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NAACP
FT. LAUDERDALE, FL 33310
Celebrates 110th Anniversary of Freedom Fighting
PERMIT NO. 1179
PAGE 11 VOL. 48 NO. 3 50¢
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21 - FEBRUARY 27, 2019
A M E S S A GE F ROM OU R PU BL IS H E R
There Are
64,000 Chicago Police Announce “Shift” in Investigation Regarding Jussie Smollett Case, Confusion “As a victim of a hate crime who has cooperated with the police investigation, Jussie Smollett is angered and devastated by recent reports that the perpetrators are individuals he is familiar with. He has now been further victimized by claims attributed to these alleged perpetrators that Jussie played a role in his own attack. Nothing is further from the truth and anyone claiming otherwise is lying.” Smollett stated through his attorneys. By Lauren Burke, NNPA Contributor
Missing Black Women and Girls in the United States and
No One Seems to Care
NFL Settles Collusion Case with Kaepernick By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Correspondent Colin Kaepernick’s more than two-year battle with the NFL has come to an end. The former NFL quarterback and the league have reached a financial settlement in Kaepernick’s collusion complaint against football’s owners. The settlement comes just one day after it was revealed that the former San Francisco 49er, who led the team to a Super Bowl in 2013, turned down a contract offer to play in a new developmental league.
Victoria Newswire
On the night of February 16, the Chicago Police Department announced that their investigation into the alleged hate attack on actor Jussie Smollett had “shifted.” The actor was allegedly attacked by two men in the early morning hours of January 29 in Chicago. Smollett has been a star on the FOX Television show “Empire.” Continue reading online at:
thewestsidegazette.com
Nationwide — Over the years, a disturbingly disproportionate number of Black women and girls across the United States have gone missing. What’s even more alarming is that the media coverage and legislation that missing Black girls are getting seems to be lacking compared to missing white girls. A 2010 study about the media coverage of missing children in the United States discovered that only 20 percent of reported stories focused on missing Black children despite it corresponding to 33 percent of the overall missing (Cont’d on page 2) children cases. Conclusively, the report said that missing
(Cont’d on page 10)
Photo: CBS News / YouTube
Dr. Brenda Snipes: A History of Excellence Part 3 of 4
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;” (2 Corinthians 4:17) By Rasheed B’aithe and Bobby R. Henry, Sr. With all of these intricate parts, which includes counting the votes and matching the signature among others, how is the public sufficiently educated
on this? “When people come to our community forums, we give them opportunities to hear about or to see what we do with the ballots. A ballot comes in for example “Citizen A”. Ok we see and take his ballot. One might think that we put them over there. NO, you have to go through the system to determine that Citizen A is a registered voter. It’s not that easy; you have to go to the system to determine eligibility, you got to crop that signature by going to another
Doctors, Lawyers with Monetary Motives Cause Painful Decisions in Women’s Health Care By Glenn Ellis Women, especially women of color and poor women, tend to suffer disproportionately in our healthcare system. The problem is growing worse now that there’s a group of trial lawyers eager to exploit female victims, under the guise of offering help. Take for instance that roughly one-quarter of U.S. women suffer from pelvic floor disorders, and according to the Washington Post, about 3-4 million of them have been
treated with transvaginal mesh. The vast majority of these women receive repairs using transvaginal mesh without complications, but a significant minority experienced serious problems. After the publicity surrounding this issue hit the fan, the lawyers pounced. It has come to light that a collaboration involving some law firms, doctors, and finance companies are pressuring
(Cont’d on page 11)
“THE POWER OF LOVE”
Firing Superintendent Runcie won’t solve the gun violence/mental health crisis in America By Bobby R. Henry, Sr. When is it necessary to reopen old wounds and revisit things that have been destructive and are causing a malignant divide in our communities? Langston Hughes asked a pivotal question in one of his most brilliant poems: What happens to a dream deferred? I do believe that the last question in this poem surmises what to expect when all the other interrogations are fully examined. I do believe that for us to move forward in determining a course of action that is needed for an honest dialogue concerning the questionable treatment of our Black school superintendent and board representative, we need to go back and scrutinize that which was not presented equally. To try and overshadow the death of anybody with political upheaval is adversarial to grieving family members. A country ran by a lunatic and a society disenfranchised by government and school (Cont’d on back page)
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Thursday Feb. 21st
Partly Cloudy
Sunrise: 6:51am
Sunset: 6:17pm
Mr. & Mrs. Malcolm and Emma Black celebrate 60 years of marrital bliss
Fri
Sat
Sun
Mon
Tues
(Cont’d on page 9)
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thewestsidegazette.com
The Westside Gazette Newspaper
innovative system that checks his signature on file to determine if it matches. There is another system that has to open the envelopes, another innovative piece of equipment which we use to cut open the envelope. You can’t use a hand paper cutter to open up 299,000 envelopes - no, no, no, no, that’s not logical. So we open up the envelope, put the ballot over here so you can’t see that this is Citizen A’s ballot, then it goes back to the
No matter the number of wrongs won’t make it right!
@_WestsideGazett
TheWestsideGazetteNewspaper
WESTSIDE GAZETTE IS A MEMBER: National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Southeastern African-American Publishers Association (SAAPA) Florida Association of Black Owned Media (FABOM)
Deeply Rooted
PAGE 2 • FEBRUARY 21 - FEBRUARY 27, 2019
Growing the Voices of
Our Future
African History Fair
www.thewestsidegazette.com In a joint effort to get students involved with the Children Services Council’s 2019 Broward AWARE! Protecting OUR Children campaign: Growing the Voices of Our Future, the Westside Gazette will engage youth in a photovoice (photojournalism) project. The youth will tell their stories through the written word and through the lens of cameras they will operate as photojournalists focusing on but not limited to the Broward AWARE campaign.
Brielle Henry, 9
Village Life FL is hosting an African History fair at the Lauderhill Mall. Students from kindergarten to high school created projects on different African topics. My sister and I each did one. She won 1st place in the elementary school category! I hope more people will come see our work and learn something new about African culture. Projects will be up until February 28.
Looking into the Future and Back into the Past
National Museum of African American History
Cosey Proctor, II- 14
Layla Davidson, 12 When I went to Washington D.C. I went to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. I learned about my culture and the many challenges we have faced over the years. The NMAAHC is a place where all Americans can learn about the richness and diversity of the African American experience.
People, especially our youth, need to know how to move forward, but they also need to learn what their past was like, too. Two community groups provided a much-needed lesson to young mentees about college as well as knowing their Black History. The youth learned about test scores for college scholarships and the amount a degree. They also were taught about mainstream African American history versus some of the pieces often omitted. The history of African Americans is much more Continue reading online at: thewestsidegazette.com
LOCAL
Carmen Miller purchases McKinley Financial Services, Inc. FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – McKinley Financial Services, Inc., (www.mckinleyinsurance. com) one of Florida’s oldest minority-owned fullservice insurance agencies, has been sold, the company announced today. Carmen Miller, an 18year veteran of the company which does business as McKinley Insurance Services, has purchased the business and now assumes the position of chief executive officer. Miller had been the chief operating officer of McKinley for the past five years. Purchase price and other terms of the sale were not made public. Founded in Fort Lauderdale, Florida by the late college football star and coach Jim McKinley in 1987, McKinley Insurance Services offers a full range of products including commercial lines insurance, employee group benefits, home, personal, risk
management, and student and sports insurances. Jim McKinley hired Miller as an account manager in 2001. She rose to become vice president of client services before his death in 2012. “I had worked with Jim in the past as the carrier rep managing his group health business,” said Miller. “His goal was to grow one of the nation’s largest African American owned insurance firms and his foundation was integrity, quality and uncompromised customer service. He made me an offer and we were in sync from the beginning,” Miller reflected. Miller says her goal is to continue to add value for her corporate, governmental, small business and personal clients by forging diverse partnerships that allow McKinley to offer the broadest possible array of insurance products.
“We all have dreams. In order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline and effort.” - Jesse Owens, WORLD RECORD-SETTING OLYMPIC ATHLETE
This is my dad, David A. Williams, and I would like to say today is his birthday (February 17, 2019). So
Leja Williams, 14
Happy Birthday to the BEST dad in the world! Now I would just like to say a few words. Dad, I feel pretty lucky because every day, no matter what, I have one of the best dad’s in my life, and I would like to say Thanks Dad. You mean so much to me. Happy Birthday!
64,000 Black Women and Girls Missing from Front Page Black youth — especially Black girls — are underreported in the news and it seems that many people don’t even care. According to reports, when Black girls go missing, it’s often unclear whether they have run away from home, were inflicted violence, abducted, sent into the sex industry, among others. Basically, their safety and assurance to be brought back home was commonly ignored and not an utmost concern. As of 2014, about 64,000 Black women and girls were missing across the U.S. However, most of those do not receive enough media attention and public support to be found. In efforts to address the problem of missing Black children nationwide, Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Robin Kelly, and Yvette D. Clarke initiated the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls in 2016. Through the caucus, they hope to create public policies that “eliminate significant barriers and disparities experienced by Black women. Members of the caucus believe that more federal assistance and collaboration is needed to further eliminate the problem. “I feel like knocking on every attic, every garage to see where those girls are,” House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said. “Let’s be an example to the world that we can’t rest until these girls are found.” Meanwhile, the Black community and organizations utilize social media networks to bring back missing Black girls. Using the hashtag #BlackGirlsMissing, many young women have returned home safely despite the usually limited support from police and minimal reporting from media. Black and Missing But Not Forgotten is a great non-profit organization focused on spotlighting and finding missing African Americans. For more details, visit www.blackandmissing.org
www.thewestsidegazette.com
Deeply Rooted
Fort Lauderdale High School Band among top young musicians to compete in the 24th Annual Essentially
Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – Jazz at Lincoln Center today announced that Dillard Center for the Arts (DCA) is among 15 finalists who will compete in the 24th Annual Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival – the nation’s premier jazz education event – in New York City this May 9-11, 2019. The competition unites students from coast to coast, from diverse backgrounds to find harmony together while playing some of the most complex music ever written. Dillard Center for the Arts was selected from a competitive pool of 112 jazz (Sacramento, CA) bands across the country after submitting • Roosevelt High School (Seattle, WA) recordings of three tunes performed from the • San Diego School of Creative and Jazz at Lincoln Center library. On May 9-11, Performing Arts (San Diego, CA) 2019, DCA Jazz Ensemble will join talented • Sun Prairie High School (Sun Prairie, young music students from all walks of life WI) to attend workshops and jam sessions. The • Tarpon Springs High School (Tarpon weekend concludes with a concert and awards Springs, FL) ceremony featuring the top three bands • Philharmonic Association (Raleigh, alongside the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra NC) with Wynton Marsalis. • William H. Hall High School (West “Essentially Ellington shows off America’s Hartford, CT) young people at their best. High school students In addition to the top 15 high school jazz from across this nation have worked tirelessly bands, Jazz at Lincoln Center announced the on the highest quality of our orchestral music. winner of the 2019 Essentially Ellington Dr. They’ve met the challenge of mastering vocal J. Douglas White Student Composition and effects on horns, of improvising fresh, new Arranging Contest. This year, the prestigious individual ideas, and of swinging, which honor goes to Miles Lennox, Dillard Center means embracing and nurturing the common for the Arts (Fort Lauderdale, FL), an ground,” said Wynton Marsalis, Managing alumnus of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Summer and Artistic Director, Jazz at Lincoln Jazz Academy program and the Essentially Center. “In these divisive times, it’s important Ellington Competition and Festival where he to teach and celebrate our most scared values: won Outstanding Soloist for piano. Miles will freedom of speech, empathetic listening, and have his composition recorded by the Jazz at constructive engagement with others. These Lincoln Center Orchestra, as well as receive kids have a lot to teach us. I’m looking forward a $1,000 cash prize, a composition lesson with to hearing them play, and to being instructed Ted Nash, GRAMMY award winning musician and inspired by them.” and longtime member of the Jazz at Lincoln Marsalis continues, “Duke Elllington Center, and a trip to New York City to observe envisioned the unlimited creative possibilities the recording session and the Essentially afforded to all of us by our way of life. This Ellington Competition & Festival. musician shared that vision and made it real. The annual Competition & Festival marks This is the banner under which we fight. It the culmination of the annual Essentially more enlightened and engaged America.” Ellington High School Jazz Band Program, Arts education has been a pillar of Jazz which includes non-regional festivals around at Lincoln Center since it was founded over the country, free transcriptions of original thirty years ago, with the Essentially Ellington Duke Ellington recordings, additional teaching competition serving as a programming resources, free adjudication and more. More cornerstone for 24. than 5,300 high school bands across the The full list of 2019 Essentially Ellington country participate in the program. High School Jazz Band Finalists includes: Festival events, including the final concert • Beloit Memorial High School (Beloit, featuring the three top-placing bands and WI) the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, will be • Denver School of the Arts (Denver, CO) webcast live on jazz.org/live. • Dillard Center for the Arts (Fort For more information including background, Lauderdale, FL) history, photos, and audio recordings of the • Foxboro High School (Foxborough, MA) Essentially Ellington repertoire, and more, • Garfield High School (Seattle, WA) visit: jazz.org/ee • Middleton High School (Middleton, WI) The Essentially Ellington Competition & • Mount Si High School (Snoqualmie, Festival is media-accessible via Jazz at Lincoln WA) Center social media on Facebook, Twitter @ • Newark Academy (Livingston, NJ) EssEllington, Instagram @jazzdotorg, and • Rio Americano High School Tumblr.
FEBRUARY 21 - FEBRUARY 27, 2019 • PAGE 3
If You Don’t Play, You Can’t Win. If You Play, We All Win.
By Commissioner Barbara Sharief
Winners, winners everywhere. You’re invited to play too, because we need everyone to know that Conservation Pays. Between now and April 30, you can Play Conservation Pays and win cash and prizes. Better still, when you show what you know about conservation, climate change and sustainability, you’ll earn points to win the big cash prizes. Tetra Tech is sponsoring our winners with first place earning $5000 in cash. Second place is $1000 and third place $500. They also have hundreds of prizes that will be awarded randomly throughout the game. It’s fun to play but there’s a bigger point here. When we work together to conserve water and energy, to protect water and air quality, we make a big difference. Small changes matter. In fact, the Broward Water Partnership—which is Broward County and 17 municipalities—supports those changes with $100 WaterSense® high efficiency toilet rebates. Some areas even offer free aerators and showerheads to conserve water. These small changes have already saved over 2 billion gallons of water throughout Broward County. It’s easy to apply for a rebate, too. You can do it online or print out an application and send it. Just make sure you follow the instructions. Working together, playing together, together we get more done. We want you to play Conservation Pays to win cash and prizes. We also want you to play Conservation Pays, because you’ll find all the things you can do to save money while protecting environmental resources. When we do that together, we can say we have done our part and we all win.
Here’s a code word to get you started: WestsideWins19
IT S FUN TO WIN '
IT S MORE FUN TO WIN BIG. '
FPL Showcases Brand-New Solar Power Plant Florida Memorial University’s Ambassador Chorale joined in the celebration
Fi t Place First Pl $5000 Second Place $1000 Third Place $500 More than 200 prizes will be awarded Use Code Word: WESTSIDEWINS19
(Black PR Wire) MIAMI, FL -- On Tuesday, Feb. 12, Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) hosted a celebration of the new FPL MiamiDade Solar Energy Center, the largest solar power installation ever to be built in South Florida. Members of the community joined Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez and FPL CEO Eric Silagy for the historic occasion. Inspired by the solar center’s location in Miami-Dade County’s farming community, the event will feature a farmer’s market with local vendors. Community partners, including Audubon Florida, Florida International University, and students from several schools. The event also featured a series of soul-
stirring performances including “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” and “Oh Happy Day,” from the Florida Memorial University Ambassador Chorale. FMU is south Florida’s only Histirically Black College and University (HBCU). The project is part of a multi-year collaboration between FPL and Miami-Dade County to advance innovative energy projects that will help improve the resilience of the community. The event took place at the FPL MiamiDade Solar Energy Center, located at 18355 SW 136th St. (off of the intersection of Krome and SW 136th St.) in Miami, FL.
ConservationPays.com 800.270.9794
PAGE 4 • FEBRUARY 21 - FEBRUARY 27, 2019
EVENTS
The Westside Gazette Celebration Black History Celebration The Lake Park Harbor Marina will host its monthly Sunset Celebration, Friday, Feb. 22 at 6 p.m., at Lake Park Harbor Marina, 105 Lake Shore Dr., Lake Park, Fla. For more info call (954) 840-0160.
Fair M-DCPS Food & Nutrition/ Vendor Fair, Friday, Feb. 22 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Dept of Food & Nutrition, 7042 W. Flagler St., Miami, Fla. To RSVP for this event call (305) 995-3131 or email: Proevents@dadeschools.net
Event
You Are Invited
The Miami-Dade Alliance of Gospel Music Professionals is proud to announce its Second Annual Black History Gospel Music Brunch & Award, Saturday, Feb. 23, at 9 a.m., at Bethel Apostolic Temple, 1855 N.W. 119 St., in Miami, Fla. For more info and tickets call (786) 832-2362 or send an email to miamidadealliance@ gmail.com for vendor, showcasing & sponsorship opportunities available.
Festival
Dillard High Class of 1967
ATTIRE: Fancy Hats and Bow Ties Ladies - Hats, Men - Ties WHERE: Hughes 4351 N.E. 12 Terrace Oakland Park, FL 33334 TIME: 6:00PM - 10:00PM WHEN: Saturday, March 2, 2019 WHAT: Dinner/Dance DONATION: $65.00
“Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations.”
– Dr. Mae Jemison, first African-American female astronaut
Join County Commissioner Barbara Jordan and City of Miami Gardens Oliver Gilbert at the Sixth Annual Black Heritage Festival, Saturday, Feb. 23 from 12 noon to 4 p.m., at Miami Carol City Park, 3201 N.W. 185 St., Miami Gardens, Fla. For more info call (305) 474-3011.
Forum Broward County Leaders WILL speak at League of Women Voter’s Forum on the Status of Gun Law one year after Parkland shooting, Saturday, Feb. 23 from noon to 2:30 p.m., at Dave and Buster’s, 3000 Oakwood Blvd., Hollywood, Fla. Reservations are required in advance at https://www.eventbrite.
com/e/gun-laws-parkland-one-year-later-tickets- 54996020578
Deeply Rooted LOCAL HAPPENINGS IN BROWARD - MIAMI-DADE AND PALM BEACH COUNITIES Events Broward County Library eNews -New Peter and the Starcatchers Library Card - the colorful new cards are available at all 38 Broward County Library locations. - Having a ruff time with Taxes? We can help get free help from tax prep specialists at your library. They’ll be on hand at participating Broward County Library location to assist you. -10th Annual ANF Group Tour De Broward to Benefit Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, Sunday, Feb. 24 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Miramar Regional Park, 16801 Miramar Pkwy. Visit Tour De Broward details. -March/April Title - The Rooster Bar by John Grisham, dates: Tuesday, March 5 at 1 p.m., at North Regional/ Broward College Library Tuesday, March 26 at 10:30 a.m., at Riverland Library. Tell Your Story. It’s Your Write! - Free Literary Expo, Saturday, March 9 from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., at North Regional/ Broward College Library MERGE Goggle Headsets now aviliable for check out at Broward County Libarys Friday Night at the Library - Moonlight Tales - Adult song and story cabaret, Friday, Feb. 22 from 7 to 9 p.m., at the Main Libary, free admission.
Stage Play “Love It Or Leave It” You & Me presents a red carpet stage production, Friday, March 1 doors open at 7:30 p.m., show time at 8 p.m., at Hollywood Jaycees, 2930 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, Fla. For tickets info call (954) 5402369 email: edgeofseatproduction56@gmail.com
Breakfast
The 6th Annual Lauderhill Regional Chamber of Commerce Women of Distinction Awards Breakfast, Friday, March 8 at 7:30 a.m., at the BB&T Center, 1 Panther Pkwy, Sunrise, Fla.
Program
Broward Black Elected Officials presents Honoring Our Past Forging Our Future, Monday, Feb. 25, from 5:30 to 9 p.m., at the Urban League of Broward County, 560 N.W. 27 Ave., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Events Honoring Black History Month at Broward County Library: • Tuesday, Feb. 26 – The Road to Brown vs Board of Education and Desegregation in America from 3 to 4 p.m., at the Southwest Regional Library, 16835 Sheridan St., Pembroke Pines, Fla. For more info call (954) 357-6580. Book Clubs, Discussion + Lectures • Wednesday, Feb. 20 – Art Discussion: At Kehinde Wile from 2 to 3 p.m., at Deerfield Beach Percy White Library, 837 E. Hillsboro Blvd., Deerfield Beach, Fla. For more info call (954) 357-7680 • Wednesday, Feb. 20 – Odyssey Sci-Fi Book Club: Children of Blood and Bone by Toni Adeyemi from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., at South Regional/Broward College Library, 7300 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines, Fla. For more info call (954) 201-8825 Just for Children and Teens – Black History Month Storytimes, Crafts and more • Wednesday, Feb. 20 – Cool Kidz Book Club, grades 3-5, from 4 to 5:30 p.m., at Young at Art Museum/Broward County Library, 751 S.W. 121 Ave., Davie, Fla. For more info call (954) 357-5437 • Wednesday, Feb. 20 – PajamaRama Storytime: The Power of Music, jammies welcome, all ages, from 7 to 7:30 p.m., at Southwest Regional Library, 16835 Sheridan St., Pembroke Pines, Fla. For more info call (954) 357-6580 • Thursday, Feb. 21 – Toddler Storytime: Celebrate jazz, ages 1-3 from 10:30 to 11 a.m. and 11:15 to 11:45 a.m., at Southwest Regional Library, 16835 Sheridan St., Pembroke Pines, Fla. For more info call (954) 765-1560 • Thursday, Feb. 21 – Storytime and Craft ages 3-5 caregivers can enter during craft, from 11 to noon, at West Regional Library, 8601 W. Broward Blvd., Plantation, Fla. For more info call (954) 7651560 • Tuesday, Feb. 26 – Storytime, from 10:30 to 11 a.m., at Lauderhill Central Park Library, 3810 N.W. 11 Pl., Lauderhill, Fla. For more info call (954) 357-7833 • Tuesday, Feb. 26 – Toddler Storytime, from 11 to noon at Carver Ranches Library, 4735 S.W. 18 St., West Park, Fla. For more info call (945) 357-6245 • Tuesday, Feb. 26 – Twilight Tales from Africa, all ages from 7 to 8 p.m., at South Regional/Broward College Library, 7300 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines, Fla. For more info call (954) 201-8825 • Wednesday, Feb. 27 Crafternoons: from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., at Carver Ranches Library, 4735 S.W. 18 St., W. Park, Fl. For more info call (954 357-6245 • Thursday, Feb. 28 from 4 to 5:30 p.m., at Main Library, 100 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. For more info call (954) 357-7444.
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Happening at the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center AARLCC, 2650 Historic Sistrunk Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. -AARLCC Movie Matinee Black History Month: Black Hollywood: * Queen of Katwe, Friday, Feb. 23 at 2 p.m. * Alex Haley’s Roots, Part 6, Tuesday, Feb. 26 from 4 to 5:30 p.m., Rated R (ages 18 and up.) - Sankofa, Saturday, Feb. 23 at 2 p.m. Youth Programs - Black History Multi-Media Trivia Contest (age 10 and up), Thursday, Feb. 21 from 4 to 5 p.m. For more info call (954) 357-6209 - Soul on Ice: Black Hockey Players in the NHL, Friday, Feb. 22 from 3 to 5:45 p.m. For more info call (954) 357-6224. - Free Wellness Workshop for Seniors/Caregivers through May 2019 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more info call (954) 357-6282. - African Diaspora and Indigenous Burial Sites, Saturday, Feb. 26 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.(Computer Classes: * Wednesday, Feb. 20 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. - Genealogy: Holistic Genealogy *Saturday, Feb. 23, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. - Resumes and Cover Letters * Wednesday, Feb. 27 from 6:30 to 7:3 p.m. - Typing 2 Basic Computer Skills. Due to limited seating, pre-regsiter for the free OASIS sponsored Computer classes six days prior to each scheduled class at (954) 357-6227. - Thursday, March 7, 14, 21, 28; Thursday, April 4, 11, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Destination Friday; Seminole Indians, Friday, March 8 from 7 to 9 p.m., Adults 21+ only. For tickets info Fridays. Broward.org - AARLCC’s Social Dance Club, Monday thru Thursday, from 1:30 to 3 p.m.
What’s Happening in Dania Beach - 4th Annual Dania Beach Lions Moonlight Car Show, Saturday, Feb. 23 from 6 to 10 p.m., at Frost Park, 300 N.E. Second Ave., Dania Beach, Fla. - At Home Dania Beach First-Time Homebuyer Courses Meeting Dates: * Monday, Feb. 25 from 6 to 8 p.m. * Thursday, Feb. 26 from 6 to 8 p.m. * Saturday, March 2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For additional info call (954) 924-6801 Register at https://www. ApprovedByHUD.org/ upcoming-events - Career Opportunities Now hiring. How to apply for a position: The City Dania Beach encourages online application.daniabeach.fl.gov/ jobs
Lauderhill Living Events - Saturday, Feb. 23 – 2019 Lauderhill Taste Tour, from 12 to 4 p.m. For more info call (954) 714-3128 or visit www. lauderhill.fl.gov
Miramar Today Events • Business Inclusion Diversity Program, Thursday, Feb. 21 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at Miramar Cultural Center Banquet Hall, 2400 Civic Center Pl., Miramar, Fla. • The City of Miramar presents Game Night Party & Play on the Plaza, Friday, March 15 from 7 to 11 p.m., at Miramar Town Center Plaza, 2300 Civic Center Pl., Miramar, Fla. For more info call (954) 602-3178 • The City of Miramar presents Puppy Palooza, a free event, Saturday, Feb. 23 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Miramar Town Center, 2300 Civic Center Pl., Miramar, Fla. For more info call (954) 602-3178. •Join the Southcentral/ Southeast Focal Point & The City of Miramar for our Second Annual Senior 1K Walk to Wellness, Thursday, Feb. 28 at 10 a.m., at Miramar Regional Park, 16801 Miramar Pkwy. •Free NCLEX review by Commissioner Riggs, Saturday, Mar. 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at City Hall, 2300 Civic Center Place, Miramar, Fla. • Kids Zone Health Screenings - early bird registration, Saturday, March 2 from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Miramar Town Center, 2300 Civic Center Pl., Miramar, Fla. For more info call (954) 602-3198 or email: elaroche@miramarfl.gov • Attention Miramar Residents – are you a furloughed federal employee? We’re Here to Help! For more info call (954) 602-HELP (4357). • It’s a Grand Slam for Miramar residents! City of Miramar residents night, Wednesday, Mar. 20, Sunday, Mar. 24. For more info call (954) 602-4357 • Register Now! City of Miramar Spring Camp, from 7a.m. to 6 p.m., at: Vernon E. Hargray Youth Enrichment Center, 7000 Miramar Pkwy. (954) 602-4780 - Regional Park Aquatics Complex, 16801 MiramarPkwy. (954) 883-6955 - Vizcaya Park, 14200 S.W. 55 St. (954) 8836800 - Ansin Sports Complex, 10801 Miramar Blvd. (954) 602-4990 - Sunset Lakes Community Center, 2801 S.W. 186 Ave. (954) 602-3340. • Miramar Women’s Empowerment Luncheon, Friday, Mar. 22, at Miramar Cultural Center, 2400 Center Pl., Miramar, Fla. •The City of Miramar is Hiring, check out Miramar’s recruitment website to view opening and to complete an application online. “If everything was perfect, you would never learn and you would never grow.”
– Beyonce Knowles
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Deeply Rooted
FEBRUARY 21 - FEBRUARY 27, 2019 • PAGE 5
COMMENTARY
Black Boys Need Rites of Passage Programs in 2019 Across the Country By Roger Caldwell
The only way Black boys will learn to be Black men is that they must be taught by Black men. (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA)
2019 is important to African American Men because the opportunities are boundless and amazing. If you can conceive it, you can achieve it. The only barriers holding Black men back are preparation, knowledge and education. The challenge for Black men is Black manhood. There are many different definitions of manhood, but to be Black and a man is a unique and special position in the United States and the world. Black men come in different sizes and shapes, with individual skillsets, mindsets,
For the Love of It
My name is Delvin C. Rogers, native of Miami, Fl and current employee of Broward County Public Schools. I was hired at Dillard sixth-12 in Oct. 2017 as a Community Liaison. My job on a continuing basis is to work with the Principals, District Administrators, Assistant Principals, School Psychologists, Guidance Counselors, School Social Workers and classroom teachers in providing support services to parents and students to reinforce academic success. I’m also the Co-program coordinator for the Mile Marker Academy which consists of seventh grade males. The program was initially the brain-child of Principal Robinson. Mile Marker Academy has since made its way around the district, Piper H.S., Boyd Anderson H.S., Lauderhill sixth-12 and Plantation H.S. Mile Marker Academy provides students with rigorous academics, small group instruction, community resources, guidance and support systems, parental involvement opportunities, leadership responsibilities along with social and cultural benefits and support. My goal for the seventhgrade students that I work with is for them to EXCEL. My passion for wanting to work with young Black males began many years ago as a Tutor, Substitute Teacher, Case Manager, Detention Screening Unit Supervisor, Mentor and Community Liaison. Despite the educational field being one of the lowest paid professions, I never shied away from what I’d like to think is, “my calling”. Although I’m not a certified teacher, I’d like to think that I’m certified in knowledge and experience which is what I try and give to every student. Some of the students live in poverty stricken, low income
neighborhoods which they closely identify with. I try to incorporate important key facts that the “hood” won’t teach them. Such things as having high expectations and setting goals for themselves. I’ve been looked at as setting the bar too high because they are seventh grade males, but the master class of becoming a respectable young Black male starts now. The stigma from a statistical standpoint is that Black males are athletically built with no brains, killers, drug dealers, thieves and hustlers. I try to teach success and achievement in every field of human endeavor. Rightfully so, they may not have an idea of their career goals, but it is ok to be a Dreamer. Learn to love key points of life and display positive behavior, responsibility, empathy and selfcontrol. Respect is a major key point along with growth. Growth opens doors, adds value and gains respect. Good character, accountability, self-control, and leadership all convey a sense of admiration. I always stress the point of learning to identify those who are positive and have a willingness to build academic and social progress. Most times I find myself daydreaming/brainstorming on best effective practices on how to motivate these young men. Most times I fail, other times I may have two-three listeners. Over the years I’ve learned that, you won’t reach everybody, but for those that do listen, they will always remember your stern yet encouraging words and for that I am not a failure; in fact I’ve succeeded., Lastly, I tell the young men daily to treat their education like American Express: never leave home without it. Don’t settle for being average; maximize your potential.
ideas, thoughts, visions, and beliefs. Our diversity is our gift to the globe — and we will be first, not last. The power and fear of the Black man will no longer be curtailed or controlled by racism. Racial bias is being fought in the courts, businesses, sports and entertainment in America and around the world. When Black men start loving each other and working together, communities will change and they will take leadership roles in families, America and the world. There are Black role models in the communities,
and the Black media has a responsibility to tell positive and powerful stories of Black men and women who are making a positive difference every day. The emphasis for Black men is to bring attention on the necessity for mentors, to help Black boys narrow the achievement gap in the country. The fundamental problem for Black boys raised in America is that 70% of Black families are run by a single parent: a woman. African Americans make up about 35% of all children raised in the bottom 1% of the income level and distribution. From
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Deeply Rooted
PAGE 6 • FEBRUARY 21 - FEBRUARY 27, 2019
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The Westside Gazette, under the Management of BI-AD’s, Inc., reserves the right to publish Views and Opinions by Contributing Writers thay may not necessarily reflect those of the Staff and Management of The Westside Gazette Newspaper and are solely the product of the responsible individual(s) who submit comments published in this newspaper.
Trap Politics By Lucius Gantt It’s 2019 and more than a few citizens have announced plans to compete for a Presidential victory in the 2020 elections. And, as always, African Americans will be running …… for their lives! When considering who the viable candidates are or who will be a candidate, every group of citizens in the United States, except for Black people, have no problem taking their time to consider the candidates and the most important issues facing Americans. So called Negro leaders can’t wait to endorse somebody, contribute to somebody or volunteer to work on someone’s political campaign. The hand-picked political boot lickers waste no time in their efforts to tell you which
politicians you should love and which candidates seeking to replace President Donald Trump that you should hate. Most, if not all, Democratic candidates for President will venture into the trap before election day. They may visit trap churches, trap businesses and some may canvass trap neighborhoods and knock on the doors of trap houses! To make a long column short, a “trap” is any impoverished neighborhood. It can be a ghetto, a barrio or any community where there limited or no access to capital, where there are more liquor stores than grocery stores and where there are more drug dealers than pharmacies! These are the neighborhoods
where residents of those neighborhoods oftentimes feel trapped. In a poor neighborhood, more than likely, the young people attend poor schools. If you go to a poor school, chances are your school has poor facilities and possibly poor teachers, if you have poor, or bad, teachers you will usually get a poor education and if you have a poor education you could get a poor job that will only pay you enough money to afford to live in the same poor neighborhood that you grew up in or one that is just as poor! So, why do many Democratic politicians slip into and out of the trap? They go to the trap because the trap is headquarters for the trap block vote! Historically, Black voters vote 90% for candidates of one political party or the other. Recently, Blacks in traps have been voting for Democrats but not too long ago Blacks voted for Republicans, like President Eisenhower. Anyway, all Democratic candidates that announce
their intent to run for President will have to face an Uncle Tom or Aunt Jemima litmus test. Dream Defenders, Black Lives Matter, Hip Hop radio interviewers and others are quick to ask candidates what they will do for Blacks. They ask the candidates what is your “Black Agenda”? They never ask candidates for President running in a capitalist society about reparations, they never ask what Blacks will the candidates hire or contract to work on their campaigns and the new age Black leaders never ask how much government money will be spent with Black nations around the world compared to the amount of US dollars spent with Israel or Saudi Arabia. No. The people that you think are so progressive, so informed, so conscious and so intellectual ask candidates to commit to things that no other ethnic group will inquire about. The leaders that network news channels say are Black leaders, ask about “holidays’,
Trump Keeps Government open but continues to run a scam Roger Caldwell Many Americans think President Donald Trump is not competent enough to be one of the most powerful men on the planet, but he is. Many think he is a double agent with the Russians, but they cannot prove it. Others think he has mental health issues, but he is still their boss and the leader of the free world. President Trump is the Teflon king, and everyone expects a lie when he speaks, and he does not care what anyone thinks or says. He lives in an alternative reality with his base, and facts and data are not relevant or important. On Friday, 2-16-2019, the president signed a bi-partisan bill to keep the government open, but he also declared a national emergency on the border with Mexico. “We’re going to confront the national security crisis on our southern border, and we’re going to do it one way or the other. It’s an invasion. We have an invasion of drugs and criminals coming into our country,” says the president in a televised statement in the Rose Garden. “Look, I expect to be sued,” he said, launching into a mocking riff about how he anticipated lower court rulings against him would pan out. “And we’ll win in the Supreme Court.” As the Democrats sound the alarm, and condemn the president for his decisions, President Trump is in Florida playing golf. The Trump reality is in real time, and the only response to his insanity is to resist, push-back and fight. This is a
Letter to Editor THE U.S. CONSTITUTION WILL TRUMP TRUMP’S MONEY GRABBING EXECUTIVE ORDER.
By James J. Hankins
Our three branches of
Uncle Tom’s Cabin Revisited By Kevin Palmer Black History month is the perfect time to revisit the term Uncle Tom. According to Dr. Claud Anderson in his book, A Black History Reader, it was not until the 1940s when the name Uncle Tom became a derogatory name describing a fawning, submissive, and compromising Black person. The name was taken from Harriett Beecher Stowe’s renowned pre-civil war novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which was based on Josiah Henson’s autobiography. Henson was a slave and real life model for the character Uncle Tom in the novel. The other notable character was Sambo. Uncle Tom was a slave and principled man who expressed his willingness to
die before inflicting harm on his own people. He even refused to beat Black women who did not pick their quota of cotton. In contrast, Sambo was a Black slave driver who would do anything to gain the White slaveholder’s love and acceptance. Sambo volunteered to beat Tom every night hoping Tom would divulge the runaway slave’s hiding places. Tom would not give in, so Sambo finally beat Uncle Tom to death. Sambo was the scoundrel and Uncle Tom was the hero. Moreover, the term Sambo is gender neutral and can be used to describe a Black female school superintendent who unjustly terminates a Black employee, or a Black male commissioner who unjustly terminates a city Black employee, or a Black female District Attorney who prosecutes more Blacks than Whites who commit the same crimes. Hence, there are many Samboes, but few Uncle Toms.
make believe emergency, another Trump scam or con game, and there appears to be a big legal battle brewing. Trump does not really believe there is national emergency at the border, but his base needs red meat to be engaged in the political system. They are organized, motivated, and they have a leader who is protecting their guns and ideology. For America to be great again, White people must be in charge again. If there was a national emergency, the main stream media would be writing articles about the impending dangers and the armed forces would be put on red alert. Instead, after Trump declared a national emergency, there were no strategic meetings, barely anything has been discussed about the border, and President Trump is taking a short vacation in Florida. Our president’s technique is to spin fiction into fact, even though illegal crossings have plummeted last year to around 400,000, from 1.6 million in 2000. “The number of illegal immigrants in the United States has been falling for more than a decade and two-thirds of those who remain have been here for more than a decade. An estimated 10.7 million unauthorized migrants were in the country in 2016, and there were 1.5 million fewer than in 2007,” according to the Pew Research Center. Among unauthorized migrants in fiscal 2017, about twice as many entered the United States legally, and overstayed their visa. Based on the numbers and data, there appears to be no national
government -Legislative, Judicial and Executive -have equal power so one can check on the other. The U.S. House and Senate will vote on his emergency executive order to build his wall. They will be forced to show us their true colors in front of the C-SPAN cameras by voting yes or no. TRUMP is planning to 1st take money from our military budget. My fellow veterans, some wounded and homeless will watch four billion dollars leave our account and be spent on a 30-foot wall. My fellow teachers will also see money flow from our classrooms, lunch program and well over-due pay raises. My fellow senior citizens will feel the pain of smaller social security checks as TRUMP fights to put us on 1,666 calories a day diet while doing nothing to lower the cost of health care. He is fighting hard to keep his promise to build the wall and forgetting his promises to lower drug costs, cut taxes on the middle class, rebuild our roads, bridges and make us GREAT again. Our country has gone from honest ABE to lying TRUMP. Would you buy a used car from TRUMP???
emergency, but things could get tricky, and maybe the president and his legal team could win in the lower courts. There would be certain statutes that the president could use from Pentagon finances to build the wall. The president could use resources from the Department of the Army’s civil works program, utilizing the secretary of Defense to undertake military construction projects. This national emergency could also get tied up in court for 2 years, and the next president could decide to cancel this executive order. Many Democrats believe this national emergency is a political scam and con game, but they must resist and sue the president in the courts. The national emergency is all about the “Benjamins” and President Trump’s team will be searching under rocks and using pentagon money to build his wall. It appears that the bipartisan language used in the State of the Union Address is no longer applicable, after one week, between the President, the Democrats, and the Republicans.
Why Protest Trump When We Can Impeach Him? By Matthew Johnson While I commend efforts to turn Presidents’ Day into a display of outrage over the non-emergency declaration rather than a celebration of non-existent presidential grandeur, I would much rather impeach Trump than protest him. I was on the fence on the merits of pushing impeachment before the longawaited arrival of the Mueller report, but the cogent essay published in The Atlantic thoroughly convinced me that beginning the impeachment process immediately is the way to go. I don’t see the utility in waiting if there is no guarantee the public will ever see Mueller’s findings—thus averting further outrage that could force the hand of Senate Republicans. Moreover, the argument that the Democrats shouldn’t try Continue reading online at: www.thewestsidegazette.com
Nuclear Power Can’t Survive, Much Less Slow Climate Disruption By John LaForge Donald Trump: “America will never be a socialist country.” Too late. We already have socialism for the rich, with the nuclear power industry as a prime example. On a level playing field, nuclear power would go bust. Those owners get financial supports or subsidies that safe renewables like solar power, geothermal, and wind power don’t get. Two particularly large government handouts keep the reactor business afloat, and without them it would crash overnight. 1) In a free market, the US Price Anderson Act would be repealed. The act provides limited liability insurance to reactor Continue reading online at: www.thewestsidegazette.com
“street names”, “building names” HCBUs, concerts on the White House lawn and ribbons, badges and other trinkets for Blacks that marched, fought and died to help devils get rich while colonizing, exploiting and oppressing people around the globe. Black people need land and money. If candidates are not talking about how Blacks can get more “Benjamins” they are just talking loud and saying nothing! Just because you smoke dope, listened to Tupac and Snoop Dogg, prayed at a Black church or masjid or had your weave done or hair cut by a Black hair stylist it doesn’t mean that you are a good, or bad, Black candidate. If a candidate visits the trap, or any Black community, and tells you that they are qualified to serve as President of the United States but can’t tell you one Black person that has the education, the resources, the connections and a history of election and political success that is qualified to have a decision making position on their campaign or in their Presidential administration, you should run them out of your neighborhood and if you catch them, you should slap the sheet out of them! Politics has never been our answer for progress. Black people that live in a capitalist society don’t have many problems that money can’t solve! Be on the lookout for trap trickeration!
What it Really Takes to Secure Peace in Afghanistan By Kathy Kelly Constant military surveillance of Afghans yields almost no real intelligence about the problems they face each day. An unusual group of volunteers uses a far different approach. Hossein, a member of the Afghan Peace Volunteers, (APV), which hosted my recent visit to Afghanistan, rolled up his sleeve to show me a still-healing three-inch wound. Thieves had broken into his family home in Kabul. When they were discovered, one of the robbers stabbed Hossein. An APV coordinator, Zekerullah, was robbed and Continue reading online at: www.thewestsidegzette.com
Mike Singletary: Express Yourself
“Coaching (the Express), one after the other, it’s outstanding. Everything I want to do is coaching and meeting and developing (players) and I’m excited about that,” says Mike Singletary The New Tri-State Defender
NFL Hall of Famer Mike Singletary knew exactly what he wanted to do after he retired from playing the game he loved. After a legendary 12-year career with the Chicago Bears — including the celebrated 1985 Super Bowl champion squad — Singletary knew he wanted to coach. Like, badly. “When I retired, I knew I would coach,” said Singletary, Continue reading online at: www.thewestsidegzette.com
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BUSINESS
Deeply Rooted
UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY DIRECTORY
Fred Lovell, Lic. Opt. "Over 30 Years In Optics"
FEBRUARY 21 - FEBRUARY 27, 2019 • PAGE 7
PAGE 8 • FEBRUARY 21 - FEBRUARY 27, 2019
Family That Together, Together AF amily T hat Prays T ogether, Stays T ogether
Church Directory This Worship T his and Every Sunday at the Church of Your Choice
Bethel Missionary Baptist Church 2211 N.W. 7th Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33061 Church: (954) 583-9368 Email: bethelmbchurchfl@att.net
Deeply Rooted New Mount Olive Baptist Church 400 N.W. 9th Ave., Ft. Lauderdale 33311 (954) 463-5126 ● Fax: (954) 525-9454 CHURCH OFFICE HOURS Monday - Friday 8:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Dr. Marcus D. Davidson, Senior Pastor
WORSHIP SERVICES & BIBLE STUDY
Sunday .................................................... 7:15 a.m. 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Sunday School ............................................................................ 10:00 a.m. Wednesday Noonday Service .................................. 12:00-12:30 p.m. Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting ............................................ 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Night Bible Study ................................................... 7:00 p.m. Where the kingdom of God is increased through Fellowship. Leadership, Ownership and Worship F.L.O.W. To Greatness!
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Williams Memorial CME “PRAYER IS THE ANSWER” Rev. Cal Hopkins (M.Div) Senior Pastor/Teacher 644-646 NW 13th Terr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33311 (954) 462-5711(Ministry Office Line) (954) 462-8222(Pastor’s Direct Line) Email: wm_cme@bellsouth.net ( Church} pastorCal50@yahoo.com (Pastor)
The WITNESS of “The WILL” Sunday Worship Experiences ................................................................ 7:45 and 11:00 a.m. Sunday School ................................................................................................................. 9:30 a.m. Tuesday Night Triumph {Prayer, Praise and Power} Prayer Meeting ................................................................................................................ 7:00 p.m. Bible Study ........................................................................................................................ 7:30 p.m. We STRIVE to PROVIDE Ministries that matter TODAY to Whole Body of Christ, not only the Believers, but also for those stranded on the “Jericho Road”! “Celebrating over 85 Years of FAITH and FAVOR! Come to the WILL ... We’ll show You the WAY: Jesus the Christ!”
Mount Nebo Missionary Baptist Church 2251 N.W. 22nd St., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311 P.O. BOX 122256, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 (954) 733-3285 * Fax: (954) 733-9231 Email: mountnebobaptist@bellsouth.net
Reverend Jimmy L. English PASTOR
WORSHIP SERVICES
Sunday Worship ............................................................. 8 a.m. & 11 a.m. Sunday School ........................................................................... 9:30 a.m. Wednesday (Prayer Service & Bible Study) ............................... 7:30 a.m. Saturday (Women Bible Study) ............................................................ 8 a.m. "Baptized Believers working together to do the will of God"
Rev. Danny L. McKenzie, Sr. Senior Pastor WORSHIP SERVICES & BIBLE STUDY
Sunday .............................................................................. 7:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Sunday School .................................................................................... 9:30 a.m. Tuesday Night Bible Study .............................................................. 7:00 p.m. Fifth Sunday ..................................................................................... 10:00 a.m.
"Reaching Our World One Person At A Time"
Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church 1161 NW 29th Terr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33311 (954) 581-0455 ● Fax: (954) 581-4350 www.mtzionmbc1161.com
Rev. Dr. James B. Darling, Jr., Pastor/Teacher WORSHIP SERVICES
Sunday School ............................................................................................................... 9:00 a.m. Sunday Worship Service ............................................................................................. 10:15 a.m. Communion Service (1st Sunday) ........................................................................... 10:15 a.m. Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting .......................................................................... 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Night Bible Study .................................................................................. 7:00 p.m. Saturday (2nd & 4th) Christian Growth & Orientation .................................. 8:30 a.m. But be doers of the Word - James 1:22 nkjv - “A Safe Haven, and you can get to Heaven from here”
Harris Chapel United Methodist Church Rev. Stanley Melek, M.Div E-MAIL:stanley.melek@flumc.org 2351 N.W. 26th Street Oakland Park, Florida 33311 Church Telephone: (954) 731-0520
SERVICES
Sunday Worship ................................................. 7:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. Sunday School .............................................................................. 9:00 a.m. Wednesday (Bible Study) ........................................... 11a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Living Waters Christian Fellowship Meeting at Central Charter School Building #5 4515 N. St. Rd. 7 (US 441) Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33319 (954) 295-6894
SUNDAY SERVICE: 10 a.m. Rev. Anthony & Virginia Burrell
lwcf2019@gmail.com (Church) llerrub13@gmail.com (Pastor)
“Jesus said, let anyone who is thirsty come to Me and drink.” (John 7:37)
New Birth Baptist Church The Cathedral of Faith International Bishop Victor T. Curry, M.Min., D.Div. Senior Pastor/Teacher 2300 N.W. 135th Street Miami, Florida 33167
ORDER OF SERVICES Sunday Worship ........................................................ 7:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m. Sunday School ....................................................................................................... 9:30 a.m. Tuesday (Bible Study) ......................................................................................... 6:45 p.m. Wednesday (Bible Study) ............................................................................... 10:45 a.m.
1-800-254-NBBC * (305) 685-3700 (o) *(305) 685-0705 (f) www.newbirthbaptistmiami.org
Shaw Temple A.M.E. Zion Church 522 N.W. Ninth Avenue Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33311 Church: (954) 462-1413 or (954) 647-8254 Email: AMEZ522@yahoo.com
Rev. Dr. William Calvin Haralson, Pastor SERVICES
Sunday School .................................................................................. 10:15 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship ............................................................ 11:00 a.m. Bible Study (Wednesday) ............................................................... 7:30 p.m.
"Reaching beyond the four walls touching lives, touching communities".
Mount Hermon A.M.E. Church Reverend Henry E. Green, Jr., Pastor 401 N.W. 7th Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311 Phone: (954) 463-6309 FAX 954 522-4113 Office Hours: Tuesday - Friday 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Email infor@mthermonftl.com
SUNDAY CHURCH SERVICES Worship Service ..................................................................... 7:30 & 10:30 a.m. Fifth Sunday ONLY .................................................................................... 10 a.m. Church School ........................................................................................ 9:15 a.m. BIBLE STUDY: Wednesday ....................................................................... 10 a.m. Gems & Jewels Ministry Senior Wednesday Wednesday (Bible Study) .................................................... 12 Noon & 7 - 8 p.m. Daily Prayer Line ...................................................................................... 6 a.m. (712)432-1500 Access Code296233#
Obituaries James C. Boyd Funeral Home ERVIN Funeral services for the late Sister Lillie M. Ervin – 84 were held February 16 at Springfield Missionary Baptist Church with Rev. Calvin Ray Hart, Sr officiating. Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens. HOLMES Funeral services for the late Alphonso “Chicken Wayne” Dwayne Holmes – 60 were held February 15 at James C. Boyd’s Memorial Chapel. HOLMES Funeral services for the late Sidney Murphy Holmes - 76 were held February 16 at Full Gospel Church with Dr Wayne Parks officiating. WESLEY Funeral service for the late Jack Wesley, Jr. - 61 were held February16 at James C. Boyd’s Memorial Chapel with Bishop Charlie Dunbar officiating. Interment: Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens (Central).
McWhite's Funeral Home
Installation Service Celebration
ALEXANDER Funeral services for the late Lyle K. Alexander - 47 were held February 17 at New Hope Seventh-Day Adventist Church with Pastor Jonathan E. McCotty officiating. Interment: Forest Lawn Cemetery Central. CLYNE Funeral services for the late Melsada Veronica Clyne – 67.
“And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding… Jeremiah 3:15
You are cordially invited to the Installation Service for Rev. Ronnie W. Wallace, Sr. as pastor of the Greater New Bethel Baptist Church, Sunday, February 24th at 4PM at New Way Praise and Worship Church, 16800 N.W. 22 Ave., Miami Gardens, Rev. Wendell Baskin, Pastor. Rev. Dr. Carl Johnson, Moderator of Seaboard Baptist Association and Pastor of 93rd Street Missionary Baptist Church, will be the speaker for the service. Come out and celebrate with us as we give thanks unto the Lord.
DORSEY Funeral services for the late Charles “Ray” Dorsey - 84 were held February 16 at New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church with Rev. Victor Robertson officiating. Interment: Forest Lawn Cemetery (Central).
HADDEN Funeral services for the late Willie F. Hadden - 84 were held February 16 at Golden Heights Church of Christ with Dr. W.F. Washington officiating. Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens. LOCKE Funeral services for the late James “PAP” Locke - 84 were held February 16 at McWhite’ s Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Michael K. Anderson officiating. Interment: South Florida National Cemetery, Lake Worth, Fla. TAYLOR Funeral services for the late Willie Mae Taylor – 91 were held Feb. 16 at New bethel Primitive Baptist Church with Rev. Elder John Henry Everett officiating. Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens. THOMAS Funeral services for the late Carolyn “Kitty Kat” Thomas 64 were held February 16 at Mt. Zion AME Church of Oakland Park with Dr. Dana Alexander officiating. Interment: Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens (Central). WATKINS Funeral services for the late Cynthia Marie Watkins - 58 were held February 16 at New Mount Olive Baptist Church with Pastor Elder Derrick Gainey officiating. Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens.
Roy Mizell & Kurtz Funeral Home MOORE Funeral services for the late Dorothy Lee Moore – 79 were held February 16 at Roy Mizell & Kurtz Worship Center with Apostle Debra A. Allen officiating. Interment: Memorial Gardens. SPARKS Funeral services for the late Gary Rohan Sparkes - 50 were held February 16 at Praise Ta-bernacle International with Pastor D.H. Dawkins officiating. Interment: Bailey Memorial Gardens.
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Deeply Rooted
Florida Department of Economic Opportunity seeking additional General Contractors to help Rebuild Florida repair and rebuild homes damaged by Hurricane Irma TALLAHASSEE, FL – Recently, Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) Executive Director Ken Lawson issued a call for qualified general contractors to assist the Rebuild Florida program. Rebuild Florida is a long-term recovery effort to repair and rebuild thousands of homes of Florida families that were significantly damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Irma. “Governor DeSantis has made it clear that helping Floridians rebuild is our priority,” said DEO Executive Director Ken Lawson. “Rebuild Florida is using federal funding to repair, rebuild or replace the homes of those impacted by Hurricane Irma. We need Florida’s construction industry, especially general contractors, to partner with us to get these Florida families back into safe and stronger homes.” DEO is looking to enter into contracts with qualified general contractors to perform all services necessary to repair or rebuild homes. These services include, but are not limited to, the provisions of a general contractor’s oversite and supervision, and all labor, associated hardware, materials, required permits, drawings and equipment necessary to repair homes.” Rebuilding damaged and destroyed homes is a crucial milestone in the recovery process for Floridians impacted by Hurricane Irma,” said Florida Department of
Business and Professional Regulation Secretary Halsey Beshears. “Florida is fortunate to have a large pool of talented, DBPR-licensed general contractors and we urge them to use their skills to help their neighbors through Rebuild Florida.” Interested parties can learn more about the technical requirements and submit bids once the Invitation to Bid is released later this month. Please check MyFloridaMarketPlace, the state of Florida’s online procurement system, for updates. DEO issued an initial invitation for bids for general contractors in August 2018, but additional general contractors are needed to efficiently and effectively meet the needs of Florida families impacted by Hurricane Irma. Rebuild Florida is a partnership of DEO and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Rebuild Florida Housing Repair and Replacement Program helps eligible homeowners impacted by Hurricane Irma. Rebuild Florida helps repair, rebuild or replace damaged homes across the hardesthit communities of the state, with priority funding for those low-income residents who are elderly, disabled, families with children under the age of 18 or persons displaced from Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands who are permanently resettling in Florida as a result of Hurricane Irma or Maria.
Recently, Cheerios Cereal teamed up with Walmart to host a friendly Pop-a-shot competition at the store (3200 NW 79th S.t, Miami, Fla., 33147) to raise awareness and funds for the Overtown Youth Center. There, young athletes surprised their coach, Miles Chinn; an American veteran with a passion for empowering young people – to thank him for his work in the community. Cheerios, which is on a mission to spread goodness and positivity from coast to coast, honored Miles for his work as well. Alongside Walmart, the brand presented Miles with a $2,500 check along with sporting equipment and basics (valued at $3,000) – all to benefit the Overtown Youth Center.
FEBRUARY 21 - FEBRUARY 27, 2019 • PAGE 9
“THE POWER OF LOVE”
You may remember R & B singer Joe Simon’s hit “Power of Love” in 1973. The title of that song has true meaning to Dr. Malcolm and Mrs. Emma Black. The power of love was there from the very beginning for the long-time Broward County couple and has kept them together for more than six decades. The Blacks will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on February 21, 2019. The ceremony began late Saturday afternoon February 21, 1959 in Jackson, Mississippi. All of about seven people witnessed the college sweethearts pledge their love to one another in Malcolm’s parents’ living room. There are no pictures to remember that special day. “We didn’t think about pictures then. We didn’t put emphasis on cameras. You had to buy a camera, flashbulb, and film. Then you had to have the film developed. Cameras were not as accessible. To take a picture then was a challenge,” says Malcolm. There also wasn’t a wedding cake to share with guests. Malcolm adds with a laugh, “We served a bag of vanilla wafers and a half a gallon of ice cream. That was
our reception.” Malcolm and Emma met the first night of college at a freshmen dance in 1955 on the campus of Jackson State University. They dated while in school and married four years later. Together, they’ve reached a milestone many couples today will never see. What’s the secret to their epic love story? “The Lord put us together. When I looked up, it was 60 years. It doesn’t seem like it. We hit it off the first night and became friends, going to class together. My advice is to love each other, respect each other, and work together. You love everything that goes along with the person,” says Emma. Malcolm’s advice? “Get together in the beginning for the right reason. Love people for who they are and it will grow.” The Blacks are parents of twin daughters, Attorney Karen E. Black-Barron and Varen D.
PAGE 10 • FEBRUARY 21 - FEBRUARY 27, 2019
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NFL Settles Collusion Case with Kaepernick from P. 1 Terms of the settlement, which also included a payout to Carolina Panthers star safety Eric Reid, were not made public. Kaepernick was effectively blacklisted from the league after kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality and other social ills. Yahoo Sports reported that Kaepernick and Reid would only settle the complaint if a lucrative financial agreement was reached between the players and the NFL. The league and Kaepernick’s attorneys released a statement Friday saying the matter had been resolved confidentially. As part of that confidentiality, it is believed both sides signed a non-disclosure agreement agreeing not to speak publicly about details of the case or settlement. “For the past several months, counsel for Mr.
Kaepernick and Mr. Reid have engaged in an ongoing dialogue with representatives of the NFL,” the statement said. “As a result of those discussions, the parties have decided to resolve the pending grievances. The resolution of this matter is subject to a confidentiality agreement so there will be no further comment by any party.” The agreement comes as Kaepernick’s case against the NFL was to set to be heard before arbitrator Stephen Burbank later this month. Kaepernick had alleged that since 2016, the league conspired to keep him out. Multiple NFL players adopted Kaepernick’s protest in 2017, hoping to draw attention to social justice and racial inequality issues. The actions sparked a political firestorm from President Donald Trump and the furor became such a central issue for the league
LEGAL NOTICES PUBLICATION OF BID SOLICITATIONS Broward County Board of County Commissioners is soliciting bids for a variety of goods and services, construction and architectural/ engineering services. Interested bidders are requested to view and download the notifications of bid documents via the Broward County Purchasing website at: www.broward.org/purchasing. Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28, 2019
NOTICE UNDER
FICITITIOUS NAME LAW
for nearly one year that it instituted a rule that banned protests during the national anthem. That rule has since been shelved by the NFL and now appears to be dead, according to the Yahoo Sports report. The NFLPA also released a statement Friday, supporting the settlement between the league and players. “Today, we were informed by the NFL of the settlement of the Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid collusion cases,” the NFLPA said. “We are not privy to the details of the settlement but support the decision by the players and their counsel. We continuously supported Colin and Eric from the start of their protests, participated with their lawyers throughout their legal proceedings and were prepared to participate in the upcoming trial in pursuit of both truth and justice for what we believe the NFL and its clubs did to them. “We are glad that Eric has earned a job and a new contract [from the Carolina Panthers], and we continue to hope that Colin gets his opportunity as well.”
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR SERVICES TO OUT OF SCHOOL YOUTH AGED 17-24 PROCUREMENT NO. 01-18
CareerSource Broward (CSBD) invites qualified providers skilled in delivering services to out of school youth (OSY) aged 17 - 24 to apply for funds under this Request for Proposals (RFP). Bring your best ideas and solutions to assist OSY. If you are an organization serving out of school youth as defined by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 (WIOA) we invite you to apply for funds that will enable you to enhance the menu of services currently offered to your youth with workforce services supported by CSBD. Youth should be able to meet the eligibility requirements under WIOA. The RFP document contains the specifics regarding the type and mix of services we are seeking. Some important dates are: Official Release Date of the RFP Proposer’s Conference Deadline for Submitting Questions RFP Due Date and Time CSBD wil not accept late proposals
February 19. 2019 February 26, 2019 10:00 AM March 20, 2019 March 22, 2019 12:00 P.M.
The RFP is electronic and must be accessed from the CSBD website http://www.careersourcebroward.com, by clicking the RFP button at the bottom of the page and registering as directed so as to be able to download the RFP.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engae in business under the ficititious name of Marlyne Maids intend(s) to register said name with the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, Tallahassee, Florida and/or Clerk of the Circuit Court of Broward County, Florida. Merline Powell 8068 S.E. State Road 100 Starke Floirda, 32091 Feb. 21, 2019
VOL. 46 NO. 20
FEBRUARY 21, 2019
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NUMEROLOGY - DOG
43
76
HOROSCOPE/NNPA
72
FEB. 24 - FEB. 27, 2019 78
PROFILES
ARIES-You’ll enjoy a special rapport with a loved one this week, so use the vibe to deepen the level of intimacy. Your creativity allows you to say exactly the right thing at the right moment. 7, 31, 39 TAURUS-This is a wonderful week to give up a negative routine, guy! If you’ve been biting your nails or sneaking a cigarette, this week your emotions are centered on life-affirming habits. Let your natural inclination toward perfect health lead you on your way. 12, 26, 27 GEMINI-You are very popular at work this week. Part of your rise in the employee polls is due to your can-do attitude. Another part is the smile on your face as you consider your wonderful life. Believing it is being it! 10, 27, 33 CANCER-An unexpected errand may lead to an encounter with a person who will have an influence on your future. Keep your bright eyes alert to unusual possibilities and you may find yourself pleasantly surprised at the end of the week. 11, 18, 45
8
8
28 65
61
25
15 42
3
MIAMI RED SEZ --- 468
FEBRUARY
21
23 24 25 26
FEB.
246
MAR. APRIL
IS A HOT LEAD NUMBER
6
MAY
AUG
36 37 38 39 44 45 46 47
SEPT.
48 49 55 56 57 58 59 66 67 68
OCT. NOV.
06 07 08 09 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
DEC.
25-12-15
511
27 28 29 33 34 35
AQUARIUS
58-16-24
PISCES
32-41-14
ARIES
TAURUS
GEMINI
17-37-29
25-11-85
45-54-36
CANCER
LEO
VIRGO
LIBRA
SCORPIO
SAGITTARIUS
46-54-18
06-21-32
25-45-19
34-48-29
26-34-17
43-51-18
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809
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JULY
69 77 78 79 88 89 99 00 02 03 04 05
JUNE
CAPRICORN
VIRGO-There is a vibration this week that urges people to reveal secrets. Your usually strong loyalty to a friend or co-worker may be weakened if you engage in any idle chatter. Stick to the facts this week and you’ll be fine! 18, 20, 24
SCORPIO-One of your gifts is that you have an ability to think big! Picture your future on a canvas as big as the sky. Take some small measure this week toward that future, and rejoice. Make sure that positive vibrations surround you during the week. 13, 40, 50
13
45
54
LEO-A cozy week is yours for the asking. Relax and spend some time unwinding from your busy week. Family or close friends will want to join you in your relaxation. Your place is the natural spot for gathering people together. 34, 37, 40
LIBRA-Stop sometime this week and take a quick inventory of how right your instincts have been recently. If you are like most. The count is probably high! This is an excellent week to simply smile when people offer advice. You know what’s best for you, so trust your instincts and do that. rejoice in it. 42, 46, 55
19
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SAGITTARIUS-If you brought your work home with you this weekend, you’ll have trouble relaxing. A moment of quiet time with yourself will bring you back to your center. Your work really can wait! Rest is important to a busy one like yourself. 15, 25, 44 CAPRICORN-Everyone needs appreciation in his or her life. Take some time out this week to seek those whom you really appreciate, and let them know what they mean to you. Appreciate yourself, while you’re at it! 38, 39, 45 AQUARIUS You’re in the mood for adventure. If a short trip isn’t possible, spend some time exploring a subject that interests you so that you feel as if your mind has traveled someplace new. Arm-chair traveling with a good book will help still your restlessness. 7, 19, 28 PISCES-This week is like a present! Observe it and enjoy it! The vibes are perfect for a long lunch with a friend, for a long walk in the park, or just for watching the sunrise. Be aware of the beauty that surrounds you this week. 16, 21, 27
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FEBRUARY 21 - FEBRUARY 27, 2019 • PAGE 11
NAACP Celebrates 110th Anniversary of Freedom Fighting Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, the NAACP led the Black Civil Rights struggle in fighting injustices such as the denial of voting rights, racial violence, discrimination in employment, and segregated public facilities.
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Correspondent The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People – NAACP – was founded 110 years ago after a deadly race riot rocked the
city of Springfield, Illinois. “Because of the riots in Springfield, that brought about serious conversations and meetings about starting an organization, a national organization, that would try to address racial issues,”
said Nell Clay, Springfield and central Illinois African American History Museum president. The Springfield race riots took place in August of 1908. Today, the NAACP remains the foremost civil rights
organization in the world with an overriding mission: equality for all. “There were two African Americans in jail, one accused of rape and one accused of murder,” Clay said. “A mob came to the jail to do their
own justice by lynching the individuals.” Several lives were lost and property was destroyed during the race riot. But at the time, there had been race riots throughout the nation, according to the local Fox affiliate near Chicago. So why did the Springfield race riots lead to the formation of the NAACP? “Because Springfield was the land of Lincoln – the individual that freed the slaves,” Clay said. “Maybe there was a thought that this was a great place for African Americans to live.” Once the riots were over, discussions began for a necessary organization. “People got together around the country, especially throughout Illinois, and said again enough is enough. You need to meet and form an organization that will deal with race in America because race riots were unacceptable,” said Continue reading online at:
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“Dr. Brenda Snipes: A History of Excellence” • Part III of IV from Front Page through all of that and see that we have a good signature it matches and all that, we have to send them back to the high-speed counter. Remember, we got all of this stuff going on and we have three different languages on the ballot. There is a lot of stuff going on and we have to get this done at a certain time.” From an average citizen’s perspective, we don’t see all of the nuances that it takes to assure a fair and equal election. You have just informed us of all of the steps, are all of those steps necessary and if you had to change the dates on the process of election what would you do? “Yes, we do that is in the legislature, and we do have to verify every voter that we have all of their
signatures and everything. Yes those steps are needed and I would change the date. I would take it back probably to around early voting date. People got bent out of shape over the recount and who won on election night; you don’t win on election night. We don’t have all of the tabulations for this. By the time the state wide elections were over and everybody got all of their ballots counted, there were some close races and in state wide races everybody has to be involved in the recount and it’s pressure. Even then, being involved in a recount may not change things and usually it doesn’t flip it. When you look back at your accomplishments that were not reported, what are you really proud
of, that you have done, that has not been documented, that has been under the radar screen? Our voter outreach program We created ways where we could get into the communities through neighborhood partnership committees and anybody could attend. We would share with them what we were doing. We’re also required to do high school voter registration for the entire school system so we made a connection with all of the social studies departments. The board made a resolution that gave the supervisor of election office the go ahead to conduct high school voter registration in all of the high schools. The students and their chaperones were trained in the
entire field of voter registration. Through the Broward Education Communications Network (BECON), we created a virtual voter educational program that alleviated the need for students to leave campus to be trained. “We also created a software to educate the students on the elements of citizenship. We brought in people from the immigration office to talk to the students about how to become citizens and to encourage the parents to talk to them about citizenship. We received a national award for election officials for our voter registration program. Another thing that I’m proud of is I Continue reading online at:
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PAGE 12 • FEBRUARY 21 - FEBRUARY 27, 2019
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A M E S S A GE F ROM OU R PU BL IS H E R continued from Page 1
and Audrey Aaron FOR PRESS RELEASE MARKETING
Finding love at work may no longer be Taboo I am not 100% sure why, but we have all heard that dating co-workers or professional colleagues could become problematic. Yet, studies show that nearly 25 percent of U.S. married couples met at work. It’s no secret that work is where most single people spend a great deal of their time, and we are in an era where people have been conditioned to prioritize their career advancement. Whether you work in corporate America or own a small business, most of my peers are making a conscious decision to establish themselves professionally before thinking too seriously about being in a committed relationship. Given the amount of time we spend working, I believe work romance is often unavoidable. In fact, according to CareerBuilder’s Annual Valentine’s Day Survey, although declining in numbers, office romance is here to stay. The survey revealed that “office romances have hit a 10-year low with approximately 36 percent of workers admitting to having dated a co-worker, down from about 45 percent.” No matter how taboo, work romance appears, dating a colleague can be comforting as most workplace attractions are based in the sharing similar mindset, work ethic and even financial status. Initially, these commonalities could increase mutual respect and decrease typical relationship friction. Nonetheless, singles should not enter a relationship with a coworker or colleague without research and establishing rules. Between the internet, pop culture magazines, and barbershop conversations, there is no shortage of advice on the matter, but here are a few of my favorite rules for Romance on Your Scene: First and foremost, know your company’s policies regarding dating within the workplace. Statistically, even when people know the rules, they will dabble in interoffice dating anyway. Nevertheless, I’m a firm believer of knowing the rules, even if you plan to break them. According to Forbes Magazine, 41% of people don’t know their company’s policy on the issue. Even when it’s permitted, it may be wise to inform your direct supervisor. Think of Continue reading online at: thewestsidegazette.com
board officials who use this platform to get elected and use grief as a vendetta to try and punish is a recipe for disaster. For those who do not know certain circumstances surrounding Nikolas Cruz, the disturbed teen who murdered 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, should know that he demonstrated enough eccentric behaviors to warn authorities, meriting strict observation. The system missed, overlooked or ignored several indicators that Cruz had a plethora of issues. Some of the students referred to him as a ‘loner’ while some of the members of the JROTC called him ‘wolf’’. According to an article in the Chicago Tribune, a former JROTC cadet told The Associated Press that Cruz was a member of a small varsity marksmanship team that trained together after class and traveled to other area schools to compete. It was a close-knit group. One of the other cadets started calling Cruz “Wolf,” and the nickname stuck. “He was a very good shot,” said Aaron Diener, 20, who gave Cruz a ride to shooting competitions when they were part of the same four-member team in 2016. “He had an AR-15 he talked about and pistols he had shot. ... He would tell us, ‘Oh, it was so fun to shoot this rifle,’ or ‘It was so fun to shoot that.’ It seemed almost therapeutic to him, the way he spoke about it.” Cruz had been expelled for ‘fighting over his exgirlfriend’, ‘Nikolas Cruz’ can be seen on YouTube declaring his desire to be a ‘professional school shooter,’ posting photos to his public social media account which showed an arsenal of weapons, including semi-automatic guns. All of this was before the massacre at MSD! Cruz, known to have mental health issues, had threaten to harm to his family members, coupled with school expulsions, still was not on the FBI’s radar. An above average shooter, Cruz outperformed the other cadets in an air-rifle marksmanship program backed by a grant from the National Rifle Association Foundation. How is it that Black school board members can receive the brunt of assaults aimed at those who cause this tragedy to happen? It wasn’t Superintendent Robert Runcie or Dr. Rosalind Osgood who fed the appetite of Cruz to hone his skills at shooting guns? It was Runcie or Osgood who overlooked his Social Media platforms that highlighted his messages of becoming immortal prior to his killing spree. It wasn’t Runcie or Osgood who dressed Cruz in his maroon shirt with the logo from the Army JROTC program at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School when he was arrested soon after the shooting. As a matter of fact, as far as anyone knows, Cruz acted alone without the HELP of anyone, and I say
that figuratively-without the help from anyone! There is enough blame to be shared by all those who knew that Cruz was a damaged child from the abuse caused by physical neglect and dependency. No other superintendent or school board member has ever been asked to resign or step down after any school shooting in this country. I do not say this lightly and without a heart that bleeds for those whose lives were taken and those who are left here with the scars of death that won’t easily heal. The scabs are still tender and the hurt pains like a wanting never to be filled. Yet, who is asked to pay the price of such a tormented soul for which there is no amount of value and penalty that could be paid for the cost of a life. So why now? Could it be, because the accused accomplices are Black and those that are bringing charges are rich well- to- do white people or because the locale of the grounds of the killing floor is in Parkland and the others represent the intercity where Black lives are lost every day to gun violence and there seems to be no songs for them. It pains me to say this because I know there are those who wish that some questions would never be asked, and that the answers don’t cut as deep as the death of children, and yet we need to face our fears and deal with the truths as raw and as bare as they may be. No one wants to send their family members to school or away from their homes, never to see them alive again, and no wants to be accused of that crime, the ones associated with the killings unknowingly as if they were accused of being accomplices in the execution of the crime. To the powers that be and those who sit in the seat of malcontent, be careful about how you push for control and the methods used in rectifying or trying to fix a problem that is not the issue. Our hearts bleed for the lost, our prayers are for the living and forgiveness is to be for everyone.
A Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes
What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore— And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over— like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode?