“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, ard work, and learning from failure.” –Colin Powell
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Volume 87 • Issue 15
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November 20-26, 2014
Atlanta Celebrates the Incredible Life of Business Legend Herman J. Russell
“Our city lost one of the best men it has ever produced. No words can express the depth of our sorrow as we remember Mr. H.J. Russell.” -Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed | Page 3 Photo by Horace Henry
ATLANTA DAILY WORLD T:11.25”
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November 20-26, 2014
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Atlanta Daily World
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COVER STORY
November 20-26, 2014
H.J. Russell: Portrait of a Life Well Lived Atlanta Daily World
Founded August 5 1928; Became Daily, March 12, 1932 W.A. Scott, II, Founder/Publisher August 5, 1928 to February 7, 1934 Published weekly at 100 Hartsfield Centre Parkway Suite 500 Atlanta, Georgia 30354 Periodicals Postage Paid at Atlanta Mailing Offices. Publication Number 017255 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Atlanta Daily World, 100 Hartsfield Centre Parkway Suite 500 Atlanta, Georgia 30354 Subscriptions: One Year: $52 Two Years: $85 Forms of Payment: Check, Money Order, VISA American Express, MasterCard MEMBER: Associated Press Atlanta Business League Central Atlanta Progress Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce National Newspaper Publishers Website: www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com Roz Edward
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By Terry Shropshire What do the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the Georgia Dome, Turner Field, Phillips Arena, the downtown Atlanta skyline, the administration of the iconic Mayor Maynard Jackson and the Civil Rights Movement all have in common? They all, in one way or another, bare the DNA of late, great business impresario Herman J. Russell. The brilliant construction and real estate magnate passed away at age 83 — much like he lived — quietly, and leaving behind an enviable legacy and vast business portfolio that spellbinds his contemporaries and legions of admirers alike. And he leaves people searching for the right words to summarize the indelible impact the legendary businessman, philanthropist and civic leader made on the maturation of the city of Atlanta as a power player on the national and international landscape. In addition to amazing people with his prodigious business exploits, many people were astounded by the remarkable humility and sense of humanity that belied the good natured disposition, which is too often uncharacteristic of those who have achieved Russell’s level of incredible success and fortune. Russell loved sharing his inspirational life story with others and frequently regaled listeners with account of how he overcame racism, poverty, and a debilitating speech impediment to become one of the most successful African American entrepreneurs, and unsung heroes of the civil rights movement. These are the reasons — along with a slew others —that cavalcades of dignitaries, civil leaders and politicians are streaming into Atlanta to pause and pay homage to one of the pillars of modern Atlanta. “Today, our city lost one of the best men it has ever produced. No words can express the depth of our sorrow as we remember Mr. H.J. Russell,” testified Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed without a hint of hyperbole or overstatement.
“He was elated and proud of the fact that he was able to share his legacy with others and, most importantly, his grandchildren. Herman Russell had a major impact on many of us and he lived a great life.” Michael Russell, CEO of H.J. Russell & Co. Andrew Young, a former Atlanta mayor and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, echoed Reed’s sentiments when he said, “[Russell] was one of the giants of our time. In every phase of Atlanta development from Hartsfield to the present, he was a major and dominant influence. Like Atlanta, he started off with a little shoe shine stand, now his company is a major influence in everything happening in the city. He had a good mind and sharp pencil.” No tribute to Russell would be complete without a word from a mainstay of the Civil Rights era, where Russell worked behind-the-scenes to secure and provide financial support for its mission. “Herman’s
Photo by Horace Henry Mr. Herman Russell (top) with two of his friends, the late Atlanta business man Mr. Jesse Hill, and the late Atlanta Civil Rights Attorney Donald Lee Hollowell. spirit permeated the community. He was a great citizen, a great business man and a brother. I loved him and he will be missed,” said Civil Rights icon, Rev. Joseph Lowery. “Mr. Russell was an extraordinary visionary, a dynamic leader and a philanthropist who uplifted and mentored so many. By building one of our nation’s most successful minority-owned companies, his legacy is a shining example for small business owners with big dreams. His brilliance is reflected across Atlanta’s skyline and throughout communities across the country. The world is immeasurably better because of Herman J. Russell,” said Atlanta City Council President Ceasar C. Mitchell Herman Jerome Russell was born to Maggie Googson and Rogers Russell in Atlanta on Dec. 23, 1930. Russell, the youngest of eight children, grew up in the Summerhill neighborhood, in the shadow of the baseball complex he would later help rebuild into the spectacular sports edifice Turner Field, which would become at that time, the envy of Major League Baseball franchises. The fact that his father’s entrepreneurial DNA was passed on to his son was clearly evident at an age when most school-aged boys were beginning to chase girls and distract themselves with other frivolities. Russell was only 12 years old when he founded his shoeshine business. And he was just a sophomore in high school – a mere infant in the business world – when he exemplified the level of business acumen that would turn him into a superstar in adulthood. Russell used the profits from his shoeshine business to buy a vacant lot, and then built a residential duplex, all while he was still a teenager. Ever the enterprising adolescent, Russell used the revenue from his teen businesses to fully finance his expensive education at the private HBCU Tuskegee University in Alabama. After returning to Atlanta upon graduation, Russell performed small-scale plastering and repair services until he inherited his father’s business, then known as the Rogers Russell Plastering Company, upon his father’s death in 1957. Russell almost immediately expanded the family business, taking on larger projects that ranged from home building to
real estate investment. During this period Russell owned several construction and real estate companies, among them H. J. Russell and Company, H. J. Russell Construction Company, H. J. Russell Plastering Company, Paradise Management Inc., DDR International, and Southeast Land Development Company. Over the next fifty years, he continued to build businesses, amassing one of the nation’s and the world’s most profitable minority-owned conglomerates. Soon, Russell branched out from construction and property management businesses by adding communications, concessions, and sports franchises to his portfolio. At the same time, his construction partnerships expanded to include residential, educational, commercial, and recreational structures. Some of Russell’s better-known projects include numerous Atlanta landmarks, among them the Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Philips Arena, Turner Field, the Georgia Dome as well as the construction of the new trillion-dollar Falcons stadium. “Herman Russell was a remarkable gentleman and I greatly appreciate the work he did in District 10. He left a lasting legacy that will be remembered for years to come.” said Atlanta City Councilmember C.T. Martin. Russell was already millionaire builder before the civil rights movement led by Dr. King hijacked American consciousness. He befriended contemporaries like M.L. King Jr., Ralph Abernathy, Andrew Young, Vernon Jordan and Jesse Hill. To support the movement for equality and civil rights, he discretely financed the civil rights crusade, bonded out demonstrators and provided funding for political campaigns that helped pass landmark legislation to transform American society and race relations. In 1994 Russell’s construction businesses were reorganized under H. J. Russell and Company. During this time, the company reported annual sales estimated at $150 million, with project offices in several cities from Miami, Florida, to New York City. Today, the Atlanta-based H. J. Russell and Company is a nationally recognized leader in the construction and real estate development industry, as well as the single largest Minority Business Enterprise real estate firm in the United States. Throughout the decades of enormous success, Mr. Russell continued to give back to the community that nurtured his business pursuits. In 1999 Russell pledged $4 million to expand educational programs in entrepreneurship at Clark Atlanta University, Georgia State University and Morehouse College, as well as at his alma mater Tuskegee University. In December 2009 Russell’s family donated $1 million to expand a new facility of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding. Because of these dizzying exploits and success, the tributes continue to pour in for Russell, who will be laid to rest this week. “My sadness is only eclipsed by the great admiration and inspiration that his life had up on my own. Having the privilege of knowing him since childhood, as I grew, I was able to watch Mr. Russell grow and build this beautiful city with his hands, his words, and his deeds. He was not just an example of self-made success, but a demonstration of a life well lived. His tremendous works can be found amongst the Atlanta skyline, the businesses he created, but most of all and the beautiful family that he raised. … He is one of the heroes of Atlanta’s story, a real life legend to now aspire to.” - Atlanta City Councilmember Michael Julian Bond.
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NEWS EPA Tours Atlanta Food Bank Get to Address Food Waste
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To begin the holiday season, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials toured the Atlanta Community Food Bank and met with staff to discuss the importance of food waste reduction as part of the agency’s Food Recovery Action Week. The visit is a reminder to consumers and businesses alike of the importance of reducing wasted food. EPA Assistant Regional Administrator Ken Lapierre spoke with ACFB staff and volunteers about EPA’s work to address food waste and how those efforts could benefit the food bank. “A shocking amount of edible food is wasted every day, instead of being donated to area food banks,” said Ken Lapierre, EPA Assistant Regional Administrator. “These donations would help the Atlanta Community Food Bank do more to feed the hungry and also reduce waste going into landfills.” Lapierre met with more than 100 members of the ACFB staff, toured the facility in southwest Atlanta and learned about the mission of the food bank. “Atlanta Community Food Bank is able to distribute more than 50 million pounds of food across our 29-county service area and into the homes of people who are struggling with hunger. Historically, much of the food that is donated to us would otherwise go to waste were it not for an incredible network of partners, volunteers and donors that works with us to ensure that good food gets to tables,” said Bill Bolling, Executive Director of the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Food accounts for the greatest percentage (20 percent) of waste discarded by American every year. To reduce the volume of waste donate edible food that would otherwise be thrown away. According to the EPA, Americans are wasting more than 35 million tons of food per year, 95 percent of which is thrown away into landfills or incinerators. The Natural Resources Defense Council estimates that this translates into a loss of approximately $165 billion annually. At the same time, 14.9 percent of households in the U.S. were food insecure in 2011, meaning they did not know
where their next meal would come from. To help, families can donate food to their local food banks. The EPA also offers a tool called “Food: Too Good to Waste” that helps communities nationwide reduce the food that goes to landfills.The toolkit offers five strategies for reducing wasted food at home: get smart through measuring what you’re throwing away; smart shopping templates to help shoppers make lists with meals in mind; smart storage, a guide with straightforward information on how to keep produce fresh the longest; smart prep to prepare food right after purchase to make it last longer and easier to whip up meals later on, and smart saving, a guide on how to design your fridge to ensure you’re eating foods by what will spoil first. Businesses can also do their part to reduce food waste and boost their bottom line by joining over 760 organizations across the country and sign up for EPA’s Food Recovery Challenge. The FRC Challenge is part of EPA’s Sustainable Materials Management Program, which seeks to reduce the environmental impact of materials through their entire life cycle, including how they are extracted, manufactured, distributed, used, reused, recycled, and disposed.
November 20-26, 2014
Ready for Winter: Weatherize
As homeowners/renters are adjusting indoor climates for the seasonal changes spotlighted by this week’s freezing temperatures, the Georgia Insurance Information Service encourages awareness that, alongside these necessary preparations, are ones that also ensure home and property safety. “Home maintenance is certainly a yearround priority, but as we experience increasingly colder temperatures, our seasonal preparations take on added significance because of the potential hazards that accompany transitioning our property from summer/fall environments and keep us warm during the winter months,” said GIIS Executive Director Jamie Kimbrough. Having recently turned back the clock from daylight savings time, homeowners should use that annual ritual as a reminder to be sure they have an adequate number of Georgia law mandated smoke alarms, and they should install new batteries for the late fall and winter months. A working fire/smoke alarm can be the difference between life and death, and between minimal and catastrophic loss due to the ravages of fire. According to the Georgia Department of Insurance, most fatal fires start between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., while the family is asleep, and nine out of 10 fire victims are already deceased -- usually from smoke and toxic gases -- before the fire department is even called. Not only do residential fires increase in colder weather months, but so does carbon monoxide poisoning and the potential for the loss of life. As such, homeowners should consider installing carbon monoxide detectors and should check them prior to the onset of winter. The U.S. Product Safety Commission says that more than 25,000 residential fires are associated each year with space heaters, and that more than 300 people die in these fires. To ensure home safety, only tested and certified heat-
ers with guards protecting the heating element should be used. Leaves, weeds, brush and other vegetation collected for burning should be kept at least 30 feet from a home, to prevent burning embers from blowing onto the structure and/or roof. And, a water hose should always be available close by to extinguish any stray flames or sparks. According to the Georgia DOI, more than 6,700 brush and grass fires were reported in the state last year, resulting in four fatalities and 20 injuries. Water pipes are certainly susceptible to freezing and bursting during cold weather months, and the resulting damage can be costly. Pipes under the house or in the basement should be checked for cracks, and they should properly insulated. Consideration should also be given to insulating unfinished rooms, such as garages, to help keep pipes from freezing. . If pipes do burst, homeowners should know the location of their emergency water shut-off valve and should stop the flow of water to prevent increased property damage. To read this article in its entirety please visit atlantadailyworld.com
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BUSINESS
Protect Yourself From Gift Card Fraud As one of the easiest universal gifts, gift cards are always a popular choice for gift givers during the holiday season. While a gift card allows the freedom to let the recipient choose what they want, it also creates a bigger opportunity for fraudsters to take advantage of unsuspecting consumers. Although often overlooked, gift card fraud can happen either when a gift card is purchased or redeemed. Some fraudsters can purchase gift cards with stolen credit card information, or steal the gift card number and PIN, but leave the actual card in the store. From there, thieves can resell these cards or use the funds at the designated store to buy resalable goods. Thieves can also try to return stolen merchandise for store credit which they can later resell. Better Business Bureau Serving Metro Atlanta, Athens & Northeast Georgia shares a few ways to protect yourself (and your gift receiver) from fraud on your gift card: • Use trusted sources – While you may get a good deal on gift card resale sites, the risk may outweigh the reward. Not all of these sites guarantee the face value of the gift card, as retailers can cancel stolen gift cards or a criminal might
November 20-26, 2014
Why Airfare Keeps Rising Despite Lower Oil Prices
resell a gift card they have already used. The best way to combat this is to buy directly from the store you want the gift card from. • Look for tampering – The safest gift cards to buy are those that are in a thick plastic casing. If the gift card you want to buy is not in this packaging, check the back of the card to make sure the PIN hasn’t been scratched off. Thieves will often enter the store and write down the credit card number and PIN to make purchases online. Another good safe option is to use digital gift cards, as they are resistant to physical tampering. • Register the card – If the retailer allows you to register the card, do so immediately upon purchasing it. That way, if it is ever lost or stolen, you can protect the balance. • Be cautious – If you get a gift card, try to spend it as soon as possible. While gift cards rarely have expiration dates, the longer you hold onto your gift card, the better chance that you will forget about it, lose it, or the company may go out of business.
(AP) — U.S. airlines are saving tens of millions of dollars every week because of lower prices for jet fuel, their largest expense. So why don’t they share some of the savings with passengers? Simply put: Airlines have no compelling reason to offer any breaks. Planes are full. Investors want a payout. And new planes are on order. In fact, fares are going higher. And those bag fees that airlines instituted in 2008 when fuel prices spiked aren’t going away either. In the 12 months ended in September, U.S. airlines saved $1.6 billion on jet fuel. That helped them post a 5.7 percent profit margin in the first three quarters of this year, robust for the industry but lagging behind the 10 percent average for the Standard & Poor’s 500. In the past six years, airlines have done a great job of adjusting the number of flights to fall just short of demand. As a result, those who want to fly will pay a premium to do so. Airlines are selling a record 85.1 percent of their domestic seats. Thanks to several mega-mergers, four big airlines control the vast majority of flights, leaving very little room for another airline to undercut fares. To find out more of what’s going on with airfares visit atlantadailyworld.com
This Thanksgiving,
MLet ake MeMories. us make the meal. From main courses to delicious sides to glorious desserts, we’ve got you covered. Select à la carte dishes at the Deli, no pre-ordering necessary. Place your dinner and platter orders in-store, or online at publix.com/order, and we’ll get cooking.
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COMMUNITY
November 20-26, 2014
Men in Black Gala Benefits Hosea Feed the Hungry
By Terry Shropshire The 2nd Annual “Men in Black” Honors Awards took Atlanta by storm. The Charity Honors Awards event which benefits the Hosea Feed the Hungry campaign, annually recognizes African American men of influence who significantly impact the quality of life in their respective communities. A.H. Entertainment, in partnership with Hosea Feed The Hungry, held the well attended soiree at the Millennium Gate Museum Atlantic Station, and delivered on it’s promise to create a unique event series designed to recognize black men leaders in key industries. A key factor for honoree designation is that candidates commit to accelerate economic development in Atlanta.
A one-of-a-kind book that helps define what it means to be a present father, Black Fatherhood: Reclaiming Our Legacy by Dr. Curtis L. Ivery and his son Marcus, also seeks to breaks harmful stereotypes that surround Black fatherhood and family life.
An indispensable guide for fathers and children alike that will surely strengthen any family’s bond, Black Fatherhood: Reclaiming Our Legacy is the perfect gift for your family man.
Dr. Curtis L. Ivery
Marcus Ivery
Proceeds from the sale of this book go to The Wayne County Community College District Student Scholarship Fund
Available at: Amazon.com BarnesandNoble.com Many other national and international distributors
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Mike Smoak - Marketing and promotions executive Earl Little - Event organizer for Black History Month Parade
Toni Braxton Among Urban League of Greater Atlanta Honorees
Written by Dr. Curtis L. Ivery and his son Marcus, the book provides wisdom for being a successful African-American family man each day and every day. Including insight from celebrated leaders past and present such as Frederick Douglass, Bill Cosby, and Nelson Mandela, Ivery provides everyday wisdom on how to instill value systems that empower children, families and communities, while creating deep and meaningful relationships grounded in family life.
2014 Men in Black Honorees were: Big Tigger - American television and radio personality Carl Anthony Payne - Stage and television actor, producer and director Kwanza Hall - Atlanta City Councilman for District 2 DJ Fadelf - DJ, songwriter and model Memphitz Wright - Music executive Daniel Dickey - Brand strategist. marketer, consultant and publicist
By Diane Larche Six-time Grammy award winner Toni Braxton is among seven women who will be celebrated at the Urban League of Greater Atlanta’s 53rd Equal Opportunity Dinner on Dec. 6, at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis. Braxton is being recognized not only for her career successes, but for her perseverance in overcoming personal obstacles and her taking the lead in addressing Autism, Lupus and hear disease. The ULGA will also honor other special women of achievement including: television news anchor Jocelyn Dorsey; Atlanta Public Schools’ Victoria Williams Jenkins; Pat Lottier,
publisher and CEO Atlanta Tribune: The Magazine; Patrise Perkins-Hooker, vice president and general counsel for Atlanta Beltline, Inc.; Alicia Philipp, president of The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, and Adrienne Green, program management operations analyst for American Tower Corporation. “These women accept nothing less than excellence in their professional careers and they believe equally strongly in the importance of helping others,” said Nancy Flake Johnson, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Atlanta. “They have lent their time and talent to causes that affect the physical, financial and mental health of our communities. They have embraced the responsibility of empowering others, and in so doing, they have become quintessential women of empowerment.” The Urban League of Greater Atlanta is a civil rights organization dedicated to economic and civic empowerment. For 94 years, the mission of the Urban League of Greater Atlanta has been to empower communities and change lives by enabling African Americans and others to achieve their highest human potential and secure economic self-reliance, parity, power and civil rights. Tickets are $150 for members and $200 for non-members. For more information, call 404-659-1150 or visit the website: http://www.ulgatl.org
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HEALTH
November 20-26, 2014
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Medicare’s “Extra Help” program helps people with limited income pay for their prescription medications Making ends meet should not mean going without your medications. If you have limited income and resources, you may qualify for Extra Help to pay for some health care and prescription drug costs. Drug costs in 2015 for most people who qualify for Extra Help will be no more than $2.65 for each generic drug and $6.60 for each brand-name drug. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services estimates that more than 2 million people with Medicare may be eligible for Extra Help, but aren’t currently enrolled to take advantage of these savings. A recent law changed how your income and assets are counted: • Life insurance policies don’t count as resources • Any help you get from relatives, friends, and others to pay for household expenses—like food, mortgage, rent, heating fuel or gas, electricity, water, and property taxes—doesn’t count as income Many People Qualify and Don’t Know It Even if you were previously turned down for Extra Help due to income or resource levels, you should reapply. If you qualify, you’ll get help paying for Medicare prescription drug coverage premiums, copayments, and deductibles. To qualify, you must make less than $17,505 a year (or $23,595 for married couples). Even if your annual income is higher, you still may be able to get some extra help. Your resources must also be limited to $13,440 (or $26,860 for married couples). Resources include bank accounts, stocks, and bonds, but not your house or car.
There’s No Cost or Obligation to Apply It’s easy and free to apply for “Extra Help.” You or a family member, trusted counselor, or caregiver can apply online at socialsecurity.gov/i1020 or call Social Security at 1-800-7721213. TTY users should call 1-800-325-0778. All the information you give is confidential. You can also get help in your community from your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), Area Agencies on Aging (AAA), the Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRC), and many tribal organizations. For information about how to contact these organizations, visit Eldercare.gov. To learn more about Medicare prescription drug coverage, visit Medicare.gov, or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-6334227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048. This information prepared by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM MEDICARE
“I found a better deal on prescriptions.”
“We found lower co-pays.”
“I found a plan that works better for me.”
WHAT WILL YOU FIND DURING MEDICARE OPEN ENROLLMENT? You’ll never know unless you go. Compare your current plan to new options. See if you can lower some costs or find a plan that better suits your needs. Many people do. Even if you like your current plan, check to see if the costs or coverage are changing at medicare.gov. Or call 1-800-MEDICARE for help.
Medicare Open Enrollment Oct. 15 - Dec. 7 CMS_OE_2014_Ad_10x7_v2.indd 1
WWW.MEDICARE.GOV 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048) 7 | ADW
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ENTERTAINMENT
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November 20-26, 2014
Tracy Morgan Fights Severe Brain Injury
Ardie Fuqua and Tracy Morgan before the auto accident that put both in critical condition.
(AP) - Tracy Morgan is fighting to recover from a severe brain injury suffered in a highway crash more than five months ago, and it’s uncertain if he will be “the Tracy Morgan he once was,” his lawyer said Tuesday. Benedict Morelli said the former “Saturday Night Live” and “30 Rock” star suffered a traumatic brain injury in the June 7th crash this year on the New Jersey Turnpike, in addition to a broken leg, nose and ribs. “He’s fighting to get better, and if there’s a chance for him to be back to the Tracy Morgan he once was, he’s going to try to do that,” Morelli said. “But we just don’t know because of the severity of the injuries that he sustained and the fact that he had such a severe brain injury.” Lawyers were in court in New Jersey for a scheduling conference in Morgan’s lawsuit against Bentonville, Arkansas-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc., whose truck was involved in the crash. Morgan wasn’t at Tuesday’s proceeding, during, which lawyers met with the judge to settle on a schedule. A Wal-Mart truck slammed into a limo van that was carrying Morgan and several friends on their way back from a show in Delaware. One person was killed, and three others were injured, two seriously. Morgan spent several weeks in a hospital and in rehab. Morelli didn’t discuss specific aspects of Morgan’s condition but said he hasn’t fully recovered. “When you have a traumatic brain injury it takes a very
Steve McQueen’s Next Film to Chronicle Life of Paul Robeson Acclaimed director Steve McQueen has decided on the subject of his fourth feature, and his choice is sure to be just as controversial as his Academy Award winning film 12 Years A Slave. At the Hidden Heroes Awards in NYC, McQueen revealed that his next film will chronicle the life of athlete, singer and political activist Paul Robeson. Famous for his timeless song, “Ol’ Man River,” Robeson was also a strongwilled voice in the Civil Rights movement, even after being blacklisted for being a “communist” during the McCarthy era. McQueen, a British director of Grenadian descent, says he became interested in Robeson’s story, thanks to a neighbor, when he was 14. “It was about this black guy who was in Wales and was singing with these miners. I was about
14 years old, and not knowing who Paul Robeson was, this black American in Wales, it seemed strange. So then, of course, I just found out that this man was an incredible human being.” Robeson won’t tell the remarkable story alone. He also revealed that Harry Belafonte, actor and a close friend of Robeson will be involved with the film, though it’s unclear in what capacity. Regardless, McQueen was quick to express the joy in his newfound friendship: “We get on like a house on fire. I never thought I’d make a new friend, and [with] a man who is 87 years old, but I’m very happy. He’s a beautiful man. … Miracles do happen. With Paul Robeson and Harry Belafonte, things have come full circle.”
Chairman Eaves Welcomes ‘Africa Umoja’ to Atlanta
Fulton County Commision Chairman John H. Eaves is pleased to welcome the performng arts troupe of Africa Umoja, 20 years of Democracy and Freedom to the Rialto Center for the Arts at Georgia State University. The group and play celebrate the culture of South Africa through music and
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dance. The play includes the music of legendary South African artists such as Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela. “The show is an exciting celebration of a fascinating place and culture,” says Fulton County Board of Commissioners’ Chairman John H. Eaves, adding “ I hope many others in our area get to experience this show for themselves.” As part of efforts to welcome the show and its cast to Fulton County, Chairman Eaves will host an introductory event in the atrium of the Fulton County Government Center, Nov. 24. The event will feature the presentation of a proclamation to the troupe and a brief performance featuring members of the show’s cast. Performances of Africa Umoja begin at the Rialto on Nov. 25 and conclude Nov. 30.
long time to find out how you’re going to do and how much you’re going to recover,” Morelli said. “You just don’t know. So that’s where he is. He’s still fighting and trying to live his life at the same time and trying to get better, and he’s just not better. We’re hoping and praying to get him back to where he was. But the jury’s out.” A comedy series Morgan was to have begun filming in August for FX Network was put on hold after the accident. Morgan sued for punitive and compensatory damages. In a response to the lawsuit filed in late September, Wal-Mart contended the victims’ injuries were partly due to the fact that they weren’t wearing seatbelts. Attorneys representing Wal-Mart didn’t comment after Tuesday’s proceeding. Georgia truck driver Kevin Roper, who is not named in Morgan’s lawsuit, was charged with death by auto and four counts of assault by auto in state court. Last Friday, he filed to have Morgan’s lawsuit delayed while that case proceeds. That matter is scheduled to be ruled on next month. A preliminary investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board released in June said Roper was driving 65 mph in the minute before he slammed into the back of the van. The speed limit on that stretch of the New Jersey Turnpike is 55 mph but was lowered to 45 mph that night because of construction.
Netflix Postpones Launch of Cosby Comedy Special Amid Sex Assault Claims
(AP) –Amid a growing swirl of allegations that Bill Cosby sexually assaulted women, Nextflix has announced that it will postpone the veteran comedian’s upcoming standup comedy special. In a brief statement released late Tuesday, the company said the scheduled Nov. 27 premiere of the special, “Bill Cosby 77,” was being postponed but did not address the reason or indicated when it might debut. The company had no further comment, a spokeswoman said. The move came within hours of an interview that “Entertainment Tonight” aired with Janice Dickinson, in which the model and TV host alleged that Cosby sexually assaulted her after a 1982 hotel dinner meeting in Lake Tahoe, Calif. Cosby agrees with the Netflix action, his publicist, David Brokaw said in an email on Tuesday, Nov. 18. He did not elaborate, and there was no immediate comment regarding
Dickinson’s allegations. It’s the first indication that Cosby, who had enjoyed a robust comedy concert schedule and has been in talks with NBC for a new sitcom, may be seeing serious fallout from a dark chapter that appeared to be behind him. There had been only two TV talk show appearances affected. He postponed an interview on Queen Latifah‘s daytime talk show and confirmed that he would not be making a scheduled appearance on “Late Show with David Letterman.” NBC has not commented in recent months on the status of the sitcom that would feature the African American TV groundbreaker (with “The Cosby Show“) as a family patriarch. Cosby, who was never criminally charged in any case, settled a civil suit in 2006 with another woman over an alleged incident two years before. But in recent weeks a fellow comic, Hannibal Buress, called Cosby a “rapist” during a Philadelphia performance. Two other women emerged as accusers, including Barbara Bowman, who wrote an online Washington Post piece. Cosby has remained silent, and his attorney, John P. Schmitt, issued a statement Sunday saying his client would not dignify “decade-old, discredited” claims of sexual abuse with a response. Schmitt later exempted the 2006 civil case from the blanket statement. Dickinson told the newsmagazine that she wrote about the assault in her 2002 autobiography, “No Lifeguard on Duty: The Accidental Life of the World’s First Supermodel,” but that Cosby and his lawyers pressured her and the publisher to remove the details.
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FAITH
November 20-26, 2014
Gospel Pianist John Paul to Infidelity in the Church Release Holiday EP Gospel‘s Leading Man and balladeer extraordinaire Earnest Pugh (of “I Need Your Glory” and “Rain On Us” fame) is continuing his longstanding practice of introducing new acts to the gospel music industry with the release of “Christmas with John Paul” (EPM Music Group) on December 2nd. The five-song extended play CD showcases the classically trained pianist John Paul McGee tackling yuletide evergreens such as Nat King Cole Trio’s 1946 gem “The Christmas Song” with a touch of Jazz and gospel. “It is often said that a picture is worth a thousand words,” says the Bethune-Cookman University graduate of the set that also features crisp new renditions of “Oh Holy Night,” “The First Noel,” “Sweet Little Jesus Boy” and a funky “Jesus, What a Wonderful Child.” McGee will be joining Earnest Pugh and other artists on a nationwide Christmas concert tour. “I am so excited to have this opportunity as an instrumental artist to paint wordless pictures through the mere power of sound. Listeners can experience the joy, peace, healing and love that come at Christmas time. As we celebrate the birth of Christ, I also celebrate this season of birthing in my own life where God is transitioning me to have even greater impact on lives everywhere through my musical gifts.” Currently a graduate student at Atlanta’s
Emory University and in hot pursuit of a doctorate in Religious Studies, McGee is a young man with a seasoned musical resume. Aside from composing songs on albums by Bishop T.D. Jakes and Alvin Darling & Celebration; he’s also created vocal arrangements for recorded projects by such traditional gospel music mainstays as the Arkansas Gospel Mass Choir, Youth for Christ, Troy Sneed, Bishop Bruce Parham and Rev. Rudolph McKissick. McGee has also shared stages with the likes of Patti Labelle, The Isley Brothers and The Clark Sisters.
Forty-one percent of all married individuals in the United States will engage in infidelity at some point during their marriage and roughly half of all marriages will end in divorce according to minister and author Rev. Carnell James. James admits he cheated on his wife and God, but jubilantly reports in his new book God, I Cheated on You that his relationship with his maker and wife are both still standing strong. James knows what it is like to be tempted and to give into that temptation. He understands the emotions behind betraying loved ones with the hopes of attaining satisfaction. In James God, I Cheated on You, he explores the reasons behind cheating, the consequences it has on everyone involved and how to face reality and mend the relationships torn
apart by infidelity. “People believe once a cheater, always a cheater, but I wanted to share my story in order to help others hope and fight for their relationship,” said James. Being able to show humility and understand why he cheated has helped James get back to a good place in his marriage. “We have all cheated on God before and have been forgiven for it,” said James. “If you love God, you will love and respect your mate.” James continues to serve his community as a minister in Georgia. He hopes to help individuals who have been tempted to go down the same path as he did by offering his personal story and advice.
Celebrities and Dignitaries Mourn Loss of Dr. Myles Munroe and Wife
By Terry Shropshire The Bahamanian government has begun the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of universally-beloved pastor, bestselling author, inspirational speaker and entrepreneur Dr. Myles Munroe and his wife Ruth and daughter Charisa and eight others in a plane crash on the Grand Bahamas island. As unbearable grief billows up from the Grand Bahama International Airport, the site of the executive Lear jet crash, his death has sent shockwaves of horror and shock reverberating across the globe. The Munroe family, sans the son Myles Jr. and daughter Cahrissa, was traveling to the Bahamas to attend Munroe’s Global Leader-
ship Forum when the plane crashed into a crane, exploding on impact and causing in all probability instantaneous death for all passengers and crew. Prominent ministers, dignitaries and celebrities from across the United States and beyond have expressed their despair while simultaneously celebrating one of the most gifted ministers of the modern era. “Taffi and I are saddened to hear about the passing of Dr. Myles Munroe and his wife, Ruth. We send our deepest condolences,” said Creflo Dollar of World Changers International in Atlanta. “There are few biblical clinicians who’s view of ministry wasn’t enriched in some way by Dr, Munroe,” added T.D. Jakes, world renowned bishop of The Potter’s House.
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ANNOUNCEMENT RFQC – GICC – 121914 - AVS ADVERTISEMENT for AUDIO VISUAL SERVICES for the GEORGIA INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTER The City of College Park is accepting Sealed Qualifications from qualified contractors for Audio Visual Services for the Georgia International Convention Center. Sealed qualifications will be received no later than _noon, Friday, December 19, 2014 at the City of College Park Purchasing Department, 3667 Main Street, College Park Georgia, 30337. Sealed qualifications received after the above date and time, or in any other location other than the Purchasing Department will not be considered. A bid packet may be obtained from the City of College Park Purchasing Department, 3667 Main Street, College Park, Georgia 30337, or from www. collegeparkga.com. No Informational Conference/Meeting will be held. However, questions will be accepted via email ONLY, to bgregory@collegeparkga.com until close of business (COB = 5:00pm EST) Wednesday, December 3, 2014. An Addendum listing all Q&A, clarifications, etc. will be posted at www.collegeparkga. com on or about COB December 10, 2014. It is always the vendor’s responsibility to check the City’s website for any/all addenda. The City of College Park reserves the right to reject any or all bids based on past performance and to waive technicalities and informalities and re-advertise. All Minority, Woman and Small Businesses are strongly encouraged to apply. Only responsive proposals that are determined to meet the requirements and criteria set forth by the City of College Park will be considered.
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GUEST COMMENTARY
GUEST COMMENTARY
by Jesse Jackson
by Kevin P. Chavous
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is Without a Clue In response to what he calls the president’s “war on coal,” Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell says, “I’m going to war with him.” For McConnell, the historic agreement that the president signed with the Chinese, committing them for the first time to dramatic reductions in their greenhouse gases, is an outrage, an assault on “my state.” McConnell has just been reelected by the citizens of Kentucky, albeit a small minority of them. (In a state where fewer than half of those eligible showed up, McConnell won with the votes of about ¼ of the eligible voters). But seldom has a leader so clearly demonstrated that he will allow ideology and special interests to overrule both common sense and the common good. For McConnell, architect of the Republican scorched earth-obstruction against all things Obama, going to war with the president is old hat. Among other things, he led the repeated Republican efforts to repeal Obamacare. Only, it turned out that health care reform is remarkably popular in Kentucky where the governor embraced it and hundreds of thousands have benefited, particularly from the expansion of Medicaid that McConnell is against. In the campaign, McConnell tried to square this circle by suggesting inaccurately that the Kentucky program could continue even if health care reform was repealed. In part to make up for that foolishness, he was forced to run one of the most expensive Senate races ever to save his seat in a deep red state. Now McConnell is proving that he is a man of the past, not a leader for the future. No matter how much he may stick his head in the ground, climate change is already a real and present danger. Even the Pentagon acknowledges that. The berserk weather that is already roiling the world has concentrated the minds of responsible leaders in governments, militaries, businesses and societies across the globe. Senator McConnell may promise to use his post as Senate majority leader to stand in the doorway and try to block change, but he will
find that he is on the wrong side of history. Imagine what a more responsible leader of “coal country” would do. McConnell could easily go to the president and demand a major program to transform the region, a Tennessee-Valley-Authority-sized program that would make coal country a center for manufacturing windmills and solar panels and other renewable sources of energy. He could demand funds for rebuilding the region’s energy infrastructure, for investing in its schools, for retraining its workers. He could argue that any just transition must include a real promise of jobs — with the government as the employer of last resort if necessary. He could demand investment in new hospitals and public health facilities, both to care for the miners afflicted from their work in the mines and to be a source of employment and good health in the future. He could be the leader who launches a long overdue renaissance for the region, rather than trying to hang on desperately to its no longer sustainable past. But of course to do that, McConnell would have to represent the common good of his constituents rather than the special interests — the oil and coal companies — that helped pay for his campaign. He’d have to accept that in a time of national and regional emergency, his conservative anti-government ideology should take a backseat to vital public investment and planning. Like Lyndon Johnson embracing the cause of civil rights, or Ronald Reagan reaching out to Gorbachev on nuclear disarmament, he’d have to have sufficient vision to ignore the brickbats of his allies on the right. McConnell shows no sign of rising to the historical opportunity before him. Instead he will howl at the rising tides, deny the reality around him, and continue the unrelenting partisan warfare that has brought him to his current position. A war on coal? Senator McConnell will fight for the interests of the coal companies and the oil interests. But the greatest damage inflicted on the people of coal country will be done by its newly re-elected Senator who simply doesn’t have a clue.
School Choice Emerging as a Go-To Issue for African American Voters With each election, political experts can look at various voting patterns by certain groups to determine which issues are important to those groups. For instance, among African American voters, it is clear that issues such as jobs, quality housing, affordable health care and education consistently are the most significant. As it relates to education, more and more African American voters are embracing educational choice and are voting for candidates who identify themselves as school choice supporters. Nowhere is that more evident than in the recent Governor’s race in Florida. Republican Gov. Rick Scott was elected in 2010 with just 6 percent of the African American vote. During his first term, he did not do much to improve his standing among Florida’s African American electorate - other than steadfastly support the highly popular Florida Tax Credit Scholarship program. Under this program, which serves mostly low income African American and Hispanic students, 70,000 kids are able to attend a quality private school which is often far better than the traditional public school in their neighborhood. While Gov. Scott was in the midst of campaigning for re-election against former Gov. Charlie Crist, labor unions filed a lawsuit to dismantle the program. Democrat Crist, who once supported the program, supported the unions attempt to shut down the program. In October, Reverend H. K. Matthews, who marched with Martin Luther King, Jr. in Selma, publicly pleaded with Crist to denounce the effort. And Rev. Matthews made his arguments in terms that harkened the civil rights struggles of the 1960s, when blacks first moved from the Republican Party to the Democrats. “The truth is that wealthy children have
always had choices, whether to neighborhoods with favored public schools or private schools that only money can buy,” Matthews wrote in an op-ed. “The union cries foul when that privilege is extended to those of meager financial means.” Matthews was joined by a coalition of black ministers in the state. The scholarship program became a huge issue in the Florida Governor’s race. When the votes were counted, not only did Gov. Scott get re-elected, he also doubled his level of African American support from 6 percent in 2010 to 12 percent in 2014. That increase gave him the margin he needed to beat former Gov. Crist. Over the years, poll after poll has shown that African American and Hispanic citizens support all forms of educational choice. Indeed, with the school dropout rates in those communities hovering around 50 percent and with the achievement gap between kids of color and their white counterparts remaining virtually unchanged, parents are clamoring for as many quality options as they can get - including publicly funded scholarships to allow their kids to go to good private schools. In the past, we have seen those parents support Democrats like New Jersey’s Cory Booker, California’s Diane Feinstein and a host of state and local Democrats around the nation who have bucked the teachers unions by putting their kids first and supporting educational choice. Florida’s recent governor’s race shows us, however, that those same parents are willing to vote for candidates who embrace those quality choice options, be they Democrat or Republican. As we move closer to the 2016 presidential race, Democrats would be wise to learn from Florida - and join the parents that they serve.
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