The Washington Informer - January 29, 2015 by The Washington Informer

I N S I D E

Kunjufu: Black Girls’ Suspensions Troubling, Pg. 22

I N S I D E

Deadline for ACA Enrollment Looms Pg. 5

Deserving Youth Get Scholarships, Pg. 19

Hill Harper Raises Funds for Youth, Pg. 9

BET to Unveil Exciting Miniseries, Pg. 23

Vol. 50, No. 16 Jan. 29 - Feb. 4 2015

Pepco, Discovery Education and the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington (BGCGW) kick-off the Pepco STEM Club on Friday, Jan. 23 at the Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus (THEARC) in Southeast. Students work with Lemond Brown, B&CGW engineer and technology manager to create a mechanism to transfer energy from one object to another in the tradition of inventor and engineer Rube Goldberg. See Page 30. /Photo by Travis Riddick

Ward 8 Residents Grapple with Crime

Cross-Section of Community Gathers Seeking Solutions By Barrington M. Salmon WI Staff Writer @bsalmondc Since late last year, residents in Congress Heights and other sections of Ward 8 have been battered by a sudden increase of burglaries, thefts and homicides. There’s been growing apprehension and concern among

residents who are demanding a more coordinated response from elected officials but who – realizing the gravity of the situation – aren’t waiting quietly until that help arrives. On Thursday, Jan 22, more than 250 residents, young people, activists, police officers, clergy and businesspeople met at the

Old Congress Heights School in Southeast. Participants at the meeting, which was convened by a host of civic and other organizations, sought consensus on the top causes of teen crime and violence and discussed solutions to these problems. According to Metropolitan Police Department statistics,

since Dec 22, there have been six homicides in 30 days, four more than in the corresponding period last year. In addition, there have been 26 robberies with a gun and 193 instances of property crime. A number of residents, particularly seniors, have said they don’t venture out at night unless it is absolutely necessary, and

they and other residents lament the hold crime has on their movement and quality of life. But the Community Discussion on Rising Violence in Ward 8 illustrates residents’ unwillingness to cede the streets to criminals. Patricia Owens and her fam-

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1/29/2015 – 2/4//2015 PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY Page 13 NATIONAL Pages 14-15 COMMENTARIES Pages 21-22 LIFESTYLE Pages 23-27 SPORTS A disturbing increase in violence in some sections of Ward 8 led more than 250 residents to meet last week and discuss ways to curb criminal activities in their community. See the rest of this front page story on page 8.

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around the region

SOMETHING NEW EVERYDAY

Women Break the Cycle of Domestic Violence

AROUND THE REGION

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 sympowhoFacebook was sentenced to six Alerts consecamong children Councilwoman At-large Anita Bonds wants to issue Silver to helpawareness track and locate missing senior in sium was sponsored by the utive life terms without parole public and private schools. She citizens. /Photo courtesy NBC News. Family and Youth Services by a Maryland jury for his role in feels children need to be educatCenter of the city of District the Beltway Sniper attacks in ed about domestic violence. Heights and the National Hook- 2002. Mildred Muhammad is “We have to stop being pasUp of Black Women. the 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 her own experiences, the years in fear a long time. It is programs and is confident thehave policies she and eight EndanOffice onisAging. Stacy M.byBrown and those of her grandmother, not an easy thing to come out is pushing for will start that It has also helped to locate and gered Person Advisories. WI Writer her Contributing mother and her daughter. of,” she said. save the life of several elderly process. In her letter to Zuckerberg, She said every time she reads Mildred Muhammad said “I plan to take these policies to District residents. Bonds said utilizing the world’s David Meadows said Counexcerpts from her book, she still people who want to help a Congress and implore them to In Memoriam On Jan. violence 22, officials reported largest social mediaMarlow platformsaid. to cilmember At-large Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Sr. can not believe theAnita wordsBonds came domestic victim must change our laws,” Wilhelmina J. Rolark North Carolina endangered children has longtime frombeen her. a“Color Me champion Butterfly” elderly be careful of how they resident go into publicize “I will not stop until these poliThe Washington Informer Newspaper Roachlife, missing from an via of senior Amber Alert will unwon the rights. 2007 National “Best Sheila the victim's and understand cies the are passed.” THE WASHINGTON INFORMER assistant living center in River doubtedly InPUBLISHER Memoriam Books” Award. Meadows, a council spokessave children’s that she may be in “survival Tia Carol Jonesmany can be reached NEWSPAPER (ISSN#0741-9414)Dr.isCalvin W. Rolark, Sr. Denise Rolark Barnes “I was mode”.After authorities issued lives. man, said just the 16-years-old well-being ofwhen the Bend. at tiacaroljones@sbcglobal.net published weekly on each Thursday. Wilhelmina J. Rolark my eyeremains first blackened and for my a “Before Silver Alert, you getDistrict to 'I'm police going elderly a top priority Periodicals postage paid at WashingShe said, as a grandmother, STAFF THE WASHINGTON INFORMER lips bled,” said. proac- spotted to kill you,' it started as astop verbal WI official and Facebook Roach at a bus in elected ton, D.C. and additional mailing of- NEWSPAPER (ISSN#0741-9414) is published Bonds, andMarlow she remains weekly Thursday. Periodicals paid at Washington, D.C. and additional Elaine Davis-Nickens, presifices. Newsonand advertising deadlinepostage Northeast on Thursday. Denise W. Barnes, Editor tive in her approach to their safeuser, she’s pleased with the Ammailing offices. News and advertising deadline is Monday prior to publication. is Monday prior to publication. Andent the National Hook-Up Bonds and others said that’s a ber Alert being added. Announcements must be received two weeks prior to event. Copyright 2000 by The ty andofsecurity. D. Kevin McNeir, Managing Editor nouncements must be received two of Black Women, said there is no primary reason why the alert has Washington Informer. All rights reserved. POST MASTER: Send change of address“She thought it would be in weeks event. Copyright 2015 “I am also mindful of the consistency in the way domestic es toprior The to Washington Informer, 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, Ron Burke, Advertising/ Marketing Director become so important and that it terrifying and often deadly cirthe public’s bestare interest to have by D.C. The 20032. Washington Informer. All No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permisviolence issues dealt with by rights POSTMASTER: sionreserved. from the publisher. TheSend Informer Newspaper cannot return Facebook include Silver Alerts counts as one of the best tools in cumstances that can occur when Lafayette Barnes, IV,guarantee Assistant the Photo Editorof change of addresses to The rates Washphotographs. Subscription are $30 per year, two years $45. Papers will be received and believes that it could be eas- locating missing senior citizens. a member of our senior popunot more than 3117 a weekMartin after publication. MakeE.checks payable to: ington Informer, Luther John De Freitas, Sports Photo Editor Following an announcement lation goes missing, and thereily implemented,” Meadows said King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. earlier this month by officials at THE WASHINGTON via email. Dorothy INFORMER Rowley, Online Editor 20032. No part of this publication may fore I encourage you to expand 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. • Washington, D.C. 20032 Approximately 11.4 percent the social media website, Face- upon the Amber Alert notices by be reproduced without written permisBrian• Young, Design & Layout Phone: 202 561-4100 Fax: 202 574-3785 sion from the publisher. The Informer of the District’s 646,000 resi- book, Bonds sent a letter to E-mail: news@washingtoninformer.com publicizing targeted Silver Alert Newspaper cannot guarantee the return Mable Neville, Bookkeeper dents are at least 65 years of age, CEO Mark Zuckerberg to enwww.washingtoninformer.com notices to aid in the recovery of of photographs. Subscription rates are according to the latest Census courage him to also include SilMickey Thompson, Social Sightings columnist $45 per year, two years $60. Papers will missing senior citizens, many figures, and several battle illness ver Alerts on the site to help find PUBLISHER be received not more than a week after who suffer from Alzheimer’s Denise RolarkPalmer, Barnes Social Media Specialist Stacey that include Alzheimer’s, demen- seniors who go missing. publication. Make checks payable to: STAFF REPORTERSCirculation “I think it’s a great benefit to disease, mental disabilities or detia, and other mental and physAngie Johnson, THE WASHINGTON Brooke N. Garner INFORMER Managing Editor Tia C. Jones, Ed Laiscell, ical problems that could some- society that Facebook has decid- mentia,” Bonds said. Carla PeayLuther King, Assistant Managing Editor Odell B. Ruffin, Larry Saxton, 3117 Martin Jr. Ave., S.E Zuckerberg has yet to respond times lead to their disappearance. ed to issue Amber Alerts, and Ron BurkeD.C. 20032 Advertising and Marketing Mary Wells, Joseph Young Washington, REPORTERS to the letter, Meadows said, but Mable Whittaker Bookkeeper In 2013, then-Mayor Vincent I encourage Facebook to also Phone: 202 561-4100 Stacy Brown, Sam P.K. Collins, Eve Ferguson, LaNita Wrenn Administration PHOTOGRAPHERS Bonds hasn’t been deterred and Fax:John 202 574-3785 Gray announced the Silver Alert include the Silver Alerts that E. De Freitas Sports Elton Editor Hayes, Lafayette Barnes, IV, D. Kevin McNeir, Dorothy news@washingtoninformer.com the councilwoman who began Victor Holt Photo Editor John E. De Freitas, Maurice Fitzgerald, program as an initiative to help results in the recovery of many Salmon www.washingtoninformer.com Zebra Designs, Inc. Layout & Graphic Rowley, Design Barrington Joanne Jackson, Roy Lewis, Robert her first full term this month aid in locating of missing senior missing seniors across the UnitKen Harris /www.scsworks.com Webmaster Ridley, Victor Holt continued to push forward. citizens. ed States” Bonds said. L.Y. could Marlow “Silver Alert notices be CIRCULATION Led by the Metropolitan PoSimilar to Amber Alerts, Silver Paul Trantham PHOTOGRAPHERS included in targeted news feeds,” lice Department, the program Alerts are issued when senior John E. DeFreitas, Shevry Lassiter, has a coordinated response citizens are missing. Thirty-five she said. “This would also be a Roy Lewis, Travis Riddick , Nancy Shia among District government states, the District of Columbia great benefit to society by proagencies, including the District and New York City issue Silver tecting a segment of the popula4 / May 15 - 21, 2008 The Washington Informer / www.washingtoninformer.com Department of Transportation, Alerts while nine states have tion that has made long-standing D.C. Homeland Security and programs that contain criteria contributions to our nation and Emergency Management, and similar to existing Silver Alert world.”WI

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WI Staff Writer

Anita Bonds Wants Facebook Silver Alert Councilwoman Writes Letter Appealing for Assistance

“

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.

The Washington Informer

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Church, Barbershop Encourage Healthier Living

Focus: To Boost Enrollment of Blacks in D.C. By D. Kevin McNeir WI Managing Editor Only three weeks remain for residents to sign up for 2015 health coverage. For those who need assistance, DC Health Link has partnered with other local organizations to encourage more blacks, particularly men, to enroll in quality, affordable health insurance. “We’ve been up and running for several months but now, with the February 15 deadline approaching, we’re seeing more people come by needing help enrolling for themselves or for members of their family or friends,” said Sullivan Robinson, executive director, Leadership Council for Healthy Communities – a nonprofit, community-based organization that’s been providing services to District residents for the past three years. The makeshift enrollment center opens its doors each weekday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in an office adjacent to First Baptist Church, at 710 Randolph Street, Northwest. Last week, they also opened their doors on Saturday. “Besides our normal weekday hours, we also go out and make presentations to groups and organizations here in Ward 4,” Robinson said. “We want people to understand that it’s not only easy but to their benefit to sign up – the Affordable Care Act

[ACA] can be a real life saver.” Recent studies show two things: Ward 4 has one of the highest uninsured rates in the District; and black men have the highest disability and death rates from high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and prostate cancer of any racial or ethnic group in the U.S. “The questions we receive vary but what’s surprised me most is how many people actually qualify for government subsidies that would lower their premium but don’t realize it,” Robinson said. “And because of the ACA, even those with prior conditions can qualify – that’s really good news for a lot of our residents.” One church leader said she came out Saturday on behalf of a cousin who needs health care. “He wasn’t able to come today but I wanted to get as much information as I could for him – he’s a borderline diabetic and is overweight and I’m very concerned,” said the Rev. Nancy Knight, a retired school teacher and resident of Northwest. “But I’m going to get him here and get him signed up very soon.” Patricia Walton attended the enrollment event because of concerns for her parents’ health. “I’m a member of First Baptist Church and didn’t even realize we had this project – it’s great because while my parents have insurance, they need additional

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assistance,” said Walton, 58, who lives in Northwest. “Today was very informative and I think it’s great for people without insurance to have so many options. Everyone deserves to have health care and Denise Rolark Barnes the cost has to be so that anyone Independent Beauty Consultant can afford it,” she said. www.marykay/drolark-barnes.com Sullivan said she’s heard some 202-236-8831 testimonies from those who have signed up that have been quite affirming. “People assume that their premium will be too high for them to afford insurance but in many cases I’ve heard that it was just the opposite – the tax credit and subsidy they received actually lowered what they were paying. The benefits cross demographics – many Americans are benefiting from the ACA. But (301) 864-6070 you’ve got to be willing to shop around,” Sullivan said. While some Ward 4 residents stopped at the church, others atMCCOLLUM & ASSOCIATES, LLC tended an enrollment open house at Best Cuts Barbershop on GeorADA, Age Discrimination, Benefits, Civil Rights, gia Avenue in Northwest. In recent COBRA, Contracts, Deaf Law, Defamation, Disability Law, years, barbershops have become a Discipline, Discrimination, FMLA, FLSA, FOIA, setting where health promotion and Family Responsibility, Harassment, HIPPA, OSHA, study take place. In fact, in black communities, they are more than National Origin Discrimination, Non-Compete, ‡ Please set all copy in upper and lowercase, flush left as indicated on artwork at these point sizes: Consultant name in 11-point Helvetica Neue Bo just a place to get a haircut or shave Beauty Consultant in 9-point Helvetica Neue Light;Discrimination, Web site or e-mail address in 9-point HelveticaAct, Neue Retaliation, Light; phone number in 9-point Helvetica Race Rehabilitation To the Independent Beauty Consultant: Only Company-approved Web sites obtained through the Mary Kay® Personal Web Site program may – they’re a place for sharing inforSeverance Agreements, Sexual Harassment, Torts, mation and enjoying camaraderie. WI

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AROUND THE REGION WEEK OF JAN 29 TO FEB 4

Black Facts Jan. 29

1926 – Violette Neatley Anderson became the first African American woman admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court. 1954 – Award-winning television host, actress, producer and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey was born in Kosciusko, Mississippi on this day.

Jan. 30

1797 – Sojourner Truth is born Isabella Baumfree in Ulster County, New York. She becomes the most influential and powerfully spoken Black female abolitionists of the 1800s. 1844 – Richard Theodore Greener is the first African American to graduate from Harvard University. 1944 – Sharon Pratt Dixon is born in Washington, D.C. She was the elected mayor of Washington, D.C. from Jan. 2, 1991 – Jan. 2, 1995 making her the first for a woman of any race to do so and the first African-American woman to serve as mayor of a major American city. 1956 – The Montgomery, Alabama home of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. is bombed by racists apparently angered by his leadership of the Montgomery bus boycott. 2006 – Coretta Scott King, widow of civil rights icon, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., died at the age of 78 on this day.

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1919 – Baseball great Jackie Robinson in born in Cairo, Georgia. He became the first Black to play in the white major league baseball when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. 1931 – Ernie Banks nicknamed “Mr. Cub” and “Mr. Sunshine,” was born on this day. He was a Major League Baseball shortstop and first baseman for 19 seasons, 1953 through 1971. He died Jan. 23, 2015. 1962 – Lt. Comdr. Samuel L. Gravely assumed command of destroyer escort, USS Falgout. He

was the first African American to command a U.S. warship. 1988 – Doug Williams becomes the first African American quarterback to play in a Super Bowl game. Williams leads the Washington Redskins to a win Super Bowl XXII. He is named MVP.

Feb. 1

1902 – Langston Hughes, one of Black America’s greatest poets, is born in Joplin, Missouri. 1926 – The first “Negro History Week” is celebrated. Founded by Black historian Carter G. Woodson, the “week” became Black History Month in 1976. 1960 – The “sit-in” movement as a protest method for civil rights is born on this day in Greensboro, North Carolina when four North Carolina A&T students sit-in at a “whites only” lunch counter and refuse to move until served or arrested. Within two weeks the tactic had spread to 15 cities in 5 Southern states. The original four students were Joseph McNeil, Ezell Blair, Franklin McCain and David Richmond.

Feb. 2

1839 – Black inventor Edmond Berger develops one of the first spark plugs made in America. 2009 – Eric Holder was sworn in as the first African American Attorney General.

Feb. 3

1908 – Jack Johnson becomes the first Black heavyweight boxing champion by defeating Tommy

Burns in Australia, although he was not officially given the title until 1910 after he defeated the American Jim Jeffries in Las Vegas. 1910 – Robert Earl Jones, stage and film actor and father of James Earl Jones, was born in Senatobia, Mississippi. 1947 – Percival Prattis became the first African American news correspondent admitted to the press galleries of the United States Senate and House of Representatives.

Feb. 4 1913 - Civil rights heroine Rosa Parks is born on this day in Tuskegee, Alabama. It was her refusal in December 1955 to give up her seat to a white man on a Montgomery, Alabama bus that sparked the modern Civil Rights Movement. For refusing to obey the laws of segregation she was arrested and convicted. Montgomery Blacks responded with a boycott of city buses. A young minister named Martin Luther King, Jr. was called upon to lead the boycott which would last for nearly 13 months. The drama and accompanying legal challenge all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court captivated the nation and propelled Dr. King into the national international spotlight as the nation’s premier civil rights leader. Mrs. Parks died in 2005 at 92.

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AROUND THE REGION INTERVIEWS AND PHOTOS BY ELTON HAYES

VIEWP INT Malcolm Brown

Washington, D.C. I think the Wizards will keep up the great momentum of the first half of the season. I think they’ll continue to do well and bring good basketball back to Washington. The [Atlanta] Hawks are playing good ball, as well, but I have faith that the Wizards will be able to keep up with them. I think they’ll do well for the rest of the season, and I think they’ll return to the playoffs and make a deep run.

Comments? Comments? Email us at:

Michael Fauntroy

Washington, D.C. Barring any significant injuries, there is no doubt in my mind that the Wizards have enough talent to make it to the NBA finals. While Atlanta is a good team that could pose a threat, I think they’re unproven, which is what the Wizards dealt with last season. The fact that the Wizards gained experience last season with the playoffs, and the fact the team has brought in some good veterans, makes me believe that they’ll have a strong finish this season.

Opinions?

Ideas?

THE WASHINGTON WIZARDS ENTER THE SECOND HALF OF THE NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION (NBA) SEASON CARRYING THE MOMENTUM FROM A STRONG FIRST HALF. WILL THE WIZARDS BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THEIR HIGH LEVEL OF PLAY THROUGHOUT THE SEASON?

Diego Rojas

Washington, D.C. I think the Wizards will continue to do well for the rest of the season, and they will keep bringing excitement to the city. They are playing well as a team and are passing more and sharing the ball. They’ve brought in older players like [Paul] Pierce and [DeJuan] Blair, who are intelligent role players. I think moves like this will only help them as the team goes deeper into the regular season, and the postseason. I think they’ll continue to play well.

We like to hear from you!

news@washingtoninformer.com

James Bevel

Washington, D.C. I definitely see the Wizards making a strong push in the playoffs. They have a good team with good veterans. I think that’s what changed the team this year, from last year. They brought in proven winners with championship experience, and I think that gives them a bit of depth and experience in the locker room, and I think it’s why they’re playing as well as they are right now. Barring injuries, I can see them going deep into the playoffs.

Apprill Walden

Hyattsville, Maryland I think they’ll continue to do well, and I have faith that they will. I think the momentum from last year has stayed with them, and they’ve been able to sustain it. I definitely think they’ll continue to play well and make the playoffs. I’m from Memphis, so inherently, I’m a Grizzlies fan; however, after living here for a couple years I am now a Wizards fan. I think they will keep up their first-half-of-theseason success.

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Jan 29 - Feb 4, 2015

AROUND THE REGION MEETING from Page 1 ily’s experience crystallizes in stark terms the cost of doing nothing. An unknown assailant(s) fatally shot her 22-year-old son, Kevin, on Monday, Jan. 19, while he was on 13th Street Southeast.

“I didn’t think this would ever happen to me. We need to stop the violence,” an inconsolable Owens told the hushed standing-room-only crowd. “I don’t have a smile anymore. He won’t be coming through the door. We need some help. We need more rec centers. “You all are steady closing down

schools. (The notion of) no snitching needs to go. I’ll never see my son anymore. He was only 22. I ask you all. Please stop the violence.” MPD is also trying to determine who fatally shot 17-year-old Philip Jones on Jan. 14 while he was returning from a basketball game between Ballou and Anacostia high schools.

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District 7 metropolitan police commander Robin Hoey addresses the concerns of Ward 8 residence during a discussion on the rise in violent crimes in Ward 8 at the Old Congress Heights School in Southeast on Thursday, Jan. 22. /Photo by Travis Riddick

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During group discussions and in individual statements, residents acknowledged the complex, multidimensional nature of the problems. The crowd broke into groups under broad interest areas such as youth, community-based organizations, government and parents and seniors. Among the problems they identified were alienated, disaffected and often jobless young people; poor parenting or a lack thereof; a huge gap between those seeking jobs and their ability to fill available jobs; mental health issues; turf wars; insufficient after-school programs; drug use; hopelessness; unsafe public spaces; and the absence of programs to engage and occupy young people. Animated and vocal participants spent about 15-20 minutes in each group and produced pages of solutions including a greater police presence, a violence prevention fund, a trauma relief and stress program, parenting classes, more church intervention, greater numbers of outcome-based programs and a yearround curfew. “We’ve made some progress,” said Monica Rae, president of the Congress Heights Community Association and moderator of the discussion. “In 1993, (organizations and individuals) squashed beefs and made a significant impact on gang violence. But governments and priorities changed. We had organizations and groups, but the resources were shifted.” “Many of the young people don’t even know why they’re beefing.” Rae said that from this gathering will come a panel selected by stakeholders in Ward 8 which will develop more long-term solutions. The top five problems and proposed solutions will be sent to Mayor Muriel Bowser. Conversations overheard during deliberations touched on how to stop the flow of guns into the community; ways to properly prepare young people with the hard and soft skills that will secure them decent, well-paying jobs; teaching young people values and morals; leveraging personal accountability to guide and protect children; mentoring; and adults not being afraid to interact with young people. Anton House looked slightly amused as he watched and listened to

the exchanges going on around him. The position black people find themselves in is no accident, he said. “People aren’t talking about the real issues. They’ve taken the white, middle-class position,” he said as he shook his head. “There’s a racket going on. We’re fuel. Not the engine. Black people are worth more incarcerated than free. We’re a commodity, and they’ve criminalized our whole existence.” House, 35, a Howard University student and worker with Christopher Barry’s campaign, cited author Michelle Alexander’s “The New Jim Crow” to put into perspective what’s happening to blacks in the District and elsewhere in the country. Before 1965, he said, black people were self-sufficient with independent schools, black businesses, black professionals and benevolent associations, for example. Much of that changed after integration. “She talks about a re-enslavement of black people and de-industrialization,” House said of Alexander. “When there’s no work, who needs black people? Too many people need external validation to push the illusion of progress. Yet the socioeconomic indices are among the worst in the city. “There’s an anti-intellectual void in our community. The best and brightest don’t live amongst us. The wealthy and creative don’t interact (enough with black people). We have to instruct this generation to cultivate healthy outcomes. Our elders have abandoned the next generation. We’ve regressed because nobody invested in our future.” A number of candidates vying for the Ward 8 council seat of the late Marion S. Barry were at the meeting, such as LaRuby May, Christopher Barry, Sheila Bunn and Eugene D. Kinlow. May, a Ward 8 resident for more than a decade and the executive director of Vision of Victory Child Development Center, said she loves the initiative her community is taking. “This is one approach out of many,” she said. “We have to think of the things we need and do our part before we ask government for help. … It will force the hand of government.” WI

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AROUND THE REGION Jamie Foster Brown, publisher of Sister 2 Sister Magazine. R&B singer and songwriter Raheem Devaughn, also a judge, later serenaded the audience. At the end of the night, Melissa Dawn Simkins, president of Velvet Suite, a Northwest-based

branding company, and her dance partner Malachi Robinson claimed the grand prize. Simkins said she considered helping Harper, a former client, a privilege in itself. “I try to support anything Hill does,” Simkins said. “We need

to address the problems in our community because only we have the answers to our problems. I believe that service is the rent we pay for living. If we support and learn from each other, we can build an atmosphere

MANIFEST Page 26

Request for Proposal Solicitation No. 0013-2015 - Armed Guard Services

Melissa Dawn Simkins (left) and her dance partner Malachi Robinson claimed the grand prize at the Manifest Your Destiny Gala, a Jan. 10 charity dance competition modeled after ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. / Photo courtesy of MYD Foundation

Charity Dance Competition Hailed a Huge Success By Sam P.K. Collins WI Contributing Writer @SamPKCollins Some of the District’s movers and shakers showcased their dance skills and raised thousands of dollars in contributions during a contest at a historic venue that drew hundreds of people. Nearly 300 guests of various ages and career fields enjoyed an evening of music, food and drinks during an event touted as the Manifest Your Destiny Gala. The funds raised from the competition will expand Hollywood-based nonprofit Manifest Your Destiny Foundation (MYD)’s programming, including a summer enrichment program in the D.C. metropolitan region. “I visited the D.C. jail and a Maryland correctional facility where some young men were being held as adults. That’s when I realized that the need is so great in D.C. and Baltimore where the incarceration rate is so high,” said Harper, an award-winning actor and founder of MYD. Harper, who lives in the Los Angeles area, started MYD in 2006 shortly after the release of his book, “Letters to a Young Brother: MANifest Your Destiny.” Since its inception, students in the program have benefited from mentorship, college tours and a Summer Empowerment Academy. Harper expressed his future goals for the program. “We want to focus on that time window between the 8th and 9th grade,” said Harper, 48. “Many people from low-income

communities don’t have the resources they need to progress in the summer time while those from prosperous areas have tutoring, summer camp and other things that keep them moving forward. That’s why we want to open up this program to children in the D.C. area, especially those who need us the most.” Extracurricular activities in the summer have been found to support students in low-income communities reeling from food insecurity, high levels of poverty and disparities in education. According to data compiled by the Afterschool Alliance, a Northwest-based advocacy organization, more than 75 percent of adolescent blacks and 70 percent of their Latino counterparts in the District said they wanted to enroll in a summer enrichment program. That’s why Joe Clair, stand-up comedian and the gala’s master of ceremonies, implored guests to financially support MYD’s endeavors during the Jan. 10 event that organizers modeled after ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. The night kicked off with a dance performance by Harper and students from the Dance Institute of Washington. Guests then watched as contestants, clad in shimmering dresses and suits, took their partner’s hand and grooved to various musical genres. Gizelle Bryant, Lawrence O’Neal and Nana Malaya-Rucker counted among the participants. The panel of judges included Harper, Frank Ski of WHUR 96.3 FM, TV One’s Roland Martin, actress Denyce Lawton, and

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Highland Residential, LP, is a District of Columbia limited partnership and an affiliate of the District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA). DCHA owns and operates over 7,000 public housing units in the District of Columbia and provides public housing operating assistance to more than 1000 additional rental units in the District of Columbia. DCHA also contracts over 10,000 private units through its Housing Choice Voucher Program. DCHA has embarked on an ambitious program of development and redevelopment to create economically diverse communities and neighborhoods. DCHA is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in the District of Columbia by providing and effectively managing affordable housing, which is diverse, well maintained, and aesthetically pleasing for those whose circumstances prevent them from competing in the general marketplace. Solicitation documents will be available at 1133 North Capitol Street, N.E., Room 300, Office of Administrative Services, Washington, DC 20002, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday beginning Tuesday, January 27, 2015, or the District of Columbia Housing Authority website www.dchousing.org. Proposals are due to the issuing office by 10:00 a.m. (ET) Friday, February 27, 2015. Contact information for issuing office: Darcelle Beaty (202) 535-1212 or email dbeaty@dchousing.org for additional information.

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Jan 29 - Feb 4, 2015

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MEnus, postErs BannErs & signs Teresa Sheehan, a mentally ill woman in San Francisco, was shot five times by police in 2008. She’s suing the city and police, and the Supreme Court will hear her case. /Photo courtesy of KQED

Although his co-workers and his supervisors knew about his mental illness beforehand, no one reported Aaron Alexis’ condition, and he went on a shooting spree in 2013 at the Navy Yard in Southeast. /Photo courtesy of MSNBC.

Mental Health Officials Target Police Shootings prograMs/BooKlEts rush service & dEsign EnvElopEs, BrochurEs & nEwslEttErs

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Organizations, Others Seek Lawmakers Help By Stacy M. Brown WI Contributing Writer Prior to his going on a shooting spree at the Navy Yard in Southeast two years ago, co-workers, supervisors and associates of shooter Aaron Alexis raised concerns about his mental health, but those fears were never reported to the government. Earlier this month, the mayor of Albuquerque, New Mexico, called on lawmakers in his state to take up legislation that could help reduce police encounters with dangerous mentally ill residents. A growing number of shootings involving police officers and the mentally ill have been thrust into the spotlight nationwide and also locally, where last August two Howard County, Maryland, residents who authorities believed were suffering from mental health issues were killed in separate police shootings. The actions have led to top officials asking for needed mental health initiatives. “Mental illness is a crisis which I think we all face in society today,” said Paul Skalny, who moderated a forum on the police shootings in Howard County hosted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, a nonprofit mental health advocacy organization that’s headquarted in Fairfax, Virginia. Although no one collects national data, informal reports and accounts suggest that at least half the people fatally shot by police each year have mental health problems, according to a 2013 report by the Treatment Advocacy Center in Arlington, Virginia, and the The Washington Informer

National Sheriffs’ Association in Alexandria. Further, officials at the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law in Northwest reported that the rate of arrest for individuals with mental illness is roughly 4.5 times higher than the arrest rate for those in the general population. Many of those arrests are not for violent crimes but minor offenses such as loitering, sleeping in abandoned buildings or using drugs. ”People with disabilities face violent and deadly consequences when law enforcement does not take disabilities into account. It is not okay to take a deaf person down for failing to follow verbal orders,” said Susan Minzer, a disability counselor for the American Civil Liberties Union. “It is not okay to attack someone with autism because he is slow to respond to instruction. It is not okay to treat a woman with a mental disability as if she were a dangerous criminal,” Minzer said. Minzer argued specifically about the case of San Francisco resident Teresa Sheehan, who in 2008, was shot five times by police after her caseworker sought assistance in getting her to the hospital for treatment. In a lawsuit against San Francisco police, Sheehan argued that the officers who responded should not have entered her room twice – the second time by force, shouting with guns drawn. Instead, they should have waited for backup and taken time and patience in interacting with her, as they were taught in their crisis intervention training.

“By not doing so, the police officers violated department policy on a barricaded suspect, and they also violated the reasonable modifications or reasonable accommodations protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act.” Minzer said. Sheehan’s case is now before the U.S. Supreme Court, and one of the questions to be argued is whether, under the Americans with Disabilities Act, police have an obligation to provide accommodations to someone with a mental disability. One in four adults − approximately 61.5 million Americans − experiences mental illness in a given year, NAMI officials said. One in 17 − about 13.6 million − lives with a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia, major depression or bipolar disorder. In the District, approximately 23,000 adults and 5,000 children live with serious mental health conditions, the advocacy organization reported. Meanwhile, there are two bills in the House of Representatives that could help change how police and others handle those with mental health problems. But officials still have expressed concern that partisanship could prevent any bill from passing. “In the best-case scenario, you’ve got two proposals addressing the same problems and a framework for the parties to come together,” said NAMI’s Ron Honberg. “In the worst case, the partisan divide prevents them from ever reaching agreement.”WI

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COMCAST IS COMMITTED TO AN OPEN INTERNET. HERE IS WHAT WE MEAN WHEN WE SAY THAT: Comcast supports Net Neutrality. We are the only Internet service provider in America legally bound by full Net Neutrality rules Comcast won’t block access to lawful content Comcast doesn’t prioritize Internet trafﬁc or have paid fast lanes Comcast won’t throttle back the speed at which content comes to you Comcast’s Internet Essentials will make the Internet more accessible to low-income families SM

That’s what we’re for. And that’s why we will extend Net Neutrality protection to millions of Time Warner Cable customers in cities across America. Find out more at comcastcorporation.com/together

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Jan 29 - Feb 4, 2015

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

Johnny Britt Kicks Off National Tour Singer Pays Tribute to Marvin Gaye By Sam P.K. Collins WI Contributing Writer @SamPKCollins For more than two decades, renowned singer, trumpeter and producer Johnny Britt has serenaded audiences across the United States and around the world with his songs about the complexity of love and the trials that his listeners may experience. Less than a month into 2015, Britt said he wants to build upon the success of his newest single, “Beautiful Queen,” which features contempo-

rary jazz musician Jessy J, and create a fulfilling live music experience for his fans, particularly those who have expressed frustration with negative music that mainstream radio stations hold in high esteem. “As a musician, I pray for people to have fun and get their groove on spiritually,” said Britt. Earlier this month, the jazz musician showcased his versatility during a concert at Blues Alley, a Georgetown-based jazz and supper club, which attracted more than 100 people from across the D.C. metropolitan area. The Jan. 7 event kicked off Britt’s

“Marvin Meets Miles” national tour, a multi-city event he said came out of his desire to pay tribute to Marvin Gaye and Miles Davis, two of his favorite musicians. That Wednesday evening, Britt headlined two shows during which he gave an ode to women in the audience, expressed his support for victims of domestic violence and encouraged men to respect their significant others. “I sing like Marvin and play the trumpet like Miles. The whole spirit of the movement is to send a message to the ladies, men and our teenagers, especially the boys. I want us

Bey Bright is an author, music executive, consultant, producer, songwriter, musician, entertainer and entrepreneur. He is CEO of Bey Bright INC; a subsidiary of Bright Vision Entertainment, which is an entertainment/communications company based in New York City & Washington, DC. Mr. Bright’s number #1 focus is to motivate, educate & entertain the masses through written works, musical compositions and lectures. Bey Bright has incorporated his business acumen, years of experience and knowledge in the entertainment industry to pay it forward in an attempt to help people achieve their goals and dreams. An all around creative visionary, Bey was inspired by artistic luminaries Quincy Jones, Berry Gordy, Steve Harvey & Russell Simmons. For more information on Mr. Bright, visit www.beybrightinc.com and connect with him on social media. Twitter-@BeyBrightNYC, Facebook Bey-Bright-Inc.

12 Jan 29 - Feb 4, 2015

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Renowned singer, trumpeter, and producer Johnny Britt performed before more than 100 people at Blues Alley in Georgetown earlier this month. The Jan. 7 event kicked off his national “Marvin Meets Miles” tour. / Photo courtesy of GMUSIC GROUP

to treat our women with respect so that we don’t have a revolving door of absentee fathers. That’s really in my heart. I know people felt that when they came to my show. That’s why women love bringing their men to my concerts,” said Britt, also a founding member of hip-hop, jazz and soul group Impromp2. Guests filed into the Northwest-based jazz venue and listened as Britt performed a host of songs including “Beautiful Queen,” “It’s Gonna Be Alright,” “I Tried,” and “It Is What It Is.” He later crooned some old Impromp2 songs as he played on a grand piano in the auditorium. Throughout much of the night, people clapped their hands and stomped their feet. Some couples also embraced each other tightly as they absorbed Britt’s messages. “Johnny creates a warm and loving atmosphere wherever he performs,” said Ski Johnson, jazz musician and host of the kickoff event. Johnson, who previously saw Britt perform at B. Smith’s in Northwest, said that the veteran jazz musician knew how to keep his audience engaged. “People were jamming. He connected with the crowd. You don’t often see a trumpet player who sings. With other artists, it’s either one talent or the other. When he performed ‘What It Is,’ the audience participated with him and it was awesome.” Audrey Patterson shared Johnson’s sentiments, pointing out that Britt often got personal throughout the night, further affirming his authenticity as a musician. “‘Beautiful Queen’ was so good because you have music out here that speaks so negatively about women,” said Patterson, 48, a clothing designer. “When Johnny Britt performed the song, he called his daughter a beautiful queen. He had an incredible take on the sound of

Marvin, and he played the instruments like Miles. Folks were in tune with him. He sang to us as if he was singing to an individual. That’s how he got the audience involved. That was part of the vibe that I enjoyed.” For Natasha Powell, a physician who lives in Southwest, Britt’s performance counted as part of a romantic evening with her boyfriend. “We just wanted to enjoy time out of the house,” said Powell, 36. “Johnny Britt had a way of making everyone feel special. He really reminded the men that they have to work to make their women feel happy. I enjoyed his music. He has maturity to his sound, and he draws on entertainers from the past. It was a breath of fresh air.” Throughout his career, Britt has collaborated with some of the music industry’s leading artists and producers including The Temptations, Quincy Jones, Luther Vandross, Dionne Warwick and Jennifer Lopez. His work has appeared in “The Lion King,” “Forrest Gump” and a host of other movies. With Impromp2, Britt recorded four albums and maintained a strong fan base in the United Kingdom throughout the 1990s. Today he serves as the music producer for America Sings, a competition series on the Game Show Network that features choirs, ensembles and other singing groups. “Johnny Britt is a seasoned professional that you don’t see too often these days,” said Lindsay Guion, Britt’s worldwide manager. “His ability to play instruments, write timeless music and perform gives him longevity and a global flair. Audiences resonate with him because he gives them what they want and stays genuinely true to himself and his music. He writes from his heart and lets you see a part of his life that the world will remember.” WI

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PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY EDUCATION BRIEFS Compiled by Dorothy Rowley WI Staff Writer Ariel Wright, Science Fair Winner Ariel Wright, a 7th-grader at St. Columba Catholic School in Oxon Hill, Maryland, has received her fourth first place award as a participant in the Science Fair, held Jan. 22 at the school. Just a year ago, Ariel, who entered the fair for the first time, won first place in the 7th-grade category of the competition, as well as 1st-place in the Plant Science category in the 2014 Prince George’s Area Science Fair, and first place in the Tots-toTeens Science Fair. “I love science,” Ariel said of

her latest win. The 2015 PGASF takes place March 20-21 at Charles Herbert Flowers High School in Springdale, Maryland, and Ariel, 12, will participate. Scholar of the Week Chioma Ike, a senior at Dr. Henry A. Wise High School in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, has been named the latest “Scholar of the Week.” Chioma, who has a 3.90 grade point average, excels in advanced placement courses that include U.S. History, Government, World History, Biology, and Honors English. Her extracurricular activities include membership in the National Honor Society and as a Student Am-

bassador chair. She also participates in “Tutoring for Success,” the Lacrosse Club and her church’s youth group. Chioma has applied to the University of Maryland College Park, Towson University, Howard University, St. John’s University, and Mount St. Mary’s University. She plans to major in biology and become a pediatrician with her own practice. Male Educators Summit The Prince George’s County Educators’ Association in conjunction with the Men of Prince George’s County Public Schools will present a “Male Educators Summit” from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 21 at

Oxon Hill High School, 6701 Leyte Drive in Oxon Hill, Maryland. The event aims to empower and motivate male educators in the county, with the primary goal of recruiting and retaining male teachers and administrators, and refining their skills. To RSVP call (301) 952-6117 or email: aisha.berkeley@pgcps.org Budget Listening Sessions Two “Listening Sessions” will be held early next month regarding Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2016 Residents wishing to testify and be placed on the advance list of

speakers should call: 301-952-4547 or 301-985-3894 (for the hearing impaired) 8:a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. A three-minute time limitation will be imposed on all speakers, with only one speaker allowed for each organization. Written testimony will be accepted in lieu of, or in addition to, oral comments. The two sessions take place: 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 3, Prince George’s Community College (Renne Forum), 301 Largo Rd. in Upper Marlboro, Maryland 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 12, Laurel High School (Spartan Hall), 8000 Cherry Lane in Laurel, Maryland.WI

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Angela Davis Still an Activist At 71, the Freedom Fighter Battles On By Stacy M. Brown WI Contributing Writer Say the name Angela Davis and, depending upon with whom you speak, a range of opinions, emotions and thoughts automatically ensue. But, to hear the famed political activist speak, it’s easy to understand why she has become one of the most prominently known fighters against oppression in America and around the globe. “A lot of civil and human rights activists of the 60s and 70s are no longer with the movement but that’s not the case with Angela Davis. She’s still on the front lines,” said David Leonard, chair of the Washington State University’s Department of Crit-

ical Culture, Gender, and Race Studies, where Davis recently spoke to a sold-out audience. Davis, who turned 71 on Monday, Jan. 26, holds the title of professor emerita in the Humanities Division at the University of California Santa Cruz. However, 45 years ago, she held the dubious distinction of being on the FBI’s notorious “Most Wanted” list. It turned out the charges didn’t hold and Davis, now a noted scholar, continued her work as the face of the 1970s black power movement. In her mid-20s when she gained the national spotlight, Davis in 1969, lost her job as an assistant philosophy professor at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) because the

A current photograph of Angela Davis – professor emerita at the University of California Santa Cruz. /Courtesy photo

state Board of Regents cited her membership in the Communist Party. “The dismissal sparked largescale student protests in support

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14 Jan 29 - Feb 4, 2015

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Angela Davis, pictured in the 1970s when her activism lost her a job and almost landed her in prison. /Courtesy photo

of Davis’s right to teach and academic freedom. Then, roughly a year later, she became a nationally hunted fugitive after the FBI linked her to the shooting deaths of four people in a Marin County courthouse,” said Linda Weiford, a writer for the Washington State University Press. Captured and tried, an allwhite jury eventually acquitted Davis of all charges. “I wasn’t seeking fame. I wasn’t seeking notoriety. I just wanted to be a teacher and activist,” said Davis in a recent interview with UCLA News. Even in her personal biography, Davis focused on activism as perhaps her sole motivation in life. Over the years she has been active as a student, teacher, writer, scholar, activist and organizer. She’s also a living witness to the historical struggles of the contemporary era. “She is someone whose name jumps out at you, whether you are black, white, Asian, or whatever,” said Kenyon Moore, a junior at Howard University in Northwest. “I think her story is worth telling and I think she’s definitely worth listening to,” Moore said. Like many educators, Davis said she’s especially concerned with the general tendency to devote more resources and attention to the prison system than to educational institutions. Having helped to popularize the notion of what she called a Where did you hear about that?

I read it in The Washington Informer!

“prison industrial complex,” Davis now urges her audiences to think seriously about the future possibility of a world without prisons and to help forge a 21st century abolitionist movement. She’s lectured in all of the fifty United States, as well as in Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, and the former Soviet Union. Davis also has written articles and essays for numerous journals and she’s authored nine books, including, “The Meaning of Freedom and other Difficult Dialogues.” Following the shootings of Trayvon Martin in Florida, Michael Brown in Missouri and other incidents of alleged injustices against young blacks and police brutality, Davis said America had reached a time of transformation. “There is such potential for change. All over this country from Ferguson to New York City to Washington and indeed, in other parts of the world, people are absolutely refusing to assent to racist state violence,” Davis said. “Rather, we are saying that black bodies do matter. And our work must be to continue taking to the streets and standing together against the routine actions of police and the district attorneys who collude with them; and continue saying, ‘No Justice, No Peace, No Racist Police,’ until there is real change on the agenda for us.”WI Wow! Where can I get a copy?

Just go to www.washington informer.com to get informed and find out where to pick up the paper!

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Association for the Study of African American Life and History

Legendary Chicago Cub Ernie Banks received the 2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom. /Photo Courtesy of The White House

Hall of Fame Infielder Ernie Banks Dies Signed as First Black with Chicago Cubs in 1953 By D. Kevin McNeir WI Managing Editor Great challenges come with being the first to accomplish a difficult goal or overcome a significant barrier. But for Ernest “Ernie” Banks – the Hall of Fame shortstop for the Chicago Cubs, succeeding as the team’s first black baseball player was nothing more than a “walk in the park.” Banks, 83, died on Friday, Jan. 23, just seven days before his 84th birthday, at a hospital in Chicago from a reported heart attack. The two-time National league MVP, who signed with the team in 1953, played his entire major league career with the Cubs. Banks, who would become an ambassador for the city of Chicago and for his former team, was known to say, “It’s a great day for baseball. Let’s play two!” These words have been captured forever on his statue which stands outside of Wrigley Field – the home field of the Cubs. ESPN sportscaster Mike Wilborn said, “Ernie would have happily played three or more games per day if he could. Nobody represented his city or team more joyously, or more admirably, than Mr. Cub did.” Banks’ wife, Liz Banks, expressed her thanks to fans and other players during a recent press conference announcing her husband’s death. “It is certainly a sad day for us,” she said. “I’d like to thank everyone for being here. He was very beloved and he is going to be dearly missed by family, friends and all of his fans.” The Cubs and the city will move the statue of Banks from outside Wrigley Field to downtown Chicago where it will be on display in Daley Plaza. Banks, born Jan. 31, 1931 in Dallas, Texas and the oldest of 10 siblings,

earned several nicknames during his stellar career including “Mr. Cub” and “Mr. Sunshine.” He played two positions: shortstop and first base for 19 seasons – 1953 through 1971. Often regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, Banks hit 512 home runs during his career, earned his way onto the National League All-Star team for 11 seasons, received two consecutive National League Most Valuable Player awards in 1958 and 1959 and snagged his only Gold Glove award for shortstop in 1960. In “Mr. Cub,” a memoir published shortly after Banks retired, he spoke about the sometimes contentious relationship with the manager, Leo Durocher, hired in 1966 to reinsert life into the struggling team. “My philosophy about race relations is that I’m the man and I’ll set my own patterns in life. I don’t rely on anyone else’s opinions. I look at a man as a human being; I don’t care about his color. Some people feel that because you are black you will never be treated fairly and that you should voice your opinions, be militant about them. I don’t feel this way. You can’t convince a fool against his will. If a man doesn’t like me because I’m black, that’s fine. I’ll just go elsewhere but I’m not going to let him change my life.” Banks entered the Negro baseball league in 1950, playing for the Kansas City Monarchs. He served in the U.S. military for two years, returning to the Monarchs for a brief stint before beginning his major league career with the Cubs in September 1953. Unfortunately, Banks never reached the postseason. Still, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1977 – the first year he became eligible. Later, he earned a spot on the Cubs’ all-century

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A Century of Black Life, History, and Culture

Saturday, February 28, 2015 Washington Marriott Wardman Park Hotel 2660 Woodley Road N.W. Washington, D.C. 20008 202-328-2000

Keynote Speaker Daryl Michael Scott, Ph.D. Professor of History at Howard University ASALH National President

Centennial Honorary Co-Chair Susan Taylor Author and Journalist

Emcee A'Lelia Bundles Author and Journalist

Centennial Honorary Co-Chair Harry Belafonte Singer, Actor, and Civil Rights Activist

Sonia Sanchez Poet, Activist, and Scholar

Featured Authors Event 10am-12 noon 89th Annual Luncheon: 12:30pm

To purchase tables and tickets visit www.asalh.org Contributions of $100 or more will be acknowledged in our program if received by January 21. For sponsorship and advertising information, please contact ASALH at 202-238-5910 or by email at aedwards@asalh.net /ASALH.BlackHistory

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Jan 29 - Feb 4, 2015

BUSINESS BUSINESS EXCHANGE The Overcriminalization of America

Overcriminalization is a dangerous trend that is threatening African-Americans. America’s addiction to criminalization backlogs our judiciary, overflows our prisons and increases the racial wealth gap. The nation’s incarceration rate is at historically unprecedented levels and as a result, imprisonment has become an inevitable reality for subsets of the American population. The trend is to use the criminal law rather than civil law to solve societal problems. These days, America’s criminal codes are voluminous. Our courthouses are clogged and many prisons

By William Reed operate well beyond their design capacity. The chief executive officer of Koch Industries says that the past four-decade’s rise in incarcerations has been extremely costly for African-American

families and communities, state budgets and society. There’s a 70 percent chance for an African-American man without a high school diploma to be imprisoned by his mid-thirties. Blacks should be alarmed at the number of young men in the criminal justice system. Charles Koch has set about eliminating the racial disparities inherent to our nation’s criminal justice system policies and practices. The CEO of the second-biggest private company in America, Koch is leading an effort to reform America’s criminal justice system. Koch represents renewed, refocused, and reenergized acts and actions toward racial justice. Koch says “too many Americans have been jailed for crimes that shouldn’t warrant incarceration and points out that over half of federal inmates are nonviolent drug offenders.

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REED Page 16

16 Jan 29 - Feb 4, 2015

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The Democrats and labor unions depict Charles, and his brother David Koch, as “the devil incarnate.” But, Koch’s concern for the disproportionate incarceration of Blacks is an issue that shouldn’t be abruptly dismissed. Koch says: “Overcriminalization leads to mass incarceration, undermines race relations and ultimately keeps more people in poverty.” America’s legal system and processes have not been fair to African-Americans, who make up 13 percent of the U.S. population, but currently account for almost 40 percent of the prison population. This statistic should cause Black voters concern about the people they’ve elected to office. Since the 1970s, Congress and state legislatures have enacted prison and sentencing laws that have mandated prison time for lesser offenses and ensured longer sentences for offenders. Reversing overcriminalization and mass incarceration will improve societal well-being in many respects, most notably by decreasing poverty. Fixing our criminal system could reduce the overall poverty rate and dramatically improve the quality of life throughout society—especially for the disadvantaged. Koch and organizations such as the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers maintain that the runaway growth of the criminal law has been accompanied by the dilution of constitutional rights. It’s important for Blacks to note that, more often than not, minority defendants are charged with crimes requiring a mandatory minimum prison sentence which leads to large racial disparities in incarceration. The likelihood of Black males going to prison is 28 percent compared to 4 percent

for White males. Koch financially supports the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers to help train defense lawyers and reverse “get tough on crime” trends that have resulted in the tripling of incarceration rates and stripped the poor of their rights to legal defense. Counter to what political partisans have intentionally led Blacks to believe about him, Koch says that, “Overcriminalization leads to mass incarceration, undermines race relations and ultimately keeps more people in poverty.” Voters should note that the spate of devastating criminal laws has come under increasing numbers of Blacks in legislatures - many of whom are still in office. The laws of past decades directly harmed Blacks. Koch points out that: “Prison has become the new poverty trap… and a routine event for poor African-American men and families…enduring at the very bottom of American society.” Koch’s concept of over criminalization requires all our attention and efforts. Bringing about needed societal and racial transformations to make society fair and equitable requires setting aside partisan politics, replaced by collaboration toward effective solutions. We have to demand legislators to “do no more harm.” Blacks shouldn’t allow legislators to criminalize activities that do not fit a common-sense understanding of what is a “crime.” Hopefully, lawmakers and committed citizens will support Koch’s proposed reforms. WI

BANKS from Page 15

After his retirement, Banks, always active in the Chicago community, founded a charitable organization, became the first black Ford Motor Company dealer in the U.S. and even unsuccessfully ran for political office. Banks, who later moved to Los Angeles, California, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013 because of his contribution to sports. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in a statement: “Ernie Banks was more than a baseball player. He was one of Chicago’s greatest ambassadors. He loved this city as much as he loved – and lived – the game of baseball.” WI

team in 1999. In 1982, the Cubs retired Banks’s uniform number 14 earning him the distinction of being the first player to have his number retired by the team. To date, only six former Cubs have had their numbers retired. Those who enjoy baseball trivia may be interested to know that when Banks brought home his first MVP award in 1958, he edged out both Willie Mays and Hank Aaron, despite the team finishing below .500 and ending the season in sixth place in the National League.

William Reed is publisher of “Who’s Who in Black Corporate America” and available for projects via Busxchng@his.com.

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DCPS EDUCATION BRIEFS Compiled by Dorothy Rowley WI Staff Writer Initiative Targets Males of Color Mayor Muriel Bowser and schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson recently joined forces in launching an initiative that focuses on improving the educational outcomes of male students of color. “Empowering Males of Color,” the $20 million initiative that will be developed over a threeyear period beginning in 2016, outlines a call to action for the District’s minority male students, who make up 43 percent of the overall D.C. Public Schools student population. African-American and Latino students also lag behind their peers in key areas that include graduation rates and reading proficiency. In addition, DCPS’s black male students have the lowest attendance and student satisfaction rates. “We serve more black and Latino boys than any other group of students, and overall they are lagging behind their classmates – this is the greatest need we see,” Henderson said. “We can’t do this work alone, we will not be able to succeed, and these young people will continue to falter unless we change the way we approach this work and unless the community steps up to help us change lives.” Parent Cabinet Once a month on Tuesday nights, parents from all wards of the District come together as members of the Parent Cabinet to share with the chancellor how they feel about their children’s education. The Cabinet, which provides meaningful dialogue between parents and school officials, also enables the officials to collect vital input from its members on everything from school planning and special education to testing and attendance to budget development. In addition to serving as an avenue for advocacy, information and the exchange of idea, the meetings provide a place to learn and to be heard while encouraging more parents to become in-

Participation in the Parent Cabinet offers meaningful dialogue between parents and school officials./ Photo courtesy DCPS

Chancellor Kaya Henderson and Mayor Muriel Bowser recently announced the launch of a plan to help improve the educational outcomes of males of color enrolled in the D.C. Public Schools system./ Photo courtesy DCPS

volved in their children’s schools. “I have a better understanding of the system and also of the relationship between the city and DCPS,” said Emily Walton of Ward 5. “Understanding the process gives you more patience for change. … I’ve also appreciated learning the history of where DCPS has been — it’s very valuable for understanding what we’re doing now.” Students Get Free Office 365 District public school students are joining millions of their peers across the country who will receive free downloads of

Comments? Opinions? Email us at:

Ideas?

Microsoft 365 software for their homes. The service, which will help close the digital divide by providing computer tools and resources to students who traditionally lack access, has been made available through an agreement between the non-profit Communities in Schools – a dropout prevention program – and the technology giant. The suite of Microsoft Office 365 Pro Plus includes Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, Access, Lync and OneDrive with access to cloud storage.WI

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Jan 29 - Feb 4, 2015

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?

There are three ways to enroll:

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.

• Go to www.marylandhealthconnection.gov and apply online. • Call Maryland Health Connection’s call center at 1-855-642-8572 (toll free) or 1-855-642-8573 (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 240-773-8250. There are evening and weekend hours available.

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. If you enrolled last year through Maryland Health Connection, you must re-enroll by December 18 to continue receiving any financial assistance. If you do not re-enroll by December 18, your current coverage will continue but you will lose any financial assistance you currently receive.

To enroll in health coverage, be sure to have this information ready: • Social security numbers (or document numbers for any legal immigrants who need insurance) • Birthdates and general information about every family member applying for health coverage • Employer and income information for everyone in your family (for example-paystubs, W-2 forms, or wage and tax statements) • Policy numbers for any current health insurance you are covered by • Information about any job-related health insurance available to your family

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On line: marylandheathconnection.gov Call: 1-855-642-8572 (Toll Free) In Person: Staff can help you enroll Go to: capitalhealthconnection.org for sign-up locations

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EDUCATION

Students Awarded FourYear College Scholarships Academics Equates to Dollars for Friendship Collegiate Academy Youth By Dorothy Rowley WI Staff Writer When Dimani Jones, a junior at Friendship Collegiate Charter School in Northeast, goes off to college this summer, he will not only be the first male in his family to take on the challenges of higher education, but he’ll continue to counter claims that he’d never amount to anything. In fact, 16-year-old Dimani, a second-time recipient of an Office of the State Superintendent for Education [OSSE] scholarship that enables him to earn college credits while still in high school, appears to be well on his way to accomplishing his goal of becoming a business owner. “Last summer, I attended Duke University and this time I’ll be attending Harvard University,” Dimani said. “I think what motivated me the most to succeed in school was that people didn’t really believe in me when I was younger,” said Dimani, who plays varsity football player at Friendship. “My family supported me but there were other people who didn’t because back then, school wasn’t that important to me,” he said. “I was always a football and basketball fanatic but coming to Friendship really changed me and motivated me to become a good student.” While Dimani lists as the only one of Friendship’s students this year to receive an OSSE scholarship, he counts among six students from the D.C. region to receive the award that’s provided to high-achieving, academically-motivated students who exhibit financial need for attendance in selective summer college programs. But Dimani isn’t the only Friendship student poised to take advantage of a college scholarship. Three of his fellow peers – Mark Walker, Javon Lee and Valencia Perry – have also received four-year, fully-paid tuitions through POSSE awards, each of which average up to $170,000. For Mark, a senior at Friendship, that means attendance this fall at the University of Rochester in upstate New York.

“I plan on being [among some of] the first people in my family to graduate from college because most who enrolled dropped out . . . I want to be the example for my little sister.” –Mark Walker “I plan on being [among some of] the first people in my family to graduate from college because most who enrolled dropped out,” said Mark. “Neither of my parents went to college, so I want to be the example for my little sister.” Javon, who plays soccer at Friendship, will attend Sewanee: The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee in the fall. The 17-year-old youth said the decision to do well in school has been mostly of his own choosing, since he’s lacked full family support. “I had to decide one day what was going to be best for me in the long run – going to college and having a good career as a lawyer was my decision,” Javon said. “Then, when it’s time for me to take care of [my parents] I want to have enough income so that it won’t be a struggle.” At the end of summer, Valencia, also 17, will be headed to Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania. She credits her parents with inspiring her to be successful. “What motivated me the most to do well in school, was seeing my father receive his bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland after having pursued it for many years,” Valencia said. “My mom pushes me to be the best I can be in school and as a person. Most important, I understand that my parents just

Friendship Collegiate Academy students (left to right) Valencia Perry, Javon Lee, Mark Walker and Dimani Jones are all poised to continue their studies this summer and fall at four of the country’s best private colleges and universities./Photo by Dorothy Rowley

want me to achieve more than they did.” POSSE scholars are defined as a small, diverse team of talented students – essentially “a posse” – who attend colleges, where together, they get to know and support each other. Arsallah Shirzay, dean of Early College at Friendship explained that POSSE scholarships, which are awarded nationwide, are also administered regionally with more than 1,500 public and private school students from the District, Maryland and Virginia nominated each year. However, he added that after undergoing a rigorous three rounds of interviews, just 4 percent were selected for this year’s scholarship awards. Shirzay also noted that since 2006, Friendship – where 97 percent of students graduate on time and 100 percent of the graduating class gets accepted to college – has had 28 POSSE scholars. “The scholarships for which the competition typically begins in September and goes all the way to the end of December, are merit-based with a leadership component,” said Shirzay, adding that this year the D.C. region boasts 61 POSSE scholars who will attend six colleges, including the University of Wisconsin at Madison and Grinnell College in Iowa. “The POSSE students, who are selected largely for their leadership skills, overall motivation to succeed [and academic potential], are not going to these colleges and universities for sight-seeing or remedial work,” said Shirzay. “They’re embarking on a very powerful learning experience.” WI

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EDITORIAL

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS

A Rightful Focus on Black and Latino Boys

A few months ago, Washington, D.C. became the newest city to join the My Brother’s Keeper initiative, a White House-driven project where local groups and individuals work to produce conditions and an environment where boys and young men of color can excel academically and in other parts of their lives. Last week, Mayor Muriel Bowser and Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson announced District of Columbia Public Schools’ intention to invest $20 million in programs for black and Latino boys. We applaud the recognition that we have to at least be willing to look at new and innovative ways to attempt to teach and socialize the young men of color in our community. “We need to fundamentally change that dynamic,” Bowser said last week. “That’s why my administration is committed to advancing achievement and opportunity and reducing disparities for boys and young men of color in the District. My Administration is committed to looking for new, innovative ways to engage with our young men of color and improve outcomes throughout their lives.” “We need to give them the tools to succeed,” Henderson said. “We can’t do this work alone, we will not be able to succeed, and these young people will continue to falter, unless we change the way we approach this work and unless the community steps up to help us change lives. Now is the time for this type of change we know is both absolutely necessary and absolutely possible.” The numbers, Bowser and Henderson concede, are driving this effort. Young men of color struggle to succeed in the current educational setting and while they make up about 43 percent of D.C.’s school population, they trail behind many of their peers. According to DCPS, by fourth grade, nearly 50 percent of black and Latino males are reading below grade level; and despite recent gains, black and Latino males are still graduating at rates lower than their peers. The Empowering Males of Color Initiative will focus on the most urgent and persistent challenges facing these young men. In partnership with My Brother’s Keeper, Henderson said DCPS will use three key strategies to address the urgent needs of male students of color: mentoring, targeted funding for grants to schools and a new all-male college preparatory high school over the next three years. The high school will be created through a partnership with Urban Prep Academies – a successful network of all-boys high schools in Chicago. Among Urban Prep’s many accomplishments are that for five consecutive years, 100 percent of its graduates have been admitted to four-year colleges and universities. We applaud Bowser, Henderson and all involved for recognizing this vital need and taking the opportunity to do something different.

Crisis Averted

In 2015, we live squarely in the age of cyber-threats, drones, malware and cybersecurity. That reality hit home over the weekend when the U.S. Secret Service clamped down on the White House and its perimeter and shut down Pennsylvania Avenue across from Lafayette Park after a drone crashed onto the grounds. At 3 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 26, a quad-copter drone crashed into a tree on the White House complex causing the Secret Service to scramble – raising questions about security for the first family. By the end of the day, the owner of the drone had come forward and was said to be cooperating with law enforcement. The incident is a reminder that there are still unanswered questions about the growing presence of drones in the U.S. and puts those protecting the president and his family under greater scrutiny. The Secret Services’ actions and reactions to intruders at the White House hasn’t engendered a great deal of confidence. Still, we hope that the agency has ramped up its protection of the first family from all threats, including drones.

20 Jan 29 - Feb 4, 2015

We Must Act Like Black Lives Matter

I was reading the article “Youth, Adults Discuss Policing Issues” [by Sam P.K. Collins, Jan.22 -28 issue] and I noticed the description of T-shirts worn by young participants in the event that took place during the M.L. King weekend. The article stated that the shirts were imprinted with the words, “Our Lives Matter.” We have seen and heard versions of that statement lately, ever since the Ferguson, MO incident resulting in the death of unarmed teenager Michael Brown. There is a banner hanging from a porch in my neighborhood with the giant letters “Black Lives Matter.” I wholeheartedly agree with these statements, but evidently there are a lot of us who don’t. If African Americans believed this and taught their children to believe this, truly believe this, we wouldn’t be seeing the deplorable news stories about young black men killing one another. How can we expect others to think that we value our lives when we continue to kill each other so easily? If Black lives really do matter, then we must start acting like they matter, or nobody else will.

Enterprising Sisters

I was so excited when I read your article in this week’s issue “Sisters Partner to Tantalize with Tasty Treats in Edgewater” [by Avis Thomas-Lester]. With all of the restaurants and bakeries popping up in this area, it’s great to see a minority-owned bakery doing well and getting in on the profits in the lucrative food service industry. Your article will, hopefully, draw even more attention to what sounds like a promising bakery business. I wish more minorities could get into the business like these enterprising sisters did. They appear to have what it takes to be successful, most notably, one of them said, “I don’t feel like I’m working” even though they put in 12 to 15 hours a day. That attitude will take them far. It would be great if they could open a bakery in DC, because DC residents love quality food, and will pay for it gladly. I certainly hope that they consider expanding to a closer location so we in DC can become happy customers. Virginia Slater Washington, DC

Help for Black, Latino Male Students

The good news last week was the announcement by DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson of the launch of a $20 million initiative to improve educational outcomes of Black and Latino males. I am ecstatic that something like this has finally reached a focal point for our city. Our boys need help and this initiative sounds like it will provide them the special attention they need to better succeed academically which will bring about better results for them in life. I am extremely leery about the rest, however. I’ve heard how frustrating it can be to work with DCPS. I don’t have enough confidence that the school-based leadership will come up with innovative ideas or programs that will make a difference in the lives of their male students. I believe if school principals and administrators knew what to do, they would be doing it. I would hate to see the school system waste $20 million. I hope the Informer will closely follow this story every step of the way. Ed Flowers Washington DC

Ellen Frazier Washington, DC

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OPINIONS/EDITORIALS

Guest Columnist

By Julianne Malveaux

The Real Barack Obama Re-Emerges President Barack Obama knocked it out of the park during the State of the Union address. He was strong, progressive, firm and relaxed. He was almost cocky as he offered a few jokes, smugly announced that he would have no more elections, and just generally exuded confidence. Instead of the kumbaya thing, he laid out his priorities to a Republican Congress that will likely block much of what

he proposed, especially when it comes to raising taxes on the wealthy to support his free community college program. President Obama “threw down” in the hour-long speech that was frequently punctuated by applause. Republicans frequently withheld applause, but his confidence suggested that whether they offered applause or withheld it was of no concern to him. Michelle Obama wasn’t playing, either. Dressed in a twopiece tweed suit reminded us

that she is a lawyer (with a nod and a wink to CBS hit show “The Good Wife”), in addition to being a stylish first lady. Hopefully, the business attire signals that she will take care of business in the next two years. Her “Get Fit” initiative is much needed, and her partnership with Jill Biden to focus on military families is consistent with the president’s in providing jobs and other assistance to veterans. In these last two years, perhaps the first lady can spread her wings and focus on the work and

Guest Columnist

family issues she lives and that so many women juggle. I may be hoping for too much when I suggest that she deal with the gender pay gap, but that is also an issue that would benefit from her attention. While the president highlighted efforts to benefit the middle class, he mentioned poverty just once. There are 45.3 million people who lived in poverty in 2013, the last year for which data are available. The rates are 9.7 percent for Whites, 12.3 percent for Asian-Americans, 25.3 percent

for Hispanics, and 27.2 percent for African-Americans. In mentioning poverty without mentioning that some experience poverty differently than others, the president failed to put a tiny pin in his personal celebration. I wouldn’t expect him to mention race explicitly, but he could have said, “And while poverty rates are falling, one in four families in some communities still experience poverty.” Similarly, President Obama

MALVEAUX Page 37

By Lauren Victoria Burke

CBC Members Visit Ferguson, Mo. “Where do I start? How about indefinable frustration? It seems we can’t even catch our breath from our first tragedy before being hit by another gut-punch from a second, third, and fourth. The names Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, John Crawford, Tamir Rice – and countless more, too many more. That is the brutal truth – as brutal as the tactics employed with stunning regularity by some who

are sworn to protect us.” Those were the words delivered by Rep. Andre Carson (D-Ind.) in Ferguson on January 18 at Wellspring United Methodist Church. The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) traveled to the hotspot in Missouri and Carson, who at 40 is the second youngest member of the CBC, took center stage as the keynote speaker. “I come today with the Congressional Black Caucus because you ignited a flame,” he told the

crowd. “You showed the world the cancer in Ferguson that continues to plague so many communities across our country.” In addition to Carson, two other members of the CBC spoke in Ferguson the day before the MLK Holiday: Chairman G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.), and Rep. Lacy Clay (D-MO) whose district includes Ferguson. In all, 10 CBC members were in attendance. While the service was underway, a group of Ferguson activists were pro-

Guest Columnist

testing at restaurants for their #BlackBrunchSTL direct action. In all, 1 young activist met with the CBC members. “I talked to some brilliant young activists. They expressed their frustration with the challenges with the older generation. It’s a universal gripe that everyone has when we’re younger. They say: ‘The old people should step aside and let us take over.’ But where are you taking us? What is the action plan? Where are we going? Yes, we see your

brilliance but do you have the heart of a surgeon?” Carson told the packed church. That question has become the million-dollar question: What is the plan? What do the leaders who have come out of the Ferguson movement want to push in terms of police and what is their strategy? So far, many of the new groups formed in the wake of Ferguson have been detailed about their demands.

BURKE Page 37

By Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr.

50 Years of Black Progress Has Black America made significant progress politically, socially and economically over the past 50 years? This is not only an important question to pose, it is equally important to answer. And the answer is a resounding yes. In fact, 1965 to 2015 has been a remarkable period in the history of Black America. But make no mistake about it, all of our progress has come as a direct result of a protracted struggle

for freedom, justice and equality. The universal right to self-determination is a fundamental human right recognized by the United Nations. We have too often allowed non-Blacks to mis-define our reality with distorted myths, negative stereotypes and cynicism. This year will mark the largest Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) with 46 members. In 1965, there were only five African Americans in the Congress. We have come a long way politically in the past 50 years at

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the federal, state and local level. In addition to representation in the House and Senate, we have served as mayors of big cities, as governors, as lieutenant governors, as speakers of state legislatures, as county commission chairs, as city council chairs, as school board presidents and as national party chairs. Black participation in state legislatures alone has increased five-fold over the past five decades. Since the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, Black Power has moved from becoming a The Washington Informer

chant to a political reality. The late Edward Brooke (R-MA) blazed the way as the first Black attorney general of a state and later as the first Black popularly elected to the U.S. Senate. Following suit are governors Doug Wilder in Virginia and Deval Patrick in Massachusetts. Jesse L. Jackson’s 1984 and 1988 presidential campaigns paved the way for Barack Obama’s successful campaign in 2008 to become the first Black elected president of the United States of America.

On the heels of that success and Blacks voting at a higher percentage than Whites in 2012 for the first time, have come efforts by Republicans to suppress the Black vote. This effort, carried out largely by Republican-dominated state legislatures, is underway as America experiences a dramatic demographic shift. We are grateful that Jeri Green and others at the U.S. Census Bureau assembled the latest social and demographic statistics

CHAVIS Page 37 Jan 29 - Feb 4, 2015

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS

Guest Columnist

By Marian Wright Edelman

Dr. King Left Blueprint for Eradicating Poverty “There is nothing new about poverty. What is new, however, is that we now have the resources to get rid of it.” Not too many years ago, Kirtley Mather, a Harvard geologist, wrote a book titled, Enough and to Spare. He set forth the basic theme that famine is wholly unnecessary in the modern world. Today, therefore, the question on the agenda is: Why should there be hunger and privation in any land, in any

city, at any table, when man has the resources and the scientific know-how to provide all mankind with the basic necessities of life?” In January 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. took a very rare “sabbatical” at an isolated house in Jamaica far away from telephones and the constant pressures of his life as a very public civil rights leader to write what would become his last book: Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? Professor Mather’s book argu-

ing that mankind had achieved the ability to move beyond famine was published in 1944, yet in 2015, despite 70 more years of unparalleled advances in scientific and technological capabilities and global resources and wealth, hunger and want are still rampant – most shamefully in the United States with the world’s largest economy. Hear again Dr. King: “There is no deficit in human resources; the deficit is in human will . . . The well-off and the secure have too often become indiffer-

Guest Columnist

ent and oblivious to the poverty and deprivation in their midst. The poor in our countries have been shut out of our minds, and driven from the mainstream of our societies, because we have allowed them to become invisible. Ultimately a great nation is a compassionate nation. No individual or nation can be great if it does not have a concern for ‘the least of these.’” When Dr. King died in 1968 calling for a Poor People’s Campaign, there were 25.4 million poor Americans, including 11

million poor children. Today, there are more than 45.3 million poor Americans, including 14.7 million poor children, living in our boastfully rich nation. The question is why we allow poverty still to exist, especially among our children who are the poorest age group of Americans, and the answer remains the same: The deficit in human will and genuine commitment to a fair playing field for all by a critical mass of leaders and citizens

EDELMAN Page 38

By Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu

Why Are So Many Black Girls Suspended? We all know about the plight of Black males being suspended. Twenty-four percent of Black males are suspended. Did you know 12 percent of Black females are suspended? Have Black girls been overlooked? Is the Black community comfortable and okay with 12 percent? I am not. There are many reasons why Black girls are suspended. Sometimes, they are suspended because they choose to wear their hair in

puffs, braids or twists. Other times, they said God bless you after someone sneezed. Oftentimes, they rolled their eyes, rotated their neck, put their hands on their hips and said “whatever”. Some teachers are intimidated and afraid of Black girls. Some teachers feel Black girls are too loud and have too much attitude. Do you think that some teachers want Black girls to act like White girls and tone it down? Can you imagine your fiveyear-old daughter being disruptive and rather than the school

calling you they call the police? They handcuff her, put her in the police car and drive her by herself to the police station and then they call the parents! Two girls, one White and one Black are caught chewing gum, dress code violation or possession of a mobile device. The White girl receives a warning and the Black girl receives a 5 day suspension. Two girls, one White and the other Black, are involved in a fight with each other. They both are suspended and sent to an al-

Askia-At-Large

ternative school. The White girl is allowed to return to her regular school after 90 days. The Black girl who had the same behavior as the White girl in the alternative school remains the entire year. She returns back to her regular school one year behind her peers. A Black girl was asked to read a biography about Frederick Douglass. She was so mesmerized over his desire to become literate. She thought about the fact that almost two hundred years later only 10 percent of her

school is proficient in reading. She was suspended for making this analogy. Many Black girls are suspended because they are bullied and when they tell authorities no protection is provided. Many Black girls believe they are trapped between a rock and a hard place. Another Black girl was suspended over her science project. She was excited about science and wanted to become an engineer, inventor or doctor. Unfor-

KUNJUFU Page 38

By Askia Muhammad

Congressional Black Republican Caucus is Born “The Congressional Black Republican Caucus just increased by 300 percent,” J.C. Watts, former chair of the House Republican Conference told a packed meeting room in the U.S. Capitol recently. That’s a joke right? Because there is no Congressional Black Republican Caucus. The fact of the matter is that there is no Black Republican Caucus but the presence of Blacks serving in

22 Jan 29 - Feb 4, 2015

the 114th Congress, just seated in early January, is 300 percent of what it was when the 113th Congress adjourned in late December. Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) has two new colleagues – Reps. Will Hurd (R-Texas), and Mia Love (R-Utah), who already enjoys a rock-star status – she is the first Black female Republican ever in Congress and she comes from the unlikely state of Utah. And while the idea of Black Republicans elected officials forming a caucus might seem

somewhat oxymoronic, it’s not such a far-fetched idea anymore. There’s already a Black Republican Staff Association and over the past decade or so there have been a handful of Black GOP members – from Florida, Connecticut, Oklahoma, Massachusetts and the Virgin Islands, but never in modern times, more than two at the same time. In the Reconstruction era, all the Blacks in Congress were Republicans. Indeed, they were the party of Lincoln. In the 20th century, the first Black member The Washington Informer

of Congress was Oscar DePriest of Illinois. And, of course, Washington, D.C. native and Dunbar High School alumnus Edward Brooke (R-Mass.) was the first Black senator after the Reconstruction-era. And while their allegiance to conservative (now ultra-conservative Tea Party) GOP policies seems to put them at variance with the conventional Black community’s wisdom, today’s Black GOP partisans seem proud to point out the prominent Blacks from their party,

even moderates like Ed Brooke, with some even touting the fact that the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a registered Republican. Black Republicans today relate to the broader Black community by embracing issues that have caught on today, like charter schools versus failing public schools. Many are at home in predominantly Black churches, as well as Black Greek letter fraternities

MUHAMMAD Page 38

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Buzz Continues for ‘The Book of Negroes’

LIFESTYLE

BET Lets Loose with Exciting Slave Narrative Miniseries

Award winning actor Louis Gossett Jr. is interviewed at the National Archives in Northwest on Thursday, Jan. 22 while the actual ledger of the Negroes who left for Nova Scotia where they lived free is on display. It is a beautifully handwritten list of the name, age, gender, trade, etc. of 3,000 former slaves, recorded by Aminata. /Photo by Roy Lewis

By D. Kevin McNeir WI Managing Editor BET will make history on Monday, Feb. 16, when the network will premier its first miniseries – “The Book of Negroes.” And while the book on which the miniseries is based may be unfamiliar to some readers, its significance to blacks in both the U.S. and Canada remains undisputed. “The Book of Negroes,” written by black, Canadian writer Lawrence Hill and published in 2007, actually draws on an historical document of the same name kept by British naval officers near the end of the American Revolutionary War. It documents the 3,000 blacks who served on the side of the British, many of whom had escaped from slavery and who hoped to remain free by moving to Canada. The main character, an African woman named Aminata Diallo (portrayed by Aunjanue Ellis), whose story is based on the history, forges a path to freedom that takes her from her homeland of West Africa to South Carolina, New York, Sierra Leone and finally England. She survives, in part, because whites underestimate her. The book, selected by “Oprah” magazine in 2010 as a top summer read, has stirred controversy – both because of its title and its content. Several hundred guests got a sneak peek of the miniseries at the National

Archives in Northwest on Thursday, Jan. 22 during a program that featured stars from and the co-writer and director of the film and BET’s CEO and Chairman Debra Lee. Award-winning journalist Jeff Johnson served as the moderator for the evening. “We screened parts of the miniseries earlier with students from Dunbar High School [in Northwest] and afterwards all they wanted was to see more,” Johnson said. “Many of them had never seen ‘Roots’ or ‘Twelve Years a Slave.’ Their excitement was a sight to behold.” Lee said she was taken aback by the response of the young viewers. “When the lights came on all you heard from the students was a gasp,” she said. “We’re proud to open a new and exciting chapter during Black History Month – an epic miniseries that for the first time features a slave narrative told from a woman’s perspective. While it premiers in the U.S. in February, it’s already been shown in Canada and has garnered rave reviews.” The miniseries will air over three consecutive nights, competing against some tough competition including “Scandal.” However, with a star-studded cast, including Ellis, Louis Gossett, Jr., Lyriq Bent and Cuba Gooding, Jr., many believe that “The Book of Negroes” will hold its own. Co-executive producer Damon D’Oliveira said he remembered an earlier time in his life when a televised

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miniseries caused a similar commotion. “I was just a child when ‘Roots’ aired and my family sat glued to our seats for six nights,” he said. “This miniseries is doing the same thing to families throughout Canada and is breaking all kinds of records. That’s what we hope will happen when it premiers in the U.S.” Gossett, who starred in “Roots,” said being included in this project serves among his greatest opportunities. “When my grandmother died, she was around 110 years old – she couldn’t read, write or count but she always told us stories about her life as a slave. She passed on the oral tradition. We must do the same. Like the Jews and the Italians, blacks have a profound and prolific history. We know the history of the Greeks and the Romans but our children, sadly, do not know their own history – a history of which we should all be immensely proud. This miniseries reminds us of that history,” said Gossett, 78. Co-executive producer, co-writer and director, Clement Virgo, said Gossett stood as the only choice to play the blind preacher, Daddy Moses. “We searched for our Aminata for some time until we came upon a tape of Aunjanue Ellis and knew we had found her,” Virgo said. “But in casting the role of Daddy Moses, there The Washington Informer

Standing on the red carpet during the sneak peek of BET’s upcoming miniseries “The Book of Negroes” are the film’s stars Lyriq Bent, Aunjanue Ellis, BET’s CEO and Chairwoman Debra Lee and Oscar-winner, Louis Gossett, Jr. / Photo by Roy Lewis

was no one else that could pull it off besides the Oscar-winning actor Louis Gossett, Jr.” Ellis said she learned a lot about herself while portraying the main character. “She [Aminata] was the personification of black female modernity. She was one of our first feminists. The ideal that you can be both enslaved and free at the same time is something that I have never heard. For her, the shackles were just mental. She still had the wherewithal to say ‘I married the man I loved.’ That statement remains revolutionary,” Ellis said. Ellis’s love interest and husband, played by Bent, said the film should be seen as a “love story.” “Of course it’s a slave narrative but

it’s not about people running away from each other – it’s about a man and a woman who run towards each other despite the odds. It’s a perfect expression of love in its rawest form. Slavery may have been the way of the world but love still existed.” Gossett said more to corroborate Bent’s words. “I’ve done several films dealing with slavery and I’ve gotten some backlash for it,” he said. “But remember that before we were enslaved, we had established civilizations, institutions of learning and we had learned how to love fiercely. I think it was that lineage, that history, that helped us survive the harsh times that came with slavery,” Gossett said. WI Jan 29 - Feb 4, 2015

LIFESTYLE Where did you hear about that?

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‘Light Girls’ Takes Center Stage Just go to www.washington informer.com to get informed and find out where to pick up the paper!

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Director Bill Duke Discusses Insightful Documentary By D. Kevin McNeir WI Managing Editor From slaves in the house or field to college coeds in Spike Lee’s “School Daze,” animosity has long existed between dark-skinned blacks and those of a lighter hue. And after his earlier, much-discussed documentary “Dark Girls,” director Bill Duke has returned with another in-depth look at colorism – this time from the perspective of lighter-skinned women around the world entitled, “Light Girls.” “There’s a beauty business out here that says ‘God made mistakes,’ but because we love you, we want to provide you with cosmetics so that you’ll look like you should,” said Duke, 70, whose face became popular when he portrayed the Muslim revolutionary Akbar in “Car Wash” (1976) and later in “American Gigolo” (1980). Since then the Poughkeepsie, New York-born Duke has expanded his repertoire to producing and directing films and documentaries. Last year, the Oprah Winfrey Network [OWN] aired “Dark Girls,” which examined why African and African-American women don’t feel at ease in their own skin. Now, “Light Girls,” which debuted on Monday, Jan. 19, again on OWN, shares vignettes from women around the world and seeks to answer whether having light skin makes a person’s life easier. Some 200-plus subjects weighed in on this controversial subject, including Soledad O’Brien, Diahann Carroll, Michaela Angela Davis, Kym Whitley and Salli Richardson-Whitfield. Duke said black women have bought into the cosmetics industry’s hype. “Many women drank the KoolAid and believe it’s better to look different instead of how God made them,” Duke said. “It’s a matter of self-esteem and it goes across the board. In the end, they say they feel that they’re never good enough, not light enough, not pretty enough, not dark enough – and not white. Ironically, white women are going to tanning salons or getting Botox treatments so they look more ethnic.” Duke worked with producer Stephanie Frederic and D. Channsin Berry to put this project together, realizing that after the success of “Dark Girls,” a real nerve had been struck. The Washington Informer

Bill Duke

Diahann Carroll

“We’re looking at the issue of skin tone and the paper bag test and here it’s 2015,” Duke added. “Is it still relevant? When we have little girls in the film who say they’re constantly being bullied because they’re light then we’re clearly dealing with a dysfunctional community. We’re making distinctions that divide us instead of coming together. But I’m not convinced that others make such distinctions. “Let’s say that light- and darkskinned blacks were in a field and the Ku Klux Klan came by shooting. Everyone would be shot – all of the black folk – light or dark,” said Duke who said he’s been touring the country at the request of groups to lead discussions about the light-dark controversy. He added that he hopes blacks will take on subjects that have more far-reaching consequences. “We have some serious problems facing our culture today: young girls having babies who have barely reached puberty; the disproportionate number of black males killing other black males; an incarceration rate for black males that we know is both excessive and unjust; and the disproportionate number of blacks living with and dying from HIV/AIDS. Until we begin to care for and love ourselves so that we can face issues that threaten our very existence, we’ll continue down the road to madness,” Duke said. When Duke’s earlier “Dark Girls” aired, it became a worldwide trending topic. He cites the example of the ongoing rivalry on social media with the #teamlightskin versus #teamdarkskin. “Can you believe that each group has over 350,000 members?

Salli Richardson-Whitfield

That’s quite disturbing. After all, we’re in the 21st century now – hundreds of years after legalized slavery we’re dealing with the same issue. You’d think that common sense would reign – maybe we need a real disaster to wake us up,” Duke said. Duke said one of the reasons he agreed to direct the second documentary, a request he received from OWN executives, rests with the kinds of conversations he’s heard during his world travels. “Hate has no color. I’ve heard black men in clubs see a lightskinned woman and say, ‘I’m going to get me one of those.’ Women are objectified and not treated as persons. When the man gets tired of her, he goes out and get another ‘one’ without addressing the humanity of the woman. In his mind, being with a woman with light skin, light eyes and good hair tells him he’s reached a certain status because he has one of ‘those.” It’s this kind of thinking that demanded that I work on this documentary,” Duke said. WI

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High school and middle school students competed in a Martin Luther King Jr. oratorical contest sponsored by the Prince William County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. on January 19 at Hylton Memorial Chapel in Prince William, Virginia. /Photo by Rob Roberts

The MLK oratorical program has been a project of the Prince William County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. for 30 years. /Photo by Rob Roberts

Deltas Sponsor

Oratorical Contest The Prince William County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. served as the annual sponsor of the Martin Luther King [MLK] Day Youth Oratorical Â Celebration in Prince William County last Monday, January 19. The event, which took place in the Ceil D. Hylton Memorial Chapel in Woodbridge, Virginia, is held on the MLK holiday each year. The MLK program has been a project of the Alumnae Chapter for the past 30 years -- each program has always had the same vision: to educate the community about Dr. Kingâ€™s commitment to

non-violence and equality. Senator Mark Warner attended the program and gave words of greetings and congratulations. Former oratorical participant Niki Scriber inspired the youth with a spoken word selection. Finalists for the MLK Oratorical Contest included: Jacob Gonzalez, Denzel Woodland, Norman Jones (winner); Ayesha Khursheed, Zoree Jones (winner) and Ksanet Mehari. Both high school and middle school students competed in the contest. Photo courtesy Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

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Jan 29 - Feb 4, 2015

LIFESTYLE MANIFEST from Page 9 that’s better for our children.” MYD’s mission to provide underserved youth with educational opportunities resonated with many guests. For Andrea Roberson, the organization’s focus on mentorship proved to be a selling point in her decision to attend the gala. “I studied math in graduate school because my professor at Spelman College encouraged me to take that path,” said Roberson, a mathematical statistician. “Until that black woman saw my potential, I didn’t think I had the capacity. That’s why I support foundations that make sure there are more people of color going to school. Mentors can give perspective. I feel like I’m living my

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grandparents’ dream and I want more youth to fulfill their potential,” said Roberson who lives in Southwest. Kenneth Powell, Jr., a senior at North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, N.C., said he considered MYD’s efforts unique in the manner it raised funds and addressed issues. “It’s always a good thing when we can bring up important issues and get the conversation going while making it fun,” said Powell, 23. “This event was a chance to have a good time and get out of the house. That’s never a bad thing, especially when it comes to expanding children’s knowledge,” said Powell who lives in Ft. Washington, Maryland. WI

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I read it in The Washington Informer!

All-Star Salute Held at BET Honors

Just go to www.washington informer.com to get informed and find out where to pick up the paper!

and DC Black History Celebration Committee

presents

An Intergenerational Nontraditional Documentary on

Thursday, February 12, 7:00 PM Historic Lincoln Theatre FEATURING: ANGELA BASSETT | ALAN ALDA | DANNY GLOVER | HARRY BELAFONTE Free and Open| PHYLICIA to theRASHAD Public 1215 U Street NW Panel discussion following the film Washington,www.RubyDeeStory.com DC www.dcarts.dc.gov or 202.724.5613

This year’s BET Honors, held at the famous Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015, was nothing less than star-studded as always, hosted by Wayne Brady. BET chose to honor five extraordinary individuals who have helped to shape the lives of millions all across the world: John W. Thompson, who received the Technology and Business Award; Johnnetta Betsch Cole, who received the Education Award; Usher, who received the Musical Arts Award; Kanye West, who received the Visionary Award; and Phylicia Rashad,

who received Theatrical Arts Award. The event included special performances by artists like Trey Songz, who paid tribute to Usher with two of Usher’s most popular hits. Charlie Wilson, also known as Uncle Charlie, had the ladies standing on their feet from the front row to the balcony. The soulful K. Michelle performed a ballad off her latest album, “Anybody Wanna Buy a Heart?” Other performers included Ne-Yo, Patti LaBelle and show closer Mary J. Blige. /Photos by Travis Riddick WI

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26 Jan 29 - Feb 4, 2015

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LIFESTYLE

Griot

TAURUS Do not throw a wrench in someone’s else plan and undermine their project to get ahead in what you are trying to do this week. Be peaceful and seek harmony in the relationships you have in your personal and professional life. You will go further than you think by helping co-workers and friends. Soul Affirmation: I get because I give. Lucky Numbers: 1, 16, 22

George E. Koonce, Jr. c.2015, New York University Press $27.95 / higher in Canada 321 pages

GEMINI This week your fortune will delight you in ways that you’ve never experienced before. Don’t be slow in sharing good fortune with others who helped you achieve what you have. Fill their coffers as yours are being filled. A wonderful gift to have is the ability to give to others. Soul Affirmation: The success of others is the investment I make in myself. Lucky Numbers: 7, 20, 55

Your favorite player was out for most of the season. Last fall, he took a hit mid-pass and went down like a sack of rocks. They checked him over, took him off the field, and that was that. He hasn’t been back since. Every now and then, someone mentions him and you wonder how he’s doing, whether he’ll ever play again. In the new book “Is There Life after Football?” by James A. Holstein, Richard S. Jones & George E. Koonce, Jr., you’ll get a glimpse of a possible future. A helmet to the head, helmet to the chest, a cleat to the leg, and it’s big news: football is a brutal sport and we all know its potential career-ending effects. But what happens after the cheers go silent? To understand, we have to understand the back story, too. Many little boys dream of playing football, of course, but the truth is that relatively few actually make it. The journey to the NFL starts with laser-focus on a dream, incessant practice, high school, then college. By that point, future NFLers have been convinced that they’re “special;” college perks underscore that notion. “Dreaming of a lucrative NFL career is a relatively recent phenomenon,” say the authors. “In 1956, the minimum NFL salary was reported as $5,000,” but the kind of money that today’s young player gets is often more than he’s ever seen in his life. The NFL promotes financial responsibility, but a new hire often goes wild with new-found wealth; later, he might go broke. Being in the NFL, say the authors, is expensive. When it’s over, that’s tough to take. Liv-

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JAN 29 - FEB 4, 2015

ARIES A party or gathering with friends from the past gives you the opportunity to strut your stuff a bit. You’ve made tremendous strides and accomplished much in your life, so be pleased with yourself this week. Pass some of your wisdom along to others. Soul Affirmation: All that I need is within me. Lucky Numbers: 18, 42, 47

“Is There Life after Football? Surviving the NFL” by James A. Holstein, Richard S. Jones &

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Horoscopes

ing without praise, paychecks, and the social structure within the NFL is a challenge - as is living with “a lifetime of hurt.” Almost twenty-five percent of all current former players claim game-related brain injuries. Surgery is “routine.” Some injuries are the result of a “suck it up” mentality: players are more likely to shake off an injury than to seek treatment for it, until it’s too late. And those are just the physical ailments… But the news isn’t all bad, and that’s the pleasant surprise inside “Is There Life after Football?” Authors Holstein, Jones, and Koonce, Jr. give their readers balance – and if you’re first inclination is to forego sympathy due to high salaries, you’ll get a dose of truth, too. Using statistics you won’t see in the game, NFL history, and personal stories, this book offers a litany of things that should give fans pause: ruined lives for both players and families, ruined health, and financial ruin. But before we turn off the TV in dismay (just kidding!), we’re encouraged to lift our jaws off the floor with tales of success and of the men who’ve stepped off-field and into their own personal second half. This is a book fans should read before the next game – or before they let their own son suit up. If you’ve ever wondered “What ever happened to….?” then “Is There Life after Football?” is a book you shouldn’t pass. WI

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CANCER This week do not seek the “highest” source of information for your answers. Look towards a humble source for the truth about your vibrations this week. The ability to learn from any of God’s creation will lead to better answers than finite human knowledge will produce. Soul Affirmation: Truth is revealed in the smallest grain of sand. Lucky Numbers: 12, 23, 30 LEO This week your strong fortitude will be able to carry you though hurdles that you once perceived as insurmountable. Don’t begrudge your situation or begrudge others for what they have. You will become a better person when you overcome any stumbling blocks in your path. You will look back and count it as a milestone. Soul Affirmation: What life has given me is sufficient to any task. Lucky Numbers: 9, 10, 31 VIRGO One of your greatest talents and gifts is the ability to give freely to others. Exercise it this week with a passion. You are very timely when others are in need. Your capacity to be a stronghold for others is remarkable. The power of giving will always supersede the feelings of neediness. Soul Affirmation: Being there for others is a way of being there for myself. Lucky Numbers: 20, 25, 35 LIBRA Living in the past has been one of your favorite things, do it this week. Memory will give you clues to the answer to a pressing problem. Ask for help in finishing up the week’s work. Be diplomatic and you’ll get all the help you need. Pretending to be a little bit helpless can work to your favor. Soul Affirmation: My needs will be met if I just ask. Lucky Numbers: 34, 39, 41 SCORPIOThere is a fresh discovery about yourself that you can make this week by taking a poll of friends. They are especially aware of your real self. It shines through on the surface of your life. Ask others what they see and listen well. Situate yourself so you’ll be ready for it. Soul Affirmation: I enjoy the love that others have for me. Lucky Numbers: 13, 53, 54 SAGITTARIUS It is amazing how a restless soul like you can button down when you have to. This week is the kind of week when obligations must be met. The best way to get it done is to think about it with only half your mind. Let the other half roam around restlessly like you like your mind to do. Soul Affirmation: This week silence speaks loudest and truest. Lucky Numbers: 2, 5, 15 CAPRICORN You’ve done a lot of things in life that no one has agreed with at the beginning. Finding agreement this week will be difficult, but it should not deter you from moving forward. Feeling sorry for your loneliness will discolor what you are doing. Be happy that you are alone. Soul Affirmation: I accept fate and see good in it. Lucky Numbers: 16, 18, 24 AQUARIUS You should know by now that trying to be in two places at once is very taxing to your nerves! Slow down a bit and trust that you’ll get what needs to be done accomplished. Give yourself a head start on all road trips so that you have time to enjoy the view. Soul Affirmation: Seeing my past clearly this week gives me a clear vision of my future. Lucky Numbers: 11, 30, 40 PISCES An afterglow surrounds you during the week, and you may not feel like getting immediately into work-mode this week. It’s okay to go with your feelings; the world will wait for a little while. Treasure happy moments. Soul Affirmation: Facing down challenges makes me feel good about myself. Lucky Numbers: 7, 25, 31

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Jan 29 - Feb 4, 2015

SPORTS

Super Bowl Pits Seahawks against the Patriots But Festivities Overshadowed by Deflategate By Barrington M. Salmon WI Staff Writer@bsalmondc Lovers of football are licking their lips at the prospect of the New England Patriots banging heads with Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX. This year’s contest, in Scottsdale, Arizona, pits the Legion of Boom against what many regard as perhaps the Patriots’ best, most-talented and complete team. The Seahawks return to the scene of perhaps their greatest triumph where they dismantled the vaunted Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos last year in a 38-8 shellacking at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. This year, the team rebounded after a slow start and poor play and surprised many by making a tough, consistent run into the post-season and back to the Super Bowl. The Patriots took a similar path, faltering early in the season but dominating the AFC East yet again and exerting their superiority on each of their opponents. New England Quarterback Tom Brady and Coach Bill Belichick, both appearing in their sixth Super Bowl, have each been in the game for 15 years. Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll is the fourth coach to play against his former team. But an incident involving the Patriots during the AFC Championship against the Indianapolis Colts has overshadowed the lead up to the Super Bowl, prompting a furious public reaction and casting doubt on New England’s season. Referees discovered that 11of-12 balls in the Patriots’ possession were deflated by one pound per square inch (PSI) or more, while none of the Colts’ balls appeared to be affected. If someone intentionally deflated the balls, that’s against National Football League (NFL) rules. If this had happened to any other NFL team, the reaction would likely have been more subdued, but it’s the Patriots who have a history. Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft, coach Bill Belichick and QB Tom Brady have all categorically denied any wrongdoing. “I don’t know what happened.

28 Jan 29 - Feb 4, 2015

I have no explanation for it. I’m not that kind of guy,” Brady said. Belichick struck a similar tone. “I believe now, 100 percent that personally and we as an organization, have absolutely followed every rule to the letter,” said Belichick during a press conference held this past weekend “At no time was there any intent whatsoever to compromise the integrity of the game or gain an advantage. We try to do everything right, we err on the side of caution; it’s been that way now for many years. Anything that’s close, we stay as far away from the line as we can.” Belichick reasserted his team’s innocence after what he said was “exponentially more research” and attempting to simulate what happened. NFL officials have conducted 40 interviews so far, excluding Brady. As of Jan. 26, league officials were zeroing in on a locker room assistant who’s said to have taken the balls to another room before taking them to the field. James Fleming, a passionate Dallas Cowboys fan and strong Seahawks supporter, said the Patriots’ latest troubles are no surprise. “He’s a damn thief. Every angle, every hook, crook he comes up with. I’m not surprised he got caught,” said Fleming of Belichick. “My nephew was trying to give me a logical explanation. He said it could have happened. Belichick said ‘we did not air up balls.’ They must have tested and known the range to allow it a little give. Belichick also declared that they did it at room temp. I don’t know about science and balance.” Fleming, a 50-year-old D.C. federal government employee and sports enthusiast, said he’s aware that quarterbacks and other NFL players will try to find advantages and even take what they do in that attempt to the very end of fairness but no one should be allowed to flaunt the rules. “If the NFL discovered that the Patriots did this, I think they should d be fined substantial dollars and lose a first-round draft pick. That would be a real serious deterrent because this has an impact on the integrity of the game.” “It’s one thing for an individ-

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson looking for a second consecutive win in Superbowl XLIX. /Photo by John DeFreitas

Line backer Jamie Collins and New England Patriot defense hope to frustrate the Seattle Seahawks offense during Superbowl XLIX. / Courtesy Photo

ual player to do something, like Wes Welker taking drugs to enhance individual performance but it’s a whole other dimension when an organization or culture condones or is involved in systematically trying to get an unfair advantage. That goes against the spirt of competition in any sport.” The team is under fire, assailed from all quarters because of its checkered track record and dodgy tactics. Belichick has been accused of cheating, bending and breaking the rules for years. Teams such as the St. Louis Rams and a former Jacksonville Jaguars general manager have called him out saying they believe the Patriots taped their walkthroughs before those Super Bowls; others say the team has jammed headset signals and Belichick is said to have been playing with injury reports to gain an advantage for years. Then there’s Spygate in which The Washington Informer

the NFL fined Belichick and the team a total of $750,000 and took a first-round draft pick for videotaping the signals of the New York Jets’ defensive coaches’ signals from the sidelines during a 2007 game, in violation of league rules. Although the character of the coach, quarterback and the team have been brought into question, a rabid Patriots fan thinks it’s much ado about nothing. “I was actually moved by his Sunday interview which I watched yesterday,” said the Northeast D.C. resident who because of the sensitivity of his job declined to give his name. “He had a good argument about the pressure. He said the PSI level is a function of ambient temperature. It depends on a controlled environment, such as the Patriots’ building or outside.” The man, a technology professional and a Patriots fan since the late 1970s, said there are a

number of independent studies which confirm Belichick’s arguments. “My father is a chemical engineer and he explained to me about the ideal gas law. It’s well understood. Belichick must have read up on that. The information I’d like to know, which has not been mentioned, is if the Colts inflated their balls under the same ambient conditions as New England. It’s conceivable that the Colts could have inflated their balls outdoors.” “I think the reaction to this supposed infraction was definitely spurred by anticipation that allegations like this would stick in the court of public opinion. The motivations were dubious. If it was another team, the allegations probably wouldn’t stick. There was possibly malicious intent from the media trying to make a story.” WI

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SPORTS

George Washington Colonials Defeat Duquesne Dukes 74-59

Duquesne guard Derrick Colter drives through the George Washington defense to get to the basket in the first half of Atlantic-10 Conference (A-10) basketball play on Saturday, Jan. 24 at George Washington’s Charles E. Smith Center in Northwest. George Washington defeated Duquesne 7459. /Photo by John E. De Freitas

George Washington guard Paul Jorgensen soars to the basket in the second half of A-10 basketball play on Saturday, Jan. 24 at George Washington’s Charles E. Smith Center in Northwest. George Washington defeated Duquesne 74-59. /Photo by John E. De Freitas

George Washington guard Patricio Garino drives to the basket past Duquesne forward Jordan Robinson in the second half of A-10 basketball play on Saturday, Jan. 24 at George Washington’s Charles E. Smith Center in Northwest. George Washington defeated Duquesne 74-59. /Photo by John E De Freitas

George Washington forward Kevin Larsen makes his way past his opponents in the second half of A-10 basketball play on Saturday, Jan. 24 at George Washington’s Charles E. Smith Center in Northwest. George Washington defeated Duquesne 74-59. /Photo by John E. De Freitas

Duquesne guard Jordan Stevens shoots over his opponent in the second half of A-10 basketball play on Saturday, Jan. 24 at George Washington’s Charles E. Smith Center in Northwest. George Washington defeated Duquesne 74-59. /Photo by John E. De Freitas

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Jan 29 - Feb 4, 2015

CTM

Pepco Executive Vice President Dave Velazquez and Vroman Wright (left to right), director and coach, with the winning team from Drew-Freeman Boys and Girls Clubs Prince George’s County, Maryland and other program executives. /Photo by Travis Riddick

Debbi Jarvis, Pepco’s Vice President Corporate Citizenship and Social Responsibility, welcomed over 100 students and adults to the 2015 Rube Goldberg Experiment at THE ARC partnered by Pepco, Discovery Education and Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington on Friday, Jan. 23. /Photo by Travis Riddick

Southeast Students Display Technological

Talent

Pepco STEM Club Exposes Youth to New Horizons Washington, D.C. – On Friday, Jan. 23, Pepco, Discovery Education and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington [BGCGW] kicked off the Pepco STEM Club at The ARC Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus, located at 1901 Mississippi Avenue, Southeast. The Pepco STEM Club exposes and prepares BGCGW 5- 8 grade students for career opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math. The kickoff focused on challenging over 100 middle school students to create mechanisms that transfer energy from one object to another in the tradition of inventor and engineer Rube Goldberg. Goldberg’s creations were famous for using convoluted methods to perform simple tasks. Pepco commissioned Discovery Education to compile the digital curriculum on energy and infrastructure that makes up the Pepco STEM Club. The team from the Drew-Freeman Boys and Girls Clubs chapter of Prince George’s County, Maryland won the challenge by successfully building their Rube Goldberg device that emptied a pint bottle of water into a cup. “Young students are introduced to the

30 Jan 29 - Feb 4, 2015

dynamic and exciting world of technology through STEM. The program nurtures aspirations and provides educational direction to which the participating children may not otherwise be exposed,” said Dave Velazquez, executive vice president, power delivery for Pepco Holdings Inc., who was one of the contest judges. The digital curriculum provided by Discovery Education to the Pepco STEM Club includes hands-on and virtual labs, engineering challenges, digital investigations, videos and career connections – all designed to immerse children in the grand challenges of science set forth by the National Academy of Engineering. “This initiative is designed to foster interest and engagement in critical STEM skills outside the classroom and we salute these organizations for their commitment to prepare today’s students for college, the needs of tomorrow’s workforce and citizenship,” said Lori McFarling, chief marketing officer, Discovery Education. WI For more information, visit www.pepcostemclub and www.discoveryeducation.com

Celebrating their success in technology are Boys and Girls Clubs Prince George’s County participants: Amaris Smith (left to right), Zakkiyah Young (with plaque), Seaairra Lindsay and Trinity Copeland. The adults behind the children include: Lemond Brown of Boys and Girls Clubs (left to right), Damone Jones of Discovery Education, Pepco Holdings, Inc. Vice President Debbi Jarvis and Pandit Wright, president and CEO, Boys and Girls Clubs, Greater Washington. /Photo by Travis Riddick

Four seventh graders (left to right) Trinity Copeland 13, Zakkiyah Young 12, Seaairra Lindsay 13 and Amaris Smith 12 of Drew-Freeman Middle School located in Prince George’s County, Maryland, demonstrate their Rude Goldberg experiment during a competition held on Friday, Jan. 23. /Photo by Travis Riddick

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RELIGION

The Religion Corner

Are You An Eagle Acting Like A Chicken?

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

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Estate planning and probate Medicaid planning Elder law Business and succession planning/ coaching Workshops and seminars on legacy creation for economic strength

Aimee D. Griffin, Esq., The Griffin Firm, PLLC 5335 Wisconsin Ave NW Suite 440 Washington DC 20015 www.thegriffinfirm-PLLC.com

202-379-4738

This summer, while attending my sorority conference in Dallas, Texas, our luncheon speaker shared this exhilarating message; it caused my table guests to ponder with thoughts of ourselves. We discussed whether or not we had been doing what we were sent to earth to do. This is the story of the eagle that lived as a chicken for a lifetime, a fable by Vikram Karve. This condensed version written by me in my own way is the story. It goes like this… One day a farmer decided to climb some nearby cliffs; during his climb, just before he reached the top, he saw an eagle’s nest. Immediately, his instincts urged him to grab one of the eggs. He stored the egg safely in his bag, and noticed the sun going down, so he knew he’d better climb back down now. When he reached his farm, he placed the egg in the nest of one of his hen’s, and when it hatched, it looked different, but the mother hen and other baby chicks treated the eagle as if he too was a baby chick. The baby eagle learned all of the ways of chicken life, to cluck, cackle, it scratched in the dirt looking for worms for food, and it learned to flap its wings, flying only just a short distance as the other chicks did. Poor eagle knew he was a chicken, too. Then the true test, the baby eagle looked up and saw an eagle flying, so beautiful, it asked “What’s that?” The chickens answered “Isn’t it lovely! Ah, such power and grace…magnificent! Isn’t that a beautiful bird, it’s an eagle. That’s the King of the Birds. It’s a bird of the air... not for the likes of us. We’re only chickens; we’re birds of the earth”.

The eagle lived his life never knowing he was truly a full blooded eagle. Having been born with chickens, it was usual for the eagle to live this way, all else was unheard of. Take a look at your life; have you been deceived? Did the Heavenly Father send you here to get one job done for the people, yet you’ve become accustomed to thinking you are only here to do what others decide for you? Has your life been stolen from you? We must ascertain who we really are, and we must have faith to become who and what the Lord sent us to earth to develop into. Isaiah 40:31 says - But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint. Steve Harvey has a short three minute YouTube video called “Jump.” He reminds us, no successful person has every achieved their goals without jumping! At times, it seems too much of a stretch of our imagination, however, jump we must! Raised as a chicken, the eagle didn’t think twice, he just continued to stroll around pecking for worms. He was undeniably an eagle, skilled to do exactly what other eagles do, however he couldn’t identify with the notion. Here is when our faith in the Heavenly Father kicks in, especially if you have a desire; scripture says in Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Mentors can bless us too, par-

with Lyndia Grant

ticularly those who see something in us. They persuade us, they teach us, until we can develop into our preeminent selves. There have been many vibrant mentors in my life, a special thank you to each of you. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” Become the eagle you were born to be! WI

Lyndia Grant is an author, inspirational and motivational speaker, radio talk show host and columnist; visit her new website at www.lyndiagrant.com and, call 202-518-3192. Tune in Fridays at 6 p.m., to the radio talk show, 1340 AM, WYCB, a Radio One Station.

(301) 864-6070

CHURCH LAWYERS MCCOLLUM & ASSOCIATES, LLC

Organizational Formation, Governance Issues, First Ammendment, Church Employment, Ministerial Exception, Maintenance Issues, Risk Management, Safety and Security Issues, and Real Property Law SERVING MARYLAND, DC, & NORTH CAROLINA

www.jmlaw.net

(301) 864-6070

jmccollum@jmlaw.net

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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

Rev. Louis B. Jones II Pastor

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

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

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

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

www.pilgrimbaptistdc.org

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

Twelfth Street Christian Church

Campbell AME Church Reverend Daryl K. Kearney, Pastor

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

2562 MLK Jr. Ave., S E Washington, DC 20020 Adm. Office 202-678-2263 Email:Campbell@mycame.org Sunday Worship Service 10: am Sunday Church School 8: 45 am Bible Study Wednesday 12:00 Noon Wednesday 7:00 pm Thursday 7: pm “Reaching Up To Reach Out”

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

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

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

Sunday Morning Worship 11:00am Holy Communion – 1st Sunday Sunday School-9:45am Men’s Monday Bible Study – 7:00pm Wednesday Night Bible Study – 7:00pm Women’s Ministry Bible Study 3rd Friday -7:00pm Computer Classes- Announced Family and Marital Counseling by appointment E-mail: Crusadersbaptistchurch@verizon.net www.CrusadersBaptistChurch.org

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

“God is Love”

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

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

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

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

Third Street Church of God

Isle of Patmos Baptist Church

Sunday Worship Services: 7:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Holy Communion: 2nd Sunday at 7:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sunday Church School: 9:20 a.m. Seniors Bible Study: Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. Noon Day Prayer Service: Tuesdays at Noon Bible Study: Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Motto: “A Ministry of Reconciliation Where Everybody is Somebody!” Website: http://isleofpatmosbc.org Church Email: ipbcsecretary@verizon.net

Greater Mt. Calvary Holy Church Bishop Alfred A. Owens, Jr.; Senior Bishop & Evangelist Susie C. Owens – Co-Pastor 610 Rhode Island Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002 (202) 529-4547 office • (202) 529-4495 fax Sunday Worship Service: 8 AM and 10:45 AM Sunday Youth Worship Services: 1st & 4th 10:45 AM; 804 R.I. Ave., NE 5th 8 AM & 10:45 AM; Main Church Prayer Services Tuesday – Noon, Wednesday 6 AM & 6:30 PM Calvary Bible Institute: Year-Round Contact Church Communion Every 3rd Sunday The Church in The Hood that will do you Good! www.gmchc.org emailus@gmchc.org

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

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

Mount Carmel Baptist Church

52 Years of Expert Engraving Services

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

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

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

Lanier C. Twyman, Sr. Bishop

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

Crusader Baptist Church

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

Mt. Zion Baptist Church

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

St. Stephen Baptist Church

Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church

Reverend Dr. Paul H. Saddler Senior Pastor

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

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

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

Blessed Word of Life Church

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

Rev. Paul Carrette Senior Pastor Harold Andrew, Assistant Pastor

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

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

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

Church of Living Waters

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

32 Jan 29 - Feb 4, 2015

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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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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)

Rehoboth Baptist Church

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

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

New Commandment Baptist Church

Peace Baptist Church

Rev. Stephen E. Tucker Senior Pastor

Rev. Dr. Michael T. Bell

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

“A Church Where Love Is Essential and Praise is Intentional”

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.

Theme: “The Kingdom Focused Church” Matthew 6:33 and Mathew 28:18-20, KJV Email: stmatthewsbaptist@msn.com Website: www.stmatthewsbaptist.org

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

Email: Froffice@firstrising.org Website: www.firstrising.org

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Pennsylvania Ave. Baptist Church

Mt. Horeb Baptist Church

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 “

www.Christembassydc.org Christ.embassy.dc@hotmail.com

Prayer Service Bible Study

First Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Rev. Dr. Wallace Charles Smith Pastor

“…Giving Your Life a Meaning”

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.

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

Shiloh Baptist Church

Friday Evening Service 7:00 P.M. ; Last Friday

3000 Pennsylvania Ave.. S.E Washington, DC 20020 202 581-1500

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

Wednesday Bible Study 7:00 P.M.

Rev. Dr. Kendrick E. Curry Pastor

712 18th Street, NE Washington, DC 20002 Phone 202-399-3450/ Fax 202-398-8836

Rev. Alonzo Hart Pastor

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

Dr. C. Matthew Hudson, Jr, Pastor

1864-2014

150 Years of Service

Christ Embassy DC

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

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

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tel: 202-291-6565

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Jan 29 - Feb 4, 2015

LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

Administration No. 2015 ADM 23

Administration No. 2015 ADM 27

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2013 ADM 000981

Administration No. 2014 ADM 1060

Bekele W. Beyene Decedent

Harvey Lee Jones, Sr.

Administration No. 2015 ADM 28 Robert Becton Decedent

Decedent Ronald Dixon Bynum & Jenkins 1010 Cameron Street Alexandria, VA 22314

Aaron E. Price, Sr., Esq. NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Attorney Juanita Suhana, whose address is 738 51st Street, NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS

SE, Washington, DC 20019, was appointed Personal

AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Representative of the estate of Harvey Lee Jones, Sr.,

Ronald Dixon, whose address is Bynum & Jenkins, 1010 Cameron Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Bekele W.

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Washington, DC 20004

AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Attorney Christopher W. Brooks, whose address is 20 William

their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such

Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before July 15, 2015.

AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

December 8, 2013 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance

December 3, 2014 with a Will, and will serve without

Walter L. Howard, Jr., whose address is 7449 Seventh

Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose

Street, NW, Washington, DC 20012, was appointed

whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance

Personal Representative of the estate of Walter L. Howard,

in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or

Sr., who died on January 1, 2015 without a Will, and

to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building

to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the

A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before

Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the

July 29, 2015. Claims against the decedent shall be

undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed

A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before

presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register

on or before July 15, 2015. Claims against the decedent

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

July 29, 2015. Claims against the decedent shall be

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

shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the

on or before July 15, 2015, or be forever barred. Persons

presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register

to the undersigned, on or before July 29, 2015, or be

believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do

a copy to the undersigned, on or before July 15, 2015,

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

be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001,

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.

of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

January 15, 2015 Date of first publication: January 15, 2015 Ronald Dixon Personal Representative

Juanita Suhana Personal Representative

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

Gregory Lavon Kendall Decedent

of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so relationship. Date of first publication:

forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice

Administration No. 2014 ADM 1362 Gladys H. Massey

Anne Meister Register of Wills

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Washington, DC 20001

AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Attorney

January 29, 2015 Walter L. Howard, Jr.

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Anne Meister

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

Administration No. 2015 ADM 0014

Administration No. 2015 ADM 31

Sunday Solomon Oyeyiga

Jean E. Pearman

Decedent

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

Administration Number 2014 ADM 945 Decedent

Estate of

AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Oladapo Adebisi Amusan, whose address is 1007

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Reginald Perman, Jr., and Lydia P. Harris, whose

without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision.

Street, SE, Washington, DC 20032, was appointed

will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs

All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are

Personal Representative of the estate of Gregory Lavon

and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter

unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding.

Kendall, who died on July 14, 2014 without a Will, and

their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such

Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the

will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs

in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall

appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills,

and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter

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

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

A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before

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

Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before July 29, 2015.

July 29, 2015. Claims against the decedent shall be

on or before July 29, 2015. Claims against the decedent

Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the

presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register

shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the

undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed

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

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

to the undersigned, on or before July 29, 2015, or be

a copy to the undersigned, on or before July 29, 2015,

undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed

on or before July 29, 2015, or be forever barred. Persons

forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees

or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or

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

believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do

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

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

on or before July 29, 2015, or be forever barred. Persons

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

by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so

notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall

believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do

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

inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and

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

including name, address and relationship.

relationship.

Date of first publication:

July 29, 2015

January 29, 2015

Chariene M. Thompson

Oladapo Adebisi Amusan

Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the

of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: January 29, 2015 Walvette V. Kendall

Personal Representative

Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY

20001 and 3630 Samanthas Way, Huntington, MD 20639, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Jean E. Pearman, who died on November

Washington Informer

34 Jan 29 - Feb 4, 2015

Deceased

NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE

Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by Beberly Young-Luby and Berry Hines for

3, 2014 without a Will, and will serve without Court

standard probate, including the appointment of one or

supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose

more personal representative. Unless a complaint or an

whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance

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 an order determinging that the decedent died intestate appoint a supervised personal representative.

so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: January 29, 2015

Date of first publication: January 15, 2015

Reginald Pearman, Jr. Lydia P. Harris Personal Representative

Personal Representative: Beverly Young-Luby

TRUE TEST COPY TRUE TEST COPY

TRUE TEST COPY Anne Meister

William Carl Taylor, Jr.

addresses are 9118 September Lane, Silver Spring, MD

who died on November 22, 2014 without a Will, and

Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before July 29, 2015.

on or before July 29, 2015, or be forever barred. Persons

Date of first publication:

January 29, 2015

Solomon Oyeyiga, who died on October 24, 2014

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

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

including name, address and relationship.

appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Sunday

appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills,

undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed

Date of first publication:

Personal Representative of the estate of Gladys H. Massey,

their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such

Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the

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

Butterworth Lane, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774, was

Walvette V. Kendall, whose address is 1101 Bellevue

Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before July 29, 2015.

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

Street, NW, Washington, DC 20011, was appointed

AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

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

relationship.

Chariene M. Thompson, whose address is 400 Peabody

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS

appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills,

Washington Informer

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS

1308 Ninth Street, NW, Suite 300

their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such

believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do

Decedent

Deborah D. Boddie, Esq.

and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter

inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and

Christopher W. Brooks Keisha Becton

will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs

by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so

January 29, 2015

TRUE TEST COPY

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Administration No. 2015 ADM 46

forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees

TRUE TEST COPY Anne Meister

to the undersigned, on or before July 29, 2015, or be

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Anne Meister

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

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

Attorney

Brooks aka Booker Talafaro Brooks, who died on

in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or

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

Washington, DC 20002

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS

heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their

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

918 Maryland Avenue, NE

Personal Representative of the estate of Booker T.

Representative of the estate of Robert Becton, who died on

and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter

James Larry Frazier, Esq.

St. Apt.#2D, Mount Vernon, NY 10552, was appointed

K1, Greenville, NC 27834, was appointed Personal

appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills,

Decedent

AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and

will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs

Walter L. Howard, Sr.

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Keisha Becton, whose address is 409 Beasley Dr.,

appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such

Decedent

717 D St., NW, #300

who died on April 3, 2014 without a Will, and will

Beyene, who died on June 3, 2013 without a Will, and

Booker T. Brooks aka Booker Talafaro Brooks

Anne Meister Register of Wills

Washington Informer

The Washington Informer

Washington Informer

www.washingtoninformer.com

LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

Administration No. 2014 ADM 1382

Administration No. 2014 ADM 1091

Gertrude Patricia Caviness Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Ashley T. Graham, whose address is 6311 North Capitol

Addie E. Carey Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS James C. Carey and Michealle R. Carey, whose addresses are 11444 Norris Twilley Rd. Mardela Springs, MD

Street, NE, Washington, DC 20011, was appointed

21837; 509 Madison St., NW, Washington, DC 20011,

Personal Representative of the estate of Gertrude Patricia

were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of

Caviness, who died on July 2, 2010 without a Will, and

Addie E. Care , who died on May 30, 2014 with a Will,

will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs

and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown

and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter

heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall

their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such

enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to

appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills,

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

D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before July 22, 2015. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before July 22, 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

shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before July 22, 2015. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before July 22, 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

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

publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including

including name, address and relationship.

name, address and relationship.

Date of first publication:

January 22, 2015

Ashley T. Graham

James C. Carey Michealle R. Carey

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Anne Meister

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

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Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2014 ADM 450 Elizabeth Slade Childs Decedent James Larry Frazier, Esq. 918 Maryland Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Faith Childs, whose address is 275 West 96th Street,

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Apt.34A, New York, NY 10025-6271, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Elizabeth Slade Childs, who died on December 5, 2012 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before July 22, 2015. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with

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Faith Childs Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Anne Meister Register of Wills

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MALVEAUX from Page 21 justifiably touted falling unemployment, which dropped from 6.7 percent a year ago, to 5.6 percent in December. The decrease has been across the board and includes African-Americans and Hispanics. However, there are 700,000 fewer people in the labor market than a year ago, indicating that more people are entering the labor market in response to its perceived strength. Without indicating race, the president could have talked about the high unemployment rates among some groups. Of course, presidents traditionally offer a laundry list of issues, with few getting more than a couple sentences worth of attention. Still,

BURKE from Page 21 However, there has been less detail on how to get those demands implemented. Carson also focused on the key issue of getting out the vote in a town where voting participation is down. He said, “There are many ways that we can serve and contribute to society. But in Ferguson, I humbly submit to you that there is one act that stands out clearly at this time and that is us leveraging our voting block and exercising our right to vote.” That the message in Ferguson was delivered by one of the Black Caucus’ youngest members was noteworthy. The CBC often operates on seniority. Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) is now the oldest member of the U.S. House. He will turn 86 in May. Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) will turn 85 on June 11. Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC), who is a member of the House leadership, is 74. The CBC has 12 members over

since the economic success story is one that President Obama correctly touted, it would have been appropriate for him to simply mention the unevenness of recovery. The Affordable Care Act is a successful part of the Obama legacy, with nearly 7 million more people enrolling in the program, and some of the 2014 glitches eliminated. It would have been appropriate to mention it, specifically and in depth. That would have been the same as waving a red flag in the faces of bullish Republicans. When I listened to the State of the Union address, I thought, “This is the Obama I voted for – twice, the Obama that was but a rising star in 2004, whose rousing speech at the Boston Democratic convention

propelled him to national attention.” This Obama seemed presidential, not conciliatory. He stood by the executive orders he issued in 2014, and stated that he will use his veto pen if Congress attempts to overturn his effort. As he did in Boston, President Obama ended on a unifying note, a line that he has used often: “We are more than red states and blue states, we are the United States of America.” He was motivated when he said, “Let’s start the work right now.” Bravo, Mr. President. Welcome back! WI

the age of 69. The CBC has five members who were born in the 1970s: Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), 44, Rep. Marc Veasey (D-Texas), 43, Rep Cedric Richmond (D-La), 41, and Rep. Mia Love (R-Utah) who is 39. Another African American member of Congress, freshman Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas), is the youngest Black member of Congress at 37. Other members who took the trip to Ferguson were Reps. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), Jim Clyburn (D-SC), Karen Bass (D-Calif.), Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio), Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), Lacy Clay (D-Mo.) and Don Payne (D-NJ). With all the talk in the wake of Ferguson of “old leadership vs. new young activism,” Carson may have scored a breakthrough. Photos from the dinner meeting activists had with the CBC showed the Congressman with young protesters Johnetta Elzie and Deray McKesson. Both Elzie and McKesson have been

active and on the scene in Ferguson since last August after Michael Brown, an unarmed Black teenager, was shot eight times by Darren Wilson, a White Ferguson police officer. A St. Louis County grand jury refused to indict Wilson in connection with Brown’s death. “We are here to support and encourage you to continue by engaging in the political process,” Carson said. “You have the power to determine the outcome of your mayor, school board, sheriff, and city council. The world is watching Ferguson – and Ferguson will always have the full force and power of the CBC, the conscious of the U.S. Congress, as allies.”WI

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

Lauren Victoria Burke is a freelance writer and creator of the blog Crewof42.com, which covers African American members of Congress. She can be reached through her website, laurenvictoriaburke.com, or Twitter @Crewof42 or by e-mail at LBurke007@gmail.com.

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CHAVIS from Page 21 for February’s Black History Month observance: • As of July 1, 2012, there are now 44.5 million Black Americans, either alone or in combination with one or more other races, in the U.S, up 1 percent over 2011; • New York is the state with the largest Black American population with 3.7 million. The District of Columbia has the highest percentage of Black Americans at 51.6 percent, followed by Mississippi at 38 percent. Texas has the highest numeric in-

crease in Black Americans since 2011 (87,000). Cook County, Ill. (Chicago) had the largest Black American population of any county as of 2012 at 1.3 million; • The percentage of Blacks 25 and older with a high school diploma or higher was 83.2 percent; • The percentage of African Americans in that same age group with a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2012 was 18.7 percent; • There were 3.7 million Blacks enrolled in college as of 2012, a 28 percent increase over the 2.9 million in 2007; • The annual median family

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income of Black households was $33,321 in 20212, compared to the national figure of $55,017; • The poverty rate for African Americans was 27.2 percent in 2012, compared to 15 percent nationally; • There were 9.8 million family households in 2013 and among Black households, 45.7 percent contained married couples; • There was a record 17.8 million Black voter turnout in 2012 , a 1.7 million voter increase of the number of Black Americans who voted in 2008 and • The record 66.2 percent of Black Americans who voted in the 2012 presidential election The Washington Informer

2015 Michael S. Powell

High School Journalist of the Year was higher than the 64.1 percent of non-Hispanic Whites who voted in 2012. Yes, we have made progress over the past half-century, but future progress will not happen by osmosis. Rather, it will happen when we become wiser about how we spend more than $1 trillion each year. We will also need to focus on strengthening Black-owned businesses and grow a new generation of committed young entrepreneurs.

To be blunt, Black Americans cannot afford to entertain any ideas of not moving forward to make more progress over the next 50 years. We have come too far to turn back now. WI Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. is the President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) and can be reached at: dr.bchavis@nnpa.org; or at: http:// drbenjaminfchavisjr.wix.com/drbfc Jan 29 - Feb 4, 2015

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in our morally anemic nation. How can it be that the top 1 percent of Americans enjoy more of the nation’s wealth than the bottom 90 percent combined and that millions of children are hungry and homeless and poorly educated? If the qualification for individual and national greatness is genuine concern for the ‘least of these’ as those of us who are Christians say we believe, and if nations and our concurrent role as members of nations and not just as individuals are accountable, then too many of our political, corporate, and faith leaders and citizens – all of us who live in America – are failing. The national holiday celebrating Dr. King’s birthday is over, but I hope we will heed and act on his 1967 declaration —“the time has come for an all-out world war against poverty.” We

KUNJUFU from Page 22 tunately, her science project blew up in class, she was suspended, expelled, given a felony and was labeled a terrorist! A school wanted to catch a boy who had been sexually taking advantage of girls in the re-

MUHAMMAD from Page 22 and sororities. They can be counted on to mentor young Black conservatives coming up behind them, and they proudly proclaim they can see farther ahead because they stand on the shoulders of the giants who preceded them. Their children, they proclaim, are able to rest in the shade of trees planted by those who came before. J.C. Watts has to be seen as the most visionary Black Republican in the land. He is no longer an office-holder; he retired from the House and a top leadership post in 2003 at the politically young age of 46. He went on to chair Insight America, a non-profit which “exists to empower communities of color with policy solutions based on the principles of Smart Government, Free Enterprise and Personal Freedom, and by developing the next generation of public policy leaders.” Insight America sponsors policy forums featuring Black conservative thinkers, internships, professional developThe Washington Informer

must work to win the first victory right here at home in the biggest economy on earth and end the shame of 14.7 million children, who are poorest Americans, by ending child poverty now. Dr. King’s voice guides us if we are willing to hear and act on it and use it as a road map for action no matter the political weather. Reflecting on the direction the struggle for civil rights and social justice should take in Where Do We Go from Here?, King shared a story about the need to commit to difficult struggles for the long haul and described a nine and a half hour flight he had taken from New York to London in an older propeller airplane. On the way home, the crew announced the return flight from London to New York would take twelve and a half hours. When the pilot came out into the cabin, Dr. King asked him why. “‘You must understand about the winds,’ he said. ‘When we leave New York,

a strong tail wind is in our favor, but when we return, a strong head wind is against us.’ But he added, ‘Don’t worry. These four engines are capable of battling the winds.’” Dr. King concluded: “In any social revolution there are times when the tail winds of triumph and fulfillment favor us, and other times when strong head winds of disappointment and setbacks beat against us relentlessly. We must not permit adverse winds to overwhelm us as we journey across life’s mighty Atlantic; we must be sustained by our engines of courage in spite of the winds. This refusal to be stopped, this ‘courage to be,’ this determination to go on ‘in spite of ’ is the hallmark of any great movement.” WI

stroom. The principal decided to use a Black girl as bait. The girl was raped. The principal denied any involvement and the girl’s family has taken the case to the Justice Department. Our girls deserve better. Our girls have been overlooked. They deserve a safe place to

learn. They deserve teachers who are fair and honest. WI

ment and networking. They are in essence developing a “strong bench,” so to speak, of qualified conservative Black talent available to serve future Republican officeholders. Already for example, Jennifer Nicole DeCasper, an Insight intern in the 1999 class, is the first and only Black Republican female Senate Chief of Staff, now working for Scott. In addition to the young Black GOP officeholders in Congress – Scott turns 50 in 2015, Love turns 40 and Hurd will be 38 this year – Boyd Rutherford, a Black man, is the new Lt. Gov. of Maryland, and there are other mayors and county executives among other Black Republicans, waiting in the wings. At its salute to the 114th Congress, celebrating African American members of that body, Insight America recognized some of the nationally prominent Black Republicans, in addition to Watts, including Kay Coles James, former director of the Office of Personnel Management in the Bush ’43 administration; Ken Blackwell, former

Ohio Secretary of State and state treasurer; and Michael Steele, a former Maryland Lt. Gov. and former chair of the Republican National Committee. And while Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) – the Dean of the House – has served in Congress longer than any of the GOP members have even been alive; and while there are more new Black Democrats in Congress than all of the GOP members, “The Little Caucus That Could – Black Republicans in Congress” – will likely operate just beneath the national media radar. It’s probably just as well they keep a low profile. After all, there is some hostility in the larger Black community toward Black conservatives and even though they will not confess it themselves, there is likely some latent racial bias against them among their fellow Republicans. Love them or leave them, many of the most prominent national Republicans are trying to outdo one another for 2016 presidential campaign points as being the standard bearers for America’s white males. WI

Marian Wright Edelman is president of the Children’s Defense Fund. For more information go to www.childrensdefense.org.

Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu is the author of 33 books including national best sellers on raising and educating Black students, including this excerpt from his books Educating Black Girls and Raising Black Girls.

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