“Our envy always lasts longer than the happiness of those we envy. – Heraclitus Fletcher Discusses Prevalence of Domestic Spying See Page 21 •
C e l e b r a t i n g 4 8 Ye a r s o f S e r v i c e
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Serving More Than 50,000 African American Readers Throughout The Metropolitan Area / Vol. 48, No. 38 July 4 - July 10 2013
Amon Payne, 9 and retired D.C. Superior Court Judge Mary Terrell enjoy a moment together during the Fourth Annual Civili-Tea at the Woman’s National Democratic Club in Northwest on Saturday, June 29. /Photo by Khalid Naji-Allah
Student Loan Rates Double President and Congress Failed to Prevent Increase By Stacy M. Brown WI Contributing Writer President Barack Obama has struggled to meet the expectations of African Americans as unemployment levels continue to soar in black communities, his health care plan remains questionable and many of his sup-
porters are growing increasingly skeptical by the day. Now, the first African-American president stands to alienate many of those who knocked on doors and pounded the pavement throughout the country to ensure his re-election to the White House, specifically young black college students.
“You have black students from low-income households about to enter college or who are already there and pressing toward graduation, persisting just as Obama urged them to do, only to have his administration pull the rug out from under them,” said Johnny Taylor, 39, president of the Thurgood Marshall College
Fund, a nonprofit organization in Northwest that raises tuition money for black students who want to attend college. Taylor, a mover-and-shaker in the fundraising arena, said that he’s disgruntled with Obama’s education policies. “We continually receive telephone calls, emails and visits from parents who call
Visit us online for daily updates and much more @ www.washingtoninformer.com. D.C. Political Roundup Page 5
Conference Held to Explore Black Male Education Deficit Page 10
the president’s plan a disaster.” Obama and members of Congress failed to prevent student loan rates from doubling, as lawmakers recessed on Monday, July 1, prior to the Independence Day celebrations. The president’s policies re-
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and on DCTV 95 & 96