion of the proceeds from the ExConference will benefit Naledge in Action (NIA), a non-profit workforce development program that is devoted to helping post-secondary bound students overcome the barriers to college completion and career readiness. The You Revealed Experiential Conference will be held on Saturday, October 24, 2015 at the Loudermilk Conference Center, 40 Courtland Street, Atlanta, GA, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information and to register for the EXConference: A Woman’s Guide to Personal Power, visit http://yourevealed.inviewempowerment.com
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GUEST COMMENTARY
GUEST COMMENTARY
by Marian Wright Edelman
by Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr.
How long will it take? After the horror of the racist terrorist murders in Charleston, S.C., many of us have been crying out with questions about all the strife and violence permeating our nation. How long until America confronts its historic love affair with guns and violence and undergoes a healing process of first truth and then reconciliation about our profound crippling birth defects of slavery, Native American genocide, and exclusion of women and non-propertied men from America’s dream and electoral process? Only when we face the truths of our past that continue to flare up in our present can we work toward true reconciliation and wholeness as a people and begin to close the huge gap between our dream of equality and our reality of massive racial and economic inequality. How long? Our re-segregated and still hugely unequal schools for children of color, especially if they are poor, are repeating pre-Brown v. Board of Education era practices. Our massive child and family poverty —which unjustly affects children and people of color — and indefensible massive wealth and income inequality continue two Americas of haves and have nots. And guns, guns, guns everywhere lethalize hate, terrorize inner-city children daily in dangerous neighborhoods, and darken the future of millions of children in search of America’s elusive dream. There are no safe havens from the carnage of guns that kill or injure a child or teen every 35 minutes. The recently publicized police killings of unarmed black boys and men have opened a new chapter in exposing many old and still deeply engrained systemic problems of racism
Alabama’s new Jim Crow far from subtle
and classism in America. And the murders of nine black churchgoers in a Charleston, South Carolina prayer meeting by a 21-year-old white man remind us that the most aberrant and violent kind of racial hatred is still alive in our gun saturated society — passing on the old poisons to new generation While the removal of the Confederate flag and statues of Confederate war heroes symbolizing slavery and racial apartheid is a step forward, it does not confront the deeper historical national blight of slavery and the structural and cultural inequalities and racial seeds from our shared past that still permeate the tainted soil of our nation today. It’s time for real truth and then reconciliation in America from the bottom up and top down. And it must begin with teaching truthfully American history. We must wake up, open our eyes and ears, avoid convenient ignorance, seek the truth, speak up, stand up, and never give up fighting for justice for all. I hope America can realize God’s dream for all humankind. I believe we can realize God’s and Dr. King’s and Bishop Tutu’s dream if each of us holds ourselves accountable and refuses to give up challenging our personal and collective prejudices and special privileges. I hope all of us will do whatever is necessary to pass on to our children and grandchildren a better and more just country and world than we inherited. Marian Wright Edelman is president of the Children’s Defense Fund.
In Alabama, 50 years after Selma, voting rights are once again under assault. Even as Alabama finally took down its Confederate flags this year, it has raised new obstacles to voting. The Supreme Court’s decision in Shelby County v. Holder to gut the Voting Rights Act, supported by the five conservative justices, opened the floodgates to legislation in over 21 states erecting new obstacles to make voting more difficult. This has included limiting the days for early voting, eliminating Sunday voting, requiring various forms of ID, shutting down voting sites and more. Alabama — the home of Selma and the Bloody Sunday police riot that spurred the passage of the original Voting Rights Act 50 years ago — is one of the leaders in the new forms of voter suppression. Alabama passed a bill requiring for the first time a photo ID for voting, hitting African Americans, the poor, the young and the old disproportionately. Now Alabama is using a budget squeeze to shut down 31 satellite offices that issue driver’s licenses, the most popular form of voter ID. This new Jim Crow isn’t subtle. Al.com columnist John Archibald reported that eight of the 10 Alabama counties with the highest percentage of non-white registered voters saw their driver’s license offices closed. “Every county in which blacks make up more than 75 percent of registered voters will see their driver license office closed,” Archibald wrote. First the state demands that you get a photo ID, and then it makes it harder to do so, particularly in areas heavily populated by African Americans. Not surprisingly, civil rights activists are asking the Justice Department to intervene. Rep. Terri A. Sewell, who represents Selma and is the only Democratic member of the Alabama congressional delegation, called the restrictions “eerily reminiscent of past, discriminatory practices such as poll taxes and literacy tests that restricted the black vote.” State officials claim that other ways of ob-
taining photo IDs are available for voters. But this is Alabama, infamous for its segregationist history, for its rejectionist Gov. George Wallace, for Bloody Sunday in Selma, for the murder of four little girls in the bombing of the Birmingham church. Under the original Voting Rights Act, Alabama’s measures would have required preclearance from the Justice Department. With the bipartisan leadership of Rep. John Conyers, Sen. Pat Leahy and Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, a bill to resuscitate the Voting Rights Act is now pending in Congress, although it has yet to get a vote. It revives preclearance measures, applying them to states with five violations of federal law to their voting changes over the past 15 years. While the old law applied to nine southern states and parts of several others, this standard would apply only to Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Yes, Alabama would still be exempt from preclearance, as would other states with an extensive history of voting discrimination such as North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Arizona and Virginia. The right to vote is fundamental to any Republic. Voting should be facilitated, not obstructed. We should register citizens automatically. Early voting should be extended and easy. Voting day should be a holiday, so workers have time to cast their votes. American voting rates are scandalously low, largely because we make registration and voting so difficult. It is particularly outrageous that 50 years after Selma, when the country celebrates the courage of the civil rights marchers, we still witness efforts to suppress the vote, skewed to discriminate against minorities. Alabama’s actions demand a Justice Department investigation. And that demand should be met immediately.
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