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Despite Critics Obama Pushes Forward
Obama Supporters Suggest Blacks are Better Off By Stacy M. Brown WI Contributing Writer Before the ink from President Barack Obama’s signature dried from signing the controversial Farm Bill earlier this month, critics, pundits and others said legislation passed under his watch has negatively affected African Americans and the poor. But, Obama and those who support the two-term president, said he’s done plenty to help African Americans and other underserved communities. “You cannot blame the president for legislation that has gone wrong,” said Springfield, Va. resident Felix Contreras. “He has stuck his neck out for minorities, but whenever he tries to do more, to help, Congress, the Senate and everyone else gets in the way,” said Contreras, 44, who works as a termite and pest exterminator. The president’s critics argue that several pieces of legislation signed by Obama have only served to harm the black community, including the Farm Bill which cut by $8 billion the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or food stamps. “This bill is so bad, they literally stripped reform from the title,” Steve Ellis, vice president
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Marian Wright Edelman, president of the Children’s Defense Fund, called cuts to the food stamp program in the Farm Bill indefensible. /Photo by Shevry Lassiter
Farm Bill Gets Mixed Reviews Opponents Say Legislation Hurts the Poor By Stacy M. Brown WI Contributing Writer To some African Americans and others in leadership positions like Congressional Black Caucus Chair, Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio), the newly minted Farm Bill that President Barack Obama signed earlier
this month, represents a compromise in the right direction. For others, such as Marian Wright Edelman, president of the Children’s Defense Fund in Northwest, compromise shouldn’t come at the expense of the well-being of already struggling families. Prior to the president signing
the bill, lawmakers passed the legislation after several years of haggling over farming subsidies and efforts by Republicans to reduce financing for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or food stamps. The bill replaces direct crop payments to farmers with an insurance program and it trims $8
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billion from food stamps over the next 10 years, much less than the $40 billion cut proposed by Republicans. “It’s a fair and bipartisan bill that meets the needs of the American people while reducing federal spending by $23 billion,”
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2/20/2014 – 2/26/2014 AROUND THE REGION Black Facts Page 6 PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY Page 13 BUSINESS William Reed’s Business Exchange Page 16 COMMENTARIES Pages 30-31 SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS Pages 37-38
In recognition of The Washington Informer’s 50th Anniversary in October 2014, we are looking back at some of the newsworthy moments we covered in D.C. history. Emanual Carr (center) greets customers Ike Suggs and Grace Ridgely at Face’s Restaurant, the popular gathering spot once located on Georgia Avenue in Northwest. The sit-down restaurant and bar offered a Southern-style menu and live entertainment to D.C. politicos and folks from the neighborhood for 25 years before it closed in 1997. The lot where Face’s was located is now home to Rite-Aide. /WI Archives
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AROUND THEBreak REGION the Cycle of Women Domestic Violence By Tia Carol Jones
law enforcement. She said they threat,” she said. had come together to bring a Among the programs Marlow sense of uniformity in the way wants to see implemented are When L.Y. Marlow's 23-year- domestic violence victims and stricter restraining order policies, old daughter told her the father survivors are treated. more rights for victim's families of her daughter threatened her “She's using her own personal to intervene on behalf of a viclife, and the life of their child, story, her own personal pain to tim, a domestic violence assessshe knew something had to be push forward,” Davis-Nickens ment unit coupled with further done. Out of her frustration said about Marlow. training for law enforcement with law enforcement's handling Davis-Nickens said anyone agencies, a Child's Life Protecof the situation, she decided to who reads Marlow's book will tion Act and mandatory counselstart the Saving Promise cam- “get it.” She said she “puts the ing for batterers. paign. case in such a way, the average “If we are ever going to eradi“It seems to be a vicious cycle person can get it.” She said at the cate domestic violence, we must Major Anderson Tuskegee was book recentlywill honored during the annual that L. won't turn(left), mya member family of the end of theAirmen day, the look at both sides“African of the coin. American Men Sing said. Songs of Praise” program on Sunday, at aGreater Church in the Northloose,” Marlow Marlow help people beginFeb. to 16 have dia- New We Hope needBaptist to address both vicwest. Anderson’s joined Steven McCoy,logue a member the Tuskegee organization. /Photo Shevry LassiterMarlow shared her story withby the audiaboutofdomestic violence. tim and bythe batterer,” ence at the District Heights Also present at the event was said. Domestic Violence Symposium Mildred Muhammad, the exMarlow would also like to see on May 7 at the District Heights wife of John Allen Muhammad, programs designed to raise Municipal Center. The sympo- who was sentenced to six consec- awareness among children in sium was sponsored by the utive life terms without parole public and private schools. She Family and Youth Services by a Maryland jury for his role in feels children need to be educatCenter of the city of District the Beltway Sniper attacks in ed about domestic violence. Heights and the National Hook- 2002. Mildred Muhammad is “We have to stop being pasUp Sam of Black Women. the founder After the Trauma, Feb. 16. The of concert featured 19 the sive-aggressive poor chilNAACP, thewith Student NonviBy P.K. Collins has written a book, an organization helps the olent dren about domesticCommittee, violence,” black male choirs, that soloists, clergy, Coordinating WIMarlow Contributing Writer “Color Me Butterfly,” which is a and survivors violence Marlow said.Christian Leadership poets of of domestic various ages who the Southern @sampkcollins story about four generations of performed and their children. Marlow has to break songs of worship and Conference and worked the Congress of domestic violence. The book is recited “I lived in fear forcelebrated six years. the Six Racial the cycle of abuse in her family, poetry that Equality, nodded her head Major by L. her Anderson recountinspired own experiences, years in fear is a long time. pioIt is and and waved is confident the policies she accomplishments of black her hands throughout ed vivid memories of President and those of her grandmother, neers. not an easy thing to come out is pushing for will start that ABC7’s Sam Ford served as the afternoon event. She said the Franklin D. Roosevelt all her mother and her calling daughter. of,” sheofsaid. process. brought back memories master ceremonies. concert able-bodied men to the military She said every time she reads Mildred Muhammad said of “I plan touptake these policies to growing in church and sing“This concert centers around draft hours after Japanese atexcerpts from herthebook, she still people who want to help a Congress and implore them African American singing and ing in her high school glee club. to tacked Pearl Harbor December can not believe theinwords came highlights domestic the violence victim change our stress laws,” enough Marlow how said. “I can’t role that black must men 1941. from her. “Color Me Butterfly” be careful of how they go into inspired “I will not stop until these poliI am [to see] people in played in the struggle for liberUpon 18th birthday, won thehis2007 NationalAnder“Best the victim's life, and understand cies are passed.” ation,” said Bishop Melvin G. this day and age who recognize son enlisted in the U.S. Army and Books” Award. that she mayminister be inat“survival Carol canand be express reached power of Jones prayer Brown, senior Greater theTia “I was justtraining 16-years-old when mode”. started basic at Godman at tiacaroljones@sbcglobal.net Hope Baptist Church. “We it through song and music,” said my eye first blackened and Ky. my New Army Airfield in Fort Knox, “Before you get to 'I'm going saw God as a key component on Ladner. “It’s a part of our culture lips bled,” Marlow to kill you,' it started as a verbal Three months later, said. he joined the WI earth in our struggle. It’s for that that holds us together and tranDavis-Nickens, 44thElaine Bombardment Group presiand reason that black men have to let scends age groups. The old are dent on of the National went missions acrossHook-Up Europe their presence be known in the passing down their traditions and of Black Women, said that therewould is no with the team of pilots consistency in the domestic church. They have been margin- the young are learning,” said Ladbe later known as way the Tuskegee violence issues are dealt with by alized and sidelined for too long,” ner who lives in Northwest. Airmen. The program closed with the said Brown who lives in Silver Anderson, a member of the Spring, Md. singing of the civil rights anthem east coast chapter of Tuskegee Anderson, sporting a red jack- “We Shall Overcome” and the anAirmen, Inc., a nonprofit or- et emblazoned with medals, led nouncements of upcoming Black ganization that honors the ac- Brown, Ford, and nearly 40 black History events including a film complishments of the men who male performers in a processional festival, a tribute to Nelson Manserved in the Army Air Corps at the start of the program. The dela, and a gathering at the African during WWII, recently reflected acts belted out songs of praise, American Civil War Memorial that on his experiences before nearly provided passionate testimonies, will feature participants in the Civil 100 visitors at Greater New Hope and led guests in call-and-response Rights Movement. Baptist Church in Northwest. Chuck Hicks, chairman of the over the course of three hours. “I am proud to have served my Eternal Faith, a quartet from DC BHCC, considers the annual country during World War II and Ebenezer United Methodist concert one of the District’s most I am [even prouder] to be a child Church in Southeast, serenad- significant offerings during Black of God,” said Anderson, 88. “If ed the crowd with two a capella History Month. I am to leave you with a legacy, it songs. Carlton Hasty, Sr., a vocal“These men weren’t afraid to would be to love God and your ist, relished the opportunity to fel- say how God has been good for neighbor with all your heart and lowship with other men. them,” said Hicks, 66. “It’s hard all your soul.” spirituality in“It’s not easy for men to come for us to keep our L.Y. Marlow The D.C. Black History Cele- together like this in church,” said tact. There were so many forms bration Committee (DC BHCC), Hasty, 59. “But we did so through of music performed by men at a group that provides year-round, song. I would love to see more different stages in their life. What city-wide Black History program- men take part in that,” said Hasty more can you ask for? It has beming, named Anderson a “Man who lives in Southeast. come so symbolic and that’s what / www.washingtoninformer.com of Honor” during its annual “AfDorie Ladner, a founding mem- we always aim to include it in our rican American Men Sing Songs ber of the Council of Federated programming,” said Hicks who of Praise” program on Sunday, Organizations, which includes lives in Southwest. wi WI Staff Writer
Black Men Sing Songs of Praise Tuskegee Airman Honored during Black History Celebration
The Washington Informer Newspaper THE WASHINGTON INFORMER InPUBLISHER Memoriam NEWSPAPER (ISSN#0741-9414)Dr.isCalvin Denise Rolark Sr. Barnes W. Rolark, published weekly on each Thursday. Wilhelmina J. Rolark STAFF Periodicals postage paid at WashingWASHINGTON INFORMER (ISSN#0741-9414) is published ton,THE D.C. and additional mailing of- NEWSPAPER Denise W. Barnes, Editor weekly Thursday. Periodicals fices. Newsonand advertising deadlinepostage paid at Washington, D.C. and additional mailing offices. News and advertising deadlineY.isSherman, Monday prior to publication. Shantella Assistant Editor is Monday prior to publication. AnAnnouncements must be received two weeks prior to event. Copyright 2000 by The nouncements must be received two RonPOST Burke,MASTER: Advertising/ Marketing Director Washington Informer. All rights reserved. Send change of addressweeks event. Copyright 2013 es toprior The to Washington Informer, 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, Lafayette Barnes, IV, Assistant Photo Editor by D.C. The 20032. Washington Informer. All No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permisrights reserved. POSTMASTER: Send sion from the publisher. The Informer Newspaper cannotStaff guarantee the return of Khalid Naji-Allah, Photographer change of addresses to The rates Washphotographs. Subscription are $30 per year, two years $45. Papers will be received John E. De Freitas, Sports Photo Editor not more than 3117 a weekMartin after publication. Make checks payable to: ington Informer, Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. Dorothy Rowley, Online Editor THE WASHINGTON INFORMER 20032. No part of this publication may Young, Design & Layout 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr.Brian Ave., S.E. • Washington, D.C. 20032 be reproduced without written permisPhone: 202 561-4100 • Fax: 202 574-3785 sion from the publisher. The Informer Mable Neville, Bookkeeper E-mail: news@washingtoninformer.com Newspaper cannot guarantee the return www.washingtoninformer.com Mickey Thompson, Social Sightings columnist of photographs. Subscription rates are $45 per year, two years $60. Papers will Stacey Palmer, Social Media Specialist PUBLISHER be received not more than a week after Angie Denise RolarkJohnson, Barnes Circulation publication. Make checks payable to: STAFF REPORTERS THE WASHINGTON Brooke N. Garner INFORMER Managing REPORTERS Editor Tia C. Jones, Ed Laiscell, Carla PeayLuther King, Assistant Managing Editor Odell B. Ruffin, Larry Saxton, 3117 Martin Jr. Ave., S.E Ron BurkeD.C. 20032 Advertising and Marketing MarySam Wells, Joseph YoungMichelle Stacy Brown, P.K. Collins, Washington, Mable Whittaker Bookkeeper Phipps-Evans, Eve Ferguson, Gale Horton Phone: 202 561-4100 LaNita Wrenn Administration Gay, EltonPHOTOGRAPHERS J. Hayes, Njunga Kabugi, Stacey Fax:John 202 574-3785 E. De Freitas Sports Editor Lafayette Barnes, IV, Palmer, Dorothy Rowley, Barrington Salmon, news@washingtoninformer.com Victor Holt Photo Editor John E. De Freitas, Maurice Fitzgerald, Summers, Charles E. Sutton, www.washingtoninformer.com Zebra Designs, Inc. Layout & Graphic Margaret Design Joanne Jackson, Roy Lewis, RobertJames Ken Harris /www.scsworks.com Webmaster Wright Ridley, Victor Holt CIRCULATION Paul Trantham PHOTOGRAPHERS John E. De Freitas, Roy Lewis, Khalid Naji-Allah, Shevry Lassiter
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We have to stop being passive-aggressive with poor children about domestic violence. I plan to take these policies to Congress and implore them to change our laws. I will not stop until these policies are passed.
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For decades, African Americans overwhelmingly have supported the Democratic Party and its policies. From the love affair between blacks and John F. Kennedy to the 93 percent of registered voters who supported Barack Obama in the 2012 election, African Americans and the Democrats have been almost inseparable. However, Republicans are attempting to set the record straight on their history with African Americans, including the fact that Republican President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation that freed the slaves and it was a Republican Congress that worked to write and pass the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments. Those pieces of legislation helped to outlaw slavery, guarantee equal protection under the laws, and to secure voting rights for African-American men. “I … remember the many African Americans who have shaped our Party from its formative days as a small group of abolitionists through today,” said Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince Priebus, during an event at the Howard Theatre on Feb. 4, which honored prominent black Republicans. Priebus and other top Republican officials admittedly are pushing hard to recruit African Americans to the Party, particularly after their 2012 presidential candidate, Mitt Romney, received just six percent of the black vote. The Party has also taken the unprecedented step of advertising in African-American media. In it’s first-ever Black History Month advertising campaign, the RNC has launched radio spots aimed at African-American audiences in Washington, D.C., Detroit, Cleveland and Atlanta, cities that are comprised of predominately black populations. Each of the advertisements highlights the accomplishments of black Republicans, such as Frederick Douglass, Sen. Hiram Revels of Mississippi, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), the first senator from the South in more than 100 years.
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However, Bill Tompkins, president of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), said he’s still not convinced that the Republicans are serious about reaching out to African Americans through advertisements in black publications. “I was surprised to see their press release on the ad campaign and then to see that there was one black newspaper and two or three broadcast outlets and nothing else,” said Tompkins, who said he hoped to learn more during a meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 18, between he and RNC officials. “It hasn’t been a full media campaign and we have reached out to [Republicans] in the past,” said Tompkins, whose organization consists of more than 200 black newspapers in the United States and the Virgin Islands that enjoy a combined readership of more than 15 million. Priebus acknowledged that Republicans had not been doing enough outreach in previous years. “We have suffered as a national Party for becoming a Party that has shown up once every four years, about three months before an election,” he said. “That is a losing strategy, and it has come to an end.” Chelsi P. Henry, who’s heavily involved in Florida Republican politics, told Black Entertainment Television that there are more African-American Republicans than meet the eye.
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“I learned a lot being involved with the local Republican Party and I was president of the Minority Republican Club for two years in Jacksonville,” she said. “I think the bigger question is why there aren’t more vocal Black Republicans.” The Republicans need to do Denise Rolark Barnes a much better job of communiIndependent Beauty Consultant www.marykay/drolark-barnes.com cating its message and the Party 202-236-8831 should reach out to minorities at a much earlier age, Henry said. “We have to become as effective as the Democratic Party so that 18 year olds truly make a choice rather than having the choice made for them,” she said. For their part, Democrats said much of what Republicans are doing should be viewed as nothing more than gratuitous overtures toward blacks. “The RNC’s Black History Month ad buys ring hollow since their Party has continually opposed policies that give all communities a fair shake and allows everyone’s voice to be heard,” said Kiara Pesante, a spokesperson for the Democratic National Committee. “No matter howsetmany ‡ Please all copyoffices in upper and lowercase, flush left as indicated on artwork at these point sizes: Consultant name in 11-point Helvetica Neue Bo Beauty Consultant in 9-point Helvetica Neue Light; Web site or e-mail address in 9-point Helvetica Neue Light; phone number in 9-point Helvetica they open, orTohow many people the Independent Beauty Consultant: Only Company-approved Web sites obtained through the Mary Kay® Personal Web Site program may they hire, or how many special events they host, the Republicans simply can’t explain away that harsh reality,” she said.wi The Washington Informer February 20, - February 26, 2014 5
WEEK OF feb 20 TO feb 26
Black Facts February 20
1927 - Sidney Poitier was born in Miami, Florida. He was the first African-American to win an Academy Award in a starring role. 1931 - Army Lt. Gen. Emmett Paige, Jr. was born in Jacksonville, Florida 1936 - Jazz singer, actress, Nancy Wilson was born in Chillicothe, Ohio 1963 - Charles Wade Barkley was born in Leeds, Alabama. Nancy Wilson
February 21
1933 –Singer Nina Simone (Eunice Waymon), was born in Tryon, NC. 1936 - Barbara Jordan, who will be the first African American woman elected to the House of Representatives, is born. 1940 - John Lewis, founder and chairman of SNCC, was born. 1965 - On February 21, 1965, Malcolm X was assassinated in Audubon Ballroom at, 11 months after his split from Elijah Muhammad’s Nation of Islam. 1992 - Eva Jessye choral director for the first Broadway production of Porgy and Bess died in Ann Arbor, Michigan Feb. 21, 1992.
February 22
BUYING RECORDS
1911 - Activist and social reformer Francis Ellen Watkins Harper dies in her home in Philadelphia. Harper founded the National Convention of Colored Women in 1864 and was involved in other projects for women’s rights. 1938 – Poet Ishmael Reed was born. 1950 - Julius Winfield (“Dr. J”) Erving, former basketball player, was born Roosevelt, NY. 1989 - DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince win the first rap Grammy for the hit single “Jeff and the Fresh Prince win the first rap Grammy for the hit single “Parents Just Don’t Understand.”
February 23
1940 - Former world heavyweight boxing champion Jimmy
Ellis was born James Albert Ellis in Louisville, Kentucky. Ellis won the World Boxing Association title after beating Jerry Quarry in April 1968. 1895 - William H. Heard, AME minister and educator, named minister to Liberia. 1925 - Louis Stokes, former mayor of Detroit, Michigan, and member of the US House of Representatives, was born in Cleveland, Ohio. Stokes was the first African American elected to the House from Ohio. 1929 - Baseball catcher Elston Gene Howard was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Howard signed a $70,000 contract with the NY Yankees and became the highest paid player in the history of baseball at the time. 1979 - Frank E. Peterson Jr. was named the first Black general in the Marine Corps. 1995 - Bass Singer Melvin Franklin of The Temptations died of complications following a brain seizure in Los Angeles. He was 53.
February 25
1971 - President Nixon met with members of the Congressional Black Caucus and appointed a White House panel to study a list of recommendations made by the group. 1975 - Elijah Muhammad leader of the Nation of Islam, dies in Chicago, he was 77. 1980 - Robert E. Hayden,
poet and poetry consultant to the Library of Congress, dies. 1987 - Edward Daniel Nixon, former president of the Georgia NAACP, dies he was 87. 1989 - Boxer Mike Tyson becomes the undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World by defeating challenger Frank Bruno of England. 1991 - Adrienne Mitchell, first African American woman to die in combat in the Persian Gulf War is killed in her military barracks in Dharan, Saudi Arabia.
February 26 1926 - Carter G. Woodson started Negro History Week. This week would later become Black History Month. 1928 - Singer “Fats” Domino was born. 1964 - Cassius Clay, changed his name to Muhammad Ali as he accepted Islam and rejected Christianity. “I believe in the religion of Islam. I believe in Allah and in peace...I’m not a Christian anymore.” 1965 - Jimmie Lee Jackson, civil rights activist, died of injuries reportedly inflicted by officers in Marion, Alabama. 1966 - Andrew Brimmer becomes the first African American governor of the Federal Reserve Board when he is appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson
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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around the the region region around INTERVIEWS AND PHOTOS BY TIMOTHY LINDEN
Viewp int Anthony Bardonille
Washington, D.C. Washingtonians’ spirit toward baseball has changed with the resurgence of the Nationals, and people in the area are excited. The team came out of the gate really strong last season, but stumbled a bit. I believe they’ll be more focused this season and win more ballgames – and have fun while they’re doing it. When they’re out there having fun, they’re a much tougher team to beat. Fan support in the city continues to grow, and that’s infectious. I’m optimistic that they’ll have a good, fun season.
Cameron Brock
Washington, D.C. Despite last season, the Nationals’ players have a lot of heart. They’ll always give 100 percent whether it results in a loss or a win. Two years ago they completely shattered everyone’s expectations and I think we’ll see the same results this season. They’ll bounce back – that’s what they do. I’m excited to see the type of season Ryan Zimmerman will have. I think he’s going to have a great year, and I think the Nationals will make the postseason.
THE WASHINGTON NATIONALS START SPRING TRAINING THIS WEEK IN FLORIDA. NEW MANAGER MATT WILLIAMS AND TEAM LOOK TO REBOUND AFTER A DISAPPOINTING 2013 SEASON. WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM THE NATIONALS THIS YEAR?
Bruce Lancaster
Clinton, Md. I’m excited that the season is almost here. I’m excited to see what [outfielder] Bryce Harper will do this year. I think he’s going to have a standout season. It’s going to be interesting to see if the team’s pitching staff holds up as it’s expected to do. I was really into following the team last season – and I haven’t been a lifelong baseball fan – but they’ve really been exciting to watch. I think they’re building the team the right way. I’m excited to watch Spring Training, and I’m going to follow the team throughout the season.
Alex Heitkemper
Hyattsville, Md. I’ve lived in the Washington area my whole life, so it’s great to see the Nationals field a competitive, winning team. Hopefully [new manager] Matt Williams can push the team in the right direction. They have a good pitching staff, so hopefully things go well. It’s always tough to predict whether or not a team will make it to the postseason, but I think they’re a playoff team this year.
Jay Walker
Fort Washington, Md. I’m excited about the upcoming season. Last year, I thought the expectations were so high and they were such a young team – especially the pitching staff – and they didn’t handle the expectations too well. But a year later, with the players having the experience of last season and dealing with high expectations, I think they are more prepared and will overachieve. With players like [pitcher] Stephen Strasburg and [outfielder] Bryce Harper, the Nationals will only get better. New manager Matt Williams will make a difference as well.
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said Fudge, 61, who also noted that the changes will be achieved by discontinuing a program in 17 states that automatically boost food stamp benefits for people enrolled in the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which aids families with energy costs. “On balance, I am pleased the 47 million Americans who currently rely on the program will not be subjected to the $40 billion in program cuts that were included in the Nutrition Bill passed by the House last year,” she said. However, Edelman said she isn’t happy with the compromise. She said a recent report released by the Children’s Defense Fund, titled “The State of America’s Children 2014,” shows that more than one in nine children lack access to adequate food, 23 percent higher than before the Great Recession. Edelman, 74, said with millions of poor children and families still struggling, federal nutrition programs continue to be a critical support to ensure children’s daily nutritional needs are met. Food stamp benefits serve more than 22 million children, or 1 in 4 children in America, and an estimated 850,000 households would see a reduction on average of $90 per month, she said, noting that the cuts come on top of the across-the-board benefit reduction that took effect in November 2013 and that affected all who receive food stamps. “The cuts to the [food stamp] program in the Farm Bill are inThe Washington Informer
defensible,” Edelman said. “Our latest report shows that SNAP is the only defense against the wolves of hunger for 1.2 million jobless families. With record numbers of children in poverty, Congress should be launching a war on child poverty and strengthening the safety net for children including SNAP. There should be no hungry people, especially children, in rich America.” Officials at the Children’s Defense Fund, a non-profit child advocacy organization that has worked for more than 40 years to ensure a level playing field for the young, said there are hungry children in America who currently suffer through weekends without access to school breakfast and lunch. They said 89 percent of children who relied on free or reduced-price lunch during the school year did not receive meals through Summer Food Service programs. A key finding from “The State of America’s Children 2014,” suggests that America could adequately feed an estimated 737,000 children who suffer from a lack of food if legislators would simply OK the use of just three days of funds that are used to provide corporate tax breaks. Nearly three quarters of SNAP households are families with children and food stamps helped to lift 2.2 million children out of poverty in 2012. Also, black and Latino households with children are more than twice as likely as white households to lack access to adequate food. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), called the bill a disaster, particularly for the most vulnerable of U.S. citizens.
“This bill will result in less food on the table for children, seniors and veterans who deserve better from this Congress, while corporations continue to receive guaranteed federal handouts,” said Gillibrand, 47. Page Crosland, a spokesperson for the Capital Area Food Bank in Northeast, said the cuts are certain to affect the many who count on the services at the food bank. “The District of Columbia has the second highest child hunger rate in the country and we are already seeing an increase in calls to our hunger lifeline and an increase in people to our food pantry,” Crosland said. Margarette Purvis, president of the Food Bank for New York City, said she’s deeply disappointed with the legislation. “Whatever the justification being touted, we are left with the reality that hundreds of thousands of low-income families will face new hardship when they see their food assistance cut,” said Purvis, 40. Still, the president called the new Farm Bill, which he signed on Feb. 7, a victory. He said the primary benefits of the bill would help rural communities and provide food assistance to poor families and children. “More than half of all Americans will experience poverty at some point during their adult lives,” Obama said. “For more than a half-century, this country has helped Americans put food on the table when they hit a rough patch or when they’re working hard but aren’t making enough money to feed their kids. They’re not looking for a handout, these folks; they’re looking for a hand up.” wi
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around AROUNDthe THEregion REGION ADMINISTRATION continued from Page 1 of Taxpayers for Common Sense in Southeast, told the New York Times. Also, under Obama’s watch, several states have drafted legislation which requires welfare recipients to undergo drug testing, which many argue violates their rights. Pennsylvania requires an asset test where food stamp and Medicaid recipients aren’t allowed to possess valuables worth up to $5,500, or $9,000 if a person is disabled or elderly. In Michigan, legislators recently approved a measure that withholds unemployment compensation from those who fail pre-employment drug tests. “It’s more than just big brother watching, it’s the government trying to control every aspect of a person’s life and dictate what people can and can’t do, and what they can and cannot have,” said Justin Rice, a parcel service worker from Northeast.
A Department of Labor study revealed that the black unemployment rate has risen since Obama took office and the former head of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Ben Jealous, said conditions are worse in the African-American community than they were when Obama took office. Labor statistics revealed that the unemployment rate for blacks is double that of whites, similar to numbers 50 years ago, during the Civil Rights movement. “The country’s back to pretty much where it was when this president started. White people in this country are doing a bit better,” said Jealous, 41. “Black people are doing far worse.” However, White House officials noted that Obama has championed a strong black family, and he’s encouraged fathers to be active in their children’s lives. The president’s Affordable Care Act also serves to end the disparity in health care among African Americans
as it’s estimated that more than 8 million blacks will benefit from the law, officials said. In an email, a White House spokesperson said since Obama’s first day in office, he’s worked to secure the future prosperity of the African-American community through efforts such as increasing access to health care, creating jobs, revitalizing schools, and the development of targeted job creating investments in underserved communities. “While the president affirms his agenda in a variety of ways that affect all Americans, his impact on the Black community is still potent although critics claim he has not done enough,” D.L. Chandler, a journalist and critic with News One, said. Chandler noted that Obama has nominated 287 individuals for judicial appointments, and 41 of the 55 African-American appointees were confirmed, far more than that of former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
CDM Smith/Haskell, A Joint Venture Subcontracting Meet and Greet Event Location: 21403
Pip Moyer Recreation Center, 273 Hilltop Lane, Annapolis, MD
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Critics of the president still argue that he’s done very little for African Americans. They said Obama’s signature piece of legislation, the Affordable Care Act, did nothing to change guidelines that sometimes result in families losing their homes when an elderly owner dies. After working for decades to pay off a mortgage in order to own a home outright, Medicaid now seeks repayment of its outlays made on behalf of a nursing home recipient upon his or her death. In a blog for AgingCare.com, attorney K. Gabriel Heiser provided the example that if someone has lived in a nursing home for two years and the state paid the caregiver through Medicaid $4,000 per month, the state would then file a claim against the individual’s estate in the amount of $4,000 times the 24 months of residency, a sum that equals $96,000. “If the house was still in the person’s name at her death, then in order
to repay the state the $96,000, the house will have to be sold,” Heiser said. Critics also contend that the president’s initiatives on education have failed to solve the problems facing school districts in many major cities across the country that are closing public schools in predominately black communities. Many of those cities include urban areas such as Philadelphia and Chicago, where 93 percent or more of the young people affected by the closings are black and low-income students. “It can’t be that Obama is unaware of the fact that so many pieces of legislation are hurting black people,” said Paul Lastings, a cement worker who lives in Alexandria, Va. “Maybe, he has a plan and we just don’t know about it,” said Lastings, 48. wi
Shiloh Baptist Church Washington, DC
Position Opening
CDM Smith/Haskell, A Joint Venture, has been awarded the Design/Build contract for a new Water Treatment Plant (WTP) for the City of Annapolis, MD. We are seeking certified DBE/MBE subcontractors with: •
Experience working on water treatment plants
•
Bonding capability in some trades
•
Ability to maintain current insurance requirements (general, auto and WC)
•
Capability of maintaining staffing required to meet schedule deadlines
•
Financial capability to accomplish the work required
Come meet with our representatives at this subcontracting event to find out about this project. No contracts will be awarded at this time but instructions will be given to prequalify as a subcontractor/supplier. The following trades will be involved in this proposal: Final Cleaning Service, Trailer Cleaning Service, Portable Toilet Supply and Service, Erosion Control Installation and Maintenance, Demolition, Sitework, Dirt hauling, Concrete Curb and sidewalk, Asphalt paving, Pavement Marking, Concrete Reinforcing Steel Installation, Concrete slab place and finish, Masonry, Brick, Structural Steel Installation, Doors and Hardware, Overhead Coiling Doors, Windows, Drywall, Acoustical Ceiling, Flooring (VCT and Ceramic), Painting, Fire Extinguishers, Operable Partition, Plumbing, HVAC, Fire Sprinkler System, Electrical. HASKELL is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer and Drug-Free Workplace.
Accountant Assistant The Accountant Assistant shall assist the Supervisory Accountant for completing implementation of and maintaining the accounting system of Shiloh Baptist Church; performing accounting functions; preparing and presenting financial reports and budgets; and generally carrying out the policies and procedures of the Church. Essential duties include: (1) performing general ledger entries, cash receipts/receivables, cash disbursements/payables and fixed assets functions and enforce internal controls; (2) Review invoice payment requests and supporting documentation. Ensure contractors/vendors are paid in a timely manner with the concurrence of the Supervisory Accountant; (3) Perform check disbursement processing recording deposits as necessary; (4) perform bi-weekly payroll processing for all church employees; (5) provide/research data in support of the financial forecasting reports; (6) performs other duties as assigned. Qualifications: Associate or bachelor’s degree; preferably in accounting; must have worked in the general accounting field for at least 2 years performing the above duties and responsibilities and knowledge of Microsoft Office tools and knowledge of Quick Books accounting software preferred. To apply submit resume to trustees@shilohbaptist.org. Closing Date: February 15, 2014.
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February 20, - February 26, 2014
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AROUND THE REGION
D.C. Political Roundup By James Wright WI Staff Writer
POWER
D.C. Attorney General Drama Continues No one can ever say Paul Zukerberg runs from a fight. it’s Zukerberg, a candidate for the District attorney general position, happens to be the only individual vying for the job in the upcoming Tuesday, DC residents are April 1 primary. Yet, he’s still working stepping up to ensure that his name appears on the and making smart ballot. energy choices. “It is a lot of mess and confusion,” Are you? said Zukerberg, 56. In November 2010, District voters overwhelmingly supported an elected attorney general, with the understanding that the first election would be Connect at www.dcseu.com held in 2014. However, last fall, the #REPRESENTDC D.C. Council voted to move the election of the attorney general beyond 2014 and that’s upset many residents. Zukerberg sued in federal court but the judge rejected his case because the council’s legislative action postDCSEUWashInformerAd.indd 1 2/4/14 9:20 AMponing the election didn’t go through coming to the usual channels of mayoral and congressional approval. Meanwhile, Zukerberg qualified for the Democratic primary ballot by obtaining the GRAMMY-WINNING JAZZ MASTERS required number of signatures by Jan. 1, but his name still may not appear on the ballot. “The D.C. Board of Elections is working on printing the ballots now so that overseas and military residents can have their vote counted,” he said. “The issue with the attorney general featuring has not been settled so they have decided to go ahead and print the ballots without my name. I have taken the SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 4PM matter to court.” Zukerberg lost in D.C. Superior Court recently and has filed his appeal with the D.C. Court of Appeals. He hopes to have a ruling in time for the ballots to be printed with his name on them. “It would really be nice for District residents to have an inSATURDAY, MARCH 1, 8PM dependent, elected attorney general like other states,” he said.
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Paul Zukerberg is a candidate for D.C. attorney general. /Photo by Nancy Shia
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Straw Polls Draw Mixed Reviews D.C. Council member and mayoral candidate Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4) feels great after winning recent straw polls in wards 4 and 8, but some say that she shouldn’t start measuring drapes on the 5th floor of the John A. Wilson Building in Northwest – at least not yet. Bowser’s success has some wondering about their true value in the political process. There are some who contend that it’s a mere show of candidate strength in a ward while others like them because straw polls increase the community’s involvement in politics. “I think that they are a measure of The Washington Informer
Sandy Allen is a former member of the D.C. Council. /Courtesy Photo
which candidate can get out the vote,” Dorothy Brizill, a District government watchdog, said, “but I don’t think they are even good beauty contests because only a limited number of people participate.” Former D.C. Council member Sandy Allen, agrees with Brizill, saying that straw polls are interesting, but don’t really make a difference in a race. “The straw polls are done at neighborhood events,” said Allen, 70, who has served in a number of leadership positions with the Ward 8 Democrats. “It is the people from the neighborhood who come to cast the ballots. The everyday voter is not there and it is only a small sampling of voter opinion.” An example of the conflicting value of straw polls could be the 2006 and 2010 mayoral races. Linda Cropp overwhelmingly won the Ward 8 straw poll in 2006 but lost the ward and the race in the September Democratic mayoral primary. On the other hand, in 2010, Vincent Gray defeated Adrian Fenty in the Ward 8 straw poll and marched
onto victory in the September mayoral primary. W. Philip Thomas, an active member of the Ward 3 Democrats, said that the executive committee of his organization decided against having a straw poll for this year’s primary. “We are dealing with a tight time frame,” said Thomas, 28. “We decided to have candidate forums because it is too close to the election to have straw polls.” Jeffrey Richardson, the president of the Ward 6 Democrats, said that his organization will not hold a straw poll but will have candidate forums. However, Ward 5 Democrats president Silas Grant said that he will have a straw poll in the coming weeks. “We have traditionally held straw polls and we have had a good turnout for them,” Grant said. “People in Ward 5 seemed to be interested in them and we are looking at possibly doing polls for the mayoral, at-large and council seats.” wi
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February 20, - February 26, 2014
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around the region
Prince George’s Pride Lacrosse players gather after a strength and conditioning clinic at Duvall Field in College Park, Md. /Photo courtesy of Prince George’s Pride
Lacrosse Takes off in Prince George’s County By Elton Hayes WI Contributing Writer Bruce Lancaster played football at DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Md., in the mid-1980s and knows all too well about the brutality that accompanies the sport. He ended his football-playing days after an opponent suffered a life-altering injury that resulted in paralysis during a game his sophomore year. So two years ago, when his sixyear-old son Miles said he wanted to play full-contact football, Lancaster faced a difficult decision. “I was looking for an alternative to football,” Lancaster, 43, a Clinton, Md., resident said. “I played a lot of football when I was younger and I don’t think I wanted him to fall in love with the sport. He wanted to play contact football, but it wasn’t an option. I wanted to get him involved in a sport where he could still wear a helmet and that had some contact, but one that wasn’t predicated on full-body contact.” Miles’ alternative to football came in the form of an uncommon sport in Prince George’s County: Lacrosse. Bruce and Miles Lancaster learned of the Prince George’s Pride Lacrosse Club from one of Miles’ schoolmates at Friends Community School in College Park, Md., and the two decided to attend one of the league’s events. It didn’t take much to sell the father on the sport. Miles is set to start his second season with the league, and his six-and-a-half-yearold brother Cole will start his first next month. Prince George’s Pride formed
12 February 20, - February 26, 2014
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three years ago thanks to Hyattsville natives Alex Heitkemper and Justin Ross. The league started with 80 players, and has ballooned in size and currently boasts a roster of more than 260 players. The league is based out of College Park, Md., and is comprised of boys and girls ages 6-15. Its 13-game season begins in March, and ends with a postseason tournament. Typically viewed as a sport for affluent, private school children and teens, Prince George’s Pride has grown in popularity in Prince George’s County and there’s now a waitlist for some of the league’s teams. Part of lacrosse’s allure is that it offers a safe, competitive alternative to football for the numerous parents like Bruce Lancaster who have grown increasingly leery as more studies show that the head trauma inflicted by hits in football have lasting, negative health implications. Cameron Brock played football at Bishop McNamara High School in Forestville, Md. Brock suffered an ankle injury his sophomore year that required surgery and rehabilitation. After chatting with one of the school’s personal trainers about lacrosse during a rehabilitation session, Brock decided to give the new sport a try. He now plays goalie on Howard University’s lacrosse team, and coaches for Prince George’s Pride. “Urban lacrosse is something that is a passion of mine,” Brock, 24, said. “Sure, the kids who play could go on to win national championships and play professionally, but at the end of the day, they have the chance to receive college scholarships.”
Brock, a District resident, said Prince George’s Pride affords some children an opportunity they otherwise would not have if not for the league. “I enjoy the fact that I’m able to help give back to those who [otherwise] wouldn’t have a chance to play this sport,” he said. “It’s also a sport they can relate to. It takes a little from basketball, football and baseball, and rolls it all into one.” Anthony Bardonille Sr., 46, said the league’s impact spans beyond Duvall Field in College Park, Md., where most of the league’s practices and games are played. Bardonille’s seven-year-old son, Anthony Jr., currently plays in the league. “I see a lot of positive results from lacrosse,” Bardonille, a Northeast resident, said. “I see a lot of kids who are in good shape, who are confident and who have good posture. The coaches teach a code of conduct that revolves around respect for others, family and self. And that is something the kids will take with them for the rest of their lives.” In three years, Prince George’s County high schools will offer lacrosse as a varsity sport. And unlike Bruce Lancaster, Miles will have the opportunity to play the sport as an alternative to football. Ross, one of the league’s commissioners, said community support remains strong. “When we started the league, we presumed that we would have to do more educating about the sport,” Ross, 37, said. “But folks were very receptive and very interested to learn about lacrosse. So, truly, it was only a matter of giving the kids an opportunity.”wi
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Church Chronicles History, Pastor’s Struggles By Joshua Garner WI Staff Writer @JoshuaGarnerDC When Rev. Perry Smith walked through the doors of First Baptist Church of North Brentwood in 1958 as pastor, he only planned to lead the church for two years. Instead, he opted to stay and for more than 50 years Smith led one of the oldest black churches in Prince George’s County. Young, handsome, and wearing a beret and sandals, Smith said he waltzed in First Baptist while finishing a Master of Divinity degree from Howard University. At the time, the church only had about 27 active members and sorely needed repair. “I didn’t see myself staying there,” said Smith, 80, of Mitchellville. “I felt like there must have been something else out there that God wanted me to do.” Smith’s history with the church became the subject of the book “A Time to Build: History of the First Baptist Church, Inc. of North Brentwood Maryland.” Released in 2010, the book remains one of the few that records the history of an African-American church. Founded in 1905, First Baptist celebrated its centennial in 2005. “Too little of African-American church history is documented,” said Smith, who is a native of Mound Bayou, Miss. But the road to chronicling his history with the church proved to be a long one, he said. When church members selected Smith to lead the congregation, he was only 24 years old. Senior members of the church were suspicious of him, while the younger members were drawn to him. He made about $100 a month as pastor, but immediately set out building the churches’ membership by engaging the surrounding community on everything from civil rights, to education, and housing. Smith said he endured 13 arrests, including several in Prince George’s County, while working as a freedom fighter during the Civil Rights Movement. “The racism was all around us … our church was heavily involved in the Civil Rights Movement – I would be ashamed if we were not,” he said. “The service that we provided the community was the catalyst for change.” Soon First Baptist’s relevance
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The Rev. Perry Smith led the congregation of First Baptist Church of North Brentwood for decades until he retired in 2010. /Photo by Mark Mahoney
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The Rev. Perry Smith assumed the helm of First Baptist Church of North Brentwood at the age of 24. He immediately set out to build the church’s membership by engaging the community. /Photo by Mark Mahoney
extended beyond the community. Over the years, Smith saw the seats of First Baptist fill with notable activists including Nikki Giovanni and Dick Gregory, among others. At one point, Martin Luther King, Jr. was scheduled to speak at the church. His efforts to raise awareness in the community began to trickle into the church. First Baptist’s membership grew to nearly 2,000 members during Smith’s tenure as pastor, which ended in 2010 when he retired. First Baptist’s annual budget increased from $2,400 to nearly $2 million during that time, Smith said. Under his leadership, the church building also expanded. Most recently, a new church was built across the street from the old one in 2005. Sandra Shannon, an English professor at Howard University and member of First Baptist, co-authored the book with Smith. She said she became intrigued by the history of the church and
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Smith’s mission as its leader. “It’s the idea of chronicling history; it’s a part of my history,” Shannon said. “It’s so important to write and record history – so much of it has been lost … I wanted to capture that history of the church while people are still alive.” “Rev. Smith is an activist. He did a beautiful job blending his spiritualism with his activism,” Shannon said. “He never backed down from speaking to power.” And his consistency kept the church relevant in the community, said long-time member Evelyn Hughes. “He had a hard time but he did it,” said Hughes, 88, of Greenbelt who joined the church in 1943. “He just worked hard.” Though Smith stepped down from leading the church four years ago, Hughes said his legacy with First Baptist continues. “His presence is still there. People love him – he’s still apart of us,” she said.wi The Washington Informer
February 20, - February 26, 2014
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World Bank Critics Seek Outside Help Argue That the Bank Cannot Police Itself By Barrington M. Salmon WI Staff Writer @bsalmondc
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14 February 20, - February 26, 2014
The World Bank is one of the heavy hitters in the District of Columbia. Each year, it provides billions in loans to help governments combat poverty. More than 17,000 people from 170 countries work at the Bank, making it the second largest employer in the city. It is an instrument of foreign policy used by the United States to reward friends and punish enemies, and for much of the institution’s existence, it has operated as an entity unto itself. But over the past three decades, this venerable institution has been roiled by charges from current and former employees about the deep-seated racial bias and discrimination at the Bank. The Rev. Lennox Abrigo met with former Bank employee Yonas Biru, as well as Bank staff over the last couple of weeks and said he’s stunned by what they’ve shared. “I was absolutely surprised and shocked to find this out,” said Abrigo, president of the Washington, D.C. chapter of the National Action Network. “(But) this is America. Racism is part of the American fabric.” Abrigo, pastor of the Seventh Day New Covenant Ministries in Hyattsville, Md., said he’s taken aback by the naked nature of the racism, saying that the Bank has so far been protected by a shroud of secrecy. “It’s systemic, pervasive, protracted and it’s admitted by Bank officials from their own studies and those of the Government Accountability Project (GAP),” he said. “It’s spread throughout every part of the bank. Yonas Biru is the poster child of the abuses. He reached the top of his job and was denied a promotion for work he was already doing.” Abrigo likened Bank activities to the controversial Stand Your Ground law in the state of Florida. “This is systematic racism. The legislatures of several states have implemented this law. We’ve seen this effect. Juries are paralyzed by legislative chicanery,” he said. “It has had a specific effort. With it being in 32 states, it’s systemic.” “With voting rights, for example, I’m not surprised that white The Washington Informer
The Rev. Lennox Abrigo, president of the Washington, D.C. chapter of the National Action Network. /Photo by Shevry Lassiter
people don’t want to give up power. I’m a pastor and would not willingly give up power to a younger pastor but I would not murder him trying to remain on top. They say Stand Your Ground is democratic and the rule of law. It’s illegal and we have to find a legitimate way to fight it.” Abigo said he’ll use tools at his disposal to expose Bank activities. He’s reaching out to members of Congress, including the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), the White House and the executive branch, and mobilizing members of civil society and other groups to exert pressure on the Bank. Abrigo said he’s contacting major media outlets and plans a press conference to be held on the steps of the World Bank at 1818 H Street, N.W. Former employee Phyllis Muhammad is one of the Bank’s most vocal critics. “The bottom line is that the World Bank does not see Blacks as equal and any manager can do whatever he/she sees fit to ‘put them in their place,’” she said. Muhammad, a Harvard-trained African-American lawyer and a former staff relations officer, said
in the 12 years she worked at the Bank, she counseled a number of black staffers who had been run through the gauntlet of racism and discrimination. “Generally speaking, there’s retaliation but I knew I was working for a higher calling,” she said. “My personal work ethic was to go above the call of duty. I’ve seen people suffer, lose their jobs and have their reputations damaged.” Muhammad cited the case of Vernetta Hitch, an employee who worked as a temp for 20 years. “She never got a regular position. When she applied for a position, they came up with a qualification that disqualified her,” said Muhammad. “She said she was being discriminated against by age and race. In a letter they said they needed a quick study who could go the distance. So they hired an Indian man with the rationale that it was an affirmative action hire because there were no males in the office. She left without any pension credits and got a couple of months’ salary. That was the end of her career.” Biru, an economist, has fought
See BANK on Page 15
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AROUND THE REGION This is an issue that has huge embarrassment potential. The CBC has to get involved. They respond to embarrassment and money.” A senior staffer at the Bank agreed. “I totally think there has to be some degree of public embarrassment and withholding contributions,” said the employee who spoke on condition of anonymity. “Managers will not adequately address this until it’s tied to promotions and salary increases.” The manager, who is African American, said he blames the racism on ignorance, fear and staffers and senior managers from other
countries bringing negative and uncomplimentary images of black people with them. “There’s the slave mentality thinking that we should not be above them. They fear that if we get into positions of authority, we’ll take over because we’ll start hiring other qualified blacks,” he said. Both Muhammad and Edwards are convinced that the best way to effect change would be to appoint an external decision maker who can examine prior discrimination cases and correct the myriad problems. “Whistle blowers expose any
deviations and they have no protection. The Bank doesn’t do anything until it gets in the press,” said Muhammad, co-chair of Justice for Blacks, an organization that advocates for black Bank staff. “We’ve been asking for the Bank to be held accountable. No one in their right mind wants the Bank’s mission to be thwarted. We just want them to treat their staff as valuable resources and respect them and their dignity. Whatever instruments we need for change, we’ll do it.”wi This is the third installation of a three-part series.
Mayor Vince Gray is delivering extraordinary results. n Lowest unemployment rate in 5 years n Biggest test gains for any urban school district n $187 million investment in affordable housing is building stronger communities World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. /Courtesy Photo
BANK continued from Page 14 for the past seven years seeking recompense for retaliation against him because he challenged his bosses for promotion to a job he was already doing. He is also combating his termination and seeks restoration of his original employment record. He is seeking $4 million in damages. Two Bank spokesmen declined to answer questions about specific cases, but the Bank released a statement. “We vigorously reject the assertions being made about the working environment at the World Bank Group,” the statement said. “As an international institution, the World Bank Group values diversity, and we’re proud of the fact that we are one of the most diverse organizations in the world. Almost two-thirds of our workforce – 62 percent – is from developing countries, and 15 percent come from Sub-Saharan Africa and Caribbean countries.” “Some 42 percent of our managers are from developing countries, 11 percent come from Sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean, and half of our most senior managers are female. We are continually working to be more repre-
sentative of the people we serve.” “Like other multinational organizations, the statement continued, “we recognize that there is a broad array of ethnic backgrounds in each of our member countries so we don’t track diversity below the national level. That said, we have made efforts to increase diversity among people of color from the U.S. As an international organization committed to improve the lives of the poor, the World Bank Group takes our commitment to diversity and inclusion very seriously. We’re committed to a fully diverse and inclusive workplace and continue to aim to improve.” But Bea Edwards said the numbers are misleading. “They collect ethnic data via passports. So whites from South Africa and Zimbabwe are counted as African,” said Edwards, GAP’s executive director. “That’s not the way to collect data. When you’re asking, you have to say ‘black American.’ By their reckoning, Teresa Heinz Kerry (a naturalized American born in Mozambique, and wife of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry) is considered African American.” “(The Bank) is a bastion of inequality. Yonas’ case was so clear that it was racial discrimination.
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D.C. schools “are making big strides.” — PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, 2014 STATE OF THE UNION
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Understanding the DC Earned Income Tax Credit By Hermond Palmer
Did you know that there is a citywide campaign that exists to educate taxpayers about the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and other tax benefits that can boost your annual income? Well, there is and by not checking into the nuts and bolts of the program, you could be missing out on collecting extra money to which you are entitled. In these times of economic strife, fiscal recession, and recovery tell me, who can afford that? Some people may be asking, “What is an Earned Income Tax Credit?” Simply put, an Earned Income Tax Credit is a benefit for working people. It reduces the amount of money a taxpayer might owe and can give you a refund, meaning, you would get money back from the taxes you paid to the government. How sweet is that? In the District of Columbia, approximately 52,000 residents claim the federal and local Earned Income Tax Credit each year, resulting in more than $120 million being funneled into the local economy. On a national basis, 2 million or more American taxpayers lose out on refund checks each year because they do not file federal and state tax returns, leaving about $2.5 billion in unclaimed federal refunds. The people who miss out on this opportunity by failing to file, often fall into one of the following categories: • • • • • •
Worked for only a few months. Earned very little money. Received unemployment. Are immigrants without Social Security Numbers. Run their own small business. Owe money in child support or back taxes.
To find out if you qualify for the DC EITC you can call 1 (877) 728 – 3515 or go to their website at www.dceitc.org. If you do qualify, please be sure to bring the following items with you to the preparation site, or you run the risk of being turned away: • A Social Security card or IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number card for each family member • A picture ID for the taxpayer and spouse, if filing jointly • Income from the last year • Birthdates for every person to be claimed on your tax return The following are some additional items needed to complete the preparation process: • • • • • • • • • •
W-2 forms for all jobs worked in 2013 1099 forms reflecting other income you may have received (bank interest, social security, unemployment, etc.) If you paid tuition or education fees for yourself or for a child, please bring any tax forms from the educational institution. Also, be prepared to break down how much you spent in tuition, scholarship amounts, etc. If you paid for childcare in 2013, bring the provider name, address, and tax identification number End of the year retirement plan statements (401(k), IRA, etc.) If you lived in DC all of 2013 and your household income was less than $20,000, the amount of rent, or property taxes paid as well as your landlord’s name and address, if applicable Closing documents, if you purchased or refinanced your house in 2013 A voided bank check, if you wish to have your refund automatically deposited A copy of last year’s return (not necessary, but will be helpful) If you are married and filing jointly, both parties must be present to sign return.
If you do not have a banking relationship and are in the market for a bank partner, know that Industrial Bank is ready to support you as you look to invest in yourself, invest in your dreams, and invest in your future.
16 February 20, - February 26, 2014
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Why Blacks Should Care about the Debt Ceiling Here’s how the latest episode of the debt ceiling drama will end: Congress will raise or suspend the country’s borrowing limit, probably for as much as a year. The debt ceiling problem is something that must be solved, and solved soon. People in and out of Congress need to realize that what to do about the government and its debt ceiling is one of the most important decisions of our time. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew has warned that the nation’s borrowing authority must be extended or the United States will risk defaulting on some of its obligations in March. In 2013, federal spending approached $3.5 trillion. Following four years of trillion-dollar deficits, the national debt will soon reach $17 trillion and exceed 100 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by the end of the year. Nine times out of 10, Black Americans support President Obama and the Black Caucus and their government spending agenda. Over past decades African Americans have developed an unhealthy dependency on government. Blacks suffered disproportionately during the government shutdown in the fall. Blacks have high numbers in the ranks and the rolls of the federal government. In polls conducted by NBC and the Wall Street Journal news organizations, 58 percent of Americans preferred President Obama’s approach to the debt ceiling than the 36 percent who preferred the Republicans approach. Blacks support the “status quo” regarding government spending. A majority of Blacks rely on government in one form or another. Blacks have bought into patterns of spending and mismanagement that must be curbed. Professional politicians have Blacks believing that “failing to increase the debt limit would have catastrophic economic consequences” and cause the government to default on its legal obligations – an unprecedented event in American history that would precipitate a financial crisis and threaten the jobs and savings of everyday Americans.” Blacks must be prepared to “pull the plug” on the government’s spending. An unhealthy dependency on government has resulted in many Blacks’ acceptance of “a status quo” of low aspirations and generations of addition to welfare. The decline in federal workers and jobs is hurting the fragile Black middle class.
By William Reed Our reliance on the “status quo” results in Blacks putting all their eggs in the hands of professional politicians. The U.S. Congress originally created the debt ceiling in 1917 during World War I in an effort to limit federal borrowing. Since 1960, Congress has set a bad precedent and acted 78 separate times to permanently raise, temporarily extend, or revise the definition of the debt limit – 49 times under Republican presidents and 29 times under Democratic presidents. As the issue faces Congressional action, will Black voters ever see the necessity of demanding efficiently managed government and balanced budgets? The public’s goal should be to bring about government administrations that operate effectively and responsibly. Blacks must realize that the U.S. government is not “omnipotent” and must be staffed to operate effectively and properly. You can’t continue to raise the debt ceiling. The debt limit is the total amount of money the government is authorized to borrow to meet its existing legal obligations, including Social Security and Medicare benefits, military salaries, interest on the national debt, tax refunds, and other payments. As part of the deal to end the October 2013 government shutdown, the debt ceiling was suspended through February 7, 2014. These days, the national debt exceeds $17 trillion. If we don’t change course, today’s debt is expected to exceed $25 trillion in 2023. How many see that: increasing the debt ceiling without equal or greater spending cuts or reforms is foolish? The process is simple. Government borrows money by selling Treasury Bonds. The Treasury uses the money it makes from selling those bonds to pay off existing debt and to borrow additional money. We’ve never reached the point of default where Treasury was unable to pay its obligations. In 2011 the U.S. reached a point that resulted in the first downgrade in the U.S. credit rating, a stock market drop and increased borrowing costs. wi William Reed is publisher of “Who’s Who in Black Corporate America” and available for projects via the BaileyGroup.org
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Reducing the Risk of HIV by 90 Percent By Phill Wilson Guest Columnist This Friday, February 7h, is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD). It’s an opportunity for the nation to take a look at the AIDS epidemic in Black America from a uniquely and unapologetically Black point of view. Given the demographics of the AIDS epidemic in this country, this is a very important day. The Black AIDS Institute’s Black treatment advocate networks (BTANS) are hosting Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) forums around the country (Atlanta, Baton Rouge, Ft. Lauderdale, Jackson, Little Rock, Los Angles, Minneapolis, and Oakland) to raise awareness and educate our communities about PrEP. Here’s why Pre-exposure Prophylaxis of HIV is important to Black people: 35 years into this epidemic and with all we know about HIV, we still have alarming rates of new HIV infections in this country. Roughly 50,000 Americans are infected with HIV every year and 44 percent are Black. In many parts of the country, 1 in 2 Black gay men are already HIV infected – and many of them don’t know it. Think about are you in a committed monogamous relationship? Are all your friends and
Phil Wilson. /Courtesy Photo
family in committed monogamous relationships? If not, do you and do you think all your friends and love ones use condoms with every sexual encounter. If not, you need to know about PrEP. PrEP is a treatment for people who are not infected with HIV (that is, they are HIV negative, or HIV-), that uses one of the antiretroviral treatments that people with HIV/AIDS use, to prevent acquisition of the HIV virus. In clinical trials, when used properly, PrEP reduces the risk of acquiring the virus by more than 90 percent. Yes, 90 percent! If you look at the AIDS epidemic in Black communities, you would not know that that we have the tools to end the AIDS epidemic in America. Most
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Black folks are unaware or have misinformation about the new tools that could change the trajectory of the AIDS epidemic in our community and dramatically reduce their risk of HIV infection. PrEP is one of them. Those attending the PrEP forums will learn what PrEP is, who it’s for, how you use it, and what the risks and benefits are. We will look at the possible impact of using PreP on condom usage. Current guidelines recommend PrEP be used with condoms. But for people who have already chosen not to use condoms or are unable to use condoms on a consistent basis, using PrEP may provide some level of
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HEALTH wilson continued from Page 17 protection. Given the epidemic in Black communities, we need to know everything we can possibly know about all of the potential tools available to us in order to make informed, rational decisions about which tools to use in which circumstances. The combination of treatment as prevention – with the possibility of reducing transmission of HIV by more than 90 percent – and PrEP – with the possibility of reducing acquisition of HIV by more than 90 percent – has the promise to break the back of the HIV epidemic in our com-
munity. That’s a conversation we Wilson AT BlackAIDS.org must have. We look forward to seeing you at About the Black AIDS Instione of our forums on Friday. Check tute Founded in May of 1999, the Black out the www.BlackAIDS.org to find the BTAN PrEP forum nearest you. AIDS Institute (www.blackaids.org) is You can also follow the conversa- the only national HIV/AIDS think tank in the United States focused tion on Facebook and Twitter. Finally, if you want to help in the exclusively on Black people. The Infight against AIDS in Black commu- stitute’s Mission is to stop the AIDS nities, please enter the “Drive Out pandemic in Black communities by AIDS raffle” at www.AIDSraffle. engaging and mobilizing Black instiorg for a chance to win a 2014 Kia tutions and individuals in efforts to Washington Informer Forte. If you enter the Drive Out confront HIV. The Institute interprets AIDS raffle before Friday, February public and private sector HIV policies, 7th, you get entered into the four conducts trainings, offers technical assistance, disseminates information day Carnival Cruise raffle for free. and provides advocacy and mobiliPhill Wilson is the President and zation from a uniquely and unapol5.65” CEO of the Black AIDS Institute. ogetically Black point of view. www. He can be reached by email at Phill blackaids.orgwi
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EDUCATION BRIEFS A previous snow removal effort at Tucker Elementary School in Alexandria, Va., includes teachers and parents. /Photo courtesy of the Alexandria City Public Schools
District of Columbia Public Schools Highest Percentage of Black Students Taking AP Courses More District of Columbia Public School (DCPS) students than ever are taking Advanced Placement (AP) courses, according to data released Feb. 11 from the College Board. The new report shows the District of Columbia outranks the nation with the highest percentage of African-American students taking and passing AP exams, with more than 33 percent of students in the city passing the exams, compared with 4.6 percent for the nation. In addition, the number of AP exams on which District students earned a passing grade, has increased by 53 percent since 2010. “This is another great victory for DCPS and for our city,” said Mayor Vincent C. Gray. “The District as a whole, is outpacing the nation with our African-American students’ performance on AP exams. This data makes it clear we are on the right track and that we need to continue supporting all of our high school students.” Prince George’s County Public Schools Male Educators’ Summit Prince George’s County School Board member Curtis Valentine, along with the Association of Supervisory & Administrative School Personnel (ASASP), and Prince George’s County Educators’ Association (PGCEA) are poised to host the first annual “Male Educator Summit: Envisioning The Future of PGCPS.” The event which takes place on Saturday, March 1 at Charles Herbert Flowers High School in Springdale, Md., is designed to motivate and hone the abilities of the county’s male educators with the presentation of topics that will include Educator Retention, Student Achievement and Teacher Quality. The half-day summit will be held from 9 am to 1 pm.
Montgomery County Public Schools Board of Education Approves New Operating Budget The Montgomery County Board of Education has approved a $2.32 billion operating budget for Fiscal Year 2015. In preparation for the future, the new spending plan – among other objectives – will allow school officials to manage enrollment growth and narrow achievement gaps. The budget, which represents a 4 percent increase over the current list of expenditures, represents a 2.3 percent hike over minimum funding levels required by state law. Alexandria City Public Schools School Calendars, Snow Make-up Days Approved The Alexandria City School Board has voted unanimously to modify current school year calendars to allow for more flexibility in making up days missed due to inclement weather. The calendars previously required weather-related closures beyond three days to be made up only by adding school days to the end of the year. The revised calendar, however, allows those days to be made up on the following specific teacher work days and professional days, with the modified days designated as Friday, Feb. 28 and Friday, March 21. Alvin Crawley, interim superintendent, explained that unplanned school closings and delays such as those that occurred recently, are made with students’ safety in mind. “Our operations team works in collaboration with our city staff to assess weather conditions,” said Crawley, adding that impromptu school closings “is one of those areas, that regardless of the decision, there is rarely 100 percent agreement among all who are impacted.” wi
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February 20, - February 26, 2014
19
Black History Month
Planting & Reaping Love O
ne of my great joys as an historian is dispelling commonly held myths about African Americans. Perhaps none excite me as much as leveling the contention established decades ago by well-meaning, but culturally biased researchers, who labeled black relationships stagnant, pathological, or otherwise unnatural. What Daniel Moynihan overlooked and black nationalists like Eldridge Cleaver never understood, was that romantic relationships between black men and women function far and beyond the parameters set by white, middle-class standards. Be clear, permeating pop culture images of the half-clothed, debased, and sexualized are not the scope of this commentary. Rather, it is the everyday celebration of African American couples who embrace love, honor, duty, and as much passion for one another as compassion. While studying the works of 1920s migrants moving from the South to northern enclaves like Chicago, Detroit, and St. Louis, I came across a collection of love letters sent between men and the girlfriends and wives they left behind. As Isabelle Wilkerson documented in her work, without the modern benefit of mobile phones, cars, or ready cash, and often no particular final destination in mind, these men had no way of getting word back to their women that they were even still alive. Journeys took anywhere from weeks to months and those first correspondences, like letters to sweethearts in wartime, symbolize the beauty of anticipation, the pride of sojourning, and the conviction that, with time and provision their unions would soon be reestablished. These letters challenged the precept that Black men and women did not get along through some type of abnormal shift in roles that left men emasculated and women carrying the burden of both gender roles. Overarching themes can be found in some of those letters, which have now become a
part of Pamela Newkirk’s new anthology A Love No Less: Two Centuries of African American Love Letters. One of the most endearing is the belief that Black women have no character flaw that a Black man would publicly announce. For what brings shame upon her, brings shame upon him – and as an extension of Black womanhood, his daughters and granddaughters. Black men knew to speak to and of Black women in genteel terms to protect her from the stereotyped monograph larger society heaped upon her. In
addition to protecting her, Black men in these letters freely expressed a type of romantic love that was bold in its vulnerability and exciting in its honesty. As early as 1862, letters can be found of both enslaved and freedmen, professing their love. In one such pronouncement Lew writes to Amelia: How can I express the pleasure it affords me to receive a letter written by the hand of her I love?... Men and women talk of love, can anyone describe it? For the life of me I cannot tell the reason that I love you. When Herbert (104) and
Zelmyra (101) Fisher a couple married 85 years (and who held the Guinness Book of World Record title for the length of their marriage until their recent deaths) were asked in 2011, What are the most important attributes of a good spouse? Zelmyra responded: “A hard worker and good provider. The 1920s were hard, but Herbert wanted & provided the best for us. I married a good man! Everyone who plants a seed and harvests the crop celebrates together. We are individuals, but accomplish more together. Re-
member marriage is not a contest – never keep a score. God has put the two of [us] together on the same team to win. We are both Christians and believe in God. Marriage is a commitment to the Lord. We pray with and for each other every day.” The Washington Informer celebrates the couples, like the Fishers who are planting seeds and reaping harvests of love. Read & Enjoy, Shantella Y. Sherman Editor, Special Sections
Herbert & Zelmyra Fisher
, (left) on their wedding day in May 1924; and (on the right) the couple 86 years later in 2011. The couple shared their advice via social media outlet Twitter three years ago, shortly before their deaths. The Fisher’s advice to young couples has helped African Americans better understand love and marriage as a team effort. / Courtesy photo
A Love SUPREME
Celebrating African-American Love with Dignity & Pride By Barrington M. Salmon WI Staff Writer @bsalmondc
T
here was a time in this country, where enslaved Africans were not allowed to marry and owners, overseers and any white man in the South and wherever African
20 February 20, - February 26, 2014
Americans were in bondage had the right to have sex with black women. For centuries, those with the power of life and death over African Americans tried to erase the practice of marriage impose their will on them, but being the people that they are, black men and women who loved each other created their own spaces, carved out The Washington Informer
relationships, tried to make safe spaces for their progeny. Those marriages – some sealed in secret, relationships and liaisons by any other name – illustrate the power of the love supreme. Nothing and no one could take their souls. Renowned Chilean poet Pablo Neruda sweetly captured the elixir, that
ephemeral something that has led men and women to see each other, fall hard, come together and stay together. “... I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you simply, without problems or pride: I love you
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Black History Month
Diallo Sumbry & Maisha Hyman supreme continued from Page 20
mélange of people, ideas and experiences.
in this way because I do not know any other way of loving but this, in which there is no I or you, so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand, so intimate that when I fall asleep your eyes close.” Anyone who has stepped into this sacred institution will tell you that nothing about being and staying married is easy. Among other things, it takes guts, savvy, compromise and an understanding that is distilled from experience. I watched my parents, Stephen Lloyd and Enid fashion a life as partners while they navigated the nuances and subtleties of their 57-year association and marriage. There was a lot I saw that I didn’t understand but as a wise friend told me recently, there are often things going on between a man and a woman that no one outside of that marriage understands. Dad loves recounting how he met my mom: He was on a bus in the country in Jamaica going to see a girlfriend and he saw my mom on the road. He banged on the bus, telling the driver to stop, hopped off the bus and struck up a conversation. He was attracted first by her features and beauty and then by her inner beauty. Dad said he was attracted to Indian, Spanish and Chinese Jamaican women and mom fit the bill. He loved his “Chiney Gyal” passionately and that was best exhibited when she suffered a massive stroke at age 61. She confided in me in the months after that first attack that she didn’t know dad loved her as much as he did. He did everything for her. Lifted her, fed her, bathed her, combed her hair and attended to all her needs for the 15 years between her first stroke and her death from complications of strokes 15 years later. True love, in practice. The couples we spoke to represent a
They took the bold step to get married. Here are their stories. Names: Diallo Sumbry, 38 and Maisha Hyman, 41 Married 14 years, since May 3, 1997 Number of children: 2 -- ages 16 and 12
/ Courtesy photo
endearing trait? Diallo: Maisha is extremely intelligent. I never wanted to be with a loud, raunchy woman. She can cook, her family was a solid family. She got along really well with my grandmother and my aunt. She’s a very caring person. Initially, as I grew up, my mom wasn’t married so it wasn’t a goal
of mine. Yet, I was confident I’d have children. I thought I was going to marry Nia Long but that didn’t happen. Maisha is an ideal wife and mother. When you find a good woman, keep her.” Maisha: Generally, I think it’s his ability to connect with people, with anyone on a level where you feel his honesty. We really
have a good time together doing ‘ignorant stuff ’ – making jokes, having fun, hanging out. Poking fun at what you enjoy the most. Not taking everything so seriously. Personally, his most endearing trait is his love for his family. The way he takes care of his siblings and children is quite
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How and where did you meet: Maisha: We met at Freedom Plaza. Diallo was 14 or 15. Diallo: “I was younger she was in college. My mom’s house was where the community could come. When there was an interest, I was 19 or 20.” Maisha: “I was like flirting with him. I was saying ‘Look at Diallo growing up.’ His mom was pushing me and (a mutual friend) to be a couple but that wasn’t happening. It was more a brother/sister thing. When he was 19, it became a mutual thing.” Was there an instant attraction? Maisha: “Hell no!! How did I know he was the one? Maisha: “When he came to get me in a blizzard.” Diallo: I’m going to say about six to nine months after we were officially dating. She had cooked a couple of meals and we had talked. I had some basic requirements and she filled those. We came from similar backgrounds, African-centered schools and homes. We also had similar ideas about parenting, the life we wanted for ourselves and families. Everything just kind of plugged in.” What is your partner’s most
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February 20, - February 26, 2014
21
Black History Month
Nina Angela & Eric Scott supreme continued from Page 21 endearing. And when he’s being sweet to me. What has been the biggest challenge? Maisha: It has been creating our own relationship that’s not
pictured on their wedding day 43 years ago (left) and the couple (right) at the wedding of their four children. / Courtesy photos
based on what someone, something, some book said marriage should be. It’s looking at ourselves and building a relationship without disappointing each other, carving out a relation based on our needs.” Diallo: I would also say a challenge has been just growing together and being able to communicate our growth to one an-
other. For us particularly, we had ideas. Maisha was pregnant with Kweku and we were determined to go at the world. We were young, growing and coming into our own as we’ve grown. We’ve had common things we’ve enjoyed. You have to be willing to take risks to communicate. You can’t be afraid to disappoint.
Our most powerful stories aren’t told in books.
What makes a successful marriage? Maisha: It’s mutual love and respect and not an obligation. I would say, be you, just who you are. If you’re on your best behavior, sometimes it can set up some false expectations. Marriage is not about being compliant because that doesn’t necessarily breed honesty. Diallo: Maintaining the relationship in terms of intimacy, sexual compatibility and mutual needs is important. People need to know their love languages. Talk about what gets them going, what makes them passionate – is it time vs. gifts, making a sandwich vs. watching TV? You have to have that discussion and as they change we need to change too. Maisha: One of the big
Real Possibilities is a trademark of AARP.
Whether marching arm-and-arm, standing in silence or sitting in defiance, the American Civil Rights Movement was a community of people determined to achieve equality for everyone. At AARP we believe everyone deserves to live the best life possible. As we celebrate Black History Month, we proudly recognize the people who started the movement and continue to inspire future generations to realize their own Real Possibilities. We all have stories of success and triumph that deserve to be told. Share yours today. Visit aarp.org/tellastory and add your legacy to the history books.
22 February 20, - February 26, 2014
What advice would you give a newlywed or engaged couple? Diallo: My advice? Don’t do it, reconsider,” he joked. “My honest advice is to have discussion about as many uncomfortable situations as you can and really discuss everything. It’s something I didn’t do. With us, I think at the base of it, we’re friends and we genuinely like each other.” Talk about finances and how you’ll handle it. Ensure that both people have a common group of friends. Be very aware and comfortable with each other’s circle. Maisha: You have to really like the person. You should like their family and being around them. It was a challenge with his family but I have gotten a lot of support from them and I’ll go to them quicker with a problem than I would with my family.
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things to us is that we’ve come into adulthood and parenthood together. You have to have more, have a relationship that transcends those things. You must be willing and open to see where this goes or where it’s gonna take you – in my case, it’s being willing to follow if he is being a an effective leader.” Names: Nina Angela Scott, 69 and Eric Scott, 70 Years Married: 43 years Number of Children 4 / Grandchildren 10 and one on the way How did you meet? Angela: We were teenagers, met as teenagers. He’s from Portland and I’m from Kingston. We met on Maiden Lane in the ghetto. Eric: Well, from the first time I saw her, the spark was right there. I met her in the ‘60s. I saw her walking on the street. I didn’t really approach her. She would pass by where I lived. I was a little timid at first. She was just fine. I liked everything about her. When I started to talk to her, I found out that she was the one. How did you know he was The One? Angela: I didn’t know he was the one. I had no clue. After we were together for a while we developed a likeness for each other. My adopted mother met in an automobile accident and she died, then I went to live with a couple at Sheraton Park Crescent. I worked at the Ministry of Agriculture and Kingston Public Hospital. My husband left (Jamaica) at age 17. He went to
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Black History Month
Dr. Dana L. Taylor & Jmiah Nabawi supreme continued from Page 22 Belize where his aunt and uncle were in the citrus business. I remember he told me that if he made it, he would never forget me and asked me to be true to him. We corresponded. Sometimes the struggles you go through develop the ties that bind. They made us stick together like glue. We got married in 1971, on June 19. This year will make it 43 years. I can’t say it was always easy though. After I graduated, I worked at Princess Margaret Hospital (in St. Thomas). He went to New York, got a green card. Then he came and found me. The person I saw, I didn’t even recognize him. He was 26 and I was 24. Yet he was the same person I knew as a teen. He said the love just kindled. To be honest, I had a little boyfriend. He said he wanted me to come to New York and see if I liked it. I asked the Matron for time to go to New York for a visit. Nurse Walker said she was giving me the time and for me to return but I never went back. When we got married, we didn’t have any money. I went to Alexander’s and my dress was $19.99. His suit was $24.99. A friend of one of my children said your mom looked like she had on a christening dress. Eric: I was in Belize before I went to New York. It was okay, not as developed as Jamaica. I went back home about 19 years after and it started all over again. When I saw her, I saw the flame. It started again. I couldn’t take any chances, she was looking so fine. Angela: I also knew he was the one because he was so quiet and dependable. I always knew
/ Courtesy photo
I could depend on him. My mom had gone to Nine Night (a wake). I was home doing homework when a little boy came and said Miss Mac had gotten hit by a motorcycle. He and I ran from Windward Road to the hospital barefooted. What is his/her most endearing trait? Angela: His most endearing trait is trust. All my friends had trouble with their husbands. I never had to worry about any female. He was always there. I trusted him. We went through so much. I worked night shift and he worked day shift, took care of our children. It is just old-fashioned love. Our oldest is a police sergeant here in New York; our oldest daughter is a teacher, our second son is a pharmacist and the youngest is a registered nurse. They’ve all done well. Eric: She is a kind, loving and caring person. Everything about her is endearing. I’m not surprised the marriage has lasted this long. We have ups and downs but we have stayed together. Angela: Yes, we’ve had our ups and downs. We have two beautiful sons and two beautiful daughters. He worked as an auto mechanic for the city, I was a nurse. We’re both retired. We have a little home in Jamaica. We went home three times last year. We’re very happy. We’re Christians, live a simple life. What advice would you give a newlywed or a couple who’re engaged? Angela: I would tell them that things wouldn’t be as easy as people think. It’s tough, male
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February 20, - February 26, 2014
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Black History Month marriage stronger. I see people married for 30 years and walk away. I love me wife more every day. I left my wife once to go to Jamaica and I missed her so bad. She did too, and I missed her so much.
Janice & Eugene Payne supreme continued from Page 23 and female. People file for divorce too early. The first little problem they have, they run to court to divorce. You have to
work it out. I try to tell my kids and I don’t take sides. If they’re wrong, they’re wrong. I’m not gonna be partial because it’s my children. Is not suh it go. Fair is fair. Eric: You’re going to have
/ Courtesy photo
problems in life. Today, the young people, they don’t try to make things work. What the marriage vows say? For better; for worse. If you love the person and are married to them, as time goes on, love makes the
What makes a successful marriage? Angela: First of all, there has to be love. You have to look beyond their faults. We all are flawed. Don’t put him on pedestal. My husband is simple, humble person. We never looked at money. If he made $50 and I did, we put it together. He didn’t say ‘this is me and that’s for you.’ And he doesn’t hide anything from me. The two of us came from the same social background. I thank God for what He has done for me. My husband’s family loved and embraced me. We have a little house in Portland. Portland keeps its purity. You don’t have the violence. We don’t have any problem where we come from. Eric: God has a lot to do with it. You have to put God in it. Jmiah Nabawi and Dr. Dana L. Taylor Married 14 years. Ages: Jmiah, 64; Dana 55 Children/grandchildren: Blended family of six - three boys and three girls and 14 grandchildren Occupations: Dana is a university administrator, pastoral counselor and interpreter for the deaf. J’miah is a professional storyteller, children’s book author and historical reenactor. How and when did you meet? Jmiah: We both lived in Mexico in 1980. I had a mutual friend who told me I needed to meet her. I was living in Guadalajara, she was in Mexico City. I heard about her in 1980 but we never got to meet then ... Dana: … and we didn’t meet again until 1999. I had his book, Talk That Talk. Another mutual friend, a female, said I had his book and suggested that we should meet. Jmiah. I didn’t speak any Spanish. I met an African American woman in the bus terminal. She said I should go to Guadalajara because it was a smaller city. When did you know he/she was The One? Jmiah: I was working with
24 February 20, - February 26, 2014
The Washington Informer
the Philadelphia Eagles (in July 2000) as their storybook person. We talked and it was magic … Dana: … I flew from San Diego to Baltimore and we have not been separated since. I knew when I met him that he would be my husband. What is your partner’s most endearing trait? Jmiah: I enjoy her honesty. She’s a good girl. When I met her in person I thought ‘she’s gonna be my wife.’ She always has a smile on her face, and is so pleasant to people. I consider myself to be a good buy. You should want to be giving and wanting the best for your mate. I’m always working at something in terms of improving on my art, moving to voice talent for animation because I want to do something profitable so she can give up some of those jobs. Dana: I believe that we like each other. I enjoy him as a person, love his creativity. And we don’t take each other for granted. That’s one of the important things in life. Being older, we don’t get caught up in the little things. What have you found to be the biggest challenge? Dana: One of the biggest challenges is having time for each other. I remember when we first met and the love we felt for each other. We often talked about when we first met. We find time when we’re not talking about work. That’s important. We laugh, dance together. Jmiah: Ditto on that. What would you tell an engaged couple or newlywed? Dana: I would tell them to support each other in their dreams, find commonality, find things to do together. I sign for him. When I was counseling, he would sit beside me as I worked on my Ph.D. You have to take the time to look in each other’s eyes. You should look at every part of your life, spiritually, psychologically, praying together, putting God first in your lives. You also need to know when to say something and when not to. It’s not denying yourself as a person, it’s being considerate. Jmiah: You have to turn off the ego. Let the wife be the woman, put down the remote and look into her eyes. We’re (men and women) both wired differently. Peace is always the goal.
See supreme on Page 25
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Black History Month supreme continued from Page 24 Has it been difficult making a blended family work? Dana: With blended families, it’s very difficult. Sometimes children feel like you’re denying the other parent. I believe in setting boundaries. Our children were older. You have to explain that you (you and your husband) are a unit and that you cannot come between the unit. Your love is not replaceable. It’s just setting those boundaries. What advice would you give newlyweds or those who’re engaged? Dana: Young people aren’t getting tools they need. I officiate weddings and also have sessions as a marriage and family therapist. You have to set a foundation. What ground are you going to stand on? Our sons know that they can’t come between any of us. They can’t come between my ex or Jmiah. You have to visit that. After a while, some of the boundaries that are set can loosen, then you have to revisit and readjust. Jmiah: It becomes a problem when you have one of the adults not reinforcing respect. Couples should not be competitive unless it’s a board game. You need to want the best for your spouse and her success. Dana: I always ask who are you to me and who I am I to you? Sometimes people forget what they really need. You’ve got to be vulnerable, introspective. Jmiah: It depends on how they’re socialized. There are few successful marriages. There are so many unspoken contracts so many expectations, so many things left unsaid. The talking isn’t really what it’s about. It’s the other things. I’m learning later in life to just wait and see what happens. If you’re intent is good, it will work out. Everything must be said and done with the best intentions. I always say we all still under construction. There are just some things we have no control over. Eugene and Janice Payne Years Married: 29 years Number of Children 3 Children / 5 Grandchildren How did you meet? Janice: My husband, Eugene and I lived right across the street from each other. I lived on the Maryland side which they considered Suitland and Eugene
lived on the District of Columbia side -- Southern Avenue & Naylor Road. Eugene saw my eldest sister, Michelle get into a car and later inquired about me. Well, I was much older than Darryl and I looked at him as a brother that I never had but he wanted more. Darryl came over my house five days a week and my mother would say, “Jan, your Lil brother is here again!” Finally, he realized there was a large gap in our age and eventually moved on. That’s when Eugene and I started talking, going out on dates. The rest is history.
ine, spontaneous, and creative. I also have a sense of humor and I am a loving person. Eugene is caring, understanding, loving, helpful, courteous, a servant and he is a family man. This man loves his family. What do you believe makes a successful marriage? Janice: Our beliefs. Keeping God first, communication, commitment, honesty, loyalty, trust,
being faithful / responsible, being sexually responsive to each other, listening while the other is speaking, never and I mean, never go to bed mad at each other, and date nights. It is imperative that husband and wife date each other. Whatever it took to get your spouse, you have to continue in order to keep him/her. We love to write love notes and stick them by the nightstand. wi
How did you know that your spouse was the “one?” Janice: We were brought up in the church -- I mean we literally stayed in church seven days a week. With that being said, I was never allowed to wear pants. Eugene would often say to me: “Jan, you are different! You carry yourself just like a queen.” But he fell in love with my boldness and how I would go after what I wanted because I was purpose-driven. I was attracted to Eugene’s dress code. He went to school in Jeans, polo shirts, and Stacey Adams shoes every day. This man was gorgeous; he walked and looked like he had just stepped out of a GQ magazine. It was rare back in our days to dress like you were literally going somewhere in life. He also treated his mom, Anna Del Payne with the utmost respect. My grandma would say: “Jan, watch how a woman treats her father and watch how a man treats his mother, because when they decide to marry, that’s how they will treat their spouse.” What advice would you give to the engaged or newlyweds? Janice: A marriage takes three: God, you and your spouse. I would give them the Biblical scripture that was given to the two of us during our pre-marriage classes: A three-cord strand is not easily broken, meaning that a marriage takes 50 / 50 which equals 100. Whatever you do in life, make sure you always keep God first; and the order is: God, man, woman, the church and then your Kids. Make sure your spouse is your number one priority. What is your mate’s most endearing quality? Janice: Eugene said I am a giver and I gave so much of my time while he was hospitalized after his tragic accident. Others can rely on me because my word is my bond. He said I am genu-
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Relationship Reality Check 10 Questions that Can Transform Your Love Life By Dr. Jacqueline Del Rosario Relationships often collapse because couples are not prepared to withstand the inevitable conflicts or even the humdrum and monotonous plateau period that’s nearly certain to present as the years go by. A relationship can feel more like “boot camp” when trying to acclimate to each other’s personality differences and habits—frustrations, tensions, and resentments that can persist well into a long-term love affair and undermine the ability to feel happy and content. For other couples, it’s shear boredom that can wreak havoc—if the partnership doesn’t continue to stimulate and enrich their lives, the doldrums can be a relationship death knell! Below Dr. Jacqueline Del Rosario, “America’s Relationship Doctor,” has identified 10 self-assessment questions—answers to which can not only help a relationship survive, but also thrive so that both partners can actualize their dreams of “happily ever after”: Am I putting my best face forward? People dress up in their best clothes, make sure their hair is done, and put on makeup for the outside world. Do you put forth the same effort to impress and excite your mate? Am I still growing? You must come to a relationship, willing to continuously improve who you are so that your relationship can continue to evolve. Consider trying new things together. Exploration and adventure can go a long way to keeping things fresh and appealing and will help you understand and appreciate who your partner is today. Continue to date and experience new things as a couple. Am I continuing to invest the time and effort to maintain a strong foundation? All good things take work, and both parties must roll up their sleeves and commit to doing their part to add value to the union. This includes continually stoking the flames of passion. Are you as proactive or even adventuresome in the bedroom, or are you relegated to business as usual? Break the routine here and watch the magic ensue. What are the anchors in my relationship? What are the things that keep you rooted and well-connected with your partner? Why are you together in the first place? Identifying and nurturing similar values, goals, and expectancies in your relationship are fundamental and will help you endure during the tough times. How can I help improve our communication style? It is essential to learn how each party in the partnership prefers to communicate. You must then make the conscious effort to deliver and receive messages from your mate according to their personal style, which may differ from yours. Knowing when and how to disseminate information is a key relationship skill that can be a saving grace unto
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itself. And, during an argument, always fight fair and with respect—no name calling, no degrading one another, and no using your tongue as a weapon of mass destruction. What unmet expectations do we each have that need to be addressed? Unfortunately, unmet expectations are often not shared and, instead, they can fester within and result in resentment and bitterness. How can you expect your mate to meet your expectations if you don’t voice them? It’s unfair of you to feel that your partner “should know” or be able to decipher passive aggressive cues that something is wrong. Met expectations equal relational bliss, so be honest with what you need from your partner for a real chance that those needs will be met, or even exceeded. What emotional triggers might be adversely affecting my current relationship? Triggers link back to past traumas and can hinder the way we respond to or even perceive present day issues. Were you lied to or cheated on in the past? It doesn’t mean you cannot trust your current mate. Did your past partner drink too much? It doesn’t mean this partner can’t enjoy a cocktail responsibly. Put your old baggage aside and experience your current partner on their own merits and actions. Do I stop, look, and listen? Take the time to listen to and validate your mate. Couples often decrease their talk time once they have been together awhile and feel comfortable. Keep the channels of communication open—chatter about the day’s events, current events, family matters and similar. It bonds the heart and abates
the feeling of growing apart. Should a concern be expressed along the way, it’s imperative to hear your mate and try to empathize with how they feel. Do I allow outside interference? There is a reason “interference” is a penalty in most sports. It is because someone is getting involved where and when they do not have a right. This can result in focusing on the wrong issues and reinforcing dangerous and emotional conclusions that can be detrimental to your relationship. Your partner may also be very angry to find out that others are now involved in your private life. Instead, go directly to your partner to resolve relationship problems. However, if things are critical and seemingly out of both of your control, qualified assistance can come from marriage coaches and counselors who are there to help get the dialogue between the two of you on the right track. Do I have a maintenance plan? Are you still doing what you did to get your mate? Do you know exactly why your mate should or would want to stay with you in the months and years ahead? What emotional benefits do you offer your mate that others don’t? Take the time to assess what your virtues are and even ask your mate to cite favorite qualities about you. Then, make a concerted effort to foster these qualities to not only ensure interest remains, but also maximize the caliber of that interest.wi “America’s Marriage Coach” Jacqueline Del Rosario is President and CEO of Recapturing the Vision International, an organization dedicated to promoting healthy marriages and family strengthening.
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Black History Month
When Marriage Fails, but Love Survives By Dorothy Rowley WI Staff Writer Denard and I have been divorced since 1997. Yet, we’ve always remained close – and from time to time, I think, very much in love. That may be a function of the fact that we were really good friends before deciding to tie the knot. We met when both of us were in our last year of high school. He lived in D.C. and I lived in Richmond, Va. I was best friends with one of his cousins, who introduced us when his family drove down for a Sunday visit. It was awkward at first because we didn’t have much in common – except that we were both the oldest of our siblings; both about to graduate high school; and while he was preparing to attend American University at home, I was headed to Virginia State University in Petersburg.
Nevertheless, we fell hard for each other – couldn’t keep away from each other, and I can’t count the number of times he’d speed on the weekends from D.C. to Richmond so we could be together. He also knew the campus of Virginia State like the back of his hand. Two years later on Christmas day, he surprised me with an engagement ring. The next year we got married, set up house in D.C. and welcomed the arrival of our only child, Markeith – a successful college graduate -- of whom we are so very proud. But due to curves life can sometimes throw, Denard and I divorced after 23 years of marriage. We lived together three more years before I decided I wanted to live on my own. Well, let me just say that while we really thought that the departure would wipe the slate clean,
it’s not worked out that way. While neither of us remarried, we remain best friends. We see a lot of each other and we talk often on the phone. We have dates with each other, as well as family gatherings and celebrations with our son and grandson. Denard checks to make sure my car is in good running shape, and I make his favorite dinners. He reminds me to keep my doctor’s appointments and I caution him about working so hard. We remember each other’s birthdays and exchange Mother’s Day and Father’s Day greetings. We give gifts on Christmas -- and recently, my heart melted when Denard surprised me during one of our phone chats by reading sentiments I’d expressed to him a few years ago in a Valentine’s Day card. The card, in part, reads: “I remember the way we’d simultaneously smile at each other when
Dorothy Rowley with her ex-husband, Denard. / Courtesy photo
you picked me up from work, how you always remembered to buy my favorite perfume; how we’d engage in small talk about our day -- with me lying against your chest tweezing ingrown hairs on your face, and how you’d have me laughing so hard from your hilarious hambone impressions . . .”
I’m smile, even now as I recall other good times we shared, and realize that even though the marriage failed, the love, caring and respect never did. Will we ever get married again? Well, we certainly talk about it more now than we did a few years ago. wi
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Editorial
opinions/editorials
Stand Your Ground
Once more, America is getting a taste of justice, Florida style. Michael Dunn, annoyed by loud music being played by 17-yearold Jordan Davis, shot and killed him. And in the aftermath, we have the weird situation of Dunn being found guilty of attempted murder for endangering the lives of three of the four occupants of a truck but escaping the more serious charge of first-degree murder. A jury deliberated for several days, but was unable to agree on the murder charges. The verdict has ignited more debate on street corners, in barbershops, homes and elsewhere as African Americans and decent people everywhere try to discern what it all means. Once again, African Americans must confront the vagaries of a criminal justice system that is tilted in favor of one set of people at the deadly expense of another. As annoying as it might have been, Jordan Davis had the right to play his music as loud as he did without having to fear that someone would shoot and kill him. Dunn claims that fearing for his life, he pumped 10 bullets into the SUV. Police never found any evidence of the shotgun he claims he saw through a window. And Jordan was unarmed. Even more chilling is the fact that Dunn left the scene, failed to call 911, ate dinner, tended to his dog and seemed unfazed that he had shot someone. The jury appeared to be sympathetic to Dunn’s line of reasoning. Their actions, by way of the verdict, seem to suggest that it’s OK for any white man to claim that he feared a young black male, kill or injury that person and then claim self-defense. At least this time, we weren’t subjected to a defense strategy which killed a black child twice by dirtying and sullying his name in an attempt to justify the murder. The problem as it stands is two-fold: what, if any, will be the response from those opposed to the Stand Your Ground law, and more saliently, what are black people willing to do to confront a system, which W.E.B Dubois famously noted “cannot fail those it was not built to protect.” The cancer of racism continues to gnaw at America’s soul because the children of former slaveholders refuse to acknowledge the searing costs of slavery, and they remain unwilling to come to terms with the psychic and other damage, the tremendous toll racism and discrimination has had on everyone involved. This country will remain in a racial prison constructed of lies and half-truths until white people choose to be honest about the past and present. They will stay in bondage until they stop pretending that discrimination and racism no longer exists. They will be trapped in a web of their own making until they come to terms with and embrace the reality that their deeply embedded fear and hatred of black people drives the actions of those like Dunn, George Zimmerman and all the others who have killed black children and adults. In 1956 in Montgomery, Ala., black residents refused to board buses for 381 days to show their disgust for segregation and demonstrate their desire to rid themselves from that odious system. They walked, hitched rides, endured the inconvenience. But they won. What are we prepared to do in Florida and in the places where we live? Are we ready to fight as if our lives depended on the outcome? Are we tired of sacrificing our children on the altar of racism and discrimination? The new martyrs, Oscar Grant, Renisha McBride, Jonathan Ferrell, Jordan Baker and Carl and Garick Hopkins demand that we do more. Their blood is crying out for justice.
CORRECTION:
A photo Kirsten Bowden, Senior Public Affairs Manager for Pepco was mistakenly identified in the February 13 Black History Month section of the Informer as Donna Cooper. We regret any problems this misidentification may have caused. www.washingtoninformer.com
A Wonderful Partnership!
The article by Stacy Brown, “Phillips Collection Teams with UNCF,” February 6, 2014 is one of the most important articles I’ve read in your newspaper in years. As an art lover who frequents museums and galleries both here in the Washington area and when I travel throughout the country, I very rarely see African Americans working in a capacity other than as guards or in the gift shops. I hope and I pray the students from our HBCU’s make the best of this opportunity. It will not be easy; the museum field of work is a very hard arena to break into, and for a good reason: art is the foundation of civilized man, period. There are reasons so much money is spent on acquiring, preserving and housing art. It is who we have been, who we are and where we are going as a civilization. We as African Americans need to hear someone at these major museum and galleries who
shares similar experiences tell us about the art we are looking at and why it’s important to us. We need to have someone who shares our experiences organize exhibits of artists who will tell our unique stories and share them with everyone. I take my hat off to the United Negro College Fund and the Association of the Art Museum Directors. Lawrence Kenny Washington, D.C.
A Mayoral Debate’s in Order!
I would like to give a shoutout to you and your staff for the wonderful work The Informer has been providing to us in the community in the form of great stories and exciting events. With the upcoming mayoral primary in the District of Columbia in April, your staff writer, James Wright has kept us up to date on what’s happening in and around the Wilson Building. However, I would like to make
one suggestion. I would like to see The Washington Informer Newspaper sponsor a mayoral debate somewhere in Southeast Washington. With all that’s about to jump off in our section of the city we need to be able to present questions to the candidates about issues that will directly affect us, so if they don’t follow through we can hold them accountable. This election is very important for us over here in Wards 7 and 8. Things are changing quickly and if we don’t get involved we will be left behind, again. Your publisher could be the moderator, and your writers could be on the panel that asks the questions. I know it’s kind of late to try and get something like this organized, but, maybe not. Anyway, thanks again for all of your great work. Robert Faulk Washington, D.C.
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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. The Washington Informer
February 20, - February 26, 2014
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opinions/editorials
Guest Columnist
By Ron Busby, Sr.
Making Future Black History Now As America continues to celebrate the countless achievements of African Americans during Black History Month, it makes sense to remind each other that the things we do every day will be the historical recollections for future generations. There is no question of the value of recounting the daring exploits, the against-all-odds battles won, or of revisiting the horrors and brutalities that
marked our journey through this country’s history. I just don’t believe that enough of us approach our daily commitments with an eye on how our actions – or inactions – will impact the lives of Black Americans in the future. After nearly 50 years of successfully aspiring to “good jobs,” we are witnessing a boom in the numbers of Black Americans returning to our roots as entrepreneurs and business owners, and this boom couldn’t have come at a better time. When it’s clear that government solutions to income
inequality fail to factor in or include us; when Black un- and underemployment threaten the nutritional health and educational opportunities for our children; when globalization of markets consigns our participation to the role of consumers, that’s when it should become clear the key role that Black business plays in our communities. The U.S Black Chambers, Inc. (USBC) is acutely aware of the battle that African Americans face in the marketplace today. When online purchases of
Guest Columnist
clothing eclipses the purchases made inside actual stores, the opportunities for Black retailers practically disappears. Despite the obvious love affair Black folks have with hats, suits, shoes and boots, it is Nordstrom, Macy’s, Neiman’s and local designer boutiques that get their share of our income inequality, not Blackowned clothes sellers. We struggle to find a Blackowned grocery chain, even though African Americans spend a disproportionate share of their disposable income on
food. Black-owned restaurants are an increasingly endangered species, even as national chains pad their bottom lines with the lion’s share of our discretionary spending on food, including sushi. Black automobile dealers fare a little better, though the 80s and 90s wreaked havoc on the number of franchised dealerships owned by African Americans. Without question, we continue to provide the comfortable prof-
See busby on Page 45
By Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr.
Affordable Health Care for Black America Tor the majority of more than 45 million Black Americans and millions of others who have been historically denied equal access to quality health care, it is of paramount importance to have a greater public awareness and understanding of the current opportunities for access to health care through the Affordable Care Act (ACA). We all should keep in mind that the only initial reason why the ACA
was repeatedly referred to as Obamacare was to oppose this game-changing law and to consistently engage in partisan negative attacks against President Barack Obama. Understanding that, the president initially embraced the term, saying Obama does care. The politics of health care extends across the political spectrum. Yet, after Congress passed the ACA and President Obama signed it into the law, there has been a relentless attempt by con-
servative extremists to repeal the law and to create confusion around it. Despite numerous legal challenges to the ACA, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June 2012 that the Affordable Care Act is legal and constitutional. Why is this issue so important for Black America in 2014? It is life-threatening disparities and inequities in the accessibility, delivery and affordability of heath care in Black communities across America. According to
Guest Columnist
the National Medical Association (NMA), “African Americans continue to be disproportionately represented on virtually every health index. The National Colloquium on African American Health was convened to equip this generation of health care advocates in their struggle to reduce or eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in health care.” For many in our communities, this is not a conservative versus liberal matter. Rather, health care is a matter of life and death. Of
all the social justice issues, the issue of health equality is of the utmost importance. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said that “Of all the forms of injustice, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.” We note, therefore, with appreciation that federal government officials such as Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius recently joined with NAACP Senior
See chavis on Page 45
By James Clingman
“Economic Freedom’ Should be Rallying Cry Has the thought ever occurred to you that despite having the highest unemployment rate in this country, our job creation rate is perched at the other end of that spectrum? That’s right, Blacks are some of the best job creators in this nation. We have created jobs in the clothing industry, the entertainment industry, the communications industry, the food industry, the liquor industry, the music industry and, oh yes, the
prison industry. There are many other areas I could name but I am sure you get what I’m driving at by now. Amos Wilson, in his book, Afrikan-Centered Consciousness Versus the New World Order, posits: “How different our education would be if we sent our children to school to create jobs for themselves, to create their own economic and political systems, to see themselves as the major source of their own employment.” He continued, “…I heard about some people
30 February 20, - February 26, 2014
protesting for jobs and pushing other people for jobs. I asked the question: Do we know how many jobs we really create for other people?” No, Brother Wilson, I don’t think we do. We live our lives vicariously by buying a $500 bottle of vodka because we want to run in Diddy’s circle of friends. We hoist a bottle of outrageously expensive cognac up in “da club” trying to be Jay-Z, a guy who could buy and sell most of us in a heartbeat. These celebrities and othThe Washington Informer
ers hawk the wares of folks who make a very good living from the $1.1 trillion Black people earn each year. We provide the profit margins for several industries, thereby, keeping many people employed. The other point is that high profile Blacks, mainly entertainers and athletes, earn a large portion of their money by being entrepreneurs. They sell stuff, some of which creates jobs for others, but all of which allows them to fly on private jets and drink high-priced liquor. We
cannot do that, and all the fake, pretentious, wannabe, spending in the world will not make that possible; what it does is continue the cycle of the unemployed creating jobs and keeping others employed. Economic freedom, not “economic equality” must be our goal. Equality requires measurement; it requires the party seeking equality, by default, to elevate someone else and seek his standard and his approval. It also
See clingman on Page 45
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opinions/editorials
Guest Columnist
By Dr. Wilmer J. Leon, III
Jordan Davis, another Victim of a Murderous Historical Continuum
“Can a Negro, whose ancestors were imported into this country, and sold as slaves, become a member of the political community formed into existence by the constitution of the United States…they are not included, and were not intended to be included, under the word “citizens” in the constitution, and can therefore claim none of the rights and privileges which that instrument provides for…” Chief Justice Roger Taney – Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857).
The verdict is in. Michael Dunn was found guilty on three counts of attempted second-degree murder but the jury failed to reach a verdict on the most significant charge of first-degree murder in the shooting death of Jordan Davis. Instead of celebrating what would have been his 19th birthday, Jordan Davis’ parents continue to mourn the legally unrecognized murder of their son. I can only imagine that this verdict is analogous to killing him again. Jordan Davis has become anoth-
er victim of a murderous historical American continuum. In the wake of the Treyvon Martin murder, the killings of Oscar Grant on New Year’s Day 2009, Sean Bell on November 26, 2006, Police Sgt. Cornel Young, Jr. on January 28, 2000, Police Officer Willie Wilkins on January 11, 2001, Amadou Diallo on February 4, 1999 and so many others we find ourselves coming to the same conclusion, by focusing on their color; people failed to see their humanity. The subtext to all of these un-
Guest Columnist
timely deaths remains race. The subtext to the inability of juries to convict the George Zimmerman’s and Michael Dunn’s of the world of murder is tied to race as well. They are the most recent victims of a murderous historical American continuum. Tolnay and Beck in their book A Festival of Violence, “identified 2,805 victims of lynch mobs killed between 1882 and 1930 in ten southern states. Although mobs murdered almost 300 white men and women, the vast majority-almost 2,500-of lynch
victims were African-American. The scale of this carnage means that, on average, a black man, woman, or child was murdered nearly once a week, every week, between 1882 and 1930 by a hate driven white mob.” Today, lynch mobs have been replaced by Zimmerman’s and Dunn’s and sanctioned by “Stand Your Ground” and “juries of their peers”. As Africans in America and later African Americans, we have
See leon on Page 46
By Bill Fletcher, Jr.
No Wall of Respect in Occupied Palestine “It felt like being in a huge prison.” That was how I responded to questions I was asked in January after returning from a visit to the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Yes, there were other ways of describing the experience. The land is beautiful; the people are generous; and with every glance, one sees reminders of a history dating back thousands of years. Yet, the feeling that one gets
in one’s stomach is of being imprisoned; of being vulnerable; of not knowing. And this was the reality felt by African American visitors to the Holy Land. The actuality for Palestinians is far worse. At every turn you never seemed to lose sight of the ignominious “separation wall,” as the Israeli government politely references it; the “apartheid wall” as much of the rest of the world describes it. The wall with guard/sniper towers, running, not along the Green Line (the
armistice line that was agreed upon in 1949), but through almost whatever terrain the Israelis choose for it go. A wall that frequently separates Palestinian farmers from their own land, making it next to impossible for them to consistently cultivate their crops. My delegation and I found it both frightening and sadly familiar that the Palestinians had few rights that the Israeli authorities were bound to respect. Land has been seized—illegally—by the Israeli authorities, allegedly for
ASKIA-AT-LARGE
security reasons, or sometimes, quite ironically, for archeological reasons. And it is never returned to the Palestinians, instead turned over to Israeli settlers. There are roads on which Palestinians cannot ever drive. That is, they are forbidden from driving unless they have special permission. We discovered this first-hand as a result of the experiences of our Palestinian guide who needed a particular form in order to permit her to travel with us on specific highways. But even with this form, she had to
exit our van at checkpoints and walk through, while our delegation was permitted to remain in our van during and after inspection. In the mainstream media we have frequently heard or read about Palestinian terrorism or military actions. Yet, in our, albeit brief experience, we felt no unease or fear arising from our interactions with the Palestinians. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said regarding our
See flecthcer on Page 46
By Askia Muhammad
Morocco Loves Farrakhan: A Man for All Seasons I was pleasantly surprised recently on the first day of my trip to Morocco as a member of a delegation of Black journalists representing the National Newspaper Publishers Association – NNPA, The Black Press of America. Our first dinner host was Dr. Ahmed Abadi, Secretary General of the Moroccan Theological Council. He made the case, as you might expect, for the tradi-
tion of religious tolerance in his North African, largely Islamic country. Dr. Abadi went to pains to point out how tolerant his society is of Jews, many of whom were expelled along with the Muslims, from Spain and Portugal during the Inquisition of 1492. Moroccan Jews constitute an ancient community. Before the founding of Israel in 1948, there were about 250,000 to 350,000 Jews in the country, which gave Morocco the largest Jewish community in the Muslim
world, but fewer than 2,500 or so remain today. Dr. Abadi explained that Moroccans have an enlightened view concerning their efforts to extend full equality to women, and their education system emphasizes teaching girls and women in practically all areas of service. During our visit we met a number of female government ministers, members of parliament and several of the women we met had proudly earned doctorate degrees in various fields of study.
But what most surprised me, was that our host volunteered a story in which he went on and on about a wonderful trip he made to the United States – to Chicago – where he met and was entertained in the home of The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan. “It was back in 1999,” Dr. Abadi explained, “when I had the honor to meet with the Honorable Louis Farrakhan. Our meeting was supposed to last for 45 minutes, but the Honorable Louis Farrakhan was so gener-
ous, he allowed me (for several) hours and I was so amazed to see how loyal, how profound, and how transparent this man was, and I was so inspired by the fact that he was understanding the context, and yet having this capacity to dream about the transcendency (of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad), of the ferocity of the real life, and how he could be so positively contagious to all the ladies and men who are surrounding him.
See muhammad on Page 46
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Film Tells Story of District Chess King Academy Award Winner Cuba Gooding Jr., Portrays Eugene Brown
By Stacy M. Brown WI Contributing Writer Absent any prodding and without hesitation, Eugene Brown eagerly recounts his life growing up in Northeast. He said he spent many of his younger years making bad decisions, which included alcohol abuse, drug addiction and ultimately a long stint in federal prison. However, Brown, 67, who now splits time between the District and North Carolina, said his life proves that individuals can change for the better regardless of their circumstances. He said prison, or more precisely, what he did in prison, changed his entire perspective. “What I have learned about life and chess is that you’re the king. You got yourself on the board in any one square because you got yourself there all on your own,” he said. “You made those decisions. You’re the one in control of your life. You’re the king.” Brown’s story gained national attention when it became the subject of a major motion picture, “Life of a King,” which opened
last month at the Los Angeles Film Festival and stars Cuba Gooding, Jr., as the chess master. The one hour and 41 minute film, which producers said will return to theaters in the D.C. area this spring, tells the story of Brown [portrayed by Gooding], who robbed a bank at the age of 20 and went on to spend 18 years in prison. “The thing about prison is that I learned that there’s quite a difference in being buried in prison as opposed to being planted in prison,” Brown said. “Buried means you’re dead, it’s over and if you come out, you come out the same way you went in. However, when you plant something, it has a chance to grow and learn which is what I did using the game of chess.” Screenwriter Dan Wetzel said Brown began to view his imprisonment much the way he played the game of chess. “Think before you move, always protect the king, and don’t make rushed decisions,” Wetzel said. “The major benefit of chess is learning the skill of concentration. It can make you focus and grow in incredible ways.” Gooding, 46, an Academy
Award winner and whose father sang lead for the R&B group The Main Ingredient, said when he read the script for Brown’s story, he couldn’t turn it down. Brown’s story had been optioned a decade ago after ABC News profiled him during a special nationally-televised segment. “I met [Brown] on the last day of filming, so I had to create this character based on the impressions I got from the script and what I had been told,” said Gooding, who has starred in such films as “Lee Daniels’ The Butler,” “American Gangster,” “Men of Honor,” “Jerry Maguire,” and “The Tuskegee Airmen.” “But, when I met Eugene Brown, I saw real nobility in his character, I saw the love he had for what he had done and the lives he had changed and how he turned these young black men and women into chess champions.” For Brown, his journey began at a small, 816-square-foot house on Sheriff Road in Northeast. When he returned home from prison, the former Phelps Architecture, Construction and Engineering High School student said he had no clear direction despite learning to play and master the
Eugene Brown hosted an open house on Saturday, Feb. 15 at “The Big Chair Chess Club,” for those interested in learning the “Game of Kings.” /Photo by Mark Mahoney
game of chess. However, Brown recognized the struggles of his grandson and the behavioral problems the young man experienced in school. “They wanted to put my grandson on medication, but I saw something else, a focus that he
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had in his eyes and I immediately thought I could teach him how to play chess and how to push the pieces around on the chessboard,” Brown said. After being repeatedly ques-
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Alyssa focuses her attention on the chessboard during a game with her older sister, Tristan [not shown] at “The Big Chair Chess Club,” in Northeast on Saturday, Feb. 15 during an open house hosted by founder Eugene Brown. /Photo by Mark Mahoney
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CHESS continued from Page 33 tioned by his grandson’s teachers about how the game could lead to positive change, Brown said he volunteered to teach students the game. That challenge resulted in a citywide phenomenon and soon, children from all over the District were winning national tournaments because of what Brown had taught them. “More importantly, they were staying out of trouble,” he said. Brown established a chess club which he named, “The Big Chair Chess Club,” a nonprofit charitable The Washington Informer
organization that’s operated out of 4322 Sheriff Road since 2003. “I never imagined it would turn out like it did,” said Brown, who recently started a chess club in Hickory, N.C. Members of the club have competed in the National Scholastic Chess Tournament, the Super-National Chess Tournament and other competitions around the country. The club has trained and coached Kimball Elementary School in Southeast, where students there have earned seven city chess championships and school administrators have reported that
the chess program has resulted in remarkable improvement in behavior, concentration, and test scores. Brown’s club hosted an open house on Saturday, Feb. 15 at his flagship location in Northeast. “I was able to use chess to rehabilitate myself and I look at the opportunities in the eyes of our children and I know that if you don’t rehabilitate a child, you’ve lost him,” Brown said. “Chess builds self-esteem and confidence. All of our students learn that their decisions in life, as on the game board, have consequences.” wi
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Griot “I’ll Take You There: Mavis Staples, The Staple Singers, and the March Up Freedom’s Highway” by Greg Kot, c.2014, Scribner $26.00 / $29.99 Canada 309 pages By Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer For as long as you can remem-
ber, there’s always been someone in your corner. A sibling watched out for you on the playground. A teacher took you aside for extra tutoring. A neighbor watched your home, so you’d be safe. Someone mentored you, someone fed you, someone put you on the right path. For most kids, though, the first advocate was a parent. And in the new book “I’ll Take You There” by Greg Kot, you’ll see how one father’s push left a mark on his
family and on music. Born on the “cold Mississippi Delta” in 1915, Roebuck Staples knew enough to stay away from white folks. He also understood that his father’s sharecropping life wasn’t his own future. No, Roebuck was obsessed with the guitar at a time when guitarists could make good money so, at age 21, he moved to Chicago where he took a series of jobs to care for the family he’d had by then. Before long, there were four children to feed: a boy and three girls (later, a fourth). There wasn’t much money to go around, so the children sometimes spent school years with their grandmother in Mississippi – but when the family was together, Roebuck (now called Pops) taught his children to sing. Singing was something the Staples kids did often. Their neighborhood friends included Lou Rawls, Johnnie Taylor, and Sam Cooke; Muddy Waters, Nat “King” Cole, and Duke Elling-
ton also performed in the area, although Pops insisted that his family stick to gospel songs. By the late 1940s, churches on Chicago’s South Side were delighted to host the Staple Singers, headed up by 8-year-old Mavis. By 1953, Pops had recorded his family’s performance and was shopping for record labels. When Mavis graduated from high school in 1957, the family began touring. By the early 1960s, they’d performed many times in the South. But the South wasn’t like it was when Pops left it during the Depression years, and neither was music. Folk songs “merged” with the civil rights movement by 1963. Pops Staple, impressed with Dr. King’s work, started writing and performing songs to reflect society then. And thus, says Kot, “The Staple Singers were unabashedly freedom fighters.”
Though it focused a little too much on dates and discography, I was overall impressed here. “I’ll Take You There” is a darn good story. Whisking readers over a span of nearly 100 years, author Greg Kot presents a roller-coaster ride of the highs and lows of one of gospel and soul’s most iconic families. What I loved the best about it was seeing other singers and another time through the eyes of Mavis Staples, who is Kot’s main interviewee. That brought me back to my parents’ living room, a scratchy LP, and things I’d almost forgotten. This is a great look at history, both musically and culturally, and though the dates-and-discography part can overwhelm, I think it’s worth reading. If you’re particularly a fan of soul, R&B, or gospel, “I’ll Take You There” is a book you’ll want to corner.wi
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Invitation to the Public Hearing on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act for the Foreign Missions Center Master Plan at the Former Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC The U.S. Department of State (DOS) invites you to attend a Public Hearing on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 to identify a Preferred Alternative to prepare a master plan for the long-term development of a Foreign Missions Center, under authorities of the Foreign Missions Act of 1982, on the site of the former Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) in the District of Columbia. The master plan is intended to guide the development of a cohesive campus by establishing design and land-use planning principles for the construction of new buildings, roadways, open green space, and utilities, while minimizing environmental impacts. The Department of State invites individuals, organizations and agencies to submit comments concerning the content and findings of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement during the Public Hearing. Doors will open at 6:00pm and the Hearing will start promptly at 6:30 pm. Thursday, March 6, 2014 6:00pm – 9:00pm Tifereth Israel Congregation 7701 16th Street, NW (16th & Juniper Streets) Cherner Auditorium Washington, D.C. 20012 The Department of State will consider and respond to comments received on the Draft EIS in preparing the Final EIS. The public comment period starts with the publication of the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register and will continue for forty-five (45) days, commencing February 14 to March 31, 2014. In addition, the Department of State is continuing to carry out the review process under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 regarding the potential effect of the proposed undertaking on identified historic properties. Public comments regarding the effect of the proposed undertaking on identified historic properties will be accepted as part of the Draft EIS review process. All comments on the Draft EIS process must be submitted by March 31, 2014, to ensure that they are considered during preparation of the Final EIS. The public can provide comments in the following ways: 1) oral and written comments may be submitted during the Public Hearing; 2) email comments to FMC.info@ state.gov; or 3) mail comments to (if mailed, comments should be post-marked no later than March 31, 2014): Geoffrey Hunt, Department of State A/OPR/RPM, HST Room 1264 Washington, D.C. 20520-1264 The Draft EIS for the Foreign Missions Center Master Plan is available online at http://www.state.gov/ofm/ property/fmc/index.htm. Copies are also available for public review at the following libraries: Juanita E. Thornton-Shepherd Park Library, Takoma Park Neighborhood Library, and Petworth Neighborhood Library.
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Horo scopes
feb 20 - feb 26, 2014
ARIES You know, the dream that you say you’ll “get to” when the time is right. This week the time is exactly right. Get the plan started that will lead to the realization of that dream. Talk it over with significant others so that they can add their strength. Make the dream their dream too. Soul Affirmation: I love the options that are presented to me. Lucky Numbers: 13, 41, 55 TAURUS You are made from the best stuff on earth. You’ll need to remember that this week. Cast a wide net among the people that admire you and spend time being admired. There re plenty of people who know your best qualities but this week seek out those who enjoy talking about what is good about you. Soul Affirmation: I let my positive emotions make my decisions this week. Lucky Numbers: 8, 14, 36 GEMINI Give to a charity, talk with a grandparent, counsel a child, encourage a colleague this week. Choose any or all of the above or create your own list. Your goodness is an investment in your future as long as you do not think of it as such. Soul Affirmation: I don’t hide the wonderful things I feel about myself. Lucky Numbers: 6, 24, 53 CANCER If you are unhappy with your situation this week, you have all the power you need to change it! Don’t procrastinate any longer. You can make the improvement now! Don’t worry about what others are thinking. Just do what is good for you. Soul Affirmation: Love is my reward for giving love. Lucky Numbers: 12, 33, 55 LEO The universe is balanced and our lives will be filled with triumphs and tribulations. Don’t fret when you face turmoil this week. Deal with it head on and stay undeterred. Keep straight on the path you are traveling and you will reach the place where you are meant to be. Soul Affirmation: All is well and so I let it be. Lucky Numbers: 6, 21, 47 VIRGO Your inner beauty is one of your greatest assets. This week take full advantage of this gift you received from God. This week hold in consciousness the truth that you are specially crafted from His hands. Allow a cheerful disposition to radiate through you. Soul Affirmation: I happily help to clear up a mess made by others. Lucky Numbers: 1, 50, 53
By contributing to WAFF, you can make a difference. Washington Gas created WAFF 30 years ago. Because Washington Gas pays WAFF’s administrative expenses and The Salvation Army administers the fund, every dollar of your tax-deductible contribution goes directly to supply heat. When all other government assistance has run out, or simply isn’t available, WAFF is the last safety net.
LIBRA Everything that goes around will come around for the universe is balanced. We all need to bear our crosses and accept the fate that is destined for each of us. The will of God is good and we will receive as He gives. This week is a week for finding joy in little things. Soul Affirmation: I let love teach me more about life. Lucky Numbers: 19, 23, 46 SCORPIO This week have faith in what you know can happen and rededicate yourself to achieving your dreams. Be sure to remember and respect who you are as the week unfolds. Love yourself for who you are this week and this will give you a clear perspective on what you can become. Soul Affirmation: I celebrate the high energy that engulfs my life. Lucky Numbers: 5, 32, 51 SAGITTARIUS Give yourself a chance to experience a different side of your personality this week. Keep from getting bored by doing a little acting. Choose a character who would be more effective than you in the situation in which you find yourself. Be that character. Play the role. Enjoy it. Soul Affirmation: The value I place on myself is the value that others see in me. Lucky Numbers: 17, 20, 30 CAPRICORN You are a person of action. Believe in your ability to get things done and you will find things so easy to do. Put things into perspective and obstacles will become opportunities. Put your plans into practice with confidence and your list of things to do will get done one by one. Soul Affirmation: Hope brightens my mornings, A faith sustains my nights. Lucky Numbers: 18, 25, 27 AQUARIUS This week think of yourself in ways that you have not thought of yourself recently. Find in the closet of your spirit another set of clothes. Put them on and wear them like they are your everyday apparel. Reinvent yourself and act as if the new is usual. Soul Affirmation: I feel like the star that I naturally am. Lucky Numbers: 19, 49, 52 PISCES You are a person of many talents and skills. People around you count on your abilities to keep things running smoothly this week. Know that all your hard work is appreciated and even though you may not see it right away your dedication will be rewarded. Soul Affirmation: I do good unto others and enjoy doing it. Lucky Numbers: 4, 17, 22
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sports UDC guard Omar Abbas drives toward the basket during Division 1 men’s college basketball action on Friday, Feb. 14 at the UDC Gymnasium in Northwest. Daemen College defeated UDC 92-71. /Photo by John E. De Freitas
Daemen College Defeats the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) 92-71
UDC guard Clenso Brannon III is defended by Daemen College forward Gerald Beverly during Division 1 men’s college basketball action on Friday, Feb. 14 at the UDC Gymnasium in Northwest. Daemen College defeated UDC 92-71. /Photo by John E. De Freitas
UDC guard Omar Abbas drives toward the basket during Division 1 men’s college basketball action on Friday, Feb. 14 at the UDC Gymnasium in Northwest. Daemen College defeated UDC 92-71. /Photo by John E. De Freitas
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UDC Lady Firebirds Defeat Daemen Wildcats 91-73
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UDC guard Denikka Brent passes the basketball early in the first half of Division 1 women’s college basketball action on Friday, Feb. 14 at the UDC Gymnasium in Northwest. UDC defeated Daemen College 91-73. /Photo by John E. De Freitas
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UDC forward Tatyana Calhoun is defended by Daemen College forward Natalie Galus and guard Taylor Heinold during Division 1 women’s college basketball action on Friday, Feb. 14 at the UDC Gymnasium in Northwest. UDC defeated Daemen College 91-73. /Photo by John E. De Freitas
UDC guard Telisha Turner takes on a Daemen College opponent during Division 1 women’s college basketball action on Friday, Feb.14 at the UDC Gymnasium in Northwest. UDC defeated Daemen College 91-73. /Photo by John E. De Freitas
38 February 20, - February 26, 2014
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The Religion Corner
religion
Applied Faith vs. Dreaming
Faith in action is the topic of discussion for this column. I’m amazed and delighted when I can help others understand how to bring your faith to reality! Just think, all of us have dreams we wish we were able to obtain, however, most of us don’t believe we can; in other words, it’s only a daydream. You don’t think even in your wildest dreams, you could put together a plan to help you realize this dream. Let’s take a look at people around us who are living their dreams today. Whether they are school teachers, doctors, nurses, secretaries, or janitors; each one set out to achieve a specific goal, they applied faith by making the necessary steps to achieve this dream. And based on their level of faith, they’ve achieved exactly what they believed they deserved. Where you are today may not look or feel good, but you did it. You were the one responsible for the thoughts, the actions that caused you to be what and who you are today. We control our own minds, except when we allow someone else to take over. And when we do this, it is by permission only. Remember when you allowed someone else to dominate your thoughts? It was still your fault. You and only you must control your mind. When you are in the worse situation, you can still maintain a positive outlook for your future, and somehow, the Lord, the universe or source will honor that faith you have maintained. It’s like the late President Mandela, though he was impris-
oned for 27 years, it is obvious he went to a positive place in his thoughts. And though he may not have understood what was happening to him, he obviously had the faith and he applied that faith in order for him to come out of prison and someday be able to help his people the way he did. We don’t need to know how we will accomplish what it is God has placed in our hearts, just follow His lead, one step at a time. The scripture reminds us when it says “Lean not to your own understanding, and in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.” Mr. Mandela did. The Lord directed his path, and we will not likely see another hero like him in our lifetime. You too could be chosen to do something extraordinary. Use such an example for yourself; you’re never too old. It’s extremely encouraging to consider that no matter what the odds including prison, like Mandela, we can rise above it and still achieve. In fact his prison time catapulted him; being away from society for so long; to still be able to come forth and achieve in the manner he did proves how much faith President Mandela had. If he had not the faith, he wouldn’t have tried to run for the office of president of the country; he had to have the faith to organize a political campaign and to raise the funds; he had to have the faith that not only black Africans would vote for him but white Africans would vote for him as well. President Mandela had faith;
•
with Lyndia Grant
• •
he applied his faith; and the rest is history. What a marvelous example of a “man of great faith” one who never gave up on his dream. He went to prison to rid his country of apartheid; then when he came out, he continued and finally he succeeded. Turned an entire country upside down, then he was elected to the top office of the country, the Office of President of South Africa! wi Lyndia Grant is an author, inspirational and motivational speaker, radio talk show host and columnist; visit her new website at www.lyndiagrant. com and, call 202-518-3192. Tune in Fridays at 6 p.m., to the radio talk show, 1340 AM, WYCB, a Radio One Station.
• • •
Fiduciary Panel Attorney - Superior Court of the District of Columbia - Probate Division Former DC Fraud Bureau Examiner - Insurance Administration Former Law Clerk for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
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religion religion BAPTIST
african methodist episcopal
Historic St. Mary’s Episcopal Church The Reverend Lyndon Shakespeare Interim Priest Foggy Bottom • Founded in 1867 728 23rd Street, NW • Washington, DC 20037 Church office: 202-333-3985 • Fax : 202-338-4958 Worship Services Sundays: 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Music and Hymns Wednesdays: 12:10 p.m. - Holy Eucharist www.stmarysfoggybottom.org Email: stmarysoffice@stmarysfoggybottom.org All are welcome to St. Mary’s to Learn, Worship, and Grow.
Blessed Word of Life Church Dr. Dekontee L. & Dr. Ayele A. Johnson Pastors 4001 14th Street, NW Washington, DC 20011 (202) 265-6147 Office 1-800 576-1047 Voicemail/Fax Schedule of Services: Sunday School – 9:30 AM Sunday Morning Worship Service – 11:00 AM Communion Service – First Sunday Prayer Service/Bible Study – Tuesday, 6:30 PM www.blessedwordoflifechurch.org e-mail: church@blessedwordoflifechurch.org
Campbell AME Church Reverend Daryl K. Kearney, Pastor 2562 MLK Jr. Ave., S E Washington, DC 20020 Adm. Office 202-678-2263 Email:Campbell@mycame.org Sunday Worship Service 10: am Sunday Church School 8: 45 am Bible Study Wednesday 12:00 Noon Wednesday 7:00 pm Thursday 7: pm “Reaching Up To Reach Out” Mailing Address Campbell AME Church 2502 Stanton Road SE Washington, DC 20020
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
Pilgrim Baptist Church
Pilgrim Baptist Church Rev. Louis B. Jones II Pastor
Church of Living Waters
Rev. Paul Carrette Senior Pastor Harold Andrew, Assistant Pastor 4915 Wheeler Road Oxon Hill, MD 20745
700 I Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20002 (202) 547-8849
301-894-6464
Worship Sundays @ 7:30 & 11:00 A.M. 5th Sundays @ 9:30 A.M. 3rd Sundays: Baptism & Holy Communion Prayer & Praise: Wednesdays @ Noon & 6:30 P.M.
Schedule of Service Sunday Service: 8:30 AM & 11:00 AM Bible Study: Wednesday 7:30 PM Communion Service: First Sunday www.livingwatersmd.org
www.pilgrimbaptistdc.org
Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ Drs. Dennis W. and Christine Y. Wiley, Pastors 3845 South Capitol Street Washington, DC 20032 (202) 562-5576 (Office) (202) 562-4219 (Fax) SERVICES AND TIMES: SUNDAYS: 10:00 am AM Worship Services BIBLE STUDY: Wonderful Wednesdays in Worship and the Word Bible Study Wednesdays 12:00 Noon; 6:30 PM (dinner @ 5:30 PM) SUNDAY SCHOOL: 9:00 AM – Hour of Power “An inclusive ministry where all are welcomed and affirmed.” www.covenantbaptistdc.org
Twelfth Street Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 1812 12th Street, NW Washington, DC 20009 Phone: 202-265-4494 Fax: 202 265 4340
St. Stephen Baptist Church Lanier C. Twyman, Sr. Bishop 5757 Temple Hill Road, Temple Hills, MD 20748 Office 301-899-8885 – fax 301-899-2555 Sunday Early Morning Worship - 7:45 a.m. Church School - 9:30 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship – 10:45 a.m. Tuesday – Thursday - Kingdom Building Bible Institute – 7:30 p.m. Wednesday – Prayer/Praise/Bible Study – 7:30 p.m. Baptism & Communion Service- 4th Sunday – 10:30am Radio Broadcast WYCB -1340 AM-Sunday -6:00pm T.V. Broadcast - Channel 190 – Sunday -4:00pm/Tuesday 7:00am
“We are one in the Spirit” www.ssbc5757.org e-mail: ssbc5757@verizon.net
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”
Crusader Baptist Church
Sunday Morning Worship 11:00am Holy Communion – 1st Sunday Sunday School-9:45am Men’s Monday Bible Study – 7:00pm Wednesday Night Bible Study – 7:00pm Women’s Ministry Bible Study 3rd Friday -7:00pm Computer Classes- Announced Family and Marital Counseling by appointment E-mail: Crusadersbaptistchurch@verizon.net www.CrusadersBaptistChurch.org
“The Amazing, Awesome, Audacious Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church”
“God is Love”
Rev. Cheryl J. Sanders, Th.D. Senior Pastor 1204 Third Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 202.347.5889 office 202.638.1803 fax Sunday School: 9:30 a.m. Sunday Worship: 11:00 a.m. Prayer Meeting and Bible Study: Wed. 7:30 p.m. “Ambassadors for Christ to the Nation’s Capital” www.thirdstreet.org
Reverend Dr. Calvin L. Matthews • Senior Pastor 1200 Isle of Patmos Plaza, Northeast Washington, DC 20018 Office: (202) 529-6767 Fax: (202) 526-1661
Rev. Dr. Alton W. Jordan, Pastor 800 I Street, NE Washington, DC 20002 202-548-0707 Fax No. 202-548-0703
Sunday Worship Services: 8:00a.m. and 11:00a.m. Sunday Church School - 9:15a.m. & Sunday Adult Forum Bible Study - 10:30a.m. 2nd & 4th Monday Women’s Bible Study - 6:30p.m. Tuesday Jr./Sr. Bible Study - 10:00a.m. Tuesday Topical Bible Study - 6:30p.m. Tuesday New Beginnings Bible Study - 6:30p.m. Wednesday Pastoral Bible Study - 6:30p.m. Wednesday Children’s Bible Study - 6:30p.m. Thursday Men’s Bible Study - 6:30p.m. Friday before 1st Sunday Praise & Worship Service - 6:30p.m. Saturday Adult Bible Study - 10:00a.m.
Third Street Church of God
Isle of Patmos Baptist Church
Sunday Worship Services: 7:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Holy Communion: 2nd Sunday at 7:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sunday Church School: 9:20 a.m. Seniors Bible Study: Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. Noon Day Prayer Service: Tuesdays at Noon Bible Study: Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Motto: “A Ministry of Reconciliation Where Everybody is Somebody!” Website: http://isleofpatmosbc.org Church Email: ipbcsecretary@verizon.net
Greater Mt. Calvary Holy Church Bishop Alfred A. Owens, Jr.; Senior Bishop & Evangelist Susie C. Owens – Co-Pastor 610 Rhode Island Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002 (202) 529-4547 office • (202) 529-4495 fax Sunday Worship Service: 8 AM and 10:45 AM Sunday Youth Worship Services: 1st & 4th 10:45 AM; 804 R.I. Ave., NE 5th 8 AM & 10:45 AM; Main Church Prayer Services Tuesday – Noon, Wednesday 6 AM & 6:30 PM Calvary Bible Institute: Year-Round Contact Church Communion Every 3rd Sunday The Church in The Hood that will do you Good! www.gmchc.org emailus@gmchc.org
ST Marks Baptist Come Worship with us... St. Mark's Baptist Church 624 Underwood Street, NW Washington, dc 20011 Dr. Raymond T. Matthews, Pastor and First Lady Marcia Matthews Sunday School 9:am Worship Service 10:am Wed. Noon Day prayer service Thur. Prayer service 6:45 pm Thur. Bible Study 7:15 pm
We are proud to provide the trophies for the Washington Informer Spelling Bee
Reverend Dr. Paul H. Saddler Senior Pastor Service and Times Sunday Worship Service 11:00 a.m. Communion every Sunday 11:00 a.m. Sunday School 10:00 a.m. Bible Study Tuesday 12Noon Pastor’s Bible Study Tuesday 6:30 p.m. Motto; “Discover Something Wonderful.” Website: 12thscc.org Email: Twelfthstcc@aol.com
Mount Carmel Baptist Church
52 Years of Expert Engraving Services
Joseph N. Evans, Ph.D Senior Pastor 901 Third Street N.W. Washington, DC. 20001 Phone (202) 842-3411 Fax (202) 682-9423 Sunday Church School : 9: 30am Sunday Morning Worship: 10: 45am Bible Study Tuesday: 6: 00pm Prayer Service Tuesday: 7:00pm Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday 10: 45am themcbc.org
40 February 20, - February 26, 2014
The Washington Informer
www.washingtoninformer.com
religion Baptist
Advertise Your Church services here: call Ron Burke at
202-561-4100 or email rburke@washingtoninformer.com Zion Baptist Church
All Nations Baptist Church Rev. Dr. James Coleman Pastor 2001 North Capitol St, N.E. • Washington, DC 20002 Phone (202) 832-9591
Website: www.allnationsbaptistchurch.com All Nations Baptist Church – A Church of Standards
“Where Jesus is the King”
Israel Baptist Church
4850 Blagdon Ave, NW • Washington D.C 20011 Phone (202) 722-4940 • Fax (202) 291-3773
1251 Saratoga Ave., NE Washington, DC 20018 (202) 269-0288
Rev. Aubrey C. Lewis Pastor 1415 Gallatin Street, NW Washington, DC 20011-3851 P: (202) 726-5940 Sunday Worship: 11:00 a.m. Sunday School: 9:15 a.m. Holy Communion: 11:00 a.m., 3rd Sun. Bible Study: Monday - 7:00 p.m. Prayer Meeting: Thursday - 7:00 p.m.
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
Rev. Dr. Morris L Shearin, Sr. Pastor
St. Luke Baptist Church
Rev. Daryl F. Bell Pastor
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
Rev. Keith W. Byrd, Sr. Pastor
Sunday Worship Service 10:15AM- Praise and Worship Services Sunday School 9:00am Monday: Noon Bible School Wednesday: Noon & 7PM: Pastor’s Bible Study Ordinance of Baptism 2nd Holy Communion 4th Sunday Mission Zion Baptist Church Shall; Enlist Sinners, Educate Students, Empower the Suffering, Encourage the Saints, and Exalt Our Savior. (Acts 2:41-47) www.zionbaptistchurchdc.org
King Emmanuel Baptist Church
Sunday Worship Service: 10:00 A.M. Sunday School: 8:30 A.M. Holy Communion1st Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Prayer Service: Wednesday at 6:30 P.M. Bible Study: Wednesday at 7:00 P.M.
Mount Moriah Baptist Church Dr. Lucius M. Dalton, Senior Pastor 1636 East Capitol Street, NE Washington, DC 20003 Telephone: 202-544-5588 Fax: 202-544-2964 Sunday Worship Services: 7:45 am and 10:45 am Holy Communion: 1st Sundays at 7:45 am and 10:45 am Sunday School: 9:30 am Prayer & Praise Service: Tuesdays at 12 noon and 6:30 pm Bible Study: Tuesdays at 1 pm and 7 pm Youth Bible Study: Fridays at 7 pm
Advertise Your Church services here: call Ron Burke at
202-561-4100 or email rburke@washingtoninformer.com
Advertise Your Church services here: call Ron Burke at
202-561-4100 or email rburke@washingtoninformer.com
Web: www.mountmoriahchurch.org Email: mtmoriah@mountmoriahchurch.org
Rehoboth Baptist Church
St. Matthews Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Maxwell M. Washington Pastor 1105 New Jersey Ave, S.E • Washington, DC 20003 202 488-7298 Order of Services Sunday Worship Services: 9:05 A.M. Sunday School: 8:00 A.M. Holy Communion 3rd Sunday Morning Prayer Meeting: 7:00 P.M. (Tuesday) Bible Study: 7:30 P.M. (Tuesday) Theme: “Striving to be more like Jesus “Stewardship”. Philippians 3:12-14; Malachi 3:8-10 and 2 Corinthians 9:7 Email: stmatthewbaptist@msn.com Website: www.stmatthewsbaptist.com
Salem Baptist Church
Emmanuel Baptist Church
Florida Avenue 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
Dr. Earl D. Trent Senior Pastor
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
Sermon On The Mount Temple Of Joy Apostolic Faith 5606 Marlboro Pike District Heights, MD 20747 301-735-6005
Dr. C. Matthew Hudson, Jr, Pastor
Elder Herman L. Simms, Pastor
2616 MLK Ave., SE • Washington, DC 20020 Office 202-889-3709 • Fax 202-678-3304
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. Holy Communion : 1st Sunday -10:45a.m Church School 9:30a.m. Prayer, Praise and Bible Study: Wednesday 7p.m Bible Study : Saturday: 11a.m. Baptism: 4th Sunday – 10:45a.m “Empowered to love and Challenged to Lead a Multitude of Souls to Christ”
Communion and Feet Wash 4th Sunday at 5:00 P.M Prayer/Seeking Wednesday at 8:00 P.M. Apostolic in Doctrine, Pentecostal in Experience, Holiness in Living, Uncompromised and Unchanged. The Apostolic Faith is still alive –Acts 2:42
New Commandment Baptist Church
Peace Baptist Church
Rev. Stephen E. Tucker Senior Pastor
Rev. Dr. Michael T. Bell 712 18th Street, NE Washington, DC 20002 Phone 202-399-3450/ Fax 202-398-8836
13701 Old Jericho Park Road Bowie, MD. 20720 (301) 262-0560
Sunday Morning Worship Service 7:15 am & 10:50 am Sunday School 9:30am Sunday Morning Worship Service 10:50am Wednesday Prayer & Testimonies Service 7:30pm Wednesday School of the Bible 8:00pm Wednesday - Midweek Prayer Service 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Services: Sunday Worship 11 AM Sunday School 10 AM Wednesday Mid-Week Worship, Prayer & Bible Study - Wed. 7 PM “A Church Where Love Is Essential and Praise is Intentional”
“The Loving Church of the living lord “ Email Address pbcexec@verizon.net
Shiloh Baptist Church
First Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church
1864-2014
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.
150 Years of Service
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 Motto: : “Where God is First and Where Friendly People Worship”
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
www.washingtoninformer.com
The Washington Informer
Holy Trinity United Baptist Church
Advertise Your Church services here: call Ron Burke at
202-561-4100 or email rburke@washingtoninformer.com
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.
February 20, - February 26, 2014
41
legal notices
legal notices
legal notices
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
Administration No. 2013 ADM 990
Administration No. 2013 ADM 1247
Frederick W. Barnes Decedent Deborah D. Boddie, Esq. 1308 Ninth Street, NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20001 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Cynthia D. Barnes, M.D., whose address is 623 W. 145th Street, New York, NY 10031, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Frederick W. Barnes, who died on January 18, 2013 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 August 6, 2014. 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 August 6, 2014, 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: February 6, 2014 Cynthia D. Barnes, M.D. Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY
Betty R. Howard Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Rebecca H. Whitmore, whose address is 3746 Benton Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Betty R. Howard, who died on October 19, 2013 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 (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 August 6, 2014. 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 August 6, 2014, 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: February 6, 2014 Rebecca H. Whitmore Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY
Administration No. 2014 ADM 93 Malinda Johnson aka Malinda G. Johnson Decedent Colline Silvera c/o Robinson Kirlew & Associates, PC 7731 Belle Point Dr. Greenbelt, MD 20770 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Karen Grant-Acquah, whose address is 8907 Crandall Rd., Lanham, MD 20706, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Malinda Johnson aka Malinda G. Johnson, who died on August 7, 2013 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 August 20, 2014. 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 August 20, 2014, 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: February 20, 2014 Karen Grant-Acquah Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY
Anne Meister Register of Wills Washington Informer
Anne Meister Register of Wills Washington Informer
Anne Meister Register of Wills Washington Informer
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
Administration No. 2014 ADM 5
Administration No. 2014 ADM 81
Administration No. 2013 ADM 1061
Ernest Louis Walker Decedent
Eulis Theodore Saunders, Jr. Decedent
Barbara Ann Nettles Decedent
Peter D. Antonoplos 805 15th Street, NW, Suite 501 Washington, DC 20005 Attorney
Attorney Ethel Mitchell/Wills and Trusts LLC 1050 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 1045 Washington, DC 20036 Attorney
Attorney Ethel Mitchell, Wills and Trusts, LLC 1050 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 1045 Washington, DC 20036 Attorney
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
Deborah D. Walker, whose address is 1706 Redbud Court, Upper Marlboro, MD 20744, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Ernest Louis Walker, who died on October 28, 2012 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 August 6, 2014. 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 August 6, 2014, 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.
Dora Waters Saunders, whose address is 1446 Tuckerman St., NW, #108, Washington, DC 20011, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Eulis Theodore Saunders, Jr., who died on December 15, 2013 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 August 13, 2014. 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 August 13, 2014, 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.
Wanda Denise Nettles, whose address is 1604 Fort Place NE, Washington, DC 20018, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Barbara Ann Nettles, who died on September 11, 2013 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 August 20, 2014. 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 August 20, 2014, 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: February 6, 2014
Date of first publication: February 13, 2014
Deborah D. Walker Personal Representative
Dora Waters Saunders Personal Representative
TRUE TEST COPY
TRUE TEST COPY
Anne Meister Register of Wills Washington Informer
Anne Meister Register of Wills Washington Informer
42 February 20, - February 26, 2014
Date of first publication: February 20, 2014 Wanda Denise Nettles Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Anne Meister Register of Wills Washington Informer
The Washington Informer
legal notices SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTTICT OF COLUMBIA CIVIL DIVISION Case No. 2013 CA 1603 B Calendar 12 Judge Brian F. Holeman Sandra Seegars, Plaintiff, v. Joshua Johnson, Defendant, Order of Service by Publication AMENDED ORDER This matter comes before the Court upon consideration of Plaintiff’s Motion to Request a Modification to the Order of Service of Publication, filed on November 27, 2013. On September 13, 2013, at a Status Hearing, Plaintiff presented documentation of her attempt to serve Defendant by certified mail. The Court reviewed documents as to two separate addresses: (1) 1905 Savannah Street SE #102, Washington, DC 20020; and (2) 1729 Alabama Avenue, SE, #304, Washington, DC, 20020. The Court observed that an individual at the United States Post Office had checked a box on the document stating that there is no such street in Washington, DC. Plaintiff averred that she served the Defendant at the first address when Defendant attended an Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) meeting and that she obtained the second address via Defendant’s parole office. Plaintiff averred that she has tried to serve Defendant by private process server and certified mail. On September 13, 2013, Plaintiff’s oral motion to serve Defendant by publication was granted and the deadline to effectuate service was extended to November 24, 2013. The prior unsuccessful efforts demonstrated diligence and that further efforts to serve personally or by mail would be futile. Therefore, service by publication is appropriate. WHEREFORE, it is this 17th day of January 2014, hereby ORDERED, that Plaintiff’s Motion to Request a Modification to the Order of Service of Publication is GRANTED; and it is further ORDERED, that notice be given, by the insertion of a copy of the Order of Service by Publication issued concurrently herewith, in a newspaper having general circulation in the District of Columbia, twice per month for two (2) successive months, notifying Joshua Johnson to appear in this Court by the 14th day of February, 2014, by properly filing a response to the Complaint; and it is further ORDERED, that the deadline to effectuate service is extended to February 14, 2014; and it is further ORDERED, that this Court receive no timely response as required, this Court shall issue a final judgment in favor of Plaintiff and against Defendant; and it is further ORDERED, that the parties shall appear for a Status Hearing on February 21, 201, at 9:30 a.m. in Courtroom 214.
CLASSIFIEDS SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2014 ADM 76 Gradie D. McCray Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Tiajuanna M. McCray, whose address is 5009 Sargent Road, NE, Washington, DC 20017, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Gradie D. McCray, who died on November 29, 2013 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 August 20, 2014. 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 August 20, 2014, 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: February 20, 2014 Tiajuanna M. McCray 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. 2013 ADM 1267
Brian F. Holeman Judge
Hugh B. McNeil Decedent
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 14 ADM 113
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
Stanley Howard, Jr. Decedent Deborah D. Boddie, Esq. 1308 Ninth Street, NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20001 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Anita Butler, whose address is 2631 Otis Street, NE, Washington, DC 20018, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Stanley Howard, Jr., who died on February 20, 2013 without a Will, and will serve with Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before August 20, 2014. 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 August 20, 2014, 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: February 20, 2014 Anita Butler Personal Representative
Ruth Ann Miller – Personal Representative 57 Quincy Place, NE Washington, DC 20002 Attorney
Ruth Ann Miller, whose address is 57 Quincy Place, NE, Washington, DC 20002, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Hugh B. McNeil, who died on September 2, 2013 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 August 20, 2014. 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 August 20, 2014, 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: February 20, 2014 Ruth Ann Miller Personal Representative
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TRUSTEES’ SALE OF REAL PROPERTY
Known As No. 5616 BALTIMORE AVENUE HYATTSVILLE, MD 20781 Case Number CAE13-17113 BROKER CO-OP INVITED Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a Deed of Trust from Roy B. Moss and Claude O. Barrington recorded among the Land Records of Prince George’s County in Liber 29944, folio 222, the Trustees will offer for sale at public auction, in front of the entrance to the Property at 5616 Baltimore Avenue, Hyattsville, Maryland 20781, on FRI., FEBRUARY 28, 2014 @11:00 A.M. TERMS OF THE SALE: A deposit in a form acceptable to the Trustee in the amount of $25,000.00 will be required of the purchaser, other than the Holder of the Note or its assigns, at the time and place of sale. The deposit must be increased to equal ten percent (10%) of the purchase price by noon Monday March 3, 2014 at the auctioneers office; 601 Pennsylvania Ave., NW; Washington, D. C. 20004. Time is of the essence. The purchaser, other than the Holder of the Note or its assigns, shall pay interest at the rate of 6.12500% per annum on the unpaid portion of the purchase price from the date of sale to date of settlement. Real property taxes and assessments shall be adjusted to the date of sale and assumed thereafter by the purchaser. In the event the Trustees do not convey title for any reason, purchaser’s sole remedy is return of the deposit. Purchaser’s sole remedy shall be return of the deposit. Other terms & conditions to be announced at the auction.
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chavis continued from Page 30 Director of Health Programs Shavon Arline-Bradley to address health care equality via a public awareness national video conference. As a result of that Google Hangout video conference, thousands of people were informed about how the Affordable Care Act is helping Black Americans and others overcome past and present health disparities. Secretary Sebelius emphasized, “Thanks to President Obama’s leadership we have very real reasons for optimism that we can do something about these disparities. Let’s take the time to find out more about what the ACA offers to our families and communities. Remember there are fast approaching deadlines that must be met in order to take advantage of the health care opportunities of the ACA. We add our
clingman continued from Page 30 requires an effort to be accepted by the party to which one aspires. It makes little sense to get into that game because every time we reach that standard it can—and will be changed to an even higher standard. Economic freedom is the clarion call in years past and now. Many have propagated that message and we have yet to heed it in a collective manner since we lost our minds over politics in 1965. Economic freedom means setting our own standards, and not having to meet those set by others. Economic freedom means the ability and willingness, and dare I say eagerness, to create jobs for our children. Economic freedom means that we have multiple streams of in-
record book. Business ownership opens doors of opportunity, not just for you and your family, but the families of your employees, associates, customers/clients, vendors and suppliers. That improved quality of life affords access to opportunities for education, earning, travel and the new worlds they discover will create future generations of inventors and history makers. Black History is made and celebrated every day… make sure that your everyday actions pave the way. wi Ron Busby, Sr. is president and CEO of U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. For more information about the U.S. Black Chambers, go to www.usblackchamber.org/
voice to alert everyone eligible to sign up for the new health care insurance options and benefits. Secretary Sebelius concluded, “Let’s work together to answer President Obama’s call for every American who knows someone without health insurance to help them get covered by March 31. You can shop at www.HealthCare.gov, by phone at 1-800318-2596, by mail, or directly through an issurance agent, or broker. You can also get in person help at https://localhelp. cheathcare.gov/ .” My family has been involved in the health care and medical field for many years in my native North Carolina. I asked my sister, Dr. Francine Chavis, who serves on the medical staff of the Granville Health System in Oxford, N.C. and has practiced medicine for more than 26 years, about her experience. She stated, “The Affordable Care Act has been a blessing, especially to so many of my patients who
in past did not have health insurance, but now they have been able to get insurance coverage, many of whom for the first time in their life.” I also inquired of my daughters, Renita Timberlake, who works as the Physicians Practice Manager for the Granville Health System. She responded, “The Affordable Care Act has helped people who come from impoverished areas to get health care coverage for the first time. In addition, people are now experiencing preventive care that will help to lower their overall health care costs going forward. The ACA is making a positive difference for both patients and physicians.” wi Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. is President of Education Online Services Corporation and the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network and is available for lectures and consultations by reaching him at:
come that can, of course, empower us individually and then empower us collectively. Economic freedom means producing, manufacturing, and distributing; it means owning natural resources to whatever extent possible and vertically integrating our businesses. Economic freedom, as Claud Anderson advocates, means aggregating our dollars and utilizing them to our own advantage rather than some else’s. Economic freedom means what Pastor Jonathan Weaver and the Collective Empowerment Group are doing: leveraging the large number of church members and their spending capacity, and obtaining reciprocity from the marketplace. Economic freedom means, as S.B. Fuller and Malcolm X said, “Control.” Currently, Black folks for the
most part are out of control and/ or under control. We cannot be economically free under those circumstances. “No people can be free who themselves do not constitute an essential part of the ruling element of the country in which they live. The liberty of no man is secure who controls not his own destiny. For people to be free they must necessarily be their own rulers.” Martin Delaney – “The Political destiny of the Colored race on the American continent” Jim Clingman, founder of the Greater Cincinnati African American Chamber of Commerce, is the nation’s most prolific writer on economic empowerment for Black people. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Cincinnati and can be reached through his Web site, blackonomics.com.
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it cushion, particularly for luxury brand automobiles. (Remember, every dollar earned without advertising/marketing effort to earn that dollar is FREE MONEY!) Telecom companies, highend electronics, “luxury” liquors, condo sellers and jewelers all positively salivate when their coffers fill up with Black dollars. Among the goals of the USBC, entrepreneur development is the loftiest and most elusive. But we believe if we are successful at reigniting our passion for business ownership, we will have the best opportunity to solve the challenges faced by Black America. The record of
our ability to build colleges, insurance companies and hospitals proves that when necessary, we can achieve monumental “wins” through collective entrepreneurial activity. And — in today’s terminology – joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions provide the context for our next collective steps in business growth. So, we at the USBC and our affiliates across the country encourage you to be more mindful, and more intentional as you pursue your dreams. Understand that 20, 50, 100 years from now someone will read the record of your contribution to life as they know it, and the fact that you made a lot of money won’t be enough to get your name in the
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leon continued from Page 31 been engaged in a struggle for a very long time. Too many of us have forgotten what’s at the crux of the issue. Many believe it’s economic, others believe its civil rights. Both of those are important and play a significant role in improving our circumstance but what we’ve been fighting to have recognized since those first 20 and some odd “African indentured servants” disembarked from the Dutch Man O War off the shores of Jamestown, VA in 1619 (395 years ago)is to be considered human. According to the Virginia Statutes on Slavery, Act 1, October 1669; what should be done about the casual killing of
slaves? “If any slave resist his master and by the extremity of the correction should chance to die, that his death shall not considered a felony, and the master should be acquitted from the molestation, since it cannot be presumed that prepense malice should induce any man to destroy his own estate.” We were property, not human – part of the estate. In Dred Scott Chief Justice Taney wrote, “…they (Negro’s) were at that time an considered as a subordinate and inferior class of beings, who had been subjugated by the dominant race, and, whether emancipated or not, yet remained subject to their authority, and had no rights or privileges but such as those who held the power and
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the government might choose to grant them.” Unfortunately, Taney’s perspective remains prevalent in the minds of too many Americans. For decades, the law recognized the value of life over property. In many jurisdictions, before a person could use deadly force they had a duty to retreat. They had to prove that the use of deadly force was justified. This is often taken to mean that if the defendant had first avoided conflict and secondly, had taken reasonable steps to retreat and so demonstrated an intention not to fight before eventually using force, then the taking of a life could be considered justified. Today, Stand Your Ground has turned this long held principal on its head. Today it provides individuals (seemingly mostly European American’s) the right to use deadly force (seemingly against African American’s) to “defend” themselves without any requirement to evade or retreat from a circumstance of their own creation.
FLETCHER continued from Page 31 interactions with the Israeli authorities. The young Israeli military men and women, frequently carrying automatic weapons, were quite full of themselves and felt no need to be polite to our delegation, let alone to the Palestinians. The Palestinians were treated with the sort of
MUHAMMAD continued from Page 31
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“I was also inspired to witness how the Honorable Louis Farrakhan was believing and was aware of his capacity to connect directly with the Divine and ask for all the assistance and all the help. It was one of the rare times when I witnessed someone talking about those notions, not as words, but as meanings, alive and vibrant,” he continued. “I had the opportunity to cry along with the Honorable Louis Farrakhan and to laugh along with him in this memorable, memorable day. He made me the pleasure to tell me at the end: ‘Oh Ahmed, you made my day; no, no, no, you made my week; no, no, no, no, you made my month; no, no, you made my year.’ I said: ‘Mr. Louis Farrakhan, you made my life.’” It does not surprise me to hear such testimonials from important Islamic leaders, important world leaders concerning this truThe Washington Informer
One cannot stress enough, in both the Treyvon Martin murder and the murder of Jordan Davis, both victims were in public space, engaged in legal activity, and at the time they were confronted were not a threat to anyone. George Zimmerman and Michael Dunn initiated the confrontations, put themselves in harm’s way, and then took matters into their own hands, choosing to use deadly force against unarmed and non-threatening innocent victims. Neither Martin nor Davis was given the opportunity to stand their ground. What ties the death of all of the individuals listed above together is the culturally accepted stereotype of the threatening Black male. Defense counsels in the murder of Treyvon Martin, Jordan Davis, Amadou Diallo and so many others rationalized these irrational shootings by tapping into the oftentimes unspoken but clearly recognized and understood fear of the Black male. Even though no weapon and nothing resembling a weapon was found in the vehicle Jordan
Davis was riding in, at least one member of the Dunn jury understood his claim that he was in fear of his life. Even though Treyvon Martin was unarmed, members of the Zimmerman jury understood on a gut level his claim that he was in fear of his life. Amadou Diallo was armed with only his wallet when NYPD unleashed a barrage of 41 bullets striking him 19 times. Since those first 20 and some odd “African indentured servants” disembarked from the Dutch Man O War off the shores of Jamestown, VA in 1619 African’s in America and now African Americans have been victimized by a murderous American historical continuum. Dr. Wilmer Leon is the Producer/ Host of the Sirius/XM Satellite radio channel 110 callin talk radio program “Inside the Issues with Wilmer Leon” Go to www.wilmerleon.com or email:wjl3us@yahoo.com. www. twitter.com/drwleon and Dr. Leon’s Prescription at Facebook. com © 2014 InfoWave Communications, LLC wi
contempt one would expect to be experienced by a prison population. Blink once, and you saw apartheid South Africa; blink twice, and you saw the Jim Crow South; blink three times and you realized that you were not in the past, but in a very dangerous reality where an entire population is facing the prospect of perpetual marginalization and dispos-
session. wi Bill Fletcher, Jr. is racial justice, labor and global justice activist and writer. He is a Senior Scholar with the Institute for Policy Studies and the author of “They’re Bankrupting Us” – And Twenty Other Myths about Unions. He recently traveled to Israel and Palestine on an African American fact-finding team. Follow him on Facebook and at www.billfletcherjr.com.
ly amazing man, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan. I was blessed to travel with the Minister to major world capitals – to Damascus, to Tripoli, Addis Ababa and cities all over Africa, to Baghdad, to the Holy Cities of Mecca and Medina – where the government leaders, the religious leaders, the leaders of the civil society were equally effusive. In Tehran, Minister Farrakhan became the first (and maybe the only) U.S. citizen to address the audience of 10 million (!) souls celebrating the anniversary of the Iranian revolution which overthrew American puppet, Shah Reza Pahlavi from the Peacock Throne. I witnessed a similar celebration in Ramallah in Palestinian Occupied Territory following an hours-long meeting with Brother Yasser Arafat, chairman of the of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the ruling Palestinian Authority. After an hour long meeting in the private home of then South African President
Nelson Mandela, I heard with my own ears, when Madiba said concerning matters of importance that he and the Minister “see eye to eye.” I saw then Cuban President Fidel Castro embrace Minister Farrakhan like the “Brother” he is, after their four-hour “chat.” In the mostly Black, English speaking Caribbean the Minister is treated like the long-lost-brother-leader he really is to them. But how else would you expect people to act in his presence? He is so captivating, disarming. But in Morocco, Dr. Abadi had no way of knowing that any of the members of our delegation might have been personally acquainted with Minister Farrakhan, and yet the praise came voluntarily, sincerely, from his heart, just like the words of love which inspired that outpouring, come freely, from the heart, from the lips of Minister Louis Farrakhan, a man for all continents; a man for all seasons. wi
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