The Washington Informer - December 18, 2014

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

NUL’s Marc Morial Lists 10-Point Justice Plan, See Page 27 •

C e l e b r a t i n g 5 0 Ye a r s o f S e r v i c e

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Serving More Than 50,000 African American Readers Throughout The Metropolitan Area / Vol. 50, No.10 Dec 18 - Dec 24, 2014

Men, women and children from across the country attended the March for Justice in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Dec. 13, to draw attention to the deaths of unarmed black men. /Photo by Roy Lewis

Thousands March for Justice in Nation’s Capital Demands Include Federal Probe of Police-Involved Shootings

By D. Kevin McNeir WI Contributing Writer Historians often point to the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as the end of the modern civil rights movement.

But based on the throng of Americans that marched for justice in several cities last weekend,

including Washington, D.C., a new era has begun in the fight for equality, and youth have stepped to the front of the line.

“Our organization recently met with Attorney General Eric Holder, and we believe that local prosecutors should not be handling cases of police-involved shootings,” said the Rev. Fer-

Rell M. Malone Sr., president and CEO of the Joshua Project, a Christian outreach ministry founded in his hometown of Waycross, Georgia.

“I drove over 600 miles last night from a town just outside of Atlanta with my son because I can’t sit back and act like nothing is happening. The time to create

a better system of accountability is way overdue. Blacks lives simply don’t matter in America, and I’m fearful that something terrible is going to happen if changes aren’t made soon,” said Malone, 52.

Tens of thousands of people – mostly ordinary people – descended on Freedom Plaza in

Visit us online for daily updates and much more @ www.washingtoninformer.com $100 Million Appropriated for Purple Line, Page 13

Dallas Popcorn featured at COSTCO Roadshow, Page 17

Northwest on Saturday, Dec. 13, for a pre-rally before marching down Pennsylvania Avenue to the steps of the U.S. Capitol.

The “Justice for All March,” organized by the Rev. Al Sharpton Jr., president of the National Action Network, brought to-

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Chef Huda Wins Food Network’s “Cutthroat Kitchen” Chef Huda, multi-talented owner of Washington, DC area culinary company Pretty & Delicious™, has made Food Network history by winning $23,900, the largest personal prize earnings to date of a contestant, on Food Network’s hot and sizzling cooking show Cutthroat Kitchen, hosted by Alton Brown. The milestone episode “S’Mortal Combat” featuring the competitive-culinary mastermind, Chef Huda, aired Sunday, November 30th, at 10:00 p.m. (ET) and will re-air Wednesday, December 17 (9pm ET/8C), Thursday, Dec. 18 (12am ET/11c) and Friday, Dec. 26, (5pm E/4C).

“I had so much fun. It was amazing competing against such an incredible group of uber-talented chefs,” Chef Huda said. “But make no mistake, I worked hard to prove that I’m not just the pretty and delicious chef, I am cutthroat competitive when it comes to being the best!” Chef Huda, who specializes in healthy comfort-food, outsmarted her competition in the “chilly chili” sabotage, challenging two chefs to harvest ingredients from a block of ice. The chefs then faced an unexpected, dangerous dim sum challenge. In the final challenge, s’mores were made after her competitor shot marshmallows at a giant graham cracker and chocolate target. In the end, celebrity-tasting judge, Jet Tila, declared Chef Huda’s dish as the best one and she won the competition with the largest personal winnings in the history of the show. Currently in its sixth season, Cutthroat Kitchen challenges four chefs to cook gourmet dishes to be judged by a guest celebrity, but introduces auctions in which they can purchase opportunities to sabotage each other or benefit themselves. Each chef is given $25,000 at the start of the show. The winner keeps whatever money he/she has not spent in attempts to sabotage the other competing chefs. For re-air dates in your area, check local listings or visit www.foodnetwork.com. (Courtesy Newsrelease)

“CONGRATULATIONS CHEF HUDA”

Chef Huda with her Mother Priscilla Clarke (Publist) at the “2014 Safeway Feast of Sharing”

Want to get your events published in Social Sightings-The CoLumn - email SocialSightings@aol.com Kurt Pommonths, Sr, * Photographer * Photo Enhancer * Graphic Designer Social Sightings -The CoLumn is published in the Hill Rag, DC Mid City, East of the River & The Washington Informer 2003 © SOCIAL SIGHTINGS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED — DUPLICATION IN ANY FORM REQUIRES WRITTEN PERMISSION | E-mail SocialSightings@aol.com

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12/18/2014 – 12/24/2014 Black Facts Page 6 PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY Page 13 BUSINESS William Reed’s Business Exchange Page 16 COMMENTARIES Pages 26-27 LIFESTYLE Pages 28-33

Seniors Holiday Party - Four generations of women from Ward 5 (l-r), Ronda Reid, 44, Mildred Gaskins, 91, Janet Reid, 67, Patricia Lewis 68, Journey Reid-Peoples, 7 and Tanya Reid, 35 celebrate together along with nearly 4,000 seniors at the Mayor’s Annual Senior Holiday Celebration, Wednesday, Dec. 10 at the D.C. Armory in Southeast. /Photo by Nancy Shia

SPORTS Pages 34-38

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around the region

SOMETHING NEW EVERYDAY

AROUND THEBreak REGION the Cycle of Women Domestic Violence

By Tia Carol Jones

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 When L.Y. Marlow's 23-year- domestic violence victims and stricter restraining order policies, Visit our updated Web site old daughter told her the father survivors are treated. more rights for victim's families and give us your comments of her daughter threatened her “She's using her own personal to intervene on behalf of a vicfor a chance to win a gift from life, and the life of their child, story, her own personal pain to tim, a domestic violence assessThe Washington Informer she knew something had to be push forward,” Davis-Nickens ment unit coupled with further done. Out of her frustration said about Marlow. training for law enforcement with law enforcement's handling Davis-Nickens said anyone agencies, a Child's Life ProtecEmail comments to: of the situation, she decided to who reads Marlow's book will tion Act and mandatory counselrburke@ start the Saving Promise cam- “get it.” She said she “puts the ing for batterers. paign. case in such a way, the average “If we are ever going to eradiwashingtoninformer.com “It seems to be a vicious cycle person can get it.” She said at the cate domestic violence, we must that won't turn my family end of the day, the book will look at both sides of the coin. loose,” Marlow said. Marlow help people begin to have a dia- We need to address both the vicshared her story with the audi- logue about domestic violence. tim and the batterer,” Marlow ence at the District Heights Also present at the event was said.

Domestic Violence Symposium Mildred Muhammad, the exMarlow would also like to see on May 7 at the District Heights wife of John Allen Muhammad, programs designed to raise Municipal Center. The sympo- who was sentenced to six consec- awareness among children in sium was sponsored by the utive life terms without parole public and private schools. She Family and Youth Services by a Maryland jury for his role in feels children need to be educatThe Rev. of Al Sharpton, Brown’sSniper mother,attacks Leslie McSpadden, and Trayvon Martin’s mother, Center the city accompanied of District by Michael the Beltway in ed about domestic violence.

Sybrina a march Hookof tens of thousands of demonstrators on Saturday, 12 inhave Washington, HeightsFulton, and theledNational 2002. Mildred Muhammad is Dec.“We to stop D.C. beingto pasprotest Riddick Up of racial Blackprofiling.

Women./Photo by Travisthe founder of After the Trauma, sive-aggressive with poor chilMarlow has written a book, an organization that helps the dren about domestic violence,” “Color Me Butterfly,” which is a survivors of domestic violence Marlow said. story about four generations of and their children.

Marlow has worked to break domestic violence. The book is “I lived in fear for six years. Six the cycle of abuse in her family, inspired by her own experiences, years in fear is a long time. It is and is confident the policies she and those of her grandmother, not an easy thing to come out is pushing for will start that her mother and her daughter. of,” she said. process.

She said every time she reads Mildred Muhammad said “I plan to take these policies to excerpts from her book, she still people who want to help a Congress and implore them to In Memoriam Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Sr. can not believe the words came domestic violence victim must change our laws,” Marlow said.

Wilhelmina J. Rolark from her. “Color Me Butterfly” be careful of how they go into “I will not stop until these poliThe Washington Informer Newspaper won the 2007 National “Best the victim's life, and understand cies are passed.”

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER InPUBLISHER Memoriam Books” Award. that she may be in “survival Tia Carol Jones can be reached NEWSPAPER (ISSN#0741-9414)Dr.isCalvin Denise Rolark Sr. Barnes W. Rolark, “I was just 16-years-old when mode”. at tiacaroljones@sbcglobal.net published weekly on each Thursday.

Wilhelmina J. Rolark my Barrington eye first blackened and my going to school.

Trayvon “Before you get to 'I'mMartin going ity and Race.”

By M. Salmon Periodicals postage paid at WashingSTAFF THE WASHINGTON INFORMER lips Staff bled,”Writer@bsalmondc Marlow said. to killtoyou,' it started astoa verbal “Today, 16 years later, we’re went get something eat. I WI ton, D.C. and additional mailing of- NEWSPAPER (ISSN#0741-9414) is published WI weekly Thursday.

Periodicals paidW. at Barnes, Washington, D.C. and additional Denise Editor Elaine Davis-Nickens, presi- relive my tragedy every day. I will standing in the same place,” she fices.

Newsonand advertising deadlinepostage mailing offices. News and advertising deadline is Monday prior to publication. is Monday prior to publication. Andent of the National Hook-Up not fail Amadou. I will not fail intoned. “This puts a face, huAnnouncements must be received twoRon weeks prior to event. Copyright 2000

by The Burke, Advertising/ Marketing Director Madame Kadiatou Diallo benouncements must be received two of Black Women, said there is no my son. We’re sisters. We don’t manity to the victims. My son’s Washington Informer. All rights reserved. POST MASTER: Send change of addresslongs to a group she’d weeks event. Copyright 2013 Barnes, Assistant Editor consistency in theshe waysaid domestic es toprior The to Washington Informer, 3117Lafayette Martin Luther King,IV, Jr. Ave., S.E. Photo Washington, want to belong to this group.” wallet looked like a gun, Sean

by D.C. The 20032.

Washington Informer.

All much rather not be part of: No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permisviolence issues are dealt withparby John E. De Freitas, Sports Photo Editor The “Justice for All” rally orBell looked suspicious. 50 bulrights reserved.

POSTMASTER: Send sion from the publisher. The Informer Newspaper cannot guarantee the return of ents of unarmed sons killed by change of addresses to The rates Washphotographs.

Subscription are $30 per year, two years $45.

Papers will be received ganized by the Rev. Al Sharplets. I went to the hospital to see Dorothy Rowley, Online Editor police officers. not more than 3117 a weekMartin after publication.

Make checks payable to: ington Informer, Luther ton’s National Action Network the survivors of police brutality.

She lost her son Amadou, 23, Brian Young, Design & Layout King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. [NAN] brought a vast crowd of They were chained and handTHE WASHINGTON INFORMER when four New York City plain20032. No part of this publication may Neville, Bookkeeper 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr.Mable Ave., S.E. • Washington, D.C. 20032 protestors to downtown D.C., cuffed to the bed and I cried at be reproduced without written permisclothes cops confronted him in Phone: 202 561-4100 • Fax: 202 574-3785 some who vowed to make the the inhumanity.” sion from the publisher. The Informer Mickey Thompson, Social Sightings columnist the early morning hours of Feb E-mail: news@washingtoninformer.com Newspaper cannot guarantee the return complacent uncomfortable and Diallo referred to friends of www.washingtoninformer.com 4, 1999, and as he pulled out his Stacey Palmer, Social Media Specialist of photographs. Subscription rates are others who promised to con- Bell, 23, who’d joined him at his wallet, they fired 41 shots, hitting $45 per year, two years $60. Papers will Angie Johnson, Circulation tinue protesting until Congress bachelor party on Nov. 25, 2006.

PUBLISHER be received not more than a week after him 19 times. moves to ensure that special Denise Rolark Barnes publication. Make checks payable to: The four were indicted but prosecutors investigate contro- Seven Queens Vice cops, thinkREPORTERS ing they saw a gun after one of STAFF REPORTERS subsequently freed.

THE WASHINGTON Brooke N. Garner INFORMER Managing Stacy Editor Brown, Tia C. Jones, Laiscell, Eve Ferguson, Sam P.K.EdCollins, versial police shootings. Similar Bell’s groomsmen got into an ar“We’ve been here so many rallies took place in New York, Carla PeayLuther King, Assistant Managing Editor Odell B. Ruffin, Larry Saxton, 3117 Martin Jr. Ave., S.E Elton Hayes, D. Kevin McNeir, Dorothy gument with another man, fired Ron BurkeD.C. 20032 Advertising and Marketing Mary Wells, Joseph Young Washington, times.

It’s been 16 years,” Diallo where more than 60,000 people Rowley, Barrington Salmon Mable Whittaker Bookkeeper 50 shots into the car, killing Bell Phone: 202 561-4100 told demonstrators that num- marched, Boston, MassachuLaNita Wrenn Administration PHOTOGRAPHERS Fax:John 202 574-3785 and wounding two of his friends.

E. De Freitas Sports Editor Lafayette Barnes, IV, bered in the tens of thousands setts, Lexington, Kentucky and news@washingtoninformer.com Victor Holt Photo Editor Bell died hours before his wedJohn E. De Freitas, Maurice Fitzgerald, on Dec. 12. “You fought for my in three California cities, Los www.washingtoninformer.com Zebra Designs, Inc. Layout & Graphic PHOTOGRAPHERS Design Joanne Jackson, Roy Lewis, Robert ding. Three officers involved in Ken Harris /www.scsworks.com Webmaster Ridley, Victor Holt Lassiter, son, for Sean Bell, Ramarley Gra- Angeles, Berkeley and Oakland.

John E. DeFreitas, Shevry the shooting were booted from ham, Mohamed Bah. Let me tell Roy Lewis, Nancy Shia Marlow The Brown and Garner ver- the force. The restL.Y. CIRCULATION were acquityou something: As the mother dicts have tapped into a reservoir Paul Trantham ted of murder charges and were of Amadou Diallo, when those of anger and frustration that INTERNS allowed to retire with full penfour white officers were freed, I shows no signs of abating.

Roger Perryman-Brown; Capricia Galloway sions. thought my life had ended.”

Diallo, a native of Guinea, Diallo said it’s disheartening “We have to ask the question. held up a copy of Time Maga- for black and brown men and 4 / May 15 - 21, 2008 The Washington Informer / www.washingtoninformer.com Why were our sons shot down? zine with a picture of her son Leslie’s son is supposed to be and a story titled, “Cops, BrutalSee MOMS on Page 10

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WI Staff Writer

“Woman Hold Her Head and Cry …”

Grieving Mothers Lead D.C. March Against Police Violence

“

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.

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AROUND THE REGION

You Can Say It Like A Pro! Let us help you develop the communication skills to compete and win!

■ Executive Presentation Coaching ■ Media Training

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Contributing Writer @SamPKCollins For months, Cherri Branson asked county officials to reveal the findings of an investigation into allegations of excessive force on a Germantown, Maryland, teenager. Her efforts, however, have remained futile because of a rule that protects such information.

During a discussion at a local community center, Branson decried the state law, which is titled the Maryland Public Information Act, and spoke out against what she described as police officers’ assault on black people in Montgomery County and across the country.

“The taxpayers have the right to understand what happens in these cases because [these officers] are providing a service,” Branson, former Montgomery County council member, said before more than 30 people at a community action assembly on police misconduct at the Gwendolyn E. Coffield Center in Silver Spring, Maryland. “This is the only fiduciary body where that doesn’t happen. We have to understand where all of this [hostility] starts. The fear of the black man has been around since slavery,” said Branson.

The police-involved shooting deaths of Mike Brown, Eric Garner, John Crawford III, and others have prompted action by the White House and sparked a national movement that shows no sign of stopping. In recent

weeks, millions have taken to the streets after grand juries failed to indict Darren Wilson, the Ferguson, Missouri, officer who killed Brown, and Daniel Pantaleo, the New York City police officer who placed Garner in a deadly chokehold.

Members of the Thursday Network, the group that hosted the Dec. 11 gathering, said they want to create a space where community members, officers, and lawmakers can discuss how police interact with people of color. The event counted as the second of four town halls that will allow the local organization to fulfill that goal.

“Police brutality was something that we decided to own as an issue in August,” said Charis A. Goff, president of the Thursday Network, the Greater Washington Urban League’s umbrella organization for young professionals. “At our first event, D.C. Council member Tommy Wells discussed how we could address police brutality. It’s still a local problem. We’re trying to be preventative.”

That evening, guests listened as Commander Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department, Montgomery County Council member Tom Hucker (D-District 5), and Bernice Mireku-North, assistant state’s attorney in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, weighed in on the use of body cameras, citizen review boards, the concealment of police disciplinary records, and officers’ implicit bias. Samantha Davis, the Thurs-

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Police, Community Members Meet Amid Controversy

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Commander Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department answered community members’ questions about how the department has addressed allegations of racial profiling during a community action assembly at the Gwendolyn E. Coffield Center in Silver Spring, Maryland on Thursday, Dec. 11. / Photo by Travis Riddick

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“I grew up and went to public school here,” said Mireku-North, also chair of the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board. “I learned how [life in] Montgomery County [is for] a person of color. It’s a liberal county, [and] we sometimes confuse that with being non-racist. Part of the work is having a conversation.

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WEEK OF DEC 18 TO DEC 24

Black Facts DEC. 18 1865 – Congress passes the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, officially abolishing slavery in America.

The actual ratification of the amendment had been completed on Dec. 6.

1917 – Performer Ossie Davis is born Raiford Chatman Davis in Cogdell, Georgia. Davis was probably Black America’s best example of a combination entertainer and political activist. In addition to acting career, Davis and his wife, Ruby Dee, were deeply involved in the civil rights movement. Davis spoke at the funerals of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. He died of natural causes on Feb. 4, 2005.

1971 – In Chicago, the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson announces the founding of Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity), a civil rights organization dedicated to improving the plight of blacks through economic solutions.

1996 – The Oakland, California, school board shocks and angers many by recognizing “Ebonics” – so-called black English - as a separate language and not a dialect or slang.

DEC. 19 1875 – The “Father of Black History,” Carter Godwin Woodson, is born in Buckingham County, Virginia.

He went on to become the founder of the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History, later the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.

Woodson wrote several articles and books on black history.

1891 – Charles Randolph Uncles becomes the first black U.S. seminarian to be educated and ordained a priest in a ceremony in Baltimore.

BUYING RECORDS

DEC. 20 1860 – South Carolina secedes from the Union, fearing that the November election of Abraham Lincoln will lead to the end of slavery and cast the South into economic turmoil. Six other states follow South Carolina’s lead and leave the union by the time Lincoln takes office on March 4, 1861.

The states that secede form the Confederacy.

1986 – Three young black men are chased down by a white mob in the neighborhood of Howard Beach,

New York, and one is killed. The incident is remembered as one of the most explosive racial attacks and hate crimes in New York City’s history.

1988 – Max Robinson, the late ABC World News Tonight co-anchor who was the first African-American to work in such a capacity for a nightly network news operation, dies of complications of AIDS in Washington, D.C. DEC. 21 1865 – Following the example set

by Mississippi, South Carolina enacts a series of “Black Codes” after the Civil War ended. The codes were white Southerners’ way to attempt to control blacks in the wake of the end of slavery. They tried to achieve this by forcing formerly enslaved men and women to sign “labor contracts” with white employers that were so restrictive that they forced blacks to work in circumstances not much better than they had when they were enslaved.

The codes also banned sexual relationships between blacks and whites, an obsession with racist whites. Racists also used the codes to impede the economic progress of blacks by preventing them from opening their own businesses. The codes barred blacks from even selling farm products without the permission of a white employer. Fortunately, many of the codes were never fully enforced because Northern troops occupied the South and voided many of them.

DEC. 22 1898 – Historian and author Chancellor Williams is born in Bennettsville, South Carolina. Williams authored the book “Destruction of Black Civilization: Great Issues of Race from 4500 BC to 2000 AD.” The

book is considered a must-read for any serious student of black history.

Williams died in 1992.

1984 – Bernhard Goetz, a 45-yearold white man, shoots four black teenagers on a New York City subway after they surrounded him and asked for $5.

Goetz fled the scene, but turned himself in to authorities nine days later.

He is charged with attempted murder, assault, reckless endangerment and several firearms offenses. He is found him not guilty of all charges except for one illegal firearms possession count.

DEC. 23: 1815 – Abolitionist Henry Highland Garnet is born in Kent County, Maryland. Perhaps second only to Frederick Douglass, Garnet was the leading black abolitionist of the 1800s.

He was known for his tremendous oratorical skills and being bold in expressing his opinions. After the Civil War, however, he became frustrated with the slow pace of black progress in America and favored the establishment of an independent black nation in Africa.

DEC. 24 1881 – The Edgefield Exodus begins. More than 5,000 blacks, driven in part by a wave of white violence and economic exploitation, begin leaving Edgefield County, South Carolina, and resettle in Arkansas. The movement was also encouraged by people like Pap Singleton, who believed Southern blacks could enjoy a better life if they moved to the Midwest.

Dr. Carter G. Woodson

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 Dec 18 - Dec 24, 2014

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

VIEWP INT Elton McIntosh Silver Spring, Maryland I don’t think Robert Griffin III has what it takes to take this team to the next level. He has had many opportunities to prove that he can. He came into the league and had instant success because of his physical ability. That’s great, but to really win in pro football, you have to be able to stay in the pocket, go through your reads and make adjustments. I think his time as the team’s starting quarterback is done.

Laurence McCoy Washington, D.C. I think it would be better if the organization would get rid of Jay Gruden, but I don’t know if that will happen. I think he came in with the mandate work with Robert Griffin III, but it appeared to look like he gave up on that in the preseason – for whatever reason, I don’t know.

He also didn’t give Griffin a good quarterback coach or the proper instruction. They need to bring in a coach who can hire a good quarterback coach who will work directly with Griffin III.

THE WASHINGTON REDSKINS HAVE SUFFERED YET ANOTHER TUMULTUOUS SEASON IN WHICH FANS HAVE CALLED FOR THE FIRING OF HEAD COACH JAY GRUDEN AND THE RELEASE OF QUARTERBACK ROBERT GRIFFIN III. WHO SHOULD THE REDSKINS KEEP?

Jonathan Smythe Washington, D.C. I think the team should see if they can trade Griffin III before the offseason for a couple of draft picks and start new by drafting another quarterback, or seeing what can be done with [quarterbacks] Kirk Cousins and Colt McCoy. I think a change of scenery – similar to Mark Sanchez who is now in Philadelphia – would do Griffin some good. I think it’s time for him to move on, and it’s time for the organization to move on. They gave up a lot of draft picks to get him, so I can understand wanting to keep him around. But it’s time to cut ties.

Kelvin Mitchell Bowie, Maryland I think it would be best for Robert Griffin III to move on from the team. I don’t say that because I don’t think that he can get it done here, but just after all that has transpired, I don’t know if many people have a vote of confidence for him. He has all of the skills and talent needed to be a successful professional quarterback, but sometimes you need a change of scenery for a fresh start. I think that move will be best for both parties.

Raymond Toles Adelphi, Maryland I think Jay Gruden has been a little too carefree in airing the team’s dirty laundry to the media and the public.

Robert Griffin III’s shortcomings have existed since he came into the league, but [former head coach] Mike Shanahan kept most of it inhouse and didn’t talk about them to everyone. I think both Gruden and Griffin are at fault, but I also think they can co-exist if they learn to work with each other.

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Sybrina Fulton, the mother of slain teen Trayvon Martin, spoke to a huge crowd of supporters on Saturday, Dec. 13, at the March for Justice, which was organized by the Rev. Al Sharpton Jr., who leads the National Action Network. /Photo by Roy Lewis

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gether the families of Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, Amadou Diallo, Trayvon Martin and others – all pointing to the deaths of unarmed black men at the hands of police and demanding that members of Congress take action.

The crowd, a rainbow of races, religions and sexual orientations, reflected the diversity that has been this country’s greatest asset and, in some cases, its greatest liability.

One group of children from California learned about the march while visiting the District on a school trip and decided to join the protesters.

“Clearly, a lot of people care about the problem of police brutality and racism but not enough because it’s still happening,” said Izzy Mueller, 13, a student at The Saklan School in Moraga, California, whose mission is to challenge students to “think creatively, act compassionately and live courageously.”

A fellow classmate, whose parents moved to the U.S. from India, said, “Different doesn’t mean bad.”

“Most of us are only 13 or 14, but we know right from wrong.

Black boys and black men are being killed, and it’s because of racism. After hundreds of years, America still hasn’t solved that problem. I think we’re on the verge of a revolution,” said Bikram Johal, 13.

One Kentucky State University graduate said she participated in the march but with mixed emotions.

“The fact that it’s young blacks that continue to be killed has really struck a chord and is the reason I’m here today,” said Kamela Fleming, who lives in Bowie, Maryland.

“My father is in his 70s and

was active in the movement in the 1960s. I never dreamed that I would have the same kind of tragic stories to tell my children that he shared with me when I was growing up. I don’t want to have to tell my children sad tales.

I’m here because I want to be part of the solution – we need to put an end to this,” said Fleming, 23.

One father from the District brought his three young sons, ages 10, 9 and 7, to witness the day’s events.

“Our dad talks to us about what’s going on and how black men keep getting shot,” said Benjamin Davis, the oldest of the three brothers.

“I don’t feel safe around policemen. Why don’t they ask people what they’re doing before they hurt them or kill them? Maybe they weren’t doing anything wrong. Our dad says discrimination still exists in America, and that’s not right,” Benjamin said.

Author, activist and academician Michael Eric Dyson said he was happy to join so many Americans across the country who believe that “black lives matter.”

“This country has a vicious stereotype of who blacks are – even the president has been demonized and attacked because he’s a black man,” said Dyson, professor of sociology at Georgetown University.

“We have to end the state-sanctioned killings of young black men at the hands of whites with badges and guns. We’re all God’s children. We’re here because all of humanity should be here,” said Dyson, 56, who grew up in a crime-ridden neighborhood on Detroit’s west side.

Fellow Detroiter Gregory Ellis Mathis, best known as an arbiter Judge Mathis on a syndicated television show, said racial profil-

See JUSTICE on Page 9

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AROUND THE REGION

Marchers carried signs with a variety of messages that expressed their discontent with the current practices of many of America’s police departments during the March for Justice in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Dec. 13. /Photo by Shevry Lassiter

Men, women and children of all ages and races lined the streets of Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Dec. 13, tired of “business as usual” and a judicial system that some say cares very little about black lives. /Photo by Travis Riddick.

JUSTICE continued from Page 8 ing cannot be ignored.

“America needs to decide what’s better for our citizens: equal education for all or the mass incarceration of black youth,” said Mathis.

“The need for secret grand juries, established in the 1200s to keep people from testifying against kings of England, should have been abolished long ago.

We need greater transparency.

We need to use data to show that some policemen are racially profiling young black men, and those officers need to be rooted out,” said Mathis, 54.

One woman, who stood with her friend as the procession of marchers moved along Pennsylvania Avenue, said she came to show her solidarity.

“One sign that spoke about ‘justice for all’ really got to me because it reminded me that we’re all in this together – we’re all part of one country,” said Linda Hunt.

“I hate to down the police because they’re here to keep us

safe, but I think that there are too many officers who are trigger happy – or maybe they’re just afraid of young black men.

I guess if I saw four black teens in hoodies approach me, I’d be a little afraid. But then, if they were four white teens dressed the same way, I’d be just as afraid,” said Hunt, 59 Sharpton said he wanted to honor the dead during the march and to prevent others from dying needlessly.

“We didn’t start the trouble and we didn’t come here to make trouble. We didn’t kill a black man in a chokehold. We’re in D.C. to bring the conversation to a national level,” Sharpton said.

“Today is about the victims – young men whose rights were denied. This isn’t a black march or a white march – it’s America’s march for rights. We’re going to keep the light shining until justice prevails. We’re not going to allow you to keep sweeping things under the rug. If you want to get rid of roaches, you have to keep the light shining,” said Sharpton, 60.WI

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MOMS continued from Page 4 boys to still face racial profiling and death at the hands of law enforcement in 2014.

She’s not alone. The grand jury acquittals of cops who shot and killed 18-year-old Michael Brown and 42-year-old Eric Garner a week apart has created a groundswell of anger and protest that has persisted in cities across the country. Since Brown’s killing on Aug 9, protestors have been on the streets demanding police accountability, an end to racial profiling, police abuse and excessive force as well as substantive changes to laws that target and criminalize young black and Latino men.

The protests staged in Ferguson, Missouri have persisted for more than 127 days.

Throngs of protestors gathered at Freedom Plaza on a cool, clear day, many carrying signs such as, “I Can’t Breathe,” “Racism is a Deadly Disease. Heal America,” “No Justice, No Peace!” and #This Stops Today.”

Several civil rights organizations pulled the march and rally together, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People [NAACP], the National Urban League and a network of organizations and young activists. The composition of the crowd reflected America’s diversity ethnically, culturally, socially and otherwise.

Young people shared space with the elderly; the able-bodied strode beside people on crutches, in wheelchairs or walking with canes; singles, married couples and families commingled, as did union members, activists and a range of others determined to add their outrage and concern to the chorus being raised loudly time and time again since Aug. 9

POLICE continued from Page 5 my [eyes] that the body camera wouldn’t catch. The data also has to be stored somewhere.

Where do we store it? We’re in a two-party consent state. When we walk into people’s homes, will they allow us to keep the camera on?”

While Jones’ comments about building personal relationships with police officers resonated with Diane Bond, a Silver Spring, Maryland, resident who used a pseudonym, she admitted that people have few opportunities to talk to officers outside of community forums and traffic

10 Dec 18 - Dec 24, 2014

The Washington Informer

On stage, with the scaffolded dome behind them, mothers, fathers and relatives of slain young African American, continental African and Caribbean young men stood shoulder-to-shoulder calling on Congress to act decisively to transform the criminal justice system. A crowd stretching several blocks along Pennsylvania Avenue in Northwest listened intently to speakers who included Trayvon Martin’s mother Sybrina Fulton, Esaw Snipes-Garner, Eric Garner’s widow, John Crawford, who police gunned down in a Fairfield, Ohio Walmart while carrying a toy gun and Samaria Rice, mother of 12-year-old Tamir Rice, shot and killed by a Cleveland, Ohio police officer, while playing with a toy gun.

“It’s so lovely to see all of you standing with us together. Look at the masses, black, white, all colors.

This is a great moment. We need to stand like this all the time,” said Garner’s mother Gwen Carr. “Each and every one of you brought our sons here today. You’re here to have our voices heard. I hope they hear us and accede to our demands …”

John Crawford asked that those gathered never forget his son’s name.

“I’m here today to support these families at the ‘Wall of Shame,”’ he said “My son’s name will be vindicated. I worked in the system for 20 years, in criminal justice, and I’ve never felt so much shame. This same system is what I’m receiving injustice from. My son was not in a grocery store or on the street. He was in Walmart, the nation’s largest employer. Did we get an ‘I’m sorry?’

Absolutely not. Shame on Walmart and the Walton family.”

Mary-Pat Hector, NAN’s National Youth Director, focused on the power of disruption.

“The daily humiliations of en-

counters with police – ‘stop and frisk’ in New York, ‘contact cards’ in Chicago and ‘up against the wall’ in Oakland cannot continue,” the 16-year-old Atlanta native said. “So what must we do? Use the purchasing power of our communities.

Every day, we’re going to make you feel uncomfortable because African Americans have been uncomfortable for far too long.”

Toni Sanders, who helped stop traffic on I-395 and who directs ThinkMOOR, [Movements of Organized Revolutionaries] said she and others are committed to bringing about change.

“We’ve been here out on the streets every night and we shut down I-395,” she said. “This is not an issue of police brutality, this is a human rights issue. We’re fighting for human rights. It’s not black or white, it’s us against the system – this is a fight against white supremacy.

What we’re going through right now is what the system created. We tried to be non-violent, tried to throw out weight against the system but nothing has changed. The deaths and murders of black and brown people continue. People of D.C., fists up, People of D.C., fists up!”

Mary Salm said she’d taken part in a recent protest in Dupont Circle and felt compelled to join people of like mind.

“I just want to stand up against police violence,” said Salm, a D.C. resident and Las Vegas native who came with her husband Chris. “I don’t know what the answers are but police departments have to come to the table and communicate. We have to have a conversation about what it takes to change … it’s not us against them. We’re in this together.” WI

stops.

“I’ve been pulled over twice this year,” said Bond. “Each time, officers followed me for a lengthy amount of time. In those instances, you don’t feel safe, especially when the officer has his hand on his gun. That’s how I was approached once only to find out that they stopped me because the light under my license plate blew out.”

During the question-and-answer portion of the forum, Jones revealed that the officer under investigation in the Germantown case hasn’t been suspended, a realization that political activist Gabriel Acevero said underscores the importance

of making long-term, tangible changes to the justice system.

“If I wouldn’t have asked that question [about the investigation], then no one would have known that the officer [involved] is still patrolling,” said Acevero, who also serves as communications director of the African-American Democratic Club of Montgomery County. “This forum needs to be followed up with substantive propositions and internal changes. We need a better way to track pending investigations on police officers.

Citizens also need greater oversight so they can weigh in on the process,” said Acevero, a Silver Spring, Maryland, resident. WI

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Dec 18 - Dec 24, 2014

11

Need Health Coverage or Know Someone Who Does?

The Capital Region Health Connector (www.capitalhealthconnection.org) is one of six organizations working with the Maryland Health Connection (www. marylandhealthconnection.gov), the state’s online insurance marketplace, to provide outreach and enrollment services to families and

individuals in Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties. Trained health navigators and assisters can help you shop, select and enroll in coverage that fits your needs and your budget. Depending on your income, you may qualify for Medicaid (at no cost to you) or help in paying the cost of a private health

insurance plan.

By law, under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), most people over age 18 must have health insurance coverage or pay a fine. The health care law offers individuals and families access to affordable health insurance coverage, including

private health insurance (qualified health plans) and Medicaid (Medical Assistance).

Why is health insurance important?

Health insurance protects you and your family from large debts

due to unexpected medical costs such as medical emergencies, surgery or a serious illness. An unexpected illness or injury can happen to anyone, even someone who is young and healthy. Without health coverage, or without enough coverage, an illness or injury can drain savings. Medical bills are a leading cause of personal bankruptcy in the United States.

Open Enrollment Season is November 15 to February 15, 2015 During this second year of enrollment, we urge you to take care of yourself and your health by making sure you have health coverage. Open enrollment continues until February 15, 2015 but don’t wait—enroll by December 18 for your coverage to begin January 1.

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• Go to www.marylandhealthconnection.gov and apply online.

• Call Maryland Health Connection’s call center at 1-855-6428572 (toll free) or 1-855-6428573 (TTY) and apply over the telephone.

• Get in-person help—trained navigators and assisters are available at more than 30 locations throughout Prince George’s and Montgomery counties to help you enroll. Go to www.capitalhealthconnection.org and click on “Sign Up Locations” or call the Capital Health Connection at 240-7738250. There are evening and weekend hours available.

To enroll in health coverage, be sure to have this information ready:

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• Social security numbers (or document numbers for any legal Advertiser: immigrants who need MHC insurance) • Birthdates and general informaPublication: The Washington Inform tion about every family member applying for health coverage Insertion Date: Thursday, Dec. 11, 201 • Employer and income information for everyone in9.5” your Ad Size: x 12.375” family (for example-paystubs, W-2Title: forms, or wage and tax covered - Mom We’re statements) • Policy numbers for any current If you have received this publication mat health insurance youany are questions covered about it p in error, or have by contact the traffic dept. at Weber Shand • Information about any job-relatat (410) 558 2100. ed health insurance available to your family

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Feds Appropriate $100 Million for Purple Line

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

Measure Included in $1.1 Trillion FY 15 Spending Package

By William J. Ford WI Contributing Writer @jabariwill Prince George’s and Montgomery counties are one step closer to being linked by a light-rail system after Congress on Dec. 13 passed a $1.1 trillion FY15 spending package which includes $100 million to build the 16-mile Purple Line.

The appropriation, pushed by Maryland Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D), is the first significant chunk of federal government money to be secured toward construction of the $2.45 billion project. The package also includes $100 million for construction of a 14-mile Red Line in Baltimore. Prince George’s officials heralded the funding for the Purple Line, which they said will create new businesses and thousands of jobs.

“The Purple Line is a critical component to enhancing economic activity in Prince George’s County, Montgomery County, and more importantly, the State of Maryland, by creating jobs, economic opportunities and revenue,” Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III said in a statement. “I want to thank Senator Mikulski and the rest of our Maryland Congressional Delegation for fighting so vigorously to secure funding for this important project. This is a significant achievement in an environment where federal dollars are so hard to come by. The Purple Line will be a game changer for this region.”

The Purple Line is slated to run inside the Beltway east to west from New Carrollton in Prince George’s County to Bethesda in Montgomery County. It is conceived to include 21 stations, four of which would be transfer points: New Carrollton, the University of Maryland-College Park, the Silver Spring Transit Center and Bethesda. The Purple Line would provide direct connections to Metro’s Orange, Green and Red lines and would also connect to the MARC Brunswick, Camden and Penn Lines, Amtrak and Acela. Construction on the project could begin in 2015 and is expected to take approximately five years, officials said.

It is estimated that about 69,000 commuters would use the Purple Line daily.

“There will be employment opportunities around those stations and when old commercial businesses are redeveloped, it could create a revenue spin-off for the county,”

CALL (202) 670-7495

Washington Informer 3.65 in W x 8 in H The Purple Line, if approved, is expected to create 6,300 regional jobs during the five-year construction. / Graphic courtesy of Montgomeryplanningboard.org

said David Iannucci, a senior economic adviser to Baker. “…It will allow people to move on an eastwest basis for employment [and] entertainment. The Purple Line is an investment for not only Prince George’s and Montgomery, but a future investment for years to come.”

Mikulski also touted the project’s potential.

“I fought hard for these federal funds to ease congestion, revitalize communities and improve our state’s transportation infrastructure,” she said in a statement.

The Maryland Transit Authority would oversee the project, which is scheduled for completion in 2020.

Prince George’s and Montgomery counties would each contribute at least $100 million.

Though local legislators are hopeful that it will move forward, especially in light of the federal appropriation, the project has not been green lighted by Maryland Gov.elect Larry Hogan (R), who has fretted about spending in Maryland.

“We have drained our checking and savings accounts, maxed out every credit card, we tapped into the Christmas fund, the college tuition funds, and we even broke into every one of the [kids’] piggy banks,” Hogan said on Dec. 11. “We are going to have to make some very difficult choices because state government cannot continue to spend more than it takes in.”

In October, as Hogan campaigned against Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown (D), he said: “We simply cannot afford this project right now.”

Iannucci said Baker administration officials hope Hogan will reconsider.

“The county executive has been

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making the same argument that the governor-elect has in talking about jobs. The Purple Line will create jobs and employment opportunities and a tax base,” Iannucci said. “We hope he sees the potential in what the Purple Line can offer.”

The chairs of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission boards for Prince George’s and Montgomery counties on Dec. 4 sent a letter to Hogan imploring him to continue plans to construct the Purple Line.

“A failure to follow through on the Purple Line after decades of technical analysis and political wrangling that have brought the project to the brink of approval would not only send exactly the wrong signal to enterprises that have made major commitments of resources to the Purple Line, but would encourage endless delay tactics as a way to block future infrastructure projects…” said Elizabeth Hewlett of the Prince George’s County board and Casey Anderson, who helms the Montgomery County agency.

“We know that money for the D.C. suburbs is a hard sell in some other parts of the state. But as appointed officials responsible for strengthening the key assets in our counties - particularly those assets needed to be competitive within the D.C. metro areas for jobs and residents in the future - we urge you to support the Purple Line as beneficial to the economic health of our region and state.”

State officials estimate that 6,300 jobs would be created during the five year construction period.WI

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Singer Rebounds from Muscular Dystrophy

Will Downing Delivers at Howard Theatre Concert

By D. Kevin McNeir WI Contributing Writer It may be easy to take life for granted but consider how you’d react if suddenly you couldn’t walk.

That’s what happened to one popular entertainer who, after extensive rehabilitation, has returned to the recording studio and the stage – with, he said, a grateful heart.

“In 2007 I was diagnosed with polymyositis [PM] – a muscular disease that I had never heard of before,” said Will Downing who recently released his 17th CD, “Euphoria” – marking a return to his jazz and R&B roots.

“Basically your cells attach each other and it put me on my back in a hospital and then in a wheelchair for about a year and a half. I remember watching Jerry Lewis and seeing people effected by muscular dystrophy but I didn’t really consider what people were going through until it happened to me. Suddenly, I had a direct and personal reference,” said Downing, 51.

PM, which usually begins after age 20, progresses gradually. And while it can lead to great discomfort for at least a period of time, effective treatments are available and for the most part the conditions isn’t life-threatening. Symptoms include pain, with marked weakness and loss of muscle mass in the muscles of the head, neck, torso and upper arms and legs. The hip extensors are often severely affected, leading to particular difficulty in ascending stairs and rising from a seated position.

Downing, along with a five-piece band and two backup singers, appeared at the Howard Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 13, performing two sold out sets. His delivery, well-received by the audience, illustrated how far medicine has come in the treatment of muscular diseases.

“Every time I step on stage it’s special because at one point I didn’t know if I’d ever be able to get out of bed, much less be able to do what I’ve been doing since 1988 – entertaining people all over the world. Touring can wear your body down so I have to take care of myself. But when the audience knows the songs and sings along with you, it washes away the fatigue of traveling,” he said.

Downing did not disappoint his fans, singing a remake from Atlantic Starr, “Send for Me,” and several of his biggest hits including, “I’m Wishing on a Star,” first made popular by Rolls Royce, “I Go Crazy” and “Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart),” The Washington Informer

R&B singer Will Downing, once unable to walk after contracting a rare muscular disease, brought the house down last weekend at the Howard Theatre. /Courtesy Photo

a Stylistics classic. He and one of his singers, Carole Riddick, teamed up for the mega-hit song that he originally recorded with Rachelle Ferrell, “Nothing Has Ever Felt Like This.”

He said he couldn’t really say which of his songs he likes the most because “they’re like children – I love them all.”

“One of the things that happens after you’d had commercial success is that people expect you to perform certain songs,” Downing said. “We decided to ask our fans what they wanted to hear and posted the titles of about 20 songs online from which they could choose. Their responses helped me determine our playlist and I felt really good about it and the show,” said the Brooklyn, New York native best known for his rich baritone vocals and his interpretations of R&B and pop classics.

Since his illness, Downing has become an advocate for several nonprofit, health-related organizations.

“I help raise funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association [MDA] and try to raise awareness about the disease,” he said. “I especially encourage blacks to see a doctor regularly. Let’s face it, we don’t go for routine checkups like we should, especially black men. In my case, the impact on my body could have been lessened if I had been see-

ing a doctor on a regular basis.”

In addition to serving as a spokesperson for MDA, Downing also volunteers with the American Stroke Association [ASA].

“My grandmother suffered a severe stroke when I was very young and from that point on she was basically bedridden,” Downing said. “I wanted to do more than just give speeches so I used my celebrity status and began working with the ASA to sponsor bowling events. They were fun for people but at the same time there were experts on hand to share valuable information about stroke prevention.”

Downing said he’s keeping focused and appreciates getting a second chance on life and music.

“I always knew I wanted to be a singer and remember listening to folks like Stevie Wonder, Al Jarreau and Luther Vandross when he was with the group Change before he went solo,” Downing said. “They really helped shape me because I imitated and borrowed from them. In the end, I added a little of each of them and learned first how to be a backup singer until I felt ready to go out on my own. I’m comfortable in my own shoes.” WI

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New Aquatic Center in Ward 8 Honors Barry

By Dorothy Rowley WI Staff Writer Mayor Vincent C. Gray joined members of his administration, community leaders and residents to celebrate the opening of the new Barry Farm indoor aquatic center in Ward 8. The official ribbon cutting, held Saturday, Dec. 13, drew dozens of area residents who have long-awaited the amenity to their Barry Farm neighborhood.

“I am thrilled today to celebrate the opening of this stateof-the-art aquatic center for the residents of Barry Farm and the Ward 8 community,” Gray said in a statement of the Dec. 13 event.

“This facility pays tribute to the memory of our beloved former mayor and Ward 8 Councilmember Marion S. Barry Jr., who fought tirelessly to ensure Ward 8 residents received equal access to quality services,” said Gray. “I want to thank all of the government agencies who worked to make this facility a reality.”

The Barry Farm revitalization project is part of New Communities Initiative, through collaboration with the city’s department of general services, parks and recreation and housing authority.

The $26 million project will include a new 8,800-square foot

Barry Farm Recreation Center alongside the new aquatic center.

The aquatic center represents the completion of the first phase and the recreation center represents phase two, slated for completion in spring 2015. The Barry Farm community will also receive a new playground under Gray’s Play DC: Playground Improvement Initiative.

“The opening of the pool represents one of many amenities to come for the Barry Farm community under the New Communities Initiative,” said NCI Director Kimberly King.

“We are excited to continue our work with residents and other stakeholders to see the vision of a vibrant mixed-income neighborhood where residents have quality housing, real economic opportunities and access to human services to fruition.”

Monica Miller, president of the Barry Farms resident counsel, expressed the sentiment of the residents who shared their excitement over the opening of the new pool. “This will be a safe environment for children and for our seniors who now will have to go. I can’t wait until the recreation center opens so we can have more programs here in our community.”

Rhonda Edwards Hines, the newly elected 8C06 advisory neighborhood commissioner

D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray helps cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony of the new Barry Farm indoor aquatic pool in Ward 8. / Photo by DR Barnes

said, “This pool was greatly anticipated not only for the children, but for the mothers and fathers, too. It’s a family affair,” she said, “and it allows us to get back in the water and spend quality family time. This is a hap-

py day for our community.”

Gray, who was scheduled to deliver his farewell address to the residents of the District on Wednesday at Dunbar Sr. High School in Northwest, said the aquatic and recreation center

were examples of the promises he sought to deliver on during his term in office.

“This is a beautiful facility just like what can be found in other neighborhoods across this city, and it is what the residents in this community deserve, as well,” Gray said.

Right after the ribbon was cut and the crowds dispersed, 10year old Kaya Raynor, along with her brother Javier, 5, and Starr Blakeney, 4, emerged from the dressing room in their swimsuits and walked gingerly into the pool’s warm water. Before long, they were kicking and splashing under the protective watch of lifeguards stationed around the pool.WI D.R. Barnes also contributed to this story.

Kaya Raynor, 10, her brother Javier, 5, and Starr Blakeney, 4, test the waters of the new Barry Farm indoor aquatic pool opened on Saturday, Dec. 13 in Southeast. / Photo by DR Barnes

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Dec 18 - Dec 24, 2014

15

BUSINESS EXCHANGE

Just Call

Industrial Bank’s Small Business Grant Initiative

To celebrate its 80th Anniversary, Industrial Bank has announced a Small Business Grant Initiative to provide the capital and subject matter expertise necessary to support several, for profit, entrepreneurial enterprises to position them for long-term success. In all, five grants: one President’s Award in the amount of $20,000 (best overall package) and four individual Enterprise Awards, each in the amount of $15,000, for a grand total of $80,000 will be awarded to companies meeting specific criteria, doing business in the Bank’s service area.

The purpose of these financial awards is to support Small Business Development and entrepreneurship across a broader spectrum of viable candidates.

B. Doyle Mitchell, Jr., Industrial Bank’s President and CEO stated, “Industrial Bank is pleased to announce its very first program that is designed to assist small businesses to grow, increase its viability and create jobs.”

To accomplish this goal, Industrial Bank has partnered with several organizations which operate in the space of small business and entrepreneurship to assist in the process of awareness generation as subject matter experts. Partners include: FSC First of Prince Georges County, the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc., Operation HOPE, the District of Columbia Chamber of Commerce and Washington Area Community Investment Fund (WACIF).

Working with these select organizations in support of this initiative, Industrial Bank both broadens the program’s reach and helps to connect current entrepreneurs with vital resources whose purpose is to support and promote their long-term success.

Small businesses are often referred to as the engines of job creation in the United States.

Their value and the role they play in our national economy are sometimes underestimated because they are in fact, small. In truth, there’s nothing small about the impact they have on our economy. According to Entrepreneur Magazine, there are between 25 million and 27 million small businesses in the U.S. that account for 60 to 80 percent of all U.S. jobs. 1 In 2014, Biz2Credit identified Washington, DC as one of the top 10 Best Small Business Cities in America. According to the most recent data available, approximately 65,000 small businesses employed about half of the district’s private workforce in 2011. Most small businesses are sole proprietorships and their economic contribution to the DC economy is significant. Annual income from sole proprietorships increased 7.6% in the 3rd quarter of 2013 and totaled $6.3 billion.

Consistent with its mission of, “Fostering the financial health of a diverse community,” Industrial Bank intends to continue to serve as a key catalyst, delivering the capital necessary to support small business growth and development. In line with this perspective, the hope is that a wide range of entrepreneurs doing business in the community (i.e. Barbershops, Beauty and Nail Salons, Restaurants, Auto Repair Shops, Auto Body Shops, and IT Companies as some examples) will see this as an opportunity to apply for the money necessary to fund an expansion, purchase new equipment, bid on a new project, or launch a new initiative.

All Grant Applications will be reviewed in accordance with guidelines established by Industrial Bank and must be submitted in one of the following methods: 1. Email: smallbusinessgrant@industrial-bank.com 2. Traditional mail or hand delivery to one of Industrial Banks’ eight Banking Center locations: a. 4812 Georgia Ave., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20011 b. 2000 Eleventh St., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20001 c. 125 45th St., N.E. Washington D.C. 20019 d. 2000 Fourteenth St., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20004 e. 1317 F St., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20004 f. 1800 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. 20020 g. 1900 John Hanson Lane Oxon Hill, MD 20745 h. 7610 Pennsylvania Ave., Forestville, MD 20747 January 15, 2015 is the deadline for application submissions. Applications are available at Industrial Bank’s banking centers or can be downloaded from Industrial Bank’s website located at: www.industrial-bank.com. For more information, contact Industrial Bank Customer Service: (202)722-2000. http://www.nbcnews.com/id/45996365/ns/business-small_business/t/how-many-jobs-canyour-startup-create-year/#.U_9aBGd0yU

1

16 Dec 18 - Dec 24, 2014

The Washington Informer

Me“Sir” The Ham Hock Group is a group of sophisticated and upper-class Washington, D.C. Black businessmen and wellpaid professionals set on evolving a movement to “replace the N-word.” Their call to action is for Blacks to completely remove the N-word from their terms and expressions. In concert with the popular “Black lives matter” slogan, numerous members of the Ham Hock Group are saying the words Blacks use “matter” in how we relate to each other.

The Ham Hock Group and its convener are successful role models.

Chairman Marion “Duke” Green is a businessman that was listed among the Black Enterprise top 100 Companies in the 1980s through the 1990s. The unofficial vice chair of the group is Lonnie Saunders, a Redskin of the 1970s era. They are men of proven leadership. Former DC Chamber of Commerce heads Malcolm Beech and Ron Evans are among businessmen that attend weekly meetings. Former nightclub entrepreneur Michel Daley, motivational speaker, singer and author Willie Jolley, as well as Carl T. Jones, who was a D.C. government contractor, and Merrick Malone, a former deputy mayor of Washington are among ten to twenty African-American “greybeards” that gather each week. They are among the power types in D.C. circles who have stepped forward to rid the world of the N-word.

A younger protégé of the group Eric Broyles is the movement’s prime mover. An attorney and investment banker, Broyles says: “Our movement to replace the “N-Word” is the start of African-American men reclaiming respect. At our web site (www.newnword.org) is a challenge for Blacks to sign a pledge to help eradicate the N-Word by changing use of that word to “Sir.” By signing the new N-word’s pledge, you agree the old N-Word is demeaning and has no place in our vocabulary. Broyles thinks that it’s imperative that young Blacks stop using the N-word.

He says Blacks need to abstain

By William Reed from using a word that devalues themselves and African-Americans’ communities.

All Ham Hock Group participants are coalescing efforts to advance “the N-work” into Sir. At www.newnword.org all are invited to join the movement by signing the pledge and subsequently “flooding the country with positive reaffirming notions of our value and dignity.”

What Eric Broyles is encouraging is the power of positive thinking and actions. Positive thinking is a mental and emotional attitude that focuses on the bright side of life and expects positive results. Positive people anticipate happiness, health and success, and believe they can overcome any obstacle and difficulty.

The power of positive thinking is not accepted by everyone.

Some people consider this type of thinking as nonsense, and scoff at its practitioners. But Broyles and company accept positive thinking as a fact, and believe in its effectiveness. Ham Hock Group participants have already “made their bones.”

Members own multi-million dollar businesses or control multi-million-dollar portfolios.

Saunders says: “The New N-Word is sir and you need to adopt the attitude of positive thinking in everything you do.

“Over the years, I have witnessed a heart-warming and uplifting trend of African-American men referring to each other as “sir” during conversations.

Black men can help to break stereotypical views of themselves by following this trend. We must reaffirm the value we see in each other by first reaffirming that value in how we refer to one another. The movement of replacing the N-Word with a word that is infinitely more respectful - Sir - is the start of Black men reclaiming pride and

See REED on Page 17

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BUSINESS

Business Booming for Local Entrepreneur Dallas Popcorn Soon to Be Stocked on Costco’s Shelves

By D. Kevin McNeir WI Contributing Writer Popcorn has become one of America’s favorite snack foods.

And with a little ingenuity and a lot of hard work, one local businesswoman said she’s finally “popping her way to success.”

“We moved 756 units which equates to 2,500 bags of air-popped popcorn in a four-day period while participating in the Costco Roadshow in Maryland last week and naturally we’re pleased with the public’s response to our product,” said Dr. Renette Dallas, a practicing, traditional naturopath who founded Life

by Dallas Popcorn in November 1999 and lives in Hyattsville, Maryland.

“The Roadshow provides businesses with an opportunity to showcase their products through customer demonstrations. Costco can’t buy our entire line so they let customers’ sales help them decide which two they will stock on their shelves. We exceeded their goal; our item sold a whopping five times the desired amount. It’s been a bit exhausting but I’m very happy,” said Dallas, a native Washingtonian whose popcorn has already become a favorite item for shoppers at Whole Foods Market in Silver Spring, as well as other nearby locations.

The Costco Roadshow, held Thursday, Dec. 11 through Sunday, Dec. 14, took place at the Woodmoore Shopping Center in Lanham, Maryland. Shoppers in the District will have a chance to sample Dallas’s popcorn when it’s featured at the Costco Roadshow in D.C. from Thursday, Jan. 8 through Sunday, Jan. 11.

“The Silver Spring location has

REED continued from Page 16 dignity that appears to be lost in today’s popular hip-hop culture and mass-media’s portrayals of Black men,” said Saunders.

The new N-word is at www. newnword.org. Blacks are encouraged to respond to the

Renette Dallas got a hand from several of her employees last week during a four-day customer demonstration of her product, Life by Dallas Popcorn, at a Lanham, Maryland Costco store. /Photo by Avis Thomas-Lester

been our top-selling store since 2000. Every week they order cases of Dallas Popcorn,” she said.

Life by Dallas Popcorn can currently be purchased at various Whole Food Market outlets in Maryland, D.C. and Virginia. But soon, Costco will offer several of the five flavors of air-popped popcorn to their members as a line item for all of their 80 Northeast Region stores.

The product comes in five flavors: Garlic Overdose; Italy in a Bag; ATS – All That Spice; Ecstasy; and the newest addition, Just Plain Good.

One grocer who works in Whole Food’s P Street location in Northwest said the popcorn has become quite popular.

“It not only tastes good but it has healthy ingredients, too. We order eight cases twice a week and carry four of her five flavors. It’s a real hit with our customers,” said Rashid Ramadhan, 41, who has worked at Whole Food Market for 10 years.

Dallas said she saw a niche and went after it.

“Who doesn’t like popcorn? Ours is different than most because it’s air-popped with nutritional yeast which gives the taste of cheese and with organic olive oil that offers the taste of butter but is dairy free, and gluten free.

“I believe in letting your food be your medicine and your medicine being your food,” she added.

“Dallas has a really good-tasting, high-quality product with nutritional attributes,” said Rachel Moyer, a 14-year employee with Costco who purchases snacks and candy for their stores in the Greater Washington Area.

“Popcorn is a hot item right now and hers is outstanding,” said Moyer.

“Our members trust our choice of products. Dallas is very much a part of the D.C. community and we look for ways to help members of the community build their businesses.

We’re excited for Dallas and really believe that she’ll find success in our buildings,” said Moyer, who works in the company’s Sterling, Virginia office.

Dallas said she’s proud to introduce her product to Costco’s members.

“It’s hard to be a small business owner and get your product on the shelves at Costco,” she said. But it’s even harder when yours is a blackowned company. For me this is a real David and Goliath story. In the end, the size of the business doesn’t matter – it’s the quality of the product.” WI For more about Life By Dallas.

Currently says Life of Dallas

greybeards and remove the N-Word and other phrases that denigrate our heritage from their vocabularies. It’s important that Blacks of confidence and culture join in the movement. Black men and women should sign the pledge and flood this country with positive

reaffirming notions of our value to ourselves and society. Join the movement and when you see another Black male greet him as “Sir” or with “What’s up, Sir?” WI William Reed is publisher of “Who’s Who in Black Corporate America” and available for projects via Busxchng@his.co

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Dec 18 - Dec 24, 2014

17

Who Is Enlightened?

Technology is exploding. Tech companies must be smarter, faster, more flexible and more agile with their services. However, a technology company, Enlightened, Inc. has added one more characteristic to this list and that is “Old Fashion values”.

Enlightened is a Technology Consulting company specializing in Software Engineering, Cyber Security and Management Consulting. Enlightened, an African American Owned company located in Washington DC was founded in 1999. Enlightened’s owners, Antwanye Ford (CEO) and Andre Rogers (CFO), met in college at George Washington University and have a passion for success. They share an understanding for the true value of their work. Great IT services protect lives and data, save the government and taxpayer’s money, and promote productivity in government agencies.

Many government agencies benefit from Enlightened’s work ethic including the Navy, Army, Office of Personnel Management, Health and Human Services, State Department and the District Government. Enlightened has expanded to several other cities and currently has projects in New York, Ohio, Illinois and Florida. Mr. Ford and Mr. Rogers consider themselves blessed to have been in business for 15 years and to employ over 170 staff. Enlightened will celebrate its 15th anniversary December 19, 2014 with an affirmation that oldfashioned values are the foundation of the company’s success.

Enlightened promotes core values throughout the company to continually build a culture of “customer

first”. Enlightened believes in “passion-laced” services with a simple model. Everyone in the company should be focused on solving customer’s challenges – even when the customer is not. Andre Rogers, CFO says: “If I anticipate my customer’s problems, then I become their solution”. If an Enlightened employee understands a customer’s problem – then they own it. It is the Enlightened staff member’s mission to solve customer problems –and in the right way. In an era of twitter, email, text, and software systems designed to support customer service, Enlightened believes that nothing replaces face to face meetings with a handshake and assurance that “we’ve got this”. As Antwanye reminds our employees, “nothing makes our customer feel better when we arrive on the scene”.

Again, Old fashion values.

Enlightened also believes that “to whom much is given, much is required”. Mr. Ford and Mr. Rogers are Christians who believe that Enlightened is more than a technology company. It is a platform to do good for our community. Enlightened provides internships for inner city youth. Antwanye is from Washington and believes in his city. He was the former Board Chair for the DC Chamber of Commerce (2013) and believes that commerce must be spread throughout the city. “Young Black kids must know that the American Dream is for them also”, said Antwanye. Enlightened’s owners believe that they have a responsibility to help create promising futures for young black kids throughout this country.

Enlightened provides funding for books for college Andre Rogers, Executive Vice President and CFO and Antwanye Ford President and CEO are very passionate about what they do and are committed to making a difference in the community.

The power of ideas transforms knowledge and inspires technological advancement.

Enlightened’s expertise in technology innovation helps our clients achieve success by solving their most critical problems.

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Enlightened specializes in: • Cyber Security • Management Consulting • Software Development and Integration To learn more, please contact us at: Telephone: +1.202.728.7190 www. enlightened.com

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18 Dec 18 - Dec 24, 2014

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students, feeds the homeless, raises funds for groups such as the American Heart Association and supports programs that focus on entrepreneurship. Andre Rogers, who was also the Board Chair for Prince George Chamber of Commerce in (2013), states “if we don’t give back to the community, then our blessings are for not”. Old-fashioned values for a new age.

Although Enlightened is a small business, they believe they can make gigantic impact on this world. Their faith tells them that one man changed the world. Recently while watching the unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, the owners knew that they had to do something. Enlightened has grown rapidly over the last 15 years and provides excellent technology services, but the greatest success is the community support that has changed lives. Enlightened has contacted Pastors in Ferguson to “seed” a fund to help rebuild businesses and support educational assistance programs for the youth of Ferguson. Enlightened will plant a seed that other businesses can sustain and grow to change lives and rebuild hope.

Enlightened is a member of the US Black Chamber, Inc. (USBC) which provides committed leadership in the realization of economic empowerment. Antwanye Ford, a USBC board member believes that as other USBC businesses around the country commit resources to Ferguson and other economically challenged areas, positive change will be made. Enlightened believes what is said in Hebrews “When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices”. It is time for the righteous around the country to show how the city will rejoice. Old-fashioned values to create change and build hope in a high tech world.

Enlightened, Inc. 1100 15th Street, NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC. 20005 (202) 728-7190 www.enlightened.com

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EDUCATION

Potomac Prep in Northeast Allowed to Remain Open

Mayor-elect Muriel Bowser Announces Inauguration Festivities

D.C. Charter School Board Rescinds Revocation, Sets Conditions

By Avis Thomas-Lester WI Editor-at-Large The D.C. Public Charter School Board voted Dec. 15 to allow a once-troubled Northeast Washington charter school to remain open after staff, parents and students lobbied for a chance to make it work under its new administration.

The board set a probationary period for the administration of Potomac Preparatory Public Charter School to show improvements in five areas, including improved test scores. The school will also be monitored to make sure officials are complying with the charter school board’s orders.

“Nobody, including the school’s leadership, disputes that the school’s performance in the past has been poor,” said PCSB Vice Chair Darren Woodruff. “However after visiting the school and hearing from the school community, many of us were persuaded that a turnaround is underway at the school. This is much more than a plan on paper; it is about continuing actual changes in culture and instruction that we have observed at the school.”

The board announced at its Nov. 17 meeting that it was initiating the process to revoke the charter of Potomac Prep, which was formerly operated as Potomac Lighthouse Public Charter School. The school began operating under the management of Lighthouse Academies, a national charter management organization, in 2005.

The charter school board said the school had failed over the last 10 years to meet basic standards. But the board granted stakeholders a hearing on Dec. 10 to plead their case. At that meeting, the list of speakers was so long that many who had prepared comments were unable to present them.

Speaker after speaker extolled the changes that have taken place in everything from tests scores to morale since White-Hood, an award-winning career educator who most recently worked as an administrator at the Maya Angelou Public Charter Schools in the District, took the helm in July.

“I believe Potomac Preparatory Public Charter School should stay open because it has helped me stay on the path of success to high school, college and a career,” eighth grader Branden Stoddard told the board members. “Here at Potomac, they help you follow your dreams of whatever you want to do in the future. Potomac will help you with anything you need help with, even with things at home.”

White-Hood said she hired new fac-

Mayor-elect Muriel Bowser announced the schedule for the Inaugural events which include three days of festivities for residents from all 8 Wards to help Mayor-elect Bowser usher in a fresh start for the District of Columbia.

Fifth grader Nyki Robinson urges the D.C. Public Charter School Board to reconsider revoking the charter of Potomac Preparatory Public Charter School at a hearing at the Northeast Washington school on Dec. 10 as arts infusion teacher Jason Robinson (right) watches. /Photo by Travis Riddick

ulty, engaged parents by urging them to get involved in their children’s education and focused resources on helping children with reading, science and math, while also creating enrichment programs.

Members of the charter school board listened intently as students told the board about new programs and amenities, such as a science lab and a tutoring program. White-Hood also started cheerleading, a Student Government Association and other extracurricular programs to foster academic pride, they said. Teachers and parents talked about the new enthusiasm among the students and their parents.

The PCSB members, while impressed, presented school officials with a list of improvements that must be made by the end of the school year: PPPCS must meet certain attendance standards; 50 percent of students must score proficient on the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) test; 75 percent of pre-kindergarten-3 and pre-kindergarten-4 students must “meet or exceed their average growth goals on the Every Child Ready assessment; and 50 percent of K-2 must meet certain standards for reading and math.

“If the school does not achieve all of these targets, the entire school will close at the end of the 2015-2016 school year,” the board held.

White-Hood said she is relieved for the chance for her school to continue and confident that the goals can be

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met, even with only six months left in the school year.

She said she has planned an educational rally on Jan. 23, 2015 where experts will discuss ways to help students achieve with parents, who will also meet with teachers about strategies to help their children at home.

She said the Potomac Prep board of directors is working with her “to develop a plan for each grade, each class and each student.” She and her staff will utilize Saturday school from 9 a.m. to noon, send-home learning tools, and online resources to give children additional assistance. Parents will be invited to attend sessions with teachers designed to teach them how to assist their children with their studies at home.

“We will be pushing thinking skills and technology,” White-Hood said.

“You can take an average child, but if he has good tech and thinking skills and is focused and motivated, he will do well on the PARCC.” After the Dec. 10 meeting, board members said they were pleased with what they saw on tours of the school.

“If the school is successful in meeting the ambitious conditions set as part of the charter continuance, it will be a great outcome for the students and families at Potomac Prep,” PCSB Executive Director Scott Pearson said in a statement. WI The Washington Informer

All events are free and open to the public.

Ticketing and registration information and volunteer opportunities are available at www.murielbowser.com.

January 1: 9:00AM – Mayor-elect Muriel Bowser’s Inauguration Fresh Start 5K Run/Walk Starting Location: Oyster-Adams Bilingual School – 29th and Calvert St NW January 2: 8:00AM – Mayor-elect Muriel Bowser’s Inauguration Interfaith Service Location: First Congregational United Church of Christ, 945 G Street, NW 9:30AM – The Inauguration of Muriel Bowser and Swearing-in of the Attorney General, Chairman of the Council and Members of the Council Location: Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon Place, NW 7:00PM – Mayor Muriel Bowser’s DC Proud Inaugural Ball Location: Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon Place, NW January 3: 2:00PM – Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Inaugural Kids Party Location: Southeast Tennis and Learning Center, 701 Mississippi Avenue, SE

Dec 18 - Dec 24, 2014

19

EDUCATION

An Open Letter to Black Elected Officials Each year, various social service organizations issue reports relating to the state of Black America. While issues such as affordable housing, jobs, crime and challenging family dynamics are generally discussed, the poor quality of the education received by far too many African-American children continues to be a focal point of these reports.

The facts don’t lie. According to John Hopkins University, 32 percent of African-American students drop out of high school nationally - 15 percentage more than their white counterparts. In urban school districts with a high concentration of low-income and minority students, the dropout rate for African Americans is even higher.

20 Dec 18 - Dec 24, 2014

According to the Schott Report on Black Males in Public Education, African-American males graduate at a lower rate than any other race in 38 of our nation’s 50 states. For over a decade, African-American students have been the least likely to obtain a high school diploma out of every racial or ethnic group in the United States. Additionally, the achievement gap between African-American and white students has consistently grown or stayed stagnant nationally with white students outperforming their African-American peers by up to 30 points on standardized tests. Not only are African-American students struggling in high school, but are ill prepared to succeed in high-

er education. Nearly 63 percent of African-American students enrolled in a full-time, four-year college institution fail to graduate.

For years, we have known that these deficits exist in many of the schools in our community. And for years, we have put a Bandaid on the problem and talked in platitudes about future solutions.

Yes, many of you offer well-intentioned remedies consistent with the memories of your own schooling, even though those days represent a time has long since passed. Additionally, many of you have relied on assurances from friends and acquaintances who are part of the education system and continue to work hard in that system each day, as-

The Washington Informer

Those of us who are vested with some measure of authority or influence need to take an all handson-deck approach to addressing

Kevin Chavous

the educational shortfalls within our community. surances of coming change that never comes for so many of our kids trapped in failing schools.

On the other hand, it is hard to join forces with some of your fellow conservative legislators who may be identified with education reform. I do understand that you have fought with many of those legislators for years over proposed cuts to social service programs that provide a needed lifeline for many of your constituents. As one of your colleagues from Mississippi said to me, “You need to realize that if I support charter schools or school choice, I am instantly identified with the enemy and viewed as a traitor to many of my people.”

I know that it is not easy to pick up the baton and challenge the education establishment on behalf of the kids not served well by that system.

But, those challenges aside, enough is enough.

Those of us who are vested with some measure of authority or influence need to take an allhands-on-deck approach to addressing the educational shortfalls within our community. As best we can, we need to lay aside the adult issues, the system preservation issues and the tendency to go along to get along and start to truly put our kids first.

Our new standard should be: Will this proposal - irrespective of who proposed it - help our children learn? If the answer is yes, we should support it.

Of course, this new approach requires something equally hard: taking the politics out of education. Now is the time for us to do all we can to take partisanship and party-caucus prioritizing out of the education policy

and funding discussion. Such partisanship continues to curtail the reform effort in many school districts and hurt our kids.

Rather, the example set by many of your peers in the Louisiana Black Legislative Caucus is one to follow. In recent years, several of those members have embraced bold education reform initiatives including charter schools, virtual learning, Common Core and a statewide opportunity scholarship program.

Moreover, some of those same members have been supportive of the aggressive system reform efforts promoted by state Superintendent John C. White.

Often, these Louisiana Black Caucus members find themselves voting with conservative colleagues with whom they disagree on most other issues. But, as Ann D. Duplessis, a former Louisiana state senator who now chairs the Louisiana State University System Board of Supervisors, said: “At some point, we have to come together to help our kids or accept the fact that we will continue to lose more of them.”

With all of the challenges facing Black America, none is more important to our future than the education of our young. As you enter your respective legislative sessions in the New Year, I truly hope that you find a way to extend yourselves beyond yourselves and build the needed alliances to get our kids in good schools now, by any means necessary. WI Kevin Chavous is senior advisor and executive counsel for the American Federation for Children and co-founder of Democrats for Education Reform.

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APPROVED USES TRIUMEQ is a prescription medicine used to treat Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (HIV-1) infection in adults.

HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS. It is not known if TRIUMEQ is safe or effective in children under the age of 18. TRIUMEQ is not for use by itself in people who have or have had resistance to abacavir, dolutegravir, or lamivudine.

TRIUMEQ does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. You must stay on continuous HIV-1 therapy to control HIV-1 infection and decrease HIV-related illness.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION What is the most important information I should know about TRIUMEQ? • Serious allergic reaction (hypersensitivity reaction).

TRIUMEQ contains abacavir. Patients taking TRIUMEQ may have a serious allergic reaction to abacavir that can cause death. Your risk is much higher if you have a gene variation called HLA-B*5701. Your healthcare provider can determine with a blood test if you have this gene variation. If you get symptoms from 2 or more of the following groups while taking TRIUMEQ, call your healthcare provider right away: 1. fever; 2. rash; 3. nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach pain; 4. generally ill feeling, extreme tiredness, or achiness; 5. shortness of breath, cough, or sore throat. Your pharmacist will give you a Warning Card with a list of these symptoms. Carry this Warning Card with you at all times.

If you stop taking TRIUMEQ because of an allergic reaction, never take TRIUMEQ or any other medicine that contains abacavir or dolutegravir again. If you take TRIUMEQ or any other abacavir-containing medicine again after you have had an allergic reaction, within hours you may get life-threatening symptoms that may include very low blood pressure or death. If you stop TRIUMEQ for any other reason, even for a few days, and you are not allergic to TRIUMEQ, talk with your healthcare provider before taking it again. Taking TRIUMEQ again can cause a serious allergic or life-threatening reaction, even if you never had an allergic reaction to it before. If your healthcare provider tells you that you can take TRIUMEQ again, start taking it when you are around medical help or people who can call a healthcare provider if you need one.

• A buildup of acid in your blood (lactic acidosis). Lactic acidosis can happen in some people who take TRIUMEQ. This serious medical emergency can cause death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you feel very weak or tired; have unusual muscle pain; have trouble breathing; have stomach pain with nausea and vomiting; feel cold, especially in your arms and legs; feel dizzy/light-headed; or have a fast/irregular heartbeat.

• Severe liver problems. Severe liver problems can happen in people who take TRIUMEQ. In some cases, these severe liver problems can lead to death. You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or serious liver problems if you are female, very overweight, or have been taking nucleoside analogue medicines for a long time. Call your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following signs or symptoms:

yellow skin, or the white part of the eyes turns yellow; dark urine; light-colored stools; nausea; itching; or stomach-area pain.

• Worsening of hepatitis B virus in people who have HIV-1 infection. If you have HIV-1 and hepatitis B virus infections, your hepatitis virus infection may get worse if you stop taking TRIUMEQ. Do not stop taking TRIUMEQ without first talking to your healthcare provider, so he or she can monitor your health.

• Resistant hepatitis B virus. If you have HIV-1 and hepatitis B, the hepatitis B virus can change (mutate) during your treatment with TRIUMEQ and become harder to treat (resistant).

• Use with interferon and ribavirin-based regimens. If you’re taking TRIUMEQ and interferon, with or without ribavirin, tell your healthcare provider about any new symptoms. Liver disease might get worse in patients who are taking HIV-1 medicines and interferon.

Who should not take TRIUMEQ? • Do not take TRIUMEQ if you: have the HLA-B*5701 gene variation have ever had an allergic reaction to abacavir, dolutegravir, or lamivudine take dofetilide (Tikosyn®) have certain liver problems What are other possible side effects of TRIUMEQ? • People with a history of hepatitis B or C virus may have an increased risk of developing new or worsening changes in certain liver tests during treatment with TRIUMEQ. Your healthcare provider may do tests to check your liver function before and during treatment with TRIUMEQ. • When you start taking HIV-1 medicines, your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that have been hidden in your body for a long time. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you start having new symptoms after starting your HIV-1 medicine.

• Changes in body fat can happen in people who take HIV-1 medicines.

• Some HIV-1 medicines, including TRIUMEQ, may increase your risk of heart attack.

The most common side effects of TRIUMEQ include: trouble sleeping, headache, and tiredness.

These are not all the possible side effects of TRIUMEQ. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Important Safety Information continued on next page.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see brief summary of Prescribing Information for TRIUMEQ on the following pages.

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Dec 18 - Dec 24, 2014

21

Introducing New

Talk to your healthcare provider to learn more or visit www.triumeq.com

What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking TRIUMEQ? • Before you take TRIUMEQ, tell your healthcare provider if you: have been tested and know whether or not you have a gene variation called HLA-B*5701. have or had liver problems, including hepatitis B or C infection; have kidney problems; have heart problems, smoke, or have diseases that increase your risk of heart disease such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes; drink alcoholic beverages; or have any other medical condition. are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if TRIUMEQ will harm your unborn baby. are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you take TRIUMEQ. • You should not take TRIUMEQ if you also take: abacavir (EPZICOM, TRIZIVIR, or ZIAGEN) lamivudine (COMBIVIR®, EPIVIR, EPIVIR-HBV ®, EPZICOM, or TRIZIVIR) emtricitabine (EMTRIVA®, ATRIPLA®, COMPLERA®, STRIBILD®, TRUVADA®) • Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines (for example, antacids; laxatives; vitamins such as iron or calcium supplements; anti-seizure medicines; other medicines to treat HIV-1, hepatitis, or tuberculosis; metformin; and methadone) and herbal supplements (for example, St. John’s wort). TRIUMEQ may affect the way they work, and they may affect how TRIUMEQ works. ©2014 ViiV Healthcare group of companies. All rights reserved.

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BRIEF SUMMARY TRIUMEQ® (TRI-u-meck) (abacavir 600 mg/dolutegravir 50 mg/lamivudine 300 mg) tablets Read this Medication Guide before you start taking TRIUMEQ and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This information does not take the place of talking to your healthcare provider about your medical condition or your treatment. Be sure to carry your TRIUMEQ Warning Card with you at all times.

• Use with interferon and ribavirin-based regimens. Worsening of liver disease has happened in people infected with HIV-1 and hepatitis C virus who are taking anti-HIV medicines and are also being treated for hepatitis C with interferon with or without ribavirin. If you are taking TRIUMEQ and interferon with or without ribavirin, tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms.

What is the most important information I should know about TRIUMEQ? • Serious allergic reaction (hypersensitivity reaction). TRIUMEQ contains abacavir (also contained in EPZICOM®, TRIZIVIR®, and ZIAGEN®). Patients taking TRIUMEQ may have a serious allergic reaction (hypersensitivity reaction) that can cause death. Your risk of this allergic reaction to abacavir is much higher if you have a gene variation called HLA-B*5701. Your healthcare provider can determine with a blood test if you have this gene variation.

If you get a symptom from 2 or more of the following groups while taking TRIUMEQ, call your healthcare provider right away to find out if you should stop taking TRIUMEQ.

What is TRIUMEQ? TRIUMEQ is a prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 (Human Immunodeficiency Virus-type 1) infection. TRIUMEQ contains 3 prescription medicines: abacavir (ZIAGEN), dolutegravir (TIVICAY), and lamivudine (EPIVIR®).

• TRIUMEQ is not for use by itself in people who have or have had resistance to abacavir, dolutegravir, or lamivudine.

It is not known if TRIUMEQ is safe and effective in children.

TRIUMEQ may help: • reduce the amount of HIV-1 in your blood. This is called “viral load”.

• increase the number of white blood cells called CD4+ (T) cells in your blood, which help fight off other infections.

Reducing the amount of HIV-1 and increasing the CD4+ (T) cells in your blood may help improve your immune system. This may reduce your risk of death or getting infections that can happen when your immune system is weak (opportunistic infections).

TRIUMEQ does not cure HIV-1 infection or AIDS. You must stay on continuous HIV-1 therapy to control HIV-1 infection and decrease HIV-related illnesses.

Avoid doing things that can spread HIV-1 infection to others.

• Do not share or re-use needles or other injection equipment.

• Do not share personal items that can have blood or body fluids on them, like toothbrushes and razor blades.

• Do not have any kind of sex without protection. Always practice safer sex by using a latex or polyurethane condom to lower the chance of sexual contact with semen, vaginal secretions, or blood.

Ask your healthcare provider if you have any questions about how to prevent passing HIV to other people.

Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4 Group 5

Symptom(s) Fever Rash Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal (stomach area) pain Generally ill feeling, extreme tiredness, or achiness Shortness of breath, cough, sore throat

Who should not take TRIUMEQ? Do not take TRIUMEQ if you: • have a certain type of gene variation called the HLA-B*5701 allele. Your healthcare provider will test you for this before prescribing treatment with TRIUMEQ. • have ever had an allergic reaction to abacavir, dolutegravir, or lamivudine • take dofetilide (TIKOSYN®). Taking TRIUMEQ and dofetilide (TIKOSYN) can cause side effects that may be life-threatening.

• have certain liver problems What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking TRIUMEQ? Before you take TRIUMEQ, tell your healthcare provider if you: • have been tested and know whether or not you have a particular gene variation called HLA-B*5701 • have or had liver problems, including hepatitis B or C virus infection • have kidney problems • have heart problems, smoke, or have diseases that increase your risk of heart disease such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes • drink alcoholic beverages • have any other medical condition • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if TRIUMEQ will harm your unborn baby.

Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking TRIUMEQ. Pregnancy Registry. There is a pregnancy registry for women who take antiviral medicines during pregnancy. The purpose of the registry is to collect information about the health of you and your baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about how you can take part in this registry.

• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you take TRIUMEQ. You should not breastfeed because of the risk of passing HIV-1 to your baby. It is not known if abacavir or dolutegravir passes into your breast milk. Lamivudine can pass into your breast milk and may harm your baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and overthe-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. TRIUMEQ may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how TRIUMEQ works.

You should not take TRIUMEQ if you also take: • abacavir (EPZICOM, TRIZIVIR, or ZIAGEN) • lamivudine (COMBIVIR®, EPIVIR, EPIVIR-HBV®, EPZICOM, or TRIZIVIR) • emtricitabine (EMTRIVA®, ATRIPLA®, COMPLERA®, STRIBILD®, TRUVADA®) Tell your healthcare provider if you take: • antacids, laxatives, or other medicines that contain aluminum, magnesium, sucralfate (CARAFATE®), or buffered medicines. TRIUMEQ should be taken at least 2 hours before or 6 hours after you take these medicines. (continued on the next page)

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A list of these symptoms is on the Warning Card your pharmacist gives you. Carry this Warning Card with you at all times.

If you stop TRIUMEQ because of an allergic reaction, never take TRIUMEQ or any other medicines that contain abacavir or dolutegravir (EPZICOM, ZIAGEN, TRIZIVIR, or TIVICAY®) again. If you take TRIUMEQ or any other abacavir-containing medicine again after you have had an allergic reaction, within hours you may get life-threatening symptoms that may include very low blood pressure or death. If you stop TRIUMEQ for any other reason, even for a few days, and you are not allergic to TRIUMEQ, talk with your healthcare provider before taking it again. Taking TRIUMEQ again can cause a serious allergic or life-threatening reaction, even if you never had an allergic reaction to it before.

If your healthcare provider tells you that you can take TRIUMEQ again, start taking it when you are around medical help or people who can call a healthcare provider if you need one.

• Build-up of acid in your blood (lactic acidosis). Lactic acidosis can happen in some people who take TRIUMEQ. Lactic acidosis is a serious medical emergency that can lead to death.

Lactic acidosis can be hard to identify early, because the symptoms could seem like symptoms of other health problems.

Call your healthcare provider right away if you get the following symptoms that could be signs of lactic acidosis: • feel very weak or tired • have unusual (not normal) muscle pain • have trouble breathing • have stomach pain with nausea and vomiting • feel cold, especially in your arms and legs • feel dizzy or light-headed • have a fast or irregular heartbeat • Severe liver problems. Severe liver problems can happen in people who take TRIUMEQ. In some cases these severe liver problems can lead to death. Your liver may become large (hepatomegaly) and you may develop fat in your liver (steatosis).

Call your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following signs or symptoms of liver problems: • your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow • dark “tea-colored” urine • light colored stools (bowel movements) • nausea • itching • stomach-area pain You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or serious liver problems if you are female, very overweight, or have been taking nucleoside analogue medicines for a long time.

• Worsening of hepatitis B virus in people who have HIV-1 infection. If you have HIV-1 and hepatitis B virus infections, your hepatitis virus infection may get worse if you stop taking TRIUMEQ. To help avoid this: Take TRIUMEQ exactly as prescribed.

• Do not run out of TRIUMEQ. • Do not stop TRIUMEQ without talking to your healthcare provider.

• Your healthcare provider should monitor your health and do regular blood tests to check your liver for at least several months if you stop taking TRIUMEQ. • Resistant Hepatitis B Virus (HBV). If you have HIV-1 and hepatitis B, the hepatitis B virus can change (mutate) during your treatment with TRIUMEQ and become harder to treat (resistant).

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BRIEF SUMMARY (cont’d) TRIUMEQ® (abacavir, dolutegravir, and lamivudine) tablets • anti-seizure medicines: • oxcarbazepine (TRILEPTAL®) • phenytoin (DILANTIN®, DILANTIN®-125, PHENYTEK®) • phenobarbital • carbamazepine (CARBATROL®, EQUETRO®, TEGRETOL®, TEGRETOL®-XR, TERIL®, EPITOL®) • any other medicine to treat HIV-1 • iron or calcium supplements taken by mouth. Supplements containing calcium or iron may be taken at the same time with TRIUMEQ if taken with food. Otherwise, TRIUMEQ should be taken at least 2 hours before or 6 hours after you take these medicines.

• medicines used to treat hepatitis virus infections, such as interferon or ribavirin • a medicine that contains metformin • methadone • rifampin (RIFATER®, RIFAMATE®, RIMACTANE®, RIFADIN®) • St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of your medicines with you to show to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure if you take one of the medicines listed above.

How should I take TRIUMEQ? • Take TRIUMEQ exactly as your healthcare provider tells you.

• Do not change your dose or stop taking TRIUMEQ without talking with your healthcare provider.

• Stay under the care of a healthcare provider while taking TRIUMEQ. • You can take TRIUMEQ with or without food.

• If you miss a dose of TRIUMEQ, take it as soon as you remember. If it is within 4 hours of your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at your regular time. Do not take 2 doses at the same time. If you are not sure about your dosing, call your healthcare provider.

• Do not run out of TRIUMEQ. The virus in your blood may become resistant to other HIV-1 medicines if TRIUMEQ is stopped for even a short time. When your supply starts to run low, get more from your healthcare provider or pharmacy.

• If you take too much TRIUMEQ, call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.

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What are the ingredients in TRIUMEQ? Active ingredients: abacavir, dolutegravir, and lamivudine Inactive ingredients: D-mannitol, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, povidone, and sodium starch glycolate. The tablet film-coating contains iron oxide black, iron oxide red, macrogol/ PEG, polyvinyl alcohol–part hydrolyzed, talc, and titanium oxide.

This Medication Guide has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Manufactured for: by:

ViiV Healthcare Research Triangle Park, NC 27709

GlaxoSmithKline Research Triangle Park, NC 27709

Lamivudine is manufactured under agreement from Shire Pharmaceuticals Group plc Basingstoke, UK COMBIVIR, EPIVIR, EPZICOM, TIVICAY, TRIUMEQ, TRIZIVIR, and ZIAGEN are registered trademarks of the ViiV Healthcare group of companies.

EPIVIR-HBV is a registered trademark of the GSK group of companies.

The other brands listed are trademarks of their respective owners and are not trademarks of the ViiV Healthcare group of companies. The makers of these brands are not affiliated with and do not endorse the ViiV Healthcare group of companies or its products. ©2014, the ViiV Healthcare group of companies. All rights reserved.

Issued: August 2014 TRM:1MG

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What are the possible side effects of TRIUMEQ? TRIUMEQ can cause serious side effects including: • See “What is the most important information I should know about TRIUMEQ?” • Changes in liver tests. People with a history of hepatitis B or C virus may have an increased risk of developing new or worsening changes in certain liver tests during treatment with TRIUMEQ. Your healthcare provider may do tests to check your liver function before and during treatment with TRIUMEQ. • Changes in your immune system (Immune Reconstitution Syndrome) can happen when you start taking HIV-1 medicines. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that have been hidden in your body for a long time. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you start having new symptoms after starting your HIV-1 medicine.

• Changes in body fat (fat redistribution) can happen in people who take HIV-1 medicines. These changes may include increased amount of fat in the upper back and neck (“buffalo hump”), breast, and around the middle of your body (trunk). Loss of fat from the legs, arms, and face may also happen. The exact cause and long-term health effects of these problems are not known.

• Heart attack (myocardial infarction). Some HIV medicines including TRIUMEQ may increase your risk of heart attack.

The most common side effects of TRIUMEQ include: • trouble sleeping • headache • tiredness Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

These are not all the possible side effects of TRIUMEQ. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

How should I store TRIUMEQ? • Store TRIUMEQ at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C).

• Store TRIUMEQ in the original bottle.

• Keep the bottle of TRIUMEQ tightly closed and protect from moisture.

• The bottle of TRIUMEQ contains a desiccant packet to help keep your medicine dry (protect it from moisture). Keep the desiccant packet in the bottle. Do not remove the desiccant packet.

Keep TRIUMEQ and all medicines out of the reach of children.

General information about the safe and effective use of TRIUMEQ Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide. Do not use TRIUMEQ for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give TRIUMEQ to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them.

This Medication Guide summarizes the most important information about TRIUMEQ. If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about TRIUMEQ that is written for health professionals.

For more information go to www.TRIUMEQ.com or call 1-877-844-8872.

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS

Editorial Let Justice be Done

Rarely do people know that one act, that one thing that becomes the spark that ignites a groundswell of anger and deep dissatisfaction, that seemingly erupts from nowhere.

The protests, marches and acts of civil disobedience sprouting up in cities as varied as Boston; New York; Cleveland; Ferguson, Missouri; Seattle; Oakland; and Washington indicate a discontent that has been simmering for quite some time.

On the surface, the killings of Michael Brown, Eric Garner and 12-year-old Tamir Rice appeared to be business as usual for police departments in Ferguson, Missouri; Staten Island, New York; and Cleveland. Police officers in those municipalities killed unarmed men and boys, and instead of the usual round of condemnations, we heard noise and then nothing.

But this time the public response has been markedly different.

There were already protests in more than 170 cities and about 40 states when people reacted with fury to a Ferguson grand jury’s decision not to indict the policeman who shot Brown seven times, although a number of eyewitnesses said Brown posed no imminent threat and had his hands up.

Then a little more than a week later, a Staten Island grand jury opted not to bring charges against a police officer who put a deadly chokehold on an unarmed Garner, although the incident was captured on several telephone videos.

Protesters who began holding vigils and marching to protest Brown’s Aug. 9 murder have been on the streets for more than 127 days, and organizers elsewhere have been shutting down streets and busy thoroughfares, staging die-ins in public spaces like Grand Central Station, the Department of Justice in downtown D.C. and I-395.

A local demonstration the day after the Brown verdict, pulled together by at least three organizations formed in solidarity with Brown and the people of Ferguson, saw about 10,000 mainly young people clog the streets, close down Chinatown and assemble en masse in front of the Verizon Center.

And on Dec. 12, tens of thousands of people marched from Freedom Plaza to the steps of the Capitol, demanding legislative and other changes to a criminal justice system that is defective, broken, flawed and skewed against people of color. An additional 60,000-plus people protested in New York.

Everyday people are incensed at the callousness and brutality directed at black and brown men, women and children by those who are supposed to serve and protect.

As the varied marches pointedly indicate, that anger isn’t subsiding, and the protesters aren’t going away. Justice must be done.

Congress Gums Up the Works. Again.

Although 70 percent of D.C. voters support a referendum legalizing recreational marijuana use, city leaders and organizers of Initiative 71 are scrambling to counter interference by the congressional overlords into the city’s affairs.

Led by Maryland Rep. Andy Harris, negotiators of the “cromnibus” spending bill added a rider that bars local and federal money to certify and enact the new law.

But as D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson and others point out, there’s some confusion in the bill’s wording, and it’s still not clear if the rider actually blocks the legalization. Still to be determined is if the term “enacting” refers to the D.C. Council sending the initiative for congressional review or whether the initiative was enacted after the Nov. 4 general elections.

Mayor Vincent C. Gray, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton and Mendelson are among many who say D.C. residents are the biggest losers while continuing to assert the city’s right to have complete control over its affairs. But Congress has its own ideas.

Mendelson, however, is clear: “I’m angry because they’re cavalier and sloppy. … They’re doing this to the District while continuing to deny us representation. I’d rather they deny us representation and leave us alone.”

Temps, Tops!

Thank you so much for the article ”Temps, Tops Still Have the Magic Touch” [D. Kevin McNeir, Dec. 11, 2014]. I was in high school when these iconic groups were in the height of their popularity, and I remember every song that they recorded.

Their music calls to mind memories of house parties (sadly, replaced by going to the clubs) with blue lights in the basement, when parents brought you to the party and came to take you home afterward. We danced and flirted to the music of these groups, and we even sang along when a special favorite song was played.

So these groups helped to create some of the best memories of “the good old days” to which I and many of my contemporaries cling. The true measure of a timeless classic is whether it still inspires people to sing and dance to it after years and years. These groups gave us such timeless classics, and we will never forget them.

Alberta Janus Washington, DC

Remembering Mayor Barry

I want to thank you for the wonderful insert in the December 11, 2014 edition of the Washington Informer, “Remembering Marion S. Barry, Jr., Mayor for Life.” I will put this with my other historical keepsakes that I’ve collected over the years. You and your staff really did a great service to him in putting together the stories, the tributes and quotes from some of his friends and colleagues. It is like what your publisher, Denise Rolark- Barnes said in her piece, “It still does not seem real, Marion Barry is gone.” Marion Barry was such a big part of every aspect of Washington, DC for so many years. It’s hard to talk about Washington, DC and not mention all the work that he did for the city, he meant so much to so many. My fears are that those who will write the history of the District of Columbia may not have been residents of DC before and during the time of Marion Barry and will only write what they have heard and read about the man. That is the reason we have to write the history of this great man and what he did for the residents of the District of Columbia.

CORRECTION

In last week’s Remembering Marion Barry Special Edition, Debbie Wasserman Schultz was incorrectly identified. Rep. Wasserman Schultz is the U.S. Representative for Florida’s 23rd congressional district and Chair of the Democratic National Committee.

Kenneth Brown Washington, DC

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OPINIONS/EDITORIALS

Guest Columnist

By John A. Powell

Let’s Have a Real Conversation about Race Thousands took to the streets in protest and outrage following a Ferguson grand jury’s decision not to indict a white police officer for fatally shooting an unarmed black teenager. We are faced with the reality that a New York grand jury – tasked with determining whether to hold a white police officer accountable for placing an illegal chokehold on an unarmed black man – reached the same decision: no

indictment.

We are faced with the reality of a recent study of federally collected data that found that our young black males are at a 21 times greater risk of being shot dead by police than their white counterparts.

We are faced with our system’s criminalization of poverty, anemic political participation, geographically segregated neighborhoods, unprecedented levels of economic and wealth inequality and a heavily militarized police force entrusted with public safe-

ty over communities who are met with not only brutality, but with a justice system that is indifferent, neglectful and even hostile in bringing justice for abuses suffered.

While these realities have forced much of this country into a conversation about race, is the conversation sufficient?

If we are having a real conversation, then we must have one that examines the deep racial anxiety in this country, an anxiety not only stoked by strategic political manipulation, but by

Guest Columnist

fear of rapidly changing demographics and a rapidly changing world.

It’s important to note that this fear is highly racial in nature.

Numerous studies have shown how racial bias – both implicit and explicit – can have deep and lasting effects on black individuals, especially within the spheres of law enforcement and criminal justice. One study, by my friend Jennifer Eberhardt, who was recently awarded a MacArthur Genius Grant to continue her groundbreaking work, found

that black defendants who have what are considered stereotypically “black features” serve up to eight months longer and receive more death sentences than their white counterparts.

As a recent book by Doug McAdam and Karina Kloos cohesively examines, our “deeply divided” country is facing political and economic divisions that threaten to reverse any advancements made during the civil rights struggles of the 1960s.

See POWELL on Page 45

By Lee A. Daniels

The White Majority’s Racial World of Fantasy Now, in the season that’s supposed to exalt goodwill toward all, comes fresh evidence of the important role the white majority’s unwillingness to consider black Americans as their counterparts across the color line plays in maintaining the racial divide.

Note that I said the white majority, not all whites. Indeed, at each stage of blacks’ difficult journey through and out of the

eras of slavery and its first cousin, Jim Crow, the alliance between blacks and the minority of whites who’ve opted to support racial justice has been critical to the progress blacks charted.

The current dense fog of racial controversy enveloping American society shouldn’t blind us to the fact that that dynamic still works; for one thing, it’s precisely because a sizable minority of white voters joined with the heavy majorities of black, Hispanic- and Asian-American

voters that Barack Obama was elected and re-elected to the presidency. (And the protests against the grand jury decisions in the police killings of Michael Brown and Eric Garner continue to include significant numbers of white and other Americans of color.)

But the Obama breakthrough has also led many in the nation’s diminishing white majority to cling even more tightly to both obvious and disguised white-supremacist notions, to blind

Guest Columnist

themselves to reality.

Of course, the grand jury decisions in the police killings of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and 43-yearold Eric Garner in New York City have exposed anew the race-driven gap between blacks and whites. A poll conducted by the Pew Research Center and USA Today in early December is entitled “Sharp Racial Divisions in Reactions to Brown, Garner Decisions,” exactly what the researchers found.

The survey determined that 64 percent of whites believe the decision not to charge Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson for killing Michael Brown was correct, compared to 23 percent of whites who said it was wrong.

On the other hand, 80 percent of blacks said the grand jury decision not to charge Wilson was wrong; only 10 percent said it was correct.

In the Garner case, the Pew/

See DANIELS on Page 45

By George E. Curry

Race in the Un-United States of America The understandable attention being focused on differing attitudes among whites and blacks toward law enforcement authorities in the wake of decisions by grand juries in Missouri and New York not to indict white police officers for killing unarmed blacks ignores a larger and more troubling trend – blacks and whites view race and racism from distinctly different perspectives.

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Over the past 50 years, Gallup has tracked U.S. attitudes on race. On Dec. 12, it issued a report that found four key areas in which blacks and whites hold widely divergent views – attitudes on race relations in general, views of discrimination against blacks, beliefs about the need for new civil rights laws and more intervention by the federal government and views of the police and the criminal justice system.

Let’s look at each issue separately.

Race Relations Gallup researchers found: “Since the late 1990s, blacks’ optimism that there will be a solution to the country’s racial problems has consistently trailed whites’ by about 12 percentage points,” Gallup reported. “Most recently, in June 2013, Gallup found 58 percent of whites versus 48 percent of blacks believing a solution to black-white relations would eventually be worked out. By contrast, in December 1963 – at the end of what some describe The Washington Informer

as ‘the defining year of the civil rights movement’ – a U.S. poll conducted by NORC found 70 percent of blacks in the U.S. believing a solution would eventually be worked out, while barely half of whites – 53 percent — agreed. When Gallup repeated this question in the early 1990s, blacks’ outlook had dimmed to match whites,’ with 44 percent of both groups feeling optimistic. Now, the gap has expanded, primarily because whites have become more positive.”

Discrimination against Blacks More than a third of blacks – 37 percent – believe that racial discrimination is the major reason African Americans live in worse housing, have a higher unemployment rate and have less income than whites. Only 15 percent of Whites share that view.

Moreover, approximately three-fourths of whites (74 percent) believe blacks have the same opportunities as whites in

See CURRY on Page 45

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OPINIONS/EDITORIALS

Guest Columnist

By Julianne Malveaux

Breathing Life into a Movement “I can’t breathe,” gasped Eric Garner, again and again and again.

“I can’t breathe,” he said, as several police officers were on top of him, choking him, pushing his head onto the concrete sidewalk. The man was not resisting arrest; he simply had the temerity to ask a police officer not to touch him. And because he was allegedly selling loose cigarettes, the life was choked out

of him.

No one tried to help him or stop the vicious assault, which was ruled a homicide by the coroner. Emergency medical respondents offered no assistance. Eric Garner’s last words, “I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe” ought to motivate all Americans, not just African Americans, but Americans of conscience to breathe life and energy into a movement for justice.

Breathing ought to be a simple thing. Air in, air out. It’s not so

simple when one’s neck is being choked. Not so simple when one’s spirit is being choked. The image of Eric Garner’s neck in a chokehold, the image of at least four white police officers on top of him, is galling. Even more galling is the invisible choking of spirit that comes when people cannot breathe, cannot speak and cannot respond to injustice.

To put this in a historical context, how many were as free to speak as Ida B. Wells was when she fought against lynching?

Even in her freedom, Wells

Guest Columnist

was threatened and run out of Tennessee. But others feared to speak about lynching for fear of being lynched themselves.

Can’t breathe. Think of the many African Americans who have served in our armed forces, treated unfairly, serving nonetheless, often silent.

How can any of us breathe in an atmosphere of compounded injustice? How can we breathe in an atmosphere of hypocrisy, when justice has never been blind? We live in a nation where a 12-year-old boy, Tamir Rice, is

shot because he has a toy pellet gun that wasn’t even pointed at police. Hard to breathe when video makes it absolutely clear that it was not necessary for Daniel Panaleo to place Eric Garner in a chokehold. Hard to breathe when a grand jury comes to an incomprehensible decision not to indict, one that defies common sense – and what we saw with our eyes.

Difficult to breathe when an elected official, Rep. Peter King

See MALVEAUX on Page 46

By Marc H. Morial

Our 10-Point Plan for Police Accountability “…a country’s conscience sometimes has to be triggered by some inconvenience, because I think a lot of people who saw the Eric Garner video are troubled, even if they haven’t had that same experience themselves, even if they’re not African American or Latino.”

– President Barack Obama in an interview with BET Networks The phenomenon we have

seen in America since the announcements that the police officers who killed Michael Brown and Eric Garner would not be indicted is new to a generation, but not to the nation. Young people have always helped to fuel historic social change. We must not forget that 50 years ago, it was young people on that bridge in Selma, Ala.; young people sitting-in in Greensboro, N.C.; young people riding Freedom buses all over this nation, challenging conventional laws and the status quo; and young

people like Schwerner, Goodman and Chaney losing their lives in Philadelphia, Mississippi.

A multicultural band of young people, united with historic civil rights organizations, legislators, clergy, and everyday Americans who decided that it was time for our country to do better and be better, have been the impetus for so many of the changes we’ve witnessed as a nation through the decades.

Millions of Americans have now taken to the streets and to social media not because the

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problems that have caused the outrage just began yesterday, but because sometimes difficult circumstances present a once-ina-lifetime opportunity to bring about historic change. Now is that time. Now is our time.

This conversation and the subsequent action that will result from it will continue because we remain committed to the idea that these cases – Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Akai Gurley, Tamir Rice, John Crawford, Marlene Pinnock and others – do not end where they are. In

addition to the opportunity for the Justice Department to conduct independent investigations, we each have an opportunity to participate in our great democracy by helping to ensure that the America of tomorrow is better than who we are today.

For our part, the National Urban League has developed the following 10-Point Justice Plan for Police Reform and Accountability. We believe that these action steps will be a major step

See MORIAL on Page 46

By Askia Muhammad

Lifting up the Mothers of Our Martyrs I was on an airplane flight from—get this—Jackson, Mississippi and another passenger asked me where I was headed.

I told him “Washington, D.C.” “Oh,” the man chuckled, “I’ll pray for you.” His flight companions chuckled.

If only he knew. It’s been a gut wrenching couple of weeks for us in the nation’s capital since I returned home on that flight.

Among several issues is the

grief many people in the city are feeling for the families—especially the mothers—of several young black men across the country who have been killed by police who faced no consequences despite questionable circumstances around the killings.

Many in the city are still mourning the loss of our much beloved, dear Mayor For Life, Mayor Forever, Marion Barry, who died on Nov. 23 only to have his good name trashed in the national corporate-owned media, including in a piece in a

TV gossip show whose headline sneered: “Crack Mayor Dead.

Then the Congress jumped in, and in one fell swoop, placed the entire nation’s banking system at risk by permitting some banks to use federally insured funds from their depositors to place bets on risky “derivatives,” which are nothing more than speculations.

Before the ink was dry on that bit of sleight of hand, they increased the limit wealthy plutocrats can shovel into the coffers of crooked politicians tenfold, from a $30,000 limit to more

than $300,000. Your typical wage slave, clamoring for a $15 per hour minimum wage, would only earn $30,000 in a whole year!

And finally, Congressional leaders, wrestling with a “must pass” piece of legislation, without which the federal government would have been shut down, sneakily decided to overturn the District’s marijuana legalization initiative, of which 70 percent of city’s voters approved in a referendum last November.

So now this guy from Mississippi has pity for me because I’m

from Washington, and all he can think about is the national image of Washington, The White House and Congress bickering all the time. And he doesn’t even have a clue that the Washington I’m going to is the political football of those very people he thinks can’t walk and chew gum at the same time.

And then we get to these incredibly brave women, a dozen of them, mothers of the martyred Black males, all of whom

See MUHAMMAD on Page 46

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Dec 18 - Dec 24, 2014

27

LIFESTYLE

Scenes from the Christmas Celebration, now going on at the Evangel Multi Media and Arts Center, part of the Evangel Cathedral in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. The annual show featuring gospel greats, area youth and members of Evangel Cathedral continues through Sunday, Dec. 21. /Photos by Shevry Lassiter.

By D. Kevin McNeir WI Contributing Writer Those who live in the Greater Washington Area have once again been taking their friends and family to Evangel Cathedral in Upper Marlboro, Maryland for what has become a holiday staple – “Christmas Celebration” – a Broadway-style musical production that pulls out all the stops.

This year, the production, held at the Evangel Multi Media and Arts Center, features a plethora of celebrated gospel singers who sing both holiday standards and songs that have long endeared them with their fans. Singers include: Yolanda Adams, Donnie McClurkin, Tamela Mann, Marvin Sapp, Erica Campbell, Isaac Carree and Zacardi Cortez.

However, they do not all appear every night because of other demands on their schedules.

The two-act production also features a large cast of incredibly talented children and young adults, singing and dancing to some of our favorite Christmas songs – even lip-synching while in full costume as part of a Soul Train spoof that brings the likes of Ike and Tina Turner, Whitney Houston, Patti Labelle, James Brown, The Temptations, The

28 Dec 18 - Dec 24, 2014

Christmas Spectacular Makes Season Bright

Talented Youth, Live Animals, Gospel Greats Featured at Evangel Cathedral Supremes and a moon-walking Michael Jackson to the stage.

One of the most memorable moments in the first act is a little girl of around five or six who sings happy birthday to Jesus in a scene where she is surrounded by a choir of children on a kingsized bed dressed in their pajamas. The young singer is delightful and quite comfortable under the spotlight – a true star in the making.

Another highlight of the first act is a showcasing of various dance styles, from reggae, hip-hop and ballet to tap dancing, tumbling feats and even one dancer on roller skates. It’s

non-stop action with tiny tots, adventurous adolescents and technically-trained teens working together while holding their own.

Near the end of the first act, men in tuxedoes and women in flowing gowns of purple, turquoise, red and gold, render their version of “Hallelujah!” – arranged by writer and producer Quincy Jones and featured on the CD “Handel’s Messiah: A Soulful Celebration.”

The second act opens with a griot who tells the story of Jesus, from Mary’s visit by the angel Gabriel telling the virgin that she had been chosen to be the The Washington Informer

mother of Christ, to the nativity scene, the ministry of Jesus, his crucifixion, resurrection and ascension.

The producers of the show employ multi-media to bring this portion of the show to life, with images dominating several screens, an engaging light show and plenty of sound effects.

Things move quickly with dialogue and singing. All-in-all, it’s very entertaining.

One of the most provocative performances occurring near the show’s conclusion is a mime whose exaggerated movements illustrate why the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus mat-

ter to the world. Singers Cortez, Campbell and Carree are featured in a trio singing a medley of songs that all speak to “the blood.” On some nights you may see Cortez and Carree joined by Sapp. Either way, it’s an electrifying moment that is sure to move you to your feet as you “get your praise on.”

If you haven’t seen the “Christmas Celebration,” there’s still time but with the last performance being held on Sunday, Dec. 21, you may want to get your tickets now. Treat yourself and your loved ones to an evening that you won’t forget. WI

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LIFESTYLE

A MIGHTY DAY!

By Michael Sainte-Andress Special to Washington Informer

“Wasn’t That a Mighty Day?” was an original title of what started out as “Black Nativity” when it was first being produced in l960. The great dancer/choreographer Alvin Ailey and his cohort the fabulous Carmen de Lavallade left the original production because they felt the title “Black Nativity” was too limiting. Over the decades since then, some version of the veritable warhorse has been performed on stages around the world, and from my own experience of having seen multiple productions, each interpretation is unique, though it maintains the integrity of the original message and production values.

It is a challenging work and emphatically requires a superb ensemble cast to make it work best. I can unequivocally tell you that Theatre Alliance’s production currently at the Anacostia Playhouse meets that criterion without question! From the initial appearance of the regally attired and supremely stately Thomascena Nelson, the tone is set for what will be a joyride of celebration and exultation. If it’s a conventional linear storyline you’re expecting, you’ll be pleasantly disappointed. We all know the basic elements surrounding the birth of the Baby Jesus, and that is the story being told; however, there is an exploration of the emotional, spiritual and profoundly human dynamics that make it a much more enriching adventure. This Afro-centric perspective is infused with rich gospel, blues, funk, jazz and dance with griot-style storytelling from a tremendously talented and energetic cast.

This is not a “star maker” show because the emphasis is on the seamless interaction of the entire cast, but ironically it is so successful because of the individual strengths and artistry of each of the performers.

They work well together, but each one is given singular moments to strut and shine for our enjoyment. And that results in

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Ny’a Johnson and G. Carlos Henderson beautifully embody the quiet grace and nobility of the parents-to-be, Mary and Joseph, in Black Nativity performing now at the Anacostia Playhouse in Southeast.

some spectacular showmanship.

When Krislynn Perry breaks out in her dance of praise, it is a moment of euphoric, unbridled joy and has people standing up in response. Ny’a Johnson and G. Carlos Henderson beautifully embody the quiet grace and nobility of the parents-to-be, Mary and Joseph. Roy Patten Jr.’s riffing and stretching of some of those high notes are almost not to be believed and were an exquisite aural delight. And, when Elton Pittman testifies, it’s like being up front and personal on any given Sunday in any Baptist Church.

Collin Ranney, the costume designer, has created a sartorial palette of rich color with fabrics and designs that are breathtaking and yet not distracting; the actors are able to move expansively and comfortably. The musical trio that provides accompaniment (Marvin Ford-Keyboard, Yoseph Chisholm-Bass and Jonathan Livas-Drums) rhythmically and melodically moves things refreshingly along and never

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misses a beat. You often have the illusion of hearing a larger group. They weave in and out with aplomb.

This is a show about celebration and praise, and it is exuberantly displayed nonstop throughout the seemingly muchtoo-short evening. Bringing this show around was a great move

by Colin Hovde, Theatre Alliance producing artistic director, and his staff. It is the perfect community endeavor and comes at just the right time to foster peace, love and harmony through this season and into the new year. Kudos!

It is the perfect family holiday entertainment and would be a great shared experience to add to the legacy playbook.WI “Black Nativity” runs at the Anacostia Playhouse, 2020 Shannon Place SE, Dec. 11– Jan. 4, Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets are available at www. theateralliance.com or by calling 202241-2539.

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UNIVERSAL PICTURES AND LEGENDARY PICTURES PRESENT A JOLIE PAS PRODUCTION A 3 ARTS ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTION “UNBROKEN” JACK O’CONNELL DOMHNALL GLEESON MIYAVI

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BY ANGELINA JOLIE p.g.a. CLAYTON TOWNSEND p.g.a. MATTHEW BAER p.g.a. ERWIN STOFF THE BOOK BY LAURA HILLENBRAND SCREENPLAY DIRECTED

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Peabo Bryson, one of the premier male vocalists in contemporary music, will lead an all-star cast of singers at the Strathmore for a holiday concert on Friday, Dec. 19. /Courtesy Photo

Peabo Bryson to Star in Christmas Spectacular Lineup Includes Jennifer Holliday, Reuben Studdard

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Most children and adults have a list of holiday songs that they look forward to hearing as the 25th of December draws near.

Maybe that’s why one star-studded Christmas concert, returning this week to the D.C. area, has been going strong for 22 consecutive years.

“This thing just keeps getting bigger and bigger – where else can you get proven vocalists like Tony Award-winner Jennifer Holliday, Ruben Studdard, Taylor Dayne and yours truly on stage at the same time?” said two-time Grammy Award-winner Peabo Bryson, whose breakthrough came when his album “Reaching for the Sky” went gold in 1978 with the title track reaching No. 6 on the R&B chart.

Bryson, along with “American Idol” winner Studdard, Holliday, the original “dream girl,” and the velvet-voiced Dayne, will team up at the Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda, Maryland on Friday, Dec. 19, in the four-star “Colors of Christmas.”

“Words don’t give it justice – I know people who have traveled from all over the country just to see this show – some friends in San Francisco plan their vacation around the show,” Bryson said.

“As for the singers, if you don’t The Washington Informer

have the skills, then it’s best not to step up to the mic. Reuben and I are teaming up to do Marvin Gaye’s prophetic pieces “What’s Going On” and “Mercy Mercy Me.” Jennifer’s performing “A Whole New World” and Taylor’s going to wow the audience with “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.” You’ll never find all of us together doing what we love to do – sing – anywhere else again,” said Bryson, 63, a two-time Grammy winner whose strings of hits include romantic ballads like “Feel the Fire,” “I’m So Into You” and “Tonight I Celebrate My Love.”

Both Grammys came as a result of his performances on songs made for Disney films, “Beauty and the Beast” and “Aladdin.”

Bryson, a 47-year resident of Atlanta, Georgia, spent much of his childhood on his grandparent’s farm in Maudlin, South Carolina. He credits his mother with introducing him to music.

“Whenever there was somebody great in town, she’d drag me, my two sisters and my brother along to catch their act,” said Bryson. “I have seen most of the greats of that period – Sam Cooke, Little Richard, and even Billie Holiday. Sam Cooke was a great influence on me. His voice had a pure quality – straight from the heart.”

He noted the influence that music can have on the world.

“I’ve recorded over 20 albums

and I’ve really been fortunate,” he said. “Events in people’s lives are often marked with music. Every artist or writer wants to record or pen a song that the world enjoys so much that they sing along with you. I’ve been blessed to have several songs that have made their way into other’s hearts,” said Bryson whose song “Reaching for the Sky,” which he also wrote, has become required study for students at Boston’s acclaimed Berklee College of Music.

The singer has been on stage since he was 14 and said younger artists need to focus more on their craft.

“You have to take care of your body and your voice if you hope to have a long, productive career,” Bryson said. “The choices singers make in song selection and lifestyle really matter. Just imagine what would have happened if Rick James had decided not to record “Fire It Up” but instead told his millions of listeners to leave drugs alone?

Unfortunately, he practiced what he sang about and it negatively impacted his life and his health. Music has long influenced society so we have to be aware of the message that we’re sending.” WI See Bryson and his friends in the “Colors of Christmas” on Friday, Dec. 19 at the Music Center at Strathmore in N. Bethesda, Maryland at 8 p.m.

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“The Wire” helped launch the career of Michael K. Williams, who played gangster Omar Little on the series. /Photo Courtesy of HBO

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HBO to Run Marathon of ‘The Wire’ Critically-Acclaimed Show Returns in High-Definition

By Stacy M. Brown WI Contributing Writer In a move that many fans would argue to be tantamount to Leonardo da Vinci touching up the Mona Lisa or Mario Puzo adding paragraphs to “The Godfather,” David Simon and HBO are re-mastering the critically-acclaimed HBO series, “The Wire,” and the cable network will begin airing it anew in high-definition on Monday, Jan. 5.

“To their great credit, once we alerted HBO production executives to our absolute interest in the matter, they halted their scheduled fall high-definition release and allowed us to engage in detail,” said Simon, the former Baltimore Sun reporter who created “The Wire.”

“Over the past several months, looking at some of what the widescreen format offered, three things became entirely clear,” said Simon, 54, who also wrote the book that became the basis for the hit NBC television series, “Homicide: Life on the Street.”

“First, there were many scenes in which the shot composition is not impaired by the transfer to high-definition, and there are a notable number of scenes that acquire real benefit from playing wide,” he said.

“An example of a scene that benefits would be the one from the final episode of Season 2, when an apostolic semicircle of longshoremen forms around the body of Frank Sobotka. It’s fine as far as it goes, but the dockworkers in the scene are all that

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For the first time since it ended in 2008, HBO will air all five seasons of David Simon’s critically-acclaimed series “The Wire,” beginning on Friday, Dec. 26. The network will air a high-definition version of the show on Monday, Jan. 5. /Photo Courtesy of HBO

much more vulnerable, and that much more isolated by the death of their leader when we have the ability to go wider in that rare crane shot.”

Simon, who posted an entire entry on his website about the re-mastered version of his hit show, cited numerous other examples that should thrill viewers.

He said upon viewing the original re-mastered editions, about 100 scenes he identified where the new wider version introduced problems and displayed some filmmaking equipment that should’ve remained hidden.

Simon heaped praise on the series’ co-producer, the late Robert Colesberry, for much of the show’s visual storytelling. “We composed our shots to maximize a film style that suggested not the vistas of feature cinematography, but the capture of and [the] delicacy of documentarian camerawork,” Simon said.

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Of the new wider shots, he conceded that, “There are scenes that clearly improve in high-definition and in the widescreen format, [however] there are some things that are simply not as good.”

To mark the release of the re-mastered version of “The Wire,” HBO will begin airing a marathon of all five seasons beginning with Season 1 on Friday, Dec. 26. It’s the first time since the show ended in 2008 that all 60 episodes of the show will air.

“I don’t care if you’re from Baltimore or from China, you have got to be excited about watching ‘The Wire’ in high-definition,” said Andre Hemphill, a communications major at Howard University in Northwest.

“Sometimes, high-definition is overblown when it comes to

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LIFESTYLE THE WIRE continued from Page 31 sitcoms and certain other television shows,” said Hemphill, 20.

“But, this should give us even more of a look at the streets of Baltimore and it should put us right there with the actors.”

The show, a gritty depiction of Baltimore’s drug scene from the perspectives of the dealers and law enforcement, has remained a critical favorite since its final episode, said Kirthana Ramisetti, a journalist with the New York Daily News.

The Baltimore Sun noted that “The Wire” depicts an American urban dystopia, framed in current time, in which easy distinctions between good and evil and crime and punishment are challenged at every turn.

In five successive seasons, the series reveals a city in which institutional prerogatives, economic inequalities and a brutalizing drug war confound the efforts to advance Baltimore and its people.

The series’ first season lays out the futility of the drug war, while the second highlights the deindustrialization and the death of the working class. The third

season introduces the city’s political culture and lays out the forces that stand in the path of actual reform.

The fourth season addresses the educational system and the actual opportunities that remain for coming generations.

The fifth and final season examines the media culture and its role in perpetuating the status quo. Amid all of this, carefully drawn characters on both sides of the law and from a variety of Baltimore cultures move forward as best they can, humans with many flaws, struggling against a system that seems weighted against civic progress.

“The show is considered to be one of the best television shows of its era,” Ramisetti said. “It helped launch the careers of actors Idris Elba, Michael K. Williams and Michael B. Jordan, all of whom have gone on to enjoy success in both television and film since the show ended.” WI For some visual examples of the difference that re-mastering will make in viewing the show, visit www.davidsimon.com.

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32 Dec 18 - Dec 24, 2014

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Horoscopes

Griot All I Really Want”

ARIES You can be very efficient this week if you set your will to the task. New ideas will occur to you as you are working steadily, so keep pencil and paper nearby to jot down your latest brilliance!

Soul Affirmation: I will ask joy to marry me. Lucky Numbers: 1, 8, 14 TAURUS The forces that disrupt your life this week are not as big as they seem while you are standing close to them. Move back. See what surrounds the problem area and you’ll notice how small it is on the landscape of your life. Enjoy looking at the goodness that is all around your problems. Soul Affirmation: I will keep my attention on the highest and the best. Lucky Numbers: 22, 46, 52 GEMINI This is a week when you can be a singular beacon.

Shine for those around you. Go inside yourself and find those rays of sunshine that others need. Sure you’re a bit touchy yourself, but that’s just the situation in which you can make yourself happy by creating happiness for others. Soul Affirmation: I will avoid negative feelings, especially this week. Lucky Numbers: 7, 8, 21

by Quinn Caldwell c.2014, Abingdon Press

$15.99 / $18.50 Canada 176 pages Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer Presents wrapped? Check.

Tree decorated – check. Cookies made?

Groceries purchased, shopping finished, school programs scheduled, Santa visits done? Check, check and…check.

You love the holidays, but there’s no denying that they can be stressful. The last thing you want is to put more on your To-Do List, but when you add “All I Really Want” by Quinn Caldwell, you’ll see things in a more relaxed way.

First, the disclaimer: Caldwell says that this book isn’t meant to be all hints and tips.

It won’t help you get organized, simplify or create the “best Christmas ever in five easy steps.” Caldwell says that’s not his job and it’s not God’s. Instead, you’ll find a few complications here, as well as some hope for “a little holy breathing space” – beginning with the first day of Advent.

Christmas, as you undoubtedly have noticed, didn’t start after Thanksgiving. Retailers have had their holiday decorations up for months. They couldn’t wait for the season, but it may seem as though wait is all you do lately. There is virtue in waiting, says Caldwell, and Advent is when to find it. Pause; “be prepared for little bursts of delight.”

It takes wide-open eyes to do that, though, and time, which is at a premium these days.

Caldwell says that lack of time is exactly when you want to “add a holy something to your to-do list.” Volunteer, make a donation

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to a charity, visit someone who needs you and be kind to someone.

And on that last one – if you “get stuck, look in the mirror.”

Go to church; now’s when you need people around you. Let your kids believe in Santa because he teaches them about “dwelling in mystery.” Sing with someone, even if you “can’t carry a tune in a bucket.” Keep in mind that, like anybody, God would surely rather that his birthday party is “full of fun.”

And yet, if you’re having a bad Christmas, remember that that’s why we have Christmas in the first place. Christmas was “born in defiance of all that stalks the world and tries to snuff its light.”

“If the only spirit you can get into is low,” says Caldwell, “you’re just who God is looking for.”

Two words: De. Lightful. There’s just no other way to describe “All I Really Want.”

And here’s the thing: I didn’t expect to like this book. I figured it was just more guilt-inducing platitudes, more blah-blahblah Christmas, but nothing could be further from the truth. It’s joyous! Caldwell uses humor and a bit of irreverence in prodding his readers into slowing down, noticing and seeing God’s gifts, in addition to those under the tree. He makes us think about Mary and Joseph. He makes us laugh about God’s “epic party.”

Sprinkled with Bible verses, meditations and tiny prayers that can be recited day and night, I think this is a perfect book for anyone who’s had enough ho-ho-ho and wants to replace it with more ho-ho-holy. If that’s you, then “All I Really Want” is a book to check out. WI

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CANCER Business as usual is good business. Energy is high.

Others give back to you what you gave to them the past few weeks.

We hope you were generous because what you get this week will be directly related to what you bestowed. Soul Affirmation: I give happiness wherever I go. Lucky Numbers: 6, 13, 48 LEO Energy is higher than it has been for some time. You might feel like the sunshine inside yourself provides blinding light. Walk into it. There are no dangers. Put dark glasses on your soul and be cool. Smile and keep stepping. Soul Affirmation: My mental powers are my greatest assets this week. Lucky Numbers: 17, 29, 35 VIRGO High physical energy means you may roar through the week. Others will have trouble keeping up, so exercise your compassion muscles and be as patient as possible. Keep your best interests in mind right now. Soul Affirmation: I savor the flavor of the happiness I find in others. Lucky Numbers: 5, 51, 53 LIBRA Charm is an extremely effective tool for you this week.

Charisma works better than at any recent time, especially at home.

Shine brightly and let your glow work for you. Your self-image is your most effective tool. Soul Affirmation: Time is the greatest peacemaker of them all. Lucky Numbers: 3, 24, 43 SCORPIO This week, make your special interest pay off in cash.

Enough of goodness for goodness sake. You’ve got bills to pay.

People expect generosity from a big-hearted person like you. Ask them for something in return or they’ll drain you. Soul Affirmation: Intelligent information does not have to come from intelligent sources. Lucky Numbers: 6, 8, 14 SAGITTARIUS During the next few weeks, be ready for surprises that await you. Don’t make any solid plans with anyone except your lover. This week will bring forth a new dimension in a special relationship. You will come upon a sensational poem that illustrates the love the two of you share. Soul Affirmation: The search for fun occupies my time this week. Lucky Numbers: 12, 29, 36 CAPRICORN Stay steady in your pursuits. Temptations are all around you. Attractive pursuits abound, but stay on course with what you planned to do with all the good energy that has arisen in your life. Soul Affirmation: I do not allow demands to be placed on me this week.

Lucky Numbers: 17, 28, 31 AQUARIUS You have made many friends through a social network you’ve been involved with. Continue to cultivate those friendships this week. Your actions will speak much louder than words this week. Prove your love and your friendship; others might need convincing. Soul Affirmation: My imagination is the source of my happiness.

Lucky Numbers: 19, 21, 30

PISCES This is no time to try to be neat. Continue with your messy thinking. Others might not know how things fit together but your faith allows you to work without a plan this week. Faith will guide you through the chaotic mental atmosphere that surrounds you this week. Soul Affirmation: I give extra attention to my mate this week. Lucky Numbers: 20, 29, 37

The Washington Informer Dec 18 - Dec 24, 2014 33

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Kansas Defeats Georgetown, 75-70

SPORTS

Kansas guard Frank Mason III drives past Georgetown guard Joshua Smith to score two of his 14 points during Big East basketball action on Dec. 10 at the Verizon Center in Northwest. Kansas defeated Georgetown, 75-70. /Photo by John E. De Freitas

Georgetown center Joshua Smith shoots over a Kansas defender to score two of his 20 points during Big East basketball action on Dec. 10 at the Verizon Center in Northwest. Kansas defeated Georgetown, 75-70, in front of 14,164 fans. /Photo by John E. De Freitas

34 Dec 18 - Dec 24, 2014

Georgetown guard Jabril Trawick is defended by Kansas forward Landen Lucas during Big East basketball action on Dec. 10 at the Verizon Center in Northwest. Kansas defeated Georgetown, 75-70. /Photo by John E. De Freitas

The Washington Informer

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FOLLOW US TO UNITED MEDICAL CENTER...

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PRIMARY CARE CENTER At the UMC Primary Care Center, we want to be your first choice “your lifelong home” for all of your health care. Our staff of board-certified doctors, nurse practitioners, and nurses can take care of all of your medical, prevention, and wellness needs: General Hours of Operation Monday: 8:00 am – 8:00 pm Tuesday – Thursday: 8:00 am – 4:30 pm Friday: 8:00 am – 8:00 pm Saturday: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

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.

Not-For-Profit Hospital Corporation | 1310 Southern Avenue, SE, DC 20032

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Dec 18 - Dec 24, 2014

35

SPORTS

Washington Wizards Defeat Los Angeles Clippers, 104- 96

Clippers guard Chris Paul charges Wizards guard John Wall during the second quarter of NBA action on Friday, Dec. 12, at the Verizon Center in Northwest. The Wizards defeated the Clippers, 104-96. /Photo by John E. De Freitas

Wizards guard John Wall keeps the play alive during the third quarter of National Basketball Association action on Friday, Dec. 12, at the Verizon Center in Northwest. The Wizards defeated the Clippers, 104-96. /Photo by John E. De Freitas

36 Dec 18 - Dec 24, 2014

The Washington Informer

Wizards forward Nene Hilario and Clippers forward Glen Davis battle for the ball during the third quarter of NBA action on Friday, Dec.12, at the Verizon Center in Northwest. The Wizards defeated the Clippers, 104-96. /Photo by John E. De Freitas

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12/2/14 12:38 PM Dec 18 - Dec 24, 2014 37

SPORTS

Nationals Quiet at Winter Meetings

Despite Lack of Moves, Star Players Can Still Be Traded

By Stacy M. Brown WI Contributing Writer

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After a quiet week at the baseball winter meetings in San Diego, the Washington Nationals may still join teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves and Toronto Blue Jays in making a deal to improve or shake up the roster heading into 2015.

One move could involve star shortstop Ian Desmond, whose contract expires after next year, and negotiations on a new pact have remained stagnant, leading some to believe the Nationals could seek to trade him to either improve an already talented big league squad or bolster the team’s farm system.

“I’ve got guys that I consider ‘Dad’ in this organization. I’ve got guys that are just like my brothers,” Desmond, 29, told reporters during the organization’s fan festival on Saturday, Dec. 13.

“I was 18 when I signed; I had like four armpit hairs. Now I’ve got three kids.”

Desmond said he wouldn’t be shocked if the Nationals decided to deal him.

And he may not be the only member of the 2014 Eastern Division Champions who could be on the move before opening day.

Yahoo Sports reported that, in addition to Desmond, who belted 24 home runs and drove in 91 runs last season, star pitchers Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister have contracts that expire after next season, and therefore they could be used as trade bait.

Zimmerman, who pitched a no-hitter in the regular season finale, posted a 14-5 record with a 2.55 ERA, while Fister led the team with 16 wins and a 2.41 ERA. Additionally, reliever Tyler Clippard and speedster Denard Span also have expiring deals.

“If it’s a fair value [offer], like I have said all along, I would gladly sign,” Zimmermann told Yahoo Sports before adding that he doesn’t want contract negotiations to continue during the season. “But at the end of the day, it’s got to be something that’s fair. And if it’s not, then I’ll be moving on,” he said.

Fister, traded from Detroit to Washington before last season, has avoided speculation on what could happen.

“I want to be taken by surprise The Washington Informer

Washington Nationals star shortstop Ian Desmond said he wouldn’t be shocked if the Nationals decide to trade him after his contract expires next year. / Courtesy photo.

because I want to expect that I’m going to be back here next year,” he said.

The only deal that came together during the winter meetings for Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo involved sending left-hander Ross Detwiler to Texas for two minor league prospects.

“We had a lot of trade ideas, and we just haven’t found the right time, place or situation,” Rizzo said. “We feel that we like the team we have, but we certainly see the room for improvement.”

One of the team’s young stars, Bryce Harper, did agree on a new contract.

Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reported on Monday, Dec. 15, that Harper agreed to a new two-year deal, and, as a result, the two sides avoided a grievance hearing that would have determined whether Harper could opt out of his original contract prior to the 2015 season and become eligible for salary arbitration.

Originally, with the deadline nearing to finalize a contract in August of 2010, Harper and the team reached an oral agreement on a five-year $9.9 million deal.

At the time, the Nationals

didn’t want to include the optout option, while Harper’s agent insisted on that clause, Rosenthal reported while citing another story that said the written contract never included the opt-out, so Harper refused to sign it.

However, the league and the players’ association then agreed upon an opt-out if Harper became eligible for arbitration before the end of his contract.

After the 2014 season, Harper indeed qualified as what’s known as a “Super Two” player.

Harper, 22, the first overall pick in the 2010 draft, who just completed his third season in the majors, hit .273 with 13 homers and 32 RBI. In his career, the two-time All-Star and 2012 National League Rookie of the Year has hit .272 with 55 homers and 149 RBI. Rizzo declined to comment on negotiations for Desmond, Zimmermann or Fister.

“We’ve got a lot of options,” Rizzo said. “We can go a lot of different ways. We can stand pat and go with a team that we think is a very, very competitive ball club. We can make a few tweaks here and there.”WI

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RELIGION

The Religion Corner

Clear out the Clutter before the New Year!

“Cleaning out relationship clutter can be as healthy as removing toxins from your body.”

The Griffin Firm, PLLC Committed to providing services and supports to increase the capacity of individuals, businesses, and communities.

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It’s that time of the year again – the holidays! Thanksgiving marked the beginning of the shopping season; and now we all preparing for Christmas and New Year’s. We attend party after party and we spend as much money as we possibly can buying gifts for our loved ones and friends.

This column is here to suggest that before you go out and spend all of your hard-earned cash for the Christmas holiday, consider doing some special holiday cleaning in your life.

First, consider detoxing your body by restricting your diet for a week or two to fresh fruits, raw vegetables and juices. Then, remove the clutter from your environment – your home, your car, your office. Clean all the junk out! Don’t let another year begin with clutter around you.

Get rid of it.

And while you’re getting rid of things, consider removing people who are cluttering your life. Many of us have few people in our lives that we really hold dear. Hold tight to those loved ones. Value the time you spend with them and what they bring to your life.

But for others, the people who don’t enrich your life or experiences, you may need to consider taking a lesson from Ecclesiastes 3:1, 6, which says: “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: … A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away…”

As you clear away clutter during your end-of-the-year cleaning spree, clean out those people who are no longer good for you.

Cleaning out relationship clutter can be as healthy as removing toxins from your body. It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you let go of - or at least minimize your time spent with – draining, negative, incompatible and not-going-anywhere people with whom you share relationships.

Evaluate the people in your life. Which ones lift you up and bring something positive with them? Which ones encourage you and which ones discourage you? Which ones are on a path to success and want to bring you along and which ones are dragging you downhill with them?

When you leave the company of people in your life, do you feel better that they are gone or will you genuinely miss them until your paths meet again? The ones you’ll miss are your keepers.

However, pray for the ones you choose to leave behind.

There is no need to be rude or hurtful. Just let them go and trust that God will do His perfect work in their lives. You can’t change them, but God can.

Remember the key ingredients as expressed in Galatians 5:2223: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

The more you seek to create a

with Lyndia Grant clutter-free life for yourself, the more you need to remove people who don’t love and respect you; want success for you; care about your peace of mind; love you; and celebrate their relationship with you.

And just like a garden, the more clutter you remove from your life – in your environment and in your relationships – the easier it will be for good things to blossom come spring. WI Lyndia Grant is an author, inspirational and motivational speaker, radio talk show host and columnist.

You can reach her at her website, www. lyndiagrant.com., or at 202-5183192. Tune in Fridays at 6 p.m. for her show, “Think on These Things,” on WYCB 1340 AM, a Radio One station.

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Dec 18 - Dec 24, 2014

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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”

Sunday Worship Service 8:00am and 11:00am Sunday School 9:15am Holy Communion 4th Sunday 10:00am Prayer and Bible Study Wednesday 7;00pm TV Ministry –Channel 6 Wednesday 10:00pm gsccm.administration@verizon.net

Lanier C. Twyman, Sr. Bishop 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

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

Crusader Baptist Church

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

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

Mount Carmel Baptist Church

Mt. Zion Baptist Church

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

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

Rev. John W. Davis, Pastor

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

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 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 Dec 18 - Dec 24, 2014

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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

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

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

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 Institute Wednesday - 1:30 pm Prayer Meeting Wednesday - 12:00 Noon

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

2001 North Capitol St, N.E. • Washington, DC 20002 Phone (202) 832-9591

Rev. Dr. Morris L Shearin, Sr. Pastor

St. Luke Baptist Church

Rev. Daryl F. Bell Pastor

Rev. Dr. James Coleman Pastor

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

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Rehoboth 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

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

Christ Embassy DC

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

Dr. C. Matthew Hudson, Jr, Pastor

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

Apostolic in Doctrine, Pentecostal in Experience, Holiness in Living, Uncompromised and Unchanged.

The Apostolic Faith is still alive –Acts 2:42

services here:

Dr. Earl D. Trent Senior Pastor

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

tel: 202-291-6565

Advertise Your Church

Holy Trinity United Baptist Church

Matthews Memorial Baptist Church

Sermon On The Mount Temple Of Joy Apostolic Faith

Prayer/Seeking Wednesday at 8:00 P.M.

301 kennedy street, nW Washington, DC 20011

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

Quality Printers

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

St. Matthews Baptist Church

Emmanuel Baptist Church

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.

Dec 18 - Dec 24, 2014

41

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Probate Division

Probate Division

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

Administration Number 2014 ADM 1238

Administration No. 2014 ADM 1175

Administration No. 2014 ADM 1196

Administration No. 2014 ADM 783

Brenda Louise Dorsett

Elamin Elghebaili

Estate of

Mary Alva Grays

Lillie I. Mann aka Lillie Ivy Mann

Decedent

Deceased

NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE

Decedent Peter D. Antonopolos, Esq.

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS

1725 DeSales Street, NW, Suite 600

AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Washington, DC 20036 Attorney

Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by Kemberly Joi Mann for standard probate, including 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 of this notice, the Court may take the action hereinafter set forth.

In the absence of a will or proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution, enter and order determining that the decedent died intestate.

Appoint an unsupervised personal representative.

Exclude the testamentary writing dated January 17, 1974.

Carol Coates, whose address is 2931 Cedarwood Lane, Dunkirk, MD 20754, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Mary Alva Grays, who died on March 3, 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

December 4, 2014

AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS LaSean Denise Young, whose address is 3441 Blakely Street, Waldorf, MD 20603, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Brenda Louise Dorsett,

Johnny M. Howard Houston & Howard 1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 402 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Johnny M. Howard, whose address is 1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 402, Washington, DC 20036, was

and will serve with Court supervision. All unknown heirs

and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter

and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter

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

their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such

their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such

on or before June 4, 2015. Claims against the decedent

appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills,

appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall

shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the

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

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

Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with

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

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

Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the

on or before June 18, 2015. Claims against the decedent

undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed

shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the

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 and relationship.

with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before June 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 and relationship.

Date of first publication: Date of first publication:

Carol Coates Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

TRUE TEST COPY

Anne Meister

LaSean Denise Young Personal Representative

call Ron Burke at

appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Elamin

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

a copy to the undersigned, on or before June 4, 2015,

services here:

Washington, DC 20036

Elghebaili, who died on September 25, 2013 with a Will,

December 4, 2014 Kemberly Joi Mann

Decedent

will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs

December 4, 2014 Petitioner/Attorney:

LEGAL NOTICES

who died on August 13, 2009 without a Will, and

appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall

so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address Date of first publication:

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS

LEGAL NOTICES

202-561-4100

Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before June 18, 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 and relationship.

or email

Date of first publication: December 18, 2014 Johnny M. Howard Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

TRUE TEST COPY

Anne Meister

Register of Wills

Anne Meister

Register of Wills

Anne Meister

Register of Wills

Register of Wills

Washington Informer

Washington Informer

Washington Informer

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Probate Division

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

Administration No. 2014 ADM 1265

Administration No. 2014 ADM 1268

Edith McClenny Griffin

Lisa D. Reid

Decedent

Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS

AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

Administration No. 2014 ADM 1211 Robert Lee Rodgers Decedent

Administration No. 2014 ADM 874

rburke@washingtoninformer.com

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2014 ADM 1193 Lucretia Mary Sexcius

Robert William Doyle, Jr. Decedent

Jennifer E. Loud, Esquire The Loud Law Firm

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS

7826 Eastern Avenue, NW, Suite 410

AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Decedent Wesley L. Clarke

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Debra Lynn Long-Doyle, whose address is 1120 East

Emanuel Alexander Lipscomb, whose address is 1736

Capitol Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002, was

Upshur St., NW, Washington, DC 20011, was appointed

appointed Personal Representative of the estate of

Personal Representative of the estate of Edith McClenny

Robert William Doyle, Jr., who died on May 18, 2014

Griffin, who died on May 25, 2014 with a Will, and

LaVerne Rodgers, whose address is 707 Faraday Place,

with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision.

will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs

NE, Washington, DC 20017, was appointed Personal

All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are

and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter

Representative of the estate of Robert Lee Rodgers, who

unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding.

their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such

died on November 23, 2013 without a Will, and will

Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of

appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall

decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills,

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

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 June 11, 2015.

on or before June 18, 2015. Claims against the decedent

Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the

shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the

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

undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed

Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a

Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the

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

copy to the undersigned, on or before June 18, 2015,

undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed

on or before June 11, 2015, or be forever barred.

serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor

or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or

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

Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent

on or before June 4, 2015, or be forever barred. Persons

legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this

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

notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall

believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of first publication:

days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of

so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address

Wills, including name, address and relationship.

and relationship.

Date of first publication: December 11, 2014

P. Lee Reid, whose address is 2517 Park Place, SE,

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Washington, DC 20020, was appointed Personal

AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Representative of the estate of Lisa D. Reid, who died on December 14, 2013 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs

Debra Lynn Long-Doyle Personal Representative

Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Anne Meister

TRUE TEST COPY Anne Meister

Register of Wills

Register of Wills

Washington Informer

Washington Informer

42 Dec 18 - Dec 24, 2014

Susan Daniel, whose address is 229 Quackenbos St., NW, Washington, DC 20011, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Lucretia Mary Sexcius,

whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their

who died on September 21, 2014 with a Will, and

appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such

will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs

appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills,

and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter

D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before June 18, 2015.

Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the

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,

undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed

on or before June 18, 2015. Claims against the decedent

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

shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the

on or before June 18, 2015, or be forever barred.

Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a

Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

copy to the undersigned, on or before June 18, 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 and relationship.

Date of first publication:

Date of first publication:

December 18, 2014

December 18, 2014

Emanuel Alexander Lipscomb

P. Lee Reid

Susan Daniel

Personal Representative

Personal Representative

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

TRUE TEST COPY

Anne Meister

Anne Meister

Register of Wills

Register of Wills

Washington Informer

Washington Informer

December 4, 2014 LaVerne Rodgers

Washington, DC 20006 Attorney

Washington, DC 20012 Attorney

1629 K Street, NW, Suite 300

The Washington Informer

Date of first publication: December 18, 2014

TRUE TEST COPY Anne Meister Register of Wills Washington Informer

www.washingtoninformer.com

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POWELL continued from Page 26 More than 50 years after the Kerner Commission issued its report, a serious, bipartisan effort that examined the underlying issues that gave birth to the movement and unrest of that era, we are still living in a deeply unequal society. No leader today has suggested anything as comprehensive as the Kerner Commission and in today’s polarized political environment, it is extremely unlikely that there will be a politically-led constructive look at the current state of our society.

Brown and Garner are but two names in a long list of black men and women who have perished at the hands of police. These are not personal issues or isolated incidents; they are tragic reflections of a deeply broken system.

And this long list of people are not just failed by individual police officers,

DANIELS continued from Page 26 USA Today research found a lower degree of racial difference, and yet, even that difference has an element worth noting. While 47 percent of whites and 90 percent of blacks agreed that the grand jury decision was wrong (28 percent of whites and just 2 percent of blacks thought it was correct), fully 25 percent of whites declined to express an opinion about the decision (compared to 2 percent of blacks).

The survey’s authors didn’t speculate as to why such a high percentage of whites would choose the “don’t know” category. But here’s my take: most of those white don’t knows didn’t want to declare the obvious: that the grand jury should have in-

CURRY continued from Page 26 the U.S., compared to only 56 percent of blacks.

Among whites, 74 percent believe blacks have the same opportunities as whites in jobs, 80 percent say that is the case in education and 85 percent believe blacks have the same opportunities in housing. Only 40 percent of blacks say African Americans have the same opportunities as whites in jobs, 55 percent in education and 56 percent in housing.

Civil Rights and Government Help Both blacks and whites agree that civil rights for African Americans have improved within their lifetimes. Most whites (54 percent) feel they have “great-

their situations are emblematic of a systemic failure at all levels.

We must demand that communities have a voice in their own safety and protection. All communities care about safety, including black and brown ones. But we must structure a society where their protection is the priority of local police departments.

This is not a radical idea, but part of the bedrock of a truly democratic system. Communities should have agency in terms of reviewing and evaluating the systems that are put in place to protect them. Police should be part of this conversation, too, but they should not dominate the conversation.

While I am supportive of President Obama’s plan to authorize millions for communities to purchase body cameras for police, it’s important to remember that this is only an intervention.

After all, Eric Garners’ death was videotaped. So was the brutal beating of Rodney King. The public witness

of brutality on black and brown bodies has a long history in this country.

And yet, even with visible proof, too many in our society are hesitant to see people of color as deserving of full human concern. And it is also not enough to follow the law if the laws do not respect all lives. In fact, laws like Stand Your Ground and Stop and Frisk are deeply problematic.

What we are witnessing today calls for more than a conversation.

It demands a deep transformational movement. Change will happen. We can build and support this movement in one direction over another. Let’s move beyond a conversation into real action. WI

dicted a white cop for killing a black man.

Yes, I’m suggesting that the lure of white racial solidarity not only played a significant role in producing the high percentage of white don’t knows on that one question in that one poll, but also plays a significant role in both the general operation of the criminal justice system, street-level policing and in the wide gaps between black and white attitudes on those issues.

A recent New York Times column on the Dec. 5 arrest of two graduate students from the Union Theological Seminary during the protests in New York in the wake of the Garner grand jury decision brings that “racial divide” down to street level.

The two students, Shawn Torres, who is black, and Benjamin Perry, who is white, had planned

to get arrested as part of a group blockading part of one of the city’s major highways. They were.

But, as they told Times columnist Jim Dwyer, while Torres was being handcuffed by an officer using plastic ties, another officer grabbed Perry. He “threw me face first to the ground. He put his head next to my ear and whispered, ‘Just get out of here,’” Perry said.

Thus began a bizarre effort of Perry to get treated as negatively as his Black friend and colleague.

Dwyer concludes his article by posing the question: “Was it possible that the differences in their treatment stemmed not from their races but from the disposition of the officers who arrested them? He let Torres have the last word: “No. Black and white bodies are not treated equally.”WI

ly improved” over that period while only 29 percent of blacks feel that way. Slightly more than half of blacks –52 percent – say their civil rights have improved “somewhat,” compared to about a third of whites who share that view.

Given that fundamental difference, it is not surprising that blacks and whites look at the role of government differently.

Slightly more than half of blacks (54 percent) say the government should play a major role in improving the social and economic positions of blacks. Only 22 percent of whites agree. In fact, about three in 10 whites argue that the government should play no role at all in that arena. “..whites are now less likely to favor a major government role

in assisting minorities than they were during the previous decade.

Blacks, though still supportive of a major government role, are also a bit less likely now than they were in 2004-2005 to think that,” according to Gallup.

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John A. Powell is director of the Haas Institute for a Fair and Inclusive Society and A professor of law, African American and Ethnic Studies at University of California, Berkele

Police and the Justice System When Gallup asked last year whether the American justice system was biased against blacks, 68 percent of black respondents said yes while only 26 percent of Whites agreed.

But the high-profile police killings of Michael Brown in Ferguson and Eric Gardner in New York may have made matters worse.

A new NBC News/Marist poll showed that 83 percent of whites have a great deal or The Washington Informer

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High School Journalist of the Year at least a fair amount of trust in local police, compared to 50 percent of blacks. Tellingly, 79 percent of whites said they were confident police won’t use excessive force. Only 43 of blacks share that confidence.

Respondents were asked: “How much confidence do you have in police officers in your community to treat blacks and whites equally?” That’s where we saw a huge gap: 52 percent of whites said a great deal, 26 percent said a fair amount while 19 percent of blacks said some or very little.

Pictures of white and black protesters marching together in

the aftermath of the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Gardner are encouraging. But when you look at overall views on race, we have a long road ahead of us WI .

George E. Curry is editor-in-chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service (NNPA.) He is a keynote speaker, moderator, and media coach. Curry can be reached through his Web site, www.georgecurry.com. You can also follow him at www.twitter.com/currygeorge and George E. Curry Fan Page on Facebook.

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MALVEAUX continued from Page 27 (R-NY), chooses to blame Eric Garner’s health for his death. “If he had not had asthma, and a heart condition, and was so obese, almost definitely he would not have died from this,” King told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer. King failed to note that use of the chokehold was banned by New York Police Department in 1993. Instead, there is no shame, no condolence in his insensitivity and ignorance. Can’t breathe.

Whether he is svelte or obese, carrying a briefcase or a bag of Skittles, wearing a Hermes suit or a hoodie, behaving respectfully or rudely, a black man’s safety cannot be guaranteed, especially when a white police officer is involved. The mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts and wives of these men hold their breath, cannot breathe, except to pray for the safety of their

MORIAL continued from Page 27 forward in helping to repair police-community relations in cities across America, in significantly reducing inappropriate use of excessive force by law enforcement, particularly against unarmed citizens and in holding police accountable for misconduct: 1. Widespread use of body cameras and dashboard cameras; 2. Broken windows reform and implementation of 21st

MUHAMMAD continued from Page 27

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were unarmed when they were killed by hateful law enforcement officials who acted as judge, jury and executioner in cases which should mostly have not warranted a sentence of more than 10 days in jail! Their sons, their husbands, are dead.

The cops or vigilantes who killed them, and later exonerated.

No justice. No peace.

So, for the last several days in Washington, since the Staten Island grand jury’s decision not to indict a killer cop who used a choke-hold which was banned by his own police department to commit what the coroner declared to be a “homicide,” since that announcement in the case of Eric Garner, Washington has not been the same.

“Hands Up! Don’t Shoot!” and “I Can’t Breathe!” have become the mantras of the demonstrators and the sad lament of The Washington Informer

loved ones. Would the system be fairer if a white man walking down Park Avenue had the same fears? Would the protests look different if those who were massacred looked different?

Can’t breathe has become a metaphor for the African-American condition, juggling the space between hopes and despair, between progress and regress. Who would have thought police violence against African-American men would so visibly escalate at a time when our nation’s leader is an African-American man. Can President Obama breathe, or is he in a figurative chokehold when he parses words about the killings of Eric Garner, Michael Brown and little Tamir Rice?

Our president faced protest when he criticized James Crowley, the white police officer who arrested Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. in his own house in 2009. Now, Obama offers measured words in response to

the outrageousness of two grand juries’ failure to indict.

Attorney General Eric Holder has been less measured in his comments.

The day after the Staten Island grand jury decided not to indict Daniel Panaleo for the murder of Eric Garner, Holder announced Department of Justice’s findings of excessive force by the Cleveland Police Department.

Perhaps the Cleveland consent decree will be a first step toward cleaning up excessive police action around the country.

Eric Garner did not have to die. He did not have to stop breathing. Did his last breath bring life to a movement, or did he gasp that last breath in vain?WI

Century community policing model 3. Review and revision of police use-of-deadly-force policies 4. Comprehensive retraining of all police officers 5. Comprehensive review and strengthening of police hiring standards 6. Appointment of special prosecutors to investigate police misconduct 7. Mandatory uniform FBI reporting and audit of lethal force incidents involving all law enforcement 8. Creation and audit of Na-

tional Database of citizen complaints against police 9. Revision of National Police Accreditation System for mandatory use by law enforcement to be eligible for federal funds 10. National Comprehensive Anti-Racial Profiling Law We know the problems before us – now let’s work towards solutions. WI

the men’s distraught mothers as they have told their stories over and over in public forums and before a hearing organized by the Congressional Black Caucus.

One day protestors blocked traffic on an interstate highway.

One day they blocked traffic at Gallery Place. One day they tied up traffic near DuPont Circle.

One day they blocked traffic on the 14th Street Bridge, which brings commuters to work in official Washington from neighboring Virginia.

Then, on another day, hundreds of Congressional staff members walked off their jobs and converged on the steps of the U.S. Capitol where they took pictures and held up their hands in the “don’t shoot” position— the pose witnesses said Michael Brown, 18, assumed before he was shot a dozen times by a cop who won’t face prosecution. Others held signs reading “I can’t breathe,” the last words uttered by Eric Garner.

How the brave mothers of these blameless victims, some

whose names we recognize, some we don’t—Sean Bell, Alan Blueford, Dale Graham, Gregory Chavis, Archie Elliott, Clinton Allen, Maurice Johnson, Oscar Grant, Ramarley Graham, and John Crawford III—even manage to get out of bed every morning and face the world is amazing to me because I’m numb. I’m suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from their pain.

It’s been a gut-wrenching couple of weeks in Washington, D.C.WI

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

Marc H. Morial, the former mayor of New Orleans, is president and CEO of the National Urban League.

What Do You Think?

We’d Like To Know.

E-mail Us:

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