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Orange Tackles Conditions for Pregnant Women Page 5

One-Year Anniversary for Black Lives Matter DMV Page 8

VOL. 51, NO. 15 JAN. 21 - 27, 2016

See Our Martin Luther King, Jr. Supplement - Center Section

Closing the Racial Wealth Gap Harvard’s Amaker Nabs Historic Empowerment Tour Page 14 Win Over Howard Page 28

MLK Parade Honors the Past, Anticipates Future

Dr. King’s Legacy Lives On By Sarafina Wright WI Staff Writer @dreamersexpress

5 Thousands marched through Ward 8 in the District to commemorate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. during the 30th anniversary

The 10th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Walk and Parade commenced once again to honor the life and legacy of the Civil Rights icon with the theme, “Change is Coming.” More than 300 peace walkers and parade participants marched up Martin Luther King Avenue in Southeast on Monday, Jan. 18 to show solidarity including Mayor Muriel Bowser, radio host Donnie Simpson and music virtuoso Blake Miles Hopkins. “The Peace Walk is intergenerational bridging the gap between the older and younger generation. Many times they are on two different sides, one over here

celebration of the holiday on Monday, Jan. 18. / Photo by Nancy Shia

Wal-Mart Abandons Plans for Southeast, Angers Officials By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer It had already been a challenging last few months in office for then out-going Mayor Vincent Gray. However, despite the circumstances that led to his failed re-election campaign, Gray was still closing deals and sealing agreements that he thought would make his beloved Washington, D.C. stronger, more vibrant and residents a little more secure. After the District had spent tens of millions of dollars and after many stops and stalls over more than a decade to develop the Skyland Shopping Center in Ward 7,

Gray struck a deal with Wal-Mart to anchor the long-dormant site. It was his parting gift to his city, most of all his hometown of Ward 7. Then, on Friday, Jan. 15, more than a year after the deal was formally consummated, Wal-Mart stunned and angered District officials when it announced it would build in the District and close dozens of stores nationwide. Additionally, company officials said it would pull out of its plan to build stores at the Capitol Gateway Marketplace in Northeast. In its announcement, Wal-Mart said poor performance from its

WAL-MART Page 9

MLK PARADE Page 10

Hundreds Attend Stop the Violence March at FedEx City Officials, Teens Organize For Change By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill

5 A few hundred policemen, politicians and citizens marched around FedEx Field in Landover on Monday, Jan. 18 during a Stop the Violence rally to kick-off a program to curtail violence in Prince George’s County. / Photo by Shevry Lassiter

Juwan Blocker lost two friends who died to gun violence and he doesn’t want anyone else to feel his pain. The 17-year-old junior at Parkdale High School in Riverdale marched with a few hundred oth-

RALLY Page 11

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The CoLumn

Is Everywhere!

By Dr. Charles Vincent & “Mickey” Thompson Vincent

Sing into Spring Competition The National Cherry Blossom Festival “Sing into Spring Competition” was held at the Atlas Performing Arts Center in Washington, DC. For the third year in a row, the event continues to showcase outstanding talent in the Washington area. The soloist winners were Joshua Alfred and Tamika Patton. The “GW Vibes” won the group competition. The host was Darik Kristofer (94.7 FM). Diana Mayhew (Festival President ) Kristin Rohr (Chair Bd. Dir.) & Sue Porter (Vice Chair Bd. of Dir.) - The Festival runs from March 20 to April 17, 2016. For more information go to: www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org

Douglas Yeuell (Executive Director) Atlas Theatre with Diana Mayhew (Festival President) “Sing Into Spring Competition Judges” Kidd O’Shea (ABC7’s Good Morning Washington), Carolyn Malachi (R&B Artist), Brenda Goldsmith (JM Best Entertainment/National Cherry Blossom Festivall, Heather Frank (Dir. of Leadership Gifts for WPA) & Tony Small (Reg. Artistic & STREAM Dir, at Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington)

2015 Past Sing into Spring Winner Del Travar

“Soloist Winners”

Joshua Alfred, Diana Meyhew & Tamika Patton

Lillian Iversen (Sr. Dir. of Events & Mkt. with Darik Kristofer (Event Host-94.7 Fresh FM)

Diana Mayhew (Festival Pres.), Kristin Rohr (Chair Bd. of Dir.) & Sue Porter (Vice Chair Bd. of Dir.)

“Group Winner” The GW Vibes

Donica Hance (Ex. Assistant) & Nora Strumpf (Public Relations & Media)

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Monique Thompson & Gail Broeckel

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

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contents

JAN. 21 - JAN. 27, 2016

Around the Region.................. 4-11 PG County..............................12/24 Business.................................... 14-15 Health...............................................16 Education........................................18 Tech...................................................19 Martin Luther King, Jr. Supplement......................Center OpEd.........................................21-23 Lifestyle...................................25-26 Capture the Moment................27 Sports.......................................28-29 Religion............................................31

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JAN. 21 - 27, 2016 3

W I H OT TO P I C S COMPILED BY D. KEVIN MCNEIR / WI EDITOR

Jada and Spike Lead Way in Upcoming Boycott of Oscars

After a second year in a row where no Black actors received a nomination for an Oscar among the top 20 potential nominees, Blacks including Jada Pinkett Smith, Spike Lee and David Oyelowo, as well as whites like George Clooney and Michael Moore, have said they will boycott the upcoming ceremonies. Smith has released a video expressing her disappointment, particularly given the fact that her husband, Will Smith, was snubbed for his outstanding performance in “Concussion,” and has asked that others join in the boycott for what she and others see as bias against minorities and women within the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences [AMPAS]. Lee, whose provocative film “Chi-ray” was similarly ignored, as well as other opportunities for the inclusion of diverse films including “Creed,” “Straight Outta Compton” and “Beasts of No Nation,” said he too will boycott the awards whose eligible voters for the categories are 94 percent white, 77 percent male and only 2 percent Black. Compare the two-years-in-a-row shutout of nominees of color to the 18 Blacks nominated in various categories for last year’s Emmy Awards and it’s clear why so many within the industry, both Black and white, are crying foul and how the Oscars do not offer an honest representation of society or those people of color within the film industry. Last year the Oscar nominations drew considerable criticism and protests for their lack of diversity which focused on the omission of actor Oyelowo and director Ava DuVernay for their contributions to the film “Selma.” The Academy’s membership, overwhelmingly white and over 50, is an honor society in which industry experience is the primary consideration to join. Hollywood has long welcomed those from the above mentioned demographics and those in the know say it’s doubtful they will kick out their current membership or change the way nominations are now made. The irony: the president of the AMPAS, Cheryl Boone Issacs, is Black. A five-year plan to make changes to the nomination process has been described by many, Black and white, as inadequate.

Civil Rights Groups Vow to Honor King, Disrupt Congress

On the holiday that honors the contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., voting rights advocates said things still do not bode well for them or the cause they represent. In 2013, A Supreme Court ruling struck down the part of the 1965 Voting Rights Act that delineates which areas of the U.S. may have changes to any voting rights laws only after they are cleared by the federal government or by a federal court. Pre-clearance was a requirement for states and communities that had a history of discrimination against Black voters. Advocates believed it to be a necessary safeguard against discrimination. To address that, a group of 100 organizations including the NAACP will hold a host of protests, acts of civil disobedience and a mid-April march from Philadelphia to D.C. to gain support in their efforts to reverse such voting rights setbacks as the U.S. prepares for the 2016 presidential election, according to Cornell William Brooks, president and CEO of the NAACP. “Announcing this on Dr. King’s birthday is a fitting form of commemoration and celebration; it’s not enough for us to perform community service as though the state of democracy is intact,” he said. Brooks and the NAACP, joined by groups that include Greenpeace, Public Citizen and the Sierra Club, said they will hold demonstrations on April 16-18 and hope to disrupt Congress. They will push for four pieces of legislation that they hope will address the rollback of many achievements upended by Congress.

In Memoriam Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Sr. Wilhelmina J. Rolark THE WASHINGTON INFORMER NEWSPAPER (ISSN#0741-9414) is published weekly on each Thursday. Periodicals postage paid at Washington, D.C. and additional mailing offices. News and advertising deadline is Monday prior to publication. Announcements must be received two weeks prior to event. Copyright 2016 by The Washington Informer. All rights reserved. POSTMASTER: Send change of addresses to The Washington Informer, 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. 20032. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The Informer Newspaper cannot guarantee the return of photographs. Subscription rates are $45 per year, two years $60. Papers will be received not more than a week after publication. Make checks payable to: THE WASHINGTON INFORMER 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E Washington, D.C. 20032 Phone: 202 561-4100 Fax: 202 574-3785 news@washingtoninformer.com www.washingtoninformer.com

PUBLISHER Denise Rolark Barnes STAFF D. Kevin McNeir, Editor Ron Burke, Advertising/ Marketing Director Shevry Lassiter, Photo Editor Lafayette Barnes, IV, Assistant Photo Editor John E. De Freitas, Sports Photo Editor Dorothy Rowley, Online Editor ZebraDesigns.net, Design & Layout Mable Neville, Bookkeeper Mickey Thompson, Social Sightings columnist Stacey Palmer, Social Media Specialist Angie Johnson, Circulation REPORTERS Stacy Brown (Senior Writer), Sam P.K. Collins, Eve Ferguson, Will Ford (Prince George’s County Writer), Elton Hayes, D. Kevin McNeir, Dorothy Rowley, Kia Croom, Joya Patel, Rachel Sudduth, Sarafina Wright (General Assignment Writer) PHOTOGRAPHERS John E. DeFreitas, Shevry Lassiter, Roy Lewis, Patricia Little, Corey Parrish, Travis Riddick, Nancy Shia

4 JAN. 21 - 27, 2016

MGM to Interview Thousands for New Jobs at National On Thursday, Jan. 21, the Radio One Showcase, sponsored by MGM National Harbor, will host over 10,000 residents from the DMV, already registered, for an event that will allow job seekers to learn more about career opportunities with MGM. The MGM National Harbor, a $1.3 billion resort casino now under development in Prince George’s County, will also hold a “topping off” ceremony on Wednesday, Jan. 20, to mark the resort’s highest point of construction with the placement of the final concrete layer atop

the 24-story hotel tower. The MGM resort at the National Harbor is expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2016. During Thursday’s career opportunities event, Logan Gaskill, vice president for MGM National Harbor, will be on hand along with his staff, to conduct interviews and begin building a team that will eventually include 3,500-plus individuals for 100 job categories. Other MGM executives will also be on hand for both days.

Advocates Protest Denial of Paroles for Longtime D.C. Prison Inmates Advocates seeking justice for friends and loved ones who they say continue to be unfairly treated by the U.S. Parole Commission of D.C. held a protest on Friday, Jan. 18 at the Commission’s offices in Northeast. Activists, including When is Enough, Enough - #DC Prisoners Matter, showed up in force and spoke against the denial of parole for men and women from D.C. who have served 20 years or more and have been recommended for parole only to have the Commission reject the recommendations. Protesters say that some prisoners have been incarcerated for over 40 years. Holding signs and pictures of incarcerated family members, protesters shared their views for well over two hours. They encouraged those who support their cause to write a letter to the Commission explaining why the many men and women deserve parole. Organizers of the event, including Yango Sawyer, Al Malik Farrakhan and Debra Rowe, said they could think of no better way to celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. than holding the protest. Call Sawyer or Rowe at 202-270-1098 and 202-437-3439, respectively, for more information or to join in their efforts.

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AROUND THE REGION

Orange Tackles Conditions for Pregnant Women Councilman Wants To Protect Workers Giving Birth By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer District At-Large Councilman Vincent Orange is seeking to help protect pregnant women in the workplace. The sponsor of the Protecting Pregnant Workers Fairness Act of 2014, Orange now has introduced the Protecting Pregnant Workers Fairness Amendment Act of 2016, which will require an employer to make reasonable accommodation for an employee whose ability to perform the functions of the employee’s job are affected by pre-birth complications. “This government is committed to protecting all workers in the District, especially our most vulnerable,” said Orange, 58, whose amendment has nine co-sponsors. “The PPWFA was enacted to protect pregnant workers from having to choose between their health, or the health of their pregnancy and their jobs. This amendment will strengthen current law by adding more protections for pregnant workers suffering from prebirth complications.” Individuals who believe they have been denied a reasonable accommodation or treated unfairly because they have job limitations as a result of a pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions will be able to file a complaint with the D.C. Office of Human Rights. If a violation is discovered, employers may be required to provide monetary or other relief to the employee. Reportedly, thousands of women every year lose a job while on maternity leave. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission received 5,217 pregnancy-related complaints in 2014 nationwide, including 26 in the District. While down from a peak of 6,285 in 2008, it still represents a big increase from the late 1990s, and it prompted the agency to issue guidance earlier this year for employers in complying with all the various laws protecting pregnant women in the workplace — including the federal Pregnancy Discrimination Act that’s been in place since 1978. The issue isn’t exclusive to the District.

In October, Prince George’s County resident Peggy Young settled a lawsuit with her employer, UPS, after Young was placed on unpaid leave because she was pregnant. The case had made it all the way to the Supreme Court and, in March, the court ruled in favor of Young, who worked as a driver for UPS in Landover when she became pregnant in 2006. Young provided a doctor’s note which recommended that she refrain from lifting packages heavier than 20 pounds, or 50 pounds lighter than what UPS requires its drivers to be able to lift. After being placed on unpaid leave, the new mom lost her health insurance and couldn’t collect unemployment because she hadn’t been fired. “I’m actually extremely happy that we’ve changed a lot of laws and stuff for pregnant women that they shouldn’t have to decide between having a baby and working,” Young told NBC. “I’m not a spotlight person, but I’m glad – somebody had to stand up to a company that wasn’t willing to follow the rules and regulations of letting pregnant women work.” “We shouldn’t be made to choose between our job and having a child,” she added. UPS changed its policy because the company recognized that state law, regulatory guidance and the general work environment in the U.S. have evolved, the company said in a statement. “The new UPS policy makes temporary light duty work available to all pregnant employees with medically certified lifting or other physical restrictions. The policy reflects pregnancy-specific laws recently enacted in a number of states where UPS conducts business, and is consistent with new guidance on pregnancy-related accommodations issued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission,” the company’s statement read. In response to the case, Maryland enacted the Reasonable Accommodations for Disabilities Due to Pregnancy Law in 2013. In the following year, the EEOC issued new guidance on the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, increasing protections for pregnant workers. Young’s lawyer, Sharon Fast Gustafson, praised her client’s commitment. “Litigation is not for the faint of heart or the impatient,” she said in a news release. “Not many victims of discrimination would have had the grit that Peggy Young displayed in sustaining this struggle for nine years.” WI

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5Vincent Orange / Photo by Nancy Shia G E T YO U R T I C K E T S N OW

90th ANNUAL ASALH Black History Luncheon & Featured Authors’ Event Saturday, February 20th, 2016

THE NATIONAL BLACK HISTORY THEME “Hallowed Grounds: Sites of African American Memories” Featured Authors Event*: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Luncheon 12:15 p.m.

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General $100 | Silver $125 | Gold $150 | Platinum $300 Tables of 10 and Sponsorship Opportunities available

Come meet the authors! | Purchase tickets: asalh100.org/black-history-luncheon | 202.238.5910

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JAN. 21 - 27, 2016 5

AROUND THE REGION WEEK OF JAN. 21 TO JAN. 27

Black Facts JAN. 21

1963 – Former professional basketball great Hakeem Olajuwon is born in the West African nation of Nigeria. 1971 – Twelve members of the Congressional Black Caucus boycotted President Richard Nixon’s State of the Union Address to protest his refusal to meet with them or address issues of concern to African-Americans.

JAN. 22

1931 –Sam Cooke is born in Clarksdale, Mississippi. The son of a minister, Cooke began his career with a Gospel group known as the “Singing Children.” He became a member of the famous “Soul Stirrers” but switched to secular music, combining gospel and the blues to produce Soul. Among his hits were “You Send Me” and “Twisting the Night Away.” 1948 – Two-time heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman is born on this day in Marshall, Texas. BUILD YOUR IMAGE, ONE SIGN AT A TIME 8930 Brookville Rd Silver Spring, MD 20910 301-273-3462 signarama-silverspring.com

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1891 – Pioneering Black surgeon Dr. Daniel Hale Williams helps found Provident Hospital in Chicago. The hospital becomes one of the main teaching and training facilities for Black doctors and nurses who had frequently been denied entrance to White-owned medical facilities. 1977 – The highly acclaimed television mini-series “Roots” begins airing on ABC. The series was based on a novel by Alex Haley who also wrote the “Autobiography of Malcolm X.”

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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.

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JAN. 24

1874 – Arthur Schomburg is born Arturo Alfonso Schomburg in Puerto Rico. After moving to New York City in April 1891, he became known as the “Sherlock Holmes” of Black history because of his relentless search for Black historical truths and accomplishments. His drive to discover Black history was sparked by a fifth-grade teacher who told him “Black people had no history, no heroes, no great moments.” He eventually collected over 10,000 volumes on Black history in America, the Caribbean and Latin America. His collection became part of the New York Public Library system.

JAN. 25

1851 – The first Black Women’s Rights Convention is held in Akron, Ohio. The keynote speaker was anti-slavery activist Sojourner Truth. 1980 – Black Entertainment Television, the first Black-owned company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, begins broadcasting from its headquarters in Washington, D.C. While still Black programmed, BET is now owned by media conglomerate Viacom.

JAN. 26

1893 – “Queen Bess,” Bessie Coleman, the nation’s first Black female aviator, is born in the small town of Atlanta, Texas. Coleman was also the first African-American (male or female) to earn an international pilot’s license. Because of the racism and sexism in America, she had to travel to France to earn the license. 1944 – Political activist Angela Davis is born in Birmingham, Alabama. She was a brilliant scholar and philosopher who made the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list because of her suspected involvement in the violent Aug. 7, 1970, courthouse attempt to free jailed Black revolutionary inmate George Jackson.

JAN. 27

1953 – One of Black America’s most gifted novelists, Ralph Ellison, wins the prestigious National Book Award with his powerful novel “The Invisible Man.” The novel helped him achieve international fame. The main character constantly escapes one disaster after another. The disasters are brought on by a combination virulent racism and the character’s own naivete. Ellison was born in Oklahoma City. 1961 – Opera diva Leontyne Price makes her debut at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. 1972 - Mahalia Jackson, considered the greatest gospel singer that ever lived, dies of heart failure on this day near Chicago (Evergreen Park). She was born in New Orleans. Among her greatest songs were “Did It Rain,” “Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho,” and “When the Saints Go Marching In.” WI George Foreman WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

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FINAL PITCH

THIS PAST MONDAY, THE COUNTRY CELEBRATED A HOLIDAY TO HONOR DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. WHAT DOES KING’S LEGACY MEAN TO YOU? MARK LEE

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Dr. King’s legacy, to me, is one that symbolizes progress and pressing forward. He fought hard against segregation and racism and the social injustices that African-Americans struggled with for years. I remember the Washington, D.C., riots in 1968 and witnessed a lot of the damage that was done to our neighborhoods. I respect his message of trying to make a change by helping someone else.

LEON ANDREWS WASHINGTON, D.C.

Dr. King represents the history and legacy of many African-Americans who made sacrifices in this country to create equity and equality. Their work created policies that had a positive impact on our communities. His legacy is also a reminder that we still have so much more work to do and things to accomplish.

The Reality PITCH Competition By Inez Kelley Kelley Media Marketing, Inc. www.finalpitchtv.com As I’m sure most of us know there are differences between men and women, and not just the obvious ones. There are inherent differences. Those differences can create great concern when considering a woman at the helm of any organization. And it is never more apparent than in the world of business. Greater than the ethnicity factor is the gap between men and women in the area of business revenue. It’s staggering! The PEW research poll reports although women business ownership continues to rise the percentage of revenue is grossly under represented. Business firms owned by men while only 54.7%, generates 79.2% of all U.S. revenue. While women owned businesses represent 36.4% but averages only 11.3% of U.S. revenue. A rocket science degree is not required to conclude there are huge differences. While there may be many factors to consider as to why this gap is so prevalent, there are certain truths that must be examined. Did you know that while the rate of businesses owned by women has grown substantially, only 2% of all women owned businesses will ever break $1M in revenue? Ernst & Young, LLC ‘EY’, an entrepreneur advisory corporation, who specializes in business global development, says; ‘it is possible for women owned businesses to significantly accelerate growth by implementing the following: 1. A clear defined purpose, 2. Build a community (support system) and 3. Adapt your leadership skills… Think bigger, set high goals and redefine what’s possible! Learn more @ FINAL PITCH Inter Active Workshop Coming March 2016 SUCCESS TRAJECTORY 2016! For More Information Email: vaumediagroup@gmail.com

ENENSA MCGOY WASHINGTON, D.C.

Dr. King’s legacy to me is one of perseverance, moral fortitude, strength and character. I grew up during the time of Malcolm X, who wanted to go another way in terms of fighting for social justice, and a lot of people thought the same. I didn’t really see the value in Dr. King’s strategy at that time, but as I got older, I saw the value in what he was doing. He taught me that there is a time and place for things. I really respect that now.

IFÉ CHAMBERS WASHINGTON, D.C.

I think Dr. King’s legacy will be his awakening African-Americans to realize that they could do something about the way they were treated in society. He brought awareness to the plight of blacks in the United States to people around the world and also to African-Americans, who were suffering from low self-esteem because of the situation. His teachings and message influenced them to stand up for themselves and take a stand.

PATRICK MCCOY

HYATTSVILLE, MARYLAND

To me, Dr. King’s legacy means that we as Americans can have an opportunity to excel in any given endeavor, regardless of the color of one’s skin. The road still is not easy, but it is much brighter because of Dr. King’s dream for equality WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

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JAN. 21 - 27, 2016 7

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5Members of the Black Lives Matter movement DMV - (L-R) Rachelle Downs, Rebecca Black, Erika Totten, April and Aaron Goggans, and Chioma Iwuoah participate in a Q&A session with potential volunteers at their one-year anniversary at the Potter’s House in Northwest on Friday, Jan. 15. / Photo by Patricia Little By Rachel Sudduth WI Contributing Writer

The local Black Lives Matter movement celebrated its oneDenise Rolark Barnes year anniversary Friday, Jan. Independent Beauty Consultant 15, a way to pay homage and www.marykay/drolark-barnes.com celebrate the birthday of Mar202-236-8831 tin Luther King Jr. Leaders with Black Lives Matter DMV (District, Maryland and Virginia) gathered at The Potter’s House in Northwest to discuss ways to continue the movement and improve the black community. “We are a leader full movement, not leaderless,” April Goggans, an organizer with Black Lives Matter DMV, said with potential volunteers at (301) 864-6070 The Potter’s House in Northwest. The plan for this year’s movement involves working the Stop Police Terror Project MCCOLLUM & ASSOCIATES, LLC to discontinue “jump-outs,” ADA, Age Discrimination, Benefits, Civil Rights, which are when police officers hop out of unmarked vehicles COBRA, Contracts, Deaf Law, Defamation, Disability Law, with weapons and proceed to Discipline, Discrimination, FMLA, FLSA, FOIA, search those whom they deem Family Responsibility, Harassment, HIPPA, OSHA, suspicious. National Origin Discrimination, Non-Compete, But the main part of Friopen house focused on n upper and lowercase,Race flush left as indicated on artwork at these point sizes:Act, Consultant name in 11-point Helveticaday’s Neue Bold; Independent Discrimination, Rehabilitation Retaliation, 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. a question and answer session ® Personal Web Site program may be utilized. t Beauty Consultant: Only Company-approved Web sites Sexual obtained through the Mary KayTorts, Severance Agreements, Harassment, for first-time attendees. They Whistleblowing, Wage-and-Hour, Wrongful Discharge anonymously wrote down concerns and comments on index SERVING MARYLAND, DC, & NORTH CAROLINA cards and passed them to the www.jmlaw.net (301) 864-6070 jmccollum@jmlaw.net center of the room.

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Langford Wiggins III, the founder of LANCAR, an organization that seeks to provide minorities with multimedia publication opportunities, never attended a Black Lives Matter event until last week. “Sometimes the media likes to spin things negatively, but Black Lives Matter is an authentic pro-black group,” he said. Although Wiggins would like to engage more with the group, he doesn’t agree with some of the rhetoric. “Abolishing police is not realistic. There is a need for police,” he said. Black Lives Matter DMV is made of activists and community leaders with a goal to stop “anti-black racism” and “racial oppression.” Co-founder Alexis Flanagan said the movement works with other groups such as the Asian and Pacific Islander Resistance. Social media has played a major role in the movement by listing upcoming events and demonstrations on sites such as Facebook and the web site BlackLivesMattersDMV.org. Twitter may have been the biggest influence in the movement in 2012 with the #BlackLivesMatter as a reaction to the George Zimmerman case after the shooting death of 17-yearold Trayvon Martin in Florida.

Zimmerman was found not guilty of second-degree murder and acquitted of manslaughter in July 2013. For the last several years, Black Lives Matter has sprouted in big and small cities such Minneapolis, Chicago and Ferguson, Missouri, where activists have blocked highways, made demands during press conferences and packed hearings in an attempt to seek social justice. “I didn’t know about the hashtag until Ferguson,” says BLM DMV co-founder Erika Totten. “We started connecting through the hashtag around October of last year.” DMV co-founder Alexis Flanagan said the movement comprises of volunteers who also lead daily lives away from their roles as social advocates. Some of the problems they face are lack of funding, limited resources and places to hold meetings. Fortunately, some venues will allow organizers to host events for free to save money. Flanagan encouraged those in attendance to become active in their community. “We are not interested in being a non-profit or corporate,” she said. “The opportunities are limitless for our own liberation.” WI

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AROUND THE REGION WAL-MART from Page 1 District stores was the reason it would not move ahead with development plans in Ward 7. “As part of a broad, strategic review of our existing portfolio and pipeline, we’ve concluded opening two additional stores in Washington, DC is not viable at this time,” Wal-Mart officials said in a statement. “Our experience over the last three years operating our current stores in DC has given us a fuller view on building and operating stores in the District. This decision will not affect our three existing stores and we look forward to continue serving these customers in the future.” The announcement effectively eliminated the creation of hundreds of local jobs and squashed hopes of millions of dollars in tax revenue coming into District coffers. “I’m blood mad about it, just like anybody would be for a project that has been promised to people or a development that has been promised that is not happening,” Mayor Muriel Bowser said. “The communities have been focused on moving the developments. I don’t have to tell you how long the discussion around Skyland has been in place, so they want to see the development move, and we’re going to work with the developer to make sure that happens.” Ward 7 council member Yvette Alexander said she too was angry. “I take this personally as I advocated bringing them to Ward 7,” Alexander said in a statement. “The District had a deal with Wal-Mart to bring in five stores with two coming to Ward 7. They signed leases and now they have broken their deal.” At-Large councilman Vincent Orange said the district should sue Wal-Mart for backing out of the Skyland location. D.C. Attorney General Karl

5Walmart announced on Friday, Jan. 15 that it’s backing out of stores under-construction in the Skyland Town Center and Capitol Gateway projects in the District. / Photo courtesy of bisnow.com Racine said he’d review the matter and would speak with Bowser and council to explore legal options. “We’re dismayed by Wal-Mart’s actions,” Racine said. “The residents of the District of Columbia and particularly the residents of Wards 7 and 8 have long expected that Wal-Mart would follow through on its commitment to locate stores at Skyland and Capitol Gateway.” For his part, Gray seemed annoyed that his hard work has gone for naught. The former mayor, who appears to be leaning toward a council bid in June, didn’t place all the blame at Wal-Mart’s doorstep. “There are two deputy mayors for economic development one solely focused on east of the river,” he said.” Where was that person? They were asleep at the switch. There should have been ongoing interaction with them as I did, frankly.” Bowser’s spokesman, Michael

Czin, said the mayor did everything she could to keep the deal in place. “We have been in regular contact with Wal-Mart and the developers of both sites for the last year,”

he said, adding that Bowser had to take care of a major legal issue that Gray’s administration failed to resolve. Gray said the plan for the additional stores and the jobs and reve-

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nue it would have created were sorely needed, particularly in Ward 7. “There’s a paucity of amenities in those neighborhoods that people should have a right to, especially in the nation’s capital,” he said. WI

1/14/16 9:28 AM

JAN. 21 - 27, 2016 9

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and one over there,” Ronald Moten, member of the parade committee said. “It’s important to have the parade to remember Dr. King was murdered in cold blood. That’s a fact that tends to be forgotten. He died for us, so it should be nothing to come out in the cold for a few hours to honor his sacrifice.” The late Dr. Calvin Rolark, publisher of The Washington Informer, community activist and former Ward 8 Council member Wilhelmina Rolark, joined by legendary radio talk show host Petey Greene, started the parade in 1979 – six years before King’s birthday became a federal holiday. “It’s always been the community that held fast and decided they would honor Martin Luther King,” Stuart Anderson, parade co-chair said. “The effort behind this is to carry on what the Rolarks and Petey Green started. They decided to honor King way before it was a holiday.” Decades ago, the parade would start at Barry Farm Recreation Center in Southeast and end at Covenant Baptist Church. Due to its growing popularity the route expanded to P.R. Harris Elementary School. The parade once attracted notable black figures such as comedian and activist Dick Gregory, former Rep. Ron Dellums (D-California), Washington Redskins Super Bowl MVP quarterback Doug Williams and R&B singer Stevie Wonder. Wonder, a huge advocate for King’s birthday to become a na-

“We relate the struggle for freedom and equality with statehood,” she said. “It’s called the peace walk, but you can’t have peace without equality and justice.” Anise Jenkins / Executive Director, Free D.C. tional holiday composed “Happy Birthday,” a tune that laid out the insanity of his sacrifices not being acknowledged. A few versus of the song reads: I just never understood How a man who died for good Could not have a day that would Be set aside for his recognition ‘Cause it should never be Just ‘cause some cannot see The dream as clear as he That they should make it become an illusion And we all know everything That he stood for time will bring For in peace our hearts will sing Thanks to Martin Luther King Happy birthday to you Happy birthday to you Happy birthday Happy birthday to you Happy birthday to you Happy birthday According to the King Center, in 1982, Wonder and Coretta Scott King delivered six million signatures endorsing the holiday to the

Speaker of the House. On Nov. 3, 1983, the late President Ronald Reagan signed the bill into law making King’s birthday a federal holiday. It would not be observed until the third Monday of January 1986. Many groups and organizations participated in the peace walk and parade including 100 Fathers, Cease Fire Don’t Smoke The Brothers and Sisters, The Alliance of Concerned Men, Free D.C. and Sisters United. Founder of Sisters United Wessita McKinley, as well as a parade committee member, participated in the honoring of King because she “believes in his theology and principles.” “I want to be active in keeping his legacy alive,” said McKinley, who established her organization after attending the Million Women March in 1997. “Keeping it at the forefront of issues keeps the knowledge going forward.”

MLK PARADE Page 30

Who’s Reading the Informer? During 2016, this page will feature photographs of supporters of our publication – people who read The Washington Informer. Watch for photos of your friends, colleagues, movers and shakers or even moms and pops. Or send us a photo of your favorite person reading The Informer to our editor at washingtoninformerphotos@ gmail.com

4Roger “The Dodger” Leonard, former boxer brother of Sugar Ray Leonard, reading the Informer at his home in Bowie. 10 JAN. 21 - 27, 2016

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AROUND THE REGION RALLY from Page 1 ers Monday, Jan. 18 in temperatures that didn’t exceed 30 degrees to send a message: stop the violence in Prince George’s County. To follow the path of nonviolence used by Martin Luther King Jr., whose birthday was observed Monday, Blocker will coordinate with all high school student government associations [SGA] in the county to travel to Annapolis and encourage state officials to pass legislation against all forms of violence. “The death of Joseph [Abariko] and Marcus Vines still hits me. Marcus said he was coming for a cookout the next day, but he never came back. I want to let the adults know we care about our community and we want to be a part of the solution to end violence,” Blocker, president of Parkdale’s student government association and member of the county SGA’s program said. “If we do our part as students and try to motivate others, then we can help end the cycle of violence.” According to police data, the county experienced three homicides the first week of the year that included sixmonth-old Mariah Tilghman of Landover, Md. Although overall crime has decreased the last several years, homicides went up from 54 in 2014 to 79 last year. The march, which took place around FedEx Field in Landover, Md. launched a one-year campaign to collaborate with various agencies to offer programs, workshops and seminars for youth and adults. “There is power when we come together as a community,” Seat Pleasant Mayor Eugene Grant, who led the march said. “No more of this senseless violence that’s been occurring here in Prince George’s County. No more are we going to tolerate this foolishness.” Grant organized the march through his nonprofit organization Global Development Services for Youth Inc., which works with children ages 10 to 18 in remedial educational, mental health and other services. He said mental health is one of the key components to combating violence. “We talk about the homicides, but we can’t just focus on the homicides,” he said.

“We have to talk about domestic violence. We have to talk about elder abuse. We have to talk about the fights that go on in our schools, or in the playgrounds, or in the hoods. All of these are things [must be discussed] in the community and we are here to make sure that happens.” Dozens held red, white and black signs that read “Stop the Violence” and chanted, “One county! One voice! One message: stop the violence!” At various stops around the stadium, everyone kneeled down and prayed. A few marchers such as April Harris Jenkins held banners to promote The Training Source Inc., a non-profit company in Seat Pleasant that provides youth leadership training, resume writing and other services. Jenkins recently completed a 10-week program to upgrade her computer skills. “Giving people a job…helps them feel better about themselves,” Jenkins, who resides in Landover, Md. and currently unemployed said. “That helps stop the violence because when you’re working, you don’t have time to be negative. It’s all positive reinforcement.” After the march, participants walked down the street from FedEx Field inside to the warm City of Praise Family Ministries, formally known as Jericho City of Praise, to relax and purchase hot dogs, water and other items. In the sanctuary, people were able to attend a forum organized by the Collective Empowerment Group of Upper Marlboro, Md. to hear strategies and ideas on how to combat violence. Lisa Cullins, a psychiatrist for the Children’s National Health System in Northwest, suggested communities and schools work together. “After school programs [and] extracurricular activities can actually change people’s lives,” she said. “It can decrease depression, decrease anxiety. Schools [are] a big factor. It is a natural setting for the family.” Ylawnda Peebles, pastor of City of Praise, said rooting out violence starts from believing in God. “It’s great to march. It’s great to make signs and banners,” she said. “But the best thing we can do is live a holy life and pray before God that can make changes inside of people.” WI

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5Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III, left, chats with Seat Pleasant Mayor Eugene Grant at City of Praise Family

Ministries in Landover after the conclusion of the Stop the Violence march around FedEx Field, up the street from City of Praise, on Monday, Jan. 18. / Photo by Corey Parrish

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

JAN. 21 - 27, 2016 11

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

Prince George’s Proposes New Zoning Districts By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill To make it easier for residents, developers and entrepreneurs who wish to conduct business in Prince George’s County, officials propose new zoning districts that would better outline residential, industrial and commercial areas. Also in the plans are creating activity centers around Metro stations and high density locales to mark “true downtowns,” an idea County Executive Rushern L. Baker III has been promoting in places such as the Largo Town Center station. Various public meetings on the zoning rewrite project have already been held, but another 13 are scheduled in the next two

months that include: Jan. 25 in Capitol Heights, the Glenn Dale Citizen’s Association on Feb. 16 and the Beltsville Civic Association on Feb. 17. “This is all part of our outreach program,” Chad Williams said, a master planner in the county’s Planning Department. “It is important to speak with as many people as possible and get their output on how they want their community to look.” The county hired Clarion Associates, a national land-use and real estate consulting firm headquartered in Denver, to make recommendations and revise the zoning and subdivision regulations that have not been done in 50 years. One suggestion was to cut the current zoning districts from 73 to 21.

THE PRINCE GEORGE’S CHAMBER CAMPAIGNS FOR LOCAL BUSINESS Access to capital and wealth is pivotal to increasing entrepreneurial opportunity. In turn, increasing business, is an essential ingredient for directing community resources. It is with this in mind that the Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce announces a campaign that advocates increasing public and private procurement to Prince George’s County businesses.

5 An outline of the proposed Multifamily zoning category with the various districts and its uses. /Photo courtesy of Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

The zones would be designated into eight categories. Some of the proposed districts and its permitted uses include: • Agricultural Residential – Homes with at least 2 acres and farms • Single-family Residential: Attached – Duplexes, Triplexes and Townhouses • Neighborhood Commercial – Neighborhood shopping/

Prince George’s County is the epicenter of regional growth with an expected $5 billion in projects during the next six years. This growth, along with other procurement opportunities, has the potential of creating and sustaining Prince George’s businesses for decades. The Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce believes that this is an outstanding time to build business wealth. Certainly with the need to fund the County’s public infrastructure, we must grow a tax base that supports schools, public safety and the non-profit sector. The Chamber will work with the County’s Procurement Office and private developers in reaching local business with these opportunities. In addition, the Chamber will examine procurement policy and work with legislators on expanding opportunities. Wishing you a prosperous and Happy New Year! David C. Harrington President & CEO Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce www.pgcoc.org

12 JAN. 21 - 27, 2016

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services • Light Industrial – Office parks Officials with the Planning Department briefed County Council on the plan during council’s annual retreat Jan. 6 in Annapolis. Countywide Planning Division Chief Derick Berlage said certain uses must be permitted in specific zoning districts.

For example, adult entertainment is recommended in a heavy industrial area that would also incorporate manufacturing and mining businesses. “By law, all uses of a business must be permitted,” he said. One district labeled “Multifamily Residential 48” allows for high-density development with buildings at least six stories tall. Vice Chairwoman Dannielle Glaros [D-District 3] of Riverdale Park said a cap should be placed to ensure a developer’s project wouldn’t create too much density. The activity centers are a modern concept not fully adapted in the current zoning codes, which are used to promote an urban setting and a pedestrian-friendly environment. Williams said the Addison Road-Seat Pleasant and West Hyattsville Metro stations would be part of the proposed “Local Transit Center” district. He continued with events such as a circus and yard sale would be labeled as temporary uses in the new zoning ordinance. The current one has them lumped in with accessory and other uses. A comprehensive draft of the plan would be ready in the fall, but not scheduled for implementation until next year. “This will be a long and tedious process,” Council Chairman Derrick Leon Davis said. “Be prepared to come back several times in the next 18 months.” For more information, go to https://pgplanning.opencomment.us/. WI

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Bite Into a Booming Culinary Scene at Alexandria Winter Restaurant Week Alexandria’s culinary scene is booming, from the recent addition of Carluccio’s on the waterfront to the rise of new dining hotspots in the Braddock area of Old Town, and there’s no better time to get a taste of the local foodie culture that has Bon Appétit and Food & Wine raving than Alexandria Winter Restaurant Week. From January 29 to February 7, 2016, more than 60 Alexandria restaurants will offer a $35 three-course dinner or a $35 dinner for two. Over two dozen restaurants will also offer lunch deals at $10, $15 or $20 per person in addition to the dinner specials—the perfect opportunity to sample the flavors of locally-owned eateries in neighborhoods across Alexandria. In Old Town, stroll along brick-lined streets to independent restaurants tucked into 18th- and 19th-century architecture housing chef-driven cuisine and family-friendly fare. On historic King Street, newcomer Magnolia’s on King draws diners craving an intimate setting and creative cocktails, while wine tasting room and bistro Sonoma Cellar offers hand-selected California wines and freshly-prepared craft foods. Families flock to Hard Times Café for hit-the-spot chili over spaghetti, on a hot dog or in a bowl. Nearby, couples can get cozy on a date-night at acclaimed Restaurant Eve or Vermilion. Just one block away, Alexandria’s waterfront renaissance moves full speed ahead with newcomer Carluccio’s serving up fresh Italian fare and returning favorite Virtue Feed & Grain offering a fresh twist on American comfort food. Dine at one of many waterfront eateries, including Blackwall Hitch and Chart House, and enjoy stunning views of the Washington skyline from Alexandria’s piers. Discover the “best mac and cheese in the U.S.” (Food & Wine) at Cheesetique in Alexandria’s Del Ray neighborhood, or savor handcrafted cocktails at Evening Star Café alongside locally sourced bites. Inside a converted 1920s house, the family-friendly Del Ray Café delivers local, organic plates with a French country accent. New and nearby, Lena’s Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap will be serving up melt-inyour-mouth pizza and more. This Winter Restaurant Week, lunch specials at participating restaurants rival dinner menus with their creative and elegant courses. Foodies will find delectable three-course lunches at some of Alexandria’s most lauded eateries including Jackson 20, La Bergerie, a la Lucia, Tempo, Bastille, Geranio, Columbia Firehouse and more. This year, Winter Restaurant Week has a special “cherry on top”. For the first time ever, Alexandria Winter Restaurant Week coincides with the annual “Cherry Challenge,” as part of the George Washington Birthday Celebration. Inspired by the famous cherry tree tale, participating restaurants in Washington’s hometown of Alexandria will compete for favorite cherry-inspired recipe. Alexandria Winter Restaurant Week spans two weekends, a chance for visiting gourmets to transform this event into a delicious Restaurant Weekend with winter rates at luxurious hotels just steps from restaurants. Guests can also browse a special flipbook featuring this year’s Restaurant Week menus at AlexandriaRestaurantWeek.com, where they can make their reservations online as well.

Photo: From Carluccio’s

29 - Feb. 7, 2016 . n a J

OVER 60 RESTAURANTS WITH $35 MENUS!

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AlexandriaRestaurantWeek.com Browse Menus - Make Reservations

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JAN. 21 - 27, 2016 13

BUSINESS

Closing the Racial Wealth Gap Empowerment Tour By Sylvester Shorts WI Contributing Writer Two financial advocates on a national crusade to create one million jobs and $50 million in the black community came to tout its project at Howard University in Northwest. Eugene Mitchell and Maggie Anderson, leaders of the $50 Million Empowerment Tour, spoke to nearly 500 people during a forum Jan. 13 called “Buying Black, Spending Smart.” The main focus was to discuss and share ideas on how to create wealth, jobs and an optimistic attitude. “The mission of the Empowerment tour and campaign is to change the economic consciousness of the African American consumers and business and to put in place action plans, strategies and behaviors that will aid us in improving the economics of our community,” said Bar-

ron Harvey, a dean at Howard’s School of Business. “It will also focus on creating and sustaining business legacies.” Mitchell, corporate vice president of New York Life insurance company, created the $50 Million Movement that seeks to create wealth and combined his venture with Anderson’s “The Empowerment Experiment,” which focuses on job creation and the support of black businesses. According to The Empowerment Tour website, the plan is spread its vision through a movement in 20 cities nationwide. “[Mitchell] rallied 1,200 agents and converted them into soldiers for economic empowerment movement. Then he took those soldiers and me to Birmingham, Alabama, with his little bit of budget from New York Life,” Anderson said. In her book, “One Black Year,”

“The mission of the Empowerment tour and campaign is to change the economic consciousness of the African American consumers and business and to put in place action plans, strategies and behaviors that will aid us in improving the economics of our community.” Barron Harvey / Dean, Howard’s School of Business

14 JAN. 21 - 27, 2016

5 A Participating in a panel discussion during the Empowerment Tour Town Hall held at Howard University on Wed., January 13 were: NNPA President Dr. Benjamin Chavis, Jr.; Eugene Mitchell of New York Life (standing); McDonald’s Owner/Operator Mary Hopkins Navies; special honoree Maggie Anderson (standing); Industrial Bank President B. Doyle Mitchell; and U.S. Black Chamber President Ron Busby. / Photo by Roy Lewis

she writes about how she spent money on black-owned businesses for a year, researched on social and economic history in the black community and challenged mainstream corporations to procure black firms. In an excerpt in her book, she writes: “A dollar circulates among banks, shopkeepers, and other businesses for nearly a month in the Asian communities before that money flows out of the neighborhood. In Jewish communities that neighborhood circulation is roughly 20 days before, and in predominantly white Anglo-Saxon Protestant communities money circulates 17 days. Want to know what it is in the African-American

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neighborhoods? Six hours.” Mitchell talked about how blacks can invest similar to other cultures. For example, he said Jews take out million-dollar policies on the two oldest individuals in their family and 18 relatives will work together to pay the policy. Once the policy is cashed in, he said, it creates multi-generational wealth opportunities to start businesses, or college educations, or buy a home. “Forty-three million African American’s have the purchasing power of $1.3 trillion, making African Americans the fourteenth largest nation in the world,” Mitchell said. “If we would redirect that $1.3 trillion towards

African-American businesses, we can make our own successes and end poverty in our communities, for we would have financial stability, economic opportunities and multi-generational wealth.” According to a New York Life Empowerment brochure, the specific goal is to generate $50 million of life insurance protection and insure 200,000 people by at least $250,000 each. “We believe that our children and grandchildren can be millionaires with life insurance investments,” Mitchell said. “Life insurance is about replacing value. How much are we worth to family, and ourselves?” WI

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BUSINESS

Business Exchange

The Future of Money: Harriet Tubman on the $20 Bill Many say that “it’s time to kick Andrew Jackson off the $20 bill and replace him with a caricature of Harriett Tubman. What say

By William Reed Many say that “it’s time to kick Andrew Jackson off the $20 bill and replace him with a caricature of Harriett Tubman. What say you? Actually, the U.S. Treasury Department is under pressure to address gender inequity in currency the country circulates. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew plans to rework America’s currency and place a woman’s image on the $20 bill. The question is “Should America stand with a courageous patriot who led slaves to freedom on the Underground Railroad?” Or with a slave owner who offered bounty hunters $50 for the return of a runaway, plus 10 bucks extra “for every hundred lashes” inflicted? The fearless abolitionist is Harriett Tubman, an escaped slave who spied for the Union during the Civil War. The ruthless slave owner is Andrew Jackson, seventh president of the United States. Take note of America’s medium of exchange. From Washington’s face on the dollar bill to Ben Franklin’s on the $100 note, America’s bills are men-only. Women have been relegated to coins, such as the Susan B. Anthony dollar. Jackson’s portrait is on the $20 bill, and it’s his slot that should go to a woman. The idea for jettisoning Jackson is gaining traction, and lots are being suggested, including civil rights protester Rosa Parks, first lady Eleanor Roosevelt and Jeannette Rankin, the first woman elected to Congress. Other women in the running to grace American currency include Betty Friedan, Sojourner Truth and Rachel Carson. For too long we’ve been sending the world the wrong message

about what we value. It’s time to kick Andrew Jackson off the $20 bill. There is about $892 billion of $20 bills in circulation. The seventh U.S. president (1829– 37), Andrew Jackson, has been featured on the front side of the bill since 1928, which is why the $20 bill is often called a “Jackson,” while the White House is featured on the reverse side. The $20 bill in the past was referred to as a “double-sawbuck” because it is twice the value of a $10 bill, which was nicknamed a “sawbuck” due to the resemblance the Roman numeral for 10 (X) bears to the legs of a sawbuck. The average circulation life of a $20 bill is 7.9 years before it is replaced due to wear. We can change the narrative we teach future generations in powerful ways. Our paper bills serve as pocket monuments – everyday reminders of who and what we value Tubman is the best candidate for the bill. The escaped slave from Maryland would become the first Black person to be the face of an American paper currency and the first woman in more than a century. Martha Washington was featured on $1 silver certificate in 1891, and Pocahontas was $20 national bank notes in 1863. Lewis and Clark’s expedition guide Sacajawea and women’s suffrage advocate Susan B. Anthony has been featured on US dollar coins. Tubman was a remarkable woman. She was a conductor on the Underground Railroad who returned to the South an estimated 19 times to free as many as 300 slaves. She packed a pistol and collaborated with John Brown in planning the Harpers Ferry raid of 1859, an attempted slave revolt. During the war she was a spy, scout and nurse for the North. In later years she advocated for education and women’s suffrage. Overhauling the twenty would have made perfect sense. There is nothing written in stone about who should appear on paper. The currency lineup changes over time. Andrew Jackson appeared on the $20 bill beginning in the late 1920s, replacing Grover Cleveland. Jackson also was once on the $10 bill, until he was succeeded by Hamilton. Jackson was a hero of the War of 1812 who

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defeated the British at New Orleans. He also was a plantation owner and slave trader who fought several duels, killing a man. As president, he forced

the relocation of Native American tribes. He also defended federal authority to keep the states in line and introduced the spoils system of patronage. WI

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

you? Actually, the U.S. Treasury Department is under pressure to address gender inequity in currency the country circulates. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew plans to rework America’s currency and place a woman’s image on the $20 bill. The question is “Should America stand with a courageous patriot who led slaves to freedom on the Underground Railroad?” Or with a slave owner who offered bounty hunters $50 for the return of a runaway, plus 10 bucks extra “for every hundred lashes” inflicted? The fearless abolitionist is Harriett Tubman, an escaped slave who spied for the Union during the Civil War. The ruthless slave owner is Andrew Jackson, seventh president of the United States. Take note of America’s medium of exchange. From Washington’s face on the dollar bill to Ben Franklin’s on the $100 note, America’s bills are men-only. Women have been relegated to coins, such as the Susan B. Anthony dollar. Jackson’s portrait is on the $20 bill, and it’s his slot that should go to a woman. The idea for jettisoning Jackson is gaining traction, and lots are being suggested, including civil rights protester Rosa Parks, first lady Eleanor Roosevelt and Jeannette Rankin, the first woman elected to Congress. Other women in the running to grace American currency include Betty Friedan, Sojourner Truth and Rachel Carson. For too long we’ve been sending the world the wrong message about what we value. It’s time to kick Andrew Jackson off the $20 bill. There is about $892 billion of $20 bills in circulation. The

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

JAN. 21 - 27, 2016 15

HEALTH

Advocates Rally for Residents Facing Hunger

Real Stories of Food Insecurity Shared at THEARC By Joya Patel WI Contributing Writer Thursday, Jan 14 marked the opening of the DC Witnesses to Hunger Exhibit at THEARC. To emphasize the severity of the situation, seven District mothers came together to speak out in one voice on the struggles of food insecurity. Mariana Chilton, founder of the Witnesses to Hunger National Program, shared the meaning behind the event and the challenges many District residents face. “Food insecurity goes beyond the lack of access to enough food for an active and healthy life; it is also the anxiety, worry and negative physical sensations of not having

enough food both in the body and mind,” she said. In her dual role as the director of the Center for Hunger-Free Communities, Chilton is recognized nationally for her work as a leader in fighting childhood hunger in America. “The urgency of food insecurity can only be told by those experiencing it,” she said. “The Witnesses to Hunger program aims at focusing the ‘hunger talk’ around creating a social bond through visuals.” She recalled one of her patients describing hunger as “when you can’t lay with yourself comfortably.” The images in the exhibit create a bond by presenting the experiences of those who routinely face a

shortage of food. Chilton said the necessity of food serves as a common bond among all humankind. “Food is how we relate to one another; it is a shared necessity between all humans, it makes life worth living,” she said. Witnesses to Hunger serves as a growing national advocacy project featuring the voices and photography of parents who have experienced hunger and poverty firsthand. The program has sites in Philadelphia, Camden, Baltimore, New Haven, Boston, and now D.C. The DC Witnesses to Hunger site, hosted by Martha’s Table, hopes to ignite a dialogue around hunger and poverty in the nation’s capital.

Dr. Gilbert Daniel, Internal Medicine and Maribel Torres, RN, Chief Nursing Officer

5Nefatera McQueen with her daughter Terahji, 4, participate in the photography

exhibit held at THEARC on Thursday, Jan. 14 in Southeast. McQueen is a featured photographer and advocate in the Witnesses to Hunger exhibit. / Photo by Nancy Shia

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16 JAN. 21 - 27, 2016

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The facts in the District of Columbia make addressing poverty a priority. As reported by the Economic Policy Institute, in 2015 the District of Columbia was named the most expensive place to live for a family of four. According to the DC Fiscal Policy Institute, 1-in-5 District residents live at or below the poverty threshold. Subsequently, 1-in-8 families live in food insecure households without reliable access to affordable, nutritious and sufficient food, according to one local non-profit, DC Hunger Solutions. Poverty has developed into a multidimensional issue as documented by seven different stories with one commonality – interconnectedness of social determinants on health. Ryan Palmer, director of Stakeholder Engagement for Martha’s Table shared his perspective. “Programs are not enough to advance these issues. Bringing witnesses is a natural fit to express experience, engage collaboration between organizations and develop a plan of action around their testimonies,” he said. Nefatera McQueen, a resident in Anacostia and the first in her family

to attend college, became an advocate to serve as a resource for both the employed and unemployed – both who all face significant challenges in their everyday lives – upon graduating with a degree in biology. “As I child I loved science and pursued it in hopes of becoming a lab technician,” she said. “But I quickly realized my degree didn’t help me advance my career but rather added to bills with student loans. Now, as a District-based substitute teacher, I’m a working mother living from check-to-check and living with my mother just so I can provide for my kids. D.C. needs to take into consideration minimum wage, access to jobs and cost of living when creating eligibility requirements for [public] assistance programs.” Kim Williams, a resident in Northwest, said after paying rising housing costs, there’s little left for food. “I am amazed at the rise of luxury condos in my neighborhood that are unaffordable,” she said. “I love my neighborhood lined with brownstone homes but the neigh-

HEALTH Page 30

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JAN. 21 - 27, 2016 17

EDUCATION

DCPS BRIEFS

Compiled by Dorothy Rowley WI Staff Writer

MY SCHOOL DC ENROLLMENT DEADLINES

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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

18 JAN. 21 - 27, 2016

5The first deadline for the My School enrollment periods is Monday, Feb.1. / Photo courtesy DCPS

Monday, Feb. 1 for Grades 9-12 Tuesday, March 1 for Grades PK3-8 My School DC is the common application and common lottery for the District’s public school options. Find everything you need to learn, apply and enroll at the DC Hotline: 202888-6336

STANDING OVATION AWARDS

5Winners of last year’s “Standing

Ovation” awards pose with Chancellor Kaya Henderson (center). / Photo courtesy Standing Ovation 2015

6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 1 John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The event brings together business leaders, government officials, philanthropic champions and top educators from across the District for a star-studded awards show and celebration. The public is invited to join the D.C. Public Schools family for an evening that shines a spotlight on the achievements of DCPS’ finest teachers, adminis-

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

trators, and school staff through a presentation of individual and school-community awards, featuring surprise celebrity presenters and live entertainment. Standing Ovation is made possible by the generosity of Alice and David Rubenstein.

website at http://www.tomjoynerfoundation.org to complete the application. Students must have their schools mail their transcripts and recommendations to the foundation at P.O. Box 630495, Irving, TX 75063-0495

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Gates Millennium Scholars Program GMS applicants will be notified via email during midMarch to check their status online. Otherwise, the notification time-frame is as follows: • In March, students will receive written correspondence about how to access the outcome associated with their application. • If an applicant is selected as a finalist, that person will need to submit several documents to verify eligibility, including but potentially not limited to, an official high school transcript, the Student Aid Report from the FAFSA, and an acceptance letter from any college or university. • Around mid-April, all finalists will receive written correspondence about the final outcome associated with their application.

TOM JOYNER ‘FULL-RIDE’ SCHOLARSHIPS The Tom Joyner Foundation® announced the ‘Full Ride’ scholarship program that will cover all the expenses of one student planning to attend a Historically Black College and University in the fall of 2016. “The cost of a college education isn’t getting any cheaper,” said Joyner, chairman of his Foundation and host of the topranked nationally syndicated Tom Joyner Morning show. “So, I want to help a graduating high school senior with a chance to attend a black college to pursue their dreams.” Britney Wilson, a native of Brooklyn, New York, who graduated from Howard University in Northwest and the University of Pennsylvania Law School in Philadelphia, lists among past recipients of the scholarship. Interested students will receive full tuition and stipends for up to 10 semesters to cover on-campus room and board and books. Graduating high school seniors can apply for the scholarship by going to the foundation

DCPS students are required to participate in a minimum of 100 hours of community service in order to graduate. Community partners interested in making opportunities available to students may email the Office of Student Affairs at student.affairs@dc.gov.

FASTEST GROWING DISTRICT

5Chancellor Kaya Henderson

attributes DCPS’ success to having four straight years of enrollment growth, increasing graduation rates, and high satisfaction among teachers and students. / Photo courtesy DCPS

When Kaya Henderson was deputy chancellor of DCPS in 2007, the struggling school system came under mayoral control. At the time, it was one of the lowest-performing school districts in the United States. Eight years later and Henderson’s now the chancellor, DCPS is one of the fastest improving urban districts in the country with four straight years of enrollment growth, increasing graduation rates, and high satisfaction among teachers and students. So, what changed? “A lot,” Henderson said late last year as a participant in the Askwith Forum, “If You Want to Go Fast, Go Alone. If You Want to Go Far, Go Together.” She added that a combination of top teachers, improved curriculum, policy changes, and an increase in family and community engagement and political support is what helped to turn D.C. schools around. (Source: Harvard EdCast: Community Ed Reform, Jan. 8, 2016) WI

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TECH

Washington Auto Show Confirms Lack of Diversity Enjoy the Latest Cars & Technology, Jan. 22 - 31 By Sarafina Wright WI Staff Writer @dreamersexpress The Washington Auto Show, one of the nation’s top five auto shows, will host a 10-day world class event with cutting-edge exhibits, latest model cars and displays of historic vehicles. However, African-American auto dealer representatives will be noticeably absent. Damon Lester, president of the National Association of Minority Auto Dealers, said the majority of black participants at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Northwest will be consumers boils down to ownership. “There are over 500 auto-dealers in the D.C., Maryland, Virginia area and only one of them is African American,” Lester said. “Thomas Moorehead owns Rolls Royce Motor Cars of Sterling, BMW of Sterling, Mini of Sterling and Harley Davidson of Washington, D.C.” Lester asserts it’s not an issue of black dealers being excluded from these events, but more so not having enough dealers to participate. He said that this presents a challenge for African Americans to be represented at the Washington Auto Show, but cash flow stands in the way for many. “This is very much a cash intensive business. The challenge for us has always been capital,” he said. “To purchase a store nowadays you’re looking at needing 20-30 million dollars cash.” Along with money, Lester said the culture of generational family ownership presents another barrier that makes it hard for minorities to access the auto industry. “Much of the information about the industry is generational as parents pass it down, so much of the information is passed through family, so the only people who know are the people who need to know,” he said. Glenda Gill, executive director of Automotive Project for the

Rainbow PUSH Coalition, believes the industry has failed to engage minorities on opportunities within the auto business. “Most people of color come in contact with the automotive

industry in two ways, at the dealership as a consumer, or at the manufacturing plant as a worker,” she said. “They don’t know its design, technology, advertising and marketing and everything in

between.” “The industry hasn’t done a great job of selling itself. People can’t want to be a part of something they don’t know about,” Gill added.

The Washington Auto Show differs from other cities because it’s the “Public Policy Show” where the public show is pre-

AUTO SHOW Page 30

EXOTICS | RIDE ’ N DRIVES | SPORTS HEROES | PROMOS | FAMILY FUN ZONE

JAN 22-31

START YOUR IMAGINATION

OPENS TOMORROW UPCOMING EVENTS Ongoing Check our website for specific dates and times.

Ford, Kia, Mazda & Toyota Ride ’N Drives Camp Jeep® Indoor obstacle course

ART of Motion Exhibition

Automotive Rhythms’ display of cutting-edge, experiential car art, live painting sessions, music, and fashion models.

Fri. Jan 22 Autotrader/Kelley Blue Book Day $4 OFF TICKET with printout of any page from Autotrader.com or KBB.com

ART of Motion 4 – 8 PM

Demont Pinder Painting 2016 Jaguar XE

#WAS16

FIND YOUR NEXT CAR! Olive the Ostrich 4 – 8 PM Courtesy of WHUT

Tues. Jan 26

PBS Characters 10 AM – 6 PM

Military Tribute Day

Sat. Jan 23

Courtesy of WHUT

PBS Characters 10 AM – 9 PM

ART of Motion Noon – 4 PM

Daniel Tiger, Peg + Cat, Super Why!, Princess Presto, Maya & Miguel Courtesy of WHUT

ART of Motion Noon – 4 PM

Painting 2016 Chevy Corvette Kenny “KAS” Flanagan showcases glamorous fashion from KAS Collection

Bart & Homer Simpson Noon – 2 PM, 4 – 6 PM Courtesy of Comcast Spotlight

Captain Planet Throughout the Day Kid’s Play Land Dance Party | 3 PM Fun dance time with DJ Bunny

Tickets at WashingtonAutoShow.com

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Sun. Jan 24

Blind Whino, Painting 2016 Toyota RAV4

Bart & Homer Simpson Noon – 2 PM, 4 – 5 PM Courtesy of Comcast Spotlight

Kid’s Play Land Dance Party | 3 PM

Mon. Jan 25

Sponsored by Audi

FREE ADMISSION with valid military ID or DD214 and photo ID. Visit the Audi Veterans to Technicians Program booth.

Red Cross Activities: Pet Therapy Dogs Emergency Response Vehicle Display Star Wars LEGO® Display

Paris Train Hero and “Dancing with the Stars” Alek Skarlatos 6 PM – 8 PM Signing at Mazda booth

Wed. Jan 27 Olive the Ostrich 4 – 8 PM Courtesy of WHUT

Young Professionals Night | 6 – 8 PM

Live music, courtesy of iHeart Radio, by Darcy Dawn & Company at the Jeep Refueling Station Featuring Samuel Adams.

$7 OFF TICKET with valid student ID

Hyundai “Hands On” Contest Begins with WJFK-FM Sports Junkies | 3 PM

Thurs. Jan 28

Olive the Ostrich 4 – 8 PM

Win a 2016 Hyundai Tuscon SE

Courtesy of WHUT

Student Day

Courtesy of WHUT

Ryan Zimmerman of the Washington Nationals 6 – 8 PM

US Army Downrange Band 6 PM – 8 PM

WALTER E. WASHINGTON CONVENTION CENTER

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

JAN. 21 - 27, 2016 19 1/18/16 12:05 PM

A STRONG AND HEALTHY BABY By Dr. Megan Hollis

Expecting a child can be one of the most exciting times in a woman’s life. Watching that baby grow strong and healthy is even more rewarding. How do you make sure a baby has the best start in life? Get prenatal care as early and often as possible. Early care now makes for a stronger baby later. I have been a doctor in DC since 2012, now working at Community of Hope’s Conway Health and Resource Center on Atlantic Street SW. Every day, I see how prenatal care and other pregnancy services help our moms-to-be. Healthy babies start with regular visits with a doctor who knows you. A doctor that you trust. Regular visits help you learn more about your changing body and your baby’s growth. Early care also reduces the risk of an early birth or low birth weight baby. Prepared moms can raise happy

and healthy sons, daughters and grandchildren. When a pregnant mom comes in for a visit, we talk about what foods to eat, guidelines for exercise and tips to keep mom and baby healthy. “I feel in control of my pregnancy knowing my baby’s growth and my own health,” says Natasha, who’s pregnant with her third child. Sadly, Wards 7 and 8 have two of the highest rates of low birth weight babies, according to a DC Health Matters report. About 40 percent of pregnant women here do not get care in their first three months of pregnancy. Early care in your pregnancy helps prevent delivery before the baby is ready. But more babies are being born in the area so it is critical to change. Getting early care will build a strong generation of babies. Natasha is excited for her baby boy. “Community of Hope has made me feel ready at every stage of my pregnancy. Staff support me in so many ways. A care coordinator helped me find free

resources. My doula supports me through birth. I learned how to breastfeed properly and even got free baby supplies - like diapers.” Both mom and baby benefit from great care. Did you know prenatal support happens outside of the doctor’s office too? Here at Community of Hope, we have a lot of resources to help pregnant women. We have group care, where pregnant mothers have fun discussions and win prizes. Our staff help patients stop smoking, teach about breastfeeding, and even do home visits after a baby is born. Sign up and get your family ready for your new baby. Early pregnancy care saves lives. Community health centers like Community of Hope are a great place to start for moms-to-be. I encourage you to tell your friends, daughter, granddaughter, or niece about the importance of pregnancy care and all the support services we offer. While here, check out our dentistry and other services too. We are accepting new pa-

“Community of Hope made me feel strong and ready at every stage of my pregnancy.” Natasha, prenatal patient, and Megan Hollis, Medical Director at Community of Hope’s Conway Health and Resource Center.

tients of all ages, and hope you will come visit us. Dr. Megan Hollis is the Medical

Director at Community of Hope’s Conway Health and Resource Center, located in Bellevue.

EARLY CARE NOW, STRONGER BABY LATER VISIT THE CONWAY HEALTH AND RESOURCE CENTER

✔ Pregnancy Care Visits - Walkin Hours Available ✔ One on One Support Throughout Pregnancy ✔ Pregnancy Groups* with Food Provided ✔ Help Signing Up for Insurance

202.540.9857 202.540.9862

MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS

DENTAL APPOINTMENTS

*You may qualify for free baby supplies. Ask a team member how. Enjoy prizes, rafﬂes and giveaways.

This program is funded in part by the Government of the District of Columbia, Department of Health’s Community Health Administration.

www.communityofhopedc.org 20 JAN. 21 - 27, 2016

4 Atlantic Street, SW THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

Our Family Caring for Yours WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

NEWSPAPER READING IS A HABIT DON’T BREAK THE HABIT!

King’s Dream – Still Worth Fighting For By D. Kevin McNeir WI Editor

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In Memoriam Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Sr. Wilhelmina J. Rolark THE WASHINGTON INFORMER NEWSPAPER (ISSN#0741-9414) is published weekly on each Thursday. Periodicals postage paid at Washington, D.C. and additional mailing offices. News and advertising deadline is Monday prior to publication. Announcements must be received two weeks prior to event. Copyright 2015 by The Washington Informer. All rights reserved. POSTMASTER: Send change of addresses to The Washington Informer, 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. 20032. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The Informer Newspaper cannot guarantee the return of photographs. Subscription rates are $45 per year, two years $60. Papers will be received not more than a week after publication. Make checks payable to: THE WASHINGTON INFORMER 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E Washington, D.C. 20032 Phone: 202 561-4100 Fax: 202 574-3785 news@washingtoninformer.com www.washingtoninformer.com

PUBLISHER Denise Rolark Barnes STAFF D. Kevin McNeir, Editor Ron Burke, Advertising/ Marketing Director Shevry Lassiter, Photo Editor Lafayette Barnes, IV, Assistant Photo Editor John E. De Freitas, Sports Photo Editor Dorothy Rowley, Online Editor ZebraDesigns.net, Design & Layout Mable Neville, Bookkeeper Mickey Thompson, Social Sightings columnist Stacey Palmer, Social Media Specialist Angie Johnson, Circulation REPORTERS Stacy Brown (Senior Writer), Sam P.K. Collins, Eve Ferguson, Will Ford (Prince George’s County Writer), Elton Hayes, D. Kevin McNeir, Dorothy Rowley, Kia Croom, Sarafina Wright (General Assignment Writer) PHOTOGRAPHERS John E. DeFreitas, Shevry Lassiter, Roy Lewis, Corey Parrish, Travis Riddick, Nancy Shia

Some of you may remember when you were in grade school and temporarily lost your focus – looking out of the window, scanning the horizon and – daydreaming. We’ve all had moments when we stepped outside of our body, allowed our spirit to soar and contemplated developing, creating and achieving something new that would make a difference in the world. In this supplement, we remember one of Black America’s, in fact, the world’s, most respected, celebrated and quoted dreamers, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. King was a self-described dreamer as many of his sermons confirm. But even the way he lived his life, willing to die for a cause that he knew was much bigger than himself, illustrates the lengths he would go in order to make his dream a reality. When God gives us a dream, like King’s, many of us hold on to it. We cherish it, we cling to it – but far too many of us don’t’ put in the necessary work and steps needed to move from dream status to real world status. That’s what’s so amazing about Dr. King. Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech has been repeated by youth and aspiring leaders around the world. We have watched videos and listened to recordings of his spirit-inspired words. We have lifted our voices in harmony, repeating lyrics from his favorite songs like “Oh, Freedom,” We Shall Overcome” and “Precious Lord.” Since his death in 1968, and since his birthdate became a national holiday, we pause on or around January 15th to remember our fallen general – a man who was determined to live his life as a “drum major for peace.” In the pages that follow, with a theme of “Change is Coming,” we lift up the struggle, sacrifice, sweat and tears that became tantamount to King’s achievements – and failures. As the snow falls outside and the temperature hits bone-chilling lows, we ready ourselves for a heated fall when Americans will once again march to the polls to elect a new president. Change is definitely on the way. But the question remains, what kind of changes will we see? A popular adage proclaims “When America catches a cold, Blacks get the flu.” But we can do something about that. We can, if we are willing to walk together, march together, protest together, boycott together and refuse to accept second-class citizenship, make this a better place for all of us. Voting rights have been stripped from many Blacks and other men and women of color. Clocks have been set for reverse as other rights – privileges that come with being Americans – have been reduced, locked away – even removed from the table. When will we say “enough is enough?” King, if he were still alive, would be the first to say that his “dream” has become a nightmare. But he wouldn’t stop there. He’d do something about it. If we want our country to be a better place for our children, the next generation, we should become more resolute in demanding that America makes good on the “check” that it long promised to all of its citizens. We need to cash in that check today! James Brown once sang, “Say it Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud.” Indeed, we should be proud. Proud of the fortitude and determination of our ancestors. Proud of the achievements made by Black men, women and children, many of whom had little more than a hope, prayer and an idea. But we cannot sit down or rest on our laurels. If we really want change to become evident, it must begin with each of us. Happy Birthday Dr. King. Now, let’s get busy, take on the haters, and bring on the change. WI

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER 2016 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. SUPPLEMENT

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Dr. King’s ‘Lost’ Speech Unveiled 53 Years Ago He Stunned Washington By Sarafina Wright WI Staff Writer @dreamersexpress Fifty-three years ago Martin Luther King Jr. became the first African American to speak at the National Press Club in Northwest, but his speech had been considered lost until now. Excerpts of the dialogue were unveiled Jan. 11 to an audience, followed by a panel discussion of those who knew King best in the same press club ballroom he stood in half a century ago. “You would wonder why it took so long to have a black person speak here,” Moderator Joe Madison and host of SiriusXM’s “Urban View” said. “You could have had Jackie Robinson, Thurgood Marshall, Marian Anderson. Then you realize the National Press Club didn’t admit its first woman until 1971, so we’ve come a long way.” Simeon Booker, the National Press Club’s 1982 Fourth Estate Award winner and one of the first African Americans to join the club, served on the committee that brought King there on July 19, 1962. Booker, 97, couldn’t speak while on the panel, so his wife Carol Booker expressed his feelings as he wrote them in his book “Shocking the Conscience: A Reporter’s Account of the Civil Rights Movement.” “It was very controversial at the time to bring Dr. King to the press club,” Carol Booker said. “Simeon joined the special committee and he proposed that Dr. King should be invited to speak. The chairman at the time quit once the committee decided to bring King here.” King’s lawyer and advisor, Dr. Clarence B. Jones, called into the program from California to provide insight on the historic speech and why he had reservations. “I had a rather cynical attitude toward his planned appearance,” Jones said. “I called up Louis Martin, the highest ranking black in the Democratic party at the time, and said why has it taken so long to get King here. He said that’s what I am asking you.” Jones asserted that he wanted King to take a much harsher position then what had been planned, but King said no. Although the Press Club didn’t use video to record guest speakers at that time, members were able to recover a short video clip of King stating the plight of the Negro in America: “To outline the problem is to chart the course of the Negro freedom movement. We have come to the day when a piece of freedom is not enough for us as human beings, nor for the nation of which we are part. We have been given pieces, but unlike bread, a slice of which does diminish hunger, a piece of liberty no longer suffices. Freedom is like life. You cannot be given life in installments. You cannot be given breath but no body, nor a heart but no blood vessels. Freedom is one thing. You have it all or you are not free. And our goal is freedom.” Jones said that King thought the presentation went over very well. “Some of our friends had difficulty when we talk about matters publicly that they’re embarrassed to here,” he said. “But King was pleased. I don’t think he was embarrassed in any way. He said, ‘They didn’t boo me. I got an applause.’” To access King’s full speech, go to press.org/mlk. WI

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5 The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivers a speech to a large crowd gathered at the Lincoln Memorial for the March on Washington in 1963. / WI File Photo A powerful legacy

inspires

every dreamer to

dream big

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. dedicated his life to making the world a better place for us all. At AARP, we are committed to ensuring that every generation has the power to advance the legacy of Dr. King to realize their dreams and reach their full potential. See the resources, tips and tools available at aarp.org/blackcommunity.

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER 2016 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. SUPPLEMENT

“We invite all Americans to honor the legacy of Dr. King in a national park.” Jonathan B. Jarvis National Park Service Director

King Celebrations On Tap In District By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer The National Park Service in Northwest is rolling out its annual Martin Luther King Jr. commemorations that allows just about everyone in and around the District to participate. On Monday, Jan. 18 the park service kicked of “16 days in ’16” where all National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission. The waiver includes entrance, commercial tour and transportation fees. Officials said parks across the country are offering programs and special events that reflect the life and legacy of King, the civil rights icon who was killed on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. “Make it a day on, not a day off,” parks officials said in a news release. They’re encouraging residents to donate items to a coat and food drive, plant flower beds, repair trails, roll seed balls, dig a trench or simply join a cleanup. “We invite all Americans to honor the legacy of Dr. King in a national park,” National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis said in a news release. “Attend a special event, take part in a volunteer project, or visit a site with a direct connection to this great leader. We are all encouraged to remember the values of service and commitment to community that Dr. King exemplified throughout his life. Let’s make this holiday truly a day on, not a day off.” Each year, the nation observes King’s birthday on the third Monday in January. A minister and civil-rights activist, biography.com notes that King had a seismic

impact on race relations in the United States, beginning in the mid-1950s. Among many efforts, King headed the Southern Christian Leadership Council to harness the moral authority and organizing power of black churches. They would help conduct non-violent protests to promote civil rights reform. King’s participation in the organization gave him a base of operation throughout the South, as well as a national platform. The organization felt the best place to start to give African Americans a voice was to enfranchise them in the voting process. In February 1958, the SCLC sponsored more than 20 mass meetings in key southern cities to register black voters in the South. King met with religious and civil rights leaders and lectured all over the country on race-related issues. Through his activism, King played a pivotal role in ending the legal segregation of African-American citizens in the South and other areas of the nation, as well as the creation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Born on Jan. 15, 1929, King received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, among several other honors. Decades after his assassination, King continues to be remembered as one of the most lauded African-American leaders in history, often referenced by his 1963 speech, “I Have a Dream,” which was the pinnacle of the famed March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The District plans several celebrations, which are expected to formally be announced this week. WI

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER 2016 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. SUPPLEMENT

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CELEBRATE the life and the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy” ~Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

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THE WASHINGTON INFORMER 2016 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. SUPPLEMENT

DMV’s DJ Young Music Joins T.I. in King Tribute Talented Youth Continues to Broaden His Brand By D. Kevin McNeir WI Editor Dreaming big and then working hard to make those dreams come true might be one way to describe 19-year-old Bernard Brooks III, a rising, local star known as DJ Young Music whose accomplishments as a songwriter, deejay and producer far exceed his age. Last Friday, Jan. 15, he joined rap star T.I. in a tribute concert honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – kicking off festivities in the Greater Washington Area that celebrated the life and legacy of the civil rights icon. Since he purchased his first turntable over seven years ago, he’s honed his skills, thrown caution to the wind and has successfully taken his talents across the U.S. and even to the Caribbean, all while working with and earning the respect of some of the music industry’s biggest stars of hip-hop.

But how does he do it? How does he keep the music playing? And what keeps a teenager just a year out of high school working at such a fast and furious pace? “I don’t really worry about what others are doing – I like to turn things up,” he said. “And I don’t really see any real competition out here. I mean, there’s no one my age on so many radio stations. At the end of the day, it’s every man for himself,” said the Prince George’s County, Maryland resident. A year ago, after receiving his high school degree, DJ Young Music really pushed the envelope, taking his song “Right Here” – the lead single from his mixtape “Something for the Streets, Vol. 2 – to #2 in the country – and going on the road with Chris Brown. After striking a deal with NSUC Entertainment Group/Entertainment One Distribution, last year, he expanded his reach in the industry, releasing music and soundtracks of developing artists

under his own label [DYMG Entertainment. I’m grounded and focused because I have a motive in mind: money,” he said. “You have to plan carefully so you can figure out how to get that money. I have a team of people who are dependent on me. It’s not just being an artist. Now I’ve evolved – I’m a producer and a businessman, working with talents like Shade Jennifer, 18, who I discovered and who’s on my label.” Another young talent, Justin Caine, 20, also from Maryland, recently joined the DJ Young Music team as an artist and in-house producer where he represents the label, does mixing and mastering and helps create beats for the label’s growing stable of artists. But DJ Young Music isn’t the only one in the family with creative talent. His younger brother Bjorn Brooks, 17, can be heard regularly hosting his own talk show on XM Urban View and has developed a clothing line (www.Bjornsnation.com) that encourages being both creative and different – both seen as strengths from his perspective. What’s even more remarkable about Bjorn is he’s legally blind – sometimes only able to see shapes and shadows. But like his older brother, he refuses to let anything stand in the way of his dreams. DJ Young Music appears to be like a magnet, drawing all kinds of talented youth to his camp. “Since Ginuwine gave me my first shot I’ve taken full advantage of every opportunity,” he said. “Now I’m trying to do the same thing for others. But it’s always first about spinning live wherever I can, developing original music and bringing new mixes to the table. My dad [Bernard Brooks] taught us how to be businessmen like him. And my general manager, Ed Strickland, keeps my business growing and thriving. Working hard is fun – when you’re doing something you love,” he added. WI

Bernard Brooks III, a rising, local star known as DJ Young Music.

5 The Stone of Hope at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial National Memorial

The Memorial Foundation – Builders of The Martin Luther King Jr Memorial The Foundation championed the vision of a memorial in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that captured the essence of his message, which so eloquently affirms the commanding tenants of the American Dream—Freedom, Democracy and Opportunity for All. The Foundation was instrumental in the fundraising that resulted in the completion of the MLK Memorial. Subsequently, The Foundation has actively promoted activities at the Memorial as well as education programs and opportunities for the meaningful exchange of ideas about democracy, justice, hope, and love. The Memorial Foundation’s educational programs include the: • Kids for the Memorial, which provides teachers, parents, and youth leaders of children in the 3rd through 8th grades with on-line and printed curriculum about the Memorial and its tenets of democracy, justice, hope, and love. • Dream Keepers, which is targeted for young adults in the 9th grade through college using social media and internships to fully engage them in causes that advance the American Dream for all. • Leaders of Democracy, which provides a network of individuals who are leaders in business and communities via social media and face-to-face events to share ideas and partner to carry the legacy of the Memorial throughout the world. The Foundation provides leadership for maintaining the memory of Martin Luther King, Jr. and remains committed to his tenets by honoring a diverse group of individuals who have made significant advancements promoting human rights and democracy, justice, hope, and love. The Foundation is dedicated to preserving the legacy of this visionary dreamer and advancing his dream to reality for all. If you wish to donate to The Memorial Foundation please contact us at: 633 Pennsylvania Ave. Washington, DC 20004 (202) 737-5420 http://thememorialfoundation.org

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER 2016 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. SUPPLEMENT

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MAKE A CAREER OF HUMANITY. COMMIT YOURSELF TO THE NOBLE STRUGGLE FOR EQUAL RIGHTS. YOU WILL MAKE A GREATER PERSON OF YOURSELF, A GREATER NATION OF YOUR COUNTRY, AND A FINER WORLD TO LIVE IN. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 1959

WHERE WOULD WE BE WITHOUT THOSE WHO FORGED THE PATH TO FREEDOM? Martin Luther King, Jr.. Carter G. Woodson. Frederick Douglass. Mary McLeod Bethune. These are just a few of the many African-Americans who helped forge the path to civil rights, freedom and equality, and who are commemorated in many of the historical sites in our own backyard. The DC Lottery salutes our heroes.

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THE WASHINGTON INFORMER 2016 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. SUPPLEMENT

HUNDREDS CAME OUT to watch and participate in the 10th annual MLK Peace Walk and Parade in Southeast on Monday, Jan. 18. The Ballou Senior High School marching band dazzled the crowd during their performance. The AFL-CIO had a large group of marchers on the nearly two-mile walk from St. Elizabeths RISE Center in Congress Heights to the reviewing stand at the end of the parade route in Bellevue. Malcolm X Elementary School drum band showcased their skills in the parade and the Muslims for Peace carried its banner. / Photos by Shevry Lassiter, Roy Lewis and Patricia Little

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER 2016 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. SUPPLEMENT

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THE WREATH LAYING CEREMONY at the MLK Memorial in Southwest on Monday, Jan. 18 honoring the life and legacy of the slain civil rights leader. Guests gathered early in the morning with temperatures hovering below freezing for the wreath laying processional during the fifth annual Martin Luther King, Jr. day of reflection and service. A mime performance was one of the featured acts at the Anacostia Museum’s MLK program on Friday, Jan. 15. Across the border in Maryland, poster presentations by Jahrell Kearney of Dwight Eisenhower Middle School in Laurel and Jenny Pham of Heather Hills Elementary School in Bowie, and a performance by the Kingsford Elementary School Chorus were all part of the Prince George’s County Educators’ Association’s annual MLK program at Kingsford Elementary in Mitchellville on Thursday, Jan. 14. / Photos by Patricia Little, Roy Lewis, and Robert Roberts

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5 Yvonne Gist, owner of Gist Family Catering provided a southern-style meal with baked desserts for volunteers participating in the MLK Peace Walk and Parade at Living Word Church in Southwest on Monday, Jan 18. / Photo by Shevry Lassiter

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I retired and took over the business. I want people to know we are still here,” she said. Yvonne feels that by participating as the caterer for the annual parade she contributes to keeping King’s memory alive. A couple of years ago when Arena Stage in Southwest put on the show “Mountain Top” about King’s life, Yvonne protested its showing. “It was only three of us, but we went out and picketed. I didn’t like the way they portrayed him with the cursing, cigarettes and womanizing,” she said. “All the work that he has done and you’re going to disparage him. Not on my watch.” WI AD CODE: BLEED SIZE: PUB:

The matriarch of the Gist Family Catering Service honored Martin Luther King Jr. long before providing lunch at the annual peace walk and parade in Southeast. “Martin Luther King was dear to my heart. When I was in tenth grade, I wrote a paper on him and he autographed it,” Yvonne Gist said. She contends that she always has been a supporter of King’s life and for what he stood for. “When Stevie Wonder marched for King to become a holiday I marched too,” she said. “I also petitioned for the holiday.” Yvonne’s late husband, Willie James Gist, migrated from Chester, South Carolina, and she from Buffalo, New York, to Washington, D.C., where they met at Emerson’s Steakhouse. “He was the head cook and I was a cashier. We met in 1972 and married in 1973,” she said. Willie Gist enjoyed a 30year career in the food service industry working his way up from bus boy to chef at places such as Beefsteak Charlie’s and Wendy’s. “He was a great cook who loved to entertain [and] who got his passion for cooking from his mother and aunt,” she said. “When he came to me and said he wanted to start a catering business I was fully supportive. We decided we would do it after I finished college.” In 1988, the Gist Family Catering Service officially launched taking on its first regular clients, Africare and the National Council of Negro Women. In February 2009, Gist transitioned leaving the family business to his wife. “In 2010, after 30 years of working at the Census Bureau,

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By Sarafina Wright WI Staff Writer @dreamersexpress

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THE WASHINGTON INFORMER 2016 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. SUPPLEMENT

NAN Host Breakfast Honoring the Legacy of MLK 20 Years Since the First MLK Observance By Rachel Sudduth WI Contributing Writer From confronting racism in the late 1960s by joining the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to becoming the founder and president of the National Action Network, Rev. Al Sharpton continues to remain an influential political activist while honoring icons of the past. “We are celebrating King Day, but we are not celebratory of these times,” Sharpton said. As the introductory speaker at NAN’s breakfast on Martin Luther King Holiday, Jan. 18, Sharpton addressed the concern of the collective con-

sciousness of America. “We have given further seats to those that want to turn back the clock,” Sharpton said as he stood at the podium, glancing at the crowd in the Mayflower Hotel in Northwest. “You can turn back the clock, but you can’t turn back the time.” He commended Fannie Lou Hamer and Jesse Jackson for their activism as influential figures along side Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960s. Sharpton also lauded President Obama as the “best president I’ve seen,” and he remains optimistic in his leadership of the United States. Members of NAN said they began planning for the

annual Breakfast six months in advance. This year’s sponsors included Macys, Uber and PepsiCo. Dominic Hawkins, a member of NAN, said the MLK holiday along with his work with the organization holds a special place in his life. “Being involved with NAN and continuing work that has been done touches an important part of my childhood, continuing the legacy of my parents,” Hawkins said. The Breakfast also honored keynote speaker, former US Attorney General Eric Holder. He promises he would never leave the work behind from his previous designation. “If we persevere and stay

G E T YO U R T I C K E TS N OW

5PepsiCo Executive Vice President of Governmental Affairs, Tony West and the Rev. Al Sharpton present former Attorney General Eric H. Holder with a “Lifetime of Service” award at National Action Network’s annual MLK breakfast held at the Mayflower Hotel in Northwest on Monday, Jan. 18. / Photo by Travis Riddick

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dedicated we will get to the place Dr. King talked about,” Holder said. He continued explaining the need to prepare a future for younger generations. “Unless we are willing to confront these issues, we won’t ever make progress.” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., known for his active civil rights participation, non-violence approach, and moving speeches brought together people from all races and ethnic backgrounds. Honorable Attorney General of the US Department of Justice, Loretta Lynch noted the infamous letter Dr. King wrote from the Birmingham jail. King’s Letters from Birmingham has been translated in over 40 languages and remains a world-renowned piece of literature. Many of the honorees discussed the desire to end the “prison to school pipeline” in the United States. With the increase of juveniles given adult sentences, voting disenfranchisement, and lack of prison education programs, more ex-convicts are vulnerable to

the cycle of going back and fourth to prison. “More than 600,000 prisoners coming out of prison each year,” Lynch said. “Some people look at it as a number, but they are mothers and fathers, friends and family.” NAN presented the deceased Rev. Clementa C. Pinckney, a Charleston Nine victim, with the MLK Day Merit Award. Pinckney’s wife, Jennifer said she will never forget the day of her husband’s death and his peaceful spirit. “He lived life like Martin Luther King, he was a preacher and a teacher,” Pinckney said. “He was about service, peace, and taking action.” A guest at the NAN breakfast, David Johns, executive director of the White House Initiative On Educational Excellence for African Americans said MLK Day should be remembered throughout the year. “MLK Day and Black History Month are a reminder to the country to continue service all year round,” Johns said. WI

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Khalil Gibran Muhammad Keynotes MLK Program He Likens Black Lives Matter to SNCC By Sarafina Wright WI Staff Writer @dreamersexpress The Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum annual Martin Luther King Jr. program featured a prominent library executive under the theme “Looking Back, Moving Forward.” Keynote speaker Khalil Gibran Muhammad, director of the Schomberg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York City, delivered a speech entitled “The Creative Minority of the Concerned” to honor King’s legacy Friday, Jan. 15 at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Northwest. “Dr. King knew that it was plenty men of the cloth who weren’t going along with the cause,” Muhammad said. “It’s easy to look back now and say that everybody was a part of the movement.” “We need to keep that in mind about our young people in Dream Defenders, Black Youth Project and Hands Up Don’t Shoot,” he added. “If you don’t know these organizations,

you’re missing out on the SNCC, CORE and the Albany Movement of today.” Muhammad went on to make the point that the social activism work being done since the murder of Trayvon Martin has the same spirit as a young John Lewis and Diane Nash. “From the community, college campuses and back we have seen young people rise up,” he said. “Y’all will sleep on this movement like so many slept on them in their day.” Muhammad asserts that King knew that many of his ideas weren’t ordinary. “In 1952, he wrote a love letter to his sweetheart. In it he wrote I am not a conventional Baptist preacher,” Muhammad said. “It is not enough to save souls, we must change minds.” “My father is a capitalist, I am not concerned with things,” Muhammad said while reading King’s letter to Coretta Scott King. “In 1962, he wrote in the Amsterdam News that the church can make it clear that the negro isn’t inherently criminal,”

5 Khalil Gibran Muhammad, director of the Schomberg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, New York, and Richard Reyes-Galivan, executive director of the D.C. Public Library, discuss King’s life and the impact on civil rights for all people at the Smithsonian Anacostia Museum’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. program Friday, Jan. 15 in Northwest. / Photo by Roy Lewis Muhammad said. “Poverty and ignorance breed crime.” “The church must develop an action program, where ever there are injustices the church must take a stand,” he said while reading King’s words from the Amsterdam News. Muhammad first began to research King’s life while in college when he realized he wouldn’t be

Fisk Jubilee Singers Honor MLK

5 The Fisk Jubilee Singers performed Negro spirituals at the National Gallery of Art in Northwest on Sunday, Jan. 17, to raise funds for Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. / Photos by Roy Lewis 4 Paul T. Kwami, musical director of the Fisk Jubilee Singers, greets the audience and talks about the effort to raise funds for Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, at a concert held at the National Gallery of Art in Northwest on Sunday, Jan. 17.

able to debate a columnist who made disparaging remarks about King. “I was asked to debate the guy who said King was a fraud, communist and he wanted to take white people’s money and give it to black people, but in that moment I felt the most vulnerable because I didn’t know enough about him,” he said. “I

think about groups like Black Lives Matter where they are, and where I wasn’t.” Muhammad insists that the organizing being done by young people in this era should be viewed as history repeating itself and that King would be proud. “He left us with a blueprint,” he said. “It is up to us to do something with it.” WI

By Sarafina Wright WI Staff Writer @dreamersexpress The historic vocal ensemble Fisk Jubilee Singers performed a free concert on the eve of the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday to honor the civil rights icon. The a cappella group, consisting of students from Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, performed a number of negro spirituals on Sunday, Jan. 17 in the West Garden Court of the National Gallery of Art in Northwest. The Negro spirituals the group performs were originally sung by slaves prior to the Civil War. The first ensemble of singers, organized in 1871, arranged the music and toured to raise funds for their financially troubled school by giving concerts. They introduced the public to the power of spirituals, the religious anthems of those living in slavery –a genre that remains a relevant musical tradition today. Among their many awards and achievements are two Grammy nominations; the National Medal of Arts, the nation’s highest honor for artists and patrons of the arts; Dove Award and an induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Their awards also include the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the National Arts Club of New York, the Governor’s Award, the Recording Academy Honors and the Heritage Award of the Nashville Music Awards. In February 1978, Fisk University’s campus received designation as a National Historic District in recognition of its architectural, historic and cultural significance. In 2007, Fisk Jubilee Singers participated in the State Department celebration of the 50th Independence Anniversary of Ghana, which came to be known as the sacred journey. The Fisk Jubilee Singers continue the tradition of singing Negro spirituals around the world, allowing others to share in the rich culture while preserving the unique music reflective of the African-American experience. WI

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER 2016 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. SUPPLEMENT

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OPINIONS/EDITORIALS EDITORIAL

Flint’s Deadly Waters

President Obama has declared a state of emergency in Flint, Michigan where high levels of lead found in the city’s drinking water have created a severe public health crisis. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will lead the federal government’s efforts to assist state and local officials address the crisis that is gravely impacting Flint’s mostly poor and predominately African-American residents. Sadly, it’s too little, too late. For more than 18 months, Flint residents washed, bathed and drank poisonous water that flowed from the polluted Huron River in an effort by state officials to save money in the financially struggling city. Reportedly, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, along with the state’s director of the Department of Environment Quality Dan Wyant, who has since resigned, ignored federal laws requiring them to properly treat the water, also refusing to acknowledge complaints by residents who were fearful that the water was unsafe. State officials dismissed parents who expressed their concern over the health of their children who were suffering from skin rashes and hair loss. A local pediatrician who began monitoring lead levels in children and reported that levels were doubling and tripling was rebuffed. And, state officials insisted that a study by Virginia Tech researchers showing positive levels of lead was inaccurate. For months, no one validated nor addressed the expressed concerns over the dirty brown, smelly and funny-tasting water flowing into the homes of Flint’s 100,000 residents. President Obama’s intervention to send help to Flint is greatly needed, but the damage has already been done. The class action suit filed by Flint residents should be an easy victory for the parents of children poisoned by the water. However, lead poisoning is irreversible and no monetary award will change that. Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, Flint’s Hurley Medical Center pediatric ward physician, told CNN, “If you were to put something in a population to keep them down for generations and generations to come, it would be lead. It’s a well-known, potent neurotoxin. There are tons of evidence on what lead does to a child, and it is one of the most damning things that you can do to a population. It drops your IQ, it affects your behavior, it’s been linked to criminality, it has multigenerational impacts. There is no safe level of lead in a child.” A simple apology by Governor Snyder and Wyant’s resignation in no way can address the extreme anguish and suffering Flint residents will endure for the duration of their lives. Criminal penalties aren’t enough, but they are appropriate for those who knowingly poisoned innocent children. This case demands environmental justice or else there should be no peace! WI

Walmart’s Decision is Wrong Last week, District residents were shocked and city officials were angered by the decision of Walmart officials not to proceed with building two of its Walmart stores planned for East of the River in Wards 7 and 8. While three of the five Walmart proposed stores were built and are currently serving District residents in Wards 4, 5 and 6, they just happen to be located in parts of the city where residents were the most vehemently opposed to locating a Walmart store there. The areas of the city most welcoming to Walmart are also where the greatest number of low-income residents are located. The Capital Gateway in Ward 7 and Skyland in Ward 8 are areas where those with the greatest need for affordable fresh fruits and vegetables reside. Walmart’s announcement that it will be closing nearly 270 stores, laying off hundreds of employees and reneging on its promise to build the last two District stores also shutters the hopes of those who have the greatest need for employment, albeit low wage jobs. In a statement explaining its decision not to build the two remaining stores, Walmart officials said, “As part of a broad, strategic review of our existing portfolio and pipeline, we’ve concluded opening two additional stores in Washington, D.C. is not viable at this time.” Reportedly, however, Walmart is still planning to open 400 new stores this year, half of which will be located overseas. We agree with the D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine that there may be an opportunity to seek punitive action against Walmart who caused existing business to close and employees to lose their jobs. We hope city officials will not allow Walmart to walk out of the District as easily as they were allowed to walk in. The human toll must be addressed. WI WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

Dear Editor

Business Exchange article, “The African American National Museum Opens 2016,” in the January 14, 2016 edition of The Informer made me feel real proud of being an African American living in the United States of America, and even more specifically living in Washington DC. It will be a gloriously wonderful day when our National Museum of African American History and Culture opens. People of all races and from all over the world will be able to see and read about our history, the pain, the struggles, the sorrows and the victories. Most importantly the history that will be seen will be our history written by us. It is a history to be celebrated by all of us and for all to see. Hopefully, this addition to the Smithsonian Institution’s collection of museums on the National Mall will serve as an inspiration to the thousands of African American students, along with students of all races, who will visit the Mall each year and will see that the contributions of African Americas to the building of the United States was not just one-dimensional, but very significant on many levels throughout its history. Camille Boston Washington, D.C.

Dear Editor

I was glad to see that you had an article about the President’s State of the Union speech on the front-page, “Obama Calls for a United Nation,”

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by D. Kevin McNeir, January 14, 2016. Not only was it the best state of the union speech I’ve ever heard, I think it’s the best speech by a president I’ve ever heard. President Barack Obama is the most articulate, the most intelligent, the most straightforward, the wittiest and the coolest president we’ve had since JFK. He stood there in front of a chamber full of people, most of whom have a real dislike for him, who haven’t even given him the respect due the President of the United States and he made them look real small and petty for all of their failures to stop him from accomplishing his agenda. Those who have spent the last eight years trying to discredit and destroy his presidency probably didn’t even realize how incompetent he made them look because they are so entrenched in their personal dislike of him and not what is good for the country, they can’t even think rationally. To put it real simple, the speech was brilliant! Curtis Lacey Bowie, Maryland

Readers' Mailbox The Washington Informer welcomes letters to the editor about articles we publish or issues affecting the community. Write to: lsaxton@ washingtoninformer.com or send to: 3117 Martin Luther King Jr Ave., SE, Washington, D.C. 20032. Please note that we are unable to publish letters that do not include a full name, address and phone number. We look forward to hearing from you.

JAN. 21 - 27, 2016 21

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist

By Julianne Malveaux

State of the Union: Class Act, Crass Responses President Barack Obama did his thing when he delivered the State of the Union address on Tuesday night. There was confidence in his speech, some off-the-cuff humor and a little swagger when he rattled off his accomplishments and asserted that the SOTU is “strong.” While I disagree with parts of the address, especially around economic issues, I was delighted with the president’s forceful tone, and with his insistence of speaking both of issues

and of our toxic political climate. Our president is, above all things, consistent. He loves these United States of America, and he always has. He believes in our unity. He believes that we can come together, transcending party lines, for the good of our nation. As he always has, he spoke of bipartisan cooperation, holding out an olive branch to House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin), pledging to work with him on poverty and criminal justice reform. And our president humbly shared “one of the few regrets of my presidency – that the rancor and

Guest Columnist

suspicion between the parties has gotten worse instead of better”. Obama appeals to our common sense, to our better selves, to the notion that we are all in this together in the name of our democracy. “Democracy grinds to a halt without a willingness to compromise, or when even basic facts are contested, or when we listen only to those who agree with us. Our public life withers when only the most extreme voices get all the attention. And most of all, democracy breaks down when the average person feels their voice doesn’t matter; that the system

is rigged in favor of the rich or the powerful or some special interest.” Thus, with spirit, Obama offered important facts about economic distribution – “After years now of record corporate profits, working families won’t get more opportunity or bigger paychecks just by letting big banks or big oil or hedge funds make their own rules at everybody else’s expense. Middle-class families are not going to feel more secure because we allowed attacks on collective bargaining to go unanswered. Food Stamp recipients did not cause the financial crisis; reckless-

ness on Wall Street did. Immigrants aren’t the principal reason wages haven’t gone up; those decisions are made in the boardrooms that all too often put quarterly earnings over long-term returns. It’s sure not the average family watching tonight that avoids paying taxes through offshore accounts.” Obama offered a meaty speech, with much to chew on. Much as I applauded, I was disappointed that he overstated our nation’s economic success. Yes, the unemployment rate

MALVEAUX Page 37

By James Clingman

Unrepresented by Our Representatives Does it really matter who wins the presidency? How can it matter to Black folks, considering the way we “play” politics? We have no power, no leverage and little or no influence in the political arena, and even worse it seems we are reluctant to do what it takes to gain any political clout. So why do we care so much about the upcoming election? Having “played” this political game for more than 50 years now, getting thousands of Black folks elected to public office, and even a

Black president of the United States, we are still far behind and even nonexistent in serious public policy discourse and legislative initiatives. As we face yet another “most important election” of our lifetime, what are you willing to do to improve our political situation in this country? Hint: Handwringing won’t help. Is our political strategy “I got plenty of nothing, and nothing is plenty for me”? Or “You got to give the people, give the people what they want”? Do we even have a strategy other than listening to flowery words from politicians and watching them give speeches and

Guest Columnist

participate in debates? We, the bipolar electorate, have empowered an aristocratic class of pompous, self-righteous, lying, condescending, affluent, aloof, money-grubbing, narcissistic, insincere, unconcerned yet powerful individuals that many of us hold in high esteem, for reasons unbeknownst to me. They play with our emotions and draw on our sympathies, the result of which is a never-ending roller coaster ride. Even sadder is the fact that many of us believe they will save us. All the incumbents and candidates need are a few nice-sounding

phrases to make us think we are in high cotton. To make matters worse, Black “leaders” once again are telling us to vote, but they are not in specific discussions about who to vote for and why. Oh yeah, I forgot; the NAACP is “nonpartisan” (yeah, right) and cannot endorse or support any candidate. How convenient, and what a joke that is. The vast majority of Black folks are already in the tank for Hillary; anyone can see that. Black organizations will feature her at their conventions, and preachers will invite her to their pulpits. On the other hand, Bernie is courting Blacks via

his Black lives matter rhetoric, and Trump is saying how much Black people love him, while the other Republican candidates are reluctant to seriously lobby the Black vote— including Uncle Ben. We are merely props for a circus act. The day after the SOTU many of our people were more interested in what Michelle Obama wore than what her husband said — or did not say. She wore a dress originally priced at $2,095, which was made by Narciso Rodriguez, a non-Black gay designer, and we went bonkers.

CLINGMAN Page 37

By Benjamin F. Chavis Jr.

The African-American State of the Union

While millions of people across the United States and throughout the world will continue to affirm, discuss or respond in various ways to the last State of Union by America’s first President of the United States who is an African-American, there are still priority issues that challenge African-Americans going forward. Of course, as one would expect and predict, President Barack H. Obama’s 2016 State of the Union address was a message to all people in the U.S.,

22 JAN. 21 - 27, 2016

as well as to all people in the global community. Obama’s leadership will be judged by history and his legacy will be the subject of focus for generations to come. One thing, however, is for certain concerning the executive success of the Obama administration in the face of unprecedented political opposition from the very first day that the Obama family moved into the White House. But, in truth, the success of Obama is indisputable in leading the steady recovery of the economy of the U.S. with the enactment of the American Recovery and

Reinvestment Act , the Affordable Care Act that has enabled millions of people to acquire health care insurance, the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act that has protected millions of people from predatory financial schemes, and the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act that has helped thousands of African-Americans in particular avoid preventable home foreclosures across the nation. Yet there is a need, I believe, to first say thank you to Obama respectfully for his outstanding national and global leadership. Today, secondly, we are obligat-

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ed to issue an independent African-American State of the Union. For more than 45 million African-Americans, the State of the Union is a complexed set of realities, challenges and opportunities. The reason why the “Black Lives Matter” movement has taken a front position in the consciousness and support from the vast majority of African-Americans is because fatal police brutality has become once again too prevalent in too many of our communities. Prosecutorial misconduct that has worked to protect and shield the perpetrators of police violence demands louder outcries of national

protest. Today we remain disproportionately incarcerated in America’s jails and prisons: women, men and young juveniles are overflowing behind bars. There is an urgent demand for criminal justice reform without further delay or debate. Mass incarceration is a reality for Black America that needs to be challenged and ended. The spending and annual consumerism of African-Americans continues to exceed $1.2 trillion. Our “State of the Union” indicates glaringly that we are big spenders,

CHAVIS Page 37

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OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist

By Charlene Crowell

Honor Dr. King by Working to Secure Financial Justice As our nation pauses once again in memory of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., observances across the country will recall his now world-famous Dream. Delivered in a blistering summer’s heat in 1963, the speech attracted over 250,000 people gathered in Washington and millions more who watched on television. Dr. King’s life work focused on creating equality of opportunity for all Americans. In this struggle, economic injustice remained his com-

mitment as his last days in Memphis challenged unfair wages and working conditions of sanitation workers. Many tributes this year will no doubt note how his life was snuffed out by a sniper’s bullet in Memphis. Today much like in 1968, Black Americans still lag far behind their white counterparts in income and wealth – with few or no emergency savings and equally low retirement accounts. This reality is not a coincidence but the result of deliberate public policies which favored whites over others, combined with predatory loans that destroyed decades of hard-earned savings.

Guest Columnist

Our challenge this King Holiday is to honor his memory by taking an active role in securing financial justice. Despite the enactment of civil rights laws spanning open housing, voting rights, equal credit and more, the Joint Economic Committee of Congress recently found that the median net worth of White households is 13 times greater than Black households. By the numbers, we are talking about the difference between having $142,000 and $11,000. While America’s well-to-do continue to partake of the nation’s financial bounty, the middle class continues to shrink, more Amer-

icans are sliding into poverty and much of Black America lives financially fragile lives. A late 2015 a report from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis found that while college education continues to boost lifetime earnings, how much people benefit from those degrees has a stark racial divide. Black college graduates’ median incomes fell 12 percent below those of their White and Asian-American counterparts. Similarly, the average median incomes for Latino college graduates fell 10 percent less as well. Why is that? The Federal Reserve itself noted,

“The underlying factors causing racial and ethnic wealth disparities undoubtedly are complex and deeply rooted.” But certainly one of the factors is that Black students are targeted and more heavily recruited by for-profit colleges than their White counterparts. While Black and Latino students make up 21 percent of all postsecondary enrollments, they represent 41 percent of students at for-profit institutions. These high cost institutions largely offer substandard education and leave graduates with massive debt and worthless

CROWELL Page 38

By Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.

Michigan Poisons Poor to Save a Few Bucks Flint, Michigan, is impoverished. The auto plants have closed. Forty percent of the city’s 100,000 residents live below the poverty level. It is majority minority. It’s been in fiscal crisis since 2011, with the state taking over budgetary control and a state-appointed “emergency manager” driving policy focused on cutting spending. Flint residents are Americans, but like many impoverished Americans they are forgotten. And state officials led by Gov. Rick Snyder

have shown that they consider the residents disposable. In Flint, the water supply has been poisoned by lead. Police are now delivering bottled water from door to door. But it may be too late for hundreds of kids who are already suffering from elevated levels of lead in their blood. The damage done is irreversible with lifelong consequences, including lowered intelligence and long-term mental and emotional damage. How did this happen? The emergency manager — accountable only to the governor and state officials — decided to save money

Askia-At-Large

by switching Flint’s water supply from Lake Huron to a cheaper source, the Flint River. Only the river had been poisoned by waste from nearby factories for generations. The toxic wastes not only turned the water brown, it corroded the aged pipes of Flint’s water system, unleashing lead into the water. Federal law required that the water be treated, but that would have cost $100 a day, so it was not done. Parents began to complain of rashes and hair loss. The state’s environmental quality agency denied there was a problem. High-level

state officials knew that the water supply was lead poisoned for six months before declaring an emergency. Finally, a Flint pediatrician tested the blood of children and discovered lead levels double and even triple the prior amounts. State officials denounced her work before realizing the truth could no longer be hidden. Finally, Gov. Snyder ended the denial. He declared an official emergency, and four days later called for delivering bottled water. The head of his environmental agency resigned. Snyder apologized for the catastrophe, but calls

for him to resign continue to build. Flint is not alone. Across America, in ghettos and barrios, reservations and rural valleys, the poor are isolated and too often forgotten. Systems basic to civilization — plumbing, water systems, school houses, garbage collection and treatment, roads and public transport — are in squalor, lacking even the investment to keep them up to minimum standards. Impoverished neighborhoods often lack hospitals, grocery stores, and decent public spaces. The poor are

JACKSON Page 38

By Askia Muhammad

Can America Be Great Again? I’ve had to rethink my guarantee that Donald Trump will never be president of the United States because he will never win the Republican nomination. I still don’t believe the GOP leadership is so suicidal that it will allow an unreconstructed fascist like The Donald to lead its party into the 2016 presidential race, but now I just don’t know. I also don’t think that Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) — as much as

I appreciate his principled, progressive views — will ever be president or win the Democratic nomination. Bernie is a self-described “socialist” in what is becoming more and more a right-wing nation. The idea of a socialist president is even more unlikely in my mind than that of a modified Klansman like Trump. What has changed everything in Trump’s favor is the stunning success of president Barack Obama, the first Black president. Had this president been a clown rather than a scandal-free, handsome cavalier with a stunningly

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beautiful wife and two charming, apparently well-behaved daughters, then White folks would feel less insecure. But not only did the president not shame himself and his people during his first seven years in office, but he has also had success after success, from diplomatic breakthroughs with Cuba and Iran to saving the economy from the Great Recession and delivering affordable health insurance to 17 million people. All of the Obama successes are measures the country desperately needed, and many of his victories

have been at the cost of implementing ideas first put forward by Republicans, but because this Black Dude got it done, the race-haters in Congress and in the Republican presidential contest can’t wait to get in office to begin undoing what Obama did and thus make America … different. But way back on Sept. 25, 1883, Frederick Douglass explained why White politicians literally hate the successful, “squeaky clean” Black man. “Though the colored man is no longer subject to barter and sale, he is surrounded by an adverse set-

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tlement which fetters all his movements,” Douglass wrote. “In his downward course he meets with no resistance, but his course upward is resented and resisted at every step of his progress. “If he comes in ignorance, rags and wretchedness he conforms to the popular belief of his character, and in that character he is welcome; but if he shall come as a gentleman, a scholar and a statesman, he is hailed as a contradiction to the national faith concerning his race, and his coming is resented as impu-

MUHAMMAD Page 38 JAN. 21 - 27, 2016 23

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

PGCPS BRIEFS

Compiled by Dorothy Rowley WI Staff Writer

SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT

5Job readiness training registration is

now open with a training site at Suitland High School in District 7. / Photo courtesy PGCPS

The Prince George’s County School System has partnered with several county agencies to promote summer youth employment for residents between the ages of 15-19. Job readiness training registration is now open with a training site at Suitland High School in District 7. For more information, contact: KAlexander.Wallace@pgcps.org.

EDTECH SUMMIT Oxon Hill High School will host the 3rd annual “EdTechTeam Maryland Summit,” featuring “Google for Education.” The event begins at 7:30 a.m. Jan. 30 and 31. Ken Shelton, Apple distinguished educator and Google certified teacher, Rushton Hurley, founder and executive director of Next Vista for Learning, and Holly Clark, educational strategist, will serve as the keynote presenters. The two-day summit will focus on deploying, integrating and

using Google apps for education and other Google tools to promote student learning from K-12. The summit is open to all educators, leaders and technical staff in the Washington metro area. For more information or to register for the event, visit http:// md.gafesummit.com/2016.

staging, outstanding vocal work, outstanding ensemble work, and outstanding pacing in the play. Roosevelt’s students will move on to compete this year with a larger production.

POET-IN-RESIDENC

THESPIAN FESTIVALS Twenty-four students from Eleanor Roosevelt High School recently participated in the Maryland State Thespian Festival, which has been held annually since the 1940s. The festival assembles the top theatre programs from both public and private high schools across the state, and Roosevelt was the only county school to attend. Participating students got involved in workshops, collaborative events and competitions. Roosevelt’s students competed against 24 other schools in the “Black Box One Act” challenge and came out on top in all six categories, including outstanding

You’re Invited

10 APRIL

mentary School participated in the annual “Shop with A Cop” event with police and law enforcement officials from the county. It was hosted by the Hyattsville Police Department. In addition to purchasing holiday gifts of their choice, the students rode in a police cruiser and had lunch with police officers. The students also shared how thankful they were for the committed service of each officer shared.

‘TEACHER OF THE YEAR’ NOMINATIONS

5Students from Samuel Ogle Middle

School recently hosted a Poet-in-Residence project with the “Young Audiences of Maryland” program. / Photo courtesy PGCPS

Samuel Ogle Middle School recently hosted a Poet-in-Residence project with the “Young Audiences of Maryland” program. Jamaal Collier, aka “Mr. Root,” brought hip-hop, spoken word and poetry into 8th-grade classrooms during the weeklong workshop. Students were also able to perform their work in a private “poetry slam” with their peers.

STUDENTS ‘SHOP WITH A COP’ Students from Rosa L. Parks Ele-

Organized by the Maryland State Department of Education, the Maryland “Teacher of the Year” program recognizes the work being done by the state’s outstanding teachers. However, drawing from a pool of nominees representing each county means that just one teacher is selected for the honor of representing Maryland in the National Teacher of the Year competition. Through this process, the program simultaneously builds a network of exemplary practitioners that act as state and local advisors in education policy and program development. For questions on what it takes to be a “Teacher of the Year,” email toty.alumni@pgcps.org. Meanwhile, the application deadline is 5 p.m. March 3. WI

DC Church Launch

Catch1Today.org Congress Heights Douglass Shipley Terrace

THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Avenue, SE FACEBOOK: CatchoftheDayDC 24 JAN. 21 - 27, 2016

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By Timothy Cox Special Correspondent The Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club in Bethesda, Maryland, will serve as the venue Thursday, Jan. 21 to showcase one of the District’s unsung vocalists – Sylver Logan Sharp. Though Sharp may not be a household name in the DMV, but her vocal talents are widely known in the internationally-acclaimed music industry. For nearly 20 years, she worked stages throughout North America, Europe and the Orient as lead singer of the legendary disco/pop band, CHIC. Sharp explains that her tenure with the group began in 1991, when co-founders Nile Rodgers and the late Bernard Edwards wanted to reform the band from its heydays of the late 1970s. “At one point, I was working the local D.C. circuit, and the next I did an audition with Nile and Bernard. They liked what

they heard, and hired me on the spot,” she said. “I accepted the gig, but told them I still had some commitments at home I needed to fulfill.” Specifically, Sharp had been working with several local bands, including an allgirl group named “Euphoria.” She needed to return to D.C. and accept a local award from the Washington Area Music Association, who was nominated for an award known as the WAMMIES. “I’ve been around, but I still credit my D.C. musicians for helping make me what I am, and that includes all my homies in the Go-Go world,” she said. She said she helped her friend and keyboardist, “Sweet” Cherie Mitchell-Agurs land the keyboard job with CHIC. Mitchell-Agurs, who played keyboards with the Godfather of go-go, the later Chuck Brown, she currently performs with the D.C. based all-girl GO-GO band, “Bela Donna,” and still play with the Chuck Brown Tribute Band. As for Sharp, she describes her early beginnings as a blend between learning the opera/classical stylings of Kathleen Deanna Battle and Jessye Norman, as well as the R&B, jazz soulful chops of her mentor Jeane Carne.

Sharp was born in Charleston, South Carolina, but moved to the District and as a teenager attended the highly-acclaimed Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Northwest. “That’s where I got a chance to meet so many talented people from all over the city,” she said. Sharp has a notable family history starting with her grandfather, John Foster Potts Sr., who taught at Roosevelt High School in Gary, Indiana. It’s the same school where the late “King of Pop” Michael Jackson and his brothers attended. Potts also was the former president of Vorhees College, a historically black college in Denmark, South Carolina. During her years with CHIC, Sharp appeared shows such as the “Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson, “Storytellers” on VH-1, the “Ellen DeGeneres Show” with Kid Rock, and Larry the Cable Guy’s “Christmas Special.” She has also recorded with and shared stages artists that included Roberta Flack, Patti LaBelle, Michael Bolton and Ledisi. Sharp’s released her debut solo CD in 2009 entitled “Place to Begin” produced by Daryl “LA” Hunt. She departed ways from CHIC in 2010. Her current single, “Little Things,” was released several months ago. Sharp recorded her second CD, “The Groovement,” live in Stockholm, Sweden and is scheduled for release this year. “With the way the music in-

dustry has developed, with the new technology, musicians are now free to do what they want,” she said. “There’s no more being stifled by record companies who own you, your music and what directions you’d like to go in. It’s a new day and I’m just blessed that I’m around to enjoy the new energy.” Besides music, Sharp owns

CULTURAL AMBASSADOR TO THE WORLD

a jewelry line called SYLVERWEAR. Her clients include her former CHIC bandmate Rodgers, Sir Elton John and Chaka Khan. Sharp’s performance at the Bethesda Blues and Jazz Super Club starts at 8 p.m., 7719 Wisconsin Ave. For tickets, call 240-330-4500. WI

Robert Battle Artistic Director Masazumi Chaya Associate Artistic Director

Rachael McLaren, photo by Andrew Eccles

Former CHIC Lead Singer to Headline DC Performance

LIFESTYLE

Feb. 2–7 • Opera House All performances include Alvin Ailey’s signature masterpiece REVELATIONS

PROGRAM A Tue., Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. Open Door (Ronald K. Brown) Exodus (Rennie Harris) Revelations (Alvin Ailey)

PROGRAM B Wed., Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. Sat., Feb. 6 at 7 p.m.* Open Door A Case of You (Judith Jamison) No Longer Silent (Robert Battle) Revelations

PROGRAM C Thu., Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. Sun., Feb. 7 at 1 p.m. Blues Suite (Alvin Ailey) Night Creature (Alvin Ailey) Cry (Alvin Ailey) Revelations

PROGRAM D Fri., Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. Piazzolla Caldera (Paul Taylor) Awakening (Robert Battle) Revelations

PROGRAM E Sat., Feb. 6 at 1 p.m.

Followed by a FREE Explore the Arts post-performance discussion

ODETTA (Matthew Rushing) Exodus Revelations

*Come early on Saturday to learn a few steps from Revelations on the Millennium Stage at 5:30 p.m.! Explore the Arts is made possible by

Nile Rodgers and Sylver Logan / Photo by NGA Production

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The Millennium Stage is brought to you by

TICKETS ON SALE NOW! KENNEDY-CENTER.ORG (202) 467-4600 Tickets also available at the Box Office. Groups call (202) 416-8400.

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JAN. 21 - 27, 2016 25

LIFESTYLE

WI Book Review A

Horoscopes

JAN. 21 - 27, 2016

ARIES Monday and Tuesday are all about your family. Whatever you wanted to get

to at the beginning of the week, if it isn’t related to family, forget about it. (Although you might get some chores done around the house.). The advantage of being distracted by your love life is that it fills you with tons of energy, which will be useful Friday, Saturday and Sunday -- which is, strangely enough, when you finally get some work done.

Best Friends Forever

TAURUS On Monday and Tuesday, you’re speaking your mind -- and getting a great

by Kimberla Lawson Roby c.2016, Grand Central Publishing $20,00 / $24.00 Canada 183 pages

response. People light up when you say something they aren’t expecting. They realize they’re in the middle of an actual conversation. It’s startling. You surprise people in small ways like this all week. Remember, it takes confidence to really talk with people.

GEMINI Moodiness is a dominant theme Monday and Tuesday -- you’re moody,

and so are the people around you. There’s a sense that there isn’t enough good stuff to go around, and people are fighting over what’s left. But none of this is real. New ideas come to you, you spark a few debates and you make headway on a big project. (And all of those moody people from Monday and Tuesday? Ha! Look at you now!) Friday through Sunday you have about a billion things to get done. Chop, chop!

CANCER Someone asks you what you want on Monday or Tuesday, and almost You would do almost anything for your best friend. You would take a bullet, take her in, or take her anywhere she needed to go. You keep her kids and her confidences. And, as in the new novel, “Best Friends Forever” by Kimberla Lawson Roby, she would do the same for you. Probably. Celine Richardson was absolutely furious at her husband, Keith. It was bad enough that he came home at 5 a.m., but lying about where he’d been was the last straw. It was obvious that Keith was cheating on Celine – but what Celine couldn’t figure out was why. He claimed that she acted like she never had time for him, and Celine had to admit that she 5Kimberla Lawson Roby had been awfully busy for the last few months. / Photo by Paul Crave Building her business took a lot of her time, but didn’t they have date nights? Sure, she had been preoccupied now and then, but when they sent their ten-year-old daughter, Kassie, to spend the weekend with Celine’s best friend, Lauren, didn’t Celine and Keith spend alone time together? They did, but that wasn’t good enough for him. He was cheating on Celine with some tramp, but he wouldn’t come out and admit it. And yet – that wasn’t the worst thing in Celine’s life. Just a few days before Keith’s first lie, she found a lump in her breast and, after rounds of doctor visits and too many tests, her worst fears were confirmed. It was malignant, but Keith was full of excuses why he couldn’t accompany her to the hospital and Celine knew instantly that she could never again rely on her husband for support. Still, she wasn’t alone. With the help of her best friend and her brother - and no thanks to her no-good, absent husband – she would be just fine. But Keith wasn’t done, and neither was cancer. Celine’s recovery didn’t go well, and her soon-to-be-ex had a bombshell to share, one that she sensed wasn’t the whole story. And just when Celine thought she couldn’t take any more, Lauren spoke her mind… Friendship, as you know, is never one-sided. It’s give-and-take, and that includes “Best Friends Forever.” From the very first scene in which a delicious scandal erupts, author Kimberla Lawson Roby gives her fans a story that’s sordid and scary but also, in an odd way, spiritually uplifting. Roby’s Celine is a strong, God-loving woman who’s totally out of patience, but I enjoyed that she’s given a lifeline as well as two surprises, one right after the other. While that ultimately leads to what I felt was an abrupt ending that left me hanging, it also gave me hope that we haven’t heard the last of these characters. And the take away? I liked it, and I think you will, too: readers get a great girlfriends novel that’s easy to read, super-quick to finish, and that can happily be passed around or recommended for a book group. If that sounds like a dream read for you, then get “Best Friends Forever.” It could be a book you’ll do anything for. WI

26 JAN. 21 - 27, 2016

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without knowing it, you tell them everything. Hopes and dreams -- and all that. Somehow in the telling, all the things that once seemed so far away from you seem, well, closer than ever. Achievable, even. Friday, Saturday and Sunday are more rooted in the here and now. They are great days in a minor chord.

LEO You’re sensitive on Monday and Tuesday -- a lot more sensitive than usual. So when someone tells you something and you almost physically react -- well, that’s what’s up. That said, no one else can tell. You have such command, such a polished way with things, that people register absolutely no change in your disposition. Great things are coming. VIRGO You derive your energy from other people Monday and Tuesday. Someone walks into a room -- for what it’s worth, women figure prominently in the stars -- and something about your conversational chemistry wakes you up. Wednesday and Thursday, you need to be as woken up as possible. Madness is transpiring and you’ll need to be flexible to survive it. (And avoid the martyr thing, too: When you make it out unscathed, don’t brag about your valor.) But all this is just the preamble to Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Great days? Yes. You’re beaming. LIBRA You’d love to keep your head down and focus on Monday and Tuesday, but you have all these feelings swimming around in you, all these distractions. Find something small and beautiful to focus on. If you’re at work, go buy a little plant and put it on your desk. Somehow this sort of thing works. Wednesday and Thursday, what works is seeing good friends, people who inspire you to conversational greatness and who can see that there’s something you want to talk about. SCORPIO As much as you’d like to be in control, you’re not controlling the reins on Monday and Tuesday. So you might as well put your feet up and enjoy the ride. Right? And while you’re at it, let someone else choose where to eat lunch. And remember how comfortable it is with your feet up? Friday, Saturday and Sunday are great days in a subtle way. Your friends are excellent. SAGITARIUS It’s okay that you’re not on the same page as everyone else on Monday and Tuesday. Follow where your own mood takes you and you’ll stumble onto something wonderful, some idea that no one else could think of. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, you have the urge to speed ahead. But what’s the hurry? Relax. Enjoy the walk. CAPRICORN Take things one at a time on Monday and Tuesday. Change is

in the air, and you’re not opposed to change -- sometimes you really like the idea, actually. But it’s a process. The real fun happens on Friday. And also Saturday. Plus, Sunday. It’s a great weekend: You get a bunch done, you catch up with someone long-distance and you develop a new obsession (a good one).

AQUARIUS Monday and Tuesday are challenging, no doubt about it. But try not to let the challenges bring you down. Challenges are fun! Sure, when it’s real life and not a game, feelings get added to the mix, but that just makes things more interesting. What ends up happening is the joint discovery of a brilliant middle ground, something neither of you would have found if not for the other. This accomplishment makes you long (this weekend) for another challenge. PISCES Monday and Tuesday are awesome. Romance is in the air, and so is a little music. Is that in your head? Is that piped in from somewhere? Whatever the case, you feel like you’re in a movie about someone who’s happy. Saturday and Sunday, relationships -- romantic and platonic -- are in the stars. Help a pal out. WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

CAPTURE THE MOMENT

5Residents line the parade route on Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue in Southeast during the MLK holiday celebration on Monday, Jan. 18. / Photo by Roy Lewis

6C.

5 Aaron Holmes participated in the MLK holiday parade to bring attention to his campaign for Ward 8 Council member in Southeast on Monday, Jan. 18. / Photo by Patricia Little

4Two Prince George’s County police

officers participate in the Stop the Violence MLK holiday march at FedEx Field in Landover, Md. on Monday, Jan. 18. / Photo by Shevry Lassiter

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JAN. 21 - 27, 2016 27

SPORTS

Harvard’s Amaker Nabs Historic Win Over Howard By Elton Hayes Harvard head coach Tommy Amaker’s homecoming to Washington, D.C., went about as well as it could Saturday, Jan. 16. Powered by a 11-0 second-half run, Harvard pulled away late to defeat Howard, 69-61, and ensured that Amaker’s return to the District would be a memorable one for him and 25 of his family members who counted among the 2,700 who packed Howard’s cozy Burr Gymnasium. “Being back at home in the Washington, D.C. area is very meaningful,” Amaker said following the win. “Having all of my folks here was meaningful for me and for the other staff members as well.” In the absence of NCAA leading scorer James “J-Byrd” Daniel III, and with Howard’s second-leading scorer James Miller sitting out with a broken hand, Howard head coach Kevin Nickelberry turned to Dalique Mingo and Damon Collins to replace the production. Both players finished the game with 14 points, which led the Bison in scoring. After a sluggish start, Howard traded leads with Harvard late in the opening half, and nabbed its first lead of the game after a Mingo layup with 3:05 remaining in the first half. The Bison led 27-26 at halftime, but the lack of depth proved to be too much to overcome. Howard’s Keon Hill hit a

three-pointer with 8:05 remaining in the game to tie it at 47 and send the Howard fans into a collective frenzy. But Harvard, which has played in four consecutive NCAA tournaments, distanced itself from Howard behind a flurry of baskets to retain the lead for good. “We knew that we would come out and play tough; we felt that we could win the game,” Nickelberry said. “You can’t replace the leading scorer in the country. You can’t replace a kid who is in the top three in the nation in steals. You can’t replace those shots in the stretch…their veterans took over.” Nickelberry, who is in his sixth season as Howard’s leading man after a head coaching stop at Hampton, took over an embattled Howard program in 2010. The season quickly turned the program around with Howard’s 16 wins last year, the school’s most since the 2001-02 season. He and Amaker worked with their respective athletic departments to arrange the historic meeting, and Nickelberry hopes that to replicate Amaker’s by attracting top-tier athletes who are also just as gifted in the classroom. “We’re trying to get academic kids to come to our school, get a degree and get a chance to be in the spotlight,” Nickelberry, a Washington D.C. native, said. “When school is over, your life will still have a great ending.” Amaker grew up in Falls

5 Howard University guard Keon Hill and Harvard guard Tommy McCarthy in action at Burr Gymnasium. / Photo by John E. De Freitas

“Being back at home in the Washington, D.C. area is very meaningful, having all of my folks here was meaningful for me and for the other staff members as well.” Tommy Amaker /

View

Sports Photos by John De Freitas

at:

 28 JAN. 21 - 27, 2016

Church, Virginia, where he starred at Fairfax’s W.T. Woodson High School, before heading to Duke University on a basketball scholarship. Prior to Harvard, Amaker held head coaching positions at Seton Hall and Michigan. His mother, Alma Amaker, graduated from Dunbar High School in Northwest and Virginia State University. She was one of the 25 family members who rented a van for Saturday’s game. Although a moment of panic

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ensued after their vehicle broke down on the way to Howard’s campus, they arrived in time to fill the seats located just behind Harvard’s bench. “My first thought was, ‘how am I going to get enough tickets for this big family?’” she said with a laugh. “This is just great. Tommy’s a great guy and he was so excited to see all of his cousins and family here today. His high school coach is also here, so it’s very special for him.”

While there is no rematch slated in the future, both coaches remain hopeful that the contest is just the first of many. The series also gives both schools an opportunity for exposure, which they hope will have a positive impact on recruiting. “Harvard and Howard are two of the iconic names in higher education and we’re proud to be a part of it…” Amaker said. “We’re certainly hopeful that we can continue this series.” WI

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SPORTS

Harvard Crimson Defeats Howard Bison 69-61

6 Howard University guard Dalique Mingo drives past Harvard forward Andre Chatfield in the first half of NCAA Division I men’s non-conference basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 16 at Howard Burr Gymnasium in Northwest. Harvard defeated Howard 69-61. / Photo by John E. De Freitas

5 Harvard center Zena Edosomwan is double-teamed by two Howard opponents in the second half of NCAA Division I men’s basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 16 at Howard Burr Gymnasium. Harvard defeated Howard 69-61. / Photo by John E. De Freitas 6 Harvard forward Chris Egi gets past Howard forward Hunter Myres in the second half of NCAA Division I men’s basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 16 at Howard Burr Gymnasium in Northwest. Harvard defeated Howard 69-61. / Photo by John E. De Freitas

4 Howard center Marcel Boyd eyes the basket after being defended by Harvard forward Balsa Dragovic in the first half of men’s college basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 16 at Howard Burr Gymnasium in Northwest. Harvard defeated Howard 69-61. / Photo by John E. De Freitas WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

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JAN. 21 - 27, 2016 29

RELIGION AUTO SHOW from Page 19

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ceded by two public policy preview days of special events and announcements for government and industry officials. The show will feature 700 new model cars from over 42

HORSE WORLD EXPO

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manufacturers, VIP tours led by award-winning automotive writers, a special exhibit area for live painting of “art” cars, sports personalities, mascots, a family fun zone and a beer garden. Inventory from Moorehead’s Rolls Royce dealership will be a

January 22-24

MD State Fairgrounds • Timonium, MD Over 450 booths of products & services for horse owners and horse lovers. Multi-breed demonstrations, Stallion Avenue, Breed Row & more!! Seminars by National Clinicians and Family Friendly Entertainment

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MLK PARADE from Page 10 Statehood for D.C. garnered attention as a theme heavily represented in the peace walk and parade. “I started the non-profit in 1997 because Congress took all power away from D.C. except Park and Rec., so we went to protest,” said Anise Jenkins, executive director of Free D.C. Jenkins insisted her fight for statehood came by doing simple activities such as listening to the radio. “I would just listen to the radio and hear what was going on and I was angry. I knew I had to do something,” she said. “First we went to the White House, and I put $50 in my shoe for when we got arrested I could bail myself out. We got on the fence and protested.” Participating in the peace walk is a no-brainer. “We relate the struggle for freedom and equality with statehood,” she said. “It’s called the peace walk, but you can’t have peace without equality and justice.” WI

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part of the hundreds featured at the show, but Gill believes in order to give Moorehead company, African Americans must acquire wealth. “Out of 19,617 dealers in this country, only 258 are African Americans. This is because we haven’t been able to build wealth,” Gill said. “Every generation we’re starting over. That is why ownership is so important. Building wealth is key. You can’t pass down a job.” WI

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borhood is changing. Policies need to better recognize single working parents who fall under the radar like me who don’t qualify for food stamps or Medicaid. The guidelines need to be revamped to create a bridge to help families with everyday necessities.” Kim Hart said she hopes the next generation won’t face the challenges she’s experienced. “I will take every chance I get to stand on my soapbox and share my story so that maybe the next generation won’t have the need to put on an exhibit speaking to hunger,” she said. “And I am not alone in this constant struggle for survival. Luckily, Witnesses to Hunger exists and is my support system.” The exhibit with photographs taken by members of Witnesses to Hunger will remain on display at THEARC through Sunday, Jan. 31. WI

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RELIGION THE RELIGION CORNER

The Griffin Firm, PLLC

Careful Decisions Build Success This week, we take Napoleon Hill’s principle of “decision” to see how you’re doing in this area. Before embarking upon the journey caused by a decision you’ve made, ask yourself: “Does this decision bring glory to God? Would it dishonor God? Allow the Lord to direct your path. The Scripture, in the book of James, also tells us a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. Do you decide one thing today and tomorrow something different? This series is designed to help you understand the research discovered by Hill, secrets that became clear to him as he watched and interacted with Henry Ford, John D. Rockefeller and others. Hill reminds us how Thomas Edison failed 10,000 times before he discovered the electric light. Hill’s success formula describes steps that can be guaranteed – in fact, they are like an insurance policy against failure. “We THINK our way to success, as we apply the rules he uncovered.” These principles to success are intertwined with Scripture. This column provides a glimpse of the principles discovered by Hill. Hill’s research disclosed the fact that successful men and women have the habit of reaching decisions promptly and changing these decisions slowly if and when they were changed at all. “People who fail to accumulate success or money,” says Hill, “without exception, have the habit of reaching decisions, if at all, very slowly and of changing these decisions quickly and often.”

Turning Hearts Church 4275 4th Street, S.E. Washington, DC 20034 Phone: 202-746-0113 Fax: 301-843-2445

Don’t let this be you! Last year as I began my Christmas holiday trip by taking the subway to Washington Reagan National Airport, heading to Arizona for a few weeks of family and time off, I made a bad decision. I wasn’t sure about what stop to get off on the Metro subway to get to the airport and chose not to ask the attendants. There was a pilot fully dressed in his outfit. I decided to follow him. When he got off, I got off. I followed him downstairs and got on the same train. I decided to take the easy way out. I thought “Surely he must be heading for the airport, suitcase and all!” However, once I got on the second train, after I followed the pilot, my instincts kicked in. It felt as though we were going away from the airport, so I got up and asked the pilot if this train would take me to the airport. He said, “No, you need to switch to the train on the opposite side of the tracks.” Wasn’t I embarrassed? Nobody knew, but I felt so ashamed. Luckily, I was early and had some extra time to get lost. What’s my point? When you make a decision to follow someone, be certain they’re going where you want to go. You could be going in the wrong direction. My decision to start a small business was one of my best, and though I didn’t become a millionaire, my sisters and I certainly did change the course of our lives. We achieved success in many ways: We got political appointments and large contract awards, met

• • • • •

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

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

with Lyndia Grant lots of celebrities, etc. Look at the power of making a decision. And I never will forget the incredible “high” we felt each time, after our major event was over successfully. Serving as project director for a national monument where more than 100,000 people visit annually from around the world wouldn’t have happened. Finally, I wouldn’t be here writing this column today because Denise Rolark Barnes would not have met me. We met during the annual Georgia Avenue Day Parade and Festival. Had I not made the decision to start a business, none of this would have happened. Isn’t it a lot faster to make a decision about what it is you do want rather than talk about what you don’t want? WI Lyndia Grant speaks for women’s day programs, retreats, workshops and other special occasions. Visit her website at www.lyndiagrant.com; email lyndiagrant@ lyndiagrant.com.

202-379-4738

(301) 864-6070

CHURCH LAWYERS MCCOLLUM & ASSOCIATES, LLC

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

www.jmlaw.net

(301) 864-6070

jmccollum@jmlaw.net

Historic St. Mary’s Episcopal Church The Reverend Lyndon Shakespeare Interim Priest

Virgil K. Thomas, Sr. Senior Pastor/ Teacher

Foggy Bottom • Founded in 1867 728 23rd Street, NW • Washington, DC 20037 Church office: 202-333-3985 • Fax : 202-338-4958

Services & Times Sunday School 8 – 9 AM Worship Service 9 – 11 AM Tuesday Night Bible Study 6:30 – 8:00 PM Wednesday Daytime Bible Study 11 AM – 12:30 PM

Worship Services Sundays: 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Music and Hymns Wednesdays: 12:10 p.m. - Holy Eucharist

Motto : “A Great Commitment to the Great Commandment” Website: www.turningheartschurchdc.org Email: faithdefender@verizon.net

Committed to providing services and supports to increase the capacity of individuals, businesses, and communities.

www.stmarysfoggybottom.org Email: stmarysoffice@stmarysfoggybottom.org All are welcome to St. Mary’s to Learn, Worship, and Grow.

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JAN. 21 - 27, 2016 31

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Blessed Word of Life Church

Pilgrim Baptist Church

Church of Living Waters

Rev. Louis B. Jones II Pastor

Rev. Paul Carrette Senior Pastor Harold Andrew, Assistant Pastor

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

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

Worship Sundays: 7:30 & 11:00am 5th Sundays: 9:30am 3rd Sundays: Baptism & Holy Communion Prayer & Praise: Wednesdays @ Noon & 6:30pm

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

www.pilgrimbaptistdc.org

Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ

Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church Rev. Dr. Michael E. Bell, Sr., • Pastor 2498 Alabama Ave., SE • Washington D.C. 20020 Office: (202) 889-7296 Fax: (202) 889-2198 • www.acamec.org 2008: The Year of New Beginnings “Expect the Extraordinary” Sunday Worship Services: 8:00am and 11:00am Sunday Church School - 9:15am & Sunday Adult Forum Bible Study - 10:30am 2nd & 4th Monday Women’s Bible Study: 6:30pm Tuesday Jr./Sr. Bible Study: 10:00am Tuesday Topical Bible Study: 6:30pm Tuesday New Beginnings Bible Study: 6:30pm Wednesday Pastoral Bible Study: 6:30pm Wednesday Children’s Bible Study: 6:30pm Thursday Men’s Bible Study: 6:30pm Friday before 1st Sunday Praise & Worship Service: 6:30pm Saturday Adult Bible Study: 10:00am “The Amazing, Awesome, Audacious Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church”

Crusader Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Alton W. Jordan Pastor 800 I Street, NE • Washington, DC 20002 202-548-0707 Fax No. 202-548-0703 Sunday Morning Worship: 11:00am Holy Communion: 1st Sunday Sunday School: 9:45am Men’s Monday Bible Study: 7:00pm Wednesday Night Bible Study: 7:00pm Women’s Ministry Bible Study: 3rd Friday -7:00pm Computer Classes: Announced Family and Marital Counseling by appointment E-mail: Crusadersbaptistchurch@verizon.net www.CrusadersBaptistChurch.org

St. Stephen Baptist Church

Third Street Church of God

Greater Mt. Calvary Holy Church

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

Drs. Dennis W. & Christine Y. Wiley Pastors

Bishop Lanier C. Twyman, Sr. Senior Pastor

Rev. Cheryl J. Sanders, Th.D. Senior Pastor

Bishop Alfred A. Owens, Jr.; Senior Bishop & Evangelist Susie C. Owens – Co-Pastor

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

3845 South Capitol Street Washington, DC 20032 (202) 562-5576 (Office) (202) 562-4219 (Fax)

5757 Temple Hill Road, Temple Hills, MD 20748 Office 301-899-8885 – fax 301-899-2555

610 Rhode Island Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002 (202) 529-4547 office • (202) 529-4495 fax

Schedule of Services: Sunday School: 9:30am Sunday Morning Worship Service: 11:00am Communion Service: First Sunday Prayer Service/Bible Study: Tuesday, 6:30pm

Services and Times: Sundays: 10:00am Worship Services Bible Study: Wonderful Wednesdays in Worship and the Word Bible Study Wednesdays 12:00 Noon; 6:30pm (dinner @ 5:30pm) Sunday School: 9:00am – Hour of Power

Sunday Early Morning Worship: 7:45am Church School: 9:30am Sunday Morning Worship: 10:45am Tuesday: 7:00pm/Kingdom Building Bible Institute Wednesday: Prayer/Praise/Bible Study-7:30 pm Baptism & Communion Service: 4th Sunday – 10:30am

1204 Third Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 202-347-5889 office 202-638-1803 fax

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

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

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

Campbell AME Church Rev. Dr. Henry Y. White

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

Sunday Worship Service: 10:00 am Sunday Church School: 8:45 am

Reverend Dr. Paul H. Saddler Senior Pastor

Bible Study Wednesday: 12:00 Noon Wednesday: 7:00 pm Thursday: 7: pm “Reaching Up To Reach Out”

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

Mt. Zion Baptist Church Rev. John W. Davis, Pastor 5101 14th Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20011 202-726-2220/ 202-726-9089 Sunday Worship Service: 8:00am and 11:00am Sunday School: 9:15am Holy Communion 4th Sunday 10:00am Prayer and Bible Study Wednesday 7:00pm TV Ministry –Channel 6 Wednesday 10:00pm gsccm.administration@verizon.net

32 JAN. 21 - 27, 2016

“Ambassadors for Christ to the Nation’s Capital” www.thirdstreet.org

Reverend Dr. Calvin L. Matthews • Senior Pastor 1200 Isle of Patmos Plaza, Northeast Washington, DC 20018 Office: (202) 529-6767 Fax: (202) 526-1661 Sunday Worship Services: 7:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Holy Communion: 2nd Sunday at 7:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sunday Church School: 9:20 a.m. Seniors Bible Study: Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. Noon Day Prayer Service: Tuesdays at Noon Bible Study: Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Motto: “A Ministry of Reconciliation Where Everybody is Somebody!” Website: http://isleofpatmosbc.org Church Email: ipbcsecretary@verizon.net

ST Marks Baptist Come Worship with us... St. Mark's Baptist Church 624 Underwood Street, NW Washington, dc 20011 Dr. Raymond T. Matthews, Pastor and First Lady Marcia Matthews Sunday School: 9:00am Worship Service: 10:00am Wed. Noon Day prayer service Thur. Prayer service: 6:45pm Thur. Bible Study: 7:15pm

Twelfth Street Christian Church

2562 MLK Jr. Ave., S E Washington, DC 20020 Adm. Office 202-678-2263 Email: Campbell@mycame.org

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

Sunday School: 9:30am Sunday Worship: 11:00am Prayer Meeting and Bible Study: Wed. 7:30pm

Sunday Worship Service: 8 AM and 10:45am Sunday Youth Worship Services: 1st & 4th 10:45am; 804 R.I. Ave., NE 5th 8 AM & 10:45am; Main Church Prayer Services Tuesday – Noon, Wednesday 6am & 6:30pm Calvary Bible Institute: Year-Round Contact Church Communion Every 3rd Sunday The Church in The Hood that will do you Good! www.gmchc.org

Isle of Patmos Baptist Church

Motto: “Discover Something Wonderful” Website: 12thscc.org Email: Twelfthstcc@aol.com

Mount Carmel Baptist Church Joseph N. Evans, Ph.D Senior Pastor 901 Third Street N.W. Washington, DC. 20001 Phone (202) 842-3411 Fax (202) 682-9423 Sunday Church School : 9:00am Sunday Morning Worship: 10:10am Bible Study Tuesday: 6: 00pm Prayer Service Tuesday: 7:00pm Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday 10:10am themcbc.org

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RELIGION Shabbath Commandment Church 7801 Livingston Road Oxon Hill, MD 20745 301-534-5471 Bishop Adrian A. Taylor, Sr. Pastor Sabbath School 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Service 11:00 a.m. Praise & Worship Preaching 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Motto: “A Church Keeping It Real for Real.” Website: Shabbathcommandmentchruch.org Email: Praisebetoyhwh@gmail.com

Zion Baptist Church

All Nations Baptist Church Rev. Dr. James Coleman Pastor 2001 North Capitol St, N.E. • Washington, DC 20002 Phone (202) 832-9591 Sunday Church School – 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service – 11:00 AM Holy Communion – 1st Sunday at 11:00 AM Prayer – Wednesdays, 6:00 PM Bible Study – Wednesdays, 7:00 PM Christian Education School of Biblical Knowledge Saturdays, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM, Call for Registration Website: www.allnationsbaptistchurch.com All Nations Baptist Church – A Church of Standards

Israel Baptist Church

Rev. Keith W. Byrd, Sr. Pastor

Rev. Dr. Morris L Shearin, Sr. Pastor

4850 Blagdon Ave, NW • Washington D.C 20011 Phone (202) 722-4940 • Fax (202) 291-3773

1251 Saratoga Ave., NE Washington, DC 20018 (202) 269-0288

Sunday Worship Service 10:15AM- Praise and Worship Services Sunday School 9:00am Monday: Noon Bible School Wednesday: Noon & 7PM: Pastor’s Bible Study Ordinance of Baptism 2nd Holy Communion 4th Sunday Mission Zion Baptist Church Shall; Enlist Sinners, Educate Students, Empower the Suffering, Encourage the Saints, and Exalt Our Savior. (Acts 2:41-47) www.zionbaptistchurchdc.org

St. Luke Baptist Church Rev. Aubrey C. Lewis Pastor 1415 Gallatin Street, NW Washington, DC 20011-3851 P: (202) 726-5940 Sunday Worship: 11:00 a.m. Sunday School: 9:15 a.m. Holy Communion: 11:00 a.m., 3rd Sun. Bible Institute Wednesday - 1:30 pm Prayer Meeting Wednesday - 12:00 Noon

St. Matthews Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Maxwell M. Washington Pastor Worshiping Location Knights of Columbus - 1633 Tucker Road Fort Washington, MD 20744 (240) 838-7074 Order of Services Sunday Worship Services: 10:00 am Sunday School: 9:00 am Holy Communion 3rd Sunday Morning Prayer / Bible Study: 6:15 pm - 7:20 pm (Tuesday) Theme: “The Kingdom Focused Church” Matthew 6:33 and Mathew 28:18-20, KJV Email: stmatthewsbaptist@msn.com Website: www.stmatthewsbaptist.org

Sunday Worship Service: 10:00 A.M. Sunday School: 8:30 A.M. Holy Communion1st Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Prayer Service: Wednesday at 6:30 P.M. Bible Study: Wednesday at 7:00 P.M.

Mount Moriah Baptist Church Dr. Lucius M. Dalton, Senior Pastor

King Emmanuel Baptist Church Rev. Daryl F. Bell Pastor 2324 Ontario Road, NW Washington, DC 20009 (202) 232-1730 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

Lincoln Park United Methodist Church Rev. Dr. Diane Dixon Proctor, Pastor 1301 North Carolina Ave. N E Washington, D C 20002 202 543 1318 lpumconthegrow@gmail.com www.lpumcdc.org Sunday worship 10: am Holy Communion first Sunday 10: am Sunday school 9: am Bible Study each Wednesday @ 12 noon and 6:30pm Motto: “A CHURCH ON THE GROW”.

Eastern Community Baptist Church

Emmanuel Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Clinton W. Austin Pastor 2409 Ainger Pl.,SE – WDC 20020 (202) 678-0884 – Office (202) 678-0885 – Fax “Come Grow With Us and Establish a Blessed Family” Sunday Worship 7:30am & 10:45am Baptism/Holy Communion 3rd Sunday Family Bible Study Tuesdays – 6:30pm Prayer Service Tuesdays – 8:00pm www.emmanuelbaptistchurchdc.org

Sermon On The Mount Temple Of Joy Apostolic Faith

Rev. Dr. George C. Gilbert SR. Pastor

623 Florida Ave.. NW • WDC. 20001 Church (202) 667-3409 • Study (202) 265-0836 Home Study (301) 464-8211 • Fax (202) 483-4009

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

Sunday Worship Services: 10:00 a.m. Sunday Church School: 8:45 – 9:45 a.m. Holy Communion: Every First Sunday Intercessory Prayer: Monday – 7:00-8:00 p.m. Pastor’s Bible Study: Wednesday –7:45 p.m. Midweek Prayer: Wednesday – 7:00 p.m. Noonday Prayer Every Thursday

9:30AM. Sunday Church School 11:00 Am. Sunday Worship Service The Lord’s Supper 1st Sunday Wednesday 7:00pm Prayer & Praise Services 7:30pm. Bible Study Saturday before 4th Sunday Men, Women, Youth Discipleship Ministries 10:30am A Christ Centered Church htubc@comcast.net

Matthews Memorial Baptist Church

2616 MLK Ave., SE • Washington, DC 20020 Office 202-889-3709 • Fax 202-678-3304

Kelechi Ajieren Coordinator

Sunday Apostolic Worship Services 11:00 A.M and 5:00 P.M

Early Worship Service 7:30a.m Worship Service 10:45a.m. New Members Class 9:30a.m. Communion and Feet Wash Holy Communion : 1st Sunday -10:45a.m 4th Sunday at 5:00 P.M Church School 9:30a.m. Prayer, Praise and Bible Study: Prayer/Seeking Wednesday 7p.m Wednesday at 8:00 P.M. Bible Study : Saturday: 11a.m. Baptism: 4th Sunday – 10:45a.m Apostolic in Doctrine, Pentecostal in Experience, Holiness in Living, Uncompromised and Unchanged. “Empowered to love and Challenged to Lead a The Apostolic Faith is still alive –Acts 2:42 Multitude of Souls to Christ”

New Commandment Baptist Church

Sunday Worship Services: 7:45 am and 10:45 am Holy Communion: 1st Sundays at 7:45 am and 10:45 am Sunday School: 9:30 am Prayer & Praise Service: Tuesdays at 12 noon and 6:30 pm Bible Study: Tuesdays at 1 pm and 7 pm Youth Bible Study: Fridays at 7 pm

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

Services: Sunday Worship 11 AM Sunday School 10 AM Wednesday Mid-Week Worship, Prayer & Bible Study - Wed. 7 PM

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

“Real Worship for Real People” Website: www.easterncommunity.org Church Email Address: ecc@easterncommunity.org

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

Shiloh Baptist Church

Peace Baptist Church

Rev. Dr. Michael T. Bell 712 18th Street, NE Washington, DC 20002 Phone 202-399-3450/ Fax 202-398-8836 Sunday Morning Worship Service 7:15 am & 10:50 am Sunday School 9:30am Sunday Morning Worship Service 10:50am Wednesday Prayer & Testimonies Service 7:30pm Wednesday School of the Bible 8:00pm Wednesday - Midweek Prayer Service 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm “The Loving Church of the living lord “ Email Address pbcexec@verizon.net

First Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Rev. Curtis l. Staley Pastor

Rev. Alonzo Hart Pastor

Rev. Dr. Wallace Charles Smith Pastor

Rev. Reginald M. Green, Sr., Interim Pastor

621 Alabama Avenue, S.E.•Washington, D.C. 20032 P: (202) 561-1111 F: (202) 561-1112

917 N St. NW • Washington, DC 20001 (202) 232-4294

9th & P Street, N.W. • W. D.C. 20001 (202) 232-4200

602 N Street NW • Washington, D.C. 20001 Office:(202) 289-4480 Fax: (202) 289-4595

The Church Where GOD Is Working.... And We Are Working With GOD

Sunrise Prayer Services - Sunday 7:00 a.m.

Sunday Morning Prayer Service: 8:00 a.m. Sunday Church School: 9:15 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship: 10:40 a.m. Third Sunday Baptismal & Holy Communion:10:30 a.m. Tuesday Church At Study Prayer & Praise: 6:30 p.m.

Morning Worship: 8:00 a.m Church School : 9:30 a.m. Morning Worship: 10:55 a.m. Bible Study, Thursday: 6:30 p.m. Prayer Meeting,Thursday : 7:30 p.m.

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

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Elder Herman L. Simms, Pastor

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

Sunday Service: 10 am Sunday School for all ages: 8:30 am 1st Sunday Baptism: 10: am 2nd Sunday Holy Communion: 10 am Tuesday: Bible Study: 6:30 pm Prayer Meeting: 7:45 pm

Christ Embassy DC

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

8213 Manson Street Landover, MD 20785 Tel: (301) 322-9787 Fax: (301) 322-9240

Salem Baptist Church

Dr. Earl D. Trent Senior Pastor

Dr. C. Matthew Hudson, Jr, Pastor

Rev. Stephen E. Tucker Senior Pastor

Rehoboth Baptist Church

Holy Trinity United Baptist Church

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

Damion M. Briggs Pastor

1636 East Capitol Street, NE Washington, DC 20003 Telephone: 202-544-5588 Fax: 202-544-2964

Florida Avenue Baptist Church

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

Sunday Worship Services: 7:45am & 11:00am Sunday school For All Ages 9:30am Prayer Services Wednesday 11:30am & 6:45pm Bible Institute Wednesday at Noon & 7:45pm “Changing Lives On Purpose “ Email: Froffice@firstrising.org Website: www.firstrising.org

Sunday Worship Service 10:00 A.M. Wednesday Bible Study 7:00 P.M. Friday Evening Service 7:00 P.M. ; Last Friday “…Giving Your Life a Meaning” www.Christembassydc.org

Pennsylvania Ave. Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Kendrick E. Curry Pastor 3000 Pennsylvania Ave.. S.E Washington, DC 20020 202 581-1500 Sunday Church School: 9:30 A.M. Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 A.M. Monday Adult Bible Study: 7:00 P.M. Wednesday Youth & Adult Activities: 6:30 P.M. Prayer Service Bible Study

Mt. Horeb Baptist Church Rev. Dr. H. B. Sampson, III Pastor 2914 Bladensburg Road, NE Wash., DC 20018 Office: (202) 529-3180 Fax: (202) 529-7738 Order of Services Worship Service: 7:30 a.m. Sunday School: 9:00 a.m. Worship Service: 10:30 a.m. Holy Communion: 4th Sunday 7:30 a.m. & 10:30a.m. Prayer Services: Tuesday 7:30 p.m. Wednesday 12 Noon Email:mthoreb@mthoreb.org Website:www.mthoreb.org For further information, please contact me at (202) 529-3180.

JAN. 21 - 27, 2016 33

LEGAL NOTICES

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

Administration No. 2015 ADM 1490

Administration No. 2015 ADM 683 Acie L. Byrd, Jr. Decedent

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

Gemma Antoine-Belton, Esquire 1101 L Street, NW, Suite 806 Washington, DC 20005 Attorney

Date of first publication: January 7, 2016 Alfred H. Pimble Personal Representative

Washington Informer

Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

Estate of

Lucy P. Brown NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE Notice is hereby given that a petition has

Gemma Antoine-Belton, Esquire, whose address is 1101 L Street, NW, Suite 806, Washington, DC 20005, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Acie L. Byrd, Jr. who died on May 13, 2014 without a Will, and will serve with Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before July 7, 2016. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before July 7, 2016, 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.

one or more personal representative. Unless

Date of first publication: January 7, 2016

been filed in this Court by Janell Debrew for

standard probate, including the appointment of

Gemma Antoine-Belton, Esquire Personal Representative

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration Number 2015 ADM 1141 Estate of Willie P. Seals NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by Wesley L. Clarke for standard probate, including the appointment of one or more personal representative. Unless a complaint or an objection in accordance with Superior Court Probate Division Rule 407 is filed in this Court within 30 days from the date of first publication of this notice, the Court may take the action hereinafter set forth.

TRUE TEST COPY

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2015 ADM 1510 William Blanger Decedent Law Office Muhammad & Associates 7306 Georgia Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20012 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Janell Debrew

TRUE TEST COPY

Date of first publication: January 7, 2016

Forestville, MD 20747

Anne Meister Register of Wills

Jacqueline P. Nichols aka Jacqueline Blanger Personal Representative

Superior Court Probate Division Rule 407 is

filed in this Court within 30 days from the date

of first publication of this notice, the Court may take the action hereinafter set forth.

In the absence of a will or proof satisfactory

to the Court of due execution, enter an order

determining that the decedent died intestate.

Appoint a supervised personal representative. Appoint a disinterested member of the bar to serve as personal representative. Date of first publication: January 7, 2016

Personal Representative:

TRUE TEST COPY

Anne Meister Register of Wills

LEGAL NOTICES

Personal Representative: Wesley Clarke 1629 K St., NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20006

a complaint or an objection in accordance with

In the absence of a will or proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution, enter an order determining that the decedent died intestate appoint a supervised personal representative.

Date of first publication: January 7, 2016

Washington Informer

Anne Meister

Washington Informer

TRUE TEST COPY SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION

Anne Meister Register of Wills

Trust No. 2015 NRT 38

Washington Informer

Christa McClure aka Christa Prinz Name of Deceased Settlor

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

Administration No. 2015 ADM 1516

Administration No. 2015 ADM 001152

Helen Chavis Allen Decedent

Ralph E. Lewis Decedent

Johnnie I. Bartoni, Esq. 7600 Georgia Avenue, NW #405 Washington, DC 20012 Attorney

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

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2015 ADM 15201 Edna Elizabeth Diallo Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

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

Anthony Dike Diallo, whose address is 1345 30th Street, NE, Washington, DC 20020, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Edna Elizabeth Diallo who died on November 23, 2015 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before July 7, 2016. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before July 7, 2016, 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.

Christel Allen Hair, whose address is 7060 Wyndale Street, NW, Washington, DC 20015, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Helen Chavis Allen who died on December 2, 2015 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before July 7, 2016. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before July 7, 2016, 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.

Ronald Dixon, whose address is Bynum & Jenkins, 1010 Cameron Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Ralph E. Lewis who died on December 23, 2009 without a Will, and will serve with Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before July 7, 2016. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before July 7, 2016, 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: January 7, 2016

Christel Allen Hair Personal Representative

Ronald Dixon Personal Representative

Anthony Dike Diallo Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Anne Meister Register of Wills

Washington Informer

34 JAN. 21 - 27, 2016

LEGAL NOTICES

Jacqueline P. Nichols aka Jacqueline Blanger, whose address is 2419 30th Street, NE, Washington, DC 20018, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of William Blanger who died on August 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., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before July 7, 2016. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before July 7, 2016, 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.

5807 Marlboro Pike Apt. 301

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

COLUMBIA

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

TRUE TEST COPY Anne Meister Register of Wills

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF

Administration Number 2015 ADM 1501

Bonnie Davis Decedent

Alfred H. Pimble, whose address is 4815 7th Street, NE, Washington, DC 20017, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Bonnie Davis who died on June 11, 2015 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before July 7, 2016. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before July 7, 2016, 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.

LEGAL NOTICES

TRUE TEST COPY Anne Meister Register of Wills Washington Informer

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

NOTICE OF EXISTENCE OF REVOCABLE TRUST Christa McClure aka Christa Prinz whose address was 235 8th Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003 created a revocable trust on April 5, 2010, which remained in existence on the date of her death on October 16, 2015, and Tipp K. McClure & Sarah McClure, whose addresses are T. McClure, 5511 Broad Branch Rd., NW, Washington, DC 20015, S. McClure 1689 Princeton Dr., State College, PA 1603, are the currently acting trustees, hereinafter the Trustee. Communications to the Trust should be mailed or directed to Tipp K. McClure, Trustee at 5511 Broad Branch Rd., NW, Washington, DC 20015 and Sarah McClure 1689 Princeton Dr., State College, PA 16803. The Trust is subject to claims of the deceased settlor’s creditors, costs of administration of the settlor’s estate, the expense of the deceased settlor’s funeral and disposal of remains, and stautory allowances to a surviving spouse and children to the extent the deceased settlor’s residuary probate estate is inadequate to satisfy those claims, costs, expenses, and allowances. Claims of the deceased settlor’s creditors are barred as against the Trustee and the trust property unless presented to the Trustee at the address provided herein on or before (6 month after the date of the first publication of this notice.) An action to contest the validity of this trust must be commenced by the earliest of (1) October 16,2016, (One year from date of death of deceased settler) (2), 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice) or (3) Ninety days after the Trustee sends the person a copy of the trust instrument and a notice informing the person of the trust’s existence, of the Trustee’s name and address, and of the time allowed for commencing a proceeding. The Trustee may proceed to distribute the trust property in accordance with the terms of the trust before the expiration of the time within which an action must be commenced unless the Trustee knows of a pending judicial proceeding contesting the validity of the trust or the Trustee has received notice from a potential contestant who thereafter commences a judicial proceeding within sixty days after notification. This Notice must be mailed postmarked within 15 days of its first publication to each heir and qualified beneficiary of the trust and any other person who would be an interested person within the meaning of D.C. Code 20-101(d). Date of First Publication: January 7, 2016 Tipp K. McClure Sarah McClure Signature of Trustee TRUE TEST COPY Anne Meister Register of Wills Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2015 ADM 1534 Elizabeth Jean Whatley Decedent Ethel Mitchell 8403 Colesville Road, Suite 1118 Silver Spring, MD 20910 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Julius Whatley, whose address is 534 Newcomb St., SE, Washington, DC 20032, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Elizabeth Jean Whatley who died on December 4, 2014 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before July 14, 2016. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before July 14, 2016, 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: January 14, 2016 Julius Whatley Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Anne Meister Register of Wills Washington Informer

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

LEGAL NOTICES

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

Administration No. 2015 ADM 1527

Administration No. 2015 ADM 1535

Johnnie L. Horner Decedent

Christa McClure aka Christa Prinz Decedent

Matthew F. Shannon, Esquire 1420 N Street, NW #102 Washington, DC 20005 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Ethel Mitchell 8403 Colesville Road, Suite 1118 Silver Spring, MD 20910 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Herbert Horner, Jr., whose address is 6209 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20011, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Johnnie L. Horner who died on December 9, 2015 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before July 14, 2016. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before July 14, 2016, 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.

Tipp Karl McClure and Sarah Barbara McClure, whose addresses are 5511 Broad Branch Rd, NW, Washington, DC 20015 and 1689 Princeton Dr., State College, PA 16803 were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Christa McClure aka Christa Prinz who died on October 16, 2015 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before July 14, 2016. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before July 14, 2016, 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: January 14, 2016

Herbert Horner, Jr. Personal Representative

Tipp Karl McClure Sarah Barbara McClure Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Anne Meister Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2015 ADM 1537

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2015 ADM 1137 Gloria Alexander Decedent

Theresa Taylor Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Keith A. Moore, whose address is 765 Girard St., NW, Washington, DC 20001, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Theresa Taylor who died on August 8, 2015 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before July 14, 2016. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before July 14, 2016, 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: January 14, 2016 Keith A. Moore Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Alan Solomon 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 1430 Bethesda, MD 20814 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Alan Solomon, whose address is 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 1430, Bethesda, MD 20814, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Gloria Alexander who died on September 19, 2011 without a Will. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before July 21, 2016. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before July 21, 2016, 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: January 21, 2016 Alan Solomon Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Anne Meister Register of Wills

Washington Informer

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

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MALVEAUX from Page 22 is lower, but too many people have dropped out of the labor force. Yes, there are more jobs than there were eight years ago, but there are fewer jobs than there should be. Wages are stagnant. It would not have hurt our president to examine some of our economic weakness, especially if he highlighted the legislation he has sent to this Congress that would employ more people. Touting a strong economy genuflects to those

CLINGMAN from Page 22

Preceded by Michael Kors, Azzedine Alaïa, Jason Wu, Barbara Tfank, Rachel Roy, and Isaac Mizrahi, I must ask if there are any Black designers’ dresses good enough for the SOTU soiree? Where does all of this political high drama leave us? Our unemployment rate is still double that of Whites, and we are not creating jobs. Our health is the poorest in the nation, especially with illnesses like diabetes, and we don’t own a dialysis center. Our education is substandard, and we are not establishing our own schools. We are disproportionately incarcerated, but we are not selling anything to the prisons. Many economic solutions are in our hands. And here’s a political solution courtesy Rep. William “Bill” Clay

CHAVIS from Page 22 but we are not big savers or investors. The economic development of our families and communities is really in our own hands. As we begin 2016, there is no greater urgency than for all of us to do more to attend to how to advance the economic sustainability of our communities. The high-quality education of our children has to be at the top of our priority list for next year and beyond. Yes, also “Black Minds Matter.” I highly recommend that you take the time to read and get an update about an ongoing study in the state of California that I believe will have a significant impact on national education policies and programs that are focused on the education of African-American children and others who still have to grapple with inequality and inequities in the nation’s educational system. “Black Minds Matter: Supporting the Educational Success of Black Children in California, examines how the nearly 1 million Black youth in California are faring from preschool through college and reveals the distressing disparities that newly released state and national data show per-

who are enjoying this strong economy. Too many are not. I’m not sure I’d call the SOTU “strong”. The president said many of the right things about education, women’s issues, income inequality, and immigration; he could have said things differently, but one doesn’t expect policy details from a SOTU address. I guess it is too much to ask that our president address the African-American community, even in a sentence. As I listened to the speech, I hoped that, in this last address, the

president might acknowledge his staunchest supporters While Obama exuded nothing but class, it was amazing to watch the very crass House Speaker Paul Ryan behaving like a bored child. He was mostly inexpressive, but he also fidgeted, rolled his eyes and at one point put his hand to his nose (I think – maybe he was picking it), as if he could not be but so bothered. He never clapped nor cracked a smile at a joke. He behaved as if like he didn’t want to be there. WI

(D-Mo.): “If you want equity, justice, and equality, you must … become irritants, become abrasive. Your political philosophy must be selfish and pragmatic. You must start with the premise that you have no permanent friends, no permanent enemies, just permanent interests.” We have set politicians up as kings and queens, the price for which can be found in 1st Samuel, Chapter Eight: “This is the way the kind of king [you want] operates. He’ll take your sons and make soldiers of them… regimented in battalions and squadrons. He’ll put some to forced labor on his farms, plowing and harvesting, and others to making either weapons of war or chariots in which he can ride in luxury. He’ll put your daughters to work as beauticians

and waitresses and cooks. He’ll conscript your best fields, vineyards, and orchards and hand them over to his special friends. He’ll tax your harvests and vintage to support his extensive bureaucracy. Your prize workers and best animals he’ll take for his own use. He’ll lay a tax on your flocks and you’ll end up no better than slaves. The day will come when you will cry in desperation because of this king you so much want for yourselves. But don’t expect God to answer.” – The Message Bible Unnerving, isn’t it? WI James Clingman is the nation’s most prolific writer on economic empowerment for Black people. His latest book, Black Dollars Matter! Teach your dollars how to make more sense, is available on his website, Blackonomics.com.

sist at all levels of their educational journey. The report also highlights the groundbreaking efforts underway to reverse these trends in California and close achievement and opportunity gaps for African-American students.” We need a national study done based on the model developed in California. The State of Union for African-Americans simply means we have to continue to struggle for freedom, justice equality and empowerment. We have to build alliances and coalitions to achieve progress and to maximize our continued presence and contributions to make the nation and the world a better place. But it all starts not with the government or with some outside benevolent

factor. It starts with Afri-an Americans. It starts with each one of us taking more responsibility for the improvements of our families. Yes, we have made progress! Yes, there is still much to be done. But there are many more opportunities than there are problems to move forward. The glass is not half-empty; it is half-full. A Luta Continua! WI Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. is the president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association and can be reached for national advertisement sales and partnership proposals at dr.bchavis@nnpa.org and for lectures and other professional consultations at: http://drbenjaminfchavisjr.wix. com/drbfc.

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degrees. Fewer job prospects lead to higher rates of default on unsustainable loans -- all of which undermines their ability to secure financial stability or economic security. The predatory practices of for-profit colleges illustrate just how much of Black America’s missing wealth is tied to high-cost credit. The cumulative high cost of predatory lending products is that our families lose the ability to save for a home, a beneficial college education, or even their own retirement. We are witnessing a related set of abuses in auto-loan financing. The vast majority of auto loans in this country are arranged by the auto dealer. The dealers have the discretion to add to the interest rate of car buyers and keep some or all of this mark up as compensation. Many have used this discretion to charge higher rates to Black and Latino borrowers. Despite trying to negotiate better interest rates, many times Black and Latino consumers wind up charged more than White consumers with similar credit profiles, according to research by the Center for Responsible Lending. The best-known tragedy is the billions of dollars of wealth lost by Black and Latino homeowners who

JACKSON from Page 23 left to fend for themselves, rising to attention only when violence breaks out, when innocents are shot, when tragedies like Flint become public. The cost of this callousness — in lives lost, disease, mental damage, crime, drugs, hopelessness — are immense. This isn’t about money. We pay more on the back end —

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dence. In one case he may provoke contempt and derision, but in the other he is an affront to pride and provokes malice.” Unfortunately, the “great again” slogan is a delusional myth. What these guys really want is to go back to a time when “if you’re White you’re right, and if you’re Black get back.” What is delusional is the way these White folks in the GOP deny the science of the changing demographics. The White population is declining as a proportion of the total population, which means there is a smaller percentage of White voters today than there was in 2012 and 2014. Barack Obama won two landslide presidential elections with 95 percent of the Black vote and 70 percent of the Latino and Asian vote but only 35 percent of the

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were steered to subprime mortgages. Even today, homeownership remains the surest opportunity to build financial stability for middle class families assuming the mortgage is fairly underwritten. However, during the lead up to the 2008 financial crisis, mortgage brokers received kickbacks to steer mostly minority borrowers into higher-priced loans and loans with risky and deceptive terms. Eight years after the crisis, the cost of these predatory practices is still felt in Black neighborhoods across the country that have yet to recover. Education, transportation and housing are the three largest financial transactions for most families. The total impact predatory credit if measured strictly in dollars is in the trillions. And the lost opportunity cannot adequately be measured. The NAACP’s Hilary Shelton recently spoke to America’s dual credit system. “Allowing the spread of high cost credit entrenches a two-tier financial system: one group of consumers who can access a mainstream financial system and another group of consumers who are further marginalized and turn to predatory lenders selling risky products,” observed Shelton. If as a people we sincerely want to build wealth for our families,

we must work to ensure an end to abusive loan practices. One immediate path to consider is to join the #stopthedebttrap coalition that is working to push the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to regulate away the debt trap created by payday loans. While deceptively marketed as a short term solution for a cash emergency, these triple digit interest rate loans leave borrowers indebted for more than half a year and studies have shown they can lead to increased rates of bank account closures and even bankruptcy. All communities and particularly Black America deserve safer loan products that help and not harm. Our unique Black American experience continues to show that doing the so-called ‘right thing’ is often not enough to gain financial security or build wealth. Whether plowing plantation fields, sharecropping, cleaning homes or raising other people’s children, we well know hard work. Millions of grandparents worked long hours in industrial plants, or stood on bus lines in all kinds of weather just to put food on the table and have a roof for families to live under. All the while, these generations were urging their children to “get a good education.” WI

in prisons and emergency rooms, cops and guards, prisons and addiction centers — than we would have to spend on the front-end investments that would give every child a chance. Conservatives continue to call for dismantling environmental regulations. They slash budgets for policing violations by corporations or cities. They want to slash support for poverty pro-

grams and block-grant them to the states and localities. The next time you hear that rap, think of Flint, its poorest children betrayed by state officials. Think of Flint deprived even of safe water in order to save a few bucks. Think of Flint and investigate your own community — the horrors of Flint are not exclusive to that city. WI

White vote. So far, the race-baiting, Republicans have done everything to alienate those non-White constituencies, going “all-in” on the angry White male rhetoric. So a Donald Trump candidacy can count on that 65 percent of White voters in the general election, but very few Black or Latinos will cross over to vote for Trump. It may be possible to win the Republican nomination on the wave of White anger and dissatisfaction, but it will be hard to win the general election with those numbers alone. In their view, America was “great” when Black lives were expendable and when the totally out-of-proportion rate of Blacks who are incarcerated was okay. Sadly, middle-class White folks who have been blinded by their hatred of Blacks and Latinos and Muslims have allowed themselves to be corralled by the super-rich

who have snookered them into supporting political candidates who will destroy Social Security, dismantle the public schools, and deregulate the behavior of the wealthy, all outcomes that are not in the interest of anyone except the rich guys. How can America be great when folks can’t feel the pain of parents in Cleveland who see 12-year-old Tamir Rice murdered by a cop two seconds after he pulls up on him in a playground? How can those same people excuse a two-week armed occupation of a federal facility in Oregon by White anti-government terrorists who come and go as they please, defying arrest and then look the other way when unarmed Black folks are murdered at the drop of a hat? What is great about a country like that? Sorry, Trump. You may “win,” but your slogan is unattainable. WI

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