Arts Today Ezine vol 1.10 by Arts Today Ezine

WINTER

Celebrations! at the St. Louis Art Museum

SLAM Holiday Features pg. # 52

View this and past issues from our website.

Dr. T. McCarthy Dark Tertrad pg. # 32

Hon. J. Draper Honorary Consul pg. #64

1st Time Home Gianis LalSandhu pg.#118

Janet Riehl

“One must say Yes to life, and embrace it wherever it is found - and it is found in terrible places. The moment we cease to hold each other, the moment we break faith with one another... the light goes out.” James Baldwin, “The Fire Next Time,” 1963 www.riehlife.com

Established 2014 Volume 1.10 St. Louis, MO www.the-arts-today.com/ Layout/Design www.bdesignme.com

IN THIS ISSUE: Featured:

Artist

Ellis O. ............................................. pg. 84

Photographer

Suzy G. - Korean Fest ................. pg. 68

Poet

Asili Y.N. - Selection of Poems.........pg. 48

In The News - Bernie Hayes...............................pg. 8 Live,Work, Play ................................................pg. 14

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Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

In The News

If you havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seen this, please view it as soon as possible and help bring some clarity to the situation. Let us know what you think at artstodayinfo@aol.com?

http://www.msnbc.com/the-last-word/ watch/shocking-mistake-in-darrenwilson-grand-jury-364273731666

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Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

Scott Joplin House State Historic Site Presents

“A GLIMPSE OF THE PAST… A PEEK INTO THE FUTURE” Celebrating Holiday Traditions from The late 1900s

Saturday, December 13, 2014 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Join us for a Joplin-era holiday celebration and informational meeting at “A Glimpse of the Past… a Peek into the Future.” The holiday open-house style meeting will be held at the Scott Joplin House located at 2658 Delmar in St. Louis on Saturday, December 13th from 1- 4 p.m. Staff will be on hand to provide information and the meeting will include a summary of activities during 2014 and future plans. The public is invited to bring their ideas as well. Tour Mr. Joplin’s gas lit apartment, decorated just for the occasion. Guests will then journey over to the Rosebud Café to listen to the sounds of live holiday music from the Twinda Murry Ensemble, circa 1902, have a cup of hot cocoa and a peppermint stick or two. Guests will take home a special gift to commemorate the occasion. The informational meeting is part of an ongoing effort by Missouri State Parks to ensure the public has input on services and facilities offered in state parks and historic sites. This event is free and open to the public. To RSVP and for additional information please call 314-340-5790.

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Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

Isn’t Black BEAUTIFUL?

still

Bernie Hayes W ith the recent media frenzy and civil disobedience struggles, it appears that the only time Black is considered positive is for shopping on Black Friday.

Bob Law, a New York activist and media personality is suggesting a selectivebuying campaign against Black Friday. Law wrote about the Michael Brownkilling and said ‘congratulations on holding forth in this historically significantstruggle for justice and human rights. It is important to understand that this movement is not only about Michael Brown, nor is it about the grand jury verdict.The real issue is justice and human rights for Black people. This sense of outrage isnot brought on by the killing of one Black youth, but by the ongoing killings of Black’s nationally, and the unrepentant police violence against Black people in general.’

Law said the State, City and Federal Governments response to the recent killings by police in St. Louis where two other unarmed Black youth, Von Derrick Meyers and Kajieme Powell, have been killed by the police since the killing of Michael Brown, as well as the police killing of Eric Garner in Staten Island, New York, have revealed how unprotected and disrespected Blacks are in this society. It is clear to us that African Americans must go beyond only protesting, to effectively organizing our collective resources to influence both political and corporate policy.Let’s be clear, this is a struggle for justice and human rights on behalf of all BlackAmericans. In recent years Law and hundreds of others have recommended that people of AfricanAncestry buy from businesses owned by people who look like them, or should I say look like us? He proposes people of color should not buy from companies or stores that do not employ Black people. He said if radio stations, TV stations and social media targeting the Black community supported this idea it would help not only Black businesses but the Black consumer as well. The State of the African-American Consumer Report found that black buying power is projected to reach $1.1 trillion by 2015. The study, which focuses on black spending, media habits and consumer trends, reported an increase in the amount of blacks attending college or earning a degree to 44 percent for men and 53 percent for women. It also found an increase in the number of African American households earning $75,000 or higher by almost 64 percent. My question is who benefits?

According to Target Market, a company that tracks Black consumer spending, African Americans spend a significant amount of their income on depreciable products, and among the favorite purchases are cars and liquor. We must realize also that there are many different communities of Black folks in America. We have separate and distinct religions and dissimilar ways of life. While many are Christians, numerous are practicing Muslims, Bahia and other organized beliefs and worships. We are also separated by social customs and health practices. There is a great number of Blacks from African countries, the West Indies, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Jamaica. However the largest parts are the descendants of slaves. Should we expect them to feel the same about buying Black? Should they celebrate Christmas and Kwanzaa? Will you? According to a Chicago Book Essay report, “Too often, companies don’t realize the inherent differences of our community, are not aware of the market size impact and have not optimized efforts to develop messages beyond those that coincide with Black History Month,” said Cloves Campbell. Do you agree with Bob Law? Several other organizations are proposing the same. The St. Louis based Leadership Coalition for Justice called on those who believe in justice to Boycott & Protest! They wanted the masses to boycott and protest Black Friday weekend, including Thanksgiving night, Saturday and Sunday. They also called for and participated in mass demonstrations in the major shopping centers in the city of St. Louis, St. Louis County and shopping centers across America. Baltimore, Maryland pastor and activist Rev. Jamal Bryant is also calling for ‘Economic Mobilization’. Bryant, pastor and founder of ‘Empowerment Temple Church and President of the Empowerment Movement’, announced the launch of anew national economic mobilization effort titled #Hands Up - Don’t Spend. According to Bryant, the intended message to those who join in the movement is, “Flex your power by not shopping during the busiest shopping period of the year”. Bryant maintains this strategic collaboration is anchored by faithbased denominations from across the country that have united to demonstrate the poower of the African American dollar! The pg.

Empowerment Movement, a non-partisan organization, is supported by the AME Church, AME Zion, COGIC, Progressive, Bible Way Churches, Full Gospel, Gospel Music Workshop of America, CME, United Covenant Churches, Harvest Churches, Fellowship of International Word of Faith, Church of God, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Laaw and the Congressional Black Caucus. Meanwhile, in St. Louis, Rev. Vickie Caldwell of Urban Church Developers said, “…while the drama continues to unfold here in Saint Louis, the Gestapo of Saint Louis City and County with State-Troopers and Highway Patrollers are gearing-up for “A WAR Against Justice.”” This Thanksgiving, City and County Merchants are waiting to line their pockets on Black Friday with Black Dollars. I would like to suggest a most effective method of protest that will take some Thanksgiving & Christmas money out of the pockets of Law Enforcement Agencies that Practice Police Brutality and Big Business that Support Police Brutality through our Tax Dollars in St. Louis. Since the Grand Jury failed to Indict Darren Wilson for the Murder of Michael Brown Don’t act out violently. Let’s Go Home Peacefully. Hold your dollars. Dr. Maulana Karenga, the creator of Kwanzaa reminds us that Kwanzaa is a weeklong celebration held in the United States honoring universal African American Heritage and culture, observed from December 26 to January 1 each year. It was first celebrated in 1966–1967. Karenga said his goal was to “give Blacks an alternative to the existing holiday andgive Blacks an opportunity to celebrate themselves and history, rather than simply imitate the practice of the dominant society.” Well, there you have it. Is Black still beautiful? We all know the patterns of racism and color discrimination, however shrewd or subtle, and race still ignites political debates in this country. As parents, guardians and role models, it is our responsibility to raise our children so that they can think for themselves, and we must teach them right from wrong. We must teach them that the ‘N’ word is perhaps the ugliest racial slur ever created. They must be taught by us the many contributions of Black Americans that have influenced our culture, enriched our society with their achievements, and shaped the history of the United States, and we should not be referred to as anything less than beautiful. Remember ‘Black is Beautiful’. If we do not demonstrate moral character and teach what is acceptable, we will be no better than ‘the spook who sat by the door’. What do you think?

The Bernie Hayes Show Talk and interviews about affairs of the day with a St. Louis slant. The Bernie Hayes Show can be seen: Friday’s at 9 A.M. Saturday’s at 10:00 P.M. Sunday’s at 5:30 P.M.

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Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

IN THE NEWS CONT

NEWS RELEASE: Missouri Department of Insurance encourages impacted businesses in the St. Louis area to contact their insurance companies immediately Missouri DIFP sent this bulletin at 11/25/2014 04:09 PM CST Missouri Department of Insurance encourages impacted businesses in the St. Louis area to contact their insurance companies immediately Business owners with insurance questions can also contact department for assistance Jefferson City, Mo. - The Missouri Department of Insurance encourages business owners in Ferguson and the greater St. Louis area, who have sustained property damage, to contact their insurance companies as soon as possible. The department is currently making preparations to send a team to the St. Louis area to meet with impacted business owners and answer questions. Representatives from the Missouri Department of Insurance will be available tomorrow at the Ferguson Library to assist with insurance questions. Representatives are also available to answer questions at 800-726-7390. “We encourage owners of damaged businesses to contact their insurance agent or company immediately,” said department Director John M. Huff. “We also want to let businesses in Ferguson and in the St. Louis region know the state has trained insurance experts standing by, ready to assist them if they have questions or concerns about their insurance or the claims process.” The Department of Insurance offers these tips for impacted business owners: Contact your insurance agent’s or company’s toll-free claims number as soon as possible. If you have lost your company’s contact information, the department may be able to help you locate it. Visit insurance.mo.gov or call the Insurance Consumer Hotline at 800-726-7390. If your business suffered physical damage, make temporary repairs to prevent further damage. For example, a broken window should be boarded up to keep out rain. Otherwise, further damage will likely not be covered by your insurance policy. Keep the receipts for materials you buy so you can be reimbursed. Don’t let contractors inspect your property if you’re not watching. Some unscrupulous companies will cause damage to drive up the repair cost, and your insurance company will likely not cover the additional cost. Don’t pay the whole repair bill in advance. Pay in full only when the work is completed according to your agreement. Be suspicious of anyone who offers to get you more money for your insurance claim. A public adjuster - required to be licensed by the department - may solicit you. Public adjusters will require part of your claim settlement as payment for their services. In general, consider hiring a public adjuster only if you reach an impasse with your insurance company. However, consumers may want to contact the department prior to hiring a public adjuster. If your business suffered a financial loss because it was forced to close, ask if your policy includes business income coverage. Keep receipts and records for any costs you incur to produce or reproduce financial records. These expenses may be covered under the “extra expense” coverage. If you believe your insurance company has not handled your claim properly, file a complaint with the department. The department will determine whether your insurance company has followed Missouri law in processing your claim. Business owners can refer to the department’s “Small Business Insurance” web page, which offers information on commercial property, business interruption insurance and more. About the Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions & Professional Registration The Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration (DIFP) is responsible for consumer protection through the regulation of financial industries and professionals. The department’s seven divisions work to enforce state regulations both efficiently and effectively while encouraging a competitive environment for industries and professions to ensure consumers have access to quality products. ###

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Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

Ajuma Muhammad Author of 101 Proven and Effective Strategies for Empowering Black Boys

WATCH NOW!

1 0 Strategies

f o r E m p o w e r i n g B l a c k B oy s 1. Black boys should maintain a healthy relationship with God. 2. Black boys should honor and always respect their parents. 3. Black boys should embody greatness in everything they do. 4. Black boys should take pride in their history and culture. 5. Black boys should empower their community through leadership and service. 6. Black boys should be role models in their communities. 7. Black boys should honor, respect and protect the black woman. 8. Black boys should work to establish an economic foundation in their communities. 9. Black boys should travel internationally to better understand their place in the world. 10. Black boys should love themselves!

www.ajuma.org

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You’re Invited!! 12th Annual “Have A Platinum Christmas” Networking Symposium on Saturday, December 13th at the Polish Heritage Center for evening of Live Entertainment, Appetizers, Networking, Special Invited Celebrity Guests & St. Louis’ Who’s Who, and lots of Holiday Cheer! Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. VIP Tables, Vendor Booths and Sponsorship Packets are available for a limited time only. This will be a Sell Out Event! For more information, contact Platinum Group, Inc. at 314-6609610 or email: Platinumgroup02@gmail.com Also note a portion of the proceeds will support toy drives to benefit families in need this Holiday Season (including families in Ferguson). Happy Holidays, Jacque & Leata Land Platinum Group, Inc.

Bro. Shahid twitter.com/anthonyshahid1

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Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

LIVE WORK PLAY

Volume 1.10 November 4, 2014

CLICK HERE to Watch

HERE IS ST LOUIS II

Nate K. Johnson ABR,CRS,GRI Broker/Owner Real Estate Solutions nate@livingstl.com www.livingstl.com

I hope that you had an opportunity to spend some time outside this past weekend. It was just beautiful! I was was sure that it was to be the last gasp of warm weather before the winter truly sets in. John Geddes once wrote that “December’s wintry breath is already clouding the pond, frosting the pane, obscuring summer’s memory...” That statement has certainly been true for the couple of days in December that we have enjoyed so far. Of course, we have a wonderful month ahead of us, and I’m certainly looking forward to enjoying it with you.

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Local Events

Did you participate in #GivingTuesday which was December 2nd? If not you can still help, by donating to a cause to help some of the small businesses affected by the tragic events in Ferguson. I love Ferguson is a nonprofit formed by Ferguson residents to help businesses rebuild. North County Incorporated is a group that is also distributing funds to businesses affected across North County, and the STL Together Fund, funds the St. Louis Regional Chamber’s charitable foundation for its Small Business Relief Program across the region. You can also join me in Showing Love For South Grand. You can also check out ONE Ferguson, which also provides list of ways to donate to businesses. Let’s work together to heal our community and move St. Louis forward!

December

I must admit that I’m a sucker for a violin concerto, so on Friday, I may try to head down to Powell Hall to experience the St. Louis Symphony performing Vivaldis Four Seasons. If you’re not familiar with the work, you may remember the Winter movement from the diamonds are forever commercials. For something a little more laid back, singersongwriter Jon McLaughlin is performing at Off Broadway on Friday as well. Or you may want to check out The Stage at KDHX as New Music Circle and KDHX present the internationally renowned musician, composer, and innovator Roscoe Mitchell and Craig Taborn.

December

On Saturday, grab the kids and head to the zoo for Breakfast with Santa in the morning, or maybe you prefer to go for an evening stroll through the enchanting holiday wonderland at the Saint Louis Zoo Wild Lights exhibit. The kids would also enjoy Grinchmas on South Grand: The Grinch Spreads Holiday Cheer. The Grinch will be arriving on South Grand with an unusual motive: to spread holiday cheer and joy, and to raise funds for the Shriners Hospitals for Children. The Grinch will be on hand at MoKaBes Coffeehouse and Tower Grove Creamery- and don’t forget to bring a toy donation for children at the hospital. If your kids or pets want another picture with Santa, take them over to the Boathouse in Forest Park. Santa will arrive by boat and take pictures from 11-2. All money raised will benefit Forest Park Forever. While you’re

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Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

LIVE WORK PLAY

December

in the area, join me at Wintermarkt, the annual outdoor crafts sale at Greg Freeman Park in my beloved SkinkerDeBaliviere neighborhood. Also on Saturday, you could swing by the Missouri Botanical Garden for Chanukah: Festival of Lights. The celebration includes festive music and dance, a menorah-lighting ceremony and Chanukah merchandise provided by local vendors and the Garden Gate Shop. Don’t miss Dinner with Santa at the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House, followed by a night stroll through Tropical Conservatory. Later that evening, head over to the Mad Art Gallery for an array of handmade, locally sourced, and ethically imported goods from over 30 independent vendors at the Holiday Hop & Shop.

December

On Sunday morning, you’ll have another chance to have Breakfast with Santa, this time he’ll be at The Magic House for pancakes, followed by playtime & craft time in the museum. Yes, there will be photo ops. After breakfast, head over to the Holiday Bazaar at Maryland Plaza. The market will be in a heated tent and will feature local vendors, Kaldi’s Coffee, Woodchuck Cider, William Lenihan Jazz Trio, snacks & beverages from Crepes, etc and the Ambassadors of Harmony. Another fun option for Sunday is the 23rd Annual Webster Groves Holiday House Tour. You and your family and friends can tour six beautiful Webster Groves homes decked out for the holidays. Sloup is a dynamic monthly soup dinner that crowdfunds arts and community projects in St. Louis, and on Sunday, you can join me for eatz and jamz as Sloup will be hosting Condensed Sloup at the newly renovated 5th floor at T-Rex. This great event will celebrate the last and next 50 Sloups!

December

On Thursday, the 11th, get into the holiday spirit with a visit to five of St. Louis' historic homes and buildings decked out in festive finery on the St. Louis Holiday Historic House Tour. Participants can tour the locations on continuously running charter buses that will shuttle them from stop to stop. After the tour, head over to the Garden Glow Holiday Light Exhibit at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Hundreds of thousands of lights will adorn some of the Garden's most iconic locations, and walkways will be turned into an explosion of visual magic. For a free showcase of Cherokee Street shops, bars, and restaurants, check out the lovely, historic Cherokee Street for Cherokee Nights. There will be a free horse drawn carriage pub crawl starting at 5pm.

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December

On Friday, the 12th, check out Pippin at the Peabody Opera House. Pippin tells the story of a young prince on a deathdefying journey to find meaning in his existence. Friday afternoon, stop by the Holiday Train Displays and Canned Food Drive at the Museum of Transportation in Kirkwood to see the E. Desmond Lee Holiday Train Exhibit. Bring in a canned good, and you’ll receive a discounted admission. Also on Friday, visit the Fox Theatre to see A Christmas Carol. Listen to your favorite carols and watch as the old and bitter miser, Ebenezer Scrooge, undergoes a profound experience of redemption over the course of the one evening. You could also pack up the family and take a drive to Belleville for the 45th Annual Way of Lights Christmas Display. The unique celebration of Christmas features a mile-and-a-half drive with over one million lights, electro-art displays, and life-size biblical statues taking visitors on a scriptural journey to Bethlehem.

December

On Saturday, take the kids to Purina Farms for a fun-filled On Thursday, the 11th,Holiday get intoBazaar the holiday spirit with visit day at their Pet-acular to benefit localaanimal to five of St. Louis' historic homes and buildings decked out welfare groups. You and the family can shop for unique holiday in festive finery on thedog St.and Louis Historic House Tour. gifts, watch amazing catHoliday performances, and sample Participants can tour thecan locations on continuously delicious food. The kids also enjoy the inflatablerunning bounce charter buses that will shuttle them from stop to stop. After houses, crafts, face-painting, and the trackless train. You the tour, head to thetoGarden Glow Holiday Exhibit could also takeover the kids see Bah! Humbug! at Light the Repertory at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Hundreds of thousands Theatre of St. Louis. The beloved holiday classic is sure of lights adorn of the Garden's mostFor iconic locations, to put will a smile onsome the “Scroogiest” of faces. something and walkways be turned explosion of visual a little different,will check out theinto 4than Annual Holidays in Old magic. For a free showcase of Cherokee Street shops, North Festival and Craft Market on Saturday. More thanbars, 40 and restaurants, check out the lovely, historic Cherokee handmade artisan and vintage vendors will set up shop in Street for Cherokee Nights.district Thereofwill beNorth, a freefeaturing horse drawn the historic Crown Square Old carriage pub crawl starting atfurniture, 5pm. to gourmet chocolates, everything from repurposed to hand-knitted accessories. You could also visit the Holiday Open House at Perennial on Saturday to celebrate and indulge in crafts + chats. Enjoy the hot drinks and sweet treats, and maybe do some holiday shopping in Perennial’s mini store. Afterward, head over to the Duane Reed Gallery to explore the fabulous work of artist Jason Bly. If you enjoy networking events, head over to the Polish Heritage Center for the 12th Annual “Have a Platinum Christmas” Networking Symposium on Saturday. The event includes live entertainment, appetizers, networking, special invited celebrity guests, the who’s who of St. Louis, and lots of holiday cheer!

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Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

LIVE WORK PLAY

December

17 December

On Sunday the 14th, Lafayette Square is hosting the Annual Holiday Parlor Tour. Enjoy the sights, sounds, and scents of a Victorian wonderland as they tour ten beautifully decorated homes. The tour will also feature carriage rides, trolley rides to tour destinations, caroling, and live music. If you want to escape town before the holiday chaos, you might enjoy the Say Cheese Wine Trail in Hermann, MO on the 13th and 14th. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the perfect weekend to sip and sample wine and cheese pairings, from classic to creative, at seven stops on the beautiful and scenic Hermann Wine Trail. If you stay in town, check out the Kwanzaa Holiday Expo at the Better Family Life Cultural, Educational and Business Center on Saturday or Sunday. The expo features vendors selling products such as apparel, custom-made jewelry, fine art, books, household goods, self-care products, fine fabrics and food. Also on Sunday, head downtown for the Hot Chocolate 15/5k. Runners will enjoy an amazing .course through the home of the Cardinals, Soldiersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Memorial. The post party is filled with decadent hot chocolate, snacks, music, inflatables, and much more. Sunday is also a great day to drop off a new, unwrapped toy and a message of hope for the less fortunate children in the St. Louis area. You can drop off toys at the St. Louis Closet Company Toys for Tots Toy Drive anytime between now and the 16th.

On Wednesday, the 17th, you may want to grab some dinner and then head over to Jazz at The Bistro in Grand Center for the lovely Roy Hargrove Quintet.

On Friday the 19th, you might want to head down to the Fox Theatre for the musical A Christmas Story. Yes, this is the hilarious story of Ralphie and his desperate quest for his BB gun. You can also head to the Touhill Performing Art Center for a different take on the beauty of The Nutcracker, being presented by the talented and professional ballet dancers of the St. Louis Ballet. Also on Friday, the Emerson Free Family Night at The Magic House is going on.

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December

On Saturday, the 20th, you can check out the Sugar Plum Fairy Luncheon at the Touhill Performing Arts Center at UMSL. The kids can meet the Sugar Plum Fairy, her Cavalier, and the cast of The Nutcracker. Enjoy a three course lunch with of course some treats and sweets. Later that evening, there will be the Nutcracker Dinner presented by the St. Louis Ballet as well.

On Saturday or Sunday, head to the Anheuser-Busch Brewery Christmas Lights Experience. You and your friends can enjoy a complimentary beer and take a self-guided walking tour winding through the iconic brewery campus adorned with thousands of beautiful lights. If you’re into the St. Louis holiday traditions, the St. Louis Symphony Holiday Concert is on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the splendidly decorated Powell Hall. The symphony plays all your holiday favorites and of course Santa makes an appearance. You could also head to Emerson Performance Center on Sunday for The Black Rep performance of A Raisin in the Sun. This is Lorraine Hansberry’s iconic African-American story of a family striving to move up in 1950’s Chicago. On Sunday evening, take a drive through Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park in Eureka to experience the shimmering lights display, animated scenes, and dazzling special effects of Santa’s Magical Kingdom.

December

On Monday, the 22nd, Jazz St. Louis Big Band plays Ellington’s Nutcracker at Jazz at the Bistro in Grand Center. On Tuesday, take the kids to the Ritz Carlton for Teddy Bear Tea. The afternoon experience includes storytelling, face painting, and caroling, as well as hot cocoa, tea, a selection of mini-sandwiches and pastries, and a special gingerbread cookie-decorating station. Guests are encouraged to bring a teddy bear to donate to Friends of Kids with Cancer. If the kids aren’t too tired, head downtown for The Polar Express Train Ride at Union Station. Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, passengers will relive the magic story as they are whisked away on the magical train ride. On board, hot chocolate and treats will be served as passengers read along with the classic children’s book, The Polar Express.

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Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

LIVE WORK PLAY

December

27 December

28 December

On Friday, the 26th, if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in the mood to unwind and listen to some world-class music, head down to Jazz at The Bistro in Grand Center for Good 4 the Soul on Friday, the 26th. The explosive four-piece outfit draws upon jazz, funk, fusion, gospel, and R&B repertoires to deliver a powerful and unapologetic sound that excites and thrills audiences. You could also head over to the Schlafly Tap Room on Friday for Schlafly Beer 23rd Anniversary Party. Celebrate with live music and 1991 beer prices. If you feel like getting out of the city for some fresh air, beautiful country scenery, good wine, and music, take a drive to Cedar Lake Cellars from 1-4pm on Saturday to hear Joe Fry play some classic rock on the acoustic guitar.

On the 27th, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss the fabulous fireworks at the Downtown Kirkwood Winter Fireworks Festival at Station Plaza. The event is free and live music begins at 5pm, fireworks at 6:30pm.

On the 28th, the STL Symphony is performing Pixar in Concert. Watch as all your favorite characters come to life on the big screen as the symphony performs music from 14 Pixar films including Toy Story, Brave, Cars, Monsters, Inc. and more.

Visit Missouri Botanical Gardens on the 29th for Kwanzaa: Festival of the First Fruits. The Kwanzaa ceremony highlights a day of storytelling, craft and jewelry displays, and authentic African drumming and musical performances.

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December

On the 30th, take the family the Missouri History Museum for Family Film Day: The Lego Movie. On the 31st, take the kids to The Magic House for Noontime New Year’s Eve. New Year’s Revelers of all ages are invited to participate in variety of traditional New Year’s Eve festivities and ring in the New Year a bit early at the special noon celebration. Later in the evening, visit the First Night in Grand Center. In celebration on the 250th Birthday of the City of St. Louis, this year’s First Night will be an evening to remember! The celebration features visual and performing arts, musicians, storytellers, dancers, magicians, actors, puppeteers, and visual and media artists at Grand Center. The theme for the evening is “St. Lou-minous.” Children’s fireworks start at 9pm and the grand finale is at midnight. You could also check out the 4th Annual New Year’s Eve Party with The Beggar’s Carnivale at the Casa Loma Ballroom. The Three Penny Orchestra will be performing, along with burlesque artists, aerialists and more. You and your friends could bring in the New Year at Ballpark Village’s 1st Annual New Year’s Eve Party, NYE LIVE! ST. LOUIS. “Glitter and Glow, A Night in Hollywood” is the theme of the night. At the end of the month, after all the holiday excitement, make sure to recycle your old Christmas lights at the StLouisGreen. com Holiday Lights Recycling Drive 2014. Check the website for a list of locations, and make sure to get there before it ends on January 18th.

Yes, it looks like another great month to enjoy St. Louis. Hopefully you will join me in participating in some of the great opportunities that are offered in our region. I wish you the very best for the holiday season and let me know if there is anything that I can do for you. ~Nate Copyright © 2014 - All rights reserved.

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Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

www.pvmw.org National poetry library and literary center Poets House and New York-based cultural heritage/folk life organization City Lore will be bringing their Poetic Voices of the Muslim World exhibit and programming to the St Louis Public Library system in the spring of 2015.

Bridging Cultures: Poetic Voices of the Muslim World

examines the central role of poetry in the everyday lives of Muslim men and women through three entry points: 1) Themes, such as poetry and identity; poetry and politics; poetry and orality; poetry and conflict resolution; and poetry’s continued oral prominence in music; among others; 2) Poets (from Rumi and MirzaGhalib to contemporary poets from Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Iran, Pakistan, Turkey, and North Africa; and 3) Poetic Forms (i.e. the ghazal, the epic, the qasida). The components of the project include a series of public programs; a traveling panel exhibition; and a website (www.pvmw.org) that will contextualize the information provided by the programs and exhibition. Free public programs scheduled to be presented at the St. Louis Public Library starting in April 2015, include Islam and The Blues with The New York Public Library Schomburg Center’s Dr. Sylviane Diouf, Song of the Reed: Rumi presented by Dr. Jawid Mojaddedi with songs and music inspired by the poet by Amir Vahab &amp; his ensemble and The History and Poetics of the Qur’an with noted scholar of Islam Dr. Bruce Lawrence. We hope that you and members of the St. Louis community will be able to attend some of our events, and help us to spread the word about the arrival of Poetic Voices of the Muslim World in your area.

Poets House

10 River Terrace | New York, NY 10282-1240 | (212) 431-7920 | www.poetshouse.org pg.

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Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

Nominati

for Women o

Eligible nominees are outstanding female volunte

Each week she donates her time to children with cancer. She raises funding for health and human services. She works at the food pantry or runs one from her garage. She saves the lives of women and babies at a crisis nursery. She advocates for the arts. She is a an achieving woman. She is a volunteer. Women of Achievement, the oldest, ongoing program in the St. Louis area whose sole mission is to honor and recognize the volunteer service and volunteer leadership of women, has announced its call for nominations for the 2015 Class of Honorees. Eligible individuals are female volunteers from the St. Louis metropolitan area, including Metro East Illinois, who have demonstrated outstanding commitment

to the betterment of the St. Louis region thro leadership and a significant breadth of a volu considers nominees with substantial volunte to, education, arts, health and human service justice and advocacy. Nominations of women accomplishments are encouraged. Self-nom

The deadline for receipt of nominations is mi submissions and printable nomination forms org/nominate.php. Online submissions are p encouraged. The 10 honorees will be recogn Luncheon on Tuesday, May 5, 2015 at the R

As the oldest, ongoing program of its kind in celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2015. Foun newspaper, the awards program that becam pg.

ions Sought

of Achievement

eers from the St. Louis metropolitan area and Metro East Illinois

ough voluntary contributions, volunteer unteer career. Women of Achievement eer impact in areas such as, but not limited es, youth and family, philanthropy, social n representing diverse cultures, roles and minations are accepted.

Award, was created to recognize and honor the achievements of women who, through their volunteer efforts, have demonstrated their dedication and commitment to improving the quality of life in the St. Louis community. The St. Louis Women of Achievement organization, a 501c3, not-for-profit organization, was established in 1993 by former Women of Achievement who wanted to ensure the longevity of the award for future generations of St. Louis area women. The organizationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Board of Directors, comprised of past recipients of the award, continue to plan and implement the nomination, selection and award presentation process ensuring that this award will continue to enhance and honor the women volunteers in the St. Louis metropolitan region who positively impact the community, for many years to come.

idnight Monday, January 5, 2015. Online s with full details are available at www.woastl. preferred, and early submissions are also nized at the 2015 Women of Achievement Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis.

by: Sarah Thompson sarahthompsonproductions.com

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Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

pg.

!!!!!ATTENTION!!!!!!:

ANNOUNCING: THE INAUGURAL BLACK COMIX ARTS FESTIVAL/SAN FRANCISCO!!!

I’m EXTREMELY pleased and honored to be a co-organizer of this event with the NORCALMLK Foundation of San Francisco! Our committee has put in a lot of work over the last few months to make this happen. NORCALMLK puts on one of the largest MLK Day events in America. Each year tens of thousands of people gather at Yerba Buena Gardens in the heart of San Francisco to celebrate the continuing legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The theme this year is THE MARCH TO FREEDOM due to the fact that it’s the 50th anniversary of the historic Selma/ Montgomery march and the passing of the Voting Rights Act. Also, this year the BLACK COMIX ARTS FESTIVAL (THE BCAF) is proud to become a part of NORCALMLK’s numerous festival events! BCAF’S mission is : “to celebrate the creativity and subjectivity of African Americans in the comic arts and popular visual culture.” It’s going to be amazing!! You can find out more about NORCALMLK at: norcalmlkfoundation.org and more on THE BCAF at: bcaf.norcalmlkfoundation.org! PLEASE SPREAD OFTEN AND WIDELY…

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c2c A Call to Conscience A Call to Conscience is a concept that uses artistic expression to facilitate transformative social change by illuminating world historical icons. Using the readers theater format, the presentations are taken from famous speeches, adaptations from historical sources, poetry, jazz, and dramatizations in a mixed media format (theatre, music and the visual arts). For bookings contact: Linda Jo Smith c2c4socialchange@gmail.com

pg.

S.L .A .M. St. Louis Art Museum

ART COLLECTIONS

Admission to the Museum is free every day. Hours:

Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00 am–5:00 pm

EXHIBITS

Friday, 10:00 am–9:00 pm

EVENTS Closed Monday

Check out Nick Cave’s Exhibit Going on now through March 8, 2015. For more information CLICK HERE.

w w w. s l a m . o r g One Fine Arts Drive - Forest Park, St. Louis, MO 63110-1380 314.721.0072

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Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

BOOK YOUR PRIVATE MEDITATION PARTY! So one of my students is celebrating her birthday next month by sharing the gift of meditation with her girlfriends. Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s booked a meditation party with me featuring a guided meditation session, energy healing, intuitive readings, food, music, and inspiring conversation with a group of her friends at The Meditation Lounge. What an awesome way to celebrate life!

visit us online for more information.

www.selenaj.com

pg.

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Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

The

“DarkTetrad” of Darren Wilson

and the Pathological Perversion of Prosecutorial Justice The “Dark Tetrad” of Darren Wilson and the Pathological Perversion of Prosecutorial Justice by Dr. Tracey McCarthy, Psy.D., DCFC, J.D., M.A. Psychologist, Attorney, Associate Professor Webster University - Legal Studies Department www.drtraceymccarthy.com “For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.” Isaiah 59:3 KJV Forensic Fact versus Fiction In the matter of The State of Missouri v. Darren Wilson, prosecutor Robert McCulloch has stated that the task of the Grand Jury was the separation of fact from fiction. While Bob McCulloch was, undoubtedly, referring to the testimonies of the various eyewitnesses, there was much in Darren Wilson’s testimony that made the challenge of distinguishing between fact and fiction an overly burdensome endeavor. The culminating Grand Jury questions propounded by one of the assistant prosecutors went to the heart of the Darren Wilson veracity chaos. After hearing the testimonies of various witnesses - including those of Darren Wilson’s supervisor, the responding detective, and the FBI investigator - the prosecuting attorney asked Darren Wilson whether the events as described by Darren Wilson were real or imagined. She asked, specifically, whether Darren Wilson imagined some things or actually experienced such. Darren Wilson failed to answer the question directly and engaged in diversionary responding. In response to such, the prosecutor rephrased her question and asked whether his rendition of the facts of the murder of Michael Brown were authentic “or is it all just reactionary?” There are many reasons why one would be compelled to question Darren Wilson regarding the veracity of his testimony and his alleged recollections regarding the murder of Michael Brown. Regardless of what one may be inclined to deduce from placing entirely too much credence in supposed infallible forensic science, Darren Wilson was shown to be a repeated liar, with a flair for both subtle and bold embellishment, and what appeared to be the overactive imagination of “a five-year-old.” Of course, many would be inclined to become highly imaginative and creative in the face of potential homicide charges. The “Dark Tetrad” of Trouble Darren Wilson’s testimony and the reports of his interviews revealed almost compulsive lying, cunning, manipulation, superficiality, sadism, false self-creation, disdain for others perceived as inferior, lack of remorse and guilt, shallowness, pretentiousness, fragile self-esteem, impatience, contempt, feelings of humiliation, rage, a need for stimulation, refusal to accept responsibility for choices, poor social judgment and insight, poor behavioral self-control, and impulsivity. Taken together, these dynamics go beyond the Dark Triad to the “Dark Tetrad” and such results in a problematic functional constellation for the vocation of policing, with or without the element of race. Even Bob McCulloch, while undermining the indictment of Darren Wilson, had to admit that Darren Wilson’s testimonies were of questionable credibility when McCulloch indicated that they “don’t put a whole lot of stock” in Darren Wilson’s testimony. 1 pg.

Although major and minor inconsistencies are to be expected when individuals testify as to eyewitness experiences, Darren Wilson’s inconsistencies went far beyond mere mistakes in recollection or word usage. The variances between Darren Wilson’s recollections and those of his immediate supervisor are stark, compelling, and telling. The House that Lies Built Darren Wilson’s immediate supervisor and the Ferguson Chief of Police have denied that Darren Wilson had any awareness of the alleged robbery by Michael Brown at the Ferguson Market prior to Darren Wilson stopping Michael Brown and Dorian Johnson for walking in the street. The Chief admitted such in the media and the immediate supervisor elaborated on this issue when testifying before the Grand Jury. After speaking with Darren Wilson on multiple occasions between August 9, 2014 and September 16, 2014, Darren Wilson’s immediate supervisor testified before the Grand Jury regarding Darren Wilson’s awareness of the alleged Ferguson Market stealing prior to the murder of Michael Brown and stated, “He did not know anything about the stealing call.” The supervisor testified that when Darren Wilson stopped Michael Brown and Dorian Johnson that it had nothing to do with investigating the stealing of Cigarillos. When pressed for specificity, the supervisor testified that Darren Wilson specifically told the supervisor that Darren Wilson did not know anything about the stealing call or the reported stealing at the Ferguson Market. Furthermore, the supervisor reported that the supervisor had never heard a radio call from Darren Wilson for assistance regarding shots being fired. According to Darren Wilson’s supervisor, Darren falsely testified to the Grand Jury regarding his communications with members of the department subsequent to the murder of Michael Brown. Darren Wilson testified, “I haven’t talked to the chief or anybody at the department in length about what happened.” He reported, “I told my sergeant what happened at that time, that was the end of our conversations with anyone from the department.” Again, the supervisor’s account of events varied significantly from Darren Wilson’s. Darren Wilson’s supervisor testified that he had spoken with Darren on multiple occasions between August 9, 2014 and September 16, 2014. In one conversation, Darren Wilson reportedly asked his supervisor if he could “tell [the supervisor] everything that happened.” Darren Wilson’s lying about his knowledge of the stealing in progress call would account for why he has been unable to testify consistently regarding when he received the call. When Darren Wilson was interviewed by the FBI on the 28th of August, he reported to the investigator that he received the stealing in progress call while he was at a sick call for a baby in distress. Alternately, he reported that he received the radio call for the stealing while actually heading west on Canfield. Although Darren Wilson had no knowledge of a stealing in progress, he testified that he immediately identified Michael Brown and Dorian Johnson as “the two from the stealing.” (What is more likely is that arriving officers provided him with this information after the fact.) This supposed identification, Darren Wilson reported, prompted him to put his car in reverse and physically entrap Michael and Dorian. He made certain the vehicle was “angled” in the street to “keep them somewhat contained.” In essence, he was effecting a police arrest for walking in the street. No Blood, No Foul? 2 Copyright © 2014 - All rights reserved.

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Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

The Dark Tetrad cont.

Darren Wilson’s supervisor, a 38-year police veteran, responded to the scene of the August 9th murder of Michael Brown by Darren Wilson. When the supervisor was questioned by the Grand Jury regarding his cursory field interview with Darren Wilson and his observations of the crime scene, the supervisor told the Grand Jury that the supervisor saw no obvious signs of blood in Darren Wilson’s departmental service vehicle. The supervisor saw no signs of blood on Darren Wilson’s person. The supervisor saw no blood on Darren Wilson’s uniform. According to testimony by the initial responding detective for St. Louis County Police, the detective did not see any signs of blood on Darren Wilson after the murder. Regarding anything of medically forensic significance, the responding detective stated, “I didn’t see that there was any type of debilitating injury.” “Blood on His Hands” Blood on one’s hands is spiritually symbolic for guilt associated with murder. In contrast to reports by his supervisor and the responding detective, Darren Wilson painted an entirely different picture of the blood related forensic science facts, which may have significant meaning for the forensic psychology reality of the murder. According to Darren Wilson, he had significant blood on his hands. Darren Wilson testified to the case detective that after shooting Michael Brown, he had blood on both of his hands. He stated that the blood was on the back of his right hand and on his left hand from the tips of his fingers up to his wrist. Darren reported to the investigator “I think it was his blood,” referring to Michael Brown. Darren Wilson, who was allowed to leave the crime scene and travel alone to the police department, with multiple pieces of crime scene evidence in his sole possession, claimed that the blood that was not seen by his supervisor at the crime scene was washed off by Darren Wilson at the station due to “fear of biohazard.” Even a rookie police officer would know the importance of not destroying blood evidence or tampering with physical crime scene evidence. While the prosecutor, in his press conference, made much ado over the validity and reliability of the forensic science used in the investigation of the case, he failed to mention that Darren Wilson, by his own admission, reportedly destroyed the blood necessary to conduct an accurate forensic Blood Spatter Analysis. Blood Splatter Analysis involves the examination of patterns of blood at a crime scene in order to actually reconstruct events of a crime, such as the murder of Michael Brown. The actual absence of blood or splatter also assists in crime reconstruction. In this case, either no visible blood initially existed or the blood that did exist was intentionally destroyed or manipulated by Darren Wilson or others with investigatory access to such physical evidence. As the supervisor testified that Darren Wilson was sitting alone with the windows rolled up in the crime scene vehicle when the supervisor arrived, Darren Wilson had more than ample opportunity to destroy or tamper with evidence, including the vehicle, his body, his clothing, and the murder weapon itself. Technically Tampering Darren Wilson was allowed to not only leave the crime scene, for which he was the perpetrator, he was allowed to do so while in sole possession of the actual murder weapon. He took the weapon with him to the police station where he called and met with his attorney. At the station, Darren Wilson tampered with his gun, with the help of a “friend” while supposedly making it “safe” and placing it into an evidence envelope. 3 pg.

Again, even a rookie police officer would know that one does not tamper with a murder crime scene under active investigation or remove the murder weapon. According to Grand Jury testimony, a standard protocol for handling a weapon involved in a lethal force police shooting would be immediate seizure of the gun from the officer and the direct relay of the gun to the firearms lab for inspection. It is important to note that it was Darren Wilson who insisted that he be allowed to leave the crime scene due to purported fear of being identified as the shooter. This was after he shot Michael Brown in broad day light and stood staring over the teen’s body with witnesses already looking on. While the supervisor reported that Darren Wilson had been sitting in his service vehicle when the supervisor arrived, Darren Wilson reported that he refused to sit in the vehicle out of fear. Not only was this service vehicle reportedly tampered with by Darren Wilson (who denied ever reentering the car), testimony revealed that one of the officers who responded to the stealing call entered the car and tampered with it by relocating it prior to crime scene investigation. According to Darren Wilson, when these officers arrived at the scene, they allegedly walked up and said, “Darren, what do you need?” Misrepresentations & Miscalculations Darren Wilson testified that his fear and need to leave the crime scene was justified because the citizens who were at the crime scene outnumbered the police “300 to 1.” Videos indicate that approximately 15 uniformed personnel were on hand at the time of Darren Wilson’s assessment of the number of citizens at the crime scene. This means that Darren Wilson was testifying to the Grand Jury that he was afraid because he perceived there to have been approximately 4,500 citizens at the crime scene almost immediately after the murder. Such an erroneous fear-related visual estimate is either a total manipulative fabrication or the result of a visual hallucination, along with a paranoid delusion, occurring within Darren Wilson’s mind. Either way, such is a problem in this matter. In addition to the disappearing blood, Darren Wilson appears to have had questionable, vacillating, and disappearing signs and symptoms of physical injury, purportedly caused by what he described as a near “fatal” beating by Michael Brown. No defensive wounds were noted on Darren Wilson, but he testified to the Grand Jury and the case detective that he suffered multiple injuries to his head, face, and neck area. When questioned regarding his injuries during the Grand Jury, he indicated that he had scratches on the back of his neck, a swollen left cheek, a swollen right cheek, scratches on his hairline, and scratches on the side of his neck. While using photographs of supposed injuries to his face and body taken immediately after the murder, Darren Wilson testified to the Grand Jury, “Right side of my face swollen pretty good.” Clarification was sought by asking Darren Wilson, “Where’s the swelling to your face?” After Darren Wilson pointed out the supposed injuries to his face, the prosecutor asked, “That’s the swelling to your face?” Darren Wilson was also asked, “Show us where you see the bruising.” This was accompanied by “Does it look like swelling? You know your face better than we do. Does that look like swelling?” In response to questioning regarding the reported assault-caused facial swelling and bruising, Darren Wilson stated that he could not “quite tell.” What is more troubling than the Grand Jury testimony regarding the purported near fatal injuries (involving at least one “full on swing” and one “full shot”) is Darren Wilson’s discussion of the injuries with the case detective less than twenty-four hours after the murder and the purported infliction of the injuries. During this interrogation, Darren Wilson referred to the supposed present injuries and the evidence of such in the past tense and discussed such with a degree of uncertainty as to the exact nature of 4 Copyright © 2014 - All rights reserved.

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Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

The Dark Tetrad cont.

these forensically significant injuries. In that testimony, he stated “I had um some redness to my left jawline then I had swollen right cheek and jaw.” He also offered, “I had scratches on my back and neck, on my shoulders.” He went on to surmise, “I guess my shoulders up to my hairline was scratches and red marks.” “Hands Up” Means “I Stop…You Win!” Darren Wilson, also, wavered on his recollection of Michael Brown and the symbolic gesture of total surrender, which one’s hands in the air are known to represent to church goers and others. Darren Wilson’s immediate supervisor, who conducted the first interview with Darren Wilson at the crime scene, testified to the Grand Jury that Darren Wilson, in explaining how and why he murdered Michael Brown, reported that Michael Brown raised his arms before Darren Wilson fatally shot Michael Brown. The supervisor testified that Darren Wilson stated to the supervisor that Darren Wilson shot Michael Brown “when he took the step forward.” Conversely, Darren Wilson testified to the Grand Jury that Michael Brown did not raise his hands at “any point” prior to Darren Wilson fatally shooting him. This hand raising question is crucial because, in the absence of words, it is the nonverbal white flag cue for abdication and cessation and diplomacy demands its mutual regard. Complete Control? Darren Wilson’s supervisor testified that Darren Wilson told him that he “had to shoot him.” This was after Michael Brown was walking in the middle of the street and Michael Brown reportedly told Darren Wilson to “fuck off.” Darren Wilson also “had to shoot him” because he reported to the supervisor that Michael Brown had reached in the car and tried to grab his gun and the gun somehow “came out” of the holster. Darren Wilson, of course, testified later that he took his own gun out of the holster and threatened Michael Brown with it. Notably, according to the supervisor’s testimony, Darren Wilson told the supervisor that although Michael Brown attempted to grab his gun, Michael Brown “didn’t get control of the weapon.” This is in direct conflict with Darren Wilson’s testimony to St. Louis County Police, where Darren Wilson reported that Michael Brown’s hands were in control of Darren Wilson’s gun. Regarding Michael Brown, Darren Wilson claimed that Michael’s hands were in control of the weapon and stated, “He was-he had me completely overpowered.” Claiming that Michael Brown had complete control over a weapon that never left Darren Wilson’s control is dubious enough. The fact that the murder weapon was allegedly not subjected to forensic fingerprint analysis makes the prosecutor’s over peddling of forensic science even more questionable. Darren Wilson has gone into great detail in conveying his belief in Michael Brown having “complete control” of Darren Wilson’s service weapon. Darren Wilson’s changing perception of complete control from interview to interview, however, resulted in a Grand Jury member asking him for further clarification on the construct of total control. The Grand Jury member, then, sought to correct Darren Wilson’s misrepresentation of “total control.” After Darren Wilson pulled his gun on Michael Brown, Darren Wilson testified, “He then took complete control of it.” He followed this by saying, “I wouldn’t say he had complete control. I would say he had some control.” During testimony, he also offered, “He was controlling where it went, how it went there.” Finally, Darren Wilson was advised by a Grand Juror, “When I just hear the word complete control, I think it is entirely in his possession and none of yours, that’s the way I feel is complete control.” 5

continued page 38. pg.

Dec. 13th and 20th

27th

20-50%

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Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

The Dark Tetrad cont.

The fact is that such is the same way that any reasonable person would interpret “complete” or “total” control and Darren Wilson either knows this or should know this. Accordingly, such a play with words indicates that Darren Wilson was being calculating, cunning, and deceptive in his word choice and such has served to mislead the Grand Jury, investigators, the media, and the general public. Cognitive Catalysts for Chaos Given that Darren Wilson fabricated having knowledge of a stealing call, upon what legally cognizable foundation was he entrapping, arresting, ordering, cursing, and summoning Michael Brown and Dorian Johnson that day? Without an actual stealing in progress call, you are left with a simple abuse of power and police harassment, by Darren Wilson, which resulted in the murder of an unarmed adolescent. Based upon Darren Wilson’s reported fear of the Ferguson community in which he was policing, and his reported disdain for the community, it is challenging to the imagination why he thought it prudent to engage in the initial act of aggression of reversing the car and corralling Michael Brown and Dorian Johnson while ordering them to his vehicle. It was noted that Darren Wilson reported that the first officers to arrive at the crime scene were the very officers who responded to the alleged stealing in progress call. These officers could have provided information to Darren Wilson regarding Michael Brown that Darren Wilson co-opted as his own. Darren Wilson also recounted conflicting stories regarding what transpired when he summoned Michael Brown to his police cruiser. Darren Wilson testified to the Grand Jury that his idea of Michael Brown forcing the vehicle door closed and trapping Darren Wilson in the car involved Michael Brown standing about “six inches from [his] door.” Very concerning regarding Darren Wilson’s testimony is that he testified that while Michael Brown had him trapped, and was assaulting him, Darren Wilson stated that he remembered himself as having “my hands up.” This, interestingly, suggested that it was Darren Wilson, and not Michael Brown, who had surrendered. Darren Wilson has reported that after summoning Michael Brown to the police cruiser, Michael Brown immediately shut the door and trapped Darren Wilson inside the vehicle with his “stomach.” He testified that he could not open the door because Michael Brown’s “body is against it,” with his stomach forcing the door closed. In his testimony, Darren Wilson testified that Michael Brown, somehow, “shut the door” before he actually “approached the door.” Contrastingly, Darren Wilson also testified, “I shut the door and he came up and approached the door.” He went on to state, “I opened the door again trying to push him back tell him to get back.” Specifically, Darren Wilson testified to the Grand Jury, “I tell him to ‘get the fuck back’ and then I use my door to push him.” Dorian Johnson’s report of events indicated that Darren Wilson came so close to the pair when he put the car in reverse that, upon opening his door, Darren Wilson hit Michael Brown and the door bounced back. Dorian reported that Darren Wilson grabbed Michael after blocking their path, but Darren Wilson testified that Michael, out of the blue, came up to the car and just started “hitting” Darren Wilson. For all intents and purposes, Darren Wilson appears to have been what is legally known as an “initial aggressor.” Basically Beguiling 6 pg.

Darren Wilson has a Machiavellian flair for inconsistency and his blatant pattern of lying during investigations and under oath is only matched by his serpentine play with symbolism and his supplication for deception-based sympathy. To explain why he “reasonably” feared an unarmed teenager - such that he needed to gun him down in the street - Darren Wilson has taken the Grand Jury, police investigators, and the public on a fantasy ride of helplessness, infantilization, science fiction, superheroes, psychobabble, and the supernatural. In trying to defend himself against Michael Brown, Darren Wilson reported, "I tried to hold his right arm and use my left hand to get out, to have some type of control and not be trapped in my car anymore." Darren Wilson seeking to cast himself in the light of a vulnerable child in relation to Michael Brown testified, "and when I grabbed him, the only way I can describe it is I felt like a five-year-old holding onto Hulk Hogan.” For clarification and emphasis, he stated, “Hulk Hogan, that's just how big he felt and how small I felt just from grasping his arm." It is not completely surprising that Darren Wilson invoked Hulk Hogan in his storyline, as he viewed the entire fatal exchange with Michael Brown as some sort of amusing contest, and stated the reason he did not use an alternate defensive tool against Michael Brown was because “I would have been out of the game.” (The term “game” is also synonymous with the hunting of prey, particularly of wild animals. As one holding a hunting license, Darren Wilson is likely familiar with this construct.) Hulk Hogan was a famous wrestler who was named after The Incredible Hulk. Hulk Hogan, however, was not only larger than The Incredible Hulk, he was presumed even stronger than the comic strip, television, and movie superhero/villain - who was an unsuspecting bestial pawn used in a military stratagem to revive a super soldier agenda. The Incredible Hulk was known to transform from a human to a humanoid monster when excited, harassed, anxious, or enraged. The Hulk was an uncontrollable fugitive with superhuman strength, physical prowess, healing power, and agility, who resembled a defensive football player. These analyses are important in considering Darren Wilson’s Hulk-paralleling descriptions of Michael Brown. Darren Wilson, attempting to psychologically analyze Michael Brown has stated, “I’ve never seen anybody look that, for lack of a better word, crazy.” To drive the point home, he has explained, “I’ve never seen that. I mean, it was very aggravated … aggressive, hostile … You could tell he was looking through you. There was nothing he was seeing.” Appealing to spiritual sentiment, and supposed “Christian” conservatism, Darren Wilson has further described Michael Brown by saying he “had the most aggressive face. That’s the only way I can describe it, it looks like a demon, that’s how angry he looked.” A “demon” is known as an inhuman, supernatural evil spirit that is seen as an unclean, fallen entity created for destruction. As a psychological archetype, a demon is a giant monster with horns and is seen as a member of the living dead. One who is Hulk-like, demonic, crazy, and psychotic, as Darren Wilson has presented Michael Brown as being, would call for vanquishing by yet another superhero who is able to stay in the “game” - as Darren Wilson has referred to his fatal interaction with Michael Brown. Darren Wilson’s description of Michael Brown, and the images invoked, are of forensic significance and clearly suggest a need for Darren Wilson to have been forensically evaluated by a clinical forensic psychologist immediately following the murder of Michael Brown. Much of Darren Wilson’s description of Michael Brown sounds like defensive psycho-spiritual projection, where Darren Wilson has projected onto Michael Brown the latent psychological and spiritual essence of Darren Wilson. 7 Copyright © 2014 - All rights reserved.

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Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

The Dark Tetrad cont.

Fear – Anger – Hatred - Suffering In testimony, Darren Wilson explained his sentiments towards the Ferguson community in which he was patrolling. In describing the Canfield Green neighborhood, he testified, “It is just not a very well-liked community.” He further stated, “It is a hostile environment.” He described it as filled with crime and gang activity and stated that is an “anti-police area.” Therefore, by extrapolation, Darren Wilson was stating that before he ever encountered Michael Brown and Dorian Johnson, his view of them was that they were “not very well-liked” and they were both “hostile” and “anti-police” simply because they were associated with Canfield Green. This leaves one to wonder Darren Wilson’s reason for seeking to work in a police department where he would be assigned to such an environment. This is particularly questionable given Darren Wilson’s policing history which has only included predominantly African American communities with pockets of poverty and high levels of crime. Darren Wilson testified before the Grand Jury that he has been a police officer for a total of five years. During his career, he has worked for three years in the Ferguson Police Department after being let go from Jennings. He also testified before the Grand Jury that he worked for a total of eight hours for the Pine Lawn Police Department and left voluntarily, as he has also left Ferguson. With this information, the Grand Jury questioning turned to his selection of policing communities and he was asked whether he has always worked in African American neighborhoods. Darren Wilson working in a community in which feels significant trepidation reminds this writer of the conversation between Master Yoda and Anakin Skywalker (Darth Vader) in Star Wars Episode One. Yoda warned the anxious Anakin about fear and stated “Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suf-fer-ing.” A number of years ago, while teaching an adolescent psychology class for education majors, several preservice teaching students reported an intense fear of working in urban communities with urban children. At that point, they were implored to refrain from seeking teaching positions in urban centers and it was explained to them the likelihood of their emotions leading to the suffering of the children, the schools, and the communities, due to their fear-filled presence, spirits, and actions. Darren Wilson, like the budding educators, should have been given the same advice prior to seeking employment in Ferguson, where his presence and actions, regardless of supposed justification, have caused much anger, hatred, and suffering in Ferguson and far beyond. The Problem is Not Policing Regardless of how the media has attempted to present Darren Wilson as the police prototype, he is not. In fact, Darren Wilson exemplifies much of what is individually and organizationally problematic in policing and countless other professions in which the public vulnerably depends, including teaching at all levels, lawyering, and even ministering. While some police officers struggle with various psychological challenges such as depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and loneliness, growing out of the stress and trauma of police work, we do not generally hear of them being involved in shooting fatalities with unarmed youth. In fact, we rarely hear anything about the countless police officers who do their jobs faithfully, take care of their families, volunteer in the community, and contribute to the general wellbeing of the community. 8 pg.

What we are treated to, instead, is a steady diet of that unique set of officers who have likely self-selected into the profession of policing in order to find a vocational safe haven for the socially sanctioned manifestation of their pre-service psychopathologies which can serve to wreak havoc throughout their police departments, their local communities, and the entire nation. (It should be noted, however, that the magnitude of chaos which has emerged consequent to Darren Wilson’s murder of Michael Brown evidences tinges of psychological operations and human intelligence collection initiatives which are supposed to be limited to foreign soil.) While Darren Wilson is not the police prototype, he is not as socially anomalous as we would like to lead ourselves to believe. Everything one can find wrong with Darren Wilson can be found peppered throughout all human organizational spaces ranging from elementary schools, to courthouses, to universities, to law firms, to churches, to hospitals, to families, to major social services, and to major corporations. Policing is not for everyone and the case of Darren Wilson has made it glaringly clear that law enforcement agencies need to exercise significant care in the training, development, recruitment, selection, hiring, and promotion of those interested in, and involved with, the field of law enforcement. We are the Police Our ability to maintain healthy communities is directly tied to our ability to support the vocational fitness, psychological health, adjustment, and wellbeing of each officer and the collective of officers serving in communities, because their pain and maladjustment will become the community’s suffering. We would be foolish to believe that Darren Wilson was not in some degree of psychological pain prior to killing Michael Brown. (His father was reportedly absent. His mother was criminally involved and died when he was sixteen-years-old. He had been appointed a guardian. He has been in two marriages in one year. He has not had long term job stability, even as a police officer.) Regardless of one’s take on the “facts,” happy, healthy, and well-adjusted people do not do what Darren Wilson has done. Nor do happy, healthy, and well-adjusted people respond to the infliction of hurt upon others in the manner in which Darren Wilson has responded. People, however, do not suffer alone. Because we do not suffer alone, those who believe collective police maladjustment is the foundational problem should seek to provide ministry (service) to all local police to support their positive development and functioning. When feeding the protesters, feed the police. When praying for the protesters, pray for the police. When counseling the protesters, encourage any positive and right actions manifested by the police. We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers. Beyond Biases While there are, undoubtedly, police officers with racial and other biases and inappropriate attitudes and behaviors related to such biases, simply recruiting and hiring more African American police officers will not solve all of the issues that Darren Wilson represents. This is because the psychological health, adjustment, and wellbeing issues that appear to have been manifest in Darren Wilson pervade the cross section of humanity. There are, in fact, many African American individuals who espouse social dominance orientations and harbor adverse thoughts and feelings regarding the socially disadvantaged, the culturally diverse, and the young. As with Darren Wilson, such individuals have the ability to wreak unrestrained chaos in police departments and in struggling communities, and their blackness will not automatically prevent this. 9 Copyright © 2014 - All rights reserved.

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Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

The Dark Tetrad cont.

After the August 9, 2014 murder of Michael Brown by Darren Wilson, Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson indicated that Darren Wilson would be required to undergo two psychological evaluations. The fact is that prior to being sworn as a law enforcement officer, Darren Wilson should have already undergone comprehensive, standardized, psychological evaluation by a licensed psychologist trained in the administration and interpretation of cognitive assessment, personality assessment, emotional assessment, and vocational assessment. It should have been determined well before hiring whether Darren Wilson actually possessed the cognitive, personality, emotional, and social foundations necessary to effectively fulfill the complex roles of law enforcement, regardless of the community served. Had Darren Wilson undergone a thorough assessment of global functioning and police readiness, it may have been discovered prior to the recent tragedy that he possessed cognitive and character traits which might make it difficult for him to be consistently successful in law enforcement, particularly in communities where he might not feel physically and emotionally safe. It is not possible to validly and reliably psychologically evaluate Darren Wilson from a distance. It is, however, possible to examine the elements of his functioning which have come to light and assess the extent to which such functioning may have served to undermine his ability to meet the demands of mature policing, in the municipalities of Ferguson, Pine Lawn, and Jennings (where he has been employed as law enforcement during his five brief years in the field). Forensic interviews with Darren Wilson, along with his Grand Jury testimony, speak directly to Darren Wilson’s functionality and his potential for adverse community impact and problematic vocational operation. Clear and Present Danger Based upon the facts that have unfolded over time regarding Ferguson, it is apparent that Darren Wilson was not appropriate for the profession of policing and he presents a clear and present danger to the community and to himself. Trained and nurtured in the corrupt and human rights violating Jennings Police Department, Darren Wilson may have never been appropriate for policing with its powers of arrest, weapons usage, and independent social influence and control. Darren Wilson murdered an unarmed eighteen-year-old after essentially confronting the youth for walking in the middle of the street. Darren Wilson’s apparent unfitness for the policing profession is not based upon any presumptions about his potential for racist proclivities. Such is grounded in his apparent lack of the cognitive, emotional, social, professional, and spiritual maturity required of one in the field of policing and many other fields. Not only does Darren Wilson evidence troubled problem solving, he evinces a serious lack of cognitive dexterity required of police officers. When asked if he might have done anything different, he has replied that he would not and has stood behind an almost broken record response of “I just did my job.” Lying, tampering with evidence, destroying evidence, and generally perverting the processes of justice, however, does not constitute “doing [his] job.” Policing requires cognitive flexibility and significant social and emotional maturity in order to meet the demands of finding alternative solutions to complex social problems. It, also, requires a modicum of ethics and human decency. What is, also, problematically conspicuous is Darren Wilson’s lack of affect and his emotional processing. Darren Wilson lacks any sense of true remorse for the murder of Michael Brown and has 10 pg.

demonstrated a complete lack of appropriate emotionality and affect related to having killed another human being. This is a sad Dark Tetrad dynamic. “I was just doing my job” or “I was just following orders” are never reasonable responses for potential crime perpetration by one in policing or any other field. Darren Wilson’s perspectives on the murder of Michael Brown, and the aftermath of the killing, are highly suspect and his explanation for killing an unarmed youth is filled with numerous holes, inconsistencies, flat out lies, lawyered up sounding clichés, and event descriptions which sound more like the recitation of a science fiction script than a recitation of the events leading up to Darren Wilson’s shooting and killing of Michael Brown. Forensic Fallacies Darren Wilson violated numerous standard protocols subsequent to murdering Michael Brown. He has never filed a standard police report. He fled the crime scene. He destroyed blood evidence. He tampered with evidence that would have revealed even more meaningful forensic data. There is no forensic evidence that shows Darren Wilson was hit repeatedly with such force by Michael Brown that his eye socket was damaged or that death was imminent. Darren Wilson described Michael Brown in ways which defy reality. Darren Wilson described Michael Brown’s threatening behavior as he “grunted, hopped” and began towards Darren Wilson. Darren has stated, “He kind of does like a stutter step to start running.” Darren Wilson also stated, “When he looked at me, he made like a grunting, like aggravated sound and he starts, he turns and he’s coming back towards me.” Darren Wilson surmised that Michael Brown was “bulking up” to run through the shots. This sounds more like an overactive imagination than anything approximating reality. There is a great deal of downplaying the fact that one of the bullets entered Michael Brown via the posterior (back) portion of his right arm. This suggests the likelihood that Michael Brown was either shot from the rear or while his arm was raised in some sort of manner. There has been much focus on whether Michael Brown continued to move after being shot multiple times by Darren Wilson. Did he step forward? Did he charge forth? Did he stand still? Did he raise his arm(s)? Did he reach down with his hand(s) to pull up his falling shorts? Did he stagger frontwards? Common sense dictates that one who has been shot numerous times will not be inclined to stand still, get on the ground, follow police orders, or grin while bearing it. The greater possibility is that one will wince in pain, focus all mental and physical energy on the area of pain, and seek to stop whatever is causing the wounding. Changing into The Incredible Hulk, stutter stepping, hopping, bulking up to run through bullets, and playing fantasy tackle football are not likely to be one of the responses to being shot. Only individuals laboring under delusions think otherwise. Self-defense, stand your ground, and all other such laws call for legal reasonableness in the perceptions of fear. Darren Wilson’s behaviors, compulsive lying, and aberrant thought processes, however, call into question the actual reasonableness of his cognitions, emotions, and lethal force behaviors. Prosecutorial Perversion Precludes Justice and Peace The function of the prosecutor is that of law enforcement on behalf of the state. The prosecutors in this matter have, however, circumvented procedural justice by providing misleading legal guidance and statutory law to the St. Louis County Grand Jury, which caused the Grand Jury to be misinformed and 11 Copyright © 2014 - All rights reserved.

www.the-arts-today.com

Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

The Dark Tetrad cont.

misguided in its overall investigation, interrogation, deliberation, and indictment recommendation. When sworn and expert attorneys and legal educators, who represent the citizens of the State of Missouri, provide a Grand Jury with deceptive legal guidance and refuse to provide accurate legal direction or answer inquiries of ultimate legal question, such is beyond accident and incompetence and is, likely, informed by transgressive and immoral intentionality. The failure of due diligence and the questionable ethical functioning of St. Louis County prosecutors in this matter, call into question the legitimacy of the Grand Jury process and the delivery of a recommendation for no indictment regarding Darren Wilson. Such, also, demonstrates the pervasiveness of pathology which functions to pervert all levels and branches of justice. Prosecutor Robert McCulloch has sought to mislead the public into believing in the infallibility of forensic science data. Such infallibility is mere fantasy, however. Forensic science data, including forensic psychological science data, is only as good as the individual collecting such, testing such, analyzing such, interpreting such, and reporting such. Hence, the data carries with it the biases, the competence, the incompetence, the benevolence, and the malevolence of the gatherer, the interpreter, and the reporter of such data. As with forensic testimony, hard forensic science evidence can be destroyed, tampered with, or selectively limited in inclusion. This serves to pervert justice and preclude communal consideration of healing mercy. Where justice is perverted and obstructed, there can be no true justice for Michael Brown and others and, therefore, no true peace.

12 pg.

Are you a choreographer who started a dance company? Did you major in philosophy or art history? Are you someone with a 9-5 job who runs an arts organization in your “spare” time? You’re an accidental arts administrator!

Monday, December 8

4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Accidental Arts Administrator, which is co-presented by the Arts and Education Council, Missouri Arts Council and Regional Arts Commission, covers working with a board of directors, marketing, fundraising and financial management. Participants receive a 100page manual, and refreshments are served.

and...Strategic Planning Fundamentals Monday, December 15

4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Too many strategic plans sit on a shelf and gather dust. Based on “The Nonprofit Strategy Revolution: Real-Time Strategic Planning in a Rapid-Response World” by David La Piana, this interactive, jargon-free workshop will help you develop an approach to planning that answers your organization’s big questions and enables your staff and board members to think and act strategically. Advance registration is $20 per organization plus $5 for each additional person from the same organization who attends. Registration at the door is $35 per person. Tuition covers both sessions — December 8 and 15. Sorry, no discounts for attending just one session. Registration form

Need a better board? Guide to Board Duties and Liabilities FREE copies of the new edition of our guide are available on request. Send us an email.

House Calls for Nonprofits

Our FREE House Calls program offers hands-on training directly to arts organizations during their regular board meetings. This free training program includes a 20-minute presentation by a St. Louis Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts volunteer or staff member, ten minutes for questions and easy-to-understand hand-outs. Organizations pick the date, time and location. Training options include: Board Excellence, Financial Oversight, Legal Duties of Nonprofit Boards, Developing a Freedom of Expression Policy, The Art of Conflict Resolution and Evaluating the Executive Director. To request a House Calls speaker, please complete a request form or call 314-863-6930. St. Louis Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts 6128 Delmar, St. Louis, MO 63112 314/863-6930 vlaa@stlrac.org | www.vlaa.org

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Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

UrbArts is seeking donations for our campaign to create a visual and performing arts center on the Northside of Saint Louis. We call it the 72 Campaign. Back in 1972, St. Louis lost a center for community artists when BAG ended operations. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to continue in their legacy by offering a place for community artists to grow, experiment, and become. For 72 hours in late December, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re hoping to raise $72,000 as seed money for our development efforts. Consider supporting our cause this Day of Giving by donating $10 or more on our campaign website.

pg.

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Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

Featured

Poetry

pg.

Submission

Asili Yah Nadhiri *Carver Curbing slowly coming sitting there ones-by-ones leaning ‘gainst the sides of this wall-less stall monolithic in illustrious nefarious illusionings they swaddling in a delusional mid-knightening caressing the jaws of this carnivorous darkening magnetic syrupy corners sticking sneaker-ing shoes of elderless circlings hooching to a loquacious blues plum lips sucking smoke as the gist of this tryst all here so being there in a yondering no where squat’n here scared roll’n’up in this rusing spilling on into twilighting twilightenings rapping so ‘cause they hearing no drums they spinning their tales of wanton plunderings for filling emptying bags of a desperate longing arrested in the mouthing of vicarious sunderings so being any where there but here some where surreal enrapturing in knee-jerking vagaries try’n to hide from the silence erase’n them here in the addicting embouchure’ns embracing here in this swallow’n womb each turned-out pocket is a notion seen’n small but the fate of one flag is the same for us all reaching out in a traitorous enthralling gall vociferizing mesmerizing scandalizing too camouflaging in the swooning of supposing foils they looking at one another for any other who do’n a sump’n else so make’n them a special few swirling in wondering scared of all alone like most the rest of us here we all doing too

*A large neighborhood served by Carver Middle School in Orlando, Florida Copyright © 2014 Asili Ya Nadhiri 02/06/2014, 02/07/2014, 02/09/2014, 02/24/2014, 02/25/2014, 07/03/2014, 07/04/2014, 07/06/2014, 07/09/2014, 07/10/2014, 07/12/2014, 07/13/2014, 07/15/2014, 07/16/2014, 07/17/2014, 07/19/2014, 07/21/2014, 09/20/2014, 09/21/2014, 09/25/2014, 09/27/2014, 09/29/2014, 09/30/2014, 10/02/2014, 10/03/2014, 10/04/2014, 10/05/2014

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Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

A. Y. Nadhiri cont.

collaging collagings (smearing-duh-ing-ing) strolling thick dark lips smug mug’d scared ofay ophidians desperationing iberian populat’n cannibaliz’n politico and the other hues clawing in between they all leeching us all who’re sopped ‘cause we sopp’n in here just like them ‘round ‘n’round and on back on around every one at a nother just like any other holding onto the nipples of abused agenda petrify’n in the mouth of legacy mongerers so aint feeling how this one size it fitting all “!!so what mother fucker!!long as i git’n mine! aint this here the greatest greatest there is!! so powder your nose where the camera it on and just gone requisition yo’ ownself some” dastardly scrabbled by clamoring babblers in doodaded stalls full of tird prosaic altars and amended amens there amen’n aloudly “this all like’it is cause dis how it all is-ing” wearing our own posturationing norms tatoooos disguising our emptying arms delusive porn of this invisiblin karma aint no body screaming being heard in the grand callousive numbing of this mastur-a-bationing om

Copyright © 2012, 2014 Asili Ya Nadhiri 02/18/2012, 02/20/2012, 02/26/2012, 03/10/2012, 03/11/2012, 03/28/2012, 03/29/2012, 04/05/2012, 04/11/2012, 04/12/2012, 04/14/2012, 04/18/2012, 04/27/2012, 04/29/2012, 05/05/2012, 05/11/2012, 05/12/2012, 05/26/2012, 05/27/2012, 06/03/2012, 06/11/2012, 08/29/2012, 09/03/2012, 09/04/2012, 09/15/2012, 10/02/2012, 10/04/2012, 10/14/2012, 10/23/2012, 12/08/2012, 12/09/2012, 12/15/2012, 12/23/2012, 01/08/2013, 01/11/2013, 01/13/2013, 06/22/2014, 06/23/2014, 06/25/2014, 06/27/2014, o6/29/2014, 06/30/2014, 07/01/2014, 07/02/2014, 07/03/2014, 07/04/2014, 07/05/2014, 07/06/2014, 07/07/2014, 07/09/2014, 07/10/2014, 07/14/2014, 07/17/2014, 07/19/2014, 07/21/2014, 07/22/2014, 07/23/2014, 07/24/2014, 07/25/2014, 07/26/2014, 07/27/2014, 07/28/2014, 07/29/2014, 07/30/2014, 07/31/2014, 08/01/2014, 08/03/2014, 08/07/2014, 08/11/2014, 08/12/2014, 08/13/2014, 08/14/2014, 08/15/2014, 08/16/2014, 08/19/2014, 08/20/2014, 08/21/2014, 08/24/2014

pg.

Autobiographical Sketch The language and rhythm of African people have been an obsession throughout my life. I can still vividly remember the heavy syrupy dialect that impregnated my ears as a small boy, the hypnotic rhythm-ming of the body movements of African people that continue to sang to me, and the depth of the wellsprings silently stirring inside the language forged in the North American experience of African people. By means of my tonal drawings, I am trying to actualize this experience-ing for the benefit of us all. I am Asili Ya Nadhiri, born on August 29, 1944 in Durham, North Carolina and raised in a small tobacco town named Clinton, North Carolina. My undergraduate education took place at Hampton Institute and Ithaca College, Masters at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and ABD (all but dissertation) at the University of Florida in Gainesville. I have been an instructor of vocational agriculture and social studies in the Orange County Public School System (Orlando, Florida) for the past thirty-two years.

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Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

Saint Louis Art Museum

FREE

Winter Celebrations Join the Saint Louis Art Museum for FREE Winter Celebrations December 7: Feast of our Lady of Guadalupe December 14: Hanukkah: The Jewish Festival of Lights December 21: Christmas Celebrations December 28: Kwanzaa: Honoring our Past; Strengthening our Future

w w w. s l a m . o r g One Fine Arts Drive - Forest Park, St. Louis, MO 63110-1380 314.721.0072 pg.

Noon – 4:00 pm Grigg Gallery - Art activities, scavenger hunt, and demonstration tables

2:00 pm Farrell Auditorium -CulturalPerformance ticket is required for entry. For detailed ticket information call 314 655-5444. Tickets can be reserved in person at the Museum’s Information Centers or through MetroTix (314.534.1111). Tickets reserved through MetroTix incur a $3 per ticket service charge; the charge is waived for tickets reserved at the Museum. Winter themed treats will be served following the performance in the Auditorium Lobby.

www.the-arts-today.com

Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

CELEBR

r e t e n h i T W @t. Louis

m S u e s u M t Ar

pg.

RATE! For more than ten years, the Saint Louis Art has celebrated Kwanzaa with music, dance, and tours of the Museum’s collection. The success of Kwanzaa inspired our new and exciting free Winter Celebrations program. The Saint Louis Art Museum invites you to join us each Sunday in December to celebrate winter festivals around the world. Sharing cultural traditions is one way for children and adults of all ages to learn to honor our similarities and to respect our differences. Families can enjoy taking a trip around the world exploring winter festivals through free hands-on art activities, a themed scavenger hunt through the galleries, storytelling, and electrifying dance and musical performances.

Saint Louis Art Museum’s Winter Celebrations will conclude on December 28 with our annual Kwanzaa program. This year’s theme is Honoring our Past; Strengthening our Present and will feature traditional African dance with Afriky Lolo, stilt dancing, and an inspirational spoken word performance. Families can also make their own zawadi (gift) and complete a scavenger hunt with clues that teach about the seven principles of Kwanzaa. The Museum’s Kwanzaa program is sponsored in collaboration with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.,St. Louis Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter.

The festivities begin this Sunday, December 7 with the Feast of Our Lady of Gaudulupe. Visitors can participate in a hands-on activity inspired by traditional Mexican art techniques, complete a fun scavenger hunt through the Museum’s galleries, stop by demonstration tables to get an up-close look at authentic artisans works from Mexico, or snap a picture wearing traditional Mexican accessories at one of the dress-up tables. The celebration will conclude with a lively and interactive ballet folklorico featuring dances from across Mexico and refreshments. This special family day is presented in collaboration with the Mexican Cultural Society of St. Louis.

We hope that you will join us every Sunday in December for our free Family Programs: Winter Celebrations. For more information please visit www.slam.org or call 314.655.5444.

On Sunday, December 14, Family Sundays highlights Hanukkah: The Jewish Festival of Lights. Families can take part in an art project inspired by Jewish artist Roy Lichtenstein and learn about Hanukkah with a scavenger hunt through the collection. At 2:00 pm, Rhythm ‘N’ Ruach and Barbara Raznick take the auditorium stage for an interactive program connecting children and the young at heart with an upbeat, high-energy musical and storytelling performance. Visitors can enjoy hot chocolate and cookies following the performance (kosher treats provided). We will celebrate Christmas on December 21 with an afternoon showing of the Disney hit movie,Frozen, a visit from the Snowflake Lady, and a performance of classic Christmas carols. The St. Louis Christmas Carols association will sing a selection of popular holiday songs in Sculpture Hall and Marion Nichols, affectionately known as the Snowflake Lady, will lead visitors in a snowflake making activity. A free screening of the animated phenomenon Frozen will be shown in the Farrell Auditorium at 2:00 pm.

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Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Freedom Celebration The Dream Marches On At the

St. Louis Art Museum

Friday, January 16, 2015 7:00 pmâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;8:30 pm The Farrell Auditorium @ The St. Louis Art Museum

FREE The Saint Louis Art Museum invites you to its annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Celebration. The tragedy of Ferguson reminds us that Dr. Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dreams have yet to be realized. Join us for a remembrance of the 50th anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery march that ultimately led to the passage of the 1965 voting rights act. Keynote speaker, Sam Walker, historian and founding board member of the National Voting Rights Museum, will share his personal stories as a Selma civil rights activist, including his participation in the march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge on Bloody Sunday at the age of 11 years old.

w w w. s l a m . o r g

Program will also include: Civil Rights Photographs by Moneta Sleet, Jr. & Gospel Music Performance

One Fine Arts Drive - Forest Park, St. Louis, MO 63110-1380 314.721.0072 pg.

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Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

l a u n n A

o p x E a a z n a w K e r

pg.

Offers Art & “Conch-Us-Nest” Colorful exhibits and dancers, poetrees and drums, conch-us-nestraising commentary and book sales--all await the community at a pre-kwanzaa program on Tuesday, Dec. 16. A celebration of family, community and culture, the expo will take place at 6:00 pm in Room 2083 of Building B on the East St. Louis Higher Education Campus, 601 J.R. Thompson Drive, ESL, IL 62201.

The “Kwansaba Candle-lighting Ritual” will be performed by the Soular Systems Ensemble-including Darlene Roy (EBR Writers Club president), Roscoe Crenshaw, Jaye P. Willis, Charlois Lumpkin, Treasure Shields Redmond and Ackurate (Vincent Manuel)--under the leadership of Eugene B. Redmond, SIUE emeritus professor of English, poet laureate of East St. Louis and co-founder of the Writers Club. Sherman L. Fowler and Roy are also founders of the group. The Sunshine Community Performance Ensemble, dancer/choreographer Theo Jamison and historian Reginald Petty will also give presentations. Club trustees include noted authors, artists, poets and educators Avery Brooks, Haki R. Madhubuti, Walter Mosley, Quincy Troupe, Jerry Ward and Lena Weathers. Past trustees have included celebrated authors/institution builders Maya Angelou (1928-2014), Margaret Walker Alexander (1915-1998), Amiri Baraka (1934-2014), Gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000),Raymond Patterson (1929-2001), and ESL native daughter Barbara A. Teer (1937-2008). Sponsors include the Eugene B. Redmond Writers Club, Drumvoices Revue, Black River Writers Press, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (which co-publishes Drumvoices with the Writers Club) and the ESL Cultural Revival Campaign Committee.For information, call 618 650-3991, write the Club at P.O. Box 6165 (ESL 62201) or email eredmon@siue.edu.

In East St. Louis

Dec. 16th East St. Louisans have celebrated Kwanzaa since 1966, the year it was founded by Dr. Maulana Ron Karenga and the Los Angeles-based US Organization. He is currently Professor and Chair of the Africana Studies Department at California State University-Long Beach.

www.the-arts-today.com

Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

pg.

www.the-arts-today.com

Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

john

THE UNK BUC

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MAKE ME AN OFFER. www.Allstarmotorsinc.com

pg.

The na consta onto th body is aggres the dem We are dark bo always so that society in peac die we over an We wil this un

Joh

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jennings

E KILLABLE CK

arrative that is antly inscribed he black male s that of the ssor, the monster, mon, the killer. e the body, one ody, that must s be destroyed t American y can progress ce. But we don’t are reincarnated nd over again. ll continue to do ntil justice is served.

hn Jennings

By John Jennings Associate Professor Visual Studies SUNY Buffalo mblr: http://jijennin70. tumblr.com/

Volume 1.10 “To be black and conscious in America is to be in a constant state of rage”. JAMES BALDWIN

www.the-arts-today.com

December 4, 2014

pg.

12 PM @ SABAYET, INC.

4000 Maffitt St. Louis MO, 63112

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Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

The Honorable

Judy Draper

Honorary Consul for Republic of S. Korea

Judy Draper, Honorary Consul for Republic of S. Korea

Key note speaker Congressman Charles Rangel

Judy Draper, Honorary Consul for Republic of S. Korea with Korean Consul General NY and other Honorary Consul including former football player (Steelers?) Franco Harris, Honorary Korean Consul General ..... And Key note speaker Congressman Charles Rangel, Korean War Veteran and Chair of Congressional Committee on Korean Affairs at reception held at Korean Mission at United Nations, New York, NY. pg.

former football player (Steelers?) Franco Harris

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Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

pg.

Art of Healing

NSEC y t i n u Com m : e u g Dialo n o s u Fer g NSEC invites you to join us in a Saturday morning dialogue ab out

coping in the midst of the Fergu son Crisis. We know that change is on the way and it can be difficult to

cope, while waiting for things to get better. Please invite fam ily,

friends, co-workers and oth ers to come share their thoughts, as we

offer resources for coping.

Highlights

fast & � Continental break snacks � Activities

� A book of useful resource materials to , help with employment stress and personal needs.

Near Southside Employment Coalition (NSEC) 2649 Pestalozzi Street St. Louis, MO 63118 Contact Rev. Ohala Ward: 314-865-4453 Time: 10:00a.m. - 1:00p.m. Date: Dec. 6, 2014

www.the-arts-today.com

Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

Featured

Photography

Submission

Ju Yeun Chae charms the audience with a fan dance.

pg.

Korean Festival

Gee Sook Baik, beautiful dancer with the Chicago Korean Dance Company

Simon Kyung Lee (Tenor) sings “Gago-pa” Want to Go Back Home.

Jeff Chan on Saxophone while So Ra Kim & Sunhee Kim accompany and sing.

watch now!

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Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

So Ra Kim mesmerizes the audience with the Korean drums.

pg.

Tirzah Russell cont.

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Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

Consul General Kim hands out Korean War Peace Medals from Korea to more than 50 War Veterans (whom are in their mid to late 80â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s) commemorating their service 61 years ago in the Korean War.

pg.

Gee Sook Baik, beautiful dancer with the Chicago Korean Dance Company

www.the-arts-today.com

Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

****RESTRICTED (NOV. 2014) ALL PHOTOS FURNISHED BY SUZY GORMAN PHOTOGRAPHY. NO REPRODUCTION WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION AND CONSENT OF SUZY GORMAN PHOTOGRAPHY. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT SUZY GORMAN PHOTOGRAPHY. http://suzygorman.com/

THE CHEF, Eric Heckman, owner of “TANI” Suishi Restaurant in Clayton.

pg.

A great display of the pulling together of people from varied backgrounds to bring about the festival and introduce Korean Culture to St. Louis in order to enhance diversity and international collaboration in the St. Louis Region.

Consul General Kim gives heartfelt opening remarks.

The DJ spices it up with hip music. St. Louis and Chicago guests along with 350 other guests from the region experiencing and enjoying Korean Culture at the first time ever Korean Festival held at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in Creve Coeur November 8, 2014.

Secretary of State Jason Kander with Judge Draper, Supreme Court Justice Rick Teitleman, Korean War Veteran Commander Kenneth Fleer and Supreme Volume 1.10 Court Justice, George Draper.

www.the-arts-today.com

December 4, 2014

***Please share this announcement with emerging and developing poets and fiction writers.***

CALLALOO is now accepting applications for the 2015 CALLALOO CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP, which will be hosted by the Center for the Study of Slavery & Justice at Brown University, May 31-June 13, 2015. We invite submissions of poetry or fiction for admission consideration for this intensive two-week workshop in Providence, Rhode Island. VIEVEE FRANCIS (http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/vievee-francis), RAVI HOWARD (http://www.ravihoward.com/), MAAZA MENGISTE (http:// maazamengiste.com/), and GREGORY PARDLO (http://pardlo.com/) will serve as the 2015 workshop leaders. Applications must be submitted online at http://callaloo.expressacademic.org/login. php no later than February 15, 2015. Each application must consist of a brief cover letter and writing sample (no more than five pages of poetry or twelve pages of prose fiction). To complete and submit your application, go to http://callaloo.tamu. edu/node/232 For additional information, email (callaloo@tamu.edu) or call (979-458-3108). CALLALOO Journal, CALLALOO Journal of African Diaspora editor

Coming Soon!

ART

The of FOOD Contact us to have your submission included.

pg.

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Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

In addition to providing exemplary academics, New City School is actively committed to teaching students to understand, respect, and appreciate others, both in our classrooms and in the world. New City was founded on a commitment to diversity and inclusion, and this remains a core value of our school. We believe that success in school directly correlates with success in life. To learn more about us, join us for an open house that celebrates diversity at New City School on Thursday, January 8th, 2015, from 6 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 8 PM. RSVP (required) at 314-361-6411 or online at www.newcityschool.org.

pg.

AAA Insurance Sales The Road to Success Starts Here

WE’RE HIRING! If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about our AAA Insurance Sales Agent opportunities, apply online at AAA.com/careers or call Insurance Business Manager Chris Raymond at (314) 862-8021 ext. 103

AAA offers the following: ✓ Pension plan and employer-matched 401(k) ✓ Forgivable draw plus commission ✓ Rewarding career advancement opportunities ✓ Excellent benefits package ✓ Paid sick/vacation and holidays

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Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

State Celebration Commission of Missouri

of t n e i ecip iven r e h as t ng g i e b ard is ontinuing s w a c r’ he a s t T i e . y r d o s war nd f nts. Thi a A s e t c ervi ievemen itme ling”. S m y t i m mun erful ach s and co for Hea m o nd 5C eal me o i 1 d i T 0 w s 2 ’ s A ’ ge ted ear iong, Jr d c t Y n E e c i l s ’ z K A e ding n z s r n o o a t e i s a J t h s a d t s s h out mmi on of The Martin Lu ers Calle o C ion s i s d . t i i r a the n m Le og ify D om 6:30 C t a e t in rec exempl Emerging 015 . Sta o r “ 2 t J , s , i s 0 t g e Kin effor ary 1 r u them e n h t a Lu g y, J n n i i a t r d g r a d u owle the Dr. M y on Sat ditorium. n k c au rsit cly a nted at e i n l i v i b a n u m ard, p l be prese e State U iversity’s w a ow t Un The ice, wil S e s h i t r r v n ser t Ha .m. i a p n o www.thejazzedge.com i at r b e l Ce pg. 82

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We all remain outraged over the incredible miscarriage of justice at the hands of the Ferguson grand jury. Your voice and your steps this week and next will ensure no one soon forgets the urgent need for action and change in all of our communities. Below you will find logistical information for the Journey for Justice. If you have any questions, please contact Kevin Myles at kmyles@naacpnet.org. Thank you, NAACP

Justice

The Journey for What: The Journey for Justice is a seven-day, 120-mile march from Ferguson, Missouri to Jefferson City, Missouri to raise awareness of the urgent need for change to end police brutality and racial profiling. When: The march will begin each day (except for Saturday) at 7:00am and end at 4:00pm. Supporters will walk close to 15 miles per day. We invite you to join us for parts or all of each dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s journey. Where: The Journey will commence at Washington Metropolitan AME Zion Church, 613 N Garrison Ave, St Louis, MO, 63103, on Saturday, November 29, at 12:00pm. Accommodations and travel: Walkers are welcome to drive to start points. Shuttle buses will be available to take marchers back to that dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s start point after each leg of the walk. Accommodations will be available for those marchers who wish to stay for the duration of the march. What to bring: Marchers should dress for the weather. Temperatures will range from the 30s to the 50s depending on the time of day. Plan to wear very comfortable walking shoes. The NAACP will serve breakfast and dinner for marchers, and snacks and water will be available during the march. We still encourage you to bring your own liquids and snacks to stay hydrated and healthy. Marchers staying overnight should plan to bring a sleeping bag and pillow, and clothes for the next day. Adolphus Pruitt, President of St. Louis NAACP

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Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

pg.

Featured

Artist

Submission

Ellis Outlaw

Photography & Art by Ellis

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Welcome to Photography & Art by Ellis, a photographic and artistic journey of stunning images of both original art on canvas or the creative photography of blushing brides, beautiful portraits and more.Ellis Outlaw is a talented artist as well as a professional photographer. He has a home gallery of unique cultural art on display (appointments only), also he is an accomplished photographer, specializing in weddings, portraits & special events.Ellis has over 25 years of experience offering uncompromising quality, personal commitment and affordable pricing. Contact him at (314) 495-4636 or photobyellis.com.

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Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

OPPORTUNITIES

#artstodayEZ pg.

“Acting White” Share your Story Dear friends: I have been asked to write a chapter in a book that will address colorism in education. My chapter will focus on “acting white.” Specifically, when I was growing up, I was a “smart” student. My top performance in school, doing homework, raising my hand to answer questions, etc. often drew the accusation from my African American classmates and friends that I was “acting white.” Now, I know there are psychologists out there who say this is not true and does not exist. But alas, it was absolutely true for me. I have written about this in past works. I will do so again for this new book. I do know that many young folks today who continue to have such allegations hurled at them so feel free to share this email with whoever and have folks email me directly. I did a survey on this very question about 7 years ago and the results were consistent with my experiences decades ago. I’d like to update my earlier survey. I would love to hear from anyone out there who has a similar/related story either involving yourself or someone you know. I would like to include your story in the chapter. I will conceal your identity if you request. Do you have a story to share? If so, please email to me at: norwood@wulaw.wustl.edu.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead Kim N. Kimberly Norwood Professor of Law Washington University School of Law

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Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

Women Taking Charge in Challenging the

Pay Gap Problem

Malaika Horne, Ph.D

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Women Taking Charge in Challenging the Pay Gap Problem

The brisk autumn air of an eerie Halloween morning couldn’t dampen the spirits of a group at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. With unrelenting tenacity, 60 mostly women gathered, some in Halloween garb, to discuss the challenge of the day: pay discrimination. It’s a vexing problem for all women regardless of class, ethnicity or any other population characteristic. This was made more poignant by a contingent from the World Affairs Council, women from such countries as Nepal, Egypt, South Africa and Guatemala, whose issues are even more daunting.

The program, Friday, October 31, titled: Pay Equity: Realities, Challenges, Opportunities, was put on by

Lifelong Learning @ UMSL which promotes a love of learning and civic engagement among older adults. A proponent of age diversity, it’s intergenerational. In an effort to create vibrant learning communities, it seeks to dismantle all forms of segregation, including ageism, so as to restore older adults to their rightful place in society. I’m director of the program.

Segregation is not only unfair; it’s harmful, frequently leading to discrimination. Thus, due to enlightened self-interest, since I’m an older adult and proud of it and because it’s the right thing to do, we emphasize the wisdom, experience and knowledge of seniors which are invaluable in cross-fertilizing ideas, building social capital and enriching learning communities.

Young people ought to value more the sage advice of their elders, so that we can pass the mantle on to them as we exit the world stage. To be fair, older adults need to let go of the mantle when it’s time. Now let’s get back to pay equity.

The wage gender divide is dominating center stage. Despite women's educational and workforce gains, the gap has stalled. Legislation can spur opportunities but there is a strong demand for grassroots energy and

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Women Taking Charge... cont.

ground level strategies. That is to say, we need a critical mass of empowered individuals to take control, making their voices heard, defining themselves from their own perspectives and solving this tough issue.

Pay gaps are in virtually every occupation. Shockingly, it’s even in traditional women’s work, like grade school teachers where women earn less than their male counterparts. Women nurses earn less and the same for social work.

The gap is shrinking at a snails pace; so why so slow? In 2013 White women were paid 78 cents for every dollar a man earned, up from 77 cents in 2012. The current gap is 22 cents, a record low, down from 40 cents in 1960. Asian American women are paid the best; they show the smallest gap at 87 cents for every dollar paid to their White, non-Latino male counterparts. Second smallest are White women at 78 cents. Blacks and Latinas have the largest gaps at 64 cents and 57 cents, respectively. African American women physicians and surgeons make an astoundingly low 52 cents.

But this is not just a problem for women. President Obama recently said: “Equal pay is not just an economic issue for millions of Americans and families. It's also about whether we're willing to build an economy that works for everybody, and whether we're going to do our part to make sure our daughters have the same chances to pursue their dreams as our sons."

It should be noted that men of color also face pay discrimination. Like the many heads of the hydra, capitalism, sexism and racism are interconnected and ominous threats to the workplace, discriminating against virtually all women and men of color. Because women are the primary breadwinner or cobreadwinner in more than 60 percent of American families, our livelihoods are increasingly dependent on women’s wages.

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Equal Pay Day, meaning how far into the following year women must work to earn the same as their male counterparts, is one way to look at it. Equal Pay Day this year was in April and in 2015 it’ll still be April. By ethnicity, roughly speaking, Equal Pay Day is the following: • •

Asian American women: February White women: April

• •

Black Women: July Latinas: October

Native American women are virtually off the radar screen. Thus, there are pay disparities between women of different ethnicities.

Working mothers are also penalized; yet working fathers are rewarded. Low-income women across ethnicity are hit the hardest, particularly single-headed households, driving up the poverty rate resulting in the feminization of poverty.

The pay gap also affects a growing number of college students and graduates, compounded by stagnant wages and mounting student loan debt. U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) concluded: “It’s a one-two punch. … Women take on big debts to go to college, but they have less money to pay off those debts.”

Then there’s ageism: As women age, the gap increases, resulting in less money during retirement. And don’t forget that pesky glass-ceiling factor where women do everything right and still don’t get ahead. According to The Wage Project, “over her working life, a woman will earn one million dollars less than a man.”

According to recent analysis: "Even if you take in all the factors -- concentration in lower-waged jobs, not enough women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), motherhood, inadequate negotiation skills – 40 percent remain unexplained." So it’s more than women don’t ask, although Sheryl Sandberg countered this in her much-ballyhooed book, Lean-in.

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Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

Women Taking Charge... cont.

Recently the head of Microsoft, Satya Nadella, in responding to a question about whether women should ask for raises, unwittingly said: “Women should not ask because that’s good karma.” After an avalanche of outrage, he apologized. But even more surprising is when he said he’d never asked for a raise. This brought to mind my thinking, which is: ‘men don’t ask.’ They have networks to look out for them and the system is more positively deposed toward them, at least toward White males and many Asian American males. Can you imagine someone saying African Americans don’t ask? After this year’s Ferguson protest and a history of upheavals where we have gone to great lengths to demand our rights and we still don’t get them. Therefore, we must also focus on resistance to equality.

At the symposium there were proposed solutions, for example, push for more women on boards, shine lights on company policies, including calling out transgressors, support the minimum wage, engage young women through such projects as $tart $mart to increase their negotiation skills, more use of social media and educate legislators. There was also a bit of levity to offset this depressing problem culminating in the Halloween Contest. First prize went to a woman dressed as Rosie the Riveter, symbolizing feminism and economic power.

Attorney Donna Harper, Seday Harper Law Firm gave the keynote address discussing the insidious and pernicious nature of the gap. Harper is one of the leading attorneys in the nation on the issue and recently represented the litigant in the high profile Anheuser Bush lawsuit. Panelists were: Anne Winkler, PhD, UMSL Economics and Public Policy Administration; Ann Plunket, principal, WorkPlace Partners, Inc. and Lydia Padilla, owner/operator, TRC Stafffing. Sally Ebest, PhD, director, UMSL Gender Studies, was the moderator.

Zonta Club of St. Louis was the major funder. Established almost a century ago, its mission is to advance the status of women. Another funder was UMSL Gender Studies. AAUW (American Association of University Women) helped to organized the event. pg.

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Wilberforce University... wants you in our family!

Apply now for January 2015 Spring Semester We have so much to offer you: ✓ Wilberforce University is the first private Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in the nation ✓ Gain work experience: All students REQUIRED to complete two Cooperative Education assignments ✓Competitive pricing: approximately $20,000 for the academic year (includes tuition, room, and board) ✓ Almost equal male to female ratio ✓ Get to know your professors; among the lowest student-to-faculty ratios in the nation ✓ Located in Southwest Ohio (1 hour south of Columbus and 45 minutes north of Cincinnati)

We Have a Major For You

Business & Economics Accounting Management Marketing

Social Sciences Political Science Psychology Rehabilitation Services (Generalist) Rehabilitation Services (Mental Health) Social Work Sociology

Engineering & Computer Sciences Computer Science Computer Information Systems Computer Engineering Nuclear Engineering Electrical Engineering Advanced Technical Intelligence Arts & Sciences Literature Mass Media/Communications

Natural Sciences Biology Health Services Administration

Applying is easy: Online at www.wilberforce.edu or request a paper application by contacting

us at 1.800.367.8568. Do not hesitate to contact us directly with any questions that you may have.

Turn Over for Wilberforce University Admissions Requirements pg.

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The Admission Process (First-time Freshmen) If a student has ever attended any other college or university, they are considered a transfer student! Please see transfer requirements on following page.

Final Official High School Transcript sent directly to Wilberforce University from your school that shows your graduation date. Please be reminded that you must have a minimum 2.0 GPA in order to be admitted into Wilberforce University. We do accept unofficial transcripts initially with your application. HOWEVER, WE MUST RECEIVE YOUR FINAL OFFICIAL HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT SENT

DIRECTLY TO WILBERFORCE UNIVERSITY FROM YOUR SCHOOL THAT SHOWS YOUR GRADUATION DATE, PRIOR TO YOUR ARRIVAL ON CAMPUS.

Minimum 5 paragraphs, typewritten essay entitled “What Goals I Plan to Accomplish Through a College Education”. SAT or ACT Test Scores – We do not have a minimum requirement for either test. However, you must submit your scores. They can be mailed, faxed, or emailed. 2 Letters of Recommendation – The first should be from a school counselor, principal, vice principal, or dean. The second should be from a school teacher, preferably your English teacher. If you have not already done so, please complete your FAFSA form at www.fafsa.ed.gov

The Wilberforce University Financial Aid Code is 003141 Questions? Call Wilberforce Financial Aid at 800-367-8565

The following documents are needed once you have been accepted as a student to Wilberforce University and it is your intent to attend. Housing Application is a single page and will assist the Residence Life staff in placing students in the residence halls. This should be returned ASAP with your $225.00 housing deposit in order to hold your spot.

Health Record Form consists of 3 pages. Pages 1 and 3 are to be completed by the parent/guardian. Page 3 is where you will list the health insurance that covers the incoming student. Page 2 is to be completed by a healthcare professional.

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Photos courtesy of the Eugene B. Redmond Collection: Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (eredmon@siue.edu); some photos are by Treasure Shields Redmond.Ä? pg. To view or donate go to: http://www.siue.edu/lovejoylibrary/about/digital_collections.shtmlÄ?

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Kwansaba: Memwar for the Fallen & the Risen It’s fall on Planet Ferguson where poetrees shed leaves & tears onto storied & varied colors of peace-scapes. Like Juneteenth, jubilee & terror shade our memwars with Emmetts, Oscars, Trayvons & Michaels. Till we forge a seesaw of fallen/risen, marchin’ toward Gil Scott-Heron’s “Winter in America.”

Eugene B. Redmond (eredmon@siue.edu) Poet laureate of East Saint Louis, Illinois - October 21, 2014 Photos by EBR & Treasure Shields Redmond. Courtesy of the EBR Collection: Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. To view or donate: http://www.siue.edu/lovejoylibrary/about/digital_collections.shtml

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Holidays!

from your friends at Arts Today Ezine pg.

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The

NewAfrican Paradigm Study Group (NAPSG) is an organization dedicated to the empowerment and education of our community through book study and our lecture series. We have brought many African scholars to St. Louis to awaken our people and to get on one accord to face the challenges in our community. The NAPSG is in need of your help so we are currently seeking new members to help us continue to be able to meet the demands of our lecture series and our study group. Our study group meets every 3rd Sunday at Sabayet, 4000 Maffit, St. Louis, MO. at 4:00 p.m. Please join us on our journey for knowledge of self, our gods, and our Ancestors. Contact James Steward at (618) 977-8191 for more information. Also, Like us on FaceBook.

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Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

n w Halloween hasflopast us...

Third Degree Glass Factory

and now Thanksgiving has arrived! Soon, we all will be celebrating Christmas with our loved ones and entering into the beautiful new year of 2015. Are you ready? As the city of St. Louis continues to digest the recent events that have struck our city, we here at ESG Modeling Agency want to celebrate and acknowledge the great accomplishments of our models. We are proud to have programs and activities to keep them encouraged and uplifted during these unimaginable times.

“we here at ESG Modeling Agency want to celebrate and acknowledge the great accomplishments of our models.”

During the month of October, the St. Louis division hosted a Community Halloween Runway show that was held at the Third Degree Glass Factory. The event had fun vendors, an amazing fire performance and Halloween costumes galore! Here are a few of the TOP images from the event. Stay tuned next month for updates on the agency’s new projects that will lanch in the St. Louis and Atlanta division.

Written by: Kimberly Marie Nationwide Director ESG Modeling Agency Email: esgst_louis@yahoo.com pg.

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Genie played by: Gabrienne Frey

All images provided by AG Photography

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DJ Slim pg.

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End of times bride played by: Top Nationwide Model Brittany West

Nerdy school kid played by: DeAndre Turner

NNerdy school kid played by: Taslim Barrera www.the-arts-today.com

Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

Miss America played by: Gabrienne Frey

Nerdy school kid played by: Brandon Woods

ESG Modeling Agency â&#x20AC;&#x153;FASHION under one BIG umbrellaâ&#x20AC;?

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3: 22-24)

ThankYou St. Louis

Nerdy school kid played by: Sahoi McLean pg. 114

Portfolio Fundraiser Moves to Artist's Studio

Janet Riehl's "Women & Wardrobe: The Riehl Collection" exhibit has finished it's successful run at The Portfolio Gallery and Education Center. It brought in $2,000 to help with much-needed building repairs. Many people went home with framed ($150) and unframed ($50) prints they love, and a good time was had by all. Folks have said they would have loved to have seen the show, and were sorry they missed it. Janet has decided to host At Home evenings on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. so you can! Come visit, enjoy the work, and of course buy whatever calls to you. Any profit realized will continue to benefit Portfolio Gallery. If you'd like to come, please contact her at janet.riehl@gmail.com. Janet and Robert Powell, director of Portfolio Gallery and Education Center appeared on Fox 2 news. http://fox2now.com/2014/07/29/women-wardrobe-and-art-on-a-cell-phone-atportfolio/# Janet and her art was featured in the Alton Telegraph. http://www.thetelegraph.com/news/home_top-lifestyle-news/50095336/Artists-workmakes-Riehl-results#.U-Tbf1Ao7qC

Come on out! Meet some new people and enjoy some playful, colorful, and sensuous art inspired by African Women.

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Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

Gianis LalSandhu, Realtor

Alexander Realty | St. Charles, Missouri | ph: 636-669-1717 The first of a two part article for renters who want to become homeowners.

Everything First-Time Home Buyers Need to Know Buying a home is the most important financial decision that you will make. It is a decision that requires preparation and planning. As you consider buying your first home, you undoubtedly have hundreds of questions about the process. These questions begin as soon as you start thinking about moving and continue far beyond the closing. What should I expect? How can I prepare? Am I ready to own a home? These questions are perfectly normal and are to be expected from first-time buyers. The process of home buying does not begin with finding a home. It actually requires a determination of your ability to afford a home.

How Much Can You Afford?

Most mortgage lenders are happy to complete a pre-qualification process for potential buyers who need to find out ahead of time what size of mortgage they can qualify for. The prequalification process is not a guarantee that the lender will offer you funding, but it does takes into consideration your credit score and income level in order to determine how much the lender might be willing to offer through a mortgage program. The process will also enable you to begin comparing the mortgage programs offered by different lenders. When you have determined just how much house you can afford, it is time to shop for a loan. Our second article will familiarize you with the language of lending and the fundamental types of loans and mortgage programs.

Even if you haven’t already found the home of your dreams, you probably have a fairly good idea of the type of home you would like to purchase. However, you may or may not realize how much you can actually afford to spend on housing each month. Surprisingly, speaking to a lender about your financial situation may not be the best place to start. Lenders look at your debt-to-income ratio. In preparation for home ownership, you should decrease the amount of money going out each month. It is advisable to pay down credit cards to reduce expense. Credit cards should be responsibly managed. Money that you would normally spend on extras should be directed to a savings account.

Financial Counseling and PreQualification

A financial advisor can help you evaluate your financial information and determine how much home you can afford to purchase. Speak with a financial advisor before beginning the search for your first home – and know that there is one other thing you can do to ensure that you are looking at the right homes for your price range.

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Civilization- FERGUSON – The Beginning of Systemic Change

“Cherish therefore, the spirit of the people, and keep alive their attention. Do not be too severe upon their errors, but reclaim them by enlightening them.” — — Thomas Thomas Jefferson Jefferson

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I am sorry to say, that those who think a quick fix is underway in Ferguson will be disappointed. “The children shall lead us” is true but only to a point. We need to stop running away from the foundation that the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. bequeathed to us. Our elders can, have and will give to our young people the instructions that enlighten them to resolving systemic institutionalized disparities in our polity. These issues of race, class and culture clash against the ideals of our founding as a nation. When Jefferson was in the process of laying out the foundations of our republic he wrote: “The basis of our government being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right; and were it left up to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without government, I should not hesitate a moment to choose the latter. But I should mean that every man should receive those papers and be capable of reading them. … Do not be too severe upon the people’s errors, but reclaim them by enlightening them. If once they become inattentive to the public affairs, you and I and Congress, and Assemblies, judges, and governors shall all become wolves. It seems to be the law of our general nature, in spite of individual exception; and experience declares that man is the only animal which devours his own kind.”

“Kudos go out to We may argue that last point of Jefferson, but it appears to many that the police and law enforcement are devouring our own. The problem with America all the peaceful is it has always been schizophrenic: Even as eloquent as Jefferson was, he still owned slaves. Do law enforcement and the courts see the killing of black protesters men as devouring our own kind or do they see us as something else? who shine a According to the Missouri attorney general, the mostly white police force in Missouri stops blacks for traffic violations 86 percent of the time, searches light on the blacks 92 percent of the time, and arrests blacks 92 percent of the time. In St. Louis County municipalities, we now know that court revenue makes up 50 percent of their respective municipal budgets. These police oversights affect institutionalization everyone who drives through these municipalities in the region. The differof racism in ence is that whites are being stopped at a lower rate. We cannot let the wolves of Wall Street off the hook or the corporations they Ferguson and buy and sell to continue to decimate workers by not paying a livable wage. Nor do the protesters who do not have their high school diplomas get a pass; America.” they will be told to complete their GED and to follow Michael Brown’s example of completing high school education and pursuing a trade or higher education.

We must listen to the words of Jefferson and not become inattentive to the public affairs by registering to vote and voting in all elections. More importantly, we must not bury our heads in the asphalt concrete of denial that pg.

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race is not a factor. How many young white boys are being killed by trigger-happy police? Kudos go out to all the peaceful protesters who shine a light on the institutionalization of racism in Ferguson and America. Kudos go out to the faith community that has come out and marched for peace and joined other nonprofit organizations with experience in our continuing struggle for equality, justice and peace to enlighten the young people how to address our grievances constructively. And kudos go out to our Regional Chamber of CEOs, who are establishing a fund to help small businesses negatively impacted by the errors of the people to get those businesses up and running again. This goodwill and the work of other groups coming together at ground zero and giving services and food and assistance to the people of Ferguson represent the best of what and who we are as Americans. The institutionalization of racism must now be addressed going forward. Ferguson is the flashpoint but it represents a systemic problem from Florida, to New York, to Michigan, to Missouri and all over the United States. We need to stop saying we have not improved for hands that were once shackled with handcuffs of chains now wear cuff links with the presidential seal. Heads that were once hanged in the square for fun now hang their hats as head of the Justice Department to indicate that we will not have business as usual, but everyone is going to be treated fairly and with justice. We are about to witness and be apart of transformative change in America. And even with that progress we still have problems, so we shall enlighten the people, we shall register and vote, and will shall demand justice for Michael Brown and all unarmed people being gunned down. We are the change that we seek, and we shall work to make America a more perfect union. Pierre Blaine is working on an untitled book on race, power and culture in America.

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Rockettes What a KICK! The Missouri

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The celebrated Radio City Rockettes evolved from a troupe that danced first as the Missouri Rockets in St. Louis. Impressed by the line of chorus girls in the 1922 Ziegfeld Follies, Russell Market, a choreographer and former dancer, embarked to create his own Midwest version. Market once stated, “If I ever got a chance to get a group of American girls who would be taller and have longer legs and could do really complicated tap routines and eye-high kicks…they’d knock your socks off!” (Huffington Post, December, 2011). His predication came true – and St. Louis girls made up his chorus line. In 1925, Market introduced his line of precision dancers at the New Grand Central Theatre in midtown St. Louis. In those days, live acts shared the program with silent movies. Two months later, the unnamed troupe moved one block to the Missouri Theatre and Market dubbed them “The Sixteen Missouri Rockets.” The Rockets became featured performers. There was no random, haphazard dancing in the line. Sixteen feet slit the air as one foot. Sixteen shapely ankles rose as a single angle. The secret – timing – was acquired by counting. …Dancing in St. Louis, the Rockets earned $35 a week in 1925. The Atlanta Journal, April 17, 1978. The troupe’s popularity spread locally and Market took his show on the road – ultimately to New York City. The precision line danced in the Greenwich Village Follies and then appeared in the Broadway musical Rain or Shine. It was not long until the Rockets

grabbed the attention of New York City theatrical promoter S.L. “Roxy” Rothafel, who recognized their talent. He added the act to the show bill at his RoxyTheatre and eventually expanded the line to 32 dancers. Rothafel gave the popular troupe a new moniker, the Roxyettes. In 1932, the Roxyettes performed as part of the gala program for the opening night crowd at the new Radio City Music Hall, the theater that would become the dance troupe’s home. The name of the eye-high-kicking tap dancing troupe changed again in 1934 to the Radio City Rockettes. Market ventured back to St. Louis several times looking for new talent after moving this dancers to New York City. He continued as the troupe’s choreographer until 1971. When the famed Radio City Christmas Spectacular debuted in 1933, Market created two of the most popular features of the show. He choreographed the “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers” and the “Living Nativity” to tell the story of Jesus’ birth in a joyful and reverent manner. Both have become traditional favorites. The Rockettes’ popularity has remained constant and current dancers continue the legacy of delighting theatergoers with amazing precision dance routines.

Reprinted with permission from Famous Firsts of St. Louis: A Celebration of Facts, Figures, Food & Fun by Diane Rademacher. Copies available at more than 30 locations throughout St. Louis. To find a locaton near your, visit the Famous First Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ famousfirstsofstlouis You can also order by emailing firststl@ aol.com.

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Featured

Poetry

Submission

COLLEEN J. MCELROY, lives in Seattle, Washington. Winner of the Before Columbus American Book Award for Queen of the Ebony Isles, McElroyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most recent collection of poems, Sleeping with the Moon (2007), received a 2008 PEN/Oakland National Literary Award, .and Here I Throw Down My Heart, (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2012), was a finalist for the Binghampton University Milt Kessler Book Award, the Walt Whitman Award, the Phyllis Wheatley Award, and the Washington State Governorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Book Award. Her latest collections of creative non-fiction include: A Long Way from St. Louie (travel memoirs), and Over the Lip of the World: Among the Storytellers of Madagascar, (finalist in the 2000 PEN USA Research-based Creative Nonfiction category). Recently, her work has been featured in The Oxford Anthology of African American Poetry, Angles of Ascent: A Norton Anthology of Contemporary African American Poetry, Best American Poetry, Black Renaissance Noire, The Best American Poetry 2001,and online at <torch> and <poetryfoundation.org>. Many of her poems have been translated into Russian, Italian, Arabic, Greek, French, German, Malay, and Serbo-Croatian.

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Dr.ColleenJ.McElroy THE WEIGHT OF SILENCE 1. when I was eight the world was neither round nor flat its borders began at Taylor ended on Ash Hill near the cemetery where white folks were buried I lived in the center on Kennerly Avenue in the last railroad house mid block on the steepest stretch of the street at the bottom of the hill the whites only school stayed safe behind a wrought iron fence when we went sledding down the hill I came home with ash gravel stuck in my knees from falling Mama would say: don’t disturb the dead 2. Mama muttered about the dead the way my mother muttered about food rationing stamps both worrying how much the war would take I eavesdropped from my perch under the table oak with a support crossbeam where I sat spying on the women’s conversations in winter the potbellied stove was kept hot by spring the ashes had been cleared and dumped in the pit behind the house where they stayed until the truck from the city picked them up already it was June and the ashes had cooled to crystals that crackled when Bumpsy threw rocks from the garage roof 3. I was eight that June four years before Aunt Ethel’s son got his degree in dentistry on account of his bum leg that kept him home from the war and two years before Uncle Brother mustered out of the service for unruly behavior I was eight when Sadie’s mama moved in downstairs with two kids and a piano a wire thin woman who wore lace collars Copyright © 2014 - All rights reserved.

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Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

McElroy Poetry... cont. her husband she said missing in the Pacific I waited months to hear her play that piano something airy leaving the keys tinkling like bells but always the stairwell was filled with silence 4. by June Bumpsy and Priscilla (we called her Pussy) whistled me down the stairs into all day games of hopscotch and jacks and songs about smallpox and witches and highwaymen Sadie was four - thin light skin like her mama and the boy almost two held tight to her hand dangled there like a live teddy - we let them play in the hopscotch chalked permanently on the sidewalk or with a loose set of jacks lost in the cracks near the stair well or by the rope tree we climbed then one day Sadie was gone and her brother silent scrubbed the chalk in circles 5. we didn’t notice Sadie missing until her mother screamed like some dog howling on a full moon neighbor women came to their front doors they crossed the street to quiet Sadie’s mother already brought her food pots of beans still simmering in the juice of ham hocks and onions cornbread yellow as marigolds the women sent us looking but we found nothing even when Bumpsy ran out of the cemetery after he heard an owl hooting in daylight when Papa came home he called the cops we waited but they didn’t come till nightfall supper for once was quiet that evening 6. Mama who never talked about the babies she lost the little ones gone before their first year ended went searching for a photo of Jessie a middle child lost in the flu epidemic when she was nearly ten my Aunt Jessie would forever be a child staring at the camera - Mama stared at the photo the way my mother did sometimes not at but through whatever was right in front of her while Mama held the photo up to the light my mother started cleaning the table though she’d already cleaned twice Mama, Jessie’s dead and gone she said and I thought I heard Mama say not gone from me

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7. I looked at the photo to see some shadow of my mother in Jessie’s face Jessie standing big eyed in a white blouse and pleated skirt hanging just so the bow in her hair spread wide as a halo her smile as hopeful as the diploma she held I wanted to know how old she was I wanted to know if she could jump rope or play hop scotch I wanted to know if she ever smiled then Papa said we had to find little Sadie Papa said we couldn’t wait for peckerwoods to come looking up in our neighborhood for a little colored girl lost who knows where 8. that night I twisted the Green Hornet ring I bought with cereal box tops squeezed it tight to make it glow green in the dark to bring Sadie back and maybe Jessie too the next day Bumpsy found little Sadie curled up in one of the ash pits like a squirrel sleeping through winter the cops came once and then the undertaker the house was filled with folks bringing food and hugging Sadie’s mother they held the funeral in the living room Aunt Jennie did Sadie’s hair and Papa held up her little brother to kiss her goodbye in her satin bed hair ribbons stiffly in place sister sleeping he said and Papa nodded yes 9. six months later Papa was dead too each of his daughters had a different reason for his death: stabbed one said shot said another a little hole in his chest poisoned from the bad food white folks serve I was told to be quiet: don’t disturb the dead Aunt Claudia even said Sadie’s mama had brought the shadow of death to our house with her fatherless children the wind hummed in the potbellied stove all I know is that when I was eight death came barreling through our neighborhood and took what I remembered most that year Copyright © 2014 - All rights reserved.

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Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

McElroy Poetry... cont. ROUGH TRADE my first year of school my mother paid Mildred to walk me twenty blocks to Simmons Mildred was my play sister until the next year when she got interested in boys that first year she explained where we were and how fast we had to walk to be on time we had to walk down Newstead where gypsy cabs and fast gals cruised for pick ups union taxis stayed away: white folks scared of the rough trade my mother said Mildred’s cousin drove a gypsy cab and he was paid to take me home at lunchtime my mother talked to him for a long time before she decided to trust him even then Mama wasn’t sure: no telling who’s watching that child she said Mildred said look down when we walked fast past the pool hall and the sanctified church my eyes watered when both places had their doors open in the morning to air things out and somebody was sweeping to the music pounded on the piano at the sanctified church when it was cold that piano set me and Mildred walking faster giggling all the way even with the door closed we smelled the sour mash odors soaked into the tavern floor some days we ran all the way to Taylor Avenue but Anna was upset when I got winded my mother told me she picked Simmons because my cousin Anna taught there my mother warned me to call her Miz Davis and not Sweet or Anna the family way Mildred told me I had to go there because was the closest school for colored children don’t matter that Cote Brilliante is down the block all colored children got to walk as soon as we arrived Anna made sure I was ok smiling with both dimples showing some folks didn’t know why we called her Sweet but she was soft and pretty when all the other women were talking Sweet made you think she was listening to you I always called her Miz Davis in case one of the bad girls off Newstead was looking

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TOP KICK after thirty years he mustered out of the service - kept his uniform stored in plastic starched clean and ribbons attached - insisted that his civvie shirts should be inspection straight and pant legs parade ready - he talked around his army career never direct but made it clear that when the war in the European Theater moved from west to east he had moved from the motor pool to the front line – where white boys wrote Kilroy was here to claim their space and the mess cook stayed pissed off all day - the tanks he serviced were massive hulks that too often made it only a few miles from debarkation before they fell under enemy fire - Patton would have none of that he muttered - he had all the hash marks and stripes to prove his point and even boys in the neighborhood called him Sarge out of respect - he knew how to do things right and do them once for effect - shifted into civilian life as if the only thing on his mind was the lawn or the laundry or all the errands to run - that’s what he was doing one grey Saturday morning following his wife until he felt thirsty – when she went to the farmer’s market he walked into a bar – no joke a colored veteran walked into a bar on the waterfront and asked for a drink – silence until the barkeep said: we don’t serve your kind in here - he was puzzled at first trying to figure out how to subtract thirty years from this offense - finally he left the bar walked back to his car and returned minutes later - this time he placed his service revolver on the counter and said: HE needs a drink - the barkeep flipped a glass quick and filled it brimful with one hand triggering the alarm button under the bar with the other – he stood at attention this man my father - politely thanked the bartender holstered his gun in his belt and downed the shot in one gulp - straightened his tie and readied himself for the cops and his wife

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Volume 1.10 December 4, 2014

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