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Michigan Chronicle

Vol. 83 – No. 20 | January 22-28, 2020

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Trump Senate Impeachment Trial: What it means for the Black community

By Whitney Gresham

on the issue. A vote on whether to call witnesses to testify in the Senate is not expected to take place until after opening arguments have concluded.

This week, President Donald J. Trump became only the second U.S. President formally impeached to be put on trial in U.S. history. President Richard M. Nixon was facing impeachment when he resigned from office in Aug. 1974.

https://www.nbcnews.com/ politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/trump-impeachment-trial-rules-everythingelse-you-need-know-n1118176

Trump was charged by the House of Representatives with two articles of impeachment charging him with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

Chief Justice John Roberts and senators have already been sworn in and the lead House manager, Adam Schiff, D-Calif., has read the articles of impeachment on the Senate floor charging Trump with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

Last month the House voted almost entirely along party lines to impeach Trump. The vote for abuse of power was 230-197 and the vote for obstruction of Congress 229-198.

Trump’s impeachment followed the revelation that he tried to pressure the President of the Ukraine to falsely accuse Democratic Presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, of corruption in order to harm Biden’s reputation in advance of the November 2020 Presidential Election.

WHAT’S INSIDE

The president refused to release a badly needed $400 million in funds allocated by Congress to Ukraine; a U.S. ally, for their defense – Ukraine is in the middle of a hot war with Russia – if their President Volodymyr Zelensky, did not do as Trump demanded.

So, he basically was im-

peached for attempting to commit extortion or the blackmail of another president in order to cheat and rig the 2020 Presidential Election.

Now the case is in the U.S. Senate where Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., released the impeachment rules that the Democrats and

Capitol Hill observers claim are rigged to acquit President Trump.

According to NBC News, the rules would set aside up to four hours of debate, equally divided between both sides, on whether there should be subpoenas for witnesses or documents, and then the full Senate would vote

what it said was a 50-year audit of systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, and the war economy in the U.S.

NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent

Rev. Dr. William Barber II believes that everyone has a right to live.

Black Music & Social Media City.Life.Style. C1

They said the findings have already helped to inform and build state and local, nonpartisan fusion movements that are committed to challenging laws and policies that are antithetical to the broad tenets of social justice.

Through his Poor People’s Campaign, Dr. Barber is continuing to build a movement to overcome systemic racism, systemic poverty, ecological devastation, militarism of the budget and the false moral narrative of white religious nationalism.

In an exclusive telephone conference with the Black Press of America, Dr. Barber and his Poor People’s Campaign Co-Chair, Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharris, said America has a moral crisis.

“Democrats run from poverty and Republicans racialize poverty,” Dr. Barber stated during the more than one-hour discussion.

$1.00

See IMPEACHMENT page A2

Rev. Dr. William Barber Addresses Systemic Racism & Voting Rights During Call with the Black Press

By Stacy M. Brown

The Apex of

The House managers — essentially prosecutors — submitted briefs explaining their rational why the Senate should remove Trump from office. The president’s legal team submitted filings explaining why he should be acquitted, according to the NBC News report, Trump impeachment trial: The rules and everything else you need to know.

“We have invited both sides of the political fence. We’ve invited the White House to come and talk with us. They’ve refused,” stated Dr. Barber, the founder of Repairers of the Breach, a national leadership development organi-

Dr. Barbara and Theoharris, who is a pastor from New York, told the Black Press that the ranks of the Poor People’s Campaign would increase as they broaden their efforts.

Reverend William Barber II, president of the North Carolina state chapter of the NAACP, delivered an electrifying speech during the 2017 NNPA Mid-Winter Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Photo: Freddie Allen/AMG/NNPA) zation, which expands upon his Moral Monday movement.

“This administration has been virtually silent on the issue of poverty. The president talked about unemployment being down, but underemployment is up. The number of people that

have dropped out of the workforce is up,” said Dr. Barber, who, along with Dr. Theoharris, and others launched the Poor People’s Campaign, spearheaded initially by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The

Campaign

conducted

They noted figures that show 140 million poor and low-wealth people live in the United States – from every race, creed, sexuality, and place.

“We aim to make sure these individuals are no longer ignored, dismissed, or pushed to the margins of our political and social agenda,” Dr. Theoharris stated.

With 2020 counting as a pivotal election year, Dr. Barber point-

See VOTING

RIGHTS page A2

Page A-2 • michiganchronicle.com •

January 22-28, 2020

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Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority Art Foundation Announces Call To Artists For National Sculpture Competition At World-Class TCF Center The Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority (DRCFA) Art Foundation, or Art at TCF Center, announced a call to artists for a large-scale, public sculpture in the center of the TCF Center’s main entrance circle drive on Washington Boulevard in downtown Detroit.

This national competition invites artists from across the country to submit proposals for this permanent, civic sculpture, which will join the public art collection at TCF Center that includes work by internationally respected artists such as Hubert Massey, Robert Sestok, Tyree Guyton, and Gilda Snowden, among others.

“We are excited to launch this national competition in search of a stunning and thought-provoking civic sculpture that will have a permanent home at the front entrance of our world-class TCF Center in downtown Detroit,’’ said Larry Alexander, DRCFA Board Chairman. “Our hope is that this piece will highlight our great city’s culture, achievements and strong spirit of innovation and design.

The sculpture will welcome Detroiters and the

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nearly 1.4 million people who visit TCF Center annually.”

The sculpture competition is part of a public art initiative launched by the DRCFA and the DRCFA Art Foundation. Through Art at TCF Center, Detroit joins major convention centers throughout the country featuring public art including cities such as Chicago, Nashville, Pittsburgh and Washington D.C. In September 2019, the DRCFA Art Foundation unveiled a 30’

x 30’ permanent fresco, “Detroit: Crossroad of Innovation,” by renowned artist Hubert Massey, which is located outside of the Grand Riverview Ballroom at TCF Center.

TCF Center’s curator is Maureen Devine.

“This significant civic sculpture will continue to elevate our art collection at TCF Center, which is free and accessible to the public,” said Lisa Canada, DRCFA Art Foundation Chairperson and DRCFA Vice Chair. “Through our

national sculpture competition, our goal is to promote our region and to create an enhanced visitor experience through art. We have beautiful and meaningful artwork throughout TCF Center and look forward to expanding our collection with this important and exciting public art initiative.”

The final entry deadline via CaFÉ is June 2, 2020 at 5pm. Register at https://artist.callforentry.org/register_info.php.

First Independence Bank Taps Dimitrius M. Hutcherson For Executive Roles The start of the new decade brings two new leaders to First Independence Bank. These leaders will strengthen the organization to deliver products and services in a rapidly changing environment while integrating technology.

Dimitrius M. Hutcherson will serve as Chief Administrative Officer/Chief Technology Officer of First Independence Bank.

Dimitrius M. Hutcherson has an extensive and successful career in the banking and business industry.

He held roles at organizations such as PNC Bank, Deloitte, GMAC, Freddie Mac, and most recently Comerica where he was Vice President Middle Market Banking. He will report directly to the chairman & CEO. Hutcherson will be

“We are excited to have two high quality bankers like Dimitrius join the First Independence family. Their experiences and skills will allow us to continue to serve the community while building a reputation of being a well-managed institution meeting the needs of our customers,” said Kenneth Kelly, chairman & CEO.

ed out that voter suppression laws in many states have only contributed to poverty.

The Poor People’s Campaign has noted that, since 2010, 23 states have passed racist voter suppression laws, including racist gerrymandering and redistricting statutes that make it harder to register.

Because of this, early voting days and hours have reduced, officials have purged voter rolls, and there have been more restrictive voter ID laws.

Following the Shelby County v. Holder Supreme Court case, which gutted key provisions of the Voting Rights Act, 14 states had new voting restrictions in place before the 2016 Presidential election, and there were 868 fewer polling places across the country, according to the Campaign.

While these laws have disproportionately targeted Black people, at least 17 states saw voter suppression cases targeting American Indian and Alaskan Native voters in 2016, Dr. Barber stated.

“Thirteen states that passed voter suppression laws also opted not to accept expanded Medicaid benefits offered under the Affordable Care Act,” he added.

“These attacks follow a broader pattern of restricting and curtailing democratic processes by drawing on legacies of racism to undermine local efforts to organize for better conditions,” Dr. Barber stated.

As of July 2017, 25 states have passed laws

that preempt cities from adopting their own local minimum wage laws.

Most of these are in response to city councils passing or wanting to pass minimum wage increases.

“We found that people can work a minimum wage job and can’t afford a two-bedroom apartment,” Dr. Barber said.

“We found out that there are 2 million people who work every day for less than the living wage.

Some of them live in their cars, and they go to work every day.”

Dr. Theoharris spoke of Maria, a woman they met in El Paso, Texas, separated from her family because of immigration issues.

“We waded into the Rio Grande River – the river that separates the U.S. from Mexico – with an action called “Hugs, not Walls.” Maria got to see her son for the first time in 16 years. And for those couple of minutes that Maria had with her husband and her son were the first and only two minutes that she got to see her family members because of unjust immigration policy,” Dr. Theohoarris stated.

The Poor People’s Campaign is organizing the Poor People’s Assembly and Moral March on Washington, June 20th, during which Dr. Barber said they would rise as “a powerful moral fusion movement to demand the implementation of our moral agenda.”

“The fact that there are 140 million poor and lowwealth people in a country this rich is morally indefensible, constitutional-

ly inconsistent and economically insane,” Dr. Barber added.

During the march, Dr. Barber said some of those living in poverty would attend and speak for themselves. He stated that it was essential to know that poverty comes in “all colors” and that it’s more than just African Americans who are struggling.

He noted that the City of Flint was under emergency management when it decided to switch its water source from the Detroit Water System to the Flint River.

That move poisoned a community of almost 99,000, with a 42 percent poverty rate and in which 56 percent of residents are Black, and 37 percent are White.

Also, Dr. Barber noted that 6.1 million people had been disenfranchised because of felony convictions, including one in 13 Black adults.

During the call, Dr. Barber continued to lash out at the current administration’s controversial immigration policies. The Poor People’s Campaign has found that undocumented immigrants contributed $5 trillion to the U.S. economy over the last ten years.

They paid $13 billion in Social Security in 2010, but only received $1 billion in benefits.

They also pay eight percent of their income in state and local taxes, while the wealthiest one percent pay just 5.4 percent. Yet undocumented immigrants and most lawfully residing immigrants are barred from receiving assistance under the major public welfare programs, causing hardship

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Impeachment From page A-1 The entire Senate is the jury, but it also has some judge-like powers.

In addition to voting on procedures and evidence, senators can submit objections to Roberts.

They’re not allowed to directly question attorneys for the two sides, but they can offer questions to Roberts, who will read them. https://www.nbcnews. com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/ trump-impeachmenttrial-rules-everythinge l s e - y o u - n e e d know-n1118176

responsible for providing leadership to new technology integration, branch management, human resources, Treasury management, retail and treasury depository relationships, information technology operations, and external relations. Hutcherson graduated from Harvard with an MBA concentrating in finance and strategy, and Morehouse with a B.A. in Finance.

Voting rights From page A-1

332 518 321 736 862 208 109 2456 6196 914 17 19 21 24 37 45

Representing the House as the prosecutor are seven Democrats Schiff, Jerry Nadler and Hakeem Jeffries of New York; Jason Crow of Colorado; Zoe Lofgren of California; Val Demings of Florida; and Sylvia Garcia of Texas.

Dimitrius M. Hutcherson for many poor immigrant families.

In fact, among the 43.7 million immigrants in the U.S., there are 19.7 million – undocumented and lawfully residing – who cannot vote, Dr. Barber noted.

“So, we have to understand the history of systemic racism. And we have to see how systemic racism is impacting not just people of color, but also white people today,” Dr. Barber stated. “When Reverend Barber says that repressed voter suppression can create and further poverty amongst White people, amongst Black people, amongst Latinos, amongst young people and old people.”

President Trump’s legal team includes White House counsel Pat Cipollone, and Trump’s personal attorney Jay Sekulow, and former independent counsel Ken Starr, who investigated Clinton, O.J. Simpson defense lawyer Alan Dershowitz, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and Robert Ray. Also, Republican Reps. Doug Collins (Ga.), Mike Johnson (La.), Jim Jordan (Ohio), Debbie Lesko (Ariz.), Mark Meadows (N.C.), John Ratcliffe (Texas), Elise Stefanik (N.Y.) and Lee Zeldin (N.Y.) who will handle media for Trump.

According to NBC each side would have up to 24 hours to present its opening statement. Neither side has to use the all of its time. The 24 hours would be split over two days for each side; during Clinton’s trial, time was

spaced out over three days. The trial is expected to take place six days a week, Monday through Saturday.

The last impeachment trial of a president was and President Bill Clinton in 1998 for perjury and obstruction of justice. His impeachment followed his confession of a sexual affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. It came more than 100 years after the impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson in 1868, for firing a cabinet secretary without the consent of Congress.

Johnson, who succeeded slain President Abraham Lincoln who was assassinated following the end of the civil war, was an avowed racist from Tennessee. He was essentially impeached for using his office to reverse the outcome of the Civil War and nullify civil rights laws extended to the previously enslaved African Americans.

Both Clinton and Johnson were acquitted, and remained in office.

In a December 20, 2019 article on impeachment on the CNN website “Impeachment Fast Facts,” it notes President Richard M. Nixon faced possible impeachment on the grounds of obstruction of justice, abuse of power and contempt of Congress in relation to the Watergate scandal. He resigned in 1974, before a vote was conducted in the House of Representatives.

In addition to the presidential impeachments, Congress has carried out 17 other trials for federal officials including judges, a cabinet member and a senator. https://www.cnn. com/2017/08/29/world/ impeachment-fast-facts/ index.html

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Silence the Violence for 2020 The benefits of having strong credit

By Ed Gray

Learn how having healthy credit can help you access new opportunities, plus some tips on how to manage it.

North Dallas Gazette Senior Columnist

Last week we began the new decade the same way that we finished the old decade. Last year in Dallas, more than 200 people were murdered, sadly most were African Americans. Though we march for justice and claim “Black Lives Matter,” they clearly don’t matter to us in Dallas, as most of the killings are committed by black members of our society.

Our nation is at war with itself. If you are young, gifted and black, chances are you will not get to be old enough to brag about it. Rory Norman, a one-year-old, was killed last week. His family apparently was targeted in an ambush at their home.

How many children, how many babies, must die at our own hands before we realize we are our biggest enemy.

The City of Dallas and its Dallas Police Department are under political fire.

This criticism is warranted as its leadership has the moral responsibility to provide security to its citizens. Whatever it takes to restore safety, sanctity, and sanity, the City must act.

The City of Dallas acting means it must not police and occupy because of crime stats. This was done earlier in a ham-fisted manner resulting in a Dallas citizen, Schaston Hodge, being shot sixteen times by the Texas Rangers.

The Mayor and the city manager are wringing their collective hands because this type of crime is bad for business.

How can business interests bring corporate dollars to enrich Dallas further?

Now before we blame the Dallas Police Department on increased crimes of murders and assaults, let’s be real!

These are often not random killings, but crimes which reflect our social ills.

This crime upsurge cannot be solved by merely policing more or throwing money at the problem. This can only be changed if we change. We alone must Silence the Violence.

Your credit score is one of the most important measures of financial responsibility. It’s a big part of what lenders and vendors look at when considering you for a loan or line of credit. It also can impact your ability to rent an apartment, sign a phone contract, or even get a job. Once you have established good credit, work to keep it that way so you can continue to enjoy the opportunities that come with good credit.

The financial benefits of good credit Strong credit can help you get:

Just weeks before turning two, Rory Norman was tragically killed and became one of the first homicide victims in Dallas in 2020. His mother, Ebony Miller, said that she found her son face down. She turned him over and he was lifeless.

Dallas Police Chief Renee Hall has been given an ultimatum to reduce crime. If she is going to reduce crime, a tremendous task, Chief Hall needs help from the Black Community. The Community, our Black Community, must police itself.

We must Silence the Violence The Black Lives Matter movement must immediately be an internal call for Dallas. We must stop the self-inflicted genocide that goes on yearly. If we do not, then 2020 will be just like 2019. If we do not, it will be another number, another death, and another hashtag.

I am Ed Gray, and this is Straight Talk.

Ed Gray is a presidential scholar at Southern Methodist University. He is the host of The Commish Radio Show airing Saturdays 3-5 p.m. on FBRN.net, can be reached at eegray62@att.net.

NDG was awarded NNPA’s 2018 Robert S. Abbott Best Editorial for Gray’s “Confederate Statues: The White Man’s Burden” column.

Easier approvals: Mortgage lenders, landlords, and auto finance companies will check your credit to see how reliable you are when it comes to paying bills on time and managing debt.

Some employers will run a credit check if the job requires you to access money or sensitive data.

Additional savings: Having good credit may even give you the ability to purchase a service without putting down a costly deposit beforehand. To learn more about the perks of having good credit, visit the Hands on Banking® website.

By Jared Kushner

Senior Advisor to the President of the United States

One of the proudest moments of my life was standing beside President Donald Trump in the Oval Office to witness the signing of the First Step Act, a historic criminal justice reform bill that makes American communities safer, improves the lives of hundreds of thousands of forgotten Americans, and changes the way we think about prisons and second chances in our country. We have revitalized our system to be tough on crime, but also smart on crime.

America represents four percent of the world’s population, yet we detain nearly 25 percent of the world’s incarcerated people. At least 95 percent of people in State prisons today eventually will return to their communities.

The new consensus is that we are better served by helping those formerly incarcerated to have the best shot at a second chance, rather than warehousing them and sending them back into our communities without the necessary skills, tools, and support to have a prosperous life.

Now, after the enactment of the First Step Act, our Federal criminal justice system is focused on rehabilitation and incentivizing prisoners to participate in evidence-based recidivism reduction programs. These programs are proven to help prisoners gain the skills needed to become productive members of society and have a real second chance once they are released from prison.

We cannot forget about these Americans, just as we cannot forget about those trapped in failing schools, addicted to opioids, or struggling in ailing industries in blighted towns. President Trump has brought unprecedented Federal resources, focused national attention, and taken concrete steps to make sure people returning from prison are no longer forgotten and given the best chance to succeed.

I would encourage Wisconsin—a state where the prison population has more

than tripled since 1990 [1] and, as of the last Census, had the highest black male incarceration rate in the Nation at 12.8 percent, [2] nearly double the national average of 6.7 percent—to implement the same reforms that President Trump and United States Senator Ron Johnson have championed in Washington. These reforms are proven to reduce recidivism, save taxpayer dollars, and make communities safer.

I am in Milwaukee today to highlight the Joseph Project, a faith-based jobs initiative formed by Senator Johnson and led by Pastor Jerome Smith of Greater Praise Church of God in Christ.

The Joseph Project identifies formerly incarcerated individuals who are ready to change their lives and connects them with employment. This great work is making the Milwaukee community safer and is providing much needed second chances to previously forgotten Americans.

America is a country of second chances. Now, unlike any other time in our country’s history – thanks to President Trump’s leadership on the First Step Act and a historic economic environment— with the unemployment rate at a 50-year low and record-low unemployment rates for African Americans and Hispanics— those who have been held accountable for their crimes now have the opportunity to become contributing members of society.

When more former prisoners come home as productive and law-abiding citizens, our families are healthier, our communities are safer, our economy is stronger, and our country lives up to its ideals.

[1] Harvard University’s Opportunity Insights policy and research institute examined incarceration rates >>https://doc.wi.gov/DataResearch/ArchivedReports/PopulationReports/DAIPointInTime1990to2014.pdf<<; 2 >>http://www4.uwm.edu/eti/2013/BlackImprisonment.pdf<<; >>https://doc.wi.gov/DataResearch/WeeklyPopulationReports/01102020.pdf<<

Pay down other debt: Your credit card balance is not the only thing that can affect your credit score. Student loans and other forms of debt can lower your credit score if not managed correctly. Keep track of payments, and try to pay a little more than the minimum balance each month. Keeping your debt low can help you maintain and even improve your credit over time.

How to manage your credit

Ultimately, strong credit can help you reach your goals by qualifying you for loans, contracts, discounts, and access to even more credit options. Discipline and the ability to pay your credit-related debts off every month comes first, however.

You can manage your credit to help you with future purchases — such as a

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Clueless Joe

Black folk have a real dilemma building up over the 2020 elections like thunderclouds over the Midwestern plains.

A Message to Black America

Use credit cards smartly: Sometimes simply having a credit card can lead to spending more than you intended, leaving you unable to afford the balance.

Failing to pay your credit card balance on time every month can rack up interest and hurt your credit score, so don’t spend more than you’ll be able to pay back. If you’re considering using a credit card to build your credit, take a look at the Hands on Banking website for tips on using one responsibly.

Ask for help when you need it: If making payments on time for Lower interest rates: your credit card or A high credit score not a loan payment beonly makes it easier Once you have established good comes too difficult, to be approved for sercredit, work to keep it that way so don’t be afraid to vices but it may also speak with the lendmean you may quali- you can continue to enjoy the op- er to negotiate a payfy for a lower interest portunities that come with good ment plan that works rate on future credit credit. (photo: iStockphoto/NNPA) for you. It’s better to accounts. You also get ahead of any polikely won’t need a co-signer to get ap- tential problems before you fall behind proved. on payments.

Savings on insurance: According to Regularly review your credit Certified Credit Counselor Netiva Heard, Beyond credit growth, review your founder of MNH Financial Services, LLC, credit reports annually to make sure having a good credit score can help you nothing fraudulent or negative has been save money on insurance rates, though reported. Every 12 months, you can acthe impact of your credit on this may de- cess your report for free from each of pend on the state you live in. “Insurance the three largest credit bureaus in the companies have found that those with United States at annualcreditreport. higher credit scores file fewer claims,” com. “Be sure to check the inquiry and says Heard. As a result, some adjust personal data sections where signs of their rates so people with good credit identity theft can be spotted right away,” tend to pay lower premiums. says Heard.

By Oscar H. Blayton

Jared Kushner speaking with attendees at the 2019 Teen Student Action Summit hosted by Turning Point USA at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, D.C.(Photo: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America [CC BY-SA (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)] / Wikimedia Commons)

home or vehicle — in a number of ways:

There is no question that we need to resist the re-election of Donald Trump with every fiber of our beings. Allowing this most horrible of humans another four years to try to destroy every hard-fought gain won over the past 70 years will pose an extremely dangerous threat to lives and our liberty.

Without question, Trump Oscar H. Blayton most go.

The question then becomes, “After Trump, then what?”

Some people suggest that we replace Trump with Joe Biden. After all, they argue, he was Obama’s vice president. But the problem with that reasoning is that Joe Biden is Joe Biden, not Barack Obama. Biden created so many problems for the African American community during his political career that should disqualify him from serious consideration by Black voters.

During the 1970s, Biden was chums with segregationists, opposed busing to integrate schools and voted to bar the use of federal funding for abortions. In the 1990s, his treatment of Anita Hill during the Clarence Thomas hearings was abhorrent, and he drafted the 1994 crime bill that has resulted in the United States having the highest incarceration rate in the world.

Biden wants us to believe that his days of racially toxic behavior are behind him, but the words that come out of his mouth are evidence that he is still a danger to African Americans.

During one of the presidential debates in September, Biden claimed one reason for the achievement gap between white and Black students is the so called “word gap” between them. This notion of a word gap is a discredited theory based on a flawed 1995 study claiming that poor children hear 30 million fewer words than their middle-class counterparts during the early years of life. He suggested that the achievement gap can be fixed if Black parents “make sure the record player is on at night” so their “kids hear words.”

The 30-million-word gap theory rose to prominence during the 1980s due to inappropriate testing and research. It also appears that research was underpinned with implicit racism. This theory was clearly debunked by 2018 using more efficient testing and research and

a contextual approach to the issue. As early as 1972, experts were exposing flaws in the word gap theory. In a June 1972 Atlantic article titled “Academic Ignorance and Black Intelligence,” linguist William Labov wrote: “Our work in the speech community makes it painfully obvious that in many ways working-class speakers are more effective narrators, reasoners, and debaters than many middle-class speakers…”

Labov went on to say about the word gap: “Unfortunately, these notions are based upon the work of educational psychologists who know very little about language and even less about black children. The concept of verbal deprivation has no basis in social reality; in fact, black children in the urban ghettos receive a great deal of verbal stimulation, hear more well-formed sentences than middle-class children, and participate fully in a highly verbal culture; they have the same basic vocabulary, possess the same capacity for conceptual learning, and use the same logic as anyone else who learns to speak and understand English.”

Forty-seven years after Lebov’s Atlantic article, Biden still does not have a clue.

When questioned about these outdated beliefs during a New York Times editorial board interview in December, Biden attempted to support his position by claiming that Black parents are reluctant to participate in the education of their children because of their embarrassment over the lack of their own education and their inability to speak well.

In 2012, the Survey Research Institute at the University of Houston conducted interviews of 1,200 individuals and concluded that African Americans are the most likely demographic to value postsecondary education.

Apparently, it did not occur to Biden that racism and disparities in resources have a hand in the achievement gap.

But he wants a job where he will decide how the nation’s resources will be used to overcome the effects of racism.

Would there be a danger of our tax dollars would be spent to distribute voice recordings because of a debunked and racist theory? We need a president who has a better understanding, not only of the causes of racially motivated educational disparities, but all the disparities in this country caused by bigotry and ignorance.

The problem we as Black folk are facing with the 2020 election is to figure out who we want to replace Donald Trump. Trump is a cancer on democracy.

But can’t we do better than Joe Biden?

Oscar H. Blayton is a former Marine Corps combat pilot and human rights activist who practices law in Virginia.

January 22-28, 2020 • michiganchronicle.com • Page A-5

RAWS and DABO partner for suicide prevention training event

By Andre Ellington

January is Mental Wellness Month.

RAWS Organization (Raising Awareness With Students) and DABO (Detroit Association of Black Organizations) are partnering to raise awareness regarding suicide. Both organizations will host “Stop Suicide,” a free suicide training event at the DABO center. Parents, children, and community representatives are encouraged to come out and learn ways to prevent suicide.

Here are nine ways you can improve your mental health from Psychology Today:

“A lot of families have been affected by suicide or suicide attempts,” said Kady Cox, founder of RAWS. “It’s imperative that we take the necessary steps to identify early warning signs, triggers, and languages, and that is the goal of this free 1-hour training hosted by the Detroit Wayne Mental Health Authority.

We are hoping with the help of my non-profit, we can get a good turnout for young people so we can bridge that gap in education, training, and awareness.”

Eat a good meal.

Tell yourself something positive.

Write down something you are grateful for.

Focus on one thing (in the moment).

Exercise.

Open up to someone.

Do something for someone else.

Take a break.

For more information, visit RAWS website.

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January 22-28, 2020

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B1

| January 22-28, 2020

Roots.

michiganchronicle.com

Comerica Bank jumped started the Back the Blue Detroit campaign with a $25,000 donation to the Detroit Public Safety Foundation for 2020 support. Front L-R: Patti Kakula, DPSF executive director; Mike Ritchie, Comerica Bank Michigan market president; Chief James Craig, Detroit Police Department; Reginald Turner, chairman of Detroit Public Safety Foundation board of trustees.

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Inaugural Back the Blue takes over Detroit Comerica donates $25,000 and delivers refreshments to law enforcement agencies

Five years ago, several organizations banded together and launched the National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day that takes place annually on Jan. 9. to honor officers for their sacrifice and service to communities nationwide.

This year, the Detroit Public Safety Foundation

Comerica Bank joined numerous business and community partners to Back the sought out to create a localized effort and elevate Blue Detroit on National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. the day of appreciation in Detroit by launching the inaugural “Back the Blue Detroit” campaign.

To accomplish this, DPSF reached out to several local partners and businesses seeking different ways to show support for those who protect and serve every day, and Comerica Back became one of the first partners to quickly jump on board to lead the charge, which would include a sizable donation.

On Jan. 6, the Back the Blue campaign kicked off during a press conference co-hosted by DPSF and Detroit Police Department at the Comerica Banking Center, the bank’s Michigan headquarters located in downtown Detroit.

“I can tell you, the support we have is vitally important to building trust between our officers and the citizens we are sworn to protect,” said James Craig, Chief of the Detroit Police Department.

forcement officers and first responders across this region, both our sworn and civilian members, because they put their lives on the line each and every day they go to work, never knowing if they’ll return to their families.”

In all, over 15 local, county, state and federal agencies were represented at the initial gathering to announce the first-ever campaign devoted to law enforcement appreciation day. Among the dignitaries were Chief Craig, Wayne County Sherriff Benny Napoleon, DPSF board president Reginald Turner, Michigan State Police First Lt. Michael Shaw and Wayne State University Police Chief Tony Holt.

To wrap up the announcement, Comerica Michigan Market President Mike Ritchie stepped forward to express thanks on behalf of the bank and to deliver a vital gift to the DPSF. Showcasing Comerica Bank’s commitment and appreciation for those who serve and protect the community, Ritchie presented a $25,000 donation to support 2020 DSPF initiatives in recognition of the Back the Blue campaign.

“Local law enforcement officers are the backbone of our communities, keeping us safe day in and day out,” said Ritchie. “This is our way of recognizing their invaluable work and saying thank you to the men and women who serve and protect.”

“I welcome the new Back the Blue initiative, Detroit Public Safety Foundation executive director Patti Kakula welcomes approximately 40 representatives from nearly 15 law enforcement agencies to kick off the and hopefully it will send a message to all law en- See Back the Blue Detroit page B-2 inaugural Back the Blue Detroit campaign.

Mike Ritchie (left) greets Lt. John Watkins at the 4th precinct in Detroit. “We are not taking you for granted. We appreciate you and we understand enough to say Comerica’s Mike Ritchie is flanked by members of local, county and state law thank you,” said Ritchie. enforcement officials as well as members of the police board of commissions and board members of the Detroit Public Safety Foundation.

Comerica Cares visit to Oakland County Sherriff office on National Law EnforceDetroit Police Chief James Craig addresses the guests at the Comerica Banking ment Appreciation Day. L-R: Satin Thompson, Amber Alexander, Andrea Ladasz, Center and thanks the sworn and civilian officers who dedicate their lives protect- Deputy Alissa Gooding, Cori McCarthy and Myrna Hargrave. Not pictured Lauren ing neighborhoods and communities.

Parker.

Page B-2 • michiganchronicle.com • January 22-28, 2020

Comerica Bank’s Michigan Index Dips Again

Comerica Bank’s Michigan Economic Activity Index declined in October to a level of 117.8.

October’s reading is 20 points, or 20 percent, above the index cyclical low of 97.9. The index averaged 118.6 points for all of 2018, 0.2 points above the index average for 2017.

September’s index reading was revised to 118.0.

Comerica Bank’s Michigan Economic Activity Index ticked down again in October as the GM/UAW strike impacted key data series. We expect the Michigan Index to rebound in November, showing the positive impact of the strike’s early-November resolution.

Robert A. Dye

Comerica Cares volunteers and members of Comerica’s Michigan senior leadership team meet with officers from Detroit’s 4th Precinct.

Back the Blue Detroit From page B-1

For DPSF, this type of donation provides critical resources for first responders.

For October, only two out of nine components of the Michigan Index were positive. They were housing starts and state sales tax revenue.

Residential construction lifted in many areas in late 2019 as home sales improved following the Federal Reserve’s cut of key interest rates through last summer and fall. The house price sub-index and the hotel occupancy sub-index were both unchanged in October.

ers safer, stronger and most importantly feel appreciated. These first responders don’t know us personally, their families don’t know us, but when there’s an issue, they are jumping in to take care of us.”

Comerica’s donation did not serve as the only outreach of the week.

On National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, several teams consisting of Comerica Cares volunteers offered refreshments—approximately 1,700 cups of coffee and cake—to all 12 Detroit police precincts, sheriff offices in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties, police precinct in Dearborn as well as the Metro South Michigan state police post in Taylor.

Launched in 2003, the Detroit Public Safety Foundation strives to help the Detroit Police and Fire Departments initiate innovative programs that make Detroit a safer place to live and work.The nonprofit is dedicated to creating a better future by improving the health, safety and welfare of citizens and visitors to Detroit through support of The displays of appreciation also occurred outside Detroit. ColDetroit Police, Fire and EMS with technology, training, equipment, leagues across the state, including those in west Michigan, Jackson, Aucommunity outreach and wellness. burn Hills, Sterling Heights and the city of Taylor, took time to visit their Every year, the Detroit Public Safety Foundation secures grants local law enforcement agencies to say thanks and deliver additional items and funding from community partners, such as Comerica, so the De- such as donuts and pizza. troit Police and Fire departments can purchase items that are not Comerica, the largest bank employer in Michigan, has a long history covered in the city budget. of supporting public safety. Comerica was a long-time supporter of the “We’ve had great success, thanks to our community partners, in City of Detroit’s former Angels’ Night, as well as programs like Crime ensuring the departments are able to cover these unbudgeted but Stoppers of Michigan and the Detroit Police Athletic League. very important needs,” said Patti Kukula, executive director of the The inaugural campaign was a resounding success for the DPSF as it Detroit Public Safety Foundation. spotlighted the efforts of the law enforcement as it brought the commu“We are honored to help in any way to make our first respond- nity together to Back the Blue.

The five declining components in the Michigan Index for October were nonfarm employment, unemployment insurance claims (inverted), industrial electricity demand, light vehicle production and total state trade. All five declining components were weighed down by the 6-week-long strike at GM. Even though striking workers are not eligible for unemployment insurance benefits, the production shutdown at GM backed up their supply chain, resulting in temporary layoffs of non-striking workers. Many of those workers were eligible for unemployment insurance benefits. The expected ratification of the USMCA trade deal is also good news for Michigan’s manufacturing sector. As is the expected signing of a Phase 1 trade deal with China.

The Michigan Economic Activity Index consists of nine variables, as follows: nonfarm payroll employment, continuing claims for unemployment insurance, housing starts, house price index, industrial electricity sales, auto assemblies, total trade, hotel occupancy and sales tax revenue.

All data are seasonally adjusted. Nominal values have been converted to constant dollar values. Index levels are expressed in terms of three-month moving averages.

To subscribe to Comerica’s economic publications or for questions, contact

ComericaEcon@comerica.com.

Comerica Cares prep team shows special cake included in the bank’s Back the Blue special deliveries.

Archives ­available at http://www.comerica.com/insights Follow on Twitter: ­@­Comerica_Econ.

Comerica Cares volunteers organize coffee, cake and paper products at the Comerica Banking Center for 17 different teams who visited local precincts in Detroit to say thank you.

We’re building our community, one mortgage at a time.

Get the experience, knowledge and advice you deserve.

Buying a new home can be challenging to navigate. At Comerica, our Mortgage Specialists can help you feel at home with your decision. We’ll help you research and analyze all your options to determine the best mortgage program for you.

For more information, visit your local Comerica banking center or visit Comerica.com today.

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January 22-28, 2020 • michiganchronicle.com • Page B-3

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B4

| January 22-28, 2020

Money.

michiganchronicle.com

Minority-Owned Small Business Growth

By Kevin Johnson The number of minority-owned small businesses continues to grow throughout the U.S. In its 2018 National Report, Kauffman’s Indicators of Entrepreneurship reported that the share of new entrepreneurs representing minority groups is reaching 50 percent, almost double what it was 25 years ago.

This is good news for a number of reasons. Black-owned businesses strengthen local economies, foster job creation, stabilize neighborhoods and help reduce poverty. Successful owners create generational wealth and provide education opportunities for their Kevin Johnson families. Black businesses are historically civic-minded, helping create strong communities through partnerships with churches, schools and neighborhood groups.

Unfortunately, studies also find that black-owned businesses face disproportionate challenges in starting and sustaining their operations. Lack of capital, access to financing and capital readiness are hardships many minority entrepreneurs face. Because of their urban locations, many black businesses have higher insurance premiums, are subject to city taxes, have a difficult time retaining employees and lack the resources to develop a wide customer base.

For these reasons and more, it is critical that we all advocate for black businesses – both in our personal and professional lives.

Consider minority businesses for all of your personal spending – everything from tax preparation and high fashion, to handmade goods and fine dining.

As business leaders, we must stand up programs that help minorities become business owners. I’m proud of DEGC’s Motor City Match, which has launched more than 100 brick-and-mortar businesses in the city, and another 300-plus home-based businesses in Detroit. With our partners, we’re relaunching a procurement program that certifies Detroit businesses and connects them with local and national buyers. Additionally, our philanthropic partners provide financial support for programs aimed at closing the gaps that impede business growth.

There is no overstating the importance of black-owned business to our continued development and growing the black middle class in Detroit. While 35,000 Detroiter’s have moved out of poverty since 2013, Detroit Future City reports that the city’s middle-class population lags behind the region, state and all major U.S. cities.

Frederick Douglass once said, “Who you give your money to, is who you give your power to.”

In Detroit, the nation’s largest black-majority city, people of color must be represented at all levels – especially as business owners. We all have a role in making that happen.

Kevin Johnson is the President and CEO of the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation

Chris Tucker and Ms. Hughes at the Urban One Honors Show. Courtesy Urban One Inc.

40 Years of Cathy Hughes’ Leadership at Urban One

Fulfilling Dr. King’s Dream

By Keith L. Alexander

lishers Association, made up of more than 200 black-owned newspapers across the country.

OXON HILL, Md. – Inside the illuminated MGM National Harbor towering over the Potomac River, the 3,000-seat theater slowly fills with African Americans donned in tuxedos and gowns as Hollywood’s and New York’s top entertainers mix with some of Washington, D.C.’s bourgeoisie including politicians and business leaders. All have gathered to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Urban One Inc., the nation’s largest distributor of news and entertainment aimed solely at black consumers, which also includes the largest African American owned TV network.

The media company that for decades was known as Radio One Inc. for its stable of radio stations across the country, changed its name in 2017 to Urban One, a new name that reflects, its owners believed, its channeled mission of providing media content to urban audiences via all forms of media through its divisions including radio, television programming with its TV One cable network and now the Internet.

Still at the helm of Urban One is the legendary woman with the mic, camera and now computer keyboard is the company’s founder and chairwoman, Cathy Hughes. On this recent night, the 72-year-old energetic and spirited Hughes is also serving as co-host for the 40th anniversary Urban One Honors awards show with comedian Chris Tucker, which is scheduled to air Hughes’s TV One network Jan. 20.

The show, however, is already running late before it even began. Taping was supposed to begin 20 minutes or so ago. But people are still

Cathy Hughes slowly filling their seats. Then, to a round of staccato applause and without an introduction, Hughes, with her broad smile, walked onto the stage. She apologized for the late start.

The staffing at the entrances of the MGM, she said, have been slow in allowing audience members through the doors.

“But I’ll take care of this,” she said while putting a finger in the air.

purchase the company made when the resort opened three years ago.

Hughes disappears backstage. And within 10 minutes, as if a dam burst, audience members began rushing into the theater to their seats. Minutes later, the orchestra begins playing and Hughes and Tucker walk on stage arm in arm to begin the two-hour show.

As the nation celebrates the birthday of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this month, those who knew King well, say Hughes and Urban One are the epitome of King’s dream. Dr. Benjamin Chavis, who worked as a youth leader for King in the 1960’s, said Hughes was able to break through the historically, white male controlled world of media ownership and create her own media company that she uses to not only to reach millions of people around the world to ensure that the voices of African Americans continue to be shared and visible.

No one messes with Cathy Hughes, especially when she is their boss. That’s right, in addition to the various entertainment companies, Urban One also owns nearly 7 percent of the $1.4 billion, MGM casino, hotel and resort, a

“Urban One continues to fulfill Dr. King’s dream,” Chavis said. “The best way to celebrate black history is to make more history. Cathy Hughes continues to make black history.” Chavis is now head of the National Newspaper Pub-

The Hughes media story is well known. She began her career in 1969 at an AM radio station in her native Omaha, but left for Washington, D.C. when she was offered a job as a lecturer at Howard University. In 1973, Hughes was named general sales manager of WHUR, Howard’s FM radio station. Two years later, Hughes was promoted to general manager. There she created the late night, slowjam formatted staple called “The Quiet Storm” a signature sound that expanded to radio stations around the country.

In that short time, Hughes had taken annual revenues at the station from $250,000 to more than $3.5 million.

In 1979, Hughes and then-husband Dewey Hughes sought financing to purchase their own radio station and were rejected by 32 banks until 1980 when they secured lending to buy WOL-AM, a tiny Washington, D.C. station located in Northeast Washington. That first station led to the acquisitions of dozens of radio stations around the country. Then in 2004, with her son Alfred C. Liggins III, a Wharton School of Business MBA graduate as chief executive officer his mother’s company, Radio One branched into television by creating TV One, a cable network reaching more than 40 million African American TV households.

In 2017, TV One changed its name to Urban One after it acquired a collection of Internet media websites, now known

See CATHY

HUGHES page B5

Henri Harmon Joins Detroit-Based Great Lakes Legal Group Minority-Owned Firm Expanding to Serve Growing Client Base in 2020

Henri Harmon

Great Lakes Legal Group announced today the addition of attorney Henri Harmon to the growing minority-owned law firm. Led by Detroit-area attorneys Jehan Crump-Gibson and Ayanna Alcendor, Great Lakes Legal Group launched in 2018 to provide legal and consulting services to business clients and individuals throughout the ‘Great Lakes’ State.

Mr. Henri Harmon brings nearly 15 years of legal experience to Great Lakes Legal Group, including work at a large corporate defense firm in downtown Detroit litigating

high stakes disputes. Harmon attended Michigan State University College of Law, graduating cum laude. At Michigan State University, he completed the prestigious Trial Practice Institute and served as president of the Black Law Students Association.

“We are excited to welcome Henri to our team, as we expand to provide diverse services to our growing client base,” said Jehan Crump-Gibson, Co-Founder, Great Lakes Legal Group. “Mr. Harmon’s keen ability to develop strong legal strategy and commitment to advocacy is truly remarkable. He is an asset to the firm and our clients will undoubtedly benefit from his service.”

Harmon’s practice areas in-

clude business and commercial disputes, discrimination and whistleblower claims, civil rights, constitutional law, civil litigation, and property insurance coverage. His career experience includes handling multi-state class actions and multi-district litigation. He has litigated cases in state and federal courts in Michigan, Texas, New York, Colorado, Illinois and California. Mr. Harmon has received multiple recognitions

by Super Lawyers, earning an outstanding serving rating.

Other service areas provided

by Great Lakes Legal Group include probate and estate planning, business real estate and commercial matters, government affairs, family law, criminal law and mediation. Honored

as one of Michigan Chronicle’s ’40 under 40’ and a ‘Woman of Excellence’, Co-Founder Jehan Crump-Gibson attended Wayne State University Law School. She was appointed to serve on the Michigan Senate Judicial Advisory Committee by Senator Gary Peters in 2017. Co-Founder Ayanna Alcendor graduated from Western Michigan Thomas M. Cooley Law School and was appointed to serve on the Institute of Continuing Legal Education’s Criminal Law Advisory Board.

She worked previously in the Detroit office of Ernst & Young and founded Allied Legal Consulting before joining forces with Crump-Gibson.

Learn more: http://gllegalgroup.com/.

January 22-28, 2020 • michiganchronicle.com • Page B-5

Detroit Loses A Legend With The Death Of Charlie Primas On January 13, 2020, Detroit lost one of the pillars of this community when Charlie Primas passed away after a lengthy illness. Charlie will be remembered as a star athlete, a dedicated educator and a community leader, but, most of all, he will be remembered for his kindness and generosity of spirit.

Charlie Primas was born in Mississippi, but moved with his family to the Black Bottom area of Detroit in 1939.

Charlie attended Harris Elementary School, Barbour Intermediate School and Miller High School. Miller, the only African American high school in Detroit at the time, left a lasting impression on Charlie. He was a star on the school’s basketball team, which won four consecutive city basketball championships while he was there. Detroit high schools were barred from playing in state championships.

After graduating, Charlie moved on to Wayne State University (then called Wayne University), but he never forgot Miller. Miller eventually closed and remained closed for several years. But for more than 50 years, Charlie organized the annual summer picnic that is held on the grounds of the school, which reopened in 2013 as a charter school with a curriculum based in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Today the school also is home to the esteemed Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit. As president of the Miller Alumni Association, Charlie watched an annual picnic turn into a weekend event where as many as 7,000 alumni

Cathy Hughes From page B-5 as iOne Digital, that focus on news, sports and entertainment stories about and for black audiences.

Today, Urban One is worth, according to Wall Street estimates based on stock price of about $98 million. The company boasts of reaching 59 million households, 22 million listeners, 40 million video streams, 20 million unique Web visitors. It owns 57 broadcast stations in 15 urban markets, two cable networks and some 80 websites. Hughes works closely with her son who she credits with diversifying Urban One beyond radio and TV. “This company has a commitment to serving our audience that is evidenced beyond just the mission of making

A basketball standout, he was the first player at Wayne to score 1,000 points and the only player ever to get 1,000 rebounds. He was inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall Fame, and he was named an All American in 1953. No African Americans were being inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame at that time, but in 2012 basketball fans from around the state finally were able to celebrate his long-overdue Michigan Sports Hall of Fame induction.

After graduation from Wayne, Charlie joined the Harlem Globetrotters. The NBA was not open to African Americans at the time, and talented basketball players who wanted to continue to play found the Globetrotters their only option. Charlie was able to travel the world as a star player for the Globetrotters.

Charlie Primas traveled from all over the United States to attend. Charlie attributed this incredible turnout to the special bond that exists among “Millerites.” For many years, most of the Detroit African-American population lived in Black Bottom, and Miller was the neighborhood high school for the city’s Black Bottom population. Miller students became close and remained close over the years. It is no surprise that Charlie became known as “Mr. Miller” and, was routinely greeted on the street as “Mr. Miller” by alumni and friends.

Charlie attended Wayne University from 1950-1954, obtaining a degree in Physical Education and becoming a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.

money. It is to build an organization that represents the needs and interests of a community that for the majority of this country’s history, hasn’t had a voice to fight for it,” Liggins, 54, said recently.

Throughout the night at the star-studded awards at the MGM, the influence that Hughes has garnered over the four decades was repeatedly echoed by those who took the stage.

Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott surrounded on stage by other rap legends Lil Kim and Da Brat, became emotional during her acceptance speech.

She described Hughes as “bold, fierce, strong, innovative (and) a visionary.” Elliott said a “big” part of her success was due to Urban One. “We are all chosen, but there are certain people chosen to be a vessel,” Elliott said of Hughes.

It was while playing for the Globetrotters that Charlie met his wife Lois on a blind date. Lois asked, “What do you do for a living?’ He said, “I play basketball for the Globetrotters.” She responded, “No, I’m talking about a real job.” Charlie began thinking about making a career change. He became a teacher, and he and Lois married a short time later in 1960.

Charlie obtained two additional degrees from Wayne University – a Master’s Degree in Administration and an Educational Specialist’s Degree in Special Education.

Charlie left teaching to go to the Wayne County Juvenile Detention Center where he served as an administrator

During his acceptance speech, actor and singer Jamie Foxx spoke of when he and director and writer Quentin Tarantino were making the 2012 “Django Unchained,” they were concerned about the use of the N-word in the film and how audiences would receive the racist word. Foxx told the audience that he told Tarantino “the only person who could help them” ensure audiences would not be put off by the repeated use of the racist word would be Hughes. So, the two asked Hughes to come to the movie set so she could see the filming and hear the vision behind it. Foxx said they needed Hughes’s “blessing” knowing that her influence with audiences could ultimately make or break the film.

When he took the stage, Broadway, film and TV performer Billy Porter described how being celebrated by a black

until his retirement in 1998. One of his duties at the center was to oversee the school program for young offenders.

For many years, Lois and Charlie funded an endowment at Wayne State University to defray the expenses of a college education for young athletes at the school. They created the endowment in the name of the Miller High School Alumni Association.

Lois and Charlie moved their young family to the Sherwood Forest area of Detroit in 1974, and they never left.

They found Sherwood Forest a comfortable and friendly place to live. They especially appreciated its proximity to New Prospect Missionary Baptist Church.

They both held leadership positions in that church for many years.

Like her husband, Lois Primas dedicated her life to educating the young people of Detroit. She joined the Detroit Public Schools in 1956 as a teacher at Neinas Middle School. She moved to Central High School, Mumford, and finally to Osborn, where she supervised teacher training before assuming the position of assistant principal.

Lois spent more than 30 years in leadership positions in her neighborhood, including 12 years as president of the Board of Directors of the Sherwood Forest Association.

As Detroit mourns the loss of Charlie Primas, it also celebrates him as a truly extraordinary human being. Detroiters will long remember his many contributions to the city that he loved.

media company in front of a predominately black audience, was unusual for out, gay black entertainers. “As a black, queer man in the world, this is such a special day for me. I never felt welcomed. Today in this space, for the first time in my life, I feel like I am a part of this community,” Porter said grabbing Hughes’s hand as she joined him on stage.

During his acceptance speech, Chance the Rapper described Hughes – or Miss H. as he calls her - as a “trailblazer” and a “maverick” who, he said, “built an entire industry, for us.”

Hughes says she plans to continue to build and rebuild the media industry as the technology changes how black households receive their information and entertainment.

“Today, we reach 92 percent of black households,” Hughes

added. “We plan to get to 100 percent.”

“If the black audience that we serve decides that they want to receive our messages via carrier pigeon, then I’m getting ready to go into the bird business. I don’t know what it will take in the future in order to reach that goal. That will depend on what advances occur in technology.”

Urban One’s plan, Hughes says, is to ensure the company will be at the center, the premiere go-to media outlet for black households.

“It’s important for us to have black owned and controlled, particularly in the media, business ventures, nobody is going to tell our stories from our perspective, except us,” she said.

“Nobody is going to do that for us. Why should they or would they? It’s our responsibility to do that.”

If I could do one thing, I’d tell the world she counts.

Communities are as rich and diverse as their needs. That’s why completing the 2020 Census matters. It’s a safe and confidential step toward having an impact on how public funds flow through our communities.

That could mean more resources in your area for special needs. It’s within your control.

Learn more at:

2020CENSUS.GOV Paid for by U.S. Census Bureau.

2019_Census_Braile_Newspaper_HalfPage_SizeB_9_889x10.indd 1

1/15/20 4:50 PM

Page B-6 • michiganchronicle.com • January 22-28, 2020

COMERICA IN THE COMMUNITY

COLLEAGUE SPOTLIGHT

Sioban McMeekins For Comerica Senior Credit Support Specialist Sioban McMeekins, a single mother of two, life is a balancing act and she’s not only walking that tightrope, but she’s also loving it.

Indeed, McMeekins gives her job much of the credit for her success, explaining, “I love the work-life balance my job allows me to have. I’m surrounded by a supportive management team that understands the importance of that balance.

I’m able to be productive both on and off the clock.”

McMeekins joined Comerica two years ago after taking a year off following the birth of her second Sioban McMeekins child. She applied for Credit Support Specialist, which was a new department at Comerica. She’s proud to say she received a call back within a couple of days after applying.

Detroit Police Department 11th Precinct

Detroit Police Department 12th Precinct

Her extensive financial experience no doubt played a role in landing that position. As far back as her senior year in high school, McMeekins worked as an operator at Detroit Edison Credit Union. After that, she says she worked in several different capacities within the financial services industry. In college, she was an Accounting Assistant and freelance bookkeeper. Later, McMeekins spent three-and-a-half years in customer service at Quicken Loans and started a credit education business, promoting financial literacy.

In her current position, McMeekins assists Comerica portfolio and relationship managers.

She considers her two sons, Evan and Ethan, her most memorable accomplishments, describing them as “two of the smartest, most adorable boys I’ve ever met.”

McMeekins points to buying her first home as a big challenge she managed to overcome explaining it was tough to separate her “wants from my needs.” Once she did, however, she says “I realized what features were most important to me and my family.” In the end, said McMeekins, the home they chose didn’t have a lot of the features she had previously listed.

Detroit Police Department 13th Precinct

Detroit Police Department Downtown Services Precinct

Detroit Police Department 2nd Precinct

Sioban McMeekins enjoys volunteering at different organizations in her spare time.

Detroit Police Department 3rd Precinct

Wayne County Sherriff Office

Still working on her bachelor’s of science degree in business administration at Wayne State University, McMeekins finds time to volunteer through Comerica Cares having helped at organizations such as Children’s Hospital, United Way, Junior Achievement and Forgotten Harvest.

Her recent activity was especially rewarding, working alongside the Detroit Lions to prepare supply kits for Detroit Public Schools students and teachers.

“As a former Detroit Public School student, it was rewarding to provide them with much-needed materials. And even more satisfying to witness how impactful and appreciated our efforts were,” said McMeekins Her best advice for those looking to improve themselves or their careers? “Take chances on the things you’re passionate about, even if it means starting over. Never allow time to deter you; it’s going to pass anyway.”

Hobbies: Sioban enjoys traveling and this past spring she visited Shanghai, China and Bangkok, Thailand.

Goals: Extend her reach as it relates to financial literacy, one day, forming a nonprofit and building a mobile app.

For more information on how Comerica colleagues are giving back to our community, visit

www.facebook.com/Comerica.

Metro South Michigan State Police Post in Taylor.

Comerica Invests in Winning Futures to Support Metro Detroit Youth

This year, Comerica Bank returned as a sponsor of the 2019 Detroit Lions First Down Program.

Over the past two seasons, Comerica Bank has contributed $36,000 in total through the First Down program to further invest into the Detroit community.

During this season, Comerica Bank donated $100 every time the Detroit Lions converted a first down during their eight regular season home games. Every year, money is collected over time and presented to a nonprofit organization. This year’s donation was presented to Winning Futures. In total, Comerica Bank donated $18,000 to Winning Futures, which was presented to representatives from the nonprofit on Dec. 29 at Ford Field.

Winning Futures President and CEO Kristina Marshall said the donation was unexpected, but greatly appreciated, explaining “The funds from the Detroit Lions First Down Program was a great, surprise this season! As we roll out our expanded four-year program, the contribution will support students having handson career exploration experiences, developing their five-year education and career plans, and being matched with a career mentor.”

The nonprofit organization empowers high school students to succeed in their professional and personal lives. Students are s­upported through a structured Workforce Prep program, where they participate in a four-year experiential curriculum, which includes in-class mentoring, life skills development, goal setting, job training and career exploration.

High school students getting High school student practice his hands on project experience with 30-second networking pitch with a lightweight materials manufacturing company, LIFT. career coach.

Michael Cheatham, Comerica Bank vice president and Michigan external affairs manager (middle) presents an$18,000 donation to Winning Futures as part of Comerica’s Detroit Lions First Down Program. Jose House, Winning Futures program mentee (left) and Kristina Marshall, Winning Futures president and CEO (right) accepted the grant.

“Education is a very important part of our core values at Comerica Bank,” said Michael Cheatham, Comerica Back external affairs Michigan market manager. “When there is an opportunity to help young adults achieve a better future, we seek ways support them in reaching their potential.

“The Winning Futures program connects students to mentors and other valuable resources that will help them be better prepared for the future through transformative experiences. We proudly support Kristina, Winning Futures, and all who share their time, talent and resources to inspire our youth.”

Students who participate in the program greatly benefit from its re-

sources. For example, as a senior at Harper Woods High School, Brittani Lipsey struggled with what to do after graduation. Her mentor, Regine Bile, manager at General Motors, helped her create a vision for her future and craft a strategic five-year education plan. Brittani graduated as her school’s valedictorian and won a Cupp-Hamilton Scholarship. Brittani just recently also won a new Winning Futures Alumni Scholarship and is currently studying engineering at the University of Michigan.

“Winning Futures has been one of the most influential parts of my life,” said Brittani. “For year’s I was afraid to speak about my dreams because I didn’t have a plan. Now I’m

Brittani Lipsey, senior at Harper Woods High High school mentees showing off their vision boards with their mentor.

School. confident about my future and know the steps needed to get there.”

Indeed, many other students like Brittani Lipsey have gone on to obtain jobs like executive assistants, financial analysts and area managers. With help from volunteers and mentors, along with partnerships with businesses like Comerica Bank, students can obtain a well-deserved future.

A grateful Winning Futures President and Chief Executive Officer Kristina Marshall notes such generosity from Comerica Bank and the Detroit Lions First Down Program, means a winning future for her organization stating, “With having an uncertain economic climate, these funds will help us to continue to have sustainability in our programming.”

City. Life. Style.

C1 | January 22-28, 2020

Where City Meets Life and Life Meets Style

michiganchronicle.com

2010-2020:

The Apex of

Black Music & Social Media A

By Trevor W. Coleman II t the end of a decade, and approaching a new, the dominating presence of hip hop and R&B is operating on a new foundation – social media.

The influence an artist has on pop culture and music quality almost always coincides with the artist’s presence on social media.

When looking back at the songs that will form the popular music for the 2010 decade, such as Drake’s 2016 single Hotline Bling, or this year’s Old Town Road, these songs can’t be mentioned without noting their respective memes and the social media commotion that trailed these songs for months after their releases. The unification of social media and hip hop music is the source of influence in which established and emerging artists benefit. When a song is popular on social media, the artist has all they need to establish a fan base even before recording a full-length album or releasing another single.

When it comes to the careers of artists who have had a long-time impact on popular culture,

social media

becomes a safeguard that continuously rejuvenates the image of these artists by focusing on their personal opinions, business endeavors, and everyday life.

This year has been the biggest example of rappers emerging from social media: Megan Thee Stallion off the Hot Girl Summer hashtag and Lil Nas X with the buzz of Old Town Road stemming from video-sharing app TikTok earlier this year.

The influence that these songs have had on pop music throughout 2019 is an example of black social media’s influence on pop culture. The format of these popular songs was changed to accommodate the public’s demand for a new social media lightning rod. Tracks are shorter to increase playback potential on streaming services; mixing is more focused on emphasizing the drums and higher-pitched countermelodies in production, which will sound recognizable and tolerable when being played on just your iPhone speakers.

These tactics are not new but have since been revitalized for a new purpose.

They were once rejected for fear of a lack of creative control.

These characteristics of a popular song in 2019 stem from contemporary rap music and how it’s presented on the internet. As short, repetitive songs they become more of a slogan that can be repeated and recited by the masses. Instead of wearing the music down with length, they utilize loud and busy production for the short amount of time they need to reach the hook and then repeat the hook after one more verse before the end.

Hip hop has reached an era where time has expanded it to an array of subgenres that regularly blur the lines of authenticity when classifying rap music.

The wave of hip hop that emerged from the music sharing website SoundCloud 12 years ago has evolved into a counterculture that displays its influence on

See BLACK MUSIC & SOCIAL MEDIA page C-2

‘Dangerously in Love’ Beyoncé and Jay-Z are Hollywood’s Most Powerful Couple

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent

When Beyoncé married Jay-Z in 2008, the skeptics were as loud as the audience at a sold-out Destiny’s Child concert.

At its worst, critics expected that the marriage would be Bobby and Whitney all over again – a hip-hop bad boy meets a sexy songstress with a squeaky-clean, all-American image.

Some of those critics believed the marriage would only last as long as the union between Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley – an odd and uncomfortable 20-month marriage that ended with Elvis’ daughter filing for divorce citing irreconcilable differences.

After a dozen years, hundreds of millions of records sold — and one infamous elevator fight at a Met Gala between Jay-Z and Solange Knowles, (Beyoncé’s little sister) — Hollywood’s preeminent power couple are still “dangerously in love.”

“I believe Beyoncé and Jay-Z have been successfully married as a Hollywood power couple for so long because they can see beyond the wealth, fame and materialism that comes with a Hollywood lifestyle,” stated hip-hop artist and activist Sean XGL Mitchell.

“The music business can be brutal so artists and couples who are grounded, in touch with reality and are consciously aware of who they are, have the keys to success and longevity,” Mitchell noted.

“In particular, when you watched Beyoncé’s Super Bowl performance a few years ago, she paid tribute to the Black Panthers while performing her new hit’ Formation. Their costumes and cho-

reographed dance routine, which included a fist in the air, was a true sign of self-knowledge and pride,” Mitchell added.

“It was equally apparent in Jay-Z’s lyrics in the song the ‘Story of O.J.’ When you have two people who are more than just artists, who can transcend power, you have the making of a successful partnership and marriage,” he said.

According to medium.com, the average divorce rate of Hollywood celebrities is 52 percent, slightly higher than that of the general public. The length of celebrity marriages can be as short as hours, while the average is about six years, the website reported.

That Jay-Z and Beyoncé have doubled that time and are still going strong, doesn’t exactly surprise experts who’ve followed their careers and relationship.

Dr. Fran Walfish, a Beverly Hills family and relationship psychotherapist and regular expert child psychologist on CBS-TV’s “The Doctors,” said it’s no secret the power couple has overcome big problems in their marriage.

At a Met Gala event in 2014, cameras caught Solange hitting and kicking Jay-Z as Beyoncé watched quietly. Later, it was revealed that Solange confronted her brother-in-law over cheating rumors, and things quickly escalated.

“The critical key is that they hung in together with a solemn commitment to each other and the couple ship,” Walfish stated. “Today, it seems, they are doing better than ever and are parents to a 7-year-old daughter and two-yearold twins.”

In a 2017 interview with The New York Times Style Magazine, Jay-Z opened up

See POWER COUPLE page C-2

Page C-2 • michiganchronicle.com • January 22-28, 2020

Black Music & Social Media From page C-1

contemporary music through coarse and unconventional rapping, low sound quality, sparse production, and controversial subject matter. This music and the social media presence of the major artists that emerged from it have had a lasting effect on the evolution of the genre throughout this decade.

When it comes to the careers of artists who have had a long-time impact on popular culture, social media becomes a safeguard that continuously rejuvenates the image of these artists by focusing on their personal opinions, business endeavors, and everyday life. We have seen this both increase public perception towards an artist and their work as well as decrease the public’s perception of the artist as an “artist” but instead as a public figure.

The presence of Kanye West in the past five years has been just as controversial as any other period of his fame, but the difference is the impact of the music that he has released since 2016. After Life of Pablo, the accolades for Kanye’s 2018 album Ye and this year’s Jesus is King have been fewer than ever before.

Power Couple From page C-1 about his infidelity and the near demise of his marriage.

“You know, most people walk away, and like the divorce rate is 50 percent or something because most people can’t see themselves,” Jay-Z told the Times.

“The hardest thing is seeing pain on someone’s face that you caused, and then have to deal with yourself. So, most people don’t want to do that. You don’t want to look inside yourself. And so, you walk away.”

Walfish stated that Jay-Z’s interview with the Times was telling.

“The hardest part for him was seeing the pain on his wife, that he caused,” Walfish said.

“That is accountability and owning up to a huge mistake. Beyoncé, on the other hand, had to be open to forgiveness.

Her love and non-judgmental character, along with probable therapeutic help, allowed for repair in the relationship.

The secondary gain is that this type of relationship deep repair can bond a couple even more strongly together than before,” Walfish added.

Born Sean Carter in Brooklyn, NY in

1969, Jay-Z has won 22 Grammy Awards with hits that include “Hard Knock Life,” “99 Problems,” and “Run this Town.”

With a net worth of more than $1 billion, Jay-Z also has produced several films, and he owns the streaming service, Tidal, and other companies.

Born in 1981 in Houston, Texas, Beyoncé rose to fame with the singing group “Destiny’s Child” in the 1990s.

Her solo career took off in 2002 with the release of the album, “Dangerously in Love,” which included a collaboration with Jay-Z. Beyoncé has won 23 Grammy Awards and owns and operates Parkwood Entertainment, a company that includes various brands of music, movies, videos, and fashion. Forbes Magazine has placed Beyoncé’s net worth at approximately $500 million.

“These two powerhouse moguls understand the nature of engagement that is vital in a marriage,” stated Dr. Allana Da Graca, a psychologist, and self-styled persistence expert.

“I think they both understand the arduous journey to fame that can also blur lifelines of meaning and authenticity amongst themselves. They hold one another accountable and maintain the muse of each other,” Da Graca said.

Voice of the Community at your fingertips. michiganchronicle.com

The base of his influence in hip hop is fueled by his legacy built from the string of classic albums he has released since 2004, his ongoing presence on social media, and his fashion line. Throughout this year Kanye has posted snippets of his Sunday Service project, weekly performances of Kanye leading an ensemble of musicians and a gospel choir with his Ensoniq sampler in various locations around southern California. These concerts led up to the October release of Jesus is King to mixed reviews which further established his place as more of a current social media influence than the musical vanguard he began at the start of the previous decade.

The rise of social media in the early 2000s has now established itself as the main platform hip hop artists use for a closer connection to their fan base and a public receptor of their work.

As the 2020s approach us, we are exiting this decade with a new apparatus of creative expression.

(Trevor W. Coleman II is a Los Angeles-based musician and musicologist. He is originally from Michigan)

January 22-28, 2020 • michiganchronicle.com •

Page C-3

Singapore Study Abroad Offers WCCCD Students a World of Diversity; Cultural Harmony!

By David C. Butty

I’m honored and forever grateful that I was able to study abroad to Singapore with my WCCCD family,” said Tashawna Evans.

Thirty-three Wayne County Community College District (WCCCD) students representing diverse program offerings returned home recently from a week-long educational and cultural study in Singapore, an island city-state off southern Malaysia. On their way to Singapore, the students stopped in New York City where they toured the city and visited Ground Zero to pay their respect.

While in Singapore, the students, led by WCCCD’s Study Abroad Program Director, Mr. David C. Butty, visited Singapore Management University. The students also visited some of the island country’s major attractions including the Botanical Garden, with its eye-catching orchard flowers. The garden has been declared

by UNESCO as a world heritage site, containing more than 60,000 orchid plants. Students also visited the Singapore Science Center, which promotes learning and creativity in science and technology.

Many of the students spent their time exploring the butterfly section of the center to get an up close look at the different species of butterflies.

Singapore is the country and the capital city is also called Singapore. Most of the city’s skyscrapers, according to Patricia, are

built on “reclaimed” land. “But we are proud of what we have and what nature has given us. Another thing we are very proud of is that our country is perhaps, the only country where four races of people have lived side-by-side over the centuries in harmony,” she added.

The students nicknamed her “Auntie Patricia, or Mrs. Headcount” for her insistence of making sure that everyone was accounted for. The four ethnic groups that make up Singapore are: Malays, Indians, Chinese and others; each with their own distinct quarters. The Chinese have China Town, the Indians have Little India, the Malays have majority of the remaining country; and the others make up just 1 percent of the six million people who live in Singapore.

The students had the opportunity to visit China Town Heritage Center to interact with merchants and practice their bargaining techniques. They also visited the Sri Senpaga Vinayagar Temple in Little India. “I am honored that I was selected to participate in such an encounter. This trip was informative, fun and adventurous,” said Tashawna Evans, who is in the Nursing Program.

Page C-4 • michiganchronicle.com • January 22-28, 2020

“One of my favorite parts of the trip was being able to interact with my peers whom I’ve had classes with or have seen on campus but never really communicated with. It was a big culture shock and I enjoyed every bit of it…imagine a group of 33 plus coming together as a family. I watched us get closer as we experienced such an exquisite trip. I was able to engage in activities and converse with students from Nigeria, Bangladesh and various parts of the U.S.A. I really enjoyed the diversity of the study abroad students.”

Angelica Lozano said trying new foods was definitely her favorite part of the trip. “Two highlights from this trip were visiting China Town and Little India. It was as if two different worlds were collided into one area and you could not distinguish if you were in China or India.”

Aysha Ali, who is a native of Bangladesh, moved to Michigan with her family a decade ago. She said the trip to Singapore made her feel at home. “It felt like we never left. I got to see lot of Bangladeshi fruits in Singapore.” Ali summed up her study abroad experience. “Studying abroad has many advantages and benefits. It was an excellent opportunity to come into close contact with a different culture in their day to day life and return home with plenty of cherished memories. I can easily say that, this was the opportunity of a lifetime to gain such an invaluable experience and I am so glad that I was given the chance to go. I want to continue to do this professionally in a foreign country and make the world a friendlier place to live in.”

Najah Scruse sums up her feelings about the trip. “Most people do not dream past the six blocks they grew up on, let alone envision themselves flying across seas to another place. Some do not have the desire to travel and that is fine too. We are told that there is an entire world out there, but it is hard to believe if you never step into it. I was given a chance to leave footprints across Singapore’s streets this semester, something I myself did not think was possible. I experienced this at the right time because before this I was in a dark place mentally, believing that my world would only ever consist of Detroit skies and city lights but now I know there are no limits. I have seen what most could only envision with their imagination and there is no stopping my progression now. I'm so thankful for this opportunity that it is overwhelming at times. Despite being on Singapore time still, and my sleeping schedule out of sorts, I still would experience this all over again.”

Most students enjoyed the hawker center, just adjacent to the Singapore Art Gallery, to get a taste of some authentic traditional foods. The hawkers are open-air markets with no air conditioning and the food is cooked while you watch. Students had the taste of coconut and sugar cane juices.

Sadik Ali said there was never a dull moment. “Traveling to Singapore with the gracious Study Abroad Program at Wayne County Community College District has truly been a trip I will never forget. From sightseeing, to getting a taste of authentic Singapore street food, to learning about the history and rising of this tiny yet impressive city-state, there was honestly never a dull moment to be found. Thank you WCCCD.”

Classified

January 22-28, 2020

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

PERSONAL SERVICES

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REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL The Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) is soliciting RFP for Towing Services Control No. 20-3067 and 20-3040. RFP forms may be obtained beginning January 22, 2020 from http://www.mitn.info.

RFP is due by 3:00 PM ET, February 11, 2020.

HELP WANTED

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BLESSED BE. Get the HELP you Need TODAY Call (313)341-0145 or Write Bro Harris P.O. Box 21765 Detriot, MI 48221

Please visit our website for more classified ads.

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PROFESSIONAL HELP WANTED

PROFESSIONAL HELP WANTED

Senior Software Engineer BorgWarner PDS (USA) Inc. seeks a Senior Software Engineer in Auburn Hills, MI to develop embedded software, among other duties. Bachelor’s degree in Computer, Systems, Electrical, or Software Engineering, or related field of study and five years of experience in the job offered or related. To apply, please mail resume to: Ms. Catherine Wood, Resume Processing/JO#10462055, BorgWarner, 3800 Automation Avenue, Auburn Hills, MI 48326.

OFFICE ASSISTANT II AT OAKLAND UNIVERSITY School of Medicine

Minimum Qualifications: High school graduation or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Four years general office work, including experience in prioritizing work and meeting deadlines.

Ability to operate standard office equipment.

Knowledge of proper grammar, spelling & punctuation, intermediate word processing, spreadsheet and database applications.

Ability to effectively interact with the public, students, faculty, and staff. This is a full time, clerical-technical position, with a salary of $41,297 annually. See online posting for additional position requirements. First consideration will be given to those who apply by January 28, 2020.

Must apply on line to: https://jobs.oakland.edu

DDC Engineer Detroit Diesel Corporation seeks DDC Engineer in Detroit, MI to dvlp & validate cmplx powertrn cmponents for both heavy & medm duty diesel engns that set industry bnchmark 4 prformance, fuel efficiency, cost, rlblity, & sfty. Define & release new or imprvd prdcts & follow release thru schedlng, prcurement, mnufacture, assmbly & test using DVP&R tool. Send resumes to Camille Bowie, Detroit Diesel Corporation, 13400 Outer Drive West, Detroit, MI 48239. Include reference #10502493 Telematics Systems Engineer

Quality Engineer

Seeking

Page C-5

Means TransForm Products seeks a Quality Engineer in Sterling Heights, MI, to follow up on external customer concerns and corrective action requests, among other duties. Min. bachelor’s degree in Quality, Industrial, Mechanical, or Applied Engineering, Technology or related field of study and one year of experience in the job offered or related. To apply, please mail resume to: Jill Young, Means TransForm Products, 7026 Sterling Ponds Court, Sterling Heights, MI 48312, Ref #10449275.

IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE IN THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

WWW.MICHIGANCHRONICLE.COM

Warren, MI, General Motors. Dvlp psgr vehicle electrical architecture telematics interface reqmts related to new electrical architecture, incldg Emergency Services System, OTA, Abstract Diagnostic Access, Wi-Fi Hotspot, Vehicle Task Manager, Location Masking &Remote Services domains &Turn-by-Turn Navigation feature, using IBM DOORS &RTC tools. Engr, design, &dvlp, using VehicleSpy, RTC, &DOORS, reqmts &standards incldg Global Infotainment Standards, SelfDiagnostic Specs incldg DTCs, Assy Line Diagnostic Link Calibrations, Open Diagnostics Exchange &in-vehicle communication messaging in current/new psgr vehicle in vehicle telematics communication domains, &define architecture framework. Capture &analyze TCP logs incldg CAN bus/Ethernet logs &QxDM logs. Master, Electrical, Computer, Electronics Engrg, or related. 12 mos exp as Engineer, dvlpg psgr vehicle electrical architecture telematics interface reqmts, incldg Emergency Services Sys, Wi-Fi Hotspot, &Remote Services domains, using DOORS &RTC tools. Mail resume to Ref#2237, GM Global Mobility, 300 Renaissance Center, MC:482-C32-C66, Detroit, MI 48265.

OBITUARY Frank Nelson Thomas

Frank Nelson Thomas was born in Coosa County (Speed), Alabama on July 19, 1944 to the union of the late Walter Thomas and Charlsie Earline Gilbert. Frank was a lovable child who loved to laugh, play and crack jokes. Frank was a kind and giving person. When he moved to Detroit as a youngster, he saw that his parents needed financial help. Frank took three paper routes, trudging for hours through the cold Detroit snow to earn money to help his family.

Frank graduated from Detroit’s Northern High School, a student adapt in both math and science. After graduation he joined the Air Force and received an honorable discharge.

Frank later graduated from Highland Park Community College. He was accepted into and became a graduate of RETS Electronic School. ln 1972 Frank married Janis Howell and from this union was born one child Nakpangi. . He proudly supported and watched his only child receive her college degrees, up to her Doctor of Philosophy degree.

In 1978, Frank married Bertha Hazley. He helped her raise her two grandsons Bobby and Brian. He attended The New Center Congregation of Jehovah Witnesses. He became a N.A. Counselor, with encouragement and the love from his N.A. members and with the loving grace of Jehovah God, he lived 6 more years.

Preceding him in death, brothers: Walter Louis, Robert, Johnny; and sister Sharon Washington.

Frank leaves to cherish his loving memory wife: Bertha; daughter: Nakpangi; sisters: Dorothy Robinson, Octavia Johnson and ReneThomas; brother: O’Neil; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends: step grandson; Brian; two close friends: Cedric and Clarence; and the N.A. Family.

A public viewing was held January 3, 2020 from 12:00pm-8;00pm at Thompson Funeral Home 7643 Dexter Blvd. Detroit, Michigan. Burial January 7, 2020 at Great Lakes National Cemetery. Holly Michigan.

Floyd Massey Jr.

Floyd Massey Jr. was born on June 16, 1954 to Floyd Massey Sr. and Julia Mae Massey, both of whom preceded him in death. Floyd accepted Christ at an early age in his life.

In 1978, Cheryl Ann Coates and Floyd were married.

Floyd received his education from two school systems, City of Detroit Public Schools and Washington D. C. Public Schools. He started his career by receiving his Residential Building License through the City of Detroit’s Urban Revitalization Program in 1981. Shortly after school, he became an independent contractor, allowing him to put into practice the skills he learned in trade school. Several years into his practice, he took a position with the City of Detroit as a Coach Service Attendant for D-Dot. Later he transferred to the City of Detroit Housing Department as a Building Trades Worker. He worked for 20 years until his retirement on October 11, 2006.

Floyd loved all sports specifically boxing and football. He played the drums, both lead and bass guitar, tambourine, and bongos. He loved listening to all types of music.

Floyd departed this life on December 18, 2019. He leaves to cherish his memories, his two sons. Floyd Massey 3rd, and Douglas Massey. Two grandchildren Floyd Massey 4th, and LaKyra Massey: a great grandchild. Four Siblings, Florida Massey, Durand Massey, Wilbert Massey, and Theresa Woolfork, and a host of nieces, cousins, and friends. Floyd joins in heaven his two siblings who preceded him in passing, Eldora Harris and Tyrone Massey.

Services were held December 28, 2019 at Thompson Funeral Home Greenfield Chapel located at 15443 Greenfield Rd. Detroit, Michigan at 11:00 am and Family Hour at 10:00 a.m. Interment, Woodlawn Cemetery. Detroit, Michigan.

IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE IN THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

How to Troubleshoot Your Technology Issues (StatePoint) If you’re like most people, you’ve spent more time than you’re willing to admit troubleshooting a technology issue with any one of the many devices in your connected home. Did you know that the average person owns at least 10 connected devices from Macs and PCs, smartphones, tablets and printers, to voice assistants, video doorbells and even home automation systems?

As homes get “smarter” with more connected devices, more complex problems arise, including issues with setup, troubleshooting and syncing devices. Calling the manufacturer or going to the store where you bought the device could help, if it’s still under warranty. Trying to diagnose and solve the problem yourself might work, if you have time, patience and some know-how.

But what many people really need is an IT expert on-call, ready to solve all their personal tech issues…but how realistic or affordable is that?

“Subscribing to a technical support plan is actually an increasingly popular option for consumers who want to keep their tech working 24/7. Many plans provide a professional, remote, ‘IT team’ available anytime you run into trouble. This can help keep costs low since the team resolves your tech issues by phone, chat or by virtually remoting into your device,” says Renée Soulliard, of Support.com.

Googling “tech support” brings up numerous options that promise to solve your various tech problems. With so many options, how do you know which ones are reliable?

Fraudulent tech support companies continue to get more sophisticated and difficult to detect, warns Soulliard. “To find a trusted tech support provider, choose one with a long history and highly trained, professional tech support agents,” she says.

Here are some potential questions to ask while evaluating tech support providers: • How long has the company been in business?

• Are the company and its agents US-based?

• Is there a limit to how many devices are covered? Are there any restrictions on the types of devices, brands or problems covered?

• What operating systems are covered?

• Is the support provided unlimited? Is support available 24/7?

• Are there monthly plans available or just annual plans? Are there set-up fees?

• Are there any guarantees if my issue can’t be resolved? Can I cancel any time?

• Do I have access to support via phone and chat? Is online self-support available?

• Can I schedule a time to have a tech support agent contact me?

• What do other customers say about the service?

Look for an affordable monthly or annual subscription plan that offers unlimited tech support for any issue with your connected devices, regardless of the type of device, brand, or where you bought it. Plans can cost as low as $10 per month with no long-term commitment. Find tech support providers with US-based support agents that offer a range of support options, including phone, chat, or video-based “virtual house calls.” You could even try the free self-support tools from Support.com’s TechSolutions or, if you need more help, learn more about their tech support plans at www.support.com.

Having a tech support plan with a highly qualified tech support provider is an efficient and smart way to manage and maintain your technology, and can help you get the most out of all your home tech.

Myths vs. Facts of Landing a Skilled Trade Job

(StatePoint) With the demand for skilled trade workers growing nationwide, you may be looking to launch your career, change professional paths, or hone current skills in order to advance in your industry.

As you go about the process, consider these few myths and facts about landing a skilled trade job: • Myth: It will be hard to find training in my local area.

• Fact: There are numerous free resources available to connect you with local training opportunities. Veterans and their spouses for example, can seek career assistance from organizations such as amvets.org. In the case of the HVACR industry, locating training organizations in your zip code is as simple as visiting natex.org, which provides online services to English and Spanish speakers, as well as certification and recertification.

• Myth: All training programs are pretty much the same.

• Fact: Not all certification programs offer the same quality education, nor are they associated with the same breadth of job opportunities. Those in the HVACR industry, for example, can set themselves apart by getting North American Technician Excellence (NATE) training.

“Not only do contractors prefer working with NATE-certified technicians, consumers look for this certification as well because it ensures that a knowledgeable, well-trained and highly experienced technician will service their home heating or cooling system,” says Anthony Spagnoli, NATE’s director of training and education.

• Myth: Skilled trade careers don’t offer room for growth.

• Fact: Skilled trade careers are in es-

pecially high demand today, offering long-term job security, a good living and room for advancement. To learn more about existing growth opportunities, tune into the podcast “Blue is the New White.” Available for download on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, this is also a good resource for those seeking to get their foot in the door.

• Myth: Career support will be hard to come by once I receive my certification.

• Fact: Connecting with a seasoned professional who can act as your mentor is a great way to build relationships, network and learn as you go. This is especially important for those who have traditionally been underrepresented in a given industry.

You can find mentors on-the-job, at industry events and through online resources such as Women in HVACR, which among its initiatives, connects

young women in the industry with mentors. Visit womeninhvacr.org/ mentorship to learn more.

Looking to break into HVACR or an-

other skilled trade industry? Check out available resources which can help you get trained, certified and employed with confidence.

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• michiganchronicle.com • January 22-28, 2020

MAK E S W EET M EM O R I E S

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