NJG-Volume 124, No. 06 February 8, 2024

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February 8, 2024 - February 14, 2024

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PART TWO:

THEATER:

Black Legacy Dates To Colonial America

2024

By Leonard E. Colvin

Theater is a blending of Black ritual, Chief Reporter Emeritus storytelling, literature, poetry, visual New Journal and Guide arts, dance and acting on a stage. It (PART ONE OF TWO) During Black History reveals the varied layers of AfricanMonth (BHM) 2024, American culture, history, struggle the nation is celebrating A f r i c a n - A m e r i c a n s ’ and triumph during four centuries in contribution to Arts and Entertainment in this the Americas. nation and globally.

Theater is a blending of Black ritual, storytelling, literature, poetry, visual arts, dance and acting on a stage.

It reveals the varied layers of African-American culture, history, struggle and triumph during four

centuries in the Americas.

Black theater is layered with academic, commercial and community networks of Black theater groups and companies. Many groups own their theaters and stages, providing samples of the huge canon of Black

musicals, dramas, comedy, historical interpretation or political protest.

“Black Theatre Matters,” a theater advocacy group, records trending topics, experts, support documents and celebrates the achievements of Black

theater artists throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

On its website there is a growing list of Black theater enterprises in 28 states, Virgin Islands and Washington D.C. New York City, which boasts the “Great White Way” in Manhattan, has 20 Black theater companies, with 12 of them operating out of their own houses.

The institutions preparing the most talent, and opportunity to the stage for Black artists, are the nation’s 120-plus Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). ...see Theater, page 6A

CREATIVE ARTS SERIES LIGHTS UP PORTSMOUTH FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH PORTSMOUTH Portsmouth is observing Black History Month with a multi-week series of events surrounding Black excellence in a variety of art forms. The series has been crafted by Grammy-winning Home Studios in partnership with the city and the Portsmouth Museums.

The series titled “Black History Now! Art is Revolutionary” kicked off February 2 with a culinary arts evening at The Famous Venue, featuring local entrepreneurs/owners of Mango Mangeaux, a popular Neo-soul restaurant located in Hampton. In addition to guests sampling a complete meal prepared by the restaurant’s Executive Chef, the three “Mango Ladies” – Tanecia Willis, Lakesha Brown-Renfro, and Nzinga Teule-Hekima – gave an

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2024

inspiring and soulful account of their popular business from its shaky inception to present expansion, as they offered tips to prospective entrepreneurs.

Mark Mims, Co-founder of Home Studios, said the series is more than just a series of events. “It’s a vivid canvas spotlighting the power, passion, and creativity of Black artists, filmmakers, musicians, and changemakers.

“We’re thrilled to collaborate with Portsmouth Museums and bring this transformative experience to the city of Portsmouth, igniting dialogue and celebration across the community,” he said.

Dr. Alexander Benitez, Director of the Department of Museums and Tourism for the City of Portsmouth, echoes his sentiment ...see Portsmouth, page 6A

Local Black Theater History: The Attucks Theatre in Norfolk, Va., was built in 1912 and continues to host entertainment events today. It was part of the “Chitlin Circuit” under segregation and provided a welcoming stage for some of the country’s top Black performers to include Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Ella Fitzgerald and Ruth Brown.

“Chitlin Circuit” Was Pathway To Black Fame Under Jim Crow

By Rosaland Tyler

Traveling musicians could When segregation was come into a Black legally banned in the 1960’s, once-thriving Black community, play, segregated theaters and performance halls in Hampton make money and Roads and elsewhere began to go to the next slowly shutter their doors.

From the 1930s until the 1960s, these venues were town.”

Associate Editor New Journal and Guide

Photo: Wanda Camm

The “Mango Ladies” – Tanecia Willis, Lakesha BrownRenfro, and Nzinga Teule-Hekima – founders of the NeoSoul Restaurant Mango Mangeaux in Hampton, helped Portsmouth kick off its Black History Month.

Biden Witnesses Return of U.S. Army Reservists Killed In Drone Attack

DOVER, DE President Joe Biden joined family members at Dover AFB on February 2 for the dignified transfer of remains of three Army sergeants killed near the Jordan-Syria border. The same day, the AP reported, the U.S. military launched an air assault on dozens of sites in Iraq and Syria in retaliation for the drone attack that killed the three military members.

The fallen soldiers were Sgt. William Jerome Rivers, 46, of Carrollton, Georgia; Sgt. Kennedy Ladon Sanders, 24, of Waycross, Georgia; and Sgt. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, 23, of Savannah, Georgia. Both Sanders and Moffett were posthumously promoted to sergeant.

Biden was accompanied by First Lady Jill Biden, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Air Force General Charles Q. Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Also, Georgia Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, as well as Rep. Buddy Carter, who

Photo: Courtesy

part of the so-called “Chitlin’ Circuit, a network of Blackowned nightclubs, dance halls, juke joints and theaters in the South, on the East Coast and parts of the Midwest which provided entertainment for Black audiences.

But would the demise of the so-called Chitlin’ Circuit birth a new economic system for Black artists and entertainers?

It did not seem possible at the time. But did these closures actually pave the way for Black artists like Beyoncé and Pharrell Williams? Both artists recently launched highly profitable concerts, due to the fact that these two wildly popular Black artists were no longer restricted to performing in Chitlin’ Circuit venues.

– Author Preston Lauterbach wrote in, “The Chitlin’ Circuit and the Road to Rock ‘n’ Roll” in 2011

“Traveling musicians could come into a Black community, play, make money and go to the next town,” author Preston Lauterbach wrote in, “The Chitlin’ Circuit and the Road to Rock ‘n’ Roll” in 2011.

Lauterbach’s awardwinning book was the first history of the network of Black juke joints that spawned rock ‘n’ roll. It establishes the Chitlin’ Circuit as a major force in American musical history through firsthand reporting and historical research. ...see Circuit, page 7A

INSIDE:

REMEMBERING JOE MADISON: THE BLACK EAGLE

...see page 3A

Photo: Courtesy

Soldiers killed in Jordan are (L-R) Sgt.William Jerome Rivers; Sgt. Kennedy Ladon Sanders; and Sgt. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett represents the home district of Moffett and Sanders, and Delaware Sens. Tom Carper and Chris Coons attended.

The three Black American reservists from the 926th Engineer Brigade,

based at Fort Moore, Georgia, lost their lives January 28 in a drone attack as they were sleeping on a U.S. base near the Jordan-Syria border. ...see Soldiers, page 2A

New Journal and Guide

2A | February 8, 2024 - February 14, 2024

In her last conversation with her REPORT REVEALS RACIAL Soldiers mother, Sgt. Sanders reportedly WEALTH GAP WIDENS Continued from page 1A expressed aspirations to elevate her military career upon returning home The report found that the median The tragedy occurred at the logistics support base at from the Middle East. household wealth for Black Tower 22 of the Jordanian NNPA NEWSWIRE Defense Network, where Americans is just $14,100, compared A recent report from approximately 350 U.S. Army to purchase a motorcycle. determined that Iran was WalletHub, a personal to $187,300 for non-Hispanic white and Air Force personnel are Sanders was actively involved responsible for the attack, finance website, has found stationed. That base plays in coaching soccer and prompting President Joe that the racial wealth gap households. Hispanic households a crucial role in providing basketball in her hometown Biden to vow a response. in the United States is alive support for the coalition’s of Waycross, Georgia, and “There will be a response,” and well. The report, titled also lag behind, with a median efforts against ISIS, according worked at a pharmacy. Biden declared.

She was pursuing college The U.S. military launched “2024’s States with the to Central Command.

Biggest & Smallest Wealth household wealth of $31,700.

The attack marks the third courses to become an X-ray an air assault on dozens of

By Stacy M. Brown

Senior National Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia

Gaps by Race/Ethnicity,” compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 21 key metrics, ranging from the median household income gap to the unemployment rate gap.

The report found that the median household wealth for Black Americans is just $14,100, compared to $187,300 for non-Hispanic white households. Hispanic households also lag behind, with a median household wealth of $31,700.

“The racial wealth gap is a persistent problem in the United States,” said Jill Gonzalez, a WalletHub analyst. “There are many factors that contribute to this gap, including unequal access to higher education and employment for minorities, as well as residential segregation.”

The report also found that the racial wealth gap is more expansive in some states than others. For example, the District of Columbia has the broadest racial wealth gap, with a median household wealth of $281,700 for nonHispanic white households and just $11,100 for Black households.

“Even decades after the Civil Rights Movement, there is still a high degree of wealth inequality among racial groups in America,” WalletHub Analyst Cassandra Happe stated.

“These gaps persist not just in held wealth but also in wages, poverty rates, homeownership rates, and unemployment rates. Part of this wealth disparity is due to unequal access to education, which can put some people on a better financial footing from the start.”

Statistics show that the racial income gap grows larger and larger each year, said Irving L. Joyner, a law professor at North Carolina Central University’s School of Law. Joyner said the growth of the gap has grown because those with more wealth have benefitted more abundantly from their investments and ability to survive the economic downturns within the economy while poorly individuals, mainly racial minorities, were forced to consume their meager resources to survive dayto-day and did not have

NEW JOURNAL AND GUIDE P.O. Box 209, Norfolk,VA 23501 Phone: (757) 543-6531 Fax: (757) 543-7620 PUBLISHER AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Brenda H. Andrews ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER: Desmond Perkins ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Rosaland Tyler CHIEF REPORTER EMERITUS: Leonard E. Colvin STAFF REPORTER: Melissa Spellman PRODUCTION: Tony Holobyte New Journal and Guide (USPS 0277560/ISSN 8096) is published weekly on Thursday for $50 per year, $30 per year for six months by New Journal and Guide Publishing, Incorporated,5127 East Va. Beach Blvd., Suite 100, Norfolk, VA 23510. Periodicals Postage Paid at Norfolk, VA 23501. Postmaster: Send address changes to New Journal and Guide, P.O. Box 209, Norfolk, VA 23501. The New Journal and Guide is not responsible for any unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or related materials.

resources which they could invest.

“For those individuals who have the financial capacity, knowledge, and needed resources to engage in entrepreneurial pursuits, those programs can and do benefit them,” Joyner remarked. “Those opportunities, however, are not readily available for the vast majority of AfricanAmericans because of the absence of the resources and business skills that are required to begin and

sustain these efforts.

Hawaii has the smallest racial wealth gap, with a median household wealth of $104,300 for non-Hispanic white households and $87,300 for Black families.

“The racial wealth gap is a complex issue with no easy solutions,” said Gonzalez.

“However, the findings of our report suggest that there are some states that are making progress in closing the gap. We hope that other states will learn from their example.”

drone strike on the outpost in the past six months, with the first two occurring in the latter half of the previous year being unsuccessful. Lt. Gen. Jody Daniels, chief of the Army Reserve and commanding general of the U.S. Army Reserve Command, said the murders of the three Black reservists cut deeply.

In her last conversation with her mother, Sgt. Sanders reportedly expressed aspirations to elevate her military career upon returning home from the Middle East.

She also revealed her intention

technician.

Sanders’ parents shared that she volunteered for deployment to experience different parts of the world.

With a history of military service in the family, Sanders had previously deployed to Djibouti and later volunteered for Kuwait, including a stint in Jordan near the Syrian border.

Rivers enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2011 as an interior electrician, according to the U.S. Army Reserve Command Public Affairs Office.

The U.S. government has

sites in Iraq and Syria used

by Iranian-backed militias and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard on Friday, In the opening massive barrage of strikes, more than 85 targets at seven locations were hit. President Joe Biden made it clear in a statement that there will be more to come.

This article is an update to an earlier article by Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent, and includes information from the Associated Press.

From The Guide’s Archives Archives taken from the pages of the (New) Journal and Guide February 9, 1935, Edition of the Guide Update On Scottsboro Trial WASHINGTON The Supreme Court of the United States last Monday permitted counsel to withdraw a motion to substitute counsel in the case of Clarence Norris, one of the two convicted youths in the so-called Scottsboro case whose appeals are not pending in that court.

The court also allowed Walker H. Pollak and Osmond K. Frankel to withdraw as counsel for Norris. Samuel Leibowitz and George W. Chamlee will present Norris’s case when it is argued in the Supreme Court. The two lawyers will continue to represent Haywood Patterson, the other convicted youth in the Supreme Court.

Pollak and Leibowitz filed petitions for writs of certiorari on behalf of both Norris and Patterson in the Court case.

Later Leibowitz decided to rid the case of the International Labor Defense (ILD) support after two agents had been arrested on a charge of attempting to bribe Victoria Price, one of the two White women mill workers whom nine youth are charged with criminally attacking.

He obtained a power of attorney from Norris and filed a motion in the Supreme Court for substitutions for himself and Chamlee as counsel for Norris.

Lebowitz was retained to defend the youths after they had been convicted in Scottsboro, Alabama April 1931 and the Supreme Court had ruled that they had not been properly represented by council.

The first trial with Leibowitz as counsel resulted in a conviction which Judge James E. Horton set aside on the grounds that the verdict was contrary to the weight of the evidence The second trial resulted in convictions of Norris and Patterson. The convictions are now on appeal before the Supreme Court. Pollak argued the appeal in the Supreme Court which resulted in a reversal of the Alabama Courts in the first convictions of the youths.

Charles H. Houston, Dean of the Howard Law School, acted on behalf of the original lawyers before the court during the appeal.

LAWYERS IN FAMOUS CASE WIN POINT IN CONTROVERSY

Photo: Journal and Guide

George W. Chamlee, (left) defense attorney for the Scottsboro Boys, is talking with Haywood Patterson April 1933.

The most famous of the young men, Patterson, who was sentenced to death three times. P. Bernard Young and William N. Jones, who covered the two-week Decatur Trial for the Journal and Guide, along with members of the Cooperative Press.

brought to the rest room and toilet facilities in the new Bus Station in the city Markert building, loomed strong this week as interested civic and religious bodies took cognizance of the situation.

Objections from several sources have been voiced against the proximity of the Colored Women’s restroom entrance to the entrance of the White men’s toilet among other things.

The Baptist Minister’s Ministers Conference of Norfolk, Portsmouth and Vicinity at its weekly meeting named a committee to approach officials of the Bus Terminal Corporation to voice protests on the way the matter has been handled thus far.

The committee appointed by the president the Rev. W. L. Hamiliton, is composed of Reverends H.T. Myers, Chairman, W. H. Bowe, J. E. Rodgers, B. B. Evans and G. W. Watkins.

The matter has been brought to the attention of the Norfolk Division of the Tidewater Missionary Union, the White organization, by its leader Rev. Hamilton during an address delivered to the body on January 25 at the Central Baptist Church.

The situation has proved to be embarrassing to Colored Women patrons of the various bus lines operating out of the terminal. City manager T.P. Thompson and officials of the Bus Terminal Corporation have Sanitary Arrangements At New Bus Station Bring been quoted as favoring a Protests From Ministers change in the arrangements of the Colored women’s restroom facilities. Also, NORFOLK The possibility that an additional 5 cents group action may be have been imposed on the

patrons of the toilet adding sent out to homes of allied another burden. social agencies. Eight of them have been sent to the Cult Baby Mill Raided; Bureau of Colored Children Daddy of 24 Infants in West Philadelphia.

Found In Philly A reporter told of the inevitable answer of the PHILADELPHIA (UNP) mothers when asked who For the third time in seven the fathers of the babies years “Father” Chester are. The answer is always Taliaferro faces trial in “God is their only father.” the Court of Morals and Misdemeanors January 7 YMCA To Move Back because of a raid on his Into Original Home “Saint’s Rest” religious cult headquarters on North NORFOLK Camme Street in Philly.

The Hunton Branch Twenty-four “Holy Ghost” YMCA expects to go into its babies ranging in ages from former location at 440 East 6 months to 3 years; their 22 Brambleton Avenue March unwed mothers ranging in 1. It was announced at the ages from 14 to 58; and three annual membership meetings men including Taliaferro held at the present quarters were loaded into three police in the Tents Building at 1618 patrol wagons and taken Church Street away. Complaints were The YMCA has not made and a warrant issued occupied the East Brambleton after an investigation by the Avenue building, first built 35 Society for the Prevention of years ago as the first Colored Cruelty to Children.

YMCA, since 1923 when it Taliaferro, 38 a divorced was sold. man living in West Recently, it was sold to Philadelphia on North Wilson satisfy a mortgage. The Road, is being accused building had been occupied again of being the father by Eureka Lodge No. 5 of the of all of the babies and is Elks. gaining the newspaper name M.R. Jackson and Thomas of a “Chandu” because of his Bagnall of the YMCA hypnotic influence over his Association secured the women cult followers which necessary loans to take care makes them refuse to expose of the purchase of the original his activities or name him as association building. The the father of their children. association held a second He, an assistant named mortgage and were the bidder Charles Johnson and a third at the sale. man Clarence Smith were arrested and put under bond February 7, 1953, awaiting trial. TwentyEdition of the Guide four babies were taken into charge by the Society for Classes Underway In New the Prevention of Cruelty Portsmouth Negro to Children. The babies High School were so ill-clothed and dirty when rescued they had to By Clarence be cleaned up and dressed H. Hunter at a South Philadelphia Baby Clinic.

They are PORTSMOUTH now housed at the society’s There are no more partheadquarters. They will be time classes for students

at I.C. Norcom High School. Classes began in the new ultra-modern $2.6 million facility Monday morning at 9 AM. Principal William Waters expects an enrollment of 1,300.

The old Norcom at Chestnut and South Streets has become RiddickWeaver Junior High School and Vernon A. Orton, former principal of Chestnut Street School, is principal.

The new school is located on Airline Turnpike directly opposite the new Jeffrey Wilson Homes, a low rent slum clearance.

According to the announcement from Waters, the publlic is invited to attend an Open House on February 10 beginning at 7:30 p.m. A formal dedicatory program will be held sometime in the Spring, and it is expected to attract several Virginia dignitaries.

The new I.C. Norcom is built of brick and stone construction and is three stories high. Three automatic electrically controlled furnaces supply heat and hot water for the 46 rooms used for instructions which include shops, general classes and sciences labs, a band room and a music room.

The only air conditioning space in the building is the 1,445-seat auditorium. The building also includes the music and band rooms and all trade shops, housed in the south wing of the school.

The supervisor of instructions and visiting teachers of Colored Students in the Portsmouth Public schools will have offices in the new schools.

Waters heads a staff of 47 instructors and a maintenance crew of 25 people.

New Journal and Guide

February 8, 2024 - February 14, 2024 | 3A

IN MEMORIAM: Tributes Pour In For Host,Activist Joe Madison

By Stacy M. Brown Senior National Correspondent

@StacyBrownMedia

NNPA NEWSWIRE Tributes continued to pour in throughout Friday February 2 for Joe Madison, the talk show host, activist and philanthropist known as “The Black Eagle.” After a lengthy bout with prostate cancer, the popular SiriusXM host died on Feb. 1. He was 74.

Madison’s death comes as America observes the start of Black History Month. Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), stated, “On behalf of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, representing the Black Press of America, we express our profound condolences to the family of Joe Madison. As a trailblazer and consistent freedom fighter journalist and broadcaster, Joe Madison embodied the essence and courage to speak truth to power.”

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris also offered their thoughts. “Whether it was a hunger strike for voting rights or his advocacy for anti-lynching legislation that I was proud to sign in 2022, Joe fought hard against injustice,” Biden stated. Madison aligned his platform with his purpose, Harris added.

“Through his decades-long career in radio, he championed the fight for equity and justice. Our nation is better because of his voice.”

According to his official bio, the native of Dayton, Ohio, was an AllConference running back at Washington University in St. Louis where he was also a baritone soloist in

Joe Madison the university choir and a disc jockey at the campus radio station. He earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology, becoming the first person in his family to graduate college.

At age 24, he became the youngest executive director of the NAACP’s Detroit branch before being appointed the organization’s National Political Director and eventually being elected to the National Board of Directors where he served for 14 years.

During his tenure at the NAACP, Madison led hundreds of volunteers on a series of successful voter registration marches, including a cross-country “March for Dignity” from Los Angeles to Baltimore.

The marches garnered thousands of signatures for an anti-apartheid bill in Congress.

Madison’s radio career began in 1980 at Detroit’s WXYZ. He continued his broadcast journey to WWDB in Philadelphia, WWRC and WOL in Washington, DC. The popularity of his WOL program led to syndication on the Radio One Talk Network and its XM satellite channel which merged with Sirius to become SiriusXM in 2008. In 2023, Madison celebrated his 15th anniversary with SiriusXM. In 2015, Madison set the Guinness World

Record for the longest on-air broadcast, 52 hours. During the recordbreaking show, he raised more than $250,000 for the Smithsonian National Museum of AfricanAmerican History and Culture. Five months later, Madison made history again by broadcasting live from Cuba and becoming the first American radio host to do so in more than 50 years.

In 2021, Madison went on a 73-day hunger strike to encourage passage of voting rights bills.

Unbeknownst to his listeners, he was fighting prostate cancer during his hunger strike. When asked if he understood the danger he was in, he replied, “I am willing to die.”

His bio further noted that a few months after his hunger strike, the Emmett Till Antilynching Act passed in the Senate with the help of Madison’s continued push on the radio. His efforts were noticed by many, including the then Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, who publicly thanked him for another fight for justice.

Madison and his wife Sharon were married for more than 45 years and they currently resided in Washington, D.C. Their blended family includes four children, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

In a statement, Madison’s family invited fans and

Photo: Courtesy

Joe Madison (left) shares a happy moment with fellow journalists and activists Roland Martin (center) and Rev. Mark Thompson. friends to send condolences.

“Joe dedicated his life to fighting for all those who are undervalued, underestimated, and marginalized. On air he often posed the question, ‘What are you going to do

about it?’

“Although he is no longer with us, we hope you will join us in answering that call by continuing to be proactive in the fight against injustice.

The outpouring of prayers and

support over the last few months lifted Joe’s spirits and strengthened us as a family. We continue to ask for privacy as we gather together to support each other through this difficult time.”

New Black Lawyer Directory Provides Skilled Legal Leads COLLEGE PARK, MD Justis Connection, a trailblazing legal platform dedicated to fostering diversity and access to justice, recently announced the upcoming launch of The Black Lawyer Directory on February 4th, 2024. This historic initiative is poised to make a significant impact on legal representation for the Black community in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

Key Features of The Black Lawyer Directory include a curated list of skilled Black attorneys dedicated to providing highquality legal representation

in estate planning, civil rights, criminal defense, family law, small and large business law, personal injury, and more.

The directory covers a broad geographical area in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia, catering to the legal needs of the Black community in the region.

According to Justis Connection, only 4.8 percent of all attorneys are Black, highlighting the pressing need for increased diversity in the legal profession.

“I founded Justis Connection with a vision to empower individuals with access to high-quality legal

representation,” said Kisha A Brown, Esq., Founder and CEO, Justis Connection.

“Our directory not only serves as a testament to the talent within the Black legal community but also addresses the critical need for diverse and culturally competent legal advocates.

We are proud to be the pioneers of a platform that aims to connect individuals with trustworthy attorneys who are not only skilled professionals but also dedicated defenders of justice.”

For more information, visit www.justisconnection.com/ theBlacklawyersdirectory.

New Journal and Guide

4A | February 8, 2024 - February 14, 2024

PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF SOCIOLOGY VIRGINIA TECH

UPHOLD THE LAW OR HARM DEMOCRACY

What happened to “No one is above the law.” To not punish everyone Upholding the law of the land “would be an found guilty of breaking laws has affirmation of the vitality of our wounded democracy,” the potential to harm our democracy eminent historian Eric Foner more than punishing anyone would. wrote in the Washington Post

By Wornie Reed, Ph.D.

six days after the riotous part of the Donald-Trump-led insurrection on January 6, 2021.

Trump has wounded our democracy by breaking some of the laws of the land, and we have come to expect that conduct. However, the widespread advocacy for not prosecuting Trump is undoubtedly “hurting” our democracy even more.

In an article entitled “Impeachment May Not Work,” Foner considered the time issues confronting the second impeachment of Donald Trump and suggested that invoking a constitutional Amendment barring Trump from holding national office again would solve that problem.

Foner discussed the nowfamous Section Three of the 14th Amendment, which states: No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and VicePresident, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.

I italicized the last part of Section Three to highlight a phrase seldom mentioned when discussing Trump and the insurrection. It is hard to hold that Trump did not at least give “aid or comfort” to the enemies (for instance, those convicted for the

insurrection.)

But back to my main complaint.

I am complaining about so many people saying, “Yes, Trump did something illegal, but to punish him would cause chaos, or at least upset a large portion of the population.”

What happened to “No one is above the law.” To not punish everyone found guilty of breaking laws has the potential to harm our democracy more than punishing anyone would.

Of course, it is difficult for me to argue what appears to be a simple matter as I have yet to accept the self-written rule of the Department of Justice, which says a sitting president of the United States should not be prosecuted. This idea differs from the practice of other democracies that routinely prosecute their chief executives. Further, it contradicts the history of the United States, where, in 1872, a Washington, D.C. patrolman arrested President Grant.

Notably, people alarmed at the prospect of disqualifying Trump, according to Section Three of the 14th Amendment, include law school professors and political pundits. I will dismiss some of these ostensibly learned people as part of the MAGA cult.

However, as expected, some scholars try to argue that sections of the 14th Amendment were attempts to strike a blow on the former Confederates and do not apply to future issues.

However, historian Sean Wilentz quotes another historian who crushes that argument.

As the legal historian Mark Graber has demonstrated, the

third section’s framers and supporters also pointedly stated that they were not aiming its disqualification provision simply at those who had participated in what they called “the late rebellion.” Graber cites, among others, Senator John Henderson of Missouri, who observed that “the language of this section is so framed as to disenfranchise from office the leaders of the past rebellion as well as the leaders of any rebellion hereafter to come.”

Anyone who had violated a solemn vow to uphold the Constitution could never be trusted not to do so again; hence, disqualification was the only reasonable course.

The reasoning pertained not to any one era but to all time, providing the nation, Senator Waitman T. Willey of West Virginia declared, with a “measure of self-defense.”

To not disqualify Trump from the ballot or not prosecute him for illegal activity is seriously detrimental to America’s democracy.

But similar to Bush v Gore in 2000, the Supreme Court will likely twist itself into legal knots and distortions to side with Trump and the Republicans. In Bush v.

Gore, the Supreme Court stopped the recounting of votes in Florida, then came back later and installed Bush as President, arguing that not enough time was left to do the recount, a situation their first ruling created.

The Bush v. Gore decision was so bad that the late Justice Scalia, who voted with the majority to install Bush, called the written decision “a piece of s__t.”

Will we have a similar result this time?

Setting The Record Straight On A Piece of Black History

By Ben Jealous (TRICEEDNEYWIRE.COM) With the start of Black History Month, I brace myself for the mis-telling of Black History yet again.

In schoolhouses and everywhere the stories are told, a persistent myth shows its ugly head: the ridiculous notion that great Black leaders are not just exceptional but exceptions.

It is an idea rooted in the historical and unnatural misperception that the most notable Black Americans were superhumans that sprung forth from collective misery. It discounts the many, many Black leaders who were – and are – the children and grandchildren of courageous leaders in their own right.

Paul Robeson was a phenomenal actor, orator, singer, athlete, and activist.

The family that produced him might be even more impressive. His father escaped enslavement to earn two college degrees and become a prominent minister. His mother was part of the Bustill family, who were famous abolitionists and included Grace Bustill Douglass, the crusading abolitionist and feminist.

Kamala Harris’s path to the vice presidency began as a transformative district attorney. She refused to pursue the death penalty, and shifted her department’s punitive focus away from sex workers and squarely onto sex buyers and traffickers.

In schoolhouses and everywhere the stories are told, a persistent myth shows its ugly head: the ridiculous notion that great Black Ben Jealous leaders are not She both provided a model just exceptional for the movement to elect more Black and progressive but exceptions. district attorneys and spawned the national training institute for female candidates known as Emerge America.

Vice President Harris would readily admit there is no explaining her uncommon courage without accounting for her civil rights activist parents and her education at the very university that produced Thurgood Marshall.

Martin Luther King is perhaps Black America’s bestknown leader. His grandfather was himself a crusading Black Baptist preacher and the first president of the Atlanta branch of the NAACP. Whitney Houston became an iconic star of radio and the silver screen. Her first cousin was Dionne Warwick.

Through Warwick, Houston had close, life-shaping relationships with other celebrated female singers and actors like her “honorary aunt” Aretha Franklin,

godmother Darlene Love, and close friend Cicely Tyson.

Malcolm X is America’s most famous Black nationalist. Before him, his father Earl Little was a Black nationalist Baptist preacher who organized for Marcus Garvey. Harassment by the Ku Klux Klan forced the Littles to relocate from Omaha, Nebraska to Lansing, Michigan, where Earl was murdered by a Klan-like white supremacist group.

Stacey Abrams rose to become the first woman leader of a party in Georgia’s legislature and the most impactful voting rights activist of the 21st century. Her parents were courageous civil rights activists and her father was among the youngest leaders of the Hattiesburg boycott in Mississippi. ...see Blk Hsty, page 5A

Black People In The Military: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Sure, three were brought back (TRICEEDNEYWIRE.COM) home in dignity, I’m a confirmed Peace but my thoughts Advocate, and I’ve been that all of my adult life; immediately yet I respect all who give their lives for the benefit went to the kind of all Americans. My heart aches for families of short lives of three American young people killed and 40 others they experienced injured, in a faraway war Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq. (Ret.) where many of them joined before they to fight for their country’s of an enemy who never democracy. Others may personally harmed them voluntarily went have joined because the or who they never knew. military had been the only We need to at least know off to fight for way they could pay for their names and honor their country. college expenses. them for whatever reason

By Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq. (Ret.)

When the three young Black people were killed in the Middle East the other day, my thoughts were to wonder how much of America they had been blessed to enjoy before they died. I wondered how many racial slurs they’d been called in their hometowns. Who worked against their DEI? We may never know; yet they died in the service of what often is an ungrateful nation that’s not always been kind to them or their families.

Sure, three were brought back home in dignity, but my thoughts immediately went to the kind of short lives they experienced before they voluntarily went off to fight for their country. I was also curious about the 40 who were injured in that same tragedy near the Syrian border. I’ve been there and I know the place.

They were from Georgia, and they were in a far-away land to work for the defeat

they went to the Middle East and despite whatever challenges they’d had before leaving and going away.

They were Sgt. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett of Savannah, Georgia; Sgt. William Jerome Rivers of Carrollton, Georgia and Sgt. Kennedy Ladon Sanders of Waycross, Georgia. I mentioned their names because the next time you’re in Georgia, I want you to take note of how you’re treated when you’re in their towns in the state of Richard Russell.

That will give you some indication of how they were treated in those towns; yet, they went off to war to save those haters in those towns, too.

I would say to those of all races in those towns, if you could do just one thing to make you a better person in remembrance of them and their sacrifice for you, think about what that would be and JUST DO IT!

I would especially call on their Members of Congress to take the lead in righting wrongs because, Lord knows, too many current so-called leaders of Georgia, have and still vote against the interests of families from which these young men and women have come to fight for the rights of all of their constituents to remain free in a democracy. I especially pray that people like Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene will read my message and take heed.

To the rest of the guilty parties in the state, don’t forget to vote right to make Georgia a better state for all of Georgia’s citizens.

Stop the racism! Vote in remembrance of Breonna, William, Kennedy and the sacrifices of all who died or were injured.

Dr. E. Faye Williams, President of The Dick Gregory Society.

WILL GOP “PARTY OF NO” WIN IN 2024?

There will always be During Liz Cheney’s first two terms as the political U.S. Representative from disagreements Wyoming, she was widely considered one of the between nation’s most conservative politicians, voting with conservatives Donald Trump more than 92% of the time. As the and liberals, but daughter of former Vice David W. Marshall President Dick Cheney, one cannot be she became an entrenched member of the GOP a true believer establishment.

There will always be The Jan. 6 insurrection political disagreements and supporter of changed everything for between conservatives and her promising political liberals, but one cannot be a Dr. King’s legacy career once she cast her true believer and supporter while supporting first vote of impeachment of Dr. King’s legacy while for Trump while becoming supporting the authoritarian the authoritarian the leading GOP critic of movement associated with the former president. Due Donald Trump and his movement to her “disloyalty,” she political base. was dismissed from her During her last term associated with No. 3 leadership position in office, Cheney drifted in the House Republican closer to the political Donald Trump Caucus and censured from center by issuing a vote the Wyoming Republican in support of gun control and his political Party and the Republican legislation. This is another base.

National Committee. sign that the lawmaker was

By David W. Marshall

Ultimately, Cheney lost her reelection bid.

An ancient proverb occasionally used in politics says, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

So, it was no surprise that Dr. Bernice King invited Cheney to speak at Ebenezer Baptist Church in commemoration of Martin Luther King.

Cheney received a lengthy standing ovation as she talked about Dr. King’s legacy and the 2024 GOP primary. Her patriotic messages are consistently rejected by the MAGA crowd and the GOP establishment, but they are warmly received by those who work to continue Dr. King’s legacy.

Cheney’s presence and speech at Dr. King’s church was a moment where patriotic unity overshadowed political ideology and division.

evolving into becoming more independent from the political party that proudly obstructs legislation on behalf of the NRA. One cannot be a true supporter of Dr. King’s legacy and support the methods used by “The Party of No.” Just as Democratic voters who grow frustrated year after year with the elected officials of their party cannot dismiss “The Party of No’s” tactics in which its main purpose is to stay in power by obstruction. Ask former president Barack Obama.

The Republican plot to obstruct former President Obama was well underway before he was even sworn into office. Secret meetings led by House GOP Whip Eric Cantor in December 2008 and by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in early January

2009 were held to lay out an all-out resistance strategy to the popular presidentelect when the nation was experiencing a second Great Depression.

“If he was for it,” former Republican Sen. George Voinovich explained, “we had to be against it.” It was a conscious effort to politically weaken Obama and not work with the Democrats.

Republican leaders did not want their fingerprints on the Obama agenda; as McConnell explained, if Americans thought Washington politicians were working together in bipartisanship, they would credit the president. If they believed Washington was a broken mess, as always, voters would blame the president, which they did. ...see GOP, page 5A

New Journal and Guide

Blk Hsty Continued from page 4A Middle Tennessee claims a famous political father-son pair in former Congressman and Senator Albert Gore, Sr. and former Senator and Vice President Al Gore. But western Tennessee saw its own confrontational and crusading former Congressman Harold Ford, Sr. followed by the diplomatic, incisive, and consensus-building former Congressman Harold Ford, Jr. From the time he started preaching at the age of four, Reverend Al Sharpton’s early years were shaped by the mentorship of Black leaders like Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., James Brown, and the incomparable Jesse Jackson.

But it was his mother Ada Sharpton’s work that inspired her son’s founding of the National Action Network. Mrs. Sharpton rose from poverty to power as a prominent civil rights activist in New York City’s

GOP Continued from page 4A Republican lawmakers recognized that with Obama’s promises about bipartisanship, they could easily break them by simply refusing to cooperate. The obstruction strategy worked with relentless attacks on Obama, resulting in his approval ratings sinking from the high 60s to the 40s, where they remained for most of his presidency.

In his first two years in office, Obama and his Democratic majorities in Congress accomplished a lot. Despite the $800 billion Recovery Act (the emergency stimulus bill), Obamacare, sweeping Wall Street reforms, and bringing the troops home from Iraq, Obama was unable

February 8, 2024 - February 14, 2024 | 5A outer boroughs and became president of Mothers in Action.

Fifteen years ago, I was named the youngest national president in the history of the NAACP. My grandmother Mamie Bland Todd trained future US Senator Barbara Mikulski as a social worker early in her career. In researching my latest book, I followed my own ancestry back to my grandmother’s grandfather. In the late 1800s, Edward David Bland led Black Republicans into coalition with former white Confederate soldiers to form a third party that took over the Virginia state government.

Known as the Readjusters, the bipartisan political movement won all statewide elected offices and controlled the Commonwealth of Virginia from 1881-85.

In that time, they abolished the poll tax and the whipping post; radically expanded Virginia Tech and created Virginia State University; and readjusted the terms of the Civil War debt to save the free public schools and take the state from a financial deficit

into a surplus.

Parentage and family connection are not and never should be a prerequisite for leadership in our country. But we can still recognize that one of the greatest traditions in Black leadership is Black leaders who raise Black leaders.

Some of those leaders inspire with their art; others with their activism; many with both. The historical arc they help form – which sometimes wavers but ultimately bends towards justice – would not be possible without that tradition.

So, if it occurs to you that you do not know enough about how your ancestors might have led, get curious and do some research. You might just find an interesting and inspiring piece of family history.

Ben Jealous is executive director of the Sierra Club, professor of practice at the University of Pennsylvania and author of “Never Forget Our People Were Always Free” and “Reach: 40 Black Men Speak on Living, Leading, and Succeeding.”

to convince the public to see through the obstructionism.

The no-cooperation approach helped Republicans take back the House in 2010, the Senate in 2014, and the White House in 2016. It helped deliver a conservative majority on the Supreme Court when the Republicans refused to consider Obama’s nominee, Merrick Garland.

The divided government killed Obama’s legislative priorities. Obama’s unfinished agenda included a jobs bill, gun control measures, and immigration reform. Now that Joe Biden is president, he faces the same no-cooperation approach.

The House just passed a bill to expand the child tax credit to assist parents earning $40,000 a year or less. In the 2022 General Social Survey, over two-thirds of people who fall into this category identified as Republicans or independents.

Yet Republican Sen. Chuck

Grassley exposed the plot to block a Democratic president at the detriment of his GOP constituents. Grassley said,” Passing a tax bill that makes the president look good – mailing out checks before the election means he could be reelected, and then we won’t extend the 2017 tax cuts.”

Donald Trump is now pushing the GOP-controlled House to oppose any border deal so the issue and crisis can be used against President Biden. Since it is unlikely many of them will have the courage of Liz Cheney to stand up against the former president, will Democratic voters make House Republicans pay a price at the ballot for being obstructionists?

David W. Marshall is the founder of the faith-based organization TRB: The Reconciled Body and author of the book “God Bless Our Divided America.”

LEGAL NOTICE

LOCAL VOICES

IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH STILL RELEVANT IN 2024?

By John L. Horton “We ain’t what we oughta be. We ain’t what we want to be. We ain’t what we gonna be. But, thank God, we ain’t what we was.” (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.) “If you don’t know, now you know ...” (Biggie Smalls, The Notorious B.I.G., Legendary Rapper)

John L. Horton

◆◆◆ It has been said that timing is everything and I was going to let this go – I really was ... however, I just got through watching several discussions about the relevance and importance of Black History Month on some of our major networks and news shows. Moreover, there has been intense and controversial debate about the relevance and importance of “Critical Race Theory,” “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion,” and other Black education concepts and strategies, especially in our public schools.

Basically, the discussion, pro and con, was whether or not Black History Month is still necessary at this time in American history or has its essence and message run its course? Some have even suggested that the continued celebration and observance of Black History Month causes more harm and divisiveness than goodwill and unity.

I sincerely believe there is still a necessity for Black History Month. I have been a student and teacher of Black history for more than six decades – and still counting. And I say Black history should be taught (and learned) year round.

And it should be more inclusive of the common men and women among us who truly deserve such recognition.

Until that happens, I shall continue to support the purpose and mission of Black History Month, for it is honorable and still very much needed.

I sincerely believe that it unites most people of goodwill and benevolence.

In the eloquent and profound words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., quoting an old Negro preacher, Black History Month teaches us that “We ain’t what we oughta be. We ain’t what we want to be. We ain’t what we gonna be. But, thank God, we ain’t what we was.”Accordingly, Black History Month is still relevant in 2023 ... and beyond ... : Black History Month is necessary because it showcases and highlights

certain significant and profound aspects of African-Americans.

Black History Month helps to instill pride, dignity, awareness and understanding among African-American people and other people whom African-Americans must relate to and interact with in everyday life.

Moreover, Black History Month dramatizes and tells the story of where African-Americans have been, of where they are now, and hopefully, of where they will be in the future.

Succinctly and saliently, Black History Month affords us an opportunity to reflect back over our pre-American existence and learn about the great African empires of Mali, Songhay, Old Ghana, Kanem-Bornu, Benin, Kush and others. It informs us of the early Africans who accompanied the European discoverers and explorers to the New World in the 15th and 16th Centuries. It tells us of the 20-30 enslaved Africans, in late August 1619, who landed at Point Comfort, today’s Fort Monroe in Hampton, Virginia, aboard the English privateer ship, White Lion, who were exchanged for supplies and other commodities.

By highlighting Black History Month, we learn about the many accomplishments and contributions of Crispus Attucks, Phillis Wheatley, Richard Allen, Prince Hall, Peter Salem, Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, James Derham, John S. Rock, and others, during the 18th and 19th Centuries. Additionally, Black History Month teaches us about the 5,000 slaves and free Blacks who served in the Continental Army and Navy between 1776 and 1781, enabling America to gain her independence.

Furthermore, we learn about the Black cowboys, frontiersmen and “Buffalo Soldiers,” who helped to pioneer and settle the Old West during the mid-and late 1800s.

In retrospect, Black History Month allows us to revisit and experience the

Stated plainly and concisely, Black History Month is the grassroots level; it is the candle which refuses to curse the darkness. times, trials and triumphs of Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. Dubois, Marcus Garvey, Walter F. White, Mary McLeod Bethune, Ralph Bunche, A. Philip Randolph, Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jr., Whitney Young, Jr., Roy Wilkins, and other names forever enshrined in memory and history.

Simultaneously, Black History Month introduces us to the hundreds and thousands of AfricanAmerican athletes, musicians, dancers, writers, composers, architects, inventors, lawyers, educators, politicians, civil rights activists, preachers, entrepreneurs, actors, media personalities, government officials, and important others, who have significant and lasting contributions to all mankind.

Although it is generally understood and realized that Black History Month encompasses only a general outline or brief overview of African-Americans and their history, it is felt, nonetheless, that Black History Month is the mudsill and foundation upon which a more profound, lasting and meaningful relationship and experience can be built. Stated plainly and concisely, Black History Month is the grassroots level; it is the candle which refuses to curse the darkness; it is the flickering spark which will help to light the eternal flame of brotherhood and human understanding.

Therefore, Black History Month serves a good and honest and just purpose. It is one of the most effective and significant means by which a beautiful and noble people have to express and share themselves with others. It is a vehicle of heritage, culture and pride on a journey of love, understanding and acceptance. As such, there will always be a time, a place and a need for Black History Month.

To summarize, I quote the legendary rapper, Biggie Smalls: “If you don’t know, now you know ...”

THIS WEEK IN BLACK HISTORY

New Journal and Guide

6A | February 8, 2024 - February 14, 2024

“The Color Purple: The Musical” Theater Is BHM Event In Newport News Continued from page 1A NEWPORT NEWS Among special Black History Month events being showcased during February in Newport is “The Color Purple: The Musical” on Friday, Feb. 9 and Saturday, Feb. 10 at the Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center.

Tickets cost $25 and are available at www.downinggross.org.

Purchase a ticket for opening weekend and enjoy free photos with your friends and family in a 360 photobooth.

On Thursday Feb. 22, the Mariners’ Museum will present a special evening lecture at 7 p.m. entitled Shipwrecked: A True Civil War Story of Mutinies, Jailbreaks, BlockadeRunning and the Slave Trade.

The Torggler Fine Arts Center is presenting

two exhibits during Black History Month: Communications Village from Benjamin Wigfall; and Biomyths: Photographs by NaKeya Brown. Wigfall’s Communications Village exhibition highlights the period from his early years in Virginia in the 1950s to his founding of Communications Village, a community art space in Kingston, N.Y., in the 1970s. Brown’s biomyths exhibit is a journey through history and displays African-American beauty products for the last 10 years.

On Feb. 24 at the Newport News Public Library, the “We Stand for Justice” event takes place at the Main Street Library from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This annual event honors

local African-Americans whose activism produced an enduring historical legacy while contributing to the cause of social justice in the City of Newport News.

Grissom, Main Street, and Pearl Bailey Libraries are each offering handson activities for those who make crafts. Participants will also play Black History bingo, watch movies, and more during February.

At the Main Street Library, the “Until Freedom Comes” exhibit is being highlighted.

This exhibit chronicles the history of AfricanAmericans in Newport News from 1623 to present day.

For more events, dates and times of each event, visit www.nnva.gov.

We, as a city, are proud to invest Portsmouth in and champion initiatives that Continued from page 1A

foster inclusivity and empower all members of our community.”

“The Black History Now!

series offers a dynamic and engaging platform for our community to embrace the multifaceted richness of Black culture. As we delve into the artistry, achievements, and struggles depicted in these events, we can foster understanding, empathy, and ultimately, progress toward a more inclusive and equitable future.”

Noelle Torian, with Portsmouth Museums, adds, “By engaging in meaningful conversations and celebrating the power of Black art, we can ensure that Black History Month becomes not just a commemoration of the past but a catalyst for a brighter future.”

Other events planned are: • Week Two: February 9th & 10 – Art that Changes the World: Award-winning Artivist Nikkolas Smith will share how his art sparks change at four local Portsmouth schools, and the Children’s Museum of Virginia. He is the creator of the 2023 Marvel Artist Series in collaboration with Target for an apparel line featuring Black superheroes.

• Week Three: February 16th & 17th – Films that Spark Change: A critically acclaimed and award-winning documentary, Bad Things Happen in Philadelphia, will be shown to the public.

The film is lauded as Best Local Feature and Audience Choice Award winner at The Philadelphia Film Festival, Best Documentary at the Oscar Micheaux Film Festival, Art Through Activism award winner at the Harlem Hip Hop Film Festival, and selected for the prestigious American Black Film Festival sponsored by HBO, Netflix, and Meta.

The documentary tackles the issue of gun violence in Philadelphia, where over 500 lives were lost in 2021 alone.

• Weeks 4-6: – Music that Changes the World x The Grammys Come to Portsmouth, features discussion and music curated by The Recording Academy with local Portsmouth musicians. Also, at The Children’s Museum, an interactive workshop on the basics of beatmaking and songwriting.

Also planned are a Fashion showcase by renowned Virginia designer, Hamilton Perkins and poetry readings, insightful discussions, and creative workshops.

Portsmouth Interim City Manager Mimi Terry emphasizes, “Black history is American history. This series not only celebrates remarkable individuals and their artistry but also serves as a vital platform for amplifying ongoing conversations about equality, justice, and progress.

We, as a city, are proud to invest in and champion initiatives that foster inclusivity and empower all members of our community.”

Tickets for this series, including the “Bad Things Happen in Philadelphia” screening will be available

– Interim City Manager Mimi Terry

to the public at blkhistorynow.com.

www. partnerships with industry giants like Netflix, Amazon, Fox, REVOLT, Capitol About Home Studios: Records, and Sony Music. #BlackHistoryNow Home Studios is an award- # A m p l i f y i n g B r i l l i a n c e winning independent film # H o m e S t u d i o s studio, with a commitment to # C h i l d r e n s M u s e u m VA stories that move, inspire, and # A r t I s R e v o l u t i o n a r y elevate. The studio has forged #PortsmouthMuseums

HBCU.COM has graded and listed 34 HBCUs offering theater programs with degrees.

The most HBCUs with schools with such programs are in North Carolina (7), Georgia (6), Virginia (4), Mississippi (3, and Alabama (3).

Based on resources, student enrollment, faculty, and curriculum offered, these schools were rated from 5 stars to 3 or lower.

HBCU.COM rates Howard University at the top.

Hampton University is ranked 5, Virginia State 7, and NSU 10, and all have five stars. Virginia Union sits at 24 with 4.5 stars.

Professor Anthony M. Stockard is Norfolk State University Theatre Company’s Founder and Producing Artistic Director of the school’s program.

He said that theater of some fashion has been offered at HBCUs since the founding of the first ones in the 19th Century.

E i g h t y - n i n e - y e a r- o l d NSU’s program was among them when it was born as

the Norfolk Unit of Virginia Union University. He said one of the first students’ activities at the school was a theater group.

A native of Toledo, Ohio, Stockard earned a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Alabama State University and an MFA in Theatre Arts from Brandeis. Since Stockard’s arrival ten years ago, the NSU Theatre Program has been reinvigorated.

The original NSU theater group, The Norfolk State Players, has been rebranded as the Norfolk State University Theatre Company, thanks to Stockard. ...see Theater, page 7A

CHESAPEAKE REDEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING AUTHORITY ANNOUNCES A PUBLIC HEARING Chesapeake Redevelopment and Housing Authority (CRHA) will hold a public hearing March 25, 2024, 5:00 p.m. at 1468 S. Military Hwy. Chesapeake, VA. The purpose of the hearing is to obtain input from city residents in reference to a significant amendment to the 2024 Annual Plan Submission to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and Capital Fund Program. All residents are encouraged to attend this hearing. A copy of the draft Significant Amendment to the Annual Plan draft will be available from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. February 9, 2024 thru March 25, 2024 at the address below and at each of the public housing management offices, or it can be viewed 24 hours per day at the website, www.crhava.org. Persons can also submit written comments prior to the public hearing to: Chesapeake Redevelopment and Housing Authority 1468 S. Military Highway Chesapeake, VA 23320 Attn: Nancy Tarkenton For further information please contact Nancy Tarkenton, Deputy Executive Director at (757) 233-6411 or email nancy_tarkenton@crhava.org. Hearing Impaired please use Virginia Relay 7-1-1.

Chesapeake Redevelopment and Housing Authority does business in accordance with the Federal Fair Housing Act and will not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, or any other federal or Virginia recognized protected class.

New Journal and Guide

February 8, 2024 - February 14, 2024 | 7A

Theater

Circuit

Continued from page 6A

Continued from page 1A

He lobbied the school to provide the resources which have increased the number of students to 80 now. Instead of him and 13 students, when he first arrived, today, there are eight faculty members and a program which has been enabled to provide a Degree in Theatre.

The school built a stateof-the-art theater in the reincarnated Brown Hall, where Stockard and his student Thespians provide highly regarded works before an increased number of patrons.

The Norfolk State University Theatre Company has collaborated on a number of productions with Norfolk’s Virginia State Company at Wells Theater.

Stockard said HBCU theater programs are a constant resource for training talent, producing works to allow them to use their skills and readying them for the professional circuit.

“There is never any question about opportunity or space for a Black student at an HBCU compared to a Traditionally White Institutions (TWI),” said Stockard. “They don’t have to wait to be cast as the lone Black person in a play. Or wait for the school to have enough Black students to cast an all-Black play.”

Today the area’s two main HBCUs – NSU and Hampton University – provide the two main stages for the current and historic canon of Black Theater in Hampton Roads.

But Stockard revealed that the African-American Repertory Theatre of Virginia in Richmond, may no longer be the lone commercial professional equity Theater Company in Virginia.

He said that the Virginia Arts Festival, NSU and city of Norfolk are joining forces to create a Black Equity Theater group under the roof of the Historic Attucks Theater.

Details are in the works to debut the operation during the summer and the annual Juneteenth Celebrations.

It is impossible to list the number of Black entertainers who launched their careers and impacted society on the Chitlin’ Circuit. But Sammy Davis, Jr., Harry Belafonte, Aretha Franklin and Tina Turner said their careers began on the so-called Chitlin’ Circuit. The same applies to the skyrocketing careers of Billie Holiday, Count Basie, Muddy Waters, Ray Charles, B.B. King, and Marvin Gaye.

The single thread that runs through the histories of these famous Black entertainers stretches back to a booking agent called Theater Owners Booking Association, or TOBA, a network of theater owners. In other words, TOBA controlled most Black-owned, operated and patronized venues during the Jim Crow era.

“Some were juke joints with dirt floors,” USA Today noted in a 2021 series titled, “Hallowed Sounds.”

While some Black artists performed in barns, “some filled dance halls and some ripped four gigs a night at polished theaters ready to overflow with a toe-tapping escapism that washed away hardships that waited just outside the door,” according to USA Today.

“Many of these halls would eventually shutter.

But some, such as the Apollo Theater in New York City, Royal Peacock in Atlanta or the Dreamland Ballroom in Little Rock, still stand today – brick-and-mortar vestiges of the art created decades earlier.”

Drinks were cheap. Tickets cost $1.

“People “would work their asses off all week,” said Alan Leeds, a music industry veteran who cut his teeth working for James Brown on the Circuit. “When Saturday came, you really wanted to relieve the stress.”

Although the Chitlin’ Circuit has disappeared, Leeds said, it once “was a necessary step…When they came out on stage, they brought you something you’d never seen.”

James Brown, for example, performed at least 51 weeks on the Chitlin’ Circuit. Leeds said. “He never lost sight of the fact he was doing this to make a living. Yes, it was artistic in the sense that you were making great music ... but, financially, you were still struggling to support the system that you wanted and needed for your art.”

Still, the ‘Chitlin Circuit’ was not luxurious or glamorous.

“You’d go into a town and you’d find somebody nice enough to fix a dinner for you and let you sleep in a bed,” said Bobby Rush, a Grammy Award winning Mississippi guitar player, who performed on the Chitlin Circuit. “You’d put some mattresses on the floor ... or you’d sleep in your car.

NSU Professor Anthony Stockard

Today the area’s two main HBCUs – NSU and Hampton University – provide the two main stages for the current and historic canon of Black Theater in Hampton Roads.

Black slaves imported their traditions of oral story telling of folktales, improvisation, songs and dances like the “get down and ring shout.”

Blacks put on private performances at plantations and the homes of their owners.

The first Black characters to appear on stage in the 17th century were actually white people wearing ‘Blackface’ and playing dim-witted servants.

Blackface grew in popularity in the 1820s and so-called teams of ‘Ethiopian delineators’ performed in comic skits with “Negro Songs.”

These performances gave birth to the racist minstrel shows of Black and white actors.

At the same time in New York, there were Blacks seeking more respectful theater arts. A Free West Indian, William Henry Brown, attempted to get a genuine Black theater company started at the African Grove Theater performing Shakespeare.

It launched the career of Ira Aldridge, deemed the first Black actor of note. But it was quickly shut down by

the authorities on trumped up charges of boisterous The curtain on the legacy of behavior. The theater burned Black Theater History began down five years after it first when Blacks were slaves opened its doors. during Colonial America.

Brown is believed to have

published the first ever play by a Black playwright, “The Drama of King Shotaway.”

However, no copies of it exists.

In 1841, Dan Emmett and Frank Brower, Blackface performers with the Cincinnati Circus Company, formed the Virginia Minstrels with two other Blackface comedians, Dill Whitock and Dick Pelham. They were the first real minstrel troupe.

By the 1850s, the subject matter of minstrel shows was becoming nastier depicting the sexual abuse that occurred on plantations.

“Uncle Tom’s Cabin” was published in 1852; it depicted the real plight of slaves. But pro-slavery minstrels reacted to the myth of the idyllic plantation lifestyle.

Three years before the Civil War , William Wells Brown, an abolitionist, published “The Escape; or, A Leap for Freedom,” the first Black play ever published.

HBCUs and community theater groups were sprouting up and Black communities were fashioning their own theatrical venues and options.

The first all-Black Broadway musical premiered in 1898, composed by Will Marion Cook and librettist Paul Laurence Dunbar collaborated on the play “Clorindy” at the Casino Theatre’s Roof Garden. ... Continued next week

Community Centers In Hampton Hosting Black History Programs HAMPTON On February 17, at 3 p.m., the Mary W. Jackson Neighborhood Center at 22 Lincoln Street will host its Black History Program: “Life in Olde Hampton Through the Decades.” This event will feature historical presentations and musical selections. Topics that will be spoken on include: First Baptist Church, Downtown Hampton, Basie Theatre, John Mallory Phillips, Mary

S. Peake, Dixie Hospital and more.

The Y. H. Thomas Community Center at 1300 Thomas Street will host its 3rd Annual Black History Month Program on February 22 from 6-7:30 p.m.

Individuals of all ages are welcome to learn about the beauty of the history that makes up a strong community of people. Dancing, singing, vendor tables, poetry recitation and more will be featured.

Author Preston Lauterbach wrote “The Chitlin’ Circuit and the Road to Rock ‘n’ Roll” in 2011.

Although the Chitlin’ Circuit has disappeared, Leeds said, it once “was a necessary step ... When they came out on stage, they brought you something you’d never seen.”

That’s what we had, man, and we didn’t think nothin’ about it.”

This is the point.

Performers such as B.B. King, Jimi Hendrix, Muddy Waters and Ray Charles became household names, perfected their skills and changed local economies, as well as today’s music scene via the all-Black Chitlin’ Circuit.

But think about it. Were (now largely bygone) Black artists (unknowingly) paving the way for modern-day singers such as Beyonce, who recently earned an estimated $570 million for her 56-date Renaissance worldwide tour that kicked off in May 2023 in Europe, and proceeded to North America?

According to Digital News, “Her five sold-out shows at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium marked a historic moment, as no one has played so many shows at the stadium since its opening in 2019. An impressive 238,000 fans were in attendance across all five shows to see one of the most celebrated performers alive.”

Similar to how Chitlin’ Circuit artists generated income for minimum wage workers employed at nearby movie theatres, restaurants, hotels and stores in Black business districts during the Jim Crow era – did Beyonce’s recent tour perform a similar feat?

Kendrick Lamar in Los Angeles performed a remix of “America Has a Problem.”

Megan Thee Stallion performed “Savage Remix” in Houston.

Beyonce’s 11-year-old daughter Blue

Ivy performed.

Anything Beyonce does become “a cultural movement,” the New York Times noted.

In October, when Beyonce wrapped up her world tour on Oct. 1, in Kansas City, she had earned at least half a billion dollars in ticket sales, according to Forbes.

Pharrell Williams, meanwhile, estimated that the economic impact of his “Something in the Water” concerts in Virginia Beach resulted in millions flowing into Virginia Beach.

“The 2019 event created about $24 million statewide in wider economic impact things like hotel bookings, restaurant sales and the like,” according to WHRO. “This week’s analysis by Virginia Beach staff indicated the festival’s impact this year was around $27.7 million overall with around $1.5 million in city tax revenue.”

In 2019, hotel occupancy for the region for the weekend of the festival was 86 percent or higher, according to a joint report from Old Dominion University and the city.

Subsequent reports showed Williams’ local concerts have generated a steady revenue increase in Virginia Beach.

“In 2021, Virginia Beach officials said the city experienced record-breaking economic success and the festival had a total economic impact of over $24 million on both Virginia Beach and the surrounding region,” according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

New Journal and Guide

8A | February 8, 2024 - February 14, 2024

COMMUNITY NEWS

IKEA RAISES BHM FLAG; HONORS LOCAL NORFOLK 17 NORFOLK To launch the first day of Black History Month 2024, the IKEA Retail Outlet in Norfolk, and IKEAs around the world, held flag raising ceremonies honoring BHM and recognizing Local Pioneers of History.

The local IKEA chose the NORFOLK 17.

Dr. Patricia Turner was present to represent the group of Black students who wrote their names in the nation’s history books.

Sixty-two years ago, Dr. Turner one of the Norfolk 17 who desegregated six all-white Norfolk Public Photo: Courtesy of Lisa Lindsay-Shaw Schools, putting a dent in the wall of Jim Crow Front (L-R): Takelia Collins (IKEA), Dr. Turner, segregation in city and Teddy Queen, (IKEA). In the rear, Lisa Lindsay-Shaw.

Virginia. Dr. Turner, her brother James, Carol and Claudia Wellington, enrolled at Norview Junior High School. This historic event took place four years after the U.S. Supreme Court in 1954 issued its Brown Decision, declaring segregated public schools illegal.

On hand, representing her late mother Norfolk 17 Olivia Driver Lindsay was daughter Lisa representatives who journey, followed by Lindsay-Shaw. spoke, Dr. Turner shared words from Olivia Driver Along with IKEA a vivid account of her Lindsay’s daughter, Lisa.

Photo: Ken Sutton

(L-R:) HU President Darrel K.Williams, Provost Austin Agho, Mr. Curtis Davidson, and NSU President Jauvaune Adams-Gaston. In audience foreground is U.S. Congressman Bobby Scott.

Va. Alphas Hold 81st Convention; Host Forum On Affirmative Action

By Ken Sutton Special to the Guide

HAMPTON ROADS The Virginia Association of Chapters of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., (VACAPAF) held it 81st Annual Convention at the DELTA Hotel in Chesapeake, Virginia last weekend.

The kickoff event was the Public Forum held Thursday evening February 1 with a distinguished panel of local University Presidents and senior administrators.

Panelists discussed the effect that the 2023 rollback of the Use of Affirmative Action in the admissions process would have in local university admissions policy decisions.

Those oil the panel were President Darrell K. WilliamsHampton University; Provost Austin Agho, representing Old Dominion University President Brian O. Hemphill; Mr. Curtis Davidson-Director of Admission Operations, representing Christopher Newport University President William G. Kelly; and President Javaune Adams-Gaston Norfolk State University.

All participants noted that their respective institutions were proceeding ahead with continuing diversity, not only in their student body, but also in their faculty and staff placements.

All agreed the rollback of the Affirmative Action ruling

is just one more stumbling block to be overcome by their respective universities on the road to making a college education available for all those who desire a higher education in Hampton Roads.

The South Hampton Roads Chapters of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity (Chesapeake, NorfolkVirginia Beach, Portsmouth, and Suffolk Chapters) were the area hosts for the 81st VACAPAF Convention.

Over 360 Registered Attendees from 37 chapters around the Commonwealth gathered around the Convention.

The convention theme was “Strengthening The Ties That Bind Us Together!”

New Chesapeake Men For Progress Plans Annual BHM Program CHESAPEAKE The New Chesapeake Men for Progress, Inc., will host its Annual Black History Month Program on Saturday February 17, 2024 at the Buffalow Family and Friends Multipurpose Center. The event will start at 11 a.m. and is scheduled to end at 1 p.m.

The theme for this year’s program is “African-Americans

and the Arts.” The program will feature three noted leaders in education and Black history, followed by a question and answer period. They are Dr. George F. Reed, NCMFP, who will speak on “African-American Art Influence on America;” Artist Donald G. Wilson, who will speak on Art of Prominent African-

American Artists; and Dr. Ella P. Ward, Board Chairperspon, Cornland School Foundation, Inc., and Councilwoman, City of Chesapeake.

There will be a display of Black History Artifacts by Mrs. Linda Nichols and Mrs. Annie Smith.

Soloist Trena Washington will sing the Negro National Anthem.

Black History Month was

created to focus attention on the contributions of AfricanAmericans to the United States.

It honors all Black people over from Africa to African-Americans living in the United States. Dr. Carter G. Woodson, in 1915, who founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, reminded us “Those who have no record of what their forebear have

accomplished lose the inspiration which comes from the teaching of biography and history.”

The program is free and open to the public; however, donations will be accepted.

The Buffalow Family and Friends Multipurpose Center is located at 2403 Bainbridge Boulevard, Suite B, Chesapeake, Virginia 23324.

New Journal and Guide

February 8, 2024 - February 14, 2024 | Section B

SECTION B

HRT CELEBRATES ROSA PARKS ON TRANSIT EQUITY DAY HAMPTON Hampton Roads Transit celebrated the life and legacy of civil rights activist Rosa Parks on Transit Equity Day. About 100 people attended the celebration at Hampton Transit Center Monday morning, Feb. 5.

William Harrell, President and CEO of Hampton Roads Transit; Vice Mayor Jimmy Gray, Hampton; Gaylene Kanoyton, President, Hampton Branch NAACP; and Gilbert Bland, President, Urban League of Hampton Roads were the guest speakers.

“HRT is proud to recognize Parks’ contributions to equity in public transit during Black History Month,” said Harrell.

“Promoting equity and celebrating diversity is core to HRT’s values and who we are as a community.”

Parks was instrumental in the desegregation of buses when she refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery,

Photo: Courtesy

Speakers: Gil Bland, CEO, Urban League and Gaylene Kanoytan, Pres. Hampton NAACP Alabama bus in 1955.

Although she was not the first, her action that day sparked lasting change that paved the way for future generations.

“Like so many giants of her age, her lifetime of activism and her singular movement of courage continues to inspire us today,” said Bland. “She reminds us there is always

something we can do.”

In 2023, the Transportation District Commission of Hampton Roads, HRT’s governing body, passed a Resolution honoring Parks by establishing the first Monday following her birthday on February 4, as Transit Equity Day. As part of the program,

Vice Mayor Gray read the Resolution before a plaque was unveiled that will hang at the HRT Headquarters in Hampton and Norfolk. The ceremony culminated in a moving performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” led by Monique Lynch, TRAFFIX Program Specialist.

A group of students from Phoebus High School’s Academy of the College Experience attended today’s ceremony as special guests of HRT. Many of them said they enjoyed the program and were honored to be there.

To highlight Transit Equity Day, HRT reserved the front seat of every bus in Parks’ honor. Passengers were offered free fare on all bus, light rail, ferry, and paratransit services.

To learn more about transit services, as well as HRT’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, visit gohrt.com.

Photos: Courtesy

(L-Second Row): William Harrell, HRT President/CEO and (R-Front Row): Vice-Mayor Hampton Jimmy Gray join students from Phoebus High School for group photo.

SMALL BUSINESS DIRECTORY

GET NOTICED AND PLACE A SMALL BUSINESS AD IN THE GUIDE.

New Journal and Guide

2B | February 8, 2024 - February 14, 2024

PART 4 OF 4-PART SERIES

HLC Diabetes Prevention: Cooking Class Planted-Based Cooking Class Prepares Final Meal

By Melissa Spellman Staff Reporter New Journal and Guide

On January 31, 2024, participants in the Healthy Living Center’s Diabetes Education: Plant Based Cooking Class held its final session at the HLC facility in Norfolk, Virginia. The fourweek course was taught by Dr. Olivia Newby and her team of medical professionals and volunteers. During the four weeks, participants learned how to manage blood pressure, control cholesterol, read nutrition fact labels, how to get more active, and ultimately how to eat better with a plant-based diet.

In this final class, Newby discussed how cholesterol clogs the vessels in the body making you more at risk for stroke and heart attack. What is cholesterol? Cholesterol is a fat like substance that comes from two sources “food” and “body.” Cholesterol is found in foods from animal sources only. Cholesterol travels in the body by lipoproteins (LDL and HDL). High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is the good kind of cholesterol. Lowdensity lipoprotein (LDL) is the bad kind of cholesterol.

HDL helps keep LDL from sticking to artery walls and reduces plaque buildup. This process can lower risks of heart disease and stroke.

Dr. Newby is avid about this topic.

She shared how her father had high cholesterol, “The fat had

Dr. Olivia Newby clogged up the arteries to his brain and subsequently he had a stroke. That’s why I am very passionate about the fat content of foods.”

Heredity is a small part of high cholesterol. Three main causes of high cholesterol are diet, lack of exercise, and fatty foods. It’s important to know your numbers. If your LDL is above 100 you are at a higher risk for a heart attack.

Newby added, “Your LDL is the first sign I look at because it signifies where your risk factor lies. We want more HDL. The “H” stands for happy. You get this number from walking and more dietary changes.”

Newby says the LDL and HDL guide physicians on how to treat, how aggressively they treat, and whether to adjust a patient’s medication. “If your numbers are not good you are sitting at such a high risk for heart attack and heart disease moving forward. Culturally and personally, these are the things we are at risk for,” she said.

Dr. Newby discussed the traditional breakfast foods

Photo: Ernest Lowery

Class members pose for group picture with Dr. Newby (center)

On the menu for the final meal of the course was breakfast, a change from the usual lunch and dinner recipes. The class made avocado toast, plant-based sausage, and overnight oats. The avocado was sliced, mashed, and mixed with finely chopped celery, red onion, and Chile lime seasoning. The avocado mixture was spread on to two slices of toasted whole grain bread and topped with the remaining celery, onion, and slices of whole avocado. The class grilled two beyond sausage patties browning them on both sides. the participants typically grew up on. “We all love a biscuit,” she said. The doctor described the old-fashioned biscuits made with lard or Crisco, flour, and salt, and the use of fatback to season our vegetables. Soul food is something we grew up with or during football seasons we sit around and eat for hours. This sedentary lifestyle or “siting down”

increases abdominal girth, triglycerides, and LDL. This is how the numbers are evaluated. Sitting down and eating processed foods affect your numbers. Smoking increases the risk factors and complications. We want to approach cholesterol and fatty foods with a different perspective.

The educational part of the class ended with reading

the nutrition facts on some of our favorite breakfast foods, fast-food breakfast items, and discussing fats and oils. Dr. Newby showed the class the nutrition facts for Chick-Fil-A and Hardees breakfast menu. The shock rang out as the participants read the calories and salt contained in entrees that they considered a healthier menu choice. Although

some foods had lower calories like the chicken biscuit with 450 calories it contained 1510 mg of salt.

One chicken biscuit exceeds the daily recommended salt intake. Dr. Newby says this is where planning comes in. “It’s so easy just to pick something up. You will eat out if you don’t plan,” said Newby. ...see HLC, page 3B

NEW COLUMNS FOR 2024

CAN YOU AFFORD TO APPLY FOR A LARGE GRANT? As the new year begins many of us have big dreams for our nonprofit organizations and institutions. There’s so much we can accomplish.

And some foundations, government agencies, and philanthropists have big dreams too.

They bring them to life by funding non-profits who can actually do the work that creates change, educates students, or cures Alzheimer’s disease, for example.

Big dreams and big money magnetically attract each other. “Big” could be $25,000 or $25 million. It all depends on your operating budget.

Whether you say “yes” to pursuing big money, or turn down such an opportunity, can impact your organization – and community – for years to come. Learn three questions to ask before making a decision.

When you are approached to apply for a large grant it can feel as if your non-profit has won the lottery. Maybe you’re a grassroots program, a national advocacy organization, or a college or university. In most cases the response is the same: you are excited and begin to evaluate how your programs fit into the grant guidelines.

If the proposed grant

could cover multiple years your team may feel the heavens have opened.

Maybe, and maybe not.

The first pivotal question to ask when considering a major grant is whether or not it is in line with your mission, goals and strategic plan.

You can contort your nonprofit and change your direction to secure the funding. But what will that do to your organization? If the grant funding is for services outside of your focus, why are you changing your priorities? There are legitimate reasons to change, but make sure yours is a conscious decision. If you change directions, will this be in addition to your “regular” work; and if yes, can you sustain both?

Our general recommendation: don’t chase money that takes you off course.

If you accept funds that are not in line with the core work of your nonprofit, you can put your organization at risk.

You may find that the time and money required for grant management, reporting, and evaluation are not covered in grant funding. Paying for these can become an additional – unfunded – expense.

Second, have you planned for the end of

the grant – even as you prepare to apply for funds? For example, have you considered how you will replace the funds once a grant ends?

Will the new grantfunded program/ service/ advocacy become part of your long-range planning or business plan? If not, what will happen to those you serve?

Third, do you have the information you need to carefully construct a budget for the proposed work? Will grant funds cover current programs, or will you need to expand programming or launch a new program? Will you need to hire additional people? If yes, where will you find the talent you need? How will you retain current and new hires during the life of the grant? What will happen if staff leave your organization? How will you replace them? Our bottom line: take time to make wise decisions for your organization’s sustainability.

Mel and Pearl Shaw position nonprofits, colleges and universities for fundraising success.

For help with your fundraising visit www. saadandshaw.com or call (901) 522-8727.

Copyright 2024 – Mel and Pearl Shaw

H

ello and welcome to The Bridge Corner.

In today’s lesson, we want to cover the responses to the opener’s 1-level opening bid. But first, let’s review the four (4) things EVERY one-level (1) OPENING bid says: 1) Point count.

A. If opening 1 Club ©, 1 Diamond (D), 1 Heart (H), or 1 Spade (S), then opener is showing AT LEAST 12 points.

B. If opening 1 No Trump (N/T), opener is showing exactly 15 to 17 points. In our later session, we will cover the No Trump opening and responses in detail.

2) The opening bid MUST show whether or not there is AT LEAST a five card Major suit; the opening bid of 1 Spade or 1 Heart indicates the hand contains AT LEAST 5 Spades (or AT LEAST 5 Hearts). The opening bid of 1 Club or 1 Diamond (the Minor suits) shows NO 5-CARD Spade or Heart suit. The opening bid of 1 No Trump shows NO 5-CARD Spade or Heart suit.

3) The opener must ask his partner (the responder) for information about responder’s hand: A. If opener bids 1 Club, 1 Diamond, or 1 No Trump, then opener is asking his partner if he has AT LEAST a four-card Spade or Heart suit B. If opener bids 1 Spade, then opener is asking his partner if partner has at least 3 cards in the Spade suit; if opener bids 1 Heart, then asking partner for 3 Hearts.

4) If opener bids 1 Club, 1 Diamond, 1 Heart, or 1 Spade, then opener is asking partner if partner has AT LEAST 5 points in order to respond to opener’s bid. If opener bids 1 No Trump, then opener is asking partner for AT LEAST 8 points in order to respond.

So, now let’s examine the responses to every 1-level opening bid: 1) Responding to an Opening Bid of 1 Club or 1 Diamond (promises at least 3 C or 3 D) A. Bid your 5 (or more) major suit, with two 5-card majors, bid Spades B. Bid your 4-card major suits up the line (bid Hearts before Spades if you have both C. If you have 5 cards in partner’s suit, raise to the 2 level with 5 to 10 High Card Points (HCP), raise to the 3 level with 11 to 12 HCP D. If you have 5 of the other minor, you can bid it at the 1 level ( 1 Club opening bid, you can respond 1 Diamond with 5 Diamonds) with 5 to 12 HCP. If you have to bid at the 2 level (1 Diamond Open, you have to bid 2 Club with 5 Clubs) you need 12 to 12 HCP. E. With virtually any other hand, bid 1 No Trump (N/T) with 5 to 10 HCP, bid 2 N/T with 11 to 12 HCP, or bid 3 N/T with 13 to 15 HCP 2) Responding to an Opening Bid of 1 Heart or 1 Spade (promises at least 5 H or 5 S) A. If you have 3 or more of partner’s suit: i) 5 to 10 HCP bid the 2 level of the opening Spade or Heart suit; ii) 11 to 12 HCP, bid 3 level of opening major suit; iii) 13 or more HCP, bid two of another suit, then bid 4 of partner’s suit at your next bid.

B. With 2 or less of partner’s opening suit: i) if partner bid 1 Heart and you have 4 Spades, bid 1 Spade; ii) if you have 5 to 10 HCP, bid 1 N/T; iii) if you have 11 or more HCP AND a five-card suit, bid that 5-card suit at the 2 level; iv) if you have 2 of partner’s suit and 11 to 12 HCP, bid 2N/T; v) if you have two of partner’s suit and 13 to 15 HCP, bid 3 N/T.

If North and South are partners and North opens 1 Club and South’s hand is: Spades: K Q 2; Hearts: J 9 8 7; Diamonds: Q 5 3 2; Clubs: J 4 (South’s hand has 9 HCP). We now understand the 4 things North’s opening bid of 1 Club is saying. South’s response is 1 Heart (using 1B from the response chart above). If South’s hand remains the same, what is South’s response if North opens I Diamond, 1 Heart, or 1 Spade? We will cover No Trump bids & responses next session.

TIDEWATER BRIDGE CLUB The Banks at Berkley 701 South Main Street, Norfolk, VA 23523 WEDNESDAYS 10:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

This is a locked building.

An assigned person will be at the door to let you in until 11 a.m. Take the elevator up to the second floor Community Room.

The game fee is $4 for 2 ½ or more tables. Bring your lunch.

Light packaged snacks/water will be provided.

Winning Pairs from the January 31, 2024, Bridge Game Aldis Raymond – Leon Ragland (3) Sandra Starkey – Betty Warren Lillye Holley – Barbara Whitfield (1) Elva Taylor – Shirley Nottingham Rose Ward – Gillis Watson(2) Rodney Smith – Lawrence Owes Marshall Hutto – Jennifer Douglas Any question, concerns, or comments, please feel free to contact Lawrence Owes, President, Tidewater Bridge Club at l.a.owes1@gmail.com.

New Journal and Guide

February 8, 2024 - February 14, 2024 | 3B

HLC Continued from page 2B The doctor asked the class how many of their fathers or grandfathers ate yogurt and fruit for breakfast. No one could attest to this. Eggs, cheese grits, bacon, and sausage are the common foods on our breakfast plates.

These foods are high in fat, calories, and salt. Two Jimmy Dean sausage patties contain 290 calories, 250 calories are from fat, and 510 mg of salt.

Essentially eating a sausage, a person consumes all fat, 50 percent of which is saturated fat.

What is saturated fat?

Saturated fat is animal fat.

Anything non-animal is unsaturated fat such as an apple, avocado, and nuts.

Saturated fat and trans-fat are the unhealthiest fats.

They are often solid at room temperature which is how you can identify them. Liquid oils are your good oils olive oil, canola oil, peanut oil, and vegetable oil. “How we eat is so cultural. You all already know and experienced the benefits of diet change,” said Newby. She continued, “Now they show that heart disease is even reversible with a plantbased diet because you have taken the fat out.”

She closed the class with some final encouragement and advice. Transitioning to a plant-based diet can become a challenge because of the culture we are used to, the cost, the concern for taste, and lack of knowledge. From the cultural perspective we have a hard thing to do since

Photo: Ernest Lowery

Dr. Newby showcases her new healthy cookbook. many of the foods we eat have saturated fats like butter and cheese. However, your health is more important and you can do it. You can transition. If you want to lose weight have breakfast because it starts your metabolism and gets your mind and body going.

The class dismissed into our cooking portion with Chef Patricia Louis.

On the menu for the final meal of the course was breakfast, a change from the usual lunch and dinner recipes.

The class made avocado toast, plant-based sausage, and overnight oats. The avocado was sliced, mashed, and mixed with finely chopped celery, red onion, and Chile lime seasoning. The avocado mixture was spread on to two slices of toasted whole grain bread and topped with the remaining celery, onion, and slices of whole avocado.

The class grilled two beyond sausage patties browning them on both sides.

Next, the class prepared their overnight oats which included oatmeal, a banana, cranberries, cinnamon, honey, walnuts, and almond milk.

Using a small container, the process began by layering oats, cinnamon, slices of banana, honey, cranberries and repeating. The second layer was topped with walnuts, and almond milk was added leaving enough space for the oats to expand. The overnight oats were to be taken home and placed in the refrigerator ready to eat cold or hot in the morning. The final take home ingredients included Chile Lime seasoning, oatmeal, honey, and a bag of dried cranberries.

Participants received a certificate of completion for successfully completing the healthy living center plantbased cooking educational series. Dr. Newby also debuted her cookbook Newby Seeds For Healthy Cooking. It’s the plant-based recipe book with healthy, delectable, nourishing recipes for everyday cooking. A quote from the book reads, “A journey to health and hope. A recipe book that redefines the way we nourish our bodies and our spirits.” Dr. Newby’s plant-based cookbook is a culinary prescription to health.

The book can be purchased by calling the HLC office.

The Healthy Living Center offers a variety of classes that are free and open to the public. If you are interested in attending the Diabetes Prevention: Plant Based cooking class you can register for the next session at www.hlcnorfolk.com, call (757) 622-0542, or email hlcnorfolk@gmail.com for more information.

Photo: Courtesy

L-R: Del. Luke Torian, Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Dr. Jones, Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears and the new Speaker of the House Del. Don Scott of Portsmouth.

BIBLE STUDY AT THE HOUSE RICHMOND Rev. Dr. Keith I. Jones of Norfolk’s Shiloh Baptist Church conducted the Speaker of the House’s Bible Study on Thursday Feb. 1, as Black History Month observances began. Dr. Jones’ audience included members of the Gubernatorial Administration, state officials and the Lieutenant Governor.

Photo: Courtesy

Dr. Jones and Del. Scott.

LOCAL VOICES

Coach Ronald Jenkins 4 X 2024 Hall of Fame(s) Celebration Party

By Sean C. Bowers

To this day, 32-years after those First-Ever Beach District & Virginia AAA State Championships were won, the Beach District’s FIRST AND ONLY BACK-TO-BACK STATE CHAMPIONSHIP WINNING COACH, EVER! 5:30 p.m. Tip Halftime Honor by Mario Mullen Captain of the BHS 1990 & 1991 Championship Photo: Ernest Lowery teams, Friday, February 9th, Melissa Spellman (at front left), staff reporter for the New Journal and Guide, attended all 2024 Bayside High School HOME GAME 7-11 p.m. four classes and wrote this four-part series.

NEW JOURNAL & GUIDE YOUTH CITIZEN OF THE MONTH

By Melissa Spellman Staff Reporter New Journal and Guide

The New Journal and Guide’s Youth Citizen of the Month is a new initiative to acknowledge young citizens in the areas of education, leadership, compassion, and empathy for other people.

This award is offered to young citizens who are thriving in their education, have shown improvement in their educational pursuits, exhibit leadership ability, and have demonstrated kindness to others. Glen Yearling, Coach of the Berkley Timberwolves in Norfolk, VA, nominated one of his players.

New Journal and Guide’s first Youth Citizen of the Month award goes to Keon Freeman.

We asked Coach Glen why he nominated Keon Freeman as NJG Youth Citizen of the month?

Coach Glen: Keon Freeman is an outstanding young leader. He is a

very well-mannered young man and a very smart young man. He works very hard in school to maintain his honor status and staying on good standing with his teachers. What I love about him is that he’s the first to show his report card to coaches and friends to try and motivate other kids to do their best. Keon loves the game of football. He is also the captain of the 12U Berkley Timberwolves football team who became 2023 Champions. He was a starter on the 2022 Championship team where he started as a young outside Linebacker. Keon is also a big volunteer as we feed the homeless and hungry. This young man is what you want your child to be. He works very hard within our Timberwolves Landscaping and Moving For Kids mentor program that teaches our youth to have a work ethic to be a success in life.

But most of all it is how much he wants to make his mother proud.

He loves her very much.

Photo: Courtesy

Keon Freeman

NAME: KEON FREEMAN SCHOOL: SOUTHSIDE STEM ACADEMY NJG: Who inspires you?

Keon: My hard-working mother who I see GRADE: 7 | AGE: 12 go to work every day to provide for me and our family. I love her with all my heart.

NJG: What are your goals and ambitions?

Keon: I want to graduate high school and college NJG: What is your greatest accomplishment and get a great job either in the NFL or lawyer. in life this far?

So, I can provide for my mother and family with a Keon: Maintaining my honor roll in wonderful life. school. Winning back-to-back 12U SYFL Championships.

NJG: What do you want to be when you grow up?

Keon: NFL Football player is my first option. I NJG: What is your favorite subject in school? have played the game since I was 6 years old, so Keon: My favorite subject is Math.

I definitely love the game. Option two Lawyer because I want to bring justice to victims.

NJG: Who is your favorite Teacher?

Keon: My favorite Teacher is Ms. Harold NJG: What makes you happy? she is my Advanced Science teacher.

Keon: Football. Spending time with family and friends.

GREAT JOB, KEON!

Sean C. Bowers POST GAME PARTY after @ the Delta Marriott, 2800 Shore Drive, By the Bay, Bar Attendees are invited to SPORT their School Colors gear: (Coach Jenkins is the BEST OF ALL THREE: Virginia Beach Junior High, Bayside High School, Norfolk State University.

Other Team allowed, but may not be respected as much.

Questions email Seancbowers@aol.com Attendees can make signs!!!!

Pictures will be taken.

Video will be set up so people can record a Coach Jenkins memory message or best wishes from all the 757 those who respect and love the man, the Coach, the legend, the Hall of Famer, the Championship builder of young people, teams, young women, and young men. (Evening’s events to be compiled into a DVD, for later duplication.)

Ron Jenkins has CLASS: Completive Legacy Accountability Structured Service. Graduated NSU 1972; coached Virginia Beach JH, 1972-84; coached Bayside High School 19852002; retired from teaching at BHS 2014. Never cursed, and zero technical fouls for his career. (Bless him.)

No. 1 BEST COACH TO EVER GRACE A BEACH DISTRICT SIDELINE! At the party for Coach Jenkins there will be a sound system so we can honor him and so he can address his fanbase directly. We will present him a HOF hat displaying some his many beloved accomplishments.

Personally, Coach Jenkins, I have had a Virginia Beach Junior High Letter Jacket made, displaying my thank tribute to you for your outstanding coaching on the back.

1990-1991 Bayside HS Coach Ronald Jenkins wins back-to-back Virginia AAA championships.

FINAL FOUR COACH NATION’S #1 JU-CO MOBERLY MO 4 X CHAMPIONSHIP BANNERS HUNG IN 82VA 83MO 80 & 89WA” None of that recordsetting championship winning legacy would have been possible without my having had Coach Ronald Jenkins as my first basketball coach. I thank my lucky stars for you and your outstanding example of CLASS you have set in my life, in the lives of all your students, and in all my universal basketball teammates (from VBJH 1972-84 & BAYSIDE HS 1985-2014) every day these past fifty years, Sir. You are still the best. You raised multiple villagers in multiple villages. More than anyone I know or have ever met.

Thanks Coach J. for your love, honor and commitment to all of us over the many years. We now honor you.

Love, Sean C. Bowers

Sean C. Bowers has written the last 26 years, as a White Quaker Southern man, for the nation’s third oldest Black Newspaper, The New Journal and Guide, of Norfolk, Virginia, about overcoming racism, sexism, classism, and religious persecution.

Some of his latest NJ&G articles detailing the issues can found by searching “Sean C. Bowers” on the NJ&G website. Contact him directly on social “COACHED BY media at Linkedin.com or RONALD JENKINS 2024 by email V1ZUAL1ZE@ 4 X HOF & 2 VA CHAMP aol.com NNPA 2019 AT VIRGINIA BEACH Publisher of the Year, JH 1976-79 Brenda H. Andrews (NJ&G 1 ST OF 4 HOF 36 years) has always been COACHES AND A his publisher.

New Journal and Guide

4B | February 8, 2024 - February 14, 2024

MOMENTS of MEDITATION

By Rev. Dr. Archie L. Edwards, Sr.

EPHESIANS: TRUE PORTRAIT OF THE CHURCH A SURVEY OF EPHESIANS. In the Corinthian letters, Paul confronted the quarrels that were tearing apart the church. In Galatians, he dueled the legalists who were taking people captive. In Ephesians, however, he steps aside from the conflicts of his day and reveals a magnificent vision of Christ and His grand design for His church. In Ephesians, Paul blends some of the loftiest theology in Scripture with some of the most practical teaching. He shows us the deeper reality of God’s all-encompassing rule and how our daily, seemingly mundane lives contribute to the accomplishment of His glorious plan.

THE WRITER AND RECIPIENTS. Paul wrote Ephesians in Rome around A. D. 61, while he was under house arrest awaiting trial before Caesar (see Acts 25:1112; 28: 30-31). To whom did Paul write this letter?

“To the Saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 1:1b).

THE THEME OF

THE EPHESIANS. The overarching theme of Ephesians is found in 1:910, God has purposed “to bring all things in Heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ” (NIV).

THE STRUCTURE OF THE EPHESIANS:.

The structure of this letter follows its theme, which has a “double thesis” as William Barclay notes: “First, Christ is God’s instrument of reconciliation.

Second, the church is Christ’s instrument of reconciliation.” Chapters 1-3 then, show that Christ, through His death, resurrection, and exaltation, has reconciled us to God and united Jew and Gentile into ‘one body,” of which Jesus is the head. This section is doctrinal, and it reveals our position in Christ.

Chapters 4-6 instruct us in how to live in light of our position – our new identity in Christ. This section is practical, explaining our part in accomplishing God’s work.

Ephesians has an artistic symmetry not found in any of Paul’s other

letters. In each half, there are three chapters and three subsections. Three prayers also reinforce this structural balance, coming at the beginning (chapter 1), the middle (chapter 3), and the end (chapter 6). Paul also fashions a triad of sevens: seven spiritual blessings in Christ (chapter 1), seven unities of the body of Christ (chapter 4) and seven pieces of armor (chapter 6).

OVERVIEW OF EPHESIANS OUR UNITY WITH CHRIST (chapters 1-3).

WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE FOR US (chapter 1). In the first chapter, the Apostle explores the magnitude of God’s eternal purpose by first unveiling what Christ has done for us (1:3). Through Jesus Christ, God has opened His treasure room and poured the gold of Heaven into our hands.

Paul tallies our sevenfold spiritual assets in verses 1-14.

WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE IN US (chapter 2:1-10). In Christ we have been redeemed, raised, reconciled and recreated for a new purpose to be the agency through which God can show the “surpassing riches of His grace” and accomplish the work He has predestined us to do for Him (v. 7, 10).

WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE BETWEEN US (chapters 2:11; 3: 21).

Christ has not only reconciled people by God; He has reconciled people to each other. In the balance of chapter 2, Paul explained to his Gentile readers that they

BLACK HISTORY CELEBRATION AT GREATER FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH – ORLANDO SUFFOLK Deaconess Belinda S. Pitts of Greater First Baptist Church-Orlando (600 Factory Street, Suffolk) is the guest speaker for the Church’s Annual Black History Celebration on Sunday, February 18, 2024, at the 11 a.m. worship service. The theme for this year’s event is “We Are One: Moving Forward Towards Equality With The “who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (v.

13). Christ became the bridge of peace, joining God’s covenant people, the Jews with the formerly ‘unclean” Gentiles in order to create one new body the church (v. 1120). This new community is a living temple; one built not with stone and mortar but with flesh and bone, “a dwelling of God in the Spirit” (v. 21-22).

Paul next explained his unique role in the forming of this “new society” (3:113).

OUR UNITY WITH EACH OTHER (chapters 4-6).

OUR NEW UNITY (chapter 4:1-16).

In laying the groundwork for the one body of Christ living as one, Paul underscored the need for humility, gentleness, patience, and above all, love (v. 2). These lead up to his key exhortation in this section: “make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace” (v. 3 NIV).

The second set of sevens appears here, emphasizing the completeness of this unity (v. 4-6). Though

Power of God” based on scripture found in Galatians 3:26-29, with emphasis on Healthcare Professions.

Deaconess Pitts is a Medical Billing Office Administrator and also serves as President of the Suffolk Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. The public is invited to attend.

Call (757) 539-0032 for additional information.

we are united, we are not uniformed. The One God has given us many different spiritual gifts complementing gifts that work together to build up the body of Christ (v.

7-12).

OUR NEW WALK (chapter 4:17, 6:9).

Unlike the darkened, unsaved Gentiles, who never even had the light that was shone on the Jews, the recipients of Christ’s move completely light are to live in righteousness and holiness (4:17-24).

We are to live in the truth of our new selves – redeemed and lavishly blessed – and work to build up the body of the redeemed rather than tear it down by our old sinful nature (v. 25-32).

As God has treated us, so we ought to treat one another. Which brings us to a key thought in this section: “Be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma” (5:1-2). How can finite human beings imitate an infinite God? By walking in love (v. 2), by walking

in purity (v. 3-7), by walking in light (v. 8-14), by walking in wisdom (v.

15-20), and by walking in mutual submission and deference toward one another (5:21-6; 9) OUR NEW STRENGTH chapter 6:10 -20). Will the world stand up and applaud God’s new Spiritual community?

Some will be drawn to it, but in general, no, conflict will come just as Jesus warned in John 15:18, 16:4), because forces beyond the mere human sphere oppose God. As Christ’s body on earth, then, we must stand our ground – because it is the ground of saving truth.

So God has graciously given us His “full armor,” signified in the seven armaments Paul listed (Ephesians 6:10-18). Paul himself was a recipient of satanic opposition; he was an “ambassador in chain” showing the enmity of the world against God’s Kingdom. So instead of offering a prayer as before, he asked for prayer that he would proclaim the Gospel with courage (v. 10-20) CONCLUSION chapter 6:21-24). Let us walk in the light of love!

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New Journal and Guide

February 8, 2024 - February 14, 2024 | 5B

New Journal and Guide

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BOOKWORM REVIEW

CLASSIFIEDS

By Terri Schlichenmeyer

INVITATION FOR BIDS

BLACK HISTORY MONTH BOOKS FOR KIDS

Y

ou know your history.

You know about slavery and Jim Crow and Harriet Tubman and Malcolm X. You know about all those things, and more. So now make sure your child knows, too, by bringing home these great Black History Month books for kids ...

Since forever, AfricanAmericans have been first-rate gardeners and farmers and in “The Last Stand” by Antwan Eady, illustrated by Jarrett and Jerome Phumphrey (Knopf, $18.99), Mr. Earl’s grandson worries about his Papa, who runs a farmer’s market.

Two summers ago, there were five people with country roadside stands.

Now, it’s just Mr. Earl.

What will the people in their community do if there’s no fresh produce or fresh eggs? Who will have peppers for Mr. Johnny or pumpkins for Ms. Rosa?

What will happen on the day when Papa’s “too tired” to go to his market stall?

This book, and the stories it can lead to, will help your 3-to-5-year-old learn more about everyday Black

©2024, various publishers, $18.99 each, various page counts history.

If your ancestors came North in the Great Migration, then you’ll want to bring “Everywhere Beauty is Harlem” by Gary Golio, art by E.B. Lewis (Calkins Creek, $18.99).

When photographer Roy DeCarava came to Harlem in the early 1940s, he landed in Harlem. And so, after work every evening, he slipped film into his camera, and he went hunting for treasures – not gold or jewels, but people.

A man snoozing on the subway, a little boy drawing

with sidewalk chalk, an artist standing streetside with his wares, not one of them escaped his notice.

Looking into the eyes of those people he captured on film, “Roy sees Harlem.”

Your 3-to-7-year-old will want to see, too. Be sure to read the biography at the end of this tale, so you can give your child the full, authentic story.

And finally, if your 6-to-9-year-old needs to know about a legend, read “Fighting With Love: The Legacy of John Lewis”

by Lesa Cline-Ransome, illustrated by James

FUN PUZZLE FOR YOUR LEISURE

E. Ransome (Simon & Schuster, $18.99).

Here, your child will learn that John Lewis was the son of a sharecropper, and he dreamed of a better life. He wanted an education, and he sneaked out and got one. He was a teenager before he heard the words “justice” and “segregation,” and he knew instantly that they were important. When he left on a bus to go to Seminary school, his mother warned him not to get in trouble, but how could he not?

“Fighting with Love” is wonderfully illustrated but the story’s longer and much more in-depth. You may find in the picture book section for little kids, but older children are the right audience for it. For them, this is a great introduction to Lewis’s life, and to historical biographies in general.

If you need more Black History Month reading for your child, or if you’ve got older kids itching to learn more, too, then ask your favorite librarian or bookseller for help. For any age, and any month, that’s the place to find books to know your history.

INVITATION FOR BIDS # CRHA 24-B-002

Chesapeake Redevelopment and Housing Authority is soliciting bids from qualified and licensed firms to provide Contractor Services for rehabilitation of building 5 in the Geneva Square Community in Chesapeake, VA 23323. IFB document download and Submittal Return: may be downloaded from the CRHA website under the Procurement Section at crhava.org/bids IFB documents will be ready for download Friday, January 26, 2024, at 8:00 am local prevailing time. The bid submittal must be received in-hand and time-stamped in the CRHA Central Office, 1468 South Military Highway, Chesapeake, VA 23320 no later than Friday March 15, 2024, by 2:00 p.m. prevailing local time.

CRHA contact person: Art Harbin, Procurement Officer, (757) 233-6412 fax: (757) 523-1601, art_harbin@crhava.org. Minority and/or women-owned businesses are encouraged to submit bids.

INVITATION FOR BIDS PR2171-171-24

The Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority will receive bids for the “Re-Bid NRHA Oakleaf Forest Bungalow ADA Conversion.”

The scope of work includes all supervision, labor, materials, and equipment necessary to construct the repairs and alterations to the existing duplex building at 1832 and 1834 Greenleaf Drive Norfolk, VA. 23523. Furnish all labor, materials, and equipment as necessary to complete all work indicated, including, but not limited to: Related finish work and the full scope of work is described in the Contract Documents.

A pre-bid meeting will be conducted on February 21, 2024 at 11:00 AM outside of 1832 Greenleaf Drive Norfolk, VA 23523. All prospective bidders are strongly encouraged to attend.

Please contact Clayton Odom, DCM Director (codom@ nrha.us) for any related questions. All questions must be received on February 28, 2024 at 1:00 PM. Sealed Bids will be received, publicly opened, and read aloud on March 12, 2024, at 11:00 AM local prevailing time at the office of the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority, 910 Ballentine Boulevard, Norfolk, Virginia.

Contract documents will be available for review by appointment only at the NRHA Office of Economic Opportunities, Calvert Square Envision Center, 975 Bagnall Road, Norfolk, VA (please call (757) 314- 2026 to schedule); Builders and Contractors Exchange, Norfolk, VA; and on the Virginia Procurement Website (www.eva.virginia.gov). A thumb drive will be available from NRHA, 910 Ballentine Blvd., Norfolk, VA for the non-refundable price of twelve dollars (Company Check Only).

NRHA provides equal housing and employment opportunities for all persons. NRHA does not discriminate against any applicant, resident or employee on the basis race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status, disability, source of funds, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, personal appearance, marital status, political affiliation, matriculation, place of residence or business in the admission or access to or operations of programs, services or activities.

NRHA complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. An internal grievance procedure is available to resolve complaints. If you feel you have been discriminated against, you have the right to file a complaint of discrimination with the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity by calling toll free (800) 669-9777.

Qualified individuals who need communication aids, services or other accommodations to participate in programs and activities are invited to make your needs known to 504/ADA Coordinator Corey Brooks at (757) 623-1111, TDD: (800) 545-1833. Please give NRHA seven business days advance notice to meet your needs.

... answers to this week’s puzzle.

New Journal and Guide

February 8, 2024 - February 14, 2024 | 7B

8B | February 8, 2024 - February 14, 2024

New Journal and Guide