WINNER OF FIVE SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS D.C. AWARDS
Best Wishes to All of our Mothers
Vol. 56, No. 29 • May 6 - 12, 2021
D.C. Residents Walk-Up in a Day of Action Against COVID-19 Pandemic James Wright WI Staff Writer
5 D.C. residents show up the first day of opening for designated walk-up vaccine sites. Several residents went to Turkey Thicket in Northeast to receive their appointment-free vaccine on Saturday, May 1. (Roy Lewis/The Washington Informer)
District residents took advantage of the suspension of the pre-registration coronavirus vaccine program and turned out in large numbers on May 1 to be vaccinated in the city government’s Day of Action walk-up sites. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced the program last week in the effort to get residents vaccinated against COVID-19. In addition to residents being inoculated at walk-up sites, volunteers fanned out throughout District neighbor-
Visit to D.C. School Serves as Part of National School Reopening Tour In the two months since his confirmation as U.S. education secretary, Dr. Miguel Cardona has visited nearly 10 schools across the country in efforts to realize the Biden Administration’s vision of every American student safely entering classrooms both this spring and in the new school year next fall.
The most recent leg of Cardona’s tour brought him to Amidon-Bowen Elementary School in the heart of Southwest where he toured the campus and learned how administrators have collaborated with teachers and community members to facilitate the reopening process. The experience reaffirms the significance of the American Res-
CARDONA Page 26
VACCINE Page 48
Morehouse Debate Team Withdraws from Annual Tournament Citing Racism
Education Secretary Cardona Makes Pit-stop at Amidon-Bowen Elementary Sam P.K. Collins WI Contributing Writer
hoods to encourage vaccination. The Day of Action occurred as the D.C. Department of Health reported on its coronavirus website that 490,911 doses of the vaccine have been administered in the city and 20.2 percent of residents are fully vaccinated, as of May 1. Since the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine arrived in the District in December, the city government has inoculated its residents and workers in phases. However, with President Biden issuing a mandate last month everyone in the coun-
National Championship Canceled after Spelman, Others Also Pull Out D. Kevin McNeir WI Senior Editor
5 Morehouse College men withdrew from a debate tournament due to racist taunts. (Courtesy photo/Morehouse College)
South Carolina Republican Tim Scott, the only Black U.S. senator currently in office from within the GOP ranks, may believe “America is not a racist country” as he stated during his rebuttal to President Joe Biden’s first address to Congress on April 28. But the recent decision by the debate team from More-
MOREHOUSE Page 26
Celebrating 56 Years of Service / Serving More Than 50,000 Readers Throughout The Metropolitan Area
2 MAY 6 - 12, 2021
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
Around the Region................4-11 Prince George's County.....12-13 Business................................14-15 National................................16-17 International........................... 20 Health................................. 22-24
5 Book Review Lifestyle / Page 42
Education........................... 26-27 OpEd.................................... 29-31
5U.S. Workers’ Wages Rebound
Lifestyle............................. 32-43 Capture the Moment............. 44
Business/ Page 14
Religion.................................... 45
3Learn to Live with Germs
FOLLOW US ON
4Lena Horne
Health / Page 22
Black Facts / Page 6
one
Strawberries 1 lb. ctn.
or Blackberries 6 oz. ctn.
Beef Top Sirloin Steak
Extra Large Raw Shrimp
16-20 ct., EZ peel, sold in 2 lb. bag for $13.98; lesser quantities $8.99 lb.
EQUAL OR LESSER VALUE ITEM FREE
EQUAL OR LESSER VALUE ITEM FREE
USDA CHOICE
one Boneless Chicken Breast Tenders, Thin Sliced Breast or Boneless Thighs
4
99 lb.
Signature Farms® • Mini Cucumbers 16 oz. pkg. • Grape Tomatoes dry pint ctn. or Fresh Express Salad Blends 5-11 oz. pkg.
5
2 $ for
Fresh Salmon Portions 5 oz., farm raised
Jumbo Salmon Portions, 8 oz., farm raised: $5.99 ea.
699 lb.
399 * See gift cards for details, terms and (if applicable) fees. Subject to availability, while supplies last. Products may not be available in all states. All trademarks are property of their respective owners. The gift cards featured are not sponsors or affiliated with Albertsons Companies, Inc.
ALL SALE PRICES ARE WITH CLUB CARD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED
SALE PRICES EFFECTIVE FRIDAY, MAY 7 THRU THURSDAY, MAY 13
Mother’s Day May 9th
Tulips
7 stems
Roses
12 stems
999 one
Russell Stover or Whitman’s 8.1-12 oz. pkg. while supplies last
EQUAL OR LESSER ITEM FREE
Prices Effective Friday, May 7 thru Thursday, May 13, Unless otherwise noted, offers in this ad are in effect at 6 a.m., Friday thru Thursday 11 p.m. at your local Safeway stores. LIMIT ONE COUPON PER ITEM PER DAY PER HOUSEHOLD. Prices and savings vary among store locations. Not all items or varieties available in all store locations. Quantities limited to inventory on hand and subject to availability. Sales in retail quantities only and we reserve the right to limit quantities sold to per customer. While supplies last. Unless otherwise noted, transactional limits may apply. On Buy One, Get One Free (BOGO) offers, customer must purchase the first item to receive the second item free. BOGO offers are not 1/2 price sales. If only a single item is purchased, the regular price applies. Manufacturers’ coupons may only be used on purchased items, not on free items. All rebate offers are subject to applicable manufacturer’s additional terms. Customer pays for applicable taxes, bottle/can deposit and bag fees, if any, on purchased and free items. We reserve the right to modify or cancel offers and/or correct typographical, pictorial and other ad or pricing errors. Prices for products ordered online generally are higher than in our physical store locations and may vary by fulfillment method chosen. Online promotions, discounts and offers may differ from those in our physical store locations. All rainchecks must be redeemed within 30 days of issuance. Offers are void or restricted where prohibited or limited by law and have no cash value. No cash back will be given.
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
MAY 6 - 12, 2021 3
Join The Washington Informer Digital Subscriber List Text INFORMER to 22828
wi hot topics
Aziz Begins Police Chief Duties Sunday in Prince George’s Maliz Aziz will begin his work Sunday, May 9 leading the Prince George’s County police department. Within weeks before his arrival, County Executive Angela Alsobrooks announced changes in leadership that included the retirement of interim chief Hector Velez on Friday, May 7 and resignation of Mark Magaw, a former police chief and most recently the deputy chief administrative officer (DCAO) for public safety and homeland security. Alsobrooks plans to announce a new public safety director next week. One day before Alsobrooks’ leadership announcement, authorities arrested Lt. Edward Scott Finn, 46, for alleged tax evasion of $1.3 million for his private security services business called Edward Finn Inc. Aziz plans to focus not only on community relations, but also help implement 46 police reform measures that include mental health programs, create an office of integrity and compliance and incorporate training to prevent racial profiling.
White House Shares Vital COVID-19 Information with Black Press In Memoriam Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Sr. Wilhelmina J. Rolark THE WASHINGTON INFORMER NEWSPAPER (ISSN#0741-9414) is published weekly on each Thursday. Periodicals postage paid at Washington, D.C. and additional mailing offices. News and advertising deadline is Monday prior to publication. Announcements must be received two weeks prior to event. Copyright 2016 by The Washington Informer. All rights reserved. POSTMASTER: Send change of addresses to The Washington Informer, 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. 20032. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The Informer Newspaper cannot guarantee the return of photographs. Subscription rates are $45 per year, two years $60. Papers will be received not more than a week after publication. Make checks payable to: THE WASHINGTON INFORMER 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E Washington, D.C. 20032 Phone: 202 561-4100 Fax: 202 574-3785 news@washingtoninformer.com www.washingtoninformer.com
PUBLISHER Denise Rolark Barnes STAFF D. Kevin McNeir, Senior Editor Ron Burke, Advertising/ Marketing Director Shevry Lassiter, Photo Editor Lafayette Barnes, IV, Assistant Photo Editor Dorothy Rowley, Online Editor ZebraDesigns.net, Design & Layout Mable Neville, Bookkeeper Ron Taylor, Copy Editor Tatiana Moten, Social Media Specialist Angie Johnson, Circulation REPORTERS Stacy Brown (Senior Writer), Sam P.K. Collins, Timothy Cox, Will Ford (Prince George’s County Writer), Hamil Harris, Curtis Knowles, Daniel Kucin, D. Kevin McNeir, Dorothy Rowley, Brenda Siler, Lindiwe Vilakazi, Sarafina Wright, James Wright PHOTOGRAPHERS Shevry Lassiter, Roy Lewis, Jr., Robert R. Roberts, Anthony Tilghman
4 MAY 6 - 12, 2021
COMPILED BY WI STAFF WRITERS JAMES WRIGHT WILLIAM J. FORD
National Newspaper Publishers Association [NNPA] Karen Carter Richards, along with other leading publishers and editors of the Black Press of America participated in a special briefing on COVID-19 provided by the Biden-Harris Administration on
May 5. Leaders of The White House COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force shared vital information about COVID-19 vaccinations and Black America during the exclusive live briefing for the Black Press. African-American leading physicians who serve as members of the White House Health Equity Task Force, Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith and Dr. Cameron Webb, briefed the NNPA and answered questions accordingly on the record. The 45-minute long interview, streamed live to NNPA’s social media channels and to BlackPressUSA.com, can also be found on social media platforms of The Washington Informer. Moderators for the briefing included Dr. Benjamin Chavis, NNPA president/CEO, NNP Chair Karen Clark Richards and NNPA Senior National Correspondent, Stacy Brown.
5 Malik Aziz will serve as the new police chief in Prince George’s County starting May 9. He speaks during a press conference March 26 at the Wayne K. Curry Administration Building in Largo. (FILE: Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)
D.C. Council Confirms Contee as D.C. Police Chief The D.C. Council approved the confirmation of Robert J. Contee III as the new chief of the District’s Metropolitan Police Department unanimously Tuesday, May 4. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser appointed Contee as acting police chief in December 2020 when then-D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham accepted the top spot with the Prince William (Va.) County Police Department. Contee, a District native who grew up in the Carver Terrace section of Northeast, started with the D.C. police department in 1989 as a cadet before rising through the ranks.
5 Robert J. Contee is the new District police chief. (WI File Photo)
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
AROUND THE REGION
Pending D.C. Council Legislation Reinforces MPD’s ‘No-Chase’ Policy Councilmember Lewis George Mentions Karon Hylton-Brown in Introduction of Bill Sam P.K. Collins WI Contributing Writer For several weeks toward the end of last year, protesters repeatedly converged on the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Fourth District police station in the aftermath of a police chase that led to Karon HyltonBrown’s fatal collision with a van. D.C. Councilmember Janeese Lewis George, then the Democratic nominee for the Ward 4 Council seat, counted among those who stood on the front steps of the Fourth District police station. She also conversed with community members on the corner near where Hylton-Brown, driving a moped, crashed into a van while attempting to avoid the MPD officers pursuing him for riding without a helmet. Lewis George said such experiences last fall compelled her recent introduction of a bill that, if passed, would reinforce and expand upon departmental policy forbidding police officers’ vehicular pursuit of suspects. “We had on-the-ground community input from family and friends of Karon Hylton-Brown,” Lewis George told The Informer. “We had vigils and protests where people spoke and were clear that this should never happen again, and that it was important for Karon's tragic death to spur change.” Lewis George’s bill, touted as the Law Enforcement Vehicular Pursuit Reform Act, would prohibit police officers chasing people in vehicles, unless that person is suspected of committing a violent crime, or if the pursuit wouldn’t cause death and bodily injury. The chase would also have to be determined necessary in preventing harm to others. This legislation, if passed, would prohibit MPD officers from roadblocking and ramming vehicles. The bill’s co-sponsors include D.C. Councilmembers Robert White (DAt large), Anita Bonds (D- At large), Trayon White (D-Ward 8), Brianne Nadeau (D-Ward 1), and Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3). In the course of writing the proposed legislation, Lewis George conferred with the D.C. Justice Lab and the Office of the D.C. Attorney General. The Law Enforcement Vehicular Pursuit Reform Act, which aligns
with recommendations by the D.C. Police Reform Commission, has since gone to the Council’s Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety. There, it will be up for discussion during a May 20 hearing.
HOLDING POLICE OFFICERS ACCOUNTABLE
On Oct. 26, three days after his moped collided with a van along Kennedy Street in Northwest, HyltonBrown died in a hospital at the age of 20. This happened just as his daughter turned three months. In the days after Hylton-Brown succumbed to his injuries, there had been ruminations about whether the officers involved in the pursuit violated MPD’s “no chase” policy. Since 2003, the policy has forbidden the vehicular pursuit of a suspect for anything less than a felony. A month later, MPD Officer Terrence Sutton and three other officers were placed on leave. They have since been placed on non-contact status suspending their police power, surrendering their badge and service weapon and limiting them to duty in which they don’t interact with the public. The Office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia also took on the investigation into Hylton-Brown’s death. In a March letter to Councilmember Lewis George, Channing D. Phillips, acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, said it is ongoing. For several weeks, the late HyltonBrown’s family and friends took to the streets demanding answers and accountability, often getting arrested and assaulted by police officers. Even so, they continued to organize, even aligning with the Fred Hampton Gun Club and New Black Panther Party while calling on attorney Malik Zulu Shabazz’s Black Lawyers for Justice to open an independent investigation. Family members also endorsed “Karon’s Law,” a set of policy recommendations authored by grassroots organization Concerned Citizens, including the abolishment of qualified immunity for police officers, the termination of officers found in violation of public safety laws, criminal liability in cases when officers inflict
harm on civilians, a citywide ban on jump-outs, and penalties for those who idly watch their fellow officers commit criminal acts. Upon hearing about the introduction of the Law Enforcement Vehicular Pursuit Reform Act, Charles Brown, Hylton-Brown’s father, expressed concern that the legislation wouldn’t be enough to hold violent police officers accountable. “Not only do you have to change the chase law, [but] we have to start policing dirty police officers, the ones they know are out there,” Brown said. “They need to remember that they’re here to protect and serve, even [when it comes to] those who are guilty of a crime. The so-called police officers know the dirty ones. There’s not one good police officer as far as I’m concerned.” WI @SamPKCollins
5 Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George introduces the Law Enforcement Vehicular Pursuit Reform Act that would prohibit police vehicle chases unless the target is suspected of committing a violent crime or if the pursuit would not cause death or bodily harm. (Courtesy photo/council.dc.gov)
YOU WORK HARD FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY. NOW, LET US WORK WITH YOU. If you’re in between jobs, you may be eligible for Unemployment Insurance and additional benefits. DOES is continuously innovating to better serve our community.
Learn more and apply for benefits today at does.dc.gov.
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
MAY 6 - 12, 2021 5
AROUND THE REGION
black facts
SOURCE: BLACK AMERICA WEB
MAY 6 - 12, 2021
MAY 6
Need Help Getting Social Security Disability Benefits? We Can Help! $ Steady monthly income depending on your paid in amount
A lump sum payment of benefits owed from back-pay
• We simplify the process & strive for quick claim approval • Starting the process is easy and takes only minutes to complete
Annual cost of living increases
855-549-3119
Helping thousands get the benefits they deserve
Bill Gordon & Associates, a nationwide practice, represents clients before the Social Security Administration. Bill Gordon & Associates, a nationwide practice, represents clients before the Social Security Administration. Member of the TX & NM Bar Associations. Mail: 1420 N W St Washington D.C. Office: Broward County, FL. Services may be provided by associated attorneys licensed in other states. Member of the TX & NM Bar Associations. Mail: 1420 NW St Washington D.C. Office: Broward County Florida. Services may be provided by associated attorneys licensed in other states.
FULL-SERVICE SIGN & ADVERTISING SOLUTIONS Professional VISUAL BRANDING INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS to help grow your business
1787 – Prince Hall founds the first Black Masonic lodge, African Lodge No. 459 of Boston. 1812 – Physician, writer and Black nationalist Martin Delany, one of the first three Black people admitted to Harvard Medical School, is born in Charles Town, Virginia, which is present-day Charles Town, West Virginia. 1931 – Hall of Fame baseball player Willie Mays (right) is born in Westfield, Alabama. 1960 – President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs the Civil Rights Act of 1960, establishing federal inspection of local voter registration polls and penalties for obstructing voter registration. 1991 – The Smithsonian board of regents unanimously approve the establishment of the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
MAY 7
1878 – Inventor Joseph Winters receives a patent for a wagon-mounted fire escape ladder. 1943 – The SS George Washington Carver launches at the Richmond Shipyard No. 1 in California.
MAY 8
1911 – Legendary blues guitarist and singer-songwriter Robert Johnson is born in Hazlehurst, Mississippi.
...because image matters “Chief Image Builder”
stacey@signarama-silverspring.com
MAY 9
1800 – Abolitionist John Brown, who led the slave revolt at Harper's Ferry in 1859, is born in Torrington, Connecticut. 1899 – Inventor John Albert Burr patents one of the first rotary-blade lawn mowers. 2010 – Famed singer, dancer, actress and civil rights activist Lena Horne dies in New York City of congestive heart failure at 92.
MAY 10
Call Today! 301-273-3462
Stacey Brown
1915 – Henry McNeal Turner, the first Black chaplain in the United States Colored Troops, dies in Windsor, Ontario, at 81.
1837 – P.B.S. Pinchback, the first African American to become governor of a U.S. state, is born in Macon, Georgia. 1950 – Baseball great Jackie Robinson becomes the first African American to be featured on the cover of Life magazine. 1994 – Nelson Mandela (above) is inaugurated as South Africa's first Black president.
8930 Brookville Rd Silver Spring, MD 20910 signarama-silverspring.com MBE/DBE Certified | Woman-Owned Business
MAY 11
1895 – William Still, "the Dean" of African American composers and the first to conduct a major American symphony orchestra, is born in Woodville, Mississippi. 1933 – Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam, is born in New York City.
MAY 12 LENA HORNE
6 MAY 6 - 12, 2021
1955 – Chicago Cubs pitcher Sam "Toothpick" Jones no-hits the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 at Wrigley Field, becoming the first African American in Major League Baseball history to pitch a no-hitter. WI
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
AROUND THE REGION
view P INT
IF YOU WANT QUALITY WORK, JUST CALL!
Quality Assurance Home Improvement, Inc.
BY SARAFINA WRIGHT
“We Stand By Our Name”
A North Carolina Superior Court judge who blocked the public release of body-camera footage from Andrew Brown Jr.'s police-related death has made past Facebook posts calling the George Zimmerman acquittal "the right thing." What are your thoughts?
FREE ESTIMATES! / Office: 301-248-3325
FINISHED BASEMENT
DECK
Kitchens • Bathrooms • Room additions • Retaining walls • • Carports Screen rooms Sun rooms • Carports • • Porches • Roofing • Siding Decks • Complete renovations • Enclosed porches • Basements Solid virgin virginfinal vinylreplacement replacement windows • Bay and bow windows Financing Available 90-day Deferment Payment
ALVIN BRIDGE /
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
This is why it is important to be aware of everything and everyone that is on electoral ballots. Most ignore judges and other positions as inconsequential.
CHERYL BROWN / WASHINGTON, D.C.
For those who don't know, now you know why. This is one of the reasons to show up to vote.
ADDITION & 4 SEASON SUN ROOM SIONAL PROFES LERS INSTAL home g in A+ Ratinment from improve r Business the Bette r 175 years Bureau fo ight stra
ADDITION
KITCHEN
Bonded / Insured / Licensed MHCI#86727 / D.C. License #53005449 Lead Paint Removal Certified
KITCHEN
Visit our website today at: www.fortwashingtonhomecontractors.com
$2500 off
Homeowners are you in need of a new roof, kitchen, bathroom? Up to If so, take advantage of our 90 days or 6 months deferred payment plan now for as low as $199 a month. Sunrooms & Additions Purchase today and receive FREE cable outlet and FREE A/C & Heating Unit
15% off Any Service For Senior Citizens Extra 5% Off
With this coupon. Not valid with other offers or prior purchases.
With this coupon. Not valid with other offers or prior purchases.
CORRINE PERRY / WASHINGTON, D.C.
I'll keep saying how important voting is. People, get your ID current and register to vote in every election. Judges, prosecutors, city council and some state police commissioners are elected officials.
MICHAEL BROWN / MARIETTA, GEORGIA
I know that the Justice Department and the attorney general heard him loud and clear.
MOBRAN WINSTON / TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA
He needs to be removed from the case then. We have no time for pro-police biases.
Stay Informed! www.washingtoninformer.com
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
MAY 6 - 12, 2021 7
The World According to Dominic D. Kevin McNeir / WI Senior Editor
Songs I Sing When I Miss My Mom
(301) 864-6070
EMPLOYMENT LAWYERS MCCOLLUM & ASSOCIATES, LLC ADA, Age Discrimination, Benefits, Civil Rights, COBRA, Contracts, Deaf Law, Defamation, Disability Law, Discipline, Discrimination, FMLA, FLSA, FOIA, Family Responsibility, Harassment, HIPPA, OSHA, National Origin Discrimination, Non-Compete, Race Discrimination, Rehabilitation Act, Retaliation, Severance Agreements, Sexual Harassment, Torts, Whistleblowing, Wage-and-Hour, Wrongful Discharge SERVING MARYLAND, DC, & NORTH CAROLINA
www.jmlaw.net
(301) 864-6070
jmccollum@jmlaw.net
Some of the most popular musical artists of our day have honored the women who brought them into the world by composing and performing masterfully-melodic memories that have stood the test of time. And while one can find hundreds of ways to illustrate their love on Mother's Day, songs have a way of setting the stage for an unforgettable celebration – even if it has to be done virtually like this year. This Mother’s Day will count as the second time that my mother will not be with me – and it still hurts. A few nights ago, along with my two sidekicks, my dogs Baby Girl and Duchess, I slept in the bed in which my mother once slept and where she drew her last breaths. But don’t cry for me. Truth be told, I think I wept enough tears to last until the next Mother’s Day. I just wanted to feel her presence, catch another whiff of her favorite perfume and . . . remember her. However, I didn’t lay back in silence. Instead, I listened to music that helped me recall some of the best moments of my life experienced with a woman who meant more to me than anyone ever has.
She showed me by example what Jesus tells us about loving someone unconditionally. She was my best friend. One time, when I had very little money, I remember writing a poem for her which still remains on the walls of my home. It wasn’t a song but it had lyrical emphasis and structure. I also included photographs from our family album with all of the big moments – images of those times that we shared that would forever remain etched in our hearts, minds and souls. My mother cried when I gave it to her, telling me that I had been a “good son.” Even the jewelry and designed dress that my step-father gave her, as beautiful as they may have been, paled in comparison – or so Momma would whisper to me later that day. Anyway, let me return to the songs that helped me make it through the night a few days ago.
First on the list: Boyz II Men, “A Song for Mama.” Written for the 1997 film “Soul Food,” the chart-topping tune showcased the group’s signature melodies. And while the words remain relatively simple, they’re also innocent and beautiful. If you don’t shed a tear after listening to this song, there’s something wrong. “You were there for me to love and care for me. When skies were gray. Whenever I was down. You were always there to comfort me. And no one else can be. What you have been to me you will always
8 MAY 6 - 12, 2021
be. You will always be the girl . . . Mama, Mama you’re the queen of my heart. Your love is like tears from the stars, yes, it is. Mama I just want you to know lovin’ you, is like food to my soul.”
Next up, I played one of my mother’s favorites by The Shirelles, “Mama Said.” This girl group classic reminds us that mama’s always right – particularly when it comes to those bad days that occur from time to time. As the lyrics say, “Momma said there’ll be days like this, there’ll be days like this, my momma said.”
Then, I invited some hip-hop into the room – something which my mother never particularly favored but which spoke to me in a profound manner. For me, there’s no better song from this musical genre than 2Pac’s poetic reflection, “Dear Mama.” Tupac Shakur wrote a compelling and heart-wrenching rap for his beloved single mother, Afeni,
DOMINIC Page 41
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
St. Ann’s Infant Home, a post-Civil War Icon, Observes 160 Years of Charity
AROUND THE REGION TRANSFORM YOUR BATH OR SHOWER
IN AS LITTLE AS ONE DAY
CALL NOW
Hamil R. Harris WI Contributing Writer
With the Civil War slogging into a second bloody year, Washington, D.C. teeming with Union army soldiers overwhelmed by a surge of abandoned children and single mothers, on March 3, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed an act of Congress to incorporate St. Ann's Infant Asylum. More than a century and a half later, the home, created by three Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul nuns near 14th and Pennsylvania Ave., NW, in April 1860, has grown into a major hub for District women and children. “Our first home was located in what is now Freedom Plaza, ” said Sister Mary Bade, CEO of what is now the St. Ann’s Center for Youth, Children and Families that sits atop a hill in Chillum, Md. overlooking the D.C.-Maryland border in Northeast. The two-building complex is the source of temporary housing, lifeskill classes and career counseling for women, along with food distribution and a connection to a program to assist in home purchases for the low-income. Today St. Ann’s is one of the area’s longest continually-serving social services agencies. With a $5 million annual budget, St. Ann’s supports mothers and their children experiencing homelessness through transitional housing and support programming. “Every mother comes into the
FOR
$500 OR
Off
NO PAYMENTS & NO INTEREST UNTIL 2022 Offer Expires 6.30.2021
*Includes product and labor; bathtub, shower or walk-in tub and wall surround. This promotion cannot be combined with any other offer. Other restrictions may apply. This offer expires June 30, 2021. Each dealership is independently owned and operated. **Third party financing is available for those customers who qualify. See your dealer for details. ©2021 BCI Acrylic Inc.
Military & Senior Discounts Available
844-791-1618
Prepare for unexpected power outages with a Generac home standby generator SCHEDULE YOUR FREE IN-HOME ASSESSMENT TODAY!
855-993-0969
FREE
7-Year Extended Warranty* A $695 Value!
Offer valid March 16, 2020 - Sept 6, 2020
Special Financing Available
program with a history and a burden, ” Bader said. “We try to meet them where they are, build upon their strengths and help them go from to the future and become independent.” “Last year, seven families completed our program and moved into independent housing, ” said Bader adding that the women and children participate in residential programs and come from the population and from the community to attend their Child Care Center and their Early Head Start program. The facility, located two and a half miles north of the Basilica of the National Shrine and the Catholic University of America, reflects the expansion of post-Civil War Washington and the influence of the Catho-
With a $5 million annual budget,
St. Ann’s supports mothers and their children experiencing homeless-
ness through transitional housing and support programming.
lic church on the District. A fundraising gala, postponed from year by the coronavirus, is to be held May 13 to observe the 160-year history of St. Ann’s and honor the Daughters of Charity order. Michael Steele, former chairman of the Republican National Committee and ex-lieutenant governor of Maryland, with emcee the virtual event. Recording artists Terrence Cunningham and The String Queens will provide musical performances. Journalist Tommy McFly will appear as a guest speaker. St. Ann’s Center Board Chair Tonya Sharpe and author Jason Reynolds will honor Jake Garner and Miguel Coppedge with the Michele Heidenberger Volunteer Award. The gala theme, “Our Roots Run Deep” honors St. Ann’s Center’s 160-year history of supporting vulnerable mothers and their children in the D.C. region. Bader said that a gala is essential for many reasons. “It is crucial to us. It is a celebration of 160 years of an organization that helps women, children, and families support our missions, programs and supports the families that they serve.” St. Ann’s 2021 virtual gala and fundraiser, traditionally called "Hope Blossoms," will take place Thursday, May 13, @ 6:00 PM EST. Theme: "Our Roots Run Deep.” Tickets: http://hope2021. givesmart.com/ WI
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
*Terms & Conditions Apply
Subject to Credit Approval
Satellite Internet That is Unlimited With No Hard Data Limits! 2
25 Mbps Download Speed 25mbps download and 3mbps upload1
No Hard Data Limits Wi-Fi Built-In Connect your wireless devices at home
2
Call For Special Offers In Your Area Pricing varies by region
CALL TODAY - LIMITED SPECIAL OFFERS IN YOUR AREA!
1-855-973-9254
HughesNet is a registered trademark of Hughes Network Systems, LLC, an EchoStar Company. 2 If you exceed your monthly plan data, you will experience reduced data speeds until the start of your next billing period. Reduced speeds will typically be in the range of 1 – 3 Mbps and may cause Web sites to load more slowly or affect the performance of certain activities, such as video streaming or large downloads/uploads.
Blazing Fast Internet! ADD TO YOUR PACKAGE FOR ONLY
19.99
$
/mo.
where available
2-YEAR TV PRICE
GUARANTEE MO.
for 12 Mos.
America’s Top 120 Package
190 CHANNELS Including Local Channels!
CALL TODAY - For $100 Gift Card Promo Code: DISH100
1-855-407-6870
Offer ends 1/31/21.
All offers require credit qualification, 24-month commitment with early termination fee and eAutoPay. Prices include Hopper Duo for qualifying customers. Hopper, Hopper w/Sling or Hopper 3 $5/mo. more. Upfront fees may apply based on credit qualification.
MAY 6 - 12, 2021 9
AROUND THE REGION CAPTURE THE MOMENT AARP AUTO INSURANCE FROM THE HARTFORD TO SPEAK WITH AN AGENT AND REQUEST A FREE QUOTE CALL THE HARTFORD TO SEE HOW MUCH YOU COULD SAVE:
1-877-579-9788
Do you or a loved one struggle on the stairs? AN ACORN STAIRLIFT IS A PERFECT SOLUTION FOR:
ü Arthritis and COPD sufferers ü Those with mobility issues ü Anyone who struggles on the stairs
ELECTRIC FIRE TRUCKS America's first Electric Fire Truck sits outside of the Engine 3 Fire Company in Northwest. The Rosenbauer RT is a concept fire truck and is touted as the fire truck of the future. The concept fire truck is said to be safe, powerful and emissions-free. (Ja’Mon Jackson/ The Washington Informer)
THE PURCHASE OF A NEW STAIRLIFT!
CALL NOW FOR YOUR FREE INFORMATION KIT AND DVD!
1-855-841-2971
Who’s Reading the Informer?
*Not valid on previous purchases. Not valid with any other offers or discounts. Not valid on refurbished models. Only valid towards purchase of a NEW Acorn Stairlift directly from the manufacturer. $250 discount will be applied to new orders. Please mention this ad when calling. AZ ROC 278722, CA 942619, MN LC670698, OK 50110, OR CCB 198506, RI 88, WA ACORNSI894OB, WV WV049654, MA HIC169936, NJ 13VH07752300, PA PA101967, CT ELV 0425003-R5.
DENTAL Insurance Physicians Mutual Insurance Company
A less expensive way to help get the dental care you deserve If you’re over 50, you can get coverage for about
$1 a day*
Keep your own dentist! NO networks to worry about NO annual or lifetime cap on the cash benefits
Leris Bernard reads the Washington Informer. (Anthony Tilghman The Washington Informer)
No wait for preventive care and no deductibles – you could get a checkup tomorrow Coverage for over 350 procedures including cleanings, exams, fillings, crowns…even dentures
you can receive
FREE Information Kit
1-877-308-2834
www.dental50plus.com/cadnet *Individual plan. Product not available in MN, MT, NH, RI, VT, WA. Acceptance guaranteed for one insurance policy/certificate of this type. Contact us for complete details about this insurance solicitation. This specific offer is not available in CO, NY; call 1-800-969-4781 or respond for similar offer. Certificate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150(GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN) 6096C MB16-NM001Gc
WORDS TO LIVE BY They dragged you from homeland, They chained you in coffles, They huddled you spoon-fashion in filthy hatches. They sold you to give a few gentlemen ease. The strong men keep a-comin’ on The strong men git stronger.
– Sterling Allen Brown
excerpt from “Strong Men” [1931]. Born May 1, 1901, Brown was a Black professor, folklorist, poet, literary critic and first Poet Laureate of the District of Columbia. 10 MAY 6 - 12, 2021
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
AROUND THE REGION
Charter Leaders, Nonprofits Seek American Rescue Plan Education Money Sam P.K. Collins WI Contributing Writer With the District receiving an influx of more than $2.2 billion in recovery funds from the American Rescue Plan, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) has been allowed more time to specify her budget allocations for the 2022 fiscal year. In the weeks before Bowser’s expected to submit her budget proposal to the D.C. Council, education advocates, particularly those in D.C.’s charter sector, continue to organize in the hopes that she will prioritize funding for in-school mental and behavioral health services. For Shannon Hodge, Bowser’s investment in mental and behavioral health ensures, at the very least, that charter school students returning to the classroom will receive what they needed before the pandemic. “The first level is getting a city-provided mental health clinician,” said Hodge, executive director of the DC Charter School Alliance. The DC Charter School Alliance counts among the members of a coalition vying for multi-year investments in mental and behavioral health funding at a time when dozens of District charter schools lack a mental health professional. In recent weeks, Shannon said she and her colleagues have engaged the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education and the D.C. Council around this issue. “The box is checked if they have a clinician. We'll have to get to that next level to make sure we have appropriate ratios of clinicians to students [and] clear expectations about what those clinicians are doing,” Hodge said. “In the long-term, we need to make sure we are providing funding in other areas that would allow schools to direct resources to clinicians,” she continued. “Many schools, particularly those that serve a higher number of students designated as at-risk, are underfunded, and tough decisions have to be made."
THE YOUTH ARE FALLING FURTHER BEHIND
Before the pandemic, 59 percent of Black students and 39 percent of
Latino students under the age of 17 in D.C. had been exposed to traumatic events affecting their mental health. For many young people, social isolation, economic hardship and parents’ emotional fragility during the pandemic exacerbated their precarious condition. This had especially been the case in communities that experienced a significant portion of COVID infections and deaths. Learning has also been affected. Inequitable access to internet and technology kept some students behind during the period of virtual learning that took off shortly after all District schools closed. In late 2020, a report compiled by EmpowerK12 found that the District’s youngest and most economically disadvantaged students faced the greatest learning loss. In April, Bowser said she would use the funds from the American Rescue Plan to increase per-pupil student funding that would produce a net increase of $12 million. She also announced $3 million in investments that target at-risk groups, including overaged students. In addition, English language learners attending secondary schools would receive $11 million more than what had been allocated to them during the previous fiscal year. In the third round of Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief Funds from the American Rescue Plan, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) would receive nearly $39 million -- nearly a tenth of the total amount -- that could be used for learning recovery and acceleration, and addressing the needs of students and their families. Based on OSSE’s preliminary allocations, the D.C. charter system has been expected to receive $156 million of the total funds, to be split among each school based on a federal funding formula. As these events continue to unfold, local nonprofits wait with bated breath to see if they would be included in schools’ budget for the upcoming academic year.
LITERACY AS A PRIORITY
For Shukurat Adamoh-Faniyan of Reading Partners DC, it’s imperative that the District government, and in turn District charter schools, invest in combating youth illiteracy.
For the last decade, Reading Partners DC has hosted a one-on-one literacy tutoring program for elementary students. It recently launched Reading Partners Connects, a virtual tutoring platform that pairs students with tutors for twice-a-week tutoring sessions tailored to each student’s needs and strengths. Reading Partners plans to continue programming in a hybrid model in the fall. Actualizing that vision however, would require local schools’ buy-in, Adamoh-Faniyan told The Informer. That’s why throughout the budget season, Reading Partners DC has teamed up with several coalitions to lobby District council members to fund post-pandemic childhood literacy endeavors. To advance this endeavor, Adamoh-Faniyan has also written blogs. “We’re in a rare moment where every young person in the city has experienced gaps in learning.“said Adamoh-Faniyan, executive director
5Tanza Terrell teaches virtually during COVID-19. Charter school leaders are hoping Mayor Bowser will invest in mental and behavioral health as students return to the classroom. (WI File Photo/Shevry Lassiter)
of Reading Partners DC. “The way to catch them up and get them back on track is to work together and commit ourselves for the next
three to five years to pushing students further than they’ve ever been before.” WI @SamPKCollins
APPLY FOR DISCOUNTS ON YOUR UTILITY BILLS APPLY FOR DISCOUNTED RATES ON :
Natural Gas
Residential Essential Service (RES) Program
RES eligible customers will receive an approximate 25% discount on total bill.
Water
Customer Assistance Program (CAP)
Potential discount could be over $500.00 annually.
Electric
Residential Aid Discount (RAD) Program
Potential savings of $300-475 annually.
Telephone
Lifeline Program (Economy II)
Annual discount on one land line service per household.
for more info call 311 or visit doee.dc.gov/udp
To apply for the telephone Lifeline Service (Economy II), call 1-800-234-9473
These discounts are for DC residents & are subject to income eligibility requirements.
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
MAY 6 - 12, 2021 11
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY One-Third of Prince Georgians 16 and Older Vaccinated
Walk-Up Clinics Now Available William J. Ford WI Staff Writer Prince George’s County slowly sees progress in its effort to combat the coronavirus pandemic with one-third of residents 16 and older fully vaccinated and fewer than 1,000 confirmed cases reported weekly as of April 24. The infection rate stands below
1.0 which assesses how COVID-19 spreads from person-to-person. Health officials said the figure should be .90 or lower. Between the week of April 25 to May 1, the capacity rate of intensive care unit beds in hospitals stood at 52%. During that same timeframe, positivity test rates recorded at 4.3%. The figure ranks above the state average of 3.8% but
below the 5% threshold of tests that return positive and a benchmark to loosening restrictions on businesses and other activities. “The end of the pandemic is in sight but only if we get a number of our residents vaccinated,” County Executive Angela Alsobrooks said at a press briefing Tuesday. The county opened a walk-up clinic Monday at the Wayne K. Curry Sports and Learning Center in Landover with 500 doses available. Alsobrooks said about 160 attended. Vaccines will be provided Friday, May 7 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Sports and Learning complex, Laurel-Beltsville Senior Activity Center and the Southern Regional Technology and Recreation Complex in Fort Washington. Additional hours to administer vaccines will be Saturday, May 8 and Sunday, May 9 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Sports and Learning complex. To put the vaccine effort “in overdrive,” the county plans to boost outreach efforts through automated phone call, texting and social media. To offer vaccines in hard-toreach locations and convince those who remain undecided, county and
5 Prince George’s County residents at a vaccination clinic March 15 at Kentland Community Center. (FILE: Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)
health officials will canvas various neighborhoods which highlight high confirmed cases, low-vaccination rates and other socio-economic factors in 12 locations. Alsobrooks said an estimated 266,350 doors will be knocked on to distribute COVID-19 vaccine information and resources in municipalities and communities such as Bladensburg, Oxon Hill, Suitland and Mount Rainier.
Former U.S. Education Secretary John King, Jr. Enters Gubernatorial Race in Maryland William J. Ford WI Staff Writer
Former U.S. Education Secretary John King, Jr. wants to incorporate equity, leadership and commitment into every policy as he works to se-
cure the Democratic nomination for governor in Maryland – the winner to be decided following the Nov. 8, 2022 elections. King, 46, said in a recent interview that the policies which serve as the key elements of his campaign
5 Former U.S. Education Secretary John B. King, Jr. announced April 20 to seek the Democratic nomination for the governor of Maryland. (Photo courtesy of John King for Governor)
12 MAY 6 - 12, 2021
count as just three of the attributes he witnessed while serving under Barack Obama during the former president’s second term in office. “A laser-like focus in expanding opportunity remained essential to President Obama and is something I would bring [and] try to replicate in the role of governor and which would include my commitment to education as a foundation for access not only to economic opportunity but to greater participation in our democracy,” King said. He plans to announce the date for a virtual listening session for residents soon. Although King has worked as an educator and as an administrator in the federal government, this will be his first run for public office. He said the state must ramp up its initiatives on climate control, increase environmental justice policies and boost the state’s job growth percentage. One project he wants to revive is the Red Line transit project in
Baltimore City. Gov. Larry Hogan, whose term expires in January 2023, killed the project and used millions of dollars in state money toward road improvements. King called that decision a “missed opportunity.” He currently serves as president and CEO of the Education Trust, a nonprofit organization that focuses on closing the achievement gap for low-income and minority students. He also founded Strong Future Maryland, a progressive advocacy group that provided testimony for 65 bills during this year’s General Assembly session. Faith and hope influence King’s goal to become the state’s first Black governor, particularly with his being a resident in Silver Spring where, nearby, his great grandfather once lived as a slave – a mere 25 miles away in Gaithersburg. “I keep it in the forefront of my
KING Page 48
Based on zip code, the Hyattsville area continues to lead the state of Maryland with the highest number of confirmed cases with nearly 5,400 as of Tuesday. County officials, workers and volunteers plan to make 1.3 million phone calls and distribute 500,000 text messages. “We are looking for you, if you are unvaccinated,” Alsobrooks said. “We just believe so strongly that this is the way forward for our community. We have one simple goal: to increase the number of vaccinated residents.” Meanwhile, the county could receive word soon on vaccinating those ages 12 to 15. Pfizer Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla said in a conference call to investors Tuesday the company could “hear back shortly” from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to provide the COVID-19 vaccine for those teenagers. The FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended last month for health officials to reuse the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine. “Every vaccination counts,” said George Askew, chief health officer for health, human services and education in Prince George’s. “The more people who get the shot, the harder it is for the virus to spread from person to person.” To register for a vaccinate appointment, go to https://covidvaccinereg.princegeorgescountymd. gov, or call the county 311 and press #. WI Twitter: @jabariwill
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY
Maryland Seeks to Boost Academic Achievement Among Black Boys William J. Ford WI Staff Writer John Jenifer remains pleased with the education his sixth-grade son, Zamari, receives at Robert R. Gray Elementary School in Capitol Heights and hopes it continues when his 12-year-old son enters middle school. In addition, Jenifer believes the Prince George’s County Public School system should offer hands-on programs including information technology, automotive technology and electrical certification. “Give these kids more opportunities and more job sources directing them into fields where there is more hands-on learning because not everyone is going to college,” said Jenifer who lives in Capitol Heights. “Why not bring someone in from Pepco and offer an apprenticeship program for a kid coming out of high school? We should have more [programs like these] especially for our Black boys.” A report released by the Maryland Department of Education gives recommendations leading to improved student achievement among Black males which focus on social, emotional and behavioral support, recruiting and training educators and revisions in school curricula and pedagogy. The proposals come from a task force which developed a nearly 100-page document, “Transforming the Culture of Maryland’s Schools for Black Boys.” The document can be read in full at https://bit.ly/3vt6avR. According to the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers [PARCC], test scores for Black boys in the
third through eighth grades represented the lowest “proficient” rating at 12 percent in 2015 and 16 percent in 2019. In comparison, about 14 percent of Black female students recorded as proficient in 2015 with an increase to 18 percent in 2019. All other students scored proficient from 37 percent in 2015 to 41 percent in 2019. Meanwhile, high school graduation rates for a four-year cohort through 2019, stood at 81 percent for Black males while Black females and other students stood at 88 percent. During the same period, Black male students recorded the highest expulsion and suspension rates. “This can no longer wait. Not one more month. Not one more year. We must do something now,” said Vermelle Greene, the task force chairperson during a state board of education meeting April 27. “If our Black boys are in crisis, so are we all.” The state board unanimously supports the report’s recommendations with the specific goal of utilizing portions of the document to facilitate the development of pilot programs available to students who attend any of the state’s 24 school systems. Some of the recommendations bear significant similarities to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future – the massive multi-billion education plan lawmakers approved to increase teacher salaries, hire school counselors and enhance career and college readiness. The task force report suggests that school leaders collect data to confirm the need to appoint district-wide or school-based mentoring coordinators. Funding sources could come from so-
cial-emotional learning grants, corporate donations, local government grants or the state. The report cites nationally-recognized mentoring programs including the Minority Achievement Committee, also known as MAC Scholars, based in Shaker Heights, Ohio and established in 1990. High-achieving Black boys in the Cleveland suburb serve as role models to their peers. Shameka Mackall of Upper Marlboro agrees mentorship helps, adding that it should be incorporated in all schools. “When my son was at a French Immersion school, he had a mentor who would drop by the school but he was doing that on his own time,” said Mackall whose son will graduate from Frederick Douglass High School in Upper Marlboro. “An all-boys mentoring program would help these young men.” WI @jabariwill
5 The Jenifer family from left to right: Zyierre Smith, Raychelle Smith-Jenifer, John Jenifer and Zamari Jenifer standing in front of his mother. (Photo courtesy of John Jenifer)
HELP your favorite PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY restaurant win cash prizes! EVERY VOTE COUNTS! Vote early & vote often at PGCEDC.com/ dineprincegeorges
Stay Informed!
www.washingtoninformer.com
Dine Prince Georges Print Ad.indd 1 WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
MAY 6 - 12, 4/12/21 2021 11:03 13AM
BUSINESS U.S. Workers’ Wages Rebound from Pandemic but Not for African Americans Unemployment Rate Declined in March as Employment Surges Sarafina Wright WI Contributing Writer While wages for many Americans have rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, earnings for Black workers declined in the first quarter of 2021, growing the wage gap to its highest level since before the pandemic, according to a new analysis.
In a report of earnings data by the Ludwig Institute for Shared Economic Prosperity [LISEP] real median earnings have increased by 1 percent for the first quarter of 2021, driven in large part by a 1.6 percent increase in real earnings by Hispanic workers, while real earnings for white workers remained virtually unchanged. Wages for white earners have
fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels and are currently 0.3 percent higher in real terms than in December 2019. Meanwhile, Black workers saw their real earnings decrease by 1.4 percent since the fourth quarter of 2020, and a decline of 3.5 percent since the beginning of the pandemic. Black workers are now earning 70 percent as much as their white counterparts, the largest racial wage gap since the pandemic began and six percentage points higher than at the turn of the century, according to LISEP. “The simple fact that an improving economy has failed to bring improving wages for a large swath of the workforce is an indication that the jobs being created are not the type of long-term, living-wage jobs necessary to sustain an economic recovery,” said LISEP Chairman Gene Ludwig. “An equitable recovery must lift all segments, otherwise the postCOVID economy will look a lot like the pre-COVID economy with those at the top racing ahead and everyone else getting left behind.”
Request for Proposal Solicitation GAGA-2021-R-0089 Multi-Faceted Human Capital Systems Provider. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS SCHOOL FINANCE DIVISION
The District of Columbia Office of Contracting and Procurement, on behalf of Office of School Improvement and Supports (OSIS) (District) is seeking a contractor (Multi-Faceted Human Capital Systems Provider) to support DCPS in the successful implementation and evaluation of the Rigorous Instruction Supports Equity (RISE) a Teacher and School Leader (TSL) Incentive Program grant that uses educator effectiveness performance results to inform key school- and district-level human capital management decisions and performance-based compensation systems with a focus on schools that are impacted by significant equity issues, low performance, and substantial opportunity gaps among student subgroups. Contractor shall provide auditing, support, training services, and website design support with a) Human Capital Management Systems (HCMS), b) Educator Quality Support Systems and Training, c) conducting Stakeholder Assessment Surveys and d) designing and launching a website.
Solicitations will be available Thursday May 06, 2021. This solicitation can be downloaded from the OCA website delineating all the details of the solicitation at http://dcps.dc.gov/DCPS/About+DCPS/Doing+Business+with+DCPS/Procurement.
Proposals will be accepted at DCPS/OCA on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, no later than 2:00 p.m. at. dcpsoca.inquiries@k12.dc.gov.
14 MAY 6 - 12, 2021
(Photo courtesy of Pexels)
LISEP's analysis of the first quarter of 2021 earnings data also shows that lower-income earners have been much slower to recover than those at the top of the income scale, with those at the 90th percentile of wage earners seeing a real 2.0 percent increase in the last quarter, and those at the 25th percentile seeing a gain in real terms of just 0.4 percent.
The groups also found unequal growth in terms of educational attainment, with notable decreases for those with less than a high school diploma; with only a high school diploma; and for those with some college, but less than a bachelor's degree. But among those with bachelor's degrees or advanced degrees,
WAGES Page 36
Pandemic Prompts Workers to Train for New Careers Automation Adds to Job Security Concerns Sarafina Wright WI Contributing Writer The coronavirus pandemic has made Americans second guess their career choices according to a new study surveying 209,000 people in 190 countries by Boston Consulting Group [BCG] and The Network. More than two-thirds of workers, most of them in the early- and mid-career phases, are willing to retrain for new jobs as they look toward the ending of the pandemic. The economic uncertainty touched off by the pandemic comes at a time when workers in just about every field already have some level of concern about being replaced by technology the study asserts. Forty-one percent of workers globally have become more concerned about automation during the pandemic. Increased concern is especially common among people who work at financial institutions or at insurance or telecommunications companies.
“The pandemic and the increasing speed of technological disruption have prompted people to question their chosen career paths,” said Rainer Strack, one of the authors of the study and a senior partner at BCG. “Almost seven in ten people say they are open to retraining that would allow them to switch to completely different job roles. This level of flexibility could help employers and governments that are worried about preparing their workforces for the future.” The study says retraining willingness—68 percent globally—is highest among workers who have fared worst during the pandemic or have the most concern about automation. This includes workers in service-sector, customer service and sales roles. Almost three-quarters of the people in these jobs say they would retrain for something new. Those in job roles seen as less vulnerable—
PANDEMIC Page 53
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
BUSINESS
Barefoot Awards $50,000 in Grants to Black Female Entrepreneurs Partners with New Voices Foundation for #WeStanForHer Campaign WI Staff Report After receiving a record number of applications, Barefoot recently announced the names of five new recipients of the 2021 New Voices + Barefoot #WeStanForHer Grants. The recipients include Teas With Meaning, Re-Nuble, Base Butter, Sweetkiwi and Sarep + Rose. The #WeStanForHer campaign celebrates and supports Black women entrepreneurs in order to drive economic equity for the Black community. The grants, awarded in partnership with New Voices Foundation, celebrate, recognize and uplift Black women-owned businesses and the unique journeys of their founders. Each 2021 grant recipient will receive $10,000 to help develop their businesses and support their entre-
preneurial spirit. The grantees will also receive business coaching and mentorship from the New Voices Foundation to further their business endeavors. New this year, Barefoot will also amplify the 2021 grantees' businesses by using its own advertising platforms and resources to bring awareness to these companies and brands.
MEET THE BAREFOOT 2021 #WESTANFORHER GRANT RECIPIENTS
• Teas With Meaning - Committed to doing everything in life with meaning, Kamila Mitchell founded Teas With Meaning. As an organic loose leaf and bottled tea blend company based in Cal-
ifornia, Teas With Meaning looks to bring beneficial properties with each cup.
• Re-Nuble - Founded by Tinia Pina and based in New York, Re-Nuble serves as a leading developer of innovative, plant-based, animal-free agricultural technologies sourced from verified, unrecoverable vegetative waste streams. • Base Butter - She-Neil Johnson-Spence established Base Butter as a Pennsylvania-based skincare company on a quest to redefine the perception of beauty and its impact on our relationship with our skin. • Sweetkiwi - Founded by Ehime Eigbe-Akindele, Maryland-based Sweetkiwi makes the best-tasting, low-calorie, yet nutrient-dense packaged foods that target functional health benefits using real ingredients care-
fully sourced from local businesses within the community. • Sarep + Rose - Robin Sirleaf founded New York-based Sarep + Rose to cre-
ate global social impact by merging style and function through everyday fashion and home accessories.
BAREFOOT Page 16
A BETTER WAY TO GET THE FUNDS YOU NEED
From a home remodel to a home refinance, a new car purchase and everything in between, we’ve got you covered. At United Bank, we lend more than just money. We'll be with you every step of the way to make sure you get the products you need with the service you deserve.
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
MAY 6 - 12, 2021 15
NATIONAL
Photos courtesy of Music Is Unity Foundation.
Earth Wind & Fire Lead Singer Stepping up To Help Encourage Youth Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer Philip Bailey, the lead singer of the legendary group Earth, Wind & Fire, and founder of the Music Is Unity Foundation, is kicking off National Foster Care Month with a campaign to raise $500,000 for foster youth. The #FosterChallenge encourages everyone to donate $1 and help raise
awareness of foster children's plight throughout the country. “We have a foundation called Music is Unity, it's over ten years old, and a portion of our touring proceeds have historically gone to organizations helping foster youth, especially those aging out of the system,” Bailey said during a live interview with the National Newspaper Publishers Association.
“I have seven children and seven grandchildren, and I can't imagine them navigating through life without anyone to support them with their needs and challenges,” Bailey remarked. further to donate and help make a He continued: difference. “Millions of youths are in that “When [Earth, Wind & Fire] are place through no fault of their own. on the road, we do a backstage soundOur ticket sales have gone to help check, and we invite foster youth and these young folks in this situation.” introduce them to all different facets Throughout National Foster Care of our company with the hope that Month, the Power of One: Hour of those who are interested in music get Unity campaign will applaud the more out of the experience,” Bailey achievements of foster youth. offered. The campaign also will serve to AUTO BODY “They stay and watch the show, AUTO BODY showcase their talents while allowing everyone to hear their voices and stoSHOP IN WASHINGTON DC AUTO BODY ries, Bailey toldDC the NNPA. SHOP IN WASHINGTON BAREFOOT from Page 15 Organizers will distribute all doAuthorized Direct repair facility for SHOP IN WASHINGTON DCAuthorized Direct repair facility for than 20 nonprofit PARTNERSHIP’S nations to more Major Insurance Companies foster care organizations nationwide Authorized Direct repair facility for SPEAKERS COMMITMajor Insurance Companies that provide foster youth with essen10% off Body Repair Labor with Insurance Claim Authorized Direct repair facility for tial Insurance resources and Claim services, including TED TO PROVIDING Major Insurance Companies 10% off Body Repair Labor with shelter, food, technology, education RESOURCES Rental Car Available/Anacostia Rental Lease & Sales 10% off Body Repair Labor with Insurance Claim Major Insurance Companies Rental Car Available/Anacostia and Rental "The #WeStanForHer program is a other Lease goods. & Sales TOWING AVAILABLE celebration of the Black community,” “My top priority is to raise funds to ental Car Available/Anacostia Rental Lease & Sales TOWING AVAILABLE support the needs of foster children, said Shannon Armah, Barefoot senior as10% off Body Repair Labor with Insurance Claim 1710 Good Hope Road SE especially TOWING AVAILABLE 1710 Good Hope Road SEthose aging out of the foster sociate brand manager. “To continue to see positive change, Barefoot is commitcare system,” Bailey maintained. Washington DC 20020 Rental Car Rental Lease & Sales 1710Available/Anacostia Good Hope Road SE Washington DC 20020 “These children are victims of ted to recognizing the talents and gifts Ph:202-678-0100 circumstance and are in the system that stem from resilient Black-women.” Washington DC 20020 TOWING AVAILABLE Ph:202-678-0100 “As a brand that strives to bring through no fault of their own, and www.murphysautobodyshopdc.com we can all take action to help, espe- people together by creating moments Ph:202-678-0100 www.murphysautobodyshopdc.com 1710 Good Hope Road cially during the pandemic and these of fun for everyone, directly supportIt’s YOUR CHOICE where you have your SE vehicle repaired. www.murphysautobodyshopdc.com It’s YOUR CHOICE where you have your vehicle repaired. ing the efforts of Black women-owned turbulent times.” At 6 p.m. EST on Thursday, May businesses is essential to our mission. Washington DC 20020 CHOICE where you have your vehicle repaired. 20, Bailey and others will host the We stand to learn a lot from the Black virtual “Power of One: Hour of Uni- community and, true to our values, Ph:202-678-0100 ty” fundraiser to encourage everyone Barefoot will always listen to the in-
#1
#1
#1
#1 AUTO BODY
SHOP IN WASHINGTON DC
16www.murphysautobodyshopdc.com MAY 6 - 12, 2021
and they get more involved. Now, because of the pandemic, there is no touring. It's challenging even for us because the ticket sales are not there. Until we get back on the road, we really need people to step up and help meet that gap.” For more information about the Hour of Unity or to register or donate online, please visit www.fosterchallenge.org. WI spiring voices,” Armah said. "New Voices Foundation is thrilled to once again join forces with Barefoot to support Black women entrepreneurs on the 2021 #WeStanForHer grants program,” said Richelyna Hall, chief impact officer, New Voices Foundation. “By investing capital, access and expertise through coaching and mentoring in this new group of Black women business owners, we are continuing our mission to create an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem and to have a lasting impact on our economy, and in the communities and families of Black women.” For more information about the New Voices + Barefoot #WeStanForHer Grant recipients or for more details about #WeStanForHer, visit https://www.barefootwine.com/westan-for-her. WI
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
R CHOICE where you have your vehicle repaired.
Amtrak Celebrates Its Half-Century Mark
NATIONAL
President Biden Serves as Railway's Biggest Cheerleader Erica Johnson WI Contributing Writer The survival of Amtrak, the National Railway Passenger Corporation, through tough times proves that, thanks to Congress, rail passengers and a rail-friendly president, even a pandemic can’t knock it off the tracks. “Today, we have a once in a generation opportunity to position Amtrak, and rail, and intercity rail, as well in general to play a central role in our transformation of transportation and economic future,” said President Biden. He spoke at Philadelphia’s 30ths Street station at the nation observes the 50th anniversary of the creation of a national railway system. Biden was in Philadelphia, 83 miles north of where he boarded the train each day to go to D.C., such a loyal commuter that he was called “Amtrak Joe” by some rail workers. The anniversary marked the resumption of full daily service for 12 long-distance routes which had been cut by the pandemic. Due to the global pandemic, almost all of Amtrak’s long-dis-
tance trains went from running daily to three times a week. “America needs a rail network that offers frequent, reliable, sustainable, and equitable train service,” said AMTRAK CEO Bill Flynn. These drastic cuts heavily impacted urban communities across the country where 34 percent of blacks and 27 percent of Hispanics report taking public transit daily or weekly, compared with 14 percent of whites, Pew Research Center data shows. “The long-distance routes that shoot out from Washington, D.C. in all directions, especially Silver Star and Crescent services which heads down to Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, and Louisiana serve a lot of passengers, especially African Americans because historically it’s been a migratory route for blacks coming up from the South looking for work,” said Sean JeansGail, Vice President, Policy & Government Affairs of the Rail Passengers Association. In addition, the anniversary marked the return of “more than
AMTRAK Page 38
Stay Informed! 5 An Amtrak train at Penn Station in New York. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
www.washingtoninformer.com
MAY 6 - 12, 2021 17
NATIONAL Schools, Parents Scramble to Overcome Long-Seated Digital Divide
American Rescue Plan Offers Funds, Solutions Brenda C. Siler WI Contributing Writer Different approaches to learning have been used during the past year to ensure children keep up with the curriculum. Distance learning became the norm. Then hybrid methods were combined distance learning and in-classroom teaching. To make it work, training has been necessary for school administrators, teachers, parents, and children. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) recently convened a virtual panel of educators to take aim on education needs during the pandemic. Right after the pandemic began, Van Hollen met with school educators throughout the state to discuss making high-speed internet, a priority for online learning. “We wanted to make sure we connect all our students who did
not have internet access,” said Van Hollen who had introduced legislation to close the homework gap due to the lack of internet access. “The homework gap became a fullblown learning gap for students who could not connect with their classrooms when the pandemic hit.”
BROADBAND ACCESS IS THE KEY
Prince Georges County Public Schools (PGCPS) purchased 65,000 Chromebooks to ensure all students had a laptop if needed. “Internet connectivity has been a big challenge. We have supported over 15,000 students with internet and hotspot services,” said Andrew Zuckerman, chief Information and Technology Officer for PGCPS and a panelist on Van Hollen’s virtual discussion. “Federal grant funding allowed us to do that.”
Under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), Maryland will benefit from $7.1 billion in ARPA money to update the Federal Communications Committee (FCC) E-Rate program, the country’s largest education technology program for school and library internet connection. Another $2.6 billion nationwide in state grants in the ARPA supports K-12 students with disabilities. ARPA funds will allow PGCPS to extend the support for broadband access that came through the 2020 Cares Act. Strengthening the education experience for teachers, students and parents is the objective.
A JUGGLING ACT
Upper Marlboro, Md. resident Camille Reed is a parent who had
DIGITAL Page 52
5 Camille Reed, owner of Noire Salon in downtown Silver Spring, has juggled overseeing distance learning for her two children, keeping track of her mother’s caregiving needs and managing her natural hair salon during the pandemic. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)
DC MAP (Mortgage Assistance Program) COVID-19
is available to provide emergency mortgage support to District homeowners experiencing unanticipated financial hardship due to sudden decrease or loss of income. Take the survey to see if you qualify for mortgage Call the hotline at 1-833-429-0537 assistance through DC MAP COVID-19 at or email DCMAP@dchfa.org www.dchfa.org/homeownership/
18 MAY 6 - 12, 2021
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
What Does Good Mental Health Look Like? Submitted by AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia May is National Mental Health Month. It’s a time to talk and share information about mental health. As we learn more, we can bring more understanding to the millions of Americans who live with a mental health illness every day.1 But what is mental health, and what does good mental health look like?
DEFINING MENTAL HEALTH
Our mental health is the wellness of our thoughts, emotions, and social behaviors. A person with good mental health may often:2 • Act productively. This could mean making progress on a long project. Or it could mean doing something shorter, like cooking dinner or going for a walk. • Cope well with stress. This lets us adjust to changes while
keeping our emotional balance. • Find fulfillment in life. We may enrich our lives from appreciating people, places, or things. We may also find satisfaction in adding something good to others’ lives.
BOOSTING MENTAL HEALTH
We have different ways to help improve our mental health. We may:2 • Find and focus on the good in many situations • Connect with others we like • Help others with their hurdles • Get the exercise and sleep we need • Seek help from a mental health specialist if needed The information in this article is to help you learn more about this topic. It is not to take the place of your health care provider. If you have questions, talk with your health care provider. If you think you need to see your health care provider because of something you have read in
this information, please contact your health care provider. Never stop or wait to get medical attention because of something you have read in this material. Sources: 1. “Mental Health Month,” National Alliance on Mental Illness, https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/ Awareness-Events/Mental-HealthMonth. 2. “What Is Mental Health?” MentalHealth.gov, https://www. mentalhealth.gov/basics/what-is-
mental-health. All images are used under license for illustrative purposes only. Any individual depicted is a model.
#BestMe
Red Flags: Signs of a Mental Health Struggle With this picture of what good mental health can look like, it gets easier to spot signs of a struggle. Look for these warning signs in yourself or in someone you love:2 • Difficulty with doing daily tasks, like going to work or school • Eating or sleeping too little or too much • Using tobacco products, alcohol, or drugs more than before • Fighting with loved ones more than before • Having low energy, or feeling numb or hopeless • Having strong mood swings or unusually strong emotions. You may feel more confusion, anger, or fear.
• Withdrawing from people and things you used to enjoy • Hearing voices or believing false things • Having the same thoughts and memories repeating often • Having thoughts of hurting yourself or others People who live with a mental health problem are not alone. Getting help may make the experience easier. What’s more, many recover from a mental health illness completely.2 If you or someone you know is having thoughts of self-harm, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) right away. Trained help is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Find us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/amerihealthdc. / Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/amerihealthcaritasdc. / Find us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/amerihealthcaritasdc.
#BestMe
Rewards Program
I got a gift card for getting my postpartum checkup. You can too. You can get a $25 gift card if you: • Are an AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia enrollee • See a midwife or OB/GYN within one to 12 weeks (seven to 84 days) after giving birth Visit www.amerihealthcaritasdc.com/member/eng/ healthy-living/reward-program.aspx to learn more. Note: An enrollee cannot get more than $75 in incentives each year. Certain limitations and restrictions may apply. ACDC-201001070-5
www.amerihealthcaritasdc.com
All images are used under license for illustrative purposes only. Any individual depicted is a model.
AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
MAY 6 - 12, 2021 19
INTERNATIONAL PETWORTH PRINTING Your Quality Printers
301 Kennedy Street, NW
n
Washington, DC
202-291-6565 PRINTING & DESIGN
Color / Black & White Printing n n n n n n n n n
Booklets Brochures Business Cards Banners Canvas Bags Color Copies Contracts & Vouchers Church Fans Fax & Scan
n n n n n n n n n
Programs Postcards Promotional Products Posters & Signs Tithe Envelopes Tickets & Flyers T-Shirts Mugs & Glassware Notary
10% OFF
BOOKLETS AND T-SHIRTS *NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY*
SEE OUR ONLINE STORE: www.QualityPrintersDC.com
Traditional Help Buttons
At Home In the Car On a Walk On Vacation At the Park Shopping
A Help Button Should Go Where You Go! To be truly independent your personal emergency device needs to work on the go.
Order Now & Receive a FREE Lockbox!
1-800-681-0667
Service availability and access/coverage on the AT&T network is not available everywhere and at all times. Current GPS location may not always be available in every situation.
Seeing is believing. Get 2 security cameras installed FREE*. ADT’s 24/7 monitoring plus top of the line security cameras help ensure your loved ones are safe – whether you’re out and about or in the next room.
Call today to speak with a home security expert 1-877-325-1437 • Offer expires: 7/15/2021 *ADT Video Doorbell AND Outdoor Camera Professionally Installed Free: Requires 36-month monitoring contract starting at $56.99/mo. with QSP (24-month monitoring contract in California, total fees from $1,367.76), and enrollment in ADT EasyPay. Offer includes installation of one (1) video doorbell camera AND one (1) outdoor camera with minimum purchase price of $599 after promo is applied depending on geographic location. Applicable taxes extra. Upon early termination by Customer, ADT may charge 75% of the monthly service charges due for the balance of the initial contract term. Quality Service Plan (QSP) is ADT’s Extended Limited Warranty. Service and installation charges vary depending on system configuration, equipment, and services selected. Expires 7/15/2021. General: Additional charges may apply in areas that require guard response service for municipal alarm verification. System remains property of ADT. Local permit fees may be required. Prices and offers subject to change and may vary by market. Additional taxes and fees may apply. Satisfactory credit required. A security deposit may be required. Simulated screen images and photos are for illustrative purposes only. ©2021 ADT LLC dba ADT Security Services. All rights reserved. ADT, the ADT logo, 800.ADT.ASAP and the product/service names listed in this document are marks and/or registered marks. Unauthorized use is strictly prohibited. Third-party marks are the property of their respective owners. License information available at www.ADT.com/legal or by calling 800.ADT.ASAP. CA ACO7155, 974443, PPO120288; FL EF0001121; LA F1639, F1640, F1643, F1654, F1655; MA 172C; NC Licensed by the Alarm Systems Licensing Board of the State of North Carolina, 7535P2, 7561P2, 7562P10, 7563P7, 7565P1, 7566P9, 7564P4; NY 12000305615; PA 09079, MS 15019511. DF-CD-NP-Q221
20 MAY 6 - 12, 2021
africa now
COMPILED BY OSWALD T. BROWN, WI CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Chad Junta Names Transition Government The military junta that took power in Chad last month after the death of veteran leader Idriss Deby Itno named a transition government on Sunday (May 2), the army spokesman said. Deby's 37-year-old son Mahamat, who took the helm of the so-called Transitional Military Council (CMT), named a government comprising 40 ministers and deputy ministers and created a new national reconciliation ministry, the spokesman said in a televised statement. The new ministry is to be headed by Acheick Ibn Oumar, a former rebel chief who became a diplomatic adviser to the presidency in 2019. While the main opposition leader, Saleh Kebzabo, was not named to the transition government, another opposition figure, Mahamat Ahmat Alhabo, will be justice minister, junta spokesman Azem Bermandoa Agouna announced. Opposition parties have scorned a pledge by the junta to restore democracy in Chad within 18 months. Earlier Sunday, the junta announced the lifting of an overnight curfew
introduced after Deby's death. The army said Deby died from wounds sustained in fighting with rebel forces in the north of the poor Sahel country last month. Tensions are high in the country, with the military saying that six people were killed last week during demonstrations in the capital N'Djamena and the south against the formation of the junta. A local aid group has put the death toll at nine. More than 650 people were arrested during the protests, which had been banned by the authorities. The military has said that Deby died during fighting with rebels from the Libya-based Front for Change and Concord in Chad (FACT), who had launched an election day offensive on April 11. The announcement of Deby's death came only a day after he was proclaimed winner of the presidential election, handing him a sixth term in office after three decades of iron-fisted rule in the former French colony. (SOURCE: AFP) WI
caribbean now ACS Secretary-General Pays Courtesy Call on Caricom Secretary-General CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque (left) on Friday, April 30, received a courtesy call from Rodolfo Sabonge, new secretary-general of the Association of Caribbean of States (ACS). Sabonge, a native of Panama, became the seventh secretary-general of the ACS in November last year, taking over from Saint Lucian Dr. June Soomer. Sabonge is an engineer by profession and has 45 years of experience in the areas of international trade, transport, maritime and logistic development. He was the general manager of the Panama Railroad; plant engineer, responsible for the maintenance of the Locks of the Panama Canal; and led the planning for the transfer of the Panama Canal from the United States to the Republic of Panama. The ACS is Headquartered in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, with 32 member states, based on geographic proximity and historical linkages, linked together for “consultation, cooperation and concerted action.” WI
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
Steppers from Around the World Rally for #MoveMoreDC Day and Log Enough Steps Measuring the Distance from Washington, DC to London, England! Submitted by American Heart Association The American Heart Association (AHA) is on a mission to be Healthy for Good every day. The approach is simple, eat smart, be well and of course MOVE MORE! In April our focus is to get everyone to move more and sit less with the help of workplaces, communities and people like you. The AHA and Live Fierce sponsor, Sheehy Auto Stores, challenged local companies and community members in an annual continuous virtual walking event on the Greater Washington Region’s Move More Day, Wednesday, April 14! The day serves as a spring kick-off to the year-round Heart Challenge campaign where individuals and companies across the region unite as a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. “We are thrilled to once again support Move More Day because we want everyone to know that taking small steps add up to big changes in health and well-being,” said Vince Sheehy, President of Sheehy Auto Stores. “I am so proud of our employees and their enthusiasm around our work with the American Heart Association.” To date, Sheehy's fundraising efforts have raised almost $2 million for the American Heart Association. Hundreds of employees and individuals from a total of 17 companies and organizations walked throughout the day sending in
their step count that went toward their team’s total. Participants also shared their steps on social media using #MoveMoreDC. Military Hearts Matter recorded the highest organization total during the day, with their 181 participants walking from around the world tracking just shy of a combined two million steps! Last year’s Move More DC victors, the DMV Links, came in a close second place and were only 100,000 steps behind the Military Heart Matters team. They fielded 191 walkers representing 36 chapters of the Links Incorporated from across the country, a growth from the previous year! Sheehy Auto Stores stepped into third place with a whopping 781,396 steps with many of their dealerships participating. Sheehy Ford of Warrenton was the winner of their internal step challenge with a total of 241,408 steps. In total, all the amazing #MoveMoreDC supporters walked for over 6.2 million steps totaling approximately 3,100 miles which is about 300 miles shy of making it from Washington, DC to London, England! No matter what the placing, enthusiastic responses rang out from those who walked: “Together, we united focused in friendship, fitness and fun,” said Michelle Bailey, DMV Links Team Captain-Arlington (VA) Chapter. “We knew our community would step up, but we had no idea how much. It was so much fun to connect with one another around the world and see the support from, and for, our
military community pour in,” said Holly Vega, Military Hearts Matter. “Our staff had a great time,” said Denise Kessler, CVCA. (right and bottom) The Move More Step Challenge is one of the many fun ways to engage in the American Heart Association’s Heart Challenge. A suite of activities that includes the Greater Washington Region Heart Walk, locally sponsored by Sheehy Auto Stores and Kaiser Permanente, CycleNation, and year-round activities like step challenges and more, the Heart Challenge has a goal to get people moving more and to raise funds in support of the American Heart Association. Funds raised by the annual campaign lead to medical breakthroughs, support community health priorities, transform healthcare systems, enact stronger public health policy, and much more. Get involved today at www. GreaterWashingtonHeartWalk.org.
The pandemic has exposed longstanding inequities in access to healthy, affordable food and drinks. Fortunately, the DC Council is responding with a bold, common sense solution: The Nutrition Equity Act. Residents of Washington, DC: Ask your Councilmembers to support the Nutrition Equity Act today! yourethecure.org
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
MAY 6 - 12, 2021 21
HEALTH COVID-19 UPDATE
Medical Debt: The Other Part of the Pandemic’s Fallout Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer For Walter Coleman, an independent contractor in Northeast, Samantha Robles, a hairstylist in Bethesda, and Robin Pruitt, a loan officer who also lives in Bethesda, the coronavirus pandemic not only resulted in close calls, but the financial fallout may lead to bankruptcy. Each says the medical bills resulting from their bouts with the virus have overwhelmed them.
In Coleman’s case, the more than $100,000 he owes to doctors, laboratories, and hospitals has him strongly considering a chapter 7 filing. “Don’t know what else to do,” Coleman remarked. “I did everything right. I didn’t want to get sick, and my health insurance didn’t cover a lot of things, but I guess even insurance companies were caught off guard by this pandemic,” he reasoned. Robles and Pruitt said they have also considered their options in sep-
arate interviews, including borrowing from family and friends or filing bankruptcy to retire mounting medical debt. “I just worry about spending the next ten years trying to rebuild my credit,” Robles stated. “Before the pandemic, my credit score was 740, and now I don’t even want to look.” Pruitt said family members have pitched in, but she’s wary of asking for more assistance. “Everyone is fighting it, going through a financial pitch,” Pruitt said. “I just refuse to become a burden on anyone.” According to the personal finance and credit monitoring company Credit Karma, medical debt continues to soar. Debt among those signed up at Credit Karma has skyrocketed by nearly $3 billion from May 2000 to March 2021. The number of people with pastdue medical debt rose during the same period to 21.4 million from 19.6 million. “If you’re considering bankruptcy as a solution for medical debt, you’re not alone. Unmanageable medical care debt and the hardships that often come along with it – like loss of work or reduced access to credit – can be a recipe for financial ruin,” Sarah C. Brady, a San Francisco-based fi-
5 Since the onset of the pandemic, medical debt has risen tremendously. (Courtesy photo)
nancial consultant, wrote for Credit Karma. Brady warned that filing for bankruptcy isn’t always an ideal solution. “Although bankruptcy can help you manage or eliminate medical debt, it’s not possible to limit your claim to only one kind of debt during the process,” she wrote. “Plus, bankruptcy has a long-term negative impact on your credit and can put your assets in jeopardy.” The personal finance web-
Will We Ever Learn to Live with Germs Again? Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer Before the onset of the pandemic and indeed as the epidemic has continued, Alice Anderson had ample reasons to concern herself with germs. The parent of a child with life-threatening food allergies, the founder of Mommy to Mom, said she couldn’t help being concerned with how much cleaning and disinfecting has taken place
(Courtesy of Cone Health)
22 MAY 6 - 12, 2021
everywhere she’s visited. “Although researchers haven’t figured out what causes food allergies yet, the ‘hygiene hypothesis’ is an interesting theory,” Anderson remarked. “It suggests that the lack of exposure to germs in a child’s environment can result in their immune system being unchallenged, which could lead to the possible development of different allergies.”
As stores and online shops continue to sell out of items quickly and routinely like Lysol, bleach and other disinfectants, health experts now fear that all the cleaning solutions used during the pandemic can threaten people’s health. Researchers now suggest that the over-disinfecting of our homes, vehicles, and other habitable spaces poses a severe health danger. “We’re starting to realize that there’s collateral damage when we get rid of good microbes, and that has major consequences for our health,” B. Brett Finlay, the first author of a paper from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), told the New York Times. Finlay, a professor in the department of microbiology and immunology at the University of British Columbia, counted among a global consortium of health researchers to raise the alarm about a microbial fallout that could follow in the pandemic’s wake. According to the report, “their worries center on the human microbiome – the trillions of bacteria that live on and inside our bodies. “They say that excessive hygiene practices, inappropriate antibiotic use, and lifestyle changes
GERMS Page 23
site, LendingTree.com, revealed that 60 percent of Americans who participated in a study in March faced medical debt. Approximately 53 percent reported the debt was more significant than $5,000, and 72 percent said it prevented them from pursuing key financial milestones, like buying a home or having a child. The Lending Tree researchers reported that the coronavirus is responsible for one in every ten patients with medical debt. Interestingly, even physicians and healthcare workers have fallen prey to medical debt because of the pandemic. Dr. Elliot Anavim, medical director at Rejuve Clinics in Sherman Oaks, Calif., said many healthcare workers live in debt. “From physical therapists to dental hygienists, to someone like me, a naturopathic physician,” Anavim stated. “Many of us spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to become professional healthcare workers, yet there are many cases in which we don’t have the means of paying off that debt because of how selective and limiting the field can be,” he continued. Aside from the medical debt that stemmed from the coronavirus treatment, Coleman, Robles, and Pruitt each shared one other thing in common. Each was adamant that they didn’t want their loved ones to shoulder their debt. “I just can’t allow my parents to spend their retirement savings on paying my bills,” Pruitt said. WI @StacyBrownMedia
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
GERMS from Page 22 such as distancing may weaken those communities going forward in ways that promote sickness and imperil our immune systems. By sterilizing our bodies and spaces, they argue, we may be doing more harm than good.” Dr. Finlay and others argue that “our collective health may depend on our willingness to holster our sanitizers and cleansers, moderate our use of bacteria-slaying drugs, and resume old habits that nourish our microbial communities. In other words, we’re going to have to live with germs again,” the Times report, quoting the PNAS paper, continued. A clean, sterilized environment is critical to preventing the spread of germs and infection, Jill Lieberman of safehandles.com told the Washington Informer. “However, we need to be selective with the products we use because they often cause more harm than good,” Lieberman added. “It is concerning that so many cleaning products come with a warning label and contain chemicals which can be dangerous and even toxic. Cleaning with chemicals needs to be avoided, yet it is still necessary to sterilize our spaces to eliminate
WAGES from Page 14 earnings are up and have regained pre-pandemic levels. “For our health and well-being as a society, it is critical for every citizen to have an opportunity to earn a living wage, as this has implications well beyond economics,” Ludwig said. “Our focus should not be to get back to where we were pre-pandemic – we have to do better.” The U.S. unemployment rate declined to 6 percent in March. The Department of Labor says the number of unemployed persons, at 9.7 million, continued to trend down in March but is four million higher than in Feb. 2020. Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rate for Asians rose to 6.0 percent in March, following a decline in the previous month. The jobless rate for Hispanics edged down to 7.9 percent over the month, while the rates for adult men (5.8 percent), adult
germs,” Liberman continued. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends handwashing with soap and water after individuals have visited a public place, coughed, or sneezed. If soap and water isn’t available, the CDC recommends using a hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol and regularly clean frequently touched surfaces like doorknobs, light switches, faucets, and countertops. The Cleveland Clinic also provided the following guidelines: • Find ways to cope with stress. Stress causes your body to make a hormone called cortisol. Over time, cortisol can lead to inflammation and reduce your body’s ability to fight infections. • Fuel-up smartly. A well-rounded diet with ample amounts of fiber and healthy fats helps keep inflammation at bay. • Keep moving. Regular exercise helps keep your immune system running smoothly. • Get your Zzzs. The average adult needs about seven to nine hours of sleep a night. • Avoid harmful substances. Smoking and excessive drinking can weaken your immune system. WI @StacyBrownMedia
The U.S. unemployment rate declined to 6 percent in March. women (5.7 percent), teenagers (13.0 percent), Whites (5.4 percent), and Blacks (9.6 percent) changed little. “These improvements in the labor market reflect the continued resumption of economic activity that had been curtailed due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic,” said the department in a statement. “Job growth was widespread in March, led by gains in leisure and hospitality, public and private education, and construction.” WI
HEALTH Brought to you by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
YOU CAN DISTANCE AND STILL BE SOCIAL. Get vaccinated when it’s your turn. COVID can’t keep us from connecting. Vaccines are here. But until enough of us are vaccinated, we still need to mask up, keep 6 feet apart, and avoid crowds and indoor gatherings. We can stay close – even when we’re miles apart. Learn more at cdc.gov/coronavirus
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
Stay Informed! www.washingtoninformer.com
MAY 6 - 12, 2021 23
HEALTH Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Submitted by MedStar Health
James Wright WI Staff Writer
What you need to know about chronic kidney disease Chances are you know at least one person living with chronic kidney disease (CKD). It affects more than 1 in 7 adults or about 30 million people in the U.S. You may even have CKD yourself without knowing it. As many as 9 in 10 people with CKD don’t know they have it. That’s because the early signs of kidney disease, like feeling low energy, sleep problems, muscle cramps, and high blood pressure, can be hard to spot and can also be caused by other common health problems. The best defense is knowledge By learning more about CKD, you can take steps to protect your kidneys and get the care you need. These questions and answers are a good place to start. What is chronic kidney disease (CKD)? Your kidneys remove waste and excess fluid from your body. CKD is a word for the slow loss of your kidney’s ability to do that important job because they’ve become damaged. When your kidneys are not working as well as they should, waste and fluid build up in your body and can cause high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. Who is at risk for CKD? People with diabetes and high blood pressure, which can cause kidney damage, are more likely to have CKD. Around 1 in 3 adults with diabetes and 1 in 5 with high blood pressure may have CKD. Other things that make CKD more likely include smoking, heart disease, obesity, a family history of CKD, a family history of kidney problems, and being older. It’s more common in people over 65, women, and Black, Hispanic, and Native people. What are the signs of CKD? People in the early stages of CKD may have few symptoms. As the disease gets worse, symptoms can include itching, muscle cramps, nausea and vomiting, not feeling hungry, swelling in your feet and ankles,
24 MAY 6 - 12, 2021
DMV Announces Reopening Plans As of the month of May, the District, Maryland and Virginia have moved to lift some coronavirus restrictions due to declining cases and rising vaccinations.
IN THE DISTRICT, AS OF MAY 1:
feeling mentally less sharp, peeing too much or not enough, trouble catching your breath, and trouble sleeping. When your kidneys are very damaged, known as end stage kidney disease (ESKD), they may stop working entirely. Then, you may have stomach pain, back pain, diarrhea, fever, nosebleeds, and rashes. How is CKD treated? Treatment for CKD has two parts—treating the condition that’s damaging your kidneys, like diabetes or high blood pressure, and helping your kidneys remove waste and fluid from your body when they’re no longer working well enough to do their job. For people with ESKD, treatments include dialysis and kidney transplantation. Dialysis takes waste and extra fluid out of your blood using a machine. There are two types of dialysis, hemodialysis (at home or in the dialysis unit) and peritoneal dialysis (done at home). Ask your kidney specialist or dialysis center for more information on the two kinds of dialysis. Unfortunately, dialysis takes a lot of time each week and can leave you feeling tired and wrung out without the energy to do what you need to do. Another option to treat ESKD is a kidney transplant. During the transplant, a healthy kidney from a dead or living donor is placed in your body and takes over the work of filtering
waste and excess fluid. Unfortunately, the wait for a kidney from a donor who has died can be several years. About 100,000 people are on the wait list. Many patients do not live long enough to receive a transplant, with 13 people on the wait list dying every day. A living donor transplant can make your wait time much shorter, cutting it from years to months. Other advantages include a shorter recovery time, better quality kidney, the new kidney working more quickly after surgery, and being able to get a transplant before starting dialysis. Why choose transplant? A transplant can help you get back to living a healthy, active life. It also can help you live longer than you would if you stayed on dialysis. Your transplant team will talk with you about the benefits and risks of transplant. You don’t need a referral from your doctor to get evaluated for a kidney transplant. You just need to have chronic kidney disease and kidney function that’s close to or below 20%. Don’t miss the chance for a transplant because you think you might not qualify. The transplant team’s job is to figure out whether a transplant is a good choice for you.
• The indoor capacity for nonessential retail businesses will increase to 50%, up from 25%, or 250 people, whichever is lower. • Ten people can sit at a restaurant table, up from six. • Live music allowed outdoors for summer gardens, courtyard dining and sidewalk cafes. • Alcohol sales can be made outside at restaurants without a requirement to buy food. • Concert venues and theaters may open at 25 percent capacity with up to 500 people and attendees must remain seated. • Movie theaters may operate at up to 25 percent capacity per auditorium. • Weddings and special events allowed indoors and outdoors at 25 percent capacity, with a waiver for attendance greater than 250 people. Attendees must remain seated and socially distanced. • Gyms can operate at 50 percent capacity with no more than 250 people and indoor fitness classes can include up to 25 people. • Places of worship may admit up to 40 percent of their capacity for the areas where worship services will be held.
As of the month of May, the District, Maryland and Virginia have moved to lift some coronavirus restrictions due to declining cases and rising vaccinations.
• D.C. public school graduations will be held from June 19-24 at Audi Field. • On May 14, the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture will reopen. • The public pools and splash parks will reopen May 29. The pools will operate at 50 percent capacity, while the splash parks will fully function.
IN MARYLAND, AS OF MAY 1:
• Restaurants throughout the state will have their outdoor dining restrictions lifted and customers will be able to stand at outdoor bars. Seated service and physical distancing requirements will remain in place indoors at bars and restaurants. • Masks and face coverings are no longer required outdoors in Maryland. Lifting the outdoor masking order is in line with new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance. • Face coverings are still required for Marylanders at all large ticketed venues as well as indoors at all public and private businesses and when using public transportation.
IN VIRGINIA, AS OF MAY 15:
• The maximum number of people allowed at social gatherings will increase from 100 to 250 people for outdoors settings and from 50 to 100 people for indoor settings. • Indoor entertainment venues such as movie theaters will be allowed to operate at 50 percent capacity or 1,000 people, up from 30 percent capacity or 500 people. Outdoor entertainment venues, such as theme parks, will be allowed to operate at 50 percent capacity with no cap on attendees. • Outdoor sporting events will increase from 500 to 1,000 people or 50 percent capacity, whichever is less. The number of spectators allowed at indoor recreational sporting events will increase from 100 to 250 spectators or 50 percent capacity, whichever is less. • Restaurant establishments will not be required to close dining rooms from 12 a.m. to 5 a.m. WI @JamesDCWrighter
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
Life.
Saver.
Bernie, kidney recipient
Wanda, living donor
Bernie was on dialysis and found her living donor, Wanda. Every day, 22 people die while waiting for an organ. Become a living organ donor, and give the gift of life.
Learn more at MedStarHealth.org/KidneyLiverDonation or call 202-798-4932.
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
MAY 6 - 12, 2021 25
EDUCATION CARDONA from Page 1 cue Plan through which schools will receive funds to safely reopen while also enabling schools to offer youth additional means of support. “Even during our unprecedented challenges, students and teachers wanted to be back in the classrooms. They wanted to do it safely,” Cardona said April 30 during his address in the gymnasium of Amidon-Bowen Elementary School. “With the American Rescue Plan, cities have the help they need. This money is available for investments. When we come back, we need to be prepared to meet students where they are and provide them the support they need. We need to make sure this money is going to the students who have been hit the hardest,” he said.
FOCUS REMAINS MAINTAINING HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTS
At the beginning of the year, President Joe Biden (D) announced the American Rescue Plan as an emergency legislative package intended to fund vaccinations, safely reopen schools, provide economic relief to families affected by the pandemic and advance racial equity. The $1,400 stimulus checks sent to recently sent to taxpayers count among the provisions of this plan. In total, the U.S. Department of Education has doled out more than $120 million to usher K-12 teachers and students back into the classroom in a manner that reflects the wishes of school administrators, parents and community members.
26 MAY 6 - 12, 2021
By the end of February, more than 80 percent of elementary and middle schools in the U.S. offered some form of in-person learning. Throughout March and April, at least 20 large school districts fully reopened schools. Those numbers have steadily increased since the Biden administration prioritized teacher vaccinations and invested in surveillance testing during which a percentage of the school population receives tests to determine the effectiveness of social distancing and other COVID-related protocols. All the while, education officials continue to follow the lead of their local health departments and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC]. The most recent CDC recommendations encourage students to maintain a distance of three feet in school settings. They also tout adequate ventilation as an important factor in maintaining a clean environment. Prevention strategies, which the CDC has heralded as the pathway to a safe reopening, should center on the appropriate use of masks and personal protective equipment along with the vaccination of teachers and administrators.
STUDENTS, TEACHERS HOPE TO OVERCOME ANXIETY AND FEARS
Safety continues to be a concern among teachers and parents. As of April 29, more than 200 DCPS personnel have contracted COVID-19 while working in person; 140 students have tested positive for the virus. Currently, nearly 200 people remain in quarantine, according to data collected by the D.C. Depart-
5 U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona visits Amidon-Bowen Elementary School in Southwest. (Brigette Squire/ The Washington Informer)
ment of Health. Earlier this year, public and public charter schools returned to in-person learning amid contentious discussions about whether the move represented a safe decision. In the days leading up to the teachers’ Term 3 campus return, the Washington Teachers’ Union and the D.C. Public Schools [DCPS] central office found themselves locked in debates over whether DCPS had followed a Memorandum of Agreement which laid out the required elements for a safe reopening. Even so, many students and parents, frustrated by declines in learning and the absence of human interaction that virtual spaces could not provide, remained eager for in-class instruction to return. When Amidon-Bowen reopened in February, 98 students among a total population of more than 300 received a Term 3 in-person schedule, according to DCPS data. In addition, school leaders coordinated meetings with parents and community members to hear what each group considered important in realizing this milestone. “Safety was paramount but so was the piece about continuing relationships with students,” said Principal TaMikka Sykes. “All of our teachers are able to accommodate in-person and virtual learning and that was a gift. Further, it’s important that we put the financial support we’ve received behind the
things we want to see [like] maintaining small group instruction, social-emotional learning and all the things needed at a community school.” WI
MOREHOUSE from Page 1 house, quickly followed by those from Spelman and several other colleges, to withdraw from the 2021 United States Universities Debate Championship [USUDC] suggests that anti-Black perspectives remain alive and well on many American campuses. It may be difficult to ascertain the degree at which racist sentiments continue to fester among both students and faculty on America’s college campuses But by their refusal to allow further examples of racial bias as confirmed by their withdrawal, students have implied that the America in which they live and that heralded by Senator Scott cannot be the same. The speech and debate team from Morehouse College in Atlanta withdrew from the national tournament in mid-April – fed up after suffering numerous instances of racially-based mockery and bias from other teams. Their exasperation only increased, they said, after the team’s complaints to tournament officials remained largely ignored. The team from Spelman College quickly joined their colleagues and withdrew from the championship in a reported act of solidarity, followed by several other teams which included Clemson and Vanderbilt. Their collective actions led to the
@SamPKCollins
cancellation of the tournament in which teams had already advanced through several rounds. Tournament officials subsequently sponsored a public forum so that both students and judges from across the U.S. could voice their concerns and share personal tales of racism encountered during their debate careers.
SUCCESS IS FAMILIAR TO THE MOREHOUSE MEN
The speech and debate team representing Morehouse, one of the nation’s premier historically Black men's colleges and universities, had been competing in the 2021 championship of the British Parliamentary-style debate, conducted virtually over Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In recent years, Morehouse has experienced enviable success: a finalist in the 2015 USUDC more recent victories by the A-team “dynamic duo” of Daniel Edwards and Caleb Strickland at Vanderbilt and at the Social Justice Debates national championship. Edwards, the Morehouse team’s captain, points to Round 5 during which antics from other competitors not only violated rules of the
MOREHOUSE Page 27
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
MOREHOUSE from Page 26 tournament but occurred with such frequency that he and his teammates could no longer, in good conscience, participate. “They would try and mimic and caricaturize the kind of communicative idiosyncrasies of our voices while trying to invalidate our arguments and using that kind of just racist mockery to address our points in the round,” he said. “That was just so incredibly offensive that we felt like we needed to go to [the equity committee] immediately after because that's the job that they're put in place for the tournament to do.” “And it had a very harmful effect on the emotional and mental health of my partner. So obviously, as captain of the team, I'm going to want to take a stand,” he said. Edwards said the team addition-
EDUCATION
The impact from the Morehouse protest cannot be overstated as some insiders, including the team’s veteran debate coach, Ken Newby, have asked for reform within the mostly-white, elite world of college debate for years... ally believed that racial bias had influenced the decisions of several of the judges. But the decision to finally withdraw came after the tournament’s equity committee reneged on its promise to first review a complaint filed by Morehouse and to then issue a statement about racial equity before the next round. In their statement outlining their experiences and reasons for their withdrawal, Morehouse wrote, “[A]fter experiencing issues of anti-Blackness, and ableism by ex-
HBCUs Throughout the DMV Prepare for 2021 Commencement Ceremonies Historically Black colleges and universities will hold 2021 commencement ceremonies this month. Here’s a list of the schools and guest speakers. Howard University – Saturday, May 8 with guest speaker Bryan Stevenson, founder and executive director of Equal Justice Initiative. Actor Michael B. Jordan starred in “Just Mercy” that focused on Stevenson’s work to revamp the criminal justice system. For more information, go to https://commencement.howard.edu. University of District of Columbia – Saturday, May 8 with the keynote address by Stefanie Tompkins, director of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency of Arlington, Virginia. She helps identify breakthroughs in technology for national security. To watch the commencement, go to www.udc. edu/commencement.
Morgan State University in Baltimore – May 14 ceremonies for 2020 graduates and master’s and doctoral degrees; May 15 for undergraduates. Keynote speaker with Michael V. Drake, president of the University of California that oversees 10 campuses, five medical centers and three affiliated labs with more than 280,000 students. Drake also co-authored six books. For more information, go to https://news.morgan.edu/commencement-2021. Bowie State University – May 21 with guest speaker Stacey Abrams, former Georgia state representative, 2018 Georgia gubernatorial candidate and author. Abrams established “Fair Fight Action” to combat voter suppression and credited in voter turnout in Georgia in last year’s presidential election. For more information and to view the ceremony, go to www.bowiestate. edu/bulldog-connection/commencement. WI
tension, at this tournament to a worrying extent we can no longer continue to compete and support the tournament in good conscience.” The impact from the Morehouse protest cannot be overstated as
some insiders, including the team’s veteran debate coach, Ken Newby, have asked for reform within the mostly-white, elite world of college debate for years – demands which the powers-that-be must finally take seriously. So, while the team, which began over a century ago, has built a reputation for success at both the national and international levels, student debaters have similarly been the persistent and not-sosubtle victims of racism. “This was the last straw,” Newby said to reporters from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, referring to aggressive, anti-Black behavior exhibited by white debaters in
the room and captured on camera – cameras that should have been turned off. Sadly, Newby, an Atlanta-based attorney, said this year’s team, which had just won a debate competition, ranks among his best. However, given what they’d been forced to endure, the team’s decision to withdraw from the 2021 USUDC, one which he “supported completely,” remained inevitable. “For me, there was no choice,” Newby said. WI @mcneirdk
STAY UP TO DATE on where to shop and dine, and the latest happenings this summer in Alexandria.
Here’s how 1. Check out VisitAlexandriaVA.com/Summer 2. Stay tuned to the visitALX blog: Blog.VisitAlexandriaVA.com 3. Follow Visit Alexandria on social media 4. Sign up for the Alexandria Insider monthly e-newsletter VisitAlexandriaVA.com/eNews
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
MAY 6 - 12, 2021 27
Comcast is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its groundbreaking Internet Essentials program, which has connected more than 10 million people from low-income families to high speed internet at home for less than $10 a month. Now Comcast is committing $1 billion, over the next 10 years, to reach 50 million people from low-income families with the tools and resources they need to succeed in a digital world.
Learn more at Comcast.com/Education
28 MAY 6 - 12, 2021
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
OPINIONS/EDITORIALS
EDITORIAL
Science Should Guide Decisions to Lift COVID-19 Restrictions, Not Public Sentiment
As the number of infections, hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19 finally begin to show a slight but consistent daily decline, many U.S. officials have begun to tout their plans to lift current restrictions for cities, counties and states. And while we are all anxious to remove our masks, board jet planes and cruise ships and send our children back to school, it remains imperative that we not move too quickly. Everyone has been impacted by COVID-19 as it has emerged as an equal opportunity virus. Millions of Americans have already received their first vaccination – some have even received both doses of the vaccine. However, we have not reached herd immunity. Further, let us not forget that millions have already died from the coronavirus with more deaths reported each day. One unarguable fact about a virus should not be ignored: viruses do not stop at the geographical borders of the cities, counties, nations or along the waterways in which and where we live. So, while America, under the aggressive, science-based leadership of the Biden-Harris Administration have initiated policies and procedures at a national level that have slowly helped our nation turn the corner, we are not out of the woods yet. Not by a long shot. The crisis faced by many African nations and those who live in India confirm with deadly emphasis that COVID-19 has not disappeared. It would be wonderful if we could snap our fingers or clap our hands and the world could suddenly return to life the way it was before COVID-19 disrupted our lives. But such a possibility only exists for those who live in a fantasy world. Officials in the state of Maryland have said they believe that most restrictions will be lifted as early as Memorial Day. In New York State, officials vow that they will return to business as usual by July 4. We would like to see their predictions come true. But let’s remember that this is not a game of musical chairs where speed matters for the one who seeks victory. Slow and steady remains the only way to safely win this battle. Are we racing to live or are we racing toward death? You be the judge. WI
Black Lawyers Matter Since the killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in 2012 by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch captain in Sanford, Florida, Attorney Benjamin Crump has become a familiar face in the national news. A renowned civil rights attorney specializing in wrongful death cases, Crump and his team of lawyers are ever-present at the side of families seeking justice, particularly for those killed by police officers, including Ahmaud Arbery, Martin Lee Anderson, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and Duante Wright. Crump accepts no legal fees “until we win” according to his website. He’s successfully won verdicts and settlements of more than $30 million in personal injury cases, $87 million in wrongful death cases, and $10 million in civil rights verdicts. However, the $27 million settlement he achieved in the Floyd case didn’t overshadow the guilty verdict his team also won against former Milwaukee police officer David Chauvin accused of murdering George Floyd by kneeling on his neck for more than nine minutes. Described by many as the “hardest working lawyer in the country,” Crump has become a legal giant among all lawyers and joins the ranks of the late Johnny Cochran and many other top Black lawyers in the nation in recent history. Crump serves as an inspiration to thousands of law school students who will graduate in the coming weeks, sit for the bar exam and embark upon their legal careers. At Howard University alone, the school of law will send off nearly 150 lawyers after hearing from Attorney Bryan Stevenson, featured in the film Just Mercy and director of the Equal Justice Initiative, who will deliver the commencement address. Stevenson helped win a U.S. Supreme Court decision that prohibits sentencing children under
TO THE EDITOR Congrats to Dr. Pines
The True Wilson High
Kudos to Dr. Darryll Pines, who has been installed as president at the University of Maryland. I am confident he will do great things! This is a big deal and we should support his efforts at the university. Go Terps!
Oh, how I would love to see Woodrow Wilson renamed to August Wilson High School. How beautiful would that be to honor one of our greatest minds, playwrights and ancestors. Let’s make it happen, council!
Rachel Morrison Washington, D.C.
18 to death or life imprisonment without parole. Planting the seeds that grow fighters for equal justice under the law comes much earlier. Two D.C. lawyers, Donald Temple and Georgetown Assistant Dean Everett Bellamy, were recently honored on Law Day by Washington Bar Association for tilling the soil. The two joined forces in 1979 to establish the Charles Hamilton Houston [CHH] Pre-Law Institute where they volunteered to teach for seven weeks and over 100 hours preparing students for law school. CHH graduates have attended more than 50 different law schools and serve in some of the nation’s most presti-
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
Lydia Thomes Washington, D.C.
gious law firms. Houston, a Harvard law school graduate and a former dean of Howard Law School, was born in Washington, D.C. in 1895. He taught and mentored Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Through his work as special counsel for the NAACP, he helped win the historic Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court decision, among others. Houston believed, “A lawyer is either a social engineer, or he is a parasite on society.” Law Day, celebrated annually on May 1, demonstrates how Black lawyers are changing society every day. Black lawyers matter. WI
MAY 6 - 12, 2021 29
OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist
E. Faye Williams
The Question
Question: "To defund or not to defund?" From my perspective, I see that question as a distraction from the "real" issue which is, "How do we reform 'policing' into true public safety?" I concur with those who advocate a realignment of law enforcement budgets to incorporate the employment of mental health and counseling personnel. De-escalation must be incorporated into the police culture. When other options are dismissed
and the first instinct is the use of lethal force, I call it murder. Incorporating these options, we might then be able to bring this cycle of Blacks being murdered by police to a necessary end. Many learned analysts state their belief that "modern policing" evolved from the activities of the pre-Civil War slave-catchers. I will not argue, but I see post-emancipation as white America's greater conundrum. What to do with and how to manage free Negroes became their larger question. Social norms provided partial answers — separate segregated residential areas
Guest Columnist
and restrictive social interaction. Policing provided the other answer — keeping the niggers where they belong — away from them. Formerly enslaved people were an estimated 20% of the post-Civil War South population. There was fear of Black retribution. Wherever Blacks congregated, it was the norm to perceive them as ignorant beasts. From the largest cities to the smallest towns, Black populations were confined to urban ghettos or "across the tracks," with police serving to maintain the distance. From the beginning, "policing" for Blacks in policy and practice
equaled "control," not protection and service. The civil rights era brought significant dissonance into the ranks of law enforcement. As the barriers and restrictions to social interaction gradually began to erode, "control" became an activity more difficult to define and justify. Exposure of police violence through the national media (i.e., the March on the Edmund Pettis Bridge) gave rise to fewer Americans willing to accept police abuse. Law enforcement was fortunate in that the "majority opinion" gave them the benefit of the doubt to act as they felt ap-
propriate. They continued violence with renewed vigor. Martial organizations generally form concretized cultures that change very slowly. When examined, military and police are shown to practice more rigid adherence to standardized procedures and practices. The old within the ranks of law enforcement teach the young and express the expectation an attitude of "we've always done things this way." Training Officer Derek Chauvin is a prime example. Technology has been a godsend
WILLIAMS Page 53
Marc H. Morial
At Biden-Harris 100-Day Mark, America is Moving Again But the Road is Long
"My fellow Americans, look, we have to come together to heal the soul of this nation … We have the giant opportunity to bend the arc of the moral universe toward justice, real justice … We have a real chance to root out systematic racism that plagues America and American lives in other ways. A chance to deliver real equity: good
jobs, good schools, affordable housing, clean air, clean water, the ability to generate wealth and pass it down to generations because you have an access to purchase a house. Real opportunities in the lives of more Americans — Black, white, Latino, Asian-Americans, Native Americans." — President Joe Biden, address to a joint session of Congress, April 28 One hundred days into their administration, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kama-
Guest Columnist
la Harris have made surprisingly bold inroads in confronting racial injustice and the COVID-19 pandemic, but significant challenges remain. President Biden and Vice President Harris entered the White House at a moment of unprecedented multiple crises, and they have risen to confront those crises with remarkable speed and effectiveness. With the help of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi,
they have illuminated the systemic racial inequality that hinders our nation's progress and set a course for healing. Whether the nation can stay that course remains to be seen. President Biden has been purposeful and intentional about including racial justice components in every policy he has undertaken in the first 100 days. He has used his moral voice to create a distinction between the poisonous philosophy of white supremacy and
the idea of an America for everyone, an America of opportunity and pathways to progress for all people. Importantly, he has changed the tone of governing, adopting a tone of inclusiveness that stands in stark contrast to the reality-show, finger-pointing, disparaging tone of the recent past. The 100-day mark is something of an arbitrary and artificial dead-
MORIAL Page 53
Marian Wright Edelman
Hope for Millions of Children on the Horizon
President Biden's April 28 address to a joint Congress called for an overdue investment in families and children with his American Families Plan. He listed many critical ways his previous American Rescue Plan has provided help already to millions of families. President Biden said the most
30 MAY 6 - 12, 2021
important of all might be putting our nation on track to cut child poverty in half this year. The Children's Defense Fund's long cries in the wilderness to end child poverty are finally being heard! I hope all children have a chance to realize their God-given potential in a more just United States. President Biden's plan will provide a huge step forward. CDF has prepared an analysis of the American Families Plan
which includes extensions of recent Child Tax Credit (CTC), Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), and Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC) expansions, universal pre-kindergarten, access to two years of community college, more adequate investments in child care, an expansion of community eligibility for free meals to more children, and other critical supports families and workers need. President Biden would pay for
these investments by eliminating some tax cuts for the rich, including raising the tax rate for the top one percent and ending capital income tax breaks and other tax loopholes. The American Families Plan and the American Jobs Plan would lay the foundation for a stronger and more prosperous nation and I hope Congress will build on them to truly end child poverty and leave no child behind. Congress must make the
full CTC expansion permanent and make additional investments in child care, housing, nutrition, and more. Addressing our nation, President Biden said, "America is rising anew, choosing hope over fear, truth over lies, and light over darkness." Our nation's millions of poor children desperately need that hope and light far too long denied. I thank President Biden for his leadership. WI
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist
Glynda C. Carr
Black Women's Leadership During the First 100 Days
In 1933, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt launched the tradition of assessing the first 100 days of new leadership when, during a speech, he offered it up as a good point for reflecting on the status of the newly implemented New Deal. The series of laws, which were quickly passed under his new administration, aimed to end the Great Depression and get the country back on its feet.
There is a parallel between the desperate mood of the country 88 years ago when Roosevelt took the reins and when President Joe Biden took leadership this past January in the midst of an ongoing pandemic, a worsening economy and rising racial tensions. One major difference, however, is that there is now a long-overdue focus on the role of Black women in righting the ship. Black women voters and political activists were on the front line of the effort to elect President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris — candidates who overcame long-held
biases about age, gender and race to win their offices. As we assess the work of this historic leadership team at its 100 days mark, it's also a good time to take a look at how — in light of their growing political influence and visibility — Black women are faring in our efforts to break glass ceilings, increase their presence among the ranks of political and civic leadership, and effect policy. If recent political history has reminded us of any truth it's that progress towards equity and justice doesn't travel in a straight line. Black women's efforts to diversify elected
Guest Columnist
leadership have encountered significant resistance, and their achievements in one legislative branch have sometimes resulted in giving up ground in another. For example, Stacey Abram's nearly successful bid for Georgia governor and Black women's increased representation in Congress during the 2018 election triggered a rash of voter suppression bills. This year, following Black women's historic gains as mayors, in the U.S. House and on the presidential ticket, legislative bodies in 47 states have introduced 361 bills aimed at curtailing the voter access
measures that are frequently used by Black communities to cast their ballot. And while Black women crashed through a glass ceiling when Harris was sworn in as vice president this January, they are consequently now devoid of representation in the U.S. Senate. Despite these challenges, Black women have made unprecedented gains in occupying elected positions and governmental appointments during the first 100 day of the new leadership that their votes
Myrick and the city council approved a plan to do away with their traditional police department and replace it with a new Department of Community Solutions and Public Safety, in which some personnel would carry weapons — and, importantly, some would not. Instead, unarmed social workers would respond to the many calls in which an armed response is unnecessary and even dangerous. The new department will have a civilian supervisor. It will focus on de-escalating situations in which people are at
risk, and restoring trust among the city's communities of color, homeless residents, LGBTQ residents and residents with disabilities. The plan came together with input from local residents as well as city and county officials. It is the kind of innovative thinking we want in communities across the nation, and the energy around the Chauvin trial helped get it over the finish line. We all can harness that energy where we live. Our year of speak-
Fulbright changed his wicked ways, became an advocate for peaceful U.S. intervention, and established an ongoing scholarship program which sends graduating seniors to countries all over the world with grants to foster intercultural relations and cultural diplomacy. Good for him. But he still did not move the needle very far when it came to Libya, which was eventually rendered a failed state by U.S. military intervention authorized by President Barack Obama. The other reformed white man I
met was Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia, a former member of the Ku Klux Klan who filibustered the 1957 Civil Rights Act, resulting in a substantially weaker bill than its supporters had proposed. I met Byrd at Harpers Ferry in 2006 at the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Niagara Movement, the precursor to the NAACP. Byrd told us that his "come to Jesus moment" was when his teen-
CARR Page 53
Ben Jealous
Chauvin Is Guilty. Our Work Is Cut Out for Us
Just a few days have passed since Derek Chauvin's conviction in the murder of George Floyd. But the images from that moment are seared in our memories forever: the murderer, led away in handcuffs. The Floyd family, Philonise Floyd speaking through tears, at the microphones after the verdict. The crowds outside the courthouse erupting in cheers when the verdict
was read. Our gratitude for this measure of accountability is soul-deep. And now we ask ourselves, will things really be different this time? The answer is that they can be, if we seize this moment. Washington has sent encouraging signs that it is serious about addressing police violence and systemic racism. Congress should pass the imperfect but important George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. The Justice Department is forging ahead with investigations of police departments
in Minneapolis and Louisville, and the shooting of Anthony Brown in North Carolina. We have work to do in our own neighborhoods, too. Policing is a local function, controlled by city, county and state governments. These governments answer directly to us, the citizens. And there is a lot we can do to insist on change. One of the most inspiring examples today is in Ithaca, New York, a college town led by a dynamic young Black mayor. There, Mayor Svante
Askia-At-Large
JEALOUS Page 54
Askia Muhammad
The Problem with Joe Biden
As far as I'm concerned, the "problem" with Joe Biden is that he is a 78-year-old white man. That may also be his greatest strength: he is a "reformed" 78-year-old White man. Being a white man of any age usually means being unalterably wired to think that white males are beings superior to all others in The Creation. That is far from the truth.
Being a reformed white man, who recognizes the errors of his past ways is a fairly worthless prize as well. Two such men I came to know, come to mind. First, I met Sen. J. William Fulbright in 1978. I traveled with him to Col. Muamar Qaddafi's Libya in a peace delegation of 100 or so from this country in 1978. Fulbright, a former Arkansas senator, earned seniority in Congress by being elected as a white segregationist. He energetically opposed civil rights legislation. That's
what senators from the South did. But Fulbright changed, and by the time he took us to Libya, he was a beacon of peaceful reconciliation. He boldly diplomatically engaged with Qaddafi who was one of the staunch leaders of the Arab "steadfastness and rejection front." The front included the Palestine Liberation Organization, Syria, Iraq, Algeria and South Yemen, and they opposed the peace deal Egypt's Anwar Sadat negotiated with the United States and the apartheid state of Israel.
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
ASKIA Page 54 MAY 6 - 12, 2021 31
LIFESTYLE August Wilson Society Salutes the Life and Legacy of Celebrated Black Playwright D.C.-based Organization Marks 15th Anniversary and the Birthday of August Wilson D. Kevin McNeir WI Senior Editor When calling the roll of the most-revered African-American playwrights – men and women who have contributed both to the canon of Black theatre and to American literature – several names immediately come to mind. Even with a cursory glance, many writers who merit consideration as “America’s Black Shakespeare” easily come to mind: Amiri Baraka, Langston Hughes, Lorraine Hansberry, Ntozake Shange, Samm-Art Williams, George C. Wolfe, Charles Fuller, Anna Deavere Smith, Pearl Cleage and the most celebrated Black playwright of the 20th century, August Wilson. Wilson, who died at the age of 60 from cancer, would have marked his 76th birthday on Tuesday, April 27, had he still been alive. But his messages continue to resound as he paints pictures with his words in his unforgetta-
ble canon of work, often referred to as his Century (or Pittsburgh) Cycle. But have no fear. In many ways, August Wilson remains alive and well. As an example, here in the Greater Washington Area, the District-based August Wilson Society [AWS] hosted a virtual celebration on the day of the late playwright’s birth while also marking the organization’s 15th anniversary. “We raise our glasses and our voices to commemorate the birthday of the late, great playwright August Wilson – master storyteller, two-time Pulitzer Prize winner and griot who chronicled the expedites and highlighted the
Editor’s Note: On Monday, May 3, Dr. Sandra G. Shannon, president/co-founder, August Wilson Society, served as one of three panelists along with Phylicia Rashad and Ruben Santiago-Hudson for the 11th annual National Finals of the August Wilson Monologue Competition. Created in 2007, Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company continues to produce the competition, collaborating with partner organizations in 19 cities across the U.S. The competition serves as a celebration of the words of the playwright August Wilson and inspires high school students to find and express themselves through theatre. Sixteen national finalists competed Monday evening during the first entirely virtual program. The winners included: First Place: Taloria Merricks, a four-year competitor who will matriculate at Howard University in the fall majoring in musical theater; Second Place: Taylor Jackson, a three-year competitor representing the state of Alabama who will continue her studies in acting at Pace University; and Third Place: Tyla Uzo, a graduating senior from Los Angeles. The winners will receive college scholarship in the amount of $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000, respectively.
32 MAY 6 - 12, 2021
nobility of voiceless masses of African Americans,” said Dr. Sandra G. Shannon, president, AWS and a professor of English at Howard University. With AWS founding member Dr. Shannon at the helm, the organization has expanded its programming and goals while remaining committed to its long-held belief that one cannot begin to deal with the present without remembering the past. The event featured an insightful discussion with several founding members of the Society who highlighted examples of Wilson’s keen profundity and masterful control of the written word – most notably illustrated in his play “Fences” for which he earned both a Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award in 1987. In addition, the speakers collectively agreed upon the continued relevance of Wilson’s “Century Cycle” – a series of 10 plays that remain even more timely today amid recent racial, political and social tensions that have occurred nationwide. The August Wilson Society traces its roots to the campus of Howard University where in the spring of 2006, shortly after Wilson’s death, 12 men and women vowed to keep Wilson’s legacy alive for future generations. Each founding member represents various disciplines taught by scholars at Howard. University.
WILSON ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT BLACK LIVES MATTER
Wilson, often touted as the “theater's poet of Black America,” remains best known for his 10 plays, The Century Cycle, which chronicle the experiences and heritage of the African-American community in the 20th century. Plays in the series include: Jitney (1982), Fences (1984), Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (1984), Joe Turner's Come and Gone (1986), The Piano Lesson (1987) and King Hedley II (1999). His works tackle themes which include: the Black experience in America, the systemic and historical exploitation of African Americans, race relations, identity, migration and racial discrimination. Actress Viola Davis, who starred in the film adaptation of “Fences,” describes Wilson's writing by saying, “He captures our humor, our vulnerabilities, our tragedies, our trauma. And he humanizes us. And he allows us to talk.” Since Wilson's death, two of his plays have been adapted into films: “Fences” (2016) and most recently “Ma Rainey's Black Bottom” (2020) which featured Davis and the late Chadwick
Bozeman. Denzel Washington, who produced both films and served as a leading actor in “Fences,” has committed to adapting the rest of Wilson’s plays into films making them available to a much wider audience. Several comments shared during the virtual celebration addressed the question of how Wilson’s works may inform young activists and warriors of the present and future as they seek to eradicate centuries of racially-based injustice, prejudice and the oppression of African Americans. “As an historian, Wilson provided a sense of what African 5 A poster showcases several of the playbills for the works of Black males confronted playwright August Wilson. (Courtesy photo) daily,” said Elizabeth Clark-Lewis, a founding member and at the central core of African-American an instructor in Howard’s Department society and that music was foundationof History. al to every aspect of life,” he said. Greg Carr, an AWS founding memWhile the prophetic musings of Afber and a professor of Afro-American rican-Americans icons – from Dr. MarStudies at Howard said, “Wilson retin Luther King, Jr. and James Baldwin minds us that we draw from our exto the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Jr. and Shirley periences – situations that are often Chisholm – are routinely offered as intimate and germane to a specific food for thought, August Wilson prolocation. So, my students have found vided us with quotations that should the ability to connect what Wilson was not be forgotten including the four writing about to all of our ancestors below: who he brought into the conversation.” “Confront the dark parts of yourself “Whatever your grandmother or the and work to banish them with illumicats at the grocery store were talking nation and forgiveness.” about is what Wilson was listening to,” “I been with strangers all day and Carr added. “Wilson said, ‘I am not they treated me like family.” writing to please anybody; I am writing “You got to be right with yourself about what I said.’” before you can be right with anybody Founding member and Professor else.” of English Dana Wilson observed that “Have a belief in yourself that is bigwhile some might believe it to be an ger than anyone’s disbelief.” insurmountable challenge to provide The 12 founding members of the instruction on Wilson’s plays so youth, August Wilson Society include: Dr. 17 to 21 years old, may comprehend Sandra Shannon, Mbye Cham, Elizthe complexity of his works, she’s found abeth Clark-Lewis, Greg Carr, Patrick that young people “get it.” Goodin, Jules Harrell, Denise J. Hart, “Wilson includes a lot of older charSais Kamalidiin, Kim Bey, Dana Wilacters in his works – characters who liams, Joe Selmon (deceased) and Floyd are so well-developed that my students Coleman (deceased). often say, ‘Oh, she’s just like my grandFor more information about the Aumother.’” gust Wilson Society, visit wwwaugustAnother founding member, Sais Kawilsonsociety.org. malidiin, an instructor in the DepartWI Contributing Writer Hamil Harment of Music, pointed to the impact ris contributed to this article. WI which Wilson had on music. @mcneirdk "Wilson understood that music was
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
First Black Jockey Since 2013 Rides in Kentucky Derby WI Staff
Kendrick Carmouche rode more than just Bourbonic, a long-shot slotted in the number 20 position of a 20-horse field in the 174th running of the Kentucky Derby Saturday, May 1. He shadowed the 102-year-old ghost of Jimmy Winkfield, the last African American to win the Run for the Roses. Had the 37-year-old Carmouche won, he would have matched Winkfield, who won atop Alan-a-Day in 1902. Already, the Louisiana native bucked formidable hurdles just to get to Churchill Downs by guiding Bourbonic against 72-to-1 odds to a historic first-place finish in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct Racetrack in April. By the day of the Derby, Bourbonic went off at 30-to-1 odds and did not place in race. “If you work hard, this is what you get at the end,” he told reporters after the unexpected win. “I hope this opens up a lot of eyes, black, white whatever, whoever’s looking at me and listening to me talk about these horses and me riding and the passion that they have. I hope it drives them in whatever career they have to be just as successful.” The annual event in Queens, N.Y., counts as a prep race for three-yearold horses in which a victory is a sure ticket to join the field at the Kentucky Derby, along with a $750,000 purse. Carmouche staged an upset of mammoth proportions, pushing Bourbon-
ic past a speedy field to win by a nose. The Wood Memorial upset, biggest in the race’s history, marked part of a spectacular few months for Carmouche. Beginning in November 2020, he won the Breeders’ Cup in Lexington, Ky. and followed that with first-place victories in nine races over four days at Aqueduct. He won the riding title at Aqueduct last year and ranks seventh among the nation’s jockeys in earnings with more than $118 million in purse earnings. Since he earned his jockey license at the age of 16, he has won 3,400 races, according to DRF, the online version of the Daily Racing Form, the national bible of racing news. On May 1, he entered horse racing’s hallowed ground, the first Black jockey in the Derby since 2013 in a sport that was once dominated by Black riders. The first Kentucky Derby winner was guided to a first-place finish by an African American, Oliver Lewis. Fifteen and the first 28 Derby winners were ridden by African American jockeys, according Churchill Downs records. The post-World War I Jim Crow climate of racial segregation pushed them out of the sport. The last victorious Black jockey in the Run for the Roses was Winkfield, who won in 1901 and 1902. Winkfield left the U.S. for Russia, where he dominated the sport until forced by the Russian Revolution to flee for France, where his domination of riding and training continued until his retirement. WI
LIFESTYLE
DC TICKETS YOU’LL WANT TO GET
N O I L L I M RIZES P 2 H S $ L CA OVER
TA IN TO
dclottery.com
DC scratcher games may continue to be sold even when all the top prizes have been claimed.
Washington Informer | 1/2 pg | 5.85” x 9.5” | 4c | New | May Bundler
Stay Informed!
5 Kendrick Carmouche (Courtesy photo)
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
www.washingtoninformer.com
MAY 6 - 12, 2021 33
LIFESTYLE
Taking Aim at the Big C – Cancer Dixie Ann Black WI Contributing Writer It’s 3 A.M. My cousin Nellie bolts upright in the bed. “I just saw Papa,” she gasps. My uncle has just died, and I am not ready for this. “What did he say?” I ask. Nellie is sitting still as a stone. Her voice is low as if she too is coming from the other world. “He said to drink warm lemon water every night.” Well, that’s anti-climactic, I think to myself. But aloud I ask, “Why?” She replies, “To prevent cancer.” My uncle died of “the Big C”. Nellie doesn’t have cancer. Still my uncle is intent on protecting his daughter, even from the grave, by offering preventative advice. In a nutshell, he is telling her, “Prevent inflammation.” April is National Cancer Control Month. The American Cancer Society lists four of the most common
34 MAY 6 - 12, 2021
causes of cancer as: • Smoking and Tobacco • Sun and other types of Radiation • Viruses and Other Infections • Diet and Physical Exercise Let’s look at ‘Diet and Physical Exercise’ as a means of prevention and possibly control. After all, this is where most of us get stuck. In his book, The China Study, Dr. T. Colin Campbell outlines twenty years of research and prevention strategies that show how a radical change in diet can not only save our lives but heal us from diseases such as cancer. Most of us don’t have cancer now, but what we are eating now could be setting the stage for disease later in our lives. Still, one of the hardest habits to break is what we eat. So how do we start? We start by “renewing our minds”. When we understand what “the good way is and walk in it we will find rest for our souls”, to quote the Good Book. We un-
derstand that, in general, disease is caused or fed by inflammation in the body. Our daily job is to eat and live in a way that discourages or prevents inflammation. Simply put, we must exercise routinely, increase healthy food intake, and eliminate fast foods and toxic chemicals like sugar. Green vegetables and fruit are alkalizing foods that fight inflammation, therefore a whole-foods, plant-based diet is a great option. My uncle was right, lemon water is a good preventative measure for alkalizing the blood, assisting in reducing inflammation. A major eating change may seem daunting. So, how about gradually adding healthy items to our diet? Consistency is key to change. Over time we may come to enjoy the healthy choices more and more, allowing us to let go of unhealthy foods. For instance, can we add a green salad to lunch or dinner daily, or add carrot or celery sticks as a snack? And don’t forget the lemon water at night. WI
“Black people have the highest death rate and shortest survival of any racial/ethnic
group for most cancers in the U.S.” Cancer.org
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
LIFESTYLE Pennsylvania Supreme Court on the Clock for Cosby Decision Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer Time’s running out for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court as the panel prepares to render a decision on the fate of Bill Cosby. May 1 marked exactly five months since Cosby’s lawyers and prosecutors argued before the high court with the comedian seeking to vacate his 3-to-10-year prison sentence after being convicted in 2018 on charges of indecent aggravated assault. Failing the court vacating the conviction, Cosby and his lawyers still want a new trial, arguing that trial Judge Steven O’Neill erred when he allowed at least five hearsay witnesses to testify against him about decades-old encounters. While prosecutors assert that Cosby received a fair trial, the actor’s defense team contend that a previous agreement with the district attorney’s office should have been honored but wasn’t. Former Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor has repeatedly acknowledged that he indeed cut a deal with Cosby in 2006. Castor said he promised Cosby that if he sat for a deposition in a civil suit filed against him by former Temple
University employee Andrea Constand, the testimony could never be used in a criminal proceeding. But current District Attorney Kevin Steele ignored the agreement and used portions of the deposition to prosecute Cosby. “What they are doing to Bill Cosby is wrong. It’s not justice,” Castor told the Black Press in 2018. During the Supreme Court hearing in December, the justices appeared unimpressed with the prosecution’s explanation for using the deposition. They also signaled their dissatisfaction with O’Neill for allowing the hearsay witnesses. “I tend to agree this evidence was extraordinarily prejudicial to your client,” Justice Max Baer told Cosby attorney Jennifer Bonjean during the hearing. “A defendant must be tried for what he did and not who he is,” Bonjean argued. “He had no shot. The presumption of innocence just didn’t exist for him at that point.” Prosecutor Adrienne Jappe argued that the hearsay testimony showed a typical pattern, claiming Cosby befriended and isolated women and then drugged them to have sex with him. During the trial, Constand, the lone accuser in the case, said the two
never had intercourse. She admitted to some forms of intimacy but claimed she was “unconscious” when Cosby put his hands inside her pants during their last intimate encounter. Justice Christine Donohue told Jappe, “Frankly, I don’t see it.” Chief Justice Thomas Saylor and Justice Kevin Dougherty also expressed being troubled by the hearsay testimony. Cosby’s longtime spokesman Andrew Wyatt told the Black Press that his client has remained steadfast in his assertion that his relationship with Constand remained consensual. He also said Cosby maintains that he has never drugged or assaulted anyone. “That’s just not true,” Wyatt said. WI
5 Bill Cosby (Courtesy photo)
Former Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor has repeatedly acknowledged that he indeed cut a deal with Cosby in 2006.
Stay Informed!
www.washingtoninformer.com
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
MAY 6 - 12, 2021 35
LIFESTYLE
Report for America Brings Fresh Eyes to Overworked Newsrooms WI Staff
Your local marketing experts with UNLIMITED REACH. Kevin Berrier 443-508-1936 KBerrier@MDDCPress.com
We Cancel TIMESHARES for You Every year 150,000 people reach out to us for help getting rid of their timeshare. In 2019, we relieved over $50,000,000 in timeshare debt and maintenance fees. We can help.
Get your free information kit and see if you qualify:
888-984-2917
BACKED BY A YEAR-ROUND EXCLUSIVE LIMITED TIME OFFER!
NATIO
2
D
GU
15% & 10 %
’S
1
R
E
TT
N
TH
CLOG-FREE GUARANTEE ER GUA
OFF
FINANCING THAT FITS YOUR BUDGET!1 Promo Code: 285
Subject to credit approval. Call for details.
1
CALL US TODAY FOR
A FREE ESTIMATE
YOUR ENTIRE PURCHASE *
+
5% OFF
TO THE FIRST 50 CALLERS ONLY! **
SENIORS & MILITARY!
OFF
WE INSTALL
YEAR-ROUND!
At a time when the nation’s newsrooms are confronting a surge in events to be chronicled and a shortage of staff to cover them, help is on the way. Thanks to a partnership with Report for America, the Washington Informer’s staff welcomes a new reporter to help bridge the gap between the often-overwhelming flow of events and the resources to cover them. Maya Smith, soon to receive her graduate degree in Investigative Journalism from American University, will cover healthcare and under-covered communities at the Informer through 2022. Smith is one of 300 journalists joining 64 news outlets throughout the nation to help address the need for coverage of under-covered areas and topics. Report for America grew out of an initiative by a non-profit media organization called the Ground Truth Project with an announced purpose to “harness the skills and idealism of an emerging group of journalists plus the creative spirit of local news organizations.” For Smith , a year at the Informer marks another step in a career begun in Memphis, Tenn. “I appreciate Report for America’s prioritizing coverage of underreported communities,” she said. “I chose The Washington Informer because of the paper’s history and its reputation of producing solid journalism.” For the Informer, the addition of Smith provides a rare opportunity, according to Informer Publisher Denise
5 Maya Smith (Courtesy photo)
Rolark Barnes. “We are honored to be among the Report for America newsrooms across the country to host an aspiring and talented journalist such as Maya Smith. “We look forward to her contributions as we cover the issue of health care access and disparities in the District with a goal of improving outcomes among affected members of the community. This work would not be possible without the support of RFA and donations from our readers who support local journalism.” “With the local news system shrinking, it’s important that we both put more and more reporters in the field— and that we help newsrooms that are working toward becoming more sustainable, and more grounded in the community,” said Steven Waldman, president and co-founder of Report for America. “It’s particularly gratify-
ing that newsrooms have, en masse, decided that they want to do better coverage of communities of color and rural areas.” While Report for America is geared toward emerging journalists, it is also piloting a small “experienced corps” for 2021, with positions available for midto late-career journalists with eight or more years’ experience. “Report for America provides a unique opportunity for journalists to really sink their teeth into local, issue-oriented reporting that is missing from so many newsrooms today,” said Norman Parish, recruitment director, Report for America. “Beyond talented reporters and photojournalists, we are looking for individuals who see journalism as a public service and want to make a difference within their communities.” WI
LIFETIME WARRANTY
1-855-995-2490
Mon-Thurs: 8am-11pm, Fri-Sat: 8am-5pm, Sun: 2pm-8pm EST
*For those who qualify. One coupon per household. No obligation estimate valid for 1 year. **Offer valid at time of estimate only 2The leading consumer reporting agency conducted a 16 month outdoor test of gutter guards in 2010 and recognized LeafFilter as the “#1 rated professionally installed gutter guard system in America.” CSLB# 1035795 DOPL #10783658-5501 License# 7656 License# 50145 License# 41354 License# 99338 License# 128344 License# 218294 WA UBI# 603 233 977 License# 2102212986 License# 2106212946 License# 2705132153A License# LEAFFNW822JZ License# WV056912 License# WC-29998-H17 Nassau HIC License# H01067000 Registration# 176447 Registration# HIC.0649905 Registration# C127229 Registration# C127230 Registration# 366920918 Registration# PC6475 Registration# IR731804 Registration# 13VH09953900 Registration# PA069383 Suffolk HIC License# 52229-H License# 2705169445 License# 262000022 License# 262000403 License# 0086990 Registration# H-19114
DENTAL Insurance from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company.
Call to get your FREE Information Kit
1-855-337-5228 dental50plus.com/MDDC
Includes the Participating (in GA: Designated) Providers and Preventive Benefits Rider. Product not available in all states. Acceptance guaranteed for one insurance policy/certificate of this type. Contact us for complete details about this insurance solicitation. This specific offer is not available in CO; call 1-800-969-4781 or respond for similar offer. Certificate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150 (GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN); Rider kinds B438/B439 (GA: B439B). 6255
36 MAY 6 - 12, 2021
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
Washington Gas Cares
We’re Here to Help When You Need it the Most Submitted by Washington Gas Washington Gas understands the ongoing challenges that residential and business customers may face in paying their gas bills. We know that many are still facing financial impacts because of the pandemic and we are committed to helping you manage the challenges of paying your utility bill. Let us help you identify energy assistance options and/or a payment plan that fits your budget. We're here to help. But please don't wait. The sooner you reach out to us, the sooner we can explore options and find a solution custom tailored for you. Contact us at washingtogascares.com or via phone at 844 Wash Gas.
Check out the various energy assistance program options available to assist with managing your Washington Gas bill:
LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP):
Through this program, the federal government distributes funds to the District of Columbia which, in turn, provides grants to qualified applicants to help them pay their energy bills. For assistance on LIHEAP, RES or a payment plan, call 844-WASHGAS and select option 2. Please note that wait times may be extended due to the higher call volume.
RESIDENTIAL ESSENTIAL SERVICE (RES):
With this program, eligible households may qualify for a discount on
“Washington Gas is dedicated to the communities, families, neighbors and individuals we serve. It’s part of who we are and what the Washington Gas Cares initiative is all about – to lend a helping hand when customers can use it the most,” said Blue Jenkins. “Our team stands ready to support customers facing difficult decisions when paying their bills -- we can identify the right energy assistance option and payment plan that fits a customer’s budget and schedule during a time of need. Customers can also contact us directly. We are here to help.”
a portion of the natural gas they use each month during the heating season from Nov. 1 to Apr. 30. To be eligible for the RES discount, customers must: • Use natural gas as the main source for home heating; and • Be certified by the Department of Energy & Environment as eligible for LIHEAP.
WASHINGTON AREA FUEL FUND (WAFF):
In 1983, Washington Gas and The Salvation Army created the Washington Area Fuel Fund (WAFF) to help neighbors in need with their
heating bills. Every winter people in our community face the difficult question of whether to give up heat in their homes to deal with temporary financial crises. The Salvation Army disburses these funds through its 12 offices located throughout the Washington area from January 1 – May 31. To determine your eligibility, please visit www.waffhelp.org.
with no down payment required. 4Budget Plan spreads the cost of winter heating over the entire year. We calculate your average monthly payment based on historical natural gas usage, adjusted for normal weather and projected gas costs.
There are many payment options available to assist with managing your Washington Gas bill:
4Payment Extension Plan are available for residential customers only and allows for the extension of the payment due date.
4Deferred Payment arrangements are available for up to 12-months, or 24-months for customers receiving energy assistance
4Automated-Payment Plan allows you to sign-up to pay your bill automatically every month on your payment due date.
ENERGY ANSWERS
Energy Efficiency Tips to Make Your Home More Sustainable
TIP 1:
Change your light bulbs to LEDs.
TIP 2:
Replace your air/furnace filter regularly.
TIP 3:
Set your thermostat to 78°F in the summer and 68°F in the winter.
TIP 4:
Use the Low or Warm settings on your water heater – never turning it above 120°F. This will improve efficiency and prevent scalding accidents.
TIP 5:
Caulk, weather-strip and insulate openings where you think air may infiltrate your home. The most common places where air escapes include doors, attics, windows, plumbing penetrations and electrical outlets
TIP 6:
Hang up window treatments that block sunlight and prevent heat from entering through your windows.
TIP 7:
Using a ceiling fan allows you to raise the thermostat setting about 4°F with no reduction in comfort. Ceiling fans don’t just cool in the summer; you can also reverse the direction in the winter to provide an updraft and force warm air down into the room.
TIP 8:
Reduce your hot water use by taking showers instead of baths, washing full loads of dishes and using cold water for full loads of laundry.
TIP 9:
When you are away from home, turn down your thermostat at least 10 degrees.
TIP 10:
If you are replacing appliances, look for the ENERGY STAR label for efficiency ratings.
For more information, visit washingtongas.com or call 844-WASHGAS (844-927-4427).
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
MAY 6 - 12, 2021 37
LIFESTYLE
AMTRAK from Page 17
When it’s important, we plan for it ahead of time. Planning your life celebration now will give you and your family valuable peace of mind. Our guaranteed, pre-paid funeral plans protect everyone from hard financial and emotional decisions at a time of loss. Speak with us today and we’ll help you take care of every detail, including affordable payment plans.
FREE planning guide:
DignityMemorial.com
11 LOCAL PROVIDERS TO SERVE YOU, INCLUDING:
NATIONAL FUNERAL HOME & MEMORIAL PARK | FALLS CHURCH
703-560-4400
DEMAINE
MURPHY
FUNERAL HOMES ALEXANDRIA | FAIRFAX | SPRINGFIELD
FUNERAL HOMES ARLINGTON | FALLS CHURCH
703-549-0074
703-920-4800
1,200 furloughed union employees … back to work through the remainder of 2021 and into 2022,” according to a statement released by Kimberly Woods, public relations manager for Amtrak. The pandemic has been tough on Amtrak, according to Flynn, who said current ridership hovers around 20-25 percent of pre-COVID levels, according to Flynn. The railroad is vital to American recovery after the pandemic, transportation experts say. The Northeast Corridor, or NEC, which stretches from Washington, D.C. to Boston, Massachusetts is the most heavily traveled portion of the rail system, according to the Center for American Progress. “Amtrak carries four times as many riders between Washington, D.C. and New York City as every single airline does within fifty miles of the shore from Florida all the way up the East Coast,” said President Joe Biden. Since 1971, when Amtrak was created to consolidate independent rail lines through the nation, passenger rail has become vital to intercity rail service, Amtrak provides many other uses that are vital for economic recovery. Amtrak, for example, operates commuter rails services on behalf of regional rail authorities which include the Maryland Area Regional Commuter. Its existence also allows other transit agencies like the Long Island Railroad and the Virginia Railway Express to use its infrastructure to transport passengers and
freight. But there’s a bright side to the challenges Amtrak faces during the pandemic. With ridership down, Amtrak has been able to upgrade their technology, infrastructure, fleet, stations and processes to make travel more welcoming and accessible. According to Amtrak.com, trains are now equipped with onboard filtration systems with a fresh air exchange rate every 4-5 minutes, private rooms are offered on many routes, and there’s real-time seat availability starting May 23. This provides customers the opportunity to book trains that are less crowded. Also, if capacity exceeds comfort levels, riders can exchange their tickets without incurring extra fees. Amtrak is also waiving all change fees for reservations made by Sept. 6, 2021. Amtrak officials also stated that they will expand service by including 83 intercity trains sets which will operate on the Northeast Corridor and various state supported and long distance routes, 30 new routes and adding trains on 20 existing routes across the U.S. by 2035. “The stars are aligning where we have a President that is interested in Amtrak, we have a Congress that really wants to spend a lot of money addressing the crumbling infrastructure more generally across the U.S. and we have a public that’s tired of air travel and congested highways. The people are demanding better transportation alternatives.” said Sean Jeans-Gail, Vice President, Policy & Government Affairs of the Rail Passengers Association. WI
Become a Published Author with Dorrance. We want to read your book!
National Funeral Home | National Memorial Park
Stay Informed! www.washingtoninformer.com
38 MAY 6 - 12, 2021
Our staff is made up of writers, just like you. We are dedicated to making publishing dreams come true. Trusted by authors for nearly 100 years, Dorrance has made countless authors’ dreams come true.
Complete Book Publishing Services FIVE EASY STEPS TO PUBLICATION: 1. Consultation
4. Distribution
2. Book Production 5. Merchandising and Fulfillment 3. Promotion
Call now to receive your FREE Author’s Guide
877-420-7280
or www.dorranceinfo.com/informer
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
DCPSC Hosts Speaker Series to Support DC-Based Diverse Businesses Seeking Contract Opportunities The Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia (Commission) is hosting a three-part webinar series to support District-based and diverse businesses seeking contract opportunities with the Commission. The Commission seeks to encourage stakeholders to become a Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) and participate in bidding for professional services, especially in the areas of professional engineering, accounting, economics, law, and marketing/ communications. The webinar series takes place on May 19, May 26 and June 2, 2021. The series will highlight the process for becoming a CBE, the bidding process, upcom-
ing procurements, and the vendor experience while working with the Commission (networking event) . These livestreamed webinars are free and open to the public, but advance registration is required. Current CBEs and other businesses are encouraged to attend. A CBE is a DC-based business headquartered in the District that has been certified by the Department of Small and Local Business Development. Businesses must meet certain criteria to become a CBE in the District. Once certified, CBEs receive preference in procurement opportunities and, in general, the program helps position businesses to better compete in District government contracting opportunities. Willie L. Phillips, Chair of the
Commission stated, “Supporting CBEs in the District is a top strategic priority for the DCPSC. Our annual goal is to achieve or exceed providing 35% of the Commission’s total procurement contract dollars to CBEs. The DCPSC has also set a requirement for CBE participation in any procurement of $100,000 or more for professional services.” Visit the Commission website for more information about the Commission’s CBE initiative.
“Supporting CBEs in the District is a top strategic priority for the DCPSC. Our annual goal is to achieve or exceed providing 35% of the Commission’s total procurement contract dollars to CBEs. The DCPSC has also set a requirement for CBE participation in any procurement of $100,000 or more for professional services.”
The Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia is an independent agency established by Congress in 1913 to regulate electric, natural gas, and telecommunications companies in the District of Columbia.
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
MAY 6 - 12, 2021 39
LIFESTYLE
Maryland High School Youth Advance to NAACP ACT-SO Finals D. Kevin McNeir WI Senior Editor Despite facing unprecedented challenges due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Montgomery County Maryland Branch of the NAACP refused to cancel this year’s ACT-SO competition for high school youth. After months of planning and frequent adjustments, County cochairs, Pat Price and Laura Dennis, along with NAACP Montgomery County Maryland Branch Linda Plummer and a host of volunteers, provided the opportunity for students to compete in the annual event. The areas in which students competed ranged from photography and written poetry to physics and architecture. On Sunday, May 2, during the virtual awards ceremony for the Afro-Academic, Cultural, Techno-
logical, Scientific Olympics [ACTSO] Competition 2021, students received 12 gold medals, qualifying them to move on to compete in the national finals scheduled later this year. ACT-SO serves as a high school initiative sponsored by the NAACP to promote and encourage academic and artistic excellence. Gold medalists will represent the NAACP Montgomery County Maryland Branch at the Virtual National ACT-SO Competition this summer from July 7 – 11. The NAACP Montgomery County Maryland Branch offered its congratulations to the many students who competed in the ACT-SO competition for remaining undaunted in their commitment to academic and artistic excellence. WI
5 Kyle Dalrymple (Courtesy photo)
5 Daniella Gonyoe (Courtesy photo)
5 Kelvin Dukes (Courtesy photo)
NAACP ACT-SO Medalists 2021 Student Angel Benjamin Kyle Dalrymple Kyle Dalrymple Daniella Gonyoe Ziya Jackson Asha Jenkins Aaliyahmarie Key Aaliyahmarie Key Agyeman Nyanteh Gisele Sonnier Arnold Umanna, Jr. Haley Williams
Category Poetry Written Photography Physics Poetry Performance Vocal Contemporary Painting Dance: Ballet Dance: Contemporary Drawing Dance: Modern Instrumental Classic Architecture
Medal Gold Medal Gold Medal Gold Medal Gold Medal Gold Medal Gold Medal Gold Medal Gold Medal Gold Medal Gold Medal Gold Medal Gold Medal
School Name Paint Branch HS Richard Montgomery HS Richard Montgomery HS Northwest HS James Hubert Blake HS Homeschool Calvert Academy Calvert Academy Northwest HS Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart Winston Churchill HS Clarksburg HS & Thomas Edison HS
Nine silver medals and 6 bronze medals were earned by the ACT-SO 2021 participants:
40 MAY 6 - 12, 2021
Maimouna Barry Logan Byrd Logan Byrd Kyle Dalrymple Maysa Dieng Kelvin Dukes Gabseh Forseh Mayeni Kpenge Natalie Payne Jaylyn Thomas
Drawing Dance: Ballet Dance: Contemporary Original Essay Poetry Written Vocal Contemporary Architecture Filmmaking Short Story Painting
Silver Medal Silver Medal Silver Medal Silver Medal Silver Medal Silver Medal Silver Medal Silver Medal Silver Medal Silver Medal
Northwest HS Northwood HS Northwood HS Richard Montgomery HS Clarksburg HS James Hubert Blake HS Springbrook/Thomas Edison HS Northwest HS Springbrook HS Our Lady of Good Counsel
Angel Benjamin Imani Corbin Nathaniel Spruill Anaya McEachern-Medley Rosine Nkakwa Consuela Watts
Photography Filmmaking Poetry Written Dance: Contemporary Drawing Vocal Contemporary
Bronze Medal Bronze Medal Bronze Medal Bronze Medal Bronze Medal Bronze Medal
Richard Montgomery HS Northwood HS Poolesville HS Albert Einstein HS Springbrook HS Northwood HS
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
LIFESTYLE
Debate on Racism in America Heats Up After GOP Sen. Scott’s Rebuttal to Biden Hamil R. Harris WI Contributing Writer WASHINGTON — When Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) — the only current black Republican senator — declared “America is not a racist country” in his response to President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s address to Congress this week, he sparked strong reactions from both sides of the political aisle. “Our nation is starving for more than empty platitudes,” the junior senator for South Carolina said on Wednesday night. “We need policies and progress that bring us closer together. But three months in, the actions of the president and his party are pulling us further apart.” Biden, in his first address to a joint session of Congress, had raised concerns about heightening racial divisions after Donald J. Trump’s four years as president, and asked: “Can our democracy overcome the lies, anger, hate and fears that have pulled us apart?” House Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) walk through the Senate subway at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C, on April 29. (Stefani Reynolds/Getty Images) The senator responded by criticizing several of Biden’s proposals, before praising the former Republican president’s “Operation Warp Speed” pro-
DOMONIC from Page 8 which detailed his life growing up in poverty and his mother’s personal struggles with addiction. And while it’s raw and real, it’s also loving and tender and insightful. And I would wager that we’re all addicted to something – or perhaps, someone. Next, I hit the play button for two songs that took me back to my youth in Detroit. Those were
gram for getting vaccines developed. He then addressed hatred — including hatred he said had been targeted at him. “Nowhere do we need common ground more desperately than in our discussions of race,” Sen. Scott said. “I have experienced the pain of discrimination. I know what it feels like to be pulled over for no reason. To be followed around a store while I’m shopping.” “I get called Uncle Tom and the N-word by progressives — by liberals,” he added. “Believe me, I know our healing is not finished.” “Hear me clearly: America is not a racist country.” Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C,) walks through the Senate subway to vote on the Senate floor at the U.S. Capitol on April 28. (Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images) Shortly after Scott’s response, the phrase “Uncle Tim” started trending on Twitter. The next morning, Twitter removed the phrase from its trending topics.
REACTIONS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE
In the wake of the Republican senator’s speech, former Vice President Michael R. Pence thanked him — on Twitter — for being “strong, honest, the days when the world seemed perfect to me. Even when storms came my way, I had no doubt that my mother (and Daddy) would be there to calm my soul and to move the storm clouds away. “I'll Always Love My Mama,” a 1973 single by the Philly soul group The Intruders and released on their album “Save the Children,” continues to be played on Mother’s Day. After the death of my grandmother, I remember my mother playing it over and over again. And yes, Momma could sing. Written by Gamble & Huff, who recently celebrated their 50th anniversary in the industry, and co-written by McFadden & Whitehead (“Ain’t No Stopping Us Now”), the song would be inspired by Kenny Gamble's mother, Ruby, who died in 2012. “I'll always love my mama. She's
and genuinely inspiring.”
OTHERS OFFERED LESS PRAISE.
Current Vice President Kamala D. Harris, the first black person to serve in her position, said on “Good Morning America” that while she agrees with Scott that America is not racist, “we do have to speak truth about racism in this country and its existence today.” Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) challenged Sen. Scott’s framing. “The president never accused America as being racist. He did say that more needs to be done to advance racial equity,” Norton told Zenger News, identifying housing discrimination and inequitable vaccine distribution as areas where Biden called for authorities to work harder. “The president and others, including some Republicans, have made the case for more racial inclusion,” she said. U.S. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) speaks next to Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) during a news conference in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on March 25. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) Linda Thornton Thomas, president of the Prince Georges County Chapter of the National Association for the
my favorite girl. You only get one, you only get one. I'll always love my mama. She brought me in this world.” Last and certainly not least – The Spinners classic, “Sadie.” In the introduction of the song, the R&B group dedicates this soulful 1974 tune to the strong young mothers who they remembered. Since its release, the song has been sampled by a host of notable hip-hop acts including Jay-Z and Tupac. The most powerful of its lyrics bear repeating: “Sweeter than cotton candy. Stronger than papa's old brandy. Always that needed smile, once in a while, she would break down and cry.” I let the music play a few nights ago. And I sang to my heart’s content. But for a few rare moments that evening and into the morning, my
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
5 Tim Scott (Courtesy photo)
Advancement of Colored People in Maryland, said she thought debates about whether America as a country is racist are beside the point. Instead, she said, it is clear that “racism exists in America for blacks and whites.” “The whites are angry because they see the blacks taking their jobs, and the blacks are angry because everything is seen in terms of race,” Thomas told Zenger. Thomas called on Republicans and Democrats to cool their rhetoric and try to work together in the same way she said white and black people had
solo almost became a duet. Yes, I heard my Momma and felt her with me once again. It was like old times. Just as she did hundreds of times before, she lifted me from my melancholy and encouraged me to gone on, to “spit in my hands and take a fresh hold” and to remember that “with God, we can do all things but fail.” I’ll Always Love My Momma! WI @mcneirdk
worked to foster community in the 1960s. “We can’t get things accomplished by ourselves. Senator Scott knows if he walks anywhere in his neighborhood in South Carolina what will happen,” she said. “We are hurting our own children with these divisions.” Jackson said he cannot understand why “people still blame systemic racism” for problems that exist in black communities when many are governed by black leaders. “How can we talk about America is racist when you have a black mayor of Baltimore, a black prosecutor, a black police chief, a black U.S. congressman, and they control all of the power?” he said. “It is the same thing in Chicago [and] Atlanta,” he said. “These cities have some of the highest murder rates in terms of black-on-black crime. Look at St. Louis, where I am from. … It is not the color of a person’s skin, but the policies that they are pushing that is destroying the black community.” Jackson, a senior adviser to the successful 2018 campaign of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, said he is glad Republicans have leaders like Scott to speak out on issues of race. Raynard Jackson, a Republican political consultant, said Scott’s comments are best understood in response to claims that there is systemic racism in America. “Tim Scott is only speaking the truth,” he said. “Trump was here for a moment, but Scott has been a moral compass on the issue of race for decades in the conservative movement.” WI
MAY 6 - 12, 2021 41
LIFESTYLE
Blazing Fast Internet! ADD TO YOUR PACKAGE FOR ONLY
19.99
$
/mo.
where available
2-YEAR TV PRICE GUARANTEE
64
99 MO.
$
America’s Top 120 Package
190 CHANNELS
Including Local Channels! CALL TODAY - For $100 Gift Card Promo Code: DISH100 for 12 Mos.
1-855-402-3370
Offer ends 7/14/21.
All offers require credit qualification, 24-month commitment with early termination fee and eAutoPay. Prices include Hopper Duo for qualifying customers. Hopper, Hopper w/Sling or Hopper 3 $5/mo. more. Upfront fees may apply based on credit qualification.
MOLD, MOLD, MILDEW & WATER LEAKAGE IN YOUR BASEMENT CAUSES HEALTH AND FOUNDATION DAMAGE.
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM? WE WILL GIVE YOU A FREE EVALUATION, ESTIMATE & A FAIR PRICE.
CALL (800) 420-7783 FOR 20% OFF!!!
CALL NOW AND RECEIVE 20% DISCOUNT WITH YOUR FREE ESTIMATE OVER THOUSANDS OF BASEMENTS REPAIRED IN THIS AREA.
Expert Software Development Higher Quality Than In-House Lower Cost Than In-House Faster Than In-House
Ask us how! TOLL FREE USA/CANADA
Experience the Difference
1-888-859-4853 itbgn.com/projects
LASER HAIR REMOVAL - IN A TUBE! NEW! Hairfree gets rid of unwanted hair and kills the root to stop new hair growth. Works like laser hair removal - in a tube - for a fraction of the cost! Puts an end to non-stop shaving, plucking and waxing. Be hair-free in 30 days! 100% money-back guarantee. Order by phone: 323-405-3331 (lines open 24/7) Buy online: www.hair-free-hair-remover.com www.hair-f PROMO: 10% & FREE shipping with code: CN9 BEST DEALS FOR EVERYONE
Ask how to get the
iPhone 12 mini ®
for as low as
with trade-in Find out how to get our most popular phones, call now! Iv Support Holdings LLC
(877) 370-2155 Call AT&T sales rep for details. For trade-in instructions visit tradein.att.com/offer-details
Limited time offer. All products and services are offered, supplied and performed by AT&T Services, Inc. (“AT&T”). AT&T is not an affiliate of or endorsed by Sam’s Club. AT&T is solely responsible for the products and services advertised. Sam’s Club has no obligation to perform any responsibilities of AT&T, and Sam’s Club does not guarantee the performance of AT&T’s obligations.
42 MAY 6 - 12, 2021
Celebrating Mother’s Day – New Ways and Old DR Barnes WI Staff Writer Mother’s Day returns May 9 – just around the corner. Before you know it, every card will be gone, flowers won’t be deliverable on time and restaurant reservations will be impossible to make. Mother’s Day always impacts our lives this way, despite COVID-19. With cities and businesses just beginning to open up, one of the most celebrated and profitable holidays of the year will continue to represent a challenging day to honor mothers and others loved just as much, including dads. This year, Americans will spend a record $28 billion on gifts with jewelry, special outings and electronics topping the list according to the National Retail Federation [NRF]. Consumers also plan to spend money on other purchases including books and CDs, gift cards, housewares and gardening tools and personal services, as well cards and flowers, of course. An NRF survey of 7,818 consumers over age 18 said they plan to spend an average of $220.48 on this year’s Mother’s Day celebrations for their mother or stepmother, who ranked highest in the survey, followed by wives and daughters. In the northeast, greeting cards, flowers and special outings remain the leading purchasing categories, with subscription boxes and gift experiences included on the list. A Happy Mother’s Day phone call stands as the most frequent first
5 Stories only your mother can share about her life can be recorded by her in “Your Mother’s Story,” a book that asks “Mom, I Want to Know Everything About Your” that she can fill in at her own time and pace that becomes a keepsake for generations.
action for well-wishers on Mother’s Day. According to the History Channel, “More phone calls are made on Mother’s Day than any other day of the year. These holiday chats with Mom often cause phone traffic to spike by as much as 37 percent.” And for the text-savvy moms, a Mother’s Day bitmoji, a personalized sticker used on social media, is a welcoming greeting which helps get the message across. For those shopping for the mom who has everything or those who don’t know what to do to celebrate
In the northeast, greeting cards, flowers and special outings remain the leading purchasing categories, with subscription boxes and gift experiences included on the list.
her, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser recommends taking her to get vaccinated as a life-saving Mother’s Day gift. Bowser also listed taking your mother’s circle of friends to get vaccinated, as well, as something she may genuinely appreciate following months of social distancing and isolation. Due to the pandemic, this year has been a time of tremendous loss. If churches were open, and most of them aren’t due to COVID-19 restrictions, many mothers would receive a carnation. This tradition dates back decades when the carnation became the official Mother’s Day flower and symbol. A white carnation symbolizes remembrance for a mother who has passed away. On the other hand, a pink carnation represents a mother’s love, gratitude and tenderness. The greatest gift for many mothers remains allowing quality time to celebrate with loved ones and time alone, to enjoy not having to take care of others, if just for one day. It’s her day, so what’s the greatest gift? Allowing her to her day, her way, all day. Happy Mother’s Day! WI
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
LIFESTYLE
wi book review "Dear Black Girl: Letters from Your Sisters on Stepping Into Your Power" By Tamara Winfrey Harris c.2021, Barrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc. $16.95 / $22.95 Canada 185 pages By Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer There's some mail for you. And it's not the e-variety, either; it was brought by a human, carried down the street and left at your home. It's in an envelope with a stamp, and the good news is that it isn't a bill. It's a letter for you, and in "Dear Black Girl" by Tamara Winfrey Harris, it could be important. Well over a year ago, in anticipation of a workshop she was giving for a group of Black girls, Tamara Winfrey Harris asked a small group of Black women to write letters of support and positivity to give the girls. She wanted the letters to be "loving, truthful... feminist, anti-racist...and pro-Black girl." She figured she'd receive twelve letters to hand out. She got "more than fifty from all over the world." There's a history behind the need Harris sees for these letters. For 400 years, she says, Black girls have been laboring under myths that belie their vulnerability; that make them more "grown" than they are, physically and emotionally; and that steal the opportunities they have to love their bodies, their hair, and themselves. The lies ignore Black girls' hopes and wishes. and "lies can start to feel like facts." But: "Dear Black Girl..." "Sometimes, it's hard to remember that you are a star," says one letter-writer. Another reminds girls that melanin is "an asset!" Others write acknowledge the issues of being a Black girl in a white family or foster situation. "... love your body beyond how appealing it is to others," says one writer. Remember that "there is no single definition of family." Love your mother but know that "daughtering ain't easy," either. You will attract close friends when you "learn to love, honor and value yourself...." Know that there's "no shame" in working to pay the bills but life is better if a job is "a thing you really love and that suits you." There's also no shame in making your own path, in asking for help or in surviving. "You are hope and promise for tomorrow in Black girl skin." Don't you wish there was a book like this around when you were a teenager? Nobody'd blame you if you did; even Grandma probably wished she'd had "Dear Black Girl." Bottom line: it's time for a book like this that doesn't feel high-horsey or superior or preachy. No, author Tamara Winfrey Harris pulled together letters that are relevant and every day, and that don't make harsh demands on its readers. Instead, there's empathy in here, a been-there-done-that tone, and a sense that a girl is about to be taken under someone's wing for a while. Letters are loosely categorized, they're accompanied by drop-in "Know This" pages of explanation, and there's room for a girl to write a letter to herself to sort her feelings now, or note-taking for later. Beware that some of the letter-writers dive deep into raw subjects, making this book best for ages 13-and-up. Give "Dear Black Girl" to your favorite teen, and envelope her in all its love. WI
horoscopes
MAY 6 - 12, 2021
ARIES Tuesday is a stay-inside-your-shell kind of day, too. It won't be until midweek that you'll be ready for the outside world, although then you'll be ready with a vengeance. Wednesday and Thursday see you marching boldly forward, introducing yourself to strangers, putting foreign foods into your gullet, and being generally pioneering. Lucky Numbers: 4, 27, 29 TAURUS You wish you could take things lightly but that just isn't your personality right now. Emotions are intense. You may feel a surge of jealousy over something it's ridiculous to be jealous about. Practice not coming across as righteous — and not feeling righteous. Modesty should be your modus operandi. Don't take your friends for granted; remind them how much they mean to you. Lucky Numbers: 7, 20, 47 GEMINI Health is at the top of your mind on Monday. The slightest hint of a symptom sends you searching the Internet for information about what may be going on. Little may be going on at all; but interest in your well-being is, you know, a healthy interest. Tuesday you're observant of your body as well as other areas; you are a detective. Wednesday and Thursday see you probing deeply. Lucky Numbers: 3, 39, 45 CANCER The ship is rocking and heaving and throwing you all around. You're in no position to sit down and sign something — your signature would just slide off the page. This is what Monday and Tuesday are like. By Wednesday, the ship will have steadied a bit, but rather than be overly ambitious, you should invest your energy in yourself, do something self-nurturing. Lucky Numbers: 19, 21, 30 LEO To figure out what's going on in the garden, sometimes you have to uproot everything and take a look at the soil. The situation below the surface is finally getting some of your attention. Sound boring? Perhaps. But Wednesday and Thursday are the exact opposite of boring — they are fiery, fun, cruising-down-thehighway-with-the-top-down sort of days, full of romance and distractions. Lucky Numbers: 33, 44, 57 VIRGO Your restlessness on Monday and Tuesday is useful. It's due to an unquenchable intellectual curiosity, and intellectual curiosity. You're a genius! Sadly, some forces (probably in the family realm) are going to prevent you from making good on your genius Wednesday and Thursday, but Friday and Saturday are open to your creative whims. Lucky Numbers: 19, 40, 41 LIBRA Money makes the world go 'round, they say, and it's certainly all you can think about on Monday and Tuesday. Not that you're thinking like a greedy person, you're just thinking. What are things worth? What do you want to do with your money? These questions deserve as much consideration as you're willing to invest in them . Lucky Numbers: 4, 6, 9 SCORPIO Rebirth and regeneration are key themes at the beginning of the week. The old things are being replaced by new ones. You feel more connected to your friends and they feel more connected to you, as will be obvious on Wednesday and, well, every day after that this week. You find yourself doing things you wouldn't normally do on your own on Thursday. On Friday and Saturday everyone you know is simply in a great mood — these are rare, wonderful times. Lucky Numbers: 28, 31, 32 SAGITTARIUS It's OK to be moody on Monday and Tuesday. Try not to be moody around other people, if you can help it, but don't beat yourself up for your feelings. And besides, by Wednesday, everything will go on the upswing and stay that way. Thursday will be a jovial day, too. Bringing your lunch to work on Friday is a smart idea — as the week winds to a close, strategies for financial shrewdness figure into your thoughts — and Saturday, even though you want to go shopping, not doing so is a much better plan. Lucky Numbers: 12, 14, 20 CAPRICORN You have a decision to make on Monday or Tuesday, and you have tons of friends who can help you make it. Rely on them more than you usually might (after all, you've surrounded yourself with smart people; they know of what they speak). Certain things might not seem possible on Wednesday or Thursday, but they are possible — so long as you persevere and don't opt out (emotionally) too early on. On the other hand, keep your emotions in check and as separate as possible from tasks at hand. Lucky Numbers: 3, 18, 27 AQUARIUS The thoughts you have about your career at the start of the week are good thoughts to be having, healthy thoughts to be having. You are an ambitious, goal-oriented person, and while this sometimes produces stress in your life, in the long run, you will have something to show for it. Try to relieve some of this stress with a social activity, or better yet several social activities. Lucky Numbers: 11, 12, 24 PISCES You are swimming in cloudy waters on Monday and Tuesday, and some of the fish nearby are starting to appear suspiciously more like sharks. Are they sharks? Do they have your best interests at heart? No sense in getting paranoid but pay attention this week. Friday has you so surrounded by friends that there's very little chance anyone would be able to sneak up on you. Lucky Numbers: 1, 13, 18
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
MAY 6 - 12, 2021 43
CAPTURE the moment
For more photos, visit www.washingtoninformer.com
44 MAY 6 - 12, 2021
Happy 100th birthday hattie pannell Hattie Pannell turned 100 on May 4. Friends and family gathered at Ft. Stevens Recreation Center in Northwest and sang Happy Birthday – Stevie Wonder-style – as Ms. Pannell danced. At 100, she still gets around and only uses a cane. A procession of cars wrapped around the corner to greet the birthday queen and present cards and gifts. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
RELIGION the religion corner WITH LYNDIA GRANT
The History of Mother's Day
It is my pleasure to wish every mother out there a Happy Mother's Day weekend. May your children and loved ones smother you with love for all of the good that a mother must be to her children and family! I'm always excited about Mother's Day because my birthday, May 6, falls around the same time. This year, I've already been blessed with the best of gifts! One is just being healthy. Another is being grateful to my children and each of their families for the love they pour into me — flowers, gifts, spa day, you name it. Thank you. The Bible asks us to honor and love our mothers. It says so in Exodus 20:12 ("Honor your father and your mother") and in Leviticus 19:3 ("Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father"). "Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness." — Proverbs
31:25-28 This week, I feel compelled to share just a bit of history of how and why Mother's Day began in the first place. According to history.com, Mother's Day began with celebrations of mothers and motherhood. Traced back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, with festivals in honor of the mother goddesses Rhea and Cybele, but the clearest modern precedent for Mother's Day is the early Christian festival known as "Mothering Sunday." Once a major tradition in the United Kingdom and parts of Europe, this celebration fell on the fourth Sunday in Lent and was originally seen as a time when the faithful would return to their main church in the vicinity of their home for a special service. Over time, the Mothering Sunday tradition, with families worshipping with mother, shifted to the more secular Mother's Day, as children presented their mothers with flowers and other tokens of appreciation. Ann Reeves Jarvis and Julia Ward Howe are credited with starting this tradition in the United States. According to history.com, the origins of Mother's Day as celebrated in the United States date back to the 19th century. In the years before the Civil War, Ann Reeves Jarvis of West Virginia helped start "Mothers' Day Work Clubs" to teach local women how to properly care for their children. These clubs later became a unifying force in a region of the country still di-
Mt. Zion Baptist Church
vided over the Civil War. For those of you not so familiar with the Civil War, it began April 12, 1861, and ended April 8, 1865. In 1868, Jarvis organized "Mothers' Friendship Day," at which mothers gathered with former Union and Confederate soldiers to promote reconciliation. After all, they had fought against one another for four years, and hundreds of thousands of people were killed. According to history.com, the intense combat left between 620,000 and 750,000 soldiers dead, along with an undetermined number of civilians, making it our deadliest conflict until the Vietnam War. Therefore, this was the best time to bring mothers together for the cause of celebrating them. Another precursor to our traditional Mother's Day came from the abolitionist and suffragette Julia Ward Howe, who in 1870 wrote the "Mother's Day Proclamation," a call to action that asked mothers to unite in promoting world peace. In 1873, Howe campaigned for a "Mother's Peace Day" to be celebrated every June 2. I'm sure there are other stories about Mother's Day out there, but regardless of how and why it began, it truly is a tradition which takes on its own life for mothers each year. Our mothers will forever be the only ones who gave birth to us — whether you believe she was good or bad, she will forever be your mother. Happy Mother's Day! WI
John F. Johnson Reverend Dr.
5101 14th Street, NW / Washington, DC 20011 Phone: 202-726-2220 Fax: 202-726-9089
1306 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20005
“A Church with a past to remember – and a future to mold” www.mtzbcdc.org
EMPLOYMENT LAWYERS MCCOLLUM & ASSOCIATES, LLC ADA, Age Discrimination, Benefits, Civil Rights, COBRA, Contracts, Deaf Law, Defamation, Disability Law, Discipline, Discrimination, FMLA, FLSA, FOIA, Family Responsibility, Harassment, HIPPA, OSHA, National Origin Discrimination, Non-Compete, Race Discrimination, Rehabilitation Act, Retaliation, Severance Agreements, Sexual Harassment, Torts, Whistleblowing, Wage-and-Hour, Wrongful Discharge SERVING MARYLAND, DC, & NORTH CAROLINA
www.jmlaw.net
(301) 864-6070
jmccollum@jmlaw.net
Mount Olivet Lutheran Church
Reverend John W. Davis Pastor
Service and Times Sunday Worship Service - 8:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Children’s Church - 11:00 a.m. (1st & 3rd Sundays) Communion - 10 a.m. 4th Sunday Sunday School - 9:15 a.m. (4th Sunday 8:15 a.m.) Prayer Meeting & Bible Study - Wednesday 7:00 p.m.
(301) 864-6070
Service and Times Divine Worship, Sunday 10:00 a.m. Communion 1st and 3rd Sunday “Friendliest Church in the City” Website: mountolivetdc.org Email: mtolivedc@gmail.com
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
MAY 6 - 12, 2021 45
RELIGION The Miracle Center of Faith Missionary Baptist Church
Pilgrim Baptist Church
Bishop Michael C. Turner, Sr. Senior Pastor
Rev. Louis B. Jones II Pastor
9161 Hampton Overlook Capitol Heights, MD 20743 Phone: 301-350-2200 / Fax: 301-499-8724
700 I Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20002 (202) 547-8849
Service and Times Sunday Worship Times : 7:30 AM 7 10:00 AM Communion: 1st Sunday Sunday School: 9:00 AM Bible Study: Wednesday, 12 Noon Bible Study in homes: Tuesday 7:00 PM Website: www.themiraclecenterFMBC.com Email: Miraclecenterfmbs@gmail.com Motto: “We Walk by Faith, Not by Sight”
Blessed Word of Life Church
Service and Times Worship Sundays: 7:30 & 11:00 AM 5th Sundays: 9:30 AM 3rd Sundays: Baptism & Holy Communion Prayer & Praise: Wednesdays @ Noon & 6:30 PM www.pilgrimbaptistdc.org
Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ
Church of Living Waters
Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church
Rev. Paul Carrette Senior Pastor Harold Andrew Assistant Pastor 4915 Wheeler Road Oxon Hill, MD 20745 301-894-6464 Service and Times Sunday Service: 8:30am& 11:00 AM Bible Study: Wednesday 7:30 PM Communion Service: First Sunday www.livingwatersmd.org
St. Stephen Baptist Church
Rev. Dr. Michael E. Bell, Sr., / Pastor 2498 Alabama Ave., SE - Washington D.C. 20020 Office: (202) 889-7296 / Fax: (202) 889-2198 - www.acamec.org Service and Times Sunday Worship Services: 8:00am and 11:00 AM Sunday Church School - 9:15am & Sunday Adult Forum Bible Study - 10:30 AM 2nd & 4th Monday Women’s Bible Study: 6:30 PM Tuesday Jr./Sr. Bible Study: 10:00 AM Tuesday Topical Bible Study: 6:30 PM Tuesday New Beginnings Bible Study: 6:30 PM Wednesday Pastoral Bible Study: 6:30 PM Wednesday Children’s Bible Study: 6:30 PM Thursday Men’s Bible Study: 6:30 PM Friday before 1st Sunday Praise & Worship Service: 6:30 PM Saturday Adult Bible Study: 10:00 AM “The Amazing, Awesome, Audacious Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church”
Third Street Church of God
Dr. Dekontee L. & Dr. Ayele A. Johnson Pastors
Reverend William Young IV Pastor
Bishop Lanier C. Twyman, Sr. Senior Pastor
Rev. Cheryl J. Sanders, Th.D. Senior Pastor
4001 14th Street, NW Washington, DC 20011 (202) 265-6147 Office 1-800 576-1047 Voicemail/Fax
3845 South Capitol Street Washington, DC 20032 (202) 562-5576 (Office) / (202) 562-4219 (Fax)
5757 Temple Hill Road, Temple Hills, MD 20748 Office 301-899-8885 – fax 301-899-2555 Services and Times Sunday Early Morning Worship: 7:45 AM Church School: 9:30 AM Sunday Morning Worship: 10:45 AM Tuesday: 7:00pm/Kingdom Building Bible Institute Wednesday , 12:30 PM Mid-Day Bible Study Wednesday: Prayer/Praise/Bible Study-7:30 PM Baptism & Communion Service: 4th Sunday – 10:30 AM
1204 Third Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 202-347-5889 office / 202-638-1803 fax
Service and Times 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
Campbell AME Church Rev. Dr. Henry Y. White 2562 MLK Jr. Ave., SE - Washington, DC 20020 Adm. Office 202-678-2263 Email: Campbell@mycame.org Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 10:00 AM Sunday Church School: 8:45 AM Bible Study Wednesday: 12:00 Noon Wednesday: 7:00 PM Thursday: 7:00 PM “Reaching Up To Reach Out” Mailing Address : Campbell AME Church 2502 Stanton Road SE - Washington, DC 20020
Turning Hearts Church Virgil K. Thomas, Sr. Senior Pastor/ Teacher 421 Alabama Ave. SE Washington, DC 20032 Phone: 202-746-0113 Fax: 301-843-2445 Service and Times Sunday School: 10:15 AM Sunday Worship Service: 11;15 AM Children’s Church: 11:15 AM Tuesday Bible Study: 6:30 PM Motto : “A Great Commitment to the Great Commandment” Website: www.turningheartschurchdc.org Email: gr8luv4u2@gmail.com
46 MAY 6 - 12, 2021
Services and Times Sundays: 10:00am 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.covenantdc.org
“We are one in the Spirit” www.ssbc5757.org / E-mail: ssbc5757@verizon.net
Services and Times Sunday School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship: 11:00 AM Sunday Community Worship Service: 8:30 AM “Ambassadors for Christ to the Nation’s Capital” www.thirdstreet.org Live Stream Sunday Worship Service begins @ 12:00 noon www.thirdstreet.org
Crusader Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Alton W. Jordan Pastor 800 I Street, NE - Washington, DC 20002 202-548-0707 - Fax No. 202-548-0703 Service and Times Sunday Morning Worship: 11:00 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sunday Sunday School: 9:45 AM Men’s Monday Bible Study: 7:00 PM Wednesday Night Bible Study: 7:00 PM Women’s Ministry Bible Study: 3rd Friday -7:00 PM Computer Classes: Announced Family and Marital Counseling by appointment E-mail: Crusadersbaptistchurch@verizon.net www.CrusadersBaptistChurch.org / “God is Love”
Greater Mt. Calvary Holy Church Bishop Alfred A. Owens, Jr.; Senior Bishop & Evangelist Susie C. Owens – Co-Pastor 610 Rhode Island Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002 (202) 529-4547 office • (202) 529-4495 fax
Sunday Worship Service: 8:00 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 6:00 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
Isle of Patmos Baptist Church Reverend Dr. Calvin L. Matthews Senior Pastor 1200 Isle of Patmos Plaza, Northeast Washington, DC 20018 Office: (202) 529-6767 - Fax: (202) 526-1661 Service and Times Sunday Worship Services: 7:30 AM and 10:30 AM Holy Communion: 2nd Sunday at 7:30 AM and 10:30 AM Sunday Church School: 9:20 AM Seniors Bible Study: Tuesdays at 10:30 AM Noon Day Prayer Service: Tuesdays at Noon Bible Study: Tuesdays at 7 PM Motto: “A Ministry of Reconciliation Where Everybody is Somebody!” Website: http://isleofpatmosbc.org Church Email: ipbcsecretary@verizon.net
St Marks Baptist Come Worship with us... Dr. Raymond T. Matthews Pastor and First Lady Marcia Matthews St. Mark's Baptist Church 624 Underwood Street, NW Washington, dc 20011 Services and Times Sunday School: 9:00 AM Worship Service: 10:00 AM Wed. Noon Day prayer service Thur. Prayer service: 6:45 PM Thur. Bible Study: 7:15 PM
Twelfth Street Christian Church Reverend Dr. Paul H. Saddler Senior Pastor (Disciples of Christ) 1812 12th Street, NW - Washington, DC 20009 Phone: 202-265-4494 Fax: 202 265 4340 Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 AM Communion every Sunday: 11:00 AM Sunday School: 10:00 AM Bible Study Tuesday: 12 Noon Pastor’s Bible Study Tuesday: 6:30 PM Motto: “Discover Something Wonderful” Website: 12thscc.org / Email: Twelfthstcc@aol.com
Mount Carmel Baptist Church Reverend Dr. Paris L Smith, Sr. Senior Pastor 901 Third Street N.W. Washington, DC. 20001 Phone (202) 842-3411 Fax (202) 682-9423 Service and Times Sunday Church School : 9:00 AM Sunday Morning Worship: 10:10 AM Bible Study Tuesday: 6: 00 PM Prayer Service Tuesday: 7:00 PM Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday 10:10 AM themcbc.org
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
RELIGION Shabbath Commandment Church Bishop Adrian A. Taylor, Sr. Pastor 7801 Livingston Road Oxon Hill, MD 20745 301-534-5471 Service and Times Sabbath School 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 AM Service 11:00 AM Praise & Worship Preaching 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM Motto: “A Church Keeping It Real for Real.” Website: Shabbathcommandmentchruch.org Email: Praisebetoyhwh@gmail.com
Zion Baptist Church Rev. Keith W. Byrd, Sr. Pastor 4850 Blagdon Ave, NW - Washington D.C 20011 Phone (202) 722-4940 - Fax (202) 291-3773 Service and Times 9:00 a.m. – Sunday School 10:15 a.m. – Worship Service Wed. Noon: Dea. Robert Owens Bible Study 7 PM Pastor’s Bible Study Ordinance of Baptism 2nd Sunday, Holy Communion 4th Sunday Mission: Zion shall: Enlist Sinners, Educate Students, Empower the Suffering, Encourage the Saints, And Exalt our Savior. (Acts 2: 41-47) www.zionbaptistchurchdc.org
St. Luke Baptist Church Rev. Aubrey C. Lewis Pastor 1415 Gallatin Street, NW Washington, DC 20011-3851 P: (202) 726-5940 Service and Times Sunday Worship: 11:00 AM Sunday School: 9:15 AM Holy Communion: 11:00 a.m., 3rd Sun. Bible Institute: Wednesday - 1:30 PM Prayer Meeting: Wednesday - 12:00 Noon
All Nations Baptist Church Rev. Dr. James Coleman Pastor 2001 North Capitol St, N.E. - Washington, DC 20002 Phone (202) 832-9591 Service and Times Sunday Church School – 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service – 11:00 AM Holy Communion – 1st Sunday at 11:00 AM Prayer – Wednesdays, 6:00 PM Bible Study – Wednesdays, 7:00 PM Christian Education / School of Biblical Knowledge Saturdays, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM, Call for Registration Website: www.allnationsbaptistchurch.com All Nations Baptist Church – A Church of Standards
Israel Baptist Church
Rev. Daryl F. Bell Pastor 2324 Ontario Road, NW Washington, DC 20009 (202) 232-1730 Service and Times Sunday School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 AM Baptismal Service: 1st Sunday – 9:30 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sunday – 11:00 AM Prayer Meeting & Bible Study: Wednesday -7:30 PM “Where Jesus is the King”
Dr. Earl D. Trent Senior Pastor
2409 Ainger Pl.,SE – WDC 20020 (202) 678-0884 – Office / (202) 678-0885 – Fax “Moving Faith Forward” 0% Perfect . . . 100% Forgiven!
623 Florida Ave.. NW - WDC. 20001 Church (202) 667-3409 / Study (202) 265-0836 Home Study (301) 464-8211 / Fax (202) 483-4009
Service and Times Sunday Worship: 8:00 AM & 10:45 AM Baptism/Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday Family Bible Study Tuesdays – 6:30 PM Prayer Service: Tuesdays – 8:00 PM www.emmanuelbaptistchurchdc.org
Sermon On The Mount Temple Of Joy Apostolic Faith
Lincoln Park United Methodist Church Rev. Richard B. Black Pastor
Elder Herman L. Simms Pastor
1251 Saratoga Ave., NE Washington, DC 20018 (202) 269-0288
1301 North Carolina Ave. N E Washington, D C 20002 202 543 1318 - lincolnpark@lpumcdc.org www.lpumcdc.org
5606 Marlboro Pike District Heights, MD 20747 301-735-6005
Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 10:45 AM Sunday School: 9:15 AM Holy Communion1st Sunday: 10:45 AM Prayer Service: Wednesday at 6:30 PM Bible Study: Wednesday at 7:00 PM Bible Study: Tuesday at 10:30 AM
Mount Moriah Baptist Church Dr. Lucius M. Dalton Senior Pastor
Service and Times Sunday Worship: 10:00 AM Holy Communion: First Sunday 10:00 AM Sunday School: 9:00 AM Bible Study: Wednesday @ 12 noon and 6:30 PM Motto: "Faith On The Hill"
Service and Times Sunday Apostolic Worship Services 11:00 A.M and 5:00 PM Communion and Feet Wash 4th Sunday at 5:00 PM Prayer/Seeking: Wednesday at 8:00 PM Apostolic in Doctrine, Pentecostal in Experience, Holiness in Living, Uncompromised and Unchanged. The Apostolic Faith is still alive –Acts 2:42
New Commandment Baptist Church
Eastern Community Baptist Church Damion M. Briggs Pastor
Rev. Stephen E. Tucker Senior Pastor
1636 East Capitol Street, NE Washington, DC 20003 Telephone: 202-544-5588 - Fax: 202-544-2964
8213 Manson Street Landover, MD 20785 Tel: (301) 322-9787 Fax: (301) 322-9240
13701 Old Jericho Park Road Bowie, MD. 20720 (301) 262-0560
Service and Times Sunday Worship Services: 7:45 AM and 10:45 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sundays at 7:45 AM & 10:45 AM Sunday School: 9:30 AM Prayer & Praise Service: Tuesdays at 12 noon & 6:30 PM Bible Study: Tuesdays at 1 pm and 7 PM Youth Bible Study: Fridays at 7 PM
Service and Times Early Morning Message: 7:30 AM Sunday Morning Worship Service: 10:00 AM Sunday Church School: 9:00 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sunday 7:30 AM & 10:00 AM Prayer, Praise and Testimony: Wednesday 7:00 PM Bible Study: Wednesday 7:30 PM
Service and Times Sunday Worship: 11 AM Sunday School: 10 AM Wednesday Mid-Week Worship, Prayer & Bible Study: Wed. 7 PM
Rehoboth Baptist Church
Reverend Peter R. Blue Sr. Pastor
Rev. Curtis l. Staley Pastor
2001 Brooks Drive District Heights MD. 20744 240.838.7074
621 Alabama Ave., S.E.- Washington, D.C. 20032 P: (202) 561-1111 - F: (202) 561-1112
Service and Times Sunday Worship Experience: 10:15am Sunday School: 9:00am Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday Morning Noontime Bible Study: Tuesday @ 12:00pm Prayer Meeting/Bible Study: Tuesday @7:00pm Theme: "Building On A Firm Foundation"
Service and Times Sunday Service: 10:00 AM Sunday School for all ages: 8:30 AM 1st Sunday Baptism: 10:00 AM 2nd Sunday Holy Communion:10:00 AM Tuesday: Bible Study: 6:30 PM Prayer Meeting: 7:45 PM
Email: revprbstmbc@gmail.com Website: www.stmatthewsbaptist.org
Motto: “Where God is First and Where Friendly People Worship”
“Real Worship for Real People” Website: www.easterncommunity.org Email: ecc@easterncommunity.org
“A Church Where Love Is Essential and Praise is Intentional”
Foggy Bottom - Founded in 1867 728 23rd Street, NW - Washington, DC 20037 Church office: 202-333-3985 - Fax : 202-338-4958
Shiloh Baptist Church
Matthews Memorial Baptist Church Dr. Joseph D. Turner / Senior Pastor 2616 MLK Ave., SE - Washington, DC 20020 Office 202-889-3709 - Fax 202-678-3304 Service and Times Early Worship Service: 8:00 AM Worship Service: 11:00 AM New Member’s Class: 9:45 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sunday, 11:00 AM Church School: 9:45 AM Wednesday 12:00pm Bible Study Prayer, Praise and Bible Study: 7:00 PM Saturday Bible Study: 11:00 AM Baptism 4th Sunday: 11:00 AM “Empowered to love and Challenged to Lead a Multitude of Souls to Christ”
Peace Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Michael T. Bell 712 18th Street, NE Washington, DC 20002 Phone 202-399-3450/ Fax 202-398-8836 Service and Times Sunday Early Morning Prayer & Bible Study Class: 8:00 AM Sunday School: 9:00 AM Sunday Morning Worship Service: 10:00 AM Wednesday Service: 12:00 PM “The Loving Church of the living lord “
4504 Gault Place, N.E. / Washington, D.C 20019 202-397-7775 – 7184 Service and Times Sunday Church School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service : 11:00 AM The Lord’s Supper 1st Sunday Prayer & Praise Services: Wednesday 7:00 PM Bible Study: 7:30 PM Saturday before 4th Sunday Men, Women, Youth Discipleship Ministries: 10:30 AM A Christ Centered Church htubc@comcast.net
Christ Embassy DC
Kelechi Ajieren Coordinator 6839 Eastern Avenue, R1 Takoma Park, MD 20912 (202) 556-7065 Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 10:00 AM Wednesday Bible Study: 7:00 PM Friday Evening Service: 7:00 PM ; Last Friday “…Giving Your Life a Meaning” www.Christembassydc.org Christ.embassy.dc@hotmail.com
Pennsylvania Ave. Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Kendrick E. Curry Pastor 3000 Pennsylvania Ave.. S.E Washington, DC 20020 202 581-1500 Service and Times Sunday Church School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 AM Monday Adult Bible Study: 7:00 PM Wednesday Youth & Adult Activities: 6:30 PM Prayer Service Bible Study
First Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church
Mt. Horeb Baptist Church
Rev. Dr. Wallace Charles Smith Pastor
Rev. Oran W. Young Pastor
Rev. Dr. H. B. Sampson, III Pastor
9th & P Street, N.W. - W. D.C. 20001 (202) 232-4288
602 N Street NW - Washington, D.C. 20001 Office:(202) 289-4480 Fax: (202) 289-4595
2914 Bladensburg Road, NE Wash., DC 20018 Office: (202) 529-3180 - Fax: (202) 529-7738 Service and Times Worship Service: 7:30 AM Sunday School: 9:00 AM Worship Service: 10:30 AM Holy Communion: 4th Sunday 7:30AM & 10:30 AM Prayer Services:Tuesday 7:30 PM. Wednesday 12 Noon
www.stmarysfoggybottom.org Email: stmarysoffice@stmarysfoggybottom.org
Service and Times First Sunday Worship Service (one service): 10:00 AM Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Sunday Worship service: 7:45 AM and 10:55 AM Sunday Church School/Bible Study: 9:30 AM Thursday Prayer Service: 6:30 PM
All are welcome to St. Mary’s to Learn, Worship, and Grow.
Email: sbc@shilohbaptist.org Website: shilohbaptist.org
Service and Times Sundays: 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Music and Hymns Wednesdays: 12:10 p.m. - Holy Eucharist
Service and Times Sunday Worship Services: 10:00 AM Sunday Church School: 8:45 – 9:45 AM Holy Communion: Every First Sunday Intercessory Prayer: Monday – 7:00-8:00 PM Pastor’s Bible Study: Wednesday –7:45 PM Midweek Prayer: Wednesday – 7:00 PM Noonday Prayer Every Thursday
Rev. Dr. George C. Gilbert Senior Pastor
Email Address: admin@pbc712.org
Historic St. Mary’s Episcopal Church The Rev. E. Bernard Anderson Priest
Holy Trinity United Baptist Church
Florida Avenue Baptist Church
Reverend Christopher L. Nichols Pastor
Rev. Dr. Jerryl V. Moody Pastor-Elect
Web: www.mountmoriahchurch.org Email: mtmoriah@mountmoriahchurch.org
St. Matthews Baptist Church
Emmanuel Baptist Church
King Emmanuel Baptist Church
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
Service and Times Sunday School for All Ages: 8:00 AM Sunday Worship Services: 9:30 AM Midday Prayer & Bible Study: Wednesday 11:30AM Evening Prayer & Bible Study: Wednesday 7:00 PM Laymen's League: Thursday 7:00 PM Email: Froffice@firstrising.org Website: www.firstrising.org “Changing Lives On Purpose “
Email:mthoreb@mthoreb.org Website:www.mthoreb.org For further information, please contact me at (202) 529-3180.
MAY 6 - 12, 2021 47
VACCINE from Page 1
KING from Page 12
try aged 16 and older eligible to get a vaccine, District officials are pushing programs like the Day of Action to get as many people as possible immunized.
thoughts as a reminder to what is possible in our society and how the institution of slavery was legal and operating not so long ago – just three generations in the past,” he said. He sees educational opportunities as a critical component to his success and a factor in helping him to become a stronger man after the death of his mother when he was eight. His father died from complications related to Alzheimer’s when King was only 12. Fortunately, King would be surrounded and encouraged by dedicated teachers, school counselors and mentors in the New York Public Schools. He said with a chuckle, “I’m the first U.S. secretary of education to get kicked out of high school.” All jokes aside, King did not allow setbacks or disappointments faced along the way to keep him from earning a bachelor’s degree at Har-
TURKEY THICKET RECREATION CENTER
The Turkey Thicket Recreation Center in Northeast served as one of the vaccination sites, administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Ryan Atkins went there for his vaccination. “I came here to get my Johnson & Johnson vaccination shot,” Atkins said. “I have heard about the side effects of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine with blood clots but there are side effects to almost all drugs. I am getting this shot for the betterment of myself and the community. I praise Mayor Bowser and the city for putting this together.” Atkins joined a steady stream of people in the vaccination process queuing up to register with volunteers at a table in the southeast section of the gym, get a number, then sit in chairs arrayed at midcourt waiting to by a medical professional who reviewed their paperwork and vaccinated them. Afterwards, they sat for a federally-mandated 15 minutes of observation to be monitored for immediate side effects in the northern section of the gym. After the observation period ended, they exited the facility. Lynn Dorsey came to Turkey Thicket to be vaccinated because of an email she received from the District government about the
5 Waiting for a life-saving vaccine. (Roy Lewis/The Washington Informer)
walk-up event. Living two blocks west of the facility, she scheduled time Saturday to be jabbed. “It is in my neighborhood,” Dorsey said. “When I initially registered to be vaccinated a few months ago, I received a government email that told me to go to Southeast. But my neighbor across the street from me, who happens to be white, was told to go to Georgetown. That didn’t make sense to me.” Dorsey said it made more sense to her to come to the Turkey Thicket walk-up event than go to Southeast. She said getting the Johnson & Johnson vaccine didn’t bother her either. “I have heard about the blood clots,” she said. “I know the pro-
cess to create the vaccine happened quickly and swiftly, but there are side effects to most drugs. I know this shot is not a cure-all. We will probably have to get this shot yearly to fight COVID.” For some residents, getting inoculated became a family affair. Eleanor Davis, 96, received her shot with the assistance of her son, Vernon Davis, and Chontell Davis, her granddaughter. Chontell Davis said the family decided to get vaccinated together. “It is the right thing to do to fight COVID,” she said. “I am pleased with the way the process went. It was very simple.” WI @JamesDCWrighter
vard University, a law degree from Yale University and a doctorate in education from Teachers College at Columbia University. King faces a potentially crowded field of candidates including Comptroller Peter Franchot who declared his candidacy last year and Ashwani Jain of Montgomery County – a millennial and a former official under the Obama Administration who announced his plan to run for governor in January. Other possible contenders include former Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III, former state’s Attorney General Douglas Gansler, Baltimore County Executive John “Johnny O” Olszewski and former Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez. On April 14, Maryland Commerce Secretary Kelly Schulz, who resides in Frederick County, became the first candidate to announce her intentions to seek the Republican nomination. WI @jabariwill
5 John B. King, Jr. with his wife, daughters and the family dog, Max, outside of their Silver Spring home. (Photo courtesy of John King for Governor)
Stay Informed!
www.washingtoninformer.com 48 MAY 6 - 12, 2021
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
LEGAL NOTICES
LEGAL NOTICES
LEGAL NOTICES
LEGAL NOTICES
LEGAL NOTICES
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
2021 ADM 173
2021 ADM 000336
2020 ADM 868
2020 ADM 000822
2021 ADM 00310
Clarence L. Brown, Sr. Decedent
Robert M. Willis aka Robert Marcellus Willis Decedent
Pauline Brennan Decedent
Patricia H. Bradley Decedent
Harold L. Thomas, Sr. Decedent
Jeffrey K. Gordon, Esq. 5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW #700 Washington, DC 20015 Attorney
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
Colline Silvera Robinson Kirlew & Associates, PC 7731 Belle Point Dr. Greenbelt, MD 20770 Attorney
Matthew F. Shannon, Esq. 1420 N Street, NW #203 Washington, DC 20005 Attorney
Steven M. Katz, Esq. 401 E Jefferson St., Suite 208 Rockville, MD 20850 Attorney
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Derrick L. Brown, whose address is 4023 Massachusetts Ave., SE, Washington, DC 20020, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Clarence L. Brown, Sr. who died on January 8, 2021 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/22/2021. 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 10/22/2021, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 4/22/2021 Derrick L. Brown Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills
In God We Trust. Declaration of Nationality. Notice of White Flag Surrender. Notice of Special Appearance : I am that I am: " Brandon Arelious Biggs© ", in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: " BIGGS, BRANDON ARELIOUS© ", corp.sole Dba.: " BRANDON ARELIOUS BIGGS© ", having reached the age of majority, being aboriginal to the northwestern and southwestern shores of Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the continental Americas, being duly certified, hereby affirms to declare my tribal intention to be as my pedigree subscribes, as a: Moorish American, but not a citizen of the United States. I declare permanent, and unalienable, allegiance to The Moorish Empire, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados, The Constitution for the united States of America, Article III Section 2, The Lieber Code, Hague Conventions of 1899 & 1907, The Geneva Conventions, [ United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ], and all natural laws governing moors, and hereby declare and proclaim my nationality in good faith as a: Moorish American. I am that I am: " Brandon Arelious Biggs© ", from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: " king ar’ell biggs© ". Notice of White Flag Surrender: as " hors de combat ", pursuant to The Geneva Conventions, Article III, as a minister of: The Moorish Empire, and Internationally Protected Person. Notice of: LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR ON LAND ( HAGUE, IV), ARTICLE: 45, 46, & 47. Notice of Claim pursuant to Public Law 87-846, TITLE II, SEC. 203. Notice of Bailment Merging of Legal Title with Equitable Title : This order is to preserve legal and equitable title, and to reserve all rights, title, and interest, in the property, Re: Public Health, Illinois Department Of, ILLINOIS STATE FILE NUMBER: 112-78-112741, " BRANDON ARELIOUS BIGGS© ", is as a special deposit order, conveyed to: " Hotep12 Trust© ". All property of the same issue and amount, in like kind and specie, is to be returned fully intact , as a Special Deposit order of the Depositor / Beneficiary / Bailor / Donor / Principal / Creditor: " king ar’ell biggs© ", nom deguerre: " Brandon Arelious Biggs© ", as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of : " Hotep12 Trust© ", an Inter Vivos Unincorporated Divine Grantor Trust. This deposit is not to be commingled with general assets of any bank, nor depositary / trustee / agent / bailee / donee / debtor. This deposit is not limited to, but including: discharge and set off, of any and all outstanding liabilities as accord and satisfaction. Inter alia enact fuit. All Rights Reserved. Deo volente.
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS William F. Megna, whose address is 24 Arnett Avenue, #115, Lambertville, NJ 08530, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Robert M. Willis aka Robert Marcellus Willis who died on October 21, 2020 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/22/2021. 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 10/22/2021, 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.
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Sylvia Lewis Halford, whose address is 1340 Willowood Rd., Knoxville, Tennessee 37825, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Pauline Brennan who died on December 4, 2015 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/22/2021. 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 10/22/2021, 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.
Michele Bradley-Holt, Pamela Gee and Kenneth Bradley, whose addresses are 5005 Mckinley St., Temple Hills, MD 20748 & 7514 Val Ln., District Heights, MD 20747, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Patricia H. Bradley who died on July 15, 2020 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/22/2021. 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 10/22/2021, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: April 22, 2021
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Staci McDuffie, whose address is 13623 Water Fowl Way, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Harold L. Thomas, Sr. who died on December 14, 2020 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/22/2021. 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 10/22/2021, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 4/22/2021
Date of first publication: 4/22/2021
Date of first publication: 4/22/2021
William F. Megna Personal Representative
Sylvia Lewis Halford Personal Representative
TRUE TEST COPY
TRUE TEST COPY
Nicole Stevens Register of Wills
Nicole Stevens Register of Wills
Washington Informer
Washington Informer
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
2021 ADM 000314
2021 ADM 000260
2021 ADM 261
2021 ADM 000312
Connie D. Madden Decedent
Janis R. Thomas aka Janis Renee Thomas Decedent
Franklin J. Burns aka Franklin Jeffrey Burns Decedent
Bertha A. Driscoll aka Bertha A. Jones Decedent
Jeffrey K. Gordon 5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW #700 Washington, DC 20015 Attorney
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Ian Madden and Autumn Madden, whose addresses are 3333 Bleecker Street, Apt., #423, Coppell, Texas 75019 & 5312 Drake Place, SE Washington, DC 20019, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Connie D. Madden who died on April 27, 2020 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/22/2021. 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 10/22/2021, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 4/22/2021 Ian Madden Autumn Madden Personal Representative
Attorney Ethel Mitchell 8403 Colesville Road, Suite 1100 Silver Spring, MD 20910 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Junius M. Thomas Jr., whose address is 5912 Clay Street, NE, Washington, DC 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Janis R. Thomas aka Janis Renee Thomas who died on October 15, 2020 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/22/2021. 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 10/22/2021, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 4/22/2021 Junius M. Thomas Jr. Personal Representative
Michele Bradley-Holt Pamela Gee Kenneth Bradley Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Dennis Burns, whose address is 715 Race Rd., Ellicott City, MD 20143, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Franklin J. Burns aka Franklin Jeffrey Burns who died on August 2, 2020 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before October 22, 2021. 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 October 22, 2021, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: April 22, 2021 Dennis Burns Personal Representative
Staci McDuffie Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer
Jeffrey K. Gordon, Esq. 5335 Wisconsin Avenue, NW #700 Washington, DC 20015 Attorney
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS William Leon Jones, whose address is 16804 Hagador Avenue, Victorville CA 92394, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Bertha A. Driscoll aka Bertha A. Jones who died on February 21, 2012 without a Will, and will serve with Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/22/2021. 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 10/22/2021, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 4/22/2021 William Leon Jones Personal Representative
TRUE TEST COPY TRUE TEST COPY
TRUE TEST COPY
Nicole Stevens Register of Wills
Nicole Stevens Register of Wills
Washington Informer
Washington Informer
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer
TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer
MAY 6 - 12, 2021 49
LEGAL NOTICES
LEGAL NOTICES
LEGAL NOTICES
LEGAL NOTICES
LEGAL NOTICES
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
2021 ADM 000370
2020 ADM 000805
2021 ADM 000325
2021 ADM 000306
2021 ADM 000337
Jeffrey Steven Hosley Decedent
Roy E. Campbell, Sr. Decedent
Frances C. Johnson Decedent
Cordaro Pierre Chambers Decedent
Jeffrey K. Gordon, Esq. 5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW, #700 Washington, DC 20015 Attorney
Peggy A. Miller, Esq. 5130 7th Street, NE Washington, DC 20011-2625 Attorney
Tina Smith Nelson Legal Counsel for the Elderly 601 E Street, NW Washington, DC 20049 Attorney
Samuel C. Moore 526 King Street, Suite 506 Alexandria, VA 22314 Attorney
James Roseman Lindsay aka James R. Lindsay aka James R. Lindsay, Jr. Decedent
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Wendy Michelle Faub, whose address is 1743 Corcoran Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Jeffrey Steven Hosley who died on January 22, 2021 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/29/2021. 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 10/29/2021, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 4/29/2021 Wendy Michelle Faub Personal Representative
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Roy E. Campbell, Jr., whose address is 2916 Marlow Road, Silver Spring, MD 20904-7125, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Roy E. Campbell, Sr. who died on October 22, 2007 without a Will, and will serve with Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/29/2021. 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 10/29/2021, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 4/29/2021 Roy E. Campbell, Jr. Personal Representative
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Timothy F. Johnson, whose address is 4026 Blaine St., NE, Washington, DC, 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Frances C. Johnson who died on December 23, 2020 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/29/2021. 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 10/29/2021, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 4/29/2021 Timothy F. Johnson Personal Representative
TRUE TEST COPY TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills
Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer
Washington Informer
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 2021 ADM 000369 Robert L. Richardson, Sr. aka Robert Lee Richardson, Sr. Estate of
Admit to probate the will dated November 29, 2019 exhibited with the petition upon proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution by affidavit of the witnesses or otherwise Date of first publication: 4/29/2021 Aimee D. Griffin, Esq. 5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW Suite 440 Washington, DC 20015 Petitioner/Attorney: TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer
Quinzella Chambers, whose address is 1705 Benning Road, NE, Apt. C34, Washington, DC 20002, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Cordaro Pierre Chambers who died on February 17, 2020 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/29/2021. 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 10/29/2021, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 4/29/2021 Quinzella Chambers Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Constance A. Lindsay & Cecilie A. Lindsay, whose addresses are 102A Todd St., Carrboro, NC 27510 & 1350 Irving St., Washington, DC 20010, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of James Roseman Lindsay aka James R. Lindsay aka James R. Lindsay, Jr. who died on May 12, 2020 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/29/2021. 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 10/29/2021, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 4/29/2021
Nicole Stevens Register of Wills
Constance A. Lindsay Cecilie A. Lindsay Personal Representative
Washington Informer
TRUE TEST COPY
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
2021 ADM 246
2021 ADM 000240
2021 ADM 000406
2021 ADM 000179
Lillie Drumgoole Edwards Decedent
Estate of Christine Winston aka Callie Winston
Wanda D. Calhoun Decedent
Wallace Alexander Decedent
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Latese Alexander, whose address is 3104 Xavier Lane, District Heights, MD 20747, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Wallace Alexander who died on April 19, 2020 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/29/2021. 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 10/29/2021, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 4/29/2021 Latese Alexander Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY
50 MAY 6 - 12, 2021
Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer
NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by Linda Richardson-Jones, Robert L. Richardson, Jr. and Frances Hartdige for standard probate, including the appointment of one or more personal representatives. Unless a responsive pleading in the form of a complaint or an objection in accordance with Superior Court Probate Division Rule 407 is filed in this Court within 30 days from the date of first publication of this notice, the Court may take the action hereinafter set forth.
TRUE TEST COPY
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
Aimee D. Griffin, Esq. The Griffin Firm, PLLC 5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Ste. 440 Washington, DC 20015 Attorney
Kathlyn Scott, Esq. 1629 K Street, NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20006 Attorney
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Sonya Drumgoole, whose address is 8016 Bock Road, Ft. Washington, MD 20744, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Lillie Drumgoole Edwards who died on October 1, 2015 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/29/2021. 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 10/29/2021, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 4/29/2021 Sonja Drumgoole Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY
Nicole Stevens Register of Wills
Nicole Stevens Register of Wills
Washington Informer
Washington Informer
NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by Shelia Winston-Graves for standard probate, including the appointment of one or more personal representatives. Unless a responsive pleading in the form of a complaint or an objection in accordance with Superior Court Probate Division Rule 407 is filed in this Court within 30 days from the date of first publication of this notice, the Court may take the action hereinafter set forth. In the absence of a will or proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution, enter an order determining that the decedent died intestate appoint an unsupervised personal representative Date of first publication: 4/29/2021 Shelia Winston-Graves 711 Penn Road Raleigh, NC 27604 Petitioner/Attorney: TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer
Johnny M. Howard Houston & Howard 1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 402 Washington, DC 20036 Attorney
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Lavelle Calhoun and Chances Calhoun, whose addresses are 901 Saint Michaels Drive, Bowie, MD 20721 and 1505 A Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Wanda D. Calhoun who died on January 26, 2021 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/29/2021. 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 10/29/2021, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 4/29/2021 Lavelle Calhoun Chances Calhoun Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
LEGAL NOTICES
LEGAL NOTICES
LEGAL NOTICES
LEGAL NOTICES
LEGAL NOTICES
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
2021 ADM 000356
2021 ADM 000238
2021 ADM 000136
2021 ADM 000289
2020 ADM 000875
Paul L. Davis Decedent
Reinhard Menke Decedent
James Wilkins, Sr. Decedent
Elsie B. Pope Decedent
Nakia Gray 800 Maine Ave., SW Suite 200 Washington, DC 20020 Attorney
Kathlyn Scott, Esq. 1629 K Street, NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20006 Attorney
Mavis Darnell Harrelson aka Mavis Harrelson aka Mavis D. Harrelson Decedent
Edward G. Varrone, Esq. 1825 K Street, NW Suite 1150 Washington, DC 20006 Attorney
Tina S. Nelson, Esq. Legal Counsel for the Elderly 601 E Street, NW Washington, DC 20049 Attorney
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Eva Francine Wilkins, whose address is 901 Savannah Street, SE, Washington, DC 20032, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Paul L. Davis who died on October 2, 2016 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/29/2021. Claims against 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 10/29/2021, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 4/29/2021
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Helga Ferraro, whose address is 11 Grand Haven Drive, Commack, New York 11725, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Reinhard Menke who died on October 6, 2020 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/29/2021. 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 10/29/2021, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 4/29/2021 Helga Ferraro Personal Representative
Eva Francine Wilkins Personal Representative
TRUE TEST COPY TRUE TEST COPY
Nicole Stevens Register of Wills
Nicole Stevens Register of Wills
Washington Informer
Washington Informer
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 2021 ADM 000017 Ada W. Robinson aka Ada Ella Robinson Decedent Gretchyn G. Meinken 616 N. Washington Street Alexandria, VA 22314 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Cora Robinson Smith, whose address is 406 Cedarview Drive, Dickson, TN 37055, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Ada W. Robinson aka Ada Ella Robinson who died on April 25, 2020 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/29/2021. 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 10/29/2021, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 4/29/2021 Cora Robinson Smith Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer
In God We Trust. Declaration of Nationality. Notice of White Flag Surrender. Notice of Special Appearance: I am that I am: " Cynthia Marie Smith El© ", in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: " SMITH EL, CYNTHIA MARIE© ", corp.sole Dba.: "CYNTHIA MARIE SMITH EL© ", &, " SMITH, CYNTHIA MARIE© ", corp. sole Dba.: " CYNTHIA MARIE SMITH© ", having reached the age of majority, being aboriginal to the northwestern and southwestern shores of Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the continental Americas, being duly certified, hereby affirms to declare my tribal intention to be as my pedigree subscribes, as a: Moorish American, but not a citizen of the United States. I declare permanent, and unalienable, allegiance to The Moorish Empire, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados, The Constitution for the united States of America, Article III Section 2, The Lieber Code, Hague Conventions of 1899 & 1907, The Geneva Conventions, [ United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ], and all natural laws governing moors, and hereby declare and proclaim my nationality in good faith as a: Moorish American. I am that I am: " Cynthia Marie Smith El© ", from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: "cynthia marie smith el© ". Notice of White Flag Surrender: as "hors de combat", pursuant to The Geneva Conventions, Article III, as a minister of The Moorish Empire, and Internationally Protected Person. Notice of: LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR ON LAND ( HAGUE, IV), ARTICLE: 45, 46, & 47. Notice of Claim pursuant to Public Law 87-846, TITLE II, SEC. 203. Notice of Bailment Merging of Legal Title with Equitable Title: This order is to preserve legal and equitable title and to reserve all rights, title, and interest, in the property, Re: State File Number 14163-30493, "CYNTHIA MARIE SMITH © ", is as a special deposit order conveyed to " Harmonies Of Life Trust© ". All property of the same issue and amount, in like kind and specie, is to be returned fully intact, as a Special Deposit order of the Depositor / Beneficiary / Bailor / Donor / Principal / Creditor: " cynthia marie smith el© ", nom deguerre: " Cynthia Marie Smith El© ", as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of: " Harmonies Of Life Trust© ", an Inter Vivos Unincorporated Divine Grantor Trust. This deposit is not to be commingled with general assets of any bank, nor depositary /trustee /agent/ bailee / donee / debtor. This deposit is not limited to, but including discharge and set off, of any and all outstanding liabilities as accord and satisfaction. Inter alia enact fuit. All Rights Reserved. Deo Favente Notice of Reference : 0112358-13
Steve Larson-Jackson, Esq. 1629 K Street, NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20006 Attorney
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
Gregory Harrelson, whose address is 6619 Redfield Avenue, Mt. Rainier, MD 20784, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Mavis Darnell Harrelson aka Mavis Harrelson aka Mavis D. Harrelson who died on July 9, 2019 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/29/2021. 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 10/29/2021, 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.
Edward G. Varrone, Esq., whose address is 1825 K Street, NW, Suite 1150, Washington, DC 20006, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of James Wilkins, Sr. who died on July 24, 2020 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/29/2021. 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 10/29/2021, 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.
Pamela G. Pope, whose address is 716 Peabody Street, NW, Washington, DC 20011, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Elsie B. Pope who died on March 27, 2019 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 10/29/2021. 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 10/29/2021, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.
Date of first publication: 4/29/2021
Date of first publication: 4/29/2021
Edward G. Varrone, Esq. Personal Representative
Pamela G. Pope Personal Representative
TRUE TEST COPY
TRUE TEST COPY
TRUE TEST COPY
Nicole Stevens Register of Wills
Nicole Stevens Register of Wills
Nicole Stevens Register of Wills
Washington Informer
Washington Informer
Washington Informer
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION
2021 ADM 000262
2021 ADM 000235
Jean L. Randolph Decedent
Andrew N. White, III Decedent
John Michael Garner Name of Deceased Settlor
Stacy R. Pace 1629 K Street. NW Suite 300 Washington, DC 20006 Attorney
Peggy A. Miller, Esq. 5130 7th St., NE Washington, DC 20011-2625 Attorney
Date of first publication: 4/29/2021 Gregory Harrelson Personal Representative
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Bernard Terrance West, whose address is 413 Night Hawk Cibolo, TX 78108, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Jean L. Randolph who died on November 5, 2020 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 11/6/2021. 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 11/6/2021, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 5/6/2021 Bernard Terrance West Personal Representative
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS William B. Covington, whose address is 37081 Rivergate Ave., Geismar, LA 70734, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Andrew N. White, III who died on November 11, 2020 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 11/6/2021. 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 11/6/2021, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 5/6/2021 William B. Covington Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY
TRUE TEST COPY
Nicole Stevens Register of Wills
Nicole Stevens Register of Wills
Washington Informer
Washington Informer
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
2021 NRT 000009
NOTICE OF EXISTENCE OF REVOCABLE TRUST John Michael Garner whose address was 1818 Newton Street, NW, Washington, DC 20010 created a revocable trust on October 15, 2001, which remained in existence on the date of his death on January 5, 2021, and Patrick Garner, Trustee, whose address is 209 Williamsburg Lane, Fort Worth, TX 76107, is the currently acting trustee, hereinafter the Trustee. Communications to the Trust should be mailed or directed to Patrick Garner at 209 Williamsburg Lane, Fort Worth, Texas 76107. The Trust is subject to claims of the deceased settlor’s creditors, costs of administration of the settlor’s estate, the expense of the deceased settlor’s funeral and disposal of remains, and statutory allowances to a surviving spouse and children to the extent the deceased settlor’s residuary probate estate is inadequate to satisfy those claims, costs, expenses, and allowances. Claims of the deceased settlor’s creditors are barred as against the Trustee and the trust property unless presented to the Trustee at the address provided herein on or before 11/6/2021 (6 months after the date of the first publication of this notice.) An action to contest the validity of this trust must be commenced by the earliest of (1) 1/5/2022, (One year from date of death of deceased settlor) (2) 11/6/2021, (6 months from the date of first publication of this notice) or (3) Ninety days after the Trustee sends the person a copy of the trust instrument and a notice informing the person of the trust’s existence, of the Trustee’s name and address, and of the time allowed for commencing a proceeding. The Trustee may proceed to distribute the trust property in accordance with the terms of the trust before the expiration of the time within which an action must be commenced unless the Trustee knows of a pending judicial proceeding contesting the validity of the trust or the Trustee has received notice from a potential contestant who thereafter commences a judicial proceeding within sixty days after notification. This Notice must be mailed postmarked within 15 days of its first publication to each heir and qualified beneficiary of the trust and any other person who would be an interested person within the meaning of D.C. Code 20-101(d). Date of First Publication: 5/6/2021 Patrick Garner Signature of Trustee TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer
MAY 6 - 12, 2021 51
CL ASSIFIEDS Reader Advisory: The National Trade Association we belong to has purchased the following classifieds. Determining the value of their service or product is advised by this publication. In order to avoid misunderstandings, some advertisers do not offer employment but rather supply the readers with manuals, directories and other materials designed to help their clients establish mail order selling and other businesses at home. Under NO circumstance should you send any money in advance or give the client your checking, license ID, or credit card numbers. Also beware of ads that claim to guarantee loans regardless of credit and note that if a credit repair company does business only over the phone it s illegal to request any money before delivering its service. All funds are based in US dollars. 800 numbers may or may not reach Canada. MEDIABIDS MISCELLANEOUS Become a Published Author. We want to Read Your Book! Dorrance Publishing-Trusted by Authors Since 1920 Book manuscript submissions currently being reviewed. Comprehensive Services: Consultation, Production, Promotion and Distribution. Call for Your Free Author`s Guide 1-877-420-7280 or visit http://dorranceinfo.com/ informer Two great new offers from AT&T Wireless! Ask how to get the new iPhone 11 or Next Generation Samsung Galaxy S10e ON US with AT&T's Buy one, Give One offer. While supplies last! CALL 1-877-370-2155 DISH Network. $64.99 for 190 Channels! Blazing Fast Internet, $19.99/mo. (where available.) Switch & Get a FREE $100 Visa Gift Card. FREE Voice Remote. FREE HD DVR. FREE Streaming on ALL Devices. Call today! 1-855-402-3370 SAVE 67% PLUS 4 FREE BURGERS - The Favorite Feast ONLY $49.99. ORDER Today 1-888-318-1190 Use Code 48643VFW or www.OmahaSteaks.com/ ffmb93 Do you know your Testosterone Levels? Call 888-6925146 and ask about our test kits and get a FREE Trial of Progene All-Natural Testosterone Supplement Diabetes/Cholesterol/Weight Loss Bergamonte, a Natural Product for Cholesterol, Blood Sugar and weight. Physician recommended, backed by Human Clinical Studies with amazing results. Call today and save 15 percent off your first bottle! 866-640-5982 ATTENTION DIABETICS with Medicare. Get a FREE talking meter and diabetic testing supplies at NO COST, plus
CL ASSIFIEDS
CL ASSIFIEDS
CL ASSIFIEDS
FREE home delivery! Best of all, this meter eliminates painful finger pricking! Call 888-421-1874
lish your book. Free author submission kit! Limited offer! 866-951-7214
find great deals on Pest Control Services - 833-872-0012
READERS & MUSIC LOVERS. 100 Greatest Novels (audio books) ONLY $99.00 (plus s h.) Includes MP3 Player & Accessories. BONUS: 50 Classical Music Works & Money Back Guarantee. Call Today! 1-866-680-1822
Hearing aids! Bogo free! High-quality rechargeable Nano hearing aids priced 90% less than competitors. Nearly invisible! 45-day money back guarantee! 833-669-5806
Any laptop repaired just $79. Macs too. REALLY! FREE Fedex shipping! $69 extra for screen or motherboard replacement. CALL Authorized Laptop Repair Specialists 1-866-437-6184 Ever Consider a Reverse Mortgage? At least 62 years old? Stay in your home & Increase cash flow! Safe & Effective! Call Now for your FREE DVD! Call Now 888-420-4716 READERS & MUSIC LOVERS. 100 Greatest Novels (audio books) ONLY $99.00 (plus s h.) Includes MP3 Player & Accessories. BONUS: 50 Classical Music Works & Money Back Guarantee. Call Today! 1-866-680-1822 Personalized holiday gifts for Everyone on your list! Save 20 percent off qualifying products from Personal Creations! To redeem this offer, visit www.PersonalCreations.com/Beauty or Call 1-888-732-0679 Diabetes/Cholesterol/Weight Loss Natural Product for Cholesterol, Blood Sugar and weight. Physician recommended, backed by Human Clinical Studies with fast acting results within 30 days. Call to hear about our special offer 866-640-5982 ATTENTION DIABETICS with Medicare. Get a FREE Talking Meter and diabetic testing supplies at NO COST, plus FREE home delivery! Best of all, this meter eliminates painful finger pricking! Call 888-421-1874 SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS. You WIN or Pay Us Nothing. Contact Disability Group, Inc. Today! BBB Accredited. Call For Your FREE Book & Consultation. 888-649-5110 Attention Joint & Muscle Pain Sufferers: Clinically proven all-natural supplement helps reduce pain and enhance mobility. Call 888-760-5952 to try Hydraflexin RISK-FREE for 90 days.
BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 855-761-1725 Attention Active Duty & Military Veterans! Begin a new career & earn a Degree at CTI! Online Computer & Medical training available for Veterans & Families! To learn more, call 888-449-1713 HOME BREAK-INS take less than 60 SECONDS. Don't wait! Protect your family, your home, your assets NOW for as little as 70¢ a day! Call 866-409-0308 Never pay for covered home repairs again! Complete Care Home Warranty covers all major systems & appliances. 30-day risk free. $200.00 off + 2 free months! 1-866-395-2490 Wanted To Buy Wants to purchase minerals and other oil and gas interests. Send details to P.O. Box 13557 Denver, Co. 80201 MID ATLANTIC COMMUNITY PAPERS ASSOCIATION CLASSIFIED NETWORK (MACNET) ANNOUNCEMENTS Become a Published Author. We want to Read Your Book! Dorrance Publishing-Trusted by Authors Since 1920 Book manuscript submissions currently being reviewed. Comprehensive Services: Consultation, Production, Promotion and Distribution Call for Your Free Author`s Guide 1-866482-1576 or visit http://dorranceinfo.com/macnet
SELL YOUR ANTIQUE OR CLASSIC CAR. Advertise with us. You choose where you want to advertise. 800-450-6631 HEAT YOUR HOME FOR 5¢ AN HOUR! Portable infrared visit macnetonline.com for details. iHeater heats 1000 sq. ft. Slashes your heating bills by 50%. FREE Shipping too! Use claim code 6239 WAS $499 NOW AUTO INSURANCE $279 Call 1-866-784-5182 Looking for auto insurance? Find great deals on the right auto insurance to suit your needs. Call today for a free CADNET & NANI CLASSIFIED NETWORK quote! 866-924-2397 AUTOS WANTED Donate your car to kids.Your donation helps fund the search for missing children. Accepting trucks, motorcycles & RV’s too! Fast free pickup - running or not - 24 hr response maximum tax donation - Call (888) 515-3813
GENERAL SERVICES/MISCELLANEOUS Want faster & Affordable Internet? Get internet service today with Earthlink. Best Internet & WiFi Plans. Call us Today to Get Started. Ask about our specials! 866396-0515
EDUCATION Train online to do medical billing! Become a Medical Office Professional at CTI! Get trained & certified to work in months! 888-572-6790. (M-F 8-6 ET)
HEALTH/MEDICAL DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 350 plus procedures. Real dental insurance - NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-877-553-1891 www.dental50plus.com/ macnet #6258
HEALTH & FITNESS Dental insurance - Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Covers 350 procedures. Real insurance - not a discount plan. Get your free dental info kit! 1-888-623-3036 www. dental50plus.com/58 #6258 Attention oxygen therapy users! Inogen One G4 is capable of full 24/7 oxygen delivery. Only 2.8 pounds. Free info kit. Call 877-929-9587 VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! 50 Generic Pills SPECIAL $99.00 FREE Shipping! 100% guaranteed. 24/7 CALL NOW! 888445-5928 Hablamos Español ATTENTION DIABETICS! Save money on diabetic supplies! Convenient home shipping for monitors, test strips, insulin pumps, catheters & more! To learn more, call now! 877-810-0063 MISCELLANEOUS The Generac PWRcell solar plus battery storage system. Save money, reduce reliance on grid, prepare for outages & power your home. Full installation services. $0 down financing option. Request free no obligation quote. 1-855-270-3785 GENERAC Standby Generators. The weather is increasingly unpredictable. Be prepared for power outages. FREE 7-year extended warranty ($695 value!) Schedule FREE in-home assessment. 1-844-334-8353 special financing if qualified. Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule free LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-855-995-2490 Directv Now. No Satellite. $40/mo 65 Channels. Stream news, live events, sports & on demand titles. No contract/ commitment. 1-866-825-6523 DISH TV $64.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo Expires 7/21/21.1-833-872-2545 New authors wanted! Page Publishing will help self-pub-
52 MAY 6 - 12, 2021
AT&T Internet. Starting at $40/month w/12-mo agmt. 1 TB of data/mo. Ask how to bundle & SAVE! Geo & svc restrictions apply. 1-888-796-8850
VIAGRA & CIALIS! 60 pills for $99. 100 pills for $150. FREE shipping. Money back guaranteed! 1-844-5964376 HOME IMPROVEMENT/MISCELLANEOUS GENERAC Standby Generators provide backup power during utility power outages, so your home and family stay safe and comfortable. Prepare now. Free 7-year extended warranty ($695 value!). Request a free quote today! Call for additional terms and conditions. 1-855465-7624 The bathroom of your dreams for as little as $149/month! BCI Bath & Shower. Many options available. Quality materials & professional installation. Senior & Military Discounts Available. Limited Time Offer - FREE virtual in-home consultation now and SAVE 15%! Call Today! 1-877-540-2780 Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-855-791-1626 MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE DISH TV $64.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo Expires 7/21/21. 1-855-270-5098 NEED IRS RELIEF $10K - $125K+ Get Fresh Start or Forgiveness. Call 1-844-431-4716 Monday through Friday 7 AM - 5 PM PST MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES Wesley Financial Group, LLC Timeshare Cancellation Experts Over $50,000,000 in timeshare debt and fees cancelled in 2019. Get free informational package and learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. Call 888-965-0363 PEST CONTROL Find Pest Control Experts Near You! Don't let pests overtake your home. Protect your loved ones! Call today to
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE READY TO BUY, SELL, OR RENT YOUR VACATION HOME OR HUNTING CAMP? Advertise it here and in neighboring publications. We can help you. Contact MACnet MEDIA @ 800-450-6631 or visit our site at MACnetOnline.com WANTED AMERICAN & FOREIGN CLASSIC CARS AND MOTORCYCLES WANTED $$PAYING CA$H$$ KRMiller1965@yahoo. com 717-577-8206 HOME IMPROVEMENT/MISCELLANEOUS Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-855-791-1626 MARYLAND STATEWIDE CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING NETWORK AUTOMOBILE DONATIONS DONATE YOUR CAR/TRUCK/RV Lutheran Mission Society
DIGITAL from Page 18 to “turn on a dime” to get systems in place for her two children in the PGCPS system. Her son Charles is at Kenmoor Middle School in Landover, Md. and daughter Olivia is at Perrywood Elementary School in Largo, Md. Early during the pandemic, each of her kids received laptops from their schools. Both of Reed’s children are in an Individualized Education Program (IEP), a special needs program at their respective schools. That meant not only managing distance learning for Charles and Olivia, but also handling virtual conferences with teachers and specialists. Getting oriented to the virtual experience was necessary. “Parents were directed to technology assistance,” said Reed. “It was literally throwing everyone in the water and figuring it out.” There were some basic skills that had not been considered by anyone. “My kids had to switch to an all-typing mode which is not something elementary and middle school kids are used to doing. That’s different than before the pandemic where kids that age only went to the school computer lab from time-to-time.” Reed also had to plan to address her 69 year-old mother’s caregiving needs. As a business owner, she also had to figure out how to ensure her natural hair salon survived. Located in downtown Silver Spring, her 15-year-old enterprise, named Noire Salon, was forced to shut down at the beginning of the pandemic. Fortunately, Reed qualified for a COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) through the Small Business Administration (SBA) to bridge the gap between
CL ASSIFIEDS of MD – Help local families through the pandemic with food, clothing, counseling. Tax deductible. MVA licensed #W1044. 410-228-8437 www.CompassionPlace.org HOME IMPROVEMENT SERVICES NEED NEW WINDOW TREATMENTS? Call Empire Today® to schedule a FREE in-home estimate on blinds & shades. Call Today! 866-479-2321. MISC. SERVICES LONG DISTANCE MOVING: White-Glove Service from America’s Top Movers. Fully insured and bonded. Let us take the stress out of your out of state move. FREE QUOTES! Call: 866-314-0734 CANADA DISCOUNT PHARMACY. Save up to 80% off prescriptions. Eliquis, Flomax, Xarelto, Viagra, more! Mention “NEWS10” to save $10 on first order. Call 833601-1541 (Open M-F) WANTED TO BUY OR TRADE FREON WANTED: We pay $$$ for cylinders and cans. R12 R500 R11 R113 R114. Convenient. Certified Professionals. Call 312-291-9169 or visit RefrigerantFinders.com.
shutdown and reopening May 1, 2020 under strict guidelines established for Maryland. She also received the stimulus payment through the Cares Act. Reed’s situation is labeled by demographers as an example of how what they call the “sandwich generation” is handling care for an aging parent while nurturing her children. She co-parents Charles and Olivia with her ex-husband Jonathan. Coordinating schedules has been the key. When the fall semester started in September 2020, Reed realized something different about scheduling.
RETURN TO NORMAL
“Early during the pandemic, the school day was shorter, about three to four hours because we all were adjusting,” said Reed. “When the 2020-2021 school year began, everyone was working to get back to a near normal school schedule. That meant a longer school day of a little more than six hours.” As Zuckerman shared on the Van Hollen panel an assessment of what needs to be considered for how to successfully manage hybrid instruction and post-pandemic teaching. He said schools need to reimagine what technology support looks like. Technology assets at home are critically important to education success. “Pivoting on a dime to support our students on a large scale has been challenging,” said Zuckerman. “The load on the network has to be considered like the importance of cybersecurity. Federal funding can help strengthen our infrastructure, not just internet speed, but making sure we have a safe and secure network for our children.” WI
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
WILLIAMS from Page 30 in the fight against police brutality. Smartphones make everyone who has one a potential videographer, and the truth of what we can see destroys a lie almost every time. Since the filming of the Rodney King beating, video recordings have increasingly become a primary weapon in countering police misconduct. It has increased the confidence of every law-abiding Black citizen to resist police abuse. It is my belief that the resultant loss of "control and power" has created a smoldering hostility in those inclined to use excessive force. Like the arrogance of Chauvin perched on the neck of George Floyd, many exercise a warped and distorted right to do what they want to demonstrate, to all who witness,
MORIAL from Page 30 line, but it has become part of our national political tradition since the administration of Franklin Roosevelt. It is an opportunity for the nation to engage in a substantive discussion about the direction of the presidency and the nation. In a letter sent shortly after the election, I charged President Biden and Vice President Harris to produce an immediate and extensive COVID-19 relief package. They responded with the American Rescue Plan, one of the largest anti-poverty measures in a generation. It has helped slash daily coronavirus infections by more than 70 percent while quadrupling the daily number of vaccinations. President Biden has made it possible for Americans whose lives were upended by the pandemic at last to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The letter established a set of fundamental principles on racial justice and equity to guide Biden and Harris in the first 100 days and beyond. I asked them to assemble an administration that reflects the diversity of America. They nominated and fought for confirmation of the most racially diverse Cabinet in U.S. history. I asked that they commit to fundamentally transforming the criminal justice system. They have restored the meaningful use of federal pattern or practice investigations, lifted restrictions on the use of consent decrees to hold po-
continuing unlimited control. As always and for what it is worth, I will attempt to offer a remedy. We must remember and acknowledge! First, we must remember that, even during the depths of enslavement, we used our minds to frustrate the evil intent of our enemies. Without prejudging, we must acknowledge
that the operational principle of any officer we encounter MAY BE "control with hostile intent." Like a chess player, when faced with such evil, we must have the knowledge to anticipate and counter the actions of our adversaries. We must then acknowledge that, for us, "Officer Friendly" rarely exists. WI
It is my belief that the resultant loss of "control and power" has created a smoldering hostility in those inclined to use excessive force. Like the arrogance of Chauvin perched on the neck of George Floyd, many exercise a warped and distorted right to do what they want to demonstrate, to all who witness, continuing unlimited control.
lice departments accountable for abuse, and ended federal contracts with private prisons. I asked them to protect and defend voting rights. They have put the entire federal government to work in promoting and expanding access to voter registration and participation. I asked them to work toward economic parity for African Americans. The day they were sworn into office, the very first executive order President Biden signed declared "… it is the policy of my Administration that the federal government should pursue a comprehensive approach to advancing equity for all, including people of color and others who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality." I asked them to advance equity in educational opportunities for all American children. The administration's unprecedented investment in Title I schools and higher education will help students recover from the learning loss experienced during the pandemic. Investment in free broadband and devices is expanding students' access to digital learning in their homes. I asked them to promote a healthier nation by prioritizing access to health care, including testing, treatments, and cures for COVID-19 in communities of color. More than 200 million Americans have been vaccinated, more than double the initial goal, including underserved communities. Tens of thousands more
Americans have health insurance through the Affordable Care Act, and their premiums are lower. As productive as the first 100 days have been, a tremendous amount of work remains to be done. President Biden and Vice President Harris must make good on their promise to invest in America, to build a middle class, and to restore faith in our democracy. The American people need tangible results. Among the most pressing items remaining on the administration's to-do list are: - Passage of robust infrastructure proposals, the American Jobs Plan and the American Families Plan, which includes long-overdue investments in physical and human infrastructure, creating family-sustaining, middle-class jobs and securing the nation's recovery from the pandemic. - Police reform, beginning with enactment of a meaningful George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. - Protection of voting rights, beginning with enactment of the For the People Act and restoration of the full Voting Rights Act. - Closing the gender pay gap beginning with enactment of the Paycheck Fairness Act. - A $15 per hour minimum wage for all workers and elimination of the discriminatory tipped minimum wage. The National Urban League's full progress report on the Biden-Harris administration's first 100 days can be found here: https://bit.ly/3aJQ8Wr. WI
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
CARR from Page 31
PANDEMIC from Page 14
helped to usher in. In addition to Harris' historic breakthrough, Black women have again increased their numbers in the U.S. House of Representatives, eight Black women are currently serving as mayors of large cities, including Atlanta, Boston, St. Louis, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., the most Black women ever are serving as Cabinet and senior staff members in the presidential/vice presidential administration, and Biden has nominated three Black women to serve on the federal courts of appeals. Assessing how Black women have fared in the first 100 days isn't simply a matter of determining whether they've had increased opportunity to step into leadership roles. It's also about whether they've been able to steady the ship during critical moments as well as advance policies and solutions that are reflective of what voters and communities want and need. For years, Black women and their allies have argued that greater diversity in government brings not only representational parity but also more effective solutions. Today, we can see multiple ways that Black women's increased political power is allowing them to show up in important ways. As vice president, Harris has advanced her quest to end disparities in Black women's maternal health outcomes. She also has cast more early-term tie-breaking votes in the Senate than any other vice president, facilitating passage of bills to support the country's recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and the confirmation of a defense-policy Cabinet member. Now, she has been tasked with finding solutions to the nation's border crisis, an issue that she previously took on as California Attorney General. Black women's leadership is showing up in other areas of government as well. In the wake of former police officer Derek Chauvin's murder of another unarmed Black person, Rep. Karen Bass is leading the national effort to end police brutality through her sponsorship of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Bill H.R.7120 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020. New York Attorney General Leticia James and Fulton County, Georgia, District Attorney Fani Willis are pursuing their investigations into the Trump
health and medicine, social work, and science and research—generally aren't as ready to switch careers. There are some geographic differences in the willingness to retrain as well. People in developing economies, including many in Africa, are the most enthusiastic, with as many as three-quarters saying they would retrain to prepare themselves for a new job. Europeans and Americans have the lowest level of willingness, the study shows, but even in those geographies the proportion of people who say they would retrain is generally above 50 percent. Digital and information technology top the list of potential next careers, likely due to expanding opportunities in those areas and above average pay. In the study more than 20 percent of people currently working in artistic or creative jobs say they would retrain for a digital job, as do more than 20 percent of people currently working in consulting or media. Office and management jobs such as marketing and human resources are also seen as attractive next career steps. “The pandemic is another reminder— after the 2008 financial crisis—that there are always going to be events that threaten economies and require workers to adjust,” said Kate Kavanagh, a co–managing director of The Network and a coauthor of the report. “Workers have come to accept that their only real job security lies in their adaptability, which sometimes means shifting roles or even careers.” WI
CARR Page 54
In the study more than 20 percent of people currently working in artistic or creative jobs say they would retrain for a digital job, as do more than 20 percent of people currently working in consulting or media. MAY 6 - 12, 2021 53
Alan Amrhine, Communications Director Lutheran Mission Society "MDDC has connected donors with the LMS Vehicle Donation Program for over six years! Great exposure, cost effective, and Wanda is so helpful!" Call Wanda Smith, 410-212-2616 wsmith@mddcpress.com
Attention: VIAGRA & CIALIS Users There’s a More Affordable & Effective Alternative to U.S. Pharmacy High Prices! For discreet home delivery, CALL NOW!
800-995-1351
50 Pill Special:
Only $99 Plus Free Shipping!
CARR from Page 53 administration's likely financial and election abuses despite a waning interest in the difficult work of holding the former president accountable. In New York City, newly appointed School Chancellor Meisha Porter is taking on the challenging job of dismantling intractable desegregation of the city's public school system. These recent gains are the result of years of work to make space for Black women's voices and leadership. Still, some areas of leadership have remained elusive. No Black woman has served on the U.S. Supreme Court and their absence in the Senate means Black women and the issues they champion lack deeply informed representation in two of the federal government's three branches. Additionally, no Black woman has ever served as governor. There are opportunities on the horizon to close
these gaps, however, including a gubernatorial race in Virginia in 2021 and a possible run in 2022 by Stacey Abrams for Georgia governor. Black women are also eyeing possible Senate runs in Florida, North Carolina and Ohio, and Biden has committed to nominating a Black woman to the Supreme Court should the opportunity present itself.
While the first 100 days have offered a promising hint of how Black women's increased participation at all levels of government can benefit the country, the push to finally and permanently remove barriers to their leadership in all areas of government must continue far beyond these early days. WI
In New York City, newly appointed School Chancellor Meisha Porter is taking on the challenging job of dismantling intractable desegregation of the city's public school system.
Operators Available 24/7!
Pick a state! , any state
JEALOUS from Page 31
MDDC Press works with fellow press associations across the country to give you the best possible buys on advertising wherever you need it. We take care of scheduling and placement at no extra cost to you, and you save time and money. Call Wanda Smith at ext. 6 today.
Press Service 2000 Capital Drive, Annapolis, MD 21401
Subscribe!
1-855-721-6332 www.mddcpress.com
There are many reasons to read The Washington Informer...
Each week you’ll get news from The District of Columbia, Prince George’s County, Montgomery County, and Northern Virginia. You will discover Arts and Entertainment, Social Tidbits, Religion, Sports, People’s Viewpoints, Letters to the Editor, Classified Ads and more! And best of all… No crime, no dirty gossip, just positive news and information each week, which is why… The Washington Informer is all about you! Name....................................................................................................... Address................................................................................................... City, State, Zip......................................................................................... Phone number (daytime)......................................................................... Yes! I want to subscribe for: n1 year/$55.00 n 2years/$70.00 Method of payment: n Check Enclosed n Visa/MasterCard Credit card number.................................................................................. Signature........................................................................................
54 MAY 6 - 12, 2021
ing out and taking to the streets will serve us well; we can organize, and demonstrate, and show up in the places where local lawmakers meet to do their work. We can contact our local representatives directly; they might live next door or down the street. And while the task of changing thousands of police departments, one by one, seems huge, think of this: more than half of Black Amer-
ASKIA from Page 31 age grandson, whom he loved dearly, faced death after an accident, and he, a mighty member of "the world's most deliberative body," was powerless, absolutely powerless, to help the child. He said he resolved then that he wanted to be remembered for acts of kindness, and not for having been a Ku Kluxer. Among his acts of contrition, Byrd was an active supporter of Jesse Jackson's presidential campaign in 1984. So Biden comes in that tradition. In 1994, he was one of the principal authors of President Bill Clinton's Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, and thousands and thousands of Black folks felt the hammer of the law fall on them within the U.S. criminal (in)justice system — notable because, in the words of comedian Richard Pryor, it seemed to involve "just us" in its tangled web. Biden's repentance came in the
One of the most emotional moments after George Floyd's murder last year came when his daughter Gianna, then 6, said, "Daddy changed the world."
icans live in 25 metropolitan areas. We can get serious about saving Black lives by starting in those metro areas. And we can build a movement that inspires others to act. One of the most emotional moments after George Floyd's murder last year came when his daughter Gianna, then 6, said, "Daddy changed the world." If we want her to be right in the long run, we can do our part to make her words come true. And each of us can start right here at home. WI
form of his eight-year apprenticeship under African American President Barack Obama, although I would credit Obama with being clever enough to realize that his career would be well-served having a wizened older white man — better than any other demographic — by his side as vice president. Biden is now president, not only because of his honorary "Black Card" earned as Obama's heir, but because Black voters turned out in droves to vote for him in 2020 in critical places where they stayed home when Hilary Clinton was on the ballot. Then, in January, Black voters did the impossible again and elected two Democrats to the Senate from Deep South Citadel Georgia, giving Biden a chance to get a 51-50 majority in votes in the Senate. Biden is now trying to walk the walk as well as talk the talk concerning some domestic priorities which are vital to Black progress in this country
— he supports statehood for Washington, D.C., he supports HR 40, a commission to study reparations payments to Black folks for their free labor during slavery, he has appointed the most diverse Cabinet in U.S. history and some of his spending priorities have targeted vulnerable areas in Black America. But Biden is still a white man, and in the words of The Last Poets, "the White man's got a God complex." Biden needs to listen more to Black scholars and leaders who think "outside the box," and instead of telling the world the U.S. is "back," back to assert its imperial will, he must recognize that America's "salvation" comes from abandoning white power thinking and bloated military budgets, and especially recognize that radical Black voices like that of Minister Louis Farrakhan, for one, are not the problem, but in fact have the solution to this country's problems. WI
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
WHERE
THE
MONEY
GOES.
Thanks to the support of Maryland Lottery players, this year we were able to generate over $2 billion in sales, award over $1.3 billion in prizes and contribute nearly $600 million to support Maryland’s education, safety, environment and public health. Not bad. We’d like to think we generated a few million smiles as well.
Please play responsibly. For help, visit mdgamblinghelp.org or call 1-800-GAMBLER. Must be 18 years or older to play.
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
MAY 6 - 12, 2021 55
56 MAY 6 - 12, 2021
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM