THE WESTSIDE GAZETTE POST OFFICE 5304 FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33310
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID FT. LAUDERDALE, FL 33310
PERMIT NO. 1179
Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper VOL. 44 NO. 28 50¢ A Pr oud PPaper aper ffor or a Pr oud PPeople...Sinc eople...Sinc Proud Proud eople...Sincee 1971 THURSDA THURSDAYY, AUGUST 20 - WEDNESDA WEDNESDAYY, AUGUST 26 26,, 2015
Julian Bond praised for unselfish devotion to human rights By Freddie Allen NNPA Senior Washington Correspondent WASHINGTON (NNPA) – Julian Bond, a founding member and communications director of Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and immediate past board chairman of the NAACP, is being praised for his lifelong human rights contributions by people ranging from President Obama and his former civil rights colleagues to ordinary people who have benefited from his courage and advocacy. Bond, co-founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), died Saturday night, Aug. 15, 2015 at the age of 75. He served as the president of the SPLC, a legal advocacy organization that promotes equality and tracks hate groups, from 1971 to 1979 and later on the board of directors, according to a statement issued by the group.
“Julian Bond helped change this country for the better. And what better way to be remembered than that,” stated President Barack Obama. “With Julian’s passing, the country has lost one of its most passionate and eloquent voices for the cause of justice,” SPLC
said in a statement announcing Bond’s death. “He advocated not just for African Americans, but for every group, indeed
every person subject to oppression and discrimination, because he recognized the common humanity in us all.” The statement continued: “Not only has the country lost a hero today, we’ve lost a great friend.” President Barack Obama said in a statement, “Julian Bond was a hero and, I’m privileged to say, a friend. Justice and equality was the mission that spanned his life – from his leadership of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, to his founding role with the Southern Poverty Law Center, to his pioneering service in the Georgia legislature and his steady hand at the helm of the NAACP. Michelle and I have benefited from his example, his counsel, and his friendship – and we offer our prayers and sympathies to his wife, Pamela, and his children.” President Obama added, “Julian Bond helped change this country for the better. And what better way to be remembered than that.” (Cont'd on Page 17)
70fathers,othersignificantmaleswelcomeVillagestudents back on first day of school school.” Monday’s event was an initiative of the national Million Fathers March, an opportunity for men to show their commitment to the educational lives of their children on the first day of school and throughout the school year. Research shows that students with involved fathers score higher on cognitive tests, have higher self-esteem and possess abilities associated with higher education achievement, Principal LaToya Dixon said. Dixon identified the need to improve parental involvement
Delray Beach Assistant Fire Chief Victor Williams hugs a student at Village Academy as she returns to school on the first day back on Monday. By Don Stephens DELRAY BEACH, FLWhen Kevin Thompson showed up for classes at Village Academy Monday morning, he expected to be greeted by his teachers and maybe his principal – not 70 men who were there to welcome students as they returned from the summer break. “This was a surprise and exciting,” Thompson, 16, said. “I have never seen anything like this and been greeted like this. Seeing all of these adults greet us on our first day back makes me want to strive harder in school.” The students at the public school in Delray Beach were smiling from ear to ear as they walked through the main door and saw the love and support from the men of their community. There were police officers, fire fighters, several city employees, retirees and a host of
other private sector workers. The men, in two rows, gave high-fives and cheered the students as they walked between them. The scene resembled that of an athlete running through a tunnel and being greeted by many cheering fans. “It’s all about the community and I am overjoyed with the overwhelming support shown today by the community of Delray Beach,” Assistant Chief of Police Javaro Sims said. “We are a village and today the love was shown by our males.” Parent Maurice Hayes was impressed by the grand reception as he took his daughter, Tahja Hayes, to school. “It is both shocking and exciting to see that all of these men care enough to come out and support our kids,” Hayes said. “I definitely would have loved to have fathers greet me like this on my first day of
Pleading Our Own Cause
at Village Academy this school year and Monday’s initiative addressed that need. “It is extremely important for these kids to see male role models greeting them on their first day of school,” Dixon said. “Some of these students do not have father figures and seeing these men gives them someone to look up to. We look forward to working more closely with our fathers this year to ensure student success!” The men will be invited to volunteer or attend activities throughout the year, organizers said.
Black students more likely to face discipline, less likely to receive treatment
By Jonathan Hunter, Special to the NNPA from the AfroAmerican Newspaper Black students face harsher punishments than their peers and are less likely to receive mental health attention for their problems, according to new research. According to the Department of Education’s Office of Civil
WWW.
Rights, Black students are expelled and suspended three times more often than white students. And a new study published in the journal Sociology of Education found that school districts with large Black populations were less likely to consider offering counseling services compared to predominantly white school districts. School districts in which a large portion of the students
Westside Gazette Newspaper
For whom the bell tolls A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher. Luke 6:40 (NASB) By Bobby R. Henry, Sr. The school bell will soon ring in the new school year. As we begin the new school year let it begin free of criminal acts designed for the destruction of our children. The criminal acts perpetrated against our children result in some of the most negative resounding effects that could devastate a people for generations to come. Sometimes these crimes are perpetuated by loved ones and the people whose lives our children have been entrusted to, TO educate them. I’m reminded of how a system can point fingers and blame others for their systemic way of “killing” off the dreams of our precious cargo that carry the promise of our future. (Cont'd on Page 4)
Songfest 2015-featur ed -featured guest artist Francine Ealey Francine Ealey Murphy will Murphy be the featured guest music-
MURPHY From Barbara Scruggs Renowned, anointed and accomplished gospel vocalist, producer and recording artist,
were Black would usually report incidents to law enforcement officers—not the case in majority white school districts. The study, entitled “The Social Structure of Criminalized and Medicalized School Data” examined how “district level racial/ethnic and socioeconomic compositions” affect the method of discipline implemented on students. The study was conducted by David Ramey, an assistant professor of sociology and justice at Penn State University. Ramey examined data from 60,000 schools in more than 6,000 school districts, and concluded that that the increased incarceration rates in minority communities results in a criminalized view of students when they misbehave. According to the study, unlike white parents, the families of Black children are less likely to blame their behavior on medical or psychological causes. “The legacy of the Tuskegee experiments has left many Black families skeptical of medical and mental research, particularly contested and controversial issues like ADHD,” Ramey wrote in his report. (Cont'd on Page 12)
@_Westsidegazett
thewestsidegazette.com
(954) 525-1489
Thewestsidegazettenewspaper
ian/artist at the Mount Hermon A.M.E. Church—Voices of Praise Choir—Songfest 2015. The theme for this year’s musical production is: Songfest 2015: "I will bless your name." -- Psalms 145:1KJV. Murphy began singing at the tender age of three. As a child, she honed her musical gifts and skills as part of the Spirit of Life Ensemble, under the direction of noted recording artist and choir director, Pastor Avery Jones. As a high school student, she continued her musical pursuits under the skillful, watchful eye of the late Dr. Roscoe Speed. Upon high school graduation, Murphy’s love of music and desire to learn under the best lead her to Bethune-Cookman University(B-CU), where she further developed her talents under the direction of the legendary Professor Rebecca Steele. It was not long before she became a featured soloist and section lead of the famed BCU Gospel Choir, which gave her the opportunity to tour the country. After college, Murphy returned to Miami, where she became a member of the Heavenly Angels and began to write and produce songs for this sought after ensemble. Their first project was recorded in 1990 was entitled “New Heights”. Later, Murphy produced her church choir’s album, writing most of the songs, directing and serving as lead vocalist. The El Bethel Tabernacle Mass Choir released their first re-cording entitled, "I Can Not Tell It All" in 1994. In 1997, she and the choir recorded "For Greater Glory" which re-ceived impressive airplay. (Cont'd on Page 11) MEMBER: National Newspaper Publishers Association ( NNPA), and Southeastern African-American Publishers Association (SAAPA) Florida Association of Black Owned Media (FABOM)