Issuu

FIFTY50 THE WASHINGTON INFORMER CELEBRATES Fifty Years of News Excellence; 50 Years of Service

S U P P L E M E N T

Celebrating the New Jewel in Ward 8

R.I.S.E. Demonstration Center at St. Elizabeths is New Jewel in Ward 8 See Supplement Inside •

R.I.S.E. demonstration center

Located on the St. Elizabeths East Campus 2730 Martin Luther King Jr Ave S.E., Washington DC 20032

and on DCTV 95 & 96

C e l e b r a t i n g 4 9 Ye a r s o f S e r v i c e

•

Serving More Than 50,000 African American Readers Throughout The Metropolitan Area / Vol. 49, No.47 Sept 4 - Sept 10, 2014

The Anacostia Community Museum falls under the purview of the Smithsonian Institute, but funding opportunities still must be acted upon swiftly, said Tykia Warden, the development director at the museum located in Southeast Washington, D.C. /Photo by Bernadette Dare

Black Museums Fight for Funding Association President Scolds Those Offering ‘Negro Money’ By Stacy M. Brown WI Contributing Writer Prior to a house fire five years ago that destroyed much of her heralded assemblage of 19thand 20th-century paintings, which included pieces by Edward Mitchell Bannister, Jacob Lawrence and Romare Bearden,

Peggy Cooper Cafritz reportedly owned one of the largest private collections of African and African-American art in the world. Today, the Northwest Washington, D.C., arts patron said she’s concerned about the future of black museums and she hopes that public and private donors will step up to the plate.

“Hopefully, Congress, the Senate and the administration would see what the needs are for our African-American museums and do something about it,” said Cafritz, 67. “I think art funding has been cut all across the board and obviously it affects black museums more than others.” Cafritz said it’s more import-

ant than ever for her and other private donors to ramp up their offerings, even though she cautioned that the pockets of African-American benefactors aren’t as deep as other groups. Significant funding has continued to elude black museums and officials throughout the industry said the search for fund-

Visit us online for daily updates and much more @ www.washingtoninformer.com Summit Addresses Concerns of Black Men Page 4

Popular District Gallery Closes its Doors Page 5

ing reveals an age-old problem. “We’ve been screaming very loud for 20 years that the major funding sources are ignoring us or giving us what we call, ‘Negro money,’” said Sam Black, president of the Association of African American Museums in Northeast Washington. “Negro

See MUSEUMS on Page 8

Gospel Legend Packs Church for Live Recording Session Page 28

and on DCTV 95 & 96

Is Everywhere!

The CoLumn

14th DC Annual Hall of Fame

Atty. Jack Olender swears in the 2014 DC Hall of Fame Awardees

The Washington DC Hall of Fame Society, Inc. & the Office of the Historian-In-Residence presented their 2014 Legacy Awards. Former Mayor Dr. Sharon Pratt performed the duties of Mistress of Ceremonies. This years awards were Judge Arthur Burnette, Sr., Michele Hagans, Andrea Roane, Deborah Shore, Lionell Thomas, Leonard Upson, Dr. Ronald Ausbrooks, Rev. Dr. Cheryl Sanders, Patricia Grace Smith and Former DC Mayor Anthony Williams.

(L-R) Hon. Anthony Williams, Hon. Muriel Bowser, Dr. Janette Hoston Harris & Hon. Sharon Pratt

The 2014 DC Hall of Fame Awardees

Fomer DC Mayors Hon. Sharon Pratt & Hon. Anthony Williams

Hon. Anthony Williams, Wanda Oates, Andrea Roane, Judge Arthur Burnett, Sr. , Dr. Harris, Lionell Thomas, Patti Grace Smith, Rev. Cheryl Sanders, Deborah Shore, & Leonard Upson (Not shown The Rev. Dr. Cannon Michele V. Hagans & Dr. Ronald Ausbrooks)

Awardee Judge Arthur Burnett, Sr. being presented award by Atty. Sandra Robinson

The Legacy Award for Health Dr. Ronald Ausbrooks & his wife

Dr. Janette Hoston Harris(c) & the Hall of Fame Society, Inc. Exeutive Committee Members (Not in order) Belinda Lavalle, Maureen Young, Alberta Kinard, Rev. Carson Wise, Ida Blake, Stanley Williams, Dr. Rudolph Harris, Lelia Wyatt Brown, Nancy Harvin, & Jeannette Mobley

Awardee Andrea Roane presented 2014 Legacy Award in Communications by past Hall of Fame Awardee Dr. Marilyn Brown

Awardee for Cultural Arts Lionell Thomas being presented his award by Dorothy MCSweeny - Dr. Janette H. Harris

2014 Awardees Legacy Awardee for Science & Technology Patti Grace Smith accepts award, Past awardee Bill McSweeny, Jr. presents award to Deborah Shore for Civic & Community Development, The Rev. Dr. Cheryl J. Sanders accepts Legacy Award for Religion, Wanda Oates accepts the Legacy Award for Sports, Leonard A. Upson accept his Legacy Award for Education The Capital Probe Awardees were William Kellibrew, IV & Dr. Joy G. Kinard

Social Sightings -the MagaZine

Subscribe www.SocialSightings.com

Everett Wright, Photographer * Kurt Pommoths Graphic Designer

Social Sightings-The CoLumn is published in the Hill Rag, DC Mid-City, East of the River Journals, The Washington Informer Newspaper and in the Fairfax, Alexandria, Arlington, Loudoun Woman Magazines 2003 © SOCIAL SIGHTINGS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED — DUPLICATION IN ANY FORM REQUIRES WRITTEN PERMISSION | E-mail SocialSightings@aol.com

2 Sept 4 - Sept 10, 2014

The Washington Informer

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FLASHBACK

9/4/2014 – 9/10/2014 AROUND THE REGION Black Facts Page 6 PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY Pages 12-13 BUSINESS William Reed’s Business Exchange Page 16 COMMENTARIES Pages 26-27

In recognition of The Washington Informer’s 50th Anniversary in October 2014, we are looking back at some of the newsworthy moments we covered in D.C. history. What better time to reflect on the lives of two special civil rights icons than prior to the upcoming September 7 celebration of Grandparents Day, established to educate young people about the contributions seniors have made throughout history. Before her death in 2007 at age 91, Council member Hilda Mason (Statehood-At-Large), left, served on the D.C. School Board (1971-1977) and the D.C. City Council (1977-1998). A staunch supporter of voting rights and Home Rule, and a former teacher and education advocate, Mason was the only elected official to defeat Marion Barry and she was affectionately referred to as the “Grandmother of the World.” Here she enjoys a very special moment with Rosa Parks, “Mother of the Civil Rights Movement,” who died in 2005 at the age of 92. /WI Archives

SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS Pages 37-38 RELIGION Lyndia Grant’s Religion Column Page 39

The DC Public Library and Pepco have teamed up to present a new class to help you save money on your energy bill. Learn how to use new online energy tools on My Account and design your own personal home energy management plan.

Remaining courses will be given at the following locations: Chevy Chase Library Date: September 11th Address: 5625 Connecticut Ave. NW Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library Date: September 17th Address: 901 G St. NW Lamond-Riggs Library Date: September 24th Address: 5401 South Dakota Ave. NE All classes are 60 minutes and begin at 7 p.m. Participants will receive a free gift for attending.

For more information, visit pepco.com/energizedc.

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The Washington Informer

Sept 4 - Sept 10, 2014

around the region

www.washingtoninformer.com Visit our updated Web site and give us your comments for a chance to win a gift from The Washington Informer

By Tia Carol Jones WI Staff Writer

When L.Y. Marlow's Planners Seek23-yearGreater Input from Youth old daughter told her the father

of her daughter threatened her life,D. and the life of their child, By Kevin McNeir she Contributing knew something had to be WI Writer done. Out of her frustration with lawwake enforcement's handling In the of events like FerguEmail comments to: of the situation, she decided to son, Missouri and Sanford, Florida, rburke@ start the Saving Promise camit has become more than apparent paign. washingtoninformer.com that“Ittheseems lives of black men in to young be a vicious cycle the U.S. garner little respect, almost that won't turn my family akin to disposable loose,” Marlowcommodities. said. Marlow However, the glare the shared her beyond story with the ofaudicameras, neighborhoods and ence atin the District large Heights small, leadersViolence of the black commuDomestic Symposium on May 7 at taking the District Heights nity continue steps to speak Municipal Center. sympoout against all formsThe of injustice sium preparing was sponsored by inevthe while youth for the Family and Youth itable confrontations they Services will face Center of the cityofficials. of District with law enforcement Heights and the National Hook“It’s time that we started showing Up of Black Women. our youth that there are plenty of Marlow has written a book, black men who are doing positive “Color Me Butterfly,” which is a things their four lives –generations for their famistory in about of lies and communities,” said Raheem domestic violence. The book is DeVaughn, inspired by herGrammy-nominated own experiences, singer and songwriter who recently and those of her grandmother, launched his nonprofit organization, her mother and her daughter. “The Foundation DMV.” She LoveLife said every time she reads excerpts from her book, she–still The foundation’s mission to In Memoriam Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Sr. can not lives believe the words came improve through social develWilhelmina J. Rolark from her. “Color health Me Butterfly” opment, education, and wellThe Washington Informer Newspaper wonbythe 2007 National “Best ness partnering with community THE WASHINGTON INFORMER InPUBLISHER Memoriam Books” Award. organizations and other foundations NEWSPAPER (ISSN#0741-9414)Dr.isCalvin Denise Rolark Sr. Barnes W. Rolark, was just 16-years-old when published weekly on each Thursday. to “I raise awareness and tackle issues Wilhelmina J. Rolark my eye first blackened and Periodicals postage paid at Washingimpacting the black community. my STAFF WASHINGTON INFORMER lips bled,” Marlow said. ton,THE D.C. and additional mailing of- NEWSPAPER (ISSN#0741-9414) is published DeVaughn convened the Black weekly Thursday. Periodicals paidW. at Barnes, Washington, D.C. and additional Denise Editor Elaine Davis-Nickens, presifices. Newsonand advertising deadlinepostage mailing offices. News and advertising deadline is Monday prior to publication. Men’s Summit and Town Hall Meetis Monday prior to publication. Andent of the National Hook-Up Announcements must be received twoRon weeks prior to event. Copyright 2000 by The Burke, Advertising/ Marketing Director ing on August 21 at The Temple nouncements must be received two of Black Women, said there is no Washington Informer. All rights reserved. POST MASTER: Send change of addressweeks event. Copyright 2013 of Praise in Southeast where more Barnes, Assistant Editor consistency in the way domestic es toprior The to Washington Informer, 3117Lafayette Martin Luther King,IV, Jr. Ave., S.E. Photo Washington, by D.C. The 20032. Washington Informer. All than 100 people came out towith address No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permisviolence issues are dealt by John E. De Freitas, Sports Photo Editor rights POSTMASTER: sionreserved. from the publisher. TheSend Informer Newspaper cannot guarantee the return of some of the pressing concerns facchange of addresses to The rates Washphotographs. Subscription are $30 per year,Rowley, two yearsOnline $45. Papers Dorothy Editorwill be received ing their community and to discuss not more than 3117 a weekMartin after publication. Make checks payable to: ington Informer, Luther possible solutions. Journalist Roland Brian Young, Design & Layout King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. THE WASHINGTON INFORMER 20032. No part of this publication may Martin moderated the summit. Neville, Bookkeeper 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr.Mable Ave., S.E. • Washington, D.C. 20032 be reproduced without written permis“I thought that for a first attempt Phone: 202 561-4100 • Fax: 202 574-3785 sion from the publisher. The Informer Mickey Thompson, Social Sightings columnist the event went well but I would have E-mail: news@washingtoninformer.com Newspaper cannot guarantee the return www.washingtoninformer.com liked to have had more young brothStacey Palmer, Social Media Specialist of photographs. Subscription rates are ers in the place,” DeVaughn said. $45 per year, two years $60. Papers will Angie Johnson, Circulation PUBLISHER “We have to get our foot patrols out be received not more than a week after Denise Rolark Barnes publication. Make checks payable to: in the streets so that harder to reach REPORTERS STAFF REPORTERS youth know we’re here for them. If THE WASHINGTON Brooke N. Garner INFORMER Managing Stacy Editor Brown, Tia C. Jones, Laiscell, Eve Ferguson, Sam P.K.EdCollins, our work is going to matter, we have Carla Peay Assistant Managing Editor Odell B. Ruffin, Larry Saxton, 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E Elton Hayes, D. Kevin McNeil, Dorothy Ron BurkeD.C. 20032 Advertising and Marketing Mary Wells, Joseph Young to hear from youth so they can tell Washington, Rowley, Barrington Salmon, James Wright Mable Whittaker Bookkeeper Phone: 202 561-4100 us what concerns them, what fears LaNita Wrenn Administration PHOTOGRAPHERS Fax:John 202 574-3785 E. De Freitas Sports Editor they have and what they believe they Lafayette Barnes, IV, news@washingtoninformer.com Victor Holt Photo Editor John E. De Freitas, Maurice Fitzgerald, need to survive,” said DeVaughn PHOTOGRAPHERS www.washingtoninformer.com Zebra Designs, Inc. Layout & Graphic Design Joanne Jackson, Roy Lewis, Robert who formed his foundation about Ken Harris /www.scsworks.com Webmaster Ridley, Victor Holt Lassiter, John E. DeFreitas, Shevry six months ago. Roy Lewis, Nancy Shia CIRCULATION Panelists for the summit includPaul Trantham ed: Pastor W. Lamar Staples; Pastor INTERNS Jabari Douglas; the Rev. Dr. George Roger Perryman-Brown; Capricia Galloway E. Holmes; Jeff Johnson; the Rev. Lennox Yearwood; Ron Busby, Sr.; 4 / May 15 - 21, 2008 The Washington Informer / www.washingtoninformer.com and Tony Lewis, Jr. One man from Northwest said collaborative efforts like the summit

4 Sept 4 - Sept 10, 2014

law enforcement. She said they threat,” she said. had come together to bring a Among the programs Marlow sense of uniformity in the way wants to see implemented are domestic violence victims and stricter restraining order policies, survivors are treated. more rights for victim's families “She's using her own personal to intervene on behalf of a vicstory, her own personal pain to tim, a domestic violence assesspush forward,” Davis-Nickens ment unit coupled with further said about Marlow. training for law enforcement Davis-Nickens said anyone agencies, a Child's Life Protecwho reads Marlow's book will tion Act and mandatory counsel“get it.” She said she “puts the ing for batterers. case in such a way, the average “If we are ever going to eradiperson can get it.” She said at the cate domestic violence, we must end of the day, the book will look at both sides of the coin. help people begin to have a dia- We need to address both the viclogue about domestic violence. tim and the batterer,” Marlow Also present at the event was said. Mildred Muhammad, the exMarlow would also like to see wife of John Allen Muhammad, programs designed to raise who was sentenced to six consec- awareness among children in utive life terms without parole public and private schools. She by a Maryland jury for his role in feels children need to be educatthe Beltway Sniper attacks in ed about domestic violence. 2002. Mildred Muhammad is “We have to stop being pasthe founder of After the Trauma, sive-aggressive with poor chilan organization that helps the dren about domestic violence,” survivors of domestic violence Marlow said. and their children. Marlow has worked to break “I lived in fear for six years. Six the cycle of abuse in her family, years in fear is a long time. It is and is confident the policies she not an easy thing to come out is pushing for will start that Singer Raheem crowd to the first “Black Men`s of,” she said. DeVaughn welcomed theprocess. Summit and Town Hall Meeting” and discussed its to specific Augustto Mildred Muhammad said “I plan take goals theseonpolicies 21 at The who Templewant of Praise Southeast. /Photo by Roy people to inhelp a Congress andLewis implore them to domestic violence victim must change our laws,” Marlow said. be careful of how they go into “I will not stop until these polisaid policies must be must continuelife, so that different ington the victim's and the understand cies areArea passed.” skills and talents of citizens can be changed so that relationships can that she may be in “survival Tia Carol Jones can be reached shared be more easily forged between black mode”.with the entire community. at tiacaroljones@sbcglobal.net “My group, Life,going has men and their children. “Before you Sons get toof'I'm to kill you,' itmentorship started as to a verbal WI have broken men both in been providing youth “We whose parents are incarcerated since the streets and in the suites,” said 2010 – now with Raheem’s founda- Yearwood. “Black men want to take tion we can take our programming more responsibility but they often and initiatives to the next level,” come against a family court system said Lewis, 34. “Collectively, we’ve that attacks both the black male and fed over 300 men at the New York the black family and is designed to Avenue Men’s Shelter and provided break families apart. We need to school supplies for children. I’d like focus on changing the existing polto see us take on the issue of youth icies.” homelessness next,” said Lewis, a From the faith community came resident of Northwest whose father words about returning to the founhas been in jail for most of Lewis’ dations established by the Christian life. Bible. One panelist said blacks must “Our marching orders are quite stop listening to the rhetoric that simple and it’s not magic,” Staples castigates the black community. said. “We deal more with what feels “We have to stop believing the deliberate lies that are being told about good instead of relying on God and our people – black men are active in being obedient and faithful. We’ve their children’s lives and more black tried it our way – it’s time to try it youth are in college than in prison,” God’s way. And even when things away, we need Johnson said. “Presence matters don’t materialize rightL.Y. Marlow to understand that blessed delay and is what our youth need. But you doesn’t mean blessed denial.” WI can’t do in the game [of life] what you don’t do in practice,” said JohnDeVaughn’s foundation plans to hold a son, a D.C.-based award-winning fundraiser for breast cancer in October that journalist and social activist. Another panelist who has con- will feature classic cars tailgating throughtributed many hours on behalf of out the District. Go to www.lovelifefoundablacks in the Metropolitan Wash- tiondmv.org for more information.

The Washington Informer

“

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 these policies are passed.

“

SOMETHING NEW EVERYDAY

AROUND THEBreak REGION the Cycle of Women DomesticAddresses Violence Needs, Summit Concerns of Black Men

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AROUND THE REGION

Popular Gallery and You Can Say It Like A Pro! Boutique to Close Its Doors Let us help you develop the communication skills to compete and win!

Juanita Britton Will Vacate Premises by Oct. 31

■ Executive Presentation Coaching ■ Media Training ■ On-Camera Coaching

The well-known phrase “all good things must come to an end” has been used in today’s culture so often that hearing it may cause the listener to moan in agony, despite its veracity. And for those familiar with one Southeast businesswoman nicknamed “Busy Bee,” the news that she’ll soon close her doors has set off a flurry of poignant salutes and brisk sales. “I’ve been an entrepreneur my entire life and I like the independence that comes with setting your own goals, figuring out the right path and finding success,” said Juanita Britton, 55. “But we will be closing the Anacostia Art Gallery & Boutique at the end of October.” Britton has secured a deal with Rocketship Education, a public charter school system based out of San Jose, California and funded in part by tennis star Andre Agassi, which will give the school the rights to the Kwame Nkrumah Ancestral Garden in the rear of her Southeast business. The house in which the gallery now operates and all remaining property have also been sold. “We’ll be having a calling of the ancestors ceremony on September 14 with drumming as our way of [relinquishing] the ancestral garden,” she said. “It will be bulldozed the next day. As for the house where the art gallery now stands, someone else has purchased that and I hear they plan to turn it into a cultural center,” said Britton, a native of Detroit, Michigan who moved to the District in 1982. Britton started her first business at the age of 10, selling lemonade during the summers outside of her family’s home. By the time she had “matured” to 13, the young entrepreneur had expanded her business to six neighborhood corners – displaying the essentials of franchising long before learning the concepts in the classroom. During the Labor Day weekend, a throng of customers filed through the doors of the boutique looking for unique pieces of art that, based on Britton’s announcement, will only be available for a few more months.

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By D. Kevin McNeir WI Contributing Writer

C O M M U N I C AT I O N S

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Juanita “Busy Bee” Britton, owner of the Anacostia Art Gallery & Boutique in Southeast, has sold her popular business but will remain in operation until the end of October. /Photo by Roy Lewis

“I decided to do some shopping and Juanita has such a wonderful variety of items that this had to be my first stop,” said Nkenge Toure, 63, who lives in Capitol Heights, Maryland and said she’d been advised by friends to see what the gallery and boutique had to offer. One man who works alongside Britton said her Anacostia Art Gallery & Boutique in Southeast offers something for every art lover. “Wherever the slave trade occurred and disrupted our culture we have art from those places,” said Barry Blackman, the gallery’s curator. “The works from African-American artists are significant because they bridge the gap between Africa and the rest of the world,” said Blackman, 53, a resident of Hyattsville, Maryland. Evidence of Britton’s business acumen can be seen throughout the District but she may be best known for her annual Christmas shopping extravaganza which she sponsors every year. “I’m very proud of my East Coast event, the “BZB Holiday Gift & Art Show, the African-American Department Store,” which draws thousands of people over four weekends of holiday shopping,” Britton said. “We’ll mark our 24th

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season this year and will have two Denise Rolark Barnes floors filled with items for sale at Independent Beauty Consultant Shiloh Baptist Church in Northwww.marykay/drolark-barnes.com west.” 202-236-8831 One student from KIPP DC College Preparatory in Northeast said Britton has helped her to believe in herself. “I started hanging out at the gallery when I was seven and eventually I began working here as a greeter,” said Timera Walker, 17. “I’ve learned how to effectively communicate with people and I’ve learned so much about the world of art. (301) 864-6070 Being here has made me feel good about myself.” Britton said that despite her plans to close the gallery and bouMCCOLLUM & ASSOCIATES, LLC tique, she’ll remain quite busy. ADA, Age Discrimination, Benefits, Civil Rights, “I’ve paid my Washingtonian COBRA, Contracts, Deaf Law, Defamation, Disability Law, dues and plan to stay in my house Discipline, Discrimination, FMLA, FLSA, FOIA, in Anacostia forever – I love this Family Responsibility, Harassment, HIPPA, OSHA, community,” Britton said. “And as National Origin Discrimination, Non-Compete, a consultant for artisans around the ‡ Please set all copy in upper and lowercase, flush left as indicated on artwork at these point sizes:Act, Consultant name in 11-point Helvetica Neue Bo Race Discrimination, Rehabilitation Retaliation, world, there’s Beauty still plenty ofin work Consultant 9-point Helvetica Neue Light; Web site or e-mail address in 9-point Helvetica Neue Light; phone number in 9-point Helvetica ® Personal Web Site program may To the Independent Beauty Consultant: Only Company-approved Web sites obtained through the Mary Kay Severance Agreements, Sexual Harassment, Torts, for me to do.” WI

EMPLOYMENT LAWYERS

Whistleblowing, Wage-and-Hour, Wrongful Discharge

For more information about Britton go to bzbinternational.com or call (202) 610-4188. The Washington Informer

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(301) 864-6070

jmccollum@jmlaw.net

Sept 4 - Sept 10, 2014

AROUND THE REGION

WEEK OF SEPT 4 TO SEPT 10

Black Facts September 4 1865 - Bowie State College is established in Bowie, Maryland. 1868 - Henry McNeal Turner delivers a speech before the Georgia legislature defending African Americans’ rights to hold state office. 1908 - Richard Wright, author of “Native Son” and “Black Boy” was born. 1923 - George Washington Carver of Tuskegee Institute received the Spingarn Medal, the NAACP’s highest award, for distinguished research in agricultural chemistry. 1957 - Black students banned from a Little Rock high school by Arkansas governor Orval Faubus who called the National Guard to prevent the nine students from enrolling. 1981 - Singer Beyonce Knowles is born. September 5 1846 - Secretary of the American Negro Academy, John W. Cromwell was born. 1859 – The autobiographical slave narrative, “Our Nig,” by Harriet Wilson, the first novel published in the U.S. by an African-American woman, is published. It was lost for years until reprinted with a critical essay by African-American scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr. in 1983. 1895 - George Washington Murray was elected to Congress by South Carolina. 1960 - Leopold Sedar Senghor, a poet, politician, is elected president of Senegal.

BUYING RECORDS

September 6 1848 – The National Black Convention met in Cleveland with some 70 delegates. Frederick Douglass was elected president of the convention. 1865 - Thaddeus Stevens, U.S. congressman, urged confiscation of estates of Confederate leaders and the distribution of land to adult freedmen in 40-acre lots. 1960 - Rafer Johnson won the Olympic Decathlon – the first for an African American. 1967 - President Lyndon B. Johnson named Walter E. Washington commissioner and “unofficial” may-

or of Washington, D.C. September 7 1800 - Zion AME Church dedicated in New York City. 1859 - Co-organizer of North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company, John Merrick was born. 1930 - Sonny Rollins, a powerful force in jazz, was born. 1954 - The start of integration for both Maryland and District of Columbia public schools. 1957 - Ghana becomes a free self-governing nation. This country will be the first of the British Commonwealth of Nations to be self-governing. September 8 1875 - Mississippi governor requested federal troops to protect Black voters. Attorney General Edwards Pierrepont refused the request. 1957 - Althea Gibson, becomes the first Black athlete to win a U.S. national tennis championship. 1965 – Actress Dorothy Dandridge dies in Hollywood at the age of 42. Dandridge was the first African-American woman to be nominated for an Academy Award for best actress based on her performance in the 1954 film “Carmen Jones.” In 1959, she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for “Porgy and Bess.” Born on November 9, 1922 in Cleveland, Ohio, she also performed in Harlem’s famed Cotton Club and the Apollo Theatre. In 1999, Halle Berry portrayed Dandridge in the movie, “Introducing Dorothy Dandridge.” 1981 - Roy Wilkins, longtime executive director of the NAACP, died in New York. September 9 1915 - The father of Black history, Carter G. Woodson, founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. 1934 - Poet Sonia Sanchez was born Wilsonia Benita Driver in Birmingham, Alabama. 1946 - Singer and musician, Billy Pres-

ton was born. 1957 - The first civil rights bill to pass Congress since Reconstruction, was passed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. 1979 - Robert Guillaume wins an Emmy for best actor in a comedy series for Soap. September 10 1913 - Cleveland Call & Post established. 1956 - Louisville, Kentucky public schools are integrated. 1961 - Jomo Kenyatta returns to Kenya from exile to lead his country. 1962 - Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black vacated an order of a lower court, ruling that the University of Mississippi had to admit James H. Meredith, a Black Air Force veteran whose application for admission had been on file and in the courts for 14 months.WI

Dorothy Dandridge

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.

CALL JOHN @ 301-596-6201 6 Sept 4 - Sept 10, 2014

The Washington Informer

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AROUND THE THE REGION REGION AROUND INTERVIEWS AND PHOTOS BY ELTON HAYES

VIEWP INT Fred Warfield Laurel, Maryland I believe that they quite possibly could already be here. Our southern border is not as secure as it could be. Judging by ISIS’ language and rhetoric toward the west and the United States, I could definitely see them infiltrating this country. I really hope that’s not the case, but we will see what happens.

Junior Spence Silver Spring, Maryland It’s possible that some ISIS members have infiltrated our southern border. As we’ve seen, some of the members have United States’ passports, and because of that, it could be easy for them to reenter the country. And the southern border is – for lack of a better word – fragile, so someone who is an ISIS sympathizer could just walk across the border. So, with all of those factors, it’s very possible that they have entered the country.

AMERICAN OFFICIALS FEAR THAT MEMBERS OF THE TERROR GROUP ISIS [ISLAMIC STATE OF IRAQ AND SYRIA] COULD ATTACK THE UNITED STATES, AND BRITAIN HAS RAISED ITS TERROR THREAT LEVEL IN THE PAST WEEK. DO YOU BELIEVE ISIS MEMBERS HAVE ENTERED THE U.S. THROUGH THE SOUTHERN BORDER?

Iris Perez-Greene Laurel, Maryland It wouldn’t surprise me at all. There have been recent reports that show that some Americans have been working with them, and those Americans can very easily infiltrate the country. So I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that some of them are here. There are also a lot of people here in [this] country who have converted to Islam, who could help assist them as sympathizers.

Nicole Davis Laurel, Maryland I don’t believe that ISIS members have entered this country through our southern border. But it’s very likely that there are a few ISIS sympathizers here, as well. There is the possibility that they could eventually enter the country through the southern border, with the help of their sympathizers. You never know if they are assisting them with finding ways to enter the United States. You just don’t know.

Charles Merchant Hyattsville, Maryland It’s possible that they have, but I do feel that some of the fears could be exaggerated and blown out of proportion by the media. I believe that if you don’t watch the news every single day, you won’t consciously think that the country could be attacked. The fact is, ISIS members could be here, but when the media sends subliminal messages every day about the potential for an attack, they run the risk of planting the seed in someone’s mind.

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Sept 4 - Sept 10, 2014

AROUND THE REGION MUSEUMS continued from Page 1 money means if we ask for $4 million, we get $15,000, which really is money to go away, money that can’t help us reach our projected goals.” A report published in June by the Nonprofit Quarterly, a national journal covering the management and governance of nonprofits, revealed that African-American museums in the U.S. are faring at levels far below those that are considered white, or mainstream. “There are issues on a couple of fronts,” said Kimberly Camp, the former president and CEO of The Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia. Formerly located in Merion, Pennsylvania, the foundation includes the world’s largest collection and archives of the great French impressionist Pierre-Auguste Renoir, post-impressionist Paul Cezanne and others. The collection has been valued at more than $70 billion. “There’s been a resurgence of racism and bigotry in this country and there’s been a pushback against black institutions since Barack Obama became presi-

dent in 2008,” said Camp, 57, who is now president of Gallery Marie, an art gallery in Collingswood, New Jersey, that features the work of artists from around the world, including Camp’s paintings and dolls. “Another issue is that there really needs to be better board training at African-American museums,” said Camp, who also served as president of the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit. “People need to understand the role of the board and, really, there are board members at some museums who don’t like the institution and they’ve undermined the efforts to get funding.” Redell Hearn, a professor of Museum Studies at The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, said she’s well aware that nearly every institution of art and culture – whether black, white or other – faces significant challenges when seeking financial support. “But, instead of comparing black museums with white museums, let’s talk about what’s right with African-American

museums,” said Hearn, a former curator of the California African American Museum in Los Angeles. “We’re not simply doing the opposite of what white museums are doing, the intent is to educate African Americans and Americans in general and my position is that African- American museums are as sustainable as mainstream museums,” she said. Hearn said mainstream museums have adopted a mission that has been the foundation of black-themed institutions’ approach in raising money: to appeal to a multicultural base. Tykia Warden, the development director at the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum in Southeast Washington, D.C., said it’s more important than ever that black institutions hit the ground running when seeking funds. The Anacostia Community Museum falls under the umbrella of the mighty Smithsonian Institution, but raising funds can still be challenging, she said. “The Smithsonian has a goal of reaching $1 billion by 2017, which is the Anacostia Museum’s 50th anniversary,” Warden

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Peggy Cooper Cafritz, the Northwest Washington arts patron who reportedly once owned one of the largest private collections of African and African-American art in the world, said she’s concerned about the future of black museums and she hopes that public and private donors will step up to the plate. /Courtesy Photo

said. “Our goal by that time is $1.7 million. This year we have a goal of $415,000 and right now we’re at 50 percent of that. We’re the little engine that could.” Engines at many African-American museums have been sputtering, particularly at historic institutions like the African American Museum in Philadelphia, America’s Black Holocaust Museum in Milwaukee, the Great Blacks in Wax Museum in Baltimore, the Slave Mart Museum in Charleston and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit. Tia Harris Powell, the former director of artistic affairs at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Northwest, took over as director of the Weeksville Heritage Center in Brooklyn earlier this year and found that the black-operated institution has dwindling funding sources for its roughly $1 million annual budget. Last year, officials cut staffing by about 50 percent, she said. “I was well aware of the perfect storm that had recently hit the organization and equally aware that this situation was not unique,” said Powell, who grew up in Northeast. “Our plight does not differ greatly from the scenario one

finds across the spectrum of African-American museums. Since my arrival, I have found that foundations and state funding agencies are very supportive of Weeksville, its mission and its work. Our list of past funders is vast and our current funders make every effort to support our valiant attempts to activate the unique history represented through our presentation of innovative, vanguard and experimental programs.” Weeksville’s dependence on public funds can be considered risky and unrestricted funds are hard to come by, Powell said. “When public, foundation and individual donor monies are made available for the totality of what needs to be done to serve our communities better; we will have a chance at survival,” she said. “Unfortunately, that won’t happen until we shift the paradigm and cause a fundamental change in how African-American museums are perceived.” A recent push by Mayor Joe Riley of Charleston, South Carolina, to build an international black museum hit a roadblock after the state legislature failed to provide adequate funding for the project. Riley asked for a total of $25

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Tia Harris Powell, the former director of artistic affairs at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Northwest Washington, D.C., took over as director of the Weeksville Heritage Center in Brooklyn earlier this year. /Courtesy Photo

MUSEUMS continued from Page 8 million, but local lawmakers allocated just $250,000. Reduced funding from the public and private sector has also presented various challenges for the African American Museum in Philadelphia, said Dr. M. Claire Lomax, chair of the board of directors at the museum, the first to be founded and built by a municipality to help preserve, interpret and exhibit the heritage of African Americans. Lomax said that as a general rule, if the economy hurts museums, African- American institutions suffer even more. “To survive, you have to identify new ways of operating, including strategic partnerships and new ways of raising funds,” she said, noting that Philadelphia city officials have been a big help to the museum. For John Guess Jr., the CEO

of the Houston Museum of African American Culture, summing up the state of black museums in America proves quite simple. “Once you get past the financial challenges and the absence of experienced professionals to manage the business operations of our museums, and these are quite formidable, our biggest challenge is attracting an audience by connecting historical to contemporary meaning,” Guess said. He said acquiring support and services is difficult. “Like other African-American museums, despite the quality of our exhibitions and programs, philanthropic foundations, which are a major source of museum funding, do not significantly invest in our culture unless it is presented by non-African Americans,” he said.WI

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When the U.S. Congress decided to step up America’s “War on Drugs” in the 1980s with a new set of laws that created widespread sentencing disparities, officials said they’d successfully impacted the country’s illegal drug trade. Decades later, the tragic effects of that so-called war remain – raw and painful – in the minds and hearts of children, now adults, whose parents eventually became incarcerated for many years because of their connection with the drug world or industry. “I was teaching a documentary film class at Bowie State University and I always asked my students how many of them knew someone that had been a victim of a violent crime or had been incarcerated because of drug possession or sales,” said Emmy Award-winning journalist and filmmaker Del Walters. “Ninety-nine percent of them raised their hands and most knew someone who had been killed. We see the smiles but we rarely see the tears of these youth. They are the children of the war on drugs,” Walters said. The Bowie State student filmmakers, many of whom hope to produce films, write scripts or work in television after graduating from college, began creating a documentary two years ago that allowed young adults to share their stories – tales of being the child of a crackhead, the child of a convicted drug dealer or a child who had lost loved ones to a violent end. That film, “X – Children of the Lost Generation,” will be shown on Saturday, September 20 at Metropolitan AME Church in Northwest beginning at 6 p.m. During the evening of the screening, sponsored by The RPCard Foundation Partners, Inc., a nonprofit organization based in Lorton, Virginia, there will also be a panel discussion and a signing for Walters’ book, “The Holding Room.” Walters will donate 80 per-

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Young filmmaker Karl M. King, II, is part of the team that produced the documentary about children impacted by the War on Drugs. /Photo courtesy of Karl M. King, II

Emmy-winning journalist Del Walters continues to help students at Bowie State University where he taught for seven years. /Photo courtesy of Dynamic Public Relations

cent of the proceeds from the book sales to the Foundation’s Scholastic Fund. The founder of the Foundation said after seeing so many qualified students unable to attend college due to financial limitations, she decided to establish the organization. “Promoting higher education for minority students through charitable giving in the form of college scholarships is what RPCard Foundation is all about,” said Angela Newsome, president and CEO of the nonprofit organization. “We recently provided scholarships to two Bowie State University students – one African American and one Native American. The film screening will raise funds so that we can offer more scholarships – not only to local minorities but those across the U.S.,” said Newsome, who founded the nonprofit in 2009. One student filmmaker, who faced a temporary derailment in his college education because he couldn’t secure a loan, said the documentary challenged each of his classmates, both emotionally and personally. “I never realized how many young people from my generation had been impacted by the War on Drugs,” said Karl M. King, II, 23. “The crack epidemic destroyed lives and families – some parents went

to prison and have served very long sentences. Others were killed before their children were barely out of diapers. These untold stories needed to be shared. Maybe it will promote healing,” said the Bowie State senior who hopes to become a filmmaker. Two brothers and rappers from Virginia decided to get involved in the documentary project after getting a sneak peak at the film. “We provided the vocals after our mother [Angela Newsome] let us see the film and we both felt really empowered – we wanted to produce a message about the negative effects of the War on Drugs that was as powerful as the documentary,” said Master Newsome, a.k.a. New Daught Kham, 20. Older brother Robert Newsome, a.k.a. Maikis, agreed. “There are still so many people suffering because of the War on Drugs but sadly most of them have been forgotten,” said Robert Newsome, 22. “The song is called ‘Lost’ and I think it’s an appropriate title because there were untold thousands of children whose lives were changed forever because of the assault on drugs. I think it’s an eye-opening documentary and I hope that it opens up the door for real discussion.” WI

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Below the Belt: Men at Risk for Prostate Cancer Submitted by AmeriHealth District of Columbia

It’s not easy for men to talk about health below the belt. It can be an uncomfortable subject for many people. September is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Now is the perfect time to start talking about the health risks. Learn about prostate cancer and the pros and cons of getting tested. What is a prostate? The prostate is a small, walnut-sized gland that only men have. It produces the fluid that sperm live in. It’s located in front of the rectum, which is below the bladder. Prostate cancer happens on the prostate. Cells become unbalanced, creating more and more cells. This can create a tumor (lump). The cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body and can lead to death. Am I at risk? Since only men have a prostate, only men can get prostate cancer. It is one of the most common forms of cancer in men. African-American men are at the highest risk. Also, older men of all races are most likely to get the condition. In fact, it is hardly ever found in men younger than 40. Chances of having prostate cancer rise rapidly for men over the age of 50. Prostate cancer can also run in the family. There is a greater risk if your father or brother have or had it. Talk to your family members about any history of the condition in your family. To get more information about prostate cancer, talk to your doctor. Symptoms Most prostate cancers grow slowly. Many men with the illness do not experience any health problems. Signs or symptoms may include: • Weak urine flow • Pain or burning when urinating • Needing to urinate very often • Not being able to urinate • Blood in urine • Blood in semen • Pain in lower back, hips or thighs • Pain in bones • Erectile dysfunction Not everyone with these symptoms has prostate cancer. Each of the symptoms could mean many different things. If you have any of these symptoms, see your doctor right away. Prevention There is no sure way to prevent prostate cancer. But there are things you can do that can lower your risk. These simple tasks may help prevent prostate cancer: • Maintain a healthy weight. Staying fit can benefit your body in many ways. Make healthy food choices and try to exercise most days of the week. • Eat fruits and vegetables. Eating fruits and vegetables gives you nutrients that help keep your body healthy. • Stay active. Get regular exercise. Try to be active for 30 minutes a day. Talk to your doctor about exercises that are right for you. • Add soy to your diet. Add tofu or soybeans to your meals. Look for soybeans in the pod called edamame (ed-uh-MAH-may). Eat them steamed or boiled. • Drink green tea or take a green tea supplement. Drink it hot or iced. Add a teaspoon of honey for sweetener. • Drink less alcohol, if any at all. One study found drinking alcohol every day over many years may increase your risk for prostate cancer. Living a healthy lifestyle can improve your health. Eating healthy, staying active and keeping a healthy weight are the best ways to reduce the risk of cancers at any age. Screenings There are 2 types of prostate screenings: prostate specific antigens (PSA)-based screenings and rectal exams. Talk to your doctor about these screenings and ask questions to decide if screening is right for you. • PSA-based screening — This screening looks for high PSA levels in the blood. But prostate cancer is not the only reason for these high levels. If a doctor finds high levels, it doesn’t always point directly to cancer. • Rectal exam — This exam tests for an enlarged prostate. It’s important to be aware of “false positives.” That is when a patient has a symptom of a disease but not the disease itself. For instance, many older men may have an enlarged prostate and not have cancer. Talk to your doctor about the side effects these screenings may have. Learn as much as you can before you get a screening. Stay informed It’s important to understand prostate cancer and your options for screenings. Screening is the only way to know if you have prostate cancer, but make sure you understand how each screening may affect you. Prostate cancer is an important subject for all men. Starting at age 40, men should talk to their doctors about prostate cancer. Ask about the pros and cons of each screening. After talking with your doctor, you can decide if you want to get tested.

...because I know my doctor and she knows me. My name is Kyra and I visit my doctor every year before school starts. I like going to the doctor because she gives me the shots I need to be healthy throughout the school year. AmeriHealth District of Columbia supports healthy lifestyles and kids like Kyra who get vaccinated to protect herself and her classmates. Here are some ways you can get to know your doctor: • See the same doctor every visit • Ask questions about your health • Ask about the shots you may have to get To see the I am healthySM series and get more tips on ways to stay healthy, visit www.amerihealthdc.com/iamhealthy.

This program is funded in part by the Government of the District of Columbia Department of Health Care Finance.

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Cancer Institute and U.S. American Preventive Services Task Force. All images are used under license for illustrative purposes only. Any individual depicted is a model. 5400-ACDC-1422-06 2014 ADC Ad Campaign_Washington Informer_Full Page.indd 6

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Sept 4 - Sept 10, 2014

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY EDUCATION BRIEFS Back-to-School Nights Parents will have the opportunity September 3-18 to visit their children’s schools and meet their teachers and principals during “Back-to-School Nights” activities. For a schedule of events, visit the school system’s website. Immunizations Update Students have 20 calendar days from the start of the 2014-15 school year – which started on Tuesday, August 26 – to present medical verification of receiving the required vaccinations. If documentation is not presented by that time, students will not be allowed to attend school until the required records have been provided. For questions about immunization requirements, parents can contact their child’s pediatrician, the nurse at their child’s school or the schools’ Office of School Health Policy, Services and Innovation, at 301-749-4722.

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Successful First Day Back to School Officials, teachers and staff welcomed back to classes on Tuesday, August 26, more than 126,000 students to 208 schools and centers, marking the start of the 2014-15 school year. In addition, more than 800 new teachers and 30 new principals have joined faculties at the schools. Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker, schools CEO Kevin Maxwell and Gov. Martin O’Malley visited several schools across the county where they greeted students and in some instances, enjoyed lunch with them. “Dr. Maxwell, the Board of Education and the faculty and staff of our school system have worked diligently to get our schools ready for what I’m sure will be an exciting and productive 2014-15 school year,” said Baker, 55. “Our objective is to build a great school system for the families of Prince George’s County,” he said. “So as we start the new school year, I am urging everyone to work together and get involved in our schools and support our young scholars. We need everyone to get excit-

12 Sept 4 - Sept 10, 2014

School officials welcomed more than 126,000 students back to classes on Tuesday, August 26. /Photo courtesy PGCPS

ed about our schools and I am looking forward to a new school year.” Pigskin Classic The schools’ Department of Interscholastic Athletics presents the 2014 Pigskin Classic at 12 noon on Saturday, September 6 at Byrd Stadium on the campus of the University of Maryland, College Park. The third annual event will include students from several county high schools who will compete in the football game. The event, which kicks off the county’s new football season, will also feature a special halftime performance by the Bowie State University Marching Band. Tickets are $8 in advance and can be purchased at any of the participating high schools. Tick-

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Students have 20 days from the start of the new school year to provide proof of immunizations. /Courtesy Photo

Student School Board Member Jeffery Taylor II has been sworn in as the 2014-15 student member for the Board of Education. Jeffery, a senior at Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, also serves as president of the senior class. “I am ecstatic to serve the students of Prince George’s County as the new student member of the board,” said Jeffery. “I am experienced, motivated, and dedicated to student success, and look forward to working with students, board members and the community for the betterment of the school system.” WI

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Baker, Prince George’s Business Leaders Head to China

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

Mayor Gray Will Lure Investors for D.C. By Barrington M. Salmon WI Staff Writer@bsalmondc Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III is leading a delegation of business leaders and government officials to China to strengthen trade ties and attract new investments to the county. The 27-member delegation was scheduled to depart Sept. 3 and spend nine days in China. They were scheduled to meet with Chinese counterparts in the areas of healthcare, hospitality, real estate development, solar and alternative energy, transportation, information technology, housing development and government relations, officials said. In an interview with the Informer in July, Gwen McCall, president and CEO of the Prince George’s County Economic and Development Corp., said investments from China, as one of the top global markets in the world, would be a boon to the local economy. “We live in a global market,” McCall said. “We want to find other ways to invest in Prince George’s County.” Victor Hoskins, Baker’s top economic advisor, said the delegation’s objectives included encouraging direct investment by Chinese backers in a range of local projects; meeting with Chinese business executives; and promoting a federal immigration program that offers American visas to foreign investors willing to bankroll U.S. businesses. “We will be signing a memorandum of understanding with the Changping District, which is very similar to Prince George’s County,” said Hoskins, deputy county administrative officer for Economic Development and Infrastructure. The Changping District of Beijing is located about an hour northwest of the city of Beijing. “We are promoting the entire county as a destination for Chinese businesses and investors. With more than $10 billion in projects in our pipeline, we believe that the county is primed for business,” he said. Hoskins said the Chinese reportedly are “very interested” in partnering on some county projects. County officials also want to

Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III is heading to China on a trade mission. Political and business leaders are meeting with their Chinese counterparts and the hope is that Baker and his team garners $200 million in new investments. /Courtesy Photo

lure Chinese tourists to Prince George’s to such destinations as National Harbor and its MGM Casino. “Tourism is huge, as Chinese citizens travel a great deal. New York and the District are their top two destinations,” Hoskins said. “Our blessing is being next to D.C. We’re [a few] minutes away by train and have lower costs, which gives us a competitive advantage.” Hoskins said county officials believe Prince George’s can “draw money” from D.C. as a tourist attraction. He said Baker, D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray (D) and Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) joined forces to urge Air China to offer direct flights to the D.C. area. The carrier began flying into Dulles International Airport in June, according to a news release from McAuliffe’s office. The flights are expected to bring in an additional 16,000 tourists and business travelers and $14 million in spending each year, the release said. The Prince George’s delegation was scheduled to make stops in Beijing and Shanghai and interact with thousands of potential foreign investors at a conference in Xiamen. “Fifty thousand people are [going],” Hoskins said. “Everyone will be there pitching their deals.” Hoskins said Gray and Baker

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are scheduled to make a presentation at the conference. Baker’s scheduled to make a major announcement in Shanghai about the EB-5 program, which invites Chinese investors to contribute money to finance projects in underdeveloped communities. In return, the financiers and their immediate families can qualify for green cards and later apply for long-term residency, officials said. In addition to seeking new investments, Gray will celebrate the 30th anniversary of D.C.’s sister-city agreement with Beijing. He’ll also help open a second D.C. China Center in Beijing. There are D.C. China Center locations in the District and another location in Beijing, according to a news release. The centers serve to promote cultural exchange between the two cities. “I’m thrilled once again to further the District’s economic-development goals, as well as to promote cultural and educational exchanges by traveling to China,” Gray, 71, said. “Our three-decade relationship with Beijing has flourished over the years and will only grow and deepen, thanks to the efforts we will undertake on this trip.”WI The Washington Informer

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Conversations and Protests Continue Post-Ferguson By Barrington M. Salmon WI Staff Writer@bsalmondc Over the weekend in Ferguson, Missouri, hundreds marched and held a rally in memory of slain 18-year-old Michael Brown. Protestors and others horrified by the midday murder are adamant that Brown gets justice and one participant told the media the rally honors Brown’s memory, while keeping the tumult and racial questions “at the forefront of America.” Locally, demonstrations continue, and on August 28 a coalition including ColorOfChange delivered more than 900,000 signatures to the White House

demanding that the authorities in Ferguson appoint a special prosecutor. Author and political sports journalist Dave Zirin said he remembers as a young man hearing about police shootings in New York and the outrage that accompanied the deaths of victims like Eleanor Bumpers and Mike Stewart. Twenty-five years later, he said, he is staggered by the frequency of extra-judicial murders. The sheer magnitude of the police response is also one of deepening concern, Zirin said. While in Brazil covering stories, the heavily armed military police most closely resembled police on Ferguson’s streets.

Amanda Poppy 35, holds Melody Bishop, 2, and a sign expressing solidarity with the people of Ferguson, Missouri in front of the Washington Ethical Society in Northwest on August 27. /Photo by Nancy Shia

“What you (saw) is the way black neighborhoods have been policed but the level of technology is so overwhelming,” said Zirin, sports editor for The Nation, a weekly progressive magazine focused on politics and culture. “It’s continuity with the past. You have the suburbanization of poverty with Ferguson moving from 89 percent white

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to 67 percent black over the course of a generation.” “This is a Ferguson question and national question. With regards to justice for Michael Brown, I’ve talked to a number of people in St. Louis who are cynical that there will be justice for him. That’s sad. For Ferguson, it’s being attentive to the story after the media moves on from the story.” On August 9, Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson shot and killed the unarmed Brown an act that triggered rioting, civil unrest and protests seeking justice for Brown, who Police Chief Thomas Jackson claims robbed a convenience store minutes before his death. Autopsies have confirmed that Wilson fired at least six shots which hit Brown in the arm, upper torso and at least two in the head. A common refrain from activists and those seeking racial, social and political change in this country is the hope that Brown’s death becomes the catalyst for change. In the District and elsewhere in the U.S., African-American groups, families and individuals have been deep in conversation, taking an unvarnished look at the racial landscape, holding strategy sessions and looking at ways to poke, push and prod a reluctant country to shake off its racist past and treat black people like human beings. “I have personal, familiar feelings,” said Impact DC’s David Johns during a recent panel discussion where young professionals strategized on how to counter the range of problems facing black people. “I’ve been pissed off for quite some time. We lose our babies every single day and we honor a few of them. This is about our girls too. This is a

visceral, physical attack. We’re locked out of public opportunities. Moments like this allow us to be awakened from our complacency but these issues aren’t new.” “There’s a narrative around the value of our lives. Almost the instant that our babies are killed, their [character is] assassinated. There’s no humanity … A 13-year-old in Miami told me ‘I don’t want to leave my house because I’m afraid.’ I want everyone to remember that we have an obligation to our young people. We understand that our babies are vulnerable. We have to leverage our resources to protect them.” Sponsors of the event included Team Impact, Capital Cause and Black & Brown People Vote. org. Running parallel to the Ferguson Police Department investigation is one by the U.S. Department of Justice. Meanwhile, a grand jury is considering whether to indict Wilson. A number of legal scholars and law enforcement experts say prior precedent indicates Wilson will not be held accountable for the shooting. Independent researcher David Bositis describes Ferguson’s problem as a voting rights problem. George Washington University Law Professor Spencer Overton agreed. He and Johns participated in the panel discussion and strategy session at the Northeast Library in the District three weeks ago. “Ferguson is 67 percent African American but has a Republican mayor and five of six city council members who are white. And 50 of 53 police officers are white,” said Overton, president and interim CEO of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies in Northwest. In 2013, he explained, 18 percent of whites voted and a paltry six percent of blacks did likewise. “This is also a problem all over the country,” Overton said. “African Americans are 12 percent of the population but five percent are city councilors and two percent are mayors. Why? Low turnout. In some local elections, less than 10 percent vote. Another big problem is at-large seats for city councils.” “Civil rights and other groups, we have to get out the vote but there’s a simple way: move municipal elections to presidential election years.”

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NATIONAL FERGUSON continued from Page 14 Charles J. Ogletree, Jr., said Brown’s killing has started a conversation the black community should have had a long time ago. And he commended his mentee President Barack Obama for sending Attorney General Eric Holder to Ferguson. “I think this (was) an important turning point that my dear friend Eric (got) involved in the investigation. Anybody who’s black has no role on the streets,” said Ogletree, the Jesse Climenko Professor at Harvard Law School and founder of the school’s Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice. “I think the police need to be trained and understand that they have to respect the community and enforce the law. They should not assume that people with dark skin are criminals. You can’t profile people.”WI

Hundreds of individuals and organizations delivered more than 900,000 signatures to the White House seeking justice for Michael Brown on August 28. /Photo by Roy Lewis

DID YOU KNOW? You may qualify for assistance in paying your home phone bill. Discounts for basic telephone service are available to eligible District of Columbia low-income residents. Verizon Washington, D.C. Lifeline Plans: Verizon Washington, D.C.’s Lifeline service, known as “Economy II,” offers reduced rates on Verizon’s monthly telephone bill and one-time discounts on the cost of installing phone service. Additionally, toll blocking is available to Economy II customers at no charge. Economy II Service*: $3.00 per month for unlimited local calling. Value-added services are not included (e.g., Call Waiting, Caller ID). No connection charges apply. Also, customers will not be charged for the federal subscriber line charge. Economy II customers who are 65 years of age or older can have this service at a further reduced rate of $1.00 per month. * Full terms and rates for these services, including terms of eligibility, are as set forth in federal and in Verizon’s tariffs on file with the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia. All rates, terms and conditions included in this notice are subject to change and are current at the time of printing.

Eligibility: District residents who have been certified by the Washington, DC Lifeline Program as eligible may apply for the Economy II program. To apply, schedule an appointment with the Washington, DC Lifeline Program by calling 1-800-253-0846. Households in which one or more individuals are receiving benefits from one of the following public assistance programs or have an annual income that is 150% or below the Federal Poverty Guideline may be eligible. P Food stamps P Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) P Supplemental Security Income P Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) P Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8) P Medicaid P National School Lunch Programs (Free Lunch Program)

Restrictions: P No other working telephone service at the same location P No additional phone lines P No Foreign Exchange or Foreign Zone service P No bundles or packages P No outstanding unpaid final bills P Bill name must match eligible participant P No separate Lifeline discount on cellular or wireless phone service P Business lines are not eligible P Phone number must match eligible participant P Must be a current Verizon customer or establish new service with Verizon

Contact Washington, DC Lifeline Program at 1-800-253-0846 to apply To learn more about the Lifeline program, visit www.lifelinesupport.org. Economy II is a Lifeline supported service. Lifeline is a government assistance program. Only eligible consumers may enroll. You may qualify for Lifeline service if you can show proof that you participate in certain government assistance programs or your annual income (gross and from all sources) is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guideline. If you qualify based on income, you will be required to provide income verification. Proof of participation in a government assistance program requires your current or prior year’s statement of benefits from a qualifying state or federal program; a notice letter or other official document indicating your participation in such a program; and/or another program participation document (for example, benefit card). Proof of income requires your prior year’s state or federal tax return; current income statement from an employer or paycheck stub; a statement of Social Security, Veterans Administration, retirement, pension, or Unemployment or Workmen’s Compensation benefits; a federal notice letter of participation in General Assistance; a divorce decree; a child support award; and/or another official document containing income information. At least three months of data is necessary when showing proof of income. In addition, the Lifeline program is limited to one discount per household, consisting of either wireline or wireless service. You are required to certify and agree that no other member of the household is receiving Lifeline service from Verizon or another communications provider. Lifeline service is a non-transferable benefit. Lifeline customers may not subscribe to certain other services, including other local telephone service. Consumers who willfully make false statements in order to obtain the Lifeline benefit can be punished by fine or imprisonment, or can be barred from the program.

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BUSINESS EXCHANGE

Looting in Lieu of Reparations What’s your attitude regarding reparations for slavery? Too often the state of affairs among Black Americans has centered on fighting the law, and winning. As often as Blacks find America’s laws and practices stacked against them, why haven’t Blacks been creators of laws that are favorable toward us? With the numbers of Blacks that comprise the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), why haven’t they made it their collective duty to put forth laws and language necessary to pay reparations to descendants of slaves? The calculated reparations for America’s Black slave descendants totals approximately $1.5 million each. Instead of dancing to partisan parties’ tunes, more Black Americans need to be among those determined to ensure that legitimate slave descendants get their just due. The people championing the status quo of affairs in America will always dispute these claims. There are people in contemporary Black American communities who contend that they aren’t owed anything because they are better off living in America than they would be in Africa. America still owes an enormous debt to Africans and African Americans for the tremendous emotional and financial toll that they’ve suffered and continue to suffer as a result of nearly 400 years of slavery and segregation. It’s as if Blacks are afraid, or feel unworthy, to collect what’s owed them. Instead of calling for additional Black voter registration efforts and “social change,” Black voters should consider that we have the clout to hasten our own changes through reparations we gained for slavery – compensatory payments for the descendants of those who found themselves enslaved by the Atlantic Slave Trade. By reclaiming what has been stolen from us, Blacks can lay the foundation for viable futures and receive compensation for slavery and the century of de jure racial discrimination that followed with monetary restitution and/or educational programs. Four hundred years of legalized oppression entitles many Blacks in America to just

16 Sept 4 - Sept 10, 2014

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By William Reed reparations. Blacks are the poorest group in America because our ancestors built this country and never had anything of value to pass onto future generations. In 1867, Thaddeus Stevens sponsored a bill for redistribution of land to African Americans. It was never passed and Reconstruction came to an end in 1877 without the issue ever being addressed. Now America needs to reconcile with racial history – seek genuine atonement and make meaningful amends. Until such time, angst-ridden race relations will continue to plague America. A group of influential lawyers and scholars called the “Reparations Coordinating Committee” identified institutions it says have profited from slavery and they have initiated numerous lawsuits against the government and major corporations. Some companies and universities such as Brown acknowledged roles in slavery. The Hartford Courant newspaper apologized for running ads for the sale and capture of slaves. Aetna Insurance apologized for insuring slaves as “personal property.” Reparations are the ultimate realization of our civil rights. Black media, civil rights and political leaders who flocked to Ferguson, Missouri now need to turn their righteous indignation about what happened there into reparations legislation in Congress and state houses. It’s time Blacks question their leaders as to: What are you doing about reparations? When will Blacks make political officials accountable for their plight? Due to a popular movement that was occurring in Detroit, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. started a procedure of regularly submitting House Resolution 40, the “Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act” to

See REED on Page 17

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BUSINESS

Report Offers Fiscal Hope for Minorities

“First and foremost and as a whole, black people aren’t taught to save money,” said Russell Knightner, 61, of Anacostia. “We also haven’t had the luxury of having wealth handed down to us.” However, CAP officials said lawmakers can achieve financial victory for minorities by embracing policies like raising the minimum wage and passing legislation that helps to reduce disability incidences, which

ultimately would improve the economic and physical health of blacks and Latinos. “Such policies could raise the living standards of communities of color today and substantially improve Social Security’s finances in the long-term,” Weller said. “That would lift up the economic security of struggling middle-class white families and communities of color alike.” WI

By Stacy M. Brown WI Contributing Writer Finally, there’s some encouraging financial news for African Americans and Latinos. A new report issued by the Center for American Progress (CAP) in Northwest revealed that the projected population growth and the reduction of economic and health disparities between communities of color presents a clear opportunity to create a win-win situation for minorities and for the solvency of the nation’s Social Security system. “Communities of color are growing at an impressive and inevitable rate, and policy investments that target their improvement are particularly important for the economic health of our nation as a whole,” said Farah Z. Ahmad, a policy analyst for CAP’s Progress 2050 project and co-author of the new report titled, “A Win-Win for an All-In Nation.” “In 2010, communities of color comprised more than 36 percent of the U.S. population, and they are projected to make up the majority of the nation’s population by around 2043,” Ahmad said. The authors of the August 25 report said it’s undeniable that the rate at which minority communities are growing will naturally benefit Social Security’s finances because faster population growth translates into quicker employment growth which means more workers will be contributing their payroll taxes to the system. Currently, about one in five elderly Latinos and one in six retired African Americans live in poverty, said officials from the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) in Northwest. Latinos and blacks tend to have lower lifetime earnings, which results in lower levels of Social Security income, Algernon Austin, EPI’s for-

REED continued from Page 16

Congress. That bill asked for a look into the effects of slavery on contemporary African Americans. So, what’s your favorite CBC members’ position on HR 40? Civil rights and social justice groups are lobbying to receive

A new report issued on August 25 by the Center for American Progress (CAP) in Northwest contends that the population growth and the reduction of economic and health disparities between communities of color has the ability to create a win-win situation for minorities and Social Security. /Photo courtesy of BET.com

mer director of Race, Ethnicity, and the Economy, noted in the agency’s report. “But, it is also the case that these groups have less wealth and therefore depend on Social Security more,” Austin said. “Roughly 25.4 percent of Latino and 26.3 percent of black Social Security beneficiaries rely on Social Security for 100 percent of their income.” However, authors of the CAP report said minority communities may finally be realizing higher living standards, which will result in a financial boost for Social Security. The most recent Social Security Administration trustees’ report estimated that rising population growth and presumably, long-term employment growth and other factors like increased immigration will help to improve finances. By raising salaries for those in minority communities, the long-term outlook brightens considerably, the report’s authors said. Social Security’s solvency could be ensured by a higher minimum wage, which would benefit minorities in particular, and CAP officials said if disability incidences were lowered, it would also help to improve finances. The trustees’ report estimated that 5.4 out of every 1,000 individuals who have the potential to become disabled are awarded benefits annually. They said if the total were lowered to 4.3, Social Security’s long-term financial shortfall could be reduced by 9.5 percent.

CAP officials said creating better jobs for minorities would be one way to help reduce disability rates because blacks and Latinos have the highest rate of disability claims. “Increasing contributions to Social Security is vital to the long-term success at a time when baby boomers are retiring,” said Christian E. Weller, co-author of the report and a Senior Fellow at CAP. “As the gap between the incomes Social Security receives from payroll taxes and the benefits it has promised widen with baby boomer retirement, Social Security’s trust funds will eventually run out of money,” Weller said. “This could mean benefit cuts, tax increases, and even fund transfers from other parts of the government to cover the shortfall in 2033 and thereafter, unless something changes such as substantial improvements in the economic fortunes of communities of color.” While economists view the news as encouraging, the new report still has its share of skeptics among minorities who live in the District, some of whom have pointed to such facts as a 2013 study by the National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS) which revealed that, among households headed by blacks and Latinos between the ages of 55 and 64, the average retirement savings account balance stood at $30,000. Meanwhile, officials at NIRS, located in Northwest, reported that whites who are nearing retirement, have an average savings account of $120,000.

reparations-based grants to service Blacks, but Black voters need to make their elected officials put forth HR 40, the “Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act.” We can’t allow party politics to dilute our interest and thrust for reparations. Send a letter to your local

and Congressional representatives telling them to support HR 40. Ten send letters to 10 friends and government officials and tell them to suggest and advocate passage of HR 40.WI William Reed is publisher of “Who’s Who in Black Corporate America” and available for projects via the BaileyGroup.org

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Sept 4 - Sept 10, 2014

HEALTH

Managing Arthritis WI Staff Report Nearly 40 million Americans – or one in every seven people – have arthritis. And, while the condition affects people of all ages, it most often sets in as a person gets older. Arthritis usually causes stiffness, pain and fatigue and the severity varies from person to person, even from day-to-day. For instance, in some people only a few joints are affected and the impact may be small. In other instances, the entire body system may be affected. “The inflammation that affects joints is a huge problem,” Dr. Peter Atherton, a family physician for about 30 years, said in a broadcast interview. “And many of the world’s population suffers from some form of arthritis,” he said, adding that “this illness can cause joint pain, stiffness and lack of mobility and eventually, deformity.”

Atherton adds that while many conditions affect people’s lives, perhaps none can be more debilitating than arthritis. Information from the University of Washington’s Department of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, states that the many types of arthritis show signs of joint inflammation such as swelling, stiffness tenderness, redness or warmth. These symptoms, which may be accompanied by weight loss fever or weakness, and when they last for more than two weeks, inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis, may be the cause. In addition, joint inflammation may also be caused by infection which can lead to septic arthritis, with degenerative joint disease, also known as osteoarthritis, being the most common type of arthritis. While normal joints can support a vast amount of use, me-

Joint inflammation may also be caused by infection, which can lead to septic arthritis. /Courtesy Photo

chanical abnormalities of a joint make it susceptible to degeneration. Overall, the focus of treatment for arthritis is to control pain, minimize joint damage,

and improve or maintain function and quality of life. But because arthritis is an umbrella term for more than 100 conditions, disorders and diseases, healthcare experts say there

is no simple answer – much less one correct answer – on preventing and managing the condition. According to the American College of Rheumatology, the treatment of arthritis might involve medication, physical or occupational therapy, splints or joint assistive aids, weight loss and patient education and support. However, in conjunction with medical treatment, self-management of arthritis symptoms is very important as well, with there being a number of physical activity programs that assist in support self- management. They include the Arthritis Foundation’s exercise and aquatic programs – all of which are good examples for helping people with arthritis increase their physical activity.WI Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, University of Washington Department of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

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EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT Our Emergency Department (or “ER”) is opened 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year and is continuously staffed by highly trained physicians who have extensive training and experience in emergency medicine. Our dedicated staff of providers cares for over 53,000 patients annually.

Our Location United Medical Center Medical Office Building (next to the hospital) 1328 Southern Ave, SE, Suite 302 Washington, DC 20032

EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT CORE In UMC’s Emergency Department Core, our skillful physicians, nurses, and technicians are trained to care for patients with major medical conditions including cardiac diseases, stroke, respiratory distress, trauma, diabetes and other acute life-threatening illnesses. Should patients require higher levels of care or further trauma care, patients are stabilized first and then transferred to one of our affiliated major medical centers. Our staff will coordinate the transfer with the receiving hospital. FAST TRACK In Fast Track, emergency medicine providers will treat a patient’s minor illnesses and injuries. Our Fast Track, like our emergency department, is open 24 hours a day, 365 days yearly.

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DCPS EDUCATION BRIEFS Boundary Changes Approved Mayor Vincent C. Gray, 71, gave the thumbs-up on August 21 to forge ahead with final recommendations from the advisory committee regarding school boundary changes. The changes, which will be the school system’s first in 40 years, go into effect at the start of the 2015-16 term. “[This] gives us a year to plan for many of the things that will happen next year,” said Chancellor Kaya Henderson, 44. “I’m really proud of the boundary process, as I think that the deputy mayor [for education] and the citywide task force did an awesome job of really capturing the community’s [sentiments],” regarding the changes. Back-to-School Night Several dates from September

3-25 have been scheduled for “Back-to-School Night,” to give parents the opportunity to visit their children’s schools and meet teachers, administrators and other staff members. The dates for respective schools are published on the DCPS website. Enrollment Highest in 5 Years Schools opened their doors on Monday, August 25 to welcome more than 47,000 students for the 2014-15 school year – the highest enrollment on the first day of school in the past five years. To support the increase in enrollment, school officials hired 300 new teachers, 24 new librarians and 29 new guidance counselors and other personnel. “We are going big this year at

DCPS – with more students in our schools, longer school days across the city and a continued focus on engaging and supporting our students to strive for their absolute best,” said Chancellor Kaya Henderson. “The first day was so much fun, and I want that enthusiasm and that love for school to continue throughout the entire year.” ACT Registration Online registration for the American College Test (ACT), which offers college admissions assessments for high school students through standardized tests, will be held on Saturday, September 13. Students will know immediately if their preferred test center has space for them to test, and they will be able to print an admission ticket from the ACT

Parents will have the opportunity to meet their children’s teachers and principals this month during “Back-to-School Night.” /Courtesy Photo

website. Parents can register via mail if their child is younger than 13 or if payment cannot be made with a credit card.

Come to the final Community Hearing on the Proposed Plan to place underground the power lines linked to outages in Wards 3, 4, 5, 7 & 8.

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

6:00 p.m. DC Public Service Commission 1333 H Street, NW, 7th Floor Washington, DC 20005

Nutritious School-Served Lunches With an abundance of fruits and vegetables being a staple among items served at schools, lunchtime this year promises to be a lot more nutritious. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the “Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act,” which originated from first lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” initiative, ensures that major improvements are being

made to promote better nutrition and reduce obesity among students. “We’re getting positive results from our initial research [surrounding school-served meals] and this year students will be getting more nutrition,” said Madeline Levin, policy analyst for D.C. Hunger Solutions in Northwest. “We’re also excited about a new nationwide program that the District has implemented called ‘Community Eligibility’ which allows students who live in high-poverty areas to qualify for free meals at their schools.” WI

DC Government Officials and Pepco, will brief the community on the plan. HOW TO PARTICIPATE: Call: DC PSC, 202-626-5150 Email: PSC-CommissionSecretary@dc.gov

Office of the People’s Counsel for the District of Columbia 1133 15th Street, NW, Suite 500 | Washington, DC 20005 Phone: 202.727.3071 | Fax: 202.727.1014 | TTY/TDD: 202.727.2876 Website: www.opc-dc.gov | Email: ccceo@opc-dc.gov

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School-served lunches in District public schools will be in accordance with standards set by the nationwide “Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act.” /Courtesy Photo

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We are a collection of smalls. Homes, main streets and communities. They’re our foundation. Our building blocks. Brick by brick, they make our whole greater. They’re why Wells Fargo invests in our communities a little differently. Because small, personal measures offer huge meaning for the people and communities we serve. And with every business, neighborhood and community supported, you’d be surprised how it all adds up to something bigger. Sometimes a single kitchen can kick-start a local economy with new businesses. A handful of seeds can sow a community garden of well-being. A single job can support thousands more. And the list goes on from there. Last year we worked with over 18,500 non-profits and schools from the San Francisco Bay Area to Tampa Bay, donations that totaled more than $275 million. But offering a helping hand can also mean lending your own hand to a cause. So Wells Fargo Team Members volunteered nearly 1.7 million hours in their local communities last year. Little by little we can do a lot. Because small is huge. Visit www.wellsfargo.com/stories to see how big small can be.

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Sept 4 - Sept 10, 2014

EDUCATION

City Officials Tackle Absenteeism, Truancy By Dorothy Rowley WI Staff Writer

More than a year after a meeting at Anne Beers Elementary School in Southeast where city leaders, parents and community activists struggled to come to terms with the schools’ burgeoning student absenteeism and truancy rates, little progress has been made lowering the numbers. In effect, the problem has

22 Sept 4 - Sept 10, 2014

Chancellor Kaya Henderson credits the Ninth Grade Academy, which launched during the 2013-14 school year, with helping to curb truancy. /Courtesy Photo

escalated, with more elementary-age students having racked up excessive numbers of unexcused days from school, according to a report released earlier this year by the District of Columbia Public Schools

(DCPS) system. In 2013 for instance, 269 pre-kindergarten students had more than 20 days of unexcused absences. During the same academic term, of the 3,408 pre-kindergarten

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David Catania (I-At Large) who chairs the D.C. Council’s education committee, believes parents are key to improving absenteeism and truancy. /Courtesy Photo

students enrolled at District public schools, 1,518 racked up 1 to 5 days of unexcused absences. “But you have to be careful with the numbers, because they’re not always what they seem,” said Mary Filardo, executive director of the 21st Century School Fund in Northwest. “There are a lot of low-income households, especially in wards 5, 7 and 8, where conditions like asthma and a host of other childhood illnesses come into play,” she said. “Four-year-olds might wake up not feeling well, so the parent is not going to send them to school. Same thing for a three-year-old who’s not feeling that good,” said Filardo, 60, who added that while many elementary school-age absences center on illnesses, housing issues often dictate school attendance as well. “There are a lot of underprivileged families in the school system who have been evicted and, as a result are homeless,” said Filardo. “So they end up living from houseto-house with relatives or in long- term stays at homeless shelters.” Vicky Wright Smith, whose daughter attends McKinley Technology Education Campus in Northeast, said she’d always been under the impression that the majority of middle and high school students play hooky from school. “I wasn’t aware that so many young children are missing school. It’s unbelievable to hear of children at that level intentionally skipping school,” Wright-Smith said. “But if they are absent to that extent, it’s a parental issue going on.” She added her concern that the new school boundaries that go into effective with the 2015-16 term, could further exacerbate chronic absentee-

ism and truancy. “Generally, children have access to schools in their boundaries,” Wright-Smith said. “But because they have to attend schools out of their neighborhoods, which in many cases is a result of mandated school closings in their communities, children end up attending schools they don’t like – and that could be a real problem as it relates to absenteeism and truancy.” Filardo agreed, noting how school boundaries can also negatively impact travel time to school. “There are students who are traveling well over a half mile to school, with the average distance of travel in wards 7 and 8 being a mile-and-a-half,” said Filardo. “They’ve got to figure out their bus routes on routes that were not designed for getting children to school, and because of this, there’s been some really difficult travel situations in wards 5, 7 and 8, where so many of the neighborhood schools have been closed,” Filardo said. “So the children are kind of going all over the place just to get to school, which, of course, results in absences and truancies on all grade levels.” Meanwhile, chronic absenteeism which leads to truancy, also results in poor classroom performance, low graduation rates – and in many instances, opens the pipeline to prison. Last school year, 32 percent of DCPS students missed 10 or more days, and 19 percent missed 20 or more days. Overall, absenteeism with or without parental consent, reportedly led to 40 percent of students having missed at least 18 days in 2012-13, compared to 20 percent who missed 35 days during the same term. Although the school sys-

See TRUANCY on Page 23

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EDUCATION TRUANCY continued from Page 22 tem is required to report any student who’s missed 10 days without an excuse, that was done last year only in 40 percent of the cases. Chancellor Kaya Henderson has been hard-pressed to get the numbers down, even if it’s been a few notches at a time. “Last year [2011-12] our truancy rate was 26 percent and we were shooting this year [2013-14] to reduce it to 22 percent,” said Henderson. “However, we actually got it down to 18 percent, which was a huge win for us,” she said, crediting the Ninth Grade Academy program that launched in 2013. “The Ninth Grade Academy [which helps first-year 9th- grade students successfully transition to and succeed in high school] has been a tremendous contributor, and we’ve got a number of [initiatives] at the elementary level to deal with truancy and to make our schools more en-

gaging and places where kids want to come,” Henderson, 44, said.“It’s not necessarily how many times you refer kids to the Children and Family Services Agency, it’s making school a place that kids don’t want to miss, so attendance has been a huge focus for us.” In the meantime, David Catania (I-At Large), chair of the D.C. Council’s Committee on Education who’s also a candidate in the November mayoral election, has been going toe-to-toe with Democratic opponent, Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4), over who would be the best to get priorities in order for the school system. Both candidates are seeking the mayor’s post at a time when the chancellor’s been under mounting pressure to develop initiatives to deter absenteeism and truancy. Catania, 46, introduced legislation in 2013 to combat truancy that would have ordered the prosecution of parents of chronically truant children. However, he stripped the mea-

sure after considering it might be the wrong approach. Catania, who believes that parents are key to improving absenteeism and truancy, has also indicated that as parents are being made aware of their obligation for getting their children to school, his staff has begun to see improvement – particularly at the elementary-grade levels. “Mr. Catania believes strongly that the more class time a student misses the greater the chance that they fall behind,” said Catania’s spokesman, Brendan Kief-Williams. “The councilman has put more money into schools to support more attendance counselors and behavioral health professionals, and continues to be a strident supporter of programs that connect families with teachers and administraAlthough truancy has traditionally been aligned with middle and high school tors in a positive and support- students, officials have turned their attention to the growing number of elemenive manner.” WI tary school students who have been categorized as truant. /Courtesy Photo

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Untold Stories in America’s History To walk through the streets of Alexandria is to walk through a rich and bountiful timeline of America’s Black history. The city’s place in the nation’s fabric exemplifies the spectrum of the Black experience in the United States, with stories of strength, resilience and enormous contributions to the community. From slavery, to the Civil War, to the Civil Rights era, the African-American presence in Alexandria is both lingering and inspiring. On Saturday, September 6, at 10 a.m., over 500 descendants and guests will gather in Alexandria to dedicate the Contrabands and Freedman Cemetery Memorial. The memorial will officially honor the 1,700 African Americans who died in the city during the American Civil War. In the early years of the Civil War, slaves who had escaped into areas under Union control were called contrabands, after the term “contraband of war,” which protected their refugee status and prevented them from being sent back into slavery. Many of those buried were refugees who fled from Maryland, and areas in Virginia, to Alexandria, seeking freedom from slavery. Open daily, the new memorial joins the city’s abundance of African-American heritage sites and experiences that tell, not only, the story of Alexandria’s Black history, but also an important part of America’s story that extends from the Civil War to Civil Rights. From the Freedom House Museum to the Alexandria Black History Museum, plus self-guided walking tours and the comprehensive history guide A Remarkable and Courageous Journey, these thought-provoking experiences bring to light the remarkable contributions made by Alexandria’s

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African-American community. While the post Civil War era helped establish Alexandria as a place of opportunity, it is often unknown that much of the Civil Rights movement began in the beautiful waterfront town where the nation’s first sit-down strike took place in the Alexandria Library. Since that day, the city has become a bustling center of change and marks a pivotal place in the Civil Rights movement. Alexandria offers a unique perspective into the incredible history of Black America, with sites available to tour dating back to the Civil War. With an African-American population of 20.9%, it doesn’t take much to see that Alexandria continues to hold a distinct place in the nation’s African-American history. The city currently has its first Black mayor, first Black city manager, first Black city attorney, first Black Circuit Court judge, first Black police chief, and its first Black president of the Alexandria Convention and Visitors Center. One of the most captivating parts of Alexandria is that it has so much to offer. Beyond its dynamic historical significance, this breathtaking waterfront city is nationally recognized for its thriving art and music scene, critically acclaimed restaurants and abundance of chic boutiques. The Contrabands and Freedmen Cemetery Memorial is now another example of the stories that can be uncovered in this incredible city. You have an opportunity to be part of history and finally honor the lives lost by bearing witness to the dedication of this historical site. For more information visit: http:www.VisitAlexandriaVA.com/Freedmen. WI

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Editorial

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS

In the Midst of Plenty … It’s jarring to drive or walk around the District and see homeless people in doorways, on grates, under bridges and elsewhere around the city. This state of affairs is especially troubling given the tremendous wealth that resides in the Nation’s Capital. The District is said to be the most expensive American city in which to live. Everywhere one looks, there are cranes, half-built apartments, condos and houses and townhouses in various states of renovation. Most in the city are still dealing with effects of a lingering recession, its resultant job losses, foreclosures and increased property taxes in the District which have led to significant numbers of blacks and Latinos losing their homes. In the years since gentrification galloped into overdrive, as 1,100 new residents settle in the District every month, thousands of other Washingtonians are forced to move to the suburbs in search of affordable housing, rents and homes. Aware of the affordable housing crisis that has overwhelmed low- and middle-class residents, Mayor Vincent Gray has channeled $187 million into affordable housing in an effort to add thousands of new or renovated units to the city’s inventory. Meanwhile, city officials are still trying to wrap their arms around homelessness. To some, homelessness exists in the shadows but housing advocates note that since 2000, an additional 30,000 individuals and families have joined the ranks of the homeless. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness 2014, “data collected this year confirm what each jurisdiction has observed, in practice, that the greatest barrier to ending homelessness in our communities is the lack of fixed affordable, permanent housing opportunities for the lowest income households.” So as District voters contemplate who they plan to vote for in November, it would behoove them to get specifics on how mayoral candidates plan to balance the scales for those at the lower end of the economic ladder and how they intend to approach and fix a problem that has plagued this city for far too long.

Excellence, Inc.

The teams that competed in this year’s Little League World Series are still basking in their success though they didn’t cop the big prize. Chicago’s Jackie Robinson West team lost to Korea 8-4, but on August 27, thousands of Chicagoans from all over the city feted the U.S. champions in more than three hours of festivities, a rally and a parade that worked its way along 100 blocks from South Side to downtown Chicago. The 13-member team brought hope and united a city beset by drug use, gangs and gun violence, primarily in underserved communities. Citizens, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, other politicians, luminaries and Major League Baseball athletes and officials cheered the young athletes. Gov. Pat Quinn declared last Wednesday Jackie Robinson West National Champions Day in Illinois. He read a letter from Jackie Robinson’s widow Rachel. “I have been following your tremendous march to the Little League World Series and am so proud of you and the entire Jackie Robinson Team,” she wrote. “Thank you for upholding my husband Jack’s, your namesake’s legacy, through your hard work, dedication and excellent teamwork.” The City of Philadelphia also honored the Taney Dragons and phenom Mo’ne Davis with a four-mile parade. Mo’ne, the first female pitcher to win a game in series’ history, drew record numbers of viewers and also appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated. At Citizens Bank Park, the team soaked up cheers before throwing out first pitches simultaneously to Philadelphia Phillies players. We salute both teams. They made us proud and we wish them continued success on the field and in the classroom. www.washingtoninformer.com

Go Howard! Can’t wait, can’t wait! That’s all I can say about the AT&T Nation’s Football Classic game at RFK Stadium between my Howard University Bison and the Morehouse College Maroon Tigers. I came to Washington, D.C. to attend Howard University in the 70s and never left after I graduated. I met my future wife while we were both students at Howard. We raised two wonderful children. Unfortunately, we couldn’t convince either one of them to attend Howard, but they did attend HBCUs, one in Virginia and the other in Florida, whose names I will not let part my lips. Anyway, Howard University football games have always been a great social outlet for my wife and me. We attend as many as we can during the year, always on the lookout for old friends and alumni. You just never know who you might run into at a game on any given Saturday. I have friends who have traveled hundreds of miles to watch some games. As far as the AT&T Nation’s Classic is concerned, it’s true that what happens off the field is just as important as what happens on it, as it was stated in the article by Stacy Brown, “AT&T Nation’s Football Classic Returns to D.C.,” published in the August 28 edition of The Informer. It’s a wonderful time of the year and I just love it! Kenny Cutler Fort Washington, Maryland

A Refreshing Look at Black Achievement I am a new resident to the Washington Metropolitan Area and I enjoy reading The Informer. As I was reading the article by Stacy M. Brown, “Salamander Resort Celebrates Anniversary” [August 28, 2014], I started thinking to myself: “Wow, there really are some black people doing some great things.” I know this sounds a little trite, but as you know we are constantly bombarded in the mainstream media with all the negative situations blacks face. It seems like the only positive blacks in the mainstream media are wealthy athletes, and that’s based on the amount of money they make. It’s great to read about Sheila Johnson and her business ventures and her humanitarian efforts. I can imagine she’s had some luck along the way, but I also can imagine she’s had to work very hard to achieve her goals. What I most love about what she said is that she puts family first, and the raising of her children was her greatest achievement. It’s strange how our minds work sometimes, if we are constantly hearing, seeing and reading damaging comments; all we tend to think about are those negative impressions of ourselves. Malcolm Jamerson Washington, D.C. Back-to-School Excitement The back-to-school article by Dorothy Rowley in the August 28 paper brought back so many of my own memories of eagerly returning to classes, after what seemed like a very long and hot summer break, with my parents and I shopping for new clothes and shoes, checking off

school supplies list, and my anticipation of reuniting with classmates as we discovered who our new teachers would be for the upcoming school year. I can only imagine the enthusiasm as students, parents, teachers and school administrators prepared for when classes in the District resumed on Monday, August 25, and wish everyone involved a very successful school year. My hat’s off to Chancellor Kaya Henderson, who in the article, shared some of her expectations for 2014-15. I really like the lady, and think she’s done a remarkable job turning the school system around. As a result, I strongly believe that she will be the one administrator to put District schools on the map as a model for school districts across the country. Ms. Henderson has been an exemplary leader in terms of education reform in the city, and I look forward to watching the school system continue to grow and prosper under her guidance and care. Sylvia Nelson Washington, D.C.

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OPINIONS/EDITORIALS

Guest Columnist

By Marian Wright Edelman

The Emotional Toll of Growing Up Black Terrell Strayhorn, a brilliant black Ohio State University professor, recently opened the Educational Testing Service and Children’s Defense Fund co-sponsored symposium on Advancing Success for Black Men in College by sharing a question his 14-year-old son asked him: Why did he get in trouble for speaking out of turn when he jumped in to answer his teacher’s question? When his

White friend did the same thing, she was praised for being excited about learning? Strayhorn noted that many parents and grandparents and educators and policy experts are concerned about the same question: “There are lots of black and brown boys who are often penalized for committing the same exact act that non-black and non-brown, usually white kids, commit in school – and some students are praised for certain behaviors that other kids are penalized for. It sends a very

mixed message, because my son is confused: ‘So what should I do? Not be excited about learning? What if you just can’t wait for the question? How do I signal to the teacher I’m not a rule-breaker?’” Strayhorn said these questions are something we’ve got to think about. He highlighted a number of other roadblocks we must all be sensitive to and overcome to get all our children on a path of healthy development, confidence, and success. The dispa-

Guest Columnist

rate treatment of black children in the classroom from the earliest years, especially black boys, often discourages and knocks many off the path to high school graduation and college. The cumulative and convergent toll of subtle but discouraging adult actions in schools and other child serving systems they come into contact with too often impedes the success of children of color, especially those who are poor, and burdens them with an emotional toll they don’t deserve.

I used to sing loudly with my children the Sesame Street’s Kermit the Frog song, “It’s Not Easy Being Green.” I can only imagine the number of black children and adults who sing inside daily “It’s Not Easy Being Black.” I’m sure that black youths seeing what happened to Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown and others who lost their lives for walking while black and those who are stopped and frisked and arrested and victimized by exces-

See EDELMAN on Page 45

By Lee A. Daniels

Michael Brown’s Size Doesn’t Matter We’ve now moved to a new stage of the racist reaction to the police killing of Michael Brown: the largely overt assertion that he deserved to be killed. In the immediate aftermath of Brown, though unarmed, being shot “multiple times” after being stopped while walking in the middle of the street, the “ballad” being played in some quarters went like this: we don’t know all the facts so we shouldn’t rush to

judgment. But, once the Ferguson police released the video of Michael Brown purportedly snatching a box of cigars from the convenience store and intimidating its clerk, that advice was quickly replaced by that old standby: criminalizing the person who was killed. Now, the slimers have simplified their defense of Brown’s killing. He was not an 18-yearold teenager, but a man-sized Black male 6’4” tall and well

over 250 pounds and a threat to public safety. In other words: a “thug” – and therefore someone whom any White person should be able to execute with impunity. That’s the first-level meaning that saturates many of the racist readers’ responses to articles on Brown’s killing in the blogosphere. Those kind of responses vividly recall the crude and cowardly mental states-of-being that animated not only the mobs of racists who gathered in Southern cities and towns to harass and

Guest Columnist

beat the civil rights demonstrators during the 1950s and 1960s but also their enablers among most of the White South’s civic and political leadership. Last week, appearing on the Fox News channel, Linda Chavez said that describing Brown as unarmed at the moment of his encounter with Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson was misleading. “That description,” she claimed, “in and of itself actually colors the way in which we look at this story. We’re talking

about an 18-year-old man who is 6’4” and weighs almost 300 pounds, who is videotaped just moments before the confrontation with a police officer strong arming an employee and robbing a convenience store.” Ben Stein, a conservative pundit familiar to most of America as a pitchman for a brand of eye drops, showed up on Newsmax television to make the point in even simpler terms: “The idea

See DANIELS on Page 45

By George E. Curry

Cops Lied about ‘Suicides’ of 2 Handcuffed Black Men Caught cheating by his wife, comedian Groucho Marx asked, “Who you gonna believe, me or your lying eyes?” In case after case, when police are caught killing an unarmed African American – and trying to cover it up – they expect us to suspend our sight and our common sense. This is particularly true in the case of 22-year-old Victor White, III in New Iberia, La., about two hours south of

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his family home of Alexandria, La. and more than two hours west of New Orleans. Authorities want us to believe that White, who died March 2 in the back seat of a police cruiser, shot himself in the back while his hands were cuffed behind his back. Even the nimblest among us couldn’t pull off such an acrobatic feat. In a press release issued March 3, Louisiana State Police said, “The initial investigation indicates that last night at about 11:22 p.m., deputies with the

Iberia Parish Sheriff ’s Office were responding to the report of a fight in the 300 block of Lewis Street. Upon responding to the area, deputies located [Victor] White and discovered he was in possession of illegal narcotics. White was taken into custody, handcuffed behind his back, and transported to the Iberia Parish Sheriff ’s Office for processing. Once at the Sheriff ’s Office, White became uncooperative and refused to exit the deputy’s patrol vehicle. As the deputy requested assistance from othThe Washington Informer

er deputies, White produced a handgun and fired one round striking himself in the back. White was transported to a local hospital by ambulance where he was pronounced dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.” According to the coroner’s report on White, who was arrested on suspicion of marijuana possession, “A small caliber pistol was found and a projectile was found within his shirt.” However, two separate police searches of White prior to his being

placed in a patrol car produced no weapon. That White could have shot himself in the chest while handcuffed behind the back is difficult to fathom. White was left-handed, making it even more implausible that he could have shot himself in the right chest. Moreover, an investigation by NBC News revealed that the Iberia Parish coroner’s report found that White was shot in the front, not the back as police had

See CURRY on Page 45

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OPINIONS/EDITORIALS

Guest Columnist

By Benjamin F. Chavis , Jr.

Marching to the Ballot Box It is inaccurate for newscasters to say, “In the aftermath of the recent racial turmoil in Ferguson, Mo., calm and peace has now been restored.” Peace is not the absence of violence, war, inhumanity or oppression. Peace is the presence of equality, empowerment and justice. The truth is that across the United States of America, in the wake of the tragic murder of unarmed 18-year old Michael

Brown in Ferguson, there are still raised emotions, traumatic stress, and serious racial disparities. Because of the murders of Trayvon Martin, Eric Gardner, Michael Brown and many others, Black America continues to endure physical and spiritual trauma as a result of persistent racial violence, hatred and injustice. Let’s first be crystal clear. There is no justification for murder. No one of any race or ethnicity or religion should be killed as a result of prejudice, hatred or fear. No one acting under the

color of law enforcement has the right to use race and prejudice as a conscious or subconscious basis to lynch, execute or to assassinate people. I agree with Harvard University Law Professor Charles Ogletree when he compared the sentiment of Black America after Michael Brown’s funeral to the aftermath of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1968. Ogletree stated, “This reminds us of exactly what happened years ago when I was a young kid to the great Emmett

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Till, the young kid who was killed in Mississippi for allegedly whistling at a White woman.” For those us of who lived in the 1950s and the 1960s, the memories of those tragic days are still fresh in our minds. While civil rights protest marches and demonstrations are necessary and somewhat therapeutic in response to obvious and wanton acts of racial violence, the trauma of years of witnessing injustice does have its long-term cumulative effect. This is the reason that I

believe we all should be careful not to allow the contradictions or the madness of social and racial injustice to drive our consciousness into self-destructive bitterness or hopeless cynicism. Joy Degruy Leary, in her authoritative book, Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome, documents how Black Americans for generations have had to learn how to cope and transcend the social impact and cultural memories of the traumatic horrors of slavery

See CHAVIS on Page 46

By Julianne Malveaux

Back to School, Back to Basics Between early August and late September, students are going back to school. Before they go to school, though, they and their parents will hit the malls and stationary stores to prepare for their return. Retailers say that students and their parents will spend $75 billion on back to school items, and clothing represents about a third of this spending. Cashiers are also busy collecting money for school supplies,

electronic goods and, for college students, accessories for their dorm rooms. While many students feel it is important to make the first day of school a fashion show, others can’t afford new clothes and are often stigmatized at school. What if K-12 students wore uniforms? Parents might have to buy two or three uniforms, and costs would be cut. Of course you can “jack” your uniform. I distinctly recall sneaking green suede boots into my tote bag and then changing them on the bus,

I realized the boring uniform didn’t have to be boring (of course, I was sent home). Still, minor accessories – pins, headbands, and other goodies can adorn uniforms. The bottom line – uniforms save money for parents and reduce the clothing competition among students, The dollars saved on clothing, especially for high school students, can be used for after-school programs that include SAT and PSAT tutoring. When researchers look at the achievement gap, they find that White

ASKIA-AT-LARGE

students get more outside help than African American students. This gap explains different college admission rates, different financial aid packages, and different opportunities for internships and other career-enhancing experiences. If there is a choice between clothing and educational supplements, the supplements ought to win hands down. People in this country use every occasion as a spending opportunity, whether spending is necessary or not. Christmas, Kwanzaa, New Year’s, Valen-

tine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and so on, are all occasions to spend money. Have the pencils and pens purchased last year suddenly become obsolete? I’m not the Grinch who hijacked back to school. I just think parents, especially African American parents, should be wise in the purchases they make. For example, many buy computers or tablets, but what about educational software. Many treat their children to a concert. What

See MALVEAUX on Page 46

By Askia Muhammad

The Million Man March ‘Revolution’ Hardly anyone will deny the benefits to Black folks from the Million Man March, October 16, 1995. I would like to add one we probably have not considered. The Million Man March is the model for a successful “revolution” by Black folks who would not have to fire a single shot, yet it would totally topple the criminal injustice system of which we’ve been reminded by blood in the streets, recently.

Before I explain, I digress. Although I was reared in Los Angeles, California, I was fortunate to be able to go back to my hometown – Indianola, Mississippi – for summer vacation. It took me off the rowdy, mean streets and back in time to the way things must have been down South, shortly after World War II. The streets were quiet, unpaved, dusty. It was hot. Mosquitoes were big, and the cotton had to be worked. It was a pretty simple life in the Southern town

where Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer raised so much cane over her right to vote. In the late 1950s life was pretty simple and mostly self-fulfilling for Negroes in Mississippi. There was one Black police officer in the entire Magnolia State at that time. His name was Nathaniel “Slim” Jack and he lived three blocks from my grandmother’s house. Everyone called him “Officer Slim” or just “Slim.” Officer Slim was in Los Angeles in 1965 at the time of the

Watts Rebellion (Riot), the time and place where my eyes were first opened to open race hatred and open police brutality. For the first time in my life I had a gun pointed at me during that uprising. I was in my front yard when a gaggle of police cars rolled up in front of my mother’s house, inside the curfew zone during daylight hours. I was washing my car in the driveway. The cops pointed a shotgun at me and told me to go inside. As it happens, Officer Slim sent an article back home from

Watts to the local newspaper. My mother shared it with me. “I saw some folks from Indianola in Watts,” he wrote. “Them that was fools in Indianola, was fools in Watts.” Can’t argue with that. In those days the entire state of Mississippi had only one cop, but life was simpler. Black people were not making demands for full equality. Law enforcement amounted mostly to arresting drunks on Saturday nights. All the other “violations” by Blacks

See MUHAMMAD on Page 46

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Sept 4 - Sept 10, 2014

LIFESTYLE

Gospel Legend

Packs Church for Live

Recording Session

By D. Kevin McNeir

WI Contributing Writer

o matter what the size of the church, music propels the act of worship forward with hymns, anthems and songs of praise. But in the black church, with the cadence of the drum, the stately hum of the organ and the melodic phrases of the guitar, hope comes alive through songs that describe the joy and pain associated with being part of a race that has long battled racism, oppression and injustice. “I think it’s important to know from where we’ve come so that we can get a glimpse of where we are going,” said Richard Smallwood, one of the most prolific composers in the gospel industry and a member of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. “It’s also important to be grateful to God for the things that He has brought us through. Using the experiences of the past can encourage us for difficulties that we may face in the future,” said Smallwood, 65. Smallwood, accompanied by a talented ensemble of musicians and his choir, Visions, with whom he’s been singing for almost 20 years, attracted an estimated audience of nearly 10,000 faithful fans

See SMALLWOOD on Page 29 Richard Smallwood, gospel songwriter, singer and producer, packed Evangel Cathedral for close to four hours during the live recording of his upcoming CD, an anthology of his greatest hits with new music included. /Photo by Shevry Lassiter

Popular gospel artists Donald Lawrence (L-R), Anthony Brown and the legendary Edwin Hawkins attended the Richard Smallwood CD recording in Upper Marlboro, Maryland to support their friend. /Photo by Shevry Lassiter

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LIFESTYLE

“He [Smallwood] has an awesome gift and is without question one of the greatest writers of our time. The messages in his songs are timeless and powerful but what really sets him apart is his ability to blend gospel and classical styles into something that’s difficult to describe.” – Edwin Hawkins SMALLWOOD continued from Page 28

music – classical which his mother first introduced to him when he was nine – and gospel. While other styles would attract his attention as his skills increased, he said classical and gospel have remained the more prevalent influences. “When I started writing, I was always listening to the sounds around me like pop, jazz and Broadway tunes,” Smallwood said. “But I think I’m probably best known for the classical influences on my music. And since gospel and classical are at such opposite ends of the spectrum, I guess it’s unusual to combine the two like I have.” Smallwood recently completed his autobiography and the new CD, he said, traces the history behind his musical experiences and career. One colleague in the gospel music world said coming back to hear Smallwood reminded him of an old-fashioned family reunion. “There are so many people here with whom I’ve [performed], worshiped and broken bread – Richard and I attended the same high school here in the District and it’s good to see him and many of our old friends again,” said Marvin Matthews, a Dallas-based actor, vocalist and producer. “In my career I’ve traveled throughout the U.S., Europe and Asia and have seen the impact that Richard’s music has had on people.” Gospel radio host Jacquie Gales Webb said she considered it an honor to be part of the live recording. “It’s always a treat to hear Richard, sometimes at our church, Metropolitan Baptist where he’s an artist-in-residence, or sometimes when he’s out performing at various venues,” said Gales Webb, one of the District’s top gospel music radio hosts at WHUR 96.3 FM. “His anthems of love for God have changed lives, moved people to follow Christ and given others hope. That’s the power of Richard Smallwood.” WI

to Evangel Cathedral in Upper Marlboro, Maryland on August 23 for a live CD recording – a feat that Smallwood hasn’t attempted in over a decade. “I had no plans to record music until sometime next year but it was God’s time,” said Smallwood, a graduate of Howard University and the founder of the school’s first gospel choir. “Last year I wanted to put a medley together of our old songs that people wanted to hear during our concerts. When I started, the new music began coming as well. I knew it was time to put this project together.” The live CD, “Richard Smallwood Anthology 2014,” will be released in the spring of 2015 with a single from the recording hitting the gospel airwaves and stores toward the end of this year. One gospel legend in his own right held court on the front row during the recording session and described Smallwood as “one of a kind.” “He [Smallwood] has an awesome gift and is without question one of the greatest writers of our time,” said Edwin Hawkins whose 1967 recording of an 18 th -century hymn, “Oh Happy Day,” became an international hit and firmly established the Oakland, California resident as one of the industry’s top artists. “The messages in his songs are timeless and powerful but what really sets him apart is his ability to blend gospel and classical styles into something that’s difficult to describe. I like everything he’s ever done,” said Hawkins, 71. Smallwood, born in Atlanta and raised in D.C., burst onto the scene in 1982 with his first recording, “The Richard Smallwood Singers” – an album that spent 87 weeks on Billboard’s Gospel chart. His songs like “Center of My Joy” and “Total Praise” have become classics, performed by choirs as close as Southeast and as far away as Africa, France, Sweden, South Korea and Portugal. “I think being inducted into the Hall of Fame was more meaningful to me than anything else,” Smallwood said. “Being included with those who have influenced me and whom I grew up emulating and being inspired by was the biggest honor I could have had. But more than anything, the testimonies that I get from people who say the music I’ve done has made a difference in their lives is my biggest joy and honor,” said Smallwood whose music has been recorded by artists that include: Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, Yolanda Adams, The Hawkins Family and even opera legend Leontyne Price. Friends, family and fellow musicians traveled from across the U.S. to hear Smallwood as he unveiled his newest collection of music. “I’ve been following Richard for over 25 years and when I think about some of his music, like ‘Thank You Lord,’ I’m reminded of the many things that God has done for me – I had to be here,” said William Cannady, 47, a resident of Fort Washington, Maryland. One woman flew from New Orleans, Louisiana in order to “get her praise on.” “His delivery and the animation and energy of the choir were something that I simply did not want to miss,” said Catherine Wright, 71. “The words and music of Richard Smallwood always do one thing to me – they fill my heart.” Belting out a song of praise is one of the talented vocalists from Smallwood’s choir, Visions. /Photo by Shevry Lassiter Smallwood grew up listening to two genres of The Washington Informer Sept 4 - Sept 10, 2014 www.washingtoninformer.com

Employment Opportunity Senior Specialist, Environmental Science- Washington, D.C. Assist in the dvlpmnt of methods & guidelines related to environmental safety assessment of ingredients used in personal care prdcts. Serve as in-house expert for environmental issues incl. representing PCPC at various meetings. Analyze data to determine validity, quality & scientific significance. Determine data collection methods to be employed in research prjcts or surveys. Bachelor’s Degree in Biology (or its U.S. equivalent) req’d. Must have ability to utilize & dvlp expertise w/ QSARs (e.g. EPA EPISuite & OECD Toolbox). Must have knwlg of range of tools for use in ecotoxicological & environmental fate studies. Must have knwlg of molecular ecotoxicological techniques such as qPCR & DGGE. Req’s familiarity w/ GLP; knwlg of regulatory ecotoxicological & microbiological study reqs. Knwlg of molecular microbiological bioassays, assessment of antimicrobial resistance & advanced knwlg environmental microbiology desirable. Must have working knwlg of various global regulatory guidelines such as EMEA, FDA, EPA & REACh. Must be able to demonstrate acceptable skills in oral & written communications, problem solving/ decision making, time-managing & adhering to timelines, integrity & adaptability. Mail resume to HR @ Personal Care Products Council, 1620 L St. NW, 12th Fl., Washington, DC. 20036. Ref. job # 20130831.

Dillard Washington, a patron of “Jazz in the Garden” on Friday evenings, enjoys the ambiance, the music and the dancing at the National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden in Northwest. /Photo by Roy Lewis

Jazz in the Garden – One of Washington’s Crown Jewels By Barrington M. Salmon WI Staff Writer@bsalmondc For several hours on Friday evening, the sounds of Zack Smith and the Power Trio’s Zydeco, Cajun and Louisiana music transformed the National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden into an oasis of rhythmic sound and motion. Eugene Dewitt Kinlow stood puffing on what was left of a thick cigar, his face suffused with satisfaction as he surveyed the throng of people dancing, eating and drinking around him. “Jazz in the Garden,” as the event is known, has become a familiar ritual for him and Tanya, his wife. “We come almost every Friday and I always bring a basket of fruit to share. We don’t know who we’ll meet – it’s community,” said Kinlow, of Southwest, a talk show host and political activist. “We’ve been coming for at least three years, every Friday, even if it rains. What folks don’t know is that this is the place. It’s a

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great spot. It’s just a sexy spot.” From 5 p.m. to past 8.30 p.m., on the evening of Aug. 29, thousands of people of all ages and ethnicities set up makeshift encampments on the grass, under trees and on the walkways that encircled the large reflecting pool outside the Northwest Washington gallery. Patrons occupied every inch of the Tennessee marble benches that lined the inner circle of the garden. Guests enjoyed the music with family and friends over sangria, beer and snacks. Elevated loudspeakers, strategically placed around the garden, brought the music close to those who weren’t near the band. Retired educator Delores Bushong, of Northeast Washington, said she met up with some former students, adding that the times she’s visited have never been dull or disappointing. “I’ve been here three times this summer,” said Bushong as See JAZZ on Page 31

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LIFESTYLE D.C. resident Ken Fealing stood in front of a pavilion carefully watching and listening as darkness fell on Aug. 29. “I’m from New Orleans. This is okay but it’s not real Zydeco,” he said with a hint of a smile, referring to the

music that was playing. “It’s a great crowd, though, and very eclectic. This constituency is what makes America. It’s progressive and more diverse. This is Obama’s people.” Fealing, a former advisory neighborhood commissioner,

said he discovered the event by accident last year. “I heard music and saw everyone coming over here so I came, too,” he said. “I love the fact that it’s so eclectic. They usually have good music here. It’s one of D.C.’s hidden treasures.”WI

Thousands of people of various ages and ethnicities set up makeshift encampments on the grass, under trees and on the walkways that encircle the large reflecting pool outside the Northwest Washington gallery. /Photo by Roy Lewis

JAZZ continued from Page 30 she sat holding a glass of sangria and moving to the music. ”I enjoy the diversity of ages, races and ethnicities and people, from little kids to people my age. I’ve known about this for years and it’s free. I guess they make enough on the sangrias and drinks. It’s a great spot and it’s a nice way to forget all your problems. It’s great.” A group of women near the Kinlows danced non-stop with arms raised, waving small flags and handkerchiefs, drawing the attention of several passersby who smiled broadly or stopped to watch. A short distance away, two women tried unsuccessfully to entice a security officer to dance with them. “I can’t dance! I can’t dance!” he said laughing, raising his hands, as if in surrender, as he backed away. One man holding a pitcher of sangria saw a man passing by with an almost empty glass and decided to share. “I can’t drink it all. I have to drive,” the man with the pitcher said as he poured. Karina Hurt, dressed in a forest green shirt, danced with anyone who came within her orbit. “I’m a trained dancer so I get to use all my dance skills,” said Hurt, a tour guide from Fairfax, Virginia. “I bring a lot of people here and tell a lot of people about this, too.” Several patrons rated Jazz in the Garden the best among several summer music series offered in the metropolitan Washington area. They pointed to the camaraderie of the patrons, the quality of the music and the beautiful setting. At Jazz in the Garden, professions, status and other artificial constructs don’t matter. And in a city where work is an obsession, it’s satisfying to find

a venue where the cares of the world are pushed to the backburner, they said. Jazz in the Garden began in 2001 as a joint effort between the National Gallery of Art and Guest Services Inc., a D.C.-area hospitality and management company. The series began in June of that year, following the opening of the newly-renovated Pavilion Café in the new Sculpture Garden, located near the National Archives in Northwest. The series ended its 14th season on Aug. 29. But the good times will continue. Inspired by Jazz in the Garden, the gallery will begin a brunch series at noon on Sunday, Sept. 7. The brunch events, which will feature classical, bluegrass and other types of music, will be held at noon on subsequent Sundays through Sept 28. Conceived to attract visitors to the Sculpture Garden on summer evenings, the free concert series features jazz artists performing a wide variety of styles – salsa, blues, fusion, Afro funk and more.

For the 2014 season, the National Gallery welcomed more than 150,000 visitors to Jazz in the Garden, with an average weekly attendance of nearly 14,000. In 2013, nearly 140,000 visitors came, with an average weekly attendance of about 12,500. “Jazz in the Garden is now a quintessential D.C. summertime experience for locals of all ages,” said National Gallery spokeswoman Deborah Ziska. “It is a beloved summertime tradition for the D.C. community and tourists to gather after work on Friday evenings. Guests enjoy music while relaxing on the beautifully landscaped grounds of the Sculpture Garden, amid the gallery’s collection of large-scale sculpture by modern and contemporary artists.”

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One man featured in the film about the 1968 riots in D.C. and the aftermath said sports saved his life after he, along with his four siblings, was forced to confront the death of their mother when she tried to break up a fight. /Photo courtesy DC Shorts Film Festival

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DC Shorts Film Festival Returns

Special Screenings Target Families, Latinos and LGBT Community By D. Kevin McNeir WI Contributing Writer Americans are comfortable with multitasking, giving short shrift to activities that once took hours to perform. Perhaps that’s why short films, as opposed to feature-length movies, continue to gain in popularity. “We started in 2003 with a bold idea and took a huge leap of faith to support shorts and filmmaking,” said Jon Gann, director of programming, DC Shorts Film Festival 2014. “Eleven years and some significant technological advances later, MovieMaker Magazine named us ‘one of the most influential film festivals’ and the ‘coolest short film festival’ in the country. We are proud to earn that praise, featuring truly independent films and filmmakers in the process,” said Gann, who’s been leading the festival since its inception in 2003. The festival, which features a screenplay competition, several parties, lunchtime screenings and filmmaker workshops, runs from September 11 through the 21st in venues in both downtown D.C. and in Northern Virginia. More than 1,400 filmmakers submitted entries, two to 30 minutes in length, that includes a mix of dramas, animation, science fiction, comedies, documentaries and experimental films. “Great storytelling, the kind

that challenges, surprises, satisfies, and stays with audiences long after the lights come back on . . . that kind of storytelling deserves to be seen on a big screen,” Gann said. “This year the festival features great storytelling from around the world – 135 films, five screenplays, several genres, from 25 countries. And if you come to the opening weekend showcases and meet the filmmakers, you’ll discover the backstories you won’t find anywhere else.” Local filmmakers and writers offer compelling stories on topics that include one woman’s use of medical marijuana and how it has changed her life, an enlightening perspective of the effects of gentrification along H Street Northeast and how one man discovers that a significant other can come in all shapes and sizes. “[My] short film, ‘Heal H Street,’ tells the firsthand stories of people in the neighborhoods surrounding H Street NE who witnessed or participated in the 1968 riots and went on to feel the direct effects of decline, neglect and eventual gentrification,” said Craig Corl, a resident of Northeast who has been making documentaries for the last two years. “This is my first entry for DC Shorts and I found it a challenging opportunity to tell a compelling story under the constraints of time,” said Corl, 52. One filmmaker took a project

See FILMS on Page 33

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LIFESTYLE

SEPT 4 - SEPT 10, 2014

ARIES The days unfold in your imagination with some amount of dread – you worry about the things you have to do, the people you have to call and forgetting to do this or that. But there’s no need to fret, because sheer competence will make everything easy. There’s nothing in this week that you can’t do with your eyes closed. Have a restful weekend. TAURUS Something’s blossoming between you and you-know-who. Love? An affectionate friendship? For the time being, table the conversation about what’s developing between you two and let life take its course. You’re singing songs and smiling and buying people gifts for the heck of it. A small drama balloons, but that happens when feelings run deep. GEMINI You could spell out how you feel in huge words on a billboard and still your family wouldn’t understand it. They’d simply drive right by. If they did see it, they’d ask you to define your terms. Try not to let the difficulty communicating with them stop you from communicating altogether. A grandmother living with HIV and a cancer survivor is featured in a film about the importance and necessity of legalized medical marijuana. /Photo courtesy of DC Shorts Film Festival

FILMS continued from Page 32 from his master’s thesis and turned it into a short film whose topic continues to be debated in the U.S. “The legalization of medical marijuana in the District actually saved the life of the woman featured in my film, ‘This is Me,’” said Jasper Colt, a resident of Philadelphia and a first-time participant in the festival. “Balinda, a 62-year-old survivor of cancer who is HIV-positive, creates art as both a coping mechanism and a source of income to pay for the medical marijuana that keeps her alive – all while raising her teenage granddaughter. We have to overcome the stigma that comes with us-

ing medical marijuana,” said Colt, who first started making short documentary films while in graduate school at Corcoran College of Art + Design in Northwest. Films that advanced into the final viewing lineup underwent intense scrutiny by Gann and a select group of seasoned filmmakers, movie critics and other members of the industry. “We wanted more feedback from those screening the entries but I personally watched 400 films myself,” Gann said. “We had a great group of volunteers that watched hundreds of films and I think the public will agree that we chose some outstanding films. This festival is about filmmakers not particular genres – they’re the reason for this annual event.”

One filmmaker from Northwest said because he gets bored easily, short films have always been among his favorites. “I’m fully entrenched in the YouTube and Facebook culture and prefer a story that cuts out the fat and gets straight to the point,” said Tom Goss, a music video producer who entered the comedy genre in this year’s festival. “My short film, ‘Bears,’ drives home the message that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I’m very excited to be part of this collaborative, multidisciplinary event.” WI For schedules and information go to www.dcshorts.com

CANCER You can look at a very complex situation and find the one thing that’s slightly amiss. And, even more than that, you know without thinking too hard what to do about it. This talent serves you (and the people around you) very well. Your efforts aren’t quite as celebrated, especially around your home, where someone might misunderstand something you say. LEO You find yourself reassessing certain strategies and reconsidering goals. A couple of sacred cows may become slightly less sacred (and this is helpful and healthy). Plus, money is on your mind. Maximizing potential remains a priority, but it takes on a social dimension. It’s apparent to you that your friends are brilliant, and their adoration of you speaks volumes. VIRGO Suddenly everything lines up with beautiful symmetry. Of course, nothing makes you happier than to see so many cute ducks in orderly rows. Sense and order are major themes inspiring you to even greater feats of organization. But there’s no need to rush out and spend a bunch of money on a organizational system. You’re more creative than that. LIBRA You’re a social creature and you’re getting a lot more out of your social time than the latest news and gossip. Underlying the casual banter is very real information about the lives of people you care about. As usual, your prowess as a listener is unmatched. This undoubtedly contributes to your success in the romantic realm. Your flirting is off the charts. Your energy is off the charts. SCORPIO You can probably tell what a friend needs from you without having to ask. Your ability to come through with that sort of instinct separates you from run-of-the-mill friends, and this week is no time to be a so-so buddy. Stubbornly sticking to your own ideas is a recipe for disaster. Flexibility, giving in to others, being laid-back – these should be your priorities. SAGITTARIUS You have to extend yourself to get everything taken care of. At a certain point, reaching any further may seem impossible, but that’s when you should jump into the challenge. Frustratingly, the challenge is a bit abstract: It most likely comes from a difficult authority figure. Think of this as practice for dealing with people. CAPRICORN You have a clipboard under your arm and a pencil behind your ear. You’re taking notes on everything, plus making lists and drawing dimensional diagrams that illustrate the basic concepts. You’re more serious right now than usual. It’s important to take your unwinding time seriously, too. AQUARIUS The people you interact with have their own individual goals, and short of sitting someone down and asking them straight out what their goals are, it can be hard to figure them out. Arguably, that makes asking all the more worth it. Doing so would certainly open up new levels of understanding. Work on connecting with others as opposed to being single-minded in your projects. PISCES You can put yourself in the mind of anyone and see things from their perspective, with incredible detail. That’s your particular (and somewhat secret) strength. Everything flips upside down for you when someone turns out to be quite a different person than you understood them to be. But, upon reflection, that’s OK with you.

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The Washington Informer

Sept 4 - Sept 10, 2014

LIFESTYLE

Fans Celebrate Chuck Brown’s ‘Beautiful Life’ By Sam P.K. Collins WI Contributing Writer @SamPKCollins Guitarist and singer Chuck Brown created a sound indigenous to the District of Columbia and kept countless crowds grooving to it for more than four decades. With the release of his newest studio album, fans have another chance to honor and remember the man known as the “Godfather of GoGo” two years after his death. Brown’s latest and final LP, “Beautiful Life,” includes three original songs from the Chuck Brown Band and guest appearances from R&B artists Raheem DeVaughn and Faith Evans. Rapper Wale is also featured. Veteran music producers James McKinney and Chucky Thompson contributed to the nine-track project, which has been in the works since 2011. Tom Goldfogle, Brown’s manager from 2004 until his death, said “Beautiful Life” showcases the go-go legend’s mastery of various music genres, including R&B, funk and gospel. “This project is as eclectic as Chuck was,” said Goldfogle, 55. “We made sure this album was up to his standards. We wanted to give it that Chuck feel. The song selection shows his positive outlook on life. Chucky Thompson put elements into the album that [help] the Chuck Brown Band move gogo forward as a genre. Hopefully, fans [will] embrace this album and feel that this is a good reflection of the music [Chuck Brown] created.” Brown is credited with inventing go-go music, a subgenre of funk, while he was a member of Los Latinos, a 1960s Latin band. He combined elements of blues, jazz and soul, along with African rhythms, then topped the music with covers of top 40 hits. He engaged audiences using his trademark call-and-response technique. In the mid-1970s, Brown formed his own band, the Soul Searchers. The group’s 1978 song, “Bustin’ Loose,” rose to the number one spot on the Billboard charts. For the next 34 years, Brown toured the country and world, delighting audiences with a host of hits that

34 Sept 4 - Sept 10, 2014

included “We Need Some Money,” “Go-Go Swing,” “Wind Me Up, Chuck” and “Chuck Baby.” Brown received his first and only Grammy nomination in 2011 for “Love,” a Chucky Thompson-produced song he recorded featuring R&B diva Jill Scott and bass guitar legend Marcus Miller. Even as a septuagenarian, Brown continued to perform before live audiences, drawing fans who ranged from teenagers to men and women well past retirement age. His death in May 2012 at age 75 sent shockwaves through the music world, especially among go-go enthusiasts. “Beautiful Life,” the last song Brown recorded and the title track on his album, served as an ode to his craft. “We want the fans to understand how much [Chuck Brown] loved music,” said Brown’s daughter, Takesa “KK” Donelson, 34, lead rapper of the Chuck Brown Band. “This album makes you love music. My father’s death made me step my game up and work harder because he definitely wanted us to keep his music alive. When he died, we had some pretty big shoes to fill. These days, we just give it our all,” Donelson said. Ardent go-go fan Sandy Jones said she couldn’t wait to purchase “Beautiful Life” after repeatedly hearing about the album on the radio in the weeks leading up to its Aug. 19 release. Jones recounted first seeing Brown perform in the early 1980s during an event at Theodore Roosevelt Senior High School in Northwest Washington, an experience she said turned her into a lifelong Chuck Brown fan. “Chuck Brown was a dynamic entertainer,” said Jones. “I would always see him perform at the Black Hole on Georgia Avenue and during rides on the Spirit of Washington. He was the older guy among the young guys in the go-go industry that we liked. He mixed the go-go sound with R&B. That’s what made people excited to see him perform. He always had something new for us,” said Jones, of New Carrollton, Maryland. More than 200 fans converged

Chuck Brown Memorial Park in Northeast features a wall honoring Brown’s life and achievements unveiled during the dedication of the park on August 22. /Photo by Shevry Lassiter

Ward 5 Council member Kenyan McDuffie and D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray cut the ribbon to officially open Chuck Brown Memorial Park in Northeast on August 22. /Photo by Shevry Lassiter

Brown’s final LP, “Beautiful Life” showcases the go-go legend’s mastery of various music genres. /Photo courtesy of Raw Venture Records & Tapes

See BROWN on Page 35 The Washington Informer

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BROWN continued from Page 34 on Langdon Park in Northeast on Aug. 22, a day designated as Chuck Brown Day, to celebrate the memory of Brown and witness the unveiling of Chuck Brown Memorial Park. The park includes a plaza for live performances and an abstract statue of the late go-go legend. “We designed a fully-landscaped feature,” said Michael Marshall, founder and principal of Marshall Moya Design in Northwest, the lead designer of Chuck Brown Memorial Park. The D.C. Office of the Mayor chose Marshall’s firm to design the memorial as part of a competition the office launched last year. Marshall said he worked with Broughton Construction Company and Bradley Site Design, both based in Northwest, to bring his vision to fruition. “The statue in the park commemorates ‘Wind Me Up, Chuck.’ Guests see a timeline that delineates his artistic career. It’s an educational tool,” said Marshall, 57. While some people have expressed concern about the future of go-go music in the wake of Brown’s death, Donnell “D. Floyd” Floyd, lead vocalist for the gogo band Familiar Faces, said that younger groups like Loud Band and Mental Attraction have taken the Godfather of Go-Go’s lead in producing music that will endure. Floyd recounted learning tricks of the trade while performing alongside Brown during his last years. One performance he recalled took place before more than 4,000 people at the Carter Barron Amphitheatre in Northwest in 2011, shortly after the death of Anthony “Little Benny” Harley, a founding member of go-go band Rare Essence. “The future of go-go is bright,” said Floyd, 50. “The young bands have taken to Chuck Brown and kept the tradition. I enjoyed working with Chuck and receiving the advice he gave me as a band leader and performer. He told me to be a professional and give it the best that I can. He did that with many people, often starting with the positive and putting you in the state of mind to receive critiques.”WI

Takesa “KK” Donelson, daughter of the late Chuck Brown under the sculpture depicting her father at the dedication of Chuck Brown Memorial Park in Northeast on August 22. /Photo by Shevry Lassiter

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Sept 4 - Sept 10, 2014

36 Sept 4 - Sept 10, 2014

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SPORTS

Women’s College Field Hockey

American University midfielder Carly Atchison is defended by three University of Richmond players in the first half of women’s college field hockey action on Friday, August 29 at American University’s Jacobs Complex in Northwest. Richmond defeated American 4-1. /Photo by John E. De Freitas

University of Richmond Defeats American University 4-1

University of Richmond midfielder Rebecca Barry steals the ball from American University forward Sophia Crawshay in the first half of women’s college field hockey action on Friday, August 29 at American University’s Jacobs Complex in Northwest. Richmond defeated American 4-1. /Photo by John E. De Freitas

RD DENA

SPAN

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ITUDE

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 7:05 P.M.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 7:05 P.M.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 4:05 P.M.

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UPCOMING SERIES 9.23–9.25 University of Richmond midfielder Samantha Ostoich takes a shot on goal in the first half of women’s college field hockey action on Friday, August 29 at American University’s Jacobs Complex in Northwest. Richmond defeated American 4-1. /Photo by John E. De Freitas

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SPORTS

Defining the HowardMorehouse Rivalry

Fans, Alum Reflect as Teams Prepare for AT&T Nation’s Classic By Stacy M. Brown WI Contributing Writer The AT&T Nation’s Football Classic launched four years ago as a new age black college gridiron showcase with organizers boasting the proud tradition, service, unity and heritage of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). And, as the fourth annual game kickoffs at RFK Stadium in Southeast on Saturday, Sept. 13, at 3:30 p.m., the match up featuring the Bison of Howard University and the Maroon Tigers of Morehouse College provides a compelling backstory of a rivalry that’s as fierce as any in sports. “It is one of those unwritten rules, the game is very important,” said Howard University Head Coach Gary Harrell, whose team has won each of the three games in the series. “The rivalry goes a long way,” Harrell said. The two proud institutions share a lot in common, other than the obvious being that they’re both HBCUs. Located in Northwest, Howard opened in 1867 on the principle that education requires the constant engagement of faculty toward the students and their needs, and by a rich social and cultural life. Down South, in Atlanta, Morehouse opened the same year as Howard with a mission to develop men with disciplined minds who would lead lives of leadership and service. “Graduates of both institutions have molded the cities where these schools are located. Atlanta’s current Mayor Kasim Reed is a Howard University alum and singer and songwriter Eric Roberson, another Howard grad, who penned the anthem, ‘Howard Girls,’ also resides in Atlanta,” said Carron J. Phillips, a journalist who graduated from Morehouse with honors in 2006 and who writes a regular blog. “The first two black presidents at Howard were Morehouse Men, Mordecai Wyatt Johnson and James M. Nabrit, and Morehouse’s greatest alumnus, Dr. Martin Luther King, has a memorial that stands on the National Mall,” Phillips noted.

38 Sept 4 - Sept 10, 2014

That Howard has won each of the three games in the classic doesn’t mean that the rivalry isn’t as strong as ever, many observers said. “For the college football purist, the one who whines about how big money has ruined the game, there is no better match up,” said Andrew Lawrence of Sports Illustrated who waxed poetically about the rivalry. Lawrence said the two team’s history on the gridiron dates to 1923, but it has endured five interruptions, including the most recent one that lasted from 1997 until the AT&T Nation’s Classic started four years ago. “As clashes among the nation’s HBCUs go, this is Harvard versus Yale,” Lawrence said, noting too that, with an enrollment of 11,000 students, Howard counts as less football factory than a veritable assembly line for pharmacists, architects and classically-trained musicians, while Morehouse, with an enrollment of 2,900 all men, stands as a hothouse for dentists, theologians and civil servants. “It’s a rivalry that pits famous alumni like Thurgood Marshall and Phylicia Rashad for Howard against famous alumni like Martin Luther King and Samuel L. Jackson for Morehouse and the gated communities other successful grads call home,” Lawrence said. “In one corner is Prince George’s County, Maryland, a Howard haven that rates among the nation’s wealthiest zip codes and, in another corner, is Buckhead, Georgia, a Morehouse enclave that doesn’t rank far behind,” Lawrence said. Officials at Events DC, the organizer of the classic, said the rivalry holds a unique place in the annals of black college football. Howard leads the overall series, 24-10-2, and each loss seemingly has always been classified as the worst of the season. “The pageantry, camaraderie and competition we’ve seen each year has been everything we’ve expected and more,” said Erik A. Moses, managing director of Events DC’s Sports and Entertainment Division in Southeast. “It has been a pleasure to kickoff this classic with two schools that feature a shared narra-

Howard’s sixth consecutive win over Morehouse in last year’s AT&T Nation’s Classic extended the overall series record to 23-10-2. /Photo courtesy of The Hilltop

tive and passionate rivalry on and off the field,” Moses said. Lawrence said the intensity of the rivalry can also be measured by the fact that former Howard quarterback Jay Walker remains upset over a 7-0 defeat at the hands of Morehouse in 1992. Walker’s team had been heavy favorites, but the Maroon Tigers scored an early touchdown before a storm halted any hopes of a comeback. “As the official blew the final whistle and three of their linemen dropped to their knees and looked up at the sky with their [fists clinched in the air], I remember thinking, wow, this is a big deal,” said Walker, who went onto enjoy a four year NFL career. He later became a Maryland state representative and a college football analyst for ESPN. For his blog, Phillips reached out to numerous alumni from both schools who talked about the heated meetings between the football teams. He said each response helped to underscore just how intense the rivalry remains. It also allowed many to relive some of their most memorable moments. “I remember the game in the 1980s when Spike Lee, Sidney Poitier, and Miss America were around,” said Henry Goodgame, who graduated Morehouse in 1985. The Washington Informer

The intense rivalry between the Morehouse Maroon Tigers and the Howard Bison will play out for a final time in the AT&T Nation’s Classic on Saturday, Sept. 13 at 3:30 p.m. at RFK Stadium in Southeast. Officials at Events DC, the organizer of the annual classic, said they will decide in January who will compete in the big game in 2015. /Courtesy Photo

“It was awesome. It was the biggest thing for both institutions,” Goodgame said. While Bruce Speight, a former Howard band member and 1990 graduate recalled performing at one of the games to Cameo’s song, “Word Up,” Joe Carlos, a 2004 Howard graduate reflected upon what he said makes the two schools unique. “At Howard, they’re just so cool. To be a Howard Bison means you’re just too cool for anything and whatever you do is the best and you don’t see any other school as your rival or an equal,” Carlos said. “At Morehouse, they’re more

congenial and they take everything about their school seriously.” Howard’s quarterback, Greg McGhee, who threw three touchdown passes and had 296 yards of total offense in last year’s game, said he’s looking forward to the final meeting between the schools in the classic. “The rivalry was new to me coming into college because I didn’t know the history,” McGhee said. “I’ve learned so much about the rivalry and the two schools. The energy builds every year.”WI For tickets, visit www.nationsfootballclassic.com

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The Religion Corner

RELIGION

“If it is to be, it’s up to me.”

– Dr. Calvin W. Rolark

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Schools across the Washington Metropolitan Area opened recently; a fresh, new opportunity for parents to get it right this year! We must work diligently to bring the educational level of our children in the African-American communities up to a more acceptable level. The late, great, Dr. Calvin W. Rolark often said “If it is to be, it’s up to me!” Reading aloud to little children remains critical as it relates to their ability to learn! How your children excel in school depends on you – mothers and fathers – reading to them – helping with numbers, teaching them alphabets at an early age. According to the U.S. Department of Education, in a study titled, “The Condition of Education,” the report stated that “The percentage of children who engaged in certain literacy activities in 2005 varied by parents’ education and race and ethnicity. Children whose parents had at least a high school diploma or equivalent were more likely to be read to and taught letters, words, or numbers than those children whose parents had less than a high school diploma. White children were more likely than Black or Hispanic children to have a family member read to them.” The purpose of this column is to share with you a black family’s success of overcoming great odds in Riverdale, Georgia, near Atlanta. Reenita Shepherd, a mother of four became homeless, lost her job and then learned that she had cancer. She relied on her faith and reached out to her children’s teachers, social workers, school counselors, principals, and others. All of

these people actively engaged in and impacted her life. Their assistance and caring attitudes helped her to ensure her children’s success despite their living conditions. Shepherd, grew up as a foster child, with teachers and social workers as role models. She relocated to Atlanta, Georgia in 1996 and began teaching at the Head Start program where she enrolled her children. Diagnosed with cancer, her husband walked out and left her with the children, she eventually became homeless, and moved the family to a shelter; but the story doesn’t end there. Take a look at what happened. When her daughter Chelesa Fearce had to study for exams at night, she would read her books using the light from her cell phone because it was dark in the homeless shelter after a certain hour; the family slept in their mother’s car at times, as well. Chelesa graduated as Class Valedictorian with a 4.529 GPA. After achieving a final grade point average of 4.466, she was named valedictorian at Charles Drew High School in Riverdale, Georgia in 2013. She entered Spelman College as a junior on a full scholarship. Chelesa said in a TV interview, “I just told myself to keep working, because the future will not be like this anymore. You’re worried about your home life and then worried at school. Worry about being a little hungry sometimes. You just have to deal with it.” Today, Chelesa’s enrolled at an outstanding women’s university. However, she isn’t the only one making

with Lyndia Grant her family proud. Her sister, Chelsea, graduated as the salutatorian of her class at George Washington Carver High School in Atlanta last year. It all started with their mother reading aloud to her children on a regular basis. The girls have appeared on numerous national TV and radio shows. They will soon appear as guests on OWN – The Oprah Winfrey Network. Tune into my radio show on Friday, September 5 at 6:00 p.m., and listen to an interview with Reenita Shepherd and both of her daughters. Reading to your child can make all the difference in the world. Tell yourself – “If it is to be, it’s up to me!” Deuteronomy 6:6-9 … “You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”WI Lyndia Grant is a radio talk show host on 1340, WYCB AM, Fridays at 6 p.m. Visit her website at www.lyndiagrant.com, call her at 202-518-3192; or email lyndiagrant@lyndiagrant.com.

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Sept 4 - Sept 10, 2014

RELIGION BAPTIST

AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL

Pilgrim Baptist Church

Historic St. Mary’s Episcopal Church

Pilgrim Baptist Church

The Reverend Lyndon Shakespeare Interim Priest Foggy Bottom • Founded in 1867 728 23rd Street, NW • Washington, DC 20037 Church office: 202-333-3985 • Fax : 202-338-4958 Worship Services Sundays: 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Music and Hymns Wednesdays: 12:10 p.m. - Holy Eucharist www.stmarysfoggybottom.org Email: stmarysoffice@stmarysfoggybottom.org

Rev. Louis B. Jones II Pastor

Schedule of Services: Sunday School – 9:30 AM Sunday Morning Worship Service – 11:00 AM Communion Service – First Sunday Prayer Service/Bible Study – Tuesday, 6:30 PM www.blessedwordoflifechurch.org e-mail: church@blessedwordoflifechurch.org

Worship Sundays @ 7:30 & 11:00 A.M. 5th Sundays @ 9:30 A.M. 3rd Sundays: Baptism & Holy Communion Prayer & Praise: Wednesdays @ Noon & 6:30 P.M.

Schedule of Service Sunday Service: 8:30 AM & 11:00 AM Bible Study: Wednesday 7:30 PM Communion Service: First Sunday www.livingwatersmd.org

www.pilgrimbaptistdc.org

Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ Drs. Dennis W. and Christine Y. Wiley, Pastors 3845 South Capitol Street Washington, DC 20032 (202) 562-5576 (Office) (202) 562-4219 (Fax) SERVICES AND TIMES: SUNDAYS: 10:00 am AM Worship Services BIBLE STUDY: Wonderful Wednesdays in Worship and the Word Bible Study Wednesdays 12:00 Noon; 6:30 PM (dinner @ 5:30 PM) SUNDAY SCHOOL: 9:00 AM – Hour of Power “An inclusive ministry where all are welcomed and affirmed.” www.covenantbaptistdc.org

Twelfth Street Christian Church

Campbell AME Church Reverend Daryl K. Kearney, Pastor

(Disciples of Christ) 1812 12th Street, NW Washington, DC 20009 Phone: 202-265-4494 Fax: 202 265 4340

2562 MLK Jr. Ave., S E Washington, DC 20020 Adm. Office 202-678-2263 Email:Campbell@mycame.org Sunday Worship Service 10: 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”

5757 Temple Hill Road, Temple Hills, MD 20748 Office 301-899-8885 – fax 301-899-2555 Sunday Early Morning Worship - 7:45 a.m. Church School - 9:30 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship – 10:45 a.m. Tuesday – Thursday - Kingdom Building Bible Institute – 7:30 p.m. Wednesday – Prayer/Praise/Bible Study – 7:30 p.m. Baptism & Communion Service- 4th Sunday – 10:30am Radio Broadcast WYCB -1340 AM-Sunday -6:00pm T.V. Broadcast - Channel 190 – Sunday -4:00pm/Tuesday 7:00am

“We are one in the Spirit” www.ssbc5757.org e-mail: ssbc5757@verizon.net

2498 Alabama Ave., SE • Washington D.C. 20020 Office: (202) 889-7296 Fax: (202) 889-2198 • www.acamec.org 2008: The Year of New Beginnings “Expect the Extraordinary”

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 E-mail: Crusadersbaptistchurch@verizon.net www.CrusadersBaptistChurch.org

“The Amazing, Awesome, Audacious Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church”

“God is Love”

Rev. Cheryl J. Sanders, Th.D. Senior Pastor 1204 Third Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 202.347.5889 office 202.638.1803 fax Sunday School: 9:30 a.m. Sunday Worship: 11:00 a.m. Prayer Meeting and Bible Study: Wed. 7:30 p.m. “Ambassadors for Christ to the Nation’s Capital” www.thirdstreet.org

Reverend Dr. Calvin L. Matthews • Senior Pastor 1200 Isle of Patmos Plaza, Northeast Washington, DC 20018 Office: (202) 529-6767 Fax: (202) 526-1661

Rev. Dr. Alton W. Jordan, Pastor 800 I Street, NE Washington, DC 20002 202-548-0707 Fax No. 202-548-0703

Sunday Worship Services: 8:00a.m. and 11:00a.m. Sunday Church School - 9:15a.m. & Sunday Adult Forum Bible Study - 10:30a.m. 2nd & 4th Monday Women’s Bible Study - 6:30p.m. Tuesday Jr./Sr. Bible Study - 10:00a.m. Tuesday Topical Bible Study - 6:30p.m. Tuesday New Beginnings Bible Study - 6:30p.m. Wednesday Pastoral Bible Study - 6:30p.m. Wednesday Children’s Bible Study - 6:30p.m. Thursday Men’s Bible Study - 6:30p.m. Friday before 1st Sunday Praise & Worship Service - 6:30p.m. Saturday Adult Bible Study - 10:00a.m.

Third Street Church of God

Isle of Patmos Baptist Church

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

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 10:45 AM Sunday Youth Worship Services: 1st & 4th 10:45 AM; 804 R.I. Ave., NE 5th 8 AM & 10:45 AM; Main Church Prayer Services Tuesday – Noon, Wednesday 6 AM & 6:30 PM 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

ST Marks Baptist Come Worship with us... St. Mark's Baptist Church 624 Underwood Street, NW Washington, dc 20011 Dr. Raymond T. Matthews, Pastor and First Lady Marcia Matthews Sunday School 9:am Worship Service 10:am Wed. Noon Day prayer service Thur. Prayer service 6:45 pm Thur. Bible Study 7:15 pm

We are proud to provide the trophies for the Washington Informer Spelling Bee

Mount Carmel Baptist Church

52 Years of Expert Engraving Services

Joseph N. Evans, Ph.D Senior Pastor 901 Third Street N.W. Washington, DC. 20001 Phone (202) 842-3411 Fax (202) 682-9423

Rev. John W. Davis, Pastor 5101 14th Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20011 202-726-2220/ 202-726-9089

TV Ministry –Channel 6 Wednesday 10:00pm gsccm.administration@verizon.net

Lanier C. Twyman, Sr. Bishop

Rev. Dr. Michael E. Bell, Sr., • Pastor

Crusader Baptist Church

Service and Times Sunday Worship Service 11:00 a.m. Communion every Sunday 11:00 a.m. Sunday School 10:00 a.m. Bible Study Tuesday 12Noon Pastor’s Bible Study Tuesday 6:30 p.m. Motto; “Discover Something Wonderful.” Website: 12thscc.org Email: Twelfthstcc@aol.com

Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Holy Communion 4th Sunday 10:00am Prayer and Bible Study Wednesday 7;00pm

St. Stephen Baptist Church

Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church

Reverend Dr. Paul H. Saddler Senior Pastor

Mailing Address Campbell AME Church 2502 Stanton Road SE Washington, DC 20020

Sunday Worship Service 8:00am and 11:00am Sunday School 9:15am

4915 Wheeler Road Oxon Hill, MD 20745 301-894-6464

Blessed Word of Life Church

4001 14th Street, NW Washington, DC 20011 (202) 265-6147 Office 1-800 576-1047 Voicemail/Fax

Rev. Paul Carrette Senior Pastor Harold Andrew, Assistant Pastor

700 I Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20002 (202) 547-8849

All are welcome to St. Mary’s to Learn, Worship, and Grow.

Dr. Dekontee L. & Dr. Ayele A. Johnson Pastors

Church of Living Waters

Sunday Church School : 9: 30am Sunday Morning Worship: 10: 45am Bible Study Tuesday: 6: 00pm Prayer Service Tuesday: 7:00pm Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday 10: 45am themcbc.org

40 Sept 4 - Sept 10, 2014

The Washington Informer

www.washingtoninformer.com

RELIGION BAPTIST

Advertise Your Church services here: call Ron Burke at

202-561-4100 or email rburke@washingtoninformer.com Zion Baptist Church

All Nations Baptist Church Rev. Dr. James Coleman Pastor 2001 North Capitol St, N.E. • Washington, DC 20002 Phone (202) 832-9591

Website: www.allnationsbaptistchurch.com All Nations Baptist Church – A Church of Standards

“Where Jesus is the King”

Israel Baptist Church

4850 Blagdon Ave, NW • Washington D.C 20011 Phone (202) 722-4940 • Fax (202) 291-3773

1251 Saratoga Ave., NE Washington, DC 20018 (202) 269-0288

Rev. Aubrey C. Lewis Pastor 1415 Gallatin Street, NW Washington, DC 20011-3851 P: (202) 726-5940 Sunday Worship: 11:00 a.m. Sunday School: 9:15 a.m. Holy Communion: 11:00 a.m., 3rd Sun. Bible Study: Monday - 7:00 p.m. Prayer Meeting: Thursday - 7:00 p.m.

2324 Ontario Road, NW Washington, DC 20009 (202) 232-1730 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

Rev. Dr. Morris L Shearin, Sr. Pastor

St. Luke Baptist Church

Rev. Daryl F. Bell Pastor

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

Rev. Keith W. Byrd, Sr. Pastor

Sunday Worship Service 10:15AM- Praise and Worship Services 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

King Emmanuel Baptist Church

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.

Mount Moriah Baptist Church Dr. Lucius M. Dalton, Senior Pastor 1636 East Capitol Street, NE Washington, DC 20003 Telephone: 202-544-5588 Fax: 202-544-2964 Sunday Worship Services: 7:45 am and 10:45 am Holy Communion: 1st Sundays at 7:45 am and 10:45 am Sunday School: 9:30 am Prayer & Praise Service: Tuesdays at 12 noon and 6:30 pm Bible Study: Tuesdays at 1 pm and 7 pm Youth Bible Study: Fridays at 7 pm

Advertise Your Church services here: call Ron Burke at

202-561-4100 or email rburke@washingtoninformer.com

Advertise Your Church services here: call Ron Burke at

202-561-4100 or email rburke@washingtoninformer.com

Web: www.mountmoriahchurch.org Email: mtmoriah@mountmoriahchurch.org

Rehoboth Baptist Church

St. Matthews Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Maxwell M. Washington Pastor Worshiping Location Knights of Columbus - 1633 Tucker Road Fort Washington, MD 20744 (240) 838-7074 Order of Services Sunday Worship Services: 10:00 am Sunday School: 9:00 am Holy Communion 3rd Sunday Morning Prayer / Bible Study: 6:15 pm - 7:20 pm (Tuesday)

Salem Baptist Church

Emmanuel Baptist Church

Florida Avenue Baptist Church

Rev. Dr. Clinton W. Austin Pastor 2409 Ainger Pl.,SE – WDC 20020 (202) 678-0884 – Office (202) 678-0885 – Fax “Come Grow With Us and Establish a Blessed Family” Sunday Worship 7:30am & 10:45am Baptism/Holy Communion 3rd Sunday Family Bible Study Tuesdays – 6:30pm Prayer Service Tuesdays – 8:00pm www.emmanuelbaptistchurchdc.org

Holy Trinity United Baptist Church

Dr. Earl D. Trent Senior Pastor

Rev. Dr. George C. Gilbert SR. Pastor

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

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

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

Matthews Memorial Baptist Church

Sermon On The Mount Temple Of Joy Apostolic Faith

Christ Embassy DC

5606 Marlboro Pike District Heights, MD 20747 301-735-6005

Dr. C. Matthew Hudson, Jr, Pastor

6839 Eastern Avenue, R1 Takoma Park, MD 20912 (202) 556-7065

Elder Herman L. Simms, Pastor

2616 MLK Ave., SE • Washington, DC 20020 Office 202-889-3709 • Fax 202-678-3304

Kelechi Ajieren Coordinator

Early Worship Service 7:30a.m Worship Service 10:45a.m. New Members Class 9:30a.m. Holy Communion : 1st Sunday -10:45a.m Church School 9:30a.m. Prayer, Praise and Bible Study: Wednesday 7p.m Bible Study : Saturday: 11a.m. Baptism: 4th Sunday – 10:45a.m “Empowered to love and Challenged to Lead a Multitude of Souls to Christ”

Sunday Worship Service 10:00 A.M.

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

Peace Baptist Church

Rev. Stephen E. Tucker Senior Pastor

Rev. Dr. Michael T. Bell 712 18th Street, NE Washington, DC 20002 Phone 202-399-3450/ Fax 202-398-8836

13701 Old Jericho Park Road Bowie, MD. 20720 (301) 262-0560

Sunday Morning Worship Service 7:15 am & 10:50 am Sunday School 9:30am Sunday Morning Worship Service 10:50am Wednesday Prayer & Testimonies Service 7:30pm Wednesday School of the Bible 8:00pm Wednesday - Midweek Prayer Service 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Services: Sunday Worship 11 AM Sunday School 10 AM Wednesday Mid-Week Worship, Prayer & Bible Study - Wed. 7 PM “A Church Where Love Is Essential and Praise is Intentional”

“The Loving Church of the living lord “ Email Address pbcexec@verizon.net

Shiloh Baptist Church

First Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church

1864-2014

Rev. Alonzo Hart Pastor

Rev. Dr. Wallace Charles Smith Pastor

Rev. Reginald M. Green, Sr., Interim Pastor

621 Alabama Avenue, 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) 232-4200

602 N Street NW • Washington, D.C. 20001 Office:(202) 289-4480 Fax: (202) 289-4595

The Church Where GOD Is Working.... And We Are Working With GOD

Sunrise Prayer Services - Sunday 7:00 a.m.

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.

Morning Worship: 8:00 a.m Church School : 9:30 a.m. Morning Worship: 10:55 a.m. Bible Study, Thursday: 6:30 p.m. Prayer Meeting,Thursday : 7:30 p.m.

150 Years of Service

Theme: “The Kingdom Focused Church” Matthew 6:33 and Mathew 28:18-20, KJV

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

Email: stmatthewsbaptist@msn.com Website: www.stmatthewsbaptist.org

Motto: : “Where God is First and Where Friendly People Worship”

Sunday Worship Services: 7:45am & 11:00am Sunday school For All Ages 9:30am Prayer Services Wednesday 11:30am & 6:45pm Bible Institute Wednesday at Noon & 7:45pm “Changing Lives On Purpose “ Email: Froffice@firstrising.org Website: www.firstrising.org

www.washingtoninformer.com

The Washington Informer

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

Pennsylvania Ave. Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Kendrick E. Curry Pastor 3000 Pennsylvania Ave.. S.E Washington, DC 20020 202 581-1500 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

Mt. Horeb Baptist Church Rev. Dr. H. B. Sampson, III Pastor 2914 Bladensburg Road, NE Wash., DC 20018 Office: (202) 529-3180 Fax: (202) 529-7738 Order of Services 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 Email:mthoreb@mthoreb.org Website:www.mthoreb.org For further information, please contact me at (202) 529-3180.

Sept 4 - Sept 10, 2014

LEGAL NOTICES

CLASSIFIEDS

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

Administration No. 2014 ADM 451

Administration No. 2014 ADM 124

Administration No. 2014 ADM 827

Emma Jane Harris Fleming

Mary Ellen Osborne

Lydia L. Jones

Decedent

James Larry Frazier, Esquire

Bernard A. Gray, Sr.

918 Maryland Avenue, NE

Paule G. Levadas

2009 18th Street, SE

1629 K Street, NW Suite 300

Washington, DC 20020-4201

Washington, DC 20006

Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS

AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Hillard Osborne, Jr., whose address is 1763 Lyman

James Pope, whose address is 142 Persimmon Hill

Place NE, Washington, DC 20002-3027, was appointed

Estates, Saluda, SC 29138, was appointed Personal

Personal Representative of the estate of Mary Ellen

Representative of the estate of Lydia L. Jones, who died

Osborne, who died on April 1, 2012 without a Will,

on May 11, 2014 without a Will, and will serve without

and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown

Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose

heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall

whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance

enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections

in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall

to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of

be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street,

Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor

N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001,

Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before March 4, 2015.

on or before February 21, 2015. Claims against the

Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the

decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a

undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed

copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register

with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned,

of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before

on or before March 4, 2015, or be forever barred.

February 21, 2015, or be forever barred. Persons

Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent

believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do

who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25

not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days

days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of

of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills,

and relationship.

Wills, including name, address and relationship.

including name, address and relationship.

Date of first publication:

September 4, 2014

August 21, 2014

Flossie Johnson Hurt

Hillard Osborne, Jr.

James Pope

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Anne Meister

Washington Informer

Washington, DC 20002 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Flossie Johnson Hurt, whose address is 7300 8th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20012, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Emma Jane Harris Fleming, who died on March 25, 2014 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., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before March 4, 2015. 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 March 4, 2015, 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

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. 2014 ADM 849

Administration Number 2009 ADM 818

LEGAL NOTICES

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Rosa K. Williams Estate of

Decedent

Edward L. Young aka Robert Edward Lee Young Jr. aka Robert Edward Lee Young, Jr. aka Edward Young Deceased

NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE

Jennifer E. Loud, Esquire The Loud Law Firm 7826 Eastern Avenue, NW, Suite 410 Washington, DC 20012 Attorney

Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS

this Court by Brett Cohen for standard probate, including

AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

the appointment of one or more personal representative. Unless a complaint or an objection in accordance with Superior Court Probate Division Rule 407 is filed in this Court within 30 days from the date of first publication

services here:

George Williams, whose address is 3426 Lumar Drive, Fort Washington, MD 20744, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Rosa K. Williams, who died on May 5, 2014 without a Will, and will serve without

of this notice, the Court may take the action hereinafter

Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose

set forth.

whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance

call Ron Burke at

in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall In the absence of a will or proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution, enter an order determining that the decedent died Intestate appoint an unsupervised personal representative.

be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before February 21, 2015. 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

202-561-4100

February 21, 2015, or be forever barred. Persons Date of first publication: September 4, 2014

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.

Petitioner:

Date of first publication:

Brett Cohen

August 21, 2014

or email

7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 1430 Bethesda, MD 20814-7047

George Williams Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Anne Meister

Washington Informer

42 Sept 4 - Sept 10, 2014

rburke@washingtoninformer.com

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EDELMAN continued from Page 26

sive police force carry these burdens inside every day. Strayhorn spelled out another way Black children are harmed: through disparate resources in the classroom, including textbooks that hold black, brown, and poor students back. He described an experience he had while a professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville working with a Knoxville high school that was 97 percent black. “I found that in this high school these students were learning from textbooks that were at least 10 years old… What exactly are the implications of learning from a textbook that’s 10 years old? Well, I’ll tell you this: that if you don’t catch up too quickly, especially in terms of science, there are certain technological revolutions that have happened at such a

DANIELS continued from Page 26 of calling this poor young man unarmed when he was 6’4”, 300 pounds, full of muscles, apparently, according to what I read in the New York Times, on marijuana. To call him unarmed is like calling Sonny Liston unarmed or Cassius Clay (sic) unarmed. He wasn’t unarmed. He was armed with his incredibly strong, scary self.” These comments exemplify both the conscious and the subconscious character of the racist reaction. Stein’s and Chavez’s primary intent is to assert that Michael Brown and Darren Wilson, the police officer were equally armed – that Brown’s size and weight was a weapon as equal in its ability to cause harm as the bullets Darren Wilson carried in his gun and fired at Brown from a distance of more than thirty feet.

CURRY continued from Page 26

contended. The bullet entered White’s right chest and exited his left armpit. The Louisiana case is strikingly similar to that of Chavis Carter in Arkansas. Carter also supposedly committed suicide July 28 while in the backseat of a Jonesboro patrol car. A crime lab report obtained by the Associated Press under a Freedom of Information Act request said, “In consideration of the circumstances of death and after autopsy of

fast pace that they’re not even mentioned in the books from which they’ll learn—but will certainly be part of the test that they’ll take to demonstrate competency to go on to college. ” As he covered what does work in building a pathway to success, Strayhorn emphasized the need for positive interventions based on proven designs—because in his program evaluation experience he’s seen far too many well-intentioned efforts that lacked a measurable impact because good ideas weren’t well implemented. He said, as an example, mentoring programs are especially popular, but many don’t provide adequate training: “If I ask everyone at this table, ‘Will you be a mentor?’ and you all say yes, and I say, ‘Now, go out and mentor,’ but never tell you what a mentor is supposed to do, I never tell you how important it is to get to know your mentee.”

We need to watch out for the subtle as well as the overt ways in which we treat non-white and white children and those who are poor differently. And we need much more diversity in children’s literature so that White, Black, Latino, Native American, Asian American, and all children can be exposed to the rich mosaic of America’s melting pot to help them see themselves and what they can be.WI

That perverse distortion was used to justify myriad lynchings of Black men, women and children during the nation’s Jim Crow decades – and its continuing utility was most recently demonstrated in George Zimmerman’s defenders claiming that he, who stood 5’8” and weighed 200 pounds, had no choice but to shoot to death the unarmed Trayvon Martin, who stood 5’11” and weighed 158 pounds. Trayvon Martin was far from the height and weight of Michael Brown, but that didn’t save him from being criminalized because of the most salient feature they shared: skin color. In other words, both were transformed into that fearsome monster of the White racist imagination: the ‘hulking’ Black brute. This is an image that to this day was best given life by the notoriously racist – and profoundly influential – 1915 Hollywood film, “The Birth of A Nation.” The film, which celebrated

the reconstruction of White supremacy in the South and brutal oppression of Black Americans, had as its centerpiece White men murdering a “Black brute” bent on raping White women. “Birth of A Nation,” in short, perfectly expressed White racists’ psychosexual fear of Black people. That visceral fear was most obviously seen in their need to “control” by any means necessary Black males of any size, weight or age – and Black women, too – who in any way real or imagined challenged their pathological need to dominate Black people. But White racist pathology can’t obscure this blunt fact: police officer Darren Wilson, who was armed, shot to death Michael Brown, who was unarmed, from a distance of more than 30 feet. WI

the body, it is our opinion that Chavis Carter, a 21-year-old black male, died of a gunshot wound of the head. The agencies responsible for the investigation of his death were the Jonesboro Police Department and the Craighead County Coroner’s Office. They reported that he was detained during a traffic stop. Like Victor White, III, Carter was Black and left-handed. Also like the Carter debacle, authorities want us to believe that he managed to conceal a pistol – in Carter’s case, a

380-caliber semi-automatic – during two police pat downs. Despite being left handed, police would have us believe he used his right hand to shoot himself in the right temple. The Associated Press reported, “Carter’s death came after police stopped a truck in which he was riding. The driver and another passenger eventually were allowed to go, but police said Carter had an outstanding arrest warrant. Court records show it had to do with a drug charge. “Carter was searched twice

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Marian Wright Edelman is president of the Children’s Defense Fund whose Leave No Child Behind® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. For more information go to www.childrensdefense.org.

Lee A. Daniels is a longtime journalist based in New York City. His latest book is Last Chance: The Political Threat to Black America.

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and police said they found a small amount of marijuana, but no gun. After the first search, an officer put Carter into a patrol car without handcuffing him. He was later searched again, handcuffed and returned to the same car. “Officers a short time later saw Carter slumped over in the backseat and covered in blood, according to the report, which concluded he had managed to conceal a handgun with which he shot himself. He later died at a hospital, and the report

listed his death as a suicide.” Unlike Groucho Marx, you don’t have to worry about your lying eyes. Instead, we need to worry about lying police. WI George E. Curry is editor-in-chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service (NNPA) and BlackPressUsa. com. He can be reached at www. georgecurry.com and at www. twitter.com/currygeorge and George E. Curry Fan Page on Facebook. Sept 4 - Sept 10, 2014

CHAVIS continued from Page 27 in America. Yet, in 2014, it’s not just the knowledge of the past that causes stress and anxiety for Black Americans, it is the present day racially motivated violence, inequality and injustice. In other words the problem today is a “Present Day Traumatic Slave System” throughout the nation that negatively and severely impacts Black American life.

Equal justice and fairness will not only benefit Black Americans, but also all Americans who value a just society that ensures equality and respect for all humanity. In November, the nation will once again go to the voting booths. This should be the year of transitioning away from the politics of fear, voter suppression and racial inequity. I am hoping that, especially the young people in Missouri, New York,

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Florida, and in all the states, will continue to stand up, speak out and mobilize for change. One of the positive results of the uprising in Ferguson was the mobilization of thousands of local young activists who cried out and marched in protest against the injustice. That youthful momentum will hopefully continue to grow into a national sustainable movement for change. In the meantime, we should stay busy increasing voter registration in every region and state. Many of the new job opportunities require advance education or digital technical training and

MALVEAUX continued from Page 27 about a museum? How many sit down to read a story, watch PBS instead of BET, buying into education? Some will stand in line, even sleeping in line, to secure a ticket for entertainment. How long will they spend to get their child into a public magnet school? Poor children have a “word deficit,” having been exposed to about 1,500 less words at kindergarten than higher income families. A range of summer and after school programs can close that word gap. In some ways this is a civil rights issue. Our children start behind, and fall further behind when schools offer “race neutral education” that keeps the word deficit in mind. While the Internet will offer almost anything you want – dic-

MUHAMMAD continued from Page 27

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were handled the way the Ku Klux Klan handled young Emmett Till, with a gun and a noose. Back to my theme. So here we are today, and just about everybody realizes Blacks need freedom, justice, and equality in America. We haven’t as yet come up with a pathway to get to it – except we did see a glimpse of the “heaven” we desired at the Million Man March. For that one day, not one Black person was arrested for even one single crime in Washington, D.C.! We cleaned up behind ourselves. We were on our best behavior … for whom? For ourselves! We proved we could do something which I believe is “revolutionary” and which could topple the evil system of criminal injustice which has its foot on our necks, right up to this very minute. Now I say, a revolution could be The Washington Informer

experience. We have to encourage our young emerging leaders to get a good high quality education and to develop a longterm commitment to fight for freedom, justice and equality. We cannot afford to be pessimistic at this point. We must not permit the deaths of Trayvon, Eric and Michael to be in vain. WI Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. is the Interim President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA). He can be reached at: dr.bchavis@nnpa.org; and at: http:// drbenjaminfchavisjr.wix.com/drbfc

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tionary, thesaurus, even research – has your child been to a library to do primary research, or to look at the many books that contain decades of knowledge? The Internet is not enough to teach great habits, and great habits lead to educational excellence. STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields have more and more employment, but fewer African American students are prepared to compete in these fields against Whites. Part of this has to do with the deficient equipment available in inner city high schools (where is the parent lobby?). Part of it has to do with inadequate counseling in some schools. Is it in anyone’s interest to poorly prepare our children? Can we stand in the gap for them? Children will produce the

outcomes that reflect parent and community investment. Invest in clothing, and you’ll get a fashion plate. Invest in educational software, and you’ll get a scholar. What do you prefer? African American students must be able to compete in the classroom and in the workplace. They can’t compete without the necessary tools. Some of our organizations have made closing the achievement gap a priority. Closing the achievement gap must be all of our priority. Otherwise, we have not properly prepared our young people to compete as the labor market changes. Back to school is not exclusively about new clothing. It must also be about new educational tools. WI

achieved again by us without our firing a single shot, and it could be a “game changer” in just 90 days. All that we would have to do would be for us to behave like Black people, and not like the devil-may-care thugs we have become thanks in part to music videos and “blaxploitation” movies which have hijacked our culture right out from under us. We did it before. We could do it again, just like we did 19 years ago, October 16, 1995 at the Million Man March. And then my reality meter kicks in. Of course we can’t even contemplate such as that because our bad lifestyle habits will take over and before you know it we’d be acting like fools again. It seems as though we can’t help ourselves. Sometimes it seems like we are proud of making ourselves targets of trigger-happy, race-hating White men and self-hating Black ones with badges. It seems as though we like to make Big Mama have to mortgage

her house to hire some chittlin’ sucking Algonquin J. Calhoun-style lawyer to plead our tired stories before White judges and bailiffs who send us to prisons, prisons located in rural White towns. But I say “No.” We don’t have to be “bad” for real. We can listen to those among us who preach righteous lifestyles and heed their advice and stop considering them “squares” and “busters.” But if we adopted a “no crimes” a “no bad actors” policy, we could effect revolutionary change in America! White folks would not know what to do. We would bankrupt their corrupt criminal injustice system (which applies to “just us”) with just 90 days of not breaking any laws – not even jaywalking. Long live the Spirit of the Million Man March … revolution! WI

Julianne Malveaux is an author and economist based in Washington, D.C.

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