Baltimore Washington 6-21-2018

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Who Killed Det. Sean Suiter? 218 Days and Counting June 23, 2018 - June 23, 2018, The Afro-American

Volume Volume 127 123 No. No.46 20–22

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JUNE 23, 2018 - JUNE 29, 2018

Inside

Washington

Wizards Willing to Move Back in Draft, Botch another Season

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Go Mississippi Burning Vote!

Women Clergy Stand Up for Children

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Baltimore

AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis

Members of the Mississippi Poor People’s Campaign burn a Confederate battle flag at the Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss. The protesters also burned a Mississippi state flag. The campaign is part of a nationwide effort that called for lawmakers and statewide elected officials to address the need for union rights, living wages, fully funded anti-poverty programs and to properly fund public education. See story on page A2.

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Nina Simone’s Childhood Home Recognized as National Treasure

By Brianna Rhodes Special to the AFRO In honor of African American Music Appreciation Month, The National Trust for Historic Preservation announced June 19 that the childhood home of civil rights icon, musician and singer, Nina Simone, was named a National Treasure, the organization’s signature program.

The non-profit partners with communities to ensure the long-term preservation of

Courtesy photo

Nina Simone’s childhood home

Why Annapolis City Council Apologized for History of Lynching

Your History • Your Community • Your News

afro.com

By Matthew Ritchie Special to the AFRO June 18 represented a step in the right direction in terms of race relations in Annapolis, as the Annapolis City Council passed a resolution apologizing for lynchings

of Black men throughout the history of the city and the surrounding Anne Arundel county.

This resolution was spearheaded by Alderwomen Elly Tierney and Rhonda Pindell Charles, of D-Ward 1 and D-Ward 3, respectively. It acts as an apology from the

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nationally significant historic places and the stories they keep, according to Brent Leggs, director of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund of the National Trust.

Simone’s three-room, 660-square foot childhood home is located in Tryon, North Carolina.

Through their partnership with The Nina Simone Project and four AfricanAmerican artists who recently purchased the property, the National Trust will use its nearly 70 years of expertise to develop and enact a new use for nationally

String of Baltimore Women Murdered

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significant property through its National Trust’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund to preserve the childhood home. Nina Simone’s home is the first National Treasure music site.

“The reason that we designated the Nina Simone childhood home a National Treasure is because Nina Simone transcended the constraints society placed Continued on A3

Trotz Leaving Caps After Stanley Cup Not A Good Look For DC

By Mark F. Gray Special to the AFRO By any measure, this is not a good look for the Washington Capitals. It’s not unprecedented for a coach to ride off into the sunset after

leading a team to a world championship. It is, however, new for a coach who is still basking in the afterglow to resign and effectively tell the franchise we’re number one Continued on A3

17 AP Photo/John Locher

How the AFRO covered the lynching of King Johnson in 1911.

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AFRO file photo

Washington Capitals right wing Devante Smith-Pelly skates with the Stanley Cup after the Capitals defeated the Golden Knights 4-3 in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals in Las Vegas.

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The Afro-American, June 23, 2018 - June 29, 2018

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WHAT’S TRENDING ON AFRO.COM Sterling Brown Sues Milwaukee Over Arrest

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Milwaukee Bucks guard Sterling Brown filed a lawsuit against the city of Milwaukee and its police department.

Milwaukee Bucks guard Sterling Brown filed a lawsuit June 19 against the city of Milwaukee and its police department, claiming unlawful arrest and excessive force when officers used a stun gun on him during his arrest for a parking violation.

Brown’s attorney Mark Thomsen filed the lawsuit in federal court.

Brown had been talking with officers while waiting for a citation for illegally parking in a disabled spot outside a Walgreens on Jan. 26, when officers took him down because he didn’t immediately remove his hands from his pockets as ordered.

Police Chief Alfonso Morales apologized to Brown last month when body-camera video of the arrest was released.

Brown wasn’t charged with anything and three officers were disciplined, with suspensions ranging from two to 15 days.

Eight other officers were ordered to undergo remedial training in professional communications.

Video of the confrontation shows an officer approached Brown around 2 a.m. When their conversation becomes tense, the officer calls more squad cars for help and eventually eight officers are standing around Brown. One asks him to take his hands out of his pockets and a second or two later the scuffle begins. Almost immediately, an officer yells: “Taser! Taser!

Taser!”

According to the lawsuit, one of the officers later took to Twitter to mock Brown, saying, “Nice meeting Sterling Brown of the Milwaukee Bucks at work this morning!

Lol#FearTheDeer Police only released the body camera video of the first officer who contacted Brown. But additional body camera and squad car videos, obtained by WISN-TV, showed the moments after officers used a stun gun on Brown. In one, Brown is on the ground and handcuffed when an officer puts one of his boots on Brown’s ankle, holding it there. Brown doesn’t mention being in any discomfort but he questions the officer’s actions.

“C’mon man, you’re stepping on my ankle for what?” Brown said. In response, the officer said he was trying to prevent Brown from kicking anyone.

Other videos obtained

by WISN-TV showed an officer talking with two colleagues seating in a squad car. They talked about how they could be perceived as racist for arresting a Black Bucks player, with one saying if anything goes wrong, it “is going to be, ‘Ooh, the Milwaukee Police Department is all racist, blah, blah, blah.’”

Brown told the Journal Sentinel in an interview last month that he “gave in” when police used a stun gun and that he didn’t do anything to resist because he didn’t want officers to “pull out their guns.”

“I was just being smart. I just wanted to get out of the situation and get home,” he said.

VOTE FOR

Senator Joan Carter Conway Regina T. Boyce for Delegate Delegate Maggie McIntosh “Baltimore needs Joan Carter Conway.

As the first and only African-American woman to chair a Senate committee, Joan has brought an important voice to Annapolis. She has used her position to get funding for our schools, to support criminal justice reform, and to protect our healthcare from Republican cuts. Join me in re-electing Senator Conway.”

— Congressman Elijah Cummings Authority: 43rd District Leadership Slate, Matthew Stegman, Treasurer.

Protesters Burn Mississippi flag, Say it Symbolizes Racism

By The Associated Press

A group of about 30 demonstrators on June 18 burned a Mississippi state flag, saying it symbolizes the racism at the heart of the state’s problems with poverty, education and health care.

Demonstrators with the Poor People’s Campaign burned a Confederate battle flag and then a separate Mississippi state flag Monday in front of the governor’s mansion.

Mississippi’s flag has contained the Confederate battle emblem since 1894,

Members of the Mississippi Poor People’s Campaign burn a Confederate battle flag at the Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss. Protesters also burned a Mississippi state flag. and residents who voted in a 2001 statewide election chose to keep the emblem on it.

The campaign includes activists in 40 states who are demonstrating, seeking to force communities to address poverty. They say poverty continues to be ignored and only a “moral revival” can bring it to the nation’s consciousness.

“This flag needs to come down,” said organizer Danyelle Holmes of Jackson. “This flag needs to burn. We’re burning the hate out of their hearts. We’re burning the hate out of our state.”

Monday was the climax of six weeks of demonstrations in Mississippi. Last week, for example, protesters built a cardboard shack symbolizing homelessness with signs calling for better social services and health care for the poor. Holmes, though, said lingering White supremacy is bound up in all of Mississippi’s problems.

Confederate symbols have been the subject of widespread debate across the South, particularly since the racially motivated killings of nine African-American parishioners in 2015 at a church in Charleston, South Carolina, and after last year’s violent protests at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Although flag protests are frequent in Mississippi, burning the banner is rare.

Several city and county governments and all eight of Mississippi’s public universities have stopped flying the state flag in recent years amid critics’ concerns that it does not properly represent a state where 38 percent of residents are African-American. Supporters of the flag say it represents history.

Republican Gov. Phil Bryant maintains that if the flag is to be changed, another election should be held.

“This is an unfortunate instance of a group exercising their rights in a completely disrespectful and unproductive manner,” Bryant said in an emailed statement. “There are better ways to bring attention to one’s opinions than burning the state of Mississippi flag on a public street corner.”

Outpouring of Love for Slain Rapper XXXTentacion

By Micha Green AFRO Washington, D.C. Editor mgreen@afro.com

20-year-old rapper, Jahseh Onfroy, better known as XXXTentacion was fatally shot leaving a motorcycle dealership in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on June 18, according to police. So far there is no known motive and police have no suspects.

The rapper, who had initially been most popular on Soundcloud, had begun (Miami- Dade Corrections & to gain momentum and Rehabilitation Department via AP) recognition, particularly Troubled rapper-singer following his song “Look at XXXTentacion was fatally Me!”, which hit the Billboard shot in Florida.

Top 100 in February 2017 and peaked at 34 in April of that year, after being released in December of 2015.

In June of last year, XXXTentacion was named to XXL magazine’s Freshman Class and even featured on the publication’s cover.

In August 2017, his first album, 17, debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart.

As he continued to emerge in the game, well-respected and established artists publicly endorsed the young rapper.

Grammy award winning rapper Kendrick Lamar had been a supporter of XXXTentacion. When Spotify pulled XXXTentacion’s music after assault charges were brought against him, Lamar criticized the music streaming company’s decision.

According to People, because of the advocacy from Lamar, artists and even some Spotify employees, XXXTentacion’s music was added back to the streaming service’s catalogue in recent weeks.

Despite such a young life and career full of controversy, such as the assault charges and his own beef with rapper Drake, XXXTentacion was beloved in the music industry. When news of his shooting first spread, artists from various mediums immediately began honoring the young rapper.

“Although I don’t not side with the decisions he made in the past, he was an amazing [and] influential artist and touched many people that I know. He inspired many [to] live more positively and did a lot of good for this world,” comedian Grayson Dolan, of the famous Dolan Twins, wrote on Twitter.

“Not withsanding personal demons, he was a huge talent and bringing a new feel to hip hop. So sad,” filmmaker and writer Louis Theroux, wrote on Twitter.

“Enormous talent and limitless potential and a strong desire to be a better person. God bless his family, friends and fans,” rapper J. Cole wrote.

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The Afro-American, June 23, 2018 - June 23, 2018

June 23, 2018 - June 29, 2018, The Afro-American

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Police Fatally Shoot 17-year-old Fleeing Traffic Stop

By The Associated Press A police officer fatally shot a 17-year-old Black boy just seconds after he fled from a traffic stop June 19 in a confrontation partly captured on video from a nearby home.

Investigators said Wednesday that the car stopped in the town of East Pittsburgh matched the description of a vehicle being sought in a nonfatal shooting in a town a few miles away.

An East Pittsburgh officer, who has not been identified, was taking the driver into custody when the two passengers, including 17-year-old Antwon Rose, fled the car.

Allegheny County Police Superintendent Coleman McDonough said Rose was shot three times. A report from the medical examiner confirmed that Rose had died at a local hospital but did not say where he was struck or the cause of death. McDonough said police found two semi-automatic

handguns on the floor of the car.

In the video, which was posted online, the teens can be seen dashing from the car. Three shots ring out, and both passengers appear to either duck or fall to the ground as they pass behind a house. A woman yells, asking why an officer shot the boy for running.

No shots were fired at the officers during the encounter, and no weapon was found on Rose’s body, said McDonough.

There was no indication the other passenger from the car was shot or injured, but he was not captured and still was being sought by police, McDonough said.

Debra Jones told The Associated Press her voice is the one caught on the video.

Jones, 53, said she was sitting on the porch of the home she shares with her daughter when the traffic stop began. She said the officer drew his gun as he talked to the driver, and

she instinctually took cover.

“I fell off my seat and started to crawl into my house. But I turned and said, ‘No, someone needs to keep an eye on this,’ and I came out to watch the stop,” Jones said.

When the two passengers took off, “that officer didn’t try to chase them or taze them. He just shot that boy for running,” she said. “I looked out my kitchen window and they were putting him in handcuffs. He wasn’t moving. I think that boy died right there on the side of my house.”

McDonough noted there are circumstances when Pennsylvania law permits officers to use lethal force on a fleeing suspect. It’s allowed to prevent death or serious injury to an officer or another person or if the fleeing suspect has used or threatened violence or possesses a lethal weapon.

County police were called in to conduct an independent investigation, which is standard

Twitter

Antwon Rose was killed by police after a traffic stop.

procedure, McDonough said. He said the officer has been placed on administrative leave.

The driver of the vehicle, a 20-year-old man, was taken into custody and released after McDonough said officers did not feel they had cause to charge him in the earlier shooting.

The shooting in North Braddock happened less than 15 minutes before the traffic stop, McDonough said. He said a 22-year-old man had been shot in the abdomen after nine shots were fired from the car. The man, who was treated at a hospital and released, told police he fired back and struck the car.

McDonough said he was confident the car pulled over by East Pittsburgh was involved in the incident, noting that a back window had been shot out. He said it was too early in the investigation to say whether Rose had fired a weapon in the earlier incident.

Simone Continued from A1 on Black female performers in the mid-20th century to become the voice of the American Civil Rights Movement,” Leggs said.

Leggs said Simone’s ability to diffuse classic piano and African rhythm, her frank expressions on racial and gender discrimination and Simone’s life and career embodied an unapologetic pursuit of musical, personal and political freedom.

“As an artist, it’s quite moving to be able to step in and support another artist whose work has meant so much to me throughout my life, both through a creative end and a political standpoint,” Adam Pendleton, conceptual artist, painter and co-owner of Nina Simone’s Home said.

“I can’t think of a better way to do that than to have a physical site that people can come and visit and engage and interact with and get a deeper sense of what made Nina who she was and who she is in our mind.”

Simone’s career spanned four decades, multiple genres and several continents. She has earned 15 Grammy nominations and her songs

that she was born within the boundaries of the geographical realm...that is Tryon is pretty significant to me,” Crys Armbrust, the executive director of The Nina Simone Project said.

“I am incredibly pleased that the Nina

organization,” Armburst added.

The National Trust will be working with the property owners of Simone’s home, the local community, the North Carolina African American Heritage Commission and World Monuments Fund, to seek new protections for the home and evaluate preservation needs, among other initiatives to develop a new use for the home.

“Standing for something one believes in often requires great courage in the face of harsh criticism and judgement,” said Simone’s daughter, Lisa Simone, according to a National Trust press release.

“My mother chose to be an outspoken warrior for that which she believed in. Her birthplace now being named a –Lisa Simone National Treasure is confirmation that no effort put forth, with true authenticity, Simone’s childhood home has become an goes unnoticed. As her only child, it brings me initiative of the National Trust for Historic great joy to see my mother, Dr. Nina Simone, Preservation and I think that today [June 19] honored and remembered as mightily as she marks a momentous day in the history of the lived.”

“Her birthplace now being named a National Treasure is confirmation that no effort put forth, with true authenticity, goes unnoticed.”

Nina Simone Courtesy photo

have been professionally covered and sampled more than 500 times. Simone was also recently inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

“Nina is a timeless talent and the fact

Lynching Continued from A1 capital city of Maryland itself, as 5 other members of the city council, and Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley signed onto the resolution as co-sponsors.

This movement towards making gestures to repair racial relations in Annapolis comes on the heels of an article in Annapolis’ local paper, The Sunday Capital, where they called upon the City of Annapolis to condemn the horrific history of lynchings that had occurred in the city and Anne Arundel county.

The history of documented lynchings in Anne Arundel county dates back to 1875.

This was the first time that a formal apology for the murders was successfully issued by the city; however, it was not the first attempt at an

apology. In 1898, a proposal for a formal apology led by then Alderman Wiley H. Bates failed, receiving only one vote in its favor.

Tierney points to this resolution as a step in the right direction towards addressing racial injustices in the county.

“The purpose of this Resolution is for the City Council to express its support for the Equal Justice Initiative,” she wrote in a testimony supporting the resolution. She said she hopes this formal apology can help the city “move toward a more complete history of race relations.”

The co-sponsors of the resolution declined to comment by press time.

It is not difficult to see that the Equal Justice Initiative, which was founded in 1994 and has documented over 4,000 lynchings that had occurred between the Civil War and World War II, has had a profound effect on this push to try and right past wrongs against African Americans.

The initiative has called upon every county in the U.S. in which lynchings occurred to

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install markers to acknowledge the murders.

The state of Maryland has had a terrible past in terms of lynchings, with 33 of them being documented. Annapolis and Anne Arundel county had 5 documented lynchings, with the last one occurring in 1911, when King Johnson was removed from his cell in the county jail and was lynched for killing a White man in self

defense. In 1906, Henry Davis was lynched after admitting to assaulting a White woman.

He was subsequently hung and shot over 100 times as he was dragged through Annapolis.

Tierney was motivated by the gruesomeness of the murders of these Black men, and felt as though there should be some sort of reconciliation. For her, Alderwoman Pindell Charles,

and the other co-sponsors, the inability to recognize these lynchings whilst Annapolis celebrates events like crew races and croquet matches was unacceptable.

This formal apology is a part of a greater movement to remove symbols of White supremacy in the state of Maryland. Last year, the statue of U.S. Chief Justice Roger Taney, who penned

the Dred Scott decision saying that Black people in slavery were property, not people, was removed from the state legislature in Annapolis. Baltimore City recently removed several Confederate monuments under the administration of Mayor Catherine Pugh while Baltimore County changed the name of Robert E. Lee Park to Lake Roland Park.

Trotz Continued from A1 by leaving with his middle finger pointed north as he walks out.

That’s what happened when Barry Trotz resigned just 11 days after the biggest moment of his career and in the history of the Capitals franchise. Since the organization wouldn’t compensate him in a way worthy of a Stanley Cup championship coach, he packed his bags and left.

Trotz had a clause in his contract that would have extended his deal for another two years with a $300,000 raise if he won a Stanley Cup. It’s hard to fathom for most people that a person making $1.5 million who gets a raise to $1.8 million is being disrespected but that’s what the case is here. Trotz was one of the lowest paid coaches in the National Hockey League and exceeded the value of his deal even with the additional stipend.

Trotz’s deal would’ve been well below market value for a championship coach in the NHL today. Several coaches who’ve won a Stanley Cup are making between $3-5 million. A respectable average has approached approximately $2 million annually since NHL coaching salaries have ballooned over the last decade. Surely, Ted Leonsis could’ve charged his minions to meet in the middle.

Trotz wanted five years and if the franchise offers $3.5 million for three years that’s just over $10 million. It was a small price to pay to respectfully build a legacy that would have paid for itself in merchandise alone.

In four years Trotz record was a league best 205-89-34.

He led them to two consecutive President’s Cups for the best record in the NHL and was coach of the year in 2016. Twice they were eliminated by the eventual Stanley Cup champion

Pittsburgh Penguins. This year the Capitals won another division title on their way to bringing Lord Stanley and championship euphoria back to the District which had been missing since 1991. The Capitals finally exorcised the demons of Pittsburgh too.

He changed the culture of a franchise that was considered an underachieving loser. Trotz broke the monumental curse of losing in Chinatown. He added the first championship banner to the rafters in a building which had only raised one for the Washington Mystics who led the WNBA in attendance. Better yet, he gave fans a respite from licking the wounds following another flame out by the Wizards in the NBA playoffs.

Hockey crossed cultural lines under Barry Trotz too. That he would take a castoff journeyman like Davante Smith-Pelly and give him a chance to rebuild his career was a move most other NHL coaches wouldn’t have done. Trotz helped bring an inclusion of hockey to a Black fan base who may not know the difference between off sides and icing penalties but recognized Smith-Pelly, who is Black, can play.

The organization didn’t value a man who finally ended a championship drought which spanned 40 years. That speaks volumes about the climate on the corner of 7th and F streets.

They remain loyal to a front office executive like Wizards Vice President Ernie Grunfeld who can’t get beyond the second round of the NBA playoffs but won’t pay a championship coach what he’s worth.

It makes you wonder how much value is there to winning it all in DC.

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The Afro-American, June 23, 2018 - June 29, 2018

COMMENTARY

Restoring Government and Helping Our Nation

Individuals who overcome barriers to “getting ahead” and business leaders who recognize their ability to contribute deserve our admiration. Yet, even as we acknowledge these Americans for “doing good while also doing well,” our nation’s public policies must also address a more fundamental economic reality.

Only significant legislative reforms that strengthen the efforts of enlightened individuals, companies and local governments will overcome (and not simply manage) the struggles of our nation’s “working poor.”

When we think of the challenges faced by far too many working families, we typically concentrate on urban and rural poverty (a focus of public policy that clearly is justified in places like Baltimore City, where tens of thousands of well-paying manufacturing jobs have been lost since the days of my youth).

Nevertheless, the experience of neighboring Howard County, Maryland, one of our nation’s four most affluent jurisdictions, reveals an economic “disconnect” that must now be corrected in every community.

Our nation’s working families have become ever more productive during the last two decades, while their wages have remained flat and the costs of what they need to buy have continued to rise.

This growing “disconnect” between productive work and unsustainable wages has brought us to a fundamental challenge – both for our economy and for our democratic system.

Simply stated, not enough Americans are making enough money to both grow our economy and assure that everyone who contributes receives a fair and adequate share of the rewards.

As a result of the “supply-side” economic policies that we have followed in recent decades, far too many of our neighbors are trapped in the world of the “working poor;” and their lives of desperation are driving a growing outcry for political and economic reform in our cities, rural communities and more affluent suburban counties alike.

I personally know this world of our “working poor” quite well. It was the world of my youth – and it still confronts far too many of our neighbors today.

If we are to move beyond a national political orientation that, at best, tolerates and attempts to manage (but not end) their poverty, we must become more clear-eyed about the extent of the economic challenges that far too many of us are facing. care, housing and childcare: these are the real-life, day-to-day economic challenges that far too many American families find it difficult or impossible to overcome.

This is the sobering, daily reality for the thousands who are living, working and remaining poor in one of our most affluent jurisdictions – and for the millions more who are struggling, feeling forgotten and left behind, in our other, less fortunate communities.

How could any thoughtful policy-maker remain silent, doing little or nothing, when so many of our countrymen and women (and their children) are trying so hard – and still struggling?

It is both appropriate and just to honor those individuals who rise above indifference to help their neighbors – as well as local initiatives like Howard County’s “Achieve 24/7” program. Yet, it is neither appropriate nor sufficient for so many of my colleagues in government to turn a blind eye to the unsustainable economic hardships that so many Americans are enduring.

We must send to the Congress, and to government service at all levels, those who will: - better support our public schools; - reform our tax code to expand and increase earned-income tax credits for the working poor;

Elijah Cummings

- preserve their healthcare cost subsidies; - expand their affordable-housing supports; and - make their childcare more affordable as well.

As citizens, voting in this year’s elections, we can use our voting power to move toward an America in which every working family is able to achieve the economic security that they have earned and deserve.

Through our ballots, we, too, have the ability to do some good, while also helping our nation to do well.

Congressman Elijah Cummings represents Maryland’s 7th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives.

Juneteenth: Freedom’s Promise Still Denied to Blacks Unable to Make Bail June 19 marked Juneteenth, a celebration of the de facto end of slavery in the United States.

For hundreds of thousands of African-Americans stuck in pretrial detention – accused but not convicted of a crime, and unable to leave because of bail – that promise remains unfulfilled. And coming immediately after Father’s Day, it’s also a reminder of the loss associated with the forced separation of families.

On a very personal level, I know how this separation feels. Every Father’s Day since 2011, I’ve been reminded of the unexpected death of my dad at the age of 48. But also on a professional level, as a criminologist who has been researching mass incarceration for the past decade, I understand the disproportionate impact it’s had on African-Americans, destabilizing Black families in the process.

Juneteenth is a celebration of African-Americans’ triumph over slavery and access to freedom in the U.S., which occurred in Galveston, Texas, in June of 1865, over two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.

While Juneteenth is a momentous day in U.S. history, it is important to appreciate that the civil rights and liberties promised to African-Americans have yet to be fully realized. As legal scholar Michelle Alexander forcefully explains, this is a consequence of Jim Crow laws and the proliferation of incarceration that began in the 1970s, including the increase of people placed in pretrial detention and other criminal justice policies.

There are 2.3 million people currently incarcerated in American prisons and jails – including those not convicted of any crime. Black people comprise 40 percent of them, even though they represent just 13 percent of the U.S. population.

Matthew Larson

More troubling is the number of incarcerated individuals currently held in jail for crimes of which they have not yet been convicted.

In March, the Prison Policy Initiative, a nonpartisan think tank that focuses on mass incarceration, reported that over a half million citizens are languishing in pretrial detention. And like most criminal justice outcomes, the burden of this disproportionately falls on minorities, especially Black men and women.

In local jails alone, over 300,000 people are awaiting trial for property, drug or public order crimes. And again, these disproportionately Black defendants are confined and separated from their families, friends and jobs simply because they lack the means to post cash bail – the only reason they can’t get out.

It should be no surprise, then, that 1 in 9 Black children now has a parent behind bars, compared with the national rate of 1 in 28.

And many of these children are at an increased likelihood of experiencing physical and mental health issues, academic struggles and a range of other behavioral problems. Children of incarcerated mothers are also at heightened odds of ending up in foster care and being exposed to other traumas.

Being the partner of an incarcerated individual is another, often stressful, experience that also falls disproportionately on Black citizens, particularly women.

The good news is that such injustices are receiving growing attention nationwide.

Just City, a nonprofit organization working to reduce the harms of the criminal justice system, recently campaigned to raise funds and promote awareness of its Memphis Community Bail Fund project for Father’s Day – in part because nearly half a million of the Black men behind bars are dads.

The aim of the project is to provide both financial and legal

support for defendants lacking resources to independently secure their pretrial release, with the goal of the recent campaign being the release of jailed fathers so that they could be with their kids for the holiday.

Bail funds similar to Just City’s have proliferated throughout the U.S. On one hand, the multiplication of these organizations is encouraging and reason for optimism. On the other, their growth is another reminder that many of the freedoms celebrated on Juneteenth remain unrealized.

In cities like Detroit, where 1 in 7 adult males is under some form of correctional control in some communities, it is a monumental task to make sense of the short- and long-term impacts of incarceration for Black families.

Children suffer. Parents struggle. Relationships deteriorate. And as a result, so too do so many African-American communities. Lost wages matter to families, but they also matter to communities.

Juneteenth celebrates the freedom of Black Americans and the long, hard road they were forced to traverse to gain that freedom. But as criminologists like me have maintained time and again, the U.S. criminal justice system remains biased, albeit implicitly, against them.

(Matthew Larson is an assistant professor of criminal justice at Wayne State University. This article originally appeared on The Conversation, an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Democrats Should Consider an Outsider in 2020 Recently, Howard Schultz announced he will be stepping down as the Executive Chairman of Starbucks. Schultz’s name has been linked to becoming a non-political candidate for the upcoming 2020 presidential election. For a man who has downplayed his interest in running for president, he has recently padded his resume with political work.

Schultz has traveled to the U.S.-Mexico border to learn about immigration concerns, studied the epidemic of opioids and had meetings across the country to discuss police shootings - while revealing plans of releasing a book in 2019 about his philosophy on running a socially responsible company. Schultz has in many ways been preparing far longer than the other nonpolitician candidates for a potential run. Born in Brooklyn to an impoverished family, he built Starbucks into a $78 billion company with more than 28,000 stores in 77 countries.

Sure, Democrats may prefer someone with political experience, fearing another disastrous administration like the current one but people like Schultz who have the same vision as many Democrats should be taken into consideration - despite the lack of experience.

Ty’rique Sims

If there was one thing President Trump did well it was influencing numerous public figures with zero political experience to run for the highest office in the land. Democrats have explored the possibility of finding a non-politician to compete with Donald Trump’s reelection campaign in 2020.

There is a opportunity for an outsider to take over the party and challenge Trump, the problem has been finding the right person to do it - particularly in a party whose voters lean towards someone with government experience.

The potential 2020 candidates already include an enormous amount of traditional politicians, from mayors to governors to senators. The political outsiders who have entertained candidacies include some household names in the corporate world – Disney chief Bob Iger, mogul Oprah Winfrey and Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg. But as of right now each of them have decided to put their run for office to the side.

Currently, the only remaining brand-name business leaders besides Schultz known to be actively considering a run are the liberal financier Tom Steyer, who is traveling the country to build a grass-roots effort to impeach Trump, and the celebrity entrepreneur Mark Cuban, who has taken few steps to build inroads in the Democratic Party, after saying last year he would

rather run as a Republican or an independent.

Cuban, owner of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks and a star of the investment show “Shark Tank,” said that he has been focused on policy development, including plans to repair the country’s health care system.

A poll conducted by Quinnipiac University in April found a clear split among voters in Maryland over whether they preferred to elect a governor who has experience in politics or one who is new to politics. Republicans preferred someone new to politics 47 percent to 38 percent. Democrats, said they preferred experience by a margin of 75 percent to 17 percent.

“The issues that we face in terms of the dysfunction and the polarization in the government is really based on a systemic problem of ideology,” Schultz said on a CNBC appearance. “And I think we need a very different view of how the government and how the country should be run.”

Ty’rique Sims is an intern in the Baltimore office of the AFRO American Newspapers. He is a junior at Morgan State University majoring in journalism.

The opinions on this page are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the AFRO. Send letters to The Afro-American • 1531 S. Edgewood St. • Baltimore, MD 21227 or fax to 1-877-570-9297 or e-mail to editor@afro.com

June 23, 2018 - June 29, 2018, The Afro-American

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Attorney Faults Parole Process for MOVE Members Still Jailed

By The Associated Press A defense attorney for three members of the radical group MOVE said June 19 he’s confused why one was paroled and two others were denied parole despite having similar records and recommendations for release from the new Philadelphia District Attorney’s office.

Debbie Africa, who left a state prison Saturday after serving 40 years, is the first of the so-called “MOVE 9” to be released on parole. Attorney Brad Thomson said at an event for Debbie to speak to the public with her son, Mike Africa Jr., the other two women who were denied parole should be at the table as well.

“The decisions and the reasons (the parole board) list are entirely discretionary to the point of being arbitrary,” he said after the speaking panel. “There’s nothing in the statutory provisions that requires someone to be remorseful or accept responsibility to receive parole.”

AP Photo/Jacqueline Larma Nine of the anti-establishment, backDebbie Africa, a member of the radical group MOVE, was released from prison, to-nature group’s members was convicted nearly 40 years after the group engaged in a shootout that killed a Philadelphia of third-degree murder after Officer James police officer in 1978.

Ramp was killed during a 1978 standoff with police attempting to evict MOVE from its headquarters in Philadelphia. Police had said they received complaints from neighbors. The members barricaded themselves in and have said they believe Ramp was killed by friendly fire.

The women, including Debbie Africa, who was eight months pregnant, took shelter with their children in the basement during the confrontation. Debbie’s son, Mike Africa Jr., was born in prison a few weeks after she was arrested and taken away three days after he was born.

The two took turns comforting each other as they talked about the past 40 years apart and continuing to work for the release of the remaining six members of the group including Debbie’s husband, Mike Africa Sr. Mike Africa Jr., described knocking on his mother’s door and seeing her without shoes.

“I noticed this was the first time I’d ever seen her feet; a friend of mine said, ‘You are learning at almost 40 years old, what babies learn about their parents.’”

-Mike Africa Jr. Ben Waxman, a spokesman for District Attorney Larry Krasner, said staff had reviewed the records of Debbie Africa, Jeanene Africa and Janet Africa and had submitted recommendations

that they be paroled. The letters, which were the first positive recommendations from a prosecution attorney for the three women, said prosecutors were “confident that she will not pose a threat to the Philadelphia community to which she wishes to return” for all three women.

According to information obtained from the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, Janet and Jeanene Africa were denied parole because the board said the women lacked remorse, minimized the circumstance of their offense and received a negative recommendation in the past from a prosecuting attorney.

Tensions between MOVE and police continued after the initial standoff, culminating in the 1985 bombing of MOVE’s west Philadelphia headquarters. The bomb ignited fuel for a generator and spread to more than 60 rowhomes and killed 11 people including five children, two of whom were the children of Janet Africa and Jeanene Africa.

No one from the police department or city was criminally charged for in the investigation that followed.

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The Afro-American, June 23, 2018 - June 29, 2018

CHEVROLET AND NNPA JOIN TOGETHER TO OFFER HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS A $15K FELLOWSHIP! The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) is excited to partner with the all-new 2018 Chevrolet Equinox to present Discover the Unexpected (DTU) – an amazing journalism fellowship.

Selected DTU Fellows from Historically Black Colleges and Universities earn a $10,000 scholarship, $5,000 stipend and an exciting summer road trip in the all-new 2018 Chevrolet Equinox.

Join our DTU Fellows on this multi-city journey as they discover unsung heroes and share stories from African-American communities that will surprise and inspire. DTU is back and better than ever! Are you ready to ride? #ChevyEquinox, #Chevy, #NNPA

#DTU2018

June 23, 2018 - June 29, 2018, The Afro-American

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WASHINGTON-AREA

DC Primary

Incumbents Win; Initiative 77 Passes

Women Clergy Stand Up for Children and Immigration Reform

Trump Policies Dominate at ACLU Conference

By James Wright Special to the AFRO jwright@afro.com

By James Wright Special to the AFRO jwright@afro.com

Despite spirited campaigns from opponents, the incumbents in the District of Columbia’s June 19 primaries had no problems being renominated to their seats.

Of the registered voters in the District, 17.62 percent of voters participated in the primary, the lowest number since the 2010 primary, according to D.C. Board of Elections statistics.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) had little trouble dispatching of her opponents James Butler and Ernest Johnson with 79 percent of the vote. The mayor won every ward, with her lowest percentage of 68 percent in Ward 8.

Soon after polls closed, Bowser was already celebrating her victory.

Bowser will face D.C. Statehood Green Party candidate Ann Wilcox and Libertarian Party hopeful Martin Moulton in the Nov. 6 general election.

“I am happy I won my race,” a beaming Wilcox told the AFRO. D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) faced a challenge from former Obama administration official Kim Ford but won handily, 76 to 23 percent. Norton will face Natale Stracuzzi of the D.C. Statehood Green Party and Bruce Majors of the Libertarian Party in the general election in November.

D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson defeated former D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute executive director Ed Lazere, 63 percent to 37 percent and has no challengers from the other parties in the general election.

In the council races, Marcus Goodwin, a political newcomer scared incumbent Anita Bonds for her Democratic at-large seat during the campaign trail but she managed to pull it through by compiling 52 percent of the vote while Jeremiah Lowery had 23.78 percent of the vote and Goodwin 23.42 percent.

Bonds will face Denise Hicks of the Libertarian Party and David Schwartzman of the D.C. Statehood Green Party along with D.C. Council member Elissa Silverman (I-At Large) and other independents for one of the two at-large seats in the general election. The District is 10 to 1 Democratic in registration so Bonds is expected to get one of those seats.

D.C. Council members Brianne Nadeau (D-Ward 1), Kenyan McDuffie (D-Ward 5) and Charles Allen (D-Ward 6) had no serious trouble defeating their opponents in the primary while D.C. Council member Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3) had no opposition in the primary and from the other parties. However, Allen will face Republican Michael Bekesha and McDuffie will have to contend with Joyce

The ACLU held its 2018 Membership Conference in the District of Columbia from June 10-12 at the Marriott Marquis hotel and the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and President Trump and the actions of his administration were on everyone’s mind.

“This is a chance for all of us, civil libertarians from red, blue and purple states alike, to find new strength and new allies,” Anthony D. Romero, the executive director of

Continued on B3

The Reverend Leslie Copeland Tune speaks at an interfaith rally at the DC headquarters of the US Border Patrol, led by women clergy.

By Hamil Harris Special to the AFRO Chanting “let the children go….let the children go,” female pastors from across the country stood in the shadow of the United States Border Patrol to call for President Trump to end the practice of separating children from the parents of those trying to enter the United States illegally.

In recent months the Trump administration has enacted a “zero tolerance” policy in which several thousand children and parents are being housed separately in tents, secured by wire and fencing that critics, members of Congress and even the living First Ladies say is inhumane.

On June 20, Trump reversed himself and said that children will no longer be separated from families caught crossing the border illegally. Instead, the children will be detained with their parents.

“I speak today as a disciple of Jesus Christ who taught us by His example to welcome children when they come to us, not detain them,” said the Right Reverend Marian Edgar Budde, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington in a statement. “He taught us how that

however we treat the least among us…. is how we treat Christ himself.”

“I think the images of those children and their frantic parents, it’s waking up people in the nation, that otherwise have not been thinking through the implications of our foreign policy,” Budde told the AFRO. Ministers across the spectrum of

was taken from his arms committed suicide and a toddler in a detention center was screaming because the only person who could console her was her mother, who wasn’t there.”

Even conservative icons like Rev. Franklyn Graham, son of the late Billy Graham has condemned the administration’s actions.

The Reverend Leslie Copeland Tune also spoke during the rally and made it clear that this is the beginning of a long battle and the movement is growing.

“Separating children from their families is more than inhumane. It is evil,” –Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde Tune said. “As people of faith we must do everything in our power to make sure faith took turns speaking, praying and this ends immediately.” singing and among the group were even Other African Americans church ministers from a number of Protestant leaders included the Reverend Dr. faiths who supported Trump but have Michele Hagans and the Reverend Paula been appalled by the administrations Clark both Canons from the Episcopal actions.

Diocese of Washington.

“We are morally outraged because a “We’re hoping that the President nursing child has been ripped from the hears the voices of the many people arms of his mother,” said Jennifer Butler standing here, and to ceases to separate CEO of Faith in Public Life, one of the children from their families,” Hagans organizers of the rally. “We are morally told the AFRO. outraged because a father whose child Continued on B2

“I speak today as a disciple of Jesus Christ who taught us by His example to welcome children when they come to us, not detain them.”

Courtesy Photo

D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, a former ACLU attorney, spoke about the need to counter the Trump administrations actions. the ACLU, said. “While the current administration will be remembered as one that attempted to unravel hardwon progress on every civil liberties issue, the 2016 election also ushered in a new era of activism in America.”

The ACLU was founded in 1920 and focuses on Americans’ civil liberties.

According to its website, the organization “works in the Continued on B2

Father’s Day Fun Day Temptations Musical Makes D.C. Debut Celebrates Fathers in Kenilworth Gardens

By Lenore T. Adkins Special to the AFRO

By Hamil R. Harris Special to the AFRO The swimming pool at the Kenilworth Recreation Center was filled with parents and children splashing and having a good time. This included Sheldon Robinson and his seven children. “It feels good to be a dad. Some

The event began with a 5K walk, sponsored by the D.C. Department of Recreation and the Metropolitan Police, and turned into a special day filled with swimming, Go-Go bands, and pans of grilled hotdogs. D.C. Dads Celebration drew hundreds to the Kenilworth Recreation Center for the live bands, free food, haircuts, employment resources and Father’s Day portraits.

The Kenilworth section of Northeast D.C. has had its share of violence but on Saturday a platoon of police officers focused on setting up tents instead of barricades and grilling hotdogs on a pictureperfect day.

Ward 7’s local coffee pop-up Penny Brew served coffee. Other participants included Cajou, a local vegan creamery, Fresh Direct online grocery delivery and Fit Fathers Foundation.

The Deputy Mayor for Greater Economic Opportunity and the

“Time is all that matters, it’s the time that you spend with them.”

– Sheldon Robinson fathers don’t even get to see their kids,” Robinson told the AFRO. “Time is all that matters, it’s the time that you spend with them.”

“It’s very important to spend time with children,” said the children’s mother, also part of the “Father’s Day Fun Day” in Ward 7 on June 16.

Continued on B2

It’s not just your imagination running away with you, so get ready.

“Ain’t Too Proud — The Life and Times of the Temptations” hits the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts this week before landing in New York City for its Broadway debut.

The musical’s five-week run in D.C. ends July 22. The Berkeley Repertory Theatre’s production chronicles The Temptations’ fabled journey from their humble Detroit origins in the 1960s through the Motown years where they achieved superstardom and finally to their induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.

The legendary group recorded 42 top-

ten hits and 14 number one singles — the musical includes the timeless hits “My Girl,” “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” and “Just My Imagination.”

The bandmates endured bitter rivalries within the group, and bore witness to racism and the resulting Civil Rights Movement.

Through it all, the band stayed relevant by changing its music with the times to include disco, funk, psychedelic soul and other influences.

This production was directed by twotime Tony Award winner Des McAnuff and choreographed by Olivier Award winner Sergio Trujillo.

For more information visit the Kennedy Center website, the Kennedy Center’s box office, or call (202) 467-4600 or (800) 4441324.

Courtesy photo

The cast of “Ain’t Too Proud — The Life and Times of the Temptations” at Berkeley Repertory Theatre.

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The Afro-American, June 23, 2018 - June 29, 2018

Black Business

Lip Bar Founder Makes Leap from Wall St. to Target

By Charise Wallace Special to the AFRO Straight from Detroit, Michigan, founder and CEO of The Lip Bar, Melissa Butler went from working on Wall Street to landing her own beauty line in Target, but she wouldn’t be where she’s is if it wasn’t for education and her mother’s tough love.

The Lip Bar, a lipstick line started in 2012 as a mobile food truck-like service that toured from state-to-state, including Washington D.C., to bring the product straight to the consumer. She later faced harsh criticism and rejection on ABC’s “Shark Tank” in 2015. Fast forward to today, and Target stocks the Black-owned, vegan and cruelty-free brand in more than 140 stores in the U.S. “It’s a never-ending journey,” Butler to the {AFRO}. “I’ve been able to learn a lot and adapt really quickly to everything that happens simply because of that skill set that I acquired as a kid.”

The beauty boss grew up in a not so “nice” neighborhood in Detroit with her single mom. “My mom is a big part of who I am,” said Butler. “My mom is tough, she’s just a beast. Sometimes

she’s extremely aggressive, sometimes she’s loving, sometimes she’s absolutely crazy.”

Before Butler’s beauty business skyrocketed, she graduated from Florida A&M University in 2008 with a degree in business finance and a desire to make money on Wall Street so she worked at Barclays, the international investment bank.

“It was a complete shift because you go from this environment as having this whole cast of friends that have become your family to essentially being in this environment that’s very stringent…not a lot of people look like you, so it was a tough adjustment,” said Butler.

Butler found herself stuck in corporate America, but she had other plans.

“That’s what inspired me to start my own business because I realized that I don’t belong here and I don’t know if I belong in any of these environments,” said Butler.

After Butler switched up her health regime by creating cost-efficient DIY beauty products in her kitchen from soaps to body butter, what stood out the most was the bold lipstick shades.

“It was more-so about my customers

and women overall to understand that you don’t have to have chemically-filled cosmetics for them to work and also we don’t have to settle for beauty imagery that looks like one thing we can have it all,” she said.

The Lip Bar’s name stems from the concept of simply walking into your nearby bar with “options.” That same philosophy is what created dozens of lip shades with funky names like “Bawse Lady,” “Cougar,” “MAN EATER,” “Purple Rain,” and “HAUTE MESS” to name a few.

Even D.C.’s own Taraji P. Henson wore nude shade “Baby Bellini“ paired with “Goddess” a shimmery gloss by the brand at Tyler Perry’s “Acrimony” premiere in March.

The cosmetics line is expanding to enlist more than just vibrant lip shades, but facial products while remaining healthy and affordable.

“That’s rare. If you have a company that has dope packaging, dope ingredients, dope imagery often times it’s at a heftier price tag. “We’re betting on the idea that we can serve our customer in every way…essentially giving our customer a reason to not go somewhere else.”

ACLU

Fun Day

Continued from B1

Continued from B1 Commission on Fathers, Men and Boys organized the celebration to bring together families and increase awareness about gun violence in the District. “What began as a fun run with families to celebrate fatherhood now includes a peace rally,” said DPR Director Keith A. Anderson in a statement.

“Mayor Bowser has provided additional resources in Wards 7 and 8; these men can play a crucial role in helping curb the violence in our city.”

Following the run, men pledged to make a difference.

“I was born and raised in the Kenilworth community-me and my 11 siblings- and I have been dealing with at risk youth for more than 30 years,” said Umar AdusSalaam, who along with other men, was honored by city officials for work in the Ward 7 community.

Adus-Salaam said through his neighborhood boxing programs he has mentored between 2,000-3,000 young people and he is not alone.

Johnny Fox, another veteran community leader recognized at the event, said, “It’s an honor and a pleasure to come back to the community that you grew up in. . . . We have been here for more than 30 years, it’s an honor to give back and reach back.”

Courtesy Photo

The Lip Bar CEO and Founder Melissa Butler.

courts, legislatures and communities to defend a wide variety of civil liberties topics. One and preserve the individual rights and liberties dealt with the restoration of voting rights for guaranteed to all people in this country by the felons and Julie Ebenstein, the senior staff Constitution and laws of the United States.” attorney for the Voting Rights Project, said Civil liberties can be defined as the freedom Blacks are the population most affected by this of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of disenfranchisement. religion, freedom of expression and the right “There are 6.1 million felons who cannot to equal treatment under the law. While most vote because of their conviction and the civil libertarians embrace civil rights, there overwhelmingly majority of those are Black,” have been times when the ACLU has defended Ebenstein said. “States still have the right to the free speech of White supremacists, as disenfranchise a citizen based on their criminal did Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, as an ACLU record. The primary purpose of these methods lawyer in 1968 before the U.S. Supreme Court is to stop African Americans from voting.” that she won.

There were “I continue to value workshops on the the indispensable work of Trump administration’s the ACLU, particularly as hostile attitude a member of Congress,” toward the media, its Norton said at the opening nonchalant stance on ceremony on June 10. the re-segregation of “Those fighting to defend public schools, and civil liberties and freedom – Joyce Vance proactive measures in the face of ongoing such as effective attacks continue to look to lobbying of lawmakers the leadership of the ACLU.” on the state and federal levels. However, in his Romero said since the Trump closing address, Romero made it clear what administration came to power, its membership must be done to reverse Trumpism. has jumped from 400,000 to 1.8 million.

“We need everyone to go to the polls in Trump’s influence on the rule of law was November and vote,” he said. “That is what discussed by a panel of lawyers on June 11 will make a difference.” and the consensus was that the president had a cavalier attitude toward complying with rules and regulations.

“No one is above the law,” Continued from B1 Joyce Vance, a visiting legal scholar at the University of Clark, Canon for Multicultural Ministries and Clergy Alabama, said. “That includes Development in the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, could the president of the United not help but consider the connection with the rally happening States.” Trump has floated on June 19, also known as Juneteenth, when Blacks in Texas the idea of pardoning himself were told two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was should he be charged with a signed, that slavery had officially ended. federal crime.

“The significance of Juneteenth did not escape me. We There were workshops on have a history. We know that this country separates families.

“No one is above the law. That includes the president of the United States.”

D.C. Police from the 6th District team up with Tony Dugger from the Mayors Commission on Fathers, Men and Boys to celebrate Father’s Day. Tony Dugger, director of the Commission of Fathers, Men and Boys, said, “We have some great families in the community and today is all about celebrating fathers,

getting them involved and talking about the things that we need and rallying everyone around our kids to make sure that they have a wonderful future.”

Clergy

We know that this is the way we do it and it’s intolerable, it’s absolutely intolerable in 2018,” Clark, who is also the mother of D.C. editor Micha Green, told theAFRO. “I had to be here and I’m going to be wherever we need to be to hold this government accountable,” Clark said.

June 23, 2018 - June 29, 2018, The Afro-American

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BLK+GRN is Creating a Platform for Black Wellness Wellness. Shoppers on the site can browse amongst any of the categories or if they would rather, shop by brand to make sure they are supporting their favorite artisan.

In addition to actually being able to shop many of these hard to find items BLK+GRN also provides a detailed description of each brand, its founders and links to the brands’ website. While the platform

By Hamzat Sani Special to the AFRO Dr. Kristian Henderson is shameless about her purpose. “We wanted to connect people with products that were better for them and products that weren’t linked with hormonal issues, cancers, fibroids,” Henderson told the AFRO. She officially launched her ecoconscious business BLK+GRN in February of this year and has already amassed a following large enough to prove her theory; Black artisans and Black consumers are clamoring to connect, it’s just been hard for them to find each other.

At face value BLK+GRN’s mission seems pretty simple: “To Connect People With Highquality, Toxic-free Products That Cultivate Wellness And Support Forward-thinking Black Artisans.”

However practically executing on that mission is a bit more challenging than one might think.

Take first BLK+GRN’s focus on supporting exclusively Black vendors and artisans. Less than 5 percent of businesses in the U.S. are Black owned. Add in that the company only sells 100 percent natural products featuring items that are ethically sourced, toxic and cruelty free in its stocklist, a feat many eco-friendly companies can’t boast. Then top it all off with a laser focus on empowering and lifting Black female artisans and entrepreneurs and you might find yourself wondering if the company is too niche to sustain.

According to Henderson the opposite is true, “What we know is that products that are marketed directly to women of color, 75 percent of them are considered toxic, and we also know that women of color are three times as likely to buy personal care products than

also pushing for healthier, more innovative and sustainable products to come to market.

BLK+GRN also hosts BLK Oasis, which had its first stop in Atlanta. The touring event is a showcase of the brands, offerings and experience. “It is bringing together a tribe of women who are really invested in self care, self love and invested in supporting

At face value BLK+GRN’s mission seems pretty simple: “To Connect People With High-quality, Toxic-free Products That Cultivate Wellness And Support Forward-thinking Black Artisans.”

Courtesy Photo

Dr. Kristian Henderson, Founder and CEO of BLK+GRN. any other demographic, so we are consuming these products a lot more than other demographics.” With wellness becoming a journey more Black women are embarking on the demand for products, goods and services that address their holistic needs is skyrocketing.

“I remember at the time I wasn’t doing any marketing and I had the website up and I started putting products on there before I even had inventory just to see what it would like and mock up the customer experience, you know building, and people started ordering and I was like whoa… But it was confirmation that we needed this because even without me pushing it people had already found it and already placed

an order.”

For Henderson the foundation of BLK+GRN was a spreadsheet created as she went through her personal struggles to buy exclusively Black products to further her holistic wellness. The spreadsheet/ directory helped her to keep track of the people, products and bands that she could bank on to help her stay intentional about “Buying Black” while also staying green and well.

The platform is a one stop shop for a growing list of holistic essentials to keep you both exclusively Black and green. Shopping is categorized efficiently with focuses on Skin, Hair, Home, Jewelry, Nourish, Stationery and

Election Continued from B1 Robinson-Paul of the D.C. Statehood Green Party in the general election.

D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine (D) had no opponents in the primary and no one has announced against him in the general election as of yet.

The controversial Initiative 77 passed, 55 percent to 44 percent. That means that workers whose wages depend on tips will have to be paid the minimum wage, which will be $15 an hour by 2025, and their tips too.

obviously promotes the brands it sells, they also have a listing of Black owned products not on their site but loved by them nevertheless.

For those that live in Atlanta, New York and BLK+GRN’s current homebase of D.C., the site also has a categorized listing of Black owned businesses to patronize like Bikram Ivy City or Industrial Bank. This all jives with the company’s focus on being Black inclusive, while

each other.” Guests were treated to nail care, hair care consultations, massages, as well as healthy food and drinks while shopping some premium black brands at The Gathering Spot in Atlanta. BLK Oasis will be journeying to New Orleans, New York, Chicago and landing in D.C. on August 19th. For more information on the BLK+GRN movement checkout www.blkgrn. com.

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The Afro-American, June 23, 2018 - June 29, 2018

Woodbridge High School Seniors

Manassas Park High School Seniors

The National Pan-Hellenic Council of Northern Virginia held their 29th Annual Black Scholars Awards Program on May 20 at Gar-Field Senior High School, Woodbridge, Virginia. Graduating seniors from 22 high schools from across Northern Virginia were recognized for their hard work and academic achievements. Zoree Jones, a sophomore at Patriot High School, was the guest speaker.

Forest Park High School Seniors

David Mazyck, Carmen Mazyck, Sheon Robinson, Tiffany Robinson, Mary Corn and Richard Wood

Members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (The Divine Nine) of Northern, VA. Black Scholars proudly displaying their certificate

Macala Simmons receiving the M-Willette Lee Scholarship Award

Program participants

Lauren S. Prince receiving the M-Lette Lee Scholarship Award

Jamila Clayton, student, Battlefield High School receiving award from Laureen Henderson, President, NoVAC NPHC

Singer Regina Jones-Austin accompanied by Eric Green, of Mount Vernon Baptist Church

Photos by Rob Roberts

Steve Taylor, Jason Harris, Darren Gibson, Dexter Greene Faye Hyslop

Award recipients pose together

Actor Harry Lennix

Journalist Roland Martin

Maryland State Senate Candidate Everett Browning

Mentor of the Year, Dr. Doran Gresham

100 Black Men of Prince George’s County, Maryland held their 7th Annual Community Brunch on May 19 at The Hotel at the University of Maryland, College Park. Under the theme, EMPOWERING Voices of Our Youth, the brunch brought together members of the community to unite behind a common goal: improving the community “we live in.” Over 400 guests were able to see awards being given to community leaders like Rev. Dr. Grainger Browning, Senior Pastor of Ebenezer AME Church and hear the 100 Black Men Mentees emcee the program, make presentations and showcase their talents, like golfing. One young mentee, Cameron Rodgers, presented a brief on Astrophysics.

Mentee Zion Golden was named the “Mentee of the Year.” After the formal program, journalist Roland Martin hosted a VIP reception.

Jennifer Dickens and Johnathan Medlock Senatorial Candidate Everett Browning, Actor Harry Lennix, AFRO Washington, D.C. General Manager Edgar Brookins, Gubernatorial Candidate Ben Jealous and Dr. James Dula

Wayne K. Curry Leadership Award Recipient Rev. Dr. Grainger Browning Jr.

Prince Georges County Councilmember Karen Toles, who received the Community Service Award

Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Candidate Aisha Braveboy

Mario James with his baby

Some of the young participants A check presented to the 100 Black Men of Prince George’s County

Photos by Everett Wright

June 23, 2018 - June 29, 2018, The Afro-American

C1

ARTS & CULTURE

The New ‘Superfly’ Isn’t Great, But It’s Worth Seeing being the visual consultant for the cult hood classic Belly, X was more than qualified to direct the movie.

So, while everyone was probably watching The visuals are dope, some scenes “The Incredibles” over the weekend, I paid money are likable, and the all-out cheesiness of to see the new “Superfly,” a film with such a small it all is very relatable to Blaxploitation marketing budget that it seemingly came out of films of the 1970s, even including Curtis nowhere.

Mayfield’s “I’m Your Pusher” and the Featuring the promising Trevor Jackson from “Superfly” theme song from the original. the popular spinoff show “Grownish,” no one The problem is, ironically the same as was asking for this remake. While rapper Future “Belly,” that everything comes together executive produced the soundtrack album, this move well except the acting performances. didn’t bring much attention to film.

Although “Superfly” may be a summer What get is a film that brings together over three flop (it was the sixth most seen movie the generations of Black culture with its original story, weekend it opened and brought in $6.8 modern style and a style similar to the straight-tomillion, according to BoxOfficeMojo) this DVD Black films from back in the day. is still a film to see. This movie will be one The new “Superfly” is a southern reimagining of day be on someone’s shelf next to films the 1972 film of the same name. Set in Atlanta, the like “Desperado” or “I’m Gonna Get You film features Jackson playing Youngblood Priest, Sucka.” It’s not a film that tries to be more a cocaine dealer who’s trying to score one big deal than what it is, however, the cultural value and get out of the game. Without spoiling anything, will probably build the more we come the movie attempts to stick to the original material (Quantrell D. Colbert/Sony Pictures via AP across it outside of the box office. through its story, but with a modern approach.

Lex Scott Davis, left, and Trevor Jackson star in ‘Superfly.’)

The new “Superfly” brings together There’s much more action this time around, but multiple generations of Black culture the film manages to keep the over-the-top vibes that through its story, characters and overall production. Sure, you may be working with better Black the original had yet in a new city and an entirely different culture. For example, there’s no way talent, but the movie attempts to still be as cool as the original while adding the flavor of our that Priest is using cryptocurrency in the 1972 film because it didn’t exist then. modern culture through massive party scenes and costumes that are believable for a present-day “Superfly” may not be the best remake, but at least it’s better than what could have been.

Blaxploitation.

Director X, as he is known, said on the late night show “Desus & Mero” that Universal, the We might not have wanted it as much as we did “Black Panther,” but “Superfly” is still a company which put up the money, wanted to not include any of the material that made the 1972 movie worth watching. version so special to the Black community. With a long list of videos on his resume as well as

By Vance Brinkley Special to the AFRO

Groundbreaking Artists Return to Baltimore Museum of Art

Dox Thrash. Griffin Hills, c. 1940. The Baltimore Museum of Art, BMA 1942.35

By J. K. Schmid Special to the AFRO “1939: Exhibiting Black Art at the BMA,” is a recreation of a historic debut of Black artists from a February exhibition in 1939.

“Contemporary Negro Art,” the original exhibit, was the first of its kind at the BMA and one the first on the national arts scene.

The BMA, under new leadership in 1937, commissioned a survey of its surrounding community. Henry E. Treide, the president of the BMA board of trustees, then established a committee made up of business, labor, civic and other groups to implement the new mission.

One such group, advocating for Baltimore’s Black community, included greats such as civil rights activists, lawyer and Maryland’s “101st Senator,” Clarence Mitchell, Jr., Sarah .A Collins Fernandis, president of the Baltimore Women’s Cooperative Civic League, and the AFRO’s then publisher, Carl J. Murphy.

It was Fernandis who headed the “committee representing the colored community” according to BMA archives and it was she who wanted Black artists and their experience to be the focus of the new exhibit.

“Contemporary Negro Art” was on display during what was then called Negro History Week (the precursor to Black History Month), the week of Frederick Douglass’ and Abraham Lincoln’s birthdays.

The two year delay from the 1937 resolution was due to the time necessary for the 29 artists and 116 pieces to be collected.

“Richness for Color and Feeling For Form Characterize Show With Varied Subject Matter,” is how the Baltimore Sun described the exhibit.

Black newspapers were more enthused.

“While we shall be happy and pleased that a large number of Whites will have an opportunity to see what the group is doing in this field, the most important effect, we hope, will be the stimulation the exhibit will give our young men and women who have artistic ability,” the AFRO wrote in 1939.

“To this end, every public and private school teacher, every social worker, every minister and professional man and woman should lead some young man or woman to this exhibit.”

The BMA appears committed to this mission. Jack Whitten, born in 1939, remains on display in his own exhibit at the BMA. “I think one of the things that’s most clear for the 1939

SPORTS

show was that the subject matter and the media was vastly different,” Morgan Dowty, curator of the new exhibit, told the AFRO. “There was no common thread, other than the race of the artists; I think that was something Alain Locke was excited to display: the range of where Black artists were fitting into American art as American artists were finding their voice in the global art world.”

Alain Locke, the first Black Rhodes Scholar, philosopher, “Dean” of the Harlem Renaissance, and Howard University was another member of the city committee.

“We’re going to let our children know that the only philosophers that lived were not Plato and Aristotle, but W.E.B. Du Bois and Alain Locke came through the universe,” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said of Locke in 1968.

On display now at the BMA is a collection of works by the same artists that debuted in ‘39. Prints, paintings and archival resources are on hand to provide historical context.

Noteworthy examples include Dox Thrash’s Opheliagraph technique. Invented by Thrash, named for his mother, and more commonly referred to as carborundum mezzotints, his stark, smoky print “Glory Be!” is on display alongside the bold and bright watercolor “Griffin Hills.”

Not every work or artist could be recovered for the show.

Many of the ‘39 works have found their way into the permanent collections of historically Black colleges, the Smithsonian, or were lost to the ravages of time.

One such work, Ronald Moody’s 1937 Elm sculpture “Midonz” disappeared for decades before finally being found and purchased by the Tate Museum in 2010.

“1939: Exhibiting Black Art at the BMA” will run until October 28.

Wizards Willing to Move Back in Draft, Botch another Season set to expire next year and the following season is the dumbest thing Grunfeld and the Wizards have done since, well, last season.

On the heels of the Washington Capitals bringing home Whether it was signing Mahinmi to a four-year, the Stanley Cup Trophy to the streets of Washington D.C., $60-million-plus deal in 2016, overpaying for Otto Porter last the Washington Wizards are on the clock. The 2018 NBA summer or handing Jodie Meeks a near two-year, $7 million Draftclock starts in a few days and at pick 15, the Wizards deal with a player’s option for the second season, you just should be looking for somebody, anybody, to come in and give can’t get any more incompetent than the brass atop the Wizards them a big boost for next season if Washington wants to move franchise. Mahinmi can’t even get burn off the Wizards bench the needle on their championship expectations. However, as consistently and Meeks could easily be replaced with a D.C. reported by The Sports Capitol, the Wizards have other ideas councilman and you would never know the difference in bench in mind on improving the team. So they think. production.

According to reports, the Wizards have openly announced Maybe there’s a plan to acquire DeMarcus Cousins so the that they’re willing to move down in the draft and come off team needs the extra cap space but even that sounds silly for their 15th pick if teams are willing to take on a few of the a center who was already limited athletically coming off an (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) bloated and expiring contracts on Washington’s roster. With Achilles tear, a death sentence for most athletes regardless of Washington Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld (left) is John Wall, Bradley Beal and Otto Porter locked up with big sports. reportedly willing to move down in the draft and give deals as the core of the team, it’s a fire sale throughout the Forget the rumors: LeBron James and Kevin Durant aren’t up the draft pick in exchange for relief from bloated and rest of the roster with Marcin Gortat, Markieff Morris and Ian dealing with the antics of this front office and regardless of expiring player contracts.

Manhinmi as the leading candidates to get moved. If general what maneuver is made, Washington isn’t winning the title next manager Ernie Grunfeld pulls this off, it’ll be another face palm for a Wizards franchise that’s season. So why mortgage the team’s future? Simple: because that’s what Grunfeld does. And been bumbling and fumbling the ball since the late 70s. if Grunfeld has his way again then it’ll be another season of using the draft to hide his contract Shedding salary would be ideal if Washington was turning itself into the new landing spot for mistakes because after all, Mahinmi, Gortat and anybody else Grunfeld wants to move didn’t pay any potential “super team” but moving back in the draft just to get rid of some contracts that are themselves. Grunfeld did and now he’s finally realized how idiotic that was in the first place.

By Stephen D. Riley Special to AFRO

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Black Music Month

3 Rising Rappers Reppin’ the DMV

By Jannah G. Johnson Special to the AFRO 2018 has been a year of women taking control of their narratives, of their sexualities and of the rap game. With female heavy hitters like Cardi B, Nicki Minaj and Remy Ma, this has been the year of female rappers dominating the charts and DMV women aren’t about to be left out of the conversation.

Hhitmaker Rico Nasty, reality star Talone, and raunchy MC Sneaky Tee have all made their marks as women in the DMV who demand to be both seen and heard with bouncy beats and aggressive lyrics.

Rico Nasty The 21-year-old MC was born in New York but raised in Prince George’s County, Maryland and attended boarding school in Baltimore. Born as Maria Kelly, Rico Nasty is most well-known for popularizing her rap style, known as “sugar trap,� and the name of her third mixtape. The upbeat, bubbly, high pitched, almost girly tone of her voice sharply contrasts with her hard, rough and tumble lyrics and techno bouncy beats.

Rico has been rapping since she was 15 years old and although at 21 she still is very young she is nothing if not skilled and prolific. Kelly has dropped six projects; five mixtapes and her debut album “Nasty.� Within the 14 track album Kelly showcases strong, aggressive lyrics showing that

although her style is “sugar trap� she is anything but sweet.

The album features collaborations from up and coming rappers Lil Gnar and BlocBoy JB and Kelly will be performing in Maryland at the Baltimore Soundstage on July 29 and August 1 at the Fillmore Silver Spring as part of her upcoming “Nasty Tour.�

Talone Born and raised in Washington D.C., this 25 year old rapper is known mainly for her outspoken personality that was first showcased on “Bad Girls Club,â€? a reality TV show about young women living in a house together and all the challenges that come with it. Born Brynesha Seegers, Talone is most well known for her song “For Grantedâ€? a sing-songy bop where she spits about her bad luck with love and the tendency of men to take women for granted. When asked by One Air radio what about her D.C. upbringing influenced her rap style the most she immediately responded, “the hate.â€? “In our city, when it comes to the music, instead of everybody trying to come together and build it’s everyone trying to diss each other. That’s why other people aren’t really looked at‌it isn’t like Atlanta where they get everyone together and show love. In D.C. it’s like, ‘I’ll step on your toes to get where I’m going.’ I’m not really with that.â€? With a strong following of a combined total of 386 thousand fans across her social media platforms Talone clearly used her reality television debut as a jump off for her music career and doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon.

Sneaky T This 23 year old MC, born Taylor Johnson-Henderson, is best known for her raunchy lyrics and proximity to the late, beloved Baltimore rapper Lor Scoota. Many young women find Henderson’s lyrics both intriguing and enthralling as she uses her sexuality as tool to empower herself. She frequently raps about harnessing her feminine wiles to “use� men and “take their coin.� With 50 thousand followers on Instagram and many more within the streets of Baltimore, Tee has become an icon for young women in the city who can often be heard quoting her breakout hit, a cover of rapper Desiigners hit song “Panda� in which Henderson is heard yelling “Snatchies b*tch, gimmie him.�

With a penchant for freestyling over songs with catchy beats and a bouncy rap voice that perfectly accompanies her cocky persona, Sneaky T does not plan on pausing to catch her breath as she releases hit after hit, such as her “Yip remix.�

Her upcoming mixtape “Snatch N Beats� will cover hits like the popular “Boo’d Up� by Ella Mai and “Barbie Tings� by Nicki Minaj. Young Moose, another prominent Baltimore rapper, will be featured on a cover of Rich The Kid’s hit “New Freezer,� a collaboration that many fans have been anxiously waiting for since Moose’s release from jail back in 2016.

Powerful women from the DMV are popping up and demanding to be heard. The tide in rap is shifting and women are ready to take on the rap industry and are rapidly staking their claim in the male dominated genre.

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Race and Politics

Will Baker or Jealous Be Able to Defeat Hogan?

With less than a week before the Democratic primary on June 26, there are still eight candidates Sean Yoes left who are Baltimore AFRO vying for the Editor nomination syoes@afro.com and the opportunity to take on Republican Gov. Larry Hogan in November.

However, it seems clear two candidates, Ben Jealous, the former president and CEO of the NAACP and Rushern Baker, Prince George’s County Executive have emerged as frontrunners.

In a recent Baltimore Sun/University of Baltimore poll, both Baker and Jealous registered 16 percent, with the rest of the field lagging behind significantly with single-digit support. WBAL-TV reports that in the June 2018 Gonzales Maryland poll, Baker edged Jealous slightly, 25 percent to 23 percent, however, those two percentage points are within the polls margin of error of (plus or minus) 3.5 percent.

Both the Sun and Gonzales polls indicate that Baker enjoys stronger support in the D.C. suburbs, while Jealous clearly leads Baker in the Baltimore area.

Yet, no poll can capture the fevered political machinations taking place behind the scenes to push these two men to the Democratic nomination.

Two overarching political narratives seem to be apparent; Baker is the preference of Maryland’s Democratic machine, while Jealous has been the choice of national Democratic stars, many of the state’s unions and progressive political organizations.

In recent days, Jealous has been making the rounds with high-profile politicians like Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders (I) and Sen. Kamala Harris of California (who have both endorsed him). Jealous has also been endorsed by New Jersey Sen. Corey Booker and Eric Garcetti, the mayor of Los Angeles. All four of those Democratic Party stars are considered likely challengers for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020.

The groups endorsing Jealous include: the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) International, United Food and Commercial Workers, 27, 400 and 1994 , the Service Employees International Union, National Nurses United and the Maryland State Education Association, among dozens of groups backing the former NAACP president.

Baker has received the support of virtually every powerful Democratic politician in the state including: former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer, Maryland

Continued on B2

String of Baltimore Women Murdered

By Stephen Janis Special to the AFRO The consequences of Baltimore’s ongoing struggle with violence usually falls squarely on the shoulders of men, and in most cases men that are young and AfricanAmerican.

But, the latest rash of killings include a string of female victims, an ominous sign that the city’s penchant for murder is indiscriminate as it is vast, say activists.

“While it is less common that women are murdered, women and men experience violent crime at the same rate,” Jacqueline Robarge, Executive Director of Power Inside, an organization that helps homeless and addicted women find housing an employment, told the AFRO. Since the beginning of last week four women have been murdered in a series of crimes that include shootings, beatings, strangulation. The murders are an indication to people who know that city that the malaise which Photo Facebook has engulfed Baltimore for Jasmine Morris, 20, was one of three women killed in Baltimore in a 24 hour period decades remains a potent (June 11-June 12); there were four women killed in the city from June 11 to June 16. force that adheres to an inscrutable logic which seems that erupts with fearsome regularity across the city to have fewer boundaries.

Last week, two other women were murdered along with One of the victims was 20-year old Jasmine Morris. Her Morris in less that 24-hours. And like the series of recent body was found June 11 in the bleachers of Reginald Lewis shootings, the killings were the result of gunfire.

High School lying face down in a pool of blood with her Police say Allison Henn, 29, was shot around 10 p.m., hands tied behind her back.

June 11 in the 4800 block of Pimlico Rd. So far, police do Police say she showed signs of blunt force trauma. Last not have motives or a suspect in the case. week homicide detectives arrested a former acquaintance, That same day the body of Kataya Nelson, 29, was found Christopher Rather, 22. He has been charged with first- and roughly an hour after Henn, in the 1100 block of Fremont second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault and Ave., also a victim of a shooting. reckless endangerment.

On June 16, Jeremiah Harper, 21, was gunned down in Just prior to her murder, WBAL-TV reported, Morris the 3900 block of Edmondson Ave., along with a yet to be texted friends that she was planning to meet Rather at the identified 37-year old male.

Police don’t have a motive or school, a face to face encounter she hoped would end his suspects, but the double homicide was one of 7 separate infatuation with her. shootings that occurred over the weekend.

But while Morris’ death is a case of alleged acquaintance In fact, that same evening police reported a 44-year-old violence, the other killings indicate that, similar to the woman was shot in the 1000 block of Stoddard Court. Police mayhem that has engulfed men, the recent spate of female victims are often caught in the constant barrage of gunfire Continued on B2

Baltimore Area Church News

Where to Get Mental Health Help at Maryland Churches

By Joi Thomas Special to the AFRO May was Mental Health Month and during the entire month awareness of mental health issues was the focus of conversations and forums in various settings. However, the focus on mental health continued earlier this month after two suicide deaths by prominent figures in the media and culture; Anthony Bourdain, the famous food expert, chef and host of the award winning “Parts Unknown” on CNN, and Kate Spade, the internationally acclaimed designer of handbags, clothing and jewelry.

Many people battle with mental illness in isolation; as Christians, we have a spiritual source to go to, when we need guidance and comfort. However, there are also other resources available to help get us through tough and trying times. A few churches in our area operate licensed therapy centers that work to reinforce faith in God and good mental health. The following information is taken directly from several area church resources: The Reid Temple Restoration Center (Reid Temple A.M.E. Church), provides services to promote the educational, mental, physical, and spiritual well-being of it congregants, residents in the Glenn Dale community, surrounding underserved communities and the continent of Africa. Services offered include one-on-one Christian care, psychoeducational groups, youth empowerment circle series and support groups. Reid Temple Restoration center is located in Glenn Dale, Maryland. For more information, (301) 352-1768 or reidrestoration.com.

The Renaissance Center of Morning Star Baptist Church in Woodlawn is committed to promoting healthy relationships through excellent and accessible services to the Baltimore and surrounding areas. These services are provided without regard to creed, color or socio-economic status or religious affiliation by competent, well-trained clinicians who strive to faithfully integrate Christian/ biblical truths with principles of psychological health.

Continued on B2

Opinion

An Open Letter From Former Students of Baltimore City College High School

By Louis Williams, Nevan Edwards, Marie Mokuba and Deontrey Yeargin Special to the AFRO J.D. Merrill, is a former Baltimore City Public School teacher who has been upheld as the candidate for state Senate our city needs to revitalize the Baltimore City Public Schools system.

His campaign has been saturated with narratives of supportive Black Students whom he taught during his three years (from 2013 to 2016) at Baltimore City College High School. When this narrative is inspected more closely, it becomes clear that J.D.’s vision of education reform will not benefit Black students in Baltimore City.

It would be irresponsible as former students of City College to allow the false narratives of J.D’s altruism to persist. In light of this, we write you this open letter as Baltimore City College Alumni who have witnessed J.D. Merrill’s actions.

First and foremost, we should acknowledge the antagonistic relationship he has had with a Black student-led organization at Baltimore City College by the name of City Bloc.

City Bloc is self-defined as a “political grassroots collective of students against social injustice in Baltimore.”

Continued on B2

UM Football Player McNair Remembered as ‘320 pound Teddy Bear’

By AFRO Staff Jordan Martin McNair, a promising collegiate football at the University of Maryland, collapsed suddenly during football practice on May 29 and died on June 13. He was 19.

McNair, the son of Tonya Renee Wilson and Martin Alfred McNair, was born on March 3, 1999 in Baltimore, Maryland.

McNair attended the New Psalmist Christian School in Baltimore City and Deer Park Middle Magnet School in Baltimore County. Before heading to high school, Jordan was a multi-sport athlete playing both football and basketball. He was a member of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and the Hamilton Tigers Football Program. He helped the Hamilton Tigers to a 2nd place finish in the National Youth Football Championship in 2012.

In June 2017, he graduated from the McDonogh School, a private college-preparatory school located in Owings Mills, Md. At McDonogh, McNair found his niche as an offensive lineman. In 2016, he helped lead the McDonogh Eagles to an 8-3 record and

Continued on B2

Facebook

Jordan McNair, 19, a promising football player for the University Maryland, collapsed on May 29 after practice and died June 13. He was buried June 20.

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Past Seven Days

130 2018 Total

Data as of June 6

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The Afro-American, June 23, 2018 - June 29, 2018

Race and Politics Continued from D1

Atty. Gen. Brian Frosh, Montgomery County Exec.

Ike Leggett, former Maryland Gov. Parris Glendening, Senate President Pro Tem, Nathaniel McFadden, and Valerie Ervin, the former gubernatorial candidate who exited the race last week and placed her support behind Baker.

The question is, which of these strategies will prevail?

Will it be Baker or Jealous who is propelled to the Democratic nomination to face Gov. Larry Hogan?

A subtext of the battle for the Democratic nomination is Jealous’ support being energized by the power of the unions in the state and

their prowess to organize and mobilize their people, versus the far reaching tentacles of the state’s Democratic machine in service of Baker, which is also formidable at mobilizing Democratic voters.

Ultimately, it will most likely be Baker or Jealous who will face Hogan, who enjoys a stunning 75 percent of Maryland voters approving of the job he is doing, while his personal popularity stands at 64 percent. Hogan’s strategy of distancing himself from the poisonous Donald Trump seems to be resonating in Maryland. And if it wasn’t clear enough that Hogan wants nothing to do with Trump’s enormous political baggage,

Courtesy photos

Ben Jealous, former president and CEO of the NAACP and Rushern Baker, Prince George’s County Executive, have emerged as the frontrunners in the election for the Democratic nomination for Maryland Governor on June 26.

the governor announced this week that he will join several other governors, who will pull National Guard support from the U.S. southern border, in wake of Trump’s draconian immigration policy separating children from parents seeking asylum.

On June 19, Hogan recalled a National Guard helicopter and four crew members from service in New Mexico.

“Until this policy of separating children from their families has been rescinded, Maryland will not deploy any

National Guard resources to the border,” Hogan said via Twitter.

But, more daunting to the ultimate winner of the Democratic nomination beyond Hogan’s popularity in the state among Republicans and Democrats is his vast financial war chest, which he has not had to spend a dime on fighting Republican challengers. He is running unopposed and should be well rested for the sprint to November.

Sean Yoes is the Baltimore Editor of the AFRO.

Women Murdered

Continued from D1 say she survived.

The recent rash of female victims doesn’t necessarily point to a trend. The Baltimore Sun reported that women on average comprise ten percent of the city’s homicide victims. This year they represent

16 percent of people killed.

But, Robarge says that homicides are a small part of the story of how women are affected by violence in the city.

“When we focus on the murder rate, as if it is the only measure, we obscure

the danger that women and girls live with everyday,” Robarge said.

“One in six women have been sexually assaulted -- Where is the uproar in Baltimore?”

Merrill

Continued from D1

Below is a story from Anise Tates, one of the previous leaders of the organization, about an incident from 2015 that speaks to J.D.’s seemingly insincere relationship to Black political activism: “Our parent organization used to be BMore Bloc…

BMore Bloc spoke ALOT about holding Martin O’Malley [Merrill’s fatherin-law] accountable for mass incarceration. His stats were absolutely ridiculous. He would have an enormous amount of arrests in the city which meant that Black people were being arrested more than once. When O’Malley was scheduled to rally, BMore Bloc told us that we were gonna disrupt the rally and City Bloc was down.

That’s when Merrill really started getting on us because by that time he was engaged to O’Malley’s daughter. `How would it look for him if an organization from the school he worked at disrupted his father-inlaw’s rally?’ All the while he was trying to get into office. He was for our cause until it inconvenienced him and for that reason I never believed he was truly with or understood what City Bloc

BEFORE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION OF MARYLAND IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF THE BALTIMORE GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY FOR ADJUSTMENTS TO ITS GAS BASE RATES CASE NO. 9484 NOTICE OF PRE-HEARING CONFERENCE A Pre-Hearing Conference in the above-titled matter is scheduled for Tuesday, July 10, 2018, beginning at 10:00 a.m., at: Maryland Public Service Commission 16 th Floor Hearing Room William Donald Schaefer Tower 6 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, Maryland The purpose of the hearing is to set a procedural schedule for this proceeding, consider any petitions to intervene that have been filed, and consider any other preliminary matters requested by the parties.

Any persons seeking to intervene in this proceeding should file an original and seventeen (17) paper copies, plus one electronic copy,1 of a petition to intervene with Terry J. Romine, Executive Secretary, Maryland Public Service Commission, William Donald Schaefer Tower, 6 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202 by 5:00 p.m., EST, Friday, July 6, 2018.

The Commission encourages parties to use the Commission’s “e-file” system for filing the electronic copy. Details of the “e-file” system are available on the Commission’s web page, www.psc.state.md.us.

Additionally, five of the paper copies of the petition shall be three-hole punched.

1

stood for.”

J.D’s relationship with student activism at City College is a relationship that only allows for the expression of Black voices so long as they operate in context to his larger political aims.

It is worth noting that he has played an integral role in increasing the recruitment of White private school students at City College. In September of 2016, members of City Bloc, which includes a former student named Henry Bethell, discovered that some freshmen coming from private middle schools were exempt from the admission requirements that all other students were held to, such as composite scores and standardized testing marks.

The exempted students claimed that J.D. was the primary contact that kept consistent communication with their families during their abbreviated admission process.

Upon this discovery City Bloc decided to request documents from J.D., under the Maryland Public Information Act, that would verify his involvement in the overt gentrification of the predominantly Black student body. After being given the run around for some time, students had to meet with Principal Harcum in order to receive the data that revealed an abnormal spike in the percentage of White students in the freshman classes of 2014 and 2015. Both were years in which J.D. was involved with the school’s admission efforts.

His version of school improvement has, inadvertently, multiplied the hurdles Black students have to jump over in order to access the rigorous academic courses that they already have limited access to. J.D. has been championed as the candidate that will bring much needed improvement

to the deplorable conditions of Baltimore City Schools.

Even if his lack of experience in the political arena wasn’t a major issue, we should still be skeptical of his priorities when making decisions on behalf of students.

Furthermore, it calls into question for whom J.D. plans to be accountable to in his tenure in office because his actions have clearly illustrated that he doesn’t have the best interests of Black Folks in mind.

The opinions expressed in this letter are those of: Louis Williams, Nevan Edwards, Marie Mokuba, and Deontrey Yeargin, who all graduated from Baltimore City College High School in 2017. Williams is currently a student at North Carolina, A&T State University, Edwards is a student at Wake Forest University, Mokuba attends Goucher College and Yeargin attends the University of Louisville.

McNair

Continued from D1 received the Most Valuable Lineman Award.

He was selected as one of the top high school football players in the Baltimore Metropolitan area by the Baltimore Touchdown Club, Maryland’s Premier High School Football Coaches Association. Because of his outstanding performance, he received offers from many of the top football programs throughout the nation to include: Auburn, Georgia, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio State, Penn State, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, and Wisconsin.

In order to maintain his hometown connection and play before family and friends, he accepted the offer from the University of Maryland College Park and proudly wore #79 as an offensive lineman. McNair said, “I am staying close to home because I just love my family.” In 2017, McNair appeared in one game, making his collegiate debut against Towson University as a redshirt freshman. He was a sophomore with a major in kinesiology.

It was his hope to become a physical therapist after completing a successful football career.

“Jordy,” as he was affectionately called, was a 6’4”, 320-pound teddy bear; he was

a young man of few words but his simple presence filled his family and friends with great joy. In addition to his talents as an athlete, he was a diligent and hardworking scholar, especially in mathematics and reading. He also loved good food, especially his mom’s sweet potato casserole and banana pudding. There are so many “Jordy stories” that the family will continue to share. Jordan leaves to cherish the memory of a life welllived, his parents Tonya Wilson and Martin “Marty” McNair; one brother, Oshea Smith; his paternal grandparents, Susie McNair and Alfred D. McNair; his maternal grandparents, Lenora Wilson and James Davis, Jr. and Richard Wilson (Jeannette); two uncles, Lionel Hall (Stacia) and Jermaine (Lauren); a devoted aunt, Shansharett Bannerman; “big” cousins, DJ and Deairra Evans; godmother, Karen Marshall; close friend and BFF, Danae Hebron; and a host of family members, teammates and cousins for whom he was a hero.

Memorial Donations may be made to the Jordan McNair Foundation, 5210 Downing Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21202.

Mental Health Continued from D1

Services offered include individual, marital and family therapy in multiple areas. For more information BGE (410) 265-7291 or Advertiser: therenaissancecenter.org Publication: Afro-American Safe Harbor Christian Counseling exists to provide Christian-based, clinically Insertion Date: 6/23/18 & 6 / 30/18 sound counseling to individuals, couples andAdfamilies so that people Size: 5.42” x 7”experience life change emotionally, mentally, relationally Pre-Hearing andTitle: spiritually. Safe Harbor Notice has locations all over Marylandcase and 9484 in other states such as IfVirginia, Carolina, Georgia, you have North received this publication material Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut, in error, or have any questions about it please contact the and trafficalso dept.

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Services provided include child/adolescent counseling, adult counseling, couples

counseling, couples intensives, marriage checkup and coaching services. For more information, 1-800-305-2089 or safeharbor1. com.

If you find yourself needing help, reach out to one of these facilities and get the resources you need to keep going. Maybe you know someone who would benefit from this. Point them in the right direction. It’s always good to talk to someone who has the tools to help you see the hope in your situation. Don’t give up. I Peter 5:7 (NIV) states, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” Once you have prayed about it, go and get the help you need to be successful in overcoming your situation.

June 23, 2018 - June 29, 2018, The Afro-American

Summer Concerts and Festivals

Hello everyone and thank God! The rain is finally giving us a break to have our outdoor activities. I have a feeling we will not have the city or county tell us we can’t water our lawns or wash our cars, because of a water shortage and the well is dry. Anyway, I am going to enjoy this dry sunny weather as much as I can and I want you to join me. Get out of the house and have fun.

Now, you see the picture on my page of the Liberty Live Concert from last year? Well, honey child; this year is going to be bigger and better! Kelly Carter is still in charge, and as you know it will be held in the parking lot in the 4100 block of Deer Park Road in Randallstown and all the surrounding business are participating. The entertainment will include DJ Mike Jones and live entertainment performed by The Spindles. They will put on a damn good show for you. So while you eat, drink and go shopping, you can dance to some great music. Don’t forget to bring your lawn chairs and some money; the vendors have a lot of stuff to sell you.

Mannnnnnnnnnnn! I love this time of the year. By the way, this will continue every Friday for the month of July, same time and same place. I will see you there stop by and say hello. I will be near the bandstand.

Moving right along; the last day for the Maniac Book Extravaganza is June 24 at the Conference Center at the Maritime Institute, 962 Maritime Blvd., in Linthicum, Md. There will be over 50 authors from all over the country. Maniacs Book Extravaganza is a fan friendly event for book lovers of all genres including: Christian fiction, contemporary romance, historical romance, interracial romance, mystery, paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, romantic suspense, urban fiction, women’s fiction. For more information, contact Priscilla Johnson at cillasboookmaniacs@yahoo.com.

Zion Baptist Church and the Oliver Community will be

Liberty Live summer concerts are back! The fun begins on June 22, in the 4100 Block of Deer Park Rd., in Randallstown, Maryland. The concert is 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Lots and lots of vendors of all kinds especially food, drinks, arts and crafts, clothes and yours truly signing books.

Bring your folding chairs and enjoy, it is free to the public.

Zion Baptist Church and the Oliver Community are having their outdoor festival on June 23, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Zion Baptist Church, 1700 N. Caroline St., at Lanvale St. in Baltimore. The parade starts at 10 a.m. at the corner of Eager and Caroline. celebrating their 29th annual community outreach on June 23.

The event will kick off with a parade at Caroline and Eager Sts., assembling at 10 a.m. The event begins at 11 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m. There will be health screenings, Baltimore City and ministry resources available, as well as live entertainment, vendors, rides, games, crafts, children’s story time, lots of food and giveaways. The church is located 1700 N. Caroline Street. I will also be there doing a book signing with my two books.

The last thing I want to talk to you about is the Concerts for Causes. The group is having their fundraiser on June 23, at 7 p.m. at the Murphy Fine Arts Center on the campus of Morgan State University. The headliners are the legendary R&B lead singers, Gerald Alston, Howard Hewett and Russell Thompkins, Jr., as well as the One Night Maryland All Mass Choir. It’s a super group

performance of a lifetime to inspire, encourage and empower all people with music. Their mission is to put a musical instrument into the hands of deserving youth in our undeserved communities.

Now my dear friends, you know they are preaching to the choir. That has been my life work as a professional promoter, booking agent and the founder of the Rosa Pryor Music Scholarship Fund for many years until I couldn’t do it anymore. I am so happy that someone else has picked up the wand to do this for the children. I urge you to please find time to support this event in some way. For more information, contact Milton Rice at 443-802-7580 or email him at Milton.rice1@gmail. com.

Enjoy your week, I have to go, but remember if you need me, call me at 410-833-9474 or email me at rosapryor@aol. com. Until the next time, I’m musically yours.

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Concerts for Causes invites you to join them on June 23, at the Murphy Fine Arts Center on the campus of Morgan State University, as they celebrate the power of music with the summer’s ultimate benefit concert “One Night.” The event features legendary R&B lead singers Gerald Alston, Howard Hewett, Russell Thompkins, Jr. and the One Night Symphony Orchestra.

Edmondson High School class of “63’ is preparing for their 55th class reunion at the Forum Caterers in Northwest Baltimore. For more information call 410-8339474, or join the class members at their monthly meet and greet happy hour always on the first Friday of every month at the Pikesville Hilton Hotel on Reisterstown Road 4 p.m.-7 p.m.

Isaiah Segar learned carpentry and construction through Project JumpStart, which trains Baltimore City residents for jobs with local contractors. Johns Hopkins’ strategic partnership with the program helps establish a pipeline of job opportunities for city residents.

We’re increasing our investment in the city when we build, hire, and buy.

During the second year of our HopkinsLocal initiative, we expanded our hiring of city residents and committed $61.3 million to construction projects with minority- and women-owned or disadvantaged businesses. During that same period, we increased by nearly $21 million the amount we spent on goods and services from Baltimore-based companies. Find out more at hopkinslocal.jhu.edu.

Johns Hopkins. Investing in our community.

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The Afro-American, June 23, 2018 - June 29, 2018

Photos previously run on June 16.

On June 9, the Baltimore County Chapter of Les Gemmes, held their annual scholarship fund raiser at Diamondz Event Hall in Randallstown. The Charlene Rowley Scholarship was awarded to the Rowley family. The event featured dancing, food, raffles and live entertainment.

Founders, Betty Pettiford and Janyce Cunningham

The Rowley Family

William Glenn

Albert West and Pat Blackwell

Phillis Doggett, Luchetia Haprell, Lynnea Mitchell Dana Dean, Barabara Burgess, Jestine Brown, Yvonne Terry Lewis and Loretta Poole-Hill Ed Terry’s Tapsichore, Rose Bean, Deborah Meacham, Brenda McNeil and Linda Hollis Greg Norton and Dr. Alicia Coleman Kevin J. Frazier and Deborah Courtney Peterson

Gail Leach, Barbara Glenn and Dr. Kathleen White

Bobby McQueen Bey, Phyllis Street, Sheila Eley, Barbara Glenn, William Glenn, Regina Battle and Thaddeus Logan

Les Gemmes, Baltimore County Chapter Sisters

Photos by DeVone Marshall

Dominique Moore,esquire, Diane Bell-McKoy, Tawana Bhagwat, Honoree J. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton, Candace Breland Osunsade and Darryl Stokes

Associated Black Charities (ABC), held their annual gala on June 9, at Martin’s West in Woodlawn. City and state officials attended the event, where awards were presented to national and local honorees.

Lindsey Rowell, Ryan Raback, Robert Matthews and Leah Rowell

Diane Bell-McKoy President and CEO Associated Black Charities

Dominique Moore,esquire, Diane Bell-McKoy, Tawana Bhagwat, Honoree J. Howard Henderson, Candace Breland Osunsade and Darryl Stokes

Honoree John Frisch

Dominique Moore, Esquire,Diane Bell- McKoy, Tawana Bhagwat ,Honoree Sonja Sohn, Candace Breland Osunsade and Darryl Stokes

Photos by James Fields Sr.

Patrice Sanders News Anchor,Fox45 Morning News and Mistress of Ceremonies

Mark L. Wasserman University of Maryland Medical System

Quintin Lathan Beauty Plus, Ray Davis Chef Owner Flight and DeJuan Patterson Mayor’s Office of External Affairs Yvonne Harper and Kenyetta Lewis