Issuu

VOL. 54, NO. 49 • SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019

Statehood Week Highlights Efforts to Secure 51st Star for D.C.

From Town Halls to Tributes, Black Press Trumpets Caucus-led Initiatives

Challenges Confounding Black Men, Boys Confronted at Nat’l Town Hall

Thousands Attend Annual Legislative Conference, Seeking Strategies and Solutions

Rep. Frederica Wilson, Panel of Foremost Minds, Discuss Issues with Sense of Urgency

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia

By D. Kevin McNeir WI Editor @dkevinmcneir Roadblocks, hurdles, dead end streets – “man’s inhumanity to man” – have been purposely placed in the paths of African Americans, men and women alike, since the days of Jamestown in order to deny them the rights and opportunities afforded whites in the U.S. Even before Black Lives Matter gained prominence or white privilege exerted itself with the blatant murder of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin, being a Black male has long equated to navigating the world with an invisible albatross around his neck – a bullseye on his back. The challenges confronting and confounding Black men and boys took center stage Sept. 12 as participants packed Ballroom A in the Walter Washington Convention Center in Northwest for the second of two Town Halls held during the Congressional Black Caucus 49th Annual Legislative Conference. The session, “Commission on the Social Status of Black Men

BLACK MEN Page 52

CBCF News of Notes Page 16

5 Mayor Muriel Bowser and Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (center) along with DC veterans and public

officials boarded a DC statehood-themed bus on Monday, Sept. 16, and rode down Pennsylvania Avenue, lined with 51-star flags, to the Capitol to raise awareness to D.C. residents’ lack of voting representation in Congress. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)

An estimated group of more than 10,000 people filled the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in the nation's capital during the just completed five-day Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s [CBCF] 2019 Annual Legislative Conference [ALC]. This year’s ALC theme, “400

TOWN HALL Page 46

Biden’s Birmingham Missive: Americans Hunger for Healing

Democratic Front Runner Salutes Martyrs of 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing By D. Kevin McNeir WI Editor @dkevinmcneir Black Americans had ample reason to believe in a brighter future as the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. articulated their hopes and prayers during his stirring “I Have a Dream” speech which he shared with the world in the culmination of events taking place at the historic March on Washington in August 1963. But just a few weeks later, the murders of four Black girls, killed in a bombing orchestrated by the Ku Klux Klan at Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, reminded the nation that many citizens re-

mained virulently opposed to racial equality and would not relinquish power before invoking more pain upon African Americans and their allies. On Sunday, Sept. 15, former Vice President Joe Biden stood in the pulpit of that church, 56 years later, to remember the sacrifices of Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson and Cynthia Wesley and to applaud the dauntless spirit of a people who chose forgiveness over retribution as a means of bringing healing to their community and to all Americans. And while Biden continues to

BIDEN Page 38

5 The 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama was bombed on September 15, 1963 by four Ku Klux Klansmen. (Courtesy photo/Wikimedia Commons)

Celebrating 54 Years of Service / Serving More Than 50,000 Readers Throughout The Metropolitan Area

2 SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

Around the Region............ 4-11 PG County....................... 12-13 Business............................ 14-15 National............................ 16-18 International.........................19 Health ..............................21-24 Education ....................... 26-27

Keynote Speaker The Rev. Dr. Howard John Wesley at the ALC Prayer Breakfast National / Page 16

OpEd.................................29-31 Lifestyle..........................32-43 Sports ............................ 44-45

On September 23, 1930 music legend Ray Charles is born in Albany, Georgia. Black Facts / Page 6

Religion............................46-47

News of Note from the CBCF National / Pages 16-18

with most insurance*

10% off your next grocery purchase with any immunization**

*No co-payment unless required by your plan. **Restrictions apply.

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

Aug 13.19_WashingtonInformerAd_9.5x6.1_FLU.indd 1

2:22 PM SEPTEMBER 19 - 9/4/19 25, 2019 3

around the region

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

In Memoriam Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Sr. Wilhelmina J. Rolark

The Washington Informer Newspaper THE WASHINGTON INFORMER PUBLISHER In Memoriam NEWSPAPER (ISSN#0741-9414) is Dr. Calvin W. Rolark Rolark, Barnes Sr. Denise published weekly on each Thursday. Wilhelmina J. Rolark Periodicals postage paid at Washington, D.C. and additional mailing ofSTAFF THE WASHINGTON INFORMER NEWSPAPER (ISSN#0741-9414) is published fices. weekly News and advertisingPeriodicals deadline postage on Thursday. paid McNeir, at Washington, D. Kevin EditorD.C. and additional is Monday to publication. mailingprior offices. News and Anadvertising is Monday prior to publication. Ron deadline Burke, Advertising/ Marketing Director nouncements must bemust received two two weeks prior to event. Copyright 2000 by The Announcements be received Shevry Lassiter, Photo Editor weeksWashington prior to event. Copyright 2016 Informer. All rights reserved. POST MASTER: Send change of addressLafayette Barnes, Editor by The Informer. All 3117 es toWashington The Washington Informer, Martin Luther King,IV, Jr. Assistant Ave., S.E.Photo Washington, rights D.C. reserved. POSTMASTER: Send Johnmay E. De Freitas, Sports Photo Editorpermis20032. No part of this publication be reproduced without written changesion of from addresses to The The Wash-Informer the publisher. Newspaper cannot guarantee Dorothy Rowley, Online Editor the return of ingtonphotographs. Informer, 3117 Martin Luther Subscription rates are $30 per year, two years $45. Papers will be received ZebraDesigns.net, Design & Layout King, not Jr. more Ave., than S.E. aWashington, D.C. week after publication. Make checks payable to: Mable Neville, Bookkeeper 20032. No part of this publication may be reproduced without writtenTHE permisDr. Charles Vincent, Social Sightings columnist WASHINGTON INFORMER sion from the publisher. TheLuther Informer Tatiana Moten, Social Media 3117 Martin King, Jr. Ave., S.E. • Washington, D.C.Specialist 20032 Newspaper cannot guarantee the return Phone: 202 561-4100 Fax: 202 Circulation 574-3785 Angie •Johnson, of photographs. Subscription rates are E-mail: news@washingtoninformer.com $45 per year, two years $60. Papers will www.washingtoninformer.com REPORTERS be received not more than a week after publication. Make checks payable to: Stacy Brown (Senior Writer), Sam P.K. Collins, PUBLISHERCox, Will Ford (Prince George’s Timothy THE WASHINGTON INFORMER Denise Rolark Barnes County Writer), Jacqueline Fuller, Hamil 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E STAFF D.C. 20032 REPORTERS Harris, D. Kevin McNeir, Dorothy Rowley, Washington, Brooke N. Garner Managing Editor Tia C. Jones, Ed Laiscell, Phone: 202 561-4100 Brenda Siler, Sarafina Wright, James Wright Carla Peay Assistant Managing Editor Odell B. Ruffin, Larry Saxton, Fax: 202 574-3785 Ron Burke Advertising and Marketing Mary Wells, Joseph Young PHOTOGRAPHERS news@washingtoninformer.com Mable Whittaker Bookkeeper John E. DeFreitas, Shevry Lassiter, www.washingtoninformer.com LaNita Wrenn Administration PHOTOGRAPHERS Lewis, Lafayette Jr., Anthony Brigette John E. De Freitas SportsRoy Editor Barnes,Tilghman, IV, Victor Holt PhotoWhite Editor John E. De Freitas, Maurice Fitzgerald, Zebra Designs, Inc. Layout & Graphic Design Joanne Jackson, Roy Lewis, Robert Ken Harris /www.scsworks.com Webmaster Ridley, Victor Holt

COMPILED BY D. KEVIN MCNEIR WI EDITOR

as Historic House Hearing Stoppage in 12 law enforcement. She said they threat,” sheYears said. WI Staff Writer had come together to bring a Among the programs Marlow for Statehood Looms The United Auto Workers [UAW] union went sense of uniformity in the way wants to see implemented are By Tia Carol Jones

out on strike General Motors [GM] last When L.Y. Marlow's 23-year- domestic violence victims and against stricter restraining order policies, On Monday, Sept. 16, Mayor Muriel Bowser led a Sunday night, the first workforstoppage the U.S. old daughter told her the father survivors are treated. more rights victim's in families parade with 51 DC veterans along Pennsylvania Avenue auto industry in 12 years. Nearly 50,000 hourly of her daughter threatened her “She's using her own personal to intervene on behalf of a vicin a salute to DC historic House fulltime and temporary workers walked out at 31 life, and the lifestatehood of their ahead child,of the story, her own personal pain to tim, a domestic violence assesshearing slated for Thursday, Joined by ConGM factories and 21 other facilities, spread across she knew something had Sept. to be19. push forward,” Davis-Nickens ment unit coupled with further gresswoman Norton and members of in theforcenter the country – done. Out Eleanor of herHolmes frustration said about Marlow. nine states, mostly training law ofenforcement the DC Bowser and the veterans boarded a DC the largest by any aunion since GM workers with lawCouncil, enforcement's handling Davis-Nickens said anyonestrikeagencies, Child's Life Protecstatehood-themed rode down Avewalked out in 2007. of the situation, bus sheand decided to Pennsylvania who reads Marlow's book will tion Act and mandatory counselnue lined hundreds of 51-star At theit.” endShe of thesaid she The has put profits ahead of emstart thewith Saving Promise cam-flags. “get “putsunion the says ingGM for batterers. parade, Bowser thanked DC veterans forcase theirin service who helped the going company around paign. suchand a way, ployees the average “If to we turn are ever to eradicalled Congress the District’ when bankruptcy and federal “It on seems to betoagrant vicious cycle s 702,000 person residents, can get it.” She saiditatwent the through cate domestic violence, we mustbailincluding 32,000turn veterans have fought theirthe counthat won't mywhofamily a decade andatis seeking higher hourly endforof day, theoutbook will agolook both sides of the coin.wagtry, their full democratic rights as American citizens. loose,” Marlow said. Marlow lump sum payments a better profit help people begin toes,have a diaWe need and to address both the sharing vicDuring weekend’ Art audiAll Nightlogue festival, exhibits shared herlaststory withs the The UAWtim saysand the the two batterer,” sides are far apart on about domesticplan. violence. Marlow in all eight wardsDistrict illustratedHeights the upcomingAlso Housepresent Com- at the ence at the eventwhich was include issues said. health care benefits and job mittee on Oversight Reform, chaired by Rep. Muhammad, Elijah Domestic Violenceand Symposium Mildred the exMarlow would also like to see security. on May 7 at(D-MD), the District Cummings whichHeights will hold awife hearing, the first of John Allen Muhammad, programs designedoffer, to including raise GM says it made a substantial Municipal Center. The sympo- who(H.R. time in 26 years, on the DC statehood bill on was 51) sentenced tohigher six consecamong children in pay andawareness profit sharing, along with investsium wasSept. sponsored by the Thursday, 19 at the Rayburn Houseutive Officelife Building. terms without parole public and private schools. She ment to bring new jobs. It said it offered to comFamily and Youth Services by a Maryland in $7feels The bill, introduced by Norton, would admit the State ofjury for children need to be to educatmithistorole invest billion in coming years preserve Center of the city Commonwealth of District into the the Beltway attacks about domestic violence. Washington, Douglass Union asSniper5,400 jobsinandedpromised a "solution" for two of Heights and theofNational Hook2002. Mildred Muhammad is currently “We have to stop being pasa State consisting most of the territory of the present-day the four plants slated for closure: one in Up of Black Women. the founder of After Detroit the Trauma, sive-aggressive with poor chil-says District of Columbia. H.R. 51 has 219 cosponsors; Speakand another in Lordstown, Ohio. GM has written a book, an organization thehourly drenemployee about domestic violence,” er Marlow Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer have that its helps average earns about $90,000 “Color Butterfly,” which Tom is a Carper survivors of domestic violence Marlow said. strongly Me endorsed the bill. Sen. introduced per year, not including benefits. But the number of story about four workedsharply to break the companion bill generations in the Senateofwhichand hastheir morechildren. than hourly workers atMarlow GM hashas declined in redomestic violence. The book is “I lived in fear for cent six years. Six due thetocycle of abuse inofher family, 30 cosponsors. In March, Senate Minority Leader Chuck decades, a combination automation, inspired by her own years inwhich fear inis a long It is share andand is confident the policies Schumer unveiled a list experiences, of voting rights priorities losttime. market outsourcing. The lastshe strike and those of her grandmother, not an easy thing to come out is pushing for will start thathave cluded supporting D.C. statehood. 12 years ago lasted only three days but others herInmother and her daughter. of,”in she said.the process. a constitutional analysis of H.R. 51 March, stretched on for months. She said every time she reads Mildred said “I plan to take these policies to ACLU found that the bill “is a valid and defensible exercise Muhammad of excerpts from her book, she still people who want to help a Congress and implore them to congressional authority” and is “constitutionally permissible.” can not believe the words came domestic violence victim must change our laws,” Marlow said. from her. “Color Me Butterfly” be careful of how they go into “I will not stop until these poliwon the 2007 National “Best the victim's life, and understand cies are passed.” Books” Award. that she may be in “survival Tia Carol Jones can be reached “I was just 16-years-old when mode”. at tiacaroljones@sbcglobal.net my eye firstMuriel blackened my the“Before you get Inside-Out to 'I'm going Mayor Bowserand launched beginning of the Program, lipsa bled,” Marlow said. to kill you,' it started ofasYouth a verbal 10-week arts and social justice course at the Department Rehabil- WI Elaine Davis-Nickens, presiitation Services (DYRS) Youth Services Center on Sept. 17. The class will be dent of the National Hook-Up taught by actor Nick Cannon and Howard University Professor Dr. Bahiyyah of Black Women, said there is no and Muhammad were DYRS Director ClinMuhammad. Joining the Mayor consistency the wayDYRS domestic ton Lacey,inCannon, youth residents and Howard University students. violence issues are dealt with by The kickoff took place at the Youth Services Center in Northeast.

Bowser, Nick Cannon, Kick Off Social Justice Course for DYRS Youth

“

We have to stop being passive-aggressive poor Smithsonian Secretary Lonniewith G. Bunch, III Embarkschildren on Nationalabout Book Tour domestic Lonnie G. Bunch III, the newly-appointed 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, embarks on a national tour to discuss his new violence. I plan to take these book “A Fool’s Errand: Creating the National Museum of African American History and Culture in the Age Obama, and Trump,” policies toof Bush, Congress andwith the first stop in Chicago on Sept. 19. He will continue in seven U.S. cities this year with more dates in 2020 to be announced. implore tosupport change The book chronicles the them strategies, the systems andour the coalitions Bunch put in place to build the Smithsonian’s 19th museum – one that would attract more than four million duringuntil its first two laws. I will notvisitors stop years. The book goes on sale Sept. 24, the third anniversary of the museum’s opening and a public event will be held that day at the museum in these policies are passed. the District to celebrate the anniversary. During the tour stops, Bunch

“

SOMETHING NEW EVERYDAY

Women the Cycle of wi hotBreak topics Domestic Violence Bowser, Vets Lead Parade GM Workers Strike in Largest

will discuss the book with high profile journalists and historians including Scott Pelley, Gayle King and L.Y. Marlow Henry Louis Gates. The schedule for 2019 tour includes: Sept. 19, Chicago Museum of History; Sept. Paul Trantham 24, NMAAHC, D.C. with Pelley; Oct. 1, The Apollo Theater, New York City with Gayle King; and Oct. 14 and 15, The African American Museum in Philadelphia, a Smithsonian Affiliate and The Museum of the American Revolution, Philadelphia, respectively. For more information about the museum, visit nmaahc.si.edu, follow @NMAAHC on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, or call Smithsonian information at (202) 633-1000. 4 / May 15 - 21, 2008 The Washington Informer / www.washingtoninformer.com 4 SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019 THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM INTERNS: Olivia BoydCIRCULATION

AROUND THE REGION

Congress Heights Residents at Cultural Crossroads Sam P.K. Collins WI Contributing Writer @SamPKCollins Like many of his constituents, 8C Advisory Neighborhood Commission Chairperson Mike Austin spent much of Saturday out and about on a slowly developing stretch of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue during the Congress Heights Day Parade, and the Art All Night festivities that took place later that evening. For several hours, the sights and sounds of a middle school marching band, EU featuring Sugar Bear, Black Alley, street artists, and Black vendors selling a bevy of wares served as friendly reminders of Congress Heights’ appeal as one of the District’s last bastions of highly concentrated indigenous Black D.C. culture. “I appreciate the gems we have here,” said Austin, a fourth-generation Washingtonian who represents ANC Single-Member District 8C01, which includes RISE Demonstration Center. He said his policy goals involve increasing Congress Heights residents’ awareness about professional development opportunities, including those available at the University of the District of Columbia’s workforce development site at 3100 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue. Austin also revealed his intentions to attract more proximate social services and addiction resources for residents hesitant about traveling on the other side of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue. When it comes to the

impending development on St. Elizabeths East Campus, Austin expressed a desire to lobby for the passage of D.C. Council legislation that would ensure housing affordability on those grounds. For ANC 8C’s lead commissioner, beautification also serves as a priority. Streetlights on the outskirts of Shepherd Park, located on the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and Malcolm X Boulevard, would put residents concerned about illicit activity in that area more at ease. As commerce continues to expand along the 3100 and 3200 blocks of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, Austin said the crumbling sidewalks must also reflect the much-anticipated changes. “We don’t have the same level [of development] as H Street or Tenleytown, but we have culture and that’s what makes our neck of the woods better if I’m being honest,” Austin continued as he reflected on the events of Sept. 15. “This is literally the last frontier of the city. People were able to support their own, and it was such a sight.” Congress Heights residents, as well as those from other pockets of Ward 8, have also coalesced in times of tragedy, the most recent of which transpired the night before Congress Heights Day. On Friday, three youths on the 300 block of Parkland Place in Southeast suffered gunshot wounds. Weeks earlier, an audit conducted by the D.C. Office of the Inspector General, at Aus-

CROSSROADS Page 53

OPC

IS YOUR UTILITY LAWYER Now Serving DC Water Consumers

As your utility lawyer, the Office of the People’s Counsel advocates for District consumers of water, electric, natural gas and landline telephone services.

OPC Can Help You With: Disconnections Service Complaints Third Party Suppliers Utility Bill Disputes

WASHINGTON

Payment Arrangements Energy Efficiency Consumer Education Solar Energy Resources

1133 15th Street, NW, Suite 500 Washington, DC 20005-3071

OPC-DC Office of the People’s Counsel

People’s Counsel Sandra Mattavous-Frye

ADVOCACY | EDUCATION | PROTECTION

P (202) 727-3071 | F (202) 727-1014 | TTY/TDD (202) 727-2876 E info@opc-dc.gov www.opc-dc.gov @DCOPC

@DCOPC

DCPeoplesCounsel

Commemorative 400 Years of the Diaspora Show In the spirit of the 400 Years since the first enslaved Africans arrived in Virginia, I am curating a show entitled 400 Years: Journey of the

Diaspora, which brings together an array of major black artists from around the Diaspora. This particular show is the launch of a traveling show that we would like to travel to various cities in the U.S. with a final show on the African continent. 5 Ward 7 resident Renee Powell participates in a health screening during

Community Day in Congress Heights on Saturday, Sept. 14. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)

The opening is on Sept 21st from 5-8pm and the artist talks will be on October 20th from 2-pm at the Prince George's African American Museum (4519 Rhode Island Ave, North Brentwood, MD 20722)

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019 5

AROUND THE REGION

black facts

SEPT 19 - 25, 2019 SOURCE: BLACK AMERICA WEB

trane is born in Hamlet, North Carolina. 1930 – Music legend Ray Charles is born in Albany, Georgia. 1998 – President Clinton presents Nelson Mandela with the Congressional Gold Medal for his anti-apartheid efforts.

SEPT. 24 SEPT. 19

1893 – Black inventor Elbert R. Robinson receives patent for the electric highway trolley. 1931 – Singer Brook Benton of "Rainy Night in Georgia" fame is born in Camden, South Carolina.

SEPT. 20

FULL-SERVICE SIGN & ADVERTISING SOLUTIONS Professional VISUAL BRANDING INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS to help grow your business

...because image matters Call Today! 301-273-3462

Stacey Brown “Chief Image Builder”

stacey@signarama-silverspring.com

8930 Brookville Rd Silver Spring, MD 20910 signarama-silverspring.com MBE/DBE Certified | Woman-Owned Business

BUYING RECORDS

1958 – Martin Luther King Jr. is stabbed during a Harlem book signing by Izola Ware Curry, an African American woman later diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. 1984 – "The Cosby Show" debuts on NBC, beginning an eight-year run as one of television's all-time most beloved and successful shows.

1957 – Nine Black students integrate Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas (left). 1964 – The Executive Order 11246, which enforces affirmative action, is signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

SEPT. 25

1861 – The Union Navy allows Blacks to enlist for service for the first time during the Civil War. 1886 – Peter "The Black Prince" Jackson wins the Australian heavyweight title, becoming the first Black man to win a national boxing crown. 1968 – Famed rapper/actor Will Smith is born in Philadelphia. 1974 – Barbara Hancock becomes first African American woman to be named a White House fellow. WI

SEPT. 21

1872 – John H. Conyers becomes the first African American admitted to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. 1891 – Inventor F.W. Leslie is issued a patent for the envelope seal. 1989 – Colin Powell is confirmed by the Senate as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, becoming the first African American to hold the position.

SEPT. 22

1828 – Shaka Zulu, monarch of Africa's Zulu Kingdom, is assassinated. 1862 – President Abraham Lincoln issues a preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, which sets a date for the freedom of more than 3 million Black slaves in the United States. 1950 – Civil rights icon Ralph Bunche becomes the first African American to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. 1960 – African nation Mali gains its independence from France.

SEPT. 23

Buying Vinyl Records from 1950 to 1986, Jazz, Rock-n-Roll, R&B, Disco, Soul, Reggae, Blues, Gospel, and record format 33 1/3, 45s, and some of the older 78s. Prefer larger collections of at least 100.

CALL JOHN @ 301-596-6201 6 SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019

1863 – NAACP charter member Mary Church Terrell, who was the first African American woman appointed to a school board of a major U.S.city as a member of the D.C. board of education, is born in Memphis. 1884 – Judy W. Reed receives a patent for the bread kneading machine, becoming the first African American woman known to receive a U.S. patent. 1926 – Pioneering jazz saxophonist John Col-

RAY CHARLES

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

AROUND THE REGION

view P INT

BY SARAFINA WRIGHT

Comedian Dave Chappelle's latest Netflix stand-up special has riled some critics who believe he went too far by targeting the LGBT community and Michael Jackson's accusers. What are your thoughts?

IF YOU WANT QUALITY WORK, JUST CALL!

Quality Assurance Home Improvement, Inc. “We Stand By Our Name”

FREE ESTIMATES! / Office: 301-248-3325

BEKKI WOODY /

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Dave is my favorite comedian, [but] I'll admit, I couldn't get past his Michael Jackson jokes. I tried to move on, but I was stuck. The jokes were distasteful, even for Chappelle. Free speech is free, but could cost you.

JOHN WILLIAMS /

FINISHED BASEMENT

DECK

Financing Available 90-day Deferment Payment

ADDITION & 4 SEASON SUN ROOM

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA

Personally, I agree with Dave and support his right to free speech.

Kitchens • Bathrooms • Room additions • Retaining walls • Screen rooms • Carports • Porches • Roofing • Siding Decks • Complete renovations • Enclosed porches • Basements Solid virgin final replacement windows • Bay and bow windows

ADDITION

KITCHEN

SIONAL PROFES LERS INSTAL home g in A+ Ratinment from e v ro p ss im r Busine the Bette r 15 years fo u a Bure straight

Bonded / Insured / Licensed MHCI#86727 / D.C. License #53005449 Lead Paint Removal Certified

KITCHEN

Visit our website today at: www.fortwashingtonhomecontractors.com

MARV HG / WASHINGTON, D.C.

Too bad for the emotional media. Real stand-up is back and raw like it's supposed to be. Don't watch, but don't push your fascism on me.

$2500 off

Up to Sunrooms & Additions

15% off Any Service

Purchase today and receive FREE cable outlet and FREE A/C & Heating Unit

With this coupon. Not valid with other offers or prior purchases.

For Senior Citizens Extra 5% Off

With this coupon. Not valid with other offers or prior purchases.

Purchase 50-year shingle roof today and receive free gutters or leaf guard

CAPITOL ENTERTAINMENT SERVICES, INC. DC DRIVING/WALKING TOURS APP

MATTHEW UDANOH / LAGOS, NIGERIA

"It's funny until it's about you." Not surprised there are people hurt by Dave's jokes. That's fair. What's not fair is thinking Dave should stop telling such jokes because you don't like it. His art is to demand you see another side to whatever you hold as the truth.

PAMELA ISLEY / CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA

Dave is crazy and this special was super-risky. Comedians today would never touch these jokes.

TOUR 1

Overview of American History Tour

TOUR 2

Capitol Hill/ Pennsylvania Avenue Tour

TOUR 3

National Monuments & Memorials Tour

TOUR 4

White House Promenade Tour

TOUR DC ON YOUR OWN SCHEDULE FOR $4.99! Enjoy interesting driving and walking tours using the Washington, DC Driving/Walking Tours App. The GPS tour guide app automatically plays the tour site audio as you drive or walk past the tour site using your smart phone. The 4 tours include over 60 tour site audio and videos that can be played during the tour or at home. DOWNLOAD IN THE APP STORE OR GOOGLE PLAY

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019 7

AROUND THE REGION The World According to Dominic BY D. KEVIN MCNEIR / WI EDITOR / @DKEVINMCNEIR

‘Some Sisters May Be ‘Sheroes’ But They Have Miles to Go to Achieve Icon Status’

(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

8 SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019

jmccollum@jmlaw.net

Over the last 30 years, I have had the tremendous fortune to further development my intellectual and analytical skills while pursuing graduate degrees at Emory and Princeton and then share those gifts while working for and moving up the ranks in the newsrooms of the Black Press in cities that have included Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta, Miami and now Washington, D.C. Along the way, one thing has remained an integral element of my continued development and essential to success within my chosen profession: proven proficiency and mastery of the English language. And while I’ve probably read, ingested, digested, written or regurgitated millions of words, there are two whose elimination from the dictionary wouldn’t bother me at all. The first, “empowered,” while used about as often as we say, “good morning” or “thank you,” is one that sounds great but says very little. After pronouncing that someone’s empowered, I am at a loss to understand from what or for what one is now empowered – empowered to do “what?” Without further

explanation, it’s impossible to know and therefore it’s a word of little substance. But the word that gets my gander the most is “icon” – a descriptive that should be reserved for only a few but tends to be utilized to describe just about anyone. Having a million followers on Twitter or a slew of #1 record does not make folks like Rihanna or Janet Jackson icons. Neither is leading the cast on “Empire” or matching the kinds of vocal embellishments perfected by Broadway legend Jennifer Holiday enough to promote Taraji P. Henson or Jennifer Hudson to pedestals as icons. Icons have weathered the storms; they’ve given more to their community than they’ve received and they’ve never forgotten from whence they’ve come or the sacrifices made by their own people so they could remain in the struggle for truth, justice, equality for all. Icons shrug notions of being celebrities surrounded by massive entourages as they bedazzle “commoners” like us with their bling. Instead, they maintain a spirit of humility – grateful for the blessing of privilege and the power which comes with that gift and always willing to help others achieve their life’s goals. Four women come to mind, each of whom readily sat down with me years ago in my stead as a reporter for the Black Press during interviews and conversations that allowed enough time for us to talk about issues of substance – things that mattered then and still matter to the Black community: Juanita Abernathy, Myrlie Evers, Coretta Scott King and Rosa Parks. They were never too busy. They always gave the Black Press the first option. And they always had something profound to share based on years of experiences – decades filled with many failures but even more success stories. Icons are women like Ange-

la Davis, Nikki Giovanni, Toni Morrison, Kathleen Cleaver or the “purr-fect” Eartha Kitt – women who, as history confirms, remained undaunted by the roadblocks of racism and sexism. These women, who have rightfully earned the title of “icon” have, during private moments they shared with me, helped me understand why they willingly sacrificed so much because of their unwavering commitment to their people – to our people. Let’s leave words like “empowered” and “icon” for only those rare instances when they accurately, honestly and undeniably describe the situation at hand or illustrate the deeds of an individual truly deserving of such a description, respectively. As for the so-called “icons” of today, from my vantage seat, they still have many miles to go before they sleep – certainly before I’ll take pen to paper and describe them as “icons.” Meanwhile, I’ll continue to pray for them and speak only positive words into their lives, their work and their ministries. Maybe they’re “sheroes” or “superstars” – but “icons?” I’m not convinced. Further, I’ve long grown tired of getting the behind the scenes story by reading the pages of the Post, the Times, the Atlantic or Time Magazine – no shade intended. And being included in “red carpet events,” while highly entertaining and great on the eyes, provides no meat, no meal, no message for the Black community who remain hungry for knowledge, for solutions and for hope. Slice it anyway you like but the prism through which I, as a Black man, see the world, is far different from those who currently and have long maintained a stranglehold on the “throne of privilege.” Don’t we deserve access too? No need to answer that question – it’s purely rhetorical. WI

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

AROUND THE REGION

Community Policing a Priority in MoCo's Ongoing Police Chief Search

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Contributing Writer @SamPKCollins

Since the start of the search for Montgomery County’s next police chief, several candidates have come and gone of their own volition and without a transmittal. That document, to be sent by County Executive Marc Elrich, would formalize the process and better inform the legislature of his choices for Montgomery County’s top cop. In the end, whoever assumes that role would sit at the helm of a police department that has been in the public eye for its officers’ use of excessive force and racial slurs against suspects of color, and the killing of an unarmed Black man. For some lawmakers, like Montgomery County Council member Sidney Katz, community-focused policing must sit at the top of new chief’s agenda. “My constituents want a police department that’s community-oriented [and] deals with community policing that they’re comfortable with,” Katz, also a member of the Montgomery County Council’s public safety committee, told The Informer. “[People want police] that can keep the public safe, and do it in a manner that makes the public feel like they’re being respected,” he added. “All of these traits are necessary. This is not just for the police department, but for every person in Montgomery County and well beyond.” In July, Katz’s colleague, Montgomery County Council member Hans Riemer, proposed the launch of a policing advisory commission that would develop best practices for the Montgomery County Police Department. This came not long after the Montgomery County State’s

Attorney charged an officer with second-degree assault in the arrest of a 19-year-old Black man. About the same time, Montgomery County Council member Will Jawando extensively tweeted about his encounter with a Maryland State trooper during which the officer asked him whether he owned the Lexus he was driving, and if he had any warrants. Earlier this year, Jawando introduced legislation mandating an independent investigation of police-involved shootings and the release of documents in cases where the officer didn’t receive charges. The Montgomery County Council would later pass that bill, titled the Law Enforcement Trust and Transparency (LETT) Act, unanimously. Elrich reportedly tapped Darryl McSwain as his choice for police chief earlier this month, though he hasn’t confirmed that as fact. Before he finalizes his decision, Montgomery County’s nine council members will meet with candidates. McSwain, a retired Montgomery County police officer, currently serves as head of the Maryland-National Capital Park Police. His con-

Since the start of the search for Montgomery County’s next police chief, several candidates have come and gone of their own volition and without a transmittal.

sideration at this point raises the question of whether he would qualify for the job because of his enrollment in the Deferred Retirement Option Plan, which allows a retiree to earn interest on their savings while earning additional income for up to three years. These developments followed an announcement by one-time candidate former Portsmouth Police Chief Tonya Chapman that she would pull herself out of the running for Montgomery County Police Chief. There had been speculation about whether she had succumbed to pressure from conservative media forces and Montgomery County’s Fraternal Order of Police. Montgomery County’s Fraternal Order of Police didn’t return The Informer’s inquiry about the police chief search. In regard to the selection process, some residents, like Delicia Hand, said she would like more transparency and an assurance that the county’s power brokers choose a chief that instills confidence in their multicultural constituency. Hand said that didn’t happen in the case of Chapman. “We have to construct dialogue and a pathway towards improving [the] community and police relationship,” said Hand, a Silver Spring, Maryland resident and policy chair for the D.C. metropolitan area chapter of Mothers of Black Boys United for Social Change. “We currently have no pathway towards doing so,” Hand said. “The one candidate who had community support and seemed likely to see the value in community policing and help to forge a path forward, seemed to succumb to political pressure and not make it through the vetting process. This doesn't engender community confidence or trust.” WI

The Washington Convention and Sports Authority (t/a Events DC) Bid Opportunity The Washington Convention and Sports Authority (t/a Events DC) is soliciting proposals from qualified firms to provide Esports Production Services. Interested parties can view a copy of the Request for Proposal (RFP) by accessing the Event DC’s E-procurement website at www.wcsapex.com and opening APEX BID #19-S-003-588. Key Dates: MANDATORY Pre-Proposal Conference: 10:00 AM EST, Wednesday, October 2, 2019 Proposal Due Date: 3:00 PM EST, Thursday, October 31, 2019 Notification of intent to attend must be provided via e-mail to Kiara Short, Contracts & Procurement Analyst at KShort@eventsdc.com.”

IDEAS WANTED!

Get Your Free Inventor’s Guide

CALL 800-353-6102 NOW Helping inventors and idea people since 1989.

Davison charges fees for services

MORE FOR YOUR THING. FOR A LIMITED TIME, GET A $250 AT&T VISA® REWARD CARD* WHEN YOU BUY A SMARTPHONE ON AT&T NEXT!† Req’s installment agmt & new line of svc on elig. postpaid voice plan (min. $45/mo. after discounts start w/in 2 bills). AT&T Door to Door and Local Service Providers only. *Limited-Time Offer. Req’s port-in. AT&T Door to Door and Local Service Providers on Claim w/in 75 days. $30 Activation, add’l fees, taxes & other charges, & restr’s apply. See below for details.

Call us, your AT&T Preferred Dealer. IV SUPPORT HOLDINGS LLC

866-771-1642

www.250reward.com/inform

*$250 Reward Card Offer: Limited Time Offer. Smartphone: Buy any new smartphone on AT&T Next or AT&T Next Every Year installment agmt w/ elig. postpaid wireless voice & data svc (minimum $50/mo. afterAutoPay and Paperless billing discount. Pay $60/mo. until discount starts within 2 bills.). Upgrades excluded. If svc is cancelled, remaining installment agmt balance is due. Down payment may be req’d. Tax due at sale. Activation Fee: $30. Return: Return w/in 14 days. Restocking fee up to $45 may apply. Purchase, financing, other limits & restr’s apply. Visit att.com/next for plan details. Reward Card Redemption req’d.: Will be sent letter with redemption requirements. Redemption req’d w/in 75 days from notification mail date. Reward Card(s) delivered within 3-4 weeks afterredemption to customers who maintain qualifying eligible service(s) for minimum of 30 days from activation date and through reward fulfillment. Card expires at month-end 6 months afterissuance. No cash access. For cardholder agreement, go to rewardcenter.att.com/myreward/agreementFSV.pdf. AT&T Reward Card issued by U.S. Bank National Association, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A., Inc. Limits: 1 Visa Reward Card per line of service. May not be combinable with certain other offers, discounts, or credits. GEN. WIRELESS SVC: Subj. to Wireless Customer Agmt (att.com/wca). Credit approval required. Deposit: May apply. Limits: Purch. & line limits apply. Prices may vary by location. Taxes, fees, monthly, other charges, usage, speed, coverage & other restr’s apply per line. See att.com/additionalcharges for details on fees & charges. International and domestic off-net data may be at 2G speeds. AT&T service is subject to AT&T network management policies. See att.com/broadbandinfo for details. Promotions, terms & restr’s subject to change & may be modified or terminated at any time without notice. ©2019 AT&T Intellectual Property. All Rights Reserved. AT&T, Globe logo, and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks are the property of their respective owners

CASH FOR RECORDS AND CDS

Top Prices Paid (33, 45 and 12” singles)

NO COLLECTION TOO SMALL or LARGE WE BUY EVERYTHING! Call STEVE at 301-646-5403 or e-mail: stevebuysrecords@gmail.com

New Life Wellness Center featuring

Colon Hydrotherapy & Aqua Chi Detox System Where Have You Been? It’s Time for Your HEALING &

202.544.9595

426 8th St. SE – 2nd Floor WDC 20003 www.newlifewellnesscenter.com Email: carmelvoice@aol.com

Hours: 7am – 7pm M - F / 7am – 12pm SAT. Walk Ins Welcome

SPECIAL $59 OFFER – CALL FOR DETAILS

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019 9

AROUND THE REGION CAPTURE THE MOMENT

Denise Rolark Barnes Independent Beauty Consultant www.marykay/drolark-barnes.com 202-236-8831

SUPER WOMEN

The National Congress of Black Women held a brunch on Sunday, Sept. 15 in Northwest honoring the 50th anniversary of Shirley Chisholm’s election to Congress. Rep. Ayanna Pressley (2nd left) was the recipient of the Shirley Chisholm Award while Kelly Cornish, Shelley Sylva, Dr. Linda James Myer and Dr. Monica L. Clement received Truth awards. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)

net

Who’s Reading the Informer? Adrienne Mahoney and Optometrist Dr. Lamia Jones read the Washington Informer during the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference. (Roy Lewis/ The Washington Informer)

WORDS TO LIVE BY

202-848-9324 / 202-494-6711

n upper and lowercase, flush left as indicated on artwork at these point sizes: Consultant name in 11-point Helvetica Neue Bold; Independent n 9-point Helvetica Neue Light; Web site or e-mail address in 9-point Helvetica Neue Light; phone number in 9-point Helvetica Neue Light. t Beauty Consultant: Only Company-approved Web sites obtained through the Mary Kay® Personal Web Site program may be utilized.

Denied Beneﬁts? Unable To Work? Fighting For Your

We Can Help!

Helping 1000’s Get The Beneﬁts They Deserve

SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS For Over 35 Years!

Do You Qualify For Disability Beneﬁts? Call For A FREE Evaluation

Assisting With: - Initial Applications - Denied Claims - Hearings

We Simplify The Process & Strive For Quick Claim Approval.*

(855) 549-3119 Bill Gordon & Associates, a nationwide practice, represents clients before the Social Security Administration. Member of the TX & NM Bar Associations. Mail: 1420 NW St Washington D.C. Office: Broward County, FL. Services may be provided by associated attorneys licensed in other states. * The process for determining each applicant’s disability benefits varies greatly, and can take upwards of two years.

10 SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019

“When two persons are engaged in conflict and one of them is considerably stronger than the other, to be neutral is not just and fair and impartisan, because to be neutral is in fact to side with the powerful.”

– Desmond Tutu 1983

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

AROUND THE REGION Hillary Clinton Headlines ‘In Defense of American Democracy’ Event

New Affordable Housing Opportunity in the Navy Yard, Washington D.C.

Eric Holder Shares His Prognosis, Advice to Achieve More Inclusive Voting Rights

We are proud to introduce Estate apartments offering 52 brand new studio, one-and two-bedroom apartments for qualified low-income households at The Yards in Washington, D.C.’s Navy Yard. Waitlist is now open. First move-ins January 2020. Income and program restrictions apply. Admission standards include economic criteria. Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Housing Choice vouchers are accepted. Equal Housing Opportunity Provider. Applications may be picked up October 15, 2019 through December 2, 2020 from 9:00am to 6:00pm, Monday - Friday at 1212 4th Street SE, Washington, D.C. 20003 or by calling (202) 479-2734.

By D. Kevin McNeir, WI Editor and James Wright, WI Contributing Writer Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton delivered the opening keynote address on the future of American democracy during an all-day conference Tuesday, Sept. 17, in Northwest. The event, co-organized by the Albert Shanker Institute and the American Federation of Teachers [AFT] and Onward Together – an organization both founded and led by Clinton – took place at George Washington University. The daylong conference, livestreamed to the public, also included a lineup of prominent activists, politicians and intellectuals, led by AFT President Randi Weingarten. They collectively discussed and debated ways which they believe the nation’s democratic norms and institutions continue to remain unprecedented assault. The specific focus for the day, “Civic Engagement in an Age of Democratic Peril, ” allowed for the perspectives of individuals which included Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) who addressed participants during the lunch session and former Attorney General Eric Holder who anchored the afternoon panel, “Lift Every Voice: Voter Rights and Voter Suppression.” Other participants included: Randi Weingarten, president, American Federation of Teachers; Albert Shanker Institute’s Leah Greenberg, co-executive director, Indivisible; Gara LaMarche, president, Democracy Alliance; Ari Berman, author, “Give Us the Ballot: The Modern Struggle for Voting Rights in America:” The Honorable Andrew Gillum, chair, Forward Florida, former mayor of Tallahassee and 2018 Democratic nominee for governor of Florida; and Maria Teresa Kumar, President/CEO, Voto Latino and an MSNBC commentator.

HOLDER, GILLUM ASSERT: ‘STOP VOTER SUPPRESSION'

Eric Holder, the first African American to serve as U.S. Attor-

Affordable Housing Program – Rents*

5 Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton delivered the opening keynote on the future of democracy at a conference on Tuesday, Sept. 17, organized by the Albert Shanker Institute, the American Federation of Teachers and Onward Together at George Washington University in Northwest. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)

ney General and Andrew Gillum, the first Black Democratic gubernatorial nominee for the State of Florida, both agreed that voter suppression must be curtailed without delay. They led the conversation during a panel, "Lift Every Voice: Voting Rights & Voter Suppression," which prompted significance audience response including one noteworthy D.C. leader, former Mayor Sharon Pratt, founding director, the Institute of Politics, Policy and History at the University of the District of Columbia. Holder said voter suppression, ramped up during the hearing of a 2013 U.S. Supreme Court case that partially bears his name, Shelby County v. Holder, gutted the pre-clearance section of The Voting Rights Act of 1965 which required certain jurisdictions to have their election laws and procedures approved by the U.S. Department of Justice. "When that case was handed down, states started passing laws closing polling places and instituting unnecessary and restrictive voter ID laws," Holder said. Holder said Democrats and progressive-minded citizens should be more proactive in their fight against voter suppression. "We don't want to just make a good effort to stop this – we want to win," he said. "It seems that the Democrats are playing by the rules when it comes to elections but the other side doesn't seem to be bothered by breaking or skirting the rules. We have to work just as hard in fighting voter suppression as

they are putting it in place.” Gillum lost the 2018 governor's race in Florida by 0.4 percent – an election which totaled just over eight million votes cast. Gillum said the Republican Par-

Apartment Type

Max. Number of Household Members

50% Rent

Studio One-Bedroom Two-Bedroom

2 3 5

$1,062 $1,138 $1,365

Maximum Gross Combined Annual Household Income* Household Size

50% Income Limit

1 Person 2 Person

$42,500 $48,550

3 Person 4 Person

$54,600 $60,650

5 Person

$65,550

*Rents and income limits subject to change

CLINTON Page 53

DC Office of the Tenant Advocate 12th Annual Tenant & Tenant Association Summit

Saturday, September 28, 2019 | Washington, DC Kellogg Conference Hotel at Gallaudet University 8:00 am – 4:30 pm Who Should Attend? • • •

Tenant organizers Seniors Students

• •

People with disabilities Legal and social service organizations

Lunch provided. Shuttle service from NOMA-Gallaudet Metro. Register at OTA12.eventbrite.com or call (202) 241-5942.

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019 11

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY

Federal Oversight Needed to Improve Cannabis Industry, Advocates Say By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill About two months after lawmakers held hearings on Capitol Hill to discuss laws on cannabis reform, more conversation focused on its future Thursday, Sept. 12 at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Legislative Conference in Northwest. One recurring sentiment at the Washington Convention Center during a two-part panel hosted by Rep. Stacey Plaskett (D-Virgin Islands): federal oversight must be instituted. "We have a long way to go to dispel the claims against the cannabis industry," Plaskett said. Cannabis remains an illegal and controlled substance under

federal law, but can be legal with state approval. About 33 states and the District of Columbia approved medical marijuana usage, but only 11 and the District offer its for adult recreational use. Laws are slightly different depending on the state. Residents in the states of Illinois and Washington are prohibited to cultivate cannabis for personal use, but can for medical use. In Nevada, residents can own six plants but must be at least 25 miles from a retail location. "We have with a patchwork of laws from state to state," said Neal Levine, CEO of Cannabis Trade Federation, who testified before lawmakers in July. Cannabis advocates said the fact that marijuana is being discussed in Congress and at the CBC conference is a sign of

changing times. In terms of higher education, Southern University and Louisiana State University are the only two public schools in the nation to research and grow cannabis at their campus centers. The University of Maryland's School of Pharmacy began offering an online graduate course last month to study, research and analyze cannabis. It's the first school in the nation to offer such a course, but state law doesn't allow the plant to be studied on the campus. Students will focus on basic science, clinical use, adverse effects and public health and federal and state laws and policies. Natalie Eddington, dean of Maryland's School of Pharmacy, said about 150 students are enrolled in the two-year course. Two students are from Australia and another two from China, she said. "I'm very proud of the fact that this is a very diverse class in terms of race, gender as well as age," Eddington said. "Our youngest student is 22 [and] oldest student is 72, so everyone is participating in the program." Nearly all those who spoke said education remains the focal point, includes establishing the difference between hemp and marijuana plants. Although both are derived from the same cannabis plant and smell and look the same, a

5 Shanita Penny (left) talks about the need to improve federal policies in the cannabis industry during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Legislative Conference in Northwest on Sept. 12. (Roy Lewis/The Washington Informer)

major difference is the concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component in cannabis. Marijuana can contain up to 20 percent THC, but hemp has less than 0.3 percent. Armaney Richardson-Peterson, who owns The Hemp Source with her husband, Charles, in Wendell, North Carolina, offers a more direct analogy: collard and turnip greens are from the same family, but collard greens have a bitterer taste. "It kind of bothers me when we have these sessions where we combine them because it's a lot of miseducation in our community," Richardson-Peterson said. "In North Carolina, our

challenges are law enforcement [because] they can't tell the difference [between hemp and marijuana]. There is so much miseducation in this industry." Hope Wiseman, who owns Mary and Main, a dispensary in Capitol Heights, Maryland, said access to capital are vital to entering and surviving in the cannabis industry. Fortunately for Wiseman, she said, her mother, a general dentist, and another partner, an oral surgeon, assisted her when she first started in 2014 at age 24. "I wasn't making any money for years," she said. "I think it was a sacrifice that was necessary, but can your average minority do that?" WI

Advocates Push for Racial, Social Equity in Cannabis Industry By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill In order for fair and equitable treatment in the cannabis indus-

try, those in the business and social justice advocates want the federal government to make sure equity would be included in federal laws. "Everyone knows legalization

5 Shakira Cook (right), a program director for the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, moderates a discussion on racial and social equity in the cannabis industry at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's 49th Annual Legislative Conference in Northwest on Sept. 12. (William J. Ford/The Washington Informer)

12 SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019

of marijuana will happen," said Maritza Perez, a senior policy analyst with Center for American Progress in Northwest. "Lawmakers agree that marijuana legalization needs to happen, but we need to push for them to do it the right way." Perez and five others spoke on a panel Thursday, Sept. 12 at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's 49th Annual Legislative Conference at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Northwest. One item summarized for current legislation in the House called Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement, or the MORE Act (HR 3884). The provisions include: remove marijuana from the list of controlled substances; hold expungement hearings for those previously convicted of marijuana charges; force government to collect data on diversity of the industry; and not deny people

federal benefits because of marijuana use. Stanley Andrisse, an assistant professor at Howard University's College of Medicine, runs a nonprofit organization, From Prison Cells to PhD, to help disadvantaged youth and returning citizens. He also speaks from experience as a convicted felon sentenced in 2006 by a Missouri judge for drug charges. "We need to be letting people like myself and … folks in our program into this industry … because we have all the talent and potential to push this field in a new direction that is fruitful for everybody," said Andrisse, also an adjunct professor at John Hopkins University in Baltimore. Gia Morón, president of Women Grow, which seeks to help women prosper in the cannabis industry, said minority communities should reap the plant's monetary and health benefits the same as white business

owners. "This is an industry that has reached billions [of dollars]," she said. "We need to normalize this." Those sentiments were echoed Friday, Sept. 13 particularly during a segment focusing on the question, "Could cannabis licensing be reparations?" Michael Eric Dyson, sociology professor at Georgetown University in Northwest, summarized his thoughts based on the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. book, "Why We Can't Wait?" "Martin Luther King Jr. said in 1963, 'A nation that has done something special against the Negro must now do something special for the Negro.' So, we're clear on that," Dyson said. "Talking about the transfer of wealth and capital to a degree, and the transfer of opportunity and the granting of licenses, is absolutely a gesture of reparation." WI

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

ALC Panel Targets Domestic Violence

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

Survivors Share Harrowing Tales By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill The Rev. Linda Thomas recalled when she delivered her baby with a black eye. The Rev. Janelle Johnson said her ex-husband shoved a hanger in her vagina to "kill that baby." These two faith leaders from Prince George's County churches summarized their domestic violence experiences Friday, Sept. 13 at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Legislative Conference at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Northwest. "I know what it is to be held up against the wall by the man who told me he loved me forever," said Johnson, author of the book "Is He Spiritual?" and a member of Reid Temple AME Church in Glenn Dale. "I know what it is to be pushed down so violently that you have to be rushed to a hospital. But there is always hope." Johnson moderated a discussion to not only express optimism for survivors, but also provide advice for those still involved in a violent relationship. On a national level, the Allstate Foundation Purple Purse program says 99 percent of all domestic violence cases deal with financial abuse. That's why tennis star Serena Williams starred in a public service announcement released last month to explain in a video called "Signs," which shows her walking through a maze with her voice-over explaining signs of abusive conduct and language. They "take your paycheck and chose how to spend it … They demand receipts on every little thing you buy. These are signs of financial abuse," Williams said in the video. Domestic violence statistics vary from state to state. The Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence said the state ranked 10th in the country in female homicide by men in single offender incidents with a rate of nearly two homicides per 100,000 women. Prince George's County led

the state for several years in domestic violence homicide rates, but County Executive Angela Alsobrooks said it's decreased by 20 percent in the past year. She credits partnerships with the health department and other government agencies and nonprofit organizations. One main improvement comes from the county's Family Justice Center in Upper Marlboro, which provides various services such as legal and housing assistance, crisis invention and protection orders. "The [county] police department has done a yeoman's job of investigating and making sure that we bring to justice individuals who committed acts of domestic violence," Alsobrooks said. "Those are things the county has had responsibility for to stop this." At the convention center Friday, Thomas, who leads the domestic violence ministry at First Baptist Church of Glenarden, shared information on what the faith community can do for victims. She provided a tip sheet for what people can say to someone involved in a volatile relationship. "Say, 'If you need, I am here,'" Thomas said. "Be patient — [a] victim may waver, leave and come back many times, and it is important that the victim makes the decision themselves to gain self-confidence." County Councilman Mel

5 The Rev. Janelle Johnson (left) moderates a discussion on domestic violence at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Legislative Conference at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Northwest on Sept. 13. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)

Franklin (D-At-Large) of Upper Marlboro, the only man on the panel, said he first experienced domestic violence when he heard a couple fighting next door while enrolled in law school at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. Although never involved in a domestic violence situation himself, he offered strong advice for men. "We need to change the culture so that it's not acceptable to be a man who put his hands on a woman," said Franklin, who plans to hold a domestic violence town hall next month in connection with his "Fathers Stand Up" initiative. "We can't be boys if you're going to do that." WI

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

At the convention center Friday,

Thomas, who leads the domestic

violence ministry at First Baptist Church of Glenarden, shared information on

what the faith community can do for victims. She provided a tip sheet for what people can say to someone

involved in a volatile relationship.

SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019 13

BUSINESS Chat's Liquors Keeps Patrons in Good Spirits By James Wright WI Staff Writer @Jamesdcwrighter

As one of the few Black businesses located on historic Barrack's Row, Chat's Liquors on Capitol Hill has been keeping people in high spirits for decades. The store was opened in 1934 by Neil Chatlin, months after the repeal of prohibition in the racially segregated District. The late Burnett Williams Jr. bought the store in 1978 and it currently operates as an independent wine and spirit retailer, specializing in original, small-production libations from across the globe.

His son, Burnett "Burnie" Williams III, who now oversees the store's day-to-day operations, has an encyclopedic knowledge of the industry and knows his products well. That's because he tastes his wares before they are sold. "I have to know about the products that I sell to my customers," he said. "When I taste my products, I am looking for consistent flavor and whether it is a fit for our shop. I am the one who makes all of the decisions on purchases and I need products that sell." He's a hands-on type of manager, hosting wine tastings in his store regularly and working alongside his small staff at the store

5 Burnie Williams runs his family's business Chat's Liquors on Capitol Hill. (James Wright/The Washington Informer)

stocking shelves, sweeping the floor, processing sales and dealing with suppliers and vendors. Williams, who co-owns the store with his mother, Ophelia B. Williams, and sister Dr. Opal B. Williams, said Tito's Vodka has become his best-selling spirit, followed by Black Draft Vodka. He

Need to get things

DONE? Donâ€™t dip into your savings. A Home Equity Line of Credit can be a smart choice to handle home improvements, debt consolidation and other important needs. And it gives you the flexibility to borrow money now and in the future. STAR (Steps Toward Achieving Results) Home Equity Loans* are also available to help meet financing needs. Get started at AtlanticUnionBank.com/homeequity

Formerly Union Bank & Trust

NMLS # 551889 nmlsconsumeraccess.org

14 SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019

*The STAR Home Equity Loan is available to Virginia, North Carolina and MarylandÂ residents who have property located in a low- to moderate-income census tract and/or have an income below 80% of the area median income as identified by the U.S. Census Bureau. Loan amounts range from $2,500 to $9,999. Visit a branch to apply.

said beer sales are solid, too. After graduating from Bowie High School and Temple University, earning a business degree finance and strategy, Williams never gave a second thought to working for someone else. "I wanted the opportunity to continue the family business," he said. When his father died in July 1999, Williams stepped up his involvement in Chat's and developed ideas about how to grow the business. His mother owned Ophelia's Flowers Cards & Gifts next door to Chat's and he consulted her on business matters. Ophelia ran her flower shop from 1983 to 2009, when she retired. Presently, Ophelia's Fish House operates where the flower shop used to be. Ophelia owns the property rights to the location. Williams has adjusted to the changing demographic of the Barrack Row neighborhood. When his father bought Chat's, the surrounding area had a predominantly Black population. Today, the neighborhood is mostly White and so are his customers. However, he treats all customers the same, he said. "The people who come by the shop are neighborhood folks," Williams said. "I know most of them by their first name. I also know what they are going to get. It isn't unusual for some of my customers to ask, 'What am I drinking tonight?'" Williams knows that there are few Black-owned liquor stores in the District and he understands why. "D.C. once had a liquor store on every corner," he said. "Then in the 1990s, the competition got

to be too much. Many small liquor stores couldn't survive because the bigger stores would squeeze them out. Plus, the Alcohol Beverage Regulation Administration started putting a moratorium on who owns a liquor license and that forced some people out of the business." Williams said Chat's will particularly focus on online sales. "We won't branch out to a second location," he said. "We will stay here and focus on upgrading our online purchases and tapping into the smartphone market. That way we can operate 24 hours, seven days a week." Customers such as Anthea Hartig, who recently moved to the District from San Francisco, are the key to Chat's success. "This is a lovely and friendly store," Hartig said. "The first time I came here to shop was a great experience and I have been coming ever since. The staff here is every knowledgeable about spirits and are pleasant to talk to. This is a good neighborhood proprietorship."

As one of the few Black businesses

located on historic

Barrack's Row, Chat's Liquors on Capitol

Hill has been keeping people in high spirits for decades.

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

BUSINESS WILLIE WILSON UNVEILING Community activist, spiritual leader and pastor of the Union Temple Baptist Church, the Rev. Willie F. Wilson, held an ancestral commemoration and statue unveiling ceremony to mark his leadership, legacy and 46 years of ministry. The event was held at the Wilson home in Southeast on Saturday, Sept. 14. (Courtesy photos/Brigette Turner)

Welcome Back to Providence You’re invited to a Community

Open HouseBack and Health Fair Welcome to turday, September 21, 2019 | 9am-3pm Providence Welcome Back to Providence

mmunity Open House

Providence Health System for a fun and educational event on the Providence campus Joincommunity. Providence Health System for a fun, educational day on our campus. Community Open House red toward our Providence is open and excited to share all the great services now available to our community. vidence is open, thriving and excited to share all of the great services we have to offer

Saturday, September 21, 2019 | 9am-3pm

w and will offer in the future. Join Providence Health System a fun and educational event on the Providence campus There’s something for theforwhole family, including: geared toward our community.

• Free health screenings • Farm stands with fresh produce re is something for the whole family, including: ee health screenings • Free wellness seminars and therapies, • Kids’ Corner withtoaoffer fire truck, Providence is open, thriving and excited to share all of the great services we have nowincluding and willand offer in the future. ee wellness therapies medical education Zumba and yoga seminars magic show and balloon animals uture of Providence" andand provider information • Food,talks music entertainment • Giveaways and more There is something for the whole family, including: od, music and entertainment - Free health screenings rm stands -Plus, Free wellness therapies andour medical education seminars learn more about recently opened urgent care as well as other orning and afternoon Zumba classes -services "Future ofcoming Providence" talks and provider information to our community in our “Future of Providence” talks. We’ll - Food, music and entertainment ds Corner (D.C. balloon animals, etc.) alsofiretruck, help youmagic find ashow, doctor. - Farm stands on site ommunity organizations and afternoon Zumba classes veaways and- Morning much more Saturday, Sept. 21, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. - Kids Corner (D.C. firetruck, magic show, balloon animals, etc.)

1150 Varnum - Community organizations on site Street NE 0 Varnum Street NE - Giveaways and much more Washington, DC 20017 shington, DC 20017

onsored

1150 Varnum Street NE Washington, DC 20017 by:

Sponsored by: by: Sponsored

ProvidenceHealthyVillage.org ProvidenceHealthyVillage.org

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019 15

NATIONAL

NEWS of NOTE

Does Your Small Business Need Advice or a Loan? Since 1987, the Washington Area Community Investment Fund (Wacif) has helped entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses. Whether you need advice, a loan, or both, Wacif can be your partner to jump-start your entrepreneurial dream.

WE PROVIDE -Loan Capital -Group & Cohort-based Training -Small Business Resource Referrals -One-on-One Small Business Advisement -Technical Assistance in Financial and Operational Management

FROM THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS

Black Leaders: ‘Remember Past but Focus on Future’ By James Wright, WI Staff Writer A panel consisting of respected African-American leaders shared the sentiment that while the past must be acknowledged and remembered, it’s the future which deserves priority and our greater attention. Virginia State Sen. Jennifer McClellan (D), National Urban League President and CEO Marc Morial, American Medical Association President Patrice Harris, NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson and NNPA columnist and economist Dr. Julianne Malveaux served as the speakers for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's "National Town Hall: 400 Years: Our Legacy, Our Possibilities" on Sept. 12. The event took place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Northwest. Dr. Jonetta Cole, chair and president of the National Council of Negro Women, moderated the panel and said recognizing the 400year presence of Blacks in America bears profound significance. "Dates do matter," Cole said. "People also matter. Our people have endured enslavement, have

been lynched and endured mass incarceration. "It is important to understand that we are descendants of people who resisted slavery and descendants of people who made a way out of no way. We need to look back at that legacy and look forward to our future." McClellan pointed to her Commonwealth as the place where the first Africans landed in the English settlement of Jamestown in 1619. She said what happened there centuries ago still impacts today’s racial and gender-based interactions. "Jamestown set up the power structure that exists today," she said. "The Africans came to Jamestown to serve English white men. The English women came to Jamestown to serve the English white men. That dynamic is still in play today." Johnson, recounting history, noted that Blacks played pivotal roles in the country's earliest development, including Crispus Attucks, an African American who became the first to die for America’s independence, and thousands of Blacks killed during

REMEMBER Page 24

For more information or to schedule a meeting

Call 202-529-5505 or email intake@wacif.org This program is made possible by the District of Columbia Department of Housing and Community Development.

5 Virginia State Sen. Jennifer McClellan (D), National Urban League President Marc Morial, NAACP President/CEO Derrick Johnson, American Medical Association President Patrice Harris, NNPA Columnist Dr. Julianne Malveaux and Dr. Jonetta Cole, president of the National Council of Negro Women, participate in the Congressional Black Caucus National Town Hall on Sept. 12. (Roy Lewis/The Washington Informer)

16 SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

NATIONAL Y O U . . .

W O A N O

G R O

Deanwood G.R.O.W. is a community and citizen-centered campaign designed to raise awareness of Ward 7 creatives, entrepreneurs, and small business owners who contribute to DC’s overall creative economy. Deanwood G.R.O.W. also features and highlights Ward 7 events, stories and history.

W A N T S

G R O W

D E A N W O O D

G AT H E R .

T H R E N E W.

E A ORGANIZE.

WORK.

Are you a Ward 7 creative, entrepreneur or small business owner? Have any Ward 7 events we should know about? Help us G.R.O.W. Deanwood and Ward 7. 5 Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Mississippi), left, gives opening remarks about Black male voting Sept. 13 at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference in Northwest D.C. (William J. Ford/The Washington Informer)

Collaborative Efforts Essential in Bringing More Black Male Voters to the Polls By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer Republican Dan Bishop narrowly won Tuesday’s required re-election for a seat in North Carolina’s 9th Congressional district – something which many political analysts believe gives a small boost toward Donald Trump’s efforts to successfully win a second term in the White House. Virginia Harris pointed to this recent election to illustrate the importance of voting, particularly Black males. “I was very disappointed in the North Carolina election. People did not show up to vote,” said Harris, president of 100 Black Women, Inc. “We do our very best educating, engaging and empowering young people to vote and then they don’t show up and cast a ballot.” Harris and others spoke Friday about Black males’ importance but routine failure to vote during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 49th Annual Legislative Conference, held at the Washington Convention Center in Northwest. According to the U.S. Census data, slightly more than 17,000 Blacks voted in the 2016 presidential election. In last year’s

election, about 15,200 voted, a nearly 13 percent decrease. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Mississippi), who led the discussion, explained the best way to institute change always come from voting. “If you don’t engage [in] the process, then you let people get elected who might not have your best interest at heart,” he said. “In America, we don’t fight. We don’t have a coup. We go to the polls and vote. That’s what we must reiterate as we encourage our young men and young women.” The talk became interactive when Damien Hooper-Campbell, 40, chief diversity officer for eBay in San Jose, asked young Black men in the room to share, “what’s on your mind?” Instead of adults talking to them, three students from the University of Connecticut (UCONN) said some adults don’t respond to inquiries when they seek basic information. In addition, the young men said some said adults “talk down” to them because they’re young and [presumably] cannot understand complex subjects. “We’re on social media and at a place where we receive information 24 hours a day,” said Mason

T A G

U S !

E M A I L T A K E S I G N

U S

O U R

U P

S U R V E Y

F O R

O U R

O N L I N E

D I R E C T O R I E S

@GrowDeanwood #GrowWard7 #GrowDeanwood #DeanwoodGrowDC

W W W . D E A N W O O D G R O W . C O M

Deanwood Grow is a project funded by the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development

VOTERS Page 36

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

Stay Informed! www.washingtoninformer.com

SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019 17

NATIONAL

Music and Sports Celebrities Dominate Housing Forum

Film Gives Unflinching Look at Voter Suppression in U.S.

By James Wright WI Staff Writer

One may not often think of a rapper like Waka Flocka Flame, former New Edition singer Ronnie DeVoe, Jr., or a former player in the National Basketball Association like Bobby Simmons when considering the importance of real estate ownership. But these men from the world of music and sports numbered those who spoke during the State of Housing in Black America issue form, Sept. 12, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Northwest. The entertainers, along with politicians and experts in real estate and housing policy, participated in the forum on Black homeownership whose rate of 40.6 percent remains far below whites at 73.1 percent according to U.S. Census data. Numerous studies have shown Blacks seeking to buy homes face higher interest rates and lower approval rates for home loans even when

The U.S. political system has been partial to right-wing politicians and related causes, in part, due to their larger bank accounts and organizations they support which promote voter suppression. At least that’s the notion proposed in the film “Rigged: The Voter Suppression Playbook.” Two screenings of the film took place recently at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Northwest as part of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference. The film’s narrator, actor Jeffrey Wright, talked about how right-wing Republicans, incensed by the election of Barack Obama as the first Black president and the increasing voting power of minorities, led them to initiate a strategy that would offset such progress. One example, he says, remains the unfettered support

5 U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) speaks at the State of Housing in Black America issue forum while panelists Maurice Jourdain-Earl, Nikitra Bailey and Mark Alston look on. (Roy Lewis/The Washington Informer)

they have incomes and assets comparable in value or assessment to whites. The panelists talked about these disparities but pointed to the need for Blacks to become homeowners, one of the cornerstones of wealth. "I grew up in the streets of Boston," DeVoe said. "I was not supposed to make it out. But I

did and when I sang with New Edition, I bought my family a house in Los Angeles in 1987 for $200,000 and sold it for $400,000 in 1991. "I developed a passion in real estate even though I was touring with the band at that time. I decided to move to Atlanta, the

HOUSING Page 36

from the billionaire Koch brothers. The film focused on political activity from 2009-2016, ending with the successful election of Donald Trump as president. Wright says “Rigged” should put Americans of all races on notice that democracy as we know it may be in trouble. “This is a story that needs to be told and heard,” he said. “I was eager to play a part in telling it and I hope ‘Rigged’ sounds an alarm that wakes America up.” The film shows how state legislatures passed voter ID laws aimed at curbing the voting rights of minorities, college students and senior citizens. One segment illustrates how a Texas sheriff incarcerated a returning citizen of color for voting when he shouldn’t have while another reveals a plan to water down Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act which mandates states with a history of racist electoral practices to have their election

FILM Page 36

Don’t get caught in the dark. Switch to LED bulbs now. Small changes make a big difference for your wallet and the planet. Swap out your light bulbs for cost-effective, long-lasting ENERGY STAR® LEDs and you won’t get caught in the dark.

Visit maketheswitchdc.com to find discounted bulbs near you.

18 SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019 19

INTERNATIONAL

africa now

COMPILED BY OSWALD T. BROWN

South Africa Takes Action Against Xenophobia South African President Cyril Ramaphosa (left) has dispatched three special envoys to seven African countries to deliver messages of pan-African unity and solidarity following xenophobic attacks in South Africa. Presidential spokesperson Khusela Diko said the special envoys will deliver a message from Ramaphosa regarding the incidents of violence that recently erupted in some parts of South Africa, which have manifested in attacks on foreign nationals and destruction of property, the Daily Post of Nigeria reported Sept. 15. The envoys will reassure fellow African countries that South Africa is committed to the ideals of pan-African unity and solidarity, Diko said. They will also reaffirm South Africa's commitment to the rule of law. The envoys will visit Nigeria, Niger, Ghana, Senegal, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia, according to Diko. They will brief governments in the identified African countries about the steps that the South African government is taking to bring a stop to the attacks and to hold the perpetrators to account. South Africa has been hit by a new spate of violence in the past few weeks. At least, 12 people, including 10 South Africans and two foreigners, have been killed. The latest xenophobic attacks in South Africa have ignited the long-standing tensions between South Africa and Nigeria, resulting in "retaliatory attacks on South African businesses in Nigeria and the diplomatic outrage by Nigerian authorities," according to a Quartz Africa report. WI

caribbean now 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.

View

Sports Photos by John De Freitas

at:

 20 SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019

UN Secretary-General: Bahamas Can't Foot Cost of Dorian Alone As United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned that climate change will increase risks of devastating natural disasters, Bahamian Prime Minister Hubert Minnis (on the right) said the government expects a decrease in revenue as a result of Hurricane Dorian. "We anticipate that the revenue will decrease," Minnis said at a press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister, the Nassau Guardian reported Sept. 14. "However, we've been getting quite a lot of assistance from the international community." Guterres said there should be financing available for countries like the Bahamas when they are affected by climate-related disasters. "In our new era of climate crisis, hurricanes and storms have turbocharged," Guterres said. "They have come with greater intensity and frequency,

the direct result of warmer oceans. "It is absolutely essential to create an international consensus that concessional financing needs to be put at the disposal of countries for the reconstruction and for the capacity to do that reconstruction, increasing the resilience of the societies, and of the communities and of the countries to future disasters that inevitably will come," he said. Guterres urged countries to come up with plans to reduce emissions and reduce the impact of climate-related disasters on vulnerable countries. WI

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

or more s of $6000 it card On purchase r Marlo Furniture cred you payments made with al monthly u q E . 9 /1 1 on 9/2 s. r 60 month required fo

FURNITURE & MATTRESSES FORESTVILLE, MD 3300 Marlo Lane (301) 735-2000

LAUREL, MD 13450 Baltimore Ave. (301) 419-3400

MARLOFURNITURE.COM ROCKVILLE, MD ALEXANDRIA, VA 725 Rockville Pike 5650 Gen. Washington Dr. (301) 738-9000 (703) 941-0800

*Savings based on comparable pricing. Financing offer applies only to single-receipt qualifying purchases made with your Marlo Furniture credit card 9/21/2019. No interest will be charged on promo purchase and equal monthly payments are required equal to initial promo purchase amount divided equally by the number of months in promo period until promo is paid in full. The equal monthly payment will be rounded to the next highest whole dollar and may be higher than the minimum payment that would be required if the purchase was a non-promotional purchase. Regular account terms apply to non-promotional purchases. New accounts subject to credit approval. Many special financing programs available. Offers valid 9/21/2019. See store for details.

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019 21

HEALTH Sickle Cell Association Makes Strides Against Disease By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia About one of every 365 African American births in the United States results in a baby with sickle cell disease (SCD). Despite its prevalence, the medical community still has difficulty understanding the illness. Experts say most people lack essential awareness of the inherited blood disorder that affects approximately 100,000 people in the United States, and African Americans and Hispanic Americans are most commonly affected. Beverley Francis-Gibson, president and CEO of the Maryland-based Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (SCDAA),

knows the devastating effects of sickle cell disease, particularly end-organ damage. As a child, Francis-Gibson witnessed her cousin struggle with chronic anemia, the slow destruction of his vital organs, and constant pain. As part of National Sickle Cell Awareness Month, Francis-Gibson served as host of the eighth annual Sickle Cell Disease Therapeutics Conference on Sept. 10 at the Westin Washington, D.C. City Center. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) served as the keynote speaker. The event was designed to provide the SCD community with an opportunity to gather and address critical issues facing patients. The latest developments in care access, research and treatment options were also discussed.

"We don't have any new drugs on the market for sickle cell patients, but we anticipate that in the next decade or so, we're going to have amazing options," Francis-Gibson said. "I think it's important that we all stay engaged." Remaining engaged is something SCDAA has always done. Francis-Gibson said National Sickle Cell Awareness Month isn't the only time SCDAA and others in the community actively seek to make a difference for patients and caregivers. "It's not something that we focus on just in September. We have many events that happen throughout the year," Francis-Gibson said. "And it is important for patients, individuals, caregivers and just the general community to be aware of what's happening around the United States." The goal of SCDAA, which will hold its annual convention in Baltimore in October, is to raise awareness about sickle cell disease. The nonprofit aims to accomplish its mission through several venues, campaigns, conferences and workshops, Francis-Gibson said. "We know that the information changes rapidly, and things are moving fast in terms of new therapies for sickle cell patients," Francis-Gibson said. "And we want to make sure that we're bringing everyone along at the same time so

5 Sickle cell disease disproportionately affects African Americans. (CDC photo)

that no one is left behind, or they don't have the information that they need to make an informed decision." The SCD community has historically been underserved, and many patients lack access to adequate resources and care. Against that backdrop, some of the subjects tackled at the conference included patient advocacy and educating caregivers about the need for pain medication for SCD patients. "This conference is a unique opportunity to bring together the community," Francis-Gibson said. "And so we have patients, we have caregivers. We have industry leaders, we have students who come together to learn and hear about new solutions and share information about new knowledge that has been gained. "We also celebrate some of the successes of the previous year," she said. "And so it was a great collaboration, if you will, everyone coming together just to learn and be in the same space one day." The conference also helped to

provide caregivers with the message that they're not alone. "We encourage the caregivers to get help for themselves as needed, and to take breaks and respite as needed, but also to call on other friends and family to help support them," Francis-Gibson said. "Their loved one living with sickle cell disease is a giant task. And we recognize that the burnout rate is pretty high. So we're encouraging them to care, and to take care of themselves as well." Another vital message Francis-Gibson said she wanted to convey is that the disease isn't contagious. "It's an inherited disorder," Francis-Gibson said. "And if they don't know if they have the sickle cell trait, they can easily be tested for that so that they know what their status is. Our goal is to help raise awareness. We're fighting the good fight for them. We need them to join us." For more information, go to sicklecelldisease.org. WI

CHURCH BUS DRIVER NEEDED CDL PREFERRED,

INTERESTED PLEASE EMAIL greaterfirstbc@verizon.netÂ

WITH NAME AND DAYTIME PHONE TO ATTENTION MS. HOOD

318178_6_x_6.5.indd 1

22 SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019

9/6/19 1:58 PM

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

HEALTH

Mindfulness, Yoga over Suspensions, Detention Unveiled at Baltimore Schools By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia Black high school students remain twice as likely to be suspended as white or Hispanic high school students, according to a 2018 study commissioned by NPR. A June 2019 University of Kentucky doctoral graduate's comprehensive research on the subject found that African American students receive discipline the most by detention, suspensions and expulsions. "The results showed robust evidence of persistent discrepancies in disciplinary practices across ethnic and racial groups, with African American students and students indicating two or more races found to be at increased risk for being suspended and expelled compared to white students in both middle and high schools," said Albert Ksinan, the principal investigator for the University of Kentucky's study,

which was published in the Journal of School Psychology. "Further, the risk for African American students and students indicating two or more races were higher in schools with higher poverty rates and a greater ethnic/racial diversity of the student population," Ksinan said. "Schools with students characterized by higher poverty and ones smaller in size reported higher rates of school disciplinary actions." In what has proved successful, two Baltimore schools have implemented a unique program, thanks partly to the Holistic Life Foundation, a local social services nonprofit. Patterson High School and Robert W. Coleman Elementary School have instituted the "Mindful Moment Room." The room was initially for students who got into trouble. "Now, we rarely see children [there] for disciplinary issues anymore," Coleman Elementary School Principal Carlillian Thompson told CNN. "It's made a huge impact."

Most important, in the four years since instituting the room, there have been no suspensions, Thompson said. Andres Gonzalez, Holistic Life Foundation's co-founder and director of marketing and communication, told Our Children, the PTA's national magazine, that he saw the impact that yoga and meditation had on what were previously seen as "problem kids" in the school. "Instead of us picking up 10 kids from detention, we were picking seven, then we were picking up five, and soon, we weren't picking up any kids," Gonzalez said. At Coleman Elementary, the day begins and ends with a 15-minute guided meditation over the intercom. Students also receive an opportunity to practice yoga during and after school. Although the room remains a place to refocus a student who might be disruptive, school officials said most look forward to utilizing the room as "an oasis of calm."

5 Students at Robert W. Coleman Elementary School participate in breathing exercises during a Holistic Life Foundation program. (Colby Ware/Open Society Institute-Baltimore)

Students are assigned a mindfulness instructor who engages them in a targeted discussion. Five minutes of active listening and discussion takes place before 15 minutes of what officials call mindfulness practice. That includes breathing exercises and even yoga. "Since we've been doing [the Mindful Moment Room] here at Patterson, it doesn't take away from what we're trying to do, and the students are better able to get their work done," Patterson High School Principal Vance Benton told Our Children.

In the first year of implementing the Mindful Moment Room at Patterson High School, suspensions and verbal and physical altercations all decreased by more than half. At the same time, attendance rates increased by three percent, and grade promotions increased by 19 percent and average student GPA increased by one-half percent. "The mindful moment program has had a very positive effect on Patterson High School," Benton said. "Students are conscious of the need and are open to the Mindful Moment practice." WI

LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THE ELDERLY HELPED MR. C OBTAIN RETROACTIVE VETERAN BENEFITS AND A MONTHLY BENEFIT GOING FORWARD.

DO YOU NEED HELP NAVIGATING THE VA SYSTEM? Call LCE at 202-434-2120.* *Must be a DC resident, 60 or older. Income eligibility applies. WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

Legal Counsel for the Elderly is an affiliate of AARP.

SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019 23

HEALTH

REMEMBER from Page 16

Lowest Rx Prices, Every Day Start saving at BlinkHealth.com *Restrictions apply. Visit BlinkHealth.com for more details.

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

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

Do you or a loved one struggle on the stairs? AN ACORN STAIRLIFT IS A PERFECT SOLUTION FOR:

ü ü Those with mobility issues ü Anyone who struggles on the stairs Arthritis and COPD sufferers

THE PURCHASE OF A NEW STAIRLIFT!

CALL NOW FOR YOUR FREE INFORMATION KIT AND DVD!

1-855-841-2971

the Civil War whose sacrifices helped the Union Army emerge victorious. "Lincoln didn't free the slaves," Johnson said. "The slaves saved the Union." Malveaux pointed to the use of slaves as collateral for slave owners in their accumulation of wealth. “The U.S. wouldn't have been anything without the work of enslaved people,” she said. “Meanwhile, the legacy of slavery still persists – for every dollar a Black person earns a white person gets $13.” “In 1910, every dollar a Black received equated to $16 for whites," she said. "In 1910, there were 110 Black banks. Today there are only 23. That is the legacy of slavery." Morial spoke about the present saying the greatest challenges for Blacks remains the vicious assault on civil rights. "There is an attempt to roll back civil rights gains and an effort to suppress votes," he said. "[Whites] are using diabolical strategies to stop us from voting.

They are changing polling places and instituting voter ID laws with the support of state legislatures across the nation." He added that too many citizens report to be represented by politicians who, in truth, do not have their best interests in mind. “Politics is not about romance," Morial, a former Louisiana state senator and mayor of New Orleans, said. "You don't have to be in love with a candidate. What we are interested in is what will this person do for our community." While other panelists talked about politics, Harris focused on health. Harris, the first Black

women to lead the American Medical Association, said, "Black people are dying.” "There is an increase in Black suicides in recent decades and there seems to be more trauma in the Black community," she said, pointing to recent data which shows how racism, daily encountered, has led to a negative impact on the health of Blacks. "The daily assault of racism affects our brains, organs and mental health," she said. "This is why it is important for our policymakers to look into this because health affects one’s economic status and the development of one’s community.” WI

A panel consisting of respected

African-American leaders shared the sentiment that while the past must be acknowledged and remembered, it’s the future which deserves priority and our greater attention.

*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.

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

FREE INSURANCE COST ASSESSMENT

FOR SENIORS & FAMILY No Medical Exams Required Immediate Coverage Rates Never Increase

GET A FREE QUOTE TODAY!

240-643-6737 24 SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

T:9.5” S:9”

The legacy continues Xfinity celebrates HBCUs, from the marching bands to Black Greek life and beyond. Just say, “HBCU,” into your X1 Voice Remote to view hit TV shows, blockbuster movies, HBCU football Classics with stats and scores on live games, and much more. When it comes to HBCU entertainment, Xfinity runs the yard. Simple. Easy. Awesome.

Visit xfinity.com/discovermore to learn more.

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019 25

T:12.375”

S:11.875”

School Daze available to rent

EDUCATION Charlotta Lottie Rollin: Forgotten Heroine of the Suffrage Movement By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia This is part of an ongoing Washington Informer series about the Women's Suffrage Movement and an initiative that includes Informer Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes that will use the lens of history, the fabric of art and culture and the venue of the public square to shine a light into dark places, equipping all with a compass to chart the way forward. The initiative lives in the institution-

al home of the Washington Informer Charities. Charlotta Lottie Rollin joined the American Woman Suffrage Association and during Reconstruction, she influenced state politics, according to the Suffragists Memorial. Born in 1849, Rollin worked for Black Congressman Robert Brown Elliott and spoke on the floor of the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1869 in support of universal suffrage. By 1870, Rollin chaired the founding meeting of the South Car-

olina Woman's Rights Association and in 1871, led a meeting at the state capital to advocate for woman suffrage. With her sisters Frances, Kate and Louisa, she was active in promoting woman suffrage at both the state and national levels. In a 2019 profile of forgotten foremothers and lesser-known heroines in the fight for women's rights, Kathryn S. Gardiner wrote about "The Misses Rollin." The profile was published by the League of Women Voters. Gardiner wrote: Northern reporters from The Sun and The New York Herald brought all their assumptions into the parlor of the Columbia home of the Rollin sisters of South Carolina. By the 1871 newspaper interviews, the reputation of the Rollin family was already well known. Southern politicians and intelligentsia gathered at their salons, which were casually referred to as "The Republican headquarters," and they were highly influential in the Reconstruction South. Just the same, these contemporary white journalists were shocked by the intelligence, gentility, and poise of Frances Ann, Charlotte, Katherine, Louisa, and Florence. Their mother has been lost to his-

Homeownership is important. We’re here to help first-time homebuyers navigate the mortgage process and make buying a home affordable, even if you have: • Little money for a downpayment • Little or “less-than-perfect” credit history • A recent job change To get started, call 1-888-253-0993 or visit mtb.com/mortgage.

26 SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019

5 An illustration in South Carolina Women magazine of what Charlotta Rollin may have looked like. (Courtesy photo)

tory, but their father, William Rollin, was a member of the "colored aristocracy" and a native of Santo Domingo (modern day Dominican Republic), according to research by Gardiner. He prioritized the education of his daughters, preferring a French curriculum. The eldest, Frances Ann, gained public attention in 1867 when she pursued a discrimination lawsuit against a boat captain who refused her first-class passage. In her legal battle, she was aided by Major Martin Delany, an African-American abolitionist, journalist, physician and soldier. The lawsuit was ultimately successful and Delany commissioned Frances Ann to write his biography. This publication, "Life and Public Services of Martin R. Delany," was published under the name Frank Rollin, as publishers decided the public was not ready for a book authored by an African-American woman. (Notably, "Frank" was also Frances's nickname.) Second-born Charlotta "Lottie" Rollin shared her oldest sister's passions, Gardiner noted. "We all believe in women's rights

and have had the assistance of the best and purest, and not the noisiest, of our sex," Charlotta once told the New York Herald, Gardiner reported. In March 1869, Charlotta argued for women's suffrage before the state house of representatives, making the case that the Constitution did not define voters as male, therefore women should be permitted. In December 1870, Charlotta organized a "Women's Rights Convention," serving as chair with her sister Katherine as secretary. Charlotta founded South Carolina's branch of the American Woman Suffrage Association. While the pursuit of suffrage faced opposition from both white and black men, Charlotta's dedication did not waver. "We ask suffrage not as a favor, not as a privilege, but as a right based on the grounds that we are human begins and as such entitled to all human rights, said Charlotta, according to Gardiner's reporting. "All of the Rollin sisters were active in South Carolina's AWSA and were part of a strong push in 1872 for a state constitution amendment for suffrage," Gardiner wrote. WI

Become a Published Author with Dorrance. We want to read your book! 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

Home-Schooled Student Claims UDC Denied Him Presidential Scholarship By Sam P.K. Collins WI Contributing Writer @SamPKCollins Last summer, Zion Utsey extended his home schooling by a year to accumulate more college credits in the University of the District of Columbia's (UDC) dual enrollment program while working and saving money. He said that decision would eventually lead to an offer of a full ride to the institution. However, Utsey and at least one other home-school student, as he would later find out, wouldn't be able to acquire UDC’s Presidential Scholarship without taking the GED. Believing his homeschool diploma to be more than sufficient, he opted out, choosing instead to enroll in Prince George’s Community College’s new music education program this fall. “I had a relationship with teachers. I was doing extra credit assignments," ,” said Utsey, a

19-year-old Northeast resident and lifelong home-schooler, adding that he also spoke with a UDC admissions representative at a college fair. Last spring, Utsey graduated from the Sankofa Homeschool Collective, a local homeschooling community for families of color that a group of mothers, including Utsey’s, founded in 2004. For several years, Monica Utsey immersed her son and his younger brother in a variety of academic and extracurricular activities that reinforce skills and knowledge deemed necessary for higher education. In addition to his course load at Sankofa and UDC, Zion attended classes in an engineering-focused homeschool community, played several sports, engaged in enrichment activities at a local Boys & Girls Club, learned West African drumming under the tutelage of the Adinkra Group, and sharpened his hip-

hop lyricism. Matriculating to UDC with 12 credits under his belt, he said, would’ve allowed him to grow as a musician in the city that became his classroom. "I wanted to continue drumming and making music in D.C.," Utley said. "There’s a lot of culture here, and I’m trying to bring it out. “[The admissions representative] said I was a perfect candidate,” he said. “She said it was even better that I was homeschooled. They told me they would help me get in this [scholarship] program, but I didn’t see any action.” This summer, attorneys from the Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) sent a letter to UDC on behalf of Utsey. A spokesperson for UDC didn’t return The Informer’s inquiry about the specifics of his admission and its policy as it pertains to home school graduates. Utsey’s family counts among

EDUCATION nearly 50,000 families in the D.C. metropolitan area, and more than 83,000 across the country, that have decided to educate their children outside of public, charter, parochial and private school systems. In total, an estimated 2 million children in the U.S. are home-schooled. The D.C. metropolitan area, along with Atlanta, boasts some of the most vibrant African-cen-

tered home-school communities in the country. The home school movement grew in the 1980s and 1990s when states, at the behest of parents, increasingly recognized one’s right to educate their child at home. This has especially been the case for families of color, many of whom homeschool

UDC Page 53

Last summer, Zion Utsey extended his home

schooling by a year to accumulate more college credits in the University of the District of

Columbia's (UDC) dual enrollment program

while working and saving money. He said that decision would eventually lead to an offer of a full ride to the institution.

DC Health Link for Small Business

ZANE NETWORKS, Enrolled Since 2018

AUTOPAY: THE CONVENIENT WAY Quick, Simple and Hassle FREE!

Now small business owners can ensure on-time payments of their monthly premiums by enrolling in the new online feature: DC Health Link AutoPay.

Ask your broker for details. Visit DCHealthLink.com. Call 855.532.5465. #GetCoveredDC #StayCoveredDC

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019 27

Elizabeth, Aniya & Kya

Ready for homework. Ready for class. Ready for anything. Through Internet Essentials, Comcast has connected more than 8 million people from low-income households to low-cost, high-speed internet at home, most for the first time. So theyâ€™re ready for anything. Learn more at ComcastCorporation.com/InternetEssentials

28 SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

EDITORIAL

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS

America’s Help Needed in the Bahamas; Will Race Equate to Historical Delays? Not to be the purveyor of pessimism or prognosticator of doom and gloom but America’s track record for being prompt, proficient and pertinacious after Mother Nature has unleashed her fury in record-breaking hurricanes upon lands whose citizens have skins colors of Black or brown is far from stellar, if not outright embarrassing. One need look no further than the suffering of Blacks in New Orleans, our very own shores, after Katrina in 2005. One could also assess the still-remaining devastating effects first unleashed upon the brown-skinned citizens of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in 2017 with Maria. Despite the country being an unincorporated territory of the U.S., we still haven’t done we should or could to help the beleaguered tropical island. As for the Republic of Haiti, the destruction caused by Matthew in 2016 was met with an animus of disdain and propensity for neglect similar to that which the former nation of slaves and free people of color has historically faced since becoming the first independent nation of Latin America and the Caribbean in 1804 as well as the first country to abolish slavery. So, unless the American “zebra” suddenly changes its spots, particularly given the large number of Haitians, an estimated 400,000, who as recent as just weeks ago, lived in the Caribbean country within the Lucayan Archipelago, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas should not anticipate the U.S. opening its arms, its borders or its pocketbooks to help yet another country of Blacks get back on its feet. The question remains whether the so-called leading nation of the free world can finally do the right thing and end its unenviable, hypocritical history of discrimination and abuse that has been the norm for the U.S. for generations. After the cameras shut down and the aid groups depart, who will be there for Haitians in the Bahamas in particular or the nation of the Bahamas in general? For now, it seems that those in the Bahamas looking for clean water, food, medical supplies and a roof over their heads have nowhere to go. Moreover, and given the game plan, or lack thereof, coming from Donald Trump and the White House, what will happen to those who may have criminal backgrounds or cannot produce passports or other required documents that will allow them to move through our gateways and be given safe haven in the U.S.? Given the writing on the walls, are we exhibiting behavior tantamount to Trump’s frequently-barked mantra, “make America great again” as we shutter our doors to those in dire need in such cavalier fashion? It becomes more and more evident that when the U.S. announced its willingness to welcome the world’s “tired and poor … your huddled masses yearning to be free,” words etched upon the base of the Statue of Liberty in New York City’s harbor, the invitation was and continues to remain one with clear, albeit unspoken, terms and conditions for entrance. For this, and for so much more, Americans should all feel an exorbitant amount of shame. wi

Greater Leadership Needed on 5G Deployment It's been nearly one year since Ward 3 Council member Mary Cheh, chair of the Committee on Transportation and the Environment, held the first public roundtable on the deployment of 5G in D.C. The marathon meeting held at the Wilson Building brought together ANC commissioners, neighborhood association representatives and private individuals, along with the D.C. Department of Transportation and the cellphone companies responsible for the deployment of the new high-speed technology coming to neighborhoods across the District of Columbia. The consensus from that meeting and other community forums held since then is that 5G is welcomed. Consumers of the internet and cellphones are excited about the range of possibilities related to jobs, transportation, business opportunities, economic development and the delivery of health care 5G will provide. 5G is said to be 10 times faster than its 4G predecessor, with less lag time. One year later, significant concerns remain about 5G in D.C. Residents want to know where and how the new small cell towers will be distributed, whether 100 feet apart on new and existing poles lined in front of their homes, or the preferred options including alleys, on rooftops or underground. Most importantly, what impact will the increased amounts of radiation emitted from the small cell towers have on residents, especially children? Cheh learned at her hearing that federal rule-makers have preempted local lawmakers from regulating 5G based on health concerns, so long as the towers meet FCC standards. Council member Cheh admitted her lack of understanding of all of the ramifications

TO THE EDITOR The Real Mugabe I didn't know much about Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe but I've heard the different accounts from the media about the good and the bad he's done. Sometimes it's difficult to see the truth because you just can't trust the mainstream media to report on Black people fairly and to tell the whole story. On one hand, he's an awful man that killed people; on the other, he instilled Black pride in his country and was a hero. What really is the truth? For those of us not privy to Africa and their affairs, it’s hard to know where you should stand. Leon Tommes Washington, D.C. surrounding the deployment of 5G nationally and its impact on D.C. Unfortunately, no members of her committee attended the meeting except Ward 2 Council member Jack Evans, who stayed long enough to give an opening statement regarding his objection to placing more poles on the streets in his ward. Wards 2 and 6 are slated for the deployment of the highest numbers of cellphone towers. We fully understand the enormous responsibility of balancing the introduction of cutting-edge technology, with the historic nature of the District's infrastructure and very

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

Kudos to Gray on Health Care I applaud Councilman Vince Gray for continuing to push for comprehensive health care east of the river. We must keep at it and support him in this effort. Mary Keifer Washington, D.C.

serious concerns of public health. So why is it that other members of the D.C. Council are not taking a greater interest in this issue that affects every single constituent they serve? Why aren't they leading discussions to better inform themselves and their constituents about the benefits and consequences of the deployment of 5G in their respective Wards? And why aren't they taking swifter measures to learn what's in their purview to legislate and move accordingly, before it's too late? wi

SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019 29

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist

By Julianne Malveaux

We Must Not Normalize Poverty and Inequity

When the income and poverty data were released on Sept. 10, the commentary touted the progress that the data reflected. The poverty rate dropped by half a percentage point, down to 11.8 percent. For the first time, the poverty rate is lower than it was in 2007, before the beginning of the Great Recession. But wages only rose significantly among Asian Americans, and the poverty rates, by demographics, were 8.1 percent for

whites, 20.8 percent for African Americans, 17.6 percent for Hispanics and 10.1 percent for Asian Americans. When we celebrate the drop in the poverty rate, we normalize the fact that African Americans have a much higher poverty rate than whites do. In simply acknowledging the poverty rate drop, without focusing on the much higher poverty rate of African Americans, we imply that high African American poverty rates are acceptable. They are not. There should be no discussion of poverty rates without an acknowledgment that economic recovery has been extremely un-

Guest Columnist

even, and the distribution of poverty is uneven as well. It is important to note that if we bemoan high poverty rates, we must acknowledge the progress that comes with lower ones. Things are indeed "better" at the microeconomic level, and better in the aggregate. "Better" for who, we might ask. When we talk about poverty prevention, it is essential to acknowledge that some communities need more help than others do, which is why we should consider targeted programs. Unfortunately, too many assert that we can't have "Black" programs in a multicultural society. But if Black people expe-

rience more poverty, they need more help. While the poverty rate dropped the proportion of people without health insurance or access to health care rose. In 2017, 7.9 percent of all people had no health insurance. By 2018, in just one year, the number jumped to 8.5 percent. At least 27.5 million Americans have no health insurance. That number is deceptive because many who have health insurance cannot afford their copayments and so only visit medical professionals when their situation is dire. While the health data must be nuanced to reveal that the

situation is worse than the numbers suggest, the simple increase in the number of folks without health insurance is alarming. If some legislators have their way, even more people will lack access to health insurance, and with the stagnant incomes revealed from the income and poverty data, increasing numbers will be unable to manage their copayments. Similarly, celebrations about the historic low in the Black unemployment rate tend to normalize the fact that Black people experience proportionately more unemployment than oth-

MALVEAUX Page 53

By Russell Simmons

The Time is Now to Help Prevent Gun Violence in Urban Neighborhoods

At the beginning of this summer, I wrote an op-ed for the National Newspaper Publishers Association. I asked for support for the anti-violence programs around the country and many of you responded. For that, I am grateful. One of the things that I have done over the last 10 years – with the exception of 2018 – is

host a dinner for the mothers of deceased children in my old 'hood in Queens, New York. The deceased children all died because of senseless gun violence. The recent dinners have had mostly the same mothers because Life Camp, the program that I support, and the residents have held the violence to a minimum. This year was very, very different. Instead of going directly to the dinner, I was asked to stop at

Guest Columnists

a church for a wake. My brother who I grew up with, Marcellus, lost his son, Marcellus, Jr., who was on his way to college in just two days. Marcellus Jr. was one of the 13 that were shot, and of the nine who were murdered, in last 10 days. I went to the church and saw Marcellus Sr. and I thought of images of him in our childhood. We hugged the same way I hugged the brothers, the sisters, and the mother of his son. Only with him, I started to

cry. I was home. It was my Hollis family and we were hurting. They, especially the father and the uncle, helped the whole thing to hit home harder. The way it should. It reminded me that this wake was not business as usual, but instead it was critical for my own spiritual survival and growth. We had planned the dinner over a month ago, but the murders and the funerals we couldn’t have predicted. At the dinner, we recommitted to work on lifting our com-

munity. We reaffirmed our love for each other and our work. Today, I am asking for all my Queens Congress members, City Council members, rappers, and hip-hop success stories to join me in helping Life Camp expand their good work. I promise to donate more and support more than I have in the past. The time is now what will you do? With great love, all things are possible. WI

By A. Peter Bailey

How Russia Exploits White Supremacy in U.S.

It is almost amusing to see, hear and read how the U.S. press, politicians and academicians weep and wail, moan and groan and huff and puff about Russia's attempt to take propagandistic advantage of the white supremacy that has been a pivotal force in this country's life for the past 400 years. What Russia is doing is noth-

ing new. Back in the 1950s and 1960s, American presidents responded to white supremacist attacks on Black people mainly because the Russians were using such attacks as something to be exploited during the so-called Cold War. If there wasn't/isn't white supremacy, the Russians wouldn't have anything to exploit. Civil and human rights changes are not the result of changes in attitude of white supremacists but result from foreign policy needs. For instance, President Dwight D. Eisenhower reluctantly na-

30 SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019

tionalized the Arkansas National Guard to protect the Little Rock Nine, who were being attacked by White supremacist opponents of the desegregation of Little Rock's Central High School. He reportedly acted only after photos of the attacks were published in a Russian newspaper. President John F. Kennedy did the same when Black youngsters in Birmingham, Alabama, were attacked by white supremacists. Like Eisenhower, he said the federal government had no legal right to intervene. Both eventually and

reluctantly took action because of foreign policy propaganda needs. President Lyndon Johnson also signed the civil rights bills of 1964 and 1965 because of concerns about Russia using White supremacy attacks as a propaganda weapon against the self-proclaimed "Leader of the Free World." Black leaders such as Brother Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. were well aware of the U.S. government's fear that its opponents would use the race issue against the United States. That's why Brother Malcolm

was developing plans to have the U.S. condemned by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights for being "either unable or unwilling to protect the lives and property of Black people." That's also why Dr. King, in his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, spoke of the civil rights movement as being similar to the liberation movements in Africa and Asia. Even the more conservative NAACP and Urban League leaders were aware, though they would

BAILEY Page 53

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist

By E. Faye Williams

What Does a Just America Look Like?

Sometimes I allow myself to imagine a world with justice for all — not just in words, but by deeds. Before I go around the world with what I would like to see I want the best there is for everybody no matter where they live. Maybe to some what I wish for seems far-fetched, and is if we're not willing to work for some-

thing better for all. Here's what I think a just America would look like. First, we should always refuse to return hate with hate, but always be concerned about every human being's well-being. In a just America, all of us would have a livable wage. We'd always have a high-quality health plan that prevents illnesses, rather than a mediocre and unnecessarily highpriced one that only treats us after we're sick and makes us even sicker when we see the bill!

In a just America, all of our children would have access to a high-quality and useable education. Everyone would live in a safe and comfortable home they can afford. We'd be able to vote without wondering if our votes would count without having computer breakdowns as happened when I ran for office or hearing that the Russians were allowed to manipulate our vote. We could register to vote at will, having assurance our names wouldn't be wiped

Guest Columnist

off the rolls without just cause to enable someone else to win. I'm sure Secretary Hillary Clinton would back me up on that, as would Stacey Abrams and Andrew Gillum. I might even add Beto O'Rourke as another recent example. In a just America, racism would disappear and would never be rewarded. We'd have a Commission on the Elimination of Racism. Another commission that actually mandates reparations for Black people and our

community would go a long way toward proving America has suddenly become fair and just to all. There're a few things we'd need to do, too. We'd spend our money only with those who respect us and not those who oppress us. We'd spend most of our money with our own people, and when we own the businesses, we would pay our people fair wages and charge our people fair prices. In return, we who do business

WILLIAMS Page 54

By Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr.

Can America Break Its Gun Addiction?

After mass shootings in Southaven, Mississippi; Dayton, Ohio; and Midland, El Paso and Odessa, Texas, public demand for sensible gun reform once more soared. And once more, Republican politicians, led by President Donald Trump, were intimidated into inaction by the gun lobby, led by the National Rifle Association. Remarkably, it was America's largest retailer — Walmart — that exhibited the courage politicians lacked.

It was in a Walmart store in El Paso where a gunman armed with an assault-style rifle, roused by the hate-filled rhetoric about a Latino "invasion" of our country, shot 48 people, killing 22. Walmart CEO Doug McMillon, a lifelong hunter, realized that they had to take action to protect workers and customers in their stores. Walmart announced that it would ban open carry of guns in its stores. In addition, it would discontinue selling handgun ammunition and ammunition that can be used in large-capacity clips on assault-style weapons. This was no small step.

The NRA and other gun lobbies immediately called on members to boycott Walmart. Walmart itself projected that it would lose about half of its ammunition sales with this decision and also called on the federal government to act to "strengthen background checks" and to consider "reauthorization of the Assault Weapons ban." Walmart's action moved other retailers to act, as Kroger, the nation’s largest grocery chain, CVS, Walgreens and Wegmans also announced bans on open carry. (Other chains like Target, Starbucks and Chipotle have had policies against open carry for

Askia-At-Large

years.) The laws on open carry and concealed carry of handguns vary from state to state, but open carry is legal in most states, often without any requirement for a permit. Walmart's example should now lead to a broader nonviolent movement to limit the carrying of guns, even as citizens push for legislative reforms at the state and national level. In many states, like Texas, open carry is legal in churches. Churches across the country should follow Walmart's lead and post signs banning the carrying of guns — open or concealed — on church property.

On university campuses, states' laws vary dramatically, but most allow institutions to limit open or concealed carry. Students across the country should ensure that their university has acted to limit guns to the extent the laws allow. At athletic events, again laws vary. Generally, it is illegal to carry guns into professional athletic events from the NFL to the MLB. Most states also ban guns from high school or interscholastic sporting events. But as a college level, laws vary.

JACKSON Page 54

By Askia Muhammad

Trump HBCU Speech a Dud

President Donald Trump likes to boast that he enjoys huge support among Black folks in this country. Of course, every word that comes out of his mouth must be fact-checked. And so it was when Trump delivered an awkward 30-minute speech to hundreds of leaders of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) attending a White House conference. No other administration has done more for what he called "pillars

of excellence" and "engines of advancement" than his. To tepid applause, Trump told attendees gathered for the 2019 National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Conference, hosted annually by the White House, that he was "protecting and promoting and supporting HBCUs like never before." Fact-check: "There were a lot of things to fact-check in his speech," said Pamela Bingham, a consultant to various HBCUs. "I had gone to these conferences for probably a decade or more and they're different with different

presidents. But I wrote down, a few things [Trump said] that I was going to personally check into that I just did not believe were true. He took credit for an increase in funding to Howard [University]. I believe he took credit. He said that he has been the best president for HBCUs, but you know, he always says that everything that he does is the best." "The fierce dedication to strengthening HBCUs is a core part of my administration's unwavering focus on national renewal," Fact-check: "He actually claimed an increase in funding

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

to Howard, which I have never heard," said Bingham, who worked in grants administration at Howard last year. "I was not aware of any increase in funding from the federal government. He said that he worked with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund to lift the ban on Pell Grants for summer classes. He said that he made sure that there was Hurricane Katrina loan forgiveness for Southern and Xavier and Dillard. I think we need to check that. There was so much to be fact-checked. He said he was responsible for the most funding and he took a lot of credit for a

lot of things that I just didn't feel were necessarily true." It never got any better in Bingham's view: "The response was pretty tepid most of the time and I really felt like people had to be there because their institutions are involved with all the federal loan programs and the federal grant programs and Title III. They had to be there, but I didn't feel that they were incredibly supportive." And Trump did not actually meet with any presidents — not that many of them were stum-

ASKIA Page 54

SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019 31

LIFESTYLE Norton Announces Major District Businesses, Employers Back D.C. Statehood WI Staff Report Two days before the historic House hearing on statehood for the District of Columbia Thursday, Sept. 19, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced that several major businesses and employers have endorsed the Washington, D.C. Admission Act (H.R. 51). The businesses include some of the key employers and employer organizations in the District: The

Federal City Council, the Greater Washington Board of Trade, the D.C. Hospital Association, the D.C. Chamber of Commerce, the Apartment and Office Building Association of Metropolitan Washington, the District of Columbia Building Industry Association, the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington and the Hotel Association of Washington, D.C. Norton will place in the record at Thursday’s hearing endorse-

5 Flags bearing 51 stars line Pennsylvania Avenue in Northwest to bring attention to District of Columbia

becoming the 51st state in the Union. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer) ments not only from the business community, but from many national and local organizations. “Beyond the veterans and residents living in the District who

have fought for D.C. statehood for some time, our thriving business community understands well the benefits of statehood,” Norton said. “These endorsements could not be clearer: there is a clear economic case for statehood in allowing our economy to grow and to attract new employers and revenue.” In their statement, the businesses write: “There is a clear economic and business case for statehood. It would allow the region to better represent its large federal workforce and secure critically important funding for transportation systems like Metro. A voting DC Congressional delegation would have more input on Congressional legislation that impacts the local economy

Stay Informed!

www.washingtoninformer.com

32 SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019

and the city’s large tracts of federally owned land. Statehood would also make the city a more attractive place to live and do business.” The letter also states, “as a state, the District of Columbia would have a more balanced and constructive partnership with the federal government, which controls a huge portion of its land . . . With a voting DC Congressional representative, federal land in the nation’s capital could be improved to the entire country’s benefit. DC could work more quickly and productively with, for example, the National Park Service and the General Services Administration. The bottom line is that there is a clear economic and business case for DC statehood.” Signers of the letter include: Anthony Williams, CEO/Executive Director Federal City Council; Jacqueline D. Bowens, President/CEO DC Hospital Association; John C. Cavanaugh, President/CEO Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area; Kathy E. Hollinger, President/CEO Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington; Peggy Jeffers, Executive Vice President Apartment & Office Building Association of Metropolitan Washington; Lisa María Mallory, CEO District of Columbia Building Industry Association; Jack McDougle, CEO Greater Washington Board of Trade; and Vincent Orange, President/CEO DC Chamber of Commerce. WI

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

Film Festival Focuses on Women in Civil Rights Movement By Eve M. Ferguson WI Contributing Writer The new dates are not the only changes for the upcoming 2019 March on Washington Film Festival, which formerly took place in the heat of summer but now has switched to a more temperate time period. The multi-venue film festival runs this year from Sept. 22-29 with a wide range of films to be screened in multiple locations around the city, with most being held at the Jack Morton Auditorium on the campus of George Washington University. Other related events will be held around the city at different locales including the National Museum of Women in the Arts, National Cathedral, National Portrait Gallery, New York University-District of Columbia and Eaton DC, which will host a series of rooftop, late night performances. Leading up to the 100th anniversary of the Women's Suffrage Movement's victory on the ratification of the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote, this year's festival focuses on women of the civil rights movement and the critical roles they played. "This is the 100-year anniversary of the women's suffragist movement," said Samantha Abrams, executive director of the festival. "Our mission at the festival is to tell stories of the civil rights era and the decades leading up to it and connect that to what is happening today. "What we know is women continue to be drivers of significant change in all sectors," Abrams said. "We wanted to tell the stories of Black women and women of color who single-handedly shifted and impacted the future of sports, politics, education, corporate, leadership and more. We have a responsibility to tell their stories and honor them." Some of the offerings that spotlight that pivotal role are "Delores," a documentary that tells the story of Delores Huerta, who worked alongside Cesar Chavez to unionize farmworkers, and "Althea," about tennis player Althea Gibson, a forerunner to present-day tennis stars like the Williams sisters, Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff. Gibson

the historical roots of false accusations leveled at Black men by white women, will take center stage. The Sept. 24 event will be moderated by Tina Tchen, Michelle Obama's former chief of staff. On Sept. 25, George Washington University will host a special workshop performance of "Devine Hamer Gray," a new theatrical work by Nolan Williams Jr. about the 1964 contested congressional election of Fannie Lou Hamer, Annie Devine and Victoria Gray, three Black female civil rights activists who founded the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party to challenge the state's whites-only Democratic Party. 5 "Advocates" is one of the films to Additionally, the National Porbe screened at the upcoming March trait Gallery will host a live perforon Washington Film Festival, beginmance of "The Me I Want to Sing: ning Sunday, Sept. 22. The Cultural Significance of Mariwas an outspoken critic of the high- an Anderson and Leontyne Price," ly segregated world of 1950s profes- a musical piece that focuses on the lives and work of the two divas as sional tennis world. If you missed some of the earlier cultural and political icons. The screenings, a 1972 Aretha Franklin performance dovetails with the galconcert is the subject of the film lery's exhibition "One Life: Marian "Amazing Grace: Aretha Franklin," Anderson," currently on view. "Each year we select an under-rewhich will be shown at the Washported aspect of the civil rights ington National Cathedral. A program of vintage short films, movement to highlight in our fes"Sisters that Swing," presented by tival," said Isisara Bey, the festival's music historian Stuart Hudgins, artistic director. "The pivotal role illustrates the work of famous Af- of women as grass roots organizers, rican-American women who con- trainers, support staff and leaders tributed to the movement through for many of the movement's initiatheir musicality such as Bessie tives has been vastly overlooked. "We wanted to include the imSmith, Josephine Baker, Billie Holiportance of women artists, enterday and Mahalia Jackson. Other highlights include non- tainers and sports figures in promotfilm programs such as the Vivian ing the message of the movement Malone Award, which will be giv- and the challenges they faced in en to Rep. Lucy McBath, mother their careers," Bey said. "Finally, we of slain teenager Jordan Davis. She are always mindful of the connecwas elected to a congressional seat in tion between the movement in the 2018 in her home state of Georgia. '60s and its impact on social justice The Vivian Malone Courage today, and have made an effort to Award will be presented to Mc- incorporate that in our events." Several other screenings, talks Bath by Malone's sister, Dr. Sharon Malone, and her husband, former and events will take place throughout the week. Many of the events Attorney General Eric Holder. At the opening gala on Sunday, for the festival are free, but RSVPs Sept. 23 at the National Museum are required for most. Tickets range of Women in the Arts, the Festival from free to $10 for most events will honor poet and educator Nikki with $5 tickets for students. The Giovanni with a Lifetime Legacy theatrical premiere of Devine Hamer Gray will cost $20. For schedulAward. Throughout the rest of the week, ing and ticket information, go to movies such as "She Lied: Carolyn marchonwashingtonfilmfestival. Bryant and the Murder of Emmett org. wi Till," a mock trial that examines

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

LIFESTYLE

Opening Night Tickets $15! Restrictions, exclusions and additional charges may apply. Subject to availability. Excludes premium seats. Tickets at market pricing. Purchase tickets at venue box office or ticketmaster.com.

EAGLEBANK ARENA OCT 2 – 6 DisneyOnIce.com

Stay Informed!

www.washingtoninformer.com SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019 33

LIFESTYLE

Biden, Sanders Lead Among Black Women, Essence Poll Finds Kamala Harris Gaining Ground with African Americans By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia Black women have long been identified as the most reliable voters for Democrats and political experts believe they will be central to the crucial 2020 presidential election. A new poll released this week revealed that at least 95 percent of registered Black women plan to cast a ballot in the upcoming elections, meaning there's a strong possibility they will decide the next president of the United States. Older Black women said if the election were held today, former Vice President Joe Biden would get their vote, according to the fifth annual "Power of the Sister Vote" survey released by Black Women's Roundtable, an intergenerational public policy network conceptualized and formed by the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, in partnership with Essence. Younger Black women said progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders would be their top choice. The authors of the survey said the results reveal a chasm between the political leanings of millennials and Generation Z (18-34), Black women between the ages of 35-50 and older. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) comes in second with both groups (15 percent and 17.1 percent respectively); Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) comes in third (12 percent and 13.7 percent respectively). New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker (1.7 percent) continues to struggle to

gain traction even as the Democratic field narrows. The survey, which polled 1,068 Black women representing a range of ages, as well as diversity in economic and education backgrounds, focused primarily on which candidate would participants vote for if the election were held today, what most concerns Black women this election cycle and what candidates have to do to earn their votes. Black community priorities have shifted for some Black women, according to Essence. In 2019, criminal justice and policing reform is the no. 1 issue, separated by a mere 1 percent from affordable health care. In 2018, the number one issue was hate crimes/racism, up to 55 percent from 33 percent in 2017. While hate crimes/racism remains a key concern at number three, with a 13-point drop from 2018, it is now tied with equal rights and equal pay, which has risen 14 points as a concern from 2018, according to Essence. Financial safety and reduced taxes for lower-income and middle class families ranked as the top issue for older Black women polled, while 51 percent of millennials and Gen Z respondents rank addressing the catastrophic rates of Black maternal morbidity and infant death as their top priority. Gun safety, gentrification, college affordability, and quality education also top the list as pressing concerns of the respondents â€” as well as climate change and environ-

ESSENCE Page 53

Residences at St. Elizabeth East Accepting Applications The Residences at St. Elizabeths East will be accepting applications through 9/30/19.Â Please visit our website www.steapts.com at your earliest convenience and click on

5 A new poll shows what Black women want in a presidential candidate. (Courtesy of Essence/BWR)

34 SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019 35

LIFESTYLE JOIN THE FIGHT FOR ALZHEIMER’S FIRST SURVIVOR.

VOTERS from Page 17 Holland, 17, a freshman studying political science at UCONN from Hackensack, New Jersey. “Information is always coming at us and that’s how we retain it and it is not all bad.” Desmond Taylor, 25, a 2016 Howard University graduate from Houston, said some of his peers must take the proper steps

HOUSING from Page 18

At the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s®, people carry flowers representing their connection to Alzheimer’s — a disease that currently has no cure. But what if one day there was a white flower for Alzheimer’s first survivor? What if there were millions of them? Help make that beautiful day happen by joining us for the world’s largest fundraiser to fight the disease.

Register today at alz.org/walk. The Nat ional Mall Oct ober 12 | 8:00 am Addit ional Walks available. Find one near you at alz.or g/ walk or call 703.359.4440.

2019 NATIONAL PRESENTING SPONSOR

Black Mecca, in the late 1990s to learn more about real estate." DeVoe received his real estate license in 2002 and said he prospered in the field until the Great Recession hit in 2008. Still, he persevered and now co-owns DeVoe Broker Associates and has embraced the profession. "Rapping is great but this is more important," he said. Flame articulated a solid financial truth to the audience in his presentation. "You should buy a house before you buy a car," he said. "A car goes down in value when it leaves the showroom but a house goes up in value." Flame said he had to become financially astute at the age of 18 when he received his first performance check.

FILM from Page 18 laws and procedures cleared by the Department of Justice. Racial gerrymandering became another more common practice, the film suggests – that is, how Republicans in some states “pack” minority neighborhoods into districts to lessen their influence and “crack” which puts neighborhoods of color in overwhelming-white areas where they will have little or no political power. One scene even shows Trump as he asserts that millions of people voted illegally in 2016 – something that remains unsubstantiated. The film concludes with efforts to place more right-wing judges at the helm of federal courts where they can influence the law through their interpretation of legislation for decades to come. During the film, the viewpoints of civil rights and conservative activists also come to light, even showcasing legislators and activists stating without hesitancy their intention to curtail the minority vote.

36 SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019

to introduce themselves to their elders including accepting constructive criticism. Taylor, who does community service work for Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, said young adults should be frustrated if they don’t receive a response when seeking internship, job, or other inquiries. “Sometimes, [politicians] are overwhelmed. They’re human,

too,” he said. Non-millennials offered a suggestion for meeting with the young generation in their neighborhoods where they can better learn from social media. “It’s about having that conversation and putting down that pride and saying, ‘we are better together,’” Hooper-Campbell said. WI

"I had a $98,000 Bank of America check and I went to the bank to get it cashed," he said. "The people at the bank pulled me aside and made suggestions on how better to use that check rather than cashing and spending it all." Simmons, who presently works as career counselor for the NBA Players Association, said he became the first member of his family to own a home. He owns Monarchy Investments LLC, a real estate company in Chicago, and leads a foundation which helps children in Chicago attend his college alma mater, DePaul University. Simmons says real estate "has given me the opportunity to help others.” U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (DNY) served as the honorary host of the forum and told the packed room that gentrification has be-

come a reality in many cities, including the District. "I know a man who bought a house in this neighborhood in 1993 for $130,000," he said. "He recently sold it for $2 million. That was a good business decision. It is better to own your home and rent your car, not the other way around." Stephen Benjamin, the mayor of Columbia, S.C., participated in the panel and said his city has become proactive in helping its residents, regardless of color, to become homeowners. "In Columbia, we have a homeownership program supported by the city where you can buy a home for $100,000," the mayor said. "You can't do that in D.C. We have to take advantage of opportunities to build wealth and we can make that happen.” WI

Mac Heller, co-executive producer of “Rigged,” encouraged the audience at the second screening to “to run this film in [their] community.” “The price you charge for using the film is zero,” Heller said. “Our film is about storytelling

and how the right wing has taken over our politics. They’ve got the money but we have the people on our side. Many Americans who see this film say what they are doing is shameful and that it’s not American.” WI

5 Actor JeffreyWright stars in the film "Rigged." (Roy Lewis/The Washington Informer)

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

Film 'Pushout' Details Systematic Struggles of Young Black Women By Hamil R. Harris WI Contributing Writer School should be a safe place to spark hopes and dreams of bright futures, but too often is a place where many African American children, especially girls, are targeted and end up behind bars. This was the takeaway from the documentary "Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools," which premiered Thursday, Sept. 12 during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Legislative Conference. The event was hosted by Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) and featured a panel of prominent women who discussed the issue afterward. "This film should be seen as tool," said Monique W. Morris, the film's executive producer. "It is an important tool to educate, but it is also important piece to co-construct a new climate [for girls] in our learning spaces." One could have heard a pin drop in the room at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center as five teenage girls told stories about how their schools turned them away from learning and toward trouble. "I didn't know what to do," said Ariana, one of the students. "There was so much rage building up in me." Another, Samaya, said she thought about suicide. "'Why not go to heaven now?'" she recalled thinking. "I didn't want to be here." Kiara said she got into a lot of fights in school; asked why, she said, "I wasn't fighting for myself, I was fighting because I wanted to be loved." Emma said of her school, "I really wondered why they treated me

like this. What's wrong with me? There must be something." Several hundred packed the room for the post-film panel discussion that included Pressley; Advancement Project Executive Director Judith Browne Dianis; Wakimi Douglas, founder of Sisters Leadership Collective; educator Lindsa McIntyre, Massachusetts High Dchool Principal of the Year; youth advocate Naomi Wadler and Sade Ratliff, a freshman at Stonehill College. "The stories that we heard today are profound and representative of the stories of millions of Black girls and women," Pressley told the room. "And here I am, a congresswoman, 45 years old, being told that I am disruptive and being insubordinate," she said, a nod to the ire she and fellow freshmen Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan have drawn from President Trump and right-wing critics. But during the five-day conference, the four Democratic congresswomen collectively known as "The Squad" were warmly greeted everywhere they went, serving as modern-day pillars in the battle for respect for women of color. McIntyre said too many young people are being wrongly forced into the criminal justice system for minor offenses by school resource officers who really function more as police officers, and part of the problem is "there is no outrage in our community." But while many ideas were offered, Wadler said it comes down to relationships: "Young people need more mentors." wi

LIFESTYLE

FAITH DAY

POSTGAME FAITH CELEBRATION FEATURING THE NCC WORSHIP BAND, PASSION CITY CHURCH & NATIONALS PLAYERS $ 5 O F E AC H T I C K E T W I L L B E D O N AT E D TO T H E H O U S E D C

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 • 4:05 PM

N AT I O N A L S .CO M / FA I T H

5 It was standing room only for the debut of “Pushout– The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools,” at Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference. Rep. Ayanna Pressley (MA-7) hosted discussion and Monique W. Morris, executive producer of the film, lead panel discussion. (Courtesy photo/Patricia McDougall)

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

Stay Informed!

www.washingtoninformer.com

SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019 37

LIFESTYLE

BIDEN from Page 1

lead a crowded field of Democratic candidates vying to unseat Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election, it remains to be seen whether his popularity among older, more conservative Black voters and his message will be enough to garner the support of younger African Americans as well as a significant percentage of whites and Latinos – a base that carried Barack Obama to victory in two presidential elections. “We have had to struggle with before and after moments like this in the past, like Charlottesville just a few years ago when we again saw the torches, heard the chants and wit-

nessed hatred on full display,” Biden said. “Our silence has been tantamount to complicity. I remember thinking as I watched scenes from Charlottesville that we remain entrenched in a battle for the soul of America.” “Hate cannot be drowned out nor allowed to continue unchecked, allowed to remain hidden in the darkness. I am optimistic because I believe that despite the current Administration’s coddling of white supremacy, we are provided with yet another opportunity for Americans to decide who we really are and to prove what we really believe in,” Biden said, adding that the bombing at Sixteenth Street Baptist in 1963 “shook my

generation to its core.” Biden, while not mentioning Trump by name, said incidents like those in Charlottesville, Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, Pittsburgh and El Paso served as the impetus for his entering the 2020 race for president, positioning himself as the candidate best qualified to help heal a nation still divided and in need of overcoming a past dominated by racism. “The hatred displayed on that Sunday morning in 1963 is not dead,” he said. “White supremacy has been the antagonist of our highest ideals from before our founding. And as we all now realize, this violence does not live in the past.”

Still, Biden must contend with his own decisions made during his decades of public service, including, but not limited to, his former opposition to forced busing in education, his relationship with and connections to segregationist senators during his early years in Congress, his support of controversial legislation (1996) targeting “welfare reform,” his contributions to the writing and endorsement of the original 1994 crime bill, a record indicating leanings toward the War on Drugs and his “yea” vote for the War in Iraq. In efforts to further extrapolate the complexities of Biden, on Sunday morning shortly after the completion of his televised speech from Birmingham, MSNBC’s Joy Ann Reid (“AM Joy”) invited a panel to weigh in on the former vice president’s message, his candidacy and the opposition for which he must prepare, both from other candidates and from Trump, should he become the Democratic candidate for next year’s General Election. Her guests included: former Governor Ed Rendell (D-PA), Biden’s longtime friend and colleague; Tiffany Cross, co-founder and managing editor, The Beat DC; and Jason Johnson, political editor, theroot. com and an MSNBC contributor – the latter two serving as frequent voices on Reid’s weekend news show.

BIDEN MAINTAINS EDGE, NOT A LOCK ON BLACK VOTES

Reid began her questions by posing whether Biden, often unable to effectively ward off the criticisms he’s has faced from his fellow Democratic contenders, has the muster needed to take on Trump, or any other GOP candidate, as November 2020 draws closer. Rendell said Biden’s speech illustrated why he remains so liked by many Black voters and others across the U.S. and why he stands the best chance to defeat Trump. “The thing he’s always done the best is being a great father and by extension a good man,” Rendell said. “I think people may be misleading voters about what Americans want in this era of unbridled white supremacy. Americans want to be brought back together again. Americans want someone who can help us recapture and be reminded of those central values that have made this country great.” Reid acknowledged that despite the negatives of his past, Biden appears to have grown, coming a long way from some of his former views that seemed to echo the stance and voices of racist legislators. But, as she continued in her queries, is this socalled “more evolved Joe Biden” one

38 SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019

5 Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden spoke during a ceremony commemorating the 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. (Courtesy photo/Wikimedia Commons)

who merits the unequivocal support of the Black voting collective? Cross’s response did not suggest such an endorsement – at least not yet. “Older Blacks, some that is, like Biden – they like him a lot,” Cross said. “But that’s not enough to make him the most electable candidate among those in the Democratic campaign. The voting electorate is much larger than that relatively small group. I’m unconvinced that he can bring younger voters of color to his side or persuade white voices more conservative in their beliefs to cast their ballot in his name at the polls.” “For now, the polling numbers which favor Biden and the rush for the kind of nostalgic musings that he reflects could be viewed as nothing more than self-fulfilling prophecy articulated by a mainstream media that’s out of touch with the actual pulse of the nation,” she said. Johnson, a self-professed “Generation Xer,” shared a perspective that, in Reid’s words, “most clearly articulated the wedge which exists between Blacks,” one side anxious to engage in reminiscent tales of an inherently-good America, the other more akin to Johnson in their demands for absolute change and a complete break from the past. “I understand Biden’s message and his passion – no one wants to see the kind of violence take place again like that which happened in Birmingham decades ago or even more recently in Charlottesville,” he said. “But my generation wants someone that can bring real change for today and tomorrow. We aren’t interested in reflections about terrorist attacks that transpired 56 years ago.” “I don’t care about the past. The past wasn’t so good. The cast wasn’t great. The past wasn’t something that I should feel a sense of nostalgia about. I want, and many other Black voters want, a president who’s going to change this country for the better – a president who’s clearly anti-racist.” “Joe Biden may be that person but so far he has not proven that,” Johnson concluded. WI

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

Installation of 7 trash traps that have removed more than 70,000 lbs of trash & debris from District waterways

More than 3,000 trees planted & over 29,000 linear feet of stream restoration projects

Installation of more than 2,300 rain barrels to capture stormwater

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

More than 7,500 people experiencing the Anacostia River through educational boat tours

SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019 39

LIFESTYLE

Art All Night

Ninth and Mt. Vernon Street in Northwest was the scene of Art All Night, presented by EventsDC, on Saturday, Sept. 14. One of D.C.’s finest painters and portrait artists, Jay Coleman, created a community mural accompanied by beats by DJ Freeez of WKYS-FM. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)

Join us for the

SIGNATURE CHEFS AUCTION

Signature Chefs Auction is one of D.C.’s premier social events highlighting the city’s culinary masters brought together for an elegant evening of unforgettable tastings and beverages. You or your company can join approximately 400 affluent society members and business professionals as they support our mission while enjoying over 40 of the area’s celebrated chefs, mixologists, bartenders and vintners. What could be sweeter? The evening will also include auctions with unique dining, entertainment, travel and leisure packages.

WHEN

WHERE

HONORARY CHEF

Thursday, October 24, 2019 6:00 p.m.

Marriott Marquis, Washington, D.C.

Mike Friedman, Chef/Owner of The Red Hen & All Purpose

MORE INFO SIGNATURECHEFS.ORG/WASHINGTONDC

Presenting sponsor

Bronze sponsors

AHT, Cigna, Chirality Capital, INOVA, Lockton, Privia Medical group, NFP, Onedigital, Metlife, Kelly Benefit Strategies

40 SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019

Silver sponsors

Gold sponsors

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

OCT

3 2019 | MGM NATIONAL HARBOR

REAL STORIES INSPIRING LEGACIES Join us as we recognize this year’s nominees & winners at the nation’s only regional awards program for minority businesses.

SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR AWARDS

TOP 100 MBE AWARDS

MBDA MBE AWARDS

Enjoy special guest performers & presenters, networking opportunities, free giveaways and more!

PURCHASE TICKETS TODAY! www.crmsdc.org

Sponsorship opportunities are available. Call 301.593.5860 for details.

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019 41

LIFESTYLE

'Doubt: A Parable' Opens Studio Theatre's New Season By Eve M. Ferguson WI Contributing Writer

5 Sarah Marshall and Tiffany M. Thompson. Doubt: A Parable" revives John Patrick Shanley's Pulitzer Prize-winning play at the Studio Theatre through Oct. 6. (Photo Teresa Wood)

42 SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019

John Patrick Shanley's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, "Doubt: A Parable" opens the Studio Theatre's 2019-2020 season powerfully and with depth, as the playturned-movie returns to its origins as a theatrical piece. Telling the story of a strong willed nun and principal of the Bronx parochial school St. Nicholas, award-winning actress and Georgetown University theater professor Sarah Marshall inhabits the role of Sister Aloysius, whose suspicions about wrongdoings in the school are the catalyst for the intriguing and troubling story that is "Doubt." Stripped down to a cast of four characters onstage, the production is a stark contrast to the richly casted 2008 film drama, both written and directed by Shanley based on his Pulitzer Prize-winning and Tony Award-winning stage play "Doubt: A Parable." The film starred Meryl Streep as Sister Aloysius and the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman as Father Flynn. The accused priest, played by Christian Conn in the Studio's production, sets his moral perspectives forth in sermons addressing the audience as a congregation. But the Catholic priest's interest in Donald Muller, the school's first African American student, comes into the focus of Sister Aloysius through the observation of Sister James, played by Amelia Pedlow. Unlike in the film version, we never see Donald Muller and any of the visual interactions with Father Flynn that we see in the film version to build suspicion, accusations and questions. Onstage, the encounter is fully illustrated by the masterful interrogation by Marshall and her interaction between the ambivalent junior nun who observed strange behavior in the student after he had a private meeting with Father Flynn and with the priest himself. Pedlow's trusting and innocent character further complicates the scenario when Sister James confides in Father Flynn and declares that she believes his story about protecting the young student in a hostile environment. Questions about what really happen intensify, but are never fully explained in the end. The characterization of Donald Muller is put into the hands of Tiffany M. Thompson, who is cast as Mrs. Muller, the so-called victim's

mother who is asked to engage in a conference with the principal about her suspicions. "John Patrick Shanley does a great job of introducing Donald Muller's character in scene two and then he's the topic of discussion in scene four and scene five," Thompson said. "I think when the audience is introduced to Mrs. Muller she's able to complete Donald's narrative as she painfully expresses the harsh reality her son is subject to at home and pleads with Sister Aloysius to understand her point of view. I honestly think all of the characters carry Donald Muller throughout the play and that it was intentionally written that way." As the only African American character in the one-act play, Thompson also has the weight of bringing forth the racial issues that hover below the surface of this powerful and moving script through her characterization of Mrs. Muller. "I use the given circumstances written in the play to create a solid backstory that supports Mrs. Muller's reality," she said. "She's in survival mode in that it's 1964, cultural restraints are prevalent, and Donald is the only Black boy attending St. Nicholas school. She's fighting immense obstacles out the gate. Donald's father beats him, and she has to work her fingers to the bone to pay for her son's education, which is ultimately Mrs. Muller's goal, a better and safer future for her son." Although the fictional story is set in the contentious 1960s, the relevance of its subjects — race, faith and the abuse of power through religion — are at the forefront of the current events that fill the news. Through the convincing and emotive work of the cast, "Doubt: A Parable," at the Studio Theatre through Oct. 6, is not only a fine theatrical event, but it also brings to mind the issues now at play throughout the Catholic Church, and how these issues continue to create doubt and culpability still prevalent in today's present society. "Doubt: A Parable," at the Studio Theatre's Metheny Theatre (1501 14th Street NW), plays Tuesday through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sundays at 2 p.m. with a Sunday night performance at 7 p.m. Call 202-332-3300 or go to studiotheatre.org for more information. WI

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

LIFESTYLE

wi book review "Surprising Stories Behind Everyday Stuff" by Stephanie Warren Drimmer c.2019, National Geographic Kids $9.99 ($13.99

By Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer By the time you started first grade, you already knew your ABCs. You started second grade knowing how to read at least a little bit, and each year brought new knowledge and a new start. By now, hey, you're doing school like a boss. Still, everybody's gotta start somewhere and in the new book "Surprising Stories Behind Everyday Stuff" by Stephanie Warren Drimmer, the same goes for your favorite things in life. The paper you're holding, the chair you're perched on, the shoes you're wearing — they didn't just magically appear, you know. Nope, each one of them has a story, so look around and be prepared to find out more … Start with your toys. Would you believe that ancient Egyptians played with rings that resembled our modern Hula Hoops? Or that there was a time when marbles were for adults only? Or that the TV jingle for today's Slinky is the same jingle your grandma heard when she was a kid? And what about your food? More than 90 percent of American homes have peanut butter on the shelf somewhere, and kids in the U.S. will eat about 1,500 PB&Js before they leave high school. Get this: American soda makers once offered soda in flavors like turkey and Brussels sprouts. If you want to start in the morning with a look around, then how about your jams? Back in the early 1800s, PJs were worn all the time: at night, to sleep in; and when the wearer got dressed for the day, jammies became underwear tucked in beneath everyday clothes. The pajamas we're familiar with came from India in the very late 1800s and by the 1920s, almost everybody had them. Once upon a time, high heels were just for men, as were pockets in clothing; women didn't have pockets — they had pocketbooks. A woman invented windshield wipers in 1902 but it wasn't until 1916 that her idea caught on. Clapping for approval, saluting a superior officer, shrugging your shoulders all had their unique beginnings. And hair dye? It's an ancient product but not very long ago, using it was an embarrassment … Remember the days when your child asked incessant questions, whys, and whats? Now, he tends to learn things by himself, and "Surprising Stories Behind Everyday Stuff" can be one of the ways he does it. Look around at some of the things surrounding your child, and author Stephanie Warren Drimmer has included many of them in this book. Here, kids will get the scoop on those physical items like tools and food, as well as sports, gestures, and culture, all with an eye toward entertaining and surprising them with little-known truths and tales. Every chapter is accompanied by full-color pictures and quick facts that hold the subjects together like chewing gum (which is, coincidentally, one of the entries here). For curious adults who want a super-light, fun book to browse, "Surprising Stories Behind Everyday Stuff" is it. You'll like this book — but really, it's meant for your 8- to 12-year-old, so let her start it first. WI

horoscopes

SEPT 19 - 25, 2019

ARIES If you have noticed delays to your ambitions and career plans, things can begin to ease from this week as cautious Saturn turns direct in a more prominent zone. It may not happen right away, but gradually you’ll begin to notice positive change. Lucky Numbers: 4, 14, 18 TAURUS Cautious Saturn turns direct in your sector of travel and far horizons this week. If you’ve postponed a trip for whatever reason, the coming weeks could see you back on track in this regard. And if there have been any issues around studying or working toward a degree or certification, these may begin to resolve, too. Lucky Numbers: 6, 9, 12 GEMINI Home and family affairs continue to occupy your mind, with one matter proving quite intense. This could involve a domestic issue or perhaps another problem that you’re eager to resolve. With dynamic Mars angling toward volcanic Pluto, you could be focused in your determination to overcome this or get the outcome you desire. Lucky Numbers: 32, 41, 53 CANCER If certain relationships have been trying for whatever reason, there could be light at the end of the tunnel. As prudent Saturn turns direct in your sector of relating on Wednesday, your interactions could become more productive. It seems that rather than treading water, you are now making progress. Lucky Numbers: 12, 23, 37 LEO Finances continue to be on your mind, and a delightful focus on your sector of communication encourages you to network and connect with people who may be helpful to you. At the same time, with prudent Saturn turning direct in your lifestyle zone on Wednesday, you may find that life at work and in general becomes easier. Lucky Numbers: 2, 11, 16 VIRGO There is still a focus on your sign that could see you being proactive and eager to get ahead. With this in mind, sobering Saturn’s forward motion from Wednesday can assist you in your plans. Although it may take a while to get back on track, obstacles can begin to melt away and progress become more possible. Lucky Numbers: 7, 9, 28 LIBRA With luscious Venus and chatty Mercury in your sign, you may begin to feel more in control and eager to get socializing. Over this week and coming weeks, you’ll be in your element and feeling much more vital. Lucky Numbers: 4, 9, 49 SCORPIO If doubts have held you back, sobering Saturn’s change of direction could make a difference. As it turns direct midweek, you’ll likely find that your mindset begins to shift. And if you’ve spent the past few months working on your self-talk or perhaps taking charge of key issues, you’ll begin to see the benefits now. Lucky Numbers: 2, 3, 19 SAGITTARIUS There is still a powerful focus on your sector of goals and ambitions, and this is certainly the week to make the most of them. As determined Mars aligns with volcanic Pluto over this week, you may be offered an opportunity that can take you far. It might demand a lot of you, though, so be sure that it’s right for you before you commit. If this something you’d enjoy, it could be quite lucrative. Lucky Numbers: 2, 14, 36 CAPRICORN There’s good news this week as prudent Saturn in your sign turns direct after its retrograde phase of many months. If you’ve found it difficult to make progress or felt that your affairs have been going backward, this can all begin to change. And if you’ve made changes to your plans during its retrograde phase and restructured key areas of your life, you’ll soon notice a positive difference. Lucky Numbers: 19, 44, 50 AQUARIUS As karmic Saturn turns direct in a secluded and spiritual zone midweek, you can begin to feel more at ease with yourself. If you’ve been busy sorting through issues, perhaps with a life coach or counselor, you’ll begin to see progress over the coming weeks. And while you may not be completely out of the woods, your confidence is certainly building. Lucky Numbers: 7, 13, 19 PISCES If you’ve had issues with a certain friend over the past months, there’s a chance these can ease somewhat as prudent Saturn turns direct in your social zone midweek. And if you’ve pruned your contact list and let go of so-called friends who just seem to take and never give, you should already be feeling lighter and brighter. Things can only get better. Lucky Numbers: 8, 17, 32

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019 43

SPORTS For more photos, visit www.washingtoninformer.com

Mercyhurst Knocks off UDC

5 Mercyhurst defender Alexander Paul trips University of the District of Columbia forward Ryan Dagley during Mercyhurst's 4-3 win at UDC Field in D.C. on Saturday, Sept. 14. (John E. De Freitas/The Washington Informer) 3 University of the District of Columbia forward Ryan Dagley and Mercyhurst defender Alexander Paul battle for possession during Mercyhurst's 4-3 win at UDC Field in D.C. on Saturday, Sept. 14. (John E. De Freitas/The Washington Informer)

5 Mercyhurst midfielder Salvador Rang shields the ball from University of the District of Columbia midfielder Jason Mayorga during Mercyhurst's 4-3 win at UDC Field in D.C. on Saturday, Sept. 14. (John E. De Freitas/The Washington Informer) 3 Mercyhurst midfielder Hady Sarr fends off University of the District of Columbia midfielder Thomas Cecil during Mercyhurst's 4-3 win at UDC Field in D.C. on Saturday, Sept. 14. (John E. De Freitas/The Washington Informer)

44 SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

SPORTS

Redskins Drop Home Opener to Cowboys

5 Washington Redskins wide receiver Terry McLaurin stiff-arms Dallas Cowboys cornerback Byron Jones during Dallas' 31-21 win at Fed Ex Field in Landover, Md., on Sunday, Sept. 15. (John E. De Freitas/The Washington Informer)

5 Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Devin Smith outruns Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman for a 51-yard touchdown reception during Dallas' 31-21 win at FedEx Field in Landover, Md., on Sunday, Sept. 15. (John E. De Freitas/The Washington Informer)

5 Dallas Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith (left) and safety Xavier Woods tackle Washington Redskins running back Adrian Peterson near the goal line during Dallas' 31-21 win at FedEx Field in Landover, Md., on Sunday, Sept. 15. (John E. De Freitas/The Washington Informer) 3 Washington Redskins wide receiver Paul Richardson Jr. pulls in a touchdown pass during a 31-21 loss to the Dallas Cowboys at FedEx Field in Landover, Md., on Sunday, Sept.15. (John E. De Freitas/The Washington Informer) 5 Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Randall Cobb breaks away from Washington Redskins safety Landon Collins during Dallas' 31-21 win at FedEx Field in Landover, Md., on Sunday, Sept. 15. (John E. De Freitas/The Washington Informer)

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019 45

Juanita Abernathy, a Formidable Force for Civil Rights, Dead at 88

Your Family Deserves The

BEST

Technology... Value... TV!...

Wife of the Rev. Dr. Ralph Abernathy, Central to Montgomery Bus Boycott Add High Speed Internet

/mo.

190 Channels America’s Top 120 CALL TODAY Save 20%!

Subject to availability. Restrictions apply. Internet not provided by DISH and will be billed separately.

1-855-402-3370

Offer ends 7/10/19. Savings with 2 year price guarantee with AT120 starting at $69.99 compared to everyday price. All offers require credit qualification, 2 year 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. Fees apply for additional TVs: Hopper $15/mo., Joey $5/mo., Super Joey $10/mo.

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

Are You Still Paying Too Much For Your Medications? You can save up to 97% when you fill your prescriptions with our Canadian and International prescription service.

Their Price

Crestor

914.18

Typical US Brand Price

for 40mg x 100

Our Price

Rosuvastatin* $

148

Generic equivalent of CrestorTM Generic price for for 40mg x 100

Get An Extra $15 Off & Free Shipping On Your 1st Order!

Call the number below and save an additional $15 plus get free shipping on your first prescription order with Canada Drug Center. Expires December 31, 2017. Offer is valid for prescription orders only and can not be used in conjunction with any other offers. Valid for new customers only. One time use per household. Use code 15FREE to receive this special offer.

Toll free: 855-541-5141

Please note that we do not carry controlled substances and a valid prescription is required for all prescription medication orders. Use of these services is subject to the Terms of Use and accompanying policies at www.canadadrugcenter.com.

46 SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019

By D. Kevin McNeir WI Editor @dkevinmcneir Juanita Abernathy, born Dec. 1, 1931 in Uniontown, Ala., the youngest of eight born to successful farmers, died Sept. 12 in an Atlanta hospital at the age of 88. Her contributions to the organization, development and positive outcomes gleaned during America’s modern-day Civil Rights Movement, while not as celebrated as those made by others, remain significant if not essential in the successful campaign for racial equality led by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his second-in-command, the Rev. Dr. Ralph Abernathy who proceeded his wife in death in 1990. She remained on the forefront in a host of difficult initiatives aimed at bringing equality in the lives of African Americans including the securing of voting rights for Blacks and the integration of public schools, efforts launched and maintained from the early 50s until the late 60s. She also served as one of the writers for the movement’s earliest strategic plan and endeavor – the 13-month long Montgomery Bus Boycott whose success led to the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark, 1956 decision making racial segregation in the City’s public transportation system, and therefore throughout the U.S., illegal. Like Dr. King and his family, the Abernathys, parents of five children, also faced threats, harassment – even surviving the bombing of their

TOWN HALL from Page 1 Years: Our Legacy, Our Possibilities …” observed 400 years of the first enslaved African to land in Jamestown, Virginia. "Our Annual Legislative Conference is a gathering to develop solutions to the challenges facing Black communities around the world through issues forums, brain trusts, a town hall meeting, networking sessions and more," said Congressional Black Caucus Chair Karen Bass (D-CA). The conference included town halls on Black men and boys and a Sojourner Truth Town Hall titled, "Bridging Pathways for Black Women in Leadership and Politics." "The contributions of Black women in shaping and changing the world for the better are often minimized. At every moment in history, Black women have worked alongside their more fa-

5 Juanita Abernathy (Courtesy photo)

home and Rev. Abernathy’s church, at the hands of white supremacists, both in January 1957. Two members of the Ku Klux Klan, would be indicted after acknowledging their guilt in the bombings but would be acquitted by an all-white jury. However, these, and other examples of injustice, some life-threatening, could not persuade Juanita Abernathy to abandon her personal dedication to securing the end of racial injustice in America – something to which she remained committed until Dr. King’s tragic death in 1968. Then, as her son Kwame shared in a public statement, “the world changed” for her, leading her to make the decision to seek a life with less conflict and turmoil. Even so, she would remain involved in civic deeds and missions aimed at securing civil rights, both as it related

to world peace as well as equal rights for women’s rights in countries that would include Northern Ireland. She served as an active voice in Atlanta, the city to which she and Dr. Abernathy, whom she married in 1952 after her graduation from Tennessee State University, would move in 1961. There, the couple, along with the Kings, worked to integrate Atlanta’s public schools – an effort that eventually resulted in led to a positive outcome. In one of her last public service roles, she campaigned for Barack Obama in his 2007 bid for president and was given a seat of prominence during his inauguration behind former President Bill Clinton. She leaves behind her son, Kwame, two daughters, four grandchildren and a sister. WI

mous male counterparts to advance political movements," Bass said. CBCF officials added that the goal of the Sojourner Truth Town Hall served as an opportunity to showcase and to increase the significant contributions of and numbers within a growing surge of Black women in leadership. It also aimed at building a stronger infrastructure of support for Black women candidates and their role in bridging gender equity, voter participation, economic empowerment, access to health care and criminal justice reform as the Blacks look to 2020 and beyond. Among the highlights of issues discussed: closing the racial wealth gap; the state of housing in Black America; Black money matters; a financial services brain trust; and a national town hall that focused on the possibilities within the Black community

as well as those challenges still faced. "We cannot give up hope because every time we fight, we win," said NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson, who served as a panelist on a two-part national town hall that explored the possibilities and challenges facing African Americans. Meanwhile, National Newspaper Publishers Association [NNPA] Chair Karen Carter Richards and NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., led a contingent of publishers to the Cuban Embassy where Ambassador José Ramón Cabañas greeted them. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee later joined leaders from the organization at the Embassy. During a CBCF panel, moderated by Chavis and hosted by Pennsylvania Congressman

TOWN HALL Page 54

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

RELIGION the religion corner WITH LYNDIA GRANT

A Lesson from the Lotus Flower

"The lotus flower blooms most beautifully from the deepest and thickest mud." Many of us have experienced severe challenges in our lives. In this week's column, let's think about how deep we find ourselves in the troubles of this world. We lose our jobs, and suddenly everything is different. Every waking moment you have, you're thinking about how happy you will be again, once you get that job. I remember when I was married, and my husband moved our family from the Bay Area in California, down to the Los Angeles area. It was truly a hard time for us. He got a downgraded job as a security officer until he could get back to his real work. For me, it looked like I would never get another job! Interview after interview with Mt. Zion Baptist Church Reverend John W. Davis Pastor 5101 14th Street, NW Washington, DC 20011 Phone: 202-726-2220 Fax: 202-726-9089 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. “A Church with a past to remember – and a future to mold”

no callbacks — I felt stuck in the thickest of mud. At my previous job in the Bay Area, I was a supervisor in the nursing administration office of Children's Hospital Medical Center. They loved me there, and gave me promotion after promotion, so to interview at so many companies with no job offers was difficult. One day, after weeks of praying and asking God for advice, I did what He said to do. I packed up my children and put what I could in the car and moved back to D.C. to make a brand new start. It worked very well for me. And like the lotus flower, my inner flower began to bloom! What is the lotus flower? Let me tell you a bit about it so you can see why my circumstances did not destroy me. Each and every day, I found myself getting stronger and stronger. The lotus is a colorful blooming flower that has a life cycle unlike any other. With its roots based in mud, it submerges every night into murky river water, and undeterred by its dirty environment, it miraculously reblooms the next morning without residue on its petals. The lotus continues to stun people with its ability to dip into the grime and revive itself unscathed, an incredible daily cycle of life, death, and a sudden immaculate rebirth that can only

be described as spiritual. It is no wonder the lotus is associated with such celestial symbolism, the flower simply defies logic. The real question remains: how has the flower acquired such all-encompassing spiritual significance? The lotus flower's daily resurrection is certainly interesting, and surely symbolic of revival (and a perfect gift for anyone recovering from illness). The flower also has a fascinating will to live, a seed that can withstand thousands of years without water, then germinate two centuries later. Remarkable! It blooms in the most unlikely of places, in the mud of murky river water in Australia or southern Asia, becomes its sanctuary, but due to the waxy protection layer on its petals, its beauty is blithely unaffected when it re-blooms each morning. It continues to resurrect itself, coming back just as beautiful as it was last seen. With such refusal to accept defeat, it's almost impossible not to associate this flower with unwavering faith. In conclusion, each of us grows to become our best after having experiencing a muddy life. Those negative instances helped to shape you into the marvelous soul you have become today! WI

(301) 864-6070

www.jmlaw.net

(301) 864-6070

jmccollum@jmlaw.net

Mount Olivet Lutheran Church

John F. Johnson Reverend Dr. 1306 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20005 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.mtzbcdc.org

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019 47

RELIGION The Miracle Center of Faith Missionary Baptist Church

Pilgrim Baptist Church Rev. Louis B. Jones II Pastor

Bishop Michael C. Turner, Sr. Senior Pastor 9161 Hampton Overlook Capitol Heights, MD 20743 Phone: 301-350-2200 Fax: 301-499-8724

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”

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

Blessed Word of Life Church

Church of Living Waters

Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church

Rev. Paul Carrette Senior Pastor

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

Rev. Dr. Alton W. Jordan Pastor

Reverend Dr. Calvin L. Matthews Senior Pastor

Harold Andrew Assistant Pastor

2498 Alabama Ave., SE - Washington D.C. 20020 Office: (202) 889-7296 Fax: (202) 889-2198 - www.acamec.org

800 I Street, NE - Washington, DC 20002 202-548-0707 - Fax No. 202-548-0703

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

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”

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

1200 Isle of Patmos Plaza, Northeast Washington, DC 20018 Office: (202) 529-6767 - Fax: (202) 526-1661

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

Third Street Church of God

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

Rev. Dr. Alice Greene Interim 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)

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

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

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

www.blessedwordoflifechurch.org E-mail: church@blessedwordoflifechurch.org

“An inclusive ministry where all are welcomed and affirmed.” www.covenantdc.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

www.thirdstreet.org Live Stream Sunday Worship Service begins @ 12:00 noon www.thirdstreet.org

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

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

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

Virgil K. Thomas, Sr. Senior Pastor/ Teacher

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

“Ambassadors for Christ to the Nation’s Capital”

E-mail: Crusadersbaptistchurch@verizon.net www.CrusadersBaptistChurch.org “God is Love”

Isle of Patmos Baptist Church

Twelfth Street Christian Church

Turning Hearts Church

421 Alabama Ave. SE Washington, DC 20032 Phone: 202-746-0113 Fax: 301-843-2445

“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

Crusader Baptist Church

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

48 SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019

themcbc.org

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

RELIGION Shabbath Commandment Church

All Nations Baptist Church

King Emmanuel Baptist Church

Bishop Adrian A. Taylor, Sr. Pastor

Rev. Dr. James Coleman Pastor

Rev. Daryl F. Bell Pastor

7801 Livingston Road Oxon Hill, MD 20745 301-534-5471

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

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

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

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

Dr. Earl D. Trent Senior Pastor

Rev. Dr. George C. Gilbert 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

4504 Gault Place, N.E. Washington, D.C 20019 202-397-7775 – 7184

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

“Where Jesus is the King”

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

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

Dr. Lucius M. Dalton Senior Pastor

Damion M. Briggs 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

Rev. Dr. Maxwell M. Washington 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 Service: 10:15 AM Sunday School: 9:00 AM Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday Morning Prayer Meeting / Bible Study: Tuesday at 7 PM Theme: “The Kingdom Focused Church with an Emphasis on “Evangelism and Discipleship”

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: pastorstmbc@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

Rev. Stephen E. Tucker Senior Pastor

“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

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

“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

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

“The Loving Church of the living lord “

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

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

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. Reginald M. Green Interim Pastor

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

St. Matthews Baptist Church

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

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.

SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019 49

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

2019 ADM 000473

2019 FEP 000101

2019 ADM 000939

Michael H. Weaver aka Michael Henry Weaver Decedent

June 21, 2019 Date of Death

Florence Cordelia Garner Decedent

Marilyn B. Thompson Name of Decedent

Nakia V. Gray 9701 Apollo Drive, Suite 100 Largo, MD 20774 Attorney

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Tamzin T. Harding aka Tawney Harding, whose address is 4500 Newark Street, NW, Washington, DC 20016, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Michael H. Weaver aka Michael Henry Weaver who died on April 3, 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 3/5/2020. 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 3/5/2020, 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: 9/5/2019 Tamzin T. Harding Personal Representative

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS Tennyson I. Thompson, Sr. whose address is 4309 Broken Arrow Ct., Clinton, MD 20735 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Marilyn B. Thompson, deceased, by the Register of Wills Court for Prince Georges County, State of Maryland, on July 22, 2019. Service of process may be made upon Carol Lightfoot Walker, 1329 Missouri Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20011 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C. The decedent owned the following District of Columbia real estate. 2914 12th Street, NE, Washington, DC 20012. Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills of the District of Columbia, 515 5th Street, NW, Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice. Date of first publication: 9/5/2019

TRUE TEST COPY

Tennyson I Thompson, Sr. Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Acting Register of Wills

Washington Informer

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS John M. Garner II, whose address is 1208 D Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Florence Cordelia Garner who died on July 4, 2014 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 3/12/2020. 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 3/12/2020, 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: 9/12/2019 John M. Garner II Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Acting Register of Wills Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 2019 FEP 000100 June 16, 2019 Date of Death

LEGAL NOTICES SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 2019 ADM 000015 Lillian M. Thomas aka Lillian Thomas Decedent

Luther Kennedy, Jr. Name of Decedent

Robert L. Bell, Esq. 245 Farragut Street, NW Washington, DC 20011 Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS

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

Smylia L. Kennedy, whose address is 2655 Birney Pl., SE, Apt #102, Washington DC, 20020 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Luther Kennedy, Jr., deceased, by the Orphans Court for Prince Georges County, State of Maryland, on July 19, 2019. Service of process may be made upon Smylia L. Kennedy, 2655 Birney Pl., SE, Apt #102, Washington, DC 20020 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C. The decedent owned the following District of Columbia real estate. 2628 4th St., NE, Washington, DC 20002. Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills of the District of Columbia, 515 5th Street, NW, Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice. Date of first publication: 9/5/2019 Smylia L. Kennedy Personal Representative Nicole Stevens Acting Register of Wills

Bradley A. Thomas, whose address is 107 P Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Lillian M. Thomas aka Lillian Thomas who died on October 17, 2018 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 3/5/2020. 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 3/5/2020, 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: 9/5/2019 Bradley A. Thomas Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Acting Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2019 ADM 877

2019 ADM 587

2018 ADM 001322

2019 ADM 894

2019 ADM 000880

Delores G. Campbell aka Delores Glenn Campbell Decedent

Sherry Whitfield Decedent

Savannah G. Gibson Decedent

Deborah D. Boddie, Esq. ProbateLaw DC 1308 Ninth Street, NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20001 Attorney

Laurence Matthew Laws Decedent

Kathelean Cain Decedent

Joan M. Wilbon 1120 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 1020 Washington, DC 20036 Attorney

Aimee D. Griffin, Esq. The Griffin Firm PLLC 5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW Suite 400 Washington DC 20015 Attorney

Nakia V. Gray, Esq. 9701 Apollo Drive Suite 100 Largo, MD 20774 Attorney

Janet W. Blassingame, Esq. 1413 K Street, NW Suite 1500 Washington, DC 20005 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Derrick Campbell, whose address is 1669 Rosedale Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Delores G. Campbell aka Delores Glenn Campbell who died on July 6, 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 March 5, 2020. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before March 5, 2020, 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 Michi Whitfield, whose address is 1707 8th Street, NW, Apt. 302, Washington, DC 20001, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Sherry Whitfield who died on October 14, 2014 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 3/12/2020. 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 3/12/2020, 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: 9/12/2019 Michi Whitfield Personal Representative

Date of first publication: 9/5/2019

TRUE TEST COPY

Derrick Campbell Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Acting Register of Wills

TRUE TEST COPY

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Yendis L. Gibson and LaRue R. Gibson, Jr., whose addresses are 315 Woodlawn Ave., Glencoe, IL. 60022 and 213 Worthington Rd., White Plains, NY 10607, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Savannah G. Gibson who died on June 2, 2018 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 3/12/2020. 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 3/12/2020, 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: 9/12/2019 Yendis L. Gibson LaRue R. Gibson, Jr. Personal Representative

Washington Informer

Nicole Stevens Acting Register of Wills Washington Informer

50 SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Acting Register of Wills Washington Informer

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Lauren J. Laws, whose address is 1925 Cradock Street, Silver Spring, MD 20905, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Laurence Matthew Laws who died on May 25, 2019 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 3/12/2020. 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 3/12/2020, 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: 9/12/2019 Lauren J. Laws Personal Representative

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Irish L. Williams, whose address is 4007 20th Pl, Temple Hills, MD 20748, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Kathelean Cain who died on November 24, 2017 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 3/12/2020. 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 3/12/2020, 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: 9/12/2019 Irish L. Williams Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Acting Register of Wills

Washington Informer

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

LEGAL NOTICES SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 2019 ADM 000427 Fred Lee Gunter Decedent Deborah D. Boddie, Esq. Probate Law DC 1308 Ninth Street, NW Suite 300 Washington, DC 20001 Attorney

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

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Everett Gunter, whose address is 3210 32nd Avenue, Temple Hills, MD 20748, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Fred Lee Gunter who died on March 15, 2018 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 3/12/2020. 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 3/12/2020, 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.

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 888-692-5146 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 FREE home delivery! Best of all, this meter eliminates painful finger pricking! Call 888-421-1874 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 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

Date of first publication: 9/12/2019

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

Everett Gunter Personal Representative

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

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Acting Register of Wills Washington Informer

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. HEAT YOUR HOME FOR 5¢ AN HOUR! Portable infrared iHeater heats 1000 sq. ft. Slashes your heating bills by 50%. FREE Shipping too! Use claim code 6239 WAS $499 NOW $279 Call 1-866-784-5182 CADNET AUTOS WANTED CARS/TRUCKS WANTED!!! All Makes/Models 2002-2018! Any Condition. Running or Not. Top $$$ Paid! Free Towing! We're Nationwide! Call Now: 1-888-985-1806 HEALTH & FITNESS Suffering from an ADDICTION to Alcohol, Opiates, Prescription PainKillers or other DRUGS? There is hope! Call Today to speak with someone who cares. Call NOW 1-855-866-0913 MISCELLANEOUS A PLACE FOR MOM. The nation's largest senior living referral service. Contact our trusted, local experts today! Our service is FREE/no obligation. CALL 1-844-722-7993 Earthlink High Speed Internet. As Low As $14.95/month (for the first 3 months.) Reliable High Speed Fiber Optic Technology. Stream Videos, Music and More! Call Earthlink Today 1-855520-7938 Applying for Social Security Disability or Appealing a Denied Claim? Call Bill Gordon & Assoc., Social Security Disability Attorneys, 1-855-498-6323! FREE Consultations. Local Attorneys Nationwide [Mail: 2420 N St NW, Washington DC. Office: Broward Co. FL (TX/NM Bar.)] Become a Published Author. We want to Read Your Book! Dorrance Publishing-Trusted by Authors Since 1920 Book manuscript submissions currently being reviewed. Comprehensive Services: Consultation, Production, Promotion and Distribution Call for Your Free Author’s Guide 1-877-626-2213 $$OLD GUITARS & AMPS WANTED$$ GIBSON • FENDER • MARTIN. ALL BRANDS. TOP DOLLAR PAID. CALL TOLL FREE 1-866-433-8277 Portable Oxygen Concentrator May Be Covered by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the compact design and long-lasting battery of Inogen One. Free information kit! Call 888-609-2189 Get a SMARTPHONE for $0 DOWN* with AT&T Next® and AT&T Next Every Year; $250 Gift Card for Switching to AT&T! (*Requires well-qualified credit. Limits & restrictions apply.) 1-888-545-5093 Denied Social Security Disability? Appeal! If you’re 50+, filed for SSD and denied, our attorneys can help get you approved! No money out of pockets! Call 1-866-376-3163

CL ASSIFIEDS

Lung Cancer? Asbestos exposure in industrial, construction, manufacturing jobs, or military may be the cause. Family in the home were also exposed. Call 1-866-795-3684 or email cancer@breakinginjurynews.com. $30 billion is set aside for asbestos victims with cancer. Valuable settlement monies may not require filing a lawsuit.

SERVICES-MISCELLANEOUS Increase your customer base and get great results by placing your ads in the MDDC – Classified Advertising network! Call today 410-212-0616 Ask for Multi-Media Specialist -Wanda & watch your results grow.

DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. NOT just a discount plan, REAL coverage for [350 ] procedures. Call 1-877-308-2834 for details. www.dental50plus.com/ cadnet 6118-0219

WANTED TO BUY OR TRADE WANTED FREON R12: We pay CA$H. R12 R500 R11 Convenient. Certified Professionals (312) 291-9169 RefrigerantFinders.com

Attention all Homeowners in jeopardy of Foreclosure? We can help stop your home from foreclosure. The Foreclosure Defense helpline can help save your home. The Call is absolutely free. 1-855-516-6641. GENERIC VIAGRA and CIALIS! 100 Pills $99.00 FREE Shipping! 100% guaranteed. 24/7 CALL NOW! 888-889-5515 Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off and 0% financing for those who qualify. PLUS Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-855-402-0373

MEDICAL BILLING TRAINEES NEEDED! Train at home for a career as a Medical Office Professional at CTI! 1-833-766-4511 AskCTI.com

Cross country Moving, Long distance Moving Company, out of state move $799 Long Distance Movers. Get Free quote on your Long distance move. 1-844-452-1706

EMPLOYMENT/HELP WANTED TRUCK DRIVER TRAINEES NEEDED at Stevens Transport! Earn $1000 per week! Paid CDL Training! No experience needed! 1-844-452-4121 drive4stevens.com

DISH Network $59.99 For 190 Channels! Add High Speed Internet for ONLY $14.95/month. Best Technology. Best Value. Smart HD DVR Included. FREE Installation. Some restrictions apply. Call 1-855-837-914 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 Playmates or Soulmates you'll find them on MegaMates. Gay or Straight call in. START CHATTING TODAY. Always FREE to Listen & Reply to ads. 800-982-8665 SELL YOUR ANTIQUE OR CLASSIC CAR. Advertise with us. You choose where you want to advertise. 800-450-6631 visit macnetonline.com for details. AUTOS WANTED [WANTED] CARS/TRUCKS WANTED!!! All Makes/Models 20022018! Any Condition. Running or Not. Competitive Offer! Free Towing! We’re Nationwide! Call Now: 1-888-368-1016 EDUCATION/CAREER TRAINING AIRLINES ARE HIRING – Get FAA approved hands on Aviation training. Financial aid for qualified students - Career placement assistance. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance 877818-0783 FINANCIAL CASH PAYOUT? 70 years old and kids are grown? Do you need that life insurance or is a big life settlement cash payout smarter? Call Benefit Advance. 1-877-332-9643 FOR SALE SELLING YOUR OWN PROPERTY? Need to advertise it in your local paper and others like it? We have the placement services to help you. Contact MACnet MEDIA @ 800-450-6631 or online at MACnetOnline.com HEALTH/MEDICAL VIAGRA & CIALIS! 60 pills for $99. 100 pills for $150. FREE shipping. Money back guaranteed! 1-844-596-4376 MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE DISH TV $59.99 FOR 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. 1-855-270-5098.

Recently diagnosed with LUNG CANCER and 60+ years old? Call now! You and your family may be entitled to a SIGNIFICANT CASH AWARD. Call 877-648-6308 today. Free Consultation. No Risk.

CARS/TRUCKS WANTED!!! 2002 and Newer! Any Condition. Running or Not. Competitive Offer! Free Towing! We’re Nationwide! Call Now: 1-888-416-2330.

HEAR AGAIN! Try our hearing aid for just $75 down and $50 per month! Call 800-426-4212 and mention 88272 for a risk free trial! FREE SHIPPING!

Get DIRECTV! ONLY $35/month! 155 Channels & 1000s of Shows/Movies On Demand (w/SELECT All Included Package.) PLUS Stream on Up to FIVE Screens Simultaneously at No Addt l Cost. Call DIRECTV 1-855-781-1565

Spectrum Triple Play! TV, Internet & Voice for $99.97/mo. Fastest Internet. 100 MB per second speed. Free Primetime on Demand. Unlimited Voice. NO CONTRACTS. Call 1-877-338-2315 or visit http://tripleplaytoday.com/news

AUTOMOTIVE Donate Your Car to Veterans Today! Help and Support our Veterans. Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call 1-800-245-0398

Make a Connection. Real People, Flirty Chat. Meet singles right now! Call LiveLinks. Try it FREE. Call NOW: 1-888-909-9905 18+.

Spectrum Triple Play! TV, Internet & Voice for $99.97/mo. Fastest Internet. 100 MB per second speed. Free Primetime on Demand. Unlimited Voice. NO CONTRACTS. Call 1-855-652-9304 or visit http://tripleplaytoday.com/national

PROTECT YOUR HOME AND FAMILY with Vivint Smart Home. Call 844-475-6160 today to receive a FREE $50 GIFTCARD with your purchase. Use promo code: FREE50

NATIONAL ADVERTISING NETWORK, INC. (NANI)

EDUCATION/CAREER TRAINING AIRLINES ARE HIRING - Get FAA approved hands on Aviation training. Financial Aid for qualified students - Career placement assistance. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance 888-6861704

Call Empire Today® to schedule a FREE in-home estimate on Carpeting & Flooring. Call Today! 1-855-404-2366

Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off and 0% financing for those who qualify. PLUS Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-855-995-2490

Stay in your home longer with an American Standard Walk-In Bathtub. Receive up to $1,500 off, including a free toilet, and a lifetime warranty on the tub and installation! Call us at 1-855-534-6198 MobileHelp, America's Premier Mobile Medical Alert System. Whether You're Home or Away. For Safety and Peace of Mind. No Long Term Contracts! Free Brochure! Call Today! 1-855-401-6993 INVENTORS - FREE INFORMATION PACKAGE Have your product idea developed affordably by the Research & Development pros and presented to manufacturers. Call 1-888-501-0236 for a Free Idea Starter Guide. Submit your idea for a free consultation. BATHROOM RENOVATIONS. EASY, ONE DAY updates! We specialize in safe bathing. Grab bars, no slip flooring & seated showers. Call for a free in-home consultation: 888-912-4745

HEALTH/MEDICAL VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! 100 Generic Pills SPECIAL $99.00 FREE Shipping! 100% guaranteed. 24/7 CALL NOW! 888-4455928 Hablamos Espanol

A PLACE FOR MOM has helped over a million families find senior living. Our trusted, local advisors help find solutions to your unique needs at no cost to you. Call 855-741-7459

CASH PAID for your unwanted Inogen or Respironics portable oxygen concentrators. Call now to get a top-dollar offer! Agents available 7 days a week 877-315-7116 DENTAL INSURANCE. Call Physicians Mutual Insurance Company for details. NOT just a discount plan, REAL coverage for 350 procedures.888-623-3036 or http://www.dental50plus.com/58 Ad# 6118 ATTENTION OXYGEN THERAPY USERS! Inogen One G4 is capable of full 24/7 oxygen delivery. Only 2.8 pounds. FREE information kit. Call 877-929-9587 MISCELLANEOUS CASH FOR CARS: We Buy Any Condition Vehicle, 2002 and Newer. Nationwide Free Pick Up! Call Now: 1-800-864-5960.

DISH TV $59.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. 1-833-872-2545. BECOME A PUBLISHED AUTHOR! We edit, print and distribute your work internationally. We do the work… You reap the Rewards! Call for a FREE Author’s Submission Kit: 866-951-7214 WANTED TO BUY Cash for unexpired DIABETIC TEST STRIPS! Call 1-855-440-4001 Free Shipping, Best Prices & 24 hr payment! BBB Rated A+ www.TestStripSearch.com.

GRAND ALASKAN CRUISE & TOUR

FROM

1,549 *

1,299 *

12 days, departs May - Sep, 2020

1-844-227-0751

Promo code N7017

*Prices are per person based on double occupancy plus $299 taxes & fees. Single supplement and seasonal surcharges may apply. Add-on airfare available. Offers apply to new bookings only, made by 11/30/19. Other terms and conditions may apply. Ask your Travel Consultant for details.

Real hot chat now.

WANTED AMERICAN & FOREIGN CARS $$ PAYING CASH $$ For Classic & Collector Cars 717-577-8206 MARYLAND STATEWIDE CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING NETWORK AUTOMOBILE DONATIONS: DONATE AUTOS, TRUCKS, RVs Lutheran Mission Society of MD. Compassion Place ministries help local families with food, clothing, counseling Tax deductible. MVA licensed #W1044. 410-636-0123 www.CompassionPlace.org BUSINESS SERVICES Bulk advertising at its best: advertise in over 70 newspapers and reach millions of readers with ONE call. Broaden your reach and get results for pennies per reader. Call Wanda at 410-2120616 or email wsmith@mddcpress.com. Place a business card ad in the Regional Small Display 2x2/2x4 Advertising Network – Let MDDC help you grow your business! Call TODAY at 410-212-0616 to increase your customer base and get results. EDUCATION/TRAINING AIRLINE MECHANIC TRAINING - Get FAA certification to fix plaines. Fiancial Aid if qualifed. Approved for military benefits. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance 866-823-6729 REAL ESTATE Delaware New Move-In Ready Homes! Low Taxes! Close to Beaches, Gated, Olympic pool. Homes from low $100's, No HOA Fees. Brochures Available 1-866--629-0770 or www. coolbranch.com

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

30 MINUTES FREE TRIAL 866-728-3876

18+ SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019 51

BLACK MEN from Page 1 and Boys,” hosted by Rep. Frederica S. Wilson – the lead sponsor of legislation aimed at leveling the playing field for Black males – featured a panel of Black men of national report whose years of successfully handling the minefields of white supremacy have provided them with unique perspectives and strategies. Before the panelists took their seats, fellow members of the Congressional Black Caucus shared words of welcome, punctuating Wilson’s determination to eliminate notions of Black males as “delinquent,” “hardened criminals” or “misguided youth.” Each of them, from Reps. G.K. Butterfield and Hakeem Jeffries to Steven Horsford, who lost his father to gun violence at 19 and Lucy McBath, the mother of Jordan Davis, a 17-year-old Black boy slain in 2012 by a white man because of music being played too loudly in a car, brought their unique experiences and pain to the floor. Certainly the panel, moderated

by Wilson’s son, Paul Wilson, Jr., vice chair, Florida Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys, had its share of “movers and shakers,” including Attorney Benjamin Crump, actors Malik Yoba and Larenz Tate, author and advocate Jeff Johnson, educator Dr. Marcus Bright and Damon Jones, vice president, Global Communications & Advocacy, The Procter and Gamble Company – the organization sponsoring the session. Crump emphasized demanding change within the legal system – even boycotting prisons where Black men, while only 13 percent of the U.S. male population, represent nearly 35 percent of all men serving time in state and federal penal institutions. Yoba and Tate brought emphasis on lingering and powerful stereotypes and glass ceilings within their industry that must be shattered for real equality to be achieved. However, the real “stars” and the impetus behind the impressive turnout for the Town Hall had to be the dozens of young, Black males, all teenaged-participants in Rep. Wilson’s 5,000 Role Models

5"We are 5,000." (D. Kevin McNeir/The Washington Informer)

of Excellence Project, founded in Miami-Dade County, FL in 1993. As the young men solemnly entered the ballroom to the song “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now,” wearing their signature red and black ties, crisply-ironed white shirts and black trousers, members of the audience rose to their feet in applause. Two of the young men explained how their lives have changed for the better after joining Role Models – a program developed by Wilson under the auspices of the School Board of Miami-Dade County after she became tired of seeing a disproportionate number of young minority boys, either being incarcerated, entering the drug trade, or dropping out of school. Wilson says she became determined in her quest to prevent society or poverty to destroy the lives of our children – those labeled as “at-risk,” without a fight. “This is my second year in the 5,000 Role Models and it’s helping me become a better individual, find ways to be more committed to improving my community and has even changed the way I see the world,” said J. Dumervil, 16. “I’m good in math and I like reconstructing things. Role Models has exposed me to consider career paths I never imagined before. One day I’ll be a plastic surgeon because I want to help people look better so they can feel better about themselves.” “I’ve been places and seen things that many of my friends cannot imagine,” said Ojay Flowers, 17, “including visiting Washington, D.C. and meeting Black members of Congress. I used to play around but that’s a thing of the past. I know I have to be better than the rest. I know I have

5Generations combined for a town hall on the state of Black men and boys. (Anthony Tilghman/The WashingtonInformer)

to be aware of how I present myself because of the way the world wants to see me. I’m determined to change the way society sees Black men and boys and that’s because of the things I’ve learned in the 5,000 Role Models.” Johnson says he’s optimistic about the future, despite what we’ve witnessed in the past. “What’s essential for youth today and what we have to be sure remains before their eyes is hope,” Johnson said. “Hope allows us to believe that this is not the end.” “We keep that hope alive by providing safe spaces – places where Black men and Black boys can engage together. Older men tend to isolate themselves, even they though still have so much to offer to youth. That isolation puts us in a space where it’s difficult to feel hopeful,” Johnson said, adding that his grandfather committed suicide after losing his sight, finding himself unable to work and provide for his family and living “alone” without hope. While said in two, nuanced ways, both Crump and Johnson emphasized the necessity to give our time to today’s Black boys if our goal remains to help them become Black men who can con-

tribute to society and realize their dreams. “Unless we take time to give our children opportunity, the system will give our children the opportunity to do time,” they said. “The Commission,” Rep. Wilson said, “has been established in order to prove that just like Jackie Robinson, when you give us the same bat, ball and glove, we too can and will achieve and succeed.” “One of our Role Models had recently graduated from Florida A&M and came to see me in my office in Florida,” she said. “Only his grandmother, bound to a wheelchair, attended his graduation and she had to fly. But he and his friends managed to get her to the ceremonies.” “I asked him if anyone else came to the graduation and he told me no – not even his mother who said she had to work. Then, he told me that shortly after, relatives from Alabama and Georgia came to Miami for a big picnic. They were celebrating the release of his cousin from prison. But not one person, not even his mother, mentioned that he’d graduated from college. That’s the reality our boys face,” she added. WI

Need Burial Assistance? BURIAL ASSISTANCE When a loved one passes away, you may feel hopeless. When the person you loved was HIV positive, grieving can be even more difficult. We can help. If you have lost a loved one who ... • received a diagnosis of HIV, and • resided in D.C. resident; and • had less than $800 in liquid assets at the time of death then call Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington. To see if your family qualifies for assistance, contact Samaritan Ministry’s Burial Assistance Coordinator at (202) 889-7702 x302; or visit our Anacostia / SE Office at 1345 U St SE. Once approved, assistance is paid directly to the funeral home.

52 SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019

5Rep. Frederica Wilson continues to share leaderrship and love with young men - participants in the 5,000 Role Models of Excellence Project which she founded. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Infomer)

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

MALVEAUX from Page 30

ESSENCE from Page 34 mental injustice, Essence reported. "The fight of black women has always been fueled and grounded in faith and in the belief of what is possible," Harris said during a candidates' forum in New Orleans this summer. "And that's why Sojourner spoke. It's why Mae flew. It's why

CLINTON from Page 11 ty in his state has attempted to criminalize voter registration by making it harder to sign residents up to vote, hoping to remain in power "in perpetuity.” "They want to make sure that the majority of citizens, soon to be people of color, will be in the political minority with their voter suppression schemes," he said. Holder says that even following next year’s election cycle,

Utsey’s situation on its website. “We’ve explained to [UDC] that its [rule] is archaic," Beasley said. "We used to find it pretty regularly across the country, but we’ve been working on this for decades. We’re getting [colleges] to change their policies slowly but surely. "Home schooling is an excellent alternative to traditional education," he said. "Colleges want home-school students. They recognize [their home-school education] as sufficient.” WI

Rosa and Claudette sat. It's why Maya wrote. It's why Fanny organized. It's why Shirley ran, and why I stand here as a candidate for president of the United States." At the same forum, South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg was asked if he could win without Black women voters. "I don't think that a candidate would deserve to win a primary

without seeking and earning the votes of Black women," Buttigieg said. "That's part of why we're here. It's part of part of why we're making sure it's clear how our proposals will benefit people of color. I believe that it would be not only politically wrong but unethical to leave any source of support on the table." To view the full report, go to essence.com. WI

and even should the Democrats win the White House and gain a majority in Congress, more work will need to be done to end voter suppression. "In March 2021, states will start drawing their boundaries for congressional and state legislative seats, he said. "The Republicans will try to draw districts that will minimize the Black vote and representation. We have to be ready to stop them." WI

■ Media Training ■ Image Branding ■ On-Camera Coaching Doris McMillon President

om ennis.c

their children to avoid culturally insensitive curricula and what’s described as the school-to-prison pipeline. Today, parents of homeschooled students have to report to state education agencies with transcripts documenting their child’s completion of a course load meeting state academic requirements. While UDC hasn’t reportedly followed suit, state colleges and

universities across the country, including those in Wyoming and Florida, recognize home-school diplomas and award scholarships to graduates. Additionally, home-school students are eligible for federal loans acquired through FAFSA. Dan Beasley, staff attorney for HSLDA, said policy changes over time speak to the increasing appeal of home-school education to colleges. During the latter part of last month, HSLDA highlighted

■ Executive Presentation Coaching

d w.sade

UDC from Page 27

humane reasons. They believe just as strongly as their fellow European-descended counterparts in America that whites are superior to all other people. Their disagreement with the U.S. is basically over which group of whites should be top dog. WI

Let us help you develop the communication skills to compete and win!

is/ww

never say so publicly, that U.S. foreign policy propaganda considerations were a plus factor in the battle against overt promoters and defenders of white supremacy. This will be the case as long as the U.S. proclaims itself as a bastion

of equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunity, while at the same time most whites still believe that they should be the dominant force in the national and international arenas. Finally, it must be stated that the Russians are not exploiting America's race issue for moral or

You Can Say It Like A Pro!

De nn : Sade

BAILEY from Page 30

vantage. When an 11.8 percent poverty rate is reported, and the Black unemployment rate is not, it implies that the 20.8 percent rate (one in five Black people) is not a matter of concern. When a 5.5 percent "historic low" unemployment rate is reported, but the unemployment rate gap is not, it implies that there is supposed to be an unemployment rate gap and Black people are supposed to have higher unemployment rates than whites. We cannot normalize inequality by only partly reporting on reality. Even as we report on economic progress, we must also report on the uneven ways growth affects Black communities. WI

Photo

ers. When the unemployment rate numbers were released on the first Friday of September, the overall rate was 3.7 percent; while the overall rate for Black folks was 5.5 percent, and 4.4 percent for Black women. While acknowledging this historic low, it is essential to note that the overall Black rate remains twice as high as the white rate. Bragging about the lower rate without acknowledging the unemployment rate gap suggests that Black folks are supposed to have higher unemployment rates than others. There are lots of problems with the unemployment rate, especial-

ly around participate rates that suggest that some are dropping out of the labor force. The unemployment rate data, just like the income and poverty data, also show stagnant wages. Too many are working, but not making a living wage, as the poverty data suggest. The minimum wage has not increased in a decade, and while many cities and states have higher minimum wages, the majority do not. The South, particularly, has been resistant to increasing wages. The South is also the region of the country with the highest poverty rate. Our nation's policy conversation too often normalizes African American economic disad-

C O M M U N I C A T I O N S

301.292.9141/FAX 301.292.9142/Mobile 703.819.0920 doris@mcmilloncommunications.com/www.mcmilloncommunications.com

BE DEBT FREE in 24–48 months!

If you owe more than $10,000 in credit card or other debt, see how we can help. Call today:

1-888-318-8155 ACCREDITED BUSINESS ®

AIRLINE CAREERS Get FAA approved maintenance training at campuses coast to coast. Job placement assistance. Financial Aid for qualifying students. Military friendly. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance

800-481-7894

Stay Informed!

www.washingtoninformer.com

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019 53

Lutheran Mission Society

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.”

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!

Operators Available 24/7!

Pick a state! , any state 1-855-721-6332 www.mddcpress.com

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: 1 year/$45.00

2years/$60.00

Method of payment: Check Enclosed

Visa/MasterCard

Credit card number.................................................................................. Signature........................................................................................

54 SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019

with our own, we'd treat those businesses as our own. We would never feel the need to use white people as our standard for what we should be. Once we have prepared ourselves for a job or a business, we would walk out of an interview with confidence we'd have a fair chance at getting the job or if in business, we would walk out of the bank where applied for a loan

JACKSON from Page 31 In many states, concealed carry is legal unless the university posts signs banning guns. Surely every campus should act to keep guns out of the stands at athletic events. If more retailers follow Walmart, and if churches and universities and concert halls and movie theaters act to ban weapons from their premises, a movement for common sense gun reg-

ASKIA 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

WILLIAMS from Page 31

bling over themselves to hug up with him. "We were told we had to get in the room, eat lunch and stay in the room," Bingham said. "He was really late and we think it was because he was still dealing with the aftermath of the firing of John Bolton. The audience was not particularly enthusiastic, but it was sort of a voyeurism thing. "I did feel that people did not feel they could speak freely and there were definitely people from the administration and supporters of the president in the audience who were actually clap-

TOWN HALL from Page 46 Dwight Evans, the focus turned to Black businesses and their survival. The panel's theme: "Nation Building Through the Black Business Community: The Next 50 Years." Panelists included: Ron Busby, Sr., president, founder and CEO, U.S. Black Chambers, Inc.; Economist and former Bennett College President Dr. Julianne M. Malveaux; Black Enterprise Senior Vice President and Editor-At-Large Alfred A. Edmond, Jr.; and The Enterprise Center President, Della Clark. "This is a vital issue," Chavis said. "For the discussion, we wanted to come after this from different perspectives; this proved to be an important, eye-opening conversation,” he said.

feeling confident we would get it if we had filled all of the requirements that others are asked to fill. Once we apply for a school or university admission, we could be confident that we would be admitted on our merits — especially when our merits exceed those of our competitors and not because our parents could afford to buy a slot for admission. In a just America, non-white children would see themselves in the people on the news with the

good they are doing on a regular basis. They would hear the stories of people who look like them when they, too, are accomplishing great things. As the late Barbara Jordan once said, "What the people want is very simple. They want an America as good as its promise." Black people are still waiting for America to make real that promise, and when that happens, we'd have a just America. WI

ulation can continue to build. When Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called America the "most violent nation on earth," he was widely condemned, but he was right. No other nation suffers the level of gun violence that we endure. No other nation fights in as many wars on as many continents as we do. Other nations savaged by civil war or outside invasion may suffer greater casualties in a conflict, but we have made violence —

and victims of violence — routine. King argued that we have a choice in the end between nonviolence and nonexistence. The only hope for sensible gun regulation is to challenge the corruption represented by the NRA by nonviolent demonstrations and action, enlisting the overwhelming majority of Americans in a movement for change. WI

ping," she said. "They were, like, professional clappers. That's what really struck me. "I think they knew they had to be there. It felt very forced and uncomfortable, and people just felt like they needed to get it over with," Bingham added. "There wasn't any rousing applause at the end, and people just kind of did it, and left. "People didn't want to be in the photo op like the last time," she said. So a lot of people like me sat in the back. I actually walked out at some point because it was so ridiculous. The comments were so ridiculous. … I couldn't take it anymore and I didn't have

to be there. So I left, and several others left, and the Secret Service allowed us to leave." Bravo, Secret Service. More than 20 percent of Black college graduates receive their degree from an HBCU, according to Department of Education data, even though the schools only offer 3 percent of all college offerings. HBCUs are responsible for producing a significant proportion of STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) degrees earned by Black students, including 31 percent of biology and math degrees. Bravo, HBCUs. WI

The 2019 NNPA National Leadership Awards would also be announced during the week. Awards went to the following: the Honorable Karen Bass, U.S. Representative (D-CA); the Honorable Elijah E. Cummings, U.S. Representative (D-MD); the Honorable Bobby Scott, U.S. Representative (D-VA); the Honorable Bennie Thompson, U.S. Representative (D-MS); Ray Curry, Secretary-Treasurer of the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agriculture (UAW); Shani W. Hosten, Vice President Multicultural Leadership, AARP; Dr. Kim Smith-Whitley, Clinical Director of Hematology and Director of the Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP); and Crystal Windham, director, Cadillac Interior Design, General Motors.

Carter Richards, the current NNPA chair; Cloves Campbell, former chair; Denise Rolark Barnes, former chair and Informer publisher; Chavis and several other NNPA publishers attended the Phoenix Awards, an evening during which the CBCF confers its highest honor. Presented during a gala hosted by journalist Isha Sesay and actor Omar Dorsey, Phoenix Award recipients included: Dr. Calvin Mackie; Dr. Wanda Austin; Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA); The Exonerated (Central Park) Five; and the Rev. Al Sharpton. “The NNPA salutes the outstanding leadership of CBC Chair Karen Bass,” Chavis said. “She is leading the CBC to higher heights and all people of African descent will benefit especially,” he said. WI

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

E R O C S H I G H0E,S0T0 0 ! ! ! IS $3

SCRATCH TO WIN UP TO $30,000 INSTANTLY!

Or enter the second-chance promotion to win cash prizes! mdlottery.com/skeeball Please play responsibly. For help, visit mdgamblinghelp.org or call 1-800-GAMBLER. Must be 18 years or older to play. SKEE-BALLÂ® is a registered trademark of Bay Tek Entertainment, Inc. Used under license. All rights reserved.

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019 55

NO PLASTIC BAGS IN THE RECYCLING BIN

Leave Items Loose and Empty Return plastic bags to retailers or place in trash bin.

Questions about your curbside recycling? Visit zerowaste.dc.gov. 56 SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2019

ZERO

WASTE

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM