VOL. 54, NO. 15 • JANUARY 24 - 30, 2019
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MLK Parade Undeterred by Frigid Weather
By Hamil R. Harris WI Contributing Writer Freezing temperatures and stiff winds didn’t sway the spirits of a multiracial caravan that came down Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue in Southeast on Monday to celebrate the federal holiday of the famed civil rights leader who would have turned 90 this year. Mayor Muriel Bowser, D.C. Council members and numerous community leaders strode down Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue during the city’s annual MLK Peace Walk and Parade, which included community organizations, youth groups, go-go performances and the Ballou Senior High School marching band. “Every part of the city celebrates Dr. King’s life and we are challenged by his legacy to do more,” Bowser said. The community groups were certainly building bridges across the Anacostia River during the parade, as politicians and veteran
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5 The 2019 Martin Luther King Peace Walk and Parade lead off, going south on Martin Luther King Avenue in Southeast with Mayor Muriel Bowser and a number of Councilmembers bringing greetings. (Photo courtesy of Maurice Fitzgerald/WI Charities)
Annual Gathering Reveals Women’s Agenda, Focus on Local Organizers
This year’s Women’s March, the third gathering of its kind since President Donald Trump’s ascent to the White House, garnered less political star power and institutional support than previous iterations, due mostly to the controversy surrounding co-founders Linda Sarsour’s pro-Palestine comments and
Government Shutdown Forcing Many to File for Unemployment Benefits By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia
Black Women Support Tamika Mallory at Women’s March By Sam P.K. Collins WI Contributing Writer @SamPKCollins
MLK Supplement Center Section
Tamika Mallory’s association with Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan, a polarizing figure among progressives. Such circumstances, however, didn’t deter local Black female support for Mallory and the tenets around which the Women’s March had originally been organized. On Saturday morning, they counted among the tens of thousands who
WOMEN’S MARCH Page 38
5 Women’s March organizers, Linda Sarsour, Tamika Mallory, Carmen Perez, and Bob Bland at the 2nd Annual Women’s March on Washington in Northwest, on January 19, 2019. (Mark Mahoney/The Washington Informer)
The government shutdown — now the longest on record — has prompted tens of thousands of federal employees to seek jobless benefits, according to a new report. As the impasse meanders through its fourth week and more bills come due, their numbers have been growing. On Thursday, Jan. 17, two days after the White House doubled its projections and warned that the shutdown was reducing quarterly economic growth by 0.13 percentage points per week, the New York Times reported that the Labor Department said 10,454 initial claims by federal workers for the week ending Jan. 5 doubled the previous week’s figure. Thousands more have applied since, state officials said. For federal workers such as Maritza Castillo, desperation may have set in. “Today is the first time in my government career that I have received a zero paycheck,” Castillo told The Informer, detailing just how much she and other dedicated workers are dealing with the life-altering situation. “It’s a very sickening feeling not knowing when my next paycheck is coming,” Castillo said. “I don’t remember the last time in the past 19 days that I have had a good night’s
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Women Break the Cycle of Domestic Violence By Tia Carol Jones
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law enforcement. She said they had come together to bring a sense of uniformity in the way domestic violence victims and survivors are treated. “She's using her own personal story, her own personal pain to push forward,” Davis-Nickens said about Marlow. Davis-Nickens said anyone who reads Marlow's book will “get it.” She said she “puts the case in such a way, the average person can get it.” She said at the end of the day, the book will help people begin to have a dialogue about domestic violence. Also present at the event was Mildred Muhammad, the exwife of John Allen Muhammad, who was sentenced to six consecutive life terms without parole by a Maryland jury for his role in the Beltway Sniper attacks in 2002. Mildred Muhammad is the founder of After the Trauma, an organization that helps the survivors of domestic violence and their children. “I lived in fear for six years. Six years in fear is a long time. It is not an easy thing to come out of,” she said. Mildred Muhammad said people who want to help a domestic violence victim must be careful of how they go into the victim's life, and understand that she may be in “survival mode”. “Before you get to 'I'm going to kill you,' it started as a verbal
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The Washington Informer Newspaper THE WASHINGTON INFORMER InPUBLISHER Memoriam NEWSPAPER (ISSN#0741-9414) is Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Denise RolarkSr. Barnes published weekly on each Thursday. Wilhelmina J. Rolark Periodicals postage paid at Washington, THE D.C.WASHINGTON and additional mailing ofINFORMER NEWSPAPER (ISSN#0741-9414) is published STAFF fices.weekly News on andThursday. advertising deadline postage Periodicals paid at Washington, D.C. and additional is Monday to News publication. AnD. Kevin Editor mailing prior offices. and advertising deadlineMcNeir, is Monday prior to publication. nouncements must be received two two weeks prior to event. Copyright 2000 by The Announcements must be received Ron Burke, Advertising/ Marketing Director weeks prior to event. Copyright 2016reserved. POST MASTER: Send change of addressWashington Informer. All rights Lassiter, Photo Editor by es The Washington Informer. to The Washington Informer,All3117Shevry Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, rightsD.C. reserved. 20032.POSTMASTER: No part of thisSend publication may be Barnes, reproduced without written Lafayette IV, Assistant PhotopermisEditor change addresses to TheThe Washsionoffrom the publisher. Informer Newspaper cannot guarantee the return of John E. De Freitas, Sports Photo Editor ington Informer, 3117 Martin rates Luther photographs. Subscription are $30 per year, two years $45. Papers will be received King,notJr.more Ave.,than S.E.a Washington, D.C. Dorothy Rowley, Online week after publication. Make checks payable to: Editor 20032. No part of this publication may ZebraDesigns.net, Design & Layout be reproduced without written permisTHE WASHINGTON INFORMER sion from the3117 publisher. The Informer Neville, Bookkeeper Martin Luther King, Jr.Mable Ave., S.E. • Washington, D.C. 20032 Newspaper cannot guarantee the return Phone: 202 561-4100 • Fax: 202 574-3785 Dr. Charles Vincent, Social Sightings columnist of photographs. Subscription rates are E-mail: news@washingtoninformer.com Tatiana Moten, Social Media Specialist $45 per year, two years $60. Papers will www.washingtoninformer.com be received not more than a week after Angie Johnson, Circulation publication. Make checks payable to: PUBLISHER THE WASHINGTON INFORMER Denise Rolark Barnes REPORTERS 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E STAFF REPORTERS Stacy Brown (Senior Writer), Sam P.K. Collins, Washington, D.C. 20032 Brooke N. Garner Managing Editor Tia C. Jones, Ed Laiscell, Phone: 202 561-4100 Timothy Cox, Will Ford (Prince George’s Carla Peay Assistant Managing Editor Odell B. Ruffin, Larry Saxton, Fax: 202 574-3785 Ron Burke Advertising and Marketing Mary Wells, Joseph Young County Writer), Jacqueline Fuller, Hamil news@washingtoninformer.com Mable Whittaker Bookkeeper Harris, D. Kevin McNeir, Dorothy Rowley, www.washingtoninformer.com LaNita Wrenn Administration PHOTOGRAPHERS John E. De Freitas Sports Brenda Editor Siler, Sarafina Wright, James Wright Lafayette Barnes, IV, Victor Holt Photo Editor John E. De Freitas, Maurice Fitzgerald, Zebra Designs, Inc. Layout & Graphic PHOTOGRAPHERS Design Joanne Jackson, Roy Lewis, Robert Ken Harris /www.scsworks.com Webmaster Ridley, Victor Holt Lassiter, John E. DeFreitas, Shevry
When L.Y. Marlow's 23-yearold daughter told her the father of her daughter threatened her life, and the life of their child, she knew something had to be done. Out of her frustration with law enforcement's handling of the situation, she decided to start the Saving Promise campaign. “It seems to be a vicious cycle that won't turn my family loose,” Marlow said. Marlow shared her story with the audience at the District Heights Domestic Violence Symposium on May 7 at the District Heights Municipal Center. The symposium was sponsored by the Family and Youth Services Center of the city of District Heights and the National HookUp of Black Women. Marlow has written a book, “Color Me Butterfly,” which is a story about four generations of domestic violence. The book is inspired by her own experiences, and those of her grandmother, her mother and her daughter. She said every time she reads excerpts from her book, she still can not believe the words came from her. “Color Me Butterfly” won the 2007 National “Best Books” Award. “I was just 16-years-old when my eye first blackened and my lips bled,” Marlow said. Elaine Davis-Nickens, president of the National Hook-Up of Black Women, said there is no consistency in the way domestic violence issues are dealt with by
“
threat,” she said. Among the programs Marlow wants to see implemented are stricter restraining order policies, more rights for victim's families to intervene on behalf of a victim, a domestic violence assessment unit coupled with further training for law enforcement agencies, a Child's Life Protection Act and mandatory counseling for batterers. “If we are ever going to eradicate domestic violence, we must look at both sides of the coin. We need to address both the victim and the batterer,” Marlow said. Marlow would also like to see programs designed to raise awareness among children in public and private schools. She feels children need to be educated about domestic violence. “We have to stop being passive-aggressive with poor children about domestic violence,” Marlow said. Marlow has worked to break the cycle of abuse in her family, and is confident the policies she is pushing for will start that process. “I plan to take these policies to Congress and implore them to change our laws,” Marlow said. “I will not stop until these policies are passed.” Tia Carol Jones can be reached at tiacaroljones@sbcglobal.net WI
We have to stop being passive-aggressive with poor children about domestic violence. I plan to take these policies to Congress and implore them to change our laws. I will not stop until Celebrating the legacy of a are King. these policies passed. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)
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McDuffie Takes on Racial Inequity in D.C By James Wright WI Contributing Writer D.C. Council member Kenyan McDuffie wants to be sure his hometown becomes a place where people regardless of race can achieve their full potential with the support of District government. To illustrate his convictions, he convened a symposium, “Race & Policy: Advancing Racial Equity and Economic Inclusion in the District of Columbia,” on Jan. 17 at the R.I.S.E. Demonstration Center on the campus of St. Elizabeths East. McDuffie, a Democrat who represents Ward 5, said it’s time for the District to address racial inequities. “This symposium speaks to the urgency of now,” he said. “This is a necessary conversation. It is my hope that this conference moves forward towards equity in the city.” There are well-documented inequalities in the District, including how the wealthiest neighborhoods have schools that score well on standardized tests and have the most resources, particularly in Wards 2 and 3 with pockets in Wards 1, 4 and in most of Ward 6. These well-heeled neighborhoods tend to be majority-white while most of the economically and educationally struggling areas, Wards 7 and 8 with swaths of working-class residents in Ward 5, remain mostly African American. In addition, just over 25 percent of Black District residents have a college degree compared to 92 percent of white residents. And while the median income for African-American households averages $38,000, white households boast an annual income that’s 330 percent higher. McDuffie told the packed audience of 300, “I am here to listen and learn from the residents as well.” He indicated his goal to replicate racial equity departments now operating in cities like Madison, Wisc., New Orleans, San Antonio and Tacoma. The National League of Cities kicked off the initiative after the Ferguson, Mo., uprisings that took place in 2012, encouraging municipalities to establish offices dealing with the inequities communities of color disproportionately face. On Jan. 8, as first reported by the Jan. 17th edition of the Informer, McDuffie introduced the REAR Act that would create a racial equity office in the District government. D.C. Council Chairman Phil
Mendelson (D) and council members David Grosso (I-At Large), Elissa Silverman (I-At Large) and Trayon White (D-Ward 8) attended the symposium. White welcomed the participants to his ward and praised McDuffie for his efforts. “We need to level the playing field in this city,” he said. “Many don’t feel the prosperity that is taking place in the city and this conversation is a great starting point to talk about things like that.” Panels featured themes that included: education and employment, health, housing and economic development and access to capital for minority-owned businesses. And while panelists addressing inequities in education agreed that outcomes for black and brown youth need to be tackled and reduced, Trinity University President Pat McGuire pointed to one factor that often leads to minority students deficiencies in their academic performance. “Many of the students who come to my university are struggling with the chronic effects of poverty,” McGuire said. “Poverty fuels racism and that is why a whole lot hasn’t changed educationally since 1970.” Annette Arno, director of the District’s Office of Health Equity DC Health, said health outcomes for the city’s people of color remain predominantly race-based. “Too many times we look only at the racial outcomes but don’t fix the structural system,” Arno said. “Race impacts opportunities for better health and everyone is affected by that spectrum. Economics and housing are determinants of someone’s health.” District residents consistently say affordable housing remains the city’s top problem – something with which other panelists also agreed. Attorney Ari Theresa referred to housing as a “commodity” saying, “housing is something that people need in the District.” Georgetown University Associate Professor Maurice Jackson said the District’s housing crisis requires residents to be more proactive. During the access to capital panel, Kevon King, co-owner of Village Cafe in Northeast, talked in-depth of how he tried unsuccessfully to obtain financing for his business through traditional banks before finally getting money through am informal network of mentors and friends. “My partner and I faced a lot of
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unconscious prejudice,” he said. “We had to answer questions about our business experience and were asked about our tax situation before being told our credit wasn’t good enough.” McDuffie called the event “amazing” and “just the beginning.” “I am committed to following up on this,” he said. McDuffie told the Informer his decision to hold the conference in Ward 8 had to do with the many inequities that exist there. He accepted this task, he said, to make District residents and leaders understand that race remains the consistent factor in the lives of many Washingtonians now dealing with inequities in 5 Dr. Joseph Richardson, Jr. and Anneta Arno, director of the DC Office of informer_ad.pdf 1 1/14/19 5:43 PM education, housing, health and eco- Health Equity, participate in a symposium on race and policy held at the RISE Center in Southeast on Jan. 17. (J. Wright/The Washington Informer) nomic development. WI
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black facts
JAN 24 - 30, 2019 SOURCE: BLACK AMERICA WEB
JAN. 24 1885 – Martin R. Delaney, an early proponent of Black nationalism and one of the first three Black people admitted to Harvard Medical School, dies of tuberculosis in Wilberforce, Ohio, at 73. 1993 – Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American Supreme Court justice, dies of heart failure in Bethesda, Maryland, at 84.
JAN. 25 1938 – Famed soul singer Etta James is born in Los Angeles. 1950 – Novelist Gloria Naylor, best known for her book “The Women of Brewster Place,” is born in New York City. 1972 – Shirley Chisholm formally announces her bid for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination, becoming the first Black presidential candidate for a major political party. 1980 – Black Entertainment Television (BET), a cable television network launched by Robert L. Johnson, begins broadcasting.
JAN. 26 1863 – U.S. Secretary of War Edwin Stanton authorizes the enlistment of Black soldiers in the Civil War. 1892 – Bessie Coleman, the first African-American pilot, is born in Atlanta, Texas. 1944 – Political activist, academic scholar and author Angela Davis is born in Birmingham, Alabama. 1948 – Executive Order 9981 is issued by President Harry S. Truman, abolishing racial discrimination in the U.S. Armed Forces. 1958 – R&B singer Anita Baker is born in Toledo, Ohio. 1990 – Elaine Weddington Steward is named assistant general manager of the Boston Red Sox, becoming the first-ever Black woman executive in Major League Baseball.
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JAN. 27 1939 – Author and academic Julius Lester is born in St. Louis. 1961 – Renowned opera singer Leontyne Price makes her debut at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. 1972 – Gospel music legend Mahalia Jackson dies in Evergreen Park, Illinois, of heart failure and diabetes complications at age 60.
JAN. 28 1960 – Famed African-American novelist Zora Neale Hurston, author of “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” dies in Fort Pierce, Florida, at age 69 of complications from a stroke. 1970 – Tennis great Arthur Ashe is denied entry to compete on the U.S. team for the South African Open tennis championships due to his stance on South Africa’s racial policies.
JAN. 29 1926 – Violette Neatley Anderson becomes the first African-American woman to practice law at the U.S. Supreme Court. 1954 – Entertainment mogul Oprah Winfrey is born in Kosciusko, Mississippi. 1966 – Charles Mahoney, the first Black American delegate to the United Nations, dies,
JAN. 30
Buying Vinyl Records from 1950 to 1986, Jazz, Rock-n-Roll, R&B, Disco, Soul, Reggae, Blues, Gospel, and record format 33 1/3, 45s, and some of the older 78s. Prefer larger collections of at least 100.
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1844 – Richard Theodore Greener, the first African-American graduate of Harvard College and dean of the Howard University School of Law, is born in Philadelphia. 1944 – Former D.C. Mayor Sharon Pratt, the first African-American woman to serve as mayor of a major American city, is born in the District. 1979 – Franklin Thomas is named the first Black president of the Ford Foundation.
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A majority of the NFL’s Black coaches were fired at the end of the season, which some argue is problematic given the league’s predominantly Black makeup. What are your thoughts?
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Look, I’m as pro-Black as anybody. But I can’t ride with this opinion. All of the coaches who were fired, Black and White, were fired because their teams sucked. C’mon, now! Hue Jackson stayed on with the Browns even though they [didn’t] win a single game last year. … As an NFL head coach, you’re supposed to try to get the best out of your players. [None] of the coaches who were fired on Black Monday were able to do that.
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But isn’t there a revolving door of mediocrity for all coaches? Jon Gruden got major bank for [coaching] the L.A. Raiders. He hasn’t won anything. The Buccaneers won under him with Dungy’s team. Different rules for different people.
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I don’t think I’m gonna bite on this one. The Browns were trash, the Jets — when I start watching again, are my team — didn’t do well in the last two to three years Todd [Bowles] was at the helm. And let’s not even start on Marvin Lewis.
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AROUND THE REGION The World According to Dominic BY D. KEVIN MCNEIR / WI EDITOR / @DKEVINMCNEIR
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From the first time I experienced the artistry of Spike Lee, reflected in his film “She’s Gotta Have It” shortly after its debut in 1987, I was hooked on the artistry and creative genius of the movie’s director and prolific filmmaker, Spike Lee. But for all of its innovations, reversal of societal norms and the unique methods of cinematography employed by the Morehouse grad, Lee’s movie about Nola Darling, determined to express her sexual freedom and the three lovers she attempts to balance in her life in ways more acceptable for the male species, would be categorially ignored by the Academy, passed over in a number of categories, including best picture – an honor that would go to “Driving Miss Daisy” – much to Lee’s chagrin. Even with the Academy’s acknowledgement of the film’s screenplay, which marks its 30th anniversary this summer, a nod for his 1997 documentary “4 Little Girls,” and an Honorary Oscar in 2015, Lee, 61, has found himself on the outside looking in, saying that he finally had to move on and not be concerned by decades
of being unfairly snubbed. “I just had to let it go and be at peace with knowing that the great work is going to outlast awards,” he said during a podcast last October in an interview with Variety. But as the adage goes, “better late than never.” Finally, and long after “Malcolm X” and “25th Hour,” two of the best films of their time according to many industry experts would be passed over for Oscar consideration, Spike Lee has picked up three Oscar nominations for the 2018 sensation, “BlacKkKlansman,” including best picture, best screenplay and best director. Lee follows John Singleton (“Boyz N the Hood”), Lee Daniels (“Precious”), Steve McQueen (“12 Years a Slave”), Barry Jenkins (“Moonlight”) and Jordan Peele (“Get Out”), becoming the sixth Black filmmaker to be Oscar-nominated for directing; the 11th Black producer nominated for best picture; and the first Black writer nominated twice for screenplay. And maybe, just maybe, Spike Lee could become the first Black filmmaker to win best director. At least, that’s what I’m hoping. Perhaps the themes that Lee has chosen for his films throughout his career have been difficult for the mostly-white voting Academy members to swallow. Perhaps they looked the other way, thinking that if they did so long enough, that the obnoxious, irascible, independent filmmaker, undaunted by naysayers as he took on “dis-
comforting” themes in his films – politically-charged issues like race relations, urban crime and poverty – even colorism in the Black community – that he’d one day finally just go away. I, for one, am both inspired and glad that Spike Lee did just the opposite. I don’t know about you, but I can distinctly remember where I was in my own life, the joys and pain therein, when Lee once again hit me with a psychic lightning bolt with such provocative works as “School Daze,” “Do the Right Thing,” “Jungle Fever,” “Crooklyn,” “Get on the Bus,” “Miracle at St. Anna” and “ChiRaq.” During the only interview I’ve had with Spike Lee just before the release of “Chi-Raq” at his Washington, D.C. hotel a few years ago, I was impressed by the calm nature of the brother from ATL who turned $175,000 into a $7 million payday at the box office with “She’s Gotta Have It.” I could almost see and hear the wheels turning in his head. After that encounter, I didn’t want to be like “Mike.” No, I wanted to be like “Spike.” “BlacKkKlansman” may finally be the film that results in Lee getting the acknowledgment by his peers and the industry that have long evaded him and of which he’s so utterly deserving. But the other nominees are no pushovers. Nonetheless, Lee has, after decades of quality work, broken through – he’s been invited to the Big Dance. And he deserves to win. WI
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Bowser Offers Aid to Residents Hurt by Shutdown D.C. Government Steps Up on Behalf of Families
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5 Mayor Bowser speaks to volunteers and the press at the Capital Area Food Bank in Northeast on Tuesday, Jan. 22, where she announced ways the DC government is stepping up to assist residents and families impacted by the Federal government shutdown. Standing with Mayor Bowser are (L-R) Jenny Reed, director of the D.C. Office of Budget and Performance Management, Dr. Unique Morris-Hughes, director of the D.C. Department of Employment Services, and Dr. Laura Zeilinger, director of the D.C. Department of Human Services. (Robert Roberts/The Washington Informer)
By James Wright WI Contributing Writer D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) recently announced measures to help District residents employed by the federal government, including contractors, deal with the partial federal government shutdown, now in its fifth week. At the Capital Area Food Bank in Northeast, Bowser spoke about the shutdown with D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D), members of her administration and Radha Muthiah, president and CEO of the Capital Area Food Bank on Jan. 22. The mayor said the shutdown, or lockout as she described it, won’t stop the District government from helping affected residents. “As we enter the second month of this aimless and unsustainable government shutdown, millions of Americans, including hundreds of thousands of District workers and families, are feeling the full impact of lost income and the anxiety that comes with not knowing when you’ll receive a steady paycheck,” Bowser said. “Americans need a solution to this shutdown but until that happens, we’re going to keep doing what we can to make sure our residents have their basic needs taken care of and that includes stepping up to fund SNAP and providing unemployment insurance benefits.” The Bowser administration will allocate monies from the District to allow federal workers who are deemed essential and are required to work but aren’t getting paid and don’t have access to unemployment insurance under federal guidelines to get assistance from the city. Bowser said she will submit emergency leg-
islation to the D.C. Council to that end and urged the legislative body to move swiftly. The mayor recently wrote a letter to the U.S. Department of Labor asking for an exemption so that working, unpaid federal employees can get unemployment insurance but received a negative response. However, District residents who currently use SNAP benefits and those applying for the program will both receive the needed funds beginning in February. The $2 million commitment that will be managed by the Department of Human Services will make up for the current lapse in federal funding for SNAP. On Tuesday, Jan. 22, D.C. Council approved legislation sponsored by Councilmember Anita Bonds (AtLarge) that prohibits D.C. residents employed by the federal government and effected by the shutdown, to face eviction or foreclosure due to nonpayment of rent or mortgages. Norton said the shutdown has put the District “in a state of emergency,” noting that 62,000 D.C. residents work for the federal government -an estimated 250,000 residing in the Greater Washington Area and employed by the federal government. “The District of Columbia is the hub of where federal workers work,” Norton said. “When federal workers aren’t in the District, our retail sector, the city’s amenities suffer, and the city doesn’t collect taxes. We are losing $1 billion a week because of this shutdown.” Norton said legislation she supports includes zero-interest loans from the U.S. Department of Treasury, preventing foreclosures and evictions and eliminating penalties for withdrawing funds from retire-
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ment accounts. Both Bowser and Norton have called for an immediate end to the shutdown. Radha Muthiah leads the Capital Area Food Bank and said, “too many households are struggling from paycheck to paycheck” and “there are long, long lines for our services.” “In a normal January, we offer three million meals,” Muthiah said. “We now offer 3.6 million meals this January because of the shutdown. I am proud of the way other organizations have stepped up like Bread for the City and Martha’s Table and our partners such as Giant and Safeway supermarkets. WI
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JANUARY 24 - 30, 2019 9 THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
AROUND THE REGION CAPTURE THE MOMENT
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World Central Kitchen in Northwest is helping Federal employees and their families by offering meals. A long line of people took advantage of the opportunity on January 17. (Roy Lewis/The Washington Informer)
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The Shut-Down crew reads the Washington Informer. (L-R) Furaha Bey, Dr. Beverly J. O`Bryant, Diamond Jim Miller, Jacqui Daughtry-Miller, Stacy Reddick, Tanya Blake, Norma Payton, Russell Bacon, and Sandra Lawson. (Roy Lewis/The Washington Informer)
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WORDS TO LIVE BY “ I am not the candidate of black America, although I am black and proud . . . not the candidate of the women’s movement, although I am a woman and I’m equally proud of that . . . not the candidate of any political bosses or special interests. I am the candidate of the people.”
– Shirley Chisholm Speech announcing presidency candidacy, [1972]
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AROUND THE REGION
Lawmaker Demands Accountability for MoCo Housing Agency Activists Say Maryland Delegate’s Bill Doesn’t Go Far Enough By Sam P.K. Collins WI Contributing Writer @SamPKCollins Allegations of fraud and mismanagement within the Montgomery County Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC), prompted in part by an ongoing dispute over an African-American burial ground in Bethesda, has spurred efforts to place the agency under the watchful eye of the Maryland Office of the Inspector General. Maryland State Delegate Ben Kramer, author of a bill that would allow the state inspector general to investigate complaints against HOC, expressed confidence that the legislation, months in the making, would eventually become law. On Friday afternoon, it passed through the Montgomery County House Delegation Subcommittee of the Maryland General Assembly by a unanimous vote. “We should authorize the Montgomery County inspector general to have that authority over the Housing Opportunities Commission with the goal of creating greater transparency.” Kramer, a Democrat representing the Maryland communities of Aspen Hill, Rockville and Wheaton, said an hour after his bill’s passage through the subcommittee. “This ensures that the residents of Montgomery County are getting the best for their dollars,” he said. The bill, titled “MC 7-19: Oversight of HOC,” will soon reach the Senate Delegation. If it passes, a standing committee, either in the Maryland House or Senate, will examine it through committees, the names of which Kramer said he hadn’t been able to determine as of Friday. He did, however, predict MC 7-19’s passage in the standing committee because of its local implications. Kramer, in his second term in the Maryland House of Delegates, has introduced similar legislation mandating that the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commissions acquiesce to the Maryland Office of the Inspector General. “We have to make sure we have someone over the Housing Opportunities Commission’s shoulder to look for waste, mismanagement, and fraud and to
have an entity that employees and the public can reach out to when they have issues,” he said. The HOC, an agency created in the 1970s in response to Montgomery County’s affordable housing needs, has reportedly taken no position on Kramer’s bill or allegations of subpar living and working conditions levied by employees and tenants. Earlier this month, Montgomery County police officers arrested protesters from Macedonia Baptist Church — Dr. Marsha Coleman-Adebayo, Tim Willard, Mary Rooker, and Lynn Pekkanen — when they allegedly disturbed a monthly HOC meeting in Kensington, Maryland. In a public statement the day after the incident, HOC officials denied an arrest occurred, saying protesters had been escorted out and issued a citation instead. HOC officials also expressed support for efforts to memorialize Moses African Cemetery, saying they will work with Macedonia Baptist Church, Montgomery County Department of Parks, and County Executive Elrich in finding a solution to an issue now in its third year. Since the HOC used its line of credit to purchase the plot of land known as Moses African Cemetery from a private developer in late 2017, the group from Macedonia Baptist Church, a historically Black church on River Road in Bethesda, has attended, testified and protested at HOC meetings to pressure commission officials to reveal their plans for the burial grounds. Since taking ownership, HOC hasn’t specified what would become of the property. In November, then-Montgomery County Executive-elect Marc Elrich (D) weighed in on the matter upon HOC Executive Director Stacey Spann’s announcement that the HOC would determine the future of the burial site through an advisory board comprised of community members. Elrich rejected that plan, saying the dispute over Moses African Cemetery, located behind Westwood Towers on River Road, must be resolved solely between Macedonia Baptist Church and the commission, with Elrich as a mediator. Months later, HOC and Macedonia Baptist Church members still stand at odds.
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Coleman-Adebayo, Macedonia’s social justice coordinator and a key figure in the protests, described her and her colleagues’ Jan 9 arrest as an act of civil disobedience. HOC’s denial of the incident in a public statement, on the other hand, highlights the dishonesty that has put the future of Moses African Cemetery in limbo, Coleman-Adebayo told The Informer. “HOC is so duplicitous that it sent a letter to the Maryland House of Delegates denying that arrests took place,” Coleman-Adebayo said. “Who will hold HOC accountable for lying to Maryland State Assembly officials?” she asked. On Friday, Coleman-Adebayo joined fellow supporters of Delegate Kramer’s bill at the Montgomery County Delegation
5 Maryland State Delegate Ben Kramer (Courtesy photo)
subcommittee meeting. In the moments before the unanimous vote in support of the legislation, she pondered what she called the absurdity of having to codify respect for Black bodies and ancestors, employees, tenants, and other people under the HOC’s purview.
Though she expressed pleasure at its passage, Coleman-Adebayo said the bill doesn’t go far enough in holding the commission accountable, particularly in negotiations around Moses African Cemetery.
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JANUARY 24 - 30, 2019 11 THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY Black Republicans Push to Make Mark in Maryland By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill With Maryland voters choosing to keep Republican Gov. Larry Hogan for a second four-year term, Black Republicans see this as a possible sea change in politics and values. It’s unclear exactly how many Blacks are registered Republicans in the overwhelmingly Democratic state, but one Republican leader said there’s more than what most people think. “There’s a lot of people who are afraid to admit they’re Republican” in order to avoid confrontations, said Torrey Snow, a member of the state’s Black Republican Council. “That’s a common refrain. The BRC has a message that you’re not alone. We’re here. Come find us.” At least 10 registered Black Republican candidates ran for office in the November election, Snow said. Only one candidate, incumbent Tal-
bot County Councilman Corey W. Pack, emerged victorious. Two other Blacks — Brandon Cooper of Prince George’s County and Tony Campbell of Baltimore County — were chosen last month as the state Republican Party’s first vice chair and second vice chair, respectively. Cooper and Campbell will be among a list of guest speakers at the council’s legislative reception Thursday, Jan. 24 at the House of Delegates in Annapolis. Snow said details will be outlined on two of its policy objectives this year, criminal justice and education reforms. The council’s been around for several years as a coalition to the state Republican Party. On its website, the party requests residents to sign a petition and support Hogan’s crime package that includes 200 federal, state and local law enforcement officers to help deter violent crime in Baltimore City. In addition, legislation to
5 Maryland Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford addresses the crowd during his inauguration outside the State House in Annapolis on Jan. 16 as his wife, Monica, and their daughters, Lauren and Kristen, listen.(Photo by Brigette White/The Washington Informer)
increase the minimum sentence to 10 years for repeat offenders who use a gun to commit a violent crime. The council seeks to become more visual to not only work with other Republicans, but also with community and civil rights organizations such as the NAACP. “We are focusing on building patience and the ability to listen,” said Snow, 35, who last year ran unsuccessfully for an Anne Arundel County Council seat. “All Republicans are not evil. It is kind of our role to say, ‘this is our way to how we do it this way.’ Unification is a huge part of these dialogues.” Maryland Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford said common backgrounds can also allow Blacks with different political perspectives to communicate. “We can talk about issues in a language that the people I grew up
Kirwan to Brief Lawmakers on Commission Report By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill ANNAPOLIS — Lawmakers will review an updated report that outlines recommendations to revamp public education in Maryland estimated to cost $3.8 billion. William E. Kirwan, who chairs an education group formally called the Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education, said he will brief lawmakers Thursday, Jan. 24 before committees in the Senate and House. “This is a seminally important day,” Kirwan, a former University of Maryland system chancellor, said during a session last week in Annapolis. “We all worked long and hard to reach this point. I am hopeful this will not require a lot of discussion.” The group also known as the Kirwan Commission met Friday, Jan. 18 for more than three hours to approve an interim report that rec-
12 JANUARY 24 - 30, 2019
3 The Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education, also known as the Kirwan Commission, discuss an interim report on recommendations to revamp Maryland’s public school system on Jan. 18. (Photo by William J. Ford/The Washington Informer)
ommends boosting early childhood education, increasing teacher salaries and building more family resource centers. However, state leaders request recommendations on how to divide the cost to fund these initiatives between the state and local school districts. This is based on a request from Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. and House Speaker Michael Busch to continue work this year.
Kirwan said a committee will work on the plan after this year’s General Assembly session and provide a recommendation to the commission for final approval in the fall. Democratic Sens. William C. Ferguson IV of Baltimore City and Ronald N. Young of Frederick County joined the commission last week to replace former Sen. Rich
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with who may be voting Democrat can talk to them in the language they are used to,” he said. “Something that was centered around the community and family and faith. We can talk to those things people understand and appreciate.” With Hogan becoming Maryland’s first Republican governor to win re-election in 64 years and conservative Blacks in political leadership positions in the state, former Republican Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele sees this as a gradual change among Marylanders. “It says a lot about how the state has matured, politically, and how the state has grown and how it’s continuing to grow,” said Steele, who was the state’s first Black elected to the position and served with former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich from 2003 to 2007. “Unfortunately, we are in a time where we have some Republicans who like my momma would say, ‘Are showing their behind.’”
THE PARTY OF LINCOLN
According to the Black Republican council’s website, part of its mission is to “help Black Americans see their natural alliance with the Republican Party.” That goal stems from Abraham Lincoln as a Republican who fought to save the Union. His party sought to ratify the 13th Amendment to end slavery, as well as the 14th Amendment that guaranteed equal protection under the law. A major historic change for the party happened when Republican presidential candidate Barry Goldwater voted against the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Lyndon B. Johnson won the presidency and millions of Black voters followed the Democratic Party’s signature horse ever since. It’s also noted in a book on Black conservatism written by Leah Wright Rigueur titled, “The Loneliness of the Black Republican: Pragmatic Politics
and the Pursuit of Power.” Here’s an excerpt from the book: “As politicians shaped the GOP from top down, ordinary white city dwellers and suburbanites from all backgrounds and income levels along with an army of conservative activists, influenced by the direction of the GOP from the grass roots, reacting to changing social and culture norms, the liberalism of the civil rights movement and the radicalism of Black Power. In short, the GOP is a party whose conservatism, to quote Robert Smith and Hanes Walton, seems to make it ‘virtually impossible for Blacks, given their history and condition,’ to accept.” Some historical and current Black Republicans are Frederick Douglass; the late Sen. Edward Brooke III of Massachusetts, who was elected in 1966 and the first Black elected after the post-Reconstruction era; retired four-star Army Gen. Colin Powell; and Alveda King, a former Georgia state representative and niece of late civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. Today, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina is the only Black conservative in the Senate and Rep. Will Hurd of Texas the lone Black Republican in the House. Former Rep. Mia Love of Utah lost her re-election bid. President Donald Trump leads the GOP where a divided Congress remains split on a myriad of policies, including taxes, immigration and funding for border security at the heart of the ongoing partial federal government shutdown. Trump and his connection to the Republican Party continue to receive criticism from Democrats and even some conservatives for his constant social media posts on Twitter. “I am not Donald Trump. I’ve never met Donald Trump,” Snow said. “Trump has not made life easy any of us. At the end of the day, we try hard to define ourselves as Marylanders and we acknowledge we have limited impact over what happens on the national level.” WI
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PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY
Hogan Sworn-In as Governor of Maryland
Becomes First Republican Re-elected in 64 Years By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill
“Because of the trust that you have placed in me, I pledge to you that I will keep giving this job everything I’ve got, every single day that I am given,” he said. We didn’t demand Republican solutions or Democratic solutions; we sought out bipartisan, common-sense solutions that worked for the people of Maryland.” Hogan also praised two other Republicans – the late Arizona Sen. John McCain and former President George W. Bush – as individuals who chose politics over party. Bush’s brother, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, introduced Hogan as a man who leaders in Congress should emulate for the way the state of Maryland operates. “Gov. Larry Hogan is the best example in public life today making efforts every day to make less discourse in our culture, [but] to make it stronger and more loving,” Bush said. “If we can do that, then all the problems of dysfunction in Washington, D.C., will matter not.” Maryland Democratic Party chairwoman Maya Rockeymoore Cummings released a statement after Hogan’s speech,
criticizing the governor for his professed admiration of Bush, who served as Florida’s governor during the controversial Trayvon Martin case and who advocated to end race-based admissions at public universities. Cummings also stressed how Hogan campaigned on a Democratic platform such as the “lockbox” initiative to ensure casino revenues go toward education. “Calling Bush’s time as governor a model should give everyone pause,” Cummings said. “The Democratic Party will be here to hold [Hogan] accountable and, with our leaders in the General Assembly and in counties across the state, continue to fight for a better quality of life for all Marylanders.” Several Democratic residents attended the inauguration of Hogan and Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford, including Hazel Robinson of Fort Washington. The administration won her over with its transportation plans, as Fort Washington, located in the southern part of Prince George’s, has fewer mass transit options than other parts of the county. “I like the fact that they’re
PGCPS
provide 20,000 student meals through donations. Funds will be distributed to schools with the greatest demonstrated need.
Compiled by Dorothy Rowley WI Staff Writer
Andrew Jackson Academy student Joy West was selected in a drawing from thousands of students as winner of the “Make the Break” contest hosted by Achieve3000. The contest challenged students to stay engaged in learning by completing online lessons over holiday break to continue growth achieved in the first semester. West, the only winner in Maryland, will receive a new karaoke system.
of the Week. Sulaman, a rising STEM star who aspires to make global impact through science, is already gaining real world experience working to determine the effects of stress on honey bees. He is completing the project with guidance from scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where he secured a full-year internship. “I’ve always been into nature, the outdoors and environmental science, so when I learned USDA was studying the bees, I was immediately interested,” he said. Sulaman is also active in sports and in his community. In addition to membership on the Oxon Hill varsity lacrosse team, he plays the viola in orchestra; enjoys cooking, fishing, hiking and soccer and is a member of the National Honor Society, National English Honor Society and National French Honor Society. A graduate of Maya Angelou French Immersion, Sulaman is fluent in French and hopes to
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, Jr. used his inauguration speech last week to not only encourage bipartisanship but to also send a message to federal lawmakers about 30 minutes away in D.C. To amplify his meaning, the 62nd governor of Maryland used the words of his late father, Lawrence Hogan, Sr., a U.S. congressman who became the first Republican in 1974 to advocate for the impeachment of Richard Nixon. “Party loyalty and personal affection and precedents of the past must fall before the arbiter of men’s actions: the law itself,” Hogan said Wednesday, Jan. 16, repeating his father’s words. “No man, not even the president of the United States, is above the law. For our system of justice and our system of government to survive, we must pledge our highest allegiance to the strength of the law and not to the common frailties of man.” Although Maryland remains an overwhelmingly Democratic state, Hogan easily won re-election, the first Republican governor in the state to do so in 64 years.
BRIEFS
10K MEAL CHALLENGE
Prince George’s County Public Schools recently launched the 10,000 Meals Challenge fund to cover the cost of student meals for families affected by the ongoing federal government shutdown. This week, community partners and individual donors surpassed the original goal and interim PGCPS CEO Dr. Monica Goldson set a new target to
NATIONAL CONTEST WINNER
SCHOLAR OF THE WEEK
Sulaman Shah, a senior at Oxon Hill High School who is a Science and Technology program scholar, athlete, musician and aspiring philanthropist, was recently named PGCPS Scholar
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5 Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (second from left) with his wife, Yumi, stand beside Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford (right) and his wife, Monica, on stage following the inauguration ceremony Jan. 16 in Annapolis. (Photo by Brigette White/The Washington Informer)
moderate,” she said. “It’s like common-sense leadership and that’s what I appreciate.” Several high school seniors such as Jada Eaton worked last week in Annapolis as pages, handling duties ranging from distributing materials for lawmakers to assisting visitors. Eaton, an 18-year-old senior at Oxon Hill High School, viewed the swearing-in of Ho-
gan and Rutherford inside the Senate chamber. “I feel like this was a great opportunity for all of us because [an inauguration] happens only once every four years,” she said before taking a picture with Hogan, Rutherford and their spouses. “I got to hold the door for [Hogan]. This is one of the biggest moments of my life.” WI
5 PGCPS recently launched the “10,000 Meals Challenge” fund to cover the cost of student meals for or families impacted by the federal government shutdown. /Courtesy of PGCPS
someday put his multilingualism and science education to work in developing nations.
OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS
The PGCPS Board of Education will host three public hearings on the proposed FY2020 Operating Budget. Hearings will be held on Jan. 29 at Fairmont Heights HS, Feb. 5 at Friendly HS, and Feb. 11 at High Point HS.
WEATHER INFORMATION
Following the recent weather closing and delays, parents and students are reminded to stay tuned to the PGCPS website, email and text alerts, social media updates and media reports for information regarding weather-related changes to the school schedule. WI
JANUARY 24 - 30, 2019 13 THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
BUSINESS Maryland Nonprofit Announces ‘Black Futures’ Micro-Grant
By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia
With a motto of “building Black futures together,” community-based organization CLLCTIVLY.org is spearheading an effort to show the tremendous effect Black lives are having throughout the city. Each month, the nonprofit social impact organization, which serves as a resource for those seeking to find, fund and partner with Black social change organizations in the city, has pledged to award a local individual or organization
with a “Black Futures” micro-grant worth $1,000. “In 2015, after the death of Freddie Gray, a coalition of grassroots activists and concerned citizens came together to form Baltimore United for Change,” said CLLCTIVLY founder Jamye Wooten, referring to the 25-yearold Black man who died while in Baltimore police custody and the ensuing protests in the city. “And in the days following the uprising, we launched a skills bank to create an on-ramp for concern community members that wanted to serve.” Wooten said more than 260 individuals and organizations an-
swered the call. “Community organizations often work in silos, these silos lead to fragmentation, fragmentation leads to duplication, and duplication leads to wasted resources — time, talent and treasure,” he said. “The first phase of our project (CLLCTIV ASSETS) will create an online asset map/directory of organizations in greater Baltimore listed by neighborhood and area of concentration. “Our mission is to end the fragmentation and duplication of programs, to learn from and about each other, and to be a resource for the greater Baltimore community that seeks to find, fund and partner with Black social change organizations,” Wooten said. The idea of CLLCTIVLY and the grant was conceived because many Black-led organizations are under-resourced and under-appreciated, he said. “I want to shine a light on the individuals and organizations that are doing great work in our community,” Wooten said. “I know the grant process can be intimidating for many, so I set out to create an easy, no-strings-attached process to show gratitude to the organizations and individuals serving our community.”
5 Jamye Wooten (Photo courtesy CLLCTIVLY)
The first $1,000 grant will be awarded Feb. 22 and the deadline for submission is Jan. 31. All are welcome to visit BlackFuturesGrant.org to apply. Details about qualification are also available on the website. “CLLCTIVLY.org is very excited to offer the Black Futures Mi-
Region’s “Restaurant Week” Extended thru Jan. 27 WI Staff Report Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington [RAMW] has extended “Restaurant Week” for the first time in the bi-annual promotion’s 18-year history, continuing the opportunity for diners to take advantage of affordable lunches, brunches and dinners through Sunday, Jan. 27. Restaurants participating in the extended Winter Restaurant Week are listed on the promotion’s website at www.RWDMV.com. RAMW made the decision to extend Restaurant Week to continue giving guests a great opportunity to dine out while supporting the local restaurant industry in D.C., Maryland and Virginia. With 182 restaurants from which eager diners can chose, menus are priced at $35 for dinner and $22 for lunch and brunch, just as before. RAMW’s decision to officially extend Restaurant Week comes in the midst of the ongoing federal government shutdown, which has been impacting business at many metropolitan Washington restaurants. RAMW began considering the extension after hearing from restaurant operators reporting an average 20 percent decrease in business compared to this time in 2018, with some operators
14 JANUARY 24 - 30, 2019
reporting decreases as high as 60 percent. “Officially extending Restaurant Week is just one way the restaurant industry is showing support during the shutdown. The promotion is helping to lift spirits as it offers a dining deal to those impacted by the shutdown and as the Restau-
rant Week promotion drives traffic to restaurants who are experiencing a slow-down in business,” said RAMW President/CEO Kathy Hollinger. In addition to Restaurant Week, many restaurants are also continuing to offer specials to furloughed employees.
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Guests who want to share where they are visiting during the extended Restaurant Week can use the hashtag #RWDMVExtended on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, as well as tagging RAMW. Follow RAMW at @ramwdc on Twitter as well as Instagram for the latest updates about Restaurant Week and participating restaurants. WI
cro-Grant. Baltimore has amazing, dedicated individuals and organizations in our community who are making a difference without a spotlight, and often under resourced,” Wooten said. “We want to show our appreciation and motivate others to also use their time, talent and resources to strengthen our communities.” It’s Wooten’s hope that CLLCTIVLY will help bring unity and foster collaboration among the many community organizations doing great work, he said. “We are in a state of emergency,” Wooten said. “We must get back to pooling our collective resources and building community together. He cited a recent report by the Institute of Policy Studies that found it would take Black families 228 years to amass the same amount of wealth White families have today if average Black family wealth continues to grow at the same pace it has over the past three decades. Recognizing the large scope of its mission, CLLCTIVLY has organized its work into six phases. The first phase includes creating an online asset map/directory of organizations in Greater Baltimore, listed by neighborhood and area of concentration. There is also an online store where 20 percent of proceeds are directed to the Black Futures Micro-Grant Fund. “If the organization’s first month is any indication, the future of CLLCTIVLY is bright,” Wooten said. “Members are joining, the Black Futures online store is fulfilling orders, and the first Black Futures Micro-Grant Award is just weeks away. The community is responding, and we’re excited about it.” WI
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BUSINESS
Fight For $15 Back on the Forefront By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill Supporters and opponents of proposed legislation to raise Maryland’s minimum wage to $15 an hour may soon flock to the state capital for what’s expected to result in hours of heated testimony. That’s because the bill, sponsored by Delegate Diana Fennell (D-District 47A) of Colmar Manor, has been slated for public hearing before the House Economic Matters Committee – the date of which will be announced very soon. “I would say sometime by mid-February,” said Dereck E. Davis (D-District 25) of Mitchellville who chairs the committee. “Once it comes, we’ll get to work.” Similar legislation sponsored by state Sen. Cory McCray of Baltimore City will be reviewed by the Senate’s Finance Committee. Lawmakers, activists, business owners and workers pushed for legislation last year to gradually increase the state’s minimum wage. And while the House moved forward on a bill, it didn’t receive much traction in the more conservative Senate. “One-third of the Senate has changed,” said McCray, who became elected from the House in November. “When people see others struggling and you know it’s your family member, you know your neighbor’s story, you know your community’s story, it’s [uplifting].” But McCray and others will try to convince non-supporters such as Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford who briefly explained in an interview that minimum wage jobs resemble entry-level positions for
young people to gain employment experience. He said the focus should be on initiatives such as the state’s Apprenticeship and Training Program. Hogan announced in September the state had reached 10,000 registered for future workers to learn about careers in manufacturing, cybersecurity and information technology. “At some point, you go to $15 an hour and the person who already makes $15 an hour has to go to $17 and the person who is making $17 has to go to $19 or $20,” Rutherford said. “In three to five years, that $15 an hour is going to be the same thing as the $10 an hour now. What we should be focusing on is skilled-development and not just an arbitrary decision to increase someone’s pay.” Rutherford also said the minimum wage increase would hurt small businesses. Organizations such as the Restaurant Association of Maryland opposed last year’s legislation because it would force local merchants to either decrease their number of employees or shut down. Brian England, owner of BA Auto Care in Columbia, said it would do the opposite. “I see working people having to choose between replacing bald tires or a new battery,” said England who’s operated his business since 1978. “When businesses pay more, it’s good for all businesses because their employees become consumers.” The “Fight for $15” movement began in 2012 when fast food workers in New York City demanded a minimum wage increase and the right to form a union. The movement in Maryland coincides this year with five other states, according to the National Discover the world’s best walk-in bathtub from 5 Reasons American Standard Walk-In Tubs are Your Best Choice 1 2
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5 Delegate Diana Fennell (D-District 47A) of Colmar Manor gives remarks at a press conference Jan. 14 in Annapolis to support legislation to raise Maryland’s minimum wage to $15 an hour. Fennell will introduce legislation in the House and state Sen. Cory McCray of Baltimore City(second from left) will present similar legislation in the Senate. (William J. Ford/Washington Informer)
Employment Law Project. The nonprofit organization based in New York City released an analysis last month indicating 13 cities and counties that have reached or
exceeded the $15 an hour wage as of Jan. 1. The minimum wage currently in Maryland increased to $10.10 in July.
According to the draft legislation, the minimum wage would gradually increase as follows:
FIGHT Page 44
DCPSC Community Hearing on Gas Leaks Reporting Requirement Wednesday, February 6, 2019 2:00 p.m. 1325 G Street, N.W. Suite 800 The DCPSC is holding a Community Hearing to discuss the community’s concerns related to natural gas leaks. The purpose of the hearing is to provide safety information to community members and solicit comments regarding the dissemination of natural gas leaks information to the public. To testify, please contact the Office of the Commission Secretary by 5 p.m., 3 days before the hearing by calling 202-626-5150 or by sending an email to psccommissionsecretary@dc.gov by February 1, 2019. If you're unable to attend, written statements may be dropped off to the DCPSC at 1325 G Street N.W., Suite 800, Washington D.C. 20005, or submitted through the DCPSC website, dcpsc.org by February 13, 2019. Individuals who need special accommodations, interpretation and/or translation services should inform the Office of the Commission Secretary at least 7 days prior to the hearing at 202-626-5150.
Keep current with the DCPSC at dcpsc.org and on
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JANUARY 24 - 30, 2019 15 THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
NATIONAL New House Members Fall Short Hiring Top Staff of Color, Freshman Senators Slow to Hire
WI Staff Report
The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies’ September 2018 report found that while individuals of color accounted for 38 percent
of the U.S. population, they only accounted for 13.7 percent of U.S. House top staffers. In its ongoing vigilance in keeping track of new hires in Congress, the Joint Center found that be-
ELDER HOUSING RESOURCE FORUM Join the Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking for a FREE elder housing resource forum. The forum is provided in partnership with the Clergy for Community Wealth and Preservation and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
WHEN Thursday, February 7, 2019 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. WHERE Hattie Holmes Sr. Wellness Ctr. 324 Kennedy St. NW Washington, DC 20011 FOR MORE INFO & TO REGISTER Idriys Abdullah 202-442-7832 idriys.abdullah@dc.gov Register online: disbelderforum.eventbrite.com The forum will provide resources to assist seniors age safely, comfortably and affordably in their homes.
16 JANUARY 24 - 30, 2019
5 Members of the 116th Congress (Photo courtesy Mandel Ngan)
tween Dec. 25 and Jan. 7, individuals of color accounted for only 17.2 percent of top staffers hired by newly-elected House members. This is a significant drop from the percentage of individuals of color hired in top staff positions from Nov. 7 to Dec. 24 (31.1 percent). As a result, the Joint Center’s Live Tracker now shows that 26.1 percent of all top staffers hired so far by newly-elected House members are individuals of color. In the Joint Center’s Dec. 24 update, newly-elected senators had yet to hire any top staff of color. In the latest update, the center found that one top staffer of color was hired by newly-elected Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.), raising the percentage of top staff hires of color in the U.S. Senate to 7.7 percent. The hiring of diverse top staffers by newly-elected House members (26.1 percent) continues to lag behind the national population (38 percent individuals of color) and has decreased since Dec. 24, when the percentage of top staff hired was 31.3 percent.
From Dec. 25 to Jan. 7, individuals of color accounted for 26.3 percent of top staff hired by newly-elected House Democrats, which falls below their diverse hiring from Nov. 7 to Dec. 24 (43.8 percent). As a result, individuals of color account for 34.5 percent of top staff hired by newly-elected House Democrats. By comparison, individuals of color accounted for 24.6 percent of top staff employed by House Democrats in the Joint Center’s September 2018 report. Additionally, from Dec. 25 to Jan. 7, individuals of color accounted for 5.6 percent of top staff hired by newly-elected House Republicans, which is lower than the percentage of their diverse hiring from Nov. 7 to Dec. 24 (6.3 percent). As a result, individuals of color account for 5.9 percent of top staff hired by newly-elected House Republicans. By comparison, individuals of color accounted for 4 percent of top staff employed by House Republicans in the Joint Center’s Septem-
ber 2018 report. In the Senate, individuals of color accounted for 7.1 percent of Senate top staff in the Joint Center’s December 2015 report, and are currently 7.7 percent of top staff hired by newly-elected U.S. senators (1 of 13 hires). Among returning members of Congress, the Joint Center identified 17 top staffers of color hired since Nov. 7. Returning senators hired two Black chiefs of staff and one Black legislative director. This compared to 12 top staffers of color hired by returning members in a Dec. 24 update. According to the Joint Center’s Live Tracker, a total of 133 of 307 possible positions have been filled. “New members of Congress have an opportunity to significantly increase diversity among top staff, as they could hire over 300 top staff positions (chiefs of staff, legislative directors, and communications directors),” Center officials said in a news release. WI
KIRWAN from Page 12
dergarten for 3-year-old children from low–income families over a 10year period. • Gradually raising teacher pay to a minimum salary of $60,000. • Opening 30 Family Resource Centers to ensure young mothers receive pre- and post-natal support. • Awarding scholarships from the Maryland Higher Education Commission to eligible students that reflects geographic and racial diversity. • Creating an Oversight Board to monitor school-level funding. The commission implemented several suggestions from Ivory Toldson, a professor of counseling psychology at Howard University in D.C. Toldson’s suggestions included cultural competency training for teachers, hiring a more diverse group of teachers and providing resources
and assistance to students from disadvantaged families for college and career readiness. Documents also dissected certain words and seek to change phrases such as describing students from low-income neighborhoods to “at-promise” students, “meaning that they have the promise and potential to be successful in school if the education system is designed to meet their needs.” Karen Salmon, Maryland state superintendent of schools and another member of the commission, bristled at the use of words such as “distressingly” to illustrate performance gaps in the PARCC exams. “It’s starting to read more like a novel than it is a factual, educational report,” she said. “We don’t use language like that to describe things, at least in my world.” WI
Madaleno Jr. and Stephen Waugh. In the meantime, Gov. Larry Hogan released a proposed budget which includes $200 million allocated toward some of the Kirwan initiatives. Delegate Maggie McIntosh of Baltimore City, a member of the commission, estimated another $36 million toward education was designated from the “lockbox” initiative for casino revenue. “We do not believe this is sufficient,” she said. “We want to spend more. We will have to find in the budget, as we do, cuts that we can make so that we can do more for the Kirwan initiative.” The report’s recommendations include: • Implementing full-day pre-kin-
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The WAFF Ice House – Raising Awareness and Funds to Keep our Neighbors Warm Feel the Chill, Warm Your Neighbor. Cool Down so Others can Warm Up. These were just a couple of the themes for the 2019 WAFF Ice House event at the District Wharf in Southwest DC to raise funds for emergency heating assistance and awareness of this critical need across our community. This was the second consecutive year Washington Gas joined with The Salvation Army, Monumental Sports and Entertainment, NBC4, WTOP, The Washington Post and dozens of local area partners to host the two-day WAFF Ice House event. Built from 98 blocks of ice, amassing 20,000 pounds, the Ice House was the star of the show which, coupled with face painting, a thermal camera booth, and other family-friendly activities, showcased the Washington Area Fuel Fund’s (WAFF) longtime role in providing critical heating assistance to those in need. The 2019 WAFF Ice House stood at 10-foot by 20-foot on the District Pier at The Wharf and was designed and built by Ice Lab,
a Baltimore-based company that specializes in modern ice carvings for a broad range of clients, industries and occasions. The visually compelling structure enabled passersby to not only learn more about the cause, but also to safely experience what it’s like to be in a home without heat. The blustery conditions brought on by the recent snowstorm that blanketed the D.C. area helped underscore WAFF’s mission to distribute financial aid to those who would otherwise be forced to endure a cold home every day. In addition, programs like WAFF help support those families impacted by the federal government shutdown who are going without a paycheck as temperatures sharply drop. “Every year, our customers and neighbors across the region join with us to help families in need pay their energy bills through donations to WAFF. We are pleased to pay all costs to run this program so that every dollar donated can help a family directly,” said Adrian Chapman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Washington Gas and WGL. “Through our Ice House event, we are able to raise awareness
about this serious issue in a very visual and dramatic way, while providing the community with a fun and entertaining experience at the same time.” Fewer than 2 in 10 people eligible for federal energy assistance actually receive it due to a lack of funds to meet the growing demand. In addition, families living in poverty spend more than 30 percent of their income on energy
bills. WAFF bridges this assistance gap by making emergency funds available for those in need to help pay their heating bill. Because Washington Gas pays all administrative and promotional fees to operate the fund, 100 percent of all donations to WAFF go directly to heating assistance. In 2018, the WAFF Ice House raised $130,000 which provided heating
assistance to more than 200 families. The event also raised visibility about those in need during winter and seeking donations in support of providing heating assistance throughout the season. At press time, more than 56 companies and individuals have already raised almost $140,000 to support WAFF.
In the d.C. region, if you
nEEd HEAT,
HElP Is HErE. A new program creates EvEn MorE oPPorTunITIEs for assistance with heating bills through the WAsHInGTon ArEA FuEl Fund (WAFF) beginning January 2.
Eligibility requirements for the Merger Funds Program*: 5 WAFF volunteers were busy collecting donations that will provide much needed assistance to help members of our community keep the heat on at home. 3 The Salvation Army’s Captain Lorenzo, Washington Gas’ Community and WAFF Manager Kelly Caplan and The Salvation Army’s Area Commander Major Chip Hall gather in the Ice House to kick off the 2nd annual WAFF event.
You must reside in the Washington Gas service territory and be a customer. Meet income eligibility guidelines (e.g., family of four earning $75,050 could receive assistance). You have a disconnection notice, or had service disconnected. Traditional assistance continues to be available. Families who are not Washington Gas customers (but live in the Washington Gas service territory) are still eligible to receive WAFF heating assistance through your local Salvation Army office. Get more information about receiving WAFF assistance at WAFFHelp.org.
*Through WGL’s merger with AltaGas, more low- and moderate-income customers now may receive support from WAFF, which helps with your winter heating bills if you live in D.C., Maryland or Virginia. Contact your local Salvation Army office. #e36f1e
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JANUARY 24 - 30, 2019 17 THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
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Breakup from Hell: He Was After My Money, Says Estranged Wife
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Vukile Phumlani Armstrong Mtshali has lost an urgent interdict in the Pretoria High Court against his estranged wife, Deborah Mtshali, because it lacked urgency. Vukile, 47, was seeking an order forbidding her from selling off joint assets and from spending any money in her business bank accounts because, he said, the businesses were registered in her name to secure tenders more easily, South Africa’s City Press reported. Deborah, 44, from eMalahleni, told sister paper Rapport that his claims amounted to “rubbish” and denied all of his allegations, including that she had planned to have him assassinated and was having an affair. Vukile asked the court to order Absa and Standard Bank to freeze her accounts for the Belle Doné Boutique Hotel & Spa in eMalahleni, Pacific Breeze Trading and New Order Investments until they are divorced. “I was a successful entrepreneur with many businesses and tenders. My businesses paid for my life of luxury,” he said in papers before the court. These included tenders for services rendered to hospitals and a company called Coalition Trading. He met Deborah, whose own successful business ventures made them particularly “compatible,” in 2012 and they married in 2013. He claimed they made a verbal business agreement that included registering all their businesses in her name to favor the awarding of tenders because, as a Black woman, she qualified for a higher black economic empowerment (BEE) certificate. He was made managing director of the companies. “We sold our shares in Eyethu Coal and with the money demolished our old house in Durban to build a mansion,” he said in court papers. But at the beginning of 2018 he said he learnt she was cheating on him and then she moved out of their Durban home and back to eMalahleni and “blocked me from accessing our bank accounts.” “I am unemployed,” he said in the court papers, while Deborah has “lots of entities and money in her name that she is using.” He said he now lives in a flat in Centurion that is rented by a family member. Deborah, however, told Rapport that his BEE claims were not true and that she always had her own businesses. She said Vukile “charmed” her into a relationship, but once they were married she realized he was after her money. When they met, she said, she had five cars. Now she just has one because he loaned the others to people and they were written off. “We went to see a psychologist together and he admitted he used my money to please other people,” she said, adding that Vukile never owned any shares in Eyethu Coal and that she left him just in time, before he bankrupted her. “I paid his debt, his credit card. He found me with businesses and left me with almost nothing.” Her parting shot? “He has a degree. He can get a job.” WI
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Bahamian Prime Minister Hubert Minnis (left) lauded the new employment and consumption within the local economy through major Bahamian-owned projects and noted an increase in partnerships between foreign investors and Bahamians. Speaking at Bahamas Business Outlook at Baha Mar on Jan. 17, Minnis said the economy has seen an increase in locally owned businesses that have been contributing to the growth of the economy, the Nassau Guardian reported. The prime minister mentioned Paradise Lighthouse and Beach Club, Athol Island Entertainment and a heritage tourism project started by a group of Bahamian businessmen as local projects helping to grow the economy. “This is a notable and wonderful increase in Bahamian and foreign investor partnership agreements and large-scale, Bahamian-owned resort and entertainment properties,” he said. As for the heritage initiative, the Prime Minister said: “Their objective is operating several historical sites, transforming them into major attractions for Bahamians and the international tourism market. This represents greater Bahamian ownership in the tourism market.” Minnis also mentioned the The Pointe’s official opening of its entertainment center in October, which includes investments by Bahamians. “When a government says it believes in Bahamians, this must be more than just a slogan; this must come from the heart with sincerity,” he said. WI
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Byte Back Celebrates Winter Graduation and Expansion in its 21st Year Yvette Scorse, Communications Director, Byte Back “I felt like technology had grown up around me, and I was losing the battle,” said Demika Alston, a Byte Back graduate. She spoke to a crowd of about 100 Byte Back students and supporters Thursday evening at the nonprofit’s biannual graduation. Byte Back, a 21-year-old organization based in Washington, DC, provides free tech career training for about 550 students per year. When they start, most students are unemployed or underemployed, about a third are homeless or have unstable housing, and two-thirds receive government benefits. “I’m passionate about helping other people get the same kind of opportunities I’ve had in my life,” said Elizabeth Lindsey, executive director of Byte Back. The leader of Byte Back has its mission close to her heart. Like many Byte Back students, Lindsey grew up financially unstable but saw that education was the key to success and to supporting her own family. Byte Back is one of the only organizations in the country where an adult who has never used a computer can start with digital basics, move up to IT and Microsoft certifications, and successfully move
into a living-wage career. Digital education is essential in today’s economy. Having tech skills is no longer a bonus; it is a necessity. In just 14 years, the US economy lost about 28 million low-tech jobs, according to 2017 research from The Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program. These jobs have either disappeared or they now require medium- or high-tech skills. Though technical skills are important, Lindsey and other Byte Back staff at graduation made it clear that the journey doesn’t end in the classroom. The organization works with companies who help coach students in workshops, mentor them one-on-one, host them at tech tour field trips, and hire graduates once they complete the program. All of this is free for participants. The pathway of training – from digital literacy to recognized tech certifications – has real results. In 2017, 60 graduates were hired into new jobs, earning $24,000 more per year than they did before Byte Back classes. Lindsey said numbers are coming in for 2018 and the payoff is even higher now. Under Lindsey’s leadership, Byte Back has gained national recognition in the past
few years, winning substantial Creator Awards from WeWork, leading a panel at the international tech event SXSW, and most recently winning a $1 million CAD grant from TD to expand to Baltimore. “When I first walked into Byte Back back in 2011, it was a rowhome,” said Denise Johnson, an alumna of the program who spoke to graduates. “My class was in the basement.” “Now, it’s 2019 and Byte Back has grown into an amazing nonprofit,” Johnson said. In 2017, Byte Back launched classes in Prince George’s County, Md., its first site outside of Washington, DC. About a dozen graduates just got certified in the Comp TIA IT Fundamentals course, and now they’re moving up to A+ certification to train for careers in IT support. “You guys are getting an education that people pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for,” Johnson told graduates. “People go into debt for this education.” Because Byte Back’s courses are free for students, the nonprofit must raise funds for the classes, which can cost more than $15,000 per student for multiple courses on the pathway. Byte Back is funded by the DC
and Maryland governments, corporations, foundations, and private donors, many of whom are local and in the tech sector. What stands out most about the expanding organization though is the determination of individual students. “The thing that I’m most proud of at Byte Back is the impact we make in helping folks like you move into jobs,” Lindsey told graduates. She spoke about the unique sense of community and support that students get at Byte Back – not just from instructors and staff but from each other. Alston, the graduate who felt left out of tech for so long, wasn’t left out forever. Thanks to the pathway of courses she completed at Byte Back, she said, “Today, I’m proud to say my long-term goal has come true.” After 20 years working in restaurants, Alston found stable, sustainable employment just down the hall from her old classroom. She was hired as an administrative assistant last year at Byte Back, where she uses her training and Microsoft certifications to help students following in her footsteps. “The feeling of coming to an office every day, sitting at a desk, and working with a great team feels amazing,” she said. “I get to pay it forward and help students who were just like me, so they can find living-wage jobs to provide for their own families.”
Andrew Quilpa, Byte Back technical instructor, teaches tech certification courses in Washington, DC and Prince George’s County, Md.
Demika Alston speaks to an audience of graduates and supporters Thursday at THE ARC in Washington, DC. She graduated from Byte Back’s program and now works for the organization as an administrative assistant.
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About 100 Byte Back students and supporters gathered Thursday evening for a graduation ceremony. The Washington, DC-based nonprofit serves about 550 students per year.
JANUARY 24 - 30, 2019 19 THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
HEALTH CDC Guide Gives Tips for Pregnant Moms to Prevent Birth Defects
Health Officials: Greatest Risks Include Nutrition, Poverty, Stress Compiled by D. Kevin McNeir WI Editor @dkevinmcneir A baby is born with a birth defect in the U.S. every 4.5 minutes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC]. Birth defects are defined as any structural changes present at birth that affect how the body looks, works, or both, and they can vary from mild to severe. While not all birth defects can be prevented, there are concrete steps
pregnant mothers can take to increase the chances of giving birth to a healthy baby. In honor of January designated in the U.S. as National Birth Defects Prevention Month, the CDC recently released a resource guide (2019 Digital Toolkit, www. nbdpn.org) providing pregnant moms tips for preventing birth defects. Dr. Sandra Elizabeth Ford, director of the DeKalb County Board of Health (Ga.) and board
member for NACCHO, which represents the nation’s 3,000 local health departments, points to several factors which put expectant mothers more at risk with income status and diet among the most significant. “Race, ethnicity and easy and affordable access to prenatal care count among factors that contribute to increasing the risk for birth defects, as do certain genetic factors. Nutrition, for example folate deficiency, is also a risk factor, but
this could also be the peripheral result of low income and/or decreased access to prenatal care. The effects of poverty put poor people at risk for negative health outcomes, generally – pregnant (poor) moms are even more vulnerable. Stress (often a result of poverty) can also play an important role in creating a high-risk pregnancy),” she said during an interview with the CDC. Still, mothers can increase their chances of having a healthy baby by doing what they can to be their healthiest self both before and during pregnancy.
FIVE TIPS FOR PREVENTING BIRTH DEFECTS
Tip 1: Be sure to take 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day. Folic acid is very important because it can help prevent some major birth defects of the baby’s brain and spine. Folate is found naturally in certain fruits, vegetables, nuts and in fortified (enriched) foods: breads, pasta, and cereals. In addition to eating foods with folate from a varied diet (including foods like spinach and avocado), you can take a vitamin that has folic acid in it every day. Tip 2: Visit your healthcare provider before stopping or starting any medicine If you are planning to become pregnant, discuss your current medicines with your doctor or pharmacist. There are often benefits to continuing your treatment throughout your pregnancy. Don’t forget to talk about your family history. Tip 3: Become up-to-date with all vaccines, including the flu shot; they help protect you and your baby. Some vaccinations, such as the flu (influenza) vaccine and the Tdap vaccine (adult tetanus, diph-
20 JANUARY 24 - 30, 2019
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theria, and acellular pertussis vaccine), are specifically recommended during each pregnancy. Pregnant women with flu have an increased risk of serious problems for their pregnancy, including preterm birth, and should get the flu shot during pregnancy. Tdap vaccine, taken near the end of each pregnancy (weeks 27 – 36), helps your body make antibodies which give your baby short-term protection against whooping cough (also called pertussis). If you live in the home or will be helping to take care of a new baby, you should also receive the Tdap vaccine before the baby is born. Tip 4: Before getting pregnant, try to reach a healthy weight. Obesity increases the risk for several serious birth defects and other pregnancy complications. If you’re underweight, overweight, or obese, talk with your doctor about ways to reach and maintain a healthy weight before you get pregnant. Eating healthy foods and being physically active are great ways to prepare for pregnancy. Tip 5: Boost your health by avoiding harmful substances during pregnancy, such as alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Alcohol: There is no known safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy or when trying to get pregnant. For a developing baby, who’s exposed to the same concentration of alcohol as the mother during pregnancy, the result could be various lifelong physical, behavioral and intellectual disabilities. Alcohol use also increases the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, prematurity and sudden infant death syndrome and may even make it more difficult to become pregnant. Smoking: Smoking during pregnancy can harm the placen-
HEALTH Page 44
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By James Wright WI Contributing Writer People who reside east of the Anacostia River recently expressed their strong opinions on the proposed hospital that will be built on the campus of St. Elizabeths East campus. The Ward 7 and Ward 8 Democratic Clubs convened a forum — “East End Hospital: Equitable Care or Prescription for Chaos?” — in the auditorium of the United Medical Center (UMC) in Southeast on Jan. 19. Regina Pixley, an advisory neighborhood commissioner for district 8C04 in Ward 8 and a Ward 8 committee member of the D.C. Democratic State Committee, voiced her support for having a new East End hospital. “Why should my [ailing] mother have to go 30 minutes in an ambulance to George Washington University Hospital instead of five minutes to a local facility?” Pixley said. Pixley said the time it took for her mother to go to George Washington could have been the difference between life and death, adding that the GW staff seemed indifferent to her mother’s needs and her concerns. Pixley’s views had a lot of support in the audience of about 75. Residents across the District have long called for a state-of-the-art hospital in the East End, particularly at the St. Elizabeths East campus. D.C. Council member Vincent Gray (D) has long been an advocate for building a new hospital in the East End and reiterated that at the forum. “I have been on this journey for a while,” said Gray, who proposed the idea of a new hospital during his lone term as mayor. “We should have been cutting the ribbon this year on a new hospital at St. Elizabeths, but when I lost the mayoral primary in 2014 and left office, the money allocated for the hospital was divvied up by the D.C. Council.” Gray said when he re-elected to the council in 2017, he fought to get money for the new hospital and received the support of Mayor Muriel Bowser’s administration. In August, the administration announced that George Washington University would be the operator, along with Universal Health Services, of the new St. Elizabeths East hospital. However, Universal mandated that to pay for the new hospital, it needed to build a new tower to add to the George Washington Hospital — an idea that drew passionate disapproval from the George Washing-
ton University, the advisory neighborhood commission near it and the civic association in the immediate neighborhood. Plus, the students and faculty at the Howard University College of Medicine expected to play a role in the new hospital and it appeared that Universal didn’t want that. The union rights of the new employees of the new hospital remain questionable because Universal has a documented record of being hostile to organized workers, according to Djawa Hall, an organizer for the Service Employee International Union #1199. On Dec. 18, after much public wrangling, Gray said at a council hearing that he would work on issues such as Howard Medical School’s participation and union issues at the new hospital for about six months. He said if Howard didn’t have a suitable arrangement with other area hospitals, the East End hospital project would fail. Gray said UMC suffered because of poor management and ran a $30 million to $40 million deficit that the city would have to pay. The former mayor explained the health needs of East End residents could not be met by a single facility. “What we need in the East End is a health care system and Universal is willing to provide that,” Gray said. “In Wards 7 and 8, we have the worst health disparities in the city and the 150,000 people who live in the East End need this.” Dr. Edwin Chapman, a longtime physician in the District, said hospitals that serve people of color, such as D.C. General Hospital, UMC, Providence and Howard Hospital, are either shuttered or in financial
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STOP HAIR REMOVAL ! trouble. “In my 40 years of practicing, I haven’t seen it like this,” Chapman said. “It is disgusting that people cannot practice medicine in the neighborhood they grew up in. This deal with Universal as is stands doesn’t pass the smell test.” Ambrose Lane Jr., chairman of the Health Alliance Network in Ward 7, noted the crisis in health care in the District affected Blacks much more than Whites. He listed issues such as the lack of maternal care and obstetrics work in the East End, as well as the police department’s dearth of kits for people suffering from opioid overdoses. “In a few years, we will have a crisis of health with illnesses such as sugar diabetes, hypertension and being amenable to heart attacks and strokes in the East End and we have no facility to address that load,” Lane said, adding that while he supports the idea of a St. Elizabeths hospital, there should be a smaller facility in Ward 7, too. WI
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JANUARY 24 - 30, 2019 21 THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
EDUCATION Students Embrace, Share, Reinforce MLK’s Teachings By Dorothy Rowley WI Staff Writer
While grasping the iconic legacy and notable values of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. can be hard to explain to children, students at the southeast D.C. elementary school that bears his name had little trouble embracing the late icon as one of the most important activists in African-American history. At a special assembly held Jan. 16 in their school’s cafeteria in commemoration of what would have been King’s 90th birthday, lines of eager and attentive students paid homage to the slain civil rights
leader’s longstanding fight for compassion, fairness and racial equality as they passed through a makeshift gallery where some of King’s most profound beliefs and visions for the future were depicted. “On Jan. 15, we began to celebrate Dr. King’s life and works with a morning meeting where our students had the opportunity to listen to and watch [a video of] the book, “Martin’s Big Words” said MLK Elementary Principal Angel Hunter. Hunter, who has led the Ward 8 school since 2015, said that although many of her students were “already aware of King’s fight for equality,’ as part of the school’s So-
cial Emotional Learning initiative, ‘they learned so much more about him by visiting several stations [in the cafeteria] where the saw different parts of his life,” including his membership in the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. “They also saw some of the items we’ve been given over the years, such as the bust of Dr. King, his [commemorative] postage stamp, as well as some works done by each class that tells what Dr. King means to them,” Hunter said. Listening to them talk, it’s evident the school’s inquisitive students have a keen understanding of King’s leadership during the civil rights movement and over the Southern Christian Leadership Conference that sought to end racial discrimination against Black people. They also recall learning that the Morehouse College graduate had been married for nearly 15 years to Coretta Scott King — when at age 39 — he was assassinated April 4, 1968, at the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis, Tenn. However, more importantly, the students learned to respect King’s stance against violence and that he achieved both his political goals sans violence, while continuing to fight for unity between Blacks and
5 From left: Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School fourth-graders Tonya Laray Macey, Talaya Broadwater and William Toles share how the beliefs and teachings King have affected them and today’s society. (Photo Dorothy Rowley/Washington Informer)
Whites. “That’s exactly right,” said fourth-grader Tonya Laray Mackey, 9. “Because of Martin Luther King’s beliefs, Black people can go where we want and to do whatever we want. … He was a man who fought for peace and he didn’t do it with his fists. He protested the right way.” Fellow fourth-grader, Talaya Broadwater, 9, nodded in agreement. “Dr. King is so important, because he always fought for love and not hate,” Talaya said. “He dreamed that Black and White people could connect so that they could be
friends. He always fought for equality — and that only love can drive out hatred.” William Toles, 10, added that because of King’s impact on society, “more people have learned to be loving and kind.” The pensive fourth-grader paused momentarily before continuing. “Oh, and Dr. King would want us to not be mean or racist to one another,” he said. “He’d definitely want none of that, because it would be like we were [intentionally] showing hate and disrespect for other people, their beliefs and their cultures.” WI
DCPS
day through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or email info. myschooldc@dc.gov.
BRIEFS Ask questions. Explore DC schools. Start here. Do you want to learn more about your DC School? The DC School Report Card puts information about ALL public schools in the District right at your fingertips.
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Compiled by Dorothy Rowley WI Staff Writer
MY SCHOOL DEADLINE
The My School DC lottery application for school year 201920 is now open. The application deadlines are Feb. 1 for grades 9-12 and March 1 for grades PK3-8. My School DC is the city’s common application and lottery for DCPS students and most public charter schools, grades PK3-12. For questions or help with applications, call the My School DC hotline at 202-888-6336, Mon-
TOTAL SUNSHINE SUPPORT
Total Sunshine Inc. held its annual James Perkins event last month to support students by providing technical tools to aid them in their pursuit of academic excellence. The event, held at Thurgood Marshall Academy in Ward 8, was in commemoration of the late Perkins’ birthday that’s usually held in November, the month of his birth. Perkins was a Total Sunshine “First, Not Last!” honoree for being named the Johnson Middle School Salutatorian of 2009. Following is a list of eight students selected for the support and why: Meaza Esad-Rivers: Scoring a 5 on the APUSH Exam Alexis Jones: Highest GPA for Q1 and highest Suma Scholar Alexis Johnson: Highest Magna Scholar, 3.79 Timara Bullock: Highest Honor Roll, 3.49 & No detentions, no tardiness
DC BRIEFS Page 23
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EDUCATION
National Collegiate Preparatory to Close in 2020 DC Public Charter School Board Unable to Save SE School By Sam P.K. Collins WI Contributing Writer @SamPKCollins Dismal attendance, re-enrollment and graduation rates notwithstanding, some families in the Bellevue/ South Capitol area of Southeast said they consider National Collegiate Preparatory Public Charter School a community gem. But not even National Collegiate Preparatory’s recent efforts to strengthen its programs, nor the bevy of stories about students’ personal and academic triumph, could sway DC Public Charter School Board [DCPCSB] members away from revoking its charter. In a 5-1-1 vote, board members voted set National Collegiate Preparatory along a path to permanent closure on the last day of the 2019-2020 academic year, despite the presentation of a school improvement plan and changes to the trustee board and math department that DCPCSB Chair Rick Cruz and others said came “too little, too late.” “This was not a plan that was undertaken when these conversations started years ago,” Cruz said minutes before the board approved charter revocation. “The academic performance of the school weighs heavily on the decision we have to make today. That doesn’t discount the significant qualitative aspects that were shared, not just last week, but with board members in conversations, but we need to make sure we get the balance of that right.” The board’s decision followed an emotionally charged, standing-room only informal charter board meeting on the grounds of National Collegiate Preparatory that lasted well into the night. Minutes after the meeting ended last Wednesday, DCPCSB Deputy Executive Director Naomi DeVeaux, while standing among dozens of people, including DCPCSB Execu-
DC BRIEFS from Page 22 Briana Johnson: Most Improved Girl Omari Hill: Most Improved Boy Kobe Whitaker: For 855 hours of Community Service Boy Trinity Brown: For 1,343.5 hours of Community Service, Girl
FAREWELL MESSAGE
Earlier this month, the terms of three of State Board of Education
tive Director Scott Pearson, allegedly yelled an obscenity at and pointed her finger in a staff member’s face. A two-page incident report, filed by Nigel Jackson, a social worker at National Collegiate Preparatory, said that DeVeaux lashed out at him in reaction to US Census Bureau data he recited at a December 17 hearing. Jackson said he presented the statistical information to highlight the broken family dynamics and circumstances his students overcome. For him, what he described as DeVeaux’s emotionally volatile outburst called into question not only her credibility in determining Black children’s future, but how disrespect by a charter school official could go unchecked. “Ms. DeVeaux’s misconduct was a violation of professional ethics and underscores the pattern of disregard she and the charter board staff have with underserved communities and the schools which serve them,” Jackson said. “Would Ms. DeVeaux have a profanity-laced tirade in Georgetown, Friendship Heights or Capitol Hill? Has she displayed this behavior at Washington Latin or BASIS? [There remains an] underlying question of accountability. Had this incident been caught on video, there would be a national outpouring demanding action,” he added. On the evening of December 17, during a hearing that prompted last week’s meeting, DCPCSB members voted to start the revocation of National Collegiate Preparatory’s charter after hearing testimony from the school community and a presentation of reports about the National Collegiate Preparatory’s progress in the last five years. A DCPCSB report presented that evening at Trinity Washington University in Northeast showed the school struggled to rise above its Tier 3 status. Board members also said National Collegiate Preparatory scored the lowest among D.C.’s ac-
tive charter schools on the Performance Management Framework, a tool used to create school quality reports. Other qualms of the charter board involved National Collegiate Preparatory’s alleged failure to comply with the Office of the State Superintendent of Education’s framework for special education and monitoring, and a situation where students didn’t have class schedules during the first week of school. While she acknowledged challenges in operating National Collegiate Preparatory, Jennifer Ross, founder and executive director, said DCPCSB’s report lacked nuance and overlooked circumstances specific to her school, particularly the compilation of goals that DCPCSB and administrators agreed to during National Collegiate Preparatory’s five-year review. That list prioritized English and Math proficiency, student satisfaction, financial viability and access to resources and National Collegiate Preparatory’s score on the College Readiness Indicator. A document obtained by The
Informer showed that National Collegiate Preparatory met eight out of nine goals, which Ross said gives DCPCSB more than enough reason to not revoke the school’s charter. “We were asked in the fifth year by charter school board executive director if we wanted to continue with our goals or the Performance Management Framework,” Ross said. “I wanted to keep our goals because we found problems with the Performance Management Framework that affected our children who are higher at risk. Some of the measurements we find unfair to students.” Those metrics, Ross said, didn’t consider student academic growth within the span of an academic year, only the students’ current reading and math levels. She argued that
3 National Collegiate Preparatory Public Charter School (Courtesy photo)
data-gathering methods used by the charter school board disadvantaged her students, many of whom entered National Collegiate Preparatory with academic and social gaps not addressed in elementary and middle school. “The charter school board changed the Performance Management Framework two years in a row knowing schools can’t demonstrate growth,” Ross added. “Students’ work getting toward grade level wouldn’t be reviewed. We would’ve shown 10 percent growth, but it looked like we decreased and stayed at Tier 3. For the STAR rating, we were 0.4 points away from being two stars. If you compare us to other schools, that demonstrates that we outperform the two DCPS schools in the area, [Anacostia and Ballou].” WI
ESSA Task Force members — Ward 1 representative Laura Wilson Phelan, Ward 5 representative Mark Jones and Ward 6 representative Joe Weedon — ended. In moving along, the DC State Board of Education has welcomed local and national experts at its public meetings to continue the conversation of designing a family engagement framework that will provide a system for meaningful interactions and authentic relationships fostered with students, families, and communities. WI 310346_6_x_6.5.indd 1
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2019 MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. SUPPLEMENT
Ripeness for Righteousness: Examining Dr. King’s Prophetic Struggle for Freedom and Justice
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In Memoriam Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Sr. Wilhelmina J. Rolark THE WASHINGTON INFORMER NEWSPAPER (ISSN#0741-9414) is published weekly on each Thursday. Periodicals postage paid at Washington, D.C. and additional mailing offices. News and advertising deadline is Monday prior to publication. Announcements must be received two weeks prior to event. Copyright 2016 by The Washington Informer. All rights reserved. POSTMASTER: Send change of addresses to The Washington Informer, 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. 20032. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The Informer Newspaper cannot guarantee the return of photographs. Subscription rates are $45 per year, two years $60. Papers will be received not more than a week after publication. Make checks payable to: THE WASHINGTON INFORMER 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E Washington, D.C. 20032 Phone: 202 561-4100 Fax: 202 574-3785 news@washingtoninformer.com www.washingtoninformer.com
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Developing Quiet Courage Dr. Shantella Sherman Informer Special Editions Editor With the passing, January 7, of John “Hunter Bear” Gray, millions of followers of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s philosophy of non-violent resistance paid tribute to one of its most resolute examples ever captured in print. Gray is also known by his birth name John Salter Jr. and worked closely with Mississippi NAACP leader Medgar Evers. The Tougaloo College professor had joined a handful of his students, attacked by an angry white mob challenging segregation at a local lunch counter. Gray immediately raised their ire. “They dumped slop on us. I was burned with cigarettes, hit and had pepper thrown in my eyes. The women weren’t struck, but had their hair pulled. All the while the air was filled with obscenities, the n-word – it was a lavish display of unbridled hatred. I have virtually never felt fear, I seem to be wired that way. So, while I remember thinking we could get shot, and it was likely I could be a prime candidate, I wasn’t particularly worried,” Gray told The Guardian newspaper in 2015. “They cut my face with sharp brass knuckles; someone cut the back of my head with the jagged edge of a broken sugar container. There was a good deal of blood.” Gray’s quiet courage, like that of Joan Mulholland, John Lew-
ZebraDesigns.net, Design & Layout Mable Neville, Bookkeeper Dr. Charles Vincent, Social Sightings columnist Tatiana Moten, Social Media Specialist Angie Johnson, Circulation REPORTERS Stacy Brown (Senior Writer), Sam P.K. Collins, Timothy Cox, Will Ford (Prince George’s County Writer), Jacqueline Fuller, Hamil Harris, D. Kevin McNeir, Dorothy Rowley, Brenda Siler, Sarafina Wright, James Wright PHOTOGRAPHERS John E. DeFreitas, Shevry Lassiter, Roy Lewis, Jr., Mark Mahonny
Dr. Shantella Sherman, Special Editions Editor
John Hunter Bear Gray and Tougaloo College students being attacked during a lunch counter protest in Jackson, Miss., demonstrate the quiet courage of nonviolence. (Courtesy photo)
is, Anne Moody, and millions of others, who chose nonviolence or had no weapons with which to fight, rested in the conviction that nonviolence remains the most potent weapon available to oppressed people in their struggle for freedom and justice. Of this philosophy, Dr. King noted, “[Non-violent resistance] has a way of disarming the opponent, exposing his moral defenses. It weakens his morale, and at the same time it works on his conscience, and he just doesn’t know how to handle it.” In the face of increased racial animus, a new generation of Americans worry that the violence and aggressive racial intolerance of the past, has resurfaced. Some young people I spoke with pointed to agitated whites yelling, grabbing, hitting, spitting at, or taunting African Americans or others of racially diverse groups and – unlike the philosophy of non-violent resistance – facing the wrath of their victims. Others cited the mocking of a Native American elder by a Catholic school teen visiting the District for a pro-life rally, the viral video showing an eagerness among his classmates to join in, rather than challenge their friend. Can King’s quiet courage, as exhibited by members of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) find renewed vigor in today’s racial
climate? Where circumstances dictate self-defense, violence may be necessary. For those who choose nonviolence, the civil rights movement implored entire courses on and labs to teach students and workers how to utilize it. As we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King, let us remember that he steadfastly held that nonviolence was his prescribed policy. “It is possible to struggle against an evil, unjust system, with all your might and with all your heart, and even hate that unjust system, but yet you maintain an attitude of active goodwill and understanding and even love for the perpetrators of that evil system. And this is the most misunderstood aspect of nonviolence. And this is where those who don’t want to follow the nonviolent method say a lot of bad things to those of us who talk about love. But I still go on and believe in it, because I am still convinced that it is love that makes the world go around, and somehow this kind of love can be a powerful force for social change.” We use this supplement to examine Dr. King’s nonviolent philosophy and how righteousness, kindness, and courage informs that philosophy then and now.
Read, Learn, Grow. Dr. S
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER 2019 MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. SUPPLEMENT
MLK - 2
King’s “Dream”, A Reflection of Our Nightmare By Dr. Wilmer J. Leon, III Special to the Informer On January 21, 2019, America will celebrate the birth, death, and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He would have turned 90 years old on January 15, 2019. We will hear that powerful speech, “I Have A Dream.” What has troubled me over the years is how Dr. King, the visionary, prophet and revolutionary’s vision, action and ultimate sacrifice have been hijacked, compromised and relegated to being those of just a dreamer. Dreamers are safe, docile and non-threatening. People are comfortable with dreamers. Why? To be a dreamer, you must be in a restful state, usually asleep. To cast Dr. King in the light of a dreamer allows people to be convinced that action resulting from clear vision is not necessary. It allows the oppressed to be fooled into being patient and non-revolutionary; yours will come by-and by. It allows Dr. King’s “Dream” – his vision – to remain just a dream. What many fail to realize is that Dr. King was no dreamer. He was a visionary, not some abstract thinker or philosopher. He was a prophet and a true revolutionary. As I understand it, the original title of the “I Have A Dream” speech was “Normalcy – Never Again.” That title was a real indication of what was to come. It was a clear statement that what had been accepted – what had been normal, i.e., oppression in America, would no longer be tolerated. Dr. King the realist said, “… we must face the tragic fact that the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land….” That was no dream; that was the Negro’s reality in 1963 and a clear indictment of the social conditions in America. It continues to be an unfortunate reality for too many
Dr. Wilmer J. Leon, III (Courtesy photo)
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children languishing in inner-city schools, parents losing jobs and homes, and those unjustly incarcerated in American jails and prisons. Dr. King the strict constructionist referred to the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence as a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. He stated, “It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned…. America has given the Negro people a bad check – a check which has come back marked insufficient funds.” Again, no dream in that statement; that’s a clear indictment of the African-American human condition! Dr. King the prophet offered hope by saying, “But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation.” He said this because he clearly understood the power of hope. As a minister, he clearly understood the power of faith. Before Dr. King talks about the dream, he says that we must march ahead. “We cannot turn back…. We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality.” In light of the October 2014, murder of Laquan McDonald, II in Chicago, IL and the June 2018 murder of Antwon Rose, II in East Pittsburgh, PA and many others, African-Americans still find themselves victims of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality, racial profiling and Driving While Black – and sometimes Walking While Black. The “dream” reference comes toward the end of the speech. As Dr. King was close to concluding his nine-minute delivery, the great gospel singer, Mahalia Jackson, who was standing behind him, said, “Tell them about your dream, Martin! Tell them about the dream!” At that point, Dr. King went away from his prepared text and said, “… so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream.” It’s important to understand that he spoke of the dream in the context of the horrific reality for the Negro and the poor that he had just articulated. What makes the “dream” significant is its juxtaposition against America’s reality, failures and oppression of its own citizens – their nightmare! On August 31, 1967 Dr. King delivered The Three Evils of Society Address at the National Conference on New Politics. During this address he said, “… I suspect that we are now experiencing the coming to the sur-
face of a triple prong sickness that has been lurking within our body politic from its very beginning. That is the sickness of racism, excessive materialism and militarism. Not only is this our nation’s dilemma it is the plaque of western civilization.” Dr. King’s words were so profound and prophetic. Today America is led by a racist president who extols the “virtues” of neo-Nazi’s, wants to ban Muslims and claims that Mexicans
are rapists. Its tax policy facilitates excessive materialism with a tax scheme that from 2001 through 2018, reduced revenue by $5.1 trillion. Sixty-five percent of the savings went to the richest fifth of Americans, with 22 percent of them going exclusively to the top 1 percent. America spends more on its military than China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, India, France, the UK and Japan combined. Until every American’s reality re-
flects the founding principles of this great nation: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Dr. King’s “Dream” for too many in America will remain a nightmare. WI
DARKNESS CANNOT DRIVE OUT DARKNESS; ONLY LIGHT CAN DO THAT. HATE CANNOT DRIVE OUT HATE; ONLY LOVE CAN DO THAT.
The DC Lottery honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the countless African-American heroes who’ve contributed in our journey toward civil rights, equality and freedom.
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HIS DREAM NEEDS YOUR VISION. In 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. marched on Washington for a dream. Over 50 years later, people are still marching because of his vision. Comcast celebrates Dr. King’s legacy with a one-of-a-kind interactive digital mosaic made up of pictures and videos of people sharing their vision of his dream. Join countless others inspired by Dr. King and share why you’re still marching at
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Personality rights and copyrights of Dr. King are used with the permission of The Estate of Martin Luther King Jr. Inc. Represented by Greenlight. ©2019 Comcast. All rights reserved.
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER 2019 MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. SUPPLEMENT
MLK - 4
Living with Impact
Dr. King stressed often that each person had the ability to positively impact those around them. (Courtesy photo)
Aimee D. Griffin, Esq., Special to the Informer One of my favorite MLK quotes is “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” It reminds us that we are not here for ourselves. We live an interdependent life. No matter how we live our lives we impact others. Will your legacy be one that helps or hurts? We have the opportunity to shape that answer. Around the country people honor the great Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr with days or acts of service. We follow this time with Black History Month. We spend time thinking and honoring those folks who went before us. The way that we live our lives creates a ripple effect on those we are connected to whether it be good or bad. A woman that I often reference in my presentations and my writings was named Ms. Osceola McCarty. This was a woman who was conceived in raped, had very little schooling as she dropped out to join her grandmother working as a laundrywoman. Yet, when she died she was able to create a scholarship fund for “colored children” who didn’t have resources to go to the University of Southern Mississippi. This is an example of what can be done. This is an example of selflessness. In an era where we see selfish narcissism in the highest office in the world we may lose sight of the golden rule. When selfishness and lies seem to have garnered a true reward we must be more steadfast than ever to be the change we want to see in the world. I believe that the current state of affairs, with the government shut down enhancing the current situation, we must be thoughtful about how we can build the world we want to have for the people that we love. We have the ability to impact the people that we love today or anticipating loving tomorrow. Our circle of influence can indeed go beyond our immediate circle and like Ms. McCarty we can change generations to come. King impacted uncountable numbers of people by leaving a legacy of words that changed the world. King’s selfless sacrifice of his life is greater than most people are able or willing to give. Yet, we can change the world by impacting our com-
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munity and changing our families. My mother passed away in 2014. She didn’t leave a great deal of wealth to speak of, yet when we celebrated her homegoing I was taken aback by the numbers of students who spoke of her great impact on their lives. But in many ways that was to be expected. I was blown away by the service professionals that spoke about how her words changed their lives. It really was comforting to my siblings and me to hear about the legacy she left. Yet, when I saw a picture of my mother in the Civil and Human Rights Museum in Atlanta with a sign at the March on Washington, I knew there was no way I would ever know the true impact of her legacy. Let’s build a legacy that changes lives that we can never count. WI
King impacted uncountable numbers of people by leaving a legacy of words that changed the world. King’s selfless sacrifice of his life is greater than most people are able or willing to give. Yet, we can change the world by impacting our community and changing our families.
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER 2019 MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. SUPPLEMENT
Ripeness to do Right
Acts of Kindness Amid Shutdown Exemplify Dr. King’s Ripeness to do Right Lee Ross Special to the Informer This year, as the nation moved to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, a great many citizens entered the monthlong mark of a federal government shutdown that has threatened to unpin generations of financial and social stability. Informer supplement writers – with respect for the emotional anxiety being faced – sought to document both the crises and amazing acts of kindness created by it. Dr. King wrote from the Birmingham jail (1963), and later, said in a 1964 speech: “I still believe that mankind will rise up to the occasion. In spite of the darkness of the hour, in spite of the difficulties of the moment, in spite of these days of emotional tension, when the problems of the world are gigantic in extent and chaotic in detail, I still have faith in the future, and I still believe that we can build this society of brotherhood and this society of peace.” In addition to popular crowdfunding website GoFundMe launching its own campaign to raise money for federal workers harmed by the ongoing partial government shutdown, food pantries, shelters, and restaurants have worked ceaselessly to distribute money, hot meals, groceries, and household essentials. “Government workers, through no fault of their own, can’t afford to put diapers on their newborns,” GoFundMe CEO Rob Solomon said in a statement released January 19. “Employees of the most powerful nation in the world are being forced to work without pay and line up at diaper or food banks. It makes no sense.” Outside of celebrity chef José Andrés’ Think Food Lab, a World Central Kitchen hamlet has developed announcing free hot meals and coffee for federal employees in need and their families. Using the hashtag #ChefsForFeds, and word of mouth, snaking lines grew from its entrance for more than a block. Those in line spoke openly with the Informer about what it meant to suddenly face uncertainty on the eve of Dr. King’s birthday, and the many thoughtful acts of
Clare
HUD employee DeVawn Hamilton came in from PG County to pick up meals and other donations to federal workers impacted by the government shutdown. (Photo by Shantella Y. Sherman/The Washington Informer)
“In the middle of the callousness of elected officials, some very kind people – including Chef Andrés – are doing the good work that Dr. King spoke of and truly looking out for their neighbors. That has been the one thing that has kept my family from falling through the cracks.” Jerry Eccles
‘right’ they’ve experienced. “I have seen the very best from people – strangers who have literally seen me standing in this line and put money in my hand,” federal contractor Jerry Eccles told the Informer. “I did everything right, went to school, stayed on the straight and narrow, and I have worked hard in life for everything I have, so it feels embarrassing to have the bottom fall out through no fault of my own and not be able to find a quick remedy.” Eccles said that his savings has depleted over the course of the shutdown as he manages both his own household and that of his 23-year-old daughter, also a contractor who had been out on maternity leave. “In the middle of the callousness of elected officials, some very kind people – including Chef Andrés – are doing the good work that Dr. King spoke of and truly looking out for their neighbors. That has been the one thing that has kept my family from falling through the cracks.” DeVawn Hamilton, a federal worker at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), said that because circumstances have become so financially strenuous, she journeyed from her home in Prince Georges County to receive free meals from inside the District. “The shutdown has become serious because there appears to be no quick resolve in sight and the longer we are without work, the more uncertain we are about our incomes, our homes and our daily lives,” Hamilton said. “I would ask the people of Congress and the President to use Dr. King’s messages of love and humanity to separate the border wall issue from federal employees’ salaries. Reopen the federal government so that this misery keeps from snowballing into local businesses and communities.” The shutdown, which began Dec. 22, has affected over 800,000 federal employees across several government agencies, including the Interior Department, Transportation Security Administration, and the Department of Homeland Security. Though these workers will likely receive
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back pay once the government reopens, those living paycheck to paycheck are struggling to make ends meet in the interim. Government contract workers will likely never receive retroactive pay. It’s unclear how many of these workers have been impacted, though estimates range from hundreds of thousands to millions. U.S. Treasury Department employee Yarnell Alston told the Informer that Dr. King’s philosophy of human progress based on helping one another could not be more poignant at this moment in
history. The 40-year-old Northwest resident said he has received cash, gas cards, and grocery store gift cards from strangers who saw him in pantry lines. “Dr. King said that time was often used destructively by people of ill will – which in my opinion is Donald Trump. The more time it takes for us to get back to work, the more likely they are to give in to his push for an unjust border wall,” Alston said. “Human progress comes through the tireless efforts of men willing to work to be co-workers with God, were King’s words and I am grateful that many are doing that work to help me.” WI
“I still believe that mankind will rise up to the occasion. In spite of the darkness of the hour, in spite of the difficulties of the moment, in spite of these days of emotional tension, when the problems of the world are gigantic in extent and chaotic in detail, I still have faith in the future, and I still believe that we can build this society of brotherhood and this society of peace.” Martin Luther King, Jr.
Lines of furloughed federal employees snake downtown D.C. for blocks. Many businesses are exhibiting the kindness of Dr. King to federal employees, offering meals, money, and sundries. (Photos by Shantella Y. Sherman/The Washington Informer
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The Ballou Senior High School Marching Band and Majestic’s perform in the MLK Day Peace Walk and Parade held in Southeast on Monday, Jan. 21. (Courtesy of Maurice G. Fitzgerald/WI Charities) KING PARADE from Page 1
community activist walked in a joyful procession along MLK Avenue and Good Hope Road to the St. Elizabeths campus, now a hub for community events. “in my view, Dr. King’s birthday is a day of reflection and commitment,” said D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson. “Reflect on what we have and have not achieved and a commitment to better.” Former D.C. first lady Cora Masters Barry, widow of D.C. political icon Marion S. Barry, also took part in the parade with youths from the Southeast Tennis and Learning
Center. “Marion Barry never missed this parade cause it was about empowerment dignity and making sure our people had a fair shot,” she said. Most of the march’s participants made a stop at the reviewing stand and were interviewed by Washington Informer Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes and WJLA-TV (Channel 7) reporter Sam Ford, the parade’s hosts. At the event’s end, participants gathered at the renovated old chapel at St. Elizabeths, where volunteers from Martha’s Table distributed bags of fruits and vegetables. One volunteer said a special effort
was made to help furloughed federal workers affected by the ongoing government shutdown. Even amid the bitter cold, the sun shone bright and smiles were aplenty on Martin Luther King Avenue. “They were talking about canceling the parade because it was so cold, but Dr. King would have done it for us,” said D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham. The event was preceded by the MLK Breakfast at the Mayflower Hotel in Northwest, which was sponsored by Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network (NAN) and featured King’s son Martin Luther King III, Bowser, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former Vice President Joe Biden. Biden used his speech to condemn hate groups that he said have been revitalized because of the rhetoric President Trump continues to use. “Let us move on to make America what it ought to be and we know what it ought to be,” Biden said. “We have learned in the last two years that it doesn’t take much to awaken hate.” Biden and Bloomberg are contemplating joining a growing field
Religious Service Honors Two Civil Rights Leaders Jewish, Black Choirs Praise MLK Observance
By Brenda C. Siler WI Contributing Writer On Friday, Jan. 18, Sixth and I Historic Synagogue was the site for the 15th annual MLK Shabbat. The location was the former site of Turner Memorial AME, the co-convener since this service began. Selerya Moore, a lifetime member of Turner Memorial AME, helped to open the service by telling the congregation about the 50-year history of Turner Memorial, formerly located where Sixth & I now exists. She pointed out some of the significant areas in the sanctuary. “We had five choirs,” Moore said as she pointed out where each choir sat. “There were great things going on in this church.” Shabbat is a Jewish service that usually begins at sundown on Friday. The MLK Shabbat honors the civil rights work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel. The strong friendship between the two leaders grew from their shared vision about equality for all. This year’s MLK Shabbat con-
sisted of sermons from Rabbi Shira Stutman, senior rabbi at Sixth & I and Rev. Dr. D. K. Kearney, pastor at Turner Memorial. Choirs from Sixth & I and Turner Memorial sang songs of faith that were composed or arranged by Marty Austin Lamar. Lamar is director of music and creative arts at Metropolitan AME Church and an artist-in-residence at Sixth & I. Stutman’s, whose sermon focused on anti-Semitism, admitted avoiding the topic for many years but felt compelled to talk about it because of the current political climate in America. “Many of us brush off anti-Semitic comments,” Stutman said, specifically referring to inadvertently offensive comments and failed attempts at humor that people often make. “I acknowledged that I am a part of the privileged class and I can no longer brush off those comments.” Kearney said the joint Shabbat is an example of how to fight many of society’s adversities. “We can’t let what is happening down the street keep us from going forward,” Kearney said, referring to the current White House administration. The service closed with the con-
A partial group of the Martin Luther King Day parade committee during a photoop after a job WELL DONE!! (Courtesy of Maurice G. Fitzgerald/WI Charities)
The go-go band EU entertains the crowd gathered near the viewing stage in frigid temperatures. (Courtesy of Maurice G. Fitzgerald/WI Charities)
of candidates for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination that includes Sen. Kamala Harris (Calif.), who used the King holiday to announce her bid. Bowser used her speech to remind people about the plight of thousands of federal workers waiting to go back to work as the shutdown entered its fifth week. “We have a lot of Americans who are focused on how we get our country back on track,” the mayor said. “We have many people forced to work without pay, people locked out of their work and real Americans experiencing hardships.” Trump and Vice President Mike Pence made an unannounced visit
to the MLK Memorial less than an hour after Martin Luther King III visited his father’s monument. The administration was roundly criticized for not scheduling a stop at the memorial beforehand. During the NAN breakfast, King also chided Pence for comments the vice president made comparing his father to Trump. “This is a challenging year for our nation, especially when you have the vice president comparing the current president to my dad,” King said. “Dad built bridges and brought people together — this administration is bringing about division and dividing more than anything else.” WI
Marty Austin Lamar, director of music and creative arts at Metropolitan AME Church and an artist-in-residence at Sixth & I, directs the combined Turner Memorial AME Church and Sixth & I choirs during the MLK Shabbat at Sixth & I on Jan. 18. (Brenda Siler/The Washington Informer
gregation holding hands while singing “We Shall Overcome.” Following the service, Sixth & I hosted a reception where congregants learned about social justice work in the D.C. area from 12 local organizations. On Sunday, Jan. 20, at their Hyattsville, Md., location, Turner Memorial hosted Sixth & I for morning worship to continue the focus on the ideals of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel. WI
Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr., pastor emeritus at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, Ill., preached at Howard University’s Andrew Rankin Chapel at the worship service for the beginning of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday observance. Rev. Wright’s sermon theme was, “No More Masks.” Now in a wheelchair after a stroke in 2016, Rev. Wright was assisted by his wife Ramah Reed Wright. (From left): Glenn Vaulx, juniormajoring in Architectureat Howard University, Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright, Hamah Reed Wright, Rev. Dr. Bernard Richardson, dean of Rankin Chapel, Rev. Cecil A. Duffie, assistant dean of Religious Life at Rankin Chapel, Kristen Gayle, graduate assistant at Rankin Chapel and Nisa Muhammed, assistant dean of Religious Life. January 20, 2019 at Howard University-Rankin Chapel. (Brenda C. Siler/The Washington Informer)
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National Action Network Annual MLK Breakfast Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (left) introduced by former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg (bottom right) delivered a unifying speech after accepting the MLK Day Lifetime of Excellence in Public Service Award during Rev. Al Sharpton’s (bottom left) National Action Network annual MLK Breakfast attended by Martin Luther King III and family, held at the Mayflower Hotel in Northwest on Monday, Jan. 22. Other awardees included Sherrilyn Ifill for Excellence in Public Policy, Everett Kelly for Labor Leader of the Year, and Nate Tinbite who received the Youth Award. (Photos Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)
Martin Luther King III and family laid one of three wreaths at the foot of the MLK Memorial in Southwest before being quickly rushed away when the entire area was closed off due to a pretentious wreath laying by Pence and Trump. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)
Let Freedom Ring! the annual show honoring the ideals of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a star-studded event featuring multi-award winners Audra McDonald and Brian Stokes Mitchell who performed specially selected songs bringing realism to the words of Dr. King. After a few individual sets, the two ended the evening with the song “Wheels of a Dream” their duet from “Ragtime.” Nolan Williams, Jr., was the music director for the program held at the Kennedy Center on Monday, Jan. 21, a collaboration between the Kennedy Center and Georgetown University. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)
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Shiloh Baptist Holds Annual MLK Prayer Breakfast By Hamil R. Harris WI Contributing Writer From the Shiloh Baptist Church in northwest D.C. to Martin Luther King Avenue in Southeast, the 90th birthday of the slain civil rights leader was celebrated across Washington in a variety of ways as a new generation of people faces their own set of racial barriers and daunting challenges. And yet, in 2019, while many of the causes that King preached and died for have been challenged by President Donald Trump and conservatives on Capitol Hill, African Americans still found hope through songs, concerts, ecumenical programs and parades held across the city to commemorate King’s legacy. “I have a dream that one day, my four little children will not be judged by the color of their skin, but [by] the content of their character,” said Crescent R. Holmes, a senior debutante at Shiloh, who offered reflections of King’s speech during the church’s 28th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Prayer Breakfast on Saturday. The event, which drew several hundred people, took place in the fellowship hall of a church located at 9th and P streets, where on Oct. 9, 1960, King spoke during the congregation’s annual Men’s Day program under the leadership of Pastor Harrison and the church was filled families who lived nearby in tall brownstones in the Shaw community. Rev. Eddie S. Glaude Jr., a professor and chair of the De-
Rev. Thomas Bowen, Criminal Justice Activist Desmond Meade and Princeton Professor Eddie Glaude at Shiloh Baptist Church Breakfast (H. Harris/The Washington Informer)
partment of Religion and African American studies at Princeton University, said during Saturday’s breakfast that African Americans are still dealing with the same issues that King dealt with in the 1960s. “King’s murder ripped the fabric of common concerns and was the latest and perhaps the most visibly painful and mournful example of dead bodies piling up right in front of Black people,” Glaude said. “Stokely Carmichael put it succinctly: when White America killed Dr. King, it declared war on us. It seems so funny how people can walk so quickly past our dead.” While Glaude spoke outside Shiloh, young Whites walked their dogs past the church and passed a historical landmark that showed an image of a class of Sunday School children outside the old Shiloh church in 1919. Today, 100 years later, most of
The Washington Inter-Alumni Council (WAIC) of UNCF held its 38th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration on January 21. WAIC consists of local area alumni groups from the 37 UNCF member institutions. The breakfast event included a panel discussion focused on preparing students for college success and beyond. Panelists included (from left): Moderator Ashlei Stevens, media relations professional and commentator for “Fatal Attraction” on TVOne, Charlene M. Dukes, Ph.D., president of Prince Georges Community College, Sekou Biddle, vice president of K-12 Advocacy at UNCF and Aminta H. Breaux, Ph.D., president of Bowie State University. January 21, at The Hotel at the University of Maryland (Brenda C. Siler/The Washington Informer)
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the people attending the prayer breakfast were senior citizens and yet there was still a fire to fulfill King’s dream. “The importance of this event is not just commemorate Dr. King and his legacy,” said John Hale III, chair of the committee that planned the breakfast. “It is about the relevance of social justice and civil rights that has to be reclaimed in every generation. It brings together that mission, God’s purpose and God’s power, so we can teach from one generation to the next.” Charles “Duke” Smith, a Shiloh member and retired Navy commander: “This is the 28th time we have had this event at Shiloh and we elevate and keep Dr. King’s legacy and memory in front of us because if we don’t, then who will? He connects to all of us back to those who made life better for all of us who live today, especially for people of color.” One person recognized during the breakfast was Desmond Meade of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, who led the fight to get voting rights restored to ex-offenders in the state. “When you talk about restoring civil rights to 1.4 million people in Florida, this is nothing but the continuation of the work that Dr. King was doing,” Meade said. Rev. Catherine Bego, the former head of the DC Alcohol and Drug Abuse Administration, said if King was alive, he would do more than hold church events. “Dr. King would be leading us in a church without walls because our ministry is not in bricks and mortar, our ministry is in the street with the hopeless, the homeless and the helpless,” Bego said. WI
Jaunts
An Historical Journey to The King Center in Atlanta Kenshi Lewis Special to the Informer One of the must-see locations of the modern Civil Rights Movement is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birth home, the church where he delivered his first sermon, one of the South’s first desegregated firehouses and an elaborate visitor’s center making up the MLK Historic Park in Atlanta. Established in 1968 by Mrs. Coretta Scott King, The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (“The King Center”) has been a global destination, resource center and community institution for over a quarter century. Nearly a million people each year make pilgrimage to the National Historic Site to learn, be inspired and pay their respects to Dr. King’s legacy. Both a traditional memorial and programmatic nonprofit, the King Center was envisioned by its founder to be “no dead monument, but a living memorial filled with all the vitality that was his, a center of human endeavor, committed to the causes for which he lived and died.” That vision was carried out through educational and community programs until Mrs. King’s retirement in the mid-1990’s, and today it’s being revitalized. “The National Park Service’s sites are the historical look into the man,” Dr. Bernice King, the youngest of King’s daughters and CEO of the Center said in an interview with Fox News. “The holiday and the work that we do at the King Center are about the now and going forward. And through all of the unconditional love and examples of forgiveness that we had around us, as children, we were able to weather the storm.” Visitors to the King Center witness an amazing and innovative set of exhibits – both interactive and traditional. Great for all ages, the exhibits showcase the courageous actions of ordinary people and inspire viewers to see themselves walking in similar shoes. “My sons and daughter loved the fact that they could walk among the life-sized wax marchers in one portion of the Center, as if a part of that history,” Maggie Jacobs, a D.C. resident who visited the King Center with her family recently told the Informer.
(Top Left) Children walk through interactive marchers at The King Center in Atlanta (Top Right) One exhibit at the King Center showcases the many signs utilized during civil rights marches. (Middle Left) Wax marchers at the King Center in Atlanta (Middle Right) The bars to the cell King was housed in when he penned The Letter from the Birmingham Jail make up one of the exhibitions at the King Center. (Bottom Left) Shoes worn by civil rights marchers were collected and are showcased at the King Center. (Bottom Right) The memorial for Coretta Scott King and Dr. King are part of the King Park property. Photos by Shantella Y. Sherman
“It makes them a part of something that they have only ever seen in books or film.” Bars from the cell in which King penned The Letter from the Birmingham Jail are a portion of another exhibit that invites visitors to imagine being arrested to change history.
“It is quite a powerful experience and one that every American should undertake. There is so much about Dr. King that we still haven’t considered fully, and this is the perfect place to rethink his legacy,” Jacobs said. Plans are under way for a state-of-the-art renovation to the
King Center that will include the preservation and digitization one-of-a-kind archival material, the launch of a digital strategy and conference series, and the development of new programs and partnerships that further Dr. King’s work in sustainable, measurable ways worldwide.
Despite areas of the park being shuttered since Dec. 22, when the government shut down over border wall funding, The King Center, remained open through an $83,500 grant from the Delta Airlines Foundation and recreation fees collected by the National Park Service. WI
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The Endurance of Faith
Dr. King, Howard Thurman, and the Fight of the Disinherited By Sophia Sparks with Shantella Sherman Special to the Informer A few years ago, Congressman Bobby Rush hosted a panel, “The Black Church in the 21st Century: Victorious, Vigilant, Viable?” at a Congressional Black Caucus function during which he asked faith leaders what had changed in the relationship between the Black Church (as an institution) and America’s political and social arenas. The panel assembled noted that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and most grassroots and college organizations leading the charge for human rights maintained firm anchoring in the church. They also steadfastly pointed to theologian and professor Howard Thurman as pivotal in the philosophy of nonviolence that shaped modern civil rights movements. Born in 1899, Thurman was 30 years older than King, and through instruction and sermons he held at both Howard and Boston University, influenced intellectually and spiritually an entire generation of human rights organizers. King was among them. King is reported to have carried his own well-worn copy of Thurman’s celebrated work, Jesus and the Disinherited, in his pocket during the 381-day Montgomery bus boycott. In many ways, the question of spiritual viability amid racial crisis, went to the heart of King’s ripeness to do right, and Thurman’s sermon series Jesus and the Disinherited. Each spoke of fear and a spiritual element to overcome it. Thurman wrote, “You must abandon your fear of each other and fear only God. You must not indulge in any deception and dishonesty, even to save your lives…” Parallels could easily be drawn between Thurman’s words and Rush’s discussion on the church as a sustainer – a sort of power source from which fear was drained and faith invigorated. “I’ve been both a [Black] Panther and a preacher and this is the only institution in the land that we still have that is authentically ours and that is still powerful,” Rush said. “It was the Church as an institution, and our faith in the Church, as its body, that helped us face down the inhumanity that
characterized our citizenship.” But with God and the Church removed from public spaces, including schools, many churchgoers have disconnected from the church in ways that make facing fears of violence, corruption, and the traps of being among the disinherited, feel impossible to surmount. The fear of being harmed, too, becomes all-encompassing, threatening the liberty of the disinherited. Thurman wrote, “Even within the disinherited group itself artificial and exaggerated emphasis upon not being killed tends to cheapen life. That is to say, the fact that the lives of the disinherited are lightly held by the dominant group tends to create the same attitude among them toward each other.” Thurman, ironically, spoke of random acts of violence against Blacks as well as police brutality in his work, Jesus and the Disinherited, written more than 60
years ago. He placed fear and hatred as the core emotions behind such violence. But according to Thurman, Christian leaders had been most silent on issues of violence, which then, like now, helped inculcate terroristic acts against Blacks within a culture that despised their presence in the first place. “Christianity has been almost sentimental in its effort to deal with hatred in human life. It has sought to get rid of hatred by preachments, my moralizing, by platitudinous judgments. It has hesitated to analyze the basis of hatred and to evaluate it in terms of its possible significance in the lives of the people possessed by it. This reluctance to examine hatred has taken on the character of superstition…There is a conspiracy of silence about hatred, its function and its meaning,” he wrote. Even international religious leaders like Pope Francis have suggested that Dr. King’s push
for civility and Christ-like kindness must inform both the fight for equality and the leaders tasked with securing it. “To use a telling phrase of the Reverend Martin Luther King, we can say that we have defaulted on a promissory note and now is (Above) Dr. King found that the dispossessed often had immeasurable faith and used it to fight back the fear that often swallowed others. (Courtesy photo) Various religious denominations rallied around the cause of fighting inhumanity through love, patience, and nonviolent resistance. (Courtesy photo) (Below) Dr. Howard Thurman impacted several generations of grassroots activists made up of students, laborers, and everyday people. (Courtesy photo)
the time to honor it. We know by faith that “the Creator does not abandon us; he never forsakes his loving plan or repents of having created us. Humanity still has the ability to work together in building our common home,” Pope Francis said during a visit to the U.S. For American University student Graca Mbuti, 23, reconciling King’s nonviolence philosophy with her faith and the challenges of racial intolerance running through the nation, seems overwhelming. “God’s way is not our way and when you are suffering at the hands of unscrupulous leaders – people who close public housing and schools, displace the poor and working class, and cut our access to well-being, you want God to step in right away and do something,” said Mbuti, who immigrated from Harare, Zimbabwe 15 years ago. A theology student, she is familiar with Thurman’s visionary theology as well. “I have seen plenty of suffering at the hands of evil men in high places, but there is no higher authority than God. That is one thing that I wholeheartedly embrace in Thurman’s work, the idea that because I am in God’s work, I need not fear man’s scorn.” Far from being the lament of the weak or powerless, Thurman’s and King’s philosophies of power in nonviolence among the dispossessed lead Indian activist Mahatma Gandhi to confide in Thurman years ago that “it may be through the Negroes that the unadulterated message of nonviolence will be delivered to the world.” WI
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#PGCPSProud TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
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Recommended Books By and About Dr. King By Lee Ross, Special to the Informer
and student who chafed under and eventually rebelled against segregation; the dedicated young minister who continually questioned the depths of his faith and the limits of his wisdom; the loving husband and father who sought to balance his family’s needs with those of a growing, nationwide movement; and the reflective, world-famous leader who was fired by a vision of equality for people everywhere.
THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. Written in his own words, this history-making autobiography is Martin Luther King: the mild-mannered, inquisitive child
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? CHAOS OR COMMUNITY In 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., isolated himself from the demands of the civil rights movement, rented a house in Jamaica with no telephone, and labored over his final manuscript. In this important work, which
America’s future, including the need for better jobs, higher wages, decent housing, and quality education.
has been unavailable for more than ten years, we find King’s acute analysis of American race relations and the state of the movement after a decade of civil rights efforts. King lays out his thoughts, plans, and dreams for
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matically in five parts, the collection includes nineteen selections and is introduced by award-winning author Walter Dean Myers.
A GIFT OF LOVE: SERMONS FROM STRENGTH TO LOVE AND OTHER PREACHINGS As Dr. King prepared for the Birmingham campaign in early 1963, he drafted the final sermons for Strength to Love, a volume of his best-known homilies. King had begun working on the sermons during a fortnight in jail in July 1962. Having been arrested for holding a prayer vigil outside Albany City Hall, King and Ralph Abernathy shared a jail cell for fifteen days that was, according to King, ‘‘dirty, filthy, and illequipped’’ and “the worse I have ever seen.” While behind bars, he spent uninterrupted time preparing the drafts for classic sermons such as “Loving Your Enemies,” “Love in Action,” and “Shattered Dreams,” and continued to work on the volume after his release of love as a social and political force for change. A TIME TO BREAK SILENCE: THE ESSENTIAL WORKS OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. FOR STUDENTS The first collection of King’s essential writings for high school students and young people, “A Time to Break Silence” presents Martin Luther King, Jr.’s most important writings and speeches--carefully selected by teachers across a variety of disciplines--in an accessible and user-friendly volume. Now, for the first time, teachers and students will be able to access Dr. King’s writings not only electronically but in standalone book form. Arranged the-
THE ESSENTIAL MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.: “I HAVEA DREAM” AND OTHER GREAT WRITINGS The ultimate collection of Dr. King’s most inspirational and transformative speeches and sermons, accessibly available for the first time as an ebook. Here, in Dr. King’s own words, are writings that reveal an intellectual struggle and growth as fierce and alive as any chronicle of his political life could possibly be. Included amongst the twenty selections are Dr. King’s most influential and persuasive works such as “I Have a Dream” and “Letter from Birmingham Jail” but also the essay “Pilgrimage to Nonviolence,” and his last sermon “I See the Promised Land,” preached the day before he was assassinated. WI
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“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
As we reflect on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we’re proud to do our part to light the way for the next generation of doers and dreamers who will lead our communities forward by bringing us together. pepco.com
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OPINIONS/EDITORIALS
EDITORIAL A Looming Health Care Crisis in DC Are Wards 7 and 8 residents fully aware of the health care crisis about which Councilmember Vincent Gray, chair of the DC Council’s Committee on Health, starkly warned at a recent community meeting hosted by the Ward 8 Democrats? As a matter of fact, how much do most District residents really know about the impact on health care the impending closure of two hospitals serving Wards 5, 7 and 8 are having on the entire city? Health and community activists are shouting the warnings by holding a series of community meetings to inform residents and to demand answers from health care providers, city leaders, hospital workers and others about their response to this growing crisis. Meanwhile, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Howard University and George Washington Hospital emergency rooms are reportedly spilling over with patients in need of care. Some believe the crisis began when two city-run hospitals – D.C. General which closed in 2001 due to bankruptcy, and United Medical Center in Southeast, soon to be closed due to mismanagement and an old facility – placed a severe burden on other area hospitals unprepared to care for the city’s most indigent patients. To make matters worse, Providence Hospital in Ward 5, and UMC both closed their obstetrics units last year, forcing pregnant mothers from the eastern part of the city to go elsewhere to deliver their babies. After announcing plans to shut down Providence in December, its St-Louis-based parent company Ascension agreed to allow the emergency room to remain open until April, but only for low-acuity patients. With plans to build a new 106-bed East End hospital in Ward 8 on the campus of St. Elizabeths scheduled to open 2023, Gray warns, and others fear that not enough is being done soon enough to address a critical need growing worse day-by-day. But the City Administrator has made it clear that with the closure of UMC, when the East End Hospital opens, the District plans to hand it off to a for-profit private company, Universal Health Services, which runs GWU Hospital and end its involvement in the hospital business. This is just the tip of the iceberg, as other issues escalate including ensuring the agreement allowing Howard University medical students to train at the new medical center will be enforced; that patients will receive appropriate care and attention by UHS; and that employees from UMC will be given priority for positions by UHS. Residents say they want a full-service hospital at St. Elizabeths but who will decide what those services will be? We urge Mayor Bowser to address these issues formally and to direct her health-related directors to do the same. Healthy outcomes begin with trust in the healer, but that trust starts with leaders who will shape the future of health care in D.C. WI
Kamala Harris Following in Shirley Chisholm’s Footsteps? Not So Fast Senator Kamala Harris, the California Democrat and barrier-breaking former prosecutor, used a ton of symbols during a carefully-choreographed announcement on King Day 2019 to formally throw down the gauntlet. She’s officially a candidate for president of the United States. Harris joins three other women who have already declared their candidacy, continuing the recent surge of women entering the political arena – some taking over political seats long-dominated by men – mostly white, gray-haired, or balding, men. Some political pundits assert that the timing of Harris’s announcement was meant to evoke memories and the spirit of the incomparable Shirley Chisholm, the New York congresswoman who, 47 years ago this week, became the first woman to seek the Democratic Party’s nomination for president. We congratulate Harris for her courage and commitment to the American people and we certainly look forward to hearing her present her plans. But a lot of Blacks say they are more concerned with supporting a candidate that can beat Republican Donald Trump, assuming he runs for a second term, rather than blindly giving their endorsement to a candidate based solely on their gender or race. We don’t want to open that can of worms. But we do have some serious questions for Harris, particularly as they relate to her previous support for several “tough-on-crime” initiatives during her time as California’s prosecutor. We have some real issues with her defense of the death penalty which she defended as late as 2015. And we’re nonplussed with her advocating for a legislative bill that sought to punish parents for chronically-truant children. In addition, Harris, the child of a Tamil Indian mother and a Jamaican father, has been somewhat evasive when stating how she describes herself ethnically. In these days, calling oneself a person of color, or calling oneself Black do not always mean the same thing. Even Barack Obama knew enough to claim his African roots and came to the forefront as a self-described Black man. With Harris, that has not been the case. Finally, Harris may have to deal with her husband’s skin color – white – which may be a deal breaker for some voters, even though we wish that America had moved beyond such irrelevant issues. Harris is a proven winner, a skilled negotiator and an admirable force on the national political scene. But as of yet, we cannot envision her as the second coming of Shirley Chisholm. Not before she sits down with the Black Press and “talks turkey.” WI
TO THE EDITOR WI Needs History Puzzle
Harris Bid a Mistake
I was writing The Informer to see if you would take a suggestion from me, a loyal reader, about a feature you need to add to your paper. I would love a crossword puzzle in The Informer like the one in the New York Times, but this one would be about Black history! I think that’s a fantastic idea. I read the paper during my long commute on the Metro and I would love to pass the time with something like that. You don’t have to pay me, just say inspired by a loyal reader.
I DO NOT think that Kamala Harris should run for president. I mean, what a waste of time and resources when she could really be getting stuff done for her California constituents and the country. I think she is a fabulous, accomplished woman, but that doesn’t make her qualified for presidency. And, yes, I know the orange man currently occupying the role isn’t qualified. But the answer to Trump is not more unqualified people! I would also implore people to read on Kamala’s policies — and specifically, criminal policies — and then get back to me with Kamala 2020.
Lavar Hamilton Germantown, Md.
Sharon Freeman Washington, D.C.
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JANUARY 24 - 30, 2019 25 THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist
By Julianne Malveaux
The Government Shutdown and the Collateral Damage
As I write this, our federal government has been shut down for 27 days. At first, it seemed like a gamesmanship joke, like who was going to blink first. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer didn’t look like they were blinking when 45 said he would “own” the shutdown to get his wall.
He’s not owning it now — he didn’t go to Mar-a-Largo to golf, and he indicated how acutely he felt the shutdown by serving Clemson football players cold fast food. Furloughed federal workers will be paid, thanks to legislation 45 signed on Jan. 16. The fact that people will get paid when the shutdown is over (which 45 says may take “months” or “years”) is reassuring, but it helps few with their day-to-day obligations. A 2018 study from the Federal Reserve Bank says that 40 percent of all Amer-
icans can’t absorb a $400 emergency without going into (further) debt, borrowing or selling something to meet a minor expense like a faulty car engine, a busted heating system, an emergency room copay, or some other ordinary challenge. So for many, delaying even one paycheck is likely to cause a seismic shock in family finances. Many will piece it together, but they may miss credit card, mortgage, rent or other payments. In a month or so, they’ll be caught up, but what
Guest Columnist
about their credit rating? Catching up may mean getting current on bills, but it does not mean overcoming the ding that will inevitably appear on one’s credit score. It may take months, even years, for some to transcend that, especially if their credit was shaky to begin with. Our nation runs on debt, our economic growth is dependent on folks going into debt, but economic growth is also dependent on people being able to pay their debt. People who live paycheck to paycheck won’t
pay debt back until they get paid. And hundreds of thousands aren’t being paid because a deranged adult is having a tantrum about a wall. Four in five Americans live in debt, mostly because of mortgages and student loans ($1.5 trillion total) that strangle people’s ability to live in financial freedom. While mortgage and student loan debts are the most significant contributions to our nation’s debt crisis, medical debt is the
MALVEAUX Page 45
By Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr.
Trump’s Flailing Will Get More Desperate — and More Dangerous
Since the striking victories of Democrats up and down the ballot in 2018, President Donald Trump has been flailing more and more wildly. He’s setting new records for the length of the government shutdown, watched his defense secretary resign after suddenly announcing the withdrawal of troops from Syria, forced his attorney general to resign, found it difficult to find a permanent replacement for his departing chief of
staff, and tweeted that he is “all alone in the White House.” Quietly, the unrelenting investigation of Robert Mueller becomes ever more ominous. Now the new Democratic majority in the U.S. House of Representatives will probe the corruption of this most corrupt administration, from Trump’s business dealings to the corporate lobbyists who are running entire departments in the interests of their once and future employers. While Trump issues insult after insult against opponents — Sen. Elizabeth Warren, former Vice President Joe Biden, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer — he reveals just how des-
perate he is. Essentially, Trump now has three choices. He can stay in office and be impeached. The evidence of high crimes and misdemeanors is building each day, from trampling election laws by payoffs to keep his mistresses quiet to blatant self-enrichment that surely offends the Constitution’s ban on emoluments, to open and secret efforts to obstruct justice. Democrats will no doubt wait for special prosecutor Mueller to issue his report. They will wait to see if Republicans, alarmed by their sinking poll numbers, begin to separate themselves from Trump. Sen. Mitt Romney’s blast at Trump may be an early warning of what’s likely to
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come. Hearings on the impeachment of the president are inevitable. Impeachment in the House is likely. Whether the Republican-led Senate will protect the president remains to be seen. If not impeached, Trump could stay in office and be disgraced. Disgrace appears unavoidable. He lost the popular vote to Hillary Clinton by 3 million votes at a time many Americans were desperate to change things. Republicans lost several key congressional races last fall. That’s when the economy was at its best, and Trump’s foreign policy chaos hadn’t yet been felt. Two years from now,
if he chooses to run for re-election, Trump will try to pull the Electoral College equivalent of an inside straight again, but he is most likely to be routed, bringing down with him many of the Republican senators who have lacked the backbone to stand up to him. At the same time, the investigations of his various business dealings, his tax returns, his conflicts of interests will end in myriad lawsuits, if not criminal charges. Once he is defeated, Trump will face not only unending lawsuits for damages, but the real possibility of jail time for himself or his family or both.
JACKSON Page 45
By Jeffrey L. Boney
The Government Shutdown Crippling America
Imagine having to choose between paying your mortgage and picking up the much-needed prescription for your health crisis because the job you report to and the federal resources you have relied on to live day to day are no longer available to you because of things beyond your control. Choices like those, and many others, are exactly what approximately 800,000 federal employees, roughly 4 million federal government contractors and countless low-income
26 JANUARY 24 - 30, 2019
families — who rely on the federal government assistance — have had to deal with since the beginning of what has become the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. This has been the third shutdown of the federal government since President Donald J. Trump took the oath of office. However, as a result of the current catastrophic and life-altering shutdown, millions of the people who rely on the government for their livelihood — directly and indirectly — have been severely affected. People have had their Medicare and Medicaid disrupted. The stock market has been volatile. Federal workers have gone without pay-
checks and are in danger of losing everything they have worked so hard for while chasing the American dream. Safety has also become an issue. Our food supply is at risk. As a result of the shutdown, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) immediately announced that it had stopped most of their routine food safety inspections because the staff had been working without pay, including safety inspections on foods that have been imported from overseas, dangerous recalls, foodborne illness outbreaks and much more. Our drugs supply is at risk. The FDA has stated that because
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of the shutdown, they no longer have the ability to review new drugs that could be beneficial in helping people get better or addressing critical illnesses until the government reopens. Even our airports are at risk. Just a few weeks ago, a passenger on Delta Air Lines, traveling from Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport to Tokyo, informed authorities that he had inadvertently carried his loaded firearm through airport security and onto the plane. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) confirmed this problematic incident took place. There is increasing concern that unpaid TSA workers
may not have the same level of focus and, perhaps even worse, many of them are not reporting to work. Just this past week, the TSA checkpoint in Terminal B at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport was closed due to the number of TSA agents that called in sick, protesting the shutdown. Things are getting more and more out of hand. On top of the potential safety issues impacting Americans, the financial strain this shutdown is putting on the American people, especially in large states like Texas, is devastating.
BONEY Page 45
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OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist
By Elia Quintana
Securing the Opportunities of American Energy
Roughly 15 or 20 years ago, there were very few people who could have imagined that the U.S. would again lead the world in the production of natural gas and oiI, and even fewer who would have thought that we could reduce carbon emissions faster than any other nation. Today, we are doing both. The natural gas and oil industry supports the jobs of more than 10 million American
workers, and reports project an additional 1.9 million job opportunities in America’s natural gas and oil and petrochemicals industries by 2035 — nearly 40 percent of which will be held by African-American and Hispanic workers. The natural gas and oil industry leads all other sectors — including utilities, tech and health care — in compensation for U.S. workers, because as an industry, we take pride in providing well-paying careers and opportunities for individuals and families, offering support for communities and driving local and national economies.
Guest Columnist
The American energy revolution is changing life for the better. Stable, affordable energy brings economic stability and cleaner air. It is reviving American manufacturing and restoring jobs we used to hear were gone forever. Advanced technologies, best practices and industry standards allow the natural gas and oil industry to safely and responsibly explore and develop both onshore and offshore, and this development means that the industry can continue leading the way in bringing large economic benefits — including investments and jobs — to communi-
ties across the country, as well as affordable and reliable energy. These benefits are tangible — like newly paved roads, upgraded school buildings and better-funded land and water conservation projects. Just last month, onshore lease sales in New Mexico resulted in nearly $500 million in revenue awarded to the state from oil and natural gas production on federal lands. Offshore lease sales are just as beneficial as onshore ones and could bring the same types of much-needed benefits to many states along the Atlantic coast and eastern Gulf of Mexico. Communities in states from
Virginia to Florida could see billions in state revenues, improved infrastructure and thousands of new jobs. Affordable domestic energy also generates cost savings — savings that can be invested in businesses and jobs. By 2040, natural gas alone will save consumers across the country an estimated $100 billion, or $655 per household, from the increased use of the abundant, affordable fuel throughout our economy — from manufacturing to electricity generation.
QUINTANA Page 46
By Marian Wright Edelman
A Call to Conscience
Jan. 15 would have been Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 90th birthday. How should we honor him today? Earlier this month, Dr. King’s personal attorney and friend Clarence Jones convened an intergenerational, interracial and interfaith group for the launch of the Gandhi King Institute for Nonviolence and Social Justice to try to answer
that question and issued “A Call to Conscience.” It opens: “Today, as we remember Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we watch in anguish as many achievements toward a more just and equal society we believed were secure are being eviscerated in front of our eyes. “In this hour of constitutional crisis and moral emergency, do we wish to truthfully honor Dr. King’s life and further his legacy? “If we wish to honor Dr. King, we must shake the foundations of our grotesquely unequal social
Askia-At-Large
and economic order. ‘We as a nation must undergo a radical revolution of values,’ he warned us. ‘We must rapidly begin the shift from a thing-oriented society to a person-oriented society. When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights, are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, extreme materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered.’” Our nation is at a critical inflection point where evil and greed are running amok and it is not
enough to simply celebrate Dr. King. We need to figure out what he would be doing right now and follow him through nonviolent action: from voting to organized protest. “A Call to Conscience” goes on: “Dr. King’s mission was ‘to redeem the soul of America.’ His life’s work was to hold fast to the Spirit of the Lord and attend to the needs of ‘the least of these’ — to help feed the hungry, provide shelter to the homeless, release the captives, free the oppressed, and to follow the Lord’s command-
ment to have no other gods before Me. Thus, Dr. King decried the blasphemy and idolatry of Americans who had increasingly come to worship ‘the false god of nationalism,’ a religion that ‘affirms that each nation is an absolute sovereign unit acknowledging no control, save its own independent will.’ He warned us against the prophets and preachers of this false religion, specifically ‘the advocators of white supremacy, and
EDELMAN Page 46
By Askia Muhammad
White Folks Drinking Trump Kool-Aid are Overplaying Hand
Call him “The Man” if you like, or “Mr. Bobo,” or “Mr. Whitey,” but no matter how you describe them (sorry womyn, only male sobriquets in this metaphor), White people, intoxicated by the beverage of Donald J. Trump’s hateful rhetorical vineyard, are now stumbling drunk and overplaying their hand like a mark in a floating poker game. They are setting themselves up for a big loss. From so-called “Barbecue Becky”
and all her cousins who called police all around the country to complain about Black folks doing routine things, to now this viral video of a group of boys from Kentucky’s Covington Catholic High School — gleefully surrounding a Native American elder; standing in his face as he drummed; chanting their own fake Indian cheer and “Tomahawk chop” gesture used at some sporting events; while shouting “Build the wall! Build the wall!” and “go back to the reservation” — White people, like these Covington boys like characters from Nobel Prize-winning author William Golding’s dys-
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topian novel, “Lord of The Flies,” have taken this masquerade too far. These Covington boys were wearing Trump’s red, signature “MAGA (Make America Great Again)” baseball caps. But they are mistaken about their future and their country’s future: there is no greatness ahead for the United States. Like their cruel treatment of millions and millions of enslaved Africans over a span of 464 years, White America’s genocide against the Native people like Nathan Phillips from whom this continent was taken by force, are both crimes against
humanity, and the reward for such behavior must be punishment, not reward, if the Prophets of Old and their Scriptures are to be believed. White Dudes (often euphemistically referred to by me as “White Boys”) have taken to believing Trump’s press releases about “so much winning”— despite the facts that the government remains shutdown now, longer than ever before; the overall economy is headed to the toilet; and the president is a pathological liar who has told an average 15 untruths every day he’s been in office; and is facing a mountain of legal troubles. They believe him and
they are acting like his lies are somehow true. But it is toward the descendants of their slaves, and their Native hosts, to whom these White Boys are most cruel. Instead of showing gratitude to the people most responsible for this country’s wealth and greatness, White folks are quick to abuse, rather than praise, their greatest benefactors. They are mistakenly betting “all-in” on whiteness, which will prove to be a losing hand. For the nearly 40 years since the
ASKIA Page 46
JANUARY 24 - 30, 2019 27 THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
LIFESTYLE For Some, Black History Month a Time to Plan Trump’s Ouster By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia Angela Cunningham, Priscilla White and Edna Harris have a few things in common: Each is African-American women; they live in the District — though two are originally from New York — and the trio each fancy themselves as aspiring entrepreneurs. As another Black History Month dawns, each of the vibrant women who sat inside a Wilmington, Delaware, Amtrak station on a recent chilly evening were asked what — if anything — sets this year apart from previous observances.
28 JANUARY 24 - 30, 2019
Each focused on America’s 45th president — Donald J. Trump. “There’s been this feeling of the air coming out of the balloon ever since he won,” said Cunningham, a hair stylist whose working toward opening her own beauty and barber shop. “I knew it would be bad, but I don’t think anyone thought it would be this bad,” added White, who hopes business classes she’s taking will lead her to open her own public-relations firm. “When Trump asked what African Americans had to lose during his campaign, somehow right then and there I knew we were in trouble,” said Harris, who is working with relatives to build
new day care centers for children and adults. In nearly every major federal agency, the Trump administration has pursued policies harmful to Black people. Recently, some of the more egregious instances were highlighted by Demos, a public policy organization that pushes equal say in democracy and an equal chance in the American economy for all. In moving away from Obama administration policies, the Trump administration has put in place laws that would incarcerate nonviolent offenders and disproportionately harm African Americans. The Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, meanwhile, has gone from protecting civil rights to assaulting them, according to Demos. On voting rights, the division now supports unlawful voter purges in violation of the National Voter Registration Act. While Trump has celebrated the historically low Black unemployment rate, he’s failed to mention that the strong decline in the Black unemployment rate began during the Obama administration in 2011, years before he took office. Since the 1960s, the Black unemployment rate has been twice the White unemployment rate, and it continues today. Recent research indicates virtually no progress in combatting anti-Black racial discrimination in the labor market, Demos reported. “Black-White wage gaps are larger today than they were in 1979,” the Economic Policy Institute reported. “Wage gaps are growing primarily because of dis-
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crimination.” Instead of working against these trends, the Trump administration is striving to make it easier for employers to discriminate against Black workers. The administration has suspended a rule from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that would have compelled large companies to confidentially report information about what they pay their employees by job category, sex, race and ethnicity. In the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis that devastated African-American wealth, Congress established the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to guarantee basic standards of fairness for consumer financial products and services such as mortgages, credit cards, car loans, checking accounts, debt collection, and student loans. Since 2011, the CFPB has won nearly $12 billion for consumers cheated by the financial industry, successfully holding big banks and other financial companies accountable for predatory practices that strip wealth from Black communities. Yet the Trump administration has worked to weaken the agency, appointing an acting director, Mick Mulvaney, who is hostile to the agency’s core mission (and is simultaneously heading another government agency) and proposing that Congress withdraw the agency’s independent funding and much of its regulatory authority, Demos reported. Under the Trump administration, the CFPB has rolled back a range of rules that protect African-American consumers and communities from abusive and
discriminatory lending. For example, the Trump CFPB has dropped cases and halted rules that would have reined in payday lenders that prey on Black communities with interest rates exceeding 400 percent to consumers who are largely excluded from opportunities to access fair credit and accrue wealth. Under Trump, the agency also delayed its rules on prepaid cards, preparing to weaken a regulation that would have curtailed abusive fees and interest rates and established key protections against fraud, unauthorized charges, and errors for the 2.9 million African-American consumers who rely on prepaid cards for financial transactions. Also, the Obama administration sought to rein in colleges that loaded up students with debt without providing them any value in the labor market. His administration also worked to provide loan forgiveness to students who were deceived into enrolling in — and borrowing thousands of dollars from — schools that eventually collapsed, including ITT Tech and Corinthian Colleges. The Trump administration is reversing these protections and making ripping off low-income students of color easier for predatory for-profit colleges. And since Trump’s election, Demos reported, his administration has been dismantling the power of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate polluting industries and protect people’s health. Environmental deregulation disproportionately harms African
HISTORY Page 31
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LIFESTYLE
ACLU Requests Body-Cam Footage in Teen’s Death By John Muller Special to The Informer More than four months ago, 19-year-old Anton Black died while in police custody in the small town of Greensboro on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, but requests by Black’s family, members of the Coalition for Justice for Anton Black and local press for the release of available police body camera footage have gone unanswered. In response to law enforcement’s continued silence and delay in the face of growing demand for answers, the American Civil Liberties Union’s (ACLU) Maryland chapter intervened, offering the Black family its support. On Saturday, the ACLU of Maryland launched an online petition drive calling for immediate disclosure of the footage from body cameras worn by police during the incident. Deborah Jeon, legal director for the ACLU of Maryland, said the petition gathered more than 1,000 signees in its first 24 hours. “This late in the day, the lack of transparency in the case of Anton Black is highly aberrational when compared with other jurisdictions in Maryland and across the country,” Jeon said. “Months have passed since Anton’s death, and still his family is being kept in the dark, when numerous police agencies — and even outsiders — have been allowed to watch the video that shows how their loved one died. It’s unconscionable.” Jeon cited a police-involved shooting in Tempe, Arizona, last week in which a 14-year-old was killed and footage was released in a matter of days. Richard Potter, a leader of the Coalition for Justice for Anton Black, said the support of the ACLU of Maryland demonstrates a growing awareness of and support for the case. “The ACLU has a larger base to draw from, and their partnership has enabled the request of the family of Anton Black to reach their members on the Eastern Shore and Western Shore,” said Potter, a former educator in Washington who now works in higher education. “Support of the ACLU signifies there are other individuals who care about taking up the cause
of seeking justice for the family and the community who knew Anton. We are seeking to understand what happened to Anton and the continuing withholding of information makes it hard for us to understand.”
...requests by Black’s family, members of the Coalition for Justice for Anton Black and local press for the release of available police body camera footage have gone unanswered.
BODY-CAM FOOTAGE IN DELAWARE
In early January, Greensboro Police Officer Thomas Webster IV was placed on administrative leave, nearly four months after contact with Anton Black on Sept. 15, 2018. In the immediate aftermath of Black’s death, body camera footage, reportedly more than a half-hour long, was shared with a private citizen in Caroline County and legal representatives for the Black family, but has not yet been shared with family members. While an officer with the Dover Police Department in August 2013, Webster was captured on dash-cam footage kicking an African-American man, complying with orders to get on the ground, in the face. The man’s jaw was broken. According to news reports, following then-Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden’s failure to secure a grand jury indictment against Webster, a judge in a civil rights lawsuit ruled in May 2015 that video capturing the event could be released publicly. Within a week of the video’s release, newly elected Delaware Attorney General Matt Denn secured a grand jury indictment. Webster was charged for assault and subsequently acquitted in December 2015. In early 2018, Webster was hired by the Greensboro Police Department, despite a formal petition from the African-American community and citizens expressing their objections to the town’s elected leadership and police commissioner. The 2013 video, available on the YouTube channel of the Dover Police Department, has been viewed more than 180,000 times, with other online versions of the incident viewed tens of thousands of times. To sign the ACLU petition, go to https://action.aclu.org/ send-message/md-community-needs-answers-anton-black. WI
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5 Anton Black (Courtesy photo)
93RD ANNUAL BLACK HISTORY LUNCHEON
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JANUARY 24 - 30, 2019 29 THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
LIFESTYLE
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30 JANUARY 24 - 30, 2019
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For the past 11 years, Washingtonians have been opening their hearts — and their wallets — for the annual Sips & Suppers charitable event, which pairs master chefs from Washington and beyond to create private dinners and memorable dishes to benefit Martha’s Table and DC Central Kitchen. While the packaging has changed this year, the motivation behind the weekend event remains the same. The new incarnation includes a “DC Night Out Experience” in addition to the private dinners that philanthropists can sponsor, bringing a renowned chef into their homes to create an intimate dinner, with wine pairings, for a small group. In the past, Sips & Suppers had one night of a food fest at the Newseum, where supporters purchased tickets and were treated to a smorgasbord of gourmet delights from chef-created tastings, to craft cocktails and sweet treats. This year, the experience will expand from one locale to multiple venues throughout the city. Patrons of the “DC Night Out” experience will be able to participate in the unveiling of this new format that will showcase the very best of D.C.’s hospitality industry. “These restaurants will welcome out-of-town chefs to partner on curated menus and create a unique dining experience for Sips & Suppers guests,” said Robin Jackson, assistant director of Special Events for Martha’s Table, which recently relocated from Columbia Heights to The Commons at Stanton Square in the Stanton Road/ Hillsdale area of Ward 8. Sips & Suppers is the brainchild of culinary giants José Andrés, Joan Nathan and Alice Waters, who began the event in 2009 as a means of raising awareness of hunger and poverty in the District. Andrés continued his advocacy to end hunger with the recent high-profile establishment of an
emergency kitchen on Pennsylvania Avenue NW to ensure that furloughed federal workers have hot meals for themselves and their families during the ongoing government shutdown. This unique fundraiser brings together some of the greatest chefs with “a growing community of local philanthropists and activists in support of two organizations leading the fight against hunger in our nation’s capital: DC Central Kitchen and Martha’s Table,” Jackson said. “Since its inception, Sips & Suppers has raised over $4 million for these two iconic nonprofits,” Jackson added. The award-winning DC Central Kitchen develops programs targeting the cycle of hunger and poverty, including culinary training to jobless adults, turning wasted food into wholesome meals for shelters and nonprofits, expanding access to healthy food and providing healthy, made-from-scratch meals in low-income schools. Those endeavors have been recognized nationally with several awards, including The Golden Carrot, the leading national award for healthy school food innovation; the Washington Business Journal’s Green Business Award for Innovation; and the DC Chamber of Commerce’s Community Impact Award. Martha’s Table has worked to support strong children, families and communities for nearly four decades by increasing access to quality education programs, healthy food and family supports. “We believe that every child deserves the opportunity for their brightest future and a deeply engaged family and community committed to their success,” Jackson said. Sips & Suppers takes place from Jan. 26-28. Tickets for the “Private Residence Experience” and select venues for the “DC Night Out Experience” at www.sipsandsuppers. org. WI
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Grammy-Nominated Paul Jackson Jr. Joins Harp, Lorber on ‘Life & Times’ By Eunice Moseley WI Contributing Writer Lead guitarist Paul Jackson Jr., known for playing on stage with such icons as Michael Jackson, Dru Hill, Whitney Houston and Patti LaBelle, joins the group Jazz Funk Soul on their new album “Life and Times” (Shanachie Entertainment), scheduled for release Friday, Jan. 25. The group consists of Grammy-nominated Everette Harp on saxophone and Grammy-winning Jeff Lorber on keyboard. Jackson fills in for the group’s late founder, Grammy-nominated guitarist Chuck Loeb, who died in 2017. “The guys decided to continue the group and I was pleased,” Jackson said. Jackson’s recording credits include Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” “Bad” and “Dangerous” albums, The Jacksons’ “Destiny” and “Triumph” and Whitney Houston’s “Greatest Love of All.” He has released eight solo albums and received his Grammy Award nomination for his debut album, “I Came to Play.” He also played as part of the “Tonight Show” and “American Idol” bands. “Technically, yes, this is the first time I’ve been in a group,” he said. “But I have worked with Everette with George Duke on the road and Jeff Lorber, I’ve worked for 30 years on his projects.” The recording of “Life and Times” brought with it a slightly new working process, Jackson said. “I [normally] do one guitar part. … Everette likes to do three parts and choose from them,” Jackson said about the experience. “That was different for me. Before, we’d write songs and bring them to the table. This time we did a lot of co-writing.” Jackson said there was one song he had brought to the table, which they used but it was changed during the process. Jazz Funk Soul formed in 2014 and released a self-titled album that year. That project was followed by “More Serious Business” in 2016. Jackson teaches at his alma mata, the University of Southern California, where Grammy-nominated recording artist Patrice Rushen (“Forget Me Nots”) de-
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5 Paul Jackson, Jr. (Courtesy photo)
signed the program. When he was a young musician, a mentor told him he needed to start playing guitar like Paul Jackson Jr., a not-so-subtle push to create his own style. “So I’d write songs and play songs … as God directed and as you play and soul-seek you end up a conglomeration of what you heard,” he said. “It all comes to-
HISTORY from Page 28 Americans, who are already more exposed to pollution due to a long history of racially discriminatory policies. For example, Black Americans are 1.54 times more likely to be exposed to pollution particles associated with heart and lung disease than the overall population. More than 1 million African Americans live within a half-mile of existing natural gas facilities and experience elevated risk of cancer due to toxic emissions from natural gas development. For Cunningham, White and Harris, all of that are reasons that Black History Month takes on a different tone this year.
gether over the years and you will start to come out.” That is certainly what he did, because his guitar playing has a signature sound that I can identify no matter what project he is on. Advice this living legend gives to other artists and musicians is to “always improve.” WI
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LIFESTYLE
MLK-Themed Study Shows States Making Most Racial Progress By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia Amid this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations and the majority of Americans welcoming increased diversity, personal finance website WalletHub released a report on the states with the most racial progress. New Mexico, West Virginia, Hawaii, Kentucky and Texas — in that order — were the states listed as being the most racially integrated; while Wyoming, Tex-
as, New Mexico, Georgia and Mississippi — in that order — were listed as states with the most racial progress. The District of Columbia has the lowest gap in homeownership rates between Whites and Blacks, at 13.41 percent while Connecticut has made the most progress in closing this gap since 1970, with a change of 8.25 percent, according to the report released on Tuesday, Jan. 15. Hawaii enjoys the lowest gap in median annual household incomes between Whites and
5 America in black, brown and white. (Photo courtesy of WalletHub)
Blacks, at 7.74 percent, and has made the most progress in closing this gap since 1979, with a change of 33.19 percent. Meanwhile, South Dakota has the lowest gap in unemployment rates between Whites and Blacks,
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at 0.85 percent and North Dakota has made the most progress in closing this gap since 1970, with a change of 12.94 percent. Hawaii has the lowest gap in poverty rates between Whites and Blacks, at 0.87 percent and Mississippi has made the most progress in closing this gap since 1970, with a change of 24.80 percent, according to the report. New Mexico has the lowest gap in the share of adults 25 years and over with at least a bachelor’s degree between Whites and Blacks, at 0.83 percent, and has made the most progress in closing this gap since 1970, with a change of 5.71 percent. To measure America’s progress in harmonizing racial groups, WalletHub researchers measured the gaps between Blacks and Whites across 22 key indicators of equality and integration in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The data set ranges from median annual income to standardized-test scores to voter turnout. The report examines the differences between only Blacks and Whites in light of the high-profile police-brutality incidents that sparked the Black Lives Matter movement and the holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In overall rankings of the most racially integrated states, the District of Columbia finished last while Wisconsin, Maine, Iowa and Minnesota were among the worst five. The survey also listed those with the highest voter turnout gap in the 2016 presidential election — D.C.; Connecticut, Kansas, Wisconsin, and Washington — and the states with the lowest voter turnout gap — Kentucky, Alabama, South Carolina, Nevada, Colorado and Texas. Hawaii, Wyoming, New Mexico, Texas and Maryland had the lowest poverty rate, while North Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Maine had the highest poverty rate. The report authors wrote that in 1963, King introduced the world to his dream of a colorblind society — one that focuses
on character, not on complexion. However, they said, segregation and discrimination continue to persist. The authors also noted that views on systemic racism also differ sharply across racial lines. According to a survey by the Pew Research Center, 92 percent of Blacks said that “Whites benefit a great deal or a fair amount from advantages that Blacks do not have.” In contrast, only 46 percent of Whites agreed with that statement. “The racial wealth gap between Blacks and Whites in the U.S. is due to structural racism, which have advantaged average White families and historically restricted wealth building opportunities among Blacks,” said Caryn Bell, a WalletHub expert and assistant professor in the department of African American Studies at the University of Maryland. “Some of these policies were ‘colorblind’ but at times inadvertently and many times specifically restricted Blacks from these opportunities,” Bell said. “Because wealth building is generational, the policies and programs of the past that advantaged Whites and restricted Blacks have effects today and are the root causes of the huge racial wealth gap we see today.” The key to addressing racial inequality is acknowledging the existence of race-based inequities, said Mamadi Corra, a professor in the sociology department at East Carolina University. “But acknowledging the existence of racial inequality also requires following up with actions aimed at mitigating it,” Corra said. “It follows that states that have been more successful are those that acknowledge the existence of racial inequality, and also follow this acknowledgment with actions to address inequality. “And I think it begins with education,” he said. “Without directly naming any states, some have actively reduced support for public education, while others have increased or, at the least, maintained support.” WI
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SHUTDOWN from Page 1 sleep. I have lost faith in the people empowered to run our country.” While Castillo didn’t indicate whether she’d file for unemployment, she later posted on her social media page that she’s available for a “side job.” Many others have used social networking and other means to express their frustration and to seek temporary employment to help pay their bills and put food on the table. Social networking site LinkedIn provided the platform for many area government workers. “We all swore to protect the traveling public and we do that day in and day out, despite government shutdowns and being verbally abused by travelers every day,” said Jackie Kos, a TSA safety officer. “The problem is we are expected to continue as business as usual, however families don’t have money for gas, for food or for basic everyday necessities. Also what’s worse is our parking is paid for by TSA, so if they aren’t paying it, we have to, just in order to work … for free.” TSA employees Phillip Plangetis, Sean M. Williams and George Small also lamented the plight of their fellow workers. “The fact that TSA workers are not being paid is not good,” Plangetis said. “How about we privatize it so the TSA doesn’t have to depend on government funds for their paychecks?” TSA workers must report to work because securing the nation’s airports has been deemed essential, Williams noted. “They should be paid now and not have their checks held up,” he said. “TSA workers who call out sick create longer airport security lines, angry passengers and makes the airport less secure.” The callouts are “affecting the morale of the team … [who] put extra time in so that the airport is still safe,” Small said. “I ask that people be kind and sensitive during this time,” he said. Meanwhile, the unemployment numbers have steadily increased, officials said. “We’re certainly prepared for an influx of claims,” said William Walton, the director of unemployment insurance services at the Virginia Employment Commission. “The logical conclusion is that the longer the partial federal shutdown continues, the more claims we’re going to see.” The trend has proven especially acute in D.C. and neighboring Maryland and Virginia, which have many federal offices and installations, according to the New York
5 TSA Workers are among the many government employees filing for unemployment benefits. (Department of Homeland Security)
Times, which took a survey of state labor agencies that showed the shutdown has driven a mounting wave of unemployment filings across the country. Thomas G. Bognanno, CEO of Community Health Charities, said he sent money to family members affected by the shutdown because it’s frustrating for one to miss a car payment and other bills. Bognanno said the organization’s vice president of development also sent money to a friend who needed help with transportation costs and who couldn’t get his daughter to school. “We’ve heard about a woman who could not afford her insulin,” Bognanno said. “We all hear stories about those affected and what’s important is to share resources that can help. We and our charity partners can help. There are a lot of people out there now living without a paycheck.
“Many federal workers are not four-star generals or congressmen and women — they don’t make that much to begin with and now are put into a position where they have no paycheck,” he said. “Our job — the job of a charity — is to help people in time of need and not just curse the darkness.” Castillo said she is particularly peeved by those who take to social media to proclaim that the shutdown hasn’t affected them. “Please stop posting that the government shutdown hasn’t affected you,” she said. “It affects me, more importantly my son, my co-workers and my friends. Many are working without receiving a paycheck. “Turn down your paycheck for a month — with no end in sight — and let me know how that impacts you,” Castillo said. “Instead, show some compassion and other ways or resources to help those in need. It’s devastating to many.” WI
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Step Afrika! Spectacular in 25th Season Opening
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By D. Kevin McNeir WI Editor @dkevinmcneir
STEP AFRIKA!
If I had any doubts that Step Afrika! and the young, all-male step team from Greenbelt (Md.), Dem Raider Boyz (DRB) Step Squad, could pull off a 90-minute performance, without intermission, and maintain my undivided attention, those concerns would be quickly dashed. The two step groups brought creativity, dance prowess, pulsating precision and seamless teamwork to the stage on Sunday, Jan. 20 at the Music Center at Strathmore, much to the delight of a sold-out audience. In many ways, I felt myself taken back to my days as an undergraduate at the University of Michigan where I also learned the art of stepping as a pledge and then brother of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. And I can attest that while stepping may appear to be simple to do with movements that take little or no thought, preparation or practice, such notions couldn’t be further from the truth. You could see the sweat pouring off of the dancers and their muscles stretching to complete the actions as they moved in perfect synchronization and machine-like accuracy the way the inner gears of a grandfather clock engage with one another. As for Step Afrika!, they were particularly outstanding in two of my favorite pieces, “Umngane,” kept on track by a drummer of unbelievable ability and “The Wade Suite,” hauntingly evocative of Alvin Ailey’s “Revelations,” albeit with the flair and intricacies of stepping. From the opening act, DRB, who made fun of the cable channel Netflix with their own creative and high-energy version of a different “channel,” “Stepflix,” to the featured performers for the evening, each step sequence brought with it a theme, a message or a story that was well-conceived and entertaining. I even felt like bounding up the stairs, rushing from behind the curtains and joining those brothers and sisters into step history. Thank goodness I just as quickly came to my senses. From start to finish, the performances were stellar, sensational and sizzling. I cannot wait for the next installment. Hats off to C. Brian Williams, Mfoniso Akpan and those who train and mentor the young men of DRB. WI
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wi book review “Talk to Me”
JANUARY 24 - 30, 2019
ARIES The focus could seem lighter and brighter this week with the sun now in sociable Aquarius and chatty Mercury moving in on Wednesday. You may still have responsibilities and be eager to press ahead with them, but you’ll also want to get involved in team projects and enjoy spending more time with friends. In general, the week looks lively, and Friday brings the promise of fresh adventures. Lucky Numbers: 1, 30, 36
by John Kenney c.2019, Putnam
$26 ($35 Canada) 304 pages
TAURUS It can be very frustrating when you want something to happen and life seems to conspire against you to prevent it. This might be the situation you find yourself in on Monday, when no matter how hard you try you can’t get the results you seek. Let go and turn your attention to other matters because it could all come together within a day or so. Lucky Numbers: 9, 26, 32 GEMINI Whatever seemed difficult last week could appear far less complicated this week. In fact, your whole approach can be more upbeat, and you may now have faith that you can find the outcome you seek. Despite this, you could experience a roadblock when fiery Mars faces off with prudent Saturn in your sector of transformation on Monday. Lucky Numbers: 5, 6, 20
By Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer The view from above was stunning. The cliché says that people look like ants when you’re looking down from a ledge, and they do. Trees look like the lint you’d pick off a sweater, and it seems like you could reach out and grab a cloud. It’s humbling and powerful, but in the new novel “Talk to Me” by John Kenney, it’s a long way down from any height. Ted Grayson was falling. He’d hired the instructor just hours ago, gotten a quick lesson on skydiving, and he’d been pushed out of the plane, just like in the movies. The instructor assured Ted that he’d survive this experience. Thing was, Ted didn’t want to. It all started on his birthday, didn’t it? Or was it when his daughter, Frannie, was a teenager and had rebelled, as teenagers do? No, the beginning of the end was when Ted let his marriage slowly die, he’d stopped coming home after the last newscast, he lost interest in his wife, and Claire met someone else. Someone, she so harshly pointed out, who was “happy.” But his birthday was the cherry on the sundae. Ted was in “a mood,” wrapping up the last story of the night when one thing led to another and another and he exploded, calling the temporary makeup girl something vile. It wasn’t on-camera — he was too professional for that — but on video and then, to his befuddled regret, online. Suddenly, Ted Grayson, news anchor to millions, was Ted Grayson, internet fool. And don’t think he didn’t apologize. He did, but the ridicule expanded upon itself when someone dug up an ancient clip of a battle-hardened soldier insulting Ted. The station was inundated with protesters and calls for Ted’s firing. Women’s groups were incensed. Then Frannie wrote a scathing story about her father and though it wasn’t her intention, the story went viral. And so, in more ways than one, Ted Grayson was falling… If ever there was a book plucked from real life, “Talk to Me” is it. Beginning with a miserable last-ditch aim at suicide, author John Kenney tells a blunt, hilariously nuanced but devastatingly emotional tale of the age of internet and instant news, when the past isn’t past and one hasn’t become outdated on what could happen online. It’s altogether too easy to see yourself in this novel, in other words, and that’s like a gut punch. And yet, you’ll laugh because Kenney is profane, with a biting, spitout-your-coffee kind of wit that underscores the pathos and irony of it all. Indeed, Ted is nasty, but so is what happened to him and schadenfreude weeps from each page. You’ll see it, especially if you’ve ever snorted at someone else’s gaffe. But again, the reality sets in. We could be Ted. Ted is us. What a novel. Readers who relish a little snark with their story will love this one, as will those who enjoy tattletale videos and gossip mags. “Talk to Me” will make you think, and you won’t want to put it down. WI WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
horoscopes
CANCER It could seem that someone is blocking you from a goal or ambition you’re passionate about. You may feel this most acutely around the start of the week and be annoyed by it. The more you push against them, though, the more trapped you could feel. If you can just let it go for a few days, you may find they’ve changed their mind. It might be full steam ahead after all. Lucky Numbers: 39, 43, 55 LEO If you felt snowed under by work last week, things could seem very different this week. Lighter and brighter energies can boost your spirits and leave you feeling much more upbeat. And even though you could experience a roadblock at the start of the week as pushy Mars angles toward sobering Saturn, you’ll be able to rise above it. Lucky Numbers: 11, 13, 47 VIRGO Lifestyle matters are very much in focus this week with the sun now moving through Aquarius and your sector of work and wellness. This is your opportunity to consider your routines and habits and how you might improve them. And while Monday could bring frustrating circumstances, let them wash over you. Any obstacles will likely melt away within a few days. Lucky Numbers: 15, 16, 21 LIBRA As feisty Mars continues to move through your relationship zone, there is still plenty of opportunity to clear the air and get a relationship back on track. Still, you might be reluctant to let someone off the hook, especially at the start of the week. Experience could encourage you to set firmer boundaries, and this might include not seeming too eager to make amends. It could be the only way the other person gets the message. Lucky Numbers: 6, 26, 41 SCORPIO Progress could stall because you overthink something. The harder you try, the more difficult it might be to carry it off. If you relax, things could be so much easier. Whatever you’re involved with, a lighter touch can allow you to go with the flow rather than constantly judge or criticize yourself. Lucky Numbers: 5, 9, 17 SAGITTARIUS With four planets in fire signs, you could feel truly in your element. Plus, with dynamic Mars and electric Uranus in your sector of leisure, you may enjoy the thrill of the romantic chase. If you’re looking for love, the week ahead shows great promise. Even if it seems you have competition, you can still come out the winner because your confidence is supreme. Lucky Numbers: 30, 49, 56 CAPRICORN The focus on your personal financial zone could be a chance to get your money to work harder for you. The coming weeks can see you taking stock and considering how you might increase your income. You might also be eager to start a side business. This is a time when you might consider making use of a talent that has lain dormant. You could see positive results from this. Lucky Numbers: 12, 13, 38 AQUARIUS With the sun in your sign, you could be feeling much more at home with yourself and ready to take stock of your life. And once Mercury, the planet of talk and thought, enters Aquarius on Wednesday, you’ll be eager to share your ideas and get others interested. Lucky Numbers: 5, 13, 21 PISCES With the sun in a secluded zone and thoughtful Mercury moving in midweek, you may enjoy quieter times to reflect and recharge. This phase will last for around four weeks, and it’s an opportunity for you to remove clutter, spiritually and emotionally. What no longer serves you? Whatever that is, it’s time for it to go. Lucky Numbers: 18, 31, 43
JANUARY 24 - 30, 2019 35 THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
SPORTS Herd Tops Go-Go in G League Action
(Clockwise from top) Capital City GoGo forward Devin Robinson drives against Wisconsin Herd forward Bonzie Colson during the Herd’s 109-105 win at St. Elizabeths East Entertainment and Sports Arena in D.C. on Saturday, Jan. 19. Capital City Go-Go-guard Pe’Shon Howard drives against Wisconsin Herd guard Robert Johnson during the Herd’s 109-105 win at St. Elizabeths East. Capital City Go-Go guard Pe’Shon Howard drives against Wisconsin Herd guard Robert Johnson during the Herd’s 109-105 win at St. Elizabeths East Entertainment and Sports Arena in D.C. on Saturday, Jan. 19 Capital City Go-Go center Darel Poirier is defended by Wisconsin Herd center Shevon Thompson during the Herd’s 109-105 win at St. Elizabeths East. (Photos by John E. De Freitas/The Washington Informer)
36 JANUARY 24 - 30, 2019
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SPORTS Wizards Defeat Pistons on MLK Day
5 Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal drives against Detroit Pistons forward Blake Griffin during the Wizards’ 101-87 win at Capital One Arena in D.C. on Monday, Jan. 21. (Photo by John E. De Freitas/The Washington Informer) 5 Washington Wizards center Thomas Bryant is defended by Detroit Pistons forward Blake Griffin during the Wizards’ 101-87 win at Capital One Arena in D.C. on Monday, Jan. 21. (Photo by John E. De Freitas/The Washington Informer)
3 Washington Wizards forward Otto Porter Jr. shoots over Detroit Pistons forward Luke Kennard during the Wizards’ 101-87 win at Capital One Arena in D.C. on Monday, Jan. 21. (Photo by John E. De Freitas/The Washington Informer) 6 Detroit Pistons forward Blake Griffin posts up Washington Wizards forward Trevor Ariza as Wizards forward Jeff Green (32) looks on during the Wizards’ 101-87 win at Capital One Arena in D.C. on Monday, Jan. 21.(Photo by John E. De Freitas/The Washington Informer)
5 Washington Wizards guard Chasson Randle shoots over Detroit Pistons guard Kalin Lucas during the Wizards’ 101-87 win at Capital One Arena in D.C. on Monday, Jan. 21. (Photo by John E. De Freitas/The Washington Informer)
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JANUARY 24 - 30, 2019 37 THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
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38 JANUARY 24 - 30, 2019
converged on Freedom Plaza in Northwest in a show of solidarity with Mallory and the intersectional feminist manifesto known as “The Women’s Agenda.” “I had been around Tamika Mallory during the Congressional Black Caucus,” said political consultant and 2019 Women’s March participant Sirraya Gant. “Then Cora Masters Barry had a book signing. I liked how the aunties of politics put their arms around [Mallory].” On Saturday morning, Gant walked through the streets of downtown D.C. alongside women who held signs and wore shirts in support of women’s rights. Surrounded by friends, family and colleagues, she trekked along Pennsylvania Avenue in Northwest with the goal of ensuring that Black women in political spaces assert their power without fear of backlash from other parties. “Strong Black women in the movement and politics are misunderstood and that’s the biggest issue,” said Gant, who was campaign manager for Ward 8 Councilman Trayon White during his election bid. “We go through disrespect while in leadership roles. We solve that issue by continuing to be strong and have a voice in all arenas of life.” The show of strong, unabashed femininity at this year’s Women’s March, known as the #WomensWave, personified the unity between national organizers and women on the front lines of local efforts to secure protections for Black women, and other oppressed groups. The Women’s Agenda, a more than 70-page document posted on the Women’s March website, emphasizes a focus on ending violence against women and femmes, reproductive rights and justice, economic justice and workers’ rights, and environmental justice, among other goals that that organizers said they hope to take beyond the 2020 presidential election. On the eve of the third annual gathering, Women’s March representatives released a letter affirming their commitment to amplifying voices from Black Lives Matter DC and local grassroots projects, donating resources to community-led groups, and caring for the land. A debrief within two weeks of Jan. 19 march had also been scheduled to determine next steps in strengthening this relationship. Request for comment from Black Lives Matter DC core organizer April Goggans about these goals proved unsuccessful. To a certain degree, sister marches in New York, Philadelphia, and other parts of the country last weekend didn’t rise above schisms that,
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On the eve of the third annual gathering, Women’s March representatives released a letter affirming their commitment to amplifying voices from Black Lives Matter DC and local grassroots projects, donating resources to community-led groups, and caring for the land. in a way, overshadowed more than 100 electoral victories in the last year’s midterms that brought women of various racial and ethnic backgrounds to statewide and national political office. In November, Teresa Shook, Women’s March co-founder, called for Mallory’s resignation, alleging that she, Sarsour, Bob Bland and Carmen Perez, all co-chairs, steered the movement away from its “true course.” Since it had been revealed last year that Mallory attended the Nation of Islam’s annual Savior’s Day event in Detroit, where Farrakhan made what some considered disparaging comments about Jewish people, women within the movement, particularly Jewish women, have called for Mallory to resign. Other entities, including the National Democratic Committee, withdrew support for this year’s activities. Democratic Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.) and Kamala Harris (Calif.), two female 2020 presidential candidates, steered clear of this year’s official event in the nation’s capital, the former opting to confer with activists in Iowa. Mallory, who credits women in the Nation of Islam for helping her in the aftermath of her child’s father’s 2001 murder, has often expressed verbal support for the Black nationalist organization and Farrakhan, a man she once called “the Greatest of All Time” on social media. In recent weeks, Mallory, in response to the mounting pressure to disavow Farrakhan, doubled down on her previous comments while explaining how Jewish people, though they face oppression, can benefit from White supremacy. She did so during appearances on ABC’s “The View” and “Firing Line with Margaret Hoover” on PBS. On Saturday, with Sarsour and Perez by her side, Mallory set the record straight about where her
loyalty lies, acknowledging women of various ethnic and religious backgrounds during her remarks to marchers in Freedom Plaza. “I see you and hear your pain, whether you’re a sex worker of 800,000 of the furloughed workers,” Mallory said. “To my Black sisters, I feel you deep down in my bones and my soul. I know many of you heard a battle cry; you didn’t know if I was OK. Many of you called, texted, and tweeted. No matter what they say, what they write, I will not back down. I will not break. I am who I am for over 20 years. I love all people and no one will define me. Only I will do that.” The 2019 Women’s March brought together Black women from various parts of the D.C. metropolitan area eager to solve problems affecting Black women and society at large. For Prince George’s County educator Ateya Ball-Lacy, demanding respect for Black women and girls requires denouncing media songs and other facets of the culture that diminishes their humanity. “There has been a lot of conversation around R. Kelly and sexual abuse, but we’re still holding places for popular music from our men and boys that dismisses our womanhood and gives the world permission to disrespect and denigrate us,” said Ball-Lacy, an assistant principal and academic dean, and founder of Hood Smart: The Urban STEMulus Project, a platform for mathematically and scientifically astute young people. On Saturday morning, BallLacy marched with her 15-year-old daughter and a bevy of family and friends. “It’s time to have a conversation about the music that we dance to around our sons that shows them women are not worthy of respect,” she said. “A lot of the language that relates to Black women cannot be used in the same way for others.” Women’s March organizers also had a supporter in Maurice Cook, a local organizer who expressed his respect for Mallory and the dialogue she sparked when she didn’t let calls of anti-Semitism deter her cause. He said this situation revealed room for improvement in Black-Jewish relations. “It’s an important conversation to have and I like the way Tamika Mallory did it on her own terms,” Cook said. “Of course, they’re going to go after her on that. There’s an Israel lobby that spends a lot of money to keep that agenda going and labeling those supportive of Palestine as anti-Semitic. Those who see through this see that the Palestinian struggle is close to the Black woman’s struggle.” WI
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RELIGION the religion corner WITH LYNDIA GRANT
I Can Only Imagine! There’s a painful, true story behind MercyMe singer Bart Millard’s hit “I Can Only Imagine,” which has become the best-selling Christian single of all time, selling 2.5 million copies, according to Nielsen Music. When Millard was first approached with the idea of turning his life story into a movie, he never imagined it would go on to become a box-office hit. Based on his popular song of the same name, the movie “I Can Only Imagine,” which I really enjoyed, it tells the true story of Millard’s complicated relationship with his abusive father, played in the film by Dennis Quaid. Though it was a low-budget movie, it has made over $40 million since coming out in mid-March, and it continues to do strong business. Millard’s song, which he performs with his band MercyMe, became a crossover success nearly 20 years ago. While the singer often speaks about the song’s backstory at his concerts, by telling of how he hated his dad, and how his dad beat him, drawing blood from his body, every time he would have a bad day. Millard said the thought of sharing the intimate details of his difficult childhood on the big screen was nerve-wracking at first, but after several years of therapy, he was Mt. Zion Baptist Church Reverend John W. Davis Pastor 5101 14th Street, NW Washington, DC 20011 Phone: 202-726-2220 Fax: 202-726-9089 Service and Times Sunday Worship Service - 8:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Children’s Church - 11:00 a.m. (1st & 3rd Sundays) Communion - 10 a.m. 4th Sunday Sunday School - 9:15 a.m. (4th Sunday 8:15 a.m.) Prayer Meeting & Bible Study - Wednesday 7:00 p.m. “A Church with a past to remember – and a future to mold”
much better by the time the movie actually hit theaters. The lyrics say: “When I walk, by your side; I can only imagine what my eyes will see. When your face is before me; I can only imagine. I can only imagine. Surrounded by Your glory. What will my heart feel? Will I dance for you Jesus; or in awe of you be still. Will I stand in your presence to my knees will I fall; Will I sing hallelujah. Will I be able to speak at all? I can only imagine. I can only imagine.” This movie will give everyone hope, especially those of you who are experiencing pain from a loved one, whether it’s your spouse, your parents, or someone at a temporary home. Millard shares how he knows without doubt that if our Lord and Savior was able to bring about this radical change in his father, there is hope for anyone of us out there, no matter how bad they are or have been. He declares what our Scriptures tell us, to “pray without ceasing,” never giving up hope, and definitely always be willing to forgive. The average person who issues anger by hitting, hurting, speaking harshly or whatever it is they do, is someone who is suffering from some type prior, similar situation. Usually in early childhood, someone did something similar to him or her. As I visited with my family in Arizona, I noticed how my sonin-law believes that everything
must be in its place, throughout his home. Though I, too, believe in a nice, clean home, never am I insisting that anyone hurry to clean. This is an example of those childhood problems that flow over into our adult lives. We can all live with this early childhood learning, but what about those who have experienced major, life-changing treatments? WI Lyndia Grant is a speaker/ writer living in the D.C. area. Her radio show, “Think on These Things,” airs Fridays at 6 p.m. on 1340 AM (WYCB), a Radio One station. To reach Grant, visit her website, www.lyndiagrantshow. com, email lyndiagrant@gmail. com or call 240-602-6295. Follow her on Twitter @LyndiaGrant and on Facebook. Historic St. Mary’s Episcopal Church The Rev. E. Bernard Anderson Priest Foggy Bottom - Founded in 1867 728 23rd Street, NW - Washington, DC 20037 Church office: 202-333-3985 - Fax : 202-338-4958 Service and Times Sundays: 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Music and Hymns Wednesdays: 12:10 p.m. - Holy Eucharist www.stmarysfoggybottom.org Email: stmarysoffice@stmarysfoggybottom.org All are welcome to St. Mary’s to Learn, Worship, and Grow.
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Mount Olivet Lutheran Church
John F. Johnson Reverend Dr. 1306 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20005 Service and Times Divine Worship, Sunday 10:00 a.m. Communion 1st and 3rd Sunday “Friendliest Church in the City” Website: mountolivetdc.org Email: mtolivedc@gmail.com
www.mtzbcdc.org
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JANUARY 24 - 30, 2019 39 THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
RELIGION The Miracle Center of Faith Missionary Baptist Church
Pilgrim Baptist Church Rev. Louis B. Jones II Pastor
Bishop Michael C. Turner, Sr. Senior Pastor 9161 Hampton Overlook Capitol Heights, MD 20743 Phone: 301-350-2200 Fax: 301-499-8724
Service and Times Sunday Worship Times : 7:30 a.m. 7 10:00 a.m. Communion: 1st Sunday Sunday School: 9:00 a.m. Bible Study: Wednesday, 12 Noon Bible Study in homes: Tuesday 7:00 p.m. Website: www.themiraclecenterFMBC.com Email: Miraclecenterfmbs@gmail.com Motto: “We Walk by Faith, Not by Sight”
700 I Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20002 (202) 547-8849 Service and Times Worship Sundays: 7:30 & 11:00am 5th Sundays: 9:30am 3rd Sundays: Baptism & Holy Communion Prayer & Praise: Wednesdays @ Noon & 6:30pm www.pilgrimbaptistdc.org
Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ
Blessed Word of Life Church
Church of Living Waters
Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church
Rev. Paul Carrette Senior Pastor
Rev. Dr. Michael E. Bell, Sr., Pastor
Rev. Dr. Alton W. Jordan Pastor
Reverend Dr. Calvin L. Matthews Senior Pastor
Harold Andrew Assistant Pastor
2498 Alabama Ave., SE - Washington D.C. 20020 Office: (202) 889-7296 Fax: (202) 889-2198 - www.acamec.org
800 I Street, NE - Washington, DC 20002 202-548-0707 - Fax No. 202-548-0703
4915 Wheeler Road Oxon Hill, MD 20745 301-894-6464
Service and Times Sunday Worship Services: 8:00am and 11:00am Sunday Church School - 9:15am & Sunday Adult Forum Bible Study - 10:30am 2nd & 4th Monday Women’s Bible Study: 6:30pm Tuesday Jr./Sr. Bible Study: 10:00am Tuesday Topical Bible Study: 6:30pm Tuesday New Beginnings Bible Study: 6:30pm Wednesday Pastoral Bible Study: 6:30pm Wednesday Children’s Bible Study: 6:30pm Thursday Men’s Bible Study: 6:30pm Friday before 1st Sunday Praise & Worship Service: 6:30pm Saturday Adult Bible Study: 10:00am “The Amazing, Awesome, Audacious Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church”
Service and Times Sunday Morning Worship: 11:00am Holy Communion: 1st Sunday Sunday School: 9:45am Men’s Monday Bible Study: 7:00pm Wednesday Night Bible Study: 7:00pm Women’s Ministry Bible Study: 3rd Friday -7:00pm Computer Classes: Announced Family and Marital Counseling by appointment
1200 Isle of Patmos Plaza, Northeast Washington, DC 20018 Office: (202) 529-6767 - Fax: (202) 526-1661
Service and Times Sunday Service: 8:30am& 11:00am Bible Study: Wednesday 7:30pm Communion Service: First Sunday www.livingwatersmd.org
St. Stephen Baptist Church
Third Street Church of God
Dr. Dekontee L. & Dr. Ayele A. Johnson Pastors
Rev. Dr. Alice Greene Interim Pastor
Bishop Lanier C. Twyman, Sr. Senior Pastor
Rev. Cheryl J. Sanders, Th.D. Senior Pastor
4001 14th Street, NW Washington, DC 20011 (202) 265-6147 Office 1-800 576-1047 Voicemail/Fax
3845 South Capitol Street Washington, DC 20032 (202) 562-5576 (Office) (202) 562-4219 (Fax)
5757 Temple Hill Road, Temple Hills, MD 20748 Office 301-899-8885 – fax 301-899-2555
1204 Third Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 202-347-5889 office 202-638-1803 fax
Service and Times Sunday School: 9:30am Sunday Morning Worship Service: 11:00am Communion Service: First Sunday Prayer Service/Bible Study: Tuesday, 6:30pm
Services and Times Sundays: 10:00am Worship Services Bible Study: Wonderful Wednesdays in Worship and the Word Bible Study Wednesdays 12:00 Noon; 6:30pm (dinner @ 5:30pm) Sunday School: 9:00am – Hour of Power
www.blessedwordoflifechurch.org E-mail: church@blessedwordoflifechurch.org
“An inclusive ministry where all are welcomed and affirmed.” www.covenantdc.org
Campbell AME Church Rev. Dr. Henry Y. White 2562 MLK Jr. Ave., SE - Washington, DC 20020 Adm. Office 202-678-2263 Email: Campbell@mycame.org Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 10:00 am Sunday Church School: 8:45 am Bible Study Wednesday: 12:00 Noon Wednesday: 7:00 pm Thursday: 7: pm “Reaching Up To Reach Out” Mailing Address Campbell AME Church 2502 Stanton Road SE - Washington, DC 20020
421 Alabama Ave. SE Washington, DC 20032 Phone: 202-746-0113 Fax: 301-843-2445 Service and Times Sunday School - 10:15 am Sunday Worship Service - 11;15 am Children’s Church - 11:15 am Tuesday Bible Study - 6:30 pm Motto : “A Great Commitment to the Great Commandment” Website: www.turningheartschurchdc.org Email: gr8luv4u2@gmail.com
“We are one in the Spirit” www.ssbc5757.org E-mail: ssbc5757@verizon.net
Services and Times Sunday School: 9:30am Sunday Worship: 11:00am Sunday Community Worship Service: 8:30 am “Ambassadors for Christ to the Nation’s Capital” www.thirdstreet.org Live Stream Sunday Worship Service begins @ 12:00 noon www.thirdstreet.org
E-mail: Crusadersbaptistchurch@verizon.net www.CrusadersBaptistChurch.org “God is Love”
Greater Mt. Calvary Holy Church Bishop Alfred A. Owens, Jr.; Senior Bishop & Evangelist Susie C. Owens – Co-Pastor 610 Rhode Island Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002 (202) 529-4547 office • (202) 529-4495 fax
Sunday Worship Service: 8 AM and 10:45am Sunday Youth Worship Services: 1st & 4th 10:45am; 804 R.I. Ave., NE 5th 8 AM & 10:45am; Main Church Prayer Services Tuesday – Noon, Wednesday 6am & 6:30pm Calvary Bible Institute: Year-Round Contact Church Communion Every 3rd Sunday The Church in The Hood that will do you Good! www.gmchc.org emailus@gmchc.org
Isle of Patmos Baptist Church
Service and Times Sunday Worship Services: 7:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Holy Communion: 2nd Sunday at 7:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sunday Church School: 9:20 a.m. Seniors Bible Study: Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. Noon Day Prayer Service: Tuesdays at Noon Bible Study: Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Motto: “A Ministry of Reconciliation Where Everybody is Somebody!” Website: http://isleofpatmosbc.org Church Email: ipbcsecretary@verizon.net
St Marks Baptist Come Worship with us... Dr. Raymond T. Matthews Pastor and First Lady Marcia Matthews St. Mark's Baptist Church 624 Underwood Street, NW Washington, dc 20011 Services and Times Sunday School: 9:00am Worship Service: 10:00am Wed. Noon Day prayer service Thur. Prayer service: 6:45pm Thur. Bible Study: 7:15pm
Twelfth Street Christian Church Reverend Dr. Paul H. Saddler Senior Pastor (Disciples of Christ) 1812 12th Street, NW - Washington, DC 20009 Phone: 202-265-4494 Fax: 202 265 4340 Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 am Communion every Sunday: 11:00 am Sunday School: 10:00 am Bible Study Tuesday: 12 Noon Pastor’s Bible Study Tuesday: 6:30 pm Motto: “Discover Something Wonderful” Website: 12thscc.org Email: Twelfthstcc@aol.com
Mount Carmel Baptist Church
Turning Hearts Church Virgil K. Thomas, Sr. Senior Pastor/ Teacher
Services and Times Sunday Early Morning Worship: 7:45am Church School: 9:30am Sunday Morning Worship: 10:45am Tuesday: 7:00pm/Kingdom Building Bible Institute Wednesday: Prayer/Praise/Bible Study-7:30 pm Baptism & Communion Service: 4th Sunday – 10:30am
Crusader Baptist Church
Reverend Gerald H. Hesson Interim Pastor 901 Third Street N.W. Washington, DC. 20001 Phone (202) 842-3411 Fax (202) 682-9423 Service and Times Sunday Church School : 9:00am Sunday Morning Worship: 10:10am Bible Study Tuesday: 6: 00pm Prayer Service Tuesday: 7:00pm Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday 10:10am
40 JANUARY 24 - 30, 2019
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RELIGION Shabbath Commandment Church
All Nations Baptist Church
King Emmanuel Baptist Church
Bishop Adrian A. Taylor, Sr. Pastor
Rev. Dr. James Coleman Pastor
Rev. Daryl F. Bell Pastor
7801 Livingston Road Oxon Hill, MD 20745 301-534-5471
2001 North Capitol St, N.E. - Washington, DC 20002 Phone (202) 832-9591
2324 Ontario Road, NW Washington, DC 20009 (202) 232-1730
Service and Times Sabbath School 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Service 11:00 a.m. Praise & Worship Preaching 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Motto: “A Church Keeping It Real for Real.” Website: Shabbathcommandmentchruch.org Email: Praisebetoyhwh@gmail.com
Zion Baptist Church Rev. Keith W. Byrd, Sr. Pastor 4850 Blagdon Ave, NW - Washington D.C 20011 Phone (202) 722-4940 - Fax (202) 291-3773 Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 10:15AM Sunday School: 9:00am Monday: Noon Bible School Wednesday: Noon & 7PM: Pastor’s Bible Study Ordinance of Baptism 2nd Holy Communion 4th Sunday Mission Zion Baptist Church Shall; Enlist Sinners, Educate Students, Empower the Suffering, Encourage the Saints, and Exalt Our Savior. (Acts 2:41-47) www.zionbaptistchurchdc.org
St. Luke Baptist Church Rev. Aubrey C. Lewis Pastor 1415 Gallatin Street, NW Washington, DC 20011-3851 P: (202) 726-5940 Service and Times Sunday Worship: 11:00 a.m. Sunday School: 9:15 a.m. Holy Communion: 11:00 a.m., 3rd Sun. Bible Institute: Wednesday - 1:30 pm Prayer Meeting: Wednesday - 12:00 Noon
Service and Times Sunday Church School – 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service – 11:00 AM Holy Communion – 1st Sunday at 11:00 AM Prayer – Wednesdays, 6:00 PM Bible Study – Wednesdays, 7:00 PM Christian Education School of Biblical Knowledge Saturdays, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM, Call for Registration Website: www.allnationsbaptistchurch.com All Nations Baptist Church – A Church of Standards
Israel Baptist Church
Dr. Earl D. Trent Senior Pastor
Rev. Dr. George C. Gilbert Senior Pastor
2409 Ainger Pl.,SE – WDC 20020 (202) 678-0884 – Office • (202) 678-0885 – Fax “Moving Faith Forward” 0% Perfect . . . 100% Forgiven!
623 Florida Ave.. NW - WDC. 20001 Church (202) 667-3409 Study (202) 265-0836 Home Study (301) 464-8211 Fax (202) 483-4009
4504 Gault Place, N.E. Washington, D.C 20019 202-397-7775 – 7184
Service and Times Sunday Worship: 8:00am & 10:45am Baptism/Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday Family Bible Study Tuesdays – 6:30pm Prayer Service: Tuesdays – 8:00pm www.emmanuelbaptistchurchdc.org
“Where Jesus is the King”
Lincoln Park United Methodist Church
Sermon On The Mount Temple Of Joy Apostolic Faith
Rev. Richard B. Black Pastor
Elder Herman L. Simms Pastor
1251 Saratoga Ave., NE Washington, DC 20018 (202) 269-0288
1301 North Carolina Ave. N E Washington, D C 20002 202 543 1318 - lincolnpark@lpumcdc.org www.lpumcdc.org
5606 Marlboro Pike District Heights, MD 20747 301-735-6005
Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 10:00 A.M. Sunday School: 8:30 A.M. Holy Communion1st Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Prayer Service: Wednesday at 6:30 P.M. Bible Study: Wednesday at 7:00 P.M.
Service and Times Sunday Worship: 10: am Holy Communion: First Sunday 10: am Sunday School: 9: am Bible Study: Wednesday @ 12 noon and 6:30pm Motto: "Faith On The Hill"
Mount Moriah Baptist Church
Eastern Community Baptist Church
Service and Times Sunday Apostolic Worship Services 11:00 A.M and 5:00 P.M Communion and Feet Wash 4th Sunday at 5:00 P.M Prayer/Seeking: Wednesday at 8:00 P.M. Apostolic in Doctrine, Pentecostal in Experience, Holiness in Living, Uncompromised and Unchanged. The Apostolic Faith is still alive –Acts 2:42
New Commandment Baptist Church
Dr. Lucius M. Dalton Senior Pastor
Damion M. Briggs Pastor
Rev. Stephen E. Tucker Senior Pastor
1636 East Capitol Street, NE Washington, DC 20003 Telephone: 202-544-5588 - Fax: 202-544-2964
8213 Manson Street Landover, MD 20785 Tel: (301) 322-9787 Fax: (301) 322-9240
13701 Old Jericho Park Road Bowie, MD. 20720 (301) 262-0560
Service and Times Sunday Worship Services: 7:45 am and 10:45 am Holy Communion: 1st Sundays at 7:45 am & 10:45 am Sunday School: 9:30 am Prayer & Praise Service: Tuesdays at 12 noon & 6:30 pm Bible Study: Tuesdays at 1 pm and 7 pm Youth Bible Study: Fridays at 7 pm
Service and Times Early Morning Message: 7:30 AM Sunday Morning Worship Service: 10:00 AM Sunday Church School: 9:00 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sunday 7:30 AM & 10:00 AM Prayer, Praise and Testimony: Wednesday 7:00 PM Bible Study: Wednesday 7:30 PM
Service and Times Sunday Worship: 11 AM Sunday School: 10 AM Wednesday Mid-Week Worship, Prayer & Bible Study: Wed. 7 PM
Rehoboth Baptist Church
“Real Worship for Real People” Website: www.easterncommunity.org Email: ecc@easterncommunity.org
Salem Baptist Church
Holy Trinity United Baptist Church
Florida Avenue Baptist Church
Reverend Christopher L. Nichols Pastor
Rev. Dr. Morris L Shearin, Sr. Pastor
Web: www.mountmoriahchurch.org Email: mtmoriah@mountmoriahchurch.org
St. Matthews Baptist Church
Service and Times Sunday School: 9:30 am Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 am Baptismal Service: 1st Sunday – 9:30 am Holy Communion: 1st Sunday – 11:00 am Prayer Meeting & Bible Study: Wednesday -7:30 pm
Emmanuel Baptist Church
“A Church Where Love Is Essential and Praise is Intentional”
Service and Times Sunday Worship Services: 10:00 a.m. Sunday Church School: 8:45 – 9:45 a.m. Holy Communion: Every First Sunday Intercessory Prayer: Monday – 7:00-8:00 p.m. Pastor’s Bible Study: Wednesday –7:45 p.m. Midweek Prayer: Wednesday – 7:00 p.m. Noonday Prayer Every Thursday
Matthews Memorial Baptist Church Rev. Joan E. Buchanan Executive Pastor 2616 MLK Ave., SE - Washington, DC 20020 Office 202-889-3709 - Fax 202-678-3304 Service and Times Early Worship Service: 7:30am Worship Service: 11:00am New Member’s Class: 9:45am Holy Communion: 1st Sunday, 11:00am Church School: 9:45am Wednesday 12:00pm Bible Study Prayer, Praise and Bible Study: 7:00pm Saturday Bible Study: 11:00am Baptism 4th Sunday: 11:00am
Service and Times 9:30AM. Sunday Church School 11:00 Am. Sunday Worship Service The Lord’s Supper 1st Sunday Wednesday 7:00pm Prayer & Praise Services 7:30pm. Bible Study Saturday before 4th Sunday Men, Women, Youth Discipleship Ministries 10:30am A Christ Centered Church htubc@comcast.net
Christ Embassy DC
Kelechi Ajieren Coordinator 6839 Eastern Avenue, R1 Takoma Park, MD 20912 (202) 556-7065 Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 10:00 A.M. Wednesday Bible Study: 7:00 P.M. Friday Evening Service: 7:00 P.M. ; Last Friday “…Giving Your Life a Meaning” www.Christembassydc.org Christ.embassy.dc@hotmail.com
“Empowered to love and Challenged to Lead a Multitude of Souls to Christ”
Peace Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Michael T. Bell 712 18th Street, NE Washington, DC 20002 Phone 202-399-3450/ Fax 202-398-8836 Service and Times Sunday Early Morning Prayer & Bible Study Class 8:00 am Sunday School 9:00 am Sunday Morning Worship Service 10:00 am Wednesday Service 12:00 pm
Pennsylvania Ave. Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Kendrick E. Curry Pastor 3000 Pennsylvania Ave.. S.E Washington, DC 20020 202 581-1500 Service and Times Sunday Church School: 9:30 A.M. Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 A.M. Monday Adult Bible Study: 7:00 P.M. Wednesday Youth & Adult Activities: 6:30 P.M. Prayer Service Bible Study
“The Loving Church of the living lord “ Email Address: admin@pbc712.org
Shiloh Baptist Church
First Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church
Mt. Horeb Baptist Church
Rev. Dr. Maxwell M. Washington Pastor
Rev. Curtis l. Staley Pastor
Rev. David McIntosh-Peters Pastor
Rev. Dr. Wallace Charles Smith Pastor
Rev. Oran W. Young Pastor
Rev. Dr. H. B. Sampson, III Pastor
2001 Brooks Drive District Heights, MD 20744 (240) 838-7074
621 Alabama Ave., S.E.- Washington, D.C. 20032 P: (202) 561-1111 - F: (202) 561-1112
917 N St. NW - Washington, DC 20001 (202) 232-4294
9th & P Street, N.W. - W. D.C. 20001 (202) 232-4288
Service and Times Sunday Service: 10 am Sunday School for all ages: 8:30 am 1st Sunday Baptism: 10: am 2nd Sunday Holy Communion:10 am Tuesday: Bible Study: 6:30 pm Prayer Meeting: 7:45 pm
Service and Times Sunday Morning Prayer Service: 8:00 a.m. Sunday Church School: 9:15 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship: 10:40 a.m. Third Sunday Baptismal & Holy Communion:10:30 a.m. Tuesday Church At Study Prayer & Praise: 6:30 p.m.
Service and Times First Sunday Worship Service (one service): 10:00 a.m. Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Sunday Worship service: 7:45 a.m. and 10:55 a.m. Sunday Church School/Bible Study: 9:30 a.m. Thursday Prayer Service: 6:30 p.m.
602 N Street NW - Washington, D.C. 20001 Office:(202) 289-4480 Fax: (202) 289-4595
2914 Bladensburg Road, NE Wash., DC 20018 Office: (202) 529-3180 - Fax: (202) 529-7738 Service and Times Worship Service: 7:30 a.m. Sunday School: 9:00 a.m. Worship Service: 10:30 a.m. Holy Communion: 4th Sunday 7:30 a.m. & 10:30a.m. Prayer Services:Tuesday 7:30 p.m. Wednesday 12 Noon
Motto: “Where God is First and Where Friendly People Worship”
The Church Where GOD Is Working.... And We Are Working With GOD
Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 10:15 am Sunday School: 9:00 am Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday Morning Prayer Meeting / Bible Study: Tuesday at 7 pm Theme: “The Kingdom Focused Church with an Emphasis on “Evangelism and Discipleship” Email: pastorstmbc@gmail.com Website: www.stmatthewsbaptist.org
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
Email: sbc@shilohbaptist.org Website: shilohbaptist.org
Service and Times Sunday School for All Ages: 8:00 a.m. Sunday Worship Services: 9:30 a.m. Midday Prayer & Bible Study: Wednesday 11:30 a.m. Evening Prayer & Bible Study: Wednesday 7:00 p.m. Laymen's League: Thursday 7:00 p.m. Email: Froffice@firstrising.org Website: www.firstrising.org “Changing Lives On Purpose “
Email:mthoreb@mthoreb.org Website:www.mthoreb.org For further information, please contact me at (202) 529-3180.
JANUARY 24 - 30, 2019 41 THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
LEGAL NOTICES SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION Trust No. 2018 NRT 000049 Linda D. Irika aka Linda Darlene Irika aka Linda Irika Name of Deceased Settlor NOTICE OF EXISTENCE OF REVOCABLE TRUST Linda D. Irika aka Linda Darlene Irika aka Linda Irika whose address was 412 20th Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002 created a revocable trust on August 7, 2018, which remained in existence on the date of her death on October 17, 2018, and Patricia J. Huggs, Trustee, whose address is 2311 Rosecroft Boulevard, Fort Washington, MD 20744, is the currently acting trustee, hereinafter the Trustee. Communications to the Trust should be mailed or directed to Patricia J. Huggs at 2311 Rosecroft Boulevard, Fort Washington, MD 20744 The Trust is subject to claims of the deceased settlor’s creditors, costs of administration of the settlor’s estate, the expense of the deceased settlor’s funeral and disposal of remains, and statutory allowances to a surviving spouse and children to the extent the deceased settlor’s residuary probate estate is inadequate to satisfy those claims, costs, expenses, and allowances. Claims of the deceased settlor’s creditors are barred as against the Trustee and the trust property unless presented to the Trustee at the address provided herein on or before 6/27/2019 (6 month after the date of the first publication of this notice.) An action to contest the validity of this trust must be commenced by the earliest of (1), October 17, 2019 (One year from date of death of deceased settlor) (2), 6/27/2019 (6 months from the date of first publication of this notice) or (3) Ninety days after the Trustee sends the person a copy of the trust instrument and a notice informing the person of the trust’s existence, of the Trustee’s name and address, and of the time allowed for commencing a proceeding. The Trustee may proceed to distribute the trust property in accordance with the terms of the trust before the expiration of the time within which an action must be commenced unless the Trustee knows of a pending judicial proceeding contesting the validity of the trust or the Trustee has received notice from a potential contestant who thereafter commences a judicial proceeding within sixty days after notification. This Notice must be mailed postmarked within 15 days of its first publication to each heir and qualified beneficiary of the trust and any other person who would be an interested person within the meaning of D.C. Code 20-101(d). Date of First Publication: 12/27/2018 Patricia J. Huggs Signature of Trustee TRUE TEST COPY Anne Meister Register of Wills Washington Informer
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2018 ADM 001534 Doreatha J. Mims Decedent
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Terrence Harrison, whose address is 13139 Dairymaid Drive, #202, Germantown, MD 20874, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Doreatha J. Mims who died on November 30, 2018 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 7/17/2019. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 7/17/2019, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 1/17/2019 Terrence Harrison Personal Representative
LEGAL NOTICES
LEGAL NOTICES
LEGAL NOTICES
LEGAL NOTICES
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
Administration No. 2018 ADM 866
Administration No. 2018 ADM 001492
Administration No. 2018 ADM 001499
Administration No. 2018 ADM 001459
Juan Zamorano Decedent
Gerald A. Fauntroy Decedent
Juanita Mae Montague Decedent
Jordan William Scott Decedent
Kisha L. Woolen, Esq. Tobin O’Connor & Ewing 5335 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, #700 Washington, DC 20015 Attorney
Deborah D. Boddie, Esq. Probate Law DC 1308 Ninth Street, NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20001 Attorney
Valerie J. Edwards 1725 DeSales Street, NW, Suite 600 Washington, DC 20036 Attorney
Joan M. Wilbon 1120 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 1020 Washington, DC 20036 Attorney
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
Winnell Montague, whose address is 4543 Eads Place, NE, Washington, DC 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Juanita Mae Montague who died on June 7, 2012 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 7/10/2019. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 7/10/2019, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.
Stacey Scott, whose address is 2217 E. Cumberland St., #2, Philadelphia, PA 19125, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Jordan William Scott who died on June 11, 2018 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 7/10/2019. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 7/10/2019, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.
Date of first publication: 1/10/2019
Date of first publication: 1/10/2019
Winnell Montague Personal Representative
Stacey Scott Personal Representative
TRUE TEST COPY
TRUE TEST COPY
Anne Meister Register of Wills
Anne Meister Register of Wills
Washington Informer
Washington Informer
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
Jennifer C. Concino, Esq., whose address is 5335 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, #700, Washington, DC 20015, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Juan Zamorano who died on January 17, 2018 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 7/10/2019. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 7/10/2019, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.
Louvel J. Fauntroy, whose address is 1513 Beaver Dam Court, Hanover, MD 20176, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Gerald A. Fauntroy who died on October 20, 2018 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 7/10/2019. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 7/10/2019, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.
Date of first publication: 1/10/2019
Date of first publication: 1/10/2019
Jennifer C. Concino Personal Representative
Louvel J. Fauntroy Personal Representative
TRUE TEST COPY
TRUE TEST COPY
Anne Meister Register of Wills
Anne Meister Register of Wills
Washington Informer
Washington Informer
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
Administration No. 2018 ADM 001517
Foreign No. 2018 FEP 000061
Administration No. 2019 ADM 000004
Foreign No. 2019 FEP 2
Pearlie B. Burts Decedent
January 25, 2018 Date of Death
Lucia Anne Browne Decedent
September 22, 2007 Date of Death
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Gregory Burts, whose address is 441 Q Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Pearlie B. Burts who died on October 26, 2018 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before July 17, 2019. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before July 17, 2019, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 1/17/2019 Gregory Burts Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Anne Meister Register of Wills Washington Informer
Mary Briggs Shuford Name of Decedent
Joshua H. Reeves Name of Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Richard L. Reese whose address is 585 Big Indian Loops, Mooresville, NC 28117 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Mary Briggs Shuford, deceased, by the General Court of Justice, Superior Court Division for Watuaga County, State of North Carolina, on 2/28/2018. Service of process may be made upon Robert P. Newman, Esq. 6829 13th Pl. NW, Washington, DC 20012 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C. The decedent owned the following District of Columbia real estate. 3701 Connecticut Avenue, Unit 911, NW, Washington, DC 20008. Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills of the District of Columbia, 515 5th Street, NW, Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice.
Kimberly Sellers Miller and Melony Renee Harley, whose addresses are 10402 Bending Brook Way, Upper Marlboro MD 20772 and 8289 Londonderry Ct., Laurel MD 20707, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Lucia Anne Browne who died on June 3, 2018 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 7/24/2019. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 7/24/2019, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.
Leslie Kay Hardcastle, whose address is 104 Barryview Court, Hendersonville, TN 37075 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Joshua H. Reeves, deceased, by the District Court for Shawnee County, State of Kansas, on May 9, 2018. Service of process may be made upon Joshua Branson, 1615 M Street, NW, Ste. 400, Washington, DC 20036 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C. Decedent has cause of action in DC. The decedent owned District of Columbia personal property. Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills of the District of Columbia, 515 5th Street, NW, Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice.
Date of first publication: 1/17/2019
Date of first publication: 1/24/2019
Richard L. Reese Personal Representative
Kimberly Sellers Miller Melony Renee Harley Personal Representative
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Anne Meister Register of Wills Washington Informer
Date of first publication: 1/24/2019 Leslie Kay Hardcastle Personal Representative Anne Meister Register of Wills Washington Informer
TRUE TEST COPY Anne Meister Register of Wills Washington Informer
TRUE TEST COPY Anne Meister Register of Wills
42 JANUARY 24 - 30, 2019
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
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LEGAL NOTICES SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2019 ADM 000033 Henry Wade Geter, Sr. Decedent Nakia V. Gray, Esq. 9701 Apollo Drive Suite 100 Largo, MD 20774 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Surdell Geter, whose address is 39 V Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Henry Wade Geter, Sr. who died on October 19, 2004 without a Will, and will serve with Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 7/24/2019. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 7/24/2019, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 1/24/2019 Surdell Geter Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Anne Meister Register of Wills Washington Informer
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Local Sales and Marketing Assistant The Washington Informer is actively searching for an additional team member who is ready to take their sales and marketing skills to the next level. We are looking for someone with a minimum of three years of experience, driven and self-motivated, willing to learn and grow with the company and knowledgeable of both print and digital marketing. Must reside in the DMV area. If interested, please email your resume and cover letter to drbarnes@washingtoninformer.com
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cy, the chemicals in marijuana (in particular, tetrahydrocannabinol or THC) pass through mom to a developing baby and can harm its development. More research is needed to better understand how marijuana may affect mom and baby during pregnancy. However, it is recommended that pregnant women not use marijuana. Prescription Opioids: Painkillers such as codeine, morphine and oxycodone may be prescribed following an injury, surgery, or dental work. Any type of opioid exposure during pregnancy can cause neonatal abstinence syndrome, or a condition the newborn experiences from withdraw from certain drugs after exposure during pregnancy. WI The Family Gourmet Feast 2 (5 oz.) Filet Mignons 2 (5 oz.) Top Sirloins 4 Boneless Chicken Breasts (1 lb. pkg.) 2 (4 oz.) Boneless Pork Chops 4 (3 oz.) Kielbasa Sausages 4 (4 oz.) Omaha Steaks Burgers Plus, 4 more 4 (3 oz.) Potatoes au Gratin Burgers 4 (4 oz.) Caramel Apple Tartlets OS Seasoning Packet FREE 55586TJC | $199.91* separately *Savings shown over
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THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
URBAN from Page 11 “This is an agency with a track record of breaking promises and using words that are so general that no one can figure out the meaning,” she said. “When HOC says they’re committed to memorializing the site, we don’t know what that means. Does that mean they will put up a plaque? Will there be a wreath they lay on the ground? Coleman-Adebayo stressed that the ideal situation involves Macedonia Baptist Church, the last vestige of River Road’s majority-Black past, having a key role in maintaining the final resting place of the River Road ancestors. “HOC clearly adheres to the Trump standard of telling the truth. Even when an event takes place in public and there are video recordings of an arrest, the HOC will say it did not happen,” she said. “Why should we expect anything different when they pronounce their support of memorization? There’s only one Black church left in Bethesda and it’s the only institution that can be trusted with the hopes and dreams of the Black community and our precious Moses African Cemetery.” WI
FIGHT from Page 15 • $11.50 per hour starting July 1, 2020; • $13 per hour starting July 1, 2021; • $14 per hour starting July 1, 2022; and • $15 per hour starting July 1, 2023. Tipped wages would also gradually increase to $15 an hour for employees who receive more than $30 each month in tips. A Gonzales Research & Media Services of Arnold, Maryland, released this month showed 61 percent of registered voters favor a law that requires employers in the state to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour. The figure increases to 81 percent among Black voters in the poll conducted between Dec. 28 and Jan. 4 among 809 registered voters. Some workers like Zoila Montiflores of Langley Park said through an interpreter she’s among those who receive $10 an hour. “We immediately need a raise in our minimum wage. We can’t survive on what we’re earning now,” said Montiflores who works as a prep cook at the Washington and Baltimore convention centers. “Many of us are working two jobs and that’s affecting our health and our families; it’s affecting our lives.” WI
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MALVEAUX from Page 26
American people will suffer and the more America as a whole will be at risk. The American people must demand more from the federal officials who were elected to represent them. Americans, regardless of socioeconomic status, must let their federal legislators and the current White House administration know that things have gone too far and must get back to normal for the sake of the stability of the nation. To hold the country hostage because President Trump can’t get his beloved wall across the southern border, when he stated from the onset that he would make Mexico pay for it, is unfair and disingenuous. Subsequently, any elected official who cosigns this mode of thinking and action is equally as irresponsible. It is time for all elected officials to stop playing chicken with the American people’s livelihoods and start doing what they were sent to D.C. to do: act in the best interests of American citizens and stop playing the role of “Enemy of the People” that they were elected to serve. WI
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This government shutdown will affect more than 3.5 million Texans who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits come February. SNAP, which offers nutrition assistance to millions of low-income individuals and families and provides economic benefits to communities, is the largest program in the domestic hunger safety net. According to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, there were 3,580,375 people receiving SNAP benefits in Texas alone as of December. Many African Americans and people of color are major beneficiaries of SNAP benefits in the state. Texas state Sen. Borris L. Miles stated that while the shutdown is already hurting residents all across the state, he believes it will hit the poorest Texans the hardest, because after February, SNAP beneficiaries will no longer receive the necessary funds to purchase food. “This is unacceptable,” Miles said. “I am calling on the Texas leadership to make emergency preparations to help Texans on food stamps and other programs impacted by
the shutdown. I am prepared to roll up my sleeves and work with my colleagues to ensure we fund these programs adequately so that no Texan should go hungry.” Miles also sent a joint letter to President Trump, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to make it clear that Texas is prepared to help those affected in our state and expects to be reimbursed when the federal government reopens. “This is not a Democratic or Republican issue, or a rural, urban or suburban issue, it’s a poor people issue,” Miles said. “We need to do the right thing, help the poorest in our communities and minimize the impact of this shutdown.” It is challenging to witness the very people who were elected to represent the American people, turn around and allow their personal politics and unconscionable political ideologies severely hurt the people they are supposed to serve — especially after being voted into office with the expectation of representing their constituents as advocates, not enemies. The longer this government shutdown continues, the more the
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and more venomous. His impulsive and destructive behavior — pulling troops out of Syria suddenly and then reversing position and reversing again, shutting down the government over a wall that won’t be built, using the bully pulpit to try to intimidate his former associates who are testifying against him — will get ever more dangerous. His flailing only deepens the hold that he is already in. Trump never expected to win the presidency. He clearly might find it sensible to save his fortune and freedom by resigning from a position he never expected to hold. WI
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Alternatively, Trump — the deal-maker — could cut a deal to define his fate. After the Mueller report is issued, as the congressional investigations accelerate, as various criminal investigations begin, he could seek to negotiate his way out. Cut a deal that would give him and his family immunity from criminal liability and possibly civil liability in exchange for his resignation, sparing the nation the agony of what will inevitably be an ugly, divisive fight over impeachment and over criminal indictment after he is defeated.
Americans tend to forgive and forget, once an offender resigns. President Gerald Ford took a hit for pardoning President Richard Nixon, but Nixon survived and regained some of his stature with books on foreign policy. Pelosi and Schumer might take a hit for cutting a deal with Trump, but Trump could retain his freedom and his celebrity, with a base surely willing to support him in the wilderness. It has come to this: impeachment, disgrace or resignation. Trump, no doubt, will rail against his fate. He’ll claim he could be vindicated in court or in Congress or in the elections. His twittering will grow more frantic
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JACKSON from Page 26
race, to any party. The man who calls himself president seems to be under the mistaken impression that most government workers are Democrats. The fact, according to the Government Business Council, is that there is a pretty even split, with 44 percent of government workers being identified as Democrats or Democratic-leaning, 40 percent identified as Republican or Republican-leaning, and the remainder undecided, with a significant number of these identifying themselves as “conservative.” All of these government workers are collateral damage, thanks to 45! Our entire social and economic fabric is frayed thanks to this petulant government shutdown. Democrats, Republicans and everyone else will pay for this thoughtless, absurd tantrum. This shutdown is nothing more than a disturbing public outburst. Where do we go from here? WI
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most frequently cited cause for personal bankruptcy in our country. The fact that so many have medical debt reflects the crisis in our national health care system. Bottom line: The shutdown not only affects people’s ability to manage their day to day finances but will also affect their long-term credit score and have consequences for those at the margins. From the data on emergencies, nearly half of all Americans are living at the margins. These are the folks who Trump and his minions say should “make arrangements” during the shutdown. They should, some say, have contingency plans. What is your contingency when you live paycheck to paycheck? Furloughed workers will get back pay and, though impaired, will manage. What about those who work for
government contractors? Nobody has their back. Many are high-rolling, highly-paid contractors who will take a hit but won’t be knocked out. Then there are the (mostly) women of color who clean federal office buildings at night. They won’t get back pay. They won’t be compensated for their services. They will take it in the shins, and taking it means managing to live without pay for weeks. Even those who are sensitive to the economic impact of this shutdown have not spoken up for the contract workers who have been disadvantaged. A government shutdown also means a benefit shutdown for people who receive government benefits — food or housing assistance, or more. While many are optimistic that things will be adjusted, the fact is that people’s expectations are not being met and people are scrambling! The scrambling is not restricted to any
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the America First movements.’ To his Christian brothers and sisters, he declared: ‘One cannot worship this false god of nationalism and the God of Christianity at the same time. The two are incompatible. …’” As usual, our greatest American prophet’s prescient words speak to us right now. “A Call to Conscience” continues: “Today we face the gravest danger to democracy and rule of law since 1877, when federal troops withdrew from the former Confederate states, crushing the hopes of former slaves that Reconstruction would bring them equal rights as promised under the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments. We believe that the threat of civil unrest and violence is higher today than at any time since the riots and uprisings that followed Dr. King’s assassination more than fifty years ago. If we do not pull our
ASKIA from Page 27 Reagan Revolution, this country has been spending lights-out on weapons of war, and steadily lowering tax rates for the wealthy, so there is less and less money for “the common good.” During the same period the world saw the Soviet Union bankrupt itself fighting a war it could not win in Afghanistan. Ironically, the U.S. has been bogged down in
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American entrepreneurial spirit to move the nation from energy scarcity to energy abundance. We have played a leading role in reducing energy costs for American families and businesses, spurred a manufacturing revival and strengthened the nation’s ener-
gy security — while leading the world in environmental progress. With the right policies, U.S. energy development can continue to fuel the economy — and our communities — for decades to come. WI
nation back from the brink, find ways to confirm our common humanity in all interactions and communications, and unite in the common struggle to defend the core principles of our democracy, we are at risk of moral, social and national collapse. …” And it ends with the conviction that it is time for a massive new nonviolent movement for justice and peace to save America’s soul: “We will not stop until we eradicate the systemic violence inflicted on our brothers and sisters, and all of us, by white supremacy, and the legacy of chattel slavery; mass incarceration and militarism at home and abroad; sexism and gender discrimination in all forms; poverty in America among children, their families and adults who are alone; hunger and homelessness in the cities and rural areas of America and throughout the world; the proliferation of guns and opioids into our communities; environmental degra-
dation and the urgent threat of catastrophic climate change. “Are we still able to hear Dr. King’s trumpet of conscience? Do we have the collective will to reset the course of our society to realize his vision of the Beloved Community? “We have a choice today, and it is the same choice Dr. King identified before his death: ‘The choice today is no longer between violence and nonviolence. It is either nonviolence or nonexistence.’ The existential choice before us has become more urgent today than at any time in our lives since our beloved friend and pastor was assassinated more than 50 years ago. “We cannot repair America and the world with hate, only with love.” The choice is ours. Please honor Dr. King by identifying the ways you — as an individual and working collectively with others — will use this Call to Conscience from his friends as a call to urgent and sustained action. WI
a war in Afghanistan for nearly 18 years, while China (another military adversary) has been slow to waste needless money on its armed forces, while overcoming this country economically. Now, after decades, the Chinese just launched their first aircraft carrier in 2018. The U.S. war hawks have at least a dozen such warships in its arsenal. Care to venture a guess as to which country is a safer place to live? Both the Chinese and the Rus-
sians have their own enormous human rights challenges to live with, but none of their sins approach the genocide of a native population, or 400-plus years of the worst slavery known to man, as is the history of this country. If the White Americans were as smart as they think they are, they would rein in these smug, Brett Kavanaugh-like, Covington Catholic-like, Donald J. Trump-like instincts among their Caucasian tribe, and try to teach those folks out of their caveman mentality into living at peace and in harmony with their neighbors. Instead, they openly mock, abuse and reject those who are not white-skinned, in their midst or anywhere on the planet … to their own peril. They declare war on their southern border, never imagining that one day these Kentucky Catholic White Boys and all their MAGA allies may one day need allies from among the dark-skinned folks they treat with such open derision. Too bad they never learned to treat other people the way they would like to be treated. Mr. Bobo and his clan may not realize it yet, but the hand he’s playing in the worldwide, high-stakes poker game may not be as good as he thinks it is. WI
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