Afro PG County 4-21-2017 by AFRO News

November 12, 2016 - November 12, 2016, The Afro-American A1 PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY EDITION

Volume 125 No. 38

APRIL 22, 2017 - APRIL 28, 2017

Inside

Baltimore

Commentary

Why Black Workers in D.C. Need Paid Family Leave

• Turmoil in Lacks

Family Shadows Premiere of Oprah Movie

By Carol Joyner and Melanie I. Campbell

Marathon Champions

Prince George’s

AP Photo/Charles Krupa

Edna Kiplagat, left and Geoffrey Kirui, both of Kenya, hold a trophy together after their victories in the 121st Boston Marathon on April 17 in Boston. Kiplagat won in 2:21:52 while Kirui won in 2:9:37.

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Anti-Reform Police Gaining Under Trump By Charles D. Ellison Special to the AFRO A recent Justice Department review and attempted elimination of consent decree arrangements reforming troubled big city police departments in places like Baltimore and Chicago reflects the revival of a growing police union influence in Washington. “The Attorney General and the new leadership in the Department are actively developing strategies to support the thousands of law enforcement agencies across the country that seek to prevent crime and protect the public,” said a two-

page directive from Attorney General Jeff Sessions the first week of April. “The Department is working to ensure that those initiatives effectively dovetail with robust enforcement of federal laws designed to preserve and protect civil rights.” In early April U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar approved the consent decree signed between Baltimore and the federal government over the

“The Trump administration is threatening to derail much of this progress, even going so far as to ignore local law enforcement, political leaders, and communities that support reform efforts.”

Exclusive

– Ed Chung

objections of the Department of Justice. The issuance of that memo, along with Sessions’ very public embrace of police reform roll-backs, neatly coincided with the visit of numerous police union chiefs

• Caregivers

Say They Lack Adequate Pay

and lobbyists at the White House just less than a week before. In what was described as a “listening session,” police union heads from the National Fraternal Order of Police and other big city chapters like Philadelphia and Chicago convened a major Continued on A2

Forced Sterilization Reparations

Fred D. Gregory: First Advocates Call for Federal Lawsuit Black U.S. Astronaut By Shantella Y. Sherman Special to the AFRO ssherman@afro.com

By Byron Scott Special to the AFRO

April 29 will mark the 32nd anniversary of the first time a space shuttle was piloted by a Black American, Fred D. Gregory, a native Washingtonian. Gregory and the crew of the Orbiter Challenger space shuttle lifted off at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, bound for outer space in Spring 1985. “You’re just stunned . . . after 12 hours, probably less than that, you feel very comfortable in that new environment and you Continued on A2

In the seven years since North Carolina legislators publicly apologized and began offering reparations for forcibly sterilizing nearly 7,000 residents in the early 1900s, a few living victims have come forward to claim the $50,000 compensation packages. A similar reticence grips Virginia residents – who like the North Carolinians, have since

In 1985 the AFRO profiled Col. Frederick Drew Gregory soon after his historic flight trip into outer space. Gregory was the first Black pilot of a space shuttle.

AFRO Archived History Photo by Byron Scott

Fred D. Gregory, 76, was the first Black man to pilot a space shuttle.

Florida Legislators Formally Apologize to Groveland Four By Brendan Farrington The Associated Press It’s taken decades, but Florida is now apologizing for two of the darker misdeeds of its past. The Florida House unanimously passed two resolutions April 18. The first acknowledged decades of abuse at a Florida reform school and the second apologized to the families of

2015, not responded. Case work performed by the Christian Law Institute has found that thousands were sterilized under eugenic laws without their knowledge or consent, leaving them unaware of eligibility for compensation. New efforts, however, are underway to sue the states and force them to contact those impacted by their legislation. “Looking at eugenic reparations from a legal perspective, it is critical that the Commonwealth of Virginia track down those Continued on A2

four young Black men known as the “Groveland Four.” They were accused of raping a White girl 68 years ago in what’s now seen as a case of racial injustice. “We stand here in solidarity saying, ‘We’re sorry,’ and we apologize for the wrongs that happened to you,” Democratic Rep. Tracie Davis said as lawmakers stood and looked up at several Continued on A2

Astronaut Pilot Gregory June 22, 1985 By Elizabeth M. Oliver Col. Frederick Drew Gregory, 44, United Fred D. Gregory States Air Force, and a native of Washington, in 1985 D.C., served as a pilot of the Challenger Space Shuttle Mission 51-B, Spacelab 3 which launched at Kennedy Space Center, FLA. April 29, 12 noon EDT. The astronaut was responsible for operating the Shuttle along with the Commander Col. Robert Overmyer, 49, United States Marine Corps of Lorain, OH. Lodewijk von de Berg and Taylor Wang. The seven-member crew also included All were selected for their engineering three mission specialist-astronauts, Drs. Don skills for this flight which NASA describes Lind, Norman Thagard and William Thornton as the first operational flight for the European and two payload specialist-scientists, Drs. Continued on A4

The Afro-American, Afro-American, April April 22, 22, 2017 2017 --April April 28, 22,2017 2017

Police Unions Continued from A1 photo op with President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and other key Trump administration officials. The visit provided a fresh glimpse into the closeness between the Trump administration and the law enforcement lobby, as well as a sense that the administration would conduct a dramatic about face away from policing reform initiatives laboriously implemented by the Obama administration and Department of Justice under previous Attorney Generals Eric Holder and Loretta Lynch. “We have to continue to stress the necessity of constitutional policing in Baltimore and break the culture of zero-tolerance policing brought to the city many years ago,” said Baltimore’s police Commissioner Kevin Davis during a press conference responding to the new directive earlier in the month. Various big city departments, in places such as Los Angeles, New York, and Philadelphia, have viewed the decrees as reliable navigation guides towards needed reforms, even when that puts police department leadership at odds with local police unions. “The DOJ has historically played an important role in criminal justice reform efforts, including those that promote accountability in policing,” notes the Center for American Progress Vice President of Criminal Justice Reform Ed Chung.

“Yet, the Trump administration is threatening to derail much of this progress, even going so far as to ignore local law enforcement, political leaders, and communities that support reform efforts.” The national FOP’s predictable endorsement of Donald Trump the candidate – who focused on law and order, a major platform of his campaign – along with support from untold scores of local police union lodges, was a major step toward regaining a level of influence in Washington that was lost during the previous eight years. Police unions hadn’t endorsed a Democratic presidential candidate since Bill Clinton in 1996. The national FOP did not endorse Romney in 2012 due to what they called his anti-union stance. The FOP’s enthusiastic embrace of Trump was notable given the racially-charged atmosphere during the election cycle and especially since the flashpoints of Ferguson, Mo., Baltimore, Md. and New York, NY. “Donald Trump may not ever have been elected to public [office] but he is a proven leader,” said national FOP President Chuck Canterbury in September when announcing his endorsement. “[A]nd that’s what we need for the next four years – a leader unafraid to make tough choices and see them through.” One of those “tough choices” that had long emerged into a prime target of police unions was the consent decree, a carefully constructed, court-supervised arrangement between the federal

survivors of North Carolina’s eugenic sterilization program became pregnant as the result of a rape when she was 13. The Continued from A1 state did not need to know the details of her pregnancy, only that she was young, pregnant, who they forcibly sterilized because in many poor, and unmarried. instances the operations were performed “I was the victim of rape, child abuse and without the knowledge of the victim,” neglect and so I was constantly bullied at Christian Law Institute executive director home and school. But I was not feebleminded and attorney Mark Bold told the AFRO. “It or ‘fast’, what they called promiscuous. What presents a Constitutional challenge because I was going through was horrible and then the people have been unfairly disqualified from state of North Carolina came along and cut receiving reparations or restitution because me open like a hog,” Riddick said during her they were told the operations they had were 2011 testimony before the reparations board. for appendicitis or some other ailment.” Riddick’s son, Tony, was taken by Caesarian In 1907, Indiana passed the first and she was sterilized. Riddick told the AFRO eugenics-based compulsory sterilization that reparations have been complicated by law in the world. Thirty-three U.S. states victims not having full disclosure of their would eventually follow their lead. And by medical records. 1927, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Buck v. In the 210-years following the Indiana Bell, upheld the constitutionality of statelegislation, an estimated 70,000 individuals were forcibly sterilized under state eugenic programs, according to data from the Eugenics Record Office, a repository of genetic and biological research, created under the Carnegie Institute of Washington Station (CIW) for Experimental Evolution, in Cold – Elaine Riddick Spring Harbor, New York. Bold said he wants victims to come forward and have their say and be seen as real people that were harmed. sanctioned, forced sterilization, allowing any Through a federal lawsuit against North person a state deemed socially unfit. States Carolina, Virginia, and California, survivors freely sterilized those who were poor, weak, like 88-year-old, Lewis Reynolds, who was infirmed, incarcerated, sexually promiscuous, sterilized at 13, can be compensated, despite ignorant (unable to score more than 70 on an not remembering the procedure. “If you intelligence test), and those who were likely exhibited any type of behavior that neighbors, to have children out of wedlock. Many were teachers – anyone in authority – did not like, classified simply as feebleminded, imbeciles, you could be labeled and sterilized,” Bold or morons and considered under the law as said. “human waste” and “burdens on society.” Both the Reynolds and Riddick cases For Blacks, who were racially classified demonstrate the scientific fumble of eugenic as “dysgenic” or inherently pathological, logic – as both adults, went into adulthood as eugenic legislation targeted them through capable, law-abiding citizens despite being social services and health agencies for being labeled socially deficient. impoverished, undereducated, and potentially Riddick told the AFRO that North Carolina criminal. offered victims of their eugenics programs Elaine Riddick, one of the most outspoken $50,000; they gave $35,000 and are holding the other $15,000 for late-comers that did not come forward. “The states have a duty Identification Statements to pay compensation. Many Baltimore Afro-American – (USPS 040-800) is published weekly by The Afro-Amerwill say there is no money, ican Newspapers, 2519 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4602. Subscription but it is a debt that we have Rate: Baltimore - 1 Year - $70.00(Price includes tax.) Checks for subscriptions should a duty first to those we be made payable to: The Afro-American Newspaper Company, 2519 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4602. Periodicals postage paid at Baltimore, MD. harmed. The government is POSTMASTER: Send addresses changes to: The Afro-American Newspapers not immune to that. Eugenics Company, 2519 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4602. is still here and it is strong. The Washington Afro-American & Washington Tribune – (0276-6523) is published weekly by the Afro-American Newspapers at 1816 12th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. We’ve changed its name and 20009-4422. Subscription Rate: Washington - 1 Year - $70.00(Price includes tax.) the terms connected with Periodicals postage paid at Washington, D.C. it to justify its use, but the POSTMASTER: Send addresses changes to: The Washington Afro-American & Washington Tribune, 2519 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4602. conversation continues.”

Advocates

“In cases where people have been sterilized without their knowledge, I think states should be transparent in their reporting of the wrongdoing.”

Gregory Continued from A1 essentially forget about the burdens of walking, or sitting or what gravity forces you to do. You just moved into this new realm,” he told the AFRO. The 76-year-old, currently living in Annapolis, Md., graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy n 1964 and flew hundreds of combat rescue missions over Vietnam. He was also a fighter pilot and a test pilot. Gregory attributes his curiosity with air travel to a family friend, Gen. Davis. “I remember listening to him . . . and the other friends were there . . . talk about this adventure that they had been on. And it was clear these weren’t commercial pilots. These were fighter pilots and they talked with their hands, and they talked about tactics, and the enemy, and things of that nature,” Gregory said. He applied to NASA’s astronaut program in the late 1970s. Gregory said he shuns the notion that was promulgated early on, that minority and women astronauts were chosen because of race or gender. “Absolutely not,” he told the AFRO, “these people are here because they have worked hard. They deserve to be here. They have skills.” The biggest obstacle, he said, was coming to terms

Justice Department and a local police agency to eliminate patterns of civil rights violations. Many long-time observers of the consent decree credit it with cleaning up many major urban police departments and ushering in a new era of “community policing.” Some, including police chiefs, have credited the decrees with not only improving policing standards, but also modernizing local police departments through increased training, professionalization, and the upgrading of equipment. Police unions, however, differ on that. They claim the decrees are expensive micro-management tools that demoralize their members and are wasteful on limited budgets. When Steve Loomis, Cleveland Police Patrolmen Association’s president, told candidate Trump that federal consent decree monitors were on a $250-hour salary, according to Reuters, Trump was reportedly “taken aback by the waste of money.” Hence, many observers point out that the new Justice Department’s reversal on consent decrees is no surprise given the recent coziness between law enforcement and the new president. The extent of that political relationship is rapidly influencing how Washington responds to incidents of egregious police behavior. Civil rights organizations and Black elected officials no longer have access to the White House. As consent decrees face uncertainty, civil rights advocates are bracing for federal law enforcement officials to simply kick cases back to local police departments, prosecutors, and courts. with the ever present shadow of death. “You have to accept the fact that you can die. And if you don’t except it, then you wouldn’t go.” Like many people, Gregory was watching on January 28, 1986 as the Challenger, the same space craft he flew several months earlier, broke apart. “It was a horrific day, for me. The rest of the world looked at it as the loss of

didn’t create us to be limited to Earth; that the human body can do things much, much greater than just walk around, or sit, or be constrained. And so you begin to open up your vista to say, well are there any limitations out there? Is there something the human can’t do? And that’s what was intriguing about it.” Gregory commanded his final mission aboard Atlantis

You’re just stunned . . . after 12 hours, probably less than that, you feel very comfortable in that new environment and you essentially forget about the burdens of walking, or sitting, or what gravity forces you to do.” – Fred D. Gregory the Challenger, I saw it as a loss of friends who were in a vehicle.” Gregory would fly into space history a second time. On November 22, 1989, aboard Discovery, he became the first Black commander of a space shuttle mission. Each voyage, he says, was enlightening. “You look at your crewmates and see them floating,” Gregory told the AFRO. “You eat and you can see that you can eat. You brush your teeth, you sleep, you can do all of those things that you may have thought impossible. And then you realize that God

on November 24, 1991. What may surprise many people is that shuttle astronauts can bring their own food. Gregory’s source was Fincher’s BBQ in Warner Robins, Ga. “They sent a brisket over to Houston. They sliced it, packaged it, dehydrated it; sent it to space. We rehydrated it and ate barbeque up there. Also Snickers. I took Snickers all the time,” he said with a chuckle, “because I just love it, it’s got everything you need in it chocolate, peanuts, and caramel. It is the perfect food group.”

Groveland Four Continued from A1 men in the House gallery who were abused at the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys in the 1950s and 1960s. Minutes later, Democratic Rep. Bobby DuBose recounted the case of the Groveland Four. “This resolution is us simply saying ‘We’re sorry’ understanding that we will never know nor be able to make up for the pain we have caused,” DuBose said before asking House members to stand with him and turn toward the relatives of the four men who were accused of rape in Lake County in 1949. “As the state of Florida and the House of Representatives, we’re truly sorry.” In the case of the Groveland Four, a White 17-year-old accused the men of rape. A posse of about 1,000 men was formed to hunt down Ernest Thomas, who was killed in a hail of gunfire when he was found sleeping under a tree. At the same time, White residents formed a mob and went to a Black neighborhood and burned houses and fired guns into homes in a disturbance that took days to quell. Charles Greenlee, Walter Irvin and Samuel Shepherd

On Nov. 17, 1951 the AFRO published the eyewitness account of Walter Lee Irvin, one of the Groveland Four, being shot three times by Sheriff Willis B. McCall.

were convicted despite dubious evidence. After the U.S. Supreme Court ordered a new trial in 1951, Lake County Sheriff Willis McCall shot Irvin and Shepherd, claiming the handcuffed men tried to escape as he transferred him from one prison to another. Irvin survived despite an ambulance refusing to transport him because he was Black. He was paroled in 1968 and found dead in his

car while returning to Lake County for a funeral a year later. Greenlee was paroled in 1960 and died in 2012. His daughter Carol, 67, and son Thomas, 52, were at the Capitol. “Today, a part of it is forgiveness. And he would feel good about that,” she said. “This means that something positive has come out of something so wrong and so negative and so bad.”

April 22, 2017 - April 29, 2017, The Afro-American

COMMENTARY

Why Black Workers in D.C. Need Paid Family Leave

Political leaders and think tanks in Washington, D.C. talk about ways to alleviate racial disparities. Others explore how to reduce infant mortality. We hear calls for men to be more engaged fathers. From time to time we hear concerns about keeping seniors independent. And let’s not forget the speeches about improving employment prospects for Black workers. Right now we have an opportunity for all leaders who care about these issues to work with us to ensure timely implementation of the D.C. Universal Paid Leave Act. The intended consequences of this law include reduced racial disparities, lower infant mortality, more engaged fathers, greater independence for seniors, and higher rates of job retention. The Universal Paid Leave Act (UPLA) became law in D.C. to address the reality that at some point in our lives everyone will need to take extended time off from work to welcome a new baby, recover from illness or surgery, or to care for a seriously ill family member. These expressions of love shouldn’t result in financial ruin. As medical expenses continue to be the leading cause of financial ruin, policies that proactively support family financial security are smart economic investments for local jurisdictions, especially communities with a long history of economic unfairness. The UPLA provides job protection and economic security for times when we need it most. It covers 8 weeks for parental leave – birth, adoption, and foster placement, including the care of a child by a legal guardian or someone standing in for the parents; 6 weeks for family leave to care for a family member and 2 weeks for one’s own medical leave. Under UPLA, low-wage earners get 90% of their wages while on leave – the highest in the country. This will ensure that all workers can actually use the program. The Black Women’s Roundtable of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP) has addressed national health and economic disparities in its recent report. And the income and race disparities in D.C. are well documented. They include hospitalization rates for D.C.’s Black residents that are 3 times higher than those of Whites, and a higher death rate from breast cancer. D.C.’s Black community has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the world. Studies show paid family leave alleviates all of these conditions. UPLA guarantees that middle-aged workers in D.C. who, like both of us, are more likely to be Black or Latino, will be able to proactively attend to our own health needs and those of our loved ones, which, in turn, will help to improve our health outcomes. Right now only 34% of Black families can afford to go without pay for family leave. Only 20% of Latino families can afford to go without pay for family leave And what about making it possible for more men to be engaged fathers? Right now for most men, taking time to care for a new child or for an ill child or parent means the family will take a financial hit. We know that more men become involved in caregiving when they are able to draw a wage during that time.

Carol Joyner and Melanie I. Campbell

Everyone working in D.C.’s thriving economy deserves a good job with wages and benefits that promote pathways to the middle class and that stabilize family finances when life’s inevitable challenges arise. The Universal Paid Leave Act (UPLA) creates a strong, progressive, paid family and medical leave program that would lead the nation in what it means to center the needs of low-income families and people of color. We are calling on the D.C. Council and the Bowser Administration to fully fund the implementation of this important law and ensure that all families across the district can afford to take time to care for loved ones. Carol Joyner is the Director of the Labor Project for Working Families and serves on the policy committee of the Black Women’s Roundtable. Melanie Campbell is the President and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and Convener of the Black Women’s Roundtable.

A Black People’s North Korea Policy We as Black people need to think, see and listen for ourselves as the U.S. asserts its right to take preemptive military action against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to knock out its nuclear capabilities. Former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush had these alternatives on the table. Barack Obama’s policies had them on the table, but proceeded with strategic patience. The U.S. was the first country to devise nuclear weapons and use them against civilian populations in Nagasaki and Hiroshima Japan. According to the Plowshares Fund, the U.S. has 6,800 nuclear weapons not counting those that its allies possess. The DPRK has less than 15. At least some of the 30 submarines in the Pacific are packing nuclear weapons. The U.S. maintains the capability to destroy any nuclear missiles

Ken Morgan

aimed at it or its allies. Dare we talk about U.S. non-nuclear capability? Washington just recently dropped the “the mother of all bombs” below nuclear capability in Afghanistan. The most recent U.S. - South Korean military exercise reportedly involves over 300,000 military personnel that are supported by a sophisticated array of U.S. sea and air weaponry along with structures to assassinate Pyongyang’s leadership and is no joke to North Korea. The U.S. still boasts the largest military budget in the world. U.S. involvement with Korea and China reveals much. The U.S. partnered with the Soviet Union to divide Korea. It ruthlessly governed South Korea for over two years. It snuffed out any attempts to unify Korea. It denied the Korean people the right to determine their own form of government. It tried to bomb North Korea into kingdom come. Four million people were killed in the Korean War. Two million were civilians. It backed two ruthless dictators Sigmund Rhee (Korea) and

Chiang Kai-shek (China). Besides, the North Korean issue provides a smokescreen for the U.S. problems with China whose economic growth is sucking away the U.S. economic largess from its WWII victory, and who itself has built a large trade deficit with China. Washington no longer dominates Far East trade and military might because of China’s military build up and challenges to the U.S. What then should Black people’s policy demands be given the past and Trump’s march? Tell Washington to keep their hands off of North Korea. Take U.S. troops, planes, ships, and anti-ballistic systems out of Korea. End all economic sanctions. Call for a nuclear free Korea. Spend the money saved on U.S. jobs, housing, and other social benefits. Dr. Ken Morgan is a human rights activist and faculty member at Coppin State University.

End of Session Letter from the Speaker Pro Tem The 2017 Maryland General Assembly Session came to a close at midnight, April 10. It was a very busy, but very productive session. It has been my continued honor to serve as one of your delegates representing the citizens of the 10th Legislative District in Baltimore County, and in my role as Speaker Pro Tem of the Maryland House of Delegates. In Annapolis, I serve on the House Appropriations Committee, Chair the Capital Budget Subcommittee, and Chair the Education and Economic Development Subcommittee. As Chair of the of the Capital Budget Subcommittee, I had the task of crafting a $1.065 Billion Capital Budget. It is a budget that maintained Maryland’s “Triple A” Bond Rating, and will continue to create jobs for the State. Public school construction was once again a priority. The budget provides $342 million in funds for school construction across Maryland. The General Assembly produced a budget that balanced the State’s Operating Budget for the next fiscal year while protecting priorities such as K-12 education, public safety, public health, and economic development.

Adrienne Jones

K-12 Education/ Higher Education • Budget fully funds Maryland public schools with $6.4 billion for FY 2018, a record amount. • $1.6 billion in funding for colleges, universities, and community colleges for the roughly 300,000 students who attend a Maryland higher education institution. • In-state higher education tuition is capped at 2% for next year. • Education accountability plan (Protect Our Schools Act of 2017) requires any educational accountability program to include at least three school quality indicators instead of solely focusing on student test scores. • The Governor cut all funding from the Teacher Induction,

Retention, and Advancement Pilot Program, which provides stipends to teachers in poorer schools. $4 million for FY 2018 was restored and full funding for FY 2019 was restored. Economic Development •Transfer $4 million to the Maryland Venture Fund which would improve the likelihood of venture investment funds to Maryland companies. •$3.1 million to enhance the Neighborhood Business Development Program. These funds would be used for grants and loans to fund community-based economic development activities in revitalization areas designated by local governments, including food desert projects. Public Health •Total health care funding increases, including over $10 billion in funding for 1.4 million Medicaid enrollees. •$16.5 million increase in dedicated funding responding to the opioid epidemic. •Establishment of at least 10 crisis treatment centers that provide individuals who are in a substance use disorder crisis with access to clinical staff. •Heroin and Opioid addiction and prevention policy to be established for instruction at each grade band level (3-4, 6-8, and 9-12). •2% increase for most social service providers in the state. •Restores full funding to the Prince George’s County Regional Medical Center’s operating budget. •Community mental health services will be provided to the uninsured through the Senior Prescription Drug Assistance Program Fund. •Banning of Hydraulic Fracturing (Fracking) in Maryland which ensures that drinking water resources will remain safe and releases of methane and well blowouts do not occur. •Up to $60 million in revenue bond proceeds and funds

for the Bay Restoration Fund for biological nutrient removal upgrades of wastewater treatment plants. Capital Budget •S1.065 billion capital budget. •$342 million authorized for public school construction; $42,911,000 of which has been authorized for Baltimore County. •$2.5 million allocated for the preservation and maintenance of community parks and playgrounds. •$57.55 million allocated for the Community College Facility Grant Program. •$4 million allocated for the Rural Legacy Program which provides funding to preserve large, contiguous tracts of land and to enhance natural resource, agricultural, forestry and environmental protection while supporting a sustainable land base for natural resource based industries. •$2 million authorized for the Medstar Franklin Square Hospital project. •$500,000 authorized for the Maryland State Fairgrounds. •$18.8 million for a new Catonsville District Court building. •Towson University allocated $26 million for their Science Facility as well as $300,000 for an athletic turf field for their stadium. •UMBC allocated $40.2 million for the construction of the new Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Building. • Franklin High School infrastructure improvements. $250,000 grant provided to Baltimore County Board of Education to complete renovations. Adrienne Jones is the Speaker Pro Tem of the Maryland House of Delegate and represents the 10th Legislative District in Baltimore County.

The Afro-American, April 22, 2017 - April 28, 2017

Pilot Gregory Continued from A1

Space Agency-developed space laboratory. Fifteen experiments were conducted

during the 7-day Spacelab 3 mission. Gregory’s job was critical and all depended upon his skill as a pilot as the Spacelab circled Earth at an altitude of 219 statute miles with an orbital inclination of 57 degrees. He performed with the proficiency expected of a fully qualified astronaut. However, probably no other astronaut of any race has a more historic background than Col. Gregory. His uncle, the late Dr. Charles Drew, the celebrated blood bank scientist, is listed among the world’s most noted scientists. His research on blood plasma led to the development of blood banks in the early years of World War II, thus saving countless lives then and yet today. An unassuming, pleasant and serious man, Col. Gregory has often received the respect and plaudits of his Spacelab crew members who know of his background and they regard him not as a black American but a famous American. On his own, Gregory has earned the distinguished position he holds. He was graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree and he received a Master’s in information systems from George Washington University. Gregory trained as a helicopter pilot and retrained as a fighter pilot, flying F-4 Phantoms. He was research engineering pilot for the Air Force and NASA from 1971 to 1978. He became an astronaut in 1978 after he had

April 22, 2017 - April 22, 2017, The Afro-American

logged over 5,100 hours flight time. He holds FAA commercial and instrument certificates for single and multi-engine airplanes and helicopters. Accustomed to honors and fame, Col. Gregory is most proud of the salutes given him by his own people although he does not discount the others, the Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Air Medal with 15 Oak Leaf Clusters. The two black honors which stand high in his long list of prizes are the Distinguished National Scientist Award of the National Society of Black Engineers and the one given him in 1983 by a group of young men “The Bobtillions,”

at their coming-out banquet on Capitol Hill in Washington. As their guest speaker, Col. Gregory inspired them to “reach as high as the sky and beyond.” Gregory automatically becomes the commander of the next space mission he undertakes. On this first mission, he carried with him the Spingarn Medal his uncle, Dr. Charles Drew, was awarded for his blood plasma research; the flag of the District of Columbia and some mementos from Washington school children. The road that led to Col. Gregory’s becoming a famed astronaut has been long and rocky simply because he is a black American.

Although he came from well-educated, accomplished and well respected ancestors he had to have a letter of recommendation from a congressman to enter the Air Force Academy. At that time, Washington, D.C. had none. Finally, New York Congressman Adam Clayton Powell gave him the letter in 1960. Difficulty, because of race, also accompanied his attempt to get into the space program, an area which was at first not designed to include black men. His mother, a retired teacher, keeps abreast of the times today and is now spearheading a drive to raise $500,000 for a mural of the life and times of Martin Luther King, Jr. for the King Library. Col. Gregory’s latest award presented him by the young men “Bobtillions” was sponsored by other Columbia admirers, Dr. and Mrs. Vincent R. Blake and Maryland’s only black representative, Congressman Parren J. Mitchell. Mrs. Blake (Dr. Ruteena Blake) arranged for the 22 young men to be presented to society on the occasion of the first banquet of its kind “not so much as to become socially aware but to become acquainted with some of the greatest Americans of our time.” Col. Gregory and his wife Barbara and their two children reside in Houston, nearby the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. The children are Fred Gregory and Heather Gregory. Fred is a Stanford University student aspiring to walk in his father’s footsteps.

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April 22, 2017 - April 28, 2017, The Afro-American

BALTIMORE-AREA

Race and Politics

The Ordeal of Ivan Potts Is the Same Old Tragic Story Ivan Potts seemed implausibly upbeat when I spoke with him on April 14, just two days after he was released Sean Yoes from Senior AFRO Roxbury Contributor Correctional Institution in Hagerstown, Md. where he had spent almost two years after being convicted on a gun charge. That conviction was vacated last week and the charges dropped against Potts, after discovering that three of the officers who arrested him were three of the now infamous seven Baltimore City Police officers indicted by the Department of Justice in March for racketeering and other charges. “I’m still trying to take on the feeling of just being free... it just happened instantly,” Potts, 31, said. “I just feel like the universe worked for me and it worked against negativity...for a change,” he added. Potts most assuredly didn’t feel like the universe was working in his favor on the night of September 2, 2015, with the specter of Freddie Gray and the uprising still looming ominously over the city. Potts was walking on Chelsea Terrace in West Baltimore when he saw a car driving the wrong way down Fairview Avenue headed right towards him. When Potts was about five to seven townhouses away, Sergeant Jenkins and Detective Ward observed his left arm swinging freely and his right hand “affixed to his midsection, grabbing his dip area. Both officers testified that grabbing the dip area is an indication that a person is armed,” is what the prosecution argued in its case against Potts. The phrase, “grabbing his dip area,” is the well-worn narrative embraced by BCPD

Continued on B2

Turmoil in Lacks Family Shadows Premiere of Oprah Movie

Balto. Co. School Superintendent Dance Unexpectedly Resigns By Kamau High AFRO Managing Editor khigh@afro.com S. Dallas Dance, Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) Superintendent, unexpectedly resigned on April 18. The resignation will take effect on June 30. It remains unclear what Dance will do next. In a statement Dance, who was hired in 2012, said, “The last five years serving as Superintendent of Team BCPS have been the best years of my professional life. As I

Courtesy photo

The entire Lacks family with Rebecca Skloot (center). Several members of the Lacks family take issue with the upcoming Oprah Winfrey produced movie ‘The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.’ By Deborah Bailey Special to the AFRO Lawrence Lacks has no personal problem with Oprah Winfrey or her interest in the life of his mother, Henrietta Lacks, donor of the now world-famous immortal HeLa cells. In 1951, a doctor at Johns Hopkins Hospital took samples of Henrietta’s cervical cells without her knowledge or permission. Lacks, his son Ron, and the entire family attended “the meeting” as Lawrence calls it, with high hopes. They thought Winfrey came with interest in learning more about their story. “But Oprah came to announce to us what she had already decided to do,” Lacks told the AFRO. Oprah Winfrey purchased the rights to Rebecca Skloot’s book on Henrietta Lacks and the medical miracle of the HeLa cells, “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.” HBO and Winfrey first announced the film project in 2010 and visited the Lacks family in 2016 before the start of filming. “She offered $50,000 to be split among the entire family but we would have to sign an agreement,” Lacks said. Lacks said the HBO agreement contained multiple limitations on his right to “speak freely about my own mother” and declined to sign. Ron and his entire family declined as well. In a recent interview with the New York Times, Winfrey mentioned her disappointment in not having the cooperation of Lawrence and Ron to sign on to her portrayal of their family in her upcoming film. “We offered them to be consultants on the film, but a small portion of the family didn’t want to be a part of it,” Oprah told the paper referring to Lawrence, Ron and other family members who did not sign the lengthy HBO waiver of rights. Ron said that three family members, including his uncle David “Sonny” Lacks, signed the HBO agreement. “After attorney’s fees, they only received about $4,000 each,” Ron said questioning the value of being legally bound to Winfrey’s adaptation of the Henrietta Lacks story. (David Lacks suffered a disabling stroke in 2015.)

Lawrence Lacks said he informed Winfrey’s HBO attorney that he had already established an estate in the name of his mother and questioned why Winfrey was connecting with individual family members rather than going through the estate. HBO, according to Lawrence, has not responded. “My dad felt it was important to get a handle on all this that was going on with my grandmother,” Ron Lacks said. “I can’t understand since we have the estate in place that they would simply go around me,” Lawrence Lacks said of Winfrey’s decision to sign on with individual family members. A matter of respect Lawrence Lacks says he is not trying to be difficult. He is a soft-spoken, reflective man, but becomes resolute in affirming his mother and her legacy. The 82-year old Lacks is proud to be the patriarch of his family, and proud of the singular contribution his mother has inadvertently made to science. The encounter with Oprah and the HBO Production team is simply one of a number of troubling exchanges Lacks has had with medical and corporate entities who have become interested in the Lacks legacy –Oprah Winfrey over the last 40 years. He characterizes these exchanges as “disrespectful.” Lacks has been amazed at the gulf between his world as Henrietta Lacks’ eldest son and the interests of Hopkins, Skloot and HBO. Bobette and Lawrence Lacks tried repeatedly to connect with Hopkins Hospital through the 1970’s and the 1980’s. After Bobette’s chance encounter with a doctor at Hopkin who mentioned the HeLA cells project in 1975, they tried every way they could to obtain information about the HeLa Cells Project, Henrietta’s medical care, about the unsettling images Lawrence remembered from his youth – of multiple white doctors in his mother’s hospital room – the Colored wing at Hopkins. “My wife was up there at Hopkins almost every week trying to get them to tell her something,” Lacks said about Continued on B2

“We offered them to be consultants on the film, but a small portion of the family didn’t want to be a part of it.”

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S. Dallas Dance stated in my latest State of the Schools message, I have led this organization from my heart believing that we could move mountains, and while not literally, we have begun tackling some large complex issues, which will take us time, effort, energy, and commitment to realize its full impact. However, I believe our county and region will be better because of our strategic efforts to provide an equitable educational experience for all of our children.” In Nov. Dance came under fire following last year’s election of Donald Trump as President for re-tweeting, ““Educators: tomorrow pls show your muslim, black, latino, jewish, disabled, or just non-white St’s, that you love them and will protect them!” In spite of Baltimore County School Board member Ann Miller calling for him to Continued on B2

Maryland’s ‘First Family of Boxing’ Gears Up to Defend Title

Police: Man Wanted for Killing Pregnant Wife Found Dead

By Mark F. Gray Special to the AFRO

By The Associated Press

When WBC World Featherweight Boxing Champion Gary Russell, Jr. saw his little brother and Olympic Bronze Medalist Antuanne during media day for what was supposed to be an upcoming championship fight card at MGM National Harbor near Fort Washington, Md. they shared a long embrace. That moment symbolized to the world that the Russell family’s boxing brand had finally arrived. “I never wanted to fight here until I came home as a champion,” said Russell, Jr. at the press conference to announce his first hometown title fight. “This is a dream come true,” said Antuanne. “It’s all so surreal right now.” The Capital Heights natives, who have arguably become the first family of boxing in Maryland, will finally get their chance to fight on the same card on the newest stage in Maryland on May 20 at the MGM National Harbor. These brothers who have trained and grown together under the same name, lead by their father Gary, Sr., headline a fight card that features them on

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World Featherweight Champion and Capital Heights native Gary Russell, Jr. (pictured) fights Oscar Escandon on May 20 at MGM National Harbor. boxing’s grandest stage in the area with a signature event albeit after an extended wait. “I’m a gladiator getting ready for a tough battle,” said Russell, Jr. “This is going to be

Continued on B2

A man wanted in the fatal shooting of his pregnant wife was found dead in a neighboring county, according to Baltimore police. The dead woman, who was 21 weeks pregnant, has been identified as 28-year-old Shahidah Barnes. Officers responded to reports of gunshots on Easter and found blood and shell casings in and around Barnes’ home but no victim. She was ultimately found hours later suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in a parked car outside of a hospital in Southwest Baltimore. Efforts to save her and her baby were unsuccessful.

Police spokesman T.J. Smith said Monday that authorities are for now considering Barnes’ slaying to be one homicide and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine whether to count her unborn child’s death as a homicide as well. Smith said her husband, 34-year-old Deron Barnes,

Past Seven Days

had gotten into an argument at a family function earlier Sunday. Smith said that after Barnes had been shot, Deron Barnes called family members and told them he’d shot his wife. Baltimore County police discovered Deron Barnes’ body at about 7:45 p.m. Sunday with “traumatic injuries.”

95 2017 Total

Data as of April 19

The Afro-American, April 22, 2017 - April 28, 2017

Boxing (From left to right): The Samuel Coleridge Taylor Elementary School Alumni Committee is made up of: Dr. Iantha Lake Tucker, Janet Powell Hopkins, Josephine Locklear Alston, Rose Grant Howell, Dr. Jannette Lake Dates, Dr. Mabel Lake Murray and P.S. #122 Principal Bettye Adams.

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Reunions

W. Baltimore’s Samuel Coleridge Taylor Elementary School #122 Seeks Alumni By AFRO Staff The Samuel Coleridge Taylor Elementary School #122, located in West Baltimore on Preston St., is celebrating its 90th year and an alumni committee of the school is looking for additional alumni and supporters to join in the celebration. Samuel Coleridge Taylor Elementary School was opened in 1927 as one of the first elementary schools built to educate colored children in the state of Maryland. Many of the school’s graduates have earned doctorates, master’s and bachelor’s degrees and have carved out stellar careers for themselves and their children. On June 2 and June 3 the school will celebrate its historic contributions to the city and state with events for alumni, current students, former and current teachers and parents at the Radisson Hotel at Cross Keys. For more information call 443-963-6815.

a huge night for my family and I’m glad that time is here. We’re excited to get into the ring and show the fans what we’re capable of Continued from B1 doing in the ring.” This card was originally scheduled for March 11 and was expected to be the first fight night at the venue which opened last December. However, it was postponed after Russell, Jr.’s opponent – WBC Interim Featherweight Champion Oscar Escandon - suffered a back injury in training as they waited for a clearance for a national television fight partner. Ultimately, however, the inaugural fight card at MGM National Harbor featured Russian heavyweight Vasyl Lomanchenko who beat Jason Sosa in early April. Russell Jr. will co-headline the second major championship fight in the intimate 4,000 seat theatre arena. The venue, which has already hosted performances from Bruno Mars along with Earth, Wind, & Fire, and New Edition, is now the stage for this family affair to play out in the ring. A wait of nearly six weeks to get back into the ring doesn’t compare to the years that the Russell family has waited for this chance to fight before friends and family. Waiting to fight has become the norm for Russell, Jr. and Escandon who, when they finally meet, will have not been in the ring competitively for over a year. It has been difficult for Russell, Jr. to find challengers to defend his title against. He has only fought once since knocking out Jhonny Gonzalez in March 2015 to win his championship in a title defense versus Patrick Ryland which ended in a second round TKO last April. Meanwhile, Escandon’s latest delay has extended his unintended exile from the ring. He knocked out Robinson Castellanos in the seventh round to earn his title last March in Washington, D.C. “I’ve had to wait for the opportunity to face Gary Russell and I’m going to take full advantage of it,” said the Spanish speaking Escandon in a statement. “It’s going to be a great fight and I know the fans are going to get their money’s worth. I feel 100 percent healthy and now that the fight is here I am ready to knock him out.” Showtime Television will feature the Russell Jr. vs. Escandon bout as the main event of its championship boxing doubleheader along with another IBF interim title fight between super middleweight contenders Andre Dirrell and Jose Uzcategui.

Race and Politics Continued from B1

and law enforcement agencies all over the country, when testifying in gun cases. Some argue the dip script has been leaned on so much by law enforcement it has become almost impossible to discern the truth from case to case. In the case of Potts, arrested by (Wayne) Jenkins, (Maurice) Ward and Det. Evodio Hendrix, part of one of the most prolific and now notorious BCPD gun units, the evidence and testimony proved to be more than dubious. “They just flat out lied. I didn’t want to get a contempt in court, but I wanted to jump up and say, ‘Hold up, you just said this, and now you’re saying this,’” Potts said referring to the testimony of the officers. And based solely on the testimony of those officers, who now sit in jail awaiting their trial on federal charges of racketeering, Potts spent more than 588 days in jail, before his case was dismissed and he was ultimately set free. “I think the worst time was probably when I was found guilty,” Potts said of his time in jail. “I was like, I felt devastated. How did ya’ll just find me guilty? It wasn’t no evidence, no

fingerprints,” he added. Although the officers who arrested Potts were under federal investigation for misconduct during the trial in March 2016, their records were not admitted in court according to Potts’ attorney Todd Oppenheim. He says the rogue element within the BCPD is not an anomaly.

“…I wanted to jump up and say, ‘Hold up, you just said this, and now you’re saying this.’” – Ivan Potts “It’s prevalent...there’s a lot, there’s certainly more than were indicted...it definitely goes beyond the seven,” Oppenheim said on First Edition on April 14. “He (Potts) filed his own pro se federal lawsuit that is currently pending, that is remarkable. That’s where his mind has been the whole time, he never

A DAY AT THE BANK

EVEN THE KIDS WILL ENJOY.

wavered,” Oppenheim added. If the guilty verdict was the most difficult day of Potts’ unjust incarceration, maybe the most surreal day was when he witnessed the seven officers (including the three that arrested him in September of 2015) being arrested on television, while he sat in his jail cell. “First, I was like, I caught a glimpse of it...their faces just flashed across, I was like, they’re in my case,” Potts recalled. “We went to eat and we came back and it was like the 5 o’clock news was coming on and it was like breaking news and it came across and my cell buddy was like, ‘This can’t be real,’” Potts

added. But, indeed it was, as real as it gets. The truth is there are thousands of mostly Black, mostly poor men and women who have been jailed under the broad umbrella of what are known as, “illegal arrests,” going back to the dark days of so-called, “zero-tolerance,” policing in Baltimore. And for many, the universe seems to be working decidedly against them. Next week, a closer look at the effects of these arrests on Baltimore’s population. Sean Yoes is a senior contributor for the AFRO and host and executive producer of AFRO First Edition, which airs Monday through Friday 5 p.m.-7 p.m. on WEAA, 88.9.

Lacks

Continued from B1 Bobette’s relentless efforts to seek details about the HeLa Cells project. Then, in the late 1980’s-early 1990’s Rebecca Skloot started contacting the Lacks family. She also curiously gained access to the plethora of detailed medical records and information from Johns Hopkins that unlocked the mystery behind the HeLa cells for research on her book that was ultimately published in 2010. Most of the information in Skloot’s book and, ultimately, in Winfrey’s upcoming HBO portrayal about the Lacks family came from interviews with Deborah Lacks, Lawrence’s younger sister. Deborah, who died in 2009 before the book was published, served as Skloot’s guide to members of Henrietta Lacks’ extended family in Virginia. Deborah, who would have been a child when her mother died, was interested in Skloot’s book because it provided a window to her mother’s life and the mysterious information about the HeLa cells - a window denied to Lawrence Lacks and his wife in the years they sought to gain the same information from Hopkins that Skloot used to publish and profit from a New York Times best-selling book. “Deborah was always asking me about our mother, always asking me about the family,” said Lawrence. He shared information and photographs with Deborah that she ultimately passed on to Skloot. Lacks said he never saw a copy of the agreement Skloot made with his sister and when he asked Skloot for the agreement after Deborah’s death, the author did not respond. “After all of that information she got from my sister, she didn’t even come to Deborah’s

funeral,” Lacks said. Skloot’s book documents the fact that the relationship between her and Deborah had cooled. “Dale (Deborah) knew she was being exploited,” Ron Lacks said. Skloot did not respond to a request for a comment on Lack’s allegations. Her publisher, Crown Publishing Group, said in a statement, “In advance of the book’s publication, Ms. Skloot provided multiple copies of the manuscript to members of the Lacks family and solicited their comments and corrections, which were subsequently incorporated in the book. Lawrence Lacks consented to be interviewed by Ms. Skloot during her reporting and attended meetings with Ms. Skloot and other family members at which the contents of the book were discussed at length. The manuscript also went through an extensive fact checking process, and we fully stand behind it. Mr. Lacks, who reportedly acknowledged that he has never read the book, has made statements about The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks that are baseless and inaccurate.” A better story needs to be told Both Lawrence and Ron Lacks believe there is more to the legacy of their mother and grandmother, Henrietta Lacks. Lawrence remains unsettled by Johns Hopkins’ denial of any responsibility for harvesting Henrietta’s cells without her knowledge or consent. Johns Hopkins has repeatedly indicated that today’s informed consent standards, which would have protected Lacks, were not in place in 1951. “It’s a real story and they could have come and got it from her son who watched Henrietta all the way to her death bed,” said Ron Lacks about his father.

Dance Join us Saturday, April 29th for the Grand Opening of our new Rosedale branch. Bring the whole family to our Rosedale branch Grand Opening on Saturday, April 29th. Join us from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for food, fun and tons of great family entertainment. Face painting • A balloon artist • A photo booth Baltimore baseball ticket raffle • Snacks and light refreshments And while you’re here, check out our new branch, designed to make your banking experience a pleasure. Overlea • Perry Hall White Marsh • Rosedale Abingdon • Forest Hill Bel Air • Kenwood

Your neighbor. Your guide. Your bank.

Visit us at rosedalefederal.com or call 410-668-4400. 8552 Philadelphia Road • Baltimore, Maryland 21237

Continued from B1 be fired in an opinion piece published in the Baltimore Sun, Dance nevertheless received support from Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz and Maryland Speaker Pro Tem Delegate Adrienne A. Jones.. “This is a tremendous loss for our County and our students,” said Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, in a statement. “Dr. Dance and I have worked closely together over the last five years and achieved incredible accomplishments including increasing graduation rates for all students, narrowing the achievement gap and making huge progress toward providing healthy 21st century learning environments. I am confident the school board will recruit the best new superintendent to continue Dr. Dance’s legacy of providing a quality education for our students.” His four year contract was renewed February, 2016. In February 2017 Dance, along with several other education leaders, was honored by the AFRO for the exceptional work they have done to educate African American youth. “While there is more work to be done; Team BCPS is certainly on the right track under the leadership of a phenomenal group of chiefs, top-notch school leaders, dedicated and caring teachers, and thousands of committed support staff all throughout our organization. I truly believe BCPS is in a better place today than when I first arrived. To that end, I now transition to another chapter of my career where I will specifically use my passion for equity and access to a quality education to ensure it is provided to all students through school, district, and community leadership,” Dance said in a statement.

April 22, 2017 - April 28, 2017, The Afro-American “Make it a habit to tell people thank you. To express your appreciation, sincerely and without the expectation of anything in return. Truly appreciate those around you, and you’ll soon find many others around you. Truly appreciate life, and you’ll find that you have more of it.”-Ralph Marston

Pendry Hotel adds a ‘touch of class” to historic Fells Point. From the elegance, reminiscent of the bygone years with attentive doormen like John Lee with personalized gold whistles, to the valet providing prompt and courteous service, it’s clear that the customer is the center of attention. Surrounded by wood, brick and glass Pendry’s has the look of distressed luxury from the posh seats in the lounge, the majestic courtyard, the view of the harbor or the huge glass window in the dining room overlooking Thames Street, everything Baltimore is highlighted. Guest Relations manager Franklin James gave us the “Royal Treatment” escorting us throughout the evening from cocktails in the lounge, dinner in the dining room, after dinner drinks in the Cannon Room and a tour of the magnificent courtyard. Dinner was a lovely experience, as the chef prepared our Caesar salad tableside, the lamb chops melted in my mouth. The Cannon room is the place for an after dinner drink and wide selections of bourbons. People enjoying Pendry’s were owner Kevin Plank, Jim Palmer, Anthony Jones and Da Mimmo’s owner Marianne.

“Theatre is a mirror, a sharp reflection of society.”Yasmina Reza

BAHA’s John Lee, Marama Nengel and Beth of Center Stage hosted “TWISTED MELODIES” Industry mixer at Center Stage. Guests munched on assorted delicacies prepared by Dooby’s before the play. Joining other theatergoers for the one-man play featuring Kelvin Roston Jr. portraying famed singer Donny Hathaway’s last night as he struggled with mental illness and the realities of life. Hathaway’s life, music, and the performance of Kelvin, left the audience spellbound. Guests enjoying the evening were Sonje DeCaires, David Couser, Franklin James, George Ray, Rod Womack, Minyanna Farmer, Cori Ramos, Lucinda Ware, Brandi Albanese, Yindra Dixon and Brenda Lee. After the theater, we met at Tapas Teatro for sangria and an array of small plates. “I was walking down the street” and a woman sitting on her porch said, “Hey girl, bring those pretty children over here.” Anyone who knew Miss Blanche, as she was affectionately called, knew that you did what she said. That day my life changed forever, I met a lifelong friend, a confidante, a baby sitter and a place for Sunday dinners. That was in 1967. Through the years we attended plays, worshipped together, went on outings and I even taught her how to drive. She loved going to Washington to visit my father knowing we would have dinner in one of Washington’s many

fine restaurants, especially Duke Zieberts. The year before my dad died, I picked Blanche up and we drove to DC to meet my dad and my children for dinner. She was so excited that my children remembered her and she had the opportunity to meet my grandchildren. It was like old times. Who knew that would be the last time we would all be together. During the holidays, I tried to call her to take her out. The number I had been dialing for 50 years was not in service. Puzzled, I decided to stop past her house thinking I had forgotten the number which I had never written down. Time got away from me and although I continued to make that trip in my mind, I never made it. People complain about social media but that’s how I found out that my beloved friend had crossed over three months shy of her 90th birthday. On the morning of her funeral at her beloved Douglass Memorial church, Beverly Wimbush posted pictures on Facebook of friends who gathered to remember their neighbor from McCullough Homes and there was Blanche’s picture. It was 11:30 in the morning, the service had started but I dressed and headed into town in the downpour of my tears and the rain. The service had ended and the family had gathered in the church hall for the repast. There I saw her children Sammy and Vernell, who immediately said no one knew how to reach you. In all those years, Miss Blanche was the only person who had my contact information. I gave Sammy my information and the following week I was surprised when I received Blanche’s program and a copy of the video. I can hear you calling your husband loudly saying, “Mackel I’m here” with your smile lighting up heaven. You raised four generations of Mackels. Take your rest, my friend, until we meet again. Happy birthday Andretta Bogans, Tanya Denis, Ronald Womack, Minyanna Farmer, Elvard Cooper, Rev. Alvin Hathaway, Osborn Dixon, Linda Shields, Ellen Howard and Brenda Sykes.

What’s Happening

District 8 Action Network and Councilman Kristerfer Burnett are hosting a workshop for Baltimore City residents on the proper use of the 311 and 911 services, April 26 at Gwynn Oak United Methodist Church 5020 Gwynn Oak Ave. RSVP at District8RSVP@Baltimorecity.gov or call 410-396-4818. Baltimorean Mario Armstrong launched a new live streaming, interactive talk show on April 5 airing every Wednesday for the next six weeks from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. To view this innovative, first of its kind, talk show go to neversettle.tv/ and obtain tickets for the show in New York. Baltimore’s Queen of Comedy “Miss Maybelle” has appeared on David Letterman and TV commercials will be roasted May 7, at a pre-Mother’s day roast and after party at Patapsco Arena. Music by DJ Tanz and DJ Kenny K. Call 410-

929-1360 to reserve your table. Former AFRO editor Rev. Dorothy Boulware’s Keep Walking in Prayer...Until You Can’t Come Back is available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

2017 Whitney M. Young Jr. Gala THE 60th ANNUAL CELEBRATION

Save Our Cities F R I D AY A P R I L 2 8 T H 2 0 1 7 6:00 pm -10:00 pm Hilton Baltimore 401 W. Pratt Street Baltimore, MD 21201

2017 Whitney M. Young Jr. Honorees

April Ryan, Keion Carpenter, Kirby Fowler, Elder Harris

To buy tickets go to https://2017gbulgala.eventbrite.com After 5pm attire

Keynote Speaker

Valerie Jarrett

The Afro-American, April 22, 2017 - April 28, 2017

Jacqueline Hrabrowski, April Ryan, White House correspondent and Washington bureau chief for American Urban Radio Networks

The Baltimore (Md.) Chapter of the Links hosted an Empowered Women’s Baltimore. Leadership Luncheon on April 8 at the Student Activity Center at Morgan The Baltimore Chapter of the Links State University in Baltimore. has donated more than $25000.00 to A panel of high profile women discussed the theme, “Where Morgan and Coppin State Universities to Do We Go From Here: As A Nation, As African American Women?” cover fees and other academic costs for Panelists were Sarah Hemminger, Founder and CEO, Thread, juniors and seniors. Ganesha Martin, Department of Justice Compliance and Accountability/External Affairs, Baltimore Police Department, Diane Bell McKoy, president Dr. Jacqueline Williams, Shirley Swafford and CEO, Associated Black Charities and and Blanche Beckham Dr. Leana S. Wen, Baltimore City Health Commissioner. The narrator was The Frankie McKurdy, PatriciaWilson and Sheila Lawson Honorable Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, SRB & Associates and former Mayor of Darlene Wade Moss, chairperson and Dr. Charlene Cooper Boston

Lydia McCargo-Redd, Kelly Swoops, Valerie Fraling and Karenthia Barber

Bluford Drew Jemison Stem Academy scholars are Kobi Kennedy, Tyler Brody, Sandesh Baral, Michael White, Davontez Johnson and Kai Smith Narrator Stephanie Rawlings Blake, President and CEO, RB & Associates

Dana P. Moore, Kendra Brown, Lynn Selby, Esther Avery and Dr. Crystal Watkins Johansson

Ngozi Olandu Young-NOY LLCCEO,Nakeia Drummond-NLD Strategic Founder,Ashley Day Gilman School Teacher,Sharayna Christmas Executive Director and founder of Muse 360 Arts

Ganesha Martin, Department of Justice Compliance and Accountability/External Affairs, Baltimore Police Department

Kyanah Bishop and Mentor Taliah Ferguson

Lydia Mussenden

Diane Bell McKoy, panelist, President and CEO, Associated Black Charities of Md.

Keitha Robinson, Eris Sims, Bishetta Merritt, Roslyn Smith and Mattie Mumby Photos by Dr. A. Lois De Laine

Volunteers for the day

Photos by James Fields Sr.

Speaking on Leadership Jessica Ashford address the young ladies Jessica Ashford with leadership group

Teonna Owens,Kylie Podewell and Aya Dixon

Jessica Ashford,Armani Jackson,Angel St.Jean and Danielle Torain

Muse 360, a Baltimore based youth focused nonprofit, held the UnHidden Figures Conference at the Eubie Blake Cultural Center Baltimore on April 8. Sharayna Christmas, executive director of Muse 360 Arts, and others spoke about the importance of entrepreneurship. Christmas started Muse 360 Arts in 2004 with the mission of offering programming in preparatory dance, creative entrepreneurship, study abroad fellowship and advanced leadership. Photos by Dr. A. Lois De Laine

A Baltimore native and a long-time employee in the Baltimore office of the AFRO American Newspaper, Wanda Pearson celebrated her 60th birthday on March 30 with family members, friends and AFRO employees at the Identity

Ultra Lounge in Randallstown. Since the early 80’s, Pearson has been a mainstay and a reliable employee at the front desk who receive visitors, and she is the first voice the callers hear when they contact the AFRO. Wanda has been given many accolades over the years for her pleasant voice which the callers hear, and her prompt and efficient manner.

Her amiable attitude has made her a delightful presence in the AFRO’s office for many years. Wanda expressed thanks to her family, many friends and the loyal team of AFRO employees who joined in the celebration of her 60th Birthday with flowers, gifts, great food and drinks.

Family members Darlene Pearson, Honoree, Sylvette Pearson Carr and Vander Pearson

Wanda with Dorothy Williams Sherry Massey

Wanda Pearson with Ashlyn Hocker

LaTasha Owens Dr. A. Lois De Laine and Wanda Pearson

The AFRO team members are Lenora Howze, Latasha Owens, Diane Hocker, Birthday honoree Wanda Pearson, Takiea Hinton, Sallie Brown, Sammy Graham and Clarence Massey

To purchase this digital photo page contact Takiea Hinton: thinton@afro.com or 410.554.8277.

Darlene Graham with Wanda Pearson

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The Afro-American, April 22, 2017 - April 28, 2017

April 22, 2017 - April 28, 2017, The Afro-American

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY-AREA D.C. VA Hospital Under Fire By James Wright Special to the AFRO jwright@afro.com The District of Columbia’s federal Veterans Hospital was recently criticized for its poor sanitary conditions, management practices and staffing shortages. On April 12, the Veteran Affairs Office of Inspector General issued an interim summary report citing inventory management practices and staffing deficiencies that places patients at risk at the facility located near the Washington Hospital Center in Northwest D.C. The report cited areas of concern such as no effective inventory

Caregivers of Disabled Say They Lack Adequate Pay

The Washington, D.C. Veteran Affairs Medical Center is facing scrutiny for an alleged lack of adequate conditions and management to care for veterans.

system for managing the availability of medical equipment and supplies used for patient care; lack of an effective system used to ensure supplies and equipment that was subject to patient safety recalls were not used on patients; 18 of 25 sterile satellite Continued on D2

Mike Reed Boxes His Way to the Top By Daniel Kucin Jr. Special to the AFRO

Photo by Hamil Harris

Care providers assembled at a protest in Upper Marlboro, Md. on April 11 to demand higher wages for their work. By Hamil R. Harris Special to the AFRO

Courtesy photo

Prince George’s County

New Horizons Support Services is located about 10 minutes from the Upper Marlboro, Md. home where Lorenzo Green, a Black man, lives and takes care of his 35 year-old son Jonathan who has spina bifida, a birth defect that affects the spinal cord. For Green, a 74-year-old divorced father, the staff who care for his son at New Horizons do more than take care of his son during the day. They are family. He said every-time a staff member leaves for another job his son his sad. “When they leave it is like a loss of a family member, it is always a challenge,” Green told the AFRO. He, along with his son and more than 100 other people, took part in an April 11 protest in Upper Marlboro where a coalition of service providers called on Prince George’s County officials to increase funding to programs that serve people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Wages for care workers have not increased even though living and food expenses have. “Fifteen years ago bread cost $1.29 and today it cost $2.18, but the staff is at the same pay. They are way underfunded,” Green said. Ande Kolp , chairperson of the Prince Georges Provider Council, said that Prince George’s County is one of two jurisdictions in the state that didn’t adjust funding to their programs when the county raised the minimum wage to $15 an hour. “We are facing critically high levels of turnover in the county and it is already approaching 50 percent,” Kolp told

the AFRO. “It is already a direct support problem through out the nation. It is a desperate problem in Prince George’s County because there are such low wages and because we have a higher minimum wage requirement.” Kolp said the staff members who provide most of the services to people with disabilities mostly make minimum wage and because most of the funding to these programs comes from the State of Maryland, the county needs to close the gap in what they provide to agencies. A spokesman for County Executive Rushern Baker said that Maryland Governor Larry Hogan was responsible for the inadequate funding, and while some County Council members talk privately about closing the funding gap, more money has not been added. Bea Rodgers, a spokesperson for the Provider Council, said – Ande Kolp that their organization supports 2800 clients. “Our clients come from PGPS and are reflect the demographics of the school systems,” Rodgers said. According to Census data, the school system is majority Black. “We are asking for $ 3.4 million. The state is not making up the shortfall. Many of our staff members are working two jobs and working long hours.” Rodgers said coalition members are meeting with four Prince George’s Council members on April 19 to search for additional funds. Cynthia Winston, 37, a former care provider for Calmra, a community based residential service provider based in Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties, who is now a supervisor, told the AFRO that she just doesn’t understand why Baker isn’t Continued on D2

“We are facing critically high levels of turnover in the county and it is already approaching 50 percent.”

Undefeated light welterweight boxer Mike Reed secured his 22nd victory after going against Reyes Sanchez at MGM National Harbor on April 8. Reed’s “Yes Indeed” moniker seems to be fitting after he defeated Sanchez by a unanimous decision and is making waves in the local boxing scene. “This was a cool training camp,” Reed told the AFRO after taking down Sanchez. “We worked on a lot of new things, but I have to be better if I want a world championship. It’s a learning process. This was my first 10-round fight.”

“We worked on a lot of new things, but I have to be better if I want a world championship.” – Mike Reed A raucous crowd of 2,828 people witnessed Reed fight close to home, and he did not disappoint the fans who came out to support him. The boxer currently resides in Waldorf, Md., but was born in Washington D.C. “He [Reed] was so excited to fight in his home area and was very instrumental in the event selling out,” said Top Rank Boxing Chief Operating Officer Bob Arum. Continued on D2

Temple Hills Man Sentenced to 4 Years in Despite Bumps, State Firefighter’s Fatal Shooting Legislators Pleased Prince George’s County

with Recent Session

By The Associated Press A Maryland man who

fatally shot a firefighter he mistook for an intruder will spend four years in prison.

By James Wright Special to the AFRO jwright@afro.com The 2017 session of the Maryland General Assembly ended and some members from Prince George’s County said the proceedings went well. “The session went well for us [Prince George’s County],” Maryland Del. Darryl Barnes (D-District 25) told the AFRO about the session that ended April 10. “We got a lot of things accomplished.” The Prince George’s County delegation consists of eight senators and 23 – Maryland Del. members of the House of Darryl Barnes Delegates who represent all or parts of the county. The delegation includes Maryland Sen. Thomas V. Mike Miller (D-District 27), president of the Senate and the longest serving presiding officer of a state legislative chamber in the country, and Barnes, first vice chairman of the Maryland Legislative Continued on D2

“We got a lot of things accomplished.”

Darrell Lumpkin, a Black man, who is a resident of Temple Hills, Md. was sentenced April 14 to four years in prison. Lumpkin fatally shot John Ulmschneider on April 15, 2016. Firefighters had been called to Lumpkin’s home in Temple Hills, Maryland, to check on his welfare. When he was unresponsive, they forced their way in. Lumpkin then fired several rounds.

A second firefighter, Kevin Swain, was injured in the shooting along with Lumpkin’s brother, who was accompanying firefighters. A grand jury declined to return an indictment for murder. But Lumpkin was charged with illegal possession of firearms because he was ineligible to own weapons as a result of a previous conviction. Lumpkin will report to prison in mid-May.

Homicide Count Twitter photo

Darrell Lumpkin received a four year sentence after he fatally shot a Prince George’s County firefighter who he thought was breaking into his home.

2017 Total

Past Seven Days

Data as of April 19

The Afro-American, April 22, 2017 - April 28, 2017

State Legislators Continued from D1

Black Caucus. One of the main issues for the county delegation was funding for the regional hospital center scheduled to be built in Largo and tentatively set to open in 2020. Barnes said the hospital is “moving in the right direction.” “The general assembly has approved $100 million for 10 years in terms of funding,” Barnes said. Maryland Del. Jazz Lewis (D-District 24) told the AFRO that the money for the hospital will be used in a comprehensive manner. “In addition to the building of the hospital, funds will be used for marketing it as a patient and a teaching facility,” said Lewis, who was sworn into

office on Feb. 10 taking the place of Michael Vaughn. Maryland Del. Jay Walker (D-District 26) told the AFRO that the hospital funding came through despite some issues through the office of the Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R), who has gone on record as supporting the facility but has a longer funding time table than most Prince George’s leaders. “We addressed the hospital and worked with the Republican governor to get it done,” Walker said. Lewis said passage of the Maryland Healthy Working Families Act, which offers extended paid and unpaid leave to employees of

Courtesy photo

Del. Darryl Barnes, one of many Prince George’s County legislators, is pleased with the recent Maryland General Session.

Maryland businesses, “was a good thing for families” and pointed out that bail reform, though it is in the courts, is moving towards a model that is beneficial to lowincome and working class Marylanders. “There are some people who are held in Maryland jails for 60-90 days before trial because they can’t make bail,” Lewis said. “I support bail reform in that Marylanders will be able to utilize non-financial conditions such as texting to court personnel and people coming in once a week to the courthouse or to supervising personnel as a condition of release. It has been proven

Caregivers

Hospital

more sympathetic to the plight of those who care for people with disabilities. “It is very hard to keep people in this field,” Winston said. “Some people work 16 hour shifts because paying people for eight hours is not enough. We put in a lot of hours caring for people with intellectual disabilities but we are not compensated and we are often not able to care for our own families.”

storage areas were dirty; over $150 million in equipment and supplies have not been inventoried and accounted for in the past year; a large warehouse stocked full of noninventoried equipment, materials and supplies has a lease expiring on April 30, with no plan to move the contents of the warehouse; and there are critical staff positions that need to be filled. Michael J. Missal, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Office of Inspector General, said in an April 12 statement that the report’s conclusions were critical to taking steps to remedy the problems. “OIG became aware of the potentially serious patient care issues at the Washington, D.C. Medical Center and promptly deployed our Rapid Response Team to investigate,” Missal said. “Part of OIG’s mission is to monitor the quality of patient care and outcomes for veteran patients who rely on the VA for their health care. When we became aware of the deficiencies at VA that place patients at unnecessary risk, we will act immediately and aggressively to address those deficiencies.” Since the report was released, critical action has taken place. On that same day, retired Col. Lawrence Connell was named the acting medical center director for the D.C. VA Medical Center. The District of Columbia has 28, 0155 veterans according to statistics by the U.S. Census Bureau. Those

Continued from D1

that non-financial conditions save jurisdictions more money because you don’t have to feed and house people.” Maryland Del. Angela Angel (D-District 25) is considered an expert on domestic violence in the legislature and worked hard to get one of her pieces, the “Zone of Danger” bill through the legislative process. “I had a bill that mandated that when violence is in front of a child, the parent, family member, adult or guardian must notify social services,” Angel told the AFRO. “Studies have shown that 80 percent of children run away when they witness family violence and

70 percent of the children in the juvenile justice system witnessed or were victims of domestic violence.” Angel’s bill passed on April 10. Barnes and Walker were happy the legislature approved more money for Prince George’s County schools by altering the formula for the number of pupils enrolled and the level of state funds distributed. Barnes said Black legislators from the county backed calling a special session to address the need to expand licenses for medical cannabis to benefit minority entrepreneurs after legislation to do so failed to pass at the end of the session.

Continued from D1

Photo by Hamil Harris

Jonathan Green is holding a loaf of bread, supplied by his father, to show that wages care providers receive have not kept pace with the prices of basic food groups.

statistics indicate that 56.6 percent of all District veterans are Black and 40.2 percent are White. Women account for 12.8 percent of the city’s veterans and 18.6 percent had a service-connected disability, according to the census. D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) represents the city in the U.S. Congress. Congress is in recess until April 21 and Norton did not return requests for comment by press time. However, U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, Democrats representing Virginia, along with their colleague Jon Testor, Democrat of Montana, have written a letter to U.S. Veteran Affairs Secretary David Shulkin, who was confirmed on Feb. 13, on the matter. Kaine is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Warner and Testor sit on the Senate Veteran Affairs Committee. “Veterans throughout our home states consistently call for improving the VA health care system because the VA is where they prefer to receive their care,” the senators wrote on April 14. “Veteran safety should never be compromised under any circumstance-particularly if due to inadequacy in basic hospital functions, such as keeping an appropriate inventory of safe and sterile supplies. If these issues do occur, we expect immediate action so that no further patients are put at risk.”

Mike Reed Continued from D1

Boxing didn’t come easy for Reed. He lost his first four amateur bouts and faced some adversity before making a name for himself in the industry. Despite having a rocky start to his newfound profession, Reed perfected his craft with his father, trainer, and manager Michael “Buck” Pinson at Dream Team Boxing Gym in Clinton, Md. The area native finished his amateur boxing career 90-13 proving that hard work and dedication would take him to Photo by Daniel Kucin the top. Reed has D.C. native Mike Reed defeated scored six technical Reyes Sanchez on April 8 at the MGM knockouts in his last Casino in Oxon Hill, Md. 10 bouts. He signed with Top Rank after his first 10 wins as a pro. “We wanted to join a company that does a great job of moving their fighters, and Top Rank is known for getting their fighters world championship opportunities,” Pinson told the AFRO. “Many of their current fighters are world champions. They treated us well and were very professional.” Pinson added, “Before my son’s pro career even began, our team set a goal that within our first 10 fights, we wanted to make a statement. During those 10 fights, Michael [Reed] fought some tough competition, and proved that he is a fan-friendly fighter, with extremely fast hands and power. Team Reed is very goaloriented, and we are focused. We will be staying busy in the years to come, so make sure to look out for Team Reed.” Boasting a Top 100 world ranking, and knocking out 55 percent of his opponents, Reed said he looks ahead for his next potential challenger. Although he does not have any fights scheduled yet, he is training. “Mike is a very good talent,” Arum told the AFRO. “My guys think he is ready to make a move. We are going to put him in some main events and move him toward the inevitable title shot.”

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BOARD OF ETHICS VACANCY Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission Montgomery County regular member position on its Board of Ethics (Board). This Â regular Â member Â position Â wil Â be Â nominated Â by Â Montgomery Â Â County Â Commissioners. Â The Â Board Â is Â comprised Â of Â three Â regular Â Â members Â and Â one Â alternate Â member. Â Each Â member Â is Â appointed Â by Â the Â WSSC Â Commissioners Â to Â a Â three-Âyear Â term. The Â Board Â administers Â the Â WSSC Â Code Â of Â Ethics Â (Code), Â issues Â advisory Â opinions, Â responds Â to Â requests Â for Â waivers Â of Â Code Â prohibi-Â tions, Â acts Â on Â Code-Ârelated Â Complaints Â and Â periodically Â reviews Â the Â Â adequacy Â of Â the Â Code. Â A Â background Â in Â workplace Â ethics Â is Â preferred. Â To Â learn Â more Â about Â the Â responsibilities Â of Â the Â WSSC Â Board Â of Â Ethics, Â visit Â the Â WSSC Â website Â at Â https://www.wsscwater.com/BOEduties. Please Â send Â letters Â of Â interest Â and Â resumes Â to Â the Â Washington Â Â # # " % !! "" " # " ' " Â $ "& # % % " ! Â #! !! % AFRO

WASHINGTON AREA COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS Upper Marlboro, Md.

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Prince Georgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s County Association of Realtors Fun/Run/ Walk 5k and Scholarship Presentation Marlboro Ridge Club House (Toll Brothers Subdivision), 11401 Marlboro Ridge Road The Prince Georgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s County Association of REALTORSÂŽ, the countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading advocate for real estate and private property rights, is presenting four Prince Georgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s County high school seniors with $2,500 college scholarships through the Associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s David Maclin Memorial Scholarship Fund at a special â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fun Run/Walkâ&#x20AC;? 5K event on April 22 at Marlboro Ridge Club House (Toll Brothers Subdivision), 11401 Marlboro Ridge Road, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The seniors receiving scholarships, include Tynetta Devine, planning to attend Trinity Washington University; Jacoby Hicks, planning to attend University of Maryland Baltimore; Jamiya Kirkland, planning to attend Howard University; and Jorden White, planning to attend North Carolina A&T State University. The Fund and its accompanying â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fun Runâ&#x20AC;? are one of the Associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premiere community service endeavors. The scholarships recognizes a studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commitment to community service, based on the theme â&#x20AC;&#x153;How I Made A Difference In My Communityâ&#x20AC;?.

Washington, D.C.

National Math Festival

Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mt Vernon Pl NW

The National Math Festival returns to Washington, D.C. on April 22. The event will be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mt Vernon Pl NW, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The free and public event brings together some of the most fascinating mathematicians of our time to inspire and challenge participants to see math in new and exciting ways. Through a day of lectures, handson activities, art, films, performances, puzzles, games, childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s book readings, and more, the National Math Festival will bring out the unexpected sides of mathematics for everyone, from toddlers to adults of all ages. The National Math Festival is organized by the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute (MSRI) in cooperation with the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) and the National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath). TNo registration is required. For more information, visit nationalmathfestival.org.

The Afro-American, April 22, 2017 - April 28, 2017

Charles Wheeler; Associate Vice President at Children’s National Medical Center, Shomari White; Bowie State University President Mickey L. Burnim (100Way Award honoree); President of Prince George’s Community College Charlene Dukes (100Way Award honoree); President of Howard University Wayne A.I Frederick (100Way Award honoree); and President of 100 Black Men of Prince Georges County Emerick A. Peace

Mentee of the Year, Sean Gentry

Actor and philanthropist Lamman Rucker

Chief Technology Officer at Five Star Consulting Group, Charles Wheeler; CEO at Frakture,Chris Lundberg; CEO of EveryoneOn, Chike Aguh; and President of 100 Black Men of Prince Georges County Emerick A. Peace

The Prince George’s County of 100 Black men held its 6th Annual Community Brunch April 8 at the MGM Grand Ballroom in Oxon Hill, Md. The brunch honored notable figures with the organization’s 100Way Award, including: Jim Vance, NBC4 Anchor; Micheline Bowmann, Fox 5 News (WTTG); Denice Cora-Bramble, Children’s

Members of the Prince George’s County chapter of 100 Black men

Members of the Board of Directors of the Prince George’s County chapter of 100 black men with Lamman Rucker (center front row)

National Medical System; Donna Graves, Prince George’s County Chamber of Commerce; Judge William D. Missouri; Charlene Dukes, Prince George’s Community College; Wayne A. I. Frederick, Howard University and Mickey L. Burnim, Bowie State University.

Photos by Mark Mahoney

President of Howard University Wayne A.I Frederick (100Way Award honoree)

President of 100 Black Men of Prince Georges County Emerick A. Peace,

Actor and philanthropist Lamman Rucker

Former Miss Cotillions Debutantes from Zeta Chi Omega’s first Cotillion in 1958

Zeta Chi Omega 2017 Cotillion escorts

Zeta Chi Omega 2017 Cotillion Committee: Front row: Hazel M.Cameron, chairman & president of the Ivy Foundation of Northern Virginia; Andrea Streat, co-chair; Madeline Wingate-Alfonso, chair; Sharonda Glover, co-chair, and Rhonda Luss, president of Zeta Chi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority

Zeta Chi Omega 2017 Cotillion debutantes ( L-R) Camryn Edwards, Jayla Tolson, Morgan Waters, Quimari Mullins, Brittany Whitley, and Chalys Caruth

The Ivy Foundation of Northern Virginia (IFNV), the charitable affiliate of Zeta Chi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority celebrated its 60th Annual Cotillion of Zeta Chi Omega Chapter (ZCO) on April 1 at the Hyatt Regency in Crystal City, Va. The theme for the Cotillion was “Priceless Debutante Morgan Pearls Inspired by the Past…Poised for the Future.” Waters with her The event featured debutantes escort Skylor Loiseau from around the country to help celebrate Mr. Debonair, with the 2017 debutantes. Austin Debutantes waltzed with their Fontaine, fathers and danced the Minuet DeMatha and the Cotillion Waltz with Catholic High their escorts. There was also a School 2017 Cotillion Court: (L-R) Chalys Caruth, Miss Cotillion First Attendant; Quimari Mullins, Parents’ Waltz followed by a Grand Miss Cotillion 2017; and Camryn Edwards, Miss Promenade by the debutantes. Congeniality and Miss Cotillion Second Attendant

Photos by Soulfully Speaking Photography

Mothers of the debutantes

Fathers of the debutantes