Daytona Times - January 30, 2014

Daytona

Judge discusses King at Palm Coast program

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JINEEA BUTLER: Are Black women giving up on Black men? See page 4

Enactment to focus on Zora Neale Hurston See page 3

East Central Florida’s Black Voice

See page 3

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JANUARY 30 - FEBRUARY 5, 2014

YEAR 39 NO. 5

Daytonan recalls days of segregation, integration

PEOPLE SPEAK

Carlton Scarlett guided students through work at school, restaurant Editor’s note: The Daytona Times is starting a new series, celebrating the life and legacy of men and women who have made significant contributions to their community. Today, we highlight Carlton Scarlett, who recently celebrated his 85th birthday.

BY ASHLEY D. THOMAS DAYTONA TIMES aysheldarcel@gmail.com

“I don’t like a whole lot of highlight,” Carlton Scarlett said as the interview began. “The things that I’ve done have been for individuals and just for the glory of God. If you do a highlight, we’ll have to go all the way back and come up.”

“Well that’s what I’d like to do Mr. Scarlett,” the reporter replied.

“Well alright,” he answered.

Scarlett was born to Clifford

and Rosetta Scarlett in 1929 in Daytona Beach. The youngest of five children, he attended Campbell Elementary and High Schools graduating in 1948.

He is the youngest brother of the late Yvonne Scarlett-Golden, Daytona Beach’s first Black mayor.

An avid athlete, he played both football and basketball during his school days.

“I have always loved calisthenics, walking, I go to the gym,” he said, adding that he still takes part in daily exercise, swimming, jogging, and enjoys a good game of golf.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Services from the University of Central Florida and served as a maintenance supervisor at Daytona State College and later as a professor. He also retired from the Volusia County Sheriff’s Department after 30 years of service as a crossing guard.

Celebrated deacon Scarlett recently was celebrated at Greater Friendship Mis-

Carlton Scarlett is seen at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Yvonne ScarlettGolden Cultural and Educational Center in 2012.

sionary Baptist Church in Daytona Beach on its Golden Harvest Day that showed appreciation to those “Grateful-OutstandingLoving-Disciples.”

Scarlett, a deacon of 36 years, also has been honored by the Campbell Street High School Class of 1960, Volusia County Government, Daytona State College, and a host of other organizations.

Created work program Upon graduation from high school in 1948, Scarlett went into the workforce as a waiter and became the district supervisor of five southern states at S&S Cafeteria.

It was there that he was able to help create a work program for students of Campbell High School and Bethune-Cookman College (now University).

This program allowed young people to receive invaluable experience in the workforce. It also gave them time to work in the cafPlease see SCARLETT, Page 2

‘A pretty awesome experience’

Recent B-CU grad trying to start semi-pro league in Volusia

BY ASHLEY D. THOMAS DAYTONA TIMES aysheldarcel@gmail.com

Black families have rewarding time at Rolex 24 at Daytona

BY ASHLEY D. THOMAS DAYTONA TIMES aysheldarcel@gmail.com

Action, entertainment and family fun describe the Rolex 24 at Daytona races held last weekend at Daytona International Speedway.

“There were flames shooting out on the sides!” nineyear-old Nathan Douglass exclaimed as he gave a play-byplay of a crash at the annual race between drivers Memo Gidley and Matteo Malucelli.

“Number 62 started slowing down and then the 99 tried to slow down, but he couldn’t and he bumped into the first car.”

According to reports, Malucelli had pulled to the left of the track and radioed his team complaining of a loss of power. Gidley, who was driving into the sun, didn’t see Malucel-

li’s stalled car and ran into the back of him at top speed.

Gidley, in his Corvette prototype, suffered back injuries when his car struck the rear of Malucelli’s Ferrari 458; both were sent to nearby Halifax Medical Center. Gidley remains in the hospital.

“It was fire everywhere,” Nathan added.

Drawing more Black males Nathan is among a growing demographic in the racing world. Minorities. Specifically Blacks and especially young Black males.

“Early in the last decade NASCAR made a commitment to broadening the appeal of our sport by recruiting and developing dynamic new talent on the racetrack and throughout our sport. As a result, we are enhancing the fan experience for NASCAR fans everywhere,” Please see ROLEX, Page 7

Above: Illyjah Nicol, Romalice Stallworth and Malica Martin stand in front of one of the display cars at the Rolex 24. Illyjah won tickets to the race for reading an exceptional number of books at Champion Elementary.

Left: Spotted around the 11 p.m. hour, Adam Flowers enjoyed his first race experience at the Rolex 24.

PHOTOS by DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR. /HARDNOTTS PHOTOGRAPHY

Mario Mack, a recent Bethune-Cookman University graduate, said he was surprised when he learned the Greater Daytona Beach area didn’t have a semi-professional basketball league.

Upon finding this out, the 24-year-old has joined with other sports enthusiasts to develop the Volusia County Basketball League.

“I have two passions in my life right now – basketball and entrepreneurship. Put the two together and you have the Volusia County Basketball League,” Mack explained.

Tryouts in March The international business and marketing grad is no stranger to entrepreneurship as he recounts stories of selling frozen popsicles as a child and moving on to packaged products by the time he had graduated high school.

“My first couple of years at B-CU I ran a snack shop out of my dormitory and my competitor was the vending machines. I had to keep my prices competitive,” he shared.

The league Mack is proposing is slated to begin tryouts in early March with games to begin shortly thereafter in May. The idea came to him while shooting hoops with friends at an area court. Mack began to wonder who had the best players in Volusia County when friends claimed that Please see LEAGUE, Page 2

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7 FOCUS

JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 5, 2014

Florida adopts race-based academic goals, community in an uproar

BY CARLA ST. LOUIS AND GIGI TINSLEY MIAMI TIMES

While many thought Jim Crow politics ended with the Civil Rights movement, the Southern Poverty Law Center alleges otherwise in their most recent complaint against the Florida Department of Education.

The complaint alleges that the Department of Education adopted a discriminatory strategic plan that sets lower academic expectations for Black and Hispanic students based on race and nationality.

The plan is particularly troubling for Miami-Dade County Public School considering it has the largest enrollment of Black and Hispanic youths in the state.

Expectations lowered Under these new standards set for math and reading, nearly the entire population of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools district – which is more than 90 percent Black and Hispanic – is held to an academic standard far lower than their White and Asian-Ameri-

can counterparts.

A move that has one current student of Florida’s public school system very upset about the state’s lowered expectations for Black youths.

“If the idea of goals based on race isn’t problematic enough, people of color are expected to do worse than any other race,” wrote Ashley Greene, president of the Dream Defenders at Broward College in a letter.

“Ironically, there are about 3 million students in Florida’s public school system and of those. Half of these students are African American or Hispanic which paints the picture that even if minorities are the majority in size, they are still the minority in everything else.”

“As an African-American student who is full time dually enrolled in both high school and college, race based goals come as a slap in the face,” she said. “It is possible for all students to achieve with proper guidance and dedication.”

Mario Mack, a recent Bethune-Cookman grad, sees opportunity in “building bonds through basketball” with the creation of a semi-pro basketball league in Volusia County.

Arts Center by the Dream Defenders, community members expressed their outrage over the new measure citing it as “discriminatory.”

“Who will protect our youth,” asked Sherika Shaw, regional organizer of the Dream Defenders in regards to the state’s new standard. “It’s time for the community to come together and stand.”

The SPLC encouraged community members to play an active role in combating these measures by contacting the Department of Justice at education@usdoj.gov, telling them the plan should be reversed and asking for an investigation against Florida’s Department of Education.

Community speaks out

‘A new low’

At an educational meeting held on Jan. 9 at the African Heritage Cultural

Other attendees echoed the sentiments of the complaint, accusing Florida’s

Department of Education of creating a culture of lowered expectations for students of color, a plight the Civil Rights era actively fought to end.

“We have reached a new low in America when we start using children to promulgate discrimination,” said Mack Samuel, chairman of the board of directors for the African Heritage Culture Arts Coalition. “I am very angry and ready to do whatever is needed to stop this foolishness. This is discrimination in living color. It’s 2014, after the civil rights movement, integration and EEO era and we are still being victimized racially by people in power.”

The plan sparked commentary from two members of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, both of whom candidly spoke against it.

LEAGUE from Page 1 there were some pretty good players in DeLand.

Mack countered, “OK, let’s prove it,” and thus began the first stages of design for his vision.

The cities in the league include Daytona Beach, Port Orange, Ormond Beach and New Smyrna Beach in one conference and Edgewater, Deltona, DeLand and DeBary/Orange City in another.

“There will be a regular season. There are four teams per conference, and the two conference champions will play each other for the best in Volusia title.”

In addition to moves on the court, the Chicago na-

DUANE FERNANDEZ SR./HARDNOTTS PHOTOGRAPHY

“I advise people to go to God for their wisdom, knowledge and understanding,” Scarlett shared.

“As a servant, you are a blessing carrier. The Lord has to bless people through others, somebody has to carry that blessing.

People don’t realize this.

When people come to you and you are a blessing carrier, you have to realize that people come to you for help. And it’s not that you look for it or solicit it, but you are the carrier. It’s God’s calling.”

Scarlett is married to Bobby J. Scarlett. He was married to the late Rosa M. Scarlet for 58 years. He is the proud father of 13 children whom he says all have college degrees and lead successful lives. Each of his grandchildren is either in college or has a college degree as well.

Cities included

from Page 1 eteria after school and enabled them to earn funds that assisted with tuition and other school needs.

Due to the success of the program in Daytona Beach, it was implemented throughout the service area of S&S Cafeteria in multiple cities and several states.

From segregation to integration

Dealing with ‘verbal slander’ “I had to train people on the job how to understand this. I was trying to teach the fellas that the movement is important, but you’ve still got to feed your families. Another important thing is how you are going to be able to endure the type of verbal slander that you had to take during that time, especially in the field that we were in,’’ Scarlett continued.

“They were waiters so

Carlton Scarlett is pictured with his wife, Bobby, at his recent 85th birthday celebration. Family and friends gather around as a prayer is said over him. naturally they got all the feedback from the Whites on ‘who they was and what they was’ cause it was really something that Blacks were moving in and the Whites rejected it. You know all about that.

“My job was to keep them and teach them realizing one of the most important things is their family and their children. They still had to feed them during this period, especially the younger men that I was working with. They were going to have to take this slander and stuff that was going to come from the Whites during that period of time. And it was hard for them. And I realized that.

But they had to learn how to do both. And that was hard.”

would come in and they’d separate themselves.

When Blacks came into the restaurant, they looked up and if they saw the Black couple over in the corner, that’s where they’d want to sit, but it’s because that’s where they felt comfortable. It comes naturally.

And with the Whites, it was the same way. But it was just because of comfort.

It just took time to for everybody to (integrate). And they haven’t completed that yet. Even to this day, even if they didn’t think about it, the Blacks will sit in one area and the Whites will sit in one area. You always feel most comfortable among your own.”

Separate but equal

A shift has happened from Scarlett’s days at S&S Cafeteria and he gave his thoughts on the current White House administration, specifically President Barack Obama.

“I feel that he is doing

Scarlett went on to share how he saw the process of integration unfold from the 1950 and 1960s up until present day.

“I saw that period. It took some time after integration. It still took time until everyone accepted the fact that everyone (Blacks and Whites) could come in, sit down and eat together.’’

But the separations remained, Scarlett explained.

“It was just automatic, really. As you see it (integration) develop, people from just human nature,

Scarlett on Obama

No fee to play Mack already has partnered with an area university on potential sponsorships and is pushing a partnership with the Volusia County School Board.

“There is no fee to play,” Mack noted, saying he is currently scouting game locations and has written proposal letters to potential sponsors. “We want people to come out to see the teams. We want an audience to come out and we will naturally pay them (the players) as it grows.

“Come out enjoy what we have to offer; there is a lot of talent in Volusia.”

scarlett

During the time Scarlett worked at S&S Cafeteria, he saw the many changes that occurred because of integration and he shared stories of his time working at the cafeteria during the 1950s and 1960s.

“When you get my age, you have a tendency to forget some things as they go along,” Scarlett said with a chuckle. “Time moves so fast. Things come day by day.”

“I can recall a lot of stories from the civil rights movement,” he began. “At that time I was working at the cafeteria. I can relate to the time we were making the transition, and how I was instrumental in bringing the Blacks from segregation to integration.”

“It was really a situation that you had to consider.

One, you could be in the movement and be in the highlights. You could participate in all the sit-ins and what not. Or two, you could be in the part that you have to keep the people together realizing and understanding what was really the most important thing – keeping their families, being able to feed their families and how you’d be able to do both of them.’’

tive says there is a philanthropic side to the league as well.

“We aren’t here just to entertain. There will be internship opportunities and other opportunities to give back to the community,” he stated.

an excellent job,” Scarlett commented. “And the reason I feel that he is doing an excellent job is because I had the time to experience serving people all my life and supervising them. I think that under the pressure he has, he is going under the same hardship that any other Black man would have to go through in a top position in this country even though segregation has been passed for the past 40 years or so. I think he is doing a wonderful job with it.

“I know that some of the Blacks may say he isn’t doing enough for the Black people, but they have to realize he is doing as much as he can under the system that the country has, and he has to go through that process. Those procedures are set up as the system we live by in this country. We know that not everybody that is in leadership or has a position in this country – in the high positions they don’t feel in their heart that

Party, gospel concert Saturday An all-white party and gospel concert honoring Prophetess Deborah Ford will be held Saturday, Feb. 1 at 6:30 p.m. at the Comfort Inn Banquet Hall, 90 Professional Blvd.

For more information, visit www.GospelHallelujah.com.

On sister’s legacy

everybody is equal.

“This is a country that is made up of financial status, everybody is for making money. And that is what he has to be confronted with, things that he has to do, providing for the people who are unable to provide for themselves. So he always is going to get criticisms on that. And that’s what I like about him. He gets these criticisms and yet he endures, keeps his calm and still works toward accomplishing his mission.

“It’s not easy. It’s important. It’s hard. He has personal feelings too.”

Advice to future generations At age 85, Scarlett said his wisdom comes from God.

Scarlett was quick to answer that his famous sister was the politician in the family.

In an interview last year, he expressed how proud he was that the Yvonne Scarlett-Golden Cultural and Educational Center had become a reality.

Scarlett and his brother, Donald, are the only living siblings.

“She was a person who was always concerned about people – as a schoolteacher, activist. Her biggest concern was the poor people of this city. She wanted to do something for the people. A person’s status didn’t matter to Yvonne.

She would listen to anyone.

When she was mayor and a commissioner, anyone could always go to her as an individual. A person’s status didn’t matter,” Carlton Scarlett reflected.

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Come let the Holy Ghost Get Ya!

M ANEWS YOR COMMUNITY

JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 5, 2014

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DECEMBER 14 - 20, 2006

Judge reinforces King’s message at Flagler program Judge Hubert L. Grimes, keynote speaker for Dr. Martin Luther King Day, spoke of Dr. King’s dream as part of a larger dream of finishing the work of Jesus, and knowing that people need help in understanding God’s blessings and the evils of this world.

The audience wrapped their minds around the judge’s appeal during the ecumenical service celebrating Dr. King. The service was held by the New York City Transit Retirees of Florida (NYCTROF), inviting the public to the First Baptist Church, the Rev. Dr. Dennis Littleton’s pastoral ministry. In the midst with the crowd was Judge Grimes’ wife, Daisy; daughter, Ebun; and the judge’s brother in the ministry, the Rev. Dr. Kevin James.

Judge Grimes defied racial barriers during his election as the first Black judge in Volusia County. He was appointed by Gov. Jeb Bush in 1999 as a circuit court judge.

In addition to earning a Juris Doctorate in 1980 from the University of Georgia Law School, he earned a graduate degree in Practical Theology from the International Seminary in 2004.

Judge Grimes, an educator/ author, paused to compliment 14-year-old Alana Williams on her oratory of the “I Have a Dream” speech, and foreshadowing Alana someday to become a lawyer.

He rolled out that people who profligate ideas, who seek to make money, are trying to reduce Dr. King’s message of selfrealization, which is something that is clean, non-confrontational, and non-controversial.

“Today, we must be careful not to allow this new definition of manhood, which is trying to creep into our society – being weak and uncaring, or about

Palm Coast Community news Jeroline D. Mccarthy

being a living thug. We’ve got to make sure we don’t allow that spirit to take control of our society,” affirmed the judge.

Important message for parents Judge Grimes reeled in Dr. King’s reminder of personal excellence, of not accepting the mediocrity of doing only enough to get by, and while parents grapple the idea of children making their own decisions.

“Even parents today no longer push their children to excel,” said the judge, “but they accept this weird idea to allow children to make their own choices. ...Isn’t it important for us to remember that God made parents to raise children, and not children to dictate to parents?”

Judge Grimes cited parents who do not make their kids clean up their rooms, which do not set bedtimes for their kids, or allow the kids to say anything, without correcting them.

“It’s important for us to understand that when you see a child just pretty much allowed to get by, allowed to just be mediocre, allowed to accept anything, to do anything,” urged Judge Grimes who sat 11 years in Juvenile Court – “that child is unfortunately on his way to prison; he’s on his way to a negative end. And that’s why God gave us parents. We’re the ones that have to promote excellence.”

Other presentations incor-

JEROLINE MCCARTHY/DAYTONA TIMES

The Honorable Hubert L. Grimes said that people are trying to reduce Dr. King’s message of self– realization. porated with the service were made by Marie Winston McCray, NYCTROF president; and Thea Smith, event chairperson. This year’s theme was titled, “Unfulfilled Dreams.” Funds taken for the offertory were donated to The Flagler County Free Clinic. Music was provided by the Community Chorus with Director Linda Hodges and pianist Linda Oertel.

The clergy rising to the clarion call of participation were the Rev. Dr. Dennis Littleton, the Rev. Dr. Edwin Coffie, Pastor Pam Northrup, and the Rev. Charlene E. Cothran.

Seminar to deal with ‘Art of Message’ A special seminar, “The Art of

Marriage,” will be presented on Feb. 7, 6 - 9 p.m., and continue on Feb. 8, 9 - 4 p.m., at Palm Coast United Methodist Church.

The seminar is designed to encourage couples, regardless of how long they’ve been married, as well as those contemplating marriage.

The cost is $40 per couple and will provide all study material, the Saturday lunch, and the Saturday evening dinner-dance, beginning at 6 p.m.

Childcare is available upon request. The seminar will conclude with a vow renewal ceremony for each Sunday service on Feb. 9. Certificates will be distributed following each service for those participating.

For further inquiry, call the

church at 386-445-1600. Palm Coast United Methodist Church is the pastoral ministry of the Rev. Dr. Kevin James, located at 5200 Belle Terre Parkway, Palm Coast.

••• As always, remember our prayers for the sick, afflicted and bereaved.

Celebrations Birthday wishes to: Loretta Bryant, Fred Fowler, Eleanor McCray Francis, Sondra Henderson, Esther Hamilton, Dr. James Cauley, Jan. 31; Kionie Jordan, Feb. 2; Shirley Ruth, Feb. 3; Chloe’ Malloy, Bernice Moore, Alquon Hicks, Jacqualine Whyte, Feb. 5.

Happy anniversary to Leonard and Vivian Rowe, Feb. 5.

Sanford author to discuss civil rights on Feb. 1 at Daytona library Sarasota-based author Liz Coursen returns to the Daytona Beach Regional Library at City Island for two programs on Feb. 1.

At 10 a.m., she will share information from her book, “The Complete Biography Workbook” and demonstrate how to use this information for participation in the upcoming Harvesting History project. Harvesting History, which will begin in earnest this summer, is an oral history project aimed at encouraging area resi-

dents who lived through the Civil Rights era in Daytona Beach to share their stories.

The afternoon program, which begins at 2 p.m., is based on Coursen’s anthology, “Shade in the Sunshine State: Reflections on Segregation in Florida.” She will discuss the history of segregation in Florida, alternating between first-person remembrances and real-life visual images of advertising, postcards and newspaper articles.

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Yearlong programs Topics will include Jackie Robinson’s minor league baseball debut in Sanford and Daytona Beach; Fort Lauderdale’s 1961 “wadein”; Jacksonville’s 1960 sitin; the exclusion of Jews

from hotels across the state; the integration of Florida schools; and the famous science fiction book “Alas, Babylon,” which was written by Pat Frank, published in 1959, and set in Central Florida.

Both programs are part of the library’s Connecting with the Community Series, a two-year program funded in part by a partnership grant from the Florida Humanities Council.

Throughout 2014, the library will sponsor book

Port Orange gears up for Freemanville Day Ceremony

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Particular attention will be given to the time between the start of WWII in the late 1930s and the time immediately after the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

1900 Mason Ave., Ste. 140 Daytona Beach, Fl 32117

T:4.875”

The 11th Annual Freemanville Day Ceremony is Feb. 11 in Port Orange. The ceremony will be held at the Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, 941 N. Orange Ave., beginning at 4 p.m.

Each year, the City of Port Orange honors its African-American heritage, and hosts the ceremony in partnership with the Mt. Moriah Baptist Church and the Port Orange Historical Trust.

Students from Bethune-Cookman University will perform, accompanied on the piano by Dr. Rose Grace, Assistant Professor of Piano at Bethune-Cookman University and Chair/founder of the Music Outreach Program.

The performers are Marquis Thompkins, bari-tenor (sophomore Music Education major at Bethune-Cookman University) Courtnee James, mezzo soprano (junior Music Performance major at Bethune-Cookman University).

Port Orange was officially recognized as a community noon on April 26, 1867, by the U.S. Postal Service. Dr. John Milton Hawks, a Union Army surgeon, and his fellow Union Army officers established Port Orange after the U.S. Civil War. Initially, 500 former slaves settled near the shores of the Halifax River on public lands secured with the help of the U.S. Freedman Bureau in 1866. They came to Port Orange to work for the Florida Land & Lumber Company, which Dr. Hawks and his partners formed. An additional 1,000 freed slaves made Port Orange their home six months later.

Falling on hard times, the settlement, the company, and the integrated school disbanded in 1869. A majority of the settlers returned to their home states or headed for area citrus groves looking for work.

Over time, the few families and individuals who stayed made up the pioneering African-American neighborhood of Port Orange known as Freemanville.

For more information on the ceremony, call 386-506-5522.

•••

Session to focus on accessing ancestry databases Learn how to get the most out of the Ancestry Library Edition and Heritage Quest electronic databases during a free program at 10 a.m. Feb. 12 at the Daytona Beach Re-

talks, dramatizations, panel discussions, films and music programs commemorating the 50th anniversary of the signing of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The grant will continue into 2015, when the programming emphasis will change to contemporary issues.

Reservations are not required for these free programs.

For more information, call Adult Program Coordinator Deborah Shafer at 386-257-6036, ext. 16264.

gional Library at City Island.

Genealogy librarian Kim Dolce will cover the essentials of navigating these resources to help you explore your family tree. Reservations are not required.

For more information, call Kim Dolce at 386-257-6036, ext. 16315.

•••

Professor to share story about Eatonville folklorist Dr. Lynn Hawkins, professor of English at Daytona State College, willpresent an enactment of “Sweat,” a 1928 story by Zora Neale Hurston,at 2 p.m. Feb. 15 at the Daytona Beach Regional Library at City Island.

The audience will be invited to participate in a reading of the story, which is set in an imaginary village near Orlando and por- Zora Neale trays a wife’s revenge on Hurston her abusive husband. Before the reading, Hawkins will introduce Hurston, her literary achievements and herpersonal challenges.

Hurston, who spent her childhood in Eatonville, was a famous African-American novelist, folklorist and anthropologist who was closely associated with the Harlem Renaissance.

Her novels and books of folklore resulted from extensive anthropological research and have proven invaluable sources on the oral cultures of African-Americans.

This free program is part of the library’s Connecting with theCommunity series, a two-year program funded in part by a Partnership Grant from the Florida Humanities Council.

For more information, call Deborah Shafer at 386-257-6036, ext. 16264.

•••

Attorney to discuss estate planning Feb. 12 Daytona Beach Attorney Michael Pyle will discuss basic estate planning at 3 p.m.

Feb. 12 at the Daytona Beach Regional Library at City Island.

Pyle will address wills, trusts, probate, and power of attorney and health care designation documents.

For more information, call Deborah Shafer at 386-257-6036, ext. 16264.

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7 EDITORIAL

JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 5, 2014

Are Black women giving up on Black men?

In the latest urban movies, “Best Man Holiday” and “A Madea’s Christmas,” I thought it was interesting that each featured a Black woman in a relationship with a White man. In today’s climate we are used to successful Black men dating White women but the introduction of the successful Black woman and White men is a new twist in movies. Since the appointment of President Obama and his lovely wife Michelle, I’ve recognized the relatively new influx of looks I get from Caucasian professionals giving me that ‘I think Michelle is hot and you are too’ look.

While there is absolutely nothing wrong with interracial dating, I find it odd that two major productions released during the holidays chose to represent these images.

Offer the alternative I believe Hollywood is offering an alternative to go along with the national attack on Black men.

In most of our minds, the image of the Black Man is tarnishing, but the Black woman has always stayed by the Black man – up until now. Look at the pit bull in a skirt, Rapper Eve who recently accepted a marriage proposal from British Fashion Designer Maximillion Cooper. Eve is a perfect indication that even the toughest home girl is changing her tune. Why would the former girlfriend of “Love and Hip Hop” star Stevie J leave America for the American Dream?

One has to wonder has the Black woman begun to throw in the towel along with the rest of America?

Why shouldn’t we? Black men are

JINEEA BUTLER NNPA COLUMNIST

not breaking their necks to make sure we stay within the comforts of their midst. In fact, it’s the opposite: 72 percent of Black children are being raised in single-family homes, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. That’s a statistic that says we are not planning for families; it also suggests that we don’t think it’s an important goal, and we are not making very wise decisions.

Time to play catch up We can always argue all of the obstacles in the way of Black men hinder them from being completely focused and successful husbands, fathers and sons, but what are they doing about it? Are we as Black women supposed to stick around and wait until these men turn 70 and realize they should have treated the women in their life better? Or should we begin to think about catching up with the rest of the society we live in and demand sustainable relationships and marriages.

As UC Berkeley Sociologist Gerald Mendelson said, Blacks are interested in moving up the power structure and one way you do is through intermarriage with a dominant group. It is almost like Black women are beginning to re-

ject the unnecessary madness we seem to get when we relentlessly dedicate ourselves to that life. The whole world would like to see the Black man overcome his obstacles and be all that he is destined to be. But it’s nothing compared to the heart of the Black woman who knows the soul of a Black man. His own fear of success hinders his movements and his decisions; his insecurities overpower his will to venture into the unknown.

And where does that leave the Black woman? Desolate, out of place, unprotected and searching for her missing piece. For years, we have carried the weight; prison sentences, infidelity, verbal and physical abuse, thinking one day that he will see that we have sacrificed, see that we understand and have held the torch without fail.

But no. The pain is too deep for him to bear, he is not comfortable being naked in his vulnerability, he wants to be the man, he wants what they took from him. It occupies his every move and we become objects in his quest to find what he doesn’t know he is looking for. SMH, I expect more out of you Black man, more accountability, more responsibility, more effort, more love. Thank you in advance.

Jineea Butler, founder of the Social Services of Hip Hop and the Hip Hop Union is a Hip Hop Analyst. She can be reached at jineea@gmail.com or Tweet her at @flygirlladyjay. Write your own response at www.daytonatimes.com.

It’s time to end child poverty Fifty years after President Lyndon Johnson declared a War on Poverty, the United States is still not a fair playing field for millions of children afflicted by preventable poverty, hunger, homelessness, sickness, poor education and violence in the world’s richest economy with a gross domestic product (GDP) of $15.7 trillion.

Every fifth child (16.1 million) is poor, and every tenth child (7.1 million) is extremely poor. Children are the poorest age group and the younger they are the poorer they are. Every fourth infant, toddler and preschool child (5 million) is poor; 1 in 8 is extremely poor. A majority of our one- and two-year-olds are already children of color. In five years children of color who are disproportionately poor, nearly 1 in 3, will be a majority of all children in America and of our future workforce, military and consumers.

our Black and nearly 75 percent of our Latino children cannot read or compute at grade level in fourth and eighth grade and so many drop out of school before graduating. Seventy-five percent of young people ages 17-24 cannot get into the military because of poor literacy, health or prior incarceration.

The greatest threat to America’s economic, military and national security comes from no enemy without but from our failure, unique among high-income nations, to invest adequately and fairly in the health, education and sound development of all of our young.

Children are unprepared

Eliminate child poverty

But millions of them are unready for school, poorly educated and unprepared to face the future.

Nearly 60 percent of all our children and more than 80 percent of

We call on President Obama and America’s political leaders in every party at every level to mount a long overdue, unwavering, and persistent war to prevent and

Marian Wright Edelman NNPA COLUMNIST

eliminate child poverty and finish the task President Johnson and Dr. King began. Two- and three-yearolds have no politics and we must reject any leaders who for any reason play political football with the lives of millions of our children and our nation’s future.

If America’s dream continues to fade for millions of poor, near poor and middle class children and families; work and wages continue to decline; and education and basic survival needs — including adequate food and housing — continue to be ravaged to protect the powerful interests of the top 1 percent that has cornered 22 percent of the nation’s income, then America will miss the boat to the future. More importantly, we will miss a great opportunity to show the world a living and just society in a majority non-White and poor world desperately in need of moral example.

Marian Wright Edelman is president of the Children’s Defense Fund. Write your own response at www.daytonatimes. com.

Banks bid farewell to payday loans More good news keeps coming for consumers in early 2014. On the heels of new mortgage rules that took effect January 10, the following week four banks making payday loans pulled their products from the market. Announcing a halt to their triple-digit interest rates were Wells Fargo, Regions, Fifth Third and US Bank. Together, these lenders have combined assets of $2.1 trillion, serving customers through 30,000 branches and more than 21,500 ATMs across the country.

Sometimes known as advance deposit loans, or trademarked names such as US Bank’s Checking Account Advance or Wells Fargo’s Direct Deposit Advance, the loans operate in the same manner as payday loans hawked by stores.

Customers borrow a few hundred dollars and then the bank repays itself from the borrower’s next direct deposit, assessing a fee plus the entire loan amount.

High fees Research by the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) has found that the typical bank payday borrower: • Is charged a fee of $10 per $100 borrowed, amounting to an annual percentage rate (APR) of 300 percent; • Has a one in four chance of also being a Social Security recipient; • Is twice more likely to incur overdraft fees than bank customers as a whole and • Often remains in debt for six

Charlene Crowell NNPA FINANCIAL WRITER

months of a year.

Consumer advocates and civil rights leaders have been shining a bright light on banks that chose to engage in this kind of lending over the past two years.

In early 2012, 250 organizations and individuals sent a letter to federal banking regulators expressing concerns. A year later in 2013, more than 1,000 consumers and organizations told the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau about elder financial abuse, including bank payday lending. CRL in coordination with CREDO, an organization that funds progressive nonprofits, delivered a petition with 150,000 signatures in an appeal to federal regulators.

In December 2013, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights (LCCR), representing more than 200 diverse national organizations, unanimously adopted a resolution urging states, Congress and federal agencies to increase regulatory oversight and enforcement of all payday lenders.

“Low-income people and people of color have long been targeted by slick advertising and aggressive marketing campaigns to trap consumers into outrageously high interest loans,” said Wade Henderson, LCCR president and CEO.

“We’re simply advocating for reasonable regulatory oversight that ensures that low-income people won’t be swindled out of the little money they do have at their disposal.”

Stronger together Reactions to the bank decisions resulted in cheers from consumer advocates. For example, Dory Rand, president of the Chicago-based Woodstock Institute, said, “We applaud these decisions to stop offering these dangerous products. For too long, these products – like storefront payday loan products – have wreaked havoc on borrowers’ finances and trapped them in a cycle of debt.”

In short, it was the constant call for consumer protections that ultimately led to banks foregoing payday loans. By combining efforts on a single issue, advocates accomplished together what none might have done alone.

I am hoping the rest of 2014 will be energized by the success of these early 2014 consumer victories. Perhaps federal regulators will soon put an end to all consumer debt traps. As we celebrate this key consumer victory, let us strive towards more financial reforms.

Charlene Crowell is a communications manager with the Center for Responsible Lending.

She can be reached at Charlene. crowell@responsiblelending. org. Write your own response at www.daytonatimes.com.

VISUAL VIEWPOINT: GANGSTER GOVERNMENT

ERIC ALLIE, CAGLECARTOONS.COM

When Black men flex, society gets scared By chance I watched the NFL playoff games at the home of a friend and former college football player, Vaughn McKoy. It was Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman who stole the show. His now infamous post-game interview with ESPN’s Erin Andrews set the Internet on fire as a debate ensued over the appropriateness of Sherman’s comments after he made a game winning play.

For two Black men watching the game, it was one of those moments when few words needed to be spoken.

I can’t express how much I loved Sherman’s passion and defiance. Here was a young Black man who takes extreme pride in his craft, works hard to master the task he is assigned, and is unafraid to proclaim himself the best at what he does.

Sherman’s post-game proclamation was vintage Muhammad Ali. And like the boxing legend, the young Seattle defensive star is taking hits not for his play but because he has enough selfconfidence to proclaim himself the best. When Donald Trump does it he’s called confident; a genius. When Richard Sherman does it he is belittled as an arrogant n*gg*r.

Claim your greatness What a different nation we would be if more Black men felt free enough to claim their greatness; free enough to speak their mind; and bold enough to care less what others thought.

The criticism of Sherman has been patently racist and in some instances, simply ignorant. Here is a professional athlete, at the top of his game, who warned that the opposition could not make a play on him. In his interview with ESPN’s Andrews, who by the way defended Sherman, he did not use foul language or use an obscene gesture but simply made it clear that he was better than his opponent. I thought that’s what athletic competition was about. Channeling “the Greatest,” the Seahawk did not back down from his prior proclamations that the receiver in question, San Francisco’s Michael Crabtree, was mediocre.

WALTER FIELDS NNPA COLUMNIST

Now, one can debate whether that charge is legitimate but you can’t dispute the fact that Sherman lived up to his bravado.

This episode is just another reminder that society likes its Black men docile, silent and intimidated. Sherman’s real offense is that he violated the social norm in America. How dare this young Black man proclaim himself the best? How arrogant that Sherman did not act more “gracefully” in victory and more diplomatically in his response.

There would have been no “chatter” about Sherman had he responded in a more subdued manner. In fact, he would have been hailed as a “model” athlete, as someone worthy of adulation and emulation by youth.

Instead, this bright, articulate and intelligent Stanford grad is attacked because he wasn’t Negro enough.

Hold your head high When Black men flex society gets scared. We are not supposed to be intelligent and confident enough to recognize our own value. We are expected to be subservient and to show deference to everyone; particularly those who theoretically exercise political or economic control over us; whether they are White or look like us. It is the residual residue of an era when we had to walk with heads lowered at the sight of a White person and dared not make eye contact.

Richard Sherman held his head high and had his eyes trained on America and let the country know he knows how good he is.

It was one of the most refreshing moments of television I have viewed in ages.

I’ll take Richard Sherman on my team any day.

Walter Fields is Executive Editor of NorthStarNews.com.

Write your own response at www.daytonatimes.com.

Opinions expressed on this editorial page are those of the writers, and do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance of the newspaper or the publisher.

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MAYOR

JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 5,DECEMBER 2014 ENTERTAINMENT 14 - 20, 2006

Daft Punk wins album, record of year at Grammys

BY RANDY LEWIS LOS ANGELES TIMES/MCT

French electronic duo Daft Punk’s “Random Access Memories” was named album of the year, and its frisky hit single “Get Lucky,” with Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers, won for record of the year Sunday at the 56th Grammy Awards. The Recording Academy voters gave the twosome four awards over the course of a long but visually and musically dazzling ceremony.

Two-time Grammy winner Paul Williams, the veteran songwriter who was one of the collaborators on the album, delivered the acceptance speech for theatrically silent, helmeted musicians Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter. “Back when I was drinking and using, I used to imagine things that weren’t there ... and then I got sober and two robots called me and asked me to make an album,” he said.

The Grammy stage also saw the mass marriage of 33 couples, including several same-sex partners, to the music of hip-hop duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ gay-rights anthem “Same Love.”

Macklemore and Lewis came away major winners with four Grammys, including new artist and three rap awards generated by their breakthrough album, “The Heist,” and another hit single, “Thrift Shop.”

Big night for Mars Bruno Mars’ “Unorthodox Jukebox” was named pop vocal album of the year, topping efforts from Robin Thicke, Timberlake, Lorde and Lana Del Rey and giving the R&B star an emotional boost after major tragedy in his life last year.

“I want to dedicate this award to my mother,” he said, referencing the sudden death of Bernadette Hernandez last year at age 55 of a brain aneurysm.

“Ma, I know you’re watch-

ROBERT GAUTHIER/LOS ANGELES TIMES/MCT

Pharrell Williams, Daft Punk duo, and Nile Rogers on stage to accept the Grammy for Record of the Year at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Jan, 26. ing. I hope you’re smiling.”

Just before Mars took the award, McCartney and Starr performed together on McCartney’s “Queenie Eye” from his latest album, “New.” It was their first joint public performance since McCartney appeared at Starr’s 70th birthday celebration in 2010. It precedes a heavily promoted joint performance on the multiartist 50th-anniversary CBS special coming Feb. 9, “The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute

filmmaker to court, as well as any theater or website that runs the flick, reports TMZ. The writer/director for “Boys 2 Men” tells the website they will not change the title of the movie unless they’re boxed in a legal corner, and so far they don’t think they are.

Oxygen seeking more preachers for reality shows Not only will Oxygen return to the pulpit for a second season of its breakout reality series “Preachers of L.A.,” but the network is currently casting new editions of the show set in New York, Atlanta, Dallas and Detroit.

The original L.A. series will premiere this fall with Bishop Noel Jones, Minister Deitrick Haddon, Bishop Clarence McClendon, Pastor Jay Haizlip, Pastor Wayne Chaney and Bishop Ron Gibson. The series gives viewers a candid look at the lives of megapastors in Southern California.

‘Preachers of L.A.’ touched the heart strings of our Oxygen viewers. They

Going into Sunday night’s ceremony, rapper Jay Z led the field with nine nominations, although none were in the top general categories of record, song or album of the year. Three of the key rap Grammys — rap song, album and performance — went to Seattle-based duo Macklemore

3½-hour telecast was also being watched for its offbeat pairings of rapper Lamar and rock band Imagine Dragons, Daft Punk’s teaming with Stevie Wonder and the pairing of classical pianist Lang Lang with hard rock group Metallica.

The opening performance by Beyonce of her “Drunk in Love,” with hubby Jay Z providing the midsong rap, was bleeped three times by network censors for expletives in the lyrics of her ode to steamy mar-

ried sex. Lamar’s number with Imagine Dragons also was bleeped several times for language during their pyrotechnic-filled collaboration.

Even without a new album in release last year, British soul singer-songwriter Adele took her 10th Grammy for a song written for visual media for “Skyfall,” her theme song to the James Bond film.

For the full list of Grammy Award winners, visit www.grammy.com.

EURWEB.COM

Boyz II Men threatening to sue over film title

FROM WIRE REPORTS

One for Jay-Z

& Lewis early on their way to a four-Grammy night.

Jay Z’s only win came for rap-sung collaboration for “Holy Grail,” his track with Timberlake from his “Magna Carta Holy Grail” album. It was one of two nominations he got in the same category, the other for his “Part II (On the Run)” track from the same album, which he recorded with wife, Beyonce.

Because the Grammy Awards show is even more about surprise collaborative live performances, the

Report: West, Kardashian to wed on E! show

At left are the members of Boyz II Men.

Boyz II Men are demanding that a filmmaker change the title of his new movie “Boys 2 Men,” or else they will file a lawsuit. Reps for Boyz fired off a letter to the film’s producers this month saying they never gave permission to use the name, so they’re ready to take the

to the Beatles,” commemorating the Fab Four’s U.S. television debut on “The Ed Sullivan Show” on Feb. 9, 1964.

were captivated by the triumphs and tribulations of these men of God and the amazing women and families that stood alongside them.” said Rod Aissa of Oxygen Media. “We look forward to bringing more of these compelling stories to life both in LA and around the country.”

“Preachers of L.A.” hit rating milestones by becoming the most watched freshman series in network history among ages 25-54 and averaging over one million total viewers.

The series also averaged more full episode streams per week in season than any other Oxygen original series and was the No. 10 most social cable reality program in October and November.

Word has it that Kanye West has caved and agreed to have his nuptials filmed for his fiancée Kim Kardashian’s reality series “Keeping Up with the Kardashians,” because it will be much easier for the E! network – who shot Kim’s 2011 wedding to Kris Humphries – to arrange their dream wedding in France than if they were to organize it themselves.

A source tells Radar Online: ”Kim persuaded Kanye to let the cameras roll because E! will pick up most of the cost of the wedding and it’s a lot easier for a network to deal with logistics of a foreign wedding than if it were just the two of them planning it. ”Even though Kim’s marriage to Kris Humphries was a disaster, she was very happy with how the wedding and reception turned out. It was flawless. ”Both Kim and Kanye have very high expectations for their wedding. It will be an over-thetop affair and there will be prewedding festivities leading up to the big day for their guests. It’ll be like a festival!”

A June wedding?

The wedding is likely to take place in June, with the couple – who have seven-month-old daughter North together – currently narrowing down locations after a request to marry at the Palace of Versailles was denied.

The source told RadarOnline. com: ”Kim and Kanye have narrowed down the wedding location, which is being kept a secret at this point. It will be on the outskirts of Paris. ”Kim and Kanye really wanted to get married at Versailles and were both hoping to persuade officials during their visit there … ultimately it backfired.

It was still a firm no. ”The couple are looking for something grand, but something that can offer privacy and security.”

E! will foot the bill for Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s wedding.

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JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 5, 2014

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M ASPORTS YOR

JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 5, 2014 DECEMBER 14 - 20, 2006

ROLEX from Page 1 Marcus Jadotte, NASCAR vice president of public affairs and multicultural development, said in a release.

“As the U.S. population becomes more diverse, NASCAR is committed to making the sport both on and off the racetrack look more like America,” an excerpt from the NASCAR Division of Diversity website claims.

The Rolex 24 At Daytona is a 24-hour sports car endurance race held annually at Daytona International Speedway on a 3.56-mile (5.73 km) combined road course, using parts of the NASCAR tri-oval and an infield road course.

Since its inception, it has been held the last weekend of January or first weekend of February, part of Speedweeks, and it is the first major automobile race of the year in the United States. This year’s winner was Joa Barbosa driving the No. 5 Corvette.

Earned race tickets Malica Martin and son Illyjah Nicol also were at the Rolex 24 and says that the event is fun for the whole family.

“I work for ISC (International Speedway Corporation) and it’s not his first time because we always get tickets, but it is my first time. It’s family fun,” said Martin.

“Jeff Gordon is my favorite driver,” remarked Illyjah.

“I think more kids should go to races and I’m glad my school gives race tickets for reading books,” the Champion Elementary student added.

Martin explained that as students read a certain amount of books, which is tracked, they receive race tickets to attend the (Daytona) 500 and other races.

“He reads about NASCAR everyday,” Martin shared. “They get the race tickets for general admission and it’s really nice for them to be rewarded for reading, they don’t haves to pay anything.”

International appeal Adam Flowers, a young Bahamian now living in Daytona, says that he’s never seen or heard cars as loud as those at the race as he spoke with the Daytona Times beside the track. “It’s a pretty awesome experience, and I’d do it again next year for sure,” he yelled.

He says he probably won’t go to the Daytona 500 as he likes the type of cars participating in the Rolex 24. “I was in the pits earlier, so I think you get the best experience there.”

West Palm residents Frankie Douglass and wife Janice, the parents of 9-year-old Nathan say they attend races regularly, at least five times a year and offers a little advice to those who may like to add auto-racing to the types of sports they enjoy watching, attending or even taking part in.

“Do a little research and be prepared for the race,” Frankie offered. “Move around and check everything out.”

Nathan emphasized the world “Everything.’’ He added, “I’ve been going to races since I was 3 years old!”

Top: An aerial shot of the race shows the many people crammed into the garage area of Daytona International Speedway, trying to get an up close and personal glimpse of the racers and their cars.

Above: Corvettes, Porsches, Ferraris and other top speed cars took to the 24-hour race through Saturday.

Left: Frankie, Nathan and Janice Douglass were behind the scenes at the race, just feet away from the pit areas. The trio regularly attend races nationwide.

PHOTOS BY DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR./HARDNOTTS PHOTOGRAPHY

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JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 5, 2014

Employers find returns when they invest in workplace wellness

BY LORRAINE MIRABELLA THE BALTIMORE SUN/MCT

Janis Smith feels a lot healthier — and more confident — since shedding 65 pounds in six months, and that has helped in her job leading employee training for 1st Mariner Bank.

“Being in front of a classroom of people … I don’t feel like everyone is looking at me, they’re listening to what I’m saying versus what I look like,” said Smith, 55, a vice president and director for the Baltimore-based bank. “I just have a lot more energy. I have more stamina. I feel like I have a clearer mind.”

Smith’s transformation in 2012 prompted her bosses to offer the weight-loss program she used, Medifast, as a corporate wellness program. Since the launch last April, dozens of bank employees have lost more than a combined 700 pounds. As a manager, Smith believes participation has paid off in improved morale, increased energy and less sick time.

Renewed attention As businesses look for ways to blunt the impact of rising health costs, many are investing more in workplace wellness — especially initiatives that help prevent chronic diseases down the road. Workers compete to walk the most steps, lose the most weight and eat the most fruits and vegetables.

Companies offer flu clinics and health screenings, exercise classes and nutri-

tion guidance, healthy living newsletters and seminars.

Wellness programs have been around in various forms for years, in place at about half of employers with 50 or more workers, according to nonprofit research group RAND Corp.

But such programs are getting renewed attention amid health care reform, with the Affordable Care Act promoting wellness programs to lower costs.

“Employers have become more concerned about costs and are looking at additional ways to reduce spending,” said Soeren Mattke, senior scientist and managing director of RAND’s health advisory services.

“Many have raised copayments, and some have introduced more narrow network plans or high-deductible plans to reduce costs. The sense among the employer community is that’s as far as we can go with streamlining the health coverage benefits.

“Now they have to see if they can go to the root of the problem and address the underlying drivers of spending, which is chronic disease.”

Preventive efforts worthwhile A RAND study that examined a PepsiCo wellness program found that efforts to help workers manage chronic illnesses saved $3.78 in health care costs for every dollar invested.

But the study found lifestyle-management pro-

grams failed to offer returns greater than the costs.

Employers say they believe preventive efforts are worthwhile, with programs helping to attract and retain workers as well as keep them more engaged and productive.

Veggie-eating contests Workers in better health stay at their jobs longer and are absent less, said Vanessa Hedgebeth-Bell, Mid-Atlantic human resources manager for M&T Bank, which hopes to expand wellness offerings this year.

“The return is a more engaged workforce, a happier workforce,” HedgebethBell said. “We want them to have a better personal life and professional life, and it’s hard to do that when you don’t feel well.”

The banking company hands out “wellness” wall calendars each year with health tips. It sponsors flu clinics each fall. And each spring, employees are invited to form five-member teams to compete in walking and fruit- and vegetable-eating competitions.

Employees track the number of cups of fruit and vegetables they consume and wear bank-supplied pedometers to track steps.

Winning teams get fruit baskets at the end of each week.

Last year 800 employees participated, walking more than 32 million steps and eating more than 165,000 cups of fruits and vegetables, Hedgebeth-Bell said.

KIM HAIRSTON/BALTIMORE SUN/MCT

An Agora Inc. employee does a midday workout at the company gym. It’s one of many opportunities for workers to exercise several times per week.

Peggy Miller, a relationship liaison in the business banking department, headed a team a few years ago and said employees in the group offered one another moral support, though

they chose not to compete against others in the company. They pooled money and bought fruit and vegetables to eat at the office each day.

“Every one of us com-

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mented on how much better we felt not eating chips and snacks throughout the day,” Miller said. “Everyone appreciated having the fresh options available to them.”