VOL. 52, NO. 29 • MAY 4 - 10, 2017
DCTAG Has Money for College. Apply by June 30th!
Black Life in America Page 38
Prince George's Holds Municipal Elections
State of Black America Scrutinized at Town Hall Meeting
Thousands Registered, But Only Hundreds Vote
By Lauren Poteat WI Contributing Writer
In an attempt to provide skilled insight and dialogue about the concerns of African-Americans, TV One and the National Urban League recently paired to hold a definitive town hall-style meeting titled "The State of Black America." Numerous high-profile social activists, journalists and political commentators from both sides of the aisle convened at the Howard Theatre for the Tuesday, May 2 event, which was driven by the National Urban League's semian-
BLACK AMERICA Page 11
By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill
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Students from Vermont College and Green Mountain College participate in the People’s Climate March on the National Mall, Saturday, April 29. According to event organizers, over 150,000 people participated in the march, drawing attention to the need for clean sources of energy and raising awareness around “climate, jobs, and justice.” /Photo by Joseph Young
Bananas, Nooses Greet AU’s First Black Student President By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer
5Bananas were found in nooses at three locations on campus. /Photo courtesy of NBC4
The first day in office as the first female African-American Student Government president at American University for Taylor Dumpson proved to be a memorable one. For all the wrong reasons. Officials at the university, located in Northwest, confirmed they’re investigating a racist incident in which bananas were discovered hanging from strings in the shape of nooses in at least three separate locations on campus. Inscribed on the bananas were “Harambe,” and “AKA,” a reference to Alpha Kappa Alpha, a sorority who’s membership at the school counts as mostly African-American. “These racist, hateful messages have no place in our community,” Interim Vice President of Campus Life Fan-
UNIVERSITY Page 24
Donnell Allen meticulously colored a forest with green and brown markers at the first annual Community School Art Showcase inside the Fairmount Heights Municipal Building. The 12-year-old sixth-grader at Robert Gray Elementary lives a town of nearly 1,500 in Prince George's County along the District's Northeast border lined with 20th century homes, home to the Maryland 1A high school boys basketball team and member of the Historic Black Towns and Settlements Alliance. The town also has a reputation of being labeled "The Heights," a streetwise term for living in the 'hood, or ghetto community. Colorful election signs sprinkled on a few front lawns throughout the town highlighted a contested mayoral race between incumbent Patricia M. Waiters and Lillie Thompson-Martin. The town joined 10 other municipalities in the county to hold local elections Monday, May 1. "Before Ms. Waiters became mayor, she was always doing things in the community," said Donnell's aunt, Tonya Malone, 34, born and raised in Fairmount Heights. "We are the best little small community that's built together and standing strong for a large town. She's a part of making that happen."
ELECTIONS Page 46
Celebrating 52 Years of Service / Serving More Than 50,000 African American Readers Throughout The Metropolitan Area