VOL. 54, NO. 20 • FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 6, 2019 Teen Violence Awareness Month’s Lessons Challenge Ballou Youth / See Editorial, pg. 24
This Month’s WI Bridge Center Section
Remembering Trayvon Martin (Feb. 5, 1995 – Feb. 26, 2012)
Black Lives Matter Activist Pressures MPD for Surveillance Data
Black Boys Deserve the Chance to Become Men, Too
By Sam P.K. Collins WI Contributing Writer @SamPKCollins
By D. Kevin McNeir, WI Editor @dkevinmcneir The word stunned might best describe how U.S. citizens, particularly Blacks, felt after hearing that a six-member jury, following two days of deliberation in a Florida courthouse, found George Zimmerman not guilty in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. Since then, other defendants would follow Zimmerman, using the controversial “stand your ground” law to avoid prosecution
TRAYVON Page 32
5 Over 16,000 high school students and parents were at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Northwest on Saturday, Feb. 23 visiting over 71 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) during the 17th Annual HBCU Festival presented by the Alfred Street Baptist Church. (See story on page 16) (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)
NE Residents Sue Over Proposed Fire Station By James Wright WI Contributing Writer The D.C. residents who live close to the intersection of Minnesota Avenue and Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue in Northeast want affordable housing in their neighborhood — not a fire station — and they recently went to court to make that point. Fifteen plaintiffs who live in the city’s Deanwood section on Minnesota Avenue’s northern end made an appearance at D.C. Superior Court on Feb. 19 to stop the city government and a de-
SURVEILLANCE Page 48
Chicago Poised to Elect First Black Female Mayor
velopment company, Valor Minnesota LLC, from building a fire station on the property of 4409 Minnesota Avenue NE. Dorothy Douglas, the advisory neighborhood commissioner for District 7D03 in Ward 7, lives several feet from the 4409 property and is not happy about what is going on with it. “I am a long-term homeowner of 4401 Minnesota Avenue NE, where I have been a resident for over 35 years,” said Douglas, who once served on the D.C. State
FIRE STATION Page 42
Years ago, as Black Lives Matter DC railed against the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), core organizer April Goggans often posted online about a marked police car parked in front of her home and other instances of alleged intimidation. Her lawsuit against MPD, two years in the making, revolves around a 9,000-page dossier that police department officials refuse to release. The outcome of the civil suit, predicted to end in early April, boils down to the question of
5 Lori Lightfoot (left) and Toni Preckwinkle (right) will compete in a runoff for the Chicago mayoral election on April 2. (Photos courtesy)
A field sporting 14 mayoral candidates has been reduced to two with Lori Lightfoot (17.5 percent of the vote) and Toni Preckwinkle (16 percent) advancing to an April runoff – the second in the city’s history, after voters went to the polls Tuesday, Feb. 26. When the smoke clears this spring, Chicago will elect its first African-American female mayor with either Lightfoot, a former prosecutor and a first-time candidate or Preckwinkle, the current Cook County Board president and a former, longtime alderman taking over the reign. The winner will also become the city’s second female mayor, following Jane Byrne, who served one term from 1979 to 1983. And if Lightfoot is elected, she will become the city’s first openly-gay mayor. Both would become the second African American elected Chicago mayor after Harold Washington, who served from 1983 until his death in 1987. WI
Celebrating 54 Years of Service / Serving More Than 50,000 Readers Throughout The Metropolitan Area
Now Published by Dr. Charles Vincent
Her Legacy Continues.
In memory of Mickey Thompson Vincent, Founder and Publisher.
WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
Lavern Chatman Brown, No. Va. Urban League & Links, Inc
Regina Dillard Ashby, Atty., State Farm Ins.
Colleen E. Morris Madame Constable, Town of Oak Bluffs Massachsusetts
Dr. Janette Hoston Harris, Historian
Camelia Mazard, Atty
Dr. Charles & “Mickey” Vincent
Tribute to the Ladies of Washington DC who embody the spirit of Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth and Susan B. Anthony in their personal and professional lives. We, your men, thank you for your work and your love. (It goes without saying that this is just a partial list)
Dr. Marilyn Tyler Brown, Educator
Chinyere Hubbard, VP Marketing, Events DC
Gina Adams, VP, Govt. Aff. FedEx.
Natalie Fant, CEO Strategic Business Solutions
Kim Patterson
Meta Williams, Owner, MetaWorks, DC
Carolyn Trice, Innovative Results
Judith Batty, Atty, Bd Chr Arena Stage
Lynne T. McGuire, McGuire Funeral Services
Teri Galvez, Paradigm Event Management
Jan Du Plain, Du Plain Enterprises
Roberta Wright, Attorney
Patricia Hobson Wilson
Angela Moody, Pres. EDJ Associates
Marya Pickering, Treasurer, DC GOP
Lisa Slade, DDS (Endodontics)
Pam Galloway Tabb, sr. VP Newseum
Karen Evans, Pres. Wash Bar Assoc.
Patricia Chittams, DCGOP
Stacy Burnette, Dir. GOV Affairs, Comcast Cable
Felicia Chambers, Atty, Past Pres. WBA
Honorable Yvette Alexander
Denise Rolark Barnes, Publisher, The Washington Informer,
Darlene Glymph, VP DCGOP, Veteran Services
Dr. Regina Benjamin, Surgeon General of the US
Julia Pollard, Arlington Links
Kendra Handy (communications) with Mickey Thompson
Beverly Perry, Atty and Sr. Advisor to Mayor Bowser
Dr. Alma Hobbs, Professor
Ashley Carter, Washington DC State Board of Education
Crystal Wright, Author and Blogger “Conservative Black Chick”
Evelyn Betancourt, Sheehy Ford of Marlow Heights
Adele Sadler Johnson, Attorney
Jill Homan, DCGOP, Natl. Committeewoman
Dr. Gracie Lawson Borders, Dean and Professor, Howard University.
Carolina Celnik, DC GOP
Debbie Jarvis, PEPCO
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Around the Region............ 4-11 PG County....................... 12-13 Business.................................15 National............................ 16-17 International.........................18 Health ............................. 20-21
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Education ....................... 22-23 OpEd................................24-26 WI Bridge.....................Center Black History Month...... 28-32 Lifestyle..........................33-39 Sports ..................................40
On February 28, 1984 Michael Jackson wins eight Grammys for his record-breaking “Thriller” album.
Religion.................................43
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Women the Cycle of wi hotBreak topics Domestic Violence Youth Vie for Top Honors in As Civil Unrest Grows,
COMPILED BY D. KEVIN MCNEIR, WI EDITOR AND WILLIAM J. FORD WI STAFF WRITER
SOMETHING NEW EVERYDAY
law Contest enforcement. SheU.S., said they threat,”Raise she said. Marion Barry Oratorical Canada had come together to bring a Among the programs Marlow Travel to implemented Haiti are sense of uniformity in the wayWarning wants to see
By Tia Carol Jones
www.washingtoninformer.com
WI Staff Writer
Visit our updated Web site and give us your comments for a chance to win a gift from The Washington Informer
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'sAngry, familiesfrustrated demonof her daughter threatened her “She's using her own personal to intervene on behalf of a vicstrators life, and the life of their child, story, her own personal pain to tim, a domestic violence assess-continuefurther to fill the she knew something had to be push forward,” Davis-Nickens ment unit coupled with streets of downdone. Out of her frustration said about Marlow. training for law enforcement town Port au Prince, Haiti targeting a corrupt with law enforcement's handling Davis-Nickens said anyone agencies, a Child's Life Protec-govEmail comments to: that allowed $2 billion designated of the situation, she decided to who reads Marlow'sernment book will tion Actnearly and mandatory counsel- to theme “The Migration Journey of the rburke@ thethe poor ing to disappear. Citing mismanagement startWith the the Saving Promise cam- “get it.” She said sheassist “puts for batterers. Honorable Marion Barry, Jr., six area youth finalcorruption at“If thewehighest level, citizens have depaign. case in such a way, and the average are ever going to eradiwashingtoninformer.com ists, 14 – 18, presentcycle speeches on Thursday, the resignation of Haitian President Jovenel “It seems to bewill a vicious person can get it.” Shemanded said at the cate domestic violence, we must Feb. won't 28 as the Marion that turn my Barry, family Jr. Legacy say diverted the funds away end of Foundathe day, theMoïse book who will they look at both sides of the coin.from tion, sponsors loose,” Marlowthe said. Marlow help people begin to paying schools, roads,both and the other have a for dia-hospitals, We need to address vic-social 2nd Annual shared her story Marion with theBarry, audi-Jr. Youth current unrest to the logue Oratorical about domesticprojects. violence.Some even tim compare and the the batterer,” Marlow Contest. TheDistrict contest isHeights once again under the lead-at therevolution ence at the Also present event wasof 33said. years ago against the dictator Jeanership of Violence Dr. LindaSymposium Wharton-Boyd and will take Domestic Mildred Muhammad, the “Baby ex- Doc” Marlow would alsoescape like totosee Claude Duvalier whose France place University of the District of John Columon Mayat7 the at the District Heights wife of Allen Muhammad, designed tocargo raiseplane on Feb. 7, 1986programs aboard a U.S. Air Force bia [UDC] Student Municipal Center. TheCenter sympo-(Window who wasLounge), sentenced toled six to consecfive yearsawareness of tumult. among Protestorschildren continueinto at5:30 was – 8:30 p.m. Foundation sium sponsored by the officers utive lifeinclude: terms without parole stone public and private schools. She tack police, ambulances and set up roadblocks Former and DC Youth First Lady, Cora by Masters Barry, Family Services a Maryland jury foralong his role in highways feels children need to be major and roads while theeducatpoor suffer founder/president; C. Rogers, chairman; Center of the city Michael of District the Beltway Sniper from attacks in sickness ed about hunger, anddomestic disease. violence. Heights and the National Hook- 2002. Mildred Muhammad and, Constance Berry Newman, vice-chair. is “We have to to stop being pas- to Canada has advised citizens avoid all travel Up This of Black Women. year’s oratorical contestthetheme foundercoinof After the Trauma, sive-aggressive with poor chilHaiti. Similarly, the U.S. State Department has raised Marlow a book, cides withhasthewritten national Black History Month thatthehelps an organization dren domestic violence,”“Do travelthe warning to aabout level 4, telling Americans: “Color Me Butterfly,” which is a survivors of the domestic theme, “Black Migrations,” which focuses on Marlow notviolence travel to Haiti due tosaid. crime and civil unrest,” and story about four generations of and their to children. Marlow has worked to break movement of people of African descent new ordering all non-emergency U.S. personnel and their domestic violence. new The social book is “I The livedcontest in fear for six years. Six the cycle of abuse in her destinations and realities. family members to leave immediately. family, inspired by youth her ownthe experiences, in fear isthea long time. It is and is confident the policies she provides opportunityyears to discuss and those of her grandmother, not an easy thing to come out is pushing for will start that legacy of Barry, who served in various political her mother and her daughter. of,” she said. process. leadership roles for over 45 years, serving others, ‘Swift Resolution’ Sought in She said everyyouth, time she reads the Mildred said “I plan to take these policies to empowering protecting “last and Muhammad left Maryland’s HBCUs In Memoriam excerpts fromutilizing her book,theshearm stillof government people whoaswant to help a Congress and Lawsuit implore them to out” while a Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Sr. can not believe the words came domestic violence victim must change our laws,” Marlow said. force for social change. Contestants’ oral preWilhelmina J. Rolark As mediation from her. “Color Me Butterfly” be careful of by how they go into “I will not stop until these polisentation of original essays will be evaluated The Washington Informer Newspaper from a more won the 2007 National “Best the victim's life, and understand cies are passed.” a panel of adjudicators with cash awards given to THE WASHINGTON INFORMER 12-yearInPUBLISHER Memoriam Books” Award. thatOther she may Tia Carol Jones canthan be reached NEWSPAPER (ISSN#0741-9414) is those earning the top three scores. eventbe in “survival Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Sr. old lawsuit “I was just 16-years-old when Denise Rolark Barnes mode”. at tiacaroljones@sbcglobal.net conpublished weekly on each Thursday. partners include: the Mayor’s Youth Leadership Wilhelmina J. Rolark my eye first blackened and my Periodicals postage paid at Washingtinues between “Before you get to 'I'm going Institute Alumni said. Association, DC Public Library ton, THE D.C.WASHINGTON and additional mailing ofINFORMER NEWSPAPER (ISSN#0741-9414) is published lips bled,” Marlow Maryland state to kill you,' it started as a verbal WI STAFF and UDC. fices.weekly News on andThursday. advertising deadline postage Periodicals paid at Washington, D.C. and additional Elaine Davis-Nickens, presiofficials and a is Monday to News publication. AnD. Kevin Editor mailing prior offices. and advertising deadlineMcNeir, is Monday prior to publication. dent of the National Hook-Up coalition of curnouncements must be received two two weeks prior to event. Copyright 2000 by The Announcements must be received Ron Burke, Advertising/ Marketing Director of Black Women, said there is no weeks prior to event. Copyright 2016reserved. POST MASTER: Send change of addressrent and former Washington Informer. All rights Report: Hate Crimes Rose 30 Lassiter, Photo Editor by es The Washington Informer. consistency in the way domestic to The Washington Informer,All3117Shevry Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, HBCU alumni, rightsD.C. reserved. 20032.POSTMASTER: No part of thisSend publication may be Barnes, reproduced without written Lafayette IV, Assistant PhotopermisEditor violence issues are dealt with by Percent in Recent Years Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr. recentchange addresses to TheThe Washsionoffrom the publisher. Informer Newspaper cannot guarantee the return of John E. De Freitas, Sports Photo Editor ington Informer, 3117 Martin Luther ly issued an ultimatum: “It needs to be settled,” he photographs. Subscription rates are $30 per year, two years $45. Papers will be received King,notJr.more Ave.,than S.E.a Washington, D.C. Dorothy Rowley, Online said from the Senate floor Feb. 21. The Maryland week after publication. Make checks payable to: Editor For the fourth year in a row, the Southern Poverty 20032. No part of this publication may Democratic Party also issued a statement to reiterate ZebraDesigns.net, Design & Layout Law Center, a civil rights organization that tracks hate be reproduced without written permisTHE WASHINGTON INFORMER the passage of a resolution a year ago by its executive sion from the3117 publisher. The Informer Neville, Bookkeeper groups, reports that hate and domestic extremism are Martin Luther King, Jr.Mable Ave., S.E. • Washington, D.C. 20032 Newspaper cannot guarantee the return committee which asked Gov. Hogan to authorize Phone: 202 561-4100 • Fax: 202 574-3785 rising in an unabated trend. The center found a 30 Dr. Charles Vincent, Social Sightings columnist of photographs. Subscription rates are E-mail: news@washingtoninformer.com Attorney General Brian Frosh to settle the suit. percent increase in U.S. hate groups over the past four Tatiana Moten, Social Media Specialist $45 per year, two years $60. Papers will www.washingtoninformer.com “Maryland’s four HBCUs – Bowie State Universiyears and a 7 percent increase in hate groups in 2018 be received not more than a week after Angie Johnson, Circulation publication. Make checks payable to: ty, Coppin State University, Morgan State Universialone, according to the center’s annual “Year in Hate PUBLISHER ty and University of Maryland Eastern Shore – have and Extremism” report. The group designated 1,020 THE WASHINGTON INFORMER Denise Rolark Barnes REPORTERS long played a critical role in our state by educating organizations as hate groups in 2018, a high of at least 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E STAFF REPORTERS Stacy Brown (Senior Writer), Sam P.K. Collins, generations of African Americans,” Democratic ParWashington, D.C. 20032 20 years. Brooke N. Garner Managing Editor Tia C. Jones, Ed Laiscell, Phone: 202 561-4100 Timothy Cox, Will Ford (Prince George’s ty Chair Maya Rockeymoore Cummings said in the The watchdog group blames President Trump, his Carla Peay Assistant Managing Editor Odell B. Ruffin, Larry Saxton, Fax: 202 574-3785 Ron Burke Advertising and Marketing Mary Wells, Joseph Young statement. “The Democratic Party fully stands with County Writer), Jacqueline Fuller, Hamil administration, right-wing media outlets and the ease news@washingtoninformer.com Mable Whittaker Bookkeeper our HBCUs and believe a swift resolution of the Harris, D. Kevin McNeir, Dorothy Rowley, www.washingtoninformer.com of spreading hate on social media platforms for the LaNita Wrenn Administration PHOTOGRAPHERS lawsuit would be ideal for all parties involved.” alarming increase, saying that the growth is primarily John E. De Freitas Sports Brenda Editor Siler, Sarafina Wright, James Wright Lafayette Barnes, IV, Victor Holt Photo Editor John E. De Freitas, Maurice Fitzgerald, Education advocates say at least $1 billion is fueled by “hysteria over losing a white-majority nation Zebra Designs, Inc. Layout & Graphic PHOTOGRAPHERS Design Joanne Jackson, Roy Lewis, Robert needed to fully and equally fund the four schools, to demographic change. “ Ken Harris /www.scsworks.com Webmaster Ridley, Victor Holt Lassiter, John E. DeFreitas, Shevry compared to the settlement amount of $100 million Heidi Beirich, director of the SPLC’s Intelligence L.Y. Marlow Roy Lewis,CIRCULATION Jr., Mark Mahonny over a 10-year period that Hogan offered in FebProject, issued the following statement: “Rather than Paul Trantham ruary 2018. Hogan’s deal equates to $2.5 million trying to tamp down hate, as presidents of both parper year for each of the schools. A judge with the ties have done, President Trump elevates it – with U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond both his rhetoric and his policies. In doing so, he’s could issue a ruling before the April 8th conclusion given people across America the go-ahead to act on of the State’s current legislative session. their worst instincts.” 4 / May 15 - 21, 2008 The Washington Informer / www.washingtoninformer.com
“
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.
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
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4 FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 6, 2019
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AROUND THE REGION Councilmember Vincent Gray Unhappy with Ice Rink Deal By James Wright WI Contributing Writer The Bowser administration and the leaders of the nonprofit that oversees D.C.’s only public ice rink reached a settlement for the expansion of the facility — but a key council member doesn’t like the deal. The mayor’s office reached a formal agreement on the Fort Dupont Ice Arena located in Ward 7 with the Fort Dupont Ice Arena (FDIA) board of directors on Feb. 19. Willen Polak, board chairman, lauded the agreement. “The new 2-rink arena has been a dream for the FDIA kids and their families for years,” Polak said. “This agreement with the District of Columbia now puts the new rink on a clear, even if steep, path for becoming a reality. Under the agreement reached with the city, when the FDIA raises $3 million, the District will award the construction contract for the new 2-rink arena.” Polak said if $3 million can be raised by Feb. 1, 2020, “the first shovel in the ground could be as early as October 2020.” Noting raising that type of money would be a “heavy lift,” he nevertheless said it could be done. “We will now focus our energy and support on the task of raising money and are aiming for $3 million by next February,” Polak said. The FIDA has started a crowdfunding page for the effort. Polak thanked Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), City Administrator Rashad Young, Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) and Ward 7
Councilman Vincent Gray (D) “for their leadership in reaching this milestone.” However, Gray said he didn’t like the deal. “They did negotiate an agreement, but I don’t understand why it had to be school funding versus the rink,” Gray said, pointing out that the city wanted to redirect about $21 million to schools that badly needed repairs instead of paying for the rink’s expansion. “To me it’s not either-or.” Gray said that the Bowser administration could easily find the money to pay for the expansion. He said the administration had no problem funding the Entertainment & Sports Arena in Ward 8 in Congress Heights and the new Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Northwest. Bowser told a Ward 3 Democratic Club meeting on Jan. 31 that the $21 million for the arena’s upgrade “was just sitting there” in the city’s budget and could be better utilized repairing schools, adding that funding for the arena could be delayed until the 2020 budget cycle. When the FDIA got wind of what the mayor wanted to do, they organized a social media campaign and instituted a strategy that included visiting council members, community leaders and the media. Washington Capitals principal owner Ted Leonsis and the National Hockey League have been among the major donors to fund the expansion of the rink. People throughout the District and surrounding areas use the ice arena, and schools such as Gonzaga
5 The Fort Dupont Ice Arena in Southeast will receive a construct contract for a new 2-rink arena when $3 million is raised by Feb. 1, 2020. The rink is used for skating practice and by local schools for games and competitions. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)
Catholic High School and Catholic University use it for games and competitions. More than 3,000 children use the rink for skating practice, to volunteer and go to summer camp. Delano Hunter, acting director for the Department of Parks & Recreation, said he will work to see
that the rink operates well and can be utilized by all District residents and others. Tyrell Holcomb, chairman of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 7F, where the rink is located, expressed support for the agreement. “I feel the deal is in the best
interest of the community,” Holcomb said. “It is important that residents understand that the Department of Parks and Recreation doesn’t just focus on football and basketball. The deal also shows that advocacy works and this was the result of good advocacy.” WI
Ask questions. Explore DC schools. Start here. Do you want to learn more about your DC School? The DC School Report Card puts information about ALL public schools in the District right at your fingertips.
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AROUND THE REGION
black facts
FEB 28 MAR 6, 2019 SOURCE: BLACK AMERICA WEB
FEB. 28 1984 – Michael Jackson wins eight Grammys for his record-breaking “Thriller” album.
MARCH 1 1913 – Famed novelist and scholar Ralph Ellison, author of “Invisible Man,” is born in Oklahoma City. 1927 – Singer-songwriter, actor and social activist Harry Belafonte is born in Harlem, New York.
MARCH 2 1807 – Congress votes to ban the African slave trade. 1867 – U.S. Congress enacts charter to establish Howard University in Washington, D.C. 1962 – Basketball great Wilt Chamberlain scores 100 points for the Philadelphia Warriors in a 169–147 win over the New York Knicks, an NBA record. 1990 – Carole Gist becomes the first African American to be crowned as Miss USA.
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1821 – Thomas L. Jennings patents a dry-cleaning process, becomes the first Black American to receive a patent. 1836 – Jefferson Franklin Long, the first African American from Georgia to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, is born in Knoxville, Georgia. 1865 – The Freedmen’s Bureau, a federal government agency that aided freed slaves in the South during the Reconstruction era, is established. 1991 – Black motorist Rodney King is beaten by Los Angeles Police Department officers following a high-speed car chase. The incident is captured on video and incites a massive riot in Los Angeles after the officers’ acquittals a year later.
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1877 – Black inventor Garrett Morgan is born in Paris, Kentucky. 1954 – J. Ernest Wilkins Jr. is appointed assistant secretary of labor by President Eisenhower, becoming the first African American to hold a sub-cabinet position in the federal government.
MARCH 5 1770 – Crispus Attucks, widely considered to be the first American casualty in the American Revolutionary War, is killed in the Boston Massacre. 1939 – Acclaimed playwright Charles Fuller, best known for his Pulitzer-winning play “A Soldier’s Play,” is born in Philadelphia. 1985 – The U.S. Postal Service issues the eighth stamp in its Black Heritage series, honoring Mary McLeod Bethune.
MARCH 6
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.
1857 – The U.S. Supreme Court issues a decision in the Dred Scott case, affirming the right of slave owners to take their slaves into the Western territories. 1957 – West African nation Ghana declares its independence from Great Britain. WI
CALL JOHN @ 301-596-6201 6 FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 6, 2019
MICHAEL JACKSON THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
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AROUND THE REGION
view P INT
BY SARAFINA WRIGHT
“Empire” actor Jussie Smollet has been charged with filing a false police report after he alleged that he was the target of a racially motivated attack involving Trump supporters. What are your thoughts?
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Just accept that this is 2019 and Jussie Smollett concocted a false narrative, a bad script, paid staff and then he sold the entire world a lie! He lied and even Stevie Wonder can see this. … What he did is illegal and wrong!
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By no means am I condoning what he did, but we are so quick to pass judgment. There is a possibility that he needs mental help — let us not be so fast to throw our people away.
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DANITA COLON / CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA
Jussie is saying that he’s innocent. Innocent until proven guilty. I believe the police department is trying to set this man up. They did something.
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Jussie is one twisted individual and this is a cry for help. Jussie has not learned his lesson yet because he still proclaiming his innocence. He needs to spend some time behind bars to help him think more clearly.
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Why do my Black people believe that we don’t have the ability to look at and discuss two or three news events at the same time? Did Smollett plan his beatdown scheme as a cover-up for the dude with the hit list and guns? Society loves when entertainers are proven human, like the rest of us. WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
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FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 6, 2019 7 THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
AROUND THE REGION The World According to Dominic BY D. KEVIN MCNEIR / WI EDITOR / @DKEVINMCNEIR
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A bastion of mostly-white privileged members of the Hollywood movie industry chose “Green Book,” inspired by a true story according to the film’s director, as both this year’s highly-coveted Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay during the recent Academy Awards. Before I comment on the reactions of “the family,” I have to admit that I personally experienced an unfortunate feeling of déjà vu. Thirty years (1990) after “Driving Miss Daisy” took “Best Picture” while Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing” failed to garner any nominations in the top categories, another feel good story took the top prize. The similarities between the 1990 winner and this year’s choice are telling: “Green Book” features a white man, instead of an old white woman, who overcomes his own racist attitudes and beliefs in a not-so-surprising “spiritual transformation,” besting Spike Lee’s film, “BlacKkKlansman,” also nominated for Best Picture and Best Director. Naturally, I celebrated the accomplishment of the talented director and writer who finally received his just due, taking home the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for “Klansman,” but the decision by
Some Blacks assert that “Green Book” reaffirms the idea of the white man as the savior of the Black man – even for the Black race – whether we hail from Alabama, Arkansas or South Africa and cite this unfounded and utterly ridiculous idea as the basis of their discontent. Again, I say, “who cares?” the Academy speaks volumes as to how willing, or more aptly unwilling America still remains, even after 400 years, to look racism and prejudice squarely in the eye, admit our country’s numerous transgressions and say, “enough is enough.” Thus, it comes as no surprise that many Blacks are up in arms – incensed, irked, irritated and fit to be tied – because this year’s Best Picture failed to provide an honest, more realistic account of the challenges and life-threatening examples of racism and injustice which Donald Shirley, the celebrated Black pianist on whose life the film is based, faced during his travels to the South. But we really shouldn’t allow our blood pressure to rise. My advice: if you’re one of millions who have since taken to Twitter to express your views, I wouldn’t waste any more time or energy. Have we so quickly and easily forgotten the protest lodged on social media, #OscarsSoWhite, which went viral just a
few years ago after the contributions of Blacks were completely ignored during the 87th Academy Awards? More to the point, when have African Americans ever been cast in an unfiltered, non-prejudicial light when white hands have guided the pen, bending the truth and presenting “folk tales” which bear little resemblance to the facts – presumably in order to perpetuate the preponderance of that centuries-old ideology of “the man” and his “God-given role” as America’s, if not the world’s solution to all of our ills – “the great white hope?” Actually, I have other things far more important with which to concern myself: voter suppression and how it could very well impact the results of the upcoming and pivotal presidential election in 2020; the current and future health of our planet; and the disproportionate number of Black boys and girls being funneled into the prison industrial complex instead of being better-prepared during their formative years to take full advantage of educational opportunities in pursuit of the “American Dream.” Some Blacks assert that “Green Book” reaffirms the idea of the white man as the savior of the Black man – even for the Black race – whether we hail from Alabama, Arkansas or South Africa and cite this unfounded and utterly ridiculous idea as the basis of their discontent. Again, I say, “who cares?” During the 1960s and early 70s, I was just a little boy riding in the backseat of my father’s Riviera, bouncing
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By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia The District faired quite well in a new poll that revealed the most and least ethnically diverse cities in America. D.C. finished in 30th place among 297 others in the most ethnically diverse cities category. The nearby Maryland cities of Gaithersburg, Germantown, and Silver Spring, finished second, third and fourth overall, behind Jersey City, N.J. Spring Valley, Nevada, rounded out the top five, according to personal-finance website WalletHub, which recently released its report on 2019’s Most & Least Ethnically Diverse Cities. Oakland, California, has the highest racial and ethnic diversity
COMMENTARY from Page 8 from window to window during our yearly trip to see the cousins and kinfolks in the South. Back then, if my parents had their own copy of the “Negro Green Book” which alerted African Americans which hotels and other businesses along the way welcomed Blacks, therefore indicating they were “safe havens,” I cannot say. I never saw the book in my father’s glove compartment nestled conveniently close to his road maps – and until recently – I can’t honestly say that I even remember hearing of its existence. Nonetheless, I do know that I continue to carry the scars and fall victim to infrequent flashbacks from those summer junkets of sleeping in our car along the side of the road, cold and uncomfortable, because of hotels that refused to serve Blacks. I still recall eating cold pieces of chicken on slices of bread with crusted over wedges of butter (I have never liked cold cuts of any fashion) be-
than any other city in the country, a figure that’s four times higher than in Hialeah, Florida, the city with the lowest. Meanwhile, Hialeah enjoys the highest concentration of Hispanics or Latinos, at 96.44 percent while Laconia, New Hampshire; has the highest concentration of whites, at 94.81 percent. Additionally, according to a new study, Jackson, Mississippi, has the highest concentration of Blacks, at 81.44 percent. While New York City, Oakland, San Jose, Calif., Rockville, Md., and Kent, Washington, also made the top 10, Rutland, Vermont; Wheeling, West Virginia; Laconia, New Hampshire; Miles City, Montana; and Bennington, Vermont, were identified as the five least ethnically diverse cities. Barre, Vermont; Clarksburg,
West Virginia; Watertown, South Dakota; Parkersburg, West Virginia; and Hialeah, Florida, comprised the rest of the 10 least ethnically diverse cities. To identify the most ethnically diverse places in America, WalletHub compared more than 500 of the largest U.S. cities across three key metrics: ethno-racial diversity, linguistic diversity and birthplace diversity. Havre, Montana, had the highest concentration of residents who spoke English (98.57 percent), while Hileah found itself at the opposite end with just 5.59 percent of its residents speaking English. By contrast, 93.96 percent of Hileah residents speak Spanish and just 0.33 percent of those in Havre speak Spanish.
cause of restaurants and diners that barred our entry, unless we were willing to take some unknown concoctions placed in a greasy paper bag and tossed in our faces. (Note to readers: my parents weren’t down for any of that)! I can still conjure up visions of undeniable expressions of shame and the pain on my mother’s face as she squatted in the woods behind a tree with a Mason jar in hand – the only bathroom available to her because of public facilities that only served whites. I don’t have to read the history – I lived it. And as I tell my children and my grandsons, it was even far worse when my parents were growing up in Alabama and Virginia. During those summers long ago, I was just a precocious little Black boy from Detroit riding with my parents and my big sister to visit the family in places like Birmingham, Nashville, Richmond and Pensacola – beautiful cities with verdant fields, long rows of tall tobacco and pris-
tine beaches with white sand. Back then, the only “green book” that really mattered was the one that kept us out of harm’s way – that kept us alive and kept my Daddy out of jail or, even worse, not becoming an inhabitant of the local cemetery, because he had been compelled to pull out his rifle and handgun to defend his wife and children. Over 50 years have gone by and while we’d like to pretend that so much has changed for the better, I’m not so sure, sometimes. You see, the fear that hovered over me and invaded my soul as part and parcel of those painful childhood experiences – experiences that should have been equally as beautiful as the beaches and fields and wooded landscapes I saw along the way – had such a profound effect on my life and psyche, that they seem more like snapshots of scenes from yesterday instead of nightmares from a distance past that I’d rather forget – but simply can’t. WI
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FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 6, 2019 9 THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
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– Malcolm X, Speech: ‘The Black Revolution’ [April 8, 1964] Editor’s Note: One of the greatest and most influential Blacks in history, he emphasized Black self-determination and self-defense and, later in life, disavowed racism before his assassination on Feb. 21, 1965 by three members of the Nation of Islam. We will honor his legacy as part of the hundreds of celebrations of his birth (May 19, 1925) this spring.
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AROUND THE REGION Bowser Engages Deanwood Residents for Budget Input By James Wright WI Contributing Writer Education and housing have emerged as the main concerns for D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser to address in her upcoming budget, according to residents who voiced their concerns at a meeting held in Ward 7. On Feb. 23, 250 residents across the District came to the Deanwood Recreation Center in Northeast to tell Bowser what they want her to fund in the fiscal year 2020 budget. The mayor told the residents what they are doing has real ramifications for the city. “This is serious business,” Bowser said. “We want to know how you want us to invest in the city’s budget that is over $14 billion. I want to make sure that we make those decisions based on city values. What we do with the budget is no different from what you do in your homes. You decide where to cut in your home budget and how to bring in more revenue.” In addition to the Deanwood meeting, the mayor has held budget engagement sessions at the Arthur Capper Community Center in Ward 6 and Roosevelt High School in Ward 4, as well as a telephone town hall for senior citizens. The gym of the Deanwood Recreation Center had 24 tables with eight chairs each around them. Each table had a facilitator that took notes of what participants said and who later transferred that information to the mayor’s office for input into the budget process. In a preliminary exercise, residents electronically recorded their priorities and education came up first, followed by housing, jobs and economic opportunity, health and human services, public safety and government operations. Upon realizing that government operations came in last, City Administrator Rashad Young sighed.
“It is government operations that make sure that the snow is cleaned up and the roads are clear,” he said. Jenny Reed, director of the Office of Budget and Performance Management, explained the budget process to the gathering. “The budget cycle occurs all year long but it starts in earnest in November, when we consult with the city agencies about what their needs are for the next budget year,” Reed said. “In the winter, we engage the residents and then we present the budget to the D.C. Council.” Reed said Bowser will send the fiscal year 2020 budget to the D.C. Council on March 20 and she and her administration officials will testify about it on March 22. The deputy mayors or their representatives had the chance to present their case to the gathering on why more District funds should go to their department. Kevin Donahue, deputy mayor for public safety, passionately pleaded his case. “We need to make sure that our city’s streets are safe and that we can hire more police officers,” Donahue said to applause. After the deputy mayors spoke, residents spoke with their table mates for 20 minutes about what they felt the 2020 budget should prioritize. Bowser circulated to some tables, speaking with residents. In a second electronic vote on priorities, education remained first, government operations moved up to number five and public safety fell to last. John Falcicchio, Bowser’s chief of staff, presided over the final minutes of the meeting. He had four tables express to what they thought important for the mayor to put in the budget. The tables had the same concerns, such as funding education and more affordable housing, but some topics such as aiding im-
migrants and supporting mental health initiatives also got attention. Leonard Watson, president of the Ward 8 Democrats, and other members of the group came to the Deanwood session to make their concerns known and did so verbally and in their “Ward 8 Democrats FY 20 Budget Talking Points.” Watson said he spoke with Bowser when she came to his table about the lack of healthy eating options in the East End of the District. “We need access to healthy foods in Ward 8 because much of our ward is a food desert,” Watson said. “We need hyperlocal access to bring healthy eating options to the ward.” WI
5 Mayor Muriel Bowser speaks to District of Columbia residents attending her administration’s Budget Engagement Forum in Northeast on Saturday, Feb. 23 where they had a chance to voice their priorities to the Mayor before the fiscal year 2020 budget is finalized. (Roy Lewis/The Washington Informer)
TWO RIVERS PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Architecture and Engineering Services Two Rivers PCS is soliciting proposals to provide architecture and engineering services for middle school construction. For a copy of the RFP, please email Kate Dydak (kdydak@programmanagers.com). Submission deadline is Friday, March 22, 2019 WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 6, 2019 11 THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY Md. Lawmaker Seeks to Strengthen Child-Trafficking Law By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill ANNAPOLIS — Maryland Del. Nick Mosby was recently combing through the state criminal code when something disturbing jumped out at him. The “sale of a minor” was listed on the state books as a misdemeanor. Mosby was stunned. The Baltimore City lawmaker, who initially was conducting unrelated research on the expungement process, shifted gears and asked his staff to research what he had found. He also called the Legislative Services office to make sure. “I couldn’t believe my eyes,”
he said Thursday, Feb. 21. “This shouldn’t be listed as a misdemeanor, it should be listed as a felony.” Mosby said the law been in effect since 1980, based on a case in Anne Arundel County where a couple sold their daughter for $3,500 and some cocaine. Unfortunately, he said, the law hasn’t been updated since. “With the uptick in human trafficking [and] drug abuse situations, children are the most vulnerable assets that we have,” he said. “As [a] government, we must protect them in any way.” His legislation would make it a felony to sell or make an offer to barter, or trade or peddle a minor for money or property, with a penalty of up to five years prison and/or a fine
5 Maryland Del. Nick Mosby (D-Baltimore City) said he is sponsoring a bill to make the sale of a minor in the state a felony. (William J. Ford/The Washington Informer)
of up to $10,000 for each violation. A hearing on the bill took place Tuesday, Feb. 19 before the House Judiciary Committee. According to the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, the state rescued nearly 400 people from human traffickers in 2014. About 124 were children used for labor and sex trafficking. Officials said trafficking often occurs along the Interstate 95 corridor and labeled the Mid-Atlantic region as a “hot spot.” The University of Pennsylvania
School of Social Work said the average age of a person targeted ranges between 12 and 14. Delegate Jazz Lewis (D-District 24) of Landover, a member of the Judiciary Committee, praised Mosby for presenting the bill and expects its passage. When the bill was first discussed, Lewis admitted he wanted to make sure it literally focused on the sale of children, or human trafficking. When he realized it did, he expressed frustration that the law hadn’t been
Race Relations Worse, Hogan Still Respected: Poll By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill
5 Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (William J. Ford/The Washington Informer File Photo)
Most Marylanders believe race relations in the state have worsened over the past few years, but they still approve of the job done by Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, a recent Goucher College poll shows. Approximately 54 percent of both Blacks and whites agree race relations aren’t better. But when it comes to whether people of all races receive equal treatment by the police in one’s community, 79 percent of Blacks disagree, compared to 45 percent of whites. In terms of equal treatment within the state’s criminal justice system, 83 percent of Blacks and 60 percent of whites don’t agree with that statement. Police-community relations in the state moved to the forefront recently when Anton Black, a 19-year-old Black man from the Eastern Shore, died last month after an altercation with police. A state medical examiner ruled Black suffered “sudden car-
12 FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 6, 2019
diac death,” while the teen’s family hired an attorney and demanded a grand jury investigation. “All of those issues have an underlying racial component,” said Mileah Kromer, director of the Sarah T. Hughes Field Politics Center at Goucher in Towson. “It’s really illustrative of how different Black and white Marylanders view some of these racial, or criminal justice issues, in the way police [and] the criminal justice system treat people in their communities.” The poll released last week shows 60 percent of Blacks approve of the job Hogan is doing as governor. The poll, which was conducted Feb. 7-12 and released in two parts, found the three most frequent responses about Hogan were that he “is likable,” “can manage the government effectively” and “works well with both parties to get things done.” The poll was conducted as Hogan wrote an op-ed published on CNN’s website and made a Feb. 11 appearance on the network, where he spoke of his willingness to oppose President Donald Trump, his work in the state
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and “the dysfunction in Washington.” “All of these things add up to why he has such strong, sustainable approval ratings,” said Mileah Kromer, director of Goucher’s Sarah T. Hughes Field Politics Center. “It gives you a deeper insight of what people think [and why] he is so popular.” Though Marylanders also have a positive outlook on the state’s economy, including on jobs, taxes and the budget, the poll found Hogan’s backers aren’t necessarily pining for him to go national. Blacks and whites both stood at 54 percent who don’t support the governor as a possible presidential candidate. The poll, which had 808 respondents and a margin of error of plus/ minus 3.4 percent, received similar responses from one conducted in September, which showed strong support for legalizing recreational marijuana and increasing the state’s minimum hourly wage to $15. Meanwhile, Ricarra Jones, a member of 1199 SEIU and chair of the “Fight for $15” coalition,
changed years ago. “Why wasn’t this fixed before we’ve seen it?” Lewis said. “I think it’s utterly ridiculous and disgusting that grown folks are selling minors. People need to know … that we’re not going to be playing around with you. If you take advantage of a minor … or [are] getting a cash payment, you need to be treated exactly the same as the violator.” If approved in both chambers and signed by the governor, the law would go into effect Oct. 1. WI mentioned the Goucher poll at a hearing Thursday, Feb. 21 before the Senate’s Finance Committee. Jones was one of the more than 200 people who registered to speak. The bill’s lead sponsors, Delegate Diana Fennell (D-District 47A) of Colmar Manor and state Sen. Cory McCray (D-Baltimore City, presents a proposal to raise the minimum wage to $11 this summer and increase it by $1 each year and until it reaches $15 by July 2023. It would also affect tipped workers such as bartenders and waitresses, which currently can receive a minimum wage of $3.63 plus tips. The proposed legislation would phase that out. “We just saw very recently with the government shutdown that … residents are living paycheck to paycheck and are one emergency away from poverty,” said Jones, who spoke while sitting alongside McCray. “The 600,000 workers that this bill would benefit are asking this committee to support a clean, $15 minimum wage bill. It is a bill that covers the most workers … and to keep pace with inflation.” WI
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PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY Lawmakers, Advocates Push for Pre-Release Center for Women
By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill
ANNAPOLIS — Jeanette Hunt felt nervous, scared and confused about where would live, receive drug rehabilitation services and find employment upon her release from Maryland Correctional Institution for Women in Jessup, the only place for incarcerated women in the state. With less than two months left before her release date, Hunt received information on transitional housing and drug treatment in Baltimore. “I had to look through a folder to find this,” she said. Hunt stood alongside dozens of state lawmakers, criminal justice advocates and returning citizens Thursday, Feb. 21 to encourage the opening of a women’s pre-release center, which would allow women to complete jail sentences within months of their release and smoothly transition into civilian life. “As a woman, you can room with someone violent and you’re a nonviolent and first-time offender,” said Hunt, who served a year for burglary and roomed with a woman who
stabbed her ex-boyfriend. “A pre-release center is a big deal to help women transition back into society.” The state has several centers for men, who are jailed in a separate building and enroll in vocational programs, granted work release at local businesses and even weekly visits from family and friends. A pre-release facility for women in Baltimore closed in 2009 to cut costs and house them all in Jessup. That’s why state Sen. Mary Washington (D-Baltimore City) and Delegate Charlotte Crutchfield (D-Montgomery County) proposed one of the most straightforward pieces of legislation this year, calling to replace the word “may” with “shall” in regard to the commissioner of corrections operating a pre-release unit for women. Washington presented her bill Thursday before the Senate Judiciary Proceedings Committee. Crutchfield’s bill will be heard Tuesday at the House Judiciary Committee. According to the fiscal note, it would cost $4.1 million annually for the state Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to staff the unit. “I say, so what?” Caylin Young,
SPELLING BEE WORD OF THE WEEK
minion noun | MIN-yun Definition 1 : a servile dependent, follower, or underling 2 : one highly favored: idol 3 : a subordinate or petty official
public policy counsel for the ACLU of Maryland, said at a press conference Thursday before the hearing. “You can’t put a price on the lives of our mothers, of our sisters and our daughters.” Out for Justice, a Baltimore-based nonprofit organization that assists returning citizens through policy reform, published a pamphlet highlighting differences between incarcerated men and women. Some of the details: • Women released after an average of four years served, compared to nearly seven years for men. • Women are three times more likely than men to head a single-parent household. • The average inmate assault rate at women’s prisons is one in every 16 in 2017, compared to one in every 25 at men’s prisons. “Women in the state of Maryland should be given the resources and opportunity to transiting back into society successfully,” said Nicole Hanson, executive director of Out for Justice. “We can no longer allow women to be shuffled out of the penal system with no support.” WI
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5 Nicole Hanson (at podium), executive director of Out For Justice, speaks alongside state lawmakers, criminal justice advocates and returning citizens at a Feb. 21 press conference in Annapolis to support proposed legislation to open a women’s pre-release center. (William J. Ford/The Washington Informer)
Building a Non-Profit Sector Nonprofits deliver community services that cannot be met by businesses and government alone. Expanding education opportunities for those caught in a web of marginality, workforce development for wealth creation, healthy options for communities in food deserts, and elevating equity place-based policies come from non-profits. Often seen as having little economic impact, nonprofits are essential to job creation and growth. The Chronical of Philanthropy cites: “Nonprofits are responsible for employing one out of 10 American workers. According to research from John Hopkins University, nonprofit employment grew by 2.4 percent a year from 1990 to 2006, while for-profit businesses increased the size of their work forces by just 1 percent. During the recessions of 1990-1 and 2001-2, nonprofits actually increased their number of employees by 2.38 percent a year while for-profit jobs declined at an annualized rate of 2.2 percent. So not only has the nonprofit world been a faster growth engine than the for-profit world but, nonprofits have also been steadier creators of jobs in good times and bad.” More collaboration is needed between businesses and nonprofits to address housing, employment & economic sustainability. Unfortunately, these sectors either work at cross purposes or as competitors. Suggested are partnerships intended on designing and constructing affordable place-based development, equal access to excellent education, and healthy communities. Nonprofits, generally, are the driving organizations speaking to our moral core that businesses must invest in to lift all communities. Hopefully, nonprofits will be at the table for regional growth. Not a member? Please visit our website, www.pgcoc.org or drop by for a visit to get started! Membership is good for a full calendar year, so it’s always a good time to join! David C. Harrington President & CEO
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FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 6, 2019 13 THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
14 FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 6, 2019
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BUSINESS Entrepreneurs of Color Fund Provides Essential Capital for Minorities Wacif, JPMorgan Chase Partner, Focus on Lack of Equity, Need for Inclusion
By D. Kevin McNeir WI Editor @dkevinmcneir
FIRST OF A TWO-PART SERIES If you ask fledgling minority business owners what stands among their most significant challenge to success, they’ll inevitably refer to the lack of access to capital needed to either sustain or increase their daily operations. But for those hanging their shingles in the DMV, the horizon looks brighter with the recent launching of a unique partnership between the Washington Area Community Investment Fund [Wacif ], JPMorgan Chase and others, formed to help underrepresented communities seize economic opportunity and greater equity, while lowering barriers that have historically obstructed their inclusion among other more viable businesses. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser weighed in after the announcement of the initiative. “Together, by expanding ac-
cess to capital and supporting our local entrepreneurs, we’re giving more Washingtonians a fair shot,” Bowser said. “Small and local businesses are not only the backbone of our economy, they are also an opportunity for our residents to participate in D.C.’s prosperity. By expanding the Entrepreneurs of Color Fund to Washington, D.C., JPMorgan Chase will support the local work we are doing to create pathways to the middle class for residents across all eight wards.” Ted Archer, head of Small Business Forward for JPMorgan Chase, and who runs the Entrepreneurs of Color Fund, said echoed the mayor’s comments, providing insight on how the program’s partners will assess its success. “We plan to measure success by how much capital we are able to deploy, how many jobs we can help create or save and how much additional capital we can attract to this Fund,” he said. “For example, in Detroit, we were able to grow the Entrepreneurs of Color Fund from $6.5 million to
If you ask fledgling minority business owners what stands among their most significant challenge to success, they’ll inevitably refer to the lack of access to capital needed to either sustain or increase their daily operations. WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
$22 million and have deployed more than $7 million in capital so far to create or save 836 jobs in the communities. Nationally, we’ve been able to create Funds totaling $39 million and combining for more than 210 loans deployed to minority-owned small businesses, with only one loan default.” “We know that one of the most important ways to create inclusive growth in a community is by helping small businesses grow and closing the entrepreneurship gap. For example, according to the Institute for Competitive Inner Cities, if every small business in D.C. created just one job, it would be eliminate inner city unemployment,” Archer noted. But what motivated JPMorgan Chase to “put its money where its mouth is” and focus on the needs of minority businessowners? “Investing in minority-owned businesses is one of the most effective ways we can drive job growth and economic opportunity in the region,” he said. “The Greater Washington region is thriving but opportunity is not shared equally. With the Entrepreneurs of Color Fund, we are bringing a proven model that expands access to capital across our region and will help ensure that more people have a chance to participate in our growing economy, especially in Wards 7 and 8.” “The opportunity to drive economic growth by investing in Black families and businesses is real. Nielsen found Black consumers have $1.2 trillion in buying power. According to Global Policy Solutions, if people of color owned businesses at the same rates as white entrepreneurs, it would result in 9 million more jobs and $300 billion in worker income. According to the Asso-
ciation for Enterprise Opportunity, if Black-owned businesses could reach employment parity with all firms, they would create nearly 600,000 new jobs and put black job-seekers at full employment,” Archer said. As JPMorgan Chase expands the program into the Greater Washington region, they will seed the loan fund with a commitment of $3.65 million, alongside a $2 million commitment from Capital Impact Partners and a $1 million investment from the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation – a total of $6.65 million. As for their track record, the effort in the DC area builds on existing Entrepreneurs of Color Funds in Detroit where the program initially began in 2015, to other cities including Chicago, San Francisco and the South Bronx. Capital Impact Partners President Ellis Carr says entrepreneurs of color in the D.C. region have plenty of ideas but “they just need a catalyst to see those ideas realized.” For Wacif Executive Director Harold Pettigrew, providing equity stands as the most essential benefit to new entrepreneurs ready to dive in and transform their dreams into reality. “Equity is at the center of our work and to deepen Wacif ’s impact regionally, we need bold, new strategic partnerships,” he said. “The Entrepreneurs of Color Fund will advance our efforts to make entrepreneurship more inclusive and provide small businesses with the capital needed to accelerate their growth throughout the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore regions.” Archer says he’s optimistic about the potential success stories that will develop, particularly in Wards 7 and 8, as more people
hear about the Fund. “JPMorgan Chase has been growing our presence in the Washington, D.C. region for nearly 20 years and [it’s] one of the fastest growing in the country,” he said. “However, not everyone is sharing equally in the region’s growth, especially areas East of the River. “Research shows that neighborhood conditions directly impact economic outcomes for local residents and, with significant income and employment disparities in Ward 8 paired with high poverty rates and rising housing prices, there is a substantial threat to the stability of the communities along the Anacostia River.” “We have committed $25 million in philanthropic investments to the D.C. region, helping people develop skills for in-demand jobs, helping minority-owned businesses expand and revitalizing neighborhoods and improving consumer financial health. In 2018, we also started expanding branches in D.C. with 20 percent of those branches in low- and moderate-income communities where we will be hiring up to 700 jobs with a minimum wage of $18 an hour and full benefits. That expansion will continue and will be critically important in our efforts to expand small business and home lending into communities like Wards 7 and 8.” Next week in part two of this series, we’ll share the perspectives of one local, African-American female entrepreneur, Kia Weatherspoon, who has received financial and technical assistance as well as other forms of guidance and mentorship from Wacif and its partners since founding her own business, Determined By Design, in 2012. WI
FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 6, 2019 15 THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
NATIONAL HBCU Festival Links Students, Parents with Recruiters By Brenda C. Siler WI Contributing Writer Alfred Street Baptist Church and the ASBC Foundation recently organized one of the largest college recruitment events in the country for historically Black colleges and universities, with nearly 16,000 registrants embarking on a journey to make a college education a reality. The 17th annual HBCU Festival, held Saturday Feb. 23 at the Walter Washington Convention Center, offered on-the-spot college acceptances, tryouts for college
band and choral groups, and seminars on making it to college including navigating the application process. A big attraction was onsite awarding of more than $5 million in scholarships and financial aid. “I’m overwhelmed!” was an oft-repeated statement during the free event, but more than 500 volunteers from the church were on hand to guide the huge crowds to all of the offerings. “About three-fourths of our members at Alfred Street have gone to an HBCU,” said Rev. Dr. John-Wesley Howard, the church’s pastor. “They want to
Garth C. Reeves, Sr., Publisher Emeritus, The Miami Times, Reaches Century Mark ‘Real Newspaper Man’ a Longtime Civil Rights Warrior and Business Icon
ensure the generations coming up behind us realize the relevance of HBCUs.” Opening the festival was the Delaware State University marching band. The drumline alone got the audience going. Following opening remarks from a few speakers, a combined Divine Nine step show had parents whooping and hollering when their fraternity or sorority did their routine. Brooke Lawson, a 10th-grader from Alexandria, Va., and her parents Ingrid Bynum and Mike Lawson made the rounds to several booths in the exhibit hall.
DIVERSITY from Page 9
D. Kevin McNeir, Editor, The Washington Informer Garth C. Reeves, Sr., publisher emeritus of The Miami Times Newspaper, recently achieved a major milestone in his life – his 100th birthday. As more honors pour in and the celebration continues, The Washington Informer also extends its congratulations to the Bahamian native, born Feb. 12, 1919 in Nassau before his family moved to Miami when he was just four months old. His father, Harry Ethelbert Sigismund Reeves, founded The Miami Times. Reeves, who has achieved many “firsts” in his 100 years of life, was named publisher and chief executive officer of the paper in 1970 following the death of his father. But perhaps what many African Americans remember most about him are the efforts he initiated that led to the integration of local beaches, parks and golf courses during the 1950s. What will he do for the next 100 years of life, one writer asked: “I will be cool and try to live a good life,” he replied. Editor’s Note: Garth Reeves has always been about the business and support of the Black Press, serving several terms as the president of the NNPA. During my four years there as senior editor, while he was rarely in the office, his hands, his thoughts, his decades of experience and his insights were always present. If you wanted to learn how to run a successful newspaper, particularly a Black-owned publication, if you wanted to know how to become an effective editor (as in my case), Mr. Reeves was then, and remains, one of the finest teachers on the planet. Happy Birthday Mr. Reeves.
16 FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 6, 2019
5 (L to R) Michael Lawson, Brooke Lawson, 15, a student at Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria, Va., and her mother Ingrid Bynum check out some of the HBCU’s represented at the 17thannual HBCU Festival presented by the 5 Alfred Street Baptist Church at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Saturday, Feb. 23. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)
For birthplace diversity — where residents continue to live long after they were born — Greenville, Mississippi topped every city with 86.79 percent of those born and raised there still reside while Hilton Head Island, S.C., came in last at 16.80 percent. New York (69.40 percent) is the most diverse large city, Jersey City the most diverse mid-size city and Gaithersburg the most diverse small city, according to the report. “A growing body of social, psychological research suggests that information about increasing ethnic diversity can lead White Americans to express greater concerns about their ethnic group’s status and, further, these concerns can have implications for interethnic attitudes as well as political attitudes,” said Dr. Maureen Craig, a WalletHub expert and assistant professor of psychology at New York University. “For example, prior research has
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Though college is still a few years off for Brooke, she and her parents said this is the right time to begin exploring educational possibilities. “On the HBCU side, we’ve been looking at Fisk, Spelman, Xavier and Hampton because she wants to go into pre-med,” Bynum said. “We’re also looking at the University of Maryland at College Park where I and her father attended. We just feel the HBCUs have a closer-knit community and will support her better.” Facebook sponsored the festival for a second year.
New York (69.40 percent) is the most diverse large city, Jersey City the most diverse mid-size city and Gaithersburg the most diverse small city, according to the report.
found that viewing a media report detailing increases in national ethnic diversity can lead White Americans to express ethnic bias, support more exclusionary political stances, and express greater concerns about anti-White discrimination,” Craig said. “However, an important caveat is that these experiments all focus on what happens when White Americans are asked to anticipate ethnic demographic change.” There are many benefits to a diverse, multicultural city some of which are being exposed to differ-
“HBCUs are a pillar in our education system,” said Chris Randle, a Howard University alumnus who works in Facebook’s government affairs office. “Facebook needs people who are diverse working for us, that is why we are here. “I get so excited when I see all of these young minds here thinking about attending an HBCU,” he said. “I want them all to know the world is theirs. If they go to these amazing schools, they will be nurtured, they will be educated, they will be enriched, and they will be ready to tackle the jobs of the future.” WI ent neighborhoods, communities, culture, parks and restaurants, said Dr. Kwame Dixon, a WalletHub expert and an assistant professor of African American Studies in the Maxwell School at Syracuse University. “In most case, a diverse cultural setting leads to some common boundaries of understanding,” Dixon said. “The social citizen of the 21st century must be being exposed to multiple cultural settings and environments.” If diversity becomes a smokescreen for displacement or gentrification, or if a historically Black or Latino community is diversified in a short period of time by newcomers defined as white, then there will be tensions around space, identity and displacement, he said. “This may lead to other tensions — former residents being pushed to the margins or to poorer communities,” Dixon said. To view the full report, go to wallethub.com. WI
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NATIONAL Md. Lawmaker’s Bill Calls for Transparency in Police-Involved Deaths By John Muller Special to The Informer
ANNAPOLIS — A Maryland delegate has introduced a bill to enact new standards of transparency in investigations of police-involved fatalities after a pair of high-profile deaths of two African-American men last year. HB 1011, or “Anton’s Law” — introduced by Del. Gabriel Acevero (D-Montgomery) and named after Anton Black, a Black teen who died in September while in police custody in Caroline County — would create a uniform citizen complaint process with the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission, a sub-agency of the Public Safety and Correctional Services. In Acevero’s Montgomery County, Robert Lawrence White, an unarmed 41-year-old African-American man in Silver Spring, was shot dead by a county police officer in June. The officer was cleared of any wrongdoing. “While the Commission is required to share with complainants the results of citizen-initiated complaints, there is currently no requirement that the Commission share any documentation related to the investigation, or even whether prior complaints may have been lodged against the officers implicated in such investigations,” Acevero said in a press release. The bill had its first hearing Tuesday in Annapolis, with more than 30 co-sponsors in the Maryland House, primarily from Baltimore City, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, along with Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes (D-Dorchester and Wicomico), the lone member of the Eastern Shore delegation in support of
the legislation. After introductory remarks from Acevero urging a “favorable report” on the bill, LaToya Holley, Black’s older sister, shared recollections of her brother’s impact within his family and community. Ahead of the hearing, the Maryland Chiefs of Police Association (MCPA) and Maryland Sheriff’s Association submitted a joint letter opposing the legislation. Ismael Vince Canales, president of the Maryland Fraternal of Police, representing more than 20,000 law enforcement officers, and John Fitzgerald, chief of the Chevy Chase Police Department and MCPA officer, testified in opposition to the bill. Following impassioned remarks from Del. Debra M. Davis (D-Charles County) in support of the bill, members of the audience, including family and teenage friends of Anton Black, were asked to hold their applause Traveling to Annapolis from Caroline County, Christina Robinson attended the hearing with high school students who volunteered alongside Black to complete community service projects in the small town of Greensboro, where the public library is only open four days a week. In testimony submitted to the committee in support of the bill, Robinson wrote, “The lack of information in the wake of these officer-involved incidents can contribute to tension and division within communities.” Robinson added that a lack of disclosure can “lead to speculation, conspiracy theories, distrust in the law enforcement establishment and the legal process as a whole.” Del. Robin L. Grammer Jr. (R) of Baltimore County expressed displeasure that after seeking in-
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formation for months, the family of Anton Black received the autopsy report and public release of body-camera footage within three days of remarks about the incident by Republican Gov. Larry Hogan. Fatigued from the previous day’s judiciary committee proceedings reaching into the early morning, legislators on Tuesday expressed a bipartisan desire to review the law, encouraged by Acevero’s willingness to offer amendments. Republican legislators from the Eastern Shore delegation expressed a need for more information on the bill before making a commitment of support. “I want to wait to take a position on this bill until after the public process and after all of the stakeholders have had a chance to weigh in on Anton’s Law,” said Del. Jeff Ghrist (R-36), who rep-
5 Advocates speak on behalf of Anton’s Law. (WI Photo)
resents four counties on the Shore including Caroline. Sample-Hughes said the legislation has not yet been discussed by members of the Eastern Shore
delegation at their weekly Friday caucus meetings, but hopefully would be discussed at this week’s meeting. WI
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FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 6, 2019 17 THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
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Mugabe Turns 95
Song and dance bellowed from the Blue Roof mansion in the usually quiet upmarket Borrowdale suburb, as hundreds of invited guests on Saturday attended the 95th birthday celebration for former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe. The private ceremony, themed “A Living Legend,” was held at Mugabe’s lavish Harare home, the Sunday Times reported. Mugabe’s children organized the birthday party, which was strictly by invite. The adults-only function had a black and gold dress code. Guests were served an array of local and foreign delicacies by chefs hired for the event. The menu included sirloin, pig on the spit, grilled chicken and salads, along with a range of desserts. The party, which kicked off at 2 p.m., reportedly went on late into the night. Notable among the guests was Gideon Gono, the former central bank governor and the Mugabe’s personal banker. Family members, including wife Grace, wished the 95-year-old Mugabe a long life. During a short speech at the event, Grace said she would stand by her husband until the very end. Mugabe, meanwhile, criticized the heavy-handedness of the country’s military against citizens under President Emmerson Mnangagwa. “Some people think that being a leader means killing people and beating people, but that is not the way,” Mugabe said. “Even the fallen heroes would not approve of that. “We are hearing there are graves that have been created by the army when they kill people,” he said. “It is not the task of the army to lead the people with guns. Let us not be killers of our own people.” WI
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Over 100 Haitian nationals were repatriated from the Bahamas to their homeland Friday, as Hubert Minnis’ administration lifted the temporary suspension of deporting illegal Haitian migrants from the country. The government announced Thursday that the deportations would resume as it was believed that the situation in Haiti was improving. Friday morning, 112 Haitians left the island of New Providence aboard the national airline Bahamasair. This was the second flight of this nature since the start of the year, with the first taking place Jan. 14, when 45 Haitians were sent home. In a statement, the Ministry of Immigration of the Bahamas said the 112 deported Haitians included the 18 survivors of a boat that sank off the coast of the island of Abaco on Feb. 16, the 64 Haitian migrants recently apprehended in the Exumas and 30 people arrested in New Providence. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed that after consultations, the diplomatic and consular staff of the Bahamian Embassy in Port-au-Prince on Friday resumed their diplomatic and regular consular duties and officials would continue to monitor the situation on the ground. Last week, the government temporarily ceased all deportations to Haiti as a result of the political unrest in the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country. Opposition political parties in Haiti have been staging street demonstrations in support of their calls for President Jovenel Moïse to step down, after accusing him of not investigating allegations of corruption in the previous government over PetroCaribe, an oil alliance of many Caribbean states with Venezuela to purchase oil on conditions of preferential payment. WI
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FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 6, 2019 19 THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
HEALTH Retiring While Black — It’s a Crisis, Too By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia
Nearly half of Americans nearing retirement age (65 years old) have less than $25,000 put away, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute’s annual survey. One in four doesn’t even have $1,000 saved. More than two-thirds of Latino workers do not own assets in a retirement account, according to the National Institute on Retirement Security. About 62 percent of Black households don’t, either. In comparison, just 37 percent of white households said they don’t
have any assets saved in retirement accounts. The Urban Institute estimates the average white family has $157,800 in retirement savings. Hispanic families have $28,500, and Black families have $25,000 put away. “The American dream remains out of reach for many African-American and Hispanic families,” Signe-Mary McKernan, an economist at the Urban Institute, told PBS. Black and Hispanic workers tend to earn less over their lifetime, which means they have less to save than white workers. But McKernan said the financial savings sys-
tem is also stacked against them. Tax deductions for mortgages and other investments, for example, do not offer many incentives to lower-income workers. “The federal government spends billions of dollars to support long term asset building,” McKernan said. “But because they go through the tax code, they primarily benefit higher-income families.” According to a recent USA Today report, an array of health and financial problems converge on African-Americans as they age, posing a potentially devastating impact on them. Blacks are more likely than whites to suffer medical conditions that lead to more severe health problems and higher health care and insurance costs as they grow older, the report noted. Their health problems are exacerbated by financial troubles that include lower savings, homeownership rates and Social Security income than whites. “It’s a huge issue,” Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, chair of the Maryland Democratic Party and CEO of Global Policy Solutions, a D.C.-based social change strategy firm, told USA Today. “Over our working life, we experience pay disparities, have little wealth in our
5 (Courtesy of Defender News Network)
families and often support others. “By the time we reach an age when chronic diseases catch up with us, we are ... dropping out of the workforce and relying on disability or taking early Social Security retirement,” she said. In its recent magazine, AARP provided a “Countdown to Retirement,” a 10-year timeline filled with expert advice including what would benefit individuals who are 10 years, five years, one year or three months away from retirement. AARP experts said it’s important to take a quick test. Assuming retirement is 10 years away, they said individuals would want to have about seven times their current salary in savings, a figure that’s based on research from Fidelity. That would put a person on the road to having about 10 times their final salary saved by retirement and maintaining their present standard of living. Among the ways experts said will help in retirement is to save more money by splitting direct deposits across accounts. Have your payroll department put part of each check into an online savings account, where “it’s out of sight and out of mind,” AARP experts said. The direct deposit users who split their deposits save up to $90 more per month than those who use another method. Also, be sure and pay down mortgages, put new retirement savings to work and prepare a
“Plan B.” About half of workers cruise to a planned, voluntary retirement; the rest exit prematurely, according to various statistics. “With 10 years to go, there is still enough runway to make a mark,” said career and retirement expert Nancy Collamer. For those five years away from retirement, AARP offers a 15-second retirement readiness quiz that includes questions about whether individuals have unopened credit card bills and whether your retirement financial plan is simply to get by on Social Security. Experts at AARP encourages all to “attack” debt and do home improvement on the cheap. The organization also provide tips on “how not to get fired.” For those one year away from retirement, AARP experts encourage a “test drive” of your budget, consolidate accounts and a visit to the dentist. Those three months away, should check in with human resources, check in with Social Security, and price out aging in place. “The retirement crisis in the United States today is very real,” Angela Antonelli, executive director of Georgetown University’s Center for Retirement Initiatives, told PBS. “The reality is as we look at what people have put away for retirement today they haven’t put a lot away for those who are age 65.” WI
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Two former members of the United States Armed Services talked about the problems they encountered while serving the country, but said they would not trade the experience for anything. Marine Corps Chaplain Willie Woods and Navy veteran Candance Willet spoke about their experiences in their respective branch of the U.S. military on Feb. 25 at the AARP District of Columbia’s Black History Month Veterans Panel at the national AARP office in Northwest. Washington Informer Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes served as the moderator. During the 75-minute session, both of the veterans made it clear that being a member of the military didn’t come easy. “I was drafted into the military in 1945,” Woods said. “I didn’t want to go into the Navy because I didn’t like the uniforms and I was interested in the Army, but they had filled their quota. I read and heard a lot about the Marine Corps and I wanted to be the best.” Woods said the colonel whom he met to start training “was more down than up.” “He basically said welcome to hardship and ‘You’re not welcome’ to those of us who were Black,” he said. Wood ultimately ended up with other Black Marines at Camp Montford Point in Jacksonville, N.C., and he served from 1945-1946. Between 1942, when Montford Point got its start to its end in 1940, more than 20,000 Black Marines entered there. Woods said he went through racial mistreatment “and I endured that.” Woods noted that while he lost only five pounds while there, Montford Point changed him permanently. “I didn’t change physically, but mentally and spiritually it made a man out of me,” he said. “It made a man out of me and I’m here.” Willet entered the Navy decades after Woods and said she wanted to go into the Navy to serve her country in 2007. “I entered the Navy because I wanted to get some more education,” she said. “My fam-
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LOW COST LIFE INSURANCE FOR SENIORS 5 Denise Rolak Barnes moderated a discussion with Marine Corps Chaplain Willie Woods and Navy veteran Candance Willet (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)
Even though Willet possessed a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, she opted to become an enlistee instead of the officer’s corps. She faced resistance as a result of being a Black woman and having a higher education degree. ily thought I was making the biggest mistake in my life. You have to understand that I was a heel-wearing, fly-wearing type of sister.” Willet said an uncle influenced her to join the Navy, telling her it would be the best experience she ever had. Willet made the decision and went through eye-opening experiences such as shaving off all of her hair and sitting Indian-style waiting for a bus to take her to Great Lakes, Ill. Even though Willet possessed a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, she opted to become an enlistee instead of the officer’s corps. She faced resistance as a result of being a Black woman and having a higher education degree. “I was 27 when I went in and
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they thought I was too old to be in the military,” said Willet, who served in the Navy from 20082016. “They could not mold me like they could an 18-year-old. They considered me a threat.” Both veterans managed to overcome perceptions — in Woods’ case, Black inferiority, and for Willet, sexism. Woods said many of his Black colleagues would get together and cry or vent their frustrations, while Willet connected with the Black women at her base to would socialize and network. “We had to deal with more men than women and they thought that I was too old, didn’t have leadership skills and had never shot a weapon,” she said. The vets said that young people should pursue military careers, with both adding that the service enhances career skills. “You should go into the military and no matter how dumb you are, you will learn something,” Woods said. Woods received a Congressional Gold Medal at the Emancipation Hall of the Capitol Visitors Center on June 27, 2012, along with other veterans. Willet used her military service to get master’s degrees from Troy University and the University of Baltimore and is presently pursuing a doctorate at Walden University. In addition, Willet received the Joint Service Achievement Medal for career counseling, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medals for volunteering and mentoring, and an Admiral’s Flag Letter of Commendation for her fundraising and volunteer activities. WI
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FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 6, 2019 21 THE WASHINGTON INFORMER 6-time winner of NAACP image award
EDUCATION Ballou Graduates Reunite to Raise Scholarship Funds By Sam P.K. Collins WI Contributing Writer @SamPKCollins As a student at Frank W. Ballou Senior High School, Betty Harris ran track and hurdles, played basketball and broke records in the broad jump, all while exploring her interest in law with trips to the District courthouses on Indiana Avenue in Northwest. She and other members of the Class of 1963 created what would become the school’s alma mater. Memories of Harris’ Ballou ex-
perience flooded her mind as she and two other alumni received recognition Saturday, Feb. 23 as trailblazers during the All Day Alumni Scholarship Party, an action-packed gathering that attracted legions of Ballou graduates on a mission to raise scholarship funds for current Ballou students. “Ballou gave us the best education you could get in public schools and had great teachers who cared about you,” said Harris, a retired federal government employee who lives in Fort Washington, Maryland.
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As a youth, Harris, then Betty Ann McDuffie, lived on Atlantic Street in Southeast and attended Ballou when Black people accounted for one-third of the student population. After completing her studies, she worked at the FBI as a fingerprint technician and instructor. Shortly after, she transferred to the Social Security Administration, where she would work for another 30 years. Harris’ graduation paved the way for that of her younger siblings, all of whom went on to receive master’s and doctorate degrees. “Students were more serious about their education because they wanted to succeed in the area they lived,” Harris said. “I loved school. We were the first full class that graduated. In 1963, I ranked 24 out of 244 students, and only missed two and a half days out of the three years.” Harris and more than 200 Ballou alumni representing classes from the ‘60s through the ‘90s flooded the main floor and balcony area of Decoy Lounge in Clinton, Maryland. For much of the afternoon, the elder Knights, many of whom dressed in their blue and yellow Ballou shirts with the school name and seal emblazoned on the front, danced to the sounds of old school go-go and R&B hits, poured spirits, and took several strolls down memory lane, never failing to boast about the feats of their respective classes. The Knights 4 Life Scholarship Committee, comprised of five Ballou alumni, organized the event and fundraiser with the goal of raising $100,000 for a “Forever Fund” to finance the educational endeavors of up to 10 Ballou students annually. The committee, in partnership with the Ariel Foundation International, launched an online crowdfunding platform. Qualified students who win an essay contest and have a GPA of at least 2.5 will have funds disbursed directly to their colleges. “Our foundation started with Ballou because being a product of Southeast and Ballou, we wanted to give something back to the community,” said Ambassador Joseph Huggins, a member of Ballou’s class of 1969 and chairperson of Ariel Foundation International, a non-governmental organization
5 Ballou High School alumni from the class of 1981 during the All Alumni College Scholarship Day party held Saturday, Feb. 23 in Clinton. (Brigette Squire/The Washington Informer)
that promotes entrepreneurship through educational and leadership opportunities. Huggins noted that while the idea for “Forever Fund” originated within the Class of 1969 in its anticipation of 50th-anniversary activities, it soon became a movement that resonated across all graduating classes. “The vision of all the various classing coming together came out of a belief that once you’re a Knight, you’re always a Knight,” he said. “The older and younger Knights are just coming together to show that we’re supporting each other.” Ballou, named for former D.C. Public Schools Superintendent Frank Ballou, opened in 1959 to serve families in Congress Heights, Washington Highlands, and Bellevue areas of Southeast. The class of 1963, which Harris represented, counted as the first group to have spent three full academic years in the school. Members of subsequent classes recalled on-campus racial tension and periods of solidarity, particularly during the 1968 riots after Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination. That legacy continues to this day as sixteen Ballou students set out to embark on a study tour of Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Senegal and Spain this summer. A young student aspiring to become the first Black fetal surgeon has also been
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nominated to represent Ballou at the National Youth Leadership at Emory University in Atlanta. Huggins described those young people as the caliber of student they’re seeking for the “Forever Fund.” Guests at the Decoy Lounge said the spirit of unification and dedication to academic success carried Ballou graduates to greater heights throughout the 1970s and beyond. Sports, cultural activities and an increasing focus on burgeoning careers counted as parts of that equation. “It’s a great feeling to see people you grew up with and still recognize them,” said Deborah Lyles, a 1972 Ballou graduate and background investigator in the Metropolitan Police Department. “When we were in school, we started our careers and remained friends. 1972 was the best year because we had the championship basketball and cheerleading teams. The girls drill team also won first place. If you live in Southeast, you have a bond.” Anthony Alford, a 1971 Ballou graduate, said his bond with his alma mater allowed him to pick up right where he and his friends left off after several years apart. On Saturday, he and his wife, in town for the weekend, spent hours talking with other graduates over a hearty meal. “It’s like seeing family you haven’t seen in a long time,” said Alford, a retired Army colonel who lives in Yorktown, Virginia. “Some people might be closer to you than your brothers and sisters. We have times that we regret but we matured and look back on where we came from, thankful the Lord was with us. “When I was in the army, I didn’t have a chance to come to these events,” he said. “Now that I’m back, I won’t miss a thing.” WI
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EDUCATION UDC Alumni Launch Scholarship in Mothers’ Names By Sam P.K. Collins WI Contributing Writer @SamPKCollins
Joshua Lopez, a native Washingtonian and well-known figure on the local political scene, credits the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) as his conduit to a world that first-generation college students, let alone working-class Washingtonians, rarely get to experience firsthand. Manifesting that dream for others has been his goal since graduating — a vision came to fruition when, during his keynote address at UDC’s Founders’ Day Celebration, Lopez announced the launch of a scholarship for first-generation students living in the District. The Olimpia Lopez and Elizabeth Keller Matos Opportunity Scholarship, named after the mothers of Lopez and fellow UDC alumni Wilson and Wilton Matos, will cover a portion of fives students’ tuition during the
2019 fall semester and beyond. “I graduated with zero debt for my undergraduate degree and I’m very proud of that,” said Lopez, a 2009 UDC graduate and first-generation college student of Guatemalan descent. Lopez took classes toward his bachelor’s degree in history while working full-time for six years. As a student, he led an on-campus protest, joined UDC’s chapter of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, and interned with then-Ward 4 Councilman Adrian Fenty (D). In his keynote address, Lopez recounted those events with a cool sense of nostalgia. For him, the relatively manageable tuition and proximity to professors well versed on a variety of subjects, including the political circumstances of his mother’s adolescence and immigration to the United States, made for a unique period of intellectual growth. “The University of the District of Columbia is an institution cre-
ated for first-generation students from working-class backgrounds who may not be in the economic position to pay high tuition,” Lopez said. “It opened my eyes to endless possibilities, refined my critical thinking skills, and prepared me for a world of professional settings and business.” The beginnings of UDC, a historically Black institution of higher learning and D.C.’s only public university, stretch back to the mid-19th century when Myrtilla Miner founded the Normal School for Colored Girls. Over the span of a century, that school and others merged to become District of Columbia’s Teacher College. In 1977, District of Columbia’s Teacher College, Federal City College, and the Washington Technical Institute consolidated to become UDC. UDC, which churns out a considerable number of District-born graduates, offers nearly 70 undergraduate and grad-
uate programs for its student body, the majority of whom considered nontraditional adult students. During the February 21 Founder’s Day Celebration, UDC earned another distinction as the first HBCU in the country to open a Center for Diversity and Inclusion and Multicultural Affairs. Both feats, the scholarship and new cultural center, signal UDC’s desire to attract and ease the matriculation of students from marginalized communities. Alexandra Washington, director of Alumni Affairs and Outreach, heralded the Olimpia Lopez and Elizabeth Keller Matos Opportunity Scholarship as an asset in UDC meeting its strategic goals. “This idea of paying it forward and creating new opportunities for students helps further UDC’s plan to create pathways for students attending the university,” Washington said. “Scholarships do that for students. It’s always great when alumni stand up and
contribute to students’ success. This helps advance the great work we’re doing at UDC.” William Matos, a UDC alumnus hailing from Brazil, noted the role his mother Elizabeth Keller Matos played in his academic journey from the time he stepped foot on American soil. Matos, a Montgomery College transfer on a soccer scholarship, graduated from UDC with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. “With a scholarship, I wouldn’t be able to go to school and graduate,” said Matos, founder of WKM Solutions, a Northwest-based general contracting firm that’s expanding to Brazil. “This scholarship is a way to give back to the community. I’m thankful for the university and staff who helped me through the process. My mom was the one who helped me financially. I don’t have any relatives here so my mom was the foundation.” WI
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FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 6, 2019 23 THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
OPINIONS/EDITORIALS
EDITORIAL
Ballou Youth Learn Life-changing Skills to Avoid Dating Violence and Tragic Outcomes We all know that February is that time of the year when Americans give special attention to the contributions and sacrifices of and untold tales of heroism performed by African Americans, past and present – Black History Month. But did you know that February is also designated as Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month? Consider that one-in-three teens in the U.S. are victims of sexual, physical, emotional or verbal abuse – only 1/3 of whom will confide in someone about the violence. This behavior often begins between 6th and 12th grade during which 25 percent of high school girls will be physically or sexually abused. Most alarming, 1.5 million high school girls and boys admit to being hit or harmed within the last year by someone they’re romantically involved while 50 percent of those who are raped or physically or sexually abused will attempt suicide. Given these disconcerting and deadly statistics, we must applaud the work that’s being done by young men at Ballou Senior High School. Under the guidance of the coach of the football team, Minoso Rodgers, youth have participated in The Men of Code program which teaches them alternative ways to engage in relationships, shows them healthier examples that they can then follow and helps them learn and develop more effectively means of communication as they grow from boys to men – minus dangerous behavior patterns
that far too often encompass definitions of manhood that have previously dominated their young lives: hypermasculinity, violence, dominance and entitlement. Rodgers, along with one of his players, Tarajah Ruffin, a senior who will attend Winston-Salem State University in the fall, appeared with ABC7 reporter Veronica Johnson earlier this week to share the lessons that have been taught and learned. The two men represented the District, Ballou and their Southeast community impressive and admirable form. Even more and as Tarajah indicated, when the goal is to become a better person, a better man, it often becomes necessary to remove some people from your life and out of your space, allowing room for others who bring more positive ways of thinking, behaving and living to become new fixtures and friends in your daily world. We salute the young men of Ballou and the fine work they’re doing, along with the efforts of their coach and his staff and the program’s developers, beckysfund.org. WI
Smollett’s Hate Crime Allegations are Real for Many
Jesse Smollet cried wolf. The allegation was serious, extremely serious, and the news spread like wildfire. With a battered face, a noose around his neck and claims that bleach had been poured on him by two masked men, it smelled like a hate crime . . . and that’s what he told the police. And justifiably so, Chicago police were on it, not only because of Smollett’s fame and popularity but, once again because it was an alleged hate crime – one that that should be dealt with swiftly and mightily. This is the final day of Black History Month, a period when Black people commemorate their achievements but also are painfully reminded that they were victims of rampant crimes against humanity – enslavement, whippings, torture, rapes and lynchings – that were waged upon them without conscience or forethought. Oh, but then again, these people were not considered human and their lives meant no more than the price for which they were paid. Smollett’s allegation was severe, and another painful reminder that such inhumane acts are not behind us. Sadly, the vast spotlight on his story and its questionable validity are a distraction to the true story of rising incidents of hate crimes across the country. His honesty has been questioned and the resources needed to investigate his claims, if untrue, should have been directed elsewhere. For now, this is Smollett’s, Chicago’s and America’s latest Black history story. Meanwhile, the FBI has declared hate crime as its highest priority within its Civil Rights Division. Their focus is on crimes in which perpetrators acted based on a bias against the victim’s race, color, religion, or national origin. With the passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009, the FBI also added investigations of crimes committed against those based on biases of actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or gender. The FBI reported a 17 percent increase in hate crimes in 2017 with 7,175 reported hate crime incidents. Those increases were represented among the LGBTQ community, as well as among other demographics including both anti-Black and anti-Jewish hate crimes. So, while popular culture ponders Smollett’s motivations, let it not be forgotten that America stands as a nation divided whose divisions exemplify unquestionable acts of hate. Don’t be distracted or blinded by the stardom. Instead, determine your role to ensure that such future allegations are unimaginable. WI
TO THE EDITOR Dems Need Reality Check to Beat Trump
I read your story “Black Democrats Mum on 2020 Hopefuls,” and I am “mum” too because none of these people have a chance at beating Trump. It’s not that I think they aren’t qualified or politically astute, but they just don’t have “it” to take on that MAGA machine who will most definitely fight to keep Cheeto in the oval office. We need to employ strategy, not act on our emotions. Simply put, we need a white male of affluence to take on Trump and
mobilize the base if we want to win. It is what it is. Jennifer Bullock Arlington, Va.
Pet Project
I really enjoyed the companion animal story for seniors, and it got me to thinking about looking into a dog for myself. I never really thought about it, but I get a lot of joy from my family’s pets and one would do me well. I didn’t know that pets help with feelings of loneliness and depression, but I’m glad I do now. Sharon Lipscomb Washington, D.C.
24 FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 6, 2019
WI a Lifeline for Community
I am a senior citizen and I don’t get out too often. Through the grace of God, The Informer is delivered to my apartment building. The Informer keeps me abreast on vital issues in the community and I look forward with anticipation to the next issue. Ronald Smith
Keep it Real about Kamala
I read your article “Black History Month: Black Women Remain
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the Backbone of the Struggle.” I was disappointed that you identified Kamala Harris as a “Strong Black Woman.” Has she ever publicly identified as a Black woman? Kamala Harris is many things, an adulterer is one of them. She is not a descendant of American chattel slavery. If you knew her history, you would know that she was born in America and raised by her Indian mother in Canada. Her Jamaican father was not a part of her everyday life throughout her formative years in Canada. This means that her thinking process and the way she views the world is distinctly NOT that of a descendant of American chattel slavery. And especially NOT
that of a “strong Black woman.” Please stop falling for her trap of playing a Black person because you are desperate to see anyone with a bit of pigment in their skin win. I am unsure if you are a descendant of American chattel slavery as I am, but it is high time that we stop inviting anyone with pigment in their skin into our demographic. The only thing this woman cares about is votes and getting into office. Angel Mary
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OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist
By Julianne Malveaux
Four-Hundred Years and We Still Ain’t Clear: Distortions of Black History
According to some historians, Afrodescendents first entered these united states in 1619 off the coast of Virginia. If we believe that narrative, Afrodescendents have been in this country for 400 years. If the people who were kidnapped and brought here had to tell the story, would they tell the same one? Would they
say that we came before Columbus? That some of us might have been here even longer? There were captured Africans that came from the mother continent in 1619, but also, thanks to the transatlantic slave trade, Africans here who had come from Bermuda, Jamaica, and other places. Why is this relevant? Because there is this misguided group of Afrodescendants, who are throwing shade at those who are not “American descendants of slaves.” Their shade is an odd version of the “am I Black enough
for you” game that some folks ran against President Barack Obama, and are now running against Presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Cory Booker. What is Black enough, when we, Afrodescendant people, all have enslavement in our background? Let’s make it plain. Europeans went to the African continents, kidnapped people (sometimes with African acquiescence), brought them to the Western Hemisphere, and sold us. Goods and people flowed between England (or
Guest Columnist
New England, the Americas, and Africa), including sugar, tobacco, manufactured products, guns and humans. Understand that everyone in the triangle was affected and that enslaved people were freely traded between the United States and other parts of the Americas! I am not sure what kinds of warped brains dreamed up the realities of enslavement and the ways that a minority in the South was able to control a majority. The laws that managed enslavement included
laws that prevented literacy, ownership, and much else. The laws often detailed the terms of punishment if restrictive conditions were breached. A North Carolina law said, “teaching slaves to read and write, tends to excite dissatisfaction in their minds, and to produce insurrection and rebellion.” Disobeying this law was punishable by 39 lashes or imprisonment for a free Black person, or a fine of $200 then, or about $5,000
MALVEAUX Page 49
By Marian Wright Edelman
Honoring the Trailblazing Judge Patricia Wald
When President Barack Obama awarded Judge Patricia Wald the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013, he summed up her career this way: “Patricia McGowan Wald made history as the first woman appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Rising to Chief Judge of the Court, she always strove to better understand the law and fairly apply it. After leaving federal service, Judge Wald helped institute standards for justice and
the rule of law at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague. Hailed as a model judge, she laid a foundation for countless women within the legal profession and helped unveil the humanity within the law.” This gives a brief sense of what made my friend Judge Wald, who passed away last month at age 90, a trailblazing champion for justice for children and all of us. Early on Judge Wald was an example of the importance of giving every child an equal chance to succeed — girls as well as boys, wealthy and working class. She was raised by a single mother in a crowded home with their close-
knit extended family in Torrington, Connecticut, a factory town where Judge Wald spent teenage summers on World War II-era assembly lines “up to [her] arms in ball-bearing grease.” Most of her relatives’ lives revolved around work at the factory, but they encouraged her as she excelled in school and supported her dream of going to college. She graduated first in her class from Connecticut College (then Connecticut College for Women) in 1948 and went on to Yale Law School where she was an editor of the Yale Law Journal and one of only 11 women in her class. She described that experience years later: “We more or less ac-
Guest Columnist
cepted the fact that we would be a minority, that we would not escape notice in class, and that we would always be asked to give the plaintiff’s testimony in rape moot courts … the men lived in the big stone dormitories, but the women were required to live off campus in this dinky old house that was falling down near the railroad tracks. Every night for three years the Boston-Maine went roaring by my window at a quarter past twelve.” Though I followed her at Yale Law School more than a decade later, my fellow women students and I experienced some of the same isolation including exclusion from the all-male Yale Law school dor-
mitories and our constitutional law professor’s course which he insisted on holding at Mory’s — a private club across the street from Yale Law School that excluded women. But Judge Wald said the silver lining was the bond it forged: “By sticking together we managed to weather the storm.” Being one of the first or only women in a role never slowed her down. As President Obama said, she was the first woman to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit — Ruth Bader Ginsburg was the second — and then the first
EDELMAN Page 49
By Armstrong Williams
Green New Deal is Left’s Attempt to Co-Opt Trump’s Labor Populism
The florid “Green New Deal” proposed by the newly-elected Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), has been widely panned by critics on both the right and the left — but perhaps most notably by Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein. However, what many critics of the deal fail to note is that the supposed New Deal is the Democrats’ most recent attempt to co-opt President Donald Trump’s populist agenda. The Green New Deal seeks to
achieve on paper what the laws of both physics and economics would not allow in practice. That is, it is attempting to appeal to the strength of the American worker while at the same time, discouraging American industrialism. But before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s take a look at the not-sogreen origins of this stale, almost comical idea. President Trump’s 2016 campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again,” has been a wildly powerful rallying cry for his largely blue-collar, Rust Belt base. For them, it stands for secure borders, unfettered enterprise and fair trade.
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The first part, securing the borders, has become bogged down in a fight over the humane treatment of illegal immigrants, especially in the wake of Trump’s disastrous child separation practices. However, what is rarely discussed is the reason why Trump is focusing on the issue of overland illegal immigration. The primary reason Trump sees immigration as a winning populist message is that cheap, undocumented immigrant labor has been undercutting the American worker in key industries, including agriculture and construction. Furthermore, minorities, who the Democrats claim to love so much, are dis-
proportionately hurt by the wage-suppressing effect of undocumented labor. The thing is, Democrats, although they pretend otherwise, clearly know this. They know that the Rust Belt counties across Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia that voted overwhelmingly for Obama in 2008 and 2012, also voted overwhelmingly for President Trump in 2016. This singular fact shows that it is not Trump’s allegedly “bigoted” rhetoric that attracted these voters — most of whom helped elect America’s first Black president just eight years prior to Trump’s election — but in fact Trump’s promise to
restore prosperity to their dying industrial towns. Although in their hearts of hearts Democrats know that economic factors drove traditionally Democrat voters to elect Trump, they do not have a plan of their own to restore economic prosperity to wide swaths of the U.S. population. Rather, they do have a plan, but it is not a new one. The Dems plan is what it has always been — the Robin Hood strategy. That is, they want to steal from the rich and give to the poor. That’s why the Green New Deal is based almost entirely on
WILLIAMS Page 49
FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 6, 2019 25 THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist
By E. Faye Williams
Respect Us Campaign Gains a Supporter
During President Barack Obama’s 2008 and 2012 campaigns, I worked really hard to elect him. Friends often joked that I was supporting him before Michelle was. That was probably a stretch, but I supported him very early. Supporting him remained true during his entire presidency. You can imagine my shock when I looked at his favorite songs list and saw Cardi B! If you don’t know her, please look up her lyrics. Find a song called
“Twerk.” When you read the lyrics and see the women, you’ll understand why I nearly passed out. I’m one of the leaders of the Respect Us campaign where we’re leading a movement to rid the airwaves of disrespectful, hateful music. It pains me to call it music that Cardi B, Kanye West, Nikki Minaj, 21 Savage and others do because the words used are nothing but hate against Black women and often the Black community. I told myself President Obama had never really heard the words used by Cardi B because a lot of rappers sound like they’re performing in another language!
Guest Columnist
Fast forward to the Obama I supported so vigorously. He was speaking at a meeting of My Brother’s Keeper, a program he initiated. I read an article a few days later by James Hohmann. The title was “Barack Obama Criticizes Pop Culture for Promoting the Wrong Values to Young Men.” He was talking with young men about defying stereotypes about what it means to be a man. I perked up as I read on. He lectured the men about not worshiping money at all costs, and told them their worth is not measured by how much money they have or how famous they are. He told them
he knew a lot of rich people who’re really messed up. He cautioned against bullying and being selfish while urging them to seek causes greater than themselves. I wanted him to get to the part about not only respecting themselves, but respecting women. He did. He said, “If you’re very confident about your sexuality, you don’t have to have eight women around you twerking … because you know I’ve got one woman, who I’m very happy with. And she’s a strong woman.” I love this man for his love and respect for Michelle! He blamed pop culture for amplifying toxic messages about mod-
ern masculinity (and presumably other things). Pop culture isn’t to blame for everything, but there’s a lot of disrespect in hateful rapping. As a Black woman, I was pleased to hear him say, “We tend to rise to the expectations that are set for us.” He reminded the young men to be kind and not bully people, and that would have an impact. He told them to treat young women with respect. He said, “They’re not objects. They’re humans with the same aspirations and desires, and they’re just as worthy of respect as men.” He touted the importance of re-
WILLIAMS Page 50
By Charlene Crowell
Education Dept. Helps Loan Servicers, Not Borrowers
In an increasingly competitive global economy, highly skilled workers have a sharp advantage in securing and keeping employment. And as technological advances result in lifelong learning in many occupations, many worker-students turn to federal student aid, the largest source of funding for higher education, to expand
and/or hone their value in the marketplace. But a newly released audit report finds fault with how the Department of Education is managing both its loan funds and its 15 contract student loan servicers. According to an Office of Inspector General (OIG) report released Feb. 12, “borrowers might not have been protected from poor services, and taxpayers might not have been protected from improper payments.” That statement covers a range
Askia-At-Large
of student loan concerns and includes loan payments, loan consolidation, principal and interest payments and repayment options like income-driven repayment plans and forbearance. But its content takes direct aim at the Federal Student Aid (AID) division of the department, charged with being a thrifty steward of the billions of dollars dedicated to higher education. Could it be that the current student loan crisis is facing the same threat today that was rampant a
decade ago during the mortgage crisis? Are borrowers’ payments being properly applied? Or are unchecked and unaccountable loan servicers bilking consumers into unwarranted costs and payments? I’m betting that the 44 million borrowers who together owe more than $1.4 trillion in student loan debt seriously want to know. “FSA’s not holding servicers accountable could lead to servicers being paid more than they should be (the contracts with servicers allow FSA to recover amounts paid
for loans not serviced in compliance with requirements),” the report states. “FSA management rarely used available contract accountability provisions to hold servicers accountable for instances of noncompliance,” the report continued. “By not holding servicers accountable for instances of noncompliance with Federal loan servicing requirements, FSA did not provide servicers with an incentive
CROWELL Page 50
By Askia Muhammad
Trump Not Alone in Racist Coup of Venezuela
No matter who says it — Donald J. Trump or even Senate Democrats — no matter what else they say about it, the continuing U.S. meddling in Venezuela is nothing but a bold-faced coup d’état intended to replace a once popular government dominated by the indigenous, darkskinned people now in power, with a white supremacist regime supported by Washington. There you go again, playing the race card. Yes, it’s true, Venezuela does have larger proven oil reserves than Saudi
Arabia, and U.S. oil barons want it, but this coup is driven by the perpetual need among this country’s leaders to see friendly, white faces in power in the governments of this region, overpowering even their greed. Trust me. President Nicholas Maduro — the successor to wildly popular Hugo Chavez — represents the 70 percent of the Venezuelan population who are Mestizo. They call themselves “Bolivarian,” after revolutionary hero Simón de Bolívar. Meanwhile, Juan Guaidó — the self-proclaimed “interim president” who has never stood for election in the country — is the fairhaired, point-of-the-spear of white
26 FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 6, 2019
supremacy and the interests of the wealthy few in this new political crisis there. Venezuela is not a poor country. The people there do not need “care package”-style humanitarian aid from anywhere. If the U.S. would only pay the government the billions of dollars it owes for oil that has essentially been stolen, and lift the U.S. embargo against them, then there would be no “crisis.” U.S. officials are openly warning Maduro that the same thing that happened to Libya’s Col. Muammar Qaddafi after U.S. intervention provoked an uprising in that country — a bloody assassination — awaits him unless he surrenders
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his government to the U.S. invaders and their sympathizers. Cuba — which has the highest standard of living in Latin America and the Caribbean — is the next target for U.S.-favored “regime change.” Like Cuba had done decades before, through social investment, Venezuela managed to reduce its national poverty rate by nearly 50 percent from 1999 to 2011, after the Chavez “Bolivarian Revolution.” In his interviews with Chavez for BBC beginning in 2002, journalist Greg Palast told this writer that the former president talked about the fury of his country’s white ruling class finding itself displaced by
dark-skinned man who was so visibly “Negro y Indio,” a label he wore proudly. That may have been his undoing. The white supremacists have long memories. Just as Maduro took office in 2013, succeeding Chavez who died, the price of oil worldwide began to collapse, and the vast social programs that oil paid for in Venezuela had to be paid for by borrowing money, causing wild inflation. The economic collapse was then made impossibly worse, Palast reports, by what the United Nations Rapporteur for Venezuela compared to “medieval sieges.”
ASKIA Page 50
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Nub i a n Hue ma n S e e k i n g Co l l a b o r a t i v e Op p o r t u n i t i e s W or ds Sam Col l i ns|@SamPKCol l i ns
Phot ogr aphy Ja’ MonJacks on|@JGYSZN
Wi t h Ani ka Hobbs att he hel m,Nubi an Hueman has cur at edanar r ayofuni queDi as por i cgoods , f as hi on, and ar tf ornear l y a decade,ear ni ng i t ss potamong t he maj ordr awsoft he Anacos t i a Ar t sCent er ,l ocat ed on Good Hope Road i n Sout heas t near t he 1 1 t h St r eet Br i dge. Hobbs ,Nubi an Hueman’ sowner ,and l ead cur at orhas s i nceexpanded herpor t f ol i o,t aki ng hert al ent st ot he Equi t abl eDevel opmentTeam oft he1 1 t h St r eetBr i dge Pr oj ect and t he Anacos t i a Bus i nes s I mpr ovement Di s t r i ct ’ snewl yf or medAr t s ,Cul t ur e,andEnt er t ai nment Counci l . She s ai dt hos er ol es bet t eral l ow hert o hel p ot her cr eat i ves and boos tAnacos t i a’ s pr ofil e as a cul t ur al i ncubat or . “ Iwantust obui l daBl ackeconomy. Nubi anHuemanhas beenapr i meexampl eofhow t hi scanbe, ”s ai dHobbs . Nubi an Hueman, open Tues day t hr ough Sunday, oper at es i n t he Hi s t or i c Anacos t i a communi t y. I t s pr es ence pr edat es Chas e Bank r ecent l y opened on Mar t i n Lut her Ki ng,Jr .Avenue and St ar bucks and Bus boys& Poet s ,al s os oon t o enj oyt hedi s t i nct i on of bei ng i n a nei ghbor hood t hathascaughtt he eyesof devel oper sandt r ans pl ant si nr ecentyear s . ’ swhyHobbsexpr es s edades i r et obui l dwi t hBl ack That ent r epr eneur s and expand bus i nes s oppor t uni t i es i n what ’ sknownast hel as tf r ont i erf orBl ackpeopl ei nD. C. “ Wecanbuyf r om Bl ackbus i nes s es ,andt heyhi r eBl ack peopl e, ”s hes ai d.“ Wehaveas mal lecos ys t em butwant t odevel opi tandmakei tbi gger .Att hi spoi nt ,al otofi t i saboutcomi ngt oget heri nwayswe’ r enotus edt o.I t ' s aboutt hegr eat ergood. ”
Ani kaHobbsi st heowner andl eadcur at oratNubi an Huemani nS. E. ,W ashi ngt on.
I n201 3,Hobbs ,hai l i ngf r om Bos t on,openedNubi an Huemanar oundt hecor nerf r om Mar t i nLut herKi ng, Jr . Avenue, al s oknownasD. C. ’ sl as tBl ackWal l St r eet . Thr ee year s pr i or ,s he fir s tent er ed t he Anacos t i a Ar t sCent erasa j ewel r y vendori n as t or e named Lumi nat e.I nat wi s toff at e,Hobbs l aunched her f ul l s cal ebus i nes si nt hatver ys t or ef r ont . Nubi an Hueman has s i nce s er ved as a hub f or et hni cal l yr i ch war esand cul t ur al l yf ul fil l i ng event s . Oner ecentgat her i ng, dubbed“ Let ’ sHearI tf r om t he Boys , ” opened t he floor f or di s cus s i on about mas cul i ni t yi nt he#MeTooer a.The201 9Bl ackLove Exper i ence, expect ed t o br i ng t hous ands of cr eat i ves t o THEARC i n Mar ch,f ol l owed year s of j ammedpacked cr owds i nt he mai nl obby oft he Anacos t i aAr t sCent er . Thi s year ’ s per f or mi ng act s-i ncl udi ng Junkyar d Band,Bl ack Al l ey,Di amond Di s t r i ct ,Mumu Fr es hwi l lcont i nue wher e SaRoc,Jabar iExum,Far afina Khan,and ot her sl ef taudi encesi n 201 8. The 1 1 t h St r eetBr i dgePr oj ectcount samongt hes pons or sof t heevent . Hobbss ai dt heBl ackLoveExper i ence, not t obeconf us edwi t hBl ackL. U. V.Fes t i val ,r ecei vedan endor s ementf r om Kymone Fr eeman,t he We Act Radi o coowner ,and Hobbs ’nei ghbor on Mar t i n Lut herKi ng,Jr .Avenue,year sago. “ Icame t o D. C.f or t he Bl ack L. U. V.Fes t[ once] . Kymonegavemet hebl es s i ngasl ongaswekeept he l ovegoi ng, ”Hobbss ai dass her eflect edonhers t at us asanent r epr eneuri nabur geoni ngbus i nes sdi s t r i ct i namaj or i t yBl ackpar toft heDi s t r i ct . Thi sbei ng t he l as tBl ackWal lSt r eeti sa bl es s i ng “ andcur s e, ”s hecont i nued.“ WhenIdof eell i kegi vi ng up,t hepeopl ear eal i f el i ne.I t ’ snott hemoney,but t he peopl e comi ng by and s har i ng whatt he s t or e doest ot hem, ”t hatkeepsherencour aged.
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DI STRI CT DODGER
I N REALLI FE A HUMBLEMAN WI TH A MASTERPLAN
W or ds LenaMal col m |@s qual l apat t on Pi er r eEdwar dsal soknownas Di st r i ctDodgeri scar vi nghi sni che i nt hemul t i ver seofar t .
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Phot ogr aphy DayoKos oko|@t hear t hype
Di st r i ctDodger ’ s“I nReal Li f e”i nst al l at i onatUni on Mar ketdr ew cr owdsofD. C. ’ s youngar t i st s. Theexhi bi tf eat ur esl i ght desi gn,pr oj ect i ons,scul pt ur e pi ecesandpai nt i ngs. Eventphot ogr aphycour t es y ofDi s t r i ctDodger .
Bet weenMi chaelWycoffandKeniBur kebal l adspl ayi ngi nt hebackgr ound, acozySundayat52O St udi osgavewayt oabi tofmagi c. Waf t sofs unl i ght , monochr ome and mel ani n fil l ed t he l of taswe peel ed back t he mas t er y behi ndt heman,Pi er r eEdwar ds . Phot ogr apher , vi deogr apher and vi s ual ar t i s t di gi t al l y known as @Di s t r i ct dodger ,Edwar dsunvei l ed“ I nRealLi f e”onJanuar y25t hatUni on Mar ket ,af t erfivemont hsofi nt ens er es ear chi nt ot heor i esoft hemul t i ver s e andt hedi gi t alwor l dasanal t er nat er eal i t y. Asavi deogr apherandvi s ualar t i s t ,Is pendal otoft i mei nt hedi gi t alr eal m “ andr eal i zedt her e’ sanexi s t ent i alj uxt apos i t i ont hatal s ol i vesi nt hephys i cal r eal m.Thi si dea t hati fIexi s t ,Ineed t o know my pur pos es or tofs pans beyondonedi mens i onandIwant edt ohi ghl i ghtt hos epar al l el swefindi n communi t y,news ,s ex,des i r e,et c. , ”hes ai d. l ect or of “ har dcopy books ,phot os ,vi nyl ,anyt hi ng t act i l e, ”t he A col 26year ol dWal dor fnat i vewasmet i cul ousandpr ovoki ngi ncr eat i ngeach pi ece ofhi sfir s ts ol oi ns t al l at i on,f orhe appr eci at est hati ns pi r at i on i s n’ t confined t o any one par t i cul arpl ace ort hi ng.The exhi bi tf eat ur esl i ght des i gn,pr oj ect i ons ,s cul pt ur epi ecesaswel laspai nt i ngst hatgi vebi r t ht o t hei deaofl i vi ngs i mul t aneous l yi nconfli ct i ngr eal i t i es . hought f ulhue ofcol l ect i ve cons ci ous nes si nf us es hi s wor k and hi s At demeanor .Edwar dsaffir mst hathi sr ol easanar t i s ti st odemys t i f ywhati t act ual l y meanst o be one,and t o pr omot e a cl i mat e ofi ncl us i vi t y whi l e r emai ni ngcr eat i vel yawar eatal lt i mes .“ What everyourar ti s ,i syourar t , ”he s ai d.“ I tpr es ent si t s el fi nl i mi t l es sways . ” “ I nRealLi f e”wass owel l r ecei vedt hatEdwar dsi snow s l at edt of eat ur ehi s exhi bi ti nAt l ant ai nMay,aswel lasBas el( Mi ami )i nDecember .Hei sal s o wor ki ngonas hor tfil mt ocoi nci dewi t ht hei ns t al l at i onandi ncubat i ngaf ew ot herpr oj ect st hatr emai ncl os et ohi sches tf ort het i mebei ng. Cur r ent l y,oneofhi sf avor i t ear t i s t si sBr i t i s hdes i gnerandcr eat i vedi r ect or , Samuel Ros s . Edwar ds s ays he r es pect s t he “ t hought f ul s t ance, i nt er di s ci pl i nar i t i es and s t r uct ur e” woven i nt o hi s col l ect i ons .He al s o r ecent l y vi s i t ed t he “ Pul s e” exhi bi t by Mexi canCanadi an ar t i s t ,Raf ael LozanoHemmer ,at Hi r s hhor n Mus eum.I nt er act i ve t echnol ogy,s ound des i gn and l i ghti ns t al l at i onsar e mut ual l y admi r ed amongs tt hes et hr ee s avant s . Bef or e pr es ent i ng “ I n Real Li f e” t o t he mas s es ,Edwar ds was bus y col l abor at i ng wi t h a number of cl i ent ss uch as As i cs ,Under Ar mour , Dr eamvi l l eRecor ds ,Smi t hs oni an,Howar d Theat r eand Br occol iCi t yMus i c Fes t i val .Oneofhi sf avor i t ecol l abor at i onshowever ,waswi t hJus tUsGi r l s DC,an acces s or i esl i ne cr eat ed by hi ss upr emel yt al ent ed gi r l f r i end,Ki ki , t hatembodi es“ adi vi nebal ancebet weenf emi ni neandmas cul i ne. ”Heal s o par t ner ed up wi t h hi sf r i end,For r es t ,on t hel ookbookand s hor tfil mf or Nat i vus ,acl ot hi ngl i nei ns pi r edbybackcount r yVi r gi ni a. The t r aj ect or y ofEdwar ds ’vi s i on i st aki ng fli ghtand maki ng waves .He’ s s wi f t l ycar vi ng hi sni chei nt hemul t i ver s eofar twi t ht echni col or ,humi l i t y andacur i os i t yf oranyandever yt hi ng.Hegi vess peci alt hankst oNoKi ngs DC, RockCr eekSoci al Cl ub, Ai ns wor t hNeal Sr . , andEl i udf ort hei rcont i nued s uppor t .
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Gem oft he D. C.Ar tW or l d W or ds Cl audi aM.Wat t s|@cal l mecl aud
Phot ogr aphy Mar coKay|@mar cokay D. C. ’ sar ts cenei sf ul lofeccent r i cchar act er s ,finear t i s t s ,phot ogr apher s , andper f or mer sal lknownf orwhatandhow t heycr eat e.Wefindour s el ves i naweoft hei rexpr es s i onyetwes el dom under s t andt hei nnerwor ki ngsof how i tcamet obe.Fort her ei sanot hers i det ot hes cene,f ul lofuns ung her oest hatpl ayas i gni ficantr ol ei n movi ng s oci et y’ sper s pect i veoft he ar t sf or war d.Thes ear et hegal l er i s t s ,s t udi oas s i s t ant s ,cur at or sandmany ot her st hatr emai namys t er yt ot hemas s es . Dei r dr eDar deni soneoft hos epeopl e,ani ndependentcur at orandoneof t hebr i l l i antmi ndsbehi ndt hear t wor kf oundi nEat onHot el .
Dei r dr eDar deni san i ndependentcur at orbor n andr ai sedonar ti n W ashi ngt onDC.
Cur at or ,a wor dt ypi cal l yr es er ved f ort r adi t i onalmus eum s et t i ngs and academi a,f ound i t swayi nt ot hemi ndsand mout hsoft hemai ns t r eam a f ew year sbackands pr eadl i kewi l dfir e.Somuchs o,t hatwhendi s cus s edi n gener alt er ms ,i ts eemst hemeani nghasbecomeabi tdi s t or t ed. “ If eell i ket hewor dhashadanexces s i veover us eanddeval uest heor i gi nal meani ng, ”Dei r dr eexpl ai ned.“ ThewayIs eei tus edal oti sas ynonym f or s el ect i onorgr oupi ng…Icanunder s t andhow i t ’ sbecomeaphenomenon—a new i deapeopl eat t acht o—andi t ’ ss pr eadi ngknowl edgeofwhatacur at or i sbutIt hi nkt her ear eot herwayst oexpr es swhatt hatmeans . “ Cur at i ng r eal l y comesf r om cr eat i ng t he cont extand pur pos e ofwhat you’ r egr oupi ngt oget her ,andi t ’ sameani ngf ulpr es ent at i onofs omet hi ng t hat ’ sbeenr es ear chedandi sawhol l ydevel opedi dea. Asoppos edt ot hes e t hi ngsl ookgoodt oget her ,t hat ’ smor eofanaes t het i ct hi ng, ”Di er dr es ai d. Dei r dr ei ss omet hi ng ofa pur i s t .Herl ove oft he pr act i ce comesf r om a l i f et i meofbei ng i mmer s ed i nt hear t s .Thedaught erofaj our nal i s tand a ci vi lr i ght sact i vi s t ,s hegr ew up s ur r ounded bycr eat i vet heor y.Sheknew ear l yont hatbei ngs ur r oundedbyar twasamus tf orherpr of es s i onall i f e. Pai nt i ng,dr awi ngandj ewel r ymaki ngwer et hei ni t i als t agesofherar t i s t i c expl or at i ont houghs hes oonr eal i zedt heywoul dn’ tbeenough. “ I t ’ soneoft hos et hi ngswher eyouri deasands ki l l sar eatdi ffer ents t ages asyou’ r ebui l di ng.Ikeptt hi nki ng t her ewer ewayst oexpr es sal loft hes e t hemes ,moment si nt i meandt hi ngsIwant edt oexpl or ei nar tt hatIwas n’ t abl et of ul l yachi eve.That ’ swhenIs t ar t edfindi ngexhi bi t i ondes i gn and ant hr opol ogy,Igotmor ei nt os t udyi ng,bei ng ar ound obj ect s and expl ai ni ngt hei rhi s t or yandt hr oughcl as s esi ncol l egeIf oundcur at i ng, ”s he cont i nued. Cur at i on i s herar t .A per f ectcombi nat i on ofr es ear chi ng,wr i t i ng and exhi bi t i ngt hatal l owshert obui l dcont extar oundt heaes t het i c. “ Iwass eei ngt heexhi bi t i onasamedi um andbei ngabl et oexpr es smys el f t hr ough t he exhi bi t i on us i ng t he wor ks of ot her peopl e… t hey ar e s uppor t i ve poi nt s ,t ool si n as ens et o hel p me car r y outmy t heme… I r eal i zedt hi swasmypat h,Icanbes ur r oundedbyar twhenIam wor ki ng, have a pas s i on f orwhatIdo and know I ’ ve s pentmy s t udi esand l i f e wor ki ngi nt hi sdi r ect i onandi tal lmakess ens e. ”
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“. . . Ir eal i zedt hi swas mypat h,Icanbe sur r oundedbyar t whenIam wor ki ng, haveapassi onf or whatIdoandknow I ’ vespentmyst udi es andl i f ewor ki ngi n t hi sdi r ect i onandi t al lmakessense. ”
Maki ng herway t hr ough D. C. ’ ss cene was n’ tt he eas i es toft as ks .When Dei r dr e r et ur ned t ot he ci t yf r om col l ege,s he had ver yf ew connect i ons .Thr ough vol unt eer i ng atdi ffer entar t i s ts t udi os ,wor ki ng atgal l er i es ,and j oi ni ng t heBl ack Ar t i s t sofD.C. ,s hebegant o cul t i vat ehernet wor k.Ul t i mat el yl andi ng t hej ob of cur at i ngt heannuals how f orbl ackar t i s t satt heD. C.Ar t sCent er .I twashers econd yearwor ki ngi nt hi scapaci t yt hats her eal l yf oundhers t r i de. “ Ihadwr i t t ent hi spoem aboutpr es s ur epoi nt s ,i twasapol i t i calpoem.And,i twas as how Ir eal l ywant edt ot tdo. Tot hi sdayIam r eal l ypr oudofi tbecaus ei twasf ul l y my cr eat i on.Thes e poi nt son t he body,you appl y pr es s ur e,t her ei sa s ur ge of ener gyt ot hatpoi nt , andt heni tdi s s i pat es . It houghtt hatwasar eal l ygoodanal ogy f oranxi et yandbei ngabl ackwomanandal loft het hi ngst hatcomewi t hi t . ” Her next maj or accompl i s hment was l andi ng a cur at or i algr ant f r om t he DC Commi s s i onont heAr t sandHumani t i est opr oduce“ WeGotNext , ”as ur veyofD. C. ar t i s t sunder30. Theexper i encedovet ai l edwi t hherr ol eatEat on. Bot hexper i ences ar eaddi ngper s pect i vet oheri dent i t yasacur at or . “ Igott hegr antands t ar t edEat oni nt hes ameweek.So,t heywer er unni ngal i t t l e par al l elf orawhi l e.Thepr oces swasver ydi ffer ent ,Eat onhasat eam andwi t h“ We GotNext ”Iwasbymys el f .It hi nkI ’ vehaveevol ved t oEat onDei r dr et hr ought he r es our cest heyhaveandt hes uppor toft het eam. “ I twasamazi ngt os i tdownwi t hShel donScot tandKatLo( ownerofEat onHot el ) . Shes atusdownl i keher ear emyi ns pi r at i ons ,andt hes ear et hear t i s t sIl ove,t hi si s mywi s hl i s t ,andourj obwast omaket hatar eal i t y.I twasgr eatbecaus eIgott o agai nr el yont hehus t l i ngt hatI ’ dbeendoi ng. ” t r ongnet wor ki ss omet hi ngDei r dr eat t r i but esmuchofhers ucces st o.I t ’ st hos e As l i ke her ,who cont i nue t of eed t he beas t ,r ef us et ol eave t he ci t y and bel i eve whol ehear t edl yt hatD. C. canbeat hr i vi ngcent erf ort hear twor l dt hatcont i nuest o keephopeal i ve. “ It hi nkt her ei sagoodcommuni t yt hati ss uppor t i veandhopef ul l yhones tofeach ot her .It hi nkt hat ’ spr et t yuni que.Ther ei snogr eat erci t yt obeabl ackar t i s tt hani n D. C.becaus et her ei sat r uer ef er encef oral otoft hewor kt hathast odowi t hbl ack l i f e. ” I t ’ sexci t i ngt os eewhat ’ si ns t or ef orDei r dr eDar deni nt hecomi ngyear s ,butt her e i snoques t i ons he’ l lcont i nuet obeaf or ceont hes cene. “ Is eemys el fasanol derl adywi t hawes omegl as s esandar edl i p,di s pl ayi ng al lof mycont empor ar i esont hewal land bei ng abl et os how f ut ur egener at i onst hi si s D. C. ”
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W or ds&Phot ogr ahy YogiShi el ds|@yogi t hes hoot er
Wi t ht he ar t i st i cl andscape i nt he Di st r i ctonce agai nr ecei vi ng nat i onal t ht he ar t i s t i cl ands cape i nt he Di s t r i ctonce agai nr ecei vi ng Wi r e c o g n i t i o n , we f n l o o t o mu i c a s hemar quee,buti tseemsoneoft he na t i on al r e co g n i t i o n, we of t eo nl ot oe kt omu s i ck ast h ema r qus ee , bu ti tt s eems one o f t h e mo r ee ov er l o oked me d i ums ,a tt l el a s t wh enwh i t e mo r e ot v e r l o o k d me d i u ms , a e a s t ni tcomest oar t i st i cexpr essi on,i s comest oar i s t i cexpr es s i on,i sundoubt edl ycl i nchi ng i t sgr i psal l o v er t h ec i t y.t u n d o u b edl ycl i nchi ngi t sgr i psal lovert heci t y. I t ’ sacol dFr i dayni ghti nt hemi ddl eofJanuar y,andI ’ m wal ki ngi nt oSugarShack Donut sat9t handU St r eet sN. W.I nt hebas ementbel ow SugarShacki sNoct ur ne, a cr af tcockt ai lbart hatuni quel yt r ans f or msand br oadensyourappr eci at i on of l i quor . Jus tbeyondt her owsofhandcr af t eddonut s ,t heent r ancet ot hebas ementdoor openedt oadungeonl i kes pace.Bar el yl i tbygl owi ngcount er t ops ,f ut ur i s t i cl i ght s ont hewal l s ,anar t i s t i cal l yl i tt op s hel fwher et hel i quors i t s ,t hei nt i mat es et t i ng pr ovi des1 7s eat sf orawar m ands educt i veambi ance. Haki m,t he bever age di r ect or ,gr eet ed me and pr ovi ded me wi t h a menu t hat hi ghl i ght edcockt ai l sr epr es ent i ngr egi onsar oundt hegl obe.Eachcockt ai lf eat ur e t wo t ot hr eei ndi genousi ngr edi ent s .Forexampl e,f r om Scandi navi aar ecockt ai l s t hatf eat ur eear t hi eri ngr edi ent ss uchaspi neandcel er y;t heAmer i casf eat ur ef r es h pr oduce and r egi ons peci fic l i quor sl i ke t equi l a and pas s i on f r ui t ,whi l e Wes t er n Eur opef eat ur esgr apesand chocol at e.Af t erani ghtf ul lofflavor f ulcockt ai l s ,my mi ndwasbl ownaway,andIknew Ihadt ounder s t andmor e.
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Haki m Hami d,Mi xol ogi stat Noct ur nei nShaw.
DC’ sThr i vi ng Cockt ai lCul t ur e Ir econnect edwi t hHaki m af ew daysl at ert odi s covert hef ul ls t or ybehi nds pace andt as t esatNoct ur ne. “ Whatdoyoucons i deryour s el f , ”Ias ked,“ abar t ender ,ami xol ogi s torachef ?” “ I ’ m goi ngt os ayal lt hr ee, ”Haki ms ai d.“ I ’ m bar t endi ngwhenI ’ mt endi ngt hebar .I t akecar eofi tl i keapr oud1 7year ol dwi t hanew l i cens et akescar eofhi scar .I ’ ma mi xol ogi s twhen Ihave one oft hes e‘ ar t s yf ar t s y’i deaswhen Icome up wi t h s omet hi ng t hatbl owsmymi nd.ButI ’ m ul t i mat el yachefi nt heor i gi nals ens e,a l eader .Il ead gues t st hr ough exper i ences and my t eam t o us et hei rcr eat i ve abi l i t i es . ”
Haki m Hami dbr i ngs cr af t s mans hi pandar t i s t r y t oNoct ur nei nShaw.
I ti sal lt hr eet hatmakesNoct ur nes t andout . Wat chi ng t hatmomentwhenachef ’ st ur moi land gr i eft ur ni nt o happi nes sand “ exci t ement made i t coolt o be cr eat i ve, ” Haki m s ai d as he r eflect ed on hi s exper i encei nt heki t chent hatl edt ohi scur r entpos i t i onofbever agecr af t s man.“ I t wasas t yl eofar t i s t r yt hatIhadf ors ol ongt akenf orgr ant ed. ”Ar t i s t spul lf r om r eal l i f e exper i encest o cr eat e a pal et t et hats hapest hei rper s pect i vesand Haki m’ s s t udyunderhi sment oratCocoSal as eemst obeoneoft hos et ur ni ngpoi nt si nt he s t or yboar dofl i f e. Unt i lr ecent l y Idi s mi s s ed t he ar t ofcr af t i ng bever ages as a medi um wor t h acknowl edgi ng.I twas n’ tunt i lmeet i ngHaki mt hatIt r ul yunder s t oodt hepar al l elt o acheft hatt hes emi xol ogi s t s ,i nt heci t y’ sr i s i ngcockt ai lcul t ur e,act ual l yhave. I t ' st hi st hr i vi ngcockt ai lcul t ur ei nt heci t yt hatcr eat ess paceswher epeopl ef r om di ffer entbackgr oundsmes ht oget herper f ect l y.
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2/19/19 6:55 PM FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 6, 2019 27 THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
BLACK HISTORY month
CBCF Hosts 10th Annual Avoice Heritage Celebration Honors Black Leaders in 116th Congress
By James Wright WI Contributing Writer On Tuesday, February 26, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. [CBCF)]will hosted the 10th installment of its official Black History Month program, the AVOICE Heritage Celebration. During the program, they honored the Congressional Black Caucus [CBC] chair and the five CBC members who chair House committees in the 116th Congress. The event took place at the Eaton Hotel Washington in Northwest. Heritage 2019 entitled, “Roots, Return, Remembrance: The Congressional Black Caucus and the Black Agenda,” took time to reflect on the many diverse stories of migration by African Americans and shared how these personal journeys shaped the mission of the CBC. Honoring leaders who have significantly impacted the global Black diaspora through a political, social and historical agenda of empowerment, the program also featured a fireside chat with the awardees, special performances by
the Washington Performing Arts and a screening of “Who I Am,” a short video that highlighted the respective legacies of the five committee chairs. Honorees included: Rep. Karen Bass, CBC Chair – Distinguished Champion for Global Black Empowerment Awardee and the following, all Distinguished Leader of Black Legislative Empowerment Awardees: Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Chair, House Committee on Financial Services; Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, Chair, House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology; Congressman Robert “Bobby” C. Scott, Chair, House Committee on Education and Labor; Congressman Bennie G. Thompson, Chair, House Committee on Homeland Security; and Congressman Elijah Cummings, Chair, House Committee on Oversight and Reform. Other who participated in the celebration included: Dr. Elsie L. Scott – Interim President and CEO, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc.; Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. (fireside chat moderator) – President and CEO, National Newspaper Publish-
ers Association; and Tiffany D. Cross (mistresses of ceremonies) – Co-Founder, Managing Editor and Curator, The Beat DC.
QUOTABLE QUOTES
Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. “I would like to see a documentary on the Congressional Black Caucus like “Eyes on the Prize.” “We presently have 55 members, five committee chairs who we call the Big 5, 20 subcommittee chairmanships and three in the leadership realm. Five of our 55 members come from districts that have few Blacks and that shows that we can represent anybody and everywhere.” “There is not a piece of legislation that does hasn’t been marked by the Congressional Black Caucus. We want to make sure that Black Americans know what the Congressional Black Caucus is doing.” Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) the chair of the Financial Service Committee. “As chairman, I want to expose how in 2008 our communities
5 Benjamin Chavis Jr., president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (standing) moderates a discussion with 2019 AVOICE Heritage Celebration awardees, U.S. House of Representatives Full Committee Chairs, (L-R) The Honorable Bennie Thompson, The Honorable Robert “Bobby” Scott, The Honorable Eddie Bernice Johnson, and The Honorable Maxine Waters on Tuesday, Feb. 26 in Northwest. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)
28 FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 6, 2019
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
5 Elsie Scott, interim president and CEO of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc., presents the Distinguished Champion for Global Black Empowerment award to Chair, Congressional Black Caucus, The Honorable Karen Bass (D-CA, 37thDistrict) during the 2019 Avoice Heritage Celebration held in Northwest on Tuesday, Feb. 26. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)
have been targeted by being denied loans and having to deal with exotic products. This caused our communities to have a lot of foreclosures. For many Black people, wealth is tied into their homes and that is why you have the wealth gap that is growing between Blacks and Whites.” “They [big banks] are going to have to pay for this. I want to explore the credit bureaus how they determine their credit scores.” Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas), the chair of the Committee on Science, Space and Technology. “I am in charge of government basic research. This is not sexy but it is important. In my committee I address STEM education and how they affect HBCUs.” “I am working to see more young people get into STEM education and the Links have a program where each of their chapters encourage young women to get into STEM.” Dr. Benjamin Chavis, the president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association. “This program was phenomenal and historic. They tried to suppress the Black vote and suppress Black elected officials and relegate us to the margins.” “Now we are front and center with the committee chairs. This is
a glimpse into the future. Young people are our future and where they can participate bodes well for our future.” “Our publications are very important. What you miss in Jet magazine, you can get in....the Washington Informer.”
ON THE CBC’S EFFECTIVENESS:
Susan Lee said: “They are effective. They set the tone and create the agenda affecting people of color. If I could talk to one of the CBC members I would tell them to keep doing what they are doing.” Ibrahima Kebe said: “The Congressional Black Caucus is effective because they are the voices of the African-American people on the congressional floor. We may not see the immediate benefits of what they are doing but it is critical that they continue their work.” Reggie McCrimmon said: “They are absolutely effective. They are addressing some of the unique challenges that we are facing today and no one is better to deal with African-American challenges than the Congressional Black Caucus. They not only have the knowledge but the expertise to deal with the problems of Black people.” WI
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BLACK HISTORY MONTH Man’s Harrowing Jim Crow-Era Stories Brought to Life by Son his youth that I had never heard,” Godfrey said. “Remarkable stories … many he had kept to himself for Even before the Association for over 60 years. “I immediately began writing the Study of African American Life and History decided this year’s theme down everything he told me and I for Black History Month would be was literally amazed that he was still “Migrations,” author and playwright able to recite these stories with such Darrell Godfrey was writing “Delta clarity,” he said. “After nearly two Son,” a book about his late father’s years of him sharing all these stories journey out of the cotton fields of with me, I determined that I could not simply store them away. Mississippi. “I felt privileged that I was able to On Friday, Feb. 22, excerpts from the book, which was released just hear these stories before they were before Christmas, were read and act- lost forever,” Godfrey said. “Too ed out at the AFI Theater in Silver many of us don’t record the stories of Spring, Maryland. And as the book’s our family’s past that tell more than words were brought to life, one just where we came from and who could hear the fear and pain in the we were related too. I was honored to learn about the character of the voice of Clarence Godfrey. The moment enthralled those in people from his youth and all of the attendance, as whites and Blacks, trials and tribulations they had to church members and strangers en- endure coming up in a state known joyed something much more than a for its extreme oppression of people of color.” simple book signing. In an era of YouTube, Facebook “We have come a long way as a nation, but we still have a ways and internet white noise, live theto go,” said Montgomery County ater such as Friday’s event was holy Planning Board member Gerald R. ground saturated with substance, Cichy, who participated in the event and the cast members, including Luand said he read the book twice in cile Hilliard O’Bryant, who played Clarence Godfrey’s tough mother, preparation. One particularly captivating were convincing in their roles. “Women were so important back passage came from a chapter titled OPC Salutes then, and they are still important to“Cotton Picking Hell”: Pioneers “There werethese more gins in Sun- day,” said O’Bryant, a D.C. resident flower CountyAmong than anywhere in and schoolteacher. “It was the mothOthers America. Aside from the peniten- ers who were the matriarchs of the in Science, Energy tiary at Parchman Farm, cotton put family, who held the family together.” & Technology As the cast went over their lines more people to work than any busiabout an hour before Friday’s showness in the Delta. “Once a child reached the age of time, some talked about what being 12, they could get paid to work in in the production meant to them. “It is so important that we preserve the cotton fields all day, five days a our legacy,” said Anthony Brown, week. “For six years I had prayed to God, who sang an original selection called hoping that he would spare me the “More” during the production. “This misery of picking cotton for a living. was a piece of Black history that I “And if my prayer wasn’t an- didn’t know about, about the whole swered, my education was going to philosophy about picking cotton be taken from me and replaced with and how going to school for a young man was the exception and not the a pick and hoe.” Godfrey, a senior graphics design- norm.” Clarence Godfrey eventually got er for the Montgomery County Department of Parks and Planning who his education, earned a college dehas produced numerous successful gree and had a successful career in plays and performances, said he was D.C. Darrell’s mother, Mary Godcompelled to write about his father, frey, who was in attendance Friday, who was part of a generation of Af- would do the same, not only going rican Americans who fled the South to college but also becoming the first seeking education, opportunity and African-American director of the hope. The mass exodus, known as Maryland-National Capital Park and the Great Migration, was the focal Planning Commission. Darrell said that while there were point of this year’s Black History many incredible things that he learned Month celebration. “In the last years of my father’s from writing about his father, one of life, as his health was declining, he the hardest moments was listening began to share stories with me about to him talk of when he was about 14 By Hamil R. Harris WI Contributing Writer
years old and how he really was being treated by the “white folks” who he thought were being kind. “He realized that for several years he had been eating scraps that white folks were throwing out,” Godfrey said. “When he told me this story, it was the first time in my entire life that I had ever seen my father cry. It moved me deeply and I realized how much pain he had kept inside all those years.” WI
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ADVOCACY | EDUCATION | PROTECTION
The Office of the People's Counsel Observes Black History Month
mer shirley jacksn
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5 Young children learn the history of their ancestors. (Hamil R. Harris/The Washington Informer)
OPC Salutes these Pioneers Among Others in Science, Energy & Technology Lewis H. Latimer
helped to invent the lightbulb that improved Thomas Edison's invention and worked with Alexander Graham Bell on the telephone.
Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson,
a native Washingtonian, conducted breakthrough scientific research that enabled others to invent the portable fax, touch tone telephone, solar cells, and fiber optic cables.
OPC WORKS FOR YOU! OPC, an independent agency of the District of Columbia government, is the advocate for consumers of electric, natural gas and landline phone services. Coming soon: DC Water Contact OPC, if you need help with a utility issue, or would like a speaker for your civic, church, labor or business organization.
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(202) 727-3071 |www.opc-dc.gov E info@opc-dc.gov | @DCOPC DCPeoplesCounsel
FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 6, 2019 29 THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
The Truth About Blackface: It Never Went Away By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia From former “Today” host Megyn Kelly’s defense of blackface worn for Halloween costumes to the recent scandal in Virginia, blackface has reared its ugly and most demeaning head. So much so that officials at museums such as the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of African American History in Baltimore were forced to host conversations on the legacy of blackface. Kaye Whitehead, talk show host and Loyola University Maryland associate professor of communication and African-American studies, moderated the discussion. Whitehead, an award-winning author of “Notes from a Colored Girl: The Civil War Pocket Diaries of Emilie Frances Davis,” also sat in on a screening of the documentary “Ethnic Notions,” which took viewers on a disturbing voyage through American history, tracing the deep-rooted stereotypes which have fueled anti-Black prejudice. While Virginia Gov. Ralph
Northam and the state’s Attorney General Mark Herring both have come under firing and have heard calls for their resignation from office because of admitting donning blackface in the 1980s, the controversy has continued. Following the Northam and Herring scandal, reporters at USA Today were assigned to review hundreds of college yearbooks from the 1970s and 1980s, presumably in search of other officials, celebrities and individuals who may have donned blackface or other offensive attire. The newspaper reported that it had identified at least 200 instances of racist and derogatory images and material in yearbooks across the country. But one stood out. The 1988-89 yearbook from Arizona State University which the New York Times reported was edited by a 21-year-old named Nicole Carroll, now the editor-in-chief of USA Today. The page showed two white male students covered in black paint while smiling at the Alpha Kappa Psi fraternity’s Halloween party. As described by the New York
Times: On the left, a shirtless man with boxing gloves over his shoulders was dressed as Mike Tyson, while the other student, wearing a wig and a bikini top, was Robin Givens. Like others, Carroll was forced to issue an apology. “I’m sorry for the hurt I caused back then and the hurt it will cause today,” she wrote in USA Today last week about overseeing the publication of the blackface photograph. USA Today released a statement saying that when the photograph was discovered, Carroll “immediately recused herself from involvement in this coverage.” Carroll said, “Clearly the 21-yearold me who oversaw the yearbook and that page didn’t understand how offensive the photo was. I wish I had.” She added: “Today’s 51-year-old me of course understands and is crushed by this mistake.” In a statement, a spokesman for Alpha Kappa Psi said the fraternity was sorry for the pain the photo caused. The New York Times reported that Arizona State University officials T:9.5” also apologized for the photo. S:9”
5A recent “Weekend News Update” segment on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” (Screen shot)
Still, blackface remains problematic and, for some reason, has reared its racist head again from Prada and Gucci to Katy Perry’s shoe design. Filmmaker Spike Lee has led the call by other celebrities to boycott companies. In a recent announcement, Lee said he would no longer wear Gucci or Prada “until they hire some Black designers to be in da room when [these things] happen.” NPR pointed out the previous use of blackface by two of the biggest stars of late night television.
Back in 2000, when comedian Jimmy Kimmel was the host of “The Man Show,” he had a recurring skit in which he wore blackface to impersonate former Utah Jazz basketball player Karl Malone. In the skit, he mocked Malone’s speech and intelligence while wearing a bald cap, fullbody blackface and Malone’s jersey. In another segment, Kimmel wore dark makeup while impersonating Oprah Winfrey, NPR reported. Jimmy Fallon once portrayed co-
BLACKFACE Page 48
BLACK HISTORY. PASS IT ON.
30 FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 6, 2019
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Pass on your stories, your knowledge and your love. AARP celebrates Black History Month. Learn more at aarp.org/blackcommunity.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
NationHouse Students Show Musical Prowess By Sam P.K. Collins WI Contributing Writer @SamPKCollins Throughout the month of February, youth from NationHouse, one of D.C.’s perennial African-centered schools, displayed their paintings at the Congress Heights Arts and Culture Center (CHACC) as part of the Akwaaba February Art Extravaganza and annual fundraiser. On Sunday, Feb. 24, those young artists, along with their parents and teachers, gathered at their exhibit for the Akwaaba Brunch and Children’s Concert, the last of three major Akwaaba events and an opportunity for student vocalists and instrumentalists to show what they learned this academic year. “It was nerve-racking and fun being up there. I felt supported,” said Selah Garner, trombone player and soon-to-be NationHouse graduate. During a group performance on Sunday, Selah confidently maneuvered his instrument during a short solo as his mother and other family members watched in awe.
Selah said he learned how to play the trombone by practicing and watching YouTube tutorials. In years past, his talents have placed him in various circles. “I was in the D.C. Youth Orchestra for two years before I started rites [of passage] in September,” Selah said. “I’m going to go back. I’ve always loved the trombone. No other instrument has a slide like that.” Earlier in the program, a chorus of young people, whose ages ranged from four to seventeen, sang “Smooth Sailing” by Ella Fitzgerald and Miriam Makeba’s “Pole Mzee,” a tribute to Jomo Kenyatta, onetime prime minister of Kenya. Spoken-word artist Ifedayo later engaged guests in call-and-response with a poem that encouraged resonance with the African continent. The program followed an opening reception for the Akwaaba exhibit and a founders’ tribute where NationHouse music instructor and alumna Akua Allrich, along with The Tribe, regaled the audience with jazz tunes. Each event allowed students and teachers to sell their art and related items donated by stu-
dents and professional artists, proceeds of which go to NationHouse, CHACC, and Nich Arts, a nonprofit that facilitates artistic expression for people of African descent. Less than a month into its existence, the Akwaaba exhibit, named after the Twi word for “welcome,” has shown promise of longevity. Shortly before youth sang their first number, Yaa Asantewa Akoto, one of the directors of NationHouse and an alumna, announced that student artwork will soon have a home at the new Busboys & Poets opening in Anacostia. “This is a celebration of the children’s art, and art in general. Art has been important in terms of expression,” Akoto told an audience of more than 50 people, many of whom dressed in colorful west African dashikis, headwraps, jewelry and lappa suits. “We’ve identified NationHouse as a space to be free, as we support parents in the education of their children,” she added. “The children have an art program at the end of the school year, and they have other programs [where] singing and in-
struments are a couple [of the art forms].” Preparation for the children’s concert kicked off at the beginning of the academic year, as youth recited songs with Allrich as part of their daily group huddle to start the school day. In what Allrich described as an organic process, the young people eventually chose those they wanted to publicly perform. She said Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” might be on the lineup in the future. “Music has been a huge part of our curriculum,” Allrich said. “It’s a full education and music can’t be separated from the African and anyone who’s indigenous. It’s beneficial for all of their subjects. Any expression and idiom helps them with their math and we talk about lyrics when they learn literature and communications. There has to be a rhythm that helps them think critically and outside the box.” NationHouse, located on Dix Street in Northeast, opened in 1974 through the efforts of Agyei Akoto, Akua N. Akoto, Akili Ron Anderson and Kehembe Eichelberger, members of the Afrikan Liberation Art Ensemble. Before moving to the
Deanwood community, NationHouse maintained a presence on Park Road in Northwest, first near Fourth Street and later Sherman Avenue. Alumni have matriculated to Howard University, Spelman College, Morgan State University and other schools. NationHouse currently maintains three programs, including the Watoto School for elementary students, and the Sankofa Institute for fifth- and sixth-graders. Dozens of students, organized in grade levels named after traditional African nations, receive arts-integrated education with a focus on Pan-African self-determination. On Sunday, Eichelberger, chair of Howard University’s music department, thanked parents and community members for helping NationHouse endure for decades. “As an institution, we have to maintain ourselves and you make it possible,” Eichelberger said. “Every dollar buys nail and duct tape. There’s a constant assault on our children and institutions. We have to teach them so they know how to work out here. It’s critical that we support all the institutions, Black colleges, and schools trying to do the same thing.” WI
As we celebrate Black History Month in February, we recognize and honor the accomplishments of so many African Americans who have helped shape the face and future of our nation. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 6, 2019 31 THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
black Georgetown Revisited
Part of The Washington Informer’s Historic Examination of Black America 1619-2019
Black Georgetown Remembered: Serving Up Talent By Shantella Y. Sherman WI Special Editions Editor Professional talent scouts the world over often attest to the fact that natural, home-spun talent remains largely overlooked on the nation’s blacktops, within urban choirs, and other intellectual centers. Few examples exemplify this like the dynamic talent of Georgetown tennis players, Roumania and Margaret Peters. Between the late 1930s to the early 1950s, the sisters, affectionately nicknamed Pete (Margaret) and Repeat (Roumania), dominated the Black tennis circuit. Touring with the American Tennis Association, the nation’s most prolific African-American sports club, the sisters’ records would eventually include winning 14 doubles titles in 15 years. The American
5Dr. Shantella Y. Sherman (Photo by India Kea)
Tennis Association (ATA) founded on November 30, 1916 by more than a dozen Black tennis clubs is an all-black tennis association that functioned parallel to the white-only United States Lawn Tennis Association (USLTA). Trained on the Rose Park playground across from their Georgetown home, the Peters sisters often practiced for hours each day to perfect their considerable techniques. “These young girls were the precursors to Althea Gibson, Venus and Serena Williams, and Naomi Osaka, in the sense that they would not allow the restrictions and barriers placed in their way to stop them from achieving their goals,” sports historian Jarricka Ward told the Informer. “The Peters sisters challenged racism – whether experienced in Georgetown, towns surrounding Tuskegee, or on the world stage – by whipping the tails of their opponents and shutting the mouths of the naysayers.” Born in 1915 and 1917, Margaret and Roumania lived at 2710 O St. in Georgetown as teenagers and taught themselves to play tennis. In 1935 Cleveland Leigh Abbot, the athletic director of Tuskegee Institute (University) in Alabama offered Margaret a full scholarship to attend the school,
but she reportedly declined the offer – offering to accept a year later, once her sister graduated from high school and they could attend together. “Tuskegee at this time was among the most sought-after universities in the nation for Blacks – especially athletes, many of whom were making names for themselves and the athletic department on international stages,” Ward said. “To have one sister decline in order to usher in her sister, was an amazing testament to their love for each other, as well as the sport itself.” From 1937-1941 the sisters won the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship and were four-time ATA National Tournament doubles Champions from 1938-1941. The camaraderie developed between the sisters also made for a quiet and soft competition; the type shared between siblings. In a 1960s interview Roumania said: “One time [Margaret] would win this tournament; the next time I’d win the tournament. Then the next time she’d win the tournament, then I’d win the next. And so on, and we kept it going like that and every year we still won the doubles. No one in college beat us in the doubles so that’s how we reviewed so many so many trophies because we’d each bring about two trophies apiece from the schools.”
stores in predominantly Black neighborhoods was initiated in Washington D.C. by what organization? A. New Negro Alliance, B. The Urban League, C. The Black Panthers, D. The NAACP
1. Chief surveyor of the city of Washington, D.C., who was also an astronomer and mathematician? A. Charles Randolph, B. Benjamin Banneker, C. Pierre L’Enfant, D. Douglass Faring 2. What name was given the attempted mass slave escape
in Washington, D.C. that began on the banks of the Southwest waterfront? A. The Fugitive Run, B. Escape to Freedom, C. The Pearl Incident, D. The Wharf Escape 3. “Don’t Buy Where You Can’t Work” campaigns against racist hiring practices in white-owned
32 FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 6, 2019
4. Which U.S. President set the clock of integration back by mandating segregation policies in all federal agencies – most of which adhered to a policy of hires based strictly upon education and skill? A. Franklin Roosevelt, B. Calvin Coolidge, C. Gerald Ford, D. Woodrow Wilson 5. Name the one African-American female named among the eleven attorneys who assisted in arguing the Brown v. Board case in 1954 alongside Thurgood Marshall?
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
3Roumania and Margaret Peters at Tuskegee Institute (University), c. 1937 – 1941 (Courtesy photo) 6Roumania Peters and Althea Gibson at Wilberforce College (University) (Courtesy photo)
In 1941, both graduated with bachelor’s degrees in physical education. Following their retirement from the ATA in the early 1950s, Margaret and Roumania earned master’s degrees and worked in the D.C. Public Schools, and the Department of Recreation’s summer
tennis camp at Rose Park. Many of her protégés went on to receive four-year-athletic scholarships to college. In 2015, the DC Government officially dedicated the Rose Park Tennis Courts to Margaret and Roumania Peters. WI
A. Janice Bolding, B. Constance Baker Motley, C. Ellen Hayes Matthews, D. Prudence Capers
Spotlight, C. The D.C. Bee, D. The Washington Informer.
6. Which African-American owned newspaper has served the city and nation for more than 50 years – while representing D.C.’s East of the River community? A. The AFRO, B. The Capital
7. The park located at 20th and Franklin Streets Northeast is named for what Washington, D.C. musical icon? A. Duke Ellington, B. Chuck Brown, C. Marvin Gaye, D. Wale 3 This African-American female legal mastermind, pictured with Thurgood Marshall, drafted what would become the argument for Brown v. Board. (Courtesy photo)
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What would you like the power to do? Listening to how people answer this question is how we learn what matters most to them, so we can help them achieve their goals. At Bank of America we are here to serve. We had one of our best years ever in 2018: strong recognition for customer service in every category, the highest levels of customer satisfaction and record financial results that allow us to keep investing in how we serve. That translates to a great team delivering the best capabilities for our clients and our communities. We can only be successful when our customers, clients, communities and employees share in that success. We are proud to be recognized for the work we do for you.
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As always, protect your personal data. For assistance with a personal financial issue, please visit your nearest financial center. From FORTUNE®, September 2018 © 2018 Time Inc. Used under license. FORTUNE® is a registered trademark of Time Inc. and is used under license. FORTUNE and Time Inc. are not affiliated with, and do not endorse products or services of, Bank of America. © 2019 Bank of America Corporation. | Member FDIC | ARSFHQPS | TAD-12-18-0260
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FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 6, 2019 33 THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
LIFESTYLE TRAYVON Page 1
while civil rights leaders and activists have ramped up efforts to challenge a criminal justice system that routinely treats Blacks and women as second-class citizens. “Blacks seeking justice must continue with protests, pressure and patience,” said Benjamin Crump who served as the civil attorney for the Martin family. “We cannot ignore the realities that were unearthed in the wake of this still-shocking verdict – realities that exclude an honest and frank dialogue on race. Stand your ground is a broken doctrine of jurisprudence. It does not work in the same way for all Americans. As the years pass, it may make things easier to ignore, but it does not mean they no longer exist,” Crump said. Shortly after Trayvon’s murder, the shooting of another Black youth, Jordan Davis, 17, illustrated yet another high-profile Florida case
in which the shooter, a white man named Michael Dunn, 47, attempted to justify his actions saying he felt threatened after confronting Jordan and three other teens in their Dodge Durango outside of a convenience store on November 23, 2012. After complaining about the volume of their music, Dunn shot into the vehicle 10 times, with three bullets cutting through Jordan’s liver, a lung and his aorta. During Dunn’s trial, Jordan’s mother, Lucia McBath (recently elected to Congress in Georgia) said to this reporter, “no matter what the jury decides I know it will be God’s ruling that has the final say.” “If the murderers of Trayvon and Jordan could stand their ground why couldn’t our children? she asked. Black parents know that the rules are different and even though we try our best, we cannot protect them from laws that almost make it a crime to be Black.”
Florida passed the first such law in 2005, allowing people to stand their ground instead of retreating if they reasonably believe doing so will “prevent death or great bodily harm.” Other states followed with laws specifically affirming one’s right to defend themselves, even outside of their homes and with deadly force if necessary.
PERSONAL REFLECTIONS ON TRAYVON’S DEATH
It’s been seven years since a young, Black teenager, Trayvon Martin, was targeted, confronted and subsequently shot dead by a white man who claimed that he was just protecting his gated, Florida community when the tragic incident occurred. I would get a ringside seat in my role as the senior editor of The Miami Times, the largest and oldest Black-owned newspaper in the state and in the South, as protests gathered steam and as court proceedings which Trayvon’s shooter unfolded. More difficult to swallow in any objective way were the numerous opportunities I would have to spend time with the young man-child’s parents, family and friends who all willingly shared their memories of Trayvon, also expressing how difficult they found it to believe that
5 February 5 would have been Trayvon Martin’s 24th birthday. Violence against the Black community has not changed much. (Courtesy photo/Mic)
something like that had actually happened. Perhaps it was naïve for me to believe that the senseless death of Trayvon Martin was an anomaly and had little chance of reoccurring. But it has since happened again, and again and … again. And so, as the days became months and now years, the list of young Black boys and Black men, as well as Black women, killed before their time — victims of police-in-
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34 FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 6, 2019
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
volved shootings or wantabee cops – has grown longer. Still, I have clung to my assertion that it will only be a matter of time before this troublesome and senseless trend will finally end. Yet, it hasn’t. I guess that’s why I frequently called my oldest grandson, 17, and my only male child, Jared, just weeks away from his 25th birthday. I’m sure they have long grown weary of me making them listen intently to me dive into “the talk.” I wanted to believe that these many chats will keep them both safe. I want to believe that my words will be key in maintaining the chasm between life or death for my two young warriors. But in my heart, I really don’t know if I believe what I profess or not. So, I stay on the job and remain on guard. I tell them that they must always be aware and always avoid confrontations with the police in particular, and unknown white men in general. I tell them they need to think hard and fast about the people they hang out with, the kinds of places they frequent and the types of activities in which they become involved. I wish it didn’t have to be this way. But as both Sybrina (Trayvon’s mother) and Lucia (Jordan’s mother) have been shared with me during several private moments, they had similar talks with their sons and they prayed each day for their safety. Neither of them told me that they could have imagined the tragic outcomes that awaited their beloved boys. My oldest grandson is almost a man. The youngest is just starting school. More than anything, I want to see them continue to enjoy life and to keep moving forward as they navigate their way in this world as young, gifted and Black men. They deserve the chance to grow from boyhood to manhood. And we, the elders, must find ways to better protect them. If not us, then who? WI
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LIFESTYLE
‘The Heiress’ Comes to Arena Stage
By Eve M. Ferguson WI Contributing Writer
“The Heiress,” now playing at the Arena Stage Fichlander Stage, is a story that could have sprung from the news of today. Yet the adaptation from Henry James’ novella “Washington Square” is set in the 19th century, before women even had the right to vote. Blending melodrama with a classic plot, “The Heiress” tells the story of Catherine Sloper (Laura C. Harris), a wealthy young woman with no confidence in her own personality and no moral support from her father, Austin Sloper (James Whalen) a respected and successful physician who has a substantial inheritance for his only child upon his death. Set in New York City, Catherine is a shy, unassuming young woman who lives with her father and his sister, Lavinia Penniman (Nancy Robinette). Another sister, Elizabeth Almond (Janet Hayashahi) lives nearby and comes calling with her daughter, Marian Almond (Lorene Chesley) and her fiancé Arthur Townshend (Nathan Whitmer). The visit seems innocent enough as Marian and Arthur announce their engagement. But what puts the play into motion is the visitor, Arthur’s cousin Morris Townshend, just returning from Europe. The vivacious young man attempts to break the socially awkward Catherine out of her shell — and ultimately wins her affection. But Morris is poor, although enthusiastic about making Catherine his wife, and as the plot ensues, the audience is left questioning his intentions. “It’s a thriller of the heart,” said Chesley, who plays Marian Almond and is also the only African American in the nine-member cast. “We follow the journey of Catherine Sloper, a shy, plain woman, who is pursued by this poised and passionate, yet poor suitor, Morris Townsend. The audience gets to go on the ride of, does he want her for love or money?” Her character represents the fulfilled woman, on the brink of her new life with a husband who has passed muster with the family. “Marian is the sparkle,” Chesley said. “She brings forth important information for the audience to know, and is the juxtaposition of what Catherine is.
5 (L to R) Janet Hayatshahi (Elizabeth Almond) and James Whalen (Dr. Austin Sloper) in The Heiress running February 8 through March 10, 2019 at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. (C. Stanley Photography/Arena Stage)
She is confident, charming and joyous. “Marian is one of the few characters who actually gets what she wants,” she said. “There is a beautiful freedom in that! She infuses joy and love into a household that is a lot of times barren.” Beyond the drama that unfolds when Dr. Sloper rejects Morris Townshend’s proposal to marry his daughter, “The Heiress” makes a statement beyond the obvious. It reflects the misery that Catherine has been living with due to the harsh criticism and coldness of her father, who still harbors resentment because his wife died giving birth to his daughter. It also speaks to finding one’s way without external gratification, which is Catherine’s inevitable fate when she realizes she has no one but herself. Molly Smith, artistic director of Arena Stage, had been anticipating the right time to present “The Heiress,” which was adapted for the stage from James’ novella by Ruth and Augustus Goetz in 1945. The playwrights took some liberties with the ending, which James had cast Catherine as a dismal spinster. Instead, they endowed the protagonist with an inner strength and resolve that matched the times when women were beginning to find and use their voices. “Why this play now?” Smith said. “At the core, this is the story of a woman struggling with defining herself through others — a father, a husband. While defining oneself through other people may
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be a story predominantly told by women, certainly it’s a universal idea that we are not only who our parents or partners want us to be — we are individuals and our thoughts, needs, desires are our own.” In this era of women still struggling to find an authentic voice, “The Heiress” drives home common truths that we can all relate to, regardless of age, gender or social status. “We see the alliances formed between family members and what each of them are fighting for,” Chesley said. “We truly see a woman who evolves and finds her own voice during this time period, despite the opinions of her overbearing father, romantic aunt and zealous lover. She has the fortitude and determination to seek what she wants, and during the 1850s, I think that’s incredibly bold. “I think women and men seeing the show in 2019 should continue to seek their own voices,” she said. “Listen to one another fully, and examine the character and what’s underneath each of your relationships and how you interact with one another on a daily basis. Don’t take any relationships for granted!” “The Heiress” runs through March 10 at the Fichlander Stage of the Arena Stage Mead Center for American Theater (1101 Sixth Street SW). Post-performance discussions will be held after the March 5, 6 and 7 performances. Go to www.arenastage.org for showtimes and more information. WI
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FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 6, 2019 35 THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
LIFESTYLE
‘Devastating’ Michael Jackson Documentary Premieres on HBO By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia I still say my first trip to Neverland Ranch was the best vacation I’d ever taken until my honeymoon to Puerto Rico years later with my dear wife. The late Michael Jackson obviously had a flair like no other performer — or celebrity — in history. Each time he ascended onto a stage, he was accompanied by pyrotechnics, awesome lighting and other outstanding special effects. Every thump of the bass during songs like “Billie Jean” and “Wanna Be Startin’ Something” whipped fans into a frenzy. When the music ended, when the
light bulbs stopped flashing and the last of the sounds of screaming women — and men — finally stopped, Neverland was the place Jackson went home. It was either paradise as some described, or, as others concluded, the quintessential and most expensive lure for an unsuspecting child and his family. It’s exactly why many reviewers describe the new documentary “Leaving Neverland,” which details Jackson’s relationships with children, as both “revealing” and “devastating.” The four-hour HBO documentary, scheduled to air in two parts Sunday, March 3 and Monday, March 4, focuses on two men, Wade
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Robson and James Safechuck, both who claim Jackson abused them as children. Jackson’s estate has vehemently denied the claims, saying it’s a belated attempt to exploit money from the late singer, who died in 2009. Robson and Safechuck say they were ages 7 and 10, respectively, when they met Jackson. Now in their 30s, they claim they were repeatedly molested by the singer, who had always denied the allegations lodged against him when he was alive. Robson said he was “repeatedly raped,” and Safechuck details a “wedding ceremony” that took place between him and Jackson when Safechuck was 10. Both go into specific and graphic details and surprisingly they reveal what reviewers who screened the film in January at the Sundance Film Festival said was convincing evidence, including recordings and photos, that prove Jackson’s abuse. The singer was arrested in 2003 and charged with molesting a 13-year-old cancer patient. While Safechuck declined to testify in the 2005 case that followed Jackson’s arrest, Robson gave testimony on his idol’s behalf, saying the “Thriller” singer had never touched him. However, Robson’s testimony did elicit plenty of doubt from experts who pointed out what they thought were incriminating statements. Robson testified that he’d shared a bed with Jackson as a boy “many times,” while Robson’s mother, Joy, testified that Jackson “would cry” if she didn’t allow her son to spend the night with him. Another eye-opening admission from Joy Robson was that when Jackson was under investigation more than a decade earlier in 1993, he sought comfort from Wade, who was just a child. During the 2005 trial, Joy Robson testified that on the night Jackson finally flew from overseas back to Neverland, he implored her to bring Wade for a sleepover despite the short notice and very late request
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36 FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 6, 2019
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5 “Leaving Neverland” (Courtesy of Sundance Institute)
— it was nearing midnight in Los Angeles where the Robsons lived, more than two hours away from Neverland. “Michael said, ‘I’ve got to be with him tonight,’” she testified. Still, Robson denied being abused by Jackson until after the singer died. It wasn’t until later when Robson became a father and suffered two nervous breakdowns before he mustered up the courage to reveal to a therapist that Jackson had repeatedly raped him as a boy. “It was just pain and disgust and anger, the idea something like that could happen to my son,” Robson said. In 2013 Robson filed a lawsuit against Jackson’s estate but a judge ruled he’d waited too long to seek legal action. Jackson’s family and fans have countered that Robson and Safechuck, who also sued the estate, only want money. The filmmakers of “Leaving Neverland” said neither were paid for their appearance. But Jackson’s camp has long maintained that greed is behind the allegations. Attorney Tom Mesereau successfully defended Jackson in the 2005 trial by claiming the accusations were all about money. Nevertheless, Jackson reportedly paid out at least
$200 million to alleged victims, lawyers, private investigators and others in efforts to silence claims of sex abuse. The accuser in the 2005 trial, however, proved different. During pretrial hearings, the young boy’s mother said she’d never sue Jackson because she “didn’t want the devil’s money.” Despite struggling financially through college, his bout with cancer, and even temporary homelessness, the accuser in the 2005 case never sued Jackson and, after Jackson’s death, he never filed any claims against the singer’s estate. Jackson’s family denies he abused anyone. However, over the last 25 years of his life, his family knew very little of him. Except for his mother, Katherine, Jackson and his family were almost complete strangers, their interaction was not more than a token visit on “Family Day” once a year. Now, as the #MeToo movement has led folks to cry, “Believe the victims,” it’ll be interesting to see whether Robson and Safechuck are afforded those same hearing ears. As for me, I still sing along to Jackson’s music. But even more so, I applaud the brave men like Robson and Safechuck and others who might be victims of abuse. For the full version of this story, go to washingtoninformer.com. The views expressed are not necessarily those of The Washington Informer. Stacy M. Brown a senior writer for The Informer and author of the forthcoming biography “Aftermath: Michael Jackson’s Dysfunctional Family and the Legacy of the King of Pop.” He also co-authored “Michael Jackson: The Man Behind the Mask, An Insiders Account of the King of Pop.” WI
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LIFESTYLE
5 Regina King (Robert R. Roberts/WI File Photo)
First-time Oscar Wins for Regina King and ‘Sentimental Favorite’ Spike Lee
5 Spike Lee (Roy Lewis/WI File Photo)
Regina King, who many may remember as a child actor on the popular sitcom, “227,” was chosen as Best Supporting Actress for her role in Barry Jenkins’ “If Beale Street Could Talk,” based on the same-titled novel by the great James Baldwin, in which she plays Sharon Rivers, a matriarch whose spirit is as strong as her love for her family. During her acceptance speech, she described herself as one who is an “example of what it looks like when love and support is poured into someone,” later adding, “God is good all the time.” She frequently referred to and thanked her mother for her many years of encouragement and support. King becomes one of only three Black actresses who have won both an Oscar and a Primetime Emmy Award, the others being Viola Davis and Halle Berry, who won their Oscars in 2016 and 2001, respectively. King has three Emmys, which she won in 2015, 2016 and 2018. In an interview with CNN, King said she felt like she’d been “preparing for this role all my life.” But the sentimental favorite for this year’s Academy Awards had to be Spike Lee who has not fared well, at least in the minds of those who vote for the nominees and winners of the Oscar. Lee accepted the award for Best Adapted Screenplay for his film, “BlacKkKlansman,” his first competitive Oscar after receiving an honorary award several years ago. Lee took to the stage with obvious excitement before launching into his acceptance speech which addressed how deeply he feels about the significance of Black history including heartfelt thanks to his grandmother who provided the funds so he could attend college. He has been nominated twice in his career, for the 1997 documentary “4 Little Girls” and for “Do the Right Thing” in 1989 but has never won. Commenting on the upcoming 2020 presidential election, he said, “Let’s all mobilize. Let’s all be on the right side of history. Make the moral choice between love versus hate. Let’s do the right thing! You know I had to get that in there.” By D. Kevin McNeir, WI Editor @dkevinmcneir
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38 FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 6, 2019 Same Day Delivery-WashInformer.indd 1
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LIFESTYLE
wi book review
horoscopes
FEBRUARY 28 MARCH 6, 2019
ARIES After last week’s rather emotional events, this week could seem much more placid. You’re encourages you to take a step back and make time for reflection. If you’re interested in enjoying greater peace of mind, taking up meditation or yoga might be a positive move. Lucky Numbers: 4, 12, 56
“Good Kids, Bad City”
by Kyle Swenson
TAURUS With fiery Mars continuing its progress through your sign, the coming week could see you energized and ready to give your all to an idea or project. Your patient approach can bring rewards because you enjoy building things up slowly. You understand the process of growth, and this can be a big advantage that leads to success. Don’t hesitate to invite others on board if you need a helping hand. Lucky Numbers: 11, 16, 53
c.2019, Picador
$29 ($38 Canada) 289 pages
GEMINI With the sun in a prominent sector, this is your chance to relish the spotlight and make others aware of your special skills and abilities. A positive aspect midweek encourages you to listen to your instincts concerning an opportunity, especially if it’s one you haven’t thought about much. If you get an idea to call someone or take some other kind of action, following through could make you aware of the opportunity and how it might benefit you in the future. Lucky Numbers: 12, 39, 49 By Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer Your hands were clean. Freshly washed, not a speck of dirt, they were as clean as your conscience. You did no wrong; instead, you promoted what was good and right. But, as in “Good Kids, Bad City” by Kyle Swenson, past actions sometimes don’t matter. Over a decade ago, somewhere near Kyle Swenson’s desk at a Cleveland-area weekly newspaper, letters piled up from prisoners begging for journalistic investigation of denied crimes. Like many newsfolk, Swenson was skeptical of those vows of innocence, so he dismissed the letters and others like them. Still, because he was fresh out of ideas for his monthly feature story, he agreed to meet someone to talk about a crime that happened before Swenson was even born. Kwame Ajamu arrived with a box of papers that shocked Swenson to his core. On May 19, 1975, as Swenson learned, salesman Harry J. Franks was collecting from his accounts when he was shot and killed on a Cleveland sidewalk. Coming home from a pickup basketball game, Ajamu, Wiley Bridgeman and Rickey Jackson pushed into a surrounding crowd and saw the white man bleeding on the concrete, but they didn’t stick around. The situation seemed under control. Franks was dead, and there was no reason to linger. They hadn’t been there when Franks was shot, but on May 25, Bridgeman, Ajamu and Jackson were arrested and charged with murder on the basis of a false account given by a 12-year-old boy, a lie that folded into more mistruths encouraged by corrupt police. Jackson, Ajamu and Bridgeman swiftly went to trial and were ultimately sentenced to death. Their sentences were later commuted to life. Released in 2003 after making parole, Ajamu had “talked about his case to anyone who would listen” but no one believed him. That changed in 2011, when a lawyer suggested he take his story to a newspaper reporter. They arranged to meet at a coffee house. Ajamu “was nervous.” “That’s when I walked through the door,” says Swenson. That sentence reads as though it should have a cape and superpowers, doesn’t it? But no, there’s much more to “Good Kids, Bad City,” and author Kyle Swenson was merely a catalyst — he was the listener Kwame Ajamu needed. To help readers better understand the subtleties of this tale and its full impact, Swenson shares the history of Cleveland, a highly progressive city nearly two centuries ago but one that slowly fell victim to racism further complicated by corruption. Thorough accounts put things into keen perspective here, especially when we’re invited into the home lives of the accused men and their families and we get to know the men as boys. And yet, even with those once-happy sightlines, this story might’ve been just another tale of wrong accusations, except for one thing: Swenson also tracks the accuser, the boy, as he grows up. That story-within-a-story mushrooms in a way that you’ll want to see. It’ll outrage you as it fascinates. It’s a draw that makes “Good Kids, Bad City” a book to get your hands on. WI WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
CANCER Reaching out for new ideas and opportunities and being willing to learn new things could be very beneficial. With the sun in your sector of travel and adventure, you might be ready to explore ideas that can positively impact your life. Indeed, a friend’s suggestion could lead you in a new direction in the first place. Taking it up might spur you on to find out more. Lucky Numbers: 29, 30, 52 LEO As fiery Mars continues its journey through your sector of goals and career, you might be motivated to give more time and energy to success. However, underlying this could be a desire for greater security, which could see you seeking out more traditional roles if they promise this. You might not be so motivated to take risks this time, preferring a path that guarantees results. Lucky Numbers: 8, 19, 24 VIRGO Your focus might be on others and improving relationships, working as part of a team, and generally contributing to people’s happiness. This isn’t so much a time for solo efforts because you might get better results by working with others and pooling your skills and abilities. A dynamic aspect midweek could see you taking things one step further and traveling with a group for pleasure or more serious reasons - and enjoying every moment. Lucky Numbers: 7, 57, 59 LIBRA The sun’s presence in your lifestyle sector could be a call to look to your health and overall well-being. Your first thought might be to treat yourself to a little self-care and pampering, especially if you’ve been busy helping others. The coming week is your chance to treat yourself in any way you desire. A luxurious massage or even a new hairstyle or clothes could leave you feeling on top of the world. Lucky Numbers: 6, 8, 21 SCORPIO This isn’t a time to hide your skills and talents or keep them under wraps but to be willing to market them. The sun’s presence in a dynamic sector is perfect for promoting your art, no matter what form it takes. And the more you indulge in your favorite hobbies and pastimes, the more therapeutic this can be. Channeling any frustration into your creations could produce excellent work and might also be very healing. Lucky Numbers: 9, 10, 40 SAGITTARIUS As dynamic Mars continues its journey through your lifestyle sector, you might be focused on honing your physique. The presence of lively Mars here could give you extra energy to channel into exercise and generally keeping fit. And you could benefit from connecting with a personal trainer who can help you keep up the momentum. You might be determined at the outset, but your patience could quickly fade if you don’t see results. Getting support could be crucial to continuing. Lucky Numbers: 7, 34, 44 CAPRICORN While you may have been busy lately, the presence of dynamic Mars in your leisure sector can act as a tonic, inspiring you to take a break from any pressure and simply enjoy yourself. If you notice any tension in your body, getting involved in a competitive sport, hiking, or generally moving around can help it to dissipate. On a similar note, a romantic trip with your partner or a new lover could be equally relaxing. Lucky Numbers: 17, 19, 38 AQUARIUS A new broom sweeps clean, and as feisty Mars continues its journey through your domestic sector, your desire to get your house looking lovely could see you very busy. If you’ve been getting rid of clutter, you might be wondering what to do with all that stuff. A positive midweek aspect between the sun and dynamic Mars could encourage you to sell items you no longer need, especially any that might be worth something. Lucky Numbers: 14, 27, 49 PISCES The sun continues its journey through your sign, illuminating ideas and possibilities that fill you with excitement. Don’t feel you have to keep any of this to yourself, though, because reaching out to others for advice and support can bring your plans to life more quickly. If you have a business to promote, this is the ideal time to do so because you’ll have the energy and enthusiasm to do a good job. This could be an excellent opportunity to catch up with old friends. Lucky Numbers: 6, 28, 33
FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 6, 2019 39 THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
SPORTS For more photos go to washingtoninformer.com
St. John’s Tops McNamara for 3rd Straight WCAC Title
5 St. John’s Cadets guard Carly Rivera drives past Bishop McNamara Mustangs guard Aliyah Matharu during the Cadets’ 66-51 win at American University Sports Complex in D.C. on Monday, Feb. 25. (John E. De Freitas/The Washington Informer) 3 Bishop McNamara Mustangs guard Hope Evans goes airborne after a pump fake by St. John’s Cadets guard Alex Cowan during the Cadets’ 66-51 win at American University Sports Complex in D.C. on Monday, Feb. 25.. (John E. De Freitas/The Washington Informer) 6 Gonzaga Eagles forward Terrance Williams drives past St. John’s Cadets guard Jalin Abbott during the Eagles’ 60-56 win at American University Sports Complex in D.C. on Monday, Feb. 25. (John E. De Freitas/The Washington Informer)
Gonzaga Outlasts St. John’s for Championship
5 Gonzaga Eagles forward Myles Stute dunks home two during the Eagles’ 60-56 win over the St. John’s Cadets at American University Sports Complex in D.C. on Monday, Feb. 25.. (John E. De Freitas/The Washington Informer)
40 FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 6, 2019
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42 FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 6, 2019
Board of Education representing Ward 7. “When I moved into my home, my purpose was to establish a foundation for my children and grandchildren. The neglect and now new proposed use of 4409 has caused me and continues to cause me anxiety and stress worrying if I could lose my home. I am now 70 years old, where peace plays a major factor in my daily living.” The plaintiffs submitted a motion and memorandum for an injunction to stop the District government and Valor from building the fire station that consists of an Emergency Management Systems and storage facility. The court documents said the construction should cease because of the harm it poses to the residents and the District government should provide an environmental impact study on the property and another on how the project will affect the immediate area, produce a study on the costs of building the fire station when another fire station exists less than half a mile away, and the neighborhood should have the chance through its advisory neighborhood commissioners to have a say on the project. There has been chemical residue on the property and vehicle explosions took place in November 2018 and in January, according to court documents. The proposed fire station will replace Engine Station #27 located on 4201 Minnesota Ave., N.E., documents say. The defendants named in the court documents include Valor, Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) and Council members Vincent Gray (D-Ward 7) and
Robert White (D-At Large), the latter of whom chairs the council’s Committee on Facilities and Procurement. D.C. Su p e r i o r Court Senior Associate Judge Russell F. Canan continued the case because the defendants needed more time to prepare. The next court date is March 15. In 2006, Valor acquired 4409, a former longtime auto repair facility, and worked with the community for years to build affordable housing units. However, Valor dropped the housing project when it has problems with the District of Columbia Board of Zoning Adjustments over zoning requirements and other constraints as well as a decline in the housing market in the neighborhood. In addition, Valor failed to pay taxes on the property from 20162018 as it became an eyesore in the community with abandoned vehicles, storage pipes and debris, with no fence to protect the residents. The motion and memo said when Valor decided to build the fire station, it did so without community consultation and with the support of the Bowser administra-
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tion. Douglas’s commission, 7D, voted on Oct. 26, 2017, to oppose the fire station and communicated its action and views to the Bowser administration. Nevertheless, Mendelson introduced the Valor lease agreement to the council on June 14, 2018, without the consideration of an approval or disapproval resolution, which the plaintiffs say violates city law. Plus, the court documents state that District officials violated another law that mandates that development projects must be considered by the commission in which it is located, and that the commission’s approval or disapproval must be given “great weight.” “I hope we can work with the community on this,” Gray said. “I hope that we can come to an amicable agreement on this.” Numerous attempts to contact Valor for comment were unsuccessful. Rick Tingling-Clemmons, a plaintiff, said he and his neighbors are prepared to vigorously fight the proposed fire station. “This community has been under constant siege, from 30-plus-year-old development plans to extend Minnesota Avenue through some of the residents’ homes and yards; through unregulated schemes from area profiteers; to developer Valor and the Department of General Services,” Tingling-Clemmons said. “But plaintiffs are committed to fighting for their homes, and to confronting those agencies that seem to be working in the developers’ interest at the expense of the residents’ quality of life. Land in our city is limited and valuable and we will guard our piece of it accordingly.” WI
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RELIGION the religion corner WITH LYNDIA GRANT
A Personal Take on D.C. Gentrification, Pt. 2 Let us take a look back at the District of Columbia over the past century to see how gentrification was put in motion. There have been changes to this city, ranging from riots after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was killed to the entrance of the street drug markets. Many parts of the city have flourished, especially for African Americans, one example being U Street NW. In the first half of the century, the Shaw section of the District of Columbia was home to a flourishing African-American scene. Duke Ellington played in the jazz clubs, Howard University offered a groundbreaking course on civil rights, and Black businesses and professional services supported a growing middle class. Legal segregation of schools was stopped in the U.S. by federal enforcement of a series of Supreme
Court decisions, starting in 1954 with Brown v. Board of Education. So began the “white flight,” when whites began to relocate to the suburbs to avoid desegregated schools. But unexpectedly, many affluent African Americans (middle class), who could afford to leave, also decided to do so. The riots sparked by the assassination of King in 1968 sent the area into a tailspin. Protesters firebombed and looted shops over several days, and troops were called in to restore order. Shaw emerged from the smoke with its civic and cultural heart hollowed out. My family now lived only two blocks from 8th and H streets in Northeast near neighborhood stores. We could see people carrying couches, lamps, tables and other furniture as they walked up the sidewalks. There was smoke all along H Street and various parts of the city as well. After the riots, the city was broken, devastated. Roderick Harrison, a sociology and anthropology
professor at Howard University, said “People thought of the inner city now as areas you don’t go into at all, much less live in, unless you were essentially looking for trouble.” Enter Cornell Jones, a drug kingpin in the D.C. area during the 1970s and 1980s, who created the first “open-air” drug market in the country. But it wasn’t until after dealers started selling crack in the mid-1980s that drug-related violence really escalated. Families were moving out of D.C., to get away from the openair drug market, my family included. We moved to a beautiful home in Silver Spring, Maryland. Come back next week for part three on my experience of gentrification in Washington, D.C. WI
Historic St. Mary’s Episcopal Church The Rev. E. Bernard Anderson Priest Foggy Bottom - Founded in 1867 728 23rd Street, NW - Washington, DC 20037 Church office: 202-333-3985 - Fax : 202-338-4958 Service and Times Sundays: 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Music and Hymns Wednesdays: 12:10 p.m. - Holy Eucharist
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1-877-579-9788 Mt. Zion Baptist Church
Reverend John W. Davis Pastor 5101 14th Street, NW Washington, DC 20011 Phone: 202-726-2220 Fax: 202-726-9089 Service and Times Sunday Worship Service - 8:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Children’s Church - 11:00 a.m. (1st & 3rd Sundays) Communion - 10 a.m. 4th Sunday Sunday School - 9:15 a.m. (4th Sunday 8:15 a.m.) Prayer Meeting & Bible Study - Wednesday 7:00 p.m. “A Church with a past to remember – and a future to mold”
(301) 864-6070
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Mount Olivet Lutheran Church
John F. Johnson Reverend Dr. 1306 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20005 Service and Times Divine Worship, Sunday 10:00 a.m. Communion 1st and 3rd Sunday “Friendliest Church in the City” Website: mountolivetdc.org Email: mtolivedc@gmail.com
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RELIGION The Miracle Center of Faith Missionary Baptist Church Bishop Michael C. Turner, Sr. Senior Pastor 9161 Hampton Overlook Capitol Heights, MD 20743 Phone: 301-350-2200 Fax: 301-499-8724
Service and Times Sunday Worship Times : 7:30 a.m. 7 10:00 a.m. Communion: 1st Sunday Sunday School: 9:00 a.m. Bible Study: Wednesday, 12 Noon Bible Study in homes: Tuesday 7:00 p.m. Website: www.themiraclecenterFMBC.com Email: Miraclecenterfmbs@gmail.com Motto: “We Walk by Faith, Not by Sight”
Blessed Word of Life Church
Pilgrim Baptist Church Rev. Louis B. Jones II Pastor 700 I Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20002 (202) 547-8849 Service and Times Worship Sundays: 7:30 & 11:00am 5th Sundays: 9:30am 3rd Sundays: Baptism & Holy Communion Prayer & Praise: Wednesdays @ Noon & 6:30pm www.pilgrimbaptistdc.org
Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ
Church of Living Waters
Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church
Rev. Paul Carrette Senior Pastor
Rev. Dr. Michael E. Bell, Sr., Pastor
Rev. Dr. Alton W. Jordan Pastor
Reverend Dr. Calvin L. Matthews Senior Pastor
Harold Andrew Assistant Pastor
2498 Alabama Ave., SE - Washington D.C. 20020 Office: (202) 889-7296 Fax: (202) 889-2198 - www.acamec.org
800 I Street, NE - Washington, DC 20002 202-548-0707 - Fax No. 202-548-0703
4915 Wheeler Road Oxon Hill, MD 20745 301-894-6464
Service and Times Sunday Worship Services: 8:00am and 11:00am Sunday Church School - 9:15am & Sunday Adult Forum Bible Study - 10:30am 2nd & 4th Monday Women’s Bible Study: 6:30pm Tuesday Jr./Sr. Bible Study: 10:00am Tuesday Topical Bible Study: 6:30pm Tuesday New Beginnings Bible Study: 6:30pm Wednesday Pastoral Bible Study: 6:30pm Wednesday Children’s Bible Study: 6:30pm Thursday Men’s Bible Study: 6:30pm Friday before 1st Sunday Praise & Worship Service: 6:30pm Saturday Adult Bible Study: 10:00am “The Amazing, Awesome, Audacious Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church”
Service and Times 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
1200 Isle of Patmos Plaza, Northeast Washington, DC 20018 Office: (202) 529-6767 - Fax: (202) 526-1661
Service and Times Sunday Service: 8:30am& 11:00am Bible Study: Wednesday 7:30pm Communion Service: First Sunday www.livingwatersmd.org
St. Stephen Baptist Church
Third Street Church of God
Dr. Dekontee L. & Dr. Ayele A. Johnson Pastors
Rev. Dr. Alice Greene Interim Pastor
Bishop Lanier C. Twyman, Sr. Senior Pastor
Rev. Cheryl J. Sanders, Th.D. Senior Pastor
4001 14th Street, NW Washington, DC 20011 (202) 265-6147 Office 1-800 576-1047 Voicemail/Fax
3845 South Capitol Street Washington, DC 20032 (202) 562-5576 (Office) (202) 562-4219 (Fax)
5757 Temple Hill Road, Temple Hills, MD 20748 Office 301-899-8885 – fax 301-899-2555
1204 Third Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 202-347-5889 office 202-638-1803 fax
Service and Times Sunday School: 9:30am Sunday Morning Worship Service: 11:00am Communion Service: First Sunday Prayer Service/Bible Study: Tuesday, 6:30pm
Services and Times Sundays: 10:00am Worship Services Bible Study: Wonderful Wednesdays in Worship and the Word Bible Study Wednesdays 12:00 Noon; 6:30pm (dinner @ 5:30pm) Sunday School: 9:00am – Hour of Power
www.blessedwordoflifechurch.org E-mail: church@blessedwordoflifechurch.org
Campbell AME Church Rev. Dr. Henry Y. White 2562 MLK Jr. Ave., SE - Washington, DC 20020 Adm. Office 202-678-2263 Email: Campbell@mycame.org Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 10:00 am Sunday Church School: 8:45 am Bible Study Wednesday: 12:00 Noon Wednesday: 7:00 pm Thursday: 7: pm “Reaching Up To Reach Out” Mailing Address Campbell AME Church 2502 Stanton Road SE - Washington, DC 20020
Turning Hearts Church Virgil K. Thomas, Sr. Senior Pastor/ Teacher 421 Alabama Ave. SE Washington, DC 20032 Phone: 202-746-0113 Fax: 301-843-2445 Service and Times Sunday School - 10:15 am Sunday Worship Service - 11;15 am Children’s Church - 11:15 am Tuesday Bible Study - 6:30 pm Motto : “A Great Commitment to the Great Commandment” Website: www.turningheartschurchdc.org Email: gr8luv4u2@gmail.com
“An inclusive ministry where all are welcomed and affirmed.” www.covenantdc.org
Services and Times Sunday Early Morning Worship: 7:45am Church School: 9:30am Sunday Morning Worship: 10:45am Tuesday: 7:00pm/Kingdom Building Bible Institute Wednesday: Prayer/Praise/Bible Study-7:30 pm Baptism & Communion Service: 4th Sunday – 10:30am “We are one in the Spirit” www.ssbc5757.org E-mail: ssbc5757@verizon.net
Services and Times Sunday School: 9:30am Sunday Worship: 11:00am Sunday Community Worship Service: 8:30 am “Ambassadors for Christ to the Nation’s Capital” www.thirdstreet.org Live Stream Sunday Worship Service begins @ 12:00 noon www.thirdstreet.org
Crusader Baptist Church
E-mail: Crusadersbaptistchurch@verizon.net www.CrusadersBaptistChurch.org “God is Love”
Greater Mt. Calvary Holy Church Bishop Alfred A. Owens, Jr.; Senior Bishop & Evangelist Susie C. Owens – Co-Pastor 610 Rhode Island Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002 (202) 529-4547 office • (202) 529-4495 fax
Sunday Worship Service: 8 AM and 10:45am Sunday Youth Worship Services: 1st & 4th 10:45am; 804 R.I. Ave., NE 5th 8 AM & 10:45am; Main Church Prayer Services Tuesday – Noon, Wednesday 6am & 6:30pm Calvary Bible Institute: Year-Round Contact Church Communion Every 3rd Sunday The Church in The Hood that will do you Good! www.gmchc.org emailus@gmchc.org
Isle of Patmos Baptist Church
Service and Times Sunday Worship Services: 7:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Holy Communion: 2nd Sunday at 7:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sunday Church School: 9:20 a.m. Seniors Bible Study: Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. Noon Day Prayer Service: Tuesdays at Noon Bible Study: Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Motto: “A Ministry of Reconciliation Where Everybody is Somebody!” Website: http://isleofpatmosbc.org Church Email: ipbcsecretary@verizon.net
St Marks Baptist Come Worship with us... Dr. Raymond T. Matthews Pastor and First Lady Marcia Matthews St. Mark's Baptist Church 624 Underwood Street, NW Washington, dc 20011 Services and Times Sunday School: 9:00am Worship Service: 10:00am Wed. Noon Day prayer service Thur. Prayer service: 6:45pm Thur. Bible Study: 7:15pm
Twelfth Street Christian Church Reverend Dr. Paul H. Saddler Senior Pastor (Disciples of Christ) 1812 12th Street, NW - Washington, DC 20009 Phone: 202-265-4494 Fax: 202 265 4340 Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 am Communion every Sunday: 11:00 am Sunday School: 10:00 am Bible Study Tuesday: 12 Noon Pastor’s Bible Study Tuesday: 6:30 pm Motto: “Discover Something Wonderful” Website: 12thscc.org Email: Twelfthstcc@aol.com
Mount Carmel Baptist Church Reverend Gerald H. Hesson Interim Pastor 901 Third Street N.W. Washington, DC. 20001 Phone (202) 842-3411 Fax (202) 682-9423 Service and Times Sunday Church School : 9:00am Sunday Morning Worship: 10:10am Bible Study Tuesday: 6: 00pm Prayer Service Tuesday: 7:00pm Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday 10:10am themcbc.org
44 FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 6, 2019
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RELIGION Shabbath Commandment Church
All Nations Baptist Church
King Emmanuel Baptist Church
Bishop Adrian A. Taylor, Sr. Pastor
Rev. Dr. James Coleman Pastor
Rev. Daryl F. Bell Pastor
7801 Livingston Road Oxon Hill, MD 20745 301-534-5471
2001 North Capitol St, N.E. - Washington, DC 20002 Phone (202) 832-9591
2324 Ontario Road, NW Washington, DC 20009 (202) 232-1730
Service and Times Sabbath School 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Service 11:00 a.m. Praise & Worship Preaching 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Motto: “A Church Keeping It Real for Real.” Website: Shabbathcommandmentchruch.org Email: Praisebetoyhwh@gmail.com
Zion Baptist Church Rev. Keith W. Byrd, Sr. Pastor 4850 Blagdon Ave, NW - Washington D.C 20011 Phone (202) 722-4940 - Fax (202) 291-3773 Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 10:15AM Sunday School: 9:00am Monday: Noon Bible School Wednesday: Noon & 7PM: Pastor’s Bible Study Ordinance of Baptism 2nd Holy Communion 4th Sunday Mission Zion Baptist Church Shall; Enlist Sinners, Educate Students, Empower the Suffering, Encourage the Saints, and Exalt Our Savior. (Acts 2:41-47) www.zionbaptistchurchdc.org
St. Luke Baptist Church Rev. Aubrey C. Lewis Pastor 1415 Gallatin Street, NW Washington, DC 20011-3851 P: (202) 726-5940 Service and Times Sunday Worship: 11:00 a.m. Sunday School: 9:15 a.m. Holy Communion: 11:00 a.m., 3rd Sun. Bible Institute: Wednesday - 1:30 pm Prayer Meeting: Wednesday - 12:00 Noon
Service and Times Sunday Church School – 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service – 11:00 AM Holy Communion – 1st Sunday at 11:00 AM Prayer – Wednesdays, 6:00 PM Bible Study – Wednesdays, 7:00 PM Christian Education School of Biblical Knowledge Saturdays, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM, Call for Registration Website: www.allnationsbaptistchurch.com All Nations Baptist Church – A Church of Standards
Israel Baptist Church
Dr. Earl D. Trent Senior Pastor
Rev. Dr. George C. Gilbert Senior Pastor
2409 Ainger Pl.,SE – WDC 20020 (202) 678-0884 – Office • (202) 678-0885 – Fax “Moving Faith Forward” 0% Perfect . . . 100% Forgiven!
623 Florida Ave.. NW - WDC. 20001 Church (202) 667-3409 Study (202) 265-0836 Home Study (301) 464-8211 Fax (202) 483-4009
4504 Gault Place, N.E. Washington, D.C 20019 202-397-7775 – 7184
Service and Times Sunday Worship: 8:00am & 10:45am Baptism/Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday Family Bible Study Tuesdays – 6:30pm Prayer Service: Tuesdays – 8:00pm www.emmanuelbaptistchurchdc.org
“Where Jesus is the King”
Lincoln Park United Methodist Church
Sermon On The Mount Temple Of Joy Apostolic Faith
Rev. Richard B. Black Pastor
Elder Herman L. Simms Pastor
1251 Saratoga Ave., NE Washington, DC 20018 (202) 269-0288
1301 North Carolina Ave. N E Washington, D C 20002 202 543 1318 - lincolnpark@lpumcdc.org www.lpumcdc.org
5606 Marlboro Pike District Heights, MD 20747 301-735-6005
Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 10:00 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.
Service and Times Sunday Worship: 10: am Holy Communion: First Sunday 10: am Sunday School: 9: am Bible Study: Wednesday @ 12 noon and 6:30pm Motto: "Faith On The Hill"
Mount Moriah Baptist Church
Eastern Community Baptist Church
Service and Times Sunday Apostolic Worship Services 11:00 A.M and 5:00 P.M 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
Dr. Lucius M. Dalton Senior Pastor
Damion M. Briggs Pastor
Rev. Stephen E. Tucker Senior Pastor
1636 East Capitol Street, NE Washington, DC 20003 Telephone: 202-544-5588 - Fax: 202-544-2964
8213 Manson Street Landover, MD 20785 Tel: (301) 322-9787 Fax: (301) 322-9240
13701 Old Jericho Park Road Bowie, MD. 20720 (301) 262-0560
Service and Times Sunday Worship Services: 7:45 am and 10:45 am Holy Communion: 1st Sundays at 7:45 am & 10:45 am Sunday School: 9:30 am Prayer & Praise Service: Tuesdays at 12 noon & 6:30 pm Bible Study: Tuesdays at 1 pm and 7 pm Youth Bible Study: Fridays at 7 pm
Service and Times Early Morning Message: 7:30 AM Sunday Morning Worship Service: 10:00 AM Sunday Church School: 9:00 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sunday 7:30 AM & 10:00 AM Prayer, Praise and Testimony: Wednesday 7:00 PM Bible Study: Wednesday 7:30 PM
Service and Times Sunday Worship: 11 AM Sunday School: 10 AM Wednesday Mid-Week Worship, Prayer & Bible Study: Wed. 7 PM
Rehoboth Baptist Church
“Real Worship for Real People” Website: www.easterncommunity.org Email: ecc@easterncommunity.org
Salem Baptist Church
Holy Trinity United Baptist Church
Florida Avenue Baptist Church
Reverend Christopher L. Nichols Pastor
Rev. Dr. Morris L Shearin, Sr. Pastor
Web: www.mountmoriahchurch.org Email: mtmoriah@mountmoriahchurch.org
St. Matthews Baptist Church
Service and Times Sunday School: 9:30 am Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 am Baptismal Service: 1st Sunday – 9:30 am Holy Communion: 1st Sunday – 11:00 am Prayer Meeting & Bible Study: Wednesday -7:30 pm
Emmanuel Baptist Church
“A Church Where Love Is Essential and Praise is Intentional”
Service and Times 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
Matthews Memorial Baptist Church Rev. Joan E. Buchanan Executive Pastor 2616 MLK Ave., SE - Washington, DC 20020 Office 202-889-3709 - Fax 202-678-3304 Service and Times Early Worship Service: 7:30am Worship Service: 11:00am New Member’s Class: 9:45am Holy Communion: 1st Sunday, 11:00am Church School: 9:45am Wednesday 12:00pm Bible Study Prayer, Praise and Bible Study: 7:00pm Saturday Bible Study: 11:00am Baptism 4th Sunday: 11:00am
Service and Times 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
Christ Embassy DC
Kelechi Ajieren Coordinator 6839 Eastern Avenue, R1 Takoma Park, MD 20912 (202) 556-7065 Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 10:00 A.M. Wednesday Bible Study: 7:00 P.M. Friday Evening Service: 7:00 P.M. ; Last Friday “…Giving Your Life a Meaning” www.Christembassydc.org Christ.embassy.dc@hotmail.com
“Empowered to love and Challenged to Lead a Multitude of Souls to Christ”
Peace Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Michael T. Bell 712 18th Street, NE Washington, DC 20002 Phone 202-399-3450/ Fax 202-398-8836 Service and Times Sunday Early Morning Prayer & Bible Study Class 8:00 am Sunday School 9:00 am Sunday Morning Worship Service 10:00 am Wednesday Service 12:00 pm
Pennsylvania Ave. Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Kendrick E. Curry Pastor 3000 Pennsylvania Ave.. S.E Washington, DC 20020 202 581-1500 Service and Times Sunday Church School: 9:30 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
“The Loving Church of the living lord “ Email Address: admin@pbc712.org
Shiloh Baptist Church
First Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church
Mt. Horeb Baptist Church
Rev. Dr. Maxwell M. Washington Pastor
Rev. Curtis l. Staley Pastor
Rev. David McIntosh-Peters Pastor
Rev. Dr. Wallace Charles Smith Pastor
Rev. Oran W. Young Pastor
Rev. Dr. H. B. Sampson, III Pastor
2001 Brooks Drive District Heights, MD 20744 (240) 838-7074
621 Alabama Ave., S.E.- Washington, D.C. 20032 P: (202) 561-1111 - F: (202) 561-1112
917 N St. NW - Washington, DC 20001 (202) 232-4294
9th & P Street, N.W. - W. D.C. 20001 (202) 232-4288
Service and Times 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
Service and Times 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.
Service and Times First Sunday Worship Service (one service): 10:00 a.m. Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Sunday Worship service: 7:45 a.m. and 10:55 a.m. Sunday Church School/Bible Study: 9:30 a.m. Thursday Prayer Service: 6:30 p.m.
602 N Street NW - Washington, D.C. 20001 Office:(202) 289-4480 Fax: (202) 289-4595
2914 Bladensburg Road, NE Wash., DC 20018 Office: (202) 529-3180 - Fax: (202) 529-7738 Service and Times Worship Service: 7:30 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
Motto: “Where God is First and Where Friendly People Worship”
The Church Where GOD Is Working.... And We Are Working With GOD
Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 10:15 am Sunday School: 9:00 am Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday Morning Prayer Meeting / Bible Study: Tuesday at 7 pm Theme: “The Kingdom Focused Church with an Emphasis on “Evangelism and Discipleship” Email: pastorstmbc@gmail.com Website: www.stmatthewsbaptist.org
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
Email: sbc@shilohbaptist.org Website: shilohbaptist.org
Service and Times Sunday School for All Ages: 8:00 a.m. Sunday Worship Services: 9:30 a.m. Midday Prayer & Bible Study: Wednesday 11:30 a.m. Evening Prayer & Bible Study: Wednesday 7:00 p.m. Laymen's League: Thursday 7:00 p.m. Email: Froffice@firstrising.org Website: www.firstrising.org “Changing Lives On Purpose “
Email:mthoreb@mthoreb.org Website:www.mthoreb.org For further information, please contact me at (202) 529-3180.
FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 6, 2019 45 THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
LEGAL NOTICES SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2019 ADM 000088 James A. Alston Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Julia E. Peeler and Billy C. Alston, whose addresses are 139 Elmira St., SW WDC 20032 & 240 Savannah Street, SE, WDC 20032, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of James A. Alston who died on 9/20/2018 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 8/14/2019. 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 8/14/2019, 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: 2/14/2019 Julia E. Peeler Billy C. Alston Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY
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. 2019 ADM 000081
Administration No. 2019 ADM 000089
Administration No. 2019 ADM 000055
Administration No. 2018 ADM 001088
Mary Jean Hopkins Decedent
Carolyn Rueben Prioleau aka Carolyn R. Prioleau Decedent
Doreatha Alexander Decedent
Elois R. Lawson Decedent
Joan M. Wilbon, Esq. 1120 Connecticut Ave., NW Suite 1020 Washington, DC 20036 Attorney
Janet W. Blassingame, Esq. 1413 K Street, NW Suite 1500 Washington, DC 20005 Attorney
R. Scott Gardner 110 N. Washington Street, #205 Rockville, MD 20850 Attorney
Bradley A. Thomas 1629 K Street, NW Suite 300 Washington, DC 20006 Attorney
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
Jon Wyatt Hopkins, whose address is 10502 N. Pine Ridge Cir., Mequon, WI 53092, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Mary Jean Hopkins who died on December 5, 2018 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 8/14/2019. 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 8/14/2019, 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.
Spencer R. Crew, whose address is 2330 Darius Lane, Reston, VA 20191, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Carolyn Rueben Prioleau aka Carolyn R. Prioleau who died on November 24, 2017 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 8/14/2019. 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 8/14/2019, 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: 2/14/2019 Jon Wyatt Hopkins Personal Representative
Washington Informer
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF WASHINGTON, COUNTY of PIERCE No. 18-3-04316-5 In re: Antwanne Fludd Petitioner Monique Medina Respondent Summons Served by Publication To Monique Medina, The other party has asked the court to: End your marriage or domestic partnership. You must respond in writing if you want the court to consider your side. Deadline! Your Response must be filed and served within 60 days of the date this summons is published. If you do not file and serve your Response or a Notice of Appearance by the deadline: • No one has to notify you about other hearings in this case, and • The court may approve the requests in the Petition without hearing your side (called a default judgement). Follow these steps: 1. Read the Petition and any other documents that were filed at court with this Summons. Those documents explain what the other party is asking for. 2. File a Response form FL Divorce 211, Response to Petition about a Marriage You can get the Response form and other forms you need at: • The Washington State Courts’ website: www. court.wa.gov/forms • The Administrative Office of the Courts – call: (360) 705 – 5328 • Washington LawHelp: www.washingtonlawhelp. org, or • The Superior Court Clerk’s office or county law library (for a fee)
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Lloyd C. Holmes, Jr., whose address is 11837 Federalist Way, Apt. 11, Fairfax, VA 22030, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Lloyd C. Holmes, Sr. who died on December 10, 2018 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 8/14/2019. 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 8/14/2019, 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: 2/14/2019 Lloyd C. Holmes, Jr. Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Anne Meister Register of Wills Washington Informer
Bertina Cleveland Personal Representative
TRUE TEST COPY
TRUE TEST COPY
Anne Meister Register of Wills
Anne Meister Register of Wills
Washington Informer
Washington Informer
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
Administration No. 2018 ADM 001288
Administration No. 2019 ADM 125
Foreign No. 2018 FEP 000161
Louise L. Green Decedent
Richard Vance Hailstock Decedent
July 12, 2018 Date of Death
Anne Meister Register of Wills Washington Informer
3. Serve (give) a copy of your Response to the person who filed this Summons at the address below, and to any other parties. You may use certified mail with return receipt requested. For more information on how to serve, read Superior Court Civil Rule 5. 4. File your original Response with the court clerk at this address: Superior Court Clerk, Pierce County 930 Tacoma Ave. S #841 Tacoma, WA 98402 5. Lawyer not required: It is a good idea to talk to a lawyer, but you may file and serve your Response without one.
Bertina Cleveland, whose address is 4090 Ferry Landing Road, Dunkirk, MD 20754, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Elois R. Lawson who died on March 7, 2018 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 8/14/2019. 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 8/14/2019, 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.
Elenora Battle Personal Representative
TRUE TEST COPY
Washington Informer
Elenora Battle, whose address is 6821 Dower House Rd, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Doreatha Alexander who died on January 29, 2016 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before August 14, 2019. 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 14, 2019, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
Date of first publication: 2/14/2019
Spencer R. Crew Personal Representative
TRUE TEST COPY
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
Date of first publication: 2/14/2019
Date of first publication: 2/14/2019
Anne Meister Register of Wills
Lloyd C. Holmes, Sr. Decedent
LEGAL NOTICES
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
Anne Meister Register of Wills
Administration No. 2019 ADM 000054
LEGAL NOTICES
Jennifer C. Concino, Esq. 5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW #700 Washington, DC 20015 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Jennifer C. Concino, Esq., whose address is 5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW, #700, Washington, DC 20015, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Louise L. Green who died on July 14, 2014 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 8/14/2019. 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 8/14/2019, 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: 2-14-2019 Jennifer C. Concino, Esq. Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Anne Meister Register of Wills
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Carla Pegeron, whose address is 267 Martense Street, #3, Brooklyn, NY 11226, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Richard Vance Hailstock who died on November 1, 2004 without a Will, and will serve with Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 8/21/2019. 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 8/21/2019, 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: 2/21/2019 Carla Pegeron Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY
John Michael Neander Name of Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS Mark Neander, whose address is 15 Roosevelt Avenue, Oneonta, NY 13820 was appointed personal representative of the estate of John Michael Neander, deceased, by the Surrogate’s Court, for Otsego County, State of New York, on July 12, 2018. Service of process may be made upon Antonoplos & Associates, Attorneys at Law, 1725 DeSales Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C. The decedent owned the following District of Columbia real property: 5410 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Unit 110, Washington, DC 20015 and 201 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Unit 403, Washington, DC 20002 Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills of the District of Columbia, 515 5th Street, NW, Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice. Date of first publication: 2/21/2019 Mark Neander Personal Representative Anne Meister Register of Wills
Anne Meister Register of Wills Washington Informer
Washington Informer
Washington Informer
This Summons is issued according to Rule 4.1 of the Superior Court Civil Rules of the State of Washington.
46 FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 6, 2019
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
LEGAL NOTICES SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Foreign No. 2018 FEP 000162 March 27, 2018 Date of Death Claudia H. Price Name of Decedent
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
Administration No. 2018 ADM 1113
Administration No. 2018 ADM 001426
Warren Clark, Jr. Decedent
John H. Traina Decedent
Kisha L. Woolen, Esquire Tobin O’Connor & Ewing 5335 Wisconsin Avenue, NW #700 Washington, DC 20015 Attorney
Jeffrey K. Gordon, Esq. 5335 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 700 Washington, DC 20015 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
CL ASSIFIEDS Reader Advisory: The National Trade Association we belong to has purchased the following classifieds. Determining the value of their service or product is advised by this publication. In order to avoid misunderstandings, some advertisers do not offer employment but rather supply the readers with manuals, directories and other materials designed to help their clients establish mail order selling and other businesses at home. Under NO circumstance should you send any money in advance or give the client your checking, license ID, or credit card numbers. Also beware of ads that claim to guarantee loans regardless of credit and note that if a credit repair company does business only over the phone it s illegal to request any money before delivering its service. All funds are based in US dollars. 800 numbers may or may not reach Canada. MEDIABIDS MISCELLANEOUS SAVE 67% PLUS 4 FREE BURGERS - The Favorite Feast - ONLY $4 9.99. ORDER Today 1-888-318-1190 Use Code 48643VFW or www. OmahaSteaks.com/ ffmb93 Do you know your Testosterone Levels? Call 888-692-5146 and ask about our test kits and get a FREE Trial of Progene All-Natural Testosterone Supplement
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
David Wendell Durham, whose address is 15 Pepper Court, Inglewood, CA 90302-2927 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Claudia H. Price, deceased, by the Register of Wills Court for Prince Georges County, State of Maryland. Service of process may be made upon Vaughn W. Royal, 5335 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Suite 440, Washington, DC 20015 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C. The decedent owned District of Columbia personal property. Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills of the District of Columbia, 515 5th Street, NW, Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice.
Elizabeth Petersen Clark, whose address is 2929 Macomb Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Warren Clark, Jr. who died on July 24, 2018 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before August 28, 2019. 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 28, 2019, 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.
Kelly Gladden, whose address is 305 Dearborn Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20901, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of John H. Traina who died on July 14, 2018 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 8/28/2019. 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 8/28/2019, 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 28, 2019
Date of first publication: 2/28/2019
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Elizabeth Petersen Clark Personal Representative
Kelly Gladden Personal Representative
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Anne Meister Register of Wills
Anne Meister Register of Wills
Personalized holiday gifts for Everyone on your list! Save 20 percent off qualifying products from Personal Creations! To redeem this offer, visit www.PersonalCreations.com/Beauty or Call 1-888-732-0679
Washington Informer
Washington Informer
Washington Informer
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION
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
ATTENTION DIABETICS with Medicare. Get a FREE Talking Meter and diabetic testing supplies at NO COST, plus FREE home delivery! Best of all, this meter eliminates painful finger pricking! Call 888-421-1874
Administration Number 2019 ADM 000171
SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS. You WIN or Pay Us Nothing. Contact Disability Group, Inc. Today! BBB Accredited. Call For Your FREE Book & Consultation. 888-649-5110
Estate of Harry K. Morlock
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Date of first publication: 2/21/2019 David Wendell Durham Personal Representative Anne Meister Register of Wills
Trust No. 2018 NRT 48 Debra T. Middleton Name of Deceased Settlor NOTICE OF EXISTENCE OF REVOCABLE TRUST Debra T. Middleton, whose address was 714 Faraday Place, NE, Washington, DC 20017 created a revocable trust on October 24, 2018, which remained in existence on the date of her death on October 26, 2018, and Wanda Means-Harris, whose address is 1320 Montague Street, NW, Washington, DC 20011, is the currently acting trustee, hereinafter the Trustee. Communications to the Trust should be mailed or directed to Wanda Means-Harris at 1320 Montague Street, NW, Washington, DC 20011. The Trust is subject to claims of the deceased settlor’s creditors, costs of administration of the settlor’s estate, the expense of the deceased settlor’s funeral and disposal of remains, and statutory allowances to a surviving spouse and children to the extent the deceased settlor’s residuary probate estate is inadequate to satisfy those claims, costs, expenses, and allowances. Claims of the deceased settlor’s creditors are barred as against the Trustee and the trust property unless presented to the Trustee at the address provided herein on or before 8/21/2019 (6 month after the date of the first publication of this notice.) An action to contest the validity of this trust must be commenced by the earliest of (1), 10/26/2019 (One year from date of death of deceased settlor) (2), 8/21/2019 (6 months from the date of first publication of this notice) or (3) Ninety days after the Trustee sends the person a copy of the trust instrument and a notice informing the person of the trust’s existence, of the Trustee’s name and address, and of the time allowed for commencing a proceeding. The Trustee may proceed to distribute the trust property in accordance with the terms of the trust before the expiration of the time within which an action must be commenced unless the Trustee knows of a pending judicial proceeding contesting the validity of the trust or the Trustee has received notice from a potential contestant who thereafter commences a judicial proceeding within sixty days after notification. This Notice must be mailed postmarked within 15 days of its first publication to each heir and qualified beneficiary of the trust and any other person who would be an interested person within the meaning of D.C. Code 20-101(d). Date of First Publication: 2/21/2019
Administration No. 2019 ADM 000152 Paul Stanton Decedent Valerie J. Edwards 1725 DeSales Street, NW Suite 600 Washington, DC 20036 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS John Stanton, whose address is 18684 Queen Elizabeth Drive, Brookeville, MD 20833, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Paul Stanton who died on November 12, 2018 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 8/28/2019. 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 8/28/2019, 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: 2/28/2019 John Stanton Personal Representative
Wanda Means-Harris Signature of Trustee
TRUE TEST COPY
TRUE TEST COPY
Anne Meister Register of Wills
Anne Meister Register of Wills Washington Informer
NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE
Washington Informer
Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by Deborah D. Boddie for standard probate, including the appointment of one or more personal representatives. Unless a responsive pleading in the form of a complaint or an objection in accordance with Superior Court Probate Division Rule 407 is filed in this Court within 30 days from the date of first publication of this notice, the Court may take the action hereinafter set forth.
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Admit to probate the will dated June 5, 2007 exhibited with the petition upon proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution by affidavit of the witnesses or otherwise
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Date of first publication: February 28, 2019
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Deborah D. Boddie, Esq. 1308 Ninth Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 Petitioner/Attorney:
TRUE TEST COPY Anne Meister Register of Wills Washington Informer
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what constitutes as “monitoring and surveillance” as expressed by Goggans in her initial Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. Once again, interpretations of that term was the focal point of a hearing this month in D.C. District Court. “The Metropolitan Police Department has 9,000 pages of documents it knows contains April’s name, Twitter handle, and street address,” said Andrew Mendrala, supervising attorney and teaching fellow at Georgetown Law Civil Rights Clinic. “But the original FOIA request for documents used the term ‘monitoring and surveillance.’ MPD said that because none of these pertain to an official investigation of specialized divisions of MPD that conduct large-scale monitoring and operations, they do not show ‘monitoring’ of Ms. Goggans, and MPD is not required to turn them over,” Mendrala said. Goggans’ June 2017 FOIA request outlined 14 points. The first five asked for documents concerning Goggans, records and communication about her, policy manuals and directives on how to approach political activists, details of officer trainings about the right to political free speech, and communication between MPD and the Executive Office of the Mayor (EOM) about Goggans or Black Lives Matter. The other nine items concerned records about monitoring Goggans, including any communication between MPD, EOM and other parties, about Goggans, an active member of Black Lives Matter, and records from when officers parked in front of her home. From the onset of the lawsuit, MPD’s legal team maintained that MPD fulfilled Goggans’ original request. During a December court hearing, MPD’s lawyers argued that the only correspondence falling within that definition had been from Goggans to MPD in which she discussed monitoring and surveillance. They later said
BLACKFACE from Page 30
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median Chris Rock while wearing dark makeup in an episode of “Saturday Night Live” in 2000, according to NPR. Kimmel and Fallon have mostly stayed silent on the Northam scandal and blackface in their late-night shows, NPR said. In his opening monologue following the State of the Union ad-
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the department had no legal obligation to release what it considered irrelevant information, like that found in Officer Daniel Flinn’s notebook. An official in the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, speaking on background, reiterated that point, saying that Goggans’ team didn’t expand its definition of “monitoring and surveillance” until after litigation started. Earlier this month, as a large group of Black Lives Matter supporters watched, Goggans’ attorneys argued that a more reasonable broadening of the MPD’s interpretation of “monitoring and surveillance” allows for the release of pertinent information that would substantiate Goggans’ claims of police surveillance, including the names of officers involved. Judge William Jackson listened as Goggans’ attorneys recounted hurdles in the FOIA process, including an eight-month struggle to add Goggans’ name to the searches, and questions about the degree to which MPD searched for Goggans versus Black Lives Matter. Jackson at times appeared annoyed, but lighthearted, as he
struggled to understand what Goggans’ attorneys didn’t receive from MPD. Toward the end of the hearing, the attorneys acknowledged that MPD searched for Black Lives Matter and Goggans’ name. MPD didn’t return The Informer’s request to define “monitoring and surveillance.” Goggans, who carries a decade of organizing experience in southeast D.C., counted among the activists who took to the streets in the aftermath of Terrence Sterling’s police-involved death in 2016. Last year, after the release of footage from a controversial stop-and-frisk incident in Northeast’s Deanwood neighborhood, she and other members of Black Lives DC designated the community as a liberation zone. In her role as core organizer, Goggans has also advocated for the full implementation of Neighborhood Engagement Achieves Results Act, legislation designed to expand community-based violence interruption services throughout the District. Black Lives Matter groups nationally have been embroiled in similar legal battles, with local police departments for data collected about activist groups. In November, a federal court judge in the Southern District of New York ruled that individual Black Lives Matter activists could sue the Clarkstown Police Department for their information. Last month, a New York state judge ordered the New York City Police Department to answer a FOIA request about its alleged use of phone signal interruption technology. Mendrala noted what he described as the certain uniqueness of Goggans’ case. “The case is a bit of an unusual dodge that MPD is making by saying that they have all of these documents we asked for but MPD decided they actually aren’t what we’re asking for, so they won’t give them to us,” he said. “They’re hiding behind a bureaucratic use of language that no reasonable person could be expected to understand or use when making a request.” WI
dress earlier this month, Fallon noted how all the Democratic women in Congress wore white, joking that Northam was probably thinking, “Oh, sure, when they do it, it’s OK,” referencing the photo in Northam’s yearbook in which someone is wearing a white KKK robe. Blackface was historically used to ridicule and mock Black people and depict them as unintelligent and inferior. It created a lasting, distorted
image of Black people, which further contributed to their mistreatment and segregation, according to NPR. Lee, director of such hit films as “Do the Right Thing,” “She’s Gotta Have It” and “Malcolm X,” simply called blackface hateful. “It’s obvious to people that they don’t have a clue when it comes to racist, blackface hateful images. Wake up,” he said. WI
Goggans, who carries a decade of organizing experience in southeast D.C., counted among the activists who took to the streets in the aftermath of Terrence Sterling’s police-involved death in 2016.
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MALVEAUX from Page 25
real estate costs alone would be prohibitive for most companies Amazon’s size, not to mention New York’s incredible taxation and regulation regimes. At the end of the day, it all comes down to the tried and failed laws of centralized command and picking winners and losers. Obama tried this out during an energy crisis in this country, and most of the renewable energy projects he threw money at failed miserably, leaving taxpayers on the hook for billions of dollars of loan guarantees. This so-called New Green Deal is only new in the sense that it offers to waste even more taxpayer money. WI
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cost-shifting, taxation and wealth redistribution rather than job creation and sound industrial policy. And here’s the proof: Ocasio-Cortez celebrated, as a “victory,” her successful attempt to prevent Amazon from building its new headquarters and flagship distribution center in New York City. Let that sink in for a minute. Democrats are celebrating the fact that their constituents would not be the recipients of a major job boom in a community that desperately needs jobs. Amazon was guaranteeing New York 25,000 jobs up front and up to 50,000 jobs over the next two decades, not to mention more than
$27 billion in state government tax revenues. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who knew just how beneficial Amazon’s proposed headquarters would be so for the state, made the highly unusual move of openly criticizing Democrats in the state legislature who killed the deal. The three-term governor called the plan’s demise “the greatest tragedy that I have seen since I have been in government.” The irony here is that Amazon, and its CEO Jeff Bezos, were actually trying to reward Democrats by placing their headquarters in a place — Long Island City, New York — that historically is one of the least business-friendly places in the country to begin with. The
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WILLIAMS from Page 25
vice for Altruistic Young Lawyers,” Judge Wald said: “I can certainly attest from my own 40 years in the law that there are great satisfactions in devoting one’s skills to a cause larger than money or even professional reputation. But I can also tell you that doing good can be hard work, and that a lifetime of public service requires just as much, probably more, prudence, discretion, judgment, tolerance for frustration, and long-range perspective as for-profit lawyering.” Judge Wald was a model for each of those key qualities and never flagged in doing that hard work. She also gave listeners her definition of success: “a sense at the end of your career that you have contributed, commensurate with your talent and skills, to the slow but measured advance of your community and nation toward a more just society.” I am so grateful for Judge Wald’s rich, deep and successful legacy in ensuring just treatment for every child. WI
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woman to preside over that powerful court. Her long and influential tenure there followed years of useful service fighting for labor rights, the poor, women, and children. She began her career as a clerk for federal judge Jerome Frank and then worked at a Washington law firm. After a 10-year break when her five children were young she took a position at the D.C. Neighborhood Legal Services Project (now Program), an early public interest firm. She later worked at the Mental Health Law Project and the Center for Law and Social Policy and among her accomplishments fought for education for children with disabilities and mental health needs and for juvenile justice reforms. I served with Judge Wald on the Carnegie Council for Children in the 1970s chaired by MIT professor Ken Keniston and saw firsthand what a passionate and superb child advocate she was. President Jimmy Carter named
her assistant attorney general in 1977 before nominating her to the federal bench in 1979. She was a candidate for attorney general during the Clinton administration before withdrawing her name from consideration and I believe she should have been a Supreme Court Justice. But on the influential Court of Appeals in the District of Columbia, where her colleagues included Justice Ginsberg, Robert H. Bork, the late Justice Antonin Scalia, and Kenneth Starr, she wrote more than 800 decisions including those affirming equal rights to employment and education for women, LGBTQ people, and people with disabilities. She once said, “I see the law as a way to translate our most fundamental aspirations and goals for an open and orderly society that treats all people in the community with respect,” and she followed this simple principle throughout her professional life. In a 1994 lecture at the University of Maine School of Law, “Whose Public Interest Is It Anyway? Ad-
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EDELMAN from Page 25
were it not for the labor of kidnapped people and their descendants. There would be no banking system if enslaved people were not used as collateral for European devilment. There would be no insurance industry were it not for the enslaved. But in our collective ignorance allows us, all of us, African Americans, European Americans, and others, to live in denial, pretending that there is fairness is a racist, patriarchal, predatory, capitalist society. We have been here at least 400 years, but we still aren’t clear about the nonsense and exploitation that affects and infuses our very foundation. Our entire nation needs to go back to school to learn some history. But there is a special place in hell for teachers in Louden County, Virginia, who think that enslavement is some kind of game! WI
Photo
now. People violated the laws, of course, but the warped sensibility that prohibited the dissemination of knowledge is the basis for many sick stereotypes, such as “if you want to hide something from a Black person, put it in a book.” Fast-forward 400 years, or even two. Why are teachers in Louden County, Virginia, forcing fifth- and sixth-grade students to simulate enslavement with an obstacle course they called “The Underground Railroad”? Why were many of these students Afrodescendents? Why are the leaders of the school silent about the discipline that was ordered on the rogue teachers who took it upon their ignorant selves to construct such an exercise? Why has David Stewart, the principal of the Madison Trust School in Louden County, sent
out a vapid apology for a “culturally insensitive” exercise, and not a more strongly worded condemnation of the racism implicit in this nonsense. We have been here at least 400 years, and still, some folks aren’t clear about the ways enslavement has shaped our nation. In Virginia, where both the governor and the attorney general (two of the top three elected officials in the state) have admitted to masquerading in blackface, albeit 30-odd years ago, teachers don’t see anything wrong with subjecting Black students to a reenactment of enslavement. Oh, they said they were teaching “teamwork.” Really. We have been here at least 400 years, and our nation is not yet clear about its flawed foundations. There would be no house at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, which should not be called the White House, but the House that Enslaved People Built,
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WILLIAMS from Page 26
typical ways that men are supposed to act.” He went on to say, “That’s a trap that we fall into, that we have to pull out of. If you’re confident about your strength, you don’t need to show me by putting someone else down. Show me how strong you are
in that you can lift someone else up and treat someone well and be respectful.” My Brother’s Keeper is a program that shows who Barack really is. In that lecture, he gave credence to our Respect Us campaign. WI
CROWELL from Page 27
tion and two of its subsidiaries for allegedly using shortcuts and deception to illegally cheat 12 million borrowers out of their rights to lower loan repayments. These practices, according to CFPB, led to an additional $4 billion in borrower costs. Much of the unnecessary costs were the result of Navient’s widespread use of forbearance that boosted corporate profits by minimizing time spent advising distressed borrowers. For example, three-years of deferment on $30,000 in student loans would cost a borrower an additional $6,742. Navient also had another dubious distinction. In 2017, more consumers filed complaints about Navient than any other student loan servicer. Complainants identified dealing with the servicer or lender as the key issue, compared to only 34 percent whose problems were based on an inability to pay their loans. “The Inspector General’s damning revelations that the Department of Education failed to track all instances of non-compliance or to hold servicers accountable for errors demonstrates its lack of commitment to protecting stu-
dent loan borrowers,” said Persis Yu, director of the National Consumer Law Center’s Student Loan Borrower Assistance Project. “Unfortunately, this revelation is consistent with the department’s prior actions, which have repeatedly put the interests of big business ahead of the interests of student loan borrowers. “In this past year, Department of Education has justified its aggressive steps to shield student loan servicers from liability by claiming that it rigorously oversees its servicers,” added Yu. “This report from the Inspector General demonstrates that claim is false.” Many consumer advocates would agree with the Trump administration’s mounting actions that favor businesses before consumers. The recently-announced rule reversal on payday loans is another example. In 2018, guidance that protected people of color from discrimination in auto loan financing is yet another. “Policies and practices must assure student success while minimizing costly debt errors that become unnecessary burdens,” said Whitney Barkley-Denney, a policy counsel for the Center for Responsible Lending. WI
the oil it sold through its CITGO company to its biggest customer, the USA. Otherwise known as theft, that is a recipe for ruin for any
third-world economy, and it set the stage for anti-government marches and demonstrations in Venezuela, incited by the wealthy and their right wing allies in the U.S. “These people are a fraud. They don’t represent the Venezuelan people. They are representing the U.S.-orchestrated coup,” CODEPINK Women for Peace co-founder Medea Benjamin said Feb. 21 when she disrupted a pro-Guaidó conference in Washington. “These people here want to take Venezuela to a path of civil war and U.S. intervention. “This has nothing to do with a humanitarian situation,” Benjamin said. “Indeed, for a humanitarian situation, the U.S. would lift the economic sanctions that have exacerbated the crisis.” This does have everything to do with Pres. Trump and his national security team subtly flexing their white supremacy muscles in the guise of hope for people who are suffering because of the greedy, racist aims of the very folks now purporting to rescue them from their dark-skinned leaders. WI
specting and listening to women. He said, “Oftentimes, historically, racism in this society sends a message that you are less than and weak, so we feel like we’ve got to compensate by exaggerating certain stereo-
to take actions to mitigate the risk of continued servicer noncompliance that could harm students.” According to OIG, all student loan servicer contracts are supposed to be awarded on the basis of performance measures in five weighted areas. Two factors, borrower satisfaction and the percentage of borrowers who were not more than five days delinquent, together account for up to 60 of a contractor’s overall score. Servicers are also evaluated on the percentage of borrowers whose loans were more than 90 days late but less than 271, and a percentage who were more than 270 days delinquent but less than 361, and an FSA employee satisfaction survey. Although the department has 15 student loan servicer contracts, four were the biggest beneficiaries during the OIG’s audit period. As of Sept. 30, 2017, federal student loan debt was $1.147 trillion with 93 percent of those loans assigned to PHEAA ($319 billion), Great Lakes ($236 billion), Navient ($215 billion), and Nelnet ($180 billion). In February 2017, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) sued Navient Corpora-
ASKIA from Page 26 The Trump administration refused to compensate Venezuela for
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