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

Volume 125 No. 20 - 22

Happy Holidays To Our Readers

The AFRO will be closed for the holidays until Jan. 3, 2017. The next edition of the paper will be out on Jan. 7. Afro. com will continue to update during the break. Have a safe and happy holiday.

DECEMBER 17, 2016 - JANUARY 6, 2017

Baltimore I am My Brother’s Keeper • The AFRO’s Ms. Santa Program Delivers

Inside

John Legend Acts in ‘La La Land’

Commentary

Racism Raises its Head in Howard County Schools By Cameron Miles

Prince George’s

• Legislators Target AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta

President Barack Obama speaks during a “My Brother’s Keeper” summit in the South Court Auditorium at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington on Dec. 14.

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President-elect Donald Trump continues to build a cadre of likeminded persons for his administration, individuals whose words, actions and agendas suggest they could prove detrimental

to the Black community. This time, it is Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke Jr., whose name has been floated as a potential Trump pick to head the Department of Homeland Security. The African-American, cowboy-hat-wearing law officer and Trump campaign surrogate is infamous for his

House and Senate Pass Act to Keep Civil RightsEra Cases Open By Shantella Y. Sherman Special to the AFRO ssherman@afro.com

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Is this Controversial Law Man the Next Head of Homeland Security? By Zenitha Prince Senior AFRO Correspondent zprince@afro.com

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Sex Trafficking

Both the U.S. House and Senate passed a reauthorization bill to extend and updates original legislation, that was signed into law in 2008, to respond to the concerns of victims’ family members and strengthen collaboration between the Justice Department, the FBI, State and local law enforcement to pursue Civil Rights-era cases that have gone cold... The U.S. Senate passed S. 2854/ H.R. 5067, the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Reauthorization Act, Dec. 13 and the U.S House passed the bill on Dec. 7. “We must never forget our nation’s dark past and should be Continued on A3

Michigan’s Failed Recount Revives Voter Suppression Efforts By Republicans By Charles D. Ellison Special to the AFRO “Absolutely, yes,” said Michigan Chronicle Senior Editor Keith Owens when asked if Jill Stein’s recount quest fueled Republican efforts to pass strict Voter ID legislation in Michigan. Stein campaign officials, however, bristle at that notion. Continued on A3

AP Photo/Evan Vucci

Milwaukee Sheriff David Clarke may be nominated to run the department of Homeland Security under Presidentelect Donald Trump.

Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law.

Continued on A3

AFRO Archives How Have Colored People Used Their Freedom Slavery Was Abolished In America Just Sixty Years Ago – What Progress Has The Negro Made Meantime?

Feb. 13, 1926 By Robert B. Eleazer Sixty years ago – on Dec. 18, to be exact – the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution was adopted making slavery unconstitutional in the United States. The Emancipation Proclamation was issued on January 1, 1863, but since it applied only to persons then held as slaves in the States “in rebellion,” and even excepted certain Continued on A4

Report Shows Diversity Limited for Blacks in Green Careers By Shantella Y. Sherman Special to the AFRO ssherman@afro.com

Photo Courtesy

tough-on-crime stance and his unchecked, often unabashedly extreme statements that have made him a darling among conservative media and rightwing groups. “Sheriff Clarke has gotten out of hand, and he’s been out of hand for quite some time…. He is really starting to piss me off,” Milwaukee County Supervisor Supreme Moore Omokunde — son of U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wis.) — told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel back in November 2015.

Despite calls for Blacks to enter the growing ecology or green field, a recent New School - Green 2.0 report, “Diversity Derailed: Limited Demand, Effort and Results in Environmental C-Suite Searches,” finds that African-Americans are being systematically denied access to green jobs. Further, despite Blacks and their

neighborhoods being most likely the targets of environmental racism, the few Black employees within billion dollar green companies, the report states, are relegated to entry-level, hourly positions. Green 2.0, which tries to increase racial diversity across mainstream environmental non-governmental organizations (NGO), foundations, and government agencies, documented Blacks at only 12 percent of leadership staff positions and a mere 4.6 percent of board seats.

The Afro-American, December 17, 2016 - January 6, 2017

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Notorious 86-Year-Old Jewel Thief Strikes Again By The Associated Press

Police just outside Atlanta say a notorious 86-year-old jewel thief has struck again. Doris Payne was arrested Dec. 13 at a Von Maur department store after she put a $1,995 diamond necklace in her back pocket and tried to leave the store, Dunwoody police spokesman Mark (AP Photo/John Bazemore) Stevens said in an email. In this Jan. 11 photo, Doris Payne She faces a shoplifting poses for a photo in Atlanta. charge. Online jail records did not show any bond information, and it wasn’t clear whether Payne had an attorney who could comment. An attorney who represented her last year, when she was accused of pocketing a $690 pair of earrings from a Saks Fifth Avenue department store at a mall in Atlanta’s upscale Buckhead neighborhood, didn’t immediately return a phone call and email seeking comment Dec. 14. Authorities have said Payne has lifted pricey baubles from countless jewelry stores around the world in an illicit career that has spanned six decades. The legend of Payne’s alleged thefts have long fascinated the public and media, with countless news stories and a 2013 documentary film, “The Life and Crimes of Doris Payne,” detailing her feats. When asked about her exploits in an interview with The Associated Press earlier this year, she said simply: “I was a thief.” Court papers in Atlanta reference six cases prior to the alleged theft last year, mostly in southern California, dating to 1999. Payne was raised in West Virginia and moved with her family to Ohio when she was a teenager. Authorities have said she has used at least 22 aliases over the years and probably got away more often than she was caught, though she has done several stints in prison. The Jewelers’ Security Alliance, an industry trade group, sent out bulletins as early as the 1970s warning about her. A childhood incident when a friendly store owner let her try on watches and then forgot she had it on when another customer entered planted the seed in her mind that a simple distraction could make it easy to slip out with a fancy trinket in hand, she told the AP. She said that when she was in her 20s, she got the idea that she could support herself that way. Payne, who appeared effortlessly elegant and spoke with calm deliberation during the interview with the AP, nevertheless grew cagey when asked about her methods. “I don’t dictate what happens when I walk in the store. The people in charge dictate what happens with me when I walk in

the store,” she said. “I don’t tell a person in the store I want to see something that costs $10,000. They make those decisions based on how I present myself and how I look.”

Ku Klux Klan: “We’re Not White Supremacists…” Who are They Lying to Now? By The Associated Press

White supremacy is a label that’s too hot to handle even for groups like the Ku Klux Klan. Standing on a muddy dirt road in the dead of night near the North Carolina-Virginia border, masked Ku Klux Klan members claimed Donald Trump’s election as president proves Whites are taking back (AP Photo/Jay Reeves) America from Blacks, In this Dec. 2 photo, two masked immigrants, Jews Ku Klux Klansmen stand on and other groups they a muddy dirt road during an describe as criminals interview near Pelham, N.C. and freeloaders. America was founded by and for Whites, they say, and only Whites can run a peaceful, productive society. But still, the KKK members insisted in an interview with The Associated Press, they’re not White supremacists, a label that is gaining traction in the country since Trump won with the public backing of the Klan, neo-Nazis and other White racists. “We’re not White supremacists. We believe in our race,” said a man with a Midwestern accent and glasses just hours before a pro-Trump Klan parade in a nearby town. He, like three Klan compatriots, wore a robe and pointed hood and wouldn’t give his full name, in accordance with Klan rules. Claiming the Klan isn’t White supremacist flies in the face of its very nature. The Klan’s official rulebook, the Kloran — published in 1915 and still followed by many groups — says the organization “shall ever be true in the faithful maintenance of White Supremacy,” even capitalizing the term for emphasis. Watchdog groups also consider the Klan a White supremacist organization, and experts say the groups’ denials are probably linked to efforts to make their racism more palatable. Still, KKK groups today typically renounce the term. The same goes for extremists including members of the self-proclaimed “altright,” an extreme branch of conservatism mixing racism, White nationalism and populism. “We are White separatists, just as Yahweh in the Bible told us to be. Separate yourself from other nations. Do not intermix and mongrelize your seed,” said one of the Klansmen who spoke along the muddy lane.

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The Afro-American, December 17, 2016 - December 17, 2016

Black Sheriff Continued from A1 Moore Omokunde’s comments were prompted by opinions Clarke voiced on his podcast, “The People’s Sheriff,” which is aired on Glenn Beck’s TheBlaze radio network. The fourterm sheriff was criticizing an opinion piece in The New York Timesconcerning police shootings, in which a Harvard professor said some poor Blacks often turned to the drug trade because of a lack of jobs. “Let me tell you why Blacks sell drugs and involve themselves in criminal behavior instead of a more socially acceptable lifestyle — because they’re uneducated, they’re lazy, and they’re morally bankrupt,” Clarke said. “That’s why.” The Black conservative has made equally disparaging statements about other communities and groups, chiefly the Black Lives Matter movement, which he has dubbed “Black Lies Matter.” The nationwide grassroots movement grew out of the seemingly unending trail of dead, unarmed African Americans killed by police and trigger-happy gun owners, notably the slaying of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in February 2012 by a former neighborhood watch volunteer. However, Clarke, a regular

Fox News contributor, denies that police brutality even exists and constantly rails about the supposed “war on police.” “There is no police brutality in America. We ended that back in the ‘60s,” Clarke said on the Oct. 26, 2015 edition of Fox News’ “Fox & Friends.” He added, “You look at the data and the research, and there’s a new Harvard study out that shows that there is no racism in the hearts of police officers. They go about their daily duty, if you will, to keep communities safe.” The self-proclaimed “People’s Sheriff” has called Black Lives Matter “garbage,” and a “subversive movement [that] advocate the overthrow of our legally constituted government,” and he has denigrated President Obama for acknowledging the grievances underlying the protests. Clarke has also compared BLM to ISIS and suggested it would team up with the terrorist group. And, he also blamed the group for the summer shooting of Dallas police officers and called protestors “sub-human creeps” whose behavior was “primitive.” Ironically, though Clarke decried protests that arose after police killings, in an October 2016 tweet he told his

Cases Open Continued from A1

mindful of our history and why so many in the African-American community raise the issue of whether Black lives matter. Many civil rights era crimes were barely noted or investigated, and I believe the perpetrators of those crimes should be brought to justice, even 50 years later,” U.S. Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich) said in a statement. “We passed the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Act in 2007 to help bring these cases to light and seek justice for victims and their families. The Till Reauthorization Act will further empower the Department of Justice and cold case advocates to share information and review the status and closure of cases through 1980.” In August 1955, fourteen-year-old Emmett Till, a Black boy, whistled at a White woman in a grocery store in Money, Mississippi. Till, a teen from Chicago, didn’t understand he had broken the unwritten laws of the Jim Crow South until three days later, when two White men dragged him from his

bed in the middle of the night, beat him brutally, and then shot him in the head. Although his killers were arrested and charged with murder, they were both acquitted quickly by an all-White, all-male jury. Shortly afterwards, the defendants sold their story, including a detailed account of how they murdered Till, to a journalist. The murder and the trial horrified the nation and the world. “When this bill was signed into law, family members, academics, historians, lawyers, advocates began working to develop a full accounting for these longPhoto Courtesy

U.S. Rep. John Lewis first introduced the Emmet Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes bill in 2006. standing, gross human and civil rights atrocities. The reauthorization that the House passed this evening is a response to their appeals to make the law a better tool in their quest for justice,” Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) said from the House floor. The bill was first introduced in the 109th Congress. U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division notes the difficulty with which the original hate crimes

Voter Suppression Continued from A1

Stein adamantly emphasized that eliminating any form of voter suppression is central to her quest to repair what she views as a broken electoral system leaving millions disenfranchised. But in the opening days of the recount, many critics – while appreciating Stein’s motivations – argued that Stein’s decision to focus almost solely on potential hacking of voting systems, and framing it as an “election integrity” and “fraud” issue,

405,000 followers that it was “pitchforks and torches time,” urging them to rise up against institutions of government and “big media.” Under a Clarke leadership, Homeland Security will likely treat Black Lives Matter activists like “enemy combatants” if previews of his upcoming memoir, Cop Under Fire: Moving Beyond Hashtags of Race, Crime and Politics for a Better America are to be believed. Clarke suggests he would overhaul homeland security by bringing the war on terror to U.S. soil, including treating American citizens suspected of being terrorists as “enemy combatants” subject to arrest, non-legal representation and indefinite detention, according to the Journal Sentinel which reviewed an advance copy of the tome. Those suspected terrorists would be tried in military tribunals and not regular court. “We are at war. Homegrown radicalization has the enemy inside our borders,” Clarke wrote as cited by the newspaper. “Islamist radicalized Americans are not criminals; they are enemy combatants.” In a December 2015 episode of his podcast, Clarke went even further, suggesting that Americans who express pro-terrorist sentiments on social media—about a million persons, he estimated—should be arrested, deprived of constitutional protections and

may have clumsily given ammunition to Republican supporters of voter ID and other voter suppression measures. “We must remember that recounts do not capture the vast numbers of voters who were outright denied the right to vote because of voter suppression,” said Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law. “Voter suppression was the real culprit of this election cycle.

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December 17, 2016 - January 6, 2017, The Afro-American shipped to an offshore prison. “I suggest that our commander in chief ought to utilize Article I, Section 9 and take all of these individuals that are suspected, these ones on the internet spewing jihadi rhetoric…to scoop them up, charge them with treason and, under habeas corpus, detain them indefinitely at Gitmo,” Clarke said. “We’re at war. This is a time of war. Bold and aggressive action is needed.” Equally troubling as Clarke’s incendiary positions and dubious associations, some detractors say, are the questionable deaths that have happened in the past year at the Milwaukee County Jail under Clarke’s watch. The jail, which houses about 950 inmates per day, saw the death of Terrill Thomas, 38, in April due to “profound dehydration” in what has been deemed a “homicide,” the {Journal Sentinel} reported. In July, a newborn died after an inmate gave birth in her cell without jail staff noticing. Another inmate died in August after staff failed to assess the known heroin addict after her arrest and put her on preventative detoxification protocol. Another 29-year-old man died in October; the cause of death has not been released. Brian Peterson, Milwaukee County chief medical examiner, said that after his office disclosed information about two of the cases to the public, Sheriff Clarke called him on Oct. 28 and “verbally

against Blacks could be investigated and prosecuted was due to the participation of law enforcement in the crimes, and a wall of noncooperation by Whites with outside investigators. In the case of voting registration workers Andrew Goodman, James Chaney, and Michael Schwerner, murdered June 21, 1964, in Philadelphia, Miss., 19 White men, including the sheriff and his deputy, were arrested on state conspiracy charges. Those charges were later dropped. “As an original cosponsor of the Emmett Till Reauthorization Act, I’m pleased to see my colleagues came together and supported this important bill. This bipartisan legislation will provide for a sustained, well-coordinated effort to investigate and prosecute unsolved civil rights-era crimes,” Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) said in a statement. “There are hundreds of cold cases from the civil rights era that have never been solved, and it is my hope that we are able to bring justice to the victims’ families.” The reauthorization bill is now headed to President Barack Obama to be signed into law.

Our work makes painfully clear that lawmakers are bent on using voter suppression as a tool to peel off voters from the margins in our elections.” In this 2016 cycle, the first election in 50 years without the full protection of the Voting Rights Act, the extent of voter suppression’s impact is still being assessed. However, there is real evidence showing an array of vote mitigation and voters disenfranchisement tactics in key states, such as Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin where Stein is spearheading recount efforts. In Milwaukee, for example, Wisconsin’s rigid voter ID law contributed to 40,000 less ballots counted this cycle than in 2012. Illegal requests for voter ID in Pennsylvania discouraged countless numbers of voters. That pattern is what any revisitation effort should focus on. Yet, University of Kentucky election law expert Joshua Douglas believes the recount created “unnecessary frenzy,” referencing a complex recount messaging that failed to highlight proven voter suppression

in key states. This may, Douglas asserts, have given ammunition to Republican lawmakers claiming widespread voter fraud when there is little evidence of any large-scale problem existing. That may have been what happened as Stein’s recount efforts in Detroit and Wayne County (majority Black areas) unearthed a box containing only 50 ballots when 306 were expected. The next day, in a 57-50 party-line vote, the GOP-led Michigan House of Representatives passed a rigid voter identification measure. “This lemon of a recount may turn into lemonade from the stand point of helping us firm up the integrity of the voting process,” State Sen. Patrick Colbert (R-Canton) told The Detroit News. That’s what worries Douglas. “This is a solution in search of a problem. Inperson impersonation, the only kind of voter fraud that a strict ID law would prevent, is virtually nonexistent,” he told the AFRO. “Yet we know that strict voter ID laws present an insurmountable hurdle for some people to vote.”

pummeled” and “threatened” him. “Sheriff Clarke’s attitude was hostile, his mood was angry, and my attempts to mollify him were rudely rebuffed,” Peterson wrote in his 1,231-word e-mail to his bosses, the Journal Sentinel reported, further noting that Clarke is known for losing his temper on the job. Clarke began his near-40year career in law enforcement in 1978 with the Milwaukee Police Department, where he served for 24 years. In November 2002, he was elected to his first four-year

term as sheriff of Milwaukee County. The Milwaukee native Clarke graduated summa cum laude from Concordia University Wisconsin with a degree in criminal justice management. In In September 2013, Clarke obtained his master’s degree in security studies from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, Center for Homeland Defense and Security, in Monterey, Calif. His thesis analyzed the need to balance domestic intelligence operations with protection of privacy and civil liberties.

The Afro-American, December 17, 2016 - January 6, 2017

Those We Lost in 2016 Muhammad Ali

Jan. 17, 1942 - June 3, 2016

Known simply as “The Greatest,” the threetime world heavyweight boxing champion was an icon and widely regarded as one of the most significant and celebrated figures of the 20th century.

Marion C. “Christopher” Barry

June 17, 1980 –Aug. 14, 2016

Son of D.C. “Mayor for Life” Marion Barry was most recognized as being the first son of the District.

Reginald Calhoun ‘DJ Reggie Reg’

Zerita ‘Joy’ Richardson Carter

Known as “The Godfather of Baltimore Club Music,” Local DJ and on-air personality.

Educator and Baltimore Civil Rights Activist.

Nove. 5, 1965 - Feb. 6, 2016

Oct. 1, 1931 - June 14, 2016

William Hankins

Ron Glass

Rev. Erroll D. Gilliard

Nov. 29, 1957 - Sept. 17, 2016 Pastor of Greater Harvest Baptist Church and president of the Baptist Minister’s Conference of Baltimore and Vicinity.

July 10, 1945 - Nov. 26, 2016

Rev. Albert Clayton Greene Sr.

May 24, 1933 - Feb. 7, 2016

George Curry

Feb. 23, 1947 – Aug. 20, 2016

Civil Rights icon, known and revered as one of the best in his craft, was a veteran journalist and avid member and supporter of the Black Press.

Died: Sept. 19, 2016 Morgan State University Student

Muriel Clarke Hill

William H. Hargrave

June 25, 1914 - Oct. 2, 2016

Apirl 27, 1956 - June 9, 2016

Long-time employee of the Baltimore AFRO. He also received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for Heroism after his honorable service with the military.

April 16, 1923 - Nov. 16, 2016

TV and film actor, best known for his character Det. Ron Harris on “Barney Miller.”

Flossie Johnson

Everett Bertram Johnson

Marcus Edwards

Aug. 25, 1931 - Jan. 27, 2016

Charles M. McGee

Noted educator, humanitarian and counselor.

Morgan State University student.

Died: Nov. 23, 2016

Dec. 31, 1920 - July 18, 2016

Teacher, Professor and Printer for the AFRO.

DJ Herb Kent

Oct. 5, 1928 - Oct. 22, 2016

Chicago radio legend and disc jockey, inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1995.

Gwen Ifill

Sept.29, 1955 - Nov. 14, 2016

Beloved veteran journalist and a staunch reporter, most recently as coanchor of PBS NewsHour. She is remembered by several friends, colleagues and mentees as an inspiration and helpful pioneer in the news industry.

Billy Paul

Dec. 1, 1934 - Apr. 24, 2016

Jazz and Soul singer best known for the 1972 No. 1 hit ballad and “Philadelphia Soul” classic “Me and Mrs. Jones.”

Joshua Wayne Munson ‘Beverly Deuce’ Died: Oct. 3, 2016

D.C. Rapper

Prince Rogers Nelson

Juanita Pinkney

Oct. 29, 1944 - Jan. 25, 2016

June 7, 1958 - April 21, 2016

Teacher and Phi Delta Kappa member.

The iconic musician knows as “Prince” was one of the largest selling artists of all time.

Jonathan Riley Died: Oct. 3, 2016

Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Fellow.

Dr. Frances Cress Wesling

March 18, 1935 - Jan. 2, 2016

Claude Roxborough Died: Nov. 24, 2016

Claude Roxborough was a D.C. native, who practiced as a D.C. metropolitan lawyer for 25 years, covering small business law, chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, bonds, and mortgage and real estate.

Noted psychiatrist and race theorist whose theories ignited widespread controversy.

Melvalee “Mickey” Mitchell Thompson-Vincent Died: Oct. 27, 2016

As one of D.C.’s renowned socialites, Mickey Thompson-Vincent was a photojournalist for 15 years, including several for the AFRO.

Tyriece Travon Watson ‘Lor Scoota’

April 13, 1993 - June 25, 2016

One of Baltimore’s hottest up and coming local artists, he gained national recognition with his hit single “Bird Flu.”

Gerald Williams

June 30, 1995 - Feb. 1, 2016

Morgan State University student.

The Afro remembers our fallen loved ones

Maurice White

Dec. 19, 1941 - Deb. 4, 2016

Founder of the world renowned Earth, Wind & Fire. He and the band were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.

December December 17, 2016 17, 2016 - December - January17, 6, 2016, 2017, The The Afro-American

Freedom

Continued from A1

areas in some of those States, the real freedom of the Negro dates from the adoption of the Thirteenth Amendment. The present is a fitting time to ask what use the race has made of its freedom in the intervening years. Here are a few highlights from the story: ECONOMIC ADVANCE. When freed in 1865, American Negroes owned 12,000 homes and operated 20,000 farms. Now they own 700,000 homes and operate a million farms. Then they conducted 2,100 businesses; now they conduct 70,000. Meantime their aggregate wealth has increased from $20,000,000 to $2,000,000,000, one hundred times as much. In 1924 there were 73 Negro banks with $6,250,000 capital, $20,000,000 of resources, and an annual business of $100,000,000. Thirty-five Negro life insurance companies report $200,000,000 of insurance in force on the lives of 1,100,000 persons. These companies have eight thousand employees and are wholly capitalized and managed by Negroes. One of these companies, the North Carolina Mutual, has more than $42,000,000 of insurance in force and an annual income of over $3,000,000. The Bankers’ Fire Insurance Company of Durham, N.C., has nearly $10,000,000 of insurance in force. INVENTION AND INDUSTRY. Elijah McCoy, Detroit inventor, has taken out 57 patents in America and 30 in Europe. The universally used lubricating cup for machinery is one of his inventions. Altogether, thousands of patents have been issued to colored inventors. In 1929 there were in America 332,249 Negroes engaged in skilled and semi-skilled occupations. A big textile mill at LaGrange, Ga. uses Negro labor almost exclusively; also a hosiery

TIME TO CASH IN!

mill at Durham, N.C. Altogether, more than 20,000 Negroes are employed in textile industries. During the Great War a number of world records for industrial processes were broken by Negro workers. RELIGION. There are in the United States 47,000 Negro churches, with five million members, and 46,000 Sunday schools enrolling three million pupils. Members of colored churches contribute annually $550,000 to home and foreign missions. The 332,000 Negro members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in five years contributed $1,941,979 to the Centenary Fund of that Church. Negroes have contributed nearly $350,000 toward the erection of colored Y.M.C.A. buildings in fourteen cities. The Olive Baptist Church, of Chicago, is said to be the largest Protestant congregation in the world, having a membership of 10,000. It carries on an extensive community program, having fifty-three departments and employing thirty paid workers. Its annual operating budget is about $50,000. EDUCATION. In 1865, ninety percent of the Negroes were illiterate; now about twenty percent. Then there were 100,000 Negroes in school; now 2,150,000. There are in the United States about 10,000 Negro college graduates. Six hundred and seventy-five received the Bachelor’s degree last year. The degree of Doctor of Philosophy has been awarded to twenty-nine Negroes by American universities. Sixty have been elected to membership in the Phi Beta Kappa scholarship fraternity. In four years’ work, Eunice Hunton took both the A.B. and A.M. degrees at Smith College, Mass., the largest girls’ college in the world. Only one other student at Smith has ever equaled this record. H.S. Blackstone received the degree of

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Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania at the age of 23, one of the youngest students ever receiving this degree. Constance Crocker finished from the Girls’ High School in Boston at the head of a class of 308. Through their churches and otherwise, Negroes raise annually $3,000,000 for the support of their schools. A number of Negroes have recently given to Negro colleges sums ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 each.

Mother of Spain. Harry T. Burleigh, baritone, has for twenty years been a soloist in one of the leading Episcopal Churches of New York. Marion Anderson, colored contralto, appeared during the season of 1923-24 as soloist with the Philadelphia Philharmonic Society. J. Rosamond Johnson has composed light operas for Klaw and Erlanger, and many popular songs for May Irwin, Lillian Russell, and Anna Held.

LITERATURE AND ART. More than a hundred volumes of Negro poetry have been published in America. Countee P. Cullen, of New York, in 1923 and again in 1924, won second prize in the Witter Bynner undergraduate poetry contest, open to all colleges of America and participated in by seven hundred students representing three hundred institutions. Prof. Isaac Fisher, of Nashville, Tenn., has won five literary prizes in open national contests, one a prize of $500 offered by Everybody’s Magazine for the best article on prohibition. Helen Perry, of Chicago, won the third prize of $500 in a $30,000 National Scenario Contest, conducted by the Chicago Daily News. There were 27,000 entries in the contest. E.M. Bannister, of Providence, R.I., attained distinction as a painter, and founded the Providence Art Club. The French Government has purchased and hung in the Luxemburg Gallery a number of paintings by Henry O. Tanner. Paul Robeson, Negro actor, has recently achieved remarkable success in America and in England in the role of “Emperor Jones.”

THE NEGRO AND THE FLAG. During the Spanish American War, Negro troops in the Regular Army distinguished themselves at the battles of Guasimas, El Caney and San Juan Hill. Three hundred and eighty thousand American Negroes were enrolled for service in the World War, of whom two hundred thousand were sent to France. They were the first of the American Expeditionary Force to get into action, and two Negroes of the 369th Infantry were the first American soldiers decorated for Bravery. The Croix de Guerre was awarded to four entire Negro regiments for heroism in action. One of these the370th was commanded entirely by Negroes, with the exception of the colonel. Thirty officers of this regiment received medals of Honor for bravery. Altogether, some sixty Negro officers were so decorated.

MUSIC. Roland Hayes, Georgia Negro, has attained international fame as a tenor, having sung with great success before the most critical audiences of America and Europe, including the King and Queen of England and the Queen

These are but random paragraphs from a story that led Ambassador James Bryce some years ago to assert that in an equal length of time any other race had ever made such progress. Contemplating the same record, a well-known Southerner recently said: “The Negro is not a menace to America. He has proved himself worthy of confidence. He has been and may continue to be a blessing. He only needs unnecessary barriers removed from his way, and a chance to demonstrate that under God he is a man and can play a man’s part.”

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The Afro-American, December 17, 2016 - January 6, 2017

Claudette Colvin

COMMENTARY

Rosa Parks is Not the Only Hero

December marks the 61st anniversary of a courageous act that changed our world forever. On Dec. 1, 1955, Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Ala. was an act of individual resistance and her bravery changed the course of history and made her an American icon. The opening of the National Museum of African American History & Culture in Washington D.C. has been glorious. It has literally changed the composition of the National Mall, inside and outside, with this long overdue brilliant amalgam of our nation’s true history. Inevitably, with such a long, rich and textured history, people will quibble with what is curated. One omission jumped out at us, given its importance to the narrative of the civil rights movement, we continue to omit Claudette Colvin, the courageous 15-year-old who first championed the cause to end segregation. In researching history, especially Black history, there are many discrepancies which can be found. A plethora of reasons may be responsible; the lack of documentation, the loss of information due to death, and the fact that truth can remain buried in a mystery. However, the parts of history that are quite clear and concise should never be skewed. One of us founded a civil rights festival to honor and tell as truthfully as possible this nation’s history. Another of us made that history. We together are committed to educating people as broadly as possible. When bus segregation was legal, a young Birmingham girl named Claudette Colvin was arrested for resisting it--this was nine months before Rosa Parks was arrested. Claudette was just 15-years-old and as a result of this incident, and the persistent stain of mistreatment, JoAnn Robinson and others within the Montgomery Improvement Association started and organized a one-day bus boycott in support of Claudette. When Claudette’s case was brought up, Attorney Fred Gray represented her in his first case out of law school. He sought the help of the NAACP attorneys Thurgood Marshall and Robert L. Carter. They argued the Browder v. Gayle case in 1955 before the Supreme Court and successfully won the case. This is the Supreme Court ruling that ended segregation of the buses in Montgomery, Alabama. In addition, the ruling also impacted public transportation throughout the United States including taxis, airplanes and trains. The case against Mrs. Rosa Parks wasn’t used at all; as she was actually arrested for a misdemeanor. The other three women’s cases that were used in addition to Claudette’s case were those of Amelia Browder, Susie McDonald and Mary Louise Smith. Although Mrs. Parks did not take part in any of this, she is clearly cited in history and in the new museum as being the one who ended bus segregation. Unfortunately, Claudette’s case and her involvement have not been cited, nor properly included. The facts and documentation are clear and shows the precise evidence of the truth. As truth has provided, because of Claudette’s personal movement, we had the support of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and prominent attorneys Robert L. Carter and Fred Gray.

Robert Raben and Gloria Laster

And, allow us to also give honor to Rosa Parks and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for furthering the goal to end bus segregation. For American history--Black history in particular--we must include every ounce of the truth. We know all too well that history defines and propels our future and the futures of generations to come. It is our hope that the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture and others will include Claudette Colvin’s participation in and contribution to this pivotal point in history. Robert Raben is the Founder of The Raben Group and The March on Washington Film Festival. Gloria Laster is the sister of Claudette Colvin. Colvin, now 77 years old, resides in the state of New York and is one of two survivors of the Browder v. Gayle Supreme Court case.

Racism Raises its Head in Howard County Schools

I am concerned that in the year 2016 in a County where Jim Rouse, real estate developer and civil rights activist, spent his entire life trying to build communities that fostered inclusivity and diversity for so many years, there seems to be a problem in some of the Howard County schools. I thought that the vision for Howard County was for all races of people to be able to come together and talk, play, eat, fellowship, compete, and worship. Maybe I missed something. There still seems to be an attitude amongst some people and students that certain kinds/colors of people are not welcome. To this day, there are people that I speak to and they look at me as if I do not exist. To be completely transparent, there are others who do speak and treat me fairly. Recently, the Howard County Sheriff was forced to step down because of the racist comments he was said to have uttered. Now I am hearing from social media that an Atholton High School student said that “I am finally a nigger” and had her face painted black. Another student from River Hill High School allegedly said, “I’m about to shoot some niggers”. These are just two instances and I am wondering if there are more. Why aren’t the leaders in the County talking about this publicly? Why isn’t the Superintendent talking about this publicly? All of our students should be going to school to get an education and to blaze a path of greatness as well as set examples for the students coming behind them. But, the adults should also be setting examples and when something is wrong, we have to say publicly that it is wrong. There should be sanctions against students when they are found to have done something or

Cameron Miles

said something so egregious. In many instances, words can hurt more than a gunshot or a knife wound. Is this learned behavior where some students have heard these horrible names at their own homes and just repeated what they heard or were these instances just a moment in time where they said something they wished they had never uttered. As a new President prepares to take office, all of us must look deeply inside ourselves and examine how we feel about race. In the year 2016, it still seems to be the elephant in the room. I am sure that Rouse did not build this community with the thought that different races would overtly display their angst and hatred in words against another race. The parents bear some responsibility in these matters. If you have children, please have discussions with them about the importance of treating others the way you want to be treated. It doesn’t cost anything to treat each other with dignity and respect. You don’t have to invite me into your home to treat me with dignity and respect. You never have to invite me out to eat to show common courtesy. I believe that there should be a class taught regarding respecting one another and how words can really hurt. We all need each other and I sincerely hope that the Howard County School system will create severe sanctions for this kind of behavior so that it never happens again. When something is good we should say that it is good but when something is bad, we should not put our heads in the sand. Cameron Miles is the founder and executive director of Mentoring Male Teens in the Hood, which is based in Columbia, Md.

Trump’s View of Intelligence Reveals Much About Him John R. Hawkins III

One of the attributes of good leaders is that they are anxious to learn first-hand as much as possible about their charge. This does not seem to be the case with our President-elect, particularly as it pertains to national intelligence and national

security. Having been in many military intelligence briefings and marveling at being made aware of much I did not know by intelligence officials who are apolitical, I cannot understand why a President-elect would not want to take any and all briefs available about national security and intelligence. The U.S. intelligence community is second to none in finding out the what, why and the how of potentially dangerous events around the world. The number one responsibility of the President is to ensure the safety and well-being of the American people. All of the 17 intelligence agencies work 24/7 to make sure the President is informed. Receiving such briefings as often as possible is a must. Personal unfiltered information becomes even more important when the subject, such as national security and intelligence, is not familiar to you. Given that Donald Trump’s personal advisors, such as National Security Advisor General (ret) Flynn, proposed Secretary of Defense General (ret) Mattis and proposed Homeland Security Secretary General (ret) Kelly are very knowledgeable, the ultimate decision maker must at least have personal situation awareness to make his educated decision. If this is not the case, the President can end up making decisions based on the feelings and interpretations of his National Security Team without knowing the facts first hand. Is Trump’s lack of interest in daily intelligence and national security briefs due to him not having enough time in the day? If so, then from my foxhole, he may want to re-prioritize his day. Is it because he feels those he has delegated to hear the briefs will hear and assess the

information on his behalf and that is sufficient? If so, from my foxhole, he either feels that his number one priority as President, national security, is not worthy of his personal attention or he may fear he may hear something of which he may wish to have plausible deniability. Either way it is not good for the country and such denial of first-hand information makes one wonder if that mentality may have led to his multiple business bankruptcies. James Clapper, Director of National Intelligence and 17 intelligence agencies, have all told the President-elect’s staff that the Russians are behind the hacks during the election. Trump chose to state that information is wrong. While I do not know why they are taking this stance, I do know that it makes no common sense. Are there personal or business reasons to doubt your own intelligence community and defend Russia? From my foxhole, the bigger concern is that this type of behavior can imply that our President-elect may lack some basic attributes that must be exercised at all times, such as selfless service, prioritization, preparation, personal and national standards of transparency and sound judgement. From my foxhole, I recommend we be ever vigilant of the President–elect and his inner circle and be prepared to exercise our First Amendment rights of freedom of speech, if we witness anything that may not be in our best interest but only good and profitable for those in power. Prayerfully, the new administration will not be one that chooses to mold intelligence and research facts to fit a pre-determined decision or outcome, but to do the right thing and let the intelligence, facts and research determine the decisions and outcomes. Maj Gen US Army (ret) John R. Hawkins III, JD, MPA is President and CEO of Hawkins Solutions Intl., a government relations and lobby company. His last military assignment as a “two star” was Dir., Human Resources Directorate for the Army world-wide and prior to that Deputy Chief Public Affairs for the Army, world-wide.

The opinions on this page are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the AFRO. Send letters to: The Afro-American Newspaper • 2519 N. Charles St. • Baltimore, MD 21218 or fax to 1-877-570-9297 or e-mail to editor@afro.com

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December 17, 2016 - January 6, 2017, The Afro-American

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The Afro-American, December 17, 2016 - January 6, 2017

SENIOR LIVING

Boxers Have Dr. Banks in Their Corner By Curtis Bunn Urban News Service Greg Banks, M.D. always has been passionate about boxing and mixed martial arts. But being a doctor is what forced him into a corner … literally. An intimate knowledge of the dangers of ring competition, as both participant and spectator, inspired the family and urgent-care physician to moonlight as a guardian of these combatants. Banks has been a Washington, D.C.-area ringside doctor at boxing and MMA events for a decade. He is driven by his love of these sports and his commitment to help people. “I would see these guys ringside in a corner and wonder: ‘Who’s that with a stethoscope?’”

That curiosity ultimately led Banks to secure his license through the Association of Ringside Physicians. He soon became that guy ringside, with the stethoscope. “It’s a very significant job because of the physical nature of the sports,” said Dr. Gregory Pleasants, who has served for 15 years as a Richmond, Va.-based ringside doctor. “I have worked some fights with Greg, and he has a real passion for the sports to go with his passion for service.” “For me,” said Banks, 52, “as someone who loves the sports and studied taekwondo, too, it’s a great opportunity to have a great seat to see the matches. Most important, though, it’s very dangerous to compete in these sports, and the ringside doctors are there to help minimize injury

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Greg Banks moonlights as a ringside doctor in Richmond Va.

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[cerebrospinal fluid] that helps cushion the brain. But when you’re dehydrated, there is less of that cushion, that fluid. Quick weight gain won’t allow you to function at your premium and you won’t be as protected. So, your brain can get hit with the first blow and then bounce off the other side of the skull. So that’s a double concussion that can cause tearing of the blood vessels in the brain, causing bleeding, which is never good. “It’s a big science. [Doctors are] looking at it each year: ‘What can we do to prevent

“When I’m not worried about the fighter, I’m actually having a great time because I have the best seat in the house.”

— especially brain injury.” The native Washingtonian and Howard University College of Medicine graduate said his job is both entertaining and gratifying. “The doctor is mostly in the shadows — until something happens,” he said. “It’s scary sometimes. But, most of the time, the injuries are cuts or maybe a broken bone, sprains. When I’m not worried about the fighter, I’m actually having a great time because I have the best seat in the house.” But Banks said there are many factors in boxers or MMA fighters who suffer serious brain damage — and it’s not just because of hard punches. Participants often undergo dramatic weight loss just before fights to meet weight requirements. Banks explained that quickly losing and regaining weight can spell trouble. “Dehydration comes with weight-cutting,” Banks said. “Their whole goal is to come into the fight as big and strong as possible, to inflict as much pain as possible. But with weight-cutting, you lose weight all over. “In the brain, there is something called CSF

– Greg Banks, M.D. [traumatic brain injuries] from happening?’ One thing we’re looking at is dates, so boxers have a deadline to make the weight that’s not so close to the fight, giving the body enough time to replace that fluid.” Banks said that doctors continue to seek ways to detect performance-enhancing drugs. They contribute to severe injuries because they “allow guys to train longer, get more muscle mass on their bodies and withstand more injuries. And they are able to inflict more injuries on their opponents because their strength is off the scales.” Banks started his medical journey as a teenager. He hoped to become a marine scientist. But when that discipline bored him, Banks’ physician father asked him several questions and then said: “You want to help people? Then maybe you should be a doctor.” “Then he walked away,” Banks said. “No pressure.” But the idea took root. At age 18, he began the trek that led him to his family-medicine practice in Front Royal, Va. His service as a ringside doctor has been just as rewarding. “Back in the day, getting your residency was like going through war,” he said. “And with that, you got something engrained in your character: Everyone’s a patient. When you see someone who looks like they are about to get into trouble, that stuff from my training kicks in. … And trouble is where the ringside physician steps in. No. 1, above all, is to protect the fighter. That’s more of a thrill than watching the fights.”

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The Afro-American, December 17, 2016 - January 6, 2017, The Afro-American

BALTIMORE-AREA

Race and Politics 2016

The AFROâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ms. Santa Program Delivers

2017 Has to Get Better. Right?

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;It feels like deja vu all over againâ&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; At the conclusion of what in the minds Sean Yoes of most was a horrific Senior AFRO Contributor 2015, the year of the Baltimore uprising after the death of Freddie Gray, many of us hoped and prayed things would get better in 2016. Remember in 2015, even before we witnessed the camera phone video of Grayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mangled body being hauled into the back of that police van, more camera phone video evidence of horrific police brutality had surfaced days earlier in South Carolina. On April 4, in North Charleston, Walter Scott was gunned down by police officer Michael Slager, as Scott ran away from Slager following a traffic stop. A little more than two months later, also in Charleston, S.C., White supremacist Dylann Roof slaughtered nine Black people on June 17, as they prayed at Emanuel AME Church. Meanwhile, Baltimore was speeding towards a record 344 homicides. So, there was no way 2016 could get worse right? Wrong. As 2016 winds down the dreadful specter of 2015 still lingers; the murder trial of Slager recently ended in a mistrial (one juror reportedly refused to convict Slager despite what seemed to be overwhelming evidence) and Roofâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s videotaped diabolical musings to police investigators following the murders of the Charleston Nine were recently made Continued on B2

Mayor Pughâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Former Senate Seat

Barbara Robinson Eager to Unify 40th District

Courtesy photo

State Delegate Barbara Robinson was nominated to fill the Senate seat left by Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh. By Deborah Bailey Special to the AFRO

Photo by Anderson Ward

Radio host â&#x20AC;&#x153;Coachâ&#x20AC;? Butch McAdams, Diane â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ms. Santaâ&#x20AC;? Hocker, Mayor Catherine E. Pugh and Sen. Larry Young, host of WOLB Radioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Larry Young Showâ&#x20AC;? all participated in the AFROâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ms. Santa Toy Drive. See more pictures on B4.

Board to Close Several Schools in 2017 By Deborah Bailey Special to the AFRO The Baltimore City Public School (BCPS) Board delayed a vote on closing West Baltimoreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Renaissance Academy this week. But several other schools, including Northwestern High School, werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t so lucky. Before a room of emotional neighborhood supporters and alumni, the school board voted to close the Baltimore

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I took very seriously the advisement of partners in the faith community and partners at the University of Maryland about the social-emotional needs of the young people.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Sonya Santelises

IT Academy, Grove Park Elementary/Middle School and Samuel F.B. Morse Elementary School, in addition to Northwestern High. All closures will be effective in Summer 2017. The board deferred Courtesy photo a decision on the fate of Baltimore City Schoolsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Renaissance Academy until CEO Sonya Santelises tells Jan. 24 as other options the AFRO she is trying to are being explored for the school, according to Baltimore keep Renaissance Academy school community intact. City Schoolsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; CEO, Sonya Santelises. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A number of partners have stepped up to the challenge and knew this was not about the school system just randomly wanting to close the school, but to do what was best for kids,â&#x20AC;? Santelises told the AFRO. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I took very seriously the advisement of partners in the faith Continued on B2

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By Michelle Richardson Special to the AFRO Brandon Payton, 22, has been sentenced to life plus 20 years for the murder of Steven Bass, 33, in June 2015. In September, Payton was convicted of first and second degree murder, as well as the use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence. Adam Lane Chaudry, Assistant Stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Attorney, prosecuted the case. On June 12, 2015, Baltimore City Police responded to the 2200 Block of North Fulton Avenue for a shots fired call. When officers arrived, they found Bass lying on the sidewalk suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to the back area. Bass was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. As the investigation into Bass murder developed, detectives obtained video footage from a nearby liquor store which captured the shooting on outside Baltimore Police Department surveillance cameras. The video showed Payton dressed in female clothing, including Brandon Payton, 22, was a dark-colored summer hat, multi-colored blouse, and light blue pants with a purse on convicted of killing Steven his right shoulder, walking along Pennsylvania Avenue towards North Fulton Avenue Bass, 33, while dressed as a prior to the shooting. woman. Payton then proceeded onto North Fulton, crossing the street to the same side where Bass was located. According to the video footage, Bass begins to be chased by Payton eastbound through traffic. Bass fell on the sidewalk in the 2200 block of Fulton Avenue where Payton caught up to him, shooting the victim four times in the back. Payton then fled the scene. A witness who said he saw the shooting told police that the shooter had touched a car. Police were able to lift Paytonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fingerprints from the vehicle. In a statement released to the public, States Attorney Marilyn Mosby praised the witness for coming forward. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Witness cooperation is crucial to guaranteeing that these criminals who wreak havoc on our streets are held accountable. I want to commend this person for stepping forward, setting an example for others to follow and helping us get another ruthless killer off the streets of Baltimore.â&#x20AC;?

Continued on B2

Past Seven Days

State Delegate Barbara Robinson was nominated to fill the Maryland Senate seat left vacant by newly-sworn-in Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh, following a vote by the 40th District Democratic Central Committee. The committeeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 5-2 decision to nominate Robinson over her rival, former City Council member William â&#x20AC;&#x153;Peteâ&#x20AC;? Welch, propelled the state delegate one step closer to the Senate seat Pugh held since 2005 until her swearing in as mayor Dec. 6. Robinson, currently deputy majority whip of the House of Delegates and former chair of the Legislative Black Caucus,

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I want to see the neighborhood organizations come together.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Barbara Robinson said she is eager to unify District 40. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I want to see the neighborhood organizations come together,â&#x20AC;? she told the AFRO. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I want to form a community summit and focus on team building, strategic planning and getting our community organizations to work together.â&#x20AC;? Robinson said her tough upbringing will help her develop legislation to aid Baltimoreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most vulnerable citizens: the homeless, residents who receive public assistance and victims of domestic violence. Robinson said she will also draw on her experience as a former instructor in the Maryland Department of Corrections to introduce legislation that will Continued on B2

301 2016 Total

Data as of Dec. 7

The Afro-American, December 17, 2016 - January 6, 2017

Robinson Continued from B1

support the needs of Baltimore’s re-entering citizens. “I think financial literacy should be taught to inmates within a year of their release,” she said. Finally, as a long-term small business owner and graduate of an HBCU, Robinson pledged to advance legislation supporting minority businesses and state support for the two minorityserving institutions in her district, Coppin State University and Baltimore City Community College. “I sit on the Appropriations Committee and the Economic Development Subcommittee where I hear the issues coming up regarding [minority] anchor institutions,” Robinson said. “I want to ensure the interests of our anchor institutions are advanced.” Robinson’s nomination was sent to Governor Larry Hogan, who is required to appoint the candidate recommended by the committee. The next session of the Maryland General Assembly will convene Jan. 11 in Annapolis. Other candidates for the 40th District Senate seat included former City Council member Nick J. Mosby, who ran and

dropped out of the Democratic Primary for mayor earlier this year, Delegate Antonio Hayes, and 40th District resident Deborah Brooks.

“I want to ensure the interests of our anchor institutions are advanced.” –Barbara Robinson Pugh did not endorse a candidate to replace fill her seat, but has worked closely with Robinson to represent the 40th District of the Maryland General Assembly for the past 10 years. Members of the 40th District Democratic Central Committee include: Betty Clark, chair; Sandra Almond-Cooper; Marshall Bell; Gary Brown, Jr.; Arlene Fisher; Agnes Welch and Tiffany

Welch. Clark co-owns a consignment boutique in Pigtown with Pugh. Agnes and Tiffany Welch are related to candidate William “Pete” Welch. Under the rules of the Democratic Central Committee, none were required to recuse themselves from voting for Pugh’s successor. Robinson was born in Alexandria City, Ala. and attended the University of Baltimore, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 1975. She later earned a master’s degree from Coppin State College in 1976. Robinson, the owner of STAR Associates and a published author, is married with four children. Maryland’s 40th legislative district is in the central western portion of Baltimore City. It contains Druid Park Lake, Druid Hill Park and the Maryland Zoo. Coppin State University, Baltimore City Community College, University of Maryland School of Law and University of Maryland, Baltimore are also located in the 40th District. It is one of five legislative districts totally encompassed by the city limits of Baltimore.

Race and Politics Continued from B1

public, as his capital murder trial begins. But, 2016 has crafted it’s own combustible alchemy of fear, loathing and rage. The murderous phenomena of mass shootings, perfected in America continued. On June 12, 2016 Omar Mateen killed 49 people and injured 53 others at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., in the deadliest mass shooting by a single gunmen in U.S. history. And there were more shooting deaths of unarmed Black men by law enforcement around the country (Terrence Crutcher, Philando Castile and Alton Sterling, among dozens of others). And there were several law enforcement officers gunned down ambush style (in Dallas and Baton Rouge most notably), possibly

in retaliation for the general practice of police brutality and misconduct waged primarily against Black, Brown and poor people. In Baltimore, the six police officers indicted for the death of Gray were all set free, even as the city continues to grapple with the devastating Department of Justice report on the Baltimore Police Department, which concluded the BPD systematically violated the civil and constitutional rights of mostly Black, mostly poor people for decades. And Baltimore has surpassed the 300 homicide mark...again. In 2016, among the famous and infamous who passed on, we lost two men (just two months apart) who lived mythical lives and inspired millions across the globe for generations; Muhammad Ali and Prince.

And then there is the ascension of Donald John Trump. To be real, the vast majority of Americans (including me) did not believe it was really possible Trump would defeat Hillary Clinton and become the 45th President of the United States, especially those who voted against him (including me). And indeed, Clinton leads Trump by more than 2.5 million votes. However, the results of the (many argue archaic) Electoral College prevail and Trump will become the next president (barring a seemingly implausible action by the presidential electors). As the reality of an apparent Trump victory began to sink in during the early morning hours of Nov. 9, it didn’t take long for the essence of Trump’s toxic

candidacy, fueled by sexism, racism, xenophobia and intolerance to manifest. In the ensuing days we have witnessed hate crimes directed at people of color, Muslims and LGBT people spike significantly. We have witnessed a president elect seemingly disinterested in receiving daily intelligence briefings. And we have witnessed the top four Trump cabinet positions occupied by White men for the first time in 27 years, as well as the selection of White Nationalist Steve Bannon as Trump’s Senior Counselor to the President. The great Maya Angelou said, “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.” 2017 will open with the looming inauguration (January 20) of the 45th President of the United

200 years of innovation, and we’ve only just begun.

States (which Time magazine dubbed, “The Divided States of America,” in its issue, which named Trump, “Person of the Year”) with the very real possibility of millions amassing in Washington to protest his presidency. Then the Trump era will officially begin, the culmination of the

hopes and fears of millions. But, 2017 has got to be better than 2016, right? Sean Yoes is a senior contributor to the AFRO and host and executive producer of, “AFRO First Edition,” which airs Monday through Friday, 5-7 p.m on WEAA 88.9.

Schools

Continued from B1 community and partners at the University of Maryland about the social-emotional needs of the young people. I am very confident that we have a number of proposals that will keep Renaissance as a school community intact,” she said. Former BCPS CEO Gregory Thornton threatened to close Renaissance Academy in 2015 after a student was stabbed inside a classroom at the school last Nov. In a separate incident that same month, a loaded handgun was confiscated from a student involved in an altercation at the school. Community leaders appealed successfully to keep the school open. Maryland Delegate Sandy Rosenberg (District 41) led the charge for advocates that appealed to keep Grove Park and Northwestern open. In a presentation to the school board, Rosenberg hinted that the process used to recommend school closures was not fully open to members of the community. “On very short notice we have been asked to defend Grove Park,” Rosenberg said. “If the board decides to close either of these schools [Grove Park or Northwestern High School] what comes next needs to be a very transparent process,” he implored. “Any time I see schools closing, that really hurts my heart,” said Shawon Reed, who passionately appealed to keep Northwestern open. “As far as Northwestern High School, if there is anything you can do to save that school, it is a staple of that community. When you close the school, look at what happens to the community,” Reed said. The board voted unanimously to close Samuel F.B. Morse Elementary, Baltimore IT Academy and Northwestern High. The vote to close Grove Park Elementary/Middle was 8-1. Michelle Harris Bondima, who was recently appointed to the School Board in October 2016, said the decision to close community schools was painful and difficult for her and fellow board members. “People on this board are very concerned and we care. We live in Baltimore,” said Bondima. “This is very emotional for me. But when you do the research you have to remove that emotion and look at what’s good for children and the community.” Northwestern High is scheduled to merge with Forest Park High School, now undergoing renovations in accordance with the BCPS’s 21st Century School Buildings Plan. Samuel F.B. Morse students will be rezoned to attend Frederick Elementary School. The Calvin M. Rodwell Elementary/Middle school zone will be expanded to include Grove Park students.

Killer

Continued from B1 As BGE’s 200th anniversary year comes to a close, it has never been more clear to us that the innovations of America’s first gas utility have been—and will always be— centered on you, our valued customers. Moving smart energy forward with reliability, safety and a commitment to our community continues to be our purpose and our promise. In the same way that customers have counted on us to deliver through the years, you can be sure that BGE’s 3,200 employees are continuing to shape the future of energy here in central Maryland. Join us as we enter a new era of energy innovation, when BGE and our customers—together—will move smart energy forward with no less drive and passion than the generations before us. CALVIN G. BUTLER JR. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

MOVING SMART ENERGY FORWARD SINCE 1816

Mosby went on to also say “This case illustrates that criminals go to great lengths to cover their crimes; however, this case is a testament that my office will collaborate with the police and together, we willBGE go to great lengths to prosecute and Advertiser: hold them accountable.” On Publication: line court records show Payton killed Bass eight Afrothat American days after he had been released on bail on charges stemming from the unrest following April 2015 death Freddie Gray. Insertion Dates: the Saturday, Dec. 10, of 2016 Payton was charged May 28 with charges of 2016 rioting, Saturday, Dec. 24, malicious destruction of property, disorderly conduct and burglary. Ad Size: 7.28” x 10” Payton made national headlines during the Baltimore unrest when he was photographedCalvin “fist bumping” a National Guard Title: Open Letter soldier by the Associated Press. The photo was picked up by news sites around country.this publication material If you havethe received Police haven’t a motive for Payton Bass. in error, orreleased have any questions aboutkilling it please contact the traffic dept. at Weber Shandwick at (410) 558 2100.

December 17, 2016 - January 6, 2017, The Afro-American

“Fairy tales can come true, it can happen to you, if you’re young at heart. For its hard, you will find to be narrow of mind if you’re young at heart. You can go to extremes with impossible schemes you can laugh when your dreams fall apart at the seams. And life gets more exciting with each passing day and love is either in your heart or on its way. Don’t you know that it’s worth every treasure on earth to be young at heart. For as rich as you are its much better by far to be young at heart. And, if you should survive to a hundred and five look at all you’ll derive out of bein’ alive. And here is the best part; you have a head start if you are among the very young at heart.”-Jimmy Durante Senator Catherine Pugh’s fairytale became reality, becoming the 50th Mayor of Baltimore City; and the third female in this historic position, which includes former Mayors Sheila Dixon and Stephanie Rawlings- Blake. Another history making moment when she received the oath of office from Maryland Court of Appeals Judge Shirley Watts. “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”-Harriet Tubman On a cold rainy night, more than 1500 people gathered at The Baltimore Hilton Hotel for Mayor Catherine Pugh’s inaugural ball on Dec. 6. It was a night in which well-wishers were elated at the chance to celebrate Baltimore as it moves forward. Jovial laughter and camaraderie replaced political differences as political rivals settled for a night of down-home partying. Resplendent in a red floor length gown, the newly inaugurated Mayor moved gracefully throughout the ballroom greeting guests in spite of the large security entourage’s attempt at crowd control as the Mayor lovingly acknowledged the crowd. The Panama Band played endlessly while guests enjoyed a continuous buffet including butler-passed crab cakes. People enjoying the festivities that evening were Kimberly De Laine, Kimberly Robinson, Charles “Chuck” Thomas, Bilal Ali, former county Executive Jim Smith, Glen and Delegate Sharon Middleton, Dr. Thelma Daley, Rita and Elvard Cooper, Victor Green, Yvonne West, Yolanda West, Sarah George, Victor Holiday, Lafayette Carr, Travis Winky, Chyna Allen, Monica Watkins, Nick Mosby, Joe Ann Otis, Delegate Jill Carter, Norman Johnson, Derrick Compton Sr., George Ray, Darnell Moses, Yale Madison, Glenn Smith, Cori Ramos, Police Commissioner Kevin Davis, Delegate Cheryl Glenn, Joyce Smith, Senator Tommy Broadwater,

Robert Wallace, Zach McDaniels Eric Bryant, Eric Booker, Doni Glover, Dana and Ralph Moore, Rainier Harvey, Tracee Strum-Gilliam, Muriel Webber, Linda Felder, Troy Johnson, Kim Washington, Edna Smith, Dr. Charlene Cooper-Boston, Sarah Smalley, Rosemary “Duchess” Atkinson, Tobi Pulley, Anderson Ward, Marsha Jews, Senator Joan Conway Major Sabrina Tapp-Harper, Darren Henson, Comptroller Joan Pratt, Betty and John Clark, Dr. Ruth Pratt, Frank Coakley, Dan Henson, Alice Cole, Congressman Elijah Cummings, Delegate Curt Anderson and Senator Nathaniel McFadden. Family and friends gathered at the Engineers Club to celebrate the birthday of everybody’s favorite Delegate, Antonio Hayes as he celebrated his 39th birthday. Among the guests at the VIP reception were Milton Mayo, Demaune Millard, Al Wylie, Salima Marriott, Charles Gibbs, Diane Bell McKoy, Henrietta Scott, Annie Hall, Delegate Barbara Robinson, Nick Mosby, David Couser, Councilman John Bullock, Councilman Ryan Dorsey, and Delegate Shelly Hettleman. The spirited party had people dancing throughout the evening while enjoying passed hors d’oeuvres featuring crab balls and beef wellington. Happy 70th birthday Dorothy Carmella, Darren Henson, Deaneen Miles, Lora Mayo, Patrick Roberson, James Coleman, Milton Dugger, Eric Bryant, Donald Rainey, and the lovely Roslyn Wood. “Yeah, I have never been so much in love before. What a difference a true love made in my life. So nice so right. Loving you gave me something new that I’ve never felt never dreamed of something’s changed. No, it’s not the feeling I had before Ooh, it’s much much more.”-LTD and Jeffrey Osborne DJ Sugar Chris has been entertaining generations of partygoers for years, so it’s an honor to dedicate Jeffrey Osborne’s “Love Ballad” to Christopher “DJ Sugar Chris” Tittle as he walks “down the aisle” to his new bride Scotta. John and Stacy Lee of Columbia hosted “JOY” at the Columbia Doubletree Hilton Hotel to benefit Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center. More than 100 guests joined in the merriment. “There’s a sweet, sweet Spirit in this place, and I know that it’s the Spirit of the Lord. There are sweet expressions on each face, and I know they feel the presence of the Lord.”-Elvis Presley This week six angels claimed their wings. Our dear friend Priscilla Lansey, sister of Yvonne, Patrick and Gaines Lansey; Polly Taylor, the mother of our longtime college friend, T:11” George Taylor and his wife Alice; Bernice Nickens, mother of S:10.5”

our friend Dr. J. Laws Nickens and aunt of Jean Powell and Rosa Pryor-Trusty and her husband Shorty on the death of Rosa’s sister, Maxine Pryor; Dante and Candes Daniels and Miles “Beanie” Bellamy on the death of their grandmother Mildred Barber and to Valerie and Myron Bundy on the death of Valerie’s mother, Ida Hopkins. Continue to keep these families and all families who have “lost someone” in your prayers during this holiday season. “What’s happening?” The Optimist Club of Maryland’s annual bull roast is Jan. 21, 2017 at Martin’s West. For tickets call 443-255-6905. The Baltimore Chapter of Justice, Unity, Generosity and Service, International (J.U.G.S.) and The Society are hosting The Nutcracker presented by Baltimore Dance Tech on Dec. 17. The Society and J.U.G.S., a service organization, serves women and children in Baltimore and surrounding communities. Don’t be “tardy for the party” Coppin State University’s homecoming weekend is Feb. 8-12, 2017. Contact Marcia Cephus at 410-951-3800 or alumni@coppin.edu. “I’ll be seeing you” The Howard L. Cornish Metropolitan Baltimore Chapter of the Morgan State University National Alumni Association Annual

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The Afro-American, December 17, 2016 - January 6, 2017

Steppin’ Out Bunch’s Holiday Fundraiser for the AFRO’s Ms. Santa

Christmas gifts for Mrs. Santa with Denise Dobson McDonald, Bill Long, Almie McIntyre, Brenda Abrams, Marsha Taylor, Patricia Payne, Helen McDonald and Yvonne Furniss-Frye

The Steppin’ Out Bunch fundraiser was on Dec. 5 at the Forum Caterers in Baltimore, Md. They started out as a group of retired educators who now gather to party with a purpose. Over the years, they have given out over $50,000.00 in scholarships. They also participate in The Afro’s Ms. Santa’s Toy Drive. Mildred Long-Harper was the M. C. for the event. Eleven organizations were given scholarship checks. Music provided by D.J. Gerald P. Brown. Mrs. Santa arrived in the AFRO truck to collect the donated toys

Diane Hocker and Clarence Massey

Mildred Long-Harper, Victor Green, Denise Dobson-McDonald and Valerie Sturdivant

Marsha Taylor, Long, Ms. Santa, Cleve Brister, Almie McIntyre, Patricia Payne and Mildred Long-Harper Photos by Anderson R. Ward

NCBW Donates to the Ms. Santa Program

Volunteers helping Ms. Santa carry gifts to the Afro truck

Landa McLaurin, president, National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Baltimore Metropolitan Chapter

The AFRO’s Ms. Santa Toy Drive On Dec. 8 the AFRO’s Ms. Santa Toy Drive received bikes donated from the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity at the AFRO’s Baltimore headquarters. Omega Psi Phi Dwayne White and Aaron Moore delivered 40 bikes for children. The AFRO’s Ms. Santa program has been helping the community for over 80 years.

Photo by Virgie Williams

SAVE THE DATE

Aug. 12, 2017 AFRO 125th ANNIVERSARY

Dwayne White delivering bikes

Call Diane Hocker for More Info:

Ms. Santa excited to receive the bikes

410.554.8243

Ms. Santa Spreads Cheer

Ms. Santa, Dwayne White and Aaron Moore Aaron Moore, Chapter Chaplain Photos by James Bentley

Photos by James Fields

Larry Young Broadcasts from the AFRO On Dec. 13 Baltimore radio legend Larry Young, along with his radio partner Coach Butch McAdams, broadcast his morning radio show from the headquarters of the AFRO-American Newspaper in Baltimore in support of the AFRO’s Ms. Santa Toy Drive. Guests included Baltimore Mayor

Catherine Pugh, Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby, Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis and the AFRO’s Ms. Santa.

Photos by Anderson Ward

Diane Hocker, Ms. Santa and Kevin Davis, BPD Commissioner

“Coach” Butch McAdams

Ms. Santa and Senator Larry Young, WOLB Radio

Santa, Clarence Massey

Marilyn Mosby, Baltimore City State Attorney, drops off some toys

A. Dwight Pettit “Coach” Butch McAdams, Diane Hocker, Ms. Santa, Mayor Catherine E. Pugh and Sen. Larry Young, WOLB Radio

Brenda Loving, Tony White and Wanda Pearson

Kamau High, AFRO Managing Editor

Senator Larry Young, WOLB Radio and Lenora Howze

Kyé Stewart brought toys to give.

John Berkley, Diane Hocker and Ron Williams, Basileus, Omega Psi PhiPi Omega Chapter

Ms. Santa is happy to give!

AFRO staffers, aka Ms. Santa’s Helpers Brenda Loving, Sheila Scott, Diane Hocker, Ms. Santa, Kevin Byers, Wanda Pearson and Clarence Massey, Santa

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

December 17, 2016 - January 6, 2017, The Afro-American

Interview

ARTS & CULTURE

John Legend Acts in ‘La La Land’

feel comfortable singing, that particular song [“Start a Fire”] worked, and made sense for the character I was playing. Yet, it posed an interesting challenge, because you wanted the song to be good and represent a viable creative path, but you also wanted it to be a song Ryan’s character, Sebastian, wouldn’t want to play, given the storyline. So, it called for an interesting balance of making it a good, jazz-influenced tune you could hear on the radio while also making it something that represented too much of a departure for Sebastian.

By Kam Williams Special to the AFRO Ohio-born John Legend is an award-winning, platinumselling singer/songwriter. His work has garnered him ten Grammy Awards, an Oscar and a Golden Globe, among others. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied English and African-American literature, Legend participated in a wide range of musical activities while in college. Legend’s debut album, “Get Lifted,” was released to critical acclaim in 2004. The album landed multiple Grammys, including Best R&B Album, Best New Artist and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. And earlier this year, Legend won his first Academy Award for “Glory,” a song he wrote and performed with Common for the film “Selma.” He’s received the 2010 BET Humanitarian of the Year Award, the 2009 CARE Humanitarian Award for Global Change, the 2009 Bishop John T. Walker Distinguished Humanitarian Service Award from Africare, and the 2011 Harvard Foundation Artist of the Year Award. Legend sits on the boards of The Education Equality Project, Teach for America, Stand for Children and the Harlem Village Academies. Here, he shares his thoughts about playing his first, major movie role opposite Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone in “La La Land,” a picture which he also executive produced. And he talks about his philanthropic work and his new album, “Darkness and Light,” as well. KW: Let me start by asking what made you decide to do this film with Damien [writer/director Damien Chazelle]? JL: Well, it really started with meeting him as a filmmaker in my capacity as a producer, because my company, Get Lifted Film Company, has done a few movies and a couple of television shows now. We love meeting with up-and-coming directors who are doing great things. And, obviously, upon the success of “Whiplash,” Damien was someone we’d love to collaborate with. KW: After watching the film, I was surprised to see that you have so few acting credits, because you did a phenomenal job. JL: Thank you! I’d spent my whole career focused on music. Acting wasn’t something I was really pursuing, even

KW: You consider yourself a feminist. Why should men should feel as concerned as women about female issues and how men can advance women’s causes? JL: First of all, because its the right thing to do. It’s fair, you have women in your family, women you work with, and women who are your friends. Why shouldn’t they have the same possibilities and opportunities as you? Why shouldn’t they live in a world where they are valued for what they contribute, and valued as much as men are for the same thing? Who wouldn’t want to live in that world? It doesn’t hurt men for women to do well, because it just makes the planet a better place. There’s more innovation, more creativity and more productivity in the world. All of our lives are improved when women have power, influence and opportunity.

(Courtesy photo)

John Legend is one of the stars of the new film, “La La Land.” though we were doing film and TV behind the camera as producers, because music takes up so much of my creative energy. But I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to work with such great people. KW: What did you think of Justin Hurwitz’s score for “La La Land?” Did he compose the songs you played in the movie? JL: We wrote those together. He, Marius [de Vries], Angelique [Cinelu] and I. The four of us just sat in a room and played, and figured it out. Justin, obviously, was the composer for the rest of the film, and he’s wonderful. But since I always

Actress Aunjanue Ellis Influencing Social Change By Mark F. Gray Special to the AFRO Her roles as Nancy – Nat Turner’s mother – in the movie “Birth Of Nation” and as Miranda Shaw – the Assistant FBI Director – on ABC’s “Quantico” are only part of what drives actress Aunjanue Ellis these days. Acting is her career but her true calling may be as an activist in this climate of social change. Though her livelihood is made in the make believe world that is Hollywood Ellis remains true to her Mississippi roots. She loves football and despises the state flag which still flies the star and bars in homage to the Confederacy. Ellis – a passionate NFL fan – is challenging the league to remove the Mississippi flag from waving at the Super Bowl until it has been changed. She wrote and read an open letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goddell during a press conference while in D.C. last month. “With the NFL’s insistence on flying the confederate flag, is the NFL telling its African American players, telling America that they are merely material value,”? Ellis wrote. “Is the NFL the new plantation?” She is vigilant about bringing attention to her state’s allegiance to the Confederate symbols that still wave. Mississippi remains the only state in the union that continues to fly the stars and bars on their state flag. Earlier this year Governor Phil Bryant announced Mississippi would celebrate Confederate Heritage Month in April which has divided the state. Ellis is leading the movement of public dissent by penning op-ed pieces for

Time Magazine and making statements with her wardrobe. She wore a special evening gown to the Gracie Awards where she advocated for President Obama to become more active in the cause of the flag’s removal. Her gown was white and she had words “Take It Down President Obama” in golden bronze hue across the front hoping he would become an advocate for the cause. Her career is flourishing but Ellis still pushes the envelope on activism which has setback many actors who have represented causes in the past. Born into a family that stood on front lines of the original civil rights movement in Mississippi and Georgia activism is a part of her social DNA. “We can never grow complacent,” Ellis told the AFRO. “As we’ve all have witnessed over the last year and a half power dynamics change and because of that we have to fight those battles again. We want to believe that we’ve achieved something and we don’t have to fight that battle anymore. But that’s not just how it works”. Ellis is using her platform to address racial issues with the same presence that she brings to her roles. She publicly supported San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick for his on field protest during the national anthem. She frequently cites how South Carolina removed the stars and bars from its flag after Dylann Roof shot nine members of the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston. Ellis is “proud” of her work in the “Birth of a Nation” epoch though she but understands the “hurt and pain” of those involved in the rape case against director Nate

KW: I’d like to congratulate you on your new album, Darkness and Light, which I’ve been listening to. It’s terrific. JL: Thank you. I’m really proud of it. It’s funny being in La La Land mode today, since I’ve been in Darkness and Light mode for the past month, and I’ll be back into it for the next year or so. It’s exciting to support this really beautiful film and to have a new album out at the same time. KW: I’ve always been impressed by your incredible commitment to charity work. What has inspired you to do that? JL: I’ve always thought that if I were successful in this career, I would have a lot of resources and a lot of influence, and that I would would want to use them to make the world a better place. Part of my making the world better involves creating great art, and part involves my being an activist and contributing directly to causes that improve people’s lives with my time, my money and my influence. I think that’s part of who I am and of who I always will be.

Angel Richardson Succeeding on YouTube with God

becoming rich after being on public assistance.” Richardson was also struck by the many parallels between her and Vanzant’s lives. “She was talking Angel Richardson failed ninth grade at about when she was younger she didn’t like the Baltimore’s Franklin High School three times. She tone of her voice. I didn’t either. I thought it was ended up quitting high school and never looking too deep to be a girl. She didn’t like the texture of back. her hair. I didn’t either. She didn’t like the color of The vivacious YouTube personality, life coach, her skin. I didn’t either. It was like everything that and author Richardson told the AFRO, “I quit high she was saying was so me. But at the end of the school when I was sixteen years old and never day she is sitting on the stage with Oprah Winfrey. went back to get my diploma or GED.” Like how did she do this?” Looking back, she realized the work wasn’t as Inspired, Richardson ran out and “bought hard as she believed at the time. “It’s funny”, she every product that [Vanzant] had on the market. explains, “because now that I have children of my Back then it was cassette tapes. I got all of her own and I see their work and I’m like, ‘I could cassette tapes and her books and I just devoured have done this if I paid attention or believed in them. Because of that it started opening me up to myself.’” see myself in a different way.” She attributes two things to her Since then, the longtime congregant at underwhelming Baltimore’s performance in Empowerment high school. One Temple went on was her peer to open her own group. “All the cleaning business girlfriends that I which she ran had, my close-knit with her husband girlfriends, we all of over twenty quit school at the years. She then same time. We opened her own all got pregnant store and became around the same a Christiantime, we all were based author and getting help from life coach with the state at the thousands of same time. They followers on her were all doing the (Courtesy photo) Youtube channel. same things I was Angel Richardson found inspiration in Iyanla In addition to doing,” she said. what she gleaned Vanzant, a motivational speaker. Another from Vanzant, factor, which she attributes all likely weighs much more heavily into her inability her growth and success to God. She says, “My to thrive as a young girl was, “being called relationship with God is how I am able to have stupid by my mother as I was growing up. As a a successful relationship with my husband, with consequence, I made a lot of decisions that helped my children, with myself, with the lady at the me validate that I was stupid.” grocery store. It’s my relationship with God and A member of Oprah Winfrey’s army of life taking on that responsibility of believing that I am experts, Iyanla Vanzant, changed all that. A stay God’s eyes, ears, nose and mouth right here on the at home mother on welfare by seventeen, for earth.” years Richardson made it a habit of watching The key to that relationship is prayer and many of the talk shows that aired daily. “I’m meditation. In fact, her latest book is called living in a government home where, at that time, Mornings With God: A Thirty-One Day Morning my television bill was more than my rent. I’m Prayer and Meditation Journal. She started watching Iyanla on the ‘Oprah Winfrey Show’ writing books because she “wanted to give to and she said how she used to be on government people what I believe Iyanla gave to me and that assistance and living in public housing. Now she was a tool to discover who I was and to help was wealthy,” Richardson said. people figure out who they are.” Her core belief is The irony hit Richardson like a ton of bricks. that people should “get in the habit of being still “That was the very first time that I had ever heard because in that stillness is where they will find the or seen welfare and wealth in the same sentence. courage to do what their mind is whatever God is I knew there were rich people but never someone calling them to do.” By Nadine Matthews Special to the AFRO

(Twitter)

Aunjanue Ellis wears a gown with the words ‘Take It Down President Obama,’ a reference to the Mississippi state flag that contains the Confederate Stars and Bars. Parker that he was cleared of. However, she feels its historical context is important speaks volumes today. “In a few weeks we will have a man as president who is an unapologetic White supremacist who surrounds himself with other White supremacists,” said Ellis. “We need to have discussions about rebellion of the enslaved because we need to be staging rebellions in our lives because of where we are and the world we live in”.

The Afro-American, December 17, 2016 - January 6, 2017

Prince George’s County

Bowie Boy Makes Generous Hair Donation By Charise Wallace Special to the AFRO Sept. 10, was a heroic day for 10-year-old Thomas Moore when he decided to chop off two-year’s worth of hair growth so that it could be donated to pediatric cancer patients. He did so as part of a program run by Big Hearts and Bundles. The owner of Reniece & Co., hair stylist Reniece Goodwine, is the mastermind behind cutting Moore’s hair all off, and the woman who produced and hosted Big Hearts and Bundles: Celebrating The Beauty of Giving, a charity event that occurred on Dec. 3 at The Woman’s Club of Bethesda. Goodwine runs an upscale salon in Rockville, Md. She specializes in creating

BALTIMORE/DC PREMIERE

natural-looking weaves and for years preserved hair, so she was thrilled when Moore and his mother, Angie Pulos, reached out to her about his plan. “I was so excited,” said Goodwine. “For me, that was the first time that I cut a whole head for a hair donation on a male…a young Black boy at that,” Goodwine told the AFRO. The event occurred all because of Moore’s courageous act to help make a young girl named Kyssi Andrews from Houston, Texas, who in 2014 lost her hair due to chemotherapy. She was diagnosed with Wilm’s Tumor, a rare form of kidney cancer. “I was thinking that no girl should deserve to have like no hair, they deserve to have long and beautiful hair,” said Moore. “That’s when I decided to cut my hair.”

Kyssi died suddenly in June 2015 at the age of 6, one year before Moore was able to form a wig out of his hair and donate it to her. But despite the disappointing news, he pushed through to finish accomplishing his goal for her and for other pediatric patients in need. “When I was getting my hair braided, I would think like ‘I’m doing this for somebody and I can’t give up with what I’m doing. I’ve grown it so long…I can’t just give up,’” said Moore. Even though the event surrounded around Moore’s gift, Goodwine made it about the idea of giving, and most importantly families who dealt with childhood cancer. Goodwine invited Kyssi’s mom, Marla Jones, to the event, giving recognition to her family and the Kyssi Andrews Foundation For Pediatric Cancer.

(Photo by Charise Wallace)

Thomas Moore, who donated his hair, and Marla Jones, mother of Kyssi Jones, who died of cancer.

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December 17, 2016 - January 6, 2017, The Afro-American

AFRO Sports Desk Faceoff

SPORTS

Should Westbrook Be Called a Superstar? he’ll be proven right.

By Perry Green and Stephen D. Riley Special to the AFRO

Green: Iverson was a flat-out star and guess who his favorite player is now? Westbrook. What happens when Westbrook accomplishes both feats this year? Will he be a true superstar by Cuban’s lofty standards? It’s always been difficult for guards to carry their teams to high achievements based on size and stature, but Westbrook is a 6-foot, 3-inch physical specimen. He has the size and skill set to shuffle between both guard spots and the athleticism to play bigger than his size and act like a forward. I just like the fire that Westbrook is playing with right now. He’s on a mission to dominate without Durant, and he probably doesn’t care about Cuban’s opinion. I’m not counting him out for a playoff series win and at least 50 wins.

Oklahoma City Thunder all-star guard Russell Westbrook tied NBA history with seven-straight tripledoubles—and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban doesn’t care. Cuban recently repeated sentiments he first expressed last postseason that Westbrook isn’t a superstar. Cuban’s explained that his definition of a superstar NBA player is one that can lead an average team to 50 regular season wins and a playoff victory. Cuban referred back to the 2014-2015 season when the Thunder missed the playoffs with Kevin Durant injured and Westbrook healthy and thriving. Cuban wouldn’t reconsider his stance with Westbrook—but the AFRO Sports Desk might, as Perry Green and Stephen D. Riley debate whether Cuban is correct. Riley: According to Cuban’s definition I would agree. I don’t believe Westbrook is capable of carrying the Thunder to a playoff win, but 50 wins could be possible. The postseason is all that matters to Cuban, and he might have a point. As talented as Westbrook is, his inefficiencies are easily exploitable in the playoffs as Oklahoma City has painfully learned over the years. It doesn’t help that there isn’t another proven playoff performer on the team. New acquisition Victor Oladipo operated as the second-best player on most nights, but he’s never played in a playoff game. The talent is unbelievable but according to Cuban, Westbrook isn’t a superstar. Green: The Thunder will win 50 games, make it past the first round, and prove Cuban wrong. Oklahoma City currently sits sixth in the West with a 14-9 record and a .609 winning percentage. If a team wins 60 percent of their games in an 82-game schedule, that’s a 50-32 record. The Thunder are still coming together as a team but they’re already playing solid basketball. They’ll be more dangerous as the season goes on. Outside of matchups against San Antonio or Golden State, a Westbrook-led team stands as good a chance as any team to make it out of the first round. Riley: Only four teams cranked out 50-plus wins last year in the Western Conference, so let’s not pencil in OKC for that mark just because they’re currently on pace for it. It’s a grind in the West just to make the playoffs, and we’re talking about a roster loaded with a bunch of average players surrounding one highly-talented player inside the toughest conference in the NBA. The Thunder have the odds against them if Westbrook is going to prove Cuban wrong. Playing solo in OKC puts Westbrook in Allen Iverson’s shoes—a really great player on a team that’s not good enough for him to shine like the real superstar he is. I would want to know Cuban’s thoughts on Iverson as well, but when it comes to Westbrook,

Superstars and Their Egos Before you start thinking this piece is about a breakfast waffle, it ain’t. This is about that a little worm that exists inside our heads, telling us we are candidates for a big “S” on the chest. Sometimes our egos lead us to be offensive, sometimes amusing and sometimes clever and in good taste. This effort is going to address the egos of some football players. If you are a fan of the NFL, you are aware of the recent sanctions against Cam Newton. Cam is a superstar quarterback, but he forced his head coach to tap him on the shoulder and point to the bench for violation of

AP Photos/Alonzo Adams and Nell Redmond

(Above) Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after shooting a 3-pointer; (right) Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

team protocol. Most teams have a dress code for travel, and for quite some time, Cam has been dancing to the tune of his own drummer. With the Panthers on a downslide, it was necessary for the coach to issue a wakeup call. There was no better way than to nudge his star back in line. Cam had a habit of dressing more for Halloween than for travel to another city. So, when he reported for a flight with no tie, he was benched for the first play of the game. Coach Ron Rivera didn’t want to gamble with the fans or management, so this was the perfect ploy. No fines or loss of game play, but it started a buzz among the fans, and embarrassment can be a pretty good tonic for making a point. My spouse is fan of Black QBs, and when Cam would score and run through

the end zone to give the ball to a kid, she would smile. But as the celebrations got a little bigger, her smile got a little smaller. When the Panthers were on a run last season she didn’t miss a game. But after Cam tanked during the Super Bowl, she hasn’t watched a game. Hearing about the benching sanction, she said, “Serves him right.” I have to admit, his celebrations were starting to get on my nerves, too. When he got his butt kicked during the Super Bowl, he became just a footnote in my memory. This issue started me thinking of some of the other superstars who fell from grace with bad antics. Plaxico Burress was a star who caught a tip-toe gamewinning touchdown to help the Giants win the Super Bowl. But when he got caught carrying a gun in NYC, he had plenty of time to reflect on his behavior while he was in the slammer. Adam “Pac Man” Jones was a shutdown cornerback and his performance on the field was exemplary, but when he decided the make it rain by showering the patrons at a night club with money, he

got a little attitude adjustment. Michael Vick found out that fighting dogs wasn’t cool outside of his circle of friends. All of these guys had an ego check and had time to reflect on their behavior while vacationing in the house with slamming doors. In contrast to the preceding individuals are other characters on the other side of the coin. Baltimore running back Lenny Moore was noted for leaving Pennsylvania Avenue (The Harlem of Baltimore) on Sunday afternoon and arriving at Memorial Stadium in time for the game. Green Bay Packers fans were treated to Paul Hornug’s shifting style of running while fighting off the haze of a hangover. Hornug was a standout player, but was forced to take a year off for betting on games. My favorite was Oakland’s Ken Stabler. Ken would readily admit that he studied game plans by the light of a juke box. He would often arrive at games with a lady under each arm. This last group of guys were all egodriven, but they were characters of a good kind.

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December 17, 2016 - January 6, 2017, The Afro-American

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY-AREA CommunityPolice Relations: A 2017 Priority

New MGM Resort Hits Capacity Minutes After Opening

Continued on D2

Legislators Target Sex Trafficking By Shantella Y. Sherman Special to the AFRO ssherman@afro.com

By The Associated Press After Maryland’s 2016 legislative session gave way to notable criminal justice reform, the ACLU of Maryland is looking to revive some prolonged efforts in improving the communitypolice relationship that may have fallen to the wayside. The majority of the Justice Reinvestment Act, which passed in 2016, will not go into effect until Oct. 1, 2017, and the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland is looking to make the most of the 2017 session in the meantime. “You know the Justice Reinvestment Act was no penicillin,” Toni Holness, public policy director at the ACLU of Maryland, said. “But it did accomplish a number of the reforms that we were looking to see.” A dense piece of Maryland state legislation, the 2016 Justice Reinvestment Act instituted reforms that would take money out of incarceration and put it into crime prevention, while also shifting the state toward a policy centered on rehabilitation, rather than punishment, for drug offenders. But civil rights groups like

Prince George’s County

Sex trafficking in Prince George’s County has been dealt a severe blow with new legislation introduced to fine property owners, landlords, and tenants whose properties are used for prostitution. The Prince George’s County Human Trafficking Task Force, in conjunction with the Workgroup to Study introduced by Councilmember

Photo by Rob Roberts

On opening night, Dec. 8, MGM National Harbor employees put on a festival for patrons. Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker told the AFRO he is “ecstatic” to see the project come to fruition. The casino created 6,000 construction jobs and 4,000 permanent jobs, 2,000 of those jobs are filled by county residents. MGM International’s new MGM National Harbor casino/resort “I can’t believe the way it looks,” Baker said. “Part of in Oxon Hill, Md. was so busy this past weekend it asked potential attracting businesses and folks to come is the look. They want visitors to consider coming another time. Thousands arrived for the to go where things are happening, the buzz.” casino/resort’s grand opening on Dec. 8 and it reached full capacity The $1.4 billion casino/resort also lived up to its hype after only 45 minutes. Then people were turned away from the for many visitors, including Maureen and Paul Corley, who casino floor after reaching full capacity again traveled from St. Mary’s County to the on Dec. 9, and heavy crowds and traffic were resort’s opening for their 32nd wedding reported all weekend long. anniversary. “It is one of the most romantic Within 12 hours of opening, more places I’ve ever seen – and we are world than 50,000 people streamed through the travelers,” Maureen told the AFRO. “We massive MGM National Harbor Resort wanted to stick close to home, but have the – Rushern Baker type of relaxation and dining experiences & Casino and passed its glittery array of 3,300 flashing slot machines, walked we would have had going to some distant around its one-of-a-kind sculptures destination. This has everything we wanted stretching up to a glass roof and strolled out onto an expansive and we can still make it to church on Sunday.” terrace offering a chilly panorama of the Potomac River. And proving it could give Vegas a run for its money, the Industry observers note that the 1 million square foot casino/ resort has added a star-studded list of celebrity entertainers to resort is expected to provide an economic boost for the region its upcoming concert line up, including Boyz II Men, Lionel as the first full-scale gambling venue in Maryland featuring Richie, Mariah Carey, Bruno Mars, Sting, Cher, Duran Duran, high-end restaurants and entertainment. and Earth, Wind & Fire. By Shantella Y. Sherman Special to the AFRO ssherman@afro.com

“I can’t believe the way it looks.”

Courtesy Photo

Councilmember Deni Taveras introduced a bill to strengthen the laws against sex trafficking in the county. Deni Taveras (D-Adelphi), Council Bill 59-2016. This bill expands and clarifies laws connected to sex trafficking, which many believe will protect those vulnerable to traffickers. Continued on D2

Prince George’s County

Franklin’s Second DUI Leaves Constituents Stunned By James Wright Special to the AFRO jwright@afro.com

Prince George’s County

Church Celebrates Christ through Christmas Plays on adult themes including the tension between the Virgin Mary and her fiancé Joseph after she told him she was pregnant with the Christ Thousands are flocking to the D.C. area’s child. He also focuses on the mass killing of mega churches for Broadway-style productions baby boys by Herod to try to eliminate Jesus. created in the name of Jesus. From the First “King Herod killed a lot of children and Baptist Church of Glenarden to Riverdale people just don’t talk about that,” said Jenkins. Baptist’s {Living Christmas Tree}, to Evangel “There is a need for ministry to find love Cathedral’s {Christmas Celebration 2016}, again. No matter who is the president I want to there is no stress that God shortage is still God. He of holiday is still on the productions. throne.” “The While some whole goal productions for this can be play is to – Elder R. Kevin Mathews expensive, the reach the First Baptist community,” production is said Joshua Jenkins, playwright and producer free and over the years has attracted more than for the Uncut Christmas Story. “It is more 16,000 people. In addition to the production, than just entertainment. It is telling the story those who arrive early can browse through of Jesus in a provocative way. It is not spooky the sights, smells, and sounds of Bethlehem. spiritual. It is a story that everybody can relate This is similar to what the cast does at Evangel to.” Cathedral and Riverdale Baptist. Unlike Hollywood treatments of the story Continued on D2 of Jesus, Jenkins, who wrote the script, focuses By Hamil R. Harris Special to the AFRO

“These productions inspire the community and lifts people’s spirits.”

One of Prince George’s County’s brightest political stars recently was involved in a car crash where alcohol is suspected of being a factor, however residents are willing to withhold judgment on his case until the legal process takes course. On Nov. 21, Prince George’s County Council member Mel Franklin (D-District 9) was charged with driving under the influence (DUI). He was involved in a crash that injured two people in the other vehicle on Pennsylvania Avenue near Forestville, Md. It has been widely reported that Franklin’s blood-alcohol concentration level tested 0.10 , over the legal limit of 0.08, and that he was 70 yards away from the scene of the accident. Franklin hasn’t publicly commented on the incident. His attorney, Theresa L. Moore, could not be reached for comment. It was later revealed that Franklin has had prior problems with DUI and crashing government vehicles. Despite the accident and revelation of earlier mishaps, Franklin has support among some Prince George’s County leaders. Others in the county call for him to immediately resign from the council. “I wish to reserve judgment on Mel Franklin’s case,” Maurice Simpson Jr., the president of the Prince George’s County Young Democrats told the AFRO. “His case hasn’t been adjudicated in a court of law. I don’t believe he should resign.”

The Prince George’s County State’s Attorneys’ office has publicly indicated that a prosecutor from another county will work on the case. Franklin has been on the council since 2010 and served as the chairman from Dec 3, 2013 to Dec. 1, 2015. He has served on the Prince George’s County Democratic Central Committee and is a founder of the Greater Marlboro Democratic Club. He represents District 9, which encompasses the southern part of the county with Joint Andrews Air Force Base as a landmark and well-known unincorporated areas such as Accokeek, Clinton, Camp Springs, Fort Washington, Brandywine and Upper Marlboro. Franklin considered running for county executive in 2018 but

Robertson joins Simpson in rejecting calls for Franklin’s resignation. “I will stand by him because he is someone who has been working for the county,” he said. “He is making a difference and I don’t think that this incident will undermine his ability to do his job.” James Dula, PhD, president of the South County Democratic Club, has a wait-and-see attitude toward Franklin. “I think he should have his day in court,” Dula, the former president of the Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce, told the AFRO. “If he is found guilty, I think the county council should take appropriate action. Other than that, I believe that due process should run its course.” “People are very concerned about this,” he said. “I had members even from D.C. and

“If he is found guilty, I think the county council should take appropriate action.” – James Dula recently indicated he is open to being a candidate for one of the two council at-large seats that voters approved in November. Alonzo Robertson, a Brandywine resident, told the AFRO he is sticking with his council member at this time. “I have given thought to the situation that he is in,” Robertson, an attorney, said. “I am disturbed that he left the scene of the accident and that he has had a number of accidents and DUIs. However, I haven’t heard the full extent of the story.”

Baltimore contact me and ask, ‘What the heck’s going on?’” Progressive Prince George’s is the county’s branch of Progressive Maryland, a statewide organization that supports liberal stances on issues facing the state. On Nov. 30 Progressive Prince George’s called for Franklin’s resignation, saying the county council should strip him of committee assignments, limit use of county vehicles by council members, and see that he personally pays any costs of the accident.

The Afro-American, December 17, 2016 - January 6, 2017

Police Relations Continued from D1

the ACLU of Maryland want more. The ACLU’s traditional one-pager of legislative priorities has this year grown to two pages, detailing desired changes to bail bond systems, trial boards, pre-trial holding, body camera footage and parole. Among the organization’s priorities is an amendment to Maryland’s Public Information Act that would allow citizens to follow up with complaints they made against police officers, which fell through last year. In November of 2009, Teleta Dashiell missed a call from Maryland State Police Sgt. John Maiello. “Hey, it’s Sergeant Maiello with the state police. Call me back,” Maiello said into the receiver. The sergeant then began to speak with a colleague and referred to Dashiell using a racial slur. “When I first heard the message, I was angry and very upset,” Dashiell told the ACLU of Maryland. “But I wasn’t that surprised.” Dashiell filed a complaint with the Maryland State Police following the incident. She wanted to know how the police were responding to her complaint. Seven years later, she is still seeking answers. The Maryland State Police denied Dashiell any records pertaining to her complaint, calling the records “personnel files,” which are exempt from disclosure under the state’s Public Information Act. The Maryland State Police left Dashiell with only two words regarding her complaint: appropriately handled.

In 2016, a state House bill would have removed such investigations from the personnel category, making them accessible under the Public Information Act. The bill was withdrawn after receiving an unfavorable report from the Health and Government Operations Committee. The communications department of the Maryland State Police told the University of Maryland’s Capital News Service that it did not have a comment regarding the incident or the

“What the law enforcement community has shown time and again... they are unwilling to be accountable to the communities they serve.” – Toni Holness legislative efforts. “That, I think, is a valid inquiry,” said Delegate William Smith, D-Silver Spring, “If an officer has been disciplined and found guilty, we deserve to know.” Body Cameras For some Maryland police departments, such as in

Baltimore County, the Public Information Act is synonymous with policy regarding the footage. The Baltimore County Police Department considers body camera footage part of a “public record” under the Public Information Act and will approve requests for the footage “unless an ongoing investigation merits retention of the film and absent any other exception outlined in the MPIA,” according to the department’s website. For others, body-worn cameras are in need of entirely new regulations. “We’re still looking to the legislature to guide us on (body cameras),” said Prince George’s County Inspector General Carlos Acosta. “A general rule is good but, almost always, you’ve got to look at it on a case by case basis.” There is currently no statewide policy regarding the use of police departments’ body-worn cameras and what should and should not be made available to the public is up for debate. “There are pros and cons to that technology,” Del. Deborah Rey, R-Lexington Park, told the University of Maryland’s Capital News Service. “For me it came down to handling of the data.” The decision to implement body-worn cameras in Maryland has fallen to individual police departments. If a jurisdiction decides to use cameras, it then must also decide how to handle the resulting footage. “What the law enforcement community has shown time and again, and especially this past year, is (that) they are unwilling to be accountable to the communities they serve,” Holness said.

Legislators Continued from D1

The County’s Safe Harbor Policy for Youth Victims of Human Trafficking reported that as of Feb. 27, 2015, Juvenile Services had 2,219 juvenile admissions to designated female detention facilities. Of these 2,219 admissions, 73 youth ranging from 14 to 19 years of age were confirmed as victims of human sex trafficking. Because of Maryland’s position between several East Coast metropolitan areas and the presence of major interstate highways through the state, Maryland has become a hot spot for human traffickers. In 2014, the Victims Services Committee of the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force found “396 survivors of human trafficking” in Maryland, 124 of whom were trafficked as children (175 did not report age). Additionally, the Human Trafficking Hotline

identified 422 Marylanders calling between January and October 2016 from victims of sex trafficking, seeking help; and 121 actual cases reported. In August 2016, Prince George’s County Police charged 3 people with operating a sex trafficking ring involving more than 40 victims – several of whom were juveniles. Working largely from motels and hotels throughout Maryland, trafficking, according to the legislation, has moved steadily into residential neighborhoods and apartment complexes. The enhanced legislation addresses landlords, owners, management staff, or tenants, whose property is used for prostitution, including human trafficking. Taveras proposed the bill after receiving complaints from several Langley Park-area mothers, who said units in their apartment

buildings were being used as brothels and the property managers knew about it. “This can only stop when the property owner feels the pain and curtail this kind of activity,” Taveras said. “This is a mechanism that holds the entire chain of individuals, not just the pimp, responsible for what happens at these apartments.” The bill makes it a misdemeanor to “knowingly” allow use of an apartment or home for prostitution or trafficking, punishable with a $1,000 fine or six months in jail. It passed the council unanimously on Nov. 15 and a spokesman for County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III (D) said he will sign it into law. “If we are going to eradicate human trafficking in Prince George’s County, it is

“This can only stop when the property owner feels the pain and curtail this kind of activity.” – Councilmember Deni Taveras important that there is a level of accountability for those who are found to be complicit,” Taveras said. “CB-59 sends a strong message that if you allow human trafficking to take place on your property, you will be held accountable.”

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December 17, 2016 - January 6, 2017, The Afro-American

Prince George’s County

Realtors Association Buys New Home By AFRO Staff

The Prince George’s County Association of Realtors recently announced the purchase of a building, in Landover, Md., slated to become its permanent headquarters by the summer of 2017. The building, purchased in early December, is located at 8300 Corporate Drive in the New Carrollton Metro Center, is approximately 19,515 square feet and located near Route 50 and Interstate 495 in the county. “We’re excited. This is really a big deal for us – to own our own home,” Patricia Dowtin, president of the association, told the AFRO Dec. 14. Until renovation on the new property is complete, the organization will stay at the site it is renting in Largo, Md. “It is better to own then rent. We wanted a permanent home for our members. We practice what we preach,” Dowtin said. According to Michael Graziano, executive vice president, owning property is important because it lets the organization become stakeholders in the community and grows equity, creating a tangible asset for the association. Currently, half of the building is being renovated for the Realtors association’s office space. In the future the association plans to lease the other half of the building, located in a mixed use zone, to offset any property debt, Graziano said. “The fact that it is a Courtesy Photo mixed use zone that we just Prince George’s County Association of Realtors President Patricia Dowtin (center, purchased in is an added with microphone) unveils the new REALTOR® headquarters as association officers and benefit of the location of our directors look on. new headquarters,” he said, referring to the fact that it allows them to broaden their scope and lease to a range of different establishments – residential, business or retail. Graziano said the organization’s leadership has been planning the purchase since 2014.

WASHINGTON AREA

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

Bowie, Md.

Bowie State Winter Commencement

Homicide Count 2016 Total

Carla Hayden, the 14th Library of Congress, is scheduled to address about 325 graduates and their families at the Bowie State University commencement on Dec. 16 in the Leonidas S. James Physical Education Complex, 14000 Jericho Park. Road at 9: 40 a.m. The commencement will be streamed live.

Washington, D.C. ASALH Celebrates Carter G. Woodsen’s Birthday

The Association for the

128 Past Seven Days 1

Data as of Dec. 16

Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) is scheduled to hold a birthday celebration for their Founder Carter G. Woodson at 3 p.m.5 p.m. on Dec. 17 at the Friendship Armstrong School, 1400 First St., NE. The event is free and open to the public.

EdFest

Continued from D1

graduate on time. Dr. Benjamin Williams is the principal of the new public Rocketship has a nice facility, it is located near Woodland Terrace, a public housing community that has had problems with crime. Patterson said that his school is committed to seeing its students perform well academically despite challenges dealing with poverty and public safety. “The elementary schools in this area such as Moten, Garfield and Stanton have academic achievements rates on standardized tests of 25 percent or below,” he said. “Those levels are unacceptable at Rocketship and our charter mandates that 60 percent of our students test on grade level.” Patterson isn’t the only Ward 8 educational leader calling for academic excellence. Anacostia High School, located in a workingclass neighborhood dealing with a reputation for high crime, is working to let the rest of the District know that it is on the move. “Anacostia High School is the best kept secret in Southeast,” Tomeka McKenzie, assistant principal, told the AFRO. “We prepare our students to be college ready. People shouldn’t confuse the community with the school.” McKenzie is quick to point out that Anacostia offers courses of study in biomedical science, computer science and a recently added feature, the public safety academy. She presented an information sheet that highlights Anacostia’s 1:1 student to laptop ratio, recent graduates matriculating to universities such as Hampton, Penn State, Georgetown, Tennessee State, and Marshall, its AP and Honors course offerings, and that 64 percent of enrolled students

all-boys school, Ron Brown College Preparatory School in Deanwood. “We are here to

support our young people and we are educating people about our school,” he told the AFRO.

Find more ways to save.

Hunters Woods Fellowship House Waiting List Closing Hunters Woods Fellowship House (HWFH) is a government-assisted apartment complex located in Reston, Va., designed for low-income individuals who are over age 62 or are disabled. The estimated waiting period for most current applicants has reached more than 24 months. Therefore, effective 2 p.m. on Thursday, December 29, 2016, HWFH will suspend the acceptance of applications for the Section 8 Housing Program. The current waiting list will remain closed until further notice. A Public Notice will be posted when the waiting list is reopened in compliance with federal guidelines. We do not anticipate that this will occur within the next 18 months. For additional information, or if you have special needs to be accommodated, or have Limited English Proficiency, please call 703-620-4450, TDD 1-800-828-1120, or visit our website at www.fellowshipsquare.org.

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The Afro-American, December 17, 2016 - January 6, 2017

Mary Bernadette Tolson, BWFPC and Louis Dubin, managing partner, Redbrick LMD

Honorees and presenters

Marina Kay, , Virginia State Delegate Daun S. Hester, co-founder and national co-chair, BWFPC and Marci Catlett

Hattie Washington, Coppin State University and Denise Rolark Barnes, publisher Washington Informer with honoree John “Jake” Oliver, publisher and CEO, Afro-American Newspaper and Stephanie Myers, co-founder and national co-chair, BWFPC

Elizabeth Keckley Award Honorees: Eric Holder, 82nd U.S. attorney general; Rev. Aisha Karimah, associate minister, Metropolitan AME Church; John “Jake” Oliver, CEO and publisher, Afro American Newspaper and Stanley Jackson, president and CEO, Anacostia Development Corporation

Tyra Garlington, motivational speaker; Venecia C. Bessellieu, grand worthy matron, Order of the Eastern Star-Prince Hall Affiliation;, Kevin Judd, Esq., president, National Bar Association and Edgar Brookins, D.C. AFRO general manager

Family and friends of Lynda Dorman(far right) along with Shomari Stone, his wife Kristal and daughter Carrie

Black Women for Positive Change and the Positive Change Foundation hosted the Week of Non-Violence Elizabeth Keckley Awards Reception on Dec. 7 at the Sun Trust Conference Center in Northwest D.C. The Keckley Awards are given to individuals and/or institutions who have demonstrated a capacity to preserve and strengthen the American middle/working class, and who are working to “Change the Culture of Violence in America and the World.” 2016 Honorees included: the 82dn Attorney General of the U.S. Eric Holder, Afro-American Newspapers Publisher and CEO Jake Oliver, past NBC Director of Community Affairs Rev. Aisha Karimah and Anacostia Economic Development Corporation President Stan Jackson.

Photos by Rob Roberts

Espanola Hughes, Edgar Brookins, 93 year old Alice Davis and Lisa Stroud, president and CEO, Celebrity Fest Events

The Washington, D.C. Delta Alumnae Foundation held the ENVOUGE: the 28th Annual Breakfast Fashion Show and Live Auction on Dec 3 at the Hyatt Regency. A highlight of the morning was the presentation of grant recipients and foundation donations of which, the Afro-American Newspapers was a recipient, celebrating its 125th anniversary. The event CoChairs were Venida Hamilton and Lynda M. Dorman.

Audrey Dorman, president, Board of Directors, WDCAF; Shomari Stone, NBC4 (emcee); Michelle Young, treasurer and Edgar Brookins, D.C. AFRO general manager

102 year old Janice Anderson and her daughter and sorority sister, Amanda Anderson

Annette Gibson and Karen CarringtonWashington, co-chair, Media & Events

Audrey Dorman and Derrick Bailey

Photos by Rob Roberts

Ruth Young Richardson and Janet Jones

Prince George’s County Executive Baker (middle) with friends and guests

The MGM National Harbor opened its doors on Dec. 8 with an opening press conference earlier in the day and to the general public at 11 p.m.

Violinist Kim Ford

BK Adams, Iry K. Pendleten, Telesa Via and Elliott Ferguson

William D. Euille, former Mayor of Alexandria, Va. and Hermond Palmen

Sarah Jessica Parker opens shoe boutique

Rushern L. Baker, county executive of Prince George’s County; Bill Boasberg, MGM National Harbor general manager; Lorenzo Creighton ( At Podium), president and COO of MGM Grand Detroit; James J. Murren, chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International; Maryland Gov. Larry” Hogan and Sen. Thomas V. “Mike” Miller

Gen. Kip Ward and wife Joyce Ward

Lorenzo Creighton, president/COO, MGM Grand Detroit and Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker

Cathy Hughes and son, Alfred C. Liggins, III, Radio One business executives

Photos by Rob Roberts