UPW Urban Pro Weekly

UPW URBAN PRO WEEKLY SEPT 21-30, 2017

VOL. 6 NO. 23

ARTS FEST photo essay (Above) THE ISLAND OF JAMAICA is represented during a parade of nations at the opening ceremonies of the Arts in the Heart festival in downtown Augusta on Friday, Sept. 15.

Photos by Vincent Hobbs (Left) POET ANTHONY “SLEEPYEYEZ” CARTER performs during the Poetry Matters Celebration on the Troubadour Stage.

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COMMUNITY

SOIREE SUNDAY AUGUSTA

HAPPENINGS

TABERNACLE BAPTIST CHURCH

Child Development Center celebrates Diamond Jubilee

by Trazanna Armstrong and Betty Key AUGUSTA On October 14, 2017, Tabernacle Baptist Church Child Development Center (CDC) will commemorate 60 years of service with a Diamond Jubilee Celebration Banquet. Dr. Lamonica Lewis Hillman, Assistant Superintendent of the Richmond County School System will be the featured speaker and Trey McLaughlin, World Renowned Gospel Artist is the feature performer for this fundraising event. Both are alumni of the Child Development Center. This tremendous, celebratory milestone is a testament to two dynamic leaders in the history of Tabernacle CDC. In June of 1956, Tabernacle Baptist Church welcomed a young and invigorating pastor, Rev. Charles S. Hamilton who was filled with new ideas for the church as well as the community. The Laney-Walker district, also known as the “Golden Blocks” of the city, was a thriving community filled with many business, schools and churches. The schools were named after many prominent African American educators such as Lucy C. Laney, A.R. Johnson and Silas X. Floyd. However, there weren’t many daycare facilities available in the community. It was the vision of Rev. Hamilton to offer an institution to provide more than just babysitting services but to give each child an opportunity to learn during their formative years. It was with this innovation that the Child Development Center was born.

In 1957, the Child Development Center was opened to the children of the CSRA. The vision for the center was entrusted to Mrs. Ruby McNatt Scott as the CDC’s first director. When Mrs. Scott retired after 10 years of service, Mrs. Louise Scott was selected for the position and served 35 years. Mrs. Scott and her staff were dedicated to

UPW Urban Pro Weekly Hephzibah, GA 30815

Mrs. Louise Scott served for 35 years at the Tabernacle Child Development Center. educating and nurturing the future generation. Many alumni recall her leadership and tutelage. Not only did students learn the basics in early education, they also participated and excelled in extracurricular activities such as swimming, gymnastics, ballet, karate and computer programs. It was with

great pride that students participated in many of the schools Christmas pageants, May Day events, Easter programs and Graduation ceremonies. Students also marched in the Christmas parade and the Lucy C. Laney Homecoming parades. The event will honor the late Mrs. Louise Scott for her commitment and dedication to the many children she taught over the years and Rev. Hamilton for his vision for the need of a better education for the youth of the CSRA from the cradle to college.

Presently, through these fundraising efforts, the Tabernacle CDC is capitalizing on the quest to continue building quality programs and to establish an academy of excellence for the future. The greater Augusta community will join in the Diamond Jubilee celebration at Tabernacle Baptist Family Life Center, October 14, 2017 at 7PM. The Silent Auction begins at 6:30 pm.

Tabernacle CDC alumni are invited to a wonderful time of reunion at this magnificent affair. Tickets are $50.00 and can be purchased at www.tbcaugusta.org. For information on ad purchases, you may contact Trazanna Armstrong, Banquet Committee Chair at toparm@hotmail.com.

ANNUAL QUILT EXHIBITION October 1, 2017 – December 31, 2017 Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History Brown Sugar Stitchers Quilting Guild of Atlanta, GA is a diverse group of African-American quilters from the metropolitan area. The guild continues to gain popularity throughout the Southeast and nationally. This year marks their fifth season at the museum, based on rave reviews.

OPENING RECEPTION October 8, 2017, 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History Come and explore the wonderful world of the growing emphasis of the artistry of quilting. Light refreshments will be served.

URBAN PRO WEEKLY Publisher URBAN PRO WEEKLY MEDIA 706-306-4647 urbanpromedia@yahoo.com

CEO / Sales FREDERICK BENJAMIN SR. 706-306-4647 editor@urbanproweekly.com

September 24, 2017 Humanitree House Expect an evening of live music with an infusion of creativity and collaboration - from dance, performance art, film, to the spoken word; enjoy live jazz and lovely people indeed. Since its inception in January 2014, JazzSoiree has featured classic jazz music performed by the area’s top artists, and various wines selected by the host. Dress like you mean it. Listen. Groove.

Dance.

Info: www.jazzsoiree.com (762) 233-5299

4 SEASONS CHAMBER JAZZ

October 20, 2017; January 19, April 20, 2018; 7:30pm Unitarian Universalist Church of Augusta Description: 4 Seasons Chamber Jazz is a four-event concert series, with each concert featuring two performances, ranging from Latin jazz to vocal standards to Dixieland.

It’s a musical celebration of art in nature. Season four features Dr. Mitch Butler, the American Jazz Combo, Gray Mayfield, and Niki Haris.

Info: www.uuaugusta.org (706) 733-7939

JESSYE NORMAN SCHOOL ANNUAL BENEFIT CONCERT

BRAVA, JESSYE! A Musical Tribute

by Russell Joel Brown & Damien Sneed The Jessye Norman School of the Arts will hold its annual benefit concert on October 22, 2017, 4 PM at the Imperial Theatre.

The concert will feature Russell Joel Brown, who has returned home from touring with The Lion King, and Damien Sneed, Artistin-Residence at Nyack’s Christian College in New York City. To purchase tickets contact the Imperial Theater Box Office at (706) 722-8341 or buy them online at www. jessyenormanschool.org.

Contributors VINCENT HOBBS Photography & New Media KEN MAKIN contributing columnist

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(At Left) Participants dance during the Unity Dance at the opening ceremonies of the Arts in the Heart festival in downtown Augusta on Friday, Sept. 15.

(Below Left) Marchers representing the nation of Lebanon.

(Below Right) Participants dance during the Unity Dance.

Photos by Vincent Hobbs

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ARTS FEST

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ARTS FEST (Above) The country of India is represented during a parade of nations at the opening ceremonies of the Arts in the Heart festival in downtown Augusta.

(Below) The Lakeside High School Drum Corps performs (At Right) A young woman marches representing the country of Laos.

Photos by Vincent Hobbs

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(Above) Augusta University’s KENYA STOKES passes the ball during a volleyball game against Georgia College held at Christenberry Fieldhouse.

The Jaguars defeated the Bobcats 3-1 in the final score.

(At far left) - Augusta University’s CHLOE ALLEN (center) signals to her teammates.

(Left) Augusta University’s BLAIR BOLTON attempts a pass.

Photos by Vincent Hibbs/Sports Journal / September 19, 2017 (Augusta, GA)

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SportsVIEW

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MAKIN’ A DIFFERENCE COMMENTARY by Ken Makin THE UGLINESS OF AUGUSTA — AND AMERICA

The JBA debate is microcosm of what goes on in USA Before I continue talking about the controversy surrounding a proposal to move the James Brown Arena (JBA) to South Augusta, I want to get something off of my chest.

If you saw a story this past week that came out of North Augusta, S.C., about a local man who requested that a post-Confederate monument be taken down at Calhoun Park, that man was me.

I spoke up, with civility and authority, against a moral wrong. I spoke up, with civility and authority, against historical embellishments.

Comment sections, of course, are on fire. That is not relevant to me. What is relevant is the here and now.

It is time for each of us to become more politically aware and active. It is time for us to speak to moral wrongs and community concerns, on every level.

One of the most discouraging things I heard in the aftermath of my commentary in North Augusta was, “We were waiting for someone to speak on this issue.”

I translated that as, “We were afraid to speak on this issue because of the controversy it would draw. We were afraid to speak on a moral wrong because we felt it would inconvenience us in some way.”

It is vital that all of us, and in particular, our elected officials, speak the truth — however inconvenient.

THE UGLY (side of the JBA proposal) When discussion about the JBA proposal reached its peak in the media/ public eye, there was a side story that, for a moment, was pushed to the forefront. It was a story about a fight that

happened at the Walmart at Deans Bridge Road.

The fight, of course, was used as an indictment of South Augusta.

And then, a false equivalence happened: if there’s a fight in South Augusta at a Walmart, then a fight can happen at the James Brown Arena if it’s in South Augusta!

That’s more than foolish — it’s flatout stupid. A fight could happen at the JBA if it’s in downtown. A fight could happen anywhere because that’s the nature of mankind.

Thing is, these types of indictments happen because of inherent racism.

There is a stigma attached to South Augusta — that stigma features crime and poverty.

That stigma, for many folks, has a Black face. That stigma is ugly and the folks who subscribe to it have an ugly mindset.

That is just the start of the hypocrisy.

Apparently, there was a study done prior to the Mayor’s decision to move the JBA to South Augusta. The study costs $140,000, and it essentially discouraged the move to the Regency Mall property.

Wait, the city cares about studies?

I didn’t know that, because there’s a disparity study that’s been sitting on the shelf since 2009 that speaks to discrimination against businesses owned by people of color, as well as businesses owned by women. That study can be found at this address: http:// www.augustaga.gov/DocumentCenter/ View/2072 One of the findings in the study is that “minorities and women are substantially

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and significantly less likely to own their own businesses as the result of marketplace discrimination than would be expected based upon their observable characteristics, including age, education, geographic location, and industry. We find that these groups also suffer substantial and significant earnings disadvantages relative to comparable non-minority males, whether they work as employees or entrepreneurs.”

Also, there are concerns about government working behind closed doors.

Wait, we care about that now, as well?

Back when there were six white commissioners on the dais, there was a campaign that essentially destroyed city services through privatization. A lot of these meetings allegedly happened “before the meeting,” which is to say when it was time for these gentlemen to vote, their minds (and their plans) had long been made up.

In short, Augusta’s hypocrisy is ugly.

In many ways, it is America’s hypocrisy.

It is a hypocrisy that treats Black people as second-class citizens, as if we have no morals or merits.

It is this attitude that erroneously justifies the mistreatment of Black people and expands on already impossible disparities.

We must fight this attitude vigorously and with veracity. We must also understand that the truth doesn’t matter to some people. Those people need to be turned back at every opportunity, and Lord knows, we can’t allow those people to make decisions that will affect the day-to-day decisions of a city, a state, or our country.

Ken J. Makin is the founder of “Makin’ A Difference.” The podcast is available at soundcloud.com/makinadifference. He can be reached via email at makinadifferenceshow@gmail.com or via text at (803) 270-2331. Past and present columns can be viewed at VersesAndTiles.com.

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