Washington Afro American Newspaper April 4, 2015 by AFRO News

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Volume 123 No. 35

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APRIL 4, 2015 - APRIL 10, 2015

Bowser Upbeat in District Address

State of Selma Belies Civil Rights Victories

By James Wright Special to the AFRO

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser shared a vision of the nation’s capital she hopes all residents will embrace. Bowser delivered her first State of the District Address, subtitled “Pathways to the Middle Class” on March 31 at the Lincoln Theatre with hundreds attending. Bowser started the hour-long speech saying she is

By Zenitha Prince Senior AFRO Correspondent

White House Photo

During spring break, Alexis Toliver, a senior neuroscience major at Johns Hopkins University, forewent the sandy beaches of Cancun, Mexico, for the southern climes of Selma, Ala. Toliver wanted a hands-on volunteer experience in a place that

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defined a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement. It was like stepping into a time warp. “After a few days in Selma, I felt like Jim Crow was still in effect . . . everything felt separate and unequal,” Toliver told the AFRO. The Baltimore-based coed said she was “perplexed” by the “disorder and horrifying state” of the city, particularly in light of the nostalgic media coverage accompanying the 50th

anniversary of the “Bloody Sunday” demonstration that precipitated passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Politicians and activists agree with Toliver’s assessment of the city. “It’s true. Selma is in a pretty bad state . . .. [It] is a ruined shadow of its former self,” said Mark Potok, senior fellow at the Southern Poverty Law Center, a social justice advocacy group. “That is the part that was lost in the exuberant coverage of the 50th anniversary of

the Selma-to-Montgomery marches.” The first thing Toliver noted in Selma was an “air of White supremacy,” which she confronted almost immediately upon crossing the infamous Edmund Pettus Bridge to enter the city. A huge billboard honouring Ku Klux Klan founder Nathan Bedford Forrest, a Confederate general remembered for his brutality, met her. The sign features Forrest astride a horse above Continued on A8

“She set a good mark tonight on what she intends to do for the next four years.” – Anthony Williams “humble and proud” to be the city’s leader. “Today, I am pleased to report that the District is strong . . . and growing stronger,” the mayor said. “We are one of the strongest economies in the country. We are the economic engine of the region accounting for one quarter of the job market and in the last year, over two-thirds of its private sector job growth.” However, despite all of the positives the District possesses, Bowser said, “There is room to improve. Continued on A4

Black Caucus Foundation Discusses School-to-Prison Pipeline By James Wright Special to the AFRO The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) in conjunction with the Annie E. Casey Foundation held a forum: “Reversing the Schoolto-Prison Pipeline for African Americans and Minorities: Comprehensive Programs, Practices and Policy Solutions.” The event took place March 18 on Capitol Hill. U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.), Congressional Black Caucus chairman, spoke passionately about the need for lawmakers, policy makers, and the public to understand the school-to-prison pipeline and how it negatively impacts people of color. “The reform of the criminal justice system is the centerpiece of our agenda,” Butterfield said. “The criminal justice system is broken and is in need of reform and repair. The way things are going, we are creating a

generation of unemployable men and women for a lifetime.” The U.S. Department of Education reports that African-American and Latino students are significantly more likely than their classmates to be suspended or expelled, 3.5 times and 1.5 times

respectively. The department’s statistics reveal that although Black students represent 16 percent of student enrollment in the country, they represent 27 percent of students referred to law enforcement and 31 percent of students subjected to a school-related

arrest. In addition, various studies have found that lowincome students are consistently over-represented in the use of out-of-school suspension and even middle and upper income Blacks students are more likely to be suspended than their peers at the same demographic level. Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.), considered the expert in Congress on issues relating to Black males and incarceration, said the school-to-prison pipeline is indicative of larger problems in the country. “Our country is the most incarcerated nation on Earth,” Davis said. “Black boys drop out [in terms of educational focus] by the third grade and they have never had an AfricanAmerican teacher or seen an African-American male reading a book. To many Black boys, education is seen as a girl kind of thing and Blacks students are subject to horrific approaches to discipline.” Continued on A8

Welsing Talks Supremacy at Women’s Conference By Shantella Y. Sherman Special to the AFRO Photo by Shantella Y. Sherman

Members of the Florida and New Jersey delegations attending the Black Women’s Roundtable National Summit

AP File Photo

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Black Women’s Roundtable Aims for Global Empowerment at Annual Conference

By Shantella Y. Sherman Special to the AFRO

Women from around the country convened recently for the three-day Black Women’s Roundtable “Women of Power: Healthy, Wealthy,

Wise” National Summit.” The event, where hundreds of African-American women came together to encourage, support and mentor each other, set the stage for the release of the 2015 report, Continued on A6

It has been nearly a quarter of a century since Frances Cress Welsing’s The Isis Papers: Keys to the Colors opened the dialogue on racism-White supremacy as a biological imperative to White genetic survival. The collection of essays deconstructing racialized codes in behavior took on an almost prophetic tone during the inaugural Black Power Women’s Conference hosted by the National Black United Front (NBUF). The conference, held Continued on A6

Photo by Shantella Sherman

Frances Cress Welsing’s The Isis Papers: Keys to the Colors opened the dialogue on racism and White Supremacy at the National Black United Front’s Black Women’s Conference.

The Afro-American, April 4, 2015 - April 10, 2015

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NATION & WORLD Man Accused in Ferguson Police Shooting Denied Lower Bond

CLAYTON, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri judge on March 31 refused to reduce the bond of a 20-year-old man accused of shooting and wounding two police officers during a Ferguson protest, despite an attorney’s insistence that the man was beaten by police into wrongly confessing. Jeffrey Williams, shackled at the wrists and ankles, said nothing during a 10-minute hearing in which his attorney, Jerryl Christmas, failed to sway a St. Louis County judge to cut Williams’ $300,000 cash bond to one that would require him to pay only $10,000. Christmas argued that the jobless Williams has no history of violence, has a girlfriend who is eight months pregnant and deserved a bond akin to cases where the shooting victims survive. AP Photo He suggested that a $300,000 bond was more A Missouri judge refused to traditional in homicide reduce the bond of Jeffrey cases. Williams. But prosecutor Bart Calhoun countered that Williams — charged with felony assault, armed criminal action and a weapons offense — poses a public risk if freed. Calhoun said the gunfire early March 12 was “a drive-by shooting that put a great number of citizens at risk.” The shooting occurred during a protest sparked by the resignation of Ferguson’s police chief. Both officers, who are expected to recover, were monitoring protests outside the city’s police station, which has been a nexus of unrest since a white Ferguson officer fatally shot 18-year-old Michael Brown, who was black and unarmed, last summer. Calhoun noted that when Williams was arrested for the shooting, he was being sought on a warrant alleging he violated probation terms related to his use of a stolen credit card. “Clearly, I don’t think the current bond is unreasonable,” the prosecutor told the judge. Prosecutors allege that Williams told investigators he fired a gun but was aiming at someone else. Christmas said his client has recanted that story, told him he never shot a weapon that

day and only confessed after being roughed up by police. On March 31, Calhoun told the judge “the evidence in this case is overwhelming,” adding that Williams admitted being the gunman “to several people after his arrest.” “He said he never fired a weapon. He didn’t have a weapon,” Christmas told reporters after the hearing. He said police beat the alleged confession out of Williams, and “I just don’t believe that any statements were made voluntarily.” St. Louis County police spokesman Brian Schellman has called Christmas’ assertions “completely false.” Schellman said Williams was seen by a nurse when he was booked into the county jail — standard procedure for all incoming inmates — who deemed him “fit for confinement.”

Aunt of Men Accused in Terror Plot: They’re ‘Not Monsters’

An aunt of two suburban Chicago men accused of plotting

a terrorist attack on a military facility in northern Illinois said Monday the allegations perplexed and devastated their extended family of Muslims and Christians. Tiffany Edmonds spoke to reporters after a brief detention hearing in Chicago for Hasan Edmonds, a 22-year-old member of the Illinois Army National Guard. His cousin, Jonas Edmonds, 29, was also arrested and charged last week. “They’re not monsters,” Tiffany Edmonds said Monday. Judge Sheila Finnegan granted a defense lawyer’s request for more time to examine evidence, ruling that Hasan Edmonds will stay in jail at least until the bond issue is revisited. His older cousin didn’t challenge his detention. A complaint unsealed Thursday alleges Hasan Edmonds sent Internet messages vowing to “cause as much ... mayhem as possible.” The alleged plan was for him to travel abroad to join Islamic State fighters while his older cousin attacked an unidentified military installation in Illinois. Both men are charged with conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist group, the AP photo Islamic Tiffany Edmonds, the aunt of two suburban State Chicago men accused of plotting terrorist group. An attacks on a military facility in northern arraignment Illinois speaks to reporters at federal court date hasn’t after a brief detention hearing March 30 in been set. Chicago. Their sometimestearful aunt portrayed her nephews from Aurora as fun-loving and outgoing. If they became ensnared in any wrongdoing, she said Monday, they must have been lured into it. Tiffany Edmonds, of Gary, Indiana, describes the family as patriotic and said two of Hasan Edmonds’ sisters also joined the National Guard. “They joined ... to protect our country,” she said about her nephew and two nieces. Hasan and Jonas Edmonds became Muslims around ten years ago, she said. Others in their large family also converted, while others remained Christian, including Jonas’ mother, she said. “The whole family is taking this hard,” she said. “This is ... a nightmare.”

UN Women Dumps Uber Following Outcry from Unions, Women’s Groups

The United Nations has pulled out of a partnership with mobile-app-based taxi company Uber, which would have created 1 million driving jobs for women because of concerns about the company’s treatment of women. On March 10, the opening day of the two-week session of the Commission on the Status of Women in New York, Uber and UN Women announced the partnership to help advance the UN’s goals toward gender equality and female empowerment. “Today, UN Women and Uber are launching a partnership to work together around the world toward a shared vision of equality and women’s empowerment,” announced Uber’s founder and chief executive, Travis Kalanick. “We intend to invest in long-term programs in local communities where we live and work, as Uber commits to creating 1,000,000 jobs for

women globally on the Uber platform by 2020.” Kalanick’s statement was co-signed by Phumzile MlamboNgcuka, executive director of UN Women. But the UN director recently changed her tune, however, after trade unions and women’s rights groups brought pressure to bear. Uber’s detractors, who campaigned at the conference, urging supporters to use the hashtag #UNWomenDumpUber, decried the partnership, saying the San Francisco-based ride booking app provider fails to protect female passengers and drivers.

April 4, 2015 - April 10, 2015, The Afro-American

‘No Shots Fired’ to Remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

outside his second-story room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tenn. The civil rights leader, in Memphis to support a sanitation workers’ strike, was on his way to dinner when a bullet struck him in the jaw and severed his spinal cord. Dr. King was pronounced dead after his arrival at a Memphis hospital. He was 39 years old. Dr. King gave his last sermon in Memphis; “We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn’t matter with me now, because

I’ve been to the mountaintop…And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over, and I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you, but we as a people, will get to the promise land! Lyndia Grant is a speaker, columnist and host of Think on These Things on Radio One, 1340 AM, WYCB. Visit her at lyndiagrant.com or call 202-263-4621.

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Center will be on Radio One’s program, Think on These Things, 6 p.m., April 3, Good Friday, to talk about the continued moratorium she is t’s been 47 years since the Rev. Dr. shepherding. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated The King Center is calling for a continuing in Memphis, Tenn., and those who are moratorium on violence that began last year, old enough still remember where they by asking everyone to commit to “No Shots were, what they were doing and in whose Fired.” This means abstaining from shots company they were in when they heard the fired by the ‘tongue’ (speech), ‘fists’ (physical violence), or ‘guns’ (gun violence and media that glorifies gun violence). “This is just one of the ways we can begin to turn the tide of escalating violence in our world,” Rev. King said, adding that they are also convening a forum, “A Moratorium on Violence: It Starts with Me!” 1 to 4 p.m., April 4, in the Center’s Freedom Hall Auditorium. The forum will include thoughtprovoking videos and a facilitated, interactive discussion with diverse participants addressing our Right(s) versus our Responsibility to the Beloved Community. Rights that will be discussed include: A Right to Protest, A Right to Freedom of Speech, A Right to Bear Arms, A Right to Profit and A Duty to Serve and Protect in the case of law enforcement. A Moratorium on Violence: It Starts with Me is free and open to the public. Photo by Eric Draper Following the forum, Rev. Dr. Bernice A. King, CEO of the King Center. at 4 p.m., Rev. King and other members of the news. His death created a hole in the collective family, along with representatives of the heart of America and remains a type of National Park Service, will participate in a blemish that bears an enduring sting. silent wreath-laying ceremony at the crypt of But the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Dr. King and Mrs. Coretta Scott King. Non-Violent Social Change wants America to According to the Martin Luther King Jr. do more than merely remember the moment of Center for Non-Violent Social Change, “If his death. It wants more considered attention we can make April 4th a day of meditation to the premises of his life and message. and action to prevent physical and spiritual The Rev. Dr. Bernice A. King, CEO of the violence in our homes, communities and nations,” Rev. King said, “We will be able to honor my father’s legacy in a way that serves the cause of nonviolent change, for which he gave his life.” Community leaders are asked to help spread the word of this annual moratorium of “No Shots Fired on April 4!” According to [This Day in History’s’ Website] It was just after 6 p.m. on April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was fatally shot while standing on the balcony By Lyndia Grant NNPA Columnist

2/27/15 10:51 AM

The Afro-American, April 4, 2015 - April 10, 2015

Pepco, Exelon Project Massive Improvements in Customer Satisfaction with Merger By Shantella Y. Sherman Special to the AFRO District residents have long felt the need for a safety and reliability overhaul from their utility provider, Pepco. Saddled with poor reliability – the consequence of outages caused by any number of culprits from

dense tree cover to equipment failures – and an equally dismal customer satisfaction rating, Pepco believes it has found a business cure-all in an impending merger with Exelon. “There is a focus within Exelon to do really well two things: nuclear plants and urban utilities. If we are going to do it, we measure it,” said Calvin Butler, Exelon’s chief executive officer. “Every day we talk about where we are on the metric by sitting down

with the operations team and talking about the previous 24 hours. This is done to drill down those things that impact our numbers and determine how we can improve on a daily basis. We determine those things that feed into it, success, and that is a part of Exelon’s management mode: accountability, responsibility

and follow-up.” While some District residents remain cautious about the merger, some, like Hazel Murry of Northwest, believe that any corporation that can provide support to the crumbling infrastructure of Pepco, is worth a try. Plagued by a six outages in two years caused by storms and a fire started by Pepco attempting to repair its own wires, Murry, 80, welcomes a change. “I have had to have trees cut back at my cost, I have

had to sit in the dark or cold now more times than I’d like to remember, and the way Pepco has dealt with me is sickening. I have little confidence in the Pepco I’ve known for the last few years. If Exelon can restore my confidence, I’d welcome them,” Murry said. With BGE, a subsidiary of Exelon, boasting a rank as the second most improved utility in the country for customer satisfaction, the benefits to District residents could prove stellar. “Those improvements did not happen by mistake. There are a lot of hard work practices we put into how we focus on management. Everyone knows their role in the company – who is responsible with performing what tasks and meeting which goals – and we hold each other accountable. No one can hide and no one is trying to,” Butler said. For those concerned with clean energy, Exelon is also the largest wind producer it the U.S. and boasts the largest urban solar farm on the south side of Chicago. Its subsidiary Constellation has the only urban rooftop on a school – the District’s own Dunbar Senior High School, in Northwest, which produces 25 percent of its energy from the panels.

Rosedale Library Makes Proms Come True

Jackson hopes to pass the target of 200 dresses by distribution day. Jackson’s expectation for this year’s event, which will take place at the Spring is here and, the wondrous, onceRosedale Recreation Center on April 25, is in-a-teenager’s-lifetime event, the prom, is that more teens will come out and enjoy the around the corner. But not all high school generosity of their community’s donors. seniors can afford to buy their dream dress or Jackson said one word explains why some tuxedo. students weren’t taking advantage of the “I was one of the families that could not donations. “I think it’s something to do with afford prom,” Jasmine Jackson said. “My pride because of their age,” she said. “Or I guidance counselor had to give me some stuff guess they didn’t hear about it in time and a lot to make it work out. It’s very expensive, of them didn’t know about it.” the prom, graduation itself, getting the teen To counter that feeling of pride in teens, ready and looking nice and everything. A lot Jackson invited Chris Cooper of Project Tissue of families 8, a seamstress, cannot to help. Cooper afford it.” is in charge of Jackson, resizing and 23, is now revamping the a library selected dress technician to customize it at the for each teen’s Rosedale taste. The only Library cost at the event and started is Cooper’s the Prom $5 alteration Come True charge. drive. The This drive Prom Come benefits high Dresses donated by Cherry Blossom True drive school seniors Bridal for the Prom Come True drive. gives out and the donors, free prom because the dresses, library provides accessories, receipts that jewelry, can be used as shoes, tax deductions, tuxedos and Jackson said. formal wear “We have that are the Friends of gently used the Rosedale and were Library, which donated by –Jasmine Jackson is a 501 (c) members corporation, and of the we’re partnering community. with them on When she started the drive last year, she this program,” she said. “So, all donations was surprised by the strong participation made are on behalf of the Friends of Rosedale from the community. She collected over 200 Public Library. So yes, the donations would be dresses. “Last year, I went to Baltimore to pick tax deductible.” up 100 dresses,” she said. All that is required to receive a prom The drive was so successful, Jacksons said, dress or tuxedo is some form of high school that she had leftovers. “We had more stuff than identification. Jackson encourages prospective people,” she said. To stay current, the left over high school senior graduates to drop by from prom material from last year was given to the 11 am – 2:30 pm April 25, to find the dress or South Dakota Avenue Goodwill, two weeks tuxedo of their liking. after the event. For more information, visit Prom Come So far, 65 dresses were donated and True at http://dclibrary.org/node/47738.

Photo by Shantella Sherman

Bowser Cuts Ribbon on Youth Transitional Home By Shantella Y. Sherman Special to the AFRO Continuing a series of events in each ward themed a “Pathways to the Middle Class Tour,” Mayor Muriel Bowser and Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Brenda Donald hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, March 26, for a transitional home to serve young people in need of support to live independently. The home, located in the Congress Heights neighborhood of Southeast, would fill a necessary gap between young adults aging out of foster care

new facility, Wayne Place, will help provide a clear path to success by keeping the trajectory of those in foster care moving upstream. “Wayne Place exemplifies some of the key things that we think are critical to leaving no residents behind. It will help provide a smooth transition into adulthood for a vulnerable group of District youth. We’re creating smaller and better programs that not only give people a roof over their heads, but the support and services that they need,” Bowser said. In a 2014 study Housing for Youth Aging out of Foster Care prepared by the U.S.

“We’re creating smaller and better programs that not only give people a roof over their heads, but the support and services that they need.” –Mayor Bowser

By Francisca Fournillier Howard University News Service

“It’s very expensive, the prom, graduation itself, getting the teen ready and looking nice and everything. A lot of families cannot afford it.”

and would prevent them from entering homeless shelters. In a partnership between the Child and Family Services Agency and the Department of Behavioral Health, the 18-month program assists young people between the ages of 18-24 in developing skills necessary to live selfsufficiently. Bowser said the

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), more than 300,000 children were projected to age out of the foster care system by 2020. Among them, the report surmised many would leave in poor health and unprepared for success in higher education, technical college or the workforce.

The study also documented that roughly 37 percent of youth who age out of foster care have experienced homelessness and another 25 to 50 percent of exiting care couch surfing, moving frequently, or experiencing trouble paying rent. Paul Trantham, a former foster child who aged out the system at 22, was on hand for the ribbon cutting and said he applauded Bowser, the Child and Family Services Agency, and the Department of Behavioral Health for their forward-thinking approach to addressing the needs of foster care youth. “I know what I faced as a young man who aged out of foster care and it does my heart well to be here for the unveiling. When I left foster care I had nowhere to go and I thank [Bowser] for instituting a policy that no young person aging out foster care should leave without a place live and a plan,” Trantham said. “I am so proud of this day because it provides a home and a set of supportive services for our young people. I made a commitment that fewer would age out of foster care and that those who did would not age out into the street or into homeless shelters,” said Donald. “We have created a whole comprehensive set of housing services and support services for our youth. This is one example.” Bowser and Donald were joined by Interim Director Department of Behavioral Health, Barbara J. Bazron, Interim Director Department of General Services, Jonathan Kayne, Deputy Director DC Child and Family Services Agency Debra Porchia Usher, Far Southeast Family Strengthening Collaborative, Inc. “We’ve attracted people from the federal government and private sector and promoted people within the D.C. government and pulled some from out of retirement. And they share an energy that says we can do better; we must do better. This is a great city and we must put our energies into helping those who need a hand up,” Bowser said. “But they also said no more wasting money, no more investing in programs that don’t work, but doubledown on the programs that do work.”

Bowser

Continued from A1 “We face historic economic inequality with tragic rates of homelessness. Too many of our residents can’t afford to continue to live in their own neighborhoods; our schools are not yet good enough, and our transit system isn’t reliable and safe enough; and as good as our finances are, heading into the next fiscal year, we face a $200 million budget gap.” She said that in 1960 when her parents bought their three-bedroom house in North Michigan Park it cost about $15,000. She said the median home value presently tops $500,000, and that is not the way to keep families in the city. Bowser addressed affordable housing by committing $100 million each fiscal year to the Housing Production Trust Fund. She discussed improving middle schools by, as an example, transforming troubled MacFarland Middle School in Ward 4 into a state-of-theart institution and expanding educational offerings with $15 million for summer courses, extracurricular activities, and international travel programs. The mayor reminded the audience of her new career academy to train residents to work for the District government. “The District employs hundreds of workers to maintain our buildings and keep our fleet vehicles road ready,” she said. “The academy will serve as a conduit for motivated District residents to enter the workforce in a good, steady job and begin down the pathway to the middle class all the while providing [residents] with first-class

services.” Bowser also pledged an additional $5 million for the popular summer youth jobs program. She said the floundering streetcar system will be funded and operational in the near future. The mayor talked about ending family homelessness by 2018 and chronic homelessness by 2025. “And we will close D.C. General Hospital once and for all,” she said to loud applause. Bowser also said that all patrol officers with the police department will use body cameras in the next 18 months. The mayor said she is aware of the responsibility District residents have placed on her and will deliver results. “I promise to live up to your expectations, to make ours a government that is open, accessible, transparent, and responsive to your needs and to create more pathways to the middle class,” she said. “Because when you succeed, we all succeed.” Former D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams said that Bowser’s address had the proper focus. “She talked about jobs and affordable housing and that was very good,” Williams said. “She set a good mark tonight on what she intends to do for the next four years.” Virginia Ali, the retired co-founder of the famous Ben’s Chili Bowl restaurant chain, said Bowser delivered a good speech. “I thought she was wonderful,” Ali said. “Her ideas were good and it seemed that she was well prepared to talk about them.”

April 4, 2015 - April 10, 2015, The Afro-American

HEALTH

Endometriosis: More than Just Painful Cycles By Shantella Y. Sherman Special to the AFRO Cassandra Nivens has experienced painful periods since age 14. To cope with being mostly incapacitated for some time each month, Nivens learned to manage what she believed were normal hormonal shifts, often scheduling time away from school and work around a 28-day cycle. It wasn’t until a routine ultrasound during her first pregnancy that her painful periods were diagnosed as endometriosis. Defined as a condition where tissue that normally grows inside the uterus grows outside of it, endometriosis impacts 176 million women. Each month as the lining of the uterus sheds and the blood and tissue is released, the same thing happens to the tissue outside the uterus. But with no way for the released tissues to leave the body, inflammation and scar tissue develop. While endometriosis affects White women 33 percent more often, deaths from undiagnosed endometrial cancer is roughly 80 percent higher among African-American women. “I was relieved to be able to put a name to what felt like some type of torture I endured every month, but was scared and concerned for the health of my baby. My system felt out of whack because of the pregnancy, and I was afraid that after my son was born, my hormones would go into high-gear, and it would be even more painful,” said Nivens, who found some relief in breastfeeding her healthy child. Once her cycle resumed, Nivens she sought treatment from a naturopath. After two years of progressive yoga (from BandhaKonasana poses to hot yoga), acupuncture, and change

Photos by Jonathan Hunter

Chandelis marching with Team Virginia at the Endo march on Capitol Hill. in diet, she and her husband were able to welcome a second son. According to research from the Mayo Clinic, Nivens is among the fortunate able to conceive with endometriosis, as an estimated 30-40 percent of infertile women have endometriosis. Because the disorder can only be definitely diagnosed through visual inspection inside of the pelvis and abdomen (as well as tissue biopsy of the implants), even ultrasounds can only hint at its presence. General symptoms of endometriosis include: extremely painful or disabling menstrual cramps; pain increasing in severity over time; chronic pelvic pain including lower

back and pelvic pain; pain during or after sex; intestinal pain; painful bowel movements; or painful urination during menstrual periods. As more women become aware that endometriosis is more than just painful periods, the hope among physicians is that more women will note their symptoms and seek professional advice. The Howard University Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology recently served as local sponsors of the 2015 Worldwide EndoMarch for Endometriosis to raise awareness among African Americans. The second annual march took place at Upper Senate Park in Northwest, March 28, and simultaneously in more than 56 cities worldwide. Chandelis Duster, a Virginia precinct manager of the EndoMarch diagnosed six years ago with the condition, took part in the march to help raise awareness. “It has been a rough six years during which I have had three surgeries. Initially there was a big cyst on an ovary that needed to be drained and that was how they found endometriosis. No one had ever talked to me about it and as a freshman in college, it was scary to be told I had a disease with no cure,” Duster said. Following a laparoscopic surgery to remove the tissue, more endometriosis was found. “It’s been tough dealing with the pain constantly and everyday… a heating pad is [my] best friend. It has gotten better since the last surgery, but emotionally, it is a lot to deal with and it is a financial strain,” Duster said. Among African-American women, endometriosis is one of the most common indications for major gynecological surgery and hysterectomy.

Chandelis Duster’s Battle with Endometriosis

Chandelis Duster and her sister outside the Capitol

was diagnosed with endo at age 18 and has had three surgeries to date. Duster says having endo has taken its toll on her physically. “All throughout high school and middle school I would faint and pass out because my period pain was so bad, said Duster. “ I went to [the] gynecologist to regulate my period and I remember specifically an emergency room doctor at one point told me that maybe there was an underlying trauma from your childhood that needs to be addressed figure CESC: 15to BHF Ads Adout what’s 5.42 x 10 +0.125 bleed, 4C causing your pain.” Once Duster was diagnosed with endo, she knew there needed to be something done to address the lack of knowledge about endo. Duster is currently a precinct manger in Richmond, Va. for the World Wide Endo March organization. Along with being a precinct manger for a year, she has been an

By Jonathan Hunter Special to the AFRO Chandelis Duster, a graduate student at American University, stood before a packed crowd on March 28 at the Holiday Inn near Capitol Hill to share her endometriosis, commonly known as endo, story. “I remember being scared to death and feeling lost because I was told I had a disease that was not curable. But as I reflect on my experience, I think about how much stronger of a young woman I’ve become because of it,” Duster said while fighting back tears. Duster words inspired the crowd at the second annual worldwide Endo March In D.C. Duster was just one of many women with Endo who came from all over the country to march on Capitol Hill to raise awareness about the disease. In an exclusive interview with the AFRO, Duster spoke about raising awareness of the disease with African Americans. “I really just feel like Black women don’t have access to the right health care sometimes,” said Duster. “A lot of my Black friends I talk to [say], ‘Endo what, what’s that?’,’Is that what they call bad cramps.’ Reginald F. Lewis Museum Nobody knows what it 830 E. Pratt St. • Baltimore, MD is. I had somebody tell April 14, 2015 • 7:00 – 9:00 P.M. me a long time ago that endometriosis was a White Tickets: $25 women’s disease. And I was VIP Networking Reception like, ‘Excuse me ,what are 6:00 – 7:00 P.M. you trying to say because I’m not White.’” VIP Tickets: $75 According to Pubmed. Contact Diane W. Hocker for more information • 410-554-8243 gov, the common view is A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales will go toward scholarships that endo rarely affects women of color and results in many cases not being Sponsored by reported. Duster, now 26,

advocate for pushing legislation about educating the public. Duster met with Virginia Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam at a disability caucus about endo and submitted a proclamation to Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe that he signed. Duster says she enjoys being a precinct manager with team Virginia of the Endo March not only because she likes spreading awareness, but also because she has a family of sisters. Duster says she came to the Endo March last year in 2014, and met a support group of women that she was lacking. “At first I thought these women were crazy, out here in

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The Afro-American, April 4, 2015 - April 10, 2015

Wellness Centers Offer Health, Joy to Seniors By Francisca Fournillier Howard University News Service WASHINGTON – Catherine Pridgen could no longer bear the thought of sitting in the house she once shared with her husband. After Pridgen’s husband died from cancer, she needed somewhere to go so she would not be depressed. This, she said, was when she learned about the Hayes Senior Wellness Center Center. Hayes, in Ward 6, is the latest of six senior wellness centers that caters to Washington’s senior residents, ages 60 years and older. The others include Bernice Elizabeth Fonteneau Senior Wellness Center in Ward 1, Hattie Holmes Senior Wellness Center in Ward 4, Model Cities Senior Wellness Center in Ward 5, Washington Seniors Wellness Center in Ward 7 and Congress Heights Senior Wellness Center in Ward 8. There are classes in nutrition, exercise, reflexology, smoking cessation, and other health care concerns. The centers include seminars, support groups, auxiliary activities, creative arts, and intergenerational programs. Activities offered at Hayes Center include aerobics exercise, yoga, weight lifting, line dancing, daily lunches and field trips. The services at all the facilities focus on wellness, promoting better health, and preventing disease. One of the goals, officials said, is provide

help that allows seniors to maintain their independence and avoid premature institutionalization, such as nursing homes. Before coming to the Hayes center, most of the seniors occupied their days at the Sherwood Recreation Center. The seniors were relocated to Hayes Center because Sherwood Center did not have a functioning kitchen. Renna Summers,78, who

Delores Robinson and Renna Summers lives alone at her Capitol Hill Towers apartment, has been coming to the Hayes Senior Wellness Center for two years. She particularly likes communicating with people, dancing, and playing cards and games. “I get to go to my doctor’s appointments and my dentist appointments by coming to the center,” she said. “Seabrook picks us up and carries us free of charge.” Although the center provides an excellent place for seniors to socialize, they still get bored sometimes. “Some days we do nothing,” Delores Robinson said. “I think we should have more activities. We should go on

more field trips and have other games we can be involved in when we’re just sitting around after lunch and doing nothing other than playing cards. Maybe we can have some board games and things like that,” Another senior at the center who wanted to be referred to as ‘The Doctor’ or ‘Pastor Allen’ said he was very appreciative the center. “I was born in the ‘40s and they had boys’ clubs, not really community centers,” he said. “The community centers are new for seniors.” There are approximately 68 community centers in DC that cater to children, teens, adults and seniors. These centers provide a gateway to learning and involve fun activities. There is usually a center that is close to your home. Pridgen, like many other seniors, sees the community centers as a home away from home. “When somebody dies and you are in the house where they lived, you get depressed,” she said in reference to her decased husband. So I said,‘I got to go, I can’t stay here.’ We were like two old people. I would be in one room watching my show and he would be in one room. And every time I look around when I couldn’t see him, I said ‘Oh no, I got to go.’” For more information on Washington’s senior wellness centers, call 202.724.5622 or visit http://dcoa.dc.gov/service/ senior-wellness-centers.

Welsing

Continued from A1 March 27-29 at Howard University’s Blackburn Student Center, provided a welcoming platform for Welsing, an internationally-known psychiatrist, whose work spawned a new discourse on race – including the rap group Public Enemy’s 1990 Fear of a Black Planet. As the nation grapples with the statesanctioned murders of several young Black males at the hands of White law enforcement, Welsing’s challenge to the standing-room only crowd, was to ask and examine, why. “The struggle for White genetic survival means that there must be a killing of Black men. We have to really understand at a scientific level that if the [Black] men are destroyed then there is no fear of genetic annihilation because women cannot impose sexual intercourse,” Welsing said. Welsing writes in The Isis Papers that a system is practiced by the global White minority, on both conscious and unconscious levels, to ensure their genetic survival by any means necessary. “I don’t make such a great distinction between Black men and Black women because it is more about what we need to understand as Black people,” Welsing told the AFRO. “At one time you could focus on the women and at another, on the men, but we have to be careful that we make no division

between the two of us. We must understand that we both are struggling against racismWhite supremacy to the extent that as it destroys the men or the women, it destroys the people.” The system of racism-White supremacy attacks non-Whites, especially those of African descent, in the nine major areas: economics, education, entertainment, labor, law, politics, religion, sex, and war. And according to Welsing, no one is exempt. “We are in a critical time period and I hope people are aware that even if you become the first Black president it does not excuse you from attacks from a vicious system of racism-White supremacy,” said Welsing, who began writing about racism while training in psychiatry at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital from 1963 to 1966. In taking down the medical histories of patients, Welsing said she found that among Black patients at St. Elizabeth’s racism always played a pivotal role in their malaise. “Racism wasn’t talked about then or now. Just look at what happened when Starbucks tried to talk about racism. A great big corporation where the customers are White and the servers, different minorities, and the Whites said they are not going to talk about race and if forced, they may throw their coffee. Eric Holder, our attorney general, asked if we were a nation

D.C. Business Profile Art in Praxis: Creative Practices for Community

By Christina Sturdivant Special to the AFRO

Beautification of the city through public art and creative place making has become the backdrop for mixed-use developments. However, those who appreciate the cultural aspect of creativity push for substance. “I want people to actually imagine what it would look like if D.C. was reflective of all the amazing art and culture that’s already happening in the city. And if that art and culture got funded in a real way, and was valued and appreciated beyond it being an economic driver –beyond it being something that would encourage people to come in and buy a condo,” Jessica Solomon told the AFRO, March 24. In 2012, Solomon founded Art in Praxis, a social enterprise that embeds creative practices into capacity building and growth for community organizations, groups and individuals. Growing up in West Baltimore, Solomon has always been inspired by the nonconventional. “I come from a community and a home where we were always being creative about stuff,” she says. “I come from a family of magicians, shape shifters, and cultural organizers, and that was something that I was always interested in – this idea of doing things creatively and collaboratively.” While she was a master’s in

culturally relevant approach. “Lately, I’ve been hosting these experiential activities called the Brown Bag Lunch Lab where I’ll work with leadership Photo by Les Talusan who may Jessica Solomon, executive have some director of Art in Praxis question, theme, or topic area they want to cover with their staff. And together we’ll co-create a twohour meeting where I’ll facilitate and they’ll walk away with skillsets for some new way or approach to dealing with that issue,” she says. She is also working to make sure that companies thrive even without the presence of an outside coordinator. “A well-facilitated meeting can make or break a project and I feel like that is one thing that I see time and time again with organizations – just having run of the mill, unproductive, uninspired meetings. And so I’m really interested in developing products that people can purchase

“I want people to actually imagine what it would look like if D.C. was reflective of all the amazing art and culture that’s already happening in the city…” – Jessica Solomon organizational development student at American University, Solomon founded a theater company to fill a void in what she did not see on stage. As an outlet for creative expression, she curated an experience that allowed her and others to become storytellers, performers, and artists who toured across the country. From conducting meetings to strategic planning, creativity was always at the forefront of her business management; and the practices she adopted running the theater company have informed the work she does today. Through Art in Praxis, Solomon works with clients who engage in community development, social justice, and activism. She acts as agent to spur large-scale change. She specializes in constructing tailored consulting projects, workshops, and trainings based on a collaborative, creative, and

to help them facilitate really impactful, creative meetings,” she says. As the newly announced resident collaborator at the Potter’s House, Art in Praxis is also working to bring programming and work from local artists into the Adam’s Morgan coffee shop and performance space. As the company grows, Solomon continues to use her personal and professional experiences to shift culture. “I’m really grateful for the opportunity. I’m really excited about emerging practitioners who are looking to me or wanting to know how I do what I do. I’m really grateful I get to make stuff up,” she says. “It’s always rooted in some kind of methodology, but it really comes from just imagining how can I support organizations and people in being better at what they do.” For more information, Jess can be reached at hello@artinpraxis.org.

of cowards, unable to talk about racism. The response to Starbucks says ‘yes,’” Welsing said. Welsing said social scientist Neely Fuller’s list of basic counter-racism behaviors remain key in Black people disrupting their own oppression. Among them: stop name calling one another, gossiping about one another, squabbling with one another, snitching on each other for personal gain, being discourteous and disrespectful to one another, and stop stealing, robbing, fighting, and killing each other. “We have to determine that something

negatively impacting our lives is going to be brought to an end, but you cannot bring it to an end if you do not understand it. You can complain from now to forever, but you have to treat it scientifically and investigate it. Racism as a total system – it covers all areas of people activities. The Black United Front is an organization comprised of concerned and committed individuals and organizations who have united to assume responsibility for working and leading the struggle for a better life for themselves and their children.

Black Women’s Roundtable

Continued from A1

Black Women in the U.S. The first day of the summit participants converged on lawmakers as part of the “Invest, Inspire, Unite” theme of the event. They met with Republican and Democratic lawmakers to urge Congress to act on voting rights, income equality, continued support for the Affordable Health Care Act in the states; and child nutrition. Plenary sessions included discussions on women and girls’ education, economic and global empowerment, economic justice, and utilizing data for advocacy and organizing. “As we celebrate Women’s History Month it is important we ensure that the rights of women are addressed and not ignored,” said Melanie Campbell, convener of the Black Women’s Roundtable, and president and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation. “We want to remind our leaders to stop the partisan politics and pass legislation that creates good paying jobs with livable wages, increases small business opportunities for women, reduces gun violence in our communities, invests in our children’s education, ends hunger in our nation, and expands affordable health care for All Americans.” The goal of the summit, according to Campbell, is to focus

on collective strategies to develop solutions for women and girls to live healthier, wealthier, and wiser lives through public policy, civic engagement, social innovation, entrepreneurship, organizing, leadership development, and mentoring. Tina Young, mother of five from Orange, N.J., said the summit helped her to share in a rich tradition of women nurturing other women to ensure a type of holistic approach to career, education, and relationships. “The many influential women at BWR are willing to provide a mental support system for each other that helps us thrive. I am learning that it is important to have mentors who are from all races, both genders and as many cultures as possible. We are Black and proud women, but we must also embrace the world and take leadership roles within it,” Young said. “That can only happen if we are mentally and spiritually anchored and I get that from BWR.” Salandra Benton, Florida convener of the Black Women’s Roundtable, told the AFRO that this year she wanted to share the summit with the 20 young girls from across the Sunshine State who traveled with the Florida delegation to attend. “We wanted them to be in the room and interact with positive Black women. We know that what young ladies see in the media are

not always appropriate depictions of themselves and it was important for that they have intergenerational experiences – that were up close and personal – with professional women,” Benton said. “Some of these girls have never been outside of their community, so to walk up Capitol Hill, visit the seat of government and ask to speak with your representative, is an empowering process. We want them to know that they are capable and powerful.” Sisters Keiorah and LaTova Greene were among the young women participating in this year’s summit and both found the interaction with other young women powerful and priceless. “I am a college student right now and it was great going to Capitol Building and seeing how laws that impact the nation are created and enacted into law,” said Keiorah. “The experience was eye-opening. There are a lot of issues that we face as African-American women that I wasn’t really aware of and a lot of these sessions have encouraged me to learn more and get more involved so I can start fighting for some of these things,” LaTova said. “It seems like we’re always left behind or the last ones to be thought of – if we are thought of at all – and that didn’t sit well with me. I am ready to start making a difference with some of these things.”

April 4, 2015 - April 10, 2015, The Afro-American

COMMUNITY CONNECTION District Heights, Md.

meeting, visit https://www.aan.com/conferences/2015-annual-meeting/.

First Baptist Church of District Heights Hosts Easter Community Day

Upper Marlboro, Md.

The First Baptist Church of District Heights, located at 7234 Lansdale St., will be hosting its annual Easter Community Day April 4 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The first 250 families to arrive will receive a free bag of groceries. There will be an Easter egg hunt on the church lawn and a trackless train in the parking lot for children. The family-friendly event will also provide free food, games, music, face painting, moon bounces, and give-a-ways. In addition, men will be able to select business casual attire thanks to donations from a local men’s clothing store. This is the fourth year the church will host the event.

100 Black Men Annual Community Breakfast

Washington, D.C.

The 100 Black Men of Prince George’s County’s fourth Annual Community Breakfast will be held on April 11 from 8:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. at Martin’s Camelot, 13905 Central Ave. The keynote speaker for the breakfast will be Boyd K. Rutherford, Lt. Gov. of Maryland. The annual breakfast is one of the fundraisers that supports 100 Black Men’s mission to mentor the next generation of young leaders. To purchase tickets, contact Julius Ware at 202-351-9569. For more information, visit www.100princegeorges.org.

Maya Angelou Stamp Dedication Ceremony

Alexandria, Va.

The United States Postal Service invites you to celebrate the life of renowned author, poet, actress and civil rights champion, Maya Angelou. The event will be held April 7, at the Warner Theatre, located at 513 13th St., N.W., at 11 a.m. for the First-Day-Issue Stamp Dedication ceremony for the Dr. Maya Angelou Limited Edition Forever Stamp. The event is free and open to the public. Seating is available on a first come first serve basis and subject to capacity. For more information, please contact: Xhosa Bates at Xhosa.bates@usps.gov or Nationalevents@usps.gov, or by phone at 202-268-3267.

American Academy of Neurology Holds Annual Meeting

The American Academy of Neurology will hold its 67th Annual Meeting at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mt Vernon Place N.W., from April 18-25. The event is known as the world’s largest gathering of neurologists. According to a release, more than 25,000 neurologists will attend the meeting. For more information and to register for the

Film Screening of ‘The Virgin Cure’

Alexandria’s Commission for Women and Commission on HIV/AIDS in collaboration with filmmaker, Nyasha Vera, will hold a fundraiser and film screening of “The Virgin Cure” Movie on April 13. The Virgin Cure Movie will inform audiences about the struggles young women are facing in South Africa and present both sides of the debate on the relevance of virgin cleansing in youth rape cases. Victims who believe they were raped due to the “virgin cure” myth will tell their stories along with their loved ones and researchers will present arguments against the relevance of the myth in rape cases. The movie is for mature audiences only. The film screening will begin promptly at 7 p.m. at the Metro Stage, 1201 North Royal St., Alexandria, Va. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated. Event link: https://virgincuremyth.eventbrite.com. For more information, about this event contact: EMPYREAN PR at: info@empyreanpr.com or visit: www.thevirgincuremovie.net.

Waldorf, Md. Stepping Classes

The Southern Maryland Steppers will be teaching beginning and intermediate original style stepping at the Thai Palace, 3732 Crain Highway in Waldorf, Md. The class will be held every Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Package A, beginner 8 week class costs $80; Package B, beginner, intermediate for 16 week class costs $120 and drop in costs $10 per class. For more information, contact Vincent at 240-354-0261 or Lillian at 202-808-4582. Interested parties can also email somdsteppers@gmail.com or visit the groups Facebook page at www.facebook. com/somdsteppers.

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The Afro-American, April 4, 2015 - April 10, 2015

Black Press Week Comes to D.C. By Shannen Hill Special to the AFRO

The week of March 25 – 29 leaders in Black news, from around the country, attended the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s annual Black Press Week. The week of events started at the Washington Marriott at Metro Center in Northwest D.C. with a board meeting and luncheon. Things got a little more interesting when 20 college interns from around the country arrived to work with some of the top people in journalism. To kick off their welcome, the interns participated in a twohour writing workshop with

with publishers and editors at the welcome reception dinner, where Chairman Mary Denson spoke about the power of the Black Press and the association, which includes over 200 Black newspapers across the country. The main day of the week was March 26, with events from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. It started with the rededication of the NNPA Media Lab at Howard University. The media lab is where many Howard University students in the School of Communications have classes. NNPA has added 16 new Apple computers with wireless keyboards and mice. Chairman Denson

“The big difference is the young people here this year. They bring so much energy to it and excitement.” – George Curry George Curry, editor-in-chief of NNPA. “The big difference is the young people here this year. They bring so much energy to it and excitement,” Curry said. “I don’t think that they’ll have another event without the core involvement of the young people.” The interns then had an opportunity to network

cut the ribbon, signifying an increased relationship with the University. The association plans to add artwork from different Black newspapers on the walls of the media lab as well. “My favorite event was the enshrinement at Howard University in our Black Press office archives,” said Dorothy Leavell, editor and publisher

of the Crusader Newspaper in Chicago. “It is so important, not only that we talk about things in the future, but also be [able to] look at the past. I enjoyed the opportunity to see their lives and be inspired myself.” Then onto the National Press Club, where U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif), along with women publishers from across the country, sat on a panel for the Fifth Annual Stateswomen for Justice Luncheon. Waters spoke about the importance of Black-owned business, and discussed how Black-owned newspapers have continued to thrive. Publishers then went to Capitol Hill to meet with officials, while the interns participated in a workshop on financial literacy. That evening NNPA presented their Torch Awards at the Marriott. The event honors Black men and women making strides in politics, entertainment, business, and religion. It also featured two honorees with incredible stories in the news this year. Bishop Hezekiah Walker, the Grammy award winning gospel singer, received the Torch Award for Religion; Torch Award for Politics, was awarded to Jennifer S. Carroll, the former lieutenant governor of Florida; Jeff Friday, founder and CEO of Film Life Inc. received the Torch Award for

Photo by Rob Roberts

Cloves Campbell; Bishop Hezekiah Walker, recipient of The Torch Award for Religion; Benjamin L. Crump, recipient of The Torch Award for Newsmaker of the Year; Mary Denson, recipient of The Torch Award for Politics; Jennifer S. Carroll, recipient of The Torch Award for Business; B. Doyle Mitchell Jr., recipient of The Torch Award for Entertainment; Jeff Friday and Dr. Benjamin Chavis Entertainment; and Torch Award for Business, went to B. Doyle Mitchell Jr., president and CEO, Industrial Bank. Benjamin L. Crump received the Newsmaker of the Year honor for his work in fighting against racial injustice at the hands of police. Master Willie Myrick, received the Junior Newsmaker of the Year honor. He is a nine-year old who was kidnapped in Atlanta, Ga. and then let go after signing “Every Praise” for three

hours. “I really liked the Newsmaker of the Year and the Torch Awards because we honor people of our community who have served and made news of importance during the year,” said Denson. The interns attended workshops led by Baltimore News Anchor Marcus Washington on March 27. The festivities went back to the National Press Club as the week ended with a panel discussion on the State of the Black Press. This

year’s discussion was also different because there were many more young people in attendance than usual. “It was a diverse panel and a necessary discussion about how to enhance the Black Press and move forward,” said Dr. Benjamin Chavis Jr., president and CEO of NNPA. “The big difference was the presence of young people. We had just as many young people as senior citizens almost, and that’s important because the future of the Black Press is in their hands.”

Selma

Continued from A1 his signature battle cry: “Keep the skeer (scare) on a former Confederate general-turned-grand dragon of ‘em.” the KKK and lynching advocate, and founded in June “I was horrified,” the college senior said. 1965 just months after the voting rights marches in The billboard was sponsored by the neoSelma – only accepted its first Black child in 2008, confederate group Friends of Forrest, led by Patricia stirring significant resentment. Godwin, known as the “Wizardess” around Selma Some say the civil rights battles of the ’50s and and also known for denouncing the 1965 march as ‘60s were not in vain, that there has been progress in “The Mother of All Orgies.” Godwin’s group was also Selma. City politics marked a significant turning point responsible for a Forrest monument that has been a in 2000 when it elected its first Black mayor James symbol of the racial acrimony that still exists in Selma Perkins. Today, the city is run by a Black mayor; six since it was erected in 2000. The monument has been of the City Council’s nine members are Black and beheaded, defaced, and shuffled around, including to a the police force is run by an African-American chief. cemetery. Still, activists point out, that political power has not “Race relations have come a long way but it still translated into economic power and the majorityneeds some improvement, because we have Blacks Black town is foundering. who don’t trust Whites, and Whites who don’t trust Decades after Dr King articulated his dream for a Blacks,” said Selma Councilman Samuel Randolph, politically empowered people, in Selma, “not only are Photo by Alexis Toliver D-Ward 5. the fruits scarce, but the roots are shallow and feeble,” These are examples of graffiti drawn after the attempt to integrate Morgan Some of Forrest’s future adherents were also wrote Selma state Sen. Hank Saunders and his wife, Academy, a private school where many of Selma’s White children attend. very present during the recent commemorations, attorney and activist Faya Rose Toure, in a recent distributing thousands of KKK fliers to Selma homes. New York Times opinion piece. They later added, “For The Klan leader said they are not White supremacists – “We went down there to do recruiting and to tell our the tens of thousands of African-Americans in Selma, they are not trying to enslave any other race – but they are side of the story,” Robert Jones, grand dragon of the Loyal life, as Langston Hughes said, ‘ain’t been no crystal stair.’ separatists. White Knights of the KKK, told the AFRO. “Alabama has Better off is not equal.” In Selma, that separation is very evident. White residents always been a good, strong state for the Klan . . .. It’s easy to The pair cited issues of police brutality, inequities in the have fled the city, which in 1965 was evenly divided but is recruit there.” criminal justice system, and other social ills. Dallas County, now 80 percent Black. And those that remain live in cloistered The KKK’s “side of the story” included alleged truths about where Selma is located, ranked as the poorest in the state last the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (“The guy was a communist communities. The Selma Country Club has yet to admit a Black year, and in January had an unemployment rate of 10.3 percent, member. Schools are segregated as well. “There are very, very agitator,” Jones said), about Blacks and their alleged penchant according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. About for crime and about immigration. 42 percent of Selma’s families live below the poverty line, “The old Klan was concerned about African Americans, but according to the Census Bureau, and violent crime is five times the new Klan is more concerned about immigration,” Jones that in other towns around Alabama. said. “I think it is going to be the downfall of this nation.” “We have a lot of dilapidated houses in Selma,” added The Klan’s upfront presence – its members no longer wear Randolph, the 16-year member of the Council, about the masks, Jones said – is evidence, some said, of the way Selma’s pervasive blight in the city. segregated past has remained little unchanged. ““I’m not really “It is a tough town,” Potok agreed, adding that since Whites fled, – Selma Councilman Samuel Randolph, D-Ward 5 surprised because there will always be people who don’t want and businesses along with them, “There is no work there; no one is to see progress, who don’t think Whites and Blacks should be doing well. And, it is very much the legacy of White racism.” united,” said Randolph. Just as Selma was the poster child of the hard yoke imposed few White kids in public schools in Selma. I think there is a Added Jones, “You can’t put this many races and religions by Jim Crow back in the civil rights era, it is an example that handful – if even that,” said SPLC’s Potok. “Almost all the one continent and don’t expect them to try and step on each the struggle for equal rights and justice continues, Potok added. White children attend private schools.” other’s necks. There’s always going to be a confrontation “Selma is an absolutely shining example of all that is left to be In fact, Morgan Academy – named after John Tyler Morgan, done,” he said. “We are so far from any social equality still.” between the races.”

“…we have Blacks who don’t trust Whites, and Whites who don’t trust Blacks.”

CBCF

Continued from A1 Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), leading the CBCF’s effort to address poverty, said the House Democratic leadership is committed to ending the school-to-prison pipeline and noted that income inequality among the races must be recognized as a symptom. “Black students suffer from the highest poverty rates of anyone and they are three times as likely to be poor than Whites,” Lee said.

House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) agrees with Lee in a wider context. “The middle class is either shrinking or standing still,” Hoyer said. “People must have the means to become middle class.” While Debra Rowe, executive director of Returning Citizens United, didn’t attend the forum she is familiar with the problem. “I know about the school-toprison pipeline but D.C. needs

to acknowledge it,” Rowe said. “Many teachers in the schools discipline children without understanding that the reason the child may be acting up is because of a medical disorder.” D.C. Council member David Grosso (I-At Large) has sponsored hearings and events that talk about the school-toprison pipeline. In response to unreasonable school suspensions, he is the chief

sponsor of the “Pre-K Student Discipline Amendment Act of 2014” that would prohibit suspension or expulsion of a student in pre-kindergarten age from any city-funded educational program. Grosso’s bill has the support of all council members. Rowe endorses D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s proposal for an all-boys school to help stem the pipeline. She also said that there is a

widespread misconception about young people in the District’s school system. “Kids are automatically looked at as bad if they come from a bad neighborhood or go to a bad school and that is not the case,” she said. “Plus, kids are expelled from school as young as 13 and 14-years-old when they act up but there is no follow-up by the school system as to why the child is misbehaving.”

youtube.com

U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield is the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus.

April 4, 2015 - April 10, 2015 The Afro-American

COMMENTARY

The Easter Monday Tradition

It may seem strange, but I have noticed that traditions thrive only when they are allowed to grow and change. Cling to them too rigidly, and they tend to wither and lose their relevance. One clear example that springs to my mind--the Easter Monday festivities at the National Zoo. This year’s Easter Monday celebration takes place April 6, and it promises a packed schedule of activities and animal demonstrations. All of George H. us at the Greater Washington Lambert Jr. Urban League are very pleased to collaborate with zoo director Dennis W. Kelly and his dynamic team. Read more about the event here. (It is free and open to the public—to the whole public.) I have fond personal memories of Easter Monday at the National Zoo. My mother, a domestic servant and single mother of two boys, looked forward to the event every year for the opportunity to catch up with her friends from church after a long weekend of work. The fun started on the chartered bus to the zoo and continued into the evening. It was a wonderful day of good food, socializing, and the muchanticipated highlight of the day, the egg hunt. My brother and I may have grumbled about having to wear our good clothes and uncomfortable shoes, but with each year, the tradition acquired greater significance. We knew that the zoo was a landmark for the city as well as the nation, but once a year it belonged to us locals and to our community. To the best of my recollection, there was no such thing as an “Easter Panda” back then, but that’s something we can anticipate this year. This is what I mean when I say we can make room for new features in our most cherished traditions. The historical roots of the Easter Monday tradition nourish its

continued vitality. My mother was far from the only servant who took part in such festivities. As Kate McCafferty reveals in her historical novel, Testimony of an Irish Slave Girl, servants were given Easter Monday off as far back as the 1500s. In Washington, D.C., the Easter Monday tradition began in the late 1800s as a pseudo-holiday for black domestic workers who had to work on Easter Sunday and were banned from attending the traditional White House Easter Egg Roll. Of course, today African Americans are welcome to attend the White House event and perhaps to catch a glimpse of its African American residents, and this is a reason to celebrate. It also means that our families, some of whom are descendants of domestic workers, have more than one option for the day. Compared to my memories, a lot of things will be different this year at the zoo. The fashions, the food, and the technology have changed. There may be different animals to see, different activities to try. The decorations on the eggs won’t be the same. And yet the core of the tradition remains as relevant in the era of Jay-Z as it was in the time of the O’Jays: This is how our community comes together to celebrate the return of spring and the enduring bonds of friendship. I look forward to sharing and

creating new memories with my grandchildren at the National Zoo— this year, and for years to come. George H. Lambert, Jr. is the President and CEO of the Greater Washington Urban League.

The State of Black America – Part 1, Education “What the people want is very simple: they want an America as good as its promise.” - Texas Congresswoman Barbara C. Jordan There’s no other way to say it. Black America is in crisis. Over the past year, we have been bombarded with headlines that continue to drive home the longstanding challenges faced by Black and Brown communities in our nation. From the killings of unarmed Black males at the hands of police officers to the introduction of new voter suppression laws that make it more difficult for people of color to exercise their constitutional right to vote, it is clear that for many in our nation, equality under the law remains dangerously out of reach. But beyond the headlines, anecdotes and agenda-fueled debates lie the real numbers – all facts, no chaser. Last week, the National Urban League released the 2015 State of Black America report – “Save our Cities: Education, Jobs + Justice.” Marc H. Morial The report is the 39th edition of the National Urban League’s annual analysis of Black and Latino equality in America, and for the first time, this year’s report is available in an all-digital format available at www.stateofblackamerica.org, where visitors can find the e-book, Web Series, select data, videos, articles and other frequently updated features (as well as download a free copy of the 2015 State of Black America report until March 31). This year’s report again includes the Equality Index™, in its 11th year for the Black-White Index and its sixth year for the Hispanic-White Index – measuring how well Blacks and Latinos are doing in comparison to their White peers in five categories: economics, education, health, social justice and civic engagement. What we’ve found is that while strides have been made in our communities, tremendous gaps continue to leave us with a crisis in education, jobs and justice. There are tremendous challenges before us, but the good news is that they are not insurmountable. For the next few weeks – and beginning with education, I will explore the findings of the 2015 State of Black America, and better still, suggest solutions to these challenges. As our nation enjoys historically low dropout rates, the highest high school graduation rates in history and more students of color studying on college campuses, we must also contend with the reality that school districts serving the highest percentage of low-income households spend fewer state and local dollars in those districts than ones that have fewer students in poverty.

Is Democracy Overrated?

Lekan Oguntoyinbo

Long before China and India became the economic wonders of Asia, there was Singapore, a small, diverse country with no natural resources that took the audacious step of breaking away from the Malaysian federation in 1965 to become an independent nation. Lee Kuan Yew, the new country’s founding father, knew that the odds of survival were clearly against them when they decided to go it alone 50 years ago. “To understand Singapore and why it is what it is, you’ve got to start off with the fact that it’s not supposed to exist and cannot exist,” Lee said in a 2007 interview with the New York Times. “To begin with, we don’t have the ingredients of a nation, the elementary factors: a homogeneous population, common language, common culture and common destiny.” Still, Lee played the odds. By the time he stepped down as prime minister in 2000, he had transformed Singapore into an economic powerhouse, one of the world’s most efficient countries and, arguably,

the least corrupt. Due largely to Lee’s efforts, the World Bank now lists Singapore as the world’s fourth wealthiest country based on per capita income – ahead of other powerhouses such as Brunei, Norway, Saudi Arabia and the United States. Singapore is the cultural and recreational hub of Asia. It is a major destination for shoppers and affluent medical tourists from nearby countries like Vietnam and Malaysia. But in propelling Singapore into the club of the world’s wealthiest nations, Lee took some steps that made leaders of many traditional western democracies uncomfortable. He practiced a form of authoritarianism that included jailing some opposition politicians, intimidating the press, and suppressing dissent and some forms of free speech. Singapore is largely a one-party state. Lee died last week at age 91, spawning many western news outlets – including the New York Times – to comment on Lee’s “mixed legacy.” “As Singapore reflects on Mr. Lee’s legacy, in seven days of national mourning, many people will focus on the country’s economic growth under his rule,” the Times opined in an editorial. “But a leader’s accomplishments should not be measured by material achievements alone. The next generation of leaders should make Singapore a political model, not just an economic one.”

In addition, a lack of consistent education standards and equity and excellence at scale means that the quality of education that our children receive is far too often dependent on their zip code or how much money their parents make. Without a new formula for school funding that puts the dollars where the need is greatest, the education achievement gap will grow to the detriment of our nation as we educate a workforce incapable of meeting the challenges of tomorrow. To underscore the National Urban League’s commitment to education and our belief that quality education is a key driver to opportunity, for the first time in the report’s history, we have included a state-by-state Education Equality Index™ and ranking. This index examines state-level racial and ethnic disparities in K-12 education, documenting Black and Hispanic achievement gaps in all 50 states and the District of Columbia in comparison to White students. Key findings from the Education Index include: • The smallest gaps were commonly found in states with relatively small minority populations and where test scores were relatively low for each group – White, Black or Hispanic. • Higher graduation rates for Black and Latino students were also found in states where these groups are a smaller share of the population. • On average, larger gaps were found in states with large urban areas home to large populations of people of color living in highly segregated neighborhoods with high rates of concentrated high poverty. • With inequitable resourcing and the disproportionate impact of factors such as poverty and teacher quality, African American and Latino children consistently fair worse in reading/math proficiency. We have also included essays that feature commentary from leading figures and thought leaders in politics, the corporate arena, NGOs, academia and popular culture. This year’s contributing authors who highlight education include Sacramento Mayor and President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Kevin Johnson, NEA President Lily Eskelsen García and best-selling authors “The Three Doctors” (Dr. Sampson Davis, Dr. Rameck Hunt and Dr. George Jenkins). This report is more important than ever. It is important because armed with data, we can all go back to our cities and create relevant plans to address stubborn problems. It is important because we, as a nation, cannot expect to sustain growth and compete globally while millions of our citizens are denied the opportunity to become productive citizens because of misguided policies or neglect. It is important because America can only be as good as its promise if that promise is kept to all Americans. Marc H. Morial, former mayor of New Orleans, is president and CEO of the National Urban League.

Says who? Singapore’s political model has been studied by many Asian countries, including China. The Times’ editors added that now is a good time to rethink the order of things in Singapore, particularly given rising economic inequality there. Hmmm! I wonder if that same lesson of reflection could apply to some other country like, say, the United States. Singapore’s story of prosperity also has some observers pondering another crucial question: Is democracy overrated? Since the fall of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, we’ve seen a staggering rise in the number of democratic countries around, especially in third world regions, particularly in Africa and the Americas. Some countries have remained unmoved by this trend. For example: • China, which has the world’s largest economy and has shifted more than 300 million people into the middle class in the last 20 years, remains stubbornly authoritarian. • Vietnam remains a communist country, but its people are enjoying a degree of affluence and economic prosperity unknown since independence from France more than 60 years ago. • Although Cuba has loosened some economic and political restrictions in recent years, it is still an authoritarian country. Yet, the island nation’s literacy rate is one of the world’s highest, its doctors are among the best on the planet and its first-rate health system is accessible to all Cubans. In contrast, Nigeria, which had elections this weekend, returned to democratic rule in 1999. But it is rated one of the most corrupt countries in the world. Moreover, its public education system is in the toilet, more than half of its young people are unemployed, and nearly three of every four of its people live in poverty. Nigeria’s story is, in some respects, that of many African countries experimenting with democracy. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once spoke about an America in which Blacks in the south don’t have the vote and Blacks in the north have no reason to vote. Given a choice, then, would you rather live in a safe, clean and mildly authoritarian society that is economically prosperous and ensures that all citizens benefit from the wealth or in a democratic society where most people are mired in economic struggle and the government has no concrete plans to lift them out of it? Talk about a no-brainer. Lekan Oguntoyinbo is an independent journalist. Contact him at oguntoyinbo@gmail.com

The opinions on this page are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the AFRO. Send letters to The Afro-American, 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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The Afro-American, April 4, 2015 - April 10, 2015

April 4, 2015 - April 10, 2015, The Afro-American

The Duke Ellington School of the Arts dancers

Kendall Isadore, violinist

The Greater Washington Urban League(GWUL) hosted its 43rd Annual Whitney M. Young Jr. Memorial Gala (Sneaker’s Ball) on March 13 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. Under the theme,

Angela Hunt Bonitto, president, AHB Events and Fundraising; Craig Muckle, manager, Public Affairs and Government Relations, Safeway and Priscilla Clarke, Clarke and Associates

Jim Vance, NBC4 news anchor, the emcee

Jyotika Vazirani, Wendi Akin, Robin McClain and Nizam Ben Ali

Paris Perrauly, Herb Tillery, Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Julius W. Becton and Karen BectonJohnson

“Let Us Entertain You”, patrons and guests were treated to an evening of fun and merriment, a silent auction, performances by the Duke Ellington School of the Arts show band and dancers, the musical styling’s of pianist, Elaine

Rev. Dr. George Holmes

Kwon and violinist Kendall Isadore, a sumptuous meal, and some down home networking. Scholarships were presented by Safeway, Giant Food, Pepsi Beverages Company, GWUL Thursday Network,

DC Council members each gave an oratorical presentation: Ken McDuffie, Yvette Alexander and Anita Bonds

Chiffon Curtis and guest

Pierpont Mobley, Jeanette Mobley, Necola Shaw and Corey A. Griffin

Command Sgt. Maj. Charles N. Orange, Ebony Andrews, Miss Black Maryland US Ambassador; Lt. Col. David Dinkelman and Melvin Forbes, Baltimore Battalion Community Advisory Board

Don Baker, celebrity photographer; Chef Huda, celebrity chef and Lamar Brown

Justine Love, WPGC/ CBS Radio with Terri Copeland, PNC Bank

Board members of the Greater Washington Urban League

The AFRO team with their guests

Honoree Prince George’s County Executive, Rushern Baker, Rosie Allen-Herring, president, Federal City Alumnae Chapter, DST and D.C. City Councilman, Vincent Orange

Charlotte Elizabeth Yancey Eights and Southwest Airlines. The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Whitney M. Young Jr. Awards: for Leadership – D.C. Chief of Police Kathy Lanier; for Community Service, Walter M. Oliver, General Dynamics and for Humanitarianism, The Honorable Rushern Baker III, county executive, Prince George’s County. There was a special Rap and Spoken Word video presentation by Dr. Michael Eric Dyson along with

Cami Mazard, Nichelle Schaitz, Stephen Whatley, Annie Whatley and Candice Mitchell

Leidos presents $10,000 to GWUL: Roger A. Krone, CEO, Leidos; George Lambert, President/CEO, GWUL; Niara Tarleton-Allen, Miss DC USA Teen; Lizzy Olsen, Miss DC USA and Michael Akin

Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Michael P. Akin, chair, GWUL Board of Directors and D.C. Councilwoman, Yvette Alexander, Ward 7

vocal monologues by District Council members: Kenyan McDuffie(Ward 5); Anita Bonds(At-large) and Yvette Alexander(Ward 7). After the Live Auction and the singing of “Lift Every Voice and Sing”, the benediction was given by Rev. Dr. Henry P. Davis. Special thanks to the US Army/Career Counselors of the Baltimore Recruiting Battalion for their volunteer service.

Loretta Caldwell , member, GWUL Board of Directors(center) with guests

Duke Ellington School of the Arts band

Honoree Walter Oliver, SVP, Human Resources and Administration, General Dynamics receiving the Community Service Award from Roger Krone

Photos by Rob Roberts

The Afro-American, April 4, 2015 - April 10, 2015

Meet the Author Greener on the Other Side Author: Lionel Ntasano Release Date: April 4, 2014

Lionel Ntasano was born in Burundi and raised in Zambia He attended university in the U.S.A, Kenya and Switzerland, almost quitting college to be a member of a music band. Most days, he wishes heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d actually had the guts to go through with it. He now understands that the pain of regret hurts much more than the pain of failure. Thus he went into culinary school to feed his soul, ultimately opening a small beach resort. Nevertheless, he still did not believe heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d reached the place he wanted be, regardless of the small career success. Emptiness was still rampant. As a voracious reader since childhood, he decided to have a go at writing. What was the impetus for writing this book? My family left Burundi (our home country) in 1986. I was only two years old. My father found a very promising job at the COMESA in Lusaka, Zambia, where we spent 16 years. I never really spent time in my home country. We went there for holidays, visiting relatives and friends. We also travelled to many other countries for vacation (Zimbabwe, Zaire now known as DRC, Kenya, South Africa, France, Belgium, Holland and the U.S.A). Growing up, my younger brother and I were sheltered by our parents. So we spent a lot of time playing just the two of us. Thus, we ended up being some really creative youngsters, creating characters, scenarios and many imaginary friends. It might sound weird, or funny, but it helped us in our creative endeavors later on in our lives. As I was inspired and constantly surrounded by musicians and songwriters in my late teens and early twenties, it only added to my already crazy way of seeing the world. I attended French International Schools, and a British system boarding school, sharing classes with kids from all over the globe. I then decided to go to college in the USA majoring in electrical engineering. It was actually what my father wanted; I had no idea what I wanted to do. I met a few guys who were into music and followed them. It came to a point where I had to choose between being a musician, or getting an education. I got scared and decided to get an education. I got internships in Switzerland and the Ritz-Carlton in Florida. I met people from different backgrounds, ethnicities, cultures and social classes. There was no way I was going to let all this information and experiences go to waste. When I decided to settle down in Burundi in 2011, I had to get accustomed to some of the inevitable living conditions, for instance, the numerous power cuts. I left my parentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; house to live in a tiny apartment on the other

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side of town. I had already experienced the party life, the travelling and the heartbreaks. I was involved in a major hotel project and always came back home late, tired and confused. In the summer, the power cuts became more common. That is how I decided to write, I needed to make sense of what was happening in my life. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the overall theme? The grass always looks greener elsewhere. All our lives, we dream of an elsewhere, another world richer than that in which we live. We want more, better, something else, in an eternal quest for the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Garden of Eden.â&#x20AC;? My novel examines the root of this elusive quest. What surprised you about the development of the book? What surprised me the most was how much discipline I wrote the book with â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2 hours in the morning before work, and 3 hours in the evening. It started out as an essay that I wanted to email to my closest friend. I never did send that email. It then developed into a prose, then a novel once I talked about it with my cousin, who told me that I would be a fool if I did not make a novel out of it.

intrigues every person on this earth. The hero in the story is not a typical hero who is strong physically, handsome, confident and supper intelligent. He is actually a priest, Black and African. He is modest, confused and in search for a meaning to his life. In his search, he travels a lot. What one thing do you most want the reader to learn?

Which character excites you most? Nickolas, the future priest and protagonist, is then in his late teens, happy, well protected by his family and naĂŻve. Suddenly, he loses his entire family to war (the massacre of Kibimba) while he was making his way to school. His life journey then takes him to New York, Paris, back to Burundi, then Nairobi, then back to New York through a series of human solidarity, where he leads brilliant studies in psychology and theology, parallel to his status as a writer. Through Nickolasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; eyes we meet different characters, each of whom seem to struggle with a particular vice. Nick is an impressively observant character, showing his virtue but also his pitfalls. For what audience is your book written? After watching the rise in popularity of websites such as â&#x20AC;&#x153;humans of New Yorkâ&#x20AC;? I believe that my book will appeal to a wide range of people from around the world and of different ages. The title and theme of the book comes from a very popular philosophical question that

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with

Wynton Marsalis

Sun, Apr 19 at 7pm Kennedy Center Featuring a tribute to Duke Ellington and Ted Nashâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s The Presidential Suite, with guest orator Malcolm-Jamal Warner

WashingtonPerformingArts.org â&#x20AC;˘ (202) 785-9727

Made possible by Herbert and Patrice Miller, with special thanks to Paxton Baker and Centric.

It is natural for an individual to want to run away, or pretend to be somebody else. However, confronting your situation will always set you free and make you attractive in the process. What one thing do you want the reader to remember forever? Forgiveness heals everything. What did you learn during the writing process? Firstly, I learned that writing isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t as easy as I had always imagined. Secondly, it is such a lonely activity. Any advice for aspiring writers? Always write down the most honest story. Write your truth, and the readers will connect. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next on the horizon for you? I am currently writing a new book. It is a collection of fourteen powerful short stories that are thematically linked. The main theme is Manhood. The fourteen stories transcend all the qualities and attributes expected in a man. The book is titled â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Still Waters Run Deep.

April 4, 2015 - April 10, 2015, The Afro-American

ARTS & CULTURE

Beverly Rocks!

The â&#x20AC;&#x153;Black Girls Rock!â&#x20AC;? Interview By Kam Williams Special to the AFRO A dynamo in true form, Beverly Bond, has blazed trails in the music, entertainment and social entrepreneurship industries. Her body of work, across sectors, has made her one of the most celebrated DJs and social innovators of our time. A true music connoisseur, Beverlyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s passion for music and her uncanny ability to read the crowd has solidified her as one of the premier DJs in the world. Over the last decade, the former Wilhelmina model has brought her versatile talents to the most highly exclusive events and to a myriad of celebrity clients including Prince, Alicia Keys, Sarah Jessica Parker, Erykah Badu, Sean â&#x20AC;&#x153;Diddyâ&#x20AC;? Combs, Derrick Jeter, Jessica and Jerry Seinfeld, Jay Z, Martha Stewart and others. In 2006, she founded BLACK GIRLS ROCK!, a youth empowerment mentoring organization. Bond simultaneously created the annual BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Awards to celebrate the accomplishments of exceptional women of color who have made outstanding contributions in their careers and stand as inspirational and positive role models in the community. In 2010, Beverly first partnered with BET to air BLACK GIRLS ROCK! On network television. The Awards show went on to receive an NAACP Image Award for outstanding Variety Series or Special. Here, she talks about this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Awards which is set to air on BET on Sunday, April 5th at 7 pm ET/PT. Among the many luminaries appearing on the show is First Lady Michelle Obama. Kam Williams: Hi Beverly, thanks for the interview. Beverly Bond: Thank you, Kam. KW: Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be mixing my questions in with some sent in by readers. You just taped the

BLACK GIRLS ROCK! awards show last night. Are you still on a high from the event? BB: Omigosh! Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m still taking it in and trying to process it all.

blackgirlsrockinc.com

KW: Environmental activist Grace Sinden asks: What was your strongest or most surprising impression of First Lady Michelle Obama? BB: I think I always knew this about her, although Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d never met her in person until now, but sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so authentic and genuine. And sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so sincere and committed to making a difference in the lives of others. Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a real humanitarian. KW: How did you come to pick this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s honorees: director Ava DuVernay, actresses Jada Pinkett Smith and Cicely Tyson, singer Erykah Badu, CARE CEO Dr. Helene D. Gayle and middle school principal Nadia Lopez? BB: Well, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s never a shortage of incredible black women who have made major contributions each year. So, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re constantly monitoring whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s happening in Black Girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; World, so to speak, and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re aware that thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always an abundance of worthy individuals to choose from. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a matter of each personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s accomplishments and how current they are. Part of the process has to do with production, and part of it just comes down to who is available and how things fall in place based on the time period youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking at. So, yes, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a process, but the truth is there are so many amazing black women who have contributed to society who donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always get a chance to shine. Our mission is to make sure we acknowledge them on our stages.

betpressroom.com

over how many years did it take you to create BLACK GIRLS ROCK! and make it into a social force? BB: I founded it in 2006, and it was an instant success. I was so driven and so passionate about the necessity of this message that I worked 24 hours a day to make it happen. But it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel difficult when itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your mission and your vision. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been a lot of work, but I knew that many people would be into it. Honestly, by 2007, we had the mediaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attention already, BET, VH-1 and others, so I knew it was going to be televised. If you believe in something enough, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to make it work. And to me, this was so important because it was about the message to the girls, especially the young girls. KW: How do you respond to the Twitter trend #WhiteGirlsRock which claimed that BLACK GIRLS ROCK! is racist? BB: I think that when you tune into Black Entertainment Television and you are complaining about black people lifting up black women and celebrating their wonderful accomplishments, your racism is showing all over your face. Did they call in when the images were less than stellar? It is fascinating to me how thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an uproar whenever it comes to black people celebrating themselves. So, I

pay them no attention, although I did respond once by writing a little article making the point that just because we say that black girls rock doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean that you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t rock, too. But I wonder whether this was really just an attempt to punish us for having the audacity to celebrate ourselves. Everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so used to putting us at the bottom of the barrel that they feel entitled to find our simply saying â&#x20AC;&#x153;We rock!â&#x20AC;? offensive. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t give it too much attention, because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really silly, but it does show the privilege and the racism that exists in some circles. KW: What do you want viewers to take away from BLACK GIRLS ROCK!? BB: BLACK GIRLS ROCK! really focuses on helping to raise the bar for our kids, because weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to change our culture and make black excellence important again. Literacy should not be a problem for us in 2015. The education gap continues to widen for black kids, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s telling. So, we have to figure out how to help our kids to survive and thrive and become trailblazers themselves. KW: Thanks again for the time, Beverly, and best of luck with BLACK GIRLS ROCK! BB: Thanks, Kam, and I must say this has been an awesome interview. Thank you so much.

KW: Grace also asks: How difficult and

Book Review

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Rising Up from the Blood â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A Legacy Reclaimed, a Bridge Forwardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; By Kam Williams Special to the AFRO

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am proud and honored to be the great-granddaughter of Booker T. Washington. The day I went to my first Washington family reunion, I had no idea how dramatically my reality was about to changeâ&#x20AC;Ś When I first stepped foot on the campus of the renowned Tuskegee University, something magical happenedâ&#x20AC;Ś I had an epiphany and was immediately inspired to improve my life. Prior to the reunion, I was going in the wrong directionâ&#x20AC;Ś I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t realize from whence I cameâ&#x20AC;Ś By the time I was 16, I had become a lost soul, confused about life. It wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t until I arrived in Tuskegee for the first time in my life that I would bear witness to my foundationâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a foundation that was there all along. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s when I began to live on purpose. It is also why I now feel a burning obligation to share my storyâ&#x20AC;Ś It is my hope that this book will empower others to change unhealthy mindsets, increase levels of self-worth, and instill a healthy sense of self-love and self-respect within.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Excerpted from the Preface (pages 1-3) Despite being a direct descendant of Booker T. Washington, Sarah Washington Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neal wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t born with a silver spoon in her mouth. Quite the contrary, she and her big brother James were raised on a rough side of Oakland, California by a single-mother who never mentioned their

famous forbear. Perhaps she was ashamed by her relativelylowly station and having to hold two jobs just to keep a roof over their heads after being abandoned by her husband. The absence of a father figure would have a profound effect on Sarah, who ended up involved with a series of inappropriate partners. This was reflected in her picking bad boys who abused, cheated on, exploited, beat and/or

raped her. That futile search for male validation started when she was molested at the age of 9, an event triggering a rapid descent leading to an unplanned pregnancy by the time she was 15. Sarahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s baby-daddy neither stuck around to raise Mario, Jr., nor paid much in terms of child support, which meant the financial burden of the baby first fell squarely on the shoulders of her already cash-strapped mom. And when that responsibility proved too much for the beleaguered grandmother, the troubled teen

was forced to fend for herself and the infant on her own. Consequently, she soon became dependent on government subsidies like welfare, food stamps, public housing and Social Security benefits (after her father turned 65). Meanwhile, between her substance abuse problems (alcohol, weed, coke) and poor choice of men, it was little wonder that she had another child out-of-wedlock just a half-dozen years later. Sarah got her act together after attending a Booker T. Washington family reunion, but not before having been tested in more ways than the Biblical character Job. Thanks to a combination of Christianity and psychotherapy, she finally found a righteous path once and for all. A faith-based resolve has served Sarah well ever since, and she and husband Anthony Rush are happily married and raising a beautiful blended family. Her triumph over the odds is recounted in revealing fashion in Rising Up from the Blood, a mesmerizing memoir that reads like the literary equivalent of a TV soap opera. Besides Sarahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s personal story, this riveting autobiography includes a family photo album containing snapshots of Booker T. and the rest of her relatives, as well as snippets of sound advice for other lost souls looking to turn their lives around. An empowering opus by a thriving survivor who has ultimately proven herself deserving of her very impressive family pedigree.

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The Afro-American, April 4, 2015 - April 10, 2015

HBCU NEWS Penn. Lawmakers Applaud Lincoln’s Efforts to Keep Tuition Affordable

Rep. John Lewis to Deliver Hampton University Commencement Address

Members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly applauded Lincoln University’s efforts to keep tuition affordable and limit college debt. These statements were made by representatives of both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees during the budget hearings in Harrisburg on Tuesday. Acting President Valerie I. Harrison advocated for additional funding for Lincoln. “The University has taken very significant and specific steps to limit student college debt. We instituted a tuition freeze in February 2014, which allows a student who entered Lincoln as a freshman in the Fall 2014 to have the same tuition cost over the next three years,” Harrison said in her opening statement. “We believe that the four-year guarantee, coupled with our financial literacy curriculum, will motivate students to graduate in four years, a further step toward limiting student debt.” Lincoln University is one of four state-related institutions that testified before the lawmakers. The presidents of Penn State University, Temple University and the University of Pittsburgh also participated in the hearings. As a state-related university, the Commonwealth provides Lincoln with an annual appropriation, which was significantly reduced in 2011. Governor Tom Wolf has proposed a plan to fully restore the higher education cuts over the next two years. The General Assembly is working on their budget proposals and it is anticipated that a state budget will be approved by the General Assembly and Governor Wolf this summer.

Hampton University recently announced that Civil Rights leader and U. S. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) will serve as the University’s 145th Commencement speaker on May 10. Commencement will be held at Armstrong Stadium at 10 a.m. Often called “one of the most courageous persons the Civil Rights Movement ever produced,” John Lewis has dedicated his life to protecting human rights, securing civil liberties, and building what he calls “The Beloved Community” in America. His dedication to the highest ethical standards and moral principles has won him the admiration of many of his colleagues on both sides of the aisle in the United States Congress. John Lewis As a young boy, Lewis was inspired by the activism surrounding the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the words of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., which he heard on radio broadcasts. In those pivotal moments, he made a decision to become a part of the Civil Rights Movement. Ever since then, he has remained at the vanguard of progressive social movements and the human rights struggle in the United States. While still a young man, Lewis became a nationally recognized leader, and was dubbed one of the “Big Six” leaders of the national Civil Rights Movement. At the age of 23, he was an architect of and a keynote speaker at the historic March on Washington in August 1963. During the height of the Civil Rights Movement, from 1963 to 1966, Lewis was named chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), which he helped form. SNCC was largely responsible for organizing student activities, including sit-ins and other activities. He later served as director of the Voter Education Project, helping to register millions to vote. In 1977, Lewis was appointed by President Jimmy Carter to direct more than 250,000 volunteers of the federal volunteer agency ACTION. In 1981, he was elected to the Atlanta City Council. While serving on the Council, he was an advocate for ethics in government and neighborhood preservation. He was elected to Congress in November 1986 and has served as U.S. Representative of Georgia’s Fifth Congressional District since then. Lewis received a bachelor’s degree in religion and philosophy from Fisk University, and is a graduate of the American Baptist Theological Seminary, both in Nashville, Tennessee. He has been awarded more than 50 honorary degrees from prestigious colleges and universities throughout the United States. For more information about the Hampton University Commencement Exercises, please visit commencement.hamptonu.edu.

N.C. Central Prof. Antonio Baines in PBS Cancer Special North Carolina Central University Biology Professor Antonio T. Baines, Ph.D., whose research centers on the interactions of proteins and their function in cells, will be featured in a UNCTV special on cancer airing at 8 p.m. April 1. UNC-TV is a PBS member television station licensed in North Carolina. The UNC-TV program appears in conjunction with the PBS documentary Cancer: Emperor of All Maladies, produced by Ken Burns. The PBS program is being aired in three parts at 9 p.m. daily on March 30, 31, and April 1 and is based on a book of the same title by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee. In the UNC-TV program, titled Cancer: Focus of Life, researchers discuss recent medical discoveries, as well as the stories of individual cancer patients in North Carolina, where more than Antonio Baines 350,000 residents are cancer survivors. Also participating in the UNC-TV show are NCCU alumnus and leukemia survivor Rashawn King, along with Neil Spector, M.D., of Duke University School of Medicine, breast cancer survivor Jamie Valvano, from the V Foundation for Cancer Research, and Deborah Mayer, Ph.D., R.N., of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. The program includes a panel discussion about important cancer work ongoing in NC, as well as challenges for patients with cancer. It also offers viewers a look into the laboratories of Julius L. Chambers Biomedical Biotechnology Research Institute, where Baines evaluates interactions among proteins to identify functions they control in individual cells in an effort to slow or stop the spread of cancer.

The Afro-American, April 4, 2015 - April 10, 2015

SPORTS

Should the Wizards Fire Randy Wittman? AFRO Sports Desk Faceoff

and off the bench consistently hurt the team. Wittman is a good coach but even the best coaches of all time needed an abundance of toys to play with.

By Stephen D. Riley and Perry Green AFRO Sports Desk The Washington Wizards have floundered in the second half of the 2014-2015 NBA season and unless a magical postseason run happens, the campaign will be an average one. Washington continues to fumble double-digit leads, collapse defensively and lose games that stronger teams win with ease. Head coach Randy Wittman has done a good job of getting the Wizards’ play up to a competent level but major concerns still remain. Some fear that Wittman may have already lost the locker room after the coach walked off the court before the game ended in a home bout with the Indiana Pacers. Washington soared as high as second place in the Eastern Conference in the first quarter of the season behind the Atlanta Hawks. Washington (41-32) is fresh off a 4-13 stretch but has looked much worse since jumping to a 19-6 start. With a 12-26 record since December, confidence and patience are starting to waver. Obviously the talent is there for Washington to be a solid team, but is the coach? Perry Green and Stephen D. Riley of the AFRO Sports Desk debate the issue Green: If you would have asked me this question two years ago, I would have told you emphatically that Wittman needs to go. I remember former Denver Nuggets head coach George Karl was on the market, too, and he would have made a great fit in Washington. But things have changed dramatically since then. Karl is no longer available. And, from what Wittman has done for the team and where he’s pulled them from since his coaching tenure started, he has done an admirable job. I remember when Washington was fresh off the Gilbert Arenas fiasco that rocked the franchise and shifted future plans. For the Wizards to be playing high level basketball again is still something worth bragging about despite their recent stretch of sour play. Although critics will point fingers at Wittman for falling off, the talent level of the team still continues to be a

‘Saga of Sam’ As I continue my journey through the life of Hall of Fame sportswriter Sam Lacy, I find myself taking nostalgic looks at my own life. I was visiting with my deceased cousin’s wife, Sheila and her brother, Doug when a topic popped out of the conversation. Doug had quite a colorful life which led him to a choice between the military or a visit to the house of slamming doors. However, his indiscretions were more on side of mischief than crime. The story that prompted this memory took place when Doug was a young teen. After school he joined a huckster (vendor with a horse drawn wagon) and worked with him to make a little cash. After their day’s work, Doug was tasked with taking the horse back to the barn. Shirley and their older sister Amelia were often embarrassed when they emerged

Riley: Back-to-back playoff campaigns should definitely receive approval from supporters, but the fact of the matter is the Wizards franchise hasn’t made any serious noise in decades and they won’t as long as Wittman is running the ship. For where the team is trying to go, they need a coach who can take them there, and Wittman just simply isn’t that. He’s a defensive-minded coach whose team struggles often on the offensive side of the ball. I agree that the Wizards could use some more talent, but they could also use a coach to attract better free agent prospects and a figurehead that the players can believe in. Wittman quit on the team when he left the court early. It’s only a matter of time before things get chaotic in D.C.

Wikimedia Commons

Head coach Randy Wittman has done a good job of getting the Wizards’ play up to a competent level but, major concerns still remain. work in progress. John Wall is a legitimate star, and Bradley Beal is a nice development piece, but holes in the front court

from school to the sight of Doug holding court from the back of this flea-bitten horse. One of Sam’s escapades immediately came to mind. Sam had an after school job with a huckster with a horse. Sam kept the fruits and veggies rotated, and helped the customers with their selections. It was customary at the end of the day to return the wagon to a shed and take the horse to the barn. This was the job of the huckster, and Sam would sometimes ride along on the back of the horse. Came the day when after putting the wagon away, the boss told Sam he had business elsewhere and Sam would have to return the horse. This was supposedly no big deal, but as soon as the horse realized that his rider was inexperienced, he broke into a full tilt gallop heading home. Sam described this as a white knuckle moment, and had to resist the urge to check his shorts to make sure all was well. The next encounter Sam had with horses was behind the rail at the race track. As did quite a few of his stories, this story tickled my memory of an episode with a horse. During the summer I would go away to camp. A lot of kids would get homesick at this experience, but I took to it like a duck to water. I gained “junior counsellor” status and enjoyed some privileges other

Green: He had a weak moment, but all coaches do. Wittman’s been coaching hard for the last few years and has gotten this team farther than most coaches would have. The team isn’t where they predicted themselves to be but all of that is not on the coach. The real person who should be in question is general manager Ernie Grunfeld. He hasn’t exactly made Wittman’s job easy. He drafted Otto Porter with a top-five pick, and that still hasn’t panned out to be a success. Grunfeld also let former Wizard Trevor Ariza walk, taking away one of Washington’s best “glue players.” And I don’t know what he was thinking when he traded away veteran point guard Andre Miller, one of the best backup floor generals in the NBA. These players were major contributors when Washington was at its best in recent history. Now they’re gone and the team is suffering. So, let’s be clear here: If we’re going to blame anyone for the Wizards’ demise, let’s make sure the buck stops at Grunfeld, not Witt.

campers could only envy. I was a junior lifeguard at the pool, a supervisor at the boating facility and a road guard (who insured the safety of campers crossing the road that ran through the middle of the camp). I even had a short stint as bugler. This turned out to be a nightmare, so I moved on. The one thing I needed to round out my résumé was that of being a pony boy. We had a stable of ponies and a JC was assigned to each horse. Mouse (one of the pony boys) was feeling a little poorly and asked me if I would take his horse for the day. “Yes sir, buddy,” I enthusiastically replied. I went to the stable with an ear-to-ear grin on my face. As I was saddling the horse there was a clue staring me in the face which I either ignored or didn’t notice: the horse’s name was Dynamite. He had the name and the personality to match. We got along quite well for most of the morning, and then I decided to take a page from my favorite TV cowboy’s book. As I was about to mount the horse to take him to the next station, I grabbed the saddle horn and tried to do a swing up mount like they do in the movies. The horse sidestepped, and as I lay in the dirt gazing up, the horse was looking down at me as if to say, “What the hell is wrong with you?” From that day on, I joined Sam at the rail at the track.

Tiger Woods Makes Inaugural Donation to UMES’ Golf Scholarship Fund

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Tiger Woods’ $10,000 grant will go towards UMES students who demonstrate a passion for golf. By Courtney Jacobs AFRO Staff Writer University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) hit a hole-in-one when it received a donation for their new golf management scholarship fund from golf superstar Tiger Woods

this week. Woods has the distinct pleasure of being the first donor to this scholarship, which will honor the late great professional golfer Charlie Sifford. Sifford was the first African American to play on the PGA Tour. Sifford went on to win 19 championships, including two PGA Tours. Woods’ grant of $10,000 to the Sifford Fund will “provide need-based scholarships to highly talented students who demonstrate a passion for the game of golf and who are from populations underrepresented in the golf industry,” according to a news release. “The University of Maryland Eastern Shore is honored to accept this generous gift from Tiger Woods to support our professional golf management program and to partner with us in acknowledging Dr. Sifford’s role as a sports pioneer,” UMES President Juliette B. Bell said in a statement. UMES is currently the only historically Black university or college (HBCU) in the nation that offers a bachelor’s degree in professional golf management accredited by the PGA of America. Sifford died Feb. 3 at the age of 92, leaving behind a remarkable and memorable legacy. “Without Charlie Sifford, and the other pioneers who fought to play, I may not be playing golf,” Woods said in a news release. “My Pop may not have picked up the game, and

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maybe I wouldn’t have either.” A Capitol Hill reception was held by UMES on Nov. 24 to pay tribute to Sifford, the same day he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in a White House ceremony. Only two other golfers in history have received this honor, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. Sifford spoke with many students that day, many who were interested in careers in the golf industry. “It was a special moment for a lot of them,” Billy Dillon, UMES golf management program director said in a news release. “Some knew about what Mr. Sifford accomplished, and when others learned why he was being recognized, I think they realized the importance of the moment.” UMES’ professional golf management program has 44 students enrolled, with more than half being women and minorities. This program will help students strive for careers in recreational or competitive golf, business, marketing, media and hospitality upon graduation. The program mirrors goals Sifford outlined in his autobiography Just Let Me Play. “I want golf to reach out to people from all walks of life and to be the sport that puts itself above issues of race and class and economic levels,” Sifford wrote. “We should give everybody equal access to the game, with equal facilities to play and we should give them the same opportunities to pursue the game throughout their lives.”

• Your History • Your Community • Your News

April 4, 2015 - April 10, 2015, The Afro-American

Rethinking the Recognition of Doris ‘Dorie’ Miller By MarshaRose Joyner Special to the AFRO Part II of a four-part series Several sources claim that Doris “Dorie” Miller was the first war hero. Irvin H. Lee wrote that he was responsible for this country’s only victory. To say Miller was the only hero belittles the other men and women who gave their all on that day. Richard E. Miller, a retired chief hospital corpsman who served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years, wrote, “Despite racial discrimination and second-class status within the enlisted corps, the U.S. Navy’s mess attendants, officer’s cooks, and stewards compiled a proud legacy of combat service in World War II. The heroism of a few like “Dorie” Miller became well known to the American public, but most have long been forgotten.” Richard E. Miller’s book, “The Messmen Chronicle: African Americans in the U.S. Navy 1932-1943” tells the story of those thousands of unheralded sailors of African descent who served in frontline combat with fellow messmen of Filipino, Guamanian, and Chinese ancestry from the first day of war to the last. To further illustrate the anonymity of non-white military men, it wasn’t until December, 1996, in a letter by Rev. Joe Morgan, Pearl Harbor survivor, that Mess Attendant 3rd class, William Jeremiah Powell was identified as having been the “colored messman” responsible for having shot down the first kamikaze plane on Dec. 7, 1941. “I was an auxiliary ordinance man on Ford Island at the time of the attack. I could see the Curtiss across the channel from us,” Rev. Morgan said. “The planes were coming at us from across the Island after hitting the Oklahoma. Man, was I scared. Our group shot at this plane and causing it to burst into flames. We thought it was going to hit the water. Instead he aimed the burning plane right for the Curtiss a Seaplane tender, moored offshore.” Morgan went on to say, “The Curtiss had spotted the conning tower of a submarine and put a shell through the conning tower, and the submarine replied by firing two torpedoes. One just missed the Curtiss, and the other sped by the Monagham and exploded on the Shore of Ford Island.” “When the gun operator on the crane deck spotted the burning plane headed for them they ran . . . a Black Messman grabbed the deserted gun, making eye contact with the pilot and began to fire directly at the plane, bringing it down. The plane plunged into the deck, starting a fire. Of course he and William Jeremiah Powell the pilot died. The ship did not sink.” “On my first liberty after the Pearl Harbor bombing, aboard a liberty boat, on my way to town. Two (white) sailors who were aboard the Curtiss told me this story. “It has taken me until now (1996) to learn of his name. I don’t suppose that he got any medals or recognition for giving his life that day,” said Rev. Morgan. “He was the only Black messman killed on the Curtiss on December 7th.” Historical accounts of that day record “USS Curtiss is credited with having shot down three planes, one of which crashed into the ship’s hangar deck. A bomb exploded inside the ship’s hangar killing 20 men and wounding 58.” There was no mention of the man’s name. Well, I really didn’t understand the depths of the segregation that went on in the navy... when I first went in. In training there were World War I stewards and cooks who were our instructors…and they instructed us as to what our duties would be once we got aboard ship or in the station…and they instructed us (as to) what it would be to work with officers-or work for officers – rather than with them. And it was a very intimate situation between the officers and the steward mates of the mess attendants at that time, because you took care of all of their personal needs: their shoes, their bedding, and their laundry. You made sure of their food and, and all of those things. And you knew everything there was to know after a while… [When you joined the navy] there was only one branch…open to you, and that was serving the officers. You…started off as a mess attendant, and if you were fortunate, you worked up to be a steward, or a cook, officers’ steward or officers’ cook… Well, we went through the training and…they outlined that our job was essential, because if the officers were Clark J. Simmons happy, then the rest of the crew were happy. So…it was just a job…and as odd as it may seem, it was a lot of white sailors who would have loved to have been able to…serve in that capacity. I had been aboard the Utah a little better than 2 years. (The weekend of December 7)… we had just finished the 6-week cycle. We came in early afternoon on Friday, and we went into what we call Fox 11, which is on the west side of Ford Island. The Lexington, the carrier

Lexington, had moved out that morning and we moved into the berth where they were originally. So apparently when the reconnaissance plane for the Japanese had taken that picture that Saturday, they had penned in carriers…on the west side of Ford Island, which was the Lexington. So…that Friday, I had gone out from the ship, tied up…gone to the beach to Honolulu, did some shopping for the officers, shopping for myself, came back; and Saturday morning I did the same thing and then came back and then went back on the beach for that Saturday evening. We had what we called Cinderella Liberty, which meant that we had to be aboard ship by midnight. So I came in about 11:30…and went to sleep. That morning…a Black man who was on duty came down…and said that something was happening and we were under attack. And he thought the ship in front of us had blown up. But what really had happened was the Japanese had made a run on us, and the first torpedo that they had sent into the Utah had gone through the bulkhead and ran up onto the beach. And we got to the rail of the ship…And as we did that, the lines were beginning to part because the ship was listing to the port that by then was 40-45 degree list. She was turning over, and as we got to this walkway and went to the railing, the lines were beginning to part and snap back into the ship. And we just went over the side into the water and (swam) for Ford Island, where the rest of our crew who had gotten off ...from other parts of the ship were at that time. …it’s just as vivid in my mind today as it was that day…I was hit either in the water or as I got on the beach. I don’t know whether its shrapnel or a gun wound. I was hit in the head, the shoulder and the leg. And one of the corpsmen, which is like a nurse aboard the ship, he noticed

I was bleeding and ... he began to patch me up a little. And he said, “We better get you to the hospital.” So I went to the 1st aid station on Ford Island and from there they transferred me to the submarine base hospital. I think my worst moment was when I woke up in the hospital and I listened to the radio and they were saying what had really happened here. That was my first realization as to what impact that day had really meant. I knew that I had been hurt but I didn’t realize, you know, what had happened to the rest of the fleet and the rest of the people. I didn’t realize the ship was completely lost. I saw it turn over…it all hadn’t sank…in until that Wednesday. Dorie Miller and I were classmates in swimming in Norfolk, Va. And this was a big gentleman. He was a huge man, about 6’2”, 225 - 235 pounds - but the nicest guy that you ever want to meet. And we socialized a lot, even in Honolulu when I’d run across him on the beach and we would still…talk… Dorie Miller was a mess attendant and he went to the West Virginia, and he left Norfolk before I did. I stayed back in Norfolk for a while, and he came out and was assigned to West Virginia. [The Japanese] wanted to put the battleships out of commission. And when the West Virginia was hit, the captain and the…executive officer…were on the bridge….Dorie Miller went up and physically picked up the captain and brought him down to a first aid station, and then he went back and manned a 50-caliber machine gun which he had not been trained on… This was a very courageous young man, and it’s always believed that he should have gotten the Congressional Medal of Honor, although he got the Navy Cross…. He exemplified a hero…in what he did that day. Dorie Miller got the Navy Cross, and he was the first Black during World War II to get that… he didn’t [get] the Congressional Medal because he was Black. And… the navy, being what it was at that time, didn’t want to set that kind of a standard.

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LEGAL NOTICES TYPESET: Tue Mar 31 Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2010ADM829 Walter L. Brown Decedent Joseph A Rafferty, Jr. 7945 MacArthur Blvd. Suite 208 Cabin John, MD 20818 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Walter L. Brown, Jr., whose address is 5100 Lee St. NE, Washington, DC 20019 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Walter L. Brown, who died on March 9, 1997 without a will, and will serve with Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before October 3, 2015. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before October 3, 2015, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of Publication: April 3, 2015 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Walter L. Brown Jr. Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 04/03, 04/10, 04/17/15

TYPESET: Tue Mar 24

Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2014ADM1311 Syid Abdullah Muhammad Decedent Michelle Lanchester Esq 601 Pennsylvania Ave NW Suite 900-South Building Washington, DC 20004 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Julian Cheek, whose address is 3974 Ames St., N E , Wa s h i n g t o n , D C 20019 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Syid Abdullah Muhammad, who died on April 18, 2014 with a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent´s will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Wa s h i n g t o n , D . C . 20001, on or before September 27, 2015. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before September 27, 2015, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of Publication: March 27, 2015 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Julian Cheek Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 03/27, 04/03, 04/10/15

LEGAL NOTICES

Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2015ADM290 George A. Edler 12:06:38 EDT 2015 Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Linda R. Edler and Shirley D. Harris, whose addresses are 642 Gallatin Street, NW, Washington, DC 20011 were appointed personal representatives of the estate of Geroge A. Edler, who died on January 27, 2015 without a will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before October 3, 2015. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before October 3, 2015, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of Publication: April 3, 2015 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Linda R. Elder Shirley D. Harris Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Foreign No. 2014FEP106 Date of Death December 5, 2013 Sandra K. Shank Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS Michael A. Ogline whose address is 1844 W. State Street, Suite A, Alliance, OH 44601 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Sandra K. Shank, deceased, on January 8, 2014, by the Probate Court for Stark County, State of Ohio. Service of process may be made upon District Registered Agent Services, Inc., 1025 Connecticut Avenue, N . W. , S u i t e 6 1 5 , Washington, DC 20036, whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C. The decedent owned the following District of Columbia real property: 2316 40th Place, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20007 (represented by Share Certifactate #10, dated June 2, 1983.) Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills for the District of Columbia, Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice. Michael A. Ogline Personal Representative(s) TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS Date of first publication: April 3, 2015

TYPESET: Tue Mar 31 12:06:14 EDT 2015 04/03, 04/10, 04/17/15

Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2015ADM313 Peggy Anne Raikes Decedent Deborah K. Hines,Esq 1050 Connecticut Ave 14:07:03 EDT 2015 Suite 1000 Washington,DC 20036 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Wayne Watkins, whose address is 4104 Bridle Ridge Road, Upper Marlboro MD 20772, was appointed personal representative of the estate of Peggy Anne Raikes, who died on January 11, 2015 without a will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before October 3, 2015. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before October 3, 2015, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of Publication: April 3, 2015 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Wayne Watkins Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 04/03, 4/10, 04/17/15

Name of newspapers and/or periodical: The Daily Washington Law Reporter The Afro-American

TYPESET: Tue Mar 31 04/03, 04/10, 04/17/15

Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2015ADM298 Gladys Matthews AKA Gladys Mae Matthews Decedent Elizabeth Hughes Esq 1100 Connecticut Ave NW Suite 340 Washington, DC 20036 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Wanda Goodwin, whose address is 421-6th Street, Washington, DC 20003 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Gladys Matthews AKA Gladys Mae Matthews, who died on January 10, 2015 with a will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent´s will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Wa s h i n g t o n , D . C . 20001, on or before October 3, 2015. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before October 3, 2015, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of Publication: April 3, 2015 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Wanda Goodwin Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS

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Superior Court of theEffective District of October 1, 2008 District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. PROBATE DIVISION 20001-2131 (Estates) Administration No. 2014ADM1242 202-332-0080 Mary B.Gibson DecedentPROBATE NOTICES James E. McCollum,Jr. Esquire and McCollum & Associates, LLC a. Order Nisi $ 60 per insertion $180.00 per 3 weeks 7309 Baltimore Ave., b. Small Estates (singleSuite publication $ 60 per insertion 117 c. Notice to Creditors College Park, Maryland TYPESET: Tue Mar 24 14:08:34 EDT 2015 20740 1. Domestic $ 60 per insertion $180.00 per 3 weeks Attorney 2. Foreign NOTICE OF$ 60 per insertion $180.00 per 3 weeks Superior Court of APPOINTMENT, d. Escheated Estates NOTICE TO$ 60 per insertion $360.00 per 6 weeks the District of District of Columbia $125.00 CREDITORS e. Standard Probates PROBATE DIVISION AND NOTICE TO Washington, D.C. UNKNOWN HEIRS 20001-2131 James Gibson, whose CIVIL NOTICES Administration No. address is 1416 Whittier 2014ADM911 a. Name Changes 202-879-1133 $ 80.00 Place, NW, Washington, DC 20012 was appointed Lillie Mae Bell b. Real Property $ 200.00 personal representative Decedent of the estate of Mary Nathan A. Neal B.Gibson, who died on Attorney at Law 12:05:28 EDT 2015 FAMILY 209 Kennedy St. NW April 11, 1990 without a COURT will. All unknown heirs Washington,DC 202-879-1212 a n d h e i r s w h o s e 20011-5214 Attorney whereabouts are un-RELATIONS DOMESTIC TYPESET: Tue Mar 24 NOTICE OF known shall enter their 202-879-0157 APPOINTMENT, appearance in this NOTICE TO proceeding. Objections CREDITORS Superior Court of to such appointment AND NOTICE TO $ 150.00 shall be filed with the the District of a. Absent Defendant UNKNOWN HEIRS Register of Wills, D.C., District of Columbia b. Absolute Divorce $ 150.00 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Nathan A. NEal, Attorney PROBATE DIVISION Floor Washington, D.C. at Law, whose address is$150.00 Washington, D.C. c. Custody Divorce 209 Kennedy Street, 20001, on or before 20001-2131 NW, Washington, DC September 27, 2015. Administration No. Claims against the de- 20011-5214 was ap2015ADM266 To place your ad, call 1-800-237-6892, 262,personal PublicrepreNotices $50.00 & up pointed cedent shall be pre- ext. Mason sentative of the estate of Anthony to the underdepending onsented size, Baltimore Legal Notices are $24.84 per inch. signed with a copy to the Lillie Mae Bell, who died Decedent 3, 2013 Tina Smith Nelson 1-800 892 Register of Wills or (AFRO) filed on December the Register of Wills without a will, and will Legal Counsel for the For Proof ofwith Publication, please call 1-800-237-6892, 244 with a copy to the under- serve without Court su- ext. Elderly, signed, on or before pervision. All unknown 601 E Street, NW September 27, 2015, or heirs and heirs whose Washington, DC 20049 be forever barred. Per- whereabouts are un- Attorney sons believed to be heirs known shall enter their NOTICE OF or legatees of the de- a p p e a r a n c e i n t h i s APPOINTMENT, cedent who do not re- proceeding. Objections NOTICE TO ceive a copy of this notice to such appointment (or CREDITORS by mail within 25 days of to the probate of deLEGAL NOTICES TYPESET: Tue Mar 24 14:08:11 EDT 2015 AND NOTICE TO its first publication shall cedent´s will) shall be so inform the Register of filed with the Register of UNKNOWN HEIRS Wills, including name, Wills, D.C., 515 5th Agustina Mason, whose Superior Court of address and relation- Street, N.W., 3rd Floor address is 1805 Kearny Wa s h i n g t o n , D . C . the District of ship. St. NE, Washington, DC 20001, on or before District of Columbia Date of Publication: September 27, 2015. 20018 was appointed PROBATE DIVISION March 27, 2015 Claims against the de- personal representative Washington, D.C. Name of newspaper: cedent shall be pre- of the estate of Anthony 20001-2131 Afro-American sented to the under- Mason, who died on Administration No. Washington signed with a copy to the September 2, 2014 with2014ADM1242 Law Reporter Mary B.Gibson James Gibson Register of Wills or filed out a will, and will serve Decedent Personal with the Register of Wills without Court superviJames E. McCollum,Jr. Representative with a copy to the under- sion. All unknown heirs signed, on or before Esquire and McCollum and heirs whose whereSeptember 27, 2015, or abouts are unknown & Associates, LLC TRUE TEST COPY be forever barred. Per7309 Baltimore Ave., REGISTER OF WILLS sons believed to be heirs shall enter their appearSuite 117 or legatees of the de- ance in this proceeding. College Park, Maryland 03/27,04/03,Tue 04/10/15 TYPESET: Mar 24 14:08:34 EDTdo2015 cedent who not re- Objections to such 20740 ceive a copy of this notice appointment shall be Attorney by mail within 25 days of filed with the Register of NOTICE OF Superior Court of its first publication shall Wills, D.C., 515 5th APPOINTMENT, the District of so inform the Register of Street, N.W., 3rd Floor NOTICE TO District of Columbia Wills, including name, Wa s h i n g t o n , D . C . CREDITORS PROBATE DIVISION address and relation- 20001, on or before AND NOTICE TO Washington, D.C. ship. UNKNOWN HEIRS September 27, 2015. 20001-2131 Date of Publication: James Gibson, whose Claims against the deAdministration No. March 27, 2015 address is 1416 Whittier cedent shall be pre2014ADM911 Name of newspaper: Place, NW, Washington, sented to the underAfro-American DC 20012 was appointed Lillie Mae Bell signed with a copy to the Washington personal representative Decedent Nathan A. Neal Register of Wills or filed Law Reporter of the estate of Mary Attorney at Law Lillie Mae Bell with the Register of Wills B.Gibson, who died on 209 Kennedy St. NW Personal with a copy to the underApril 11, 1990 without a Representative signed, on or before will. All unknown heirs Washington,DC a n d h e i r s w h o s e 20011-5214 September 27, 2015 or TRUE TEST COPY whereabouts are un- Attorney be forever barred. PerNOTICE OF REGISTER OF WILLS known shall enter their sons believed to be heirs APPOINTMENT, appearance in this TYPESET: Mar 24 14:08:57 EDTof2015 or legatees the deNOTICE TO 03/27, 04/03,Tue 04/10/15 proceeding. Objections CREDITORS cedent who do not reto such appointment AND NOTICE TO ceive a copy of this notice shall be filed with the UNKNOWN HEIRS Superior Court of by mail within 25 days of Register of Wills, D.C., Nathan A. NEal, Attorney the District of 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd its first publication shall at Law, whose address is District of Columbia Floor Washington, D.C. so inform the Register of 209 Kennedy Street, PROBATE DIVISION 20001, on or before Wills, including name, Washington, D.C. September 27, 2015. NW, Washington, DC address and relation20001-2131 Claims against the de- 20011-5214 was apship. Administration No. cedent shall be pre- pointed personal repreDate of Publication: 2015ADM266 sented to the under- sentative of the estate of March 27, 2015 signed with a copy to the Lillie Mae Bell, who died Anthony Mason Name of newspaper: Register of Wills or filed on December 3, 2013 Decedent Afro-American with the Register of Wills without a will, and will Tina Smith Nelson with a copy to the under- serve without Court su- Legal Counsel for the Washington pervision. All unknown Elderly, signed, on or before Law Reporter September 27, 2015, or heirs and heirs whose 601 E Street, NW Agustina Mason whereabouts are unWashington, DC 20049 be forever barred. PerPersonal sons believed to be heirs known shall enter their Attorney Representative NOTICE OF or legatees of the de- a p p e a r a n c e i n t h i s APPOINTMENT, cedent who do not re- proceeding. Objections TRUE TEST COPY NOTICE TO ceive a copy of this notice to such appointment (or REGISTER OF WILLS to the probate of deCREDITORS by mail within 25 days of AND NOTICE TO its first publication shall cedent´s will) shall be UNKNOWN HEIRS 03/27, 04/03, 04/10/15 so inform the Register of filed with the Register of Agustina Mason, whose Wills, including name, Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor address is 1805 Kearny address and relationWa s h i n g t o n , D . C . St. NE, Washington, DC ship. 20001, on or before 20018 was appointed Date of Publication: September 27, 2015. personal representative March 27, 2015 Claims against the de- of the estate of Anthony Name of newspaper:

14:08:57

Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2015ADM301 Robert W. Medlock AKA Robert Wallace Medlock Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Carlton A. Curry, whose address is 3509 Copley Road, Baltimore, MD 21215 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Robert W. Medlock AKA Robert Wallace Medlock, who died on February 13, 2015 with a will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent´s will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Wa s h i n g t o n , D . C . 20001, on or before September 27, 2015. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before September 27, 2015, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of Publication: March 27, 2015 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Carlton A. Curry Personal Representative

Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2014ADM215 Cloastellie Tilghman AKA Cloastellie M. Tilghman AKA Cloastellie S. Tilghman Decedent Sharon M. GraysonKelsey 3034 Mitchellville RD. Bowie, MD 20716 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Joeseph Francis Tilghman, whose address is 1002 Donnington Court, Bowie, MD 20721 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Cloastellie Tilghman, AKA Cloastellie M. Tilghman AKA Cloastellie S. Tilghman who died on September 7, 2013 with a will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent´s will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Wa s h i n g t o n , D . C . 20001, on or before October 3, 2015. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before October 3, 2015, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of Publication: April 3, 2015 TRUE TEST COPY Name of newspaper: REGISTER OF WILLS Afro-American Washington TYPESET: Tue Mar 17 16:56:02 EDT 2015 03/27, 04/03, 04/10/15 Law Reporter Joseph Francis Tilghman Superior Court of Personal the District of Representative District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION TRUE TEST COPY Washington, D.C. REGISTER OF WILLS 20001-2131 Administration No. TYPESET: Tue Mar 24 04/03, 04/10, 04/17/15 2015ADM229 Juliana Esther Parker Decedent Theodore H. Brown Order of Publication Square 5125 Lot 0869 Esq Law Office o Theodora In accordance with D.C. Code § 47-1375, the H. Brown, PLLC 3127 Cherry Road, NE, object of this proceeding Washington, DC is to secure the foreclo20018-1611 sure of the right of reAttorney demption in the real propNOTICE OF erty described as Square: APPOINTMENT, 5125; Lot: 0869,which NOTICE TO may also be known as cerCREDITORS tain unimproved real propAND NOTICE TO erty located on 4402 Lee UNKNOWN HEIRS Maria Waters and Julian Street N.E.,Washington, L. Parker, whose ad- DC 20019, which property dress is, are 3502 Scotts was sold by the Mayor of Lane,#A-9, Philadelphia, the District of Columbia to PA, 19129 & 844 Olgeth- the Plaintiff in this action. orpe St., NE, Washington, DC 20011 were ap- The Amended Complaint states, among other pointed personal representatives of the things, that the amounts estate of Juliana Esther necessary for redemption Parker, who died on have not been paid. December 27, 2014 with- Pursuant to the Chief out a will, and will serve Judge´s Administrative without Court supervi- Order No. 02.11, it is this sion. All unknown heirs 26th day of January and heirs whose 2015, whereabouts are unknown shall enter their ORDERED by the Superior Court of the District of appearance in this proceeding. Objections Columbia, that notice be to such appointment given by the insertion of a shall be filed with the copy of this Order in The Register of Wills, D.C., Afro American News515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd papers~ a newspaper Floor Washington, D.C. having a general circula20001, on or before tion in the District of September 20, 2015. Claims against the de- Columbia, once a week cedent shall be pre- for three (3) successive sented to the under- weeks, notifying all persigned with a copy to the sons interested in the real Register of Wills or filed property described above with the Register of Wills to appear in this Court by with a copy to the under- the 8th day of April 2015, signed, on or before and redeem the real propSeptember 20, 2015, or e r t y b y p a y m e n t o f be forever barred. Per$1068.78 , together with sons believed to be heirs or legatees of the de- interest from the date the cedent who do not re- real property tax certifceive a copy of this notice icate was purchased; by mail within 25 days of court costs; reasonable its first publication shall attorney´s fees; expenses so inform the Register of incurred in the publication Wills, including name, and service of process; address and relation- and all other amounts in ship. accordance with the proviDate of Publication: sions of D.C. Official Code March 20, 2015 §47-1361 though 1377 Name of newspaper: (2001 ed.) et.seq., or anAfro-American swer the Amended ComWashington plaint, or, thereafter, a final Law Reporter Maria Waters judgment will be entered Julian L.Parker foreclosing the right of rePersonal demption in the real propRepresentative erty and vesting in the TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS

Plaintiff a title in fee simple.

03/20, 03/27, 04/3/15

To advertise in the Call 202-332-0080

Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2015ADM269 Marion R. Mcmillian Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Maria E. William, whose address is 105 Springhouse Way, Apt 202, Newport News was appointed personal representative of the estate of Marion R McMillian, who died on October 12, 2014 with a will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose where-abouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent´s will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Wa s h i n g t o n , D . C . 20001, on or before September 27, 2015. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before September 27, 2015 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of Publication: March 27, 2015 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Maria E.Williams Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS

TYPESET: Mar 24 03/27, 04/03,Tue 04/10/15 Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2015ADM285 Mary Elizabeth Jenkins DecedentEDT 2015 14:51:43 NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Alice M. Jenkins , whose address is 4102 4th Street NW, Washington,DC 20011 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Mary E. Jenkins, who died on April 12, 2014 with a will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent´s will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Wa s h i n g t o n , D . C . 20001, on or before September 27, 2015. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before September 27, 2015, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of Publication: March 27, 2015 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Alice M. Jenkins Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS

TYPESET: Tue Mar 24 03/27, 04/03, 04/10/15

Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2015ADM293 Decedent Daisy L.M. Alsop NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Margaret H. Smith, whose address 3926 17th Place NE Washington, DC 20018 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Daisy L.M. Alsop, who died on January 30, 2015 with a will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent´s will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Wa s h i n g t o n , D . C . 20001, on or before September 27, 2015. Claims against the de-

TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS

TYPESET: Tue Mar 24

03/27, 04/03, 04/10/15

Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2015ADM274 Jacqueline Lyles Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Andrea Lyles, whose address is 1760 W Street, SE, Washington, DC 20020 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Jacqueline Lyles, who died on December 22, 2014 without a will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent´sEDT will) 2015 shall be 14:09:58 filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Wa s h i n g t o n , D . C . 20001, on or before September 27, 2015. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before September 27, 2015, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of Publication: March 27, 2015 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Andrea Lyles Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS

TYPESET: Mar 24 03/27, 04/03,Tue 04/10/15

April 4, 2015 - April 10, 2015, The Afro-American

TYPESET: Tue Mar 24 14:11:48 TYPESET: Tue2015 Mar 17 16:56:19 TYPESET: EDT Tue2015 Mar 31 12:04:47 EDT 2015 LEGAL NOTICES LEGALEDT NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2015ADM259 Herbert C.Spears Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Edwin Spears, whose address is 5065 6th Pl. NE Washington, DC 20002 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Herbert C. Spears, who died on June 2, 2002 without a will, and will serve with Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on before 14:10:38 EDTor 2015 September 27, 2015. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before September 27, 2015 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of Publication: March 27, 2015 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Edwin Spears Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS

Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2015ADM253 Ralph Y. Poole A.K.A. Ralph Yancy Poole Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Boyd Poole, whose address is 11807 Parallel Road, Bowie MD 20720 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Ralph Y. Poole A.K.A. Ralph Yancy Poole, who died on February 5, 2015 with a will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before September 20, 2015. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before September 20, 2015, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of Publication: March 20, 2015 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Boyd Poole Personal Representative

TYPESET: Mar 24 14:12:21 EDT 2015 03/27, 04/03,Tue 04/10/15 TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2015ADM305 Richard Allen Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Beverly D. Hill, whose address is 9212 Alcona St., Lanham, MD 20706 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Richard Allen, who died on December 30, 2014 without a will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before September 27, 2015. Claims against the decedent shall be pre14:11:05 EDT 2015 sented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before September 27, 2015, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of Publication: March 27, 2015 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Beverley D.Hill Personal Representative

03/20, 03/26 & 04/03/15

TYPESET: Tue Mar 24 IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CIVIL DIVISION Civil Action No. 2014CA7023 R (RP) Calendar 12 Judge Brian F. Holeman Nikita Petties PLAINTIFF v. ESTATE OF GEORGE MARTIN. III, et al. ORDER OF PUBLICATION NOTICE TO ANY UNKNOWN HEIRS~ OR CREDITORS OF GEORGE MARTIN III AND TO ANY CLAIMANTS TO AN INTEREST IN THE PREMISES COMMONLY KNOWN AS 419 NEWTON PLACE NW, WASHINGTON, DC LOT 57 IN SQUARE 3035 and it is further Nikita PettIes has tiled a lawsuit in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, Case No. 2014 CA 7023 R(RP)This lawsuit seeks to quiet the title to the premises commonly known as 419 Newton Place NW, Washington,DC. George Martin III appears as a grantee on a deed to said premises dated March 17, 20 11, which was recorded among the land records of the District of Columbia on April 7, 20 II. Nikita Petties´ lawsuit claims that this deed invalid. In the event that you wish to assert a claim against George Martin Ill, or against the premises, you are advised to contact the attorney for Plaintiff, Thomas DeCaro, DeCaro & Howell PC Suite 20 1, 14406 Old Mill Rd, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772 / phone 301-464-1400/fax 301-464-4776/ e-mail tfd@erols.eom, on or before the thirtieth day after the date on which this Notice was published, providing a written description of your claim against George Martin III or against said premises ises, or to file a responsive pleading by said date in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia. In the alternative, you can appear at the Scheduling Conference Hearing at D.C.Superior Court, 500 Indiana Avenue, NW, Washington,D.C. 20001 in Courtroom 214 at 930 a.m. on May 22,2015. Failure to do so will result in a bar to any such claims and a judgment by default may be entered against you with respect to any claims you may be entitled to assert; ORDERED, that Plaintiffs SHALL FILE Proof of Service on or before May 4, 2015.

Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2015ADM296 Alma Wilson Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Bryan Mckie, whose address is 89 Carona Ct, Silver, Spring, MD 20905 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Alma Wilson, who died on February 7, 2015 without a will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose TRUE TEST COPY where-abouts are un- REGISTER OF WILLS known shall enter their 03/27, 04/03,04/10/15 appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 14:10:20 EDT 2015 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before September 27, 2015. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before September 27, 2015, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of Publication: March 27, 2015 Name of newspaper: TYPESET: Tue Mar 24 15:39:43 EDT 2015 Afro-American Copies e-served to: Washington Thomas F. DeCaro, Jr, EsLaw Reporter quire IN THE SUPERIOR Bryan Mckie 14406 Old Mill Rd. #201 COURT OF THE Personal Upper Marlboro, MD DISTRICT OF Representative 20772 COLUMBIA Counsel for Plaintiff CIVIL DIVISION TRUE TEST COPY Civil Action No. REGISTER OF WILLS BRIAN F. HOLEMAN 2014CA7023 R (RP) JUDGE Calendar 12 03/27, 04/03, 04/10/15 Judge Brian F. Holeman

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

TYPESET: Tue Mar 24 14:09:19 TYPESET: Tue2015 Mar 31 12:05:08 TYPESET: EDT Tue 2015 Mar 24 LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES LEGALEDT NOTICES

without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of de14:09:39 2015 LEGALEDT NOTICES cedent´s will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Wa s h i n g t o n , D . C . 20001, on or before September 27, 2015. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before September 27, 2015, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of Publication: March 27, 2015 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Daisy L.M. Alsop Personal Representative

Nikita Petties PLAINTIFF v.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY INVITATION TO BID INVITATION NO. 140130 SEWER CLEANING AND INSPECTION CONTRACT 14 The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) is soliciting bids for Invitation No. 140130: Sewer Cleaning and Inspection Contract 14. The following listing enumerates the major items of work included in the contract: *Light cleaning and CCTV inspection of approximately 178,600 linear feet of sewers *CCTV inspection of approximately 21,600 linear feet of sewers *Combined CCTV/Sonar inspection of approximately 2,300 linear feet of sewers *Sonar inspection of approximately 2,300 linear feet of sewers *Inspection of approximately 1,300 manholes and structures *Heavy cleaning of approximately 35,300 linear feet of sewers The project requires completion within 548 consecutive calendar days. This project is estimated to cost between $1,000,000 and $5,000,000. DC Water will receive Bids until 2:00 p.m., local standard time on April 29, 2015. No Pre-Bid Conference will be conducted. This project may be funded in part by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). A Fair Share Objective for Minority and Women?s Business Enterprises participation in this work of 32% and 6%, respectively, has been established. The program requirements are fully defined in USEPA’s ”Participation by Disadvantaged Enterprises in Procurement under EPA Financial Assistant Agreements - May 27, 2008”. The District of Columbia Living Wage determination shall apply. Liquidated damages will be assessed for delay. Bid documents are available at the Department of Procurement, 5000 Overlook Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20032. Sets of Bidding Documents can be procured for a non-refundable $50 purchase price each, payable to DC Water. Payment must be in the form of a money order, certified check or a company check. Documents can be shipped to Bidders providing a Federal Express account number. The DC Water Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant is a secured facility. Persons intending to pick-up Bidding Documents are to contact the Department of Procurement at 202 787 2020 for access authorization. For procurement information contact Mrs. DeNerika Johnson; email DeNerika.Johnson@dcwater.com (voice 202 787 2113). For technical information contact: DETS-Construction.Bid.Inquiry@ dcwater.com. Please insert the IFB No. in the Subject Line. View DC Water’s website at www.dcwater.com. for current and up coming TYPESET: Tue Mar 31 13:52:38 EDT 2015 solicitations. Superior Court of the District of District of Columbia PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 Administration No. 2015ADM344 Robert E. Liferiedge Decedent 15:39:43 EDT Ronald C. Hill, 2015 Esq 10905 Fort Washington Thomas F. DeCaro, Road, Suite 201 Jr, EsFquire o r t Wa s h i n g t o n , 14406 Old Mill Rd. #201 Maryland 20744 Upper Marlboro, MD Attorney 20772NOTICE OF Counsel for Plaintiff APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO BRIAN F. HOLEMAN CREDITORS JUDGE TO AND NOTICE UNKNOWN HEIRS Dana Liferiedge, whose address is 861 Orlando Avenue, West Hempstead, NY 11552 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Robert E.Liferiedge, who died on November 11, 2014 without a will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before October 3, 2015. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before October 3, 2015, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of Publication: April 3, 2015 Name of newspaper: Afro-American Washington Law Reporter Dana J. Liferiedge Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 04/03, 04/10, 04/17/15

B10

The Afro-American, April 4, 2015 - April 10, 2015

PEPCO AND EXELON:

Empowering The District We are a diverse collection of nonprofit and business groups that represent and serve the people of the District of Columbia. We believe the proposed merger of Pepco and Exelon will benefit the District’s residents, communities, civic life and business environment. If approved, this merger will create savings that will be passed on in customers’ utility bills, saving families and businesses more of their hardearned money every month. It means honoring and maintaining Pepco’s strong commitment to workforce-and supplier-diversity programs. It means more jobs for District workers. That’s good for families, local businesses, and the District’s workforce. It means millions of dollars more that could be used for programs such as bill credits, low-income assistance and energy efficiency programs through a $33.75 million Customer Investment Fund. It also means continued annual charitable contributions and local community support – exceeding Pepco’s 2013 level of $1.6 million for 10 years following the merger. And it means $168 million to $260 million in economic benefits to the District. That’s good for communities and those most in need. It also means enhanced reliability of our electric grid and additional resources to speed storm restoration. It means a commitment to sustainability and corporate citizenship. It means continued local presence and local leadership. And it means millions of dollars more invested in our local economy. That’s good for all of us.

WE SUPPORT THE PROPOSED PEPCO AND EXELON MERGER.

OF GREATER GREA W WASHINGT ON

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