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Capitol City Bank ‘s George G. Andrews takes on a new role,
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Tributes pour in for Evelyn Gibson Lowery, Page 5
Volume 86 • Issue 9
Monica Pearson Inducted into Journalism Hall of Fame, Page 8
October 3 - 9, 2013
Analysis Shows Government Shutdown Harder on Black Workers By George E. Curry NNPA Editor-in-chief
Because government jobs have been more available to Blacks than private sector employment over the years, especially under de jure segregation, Blacks, who comprise 13.6 percent of the U.S. population, make up 17.7 percent of the federal workforce. Overall, people of color represent 34 percent of the federal workforce. Latinos are 8 percent of government workers, Asians are 5.8 percent, Native Americans are 2.1 percent and Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders are 0.40 percent of federal employees. People of color are 37 percent of the U.S. population, a figure projected to grow to 43.3 percent as soon as 2025 and 57 percent by 2060. Federal workers considered non-essential to the functioning of government were instructed not to report for work as of Tuesday, Oct. 1, the first day of the new fiscal year, because Congress failed to pass a permanent or interim budget in time to prevent a federal shutdown, the first in nearly two decades. The impasse came as a result of a Republican-controlled House determination to tie any budget measure to defunding the Affordable Care Act, the major provisions of which went into effect on Oct.1. On Monday, Sept. 30, President Obama warned about the consequences of a federal shutdown. “I want to be very clear about what would change. Office buildings would close. Paychecks would be delayed. Vital services that seniors and veterans, women and children, businesses and our economy depend on would be hamstrung. Business owners would see delays in raising capital, seeking infrastructure permits, or rebuilding after Hurricane Sandy. Veterans who’ve sacrificed for their country will find their support centers unstaffed. Tourists will find every one of America’s national parks and monuments, from Yosemite to the Smithsonian to the Statue of Liberty, immediately closed. And of course, the communities and small businesses that rely on these national treasures for their livelihoods
Kerry Washington Emmy Award Nominee, Page 7
will be out of customers and out of luck. “And in keeping with the broad ramifications of a shutdown, I think it’s important that everybody understand the federal government is America’s largest employer. More than 2 million civilian workers and 1.4 million active-duty military serve in all 50 states and all around the world. In the event of a government shutdown, hundreds of thousands of these dedicated public servants who stay on the job will do so without pay — and several hundred thousand more will be immediately and indefinitely furloughed without pay.” The shutdown could have dire consequences for our national security, according to a report by the Congressional Research Service. According to the report, “Shutdown of the Federal Government: Causes, Processes, and Effects,” published Sept. 23: “A federal government shutdown could have possible negative security implications as some entities wishing to take actions harmful to U.S. interests may see the nation as physically and politically vulnerable,” the report stated. There is also concern that the shutdown will be another setback for the already shaky economy. Moody’s Analytics estimates that a three to four week shutdown could cost the economy about $55 billion, about equal the combined economic disruption caused by Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy. Speaking in the Rose Garden on Day 1 of the shut down, President Obama said: “I will not negotiate over Congress’s responsibility to pay bills it’s already racked up. I’m not going to allow anybody to drag the good name of the United States of America through the mud just to refight a settled election or extract ideological demands. Nobody gets to hurt our economy and millions of hardworking families over a law you don’t like.” To read this story in its entirety, please visit atlantadailyworld.com.
Civil rights pioneer Evelyn Lowery Remembered By M. Alexis Scott ADW Publisher Hundreds gathered at the King Chapel on the campus of Morehouse College Wednesday to pay their last respects to Evelyn Lowery, a pioneer in civil rights and women’s empowerment and the wife of the Rev. Joseph E. Lowery. She died at home on Sept. 26 following a massive stroke a week earlier that left her with irreversible damage. She was 88 years old. A series of tributes filled the two-hour service that drew Evelyn Lowery tears and laughter from those gathered. She was praised for her work as a leader in her own right as well as being a rock to her husband, who has been called the “dean” of the Civil Rights Movement. Xernona Clayton said she teased Mrs. Lowery about waiting on her husband “hand and foot.” They were married for 67 years. She said they were devoted to each other. In addition she established her own initiatives, including founding SCLC/WOMEN in 1979. Scarlet Pressley-Brown, interim-chair of SCLC/WOMEN, called her the mother of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, scheduled to open next year. In addition to SCLC/WOMEN, Mrs. Lowery founded the Drum Major for Justice awards to recognize people and organizations working for social justice. She also established the annual Heritage Tour in Alabama to retrace the steps of civil rights battles and to dedicate monuments to those who gave their lives in the struggle. The Rev. Al Sharpton, head of the National Action Network and host of Politics Nation on MSNBC, said “her work speaks for itself.” He added, “She stood shoulder to shoulder with one of the greatest civil rights leaders the world has ever known.” In addition to words of tribute calling her a “foot soldier” filled with “love, courage, grace, class, dignity, dedication and commitment,” the service included music that brought people to their feet, especially a performance by the three Lowery daughters, Yvonne, Karen and Cheryl. They sang “Total Praise.” Jennifer Holliday of Broadway fame, stirred the crowd with “His Eye is on the Sparrow,” and Cassandra Davis, of “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne,” performed “God is Real,” repeating the ending at Rev. Lowery’s request. Other tributes came from letters from President and Mrs. Obama, President Clinton and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder. Others bringing tributes were Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, andDr. Carlton Brown, president of Clark Atlanta University, where Mrs. Lowery graduated in 1946. Also, Christine King Farris, sister of Martin Luther King Jr.; Carolyn Young, wife of Andy Young, who worked alongside King, Lowery and others; Ruby Shinholster; and Thandi Luthuli Gcabashe, who met Mrs. Lowery when she lived in Atlanta in exhile for several years during the fight against apartheid in South Africa. Bishop Woodie W. White, board chair of the Joseph E. Lowery Institute for Justice & Human Rightst at CAU, concluded the service by saying Mrs. Lowery is “not leaving, but going....Going transcends leaving….She’s alright… and that’s the rest of the story.”