Daytona
Palm Coast youth preparing for annual reality show See page 3
YEAR 39 NO. 6
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RAYNARD JACKSON: Network’s cereal tweet PRESORTED STANDARD exposes serial unfairness See page 4
U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit #189 Daytona Beach, FL
Lolo Jones is back as bobsledder See page 5
East Central Florida’s Black Voice
www.daytonatimes.com www.daytonatimes.com
FEBRUARY 6 - FEBRUARY 12, 2014
Sale of surplus city property still available
PEOPLE SPEAK
Over 50 business, residential and mixed used lots up for grabs BY ASHLEY D. THOMAS DAYTONA TIMES aysheldarcel@gmail.com
The City of Daytona Beach will conclude the receipt of proposals by persons interested in the purchase of surplus land owned by the city or its Community Redevelopment Agency on February 17, at 2 p.m. The 53 properties, mostly in zones five and six of Daytona Beach, include commercial/ mixed use development, singlefamily residential, combinable lots and lots that are not buildable. The decision to sale the properties
came last year. For individuals seeking to put in a proposal but have limited knowledge on the process, Daytona Beach city spokesperson Susan Cerbone says help is available through area organizations. “The Mid-Florida Housing Corporation has homeownership counseling and does a lot of work with first-time buyers and there may be some financial assistance with that as well,” she shared. “They aren’t a part of the city but they can help someone with putting together a proposal or seeing what other resources are available.”
How to win The city will use a rubric dependent on property type and locaPlease see LAND, Page 2
Google Maps
Properties in the Midtown community, including 343 Rose Ave. shown above, are part of the surplus land Daytona Beach has for sale.
Legacy continues for descendants of Freemanville
Sobering numbers continue for Blacks, HIV/AIDS BY ASHLEY D. THOMAS DAYTONA TIMES aysheldarcel@gmail.com
Courtesy of the City of Port Orange
Mount Moriah Church is the site of the Freemanville ceremony held annually in Port Orange.
Keeping story alive
BY ASHLEY D. THOMAS DAYTONA TIMES aysheldarcel@gmail.com
E
ach year, the City of Port Orange honors its African-American heritage, and hosts a ceremony in partnership with Mt. Moriah Baptist Church and the Port Orange Historical Trust. This year’s 11th Annual Freemanville Day Ceremony takes place on Feb. 11 at Mt. Moriah, 941 N. Orange Ave. The program begins at 4 p.m. Alberta McCloud, one of Freemanville’s few remaining residents, is slated to speak at the ceremony on Tuesday.
“Efforts continue to ensure that Freemanville’s rich legacy endures,” said Dr. Leonard Lempel, a professor of history at Daytona State College. “In 2002 a state historic marker commemorating Freemanville was placed near Port Orange’s Riverside Pavilion on the east side of U.S. 1 and in February 2004 the inaugural Freemanville Day ceremony was held at the site.” Freemanville Day ceremonies have been held every February since that time at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, helping to keep alive the Freemanville story so that future generations can draw inspiration
The Mary S. Harrell Black Heritage Museum will celebrate and sponsor its 23rd Annual Black Heritage Festival Feb. 7-9 in New Smyrna Beach. There will be music and entertainment throughout the weekend with gospel music and singing featured on Sunday. Multi-cultural
food will be sold along with arts and crafts, hair weaving and face painting. A storyteller will also be on site to give Florida’s rich history. Tours of the museum will be available while at the festival. “The Black Heritage Festival is an event that the founder of the Mary S. Harrell Black Heritage Museum established many years ago at the St. Rita’s Colored Catholic Church in order
Grim local stats
Students from Bethune-Cookman University will perform at the Freemanville Day Ceremony accompanied on the piano by Dr. Rose Grace, Assistant Professor of Piano and chair/founder of the Music Outreach Program. The performers are Marquis Thompkins, bari-tenor and Courtnee James, mezzo soprano.
According to the local health department, there are more than 1,400 people who have HIV or AIDS in Volusia and Flagler counties. Based on 2010 statistics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that even though Blacks only comprise 13 percent of the United States’ population, they account for an estimated 44 percent of the individuals 13 and older diagnosed with HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus that causes AIDS.
Please see FREEMANVILLE, Page 2
Please see HIV/AIDS, Page 2
from the band of settlers just removed from bondage, who braved the Florida frontier in search of the American Dream, he explained.
B-CU to participate
Music, entertainment, heritage in New Smyrna BY ASHLEY D. THOMAS DAYTONA TIMES aysheldarcel@gmail.com
National Black HIV/ AIDS Awareness Day is Feb. 7. Initially observed in 1999, the 2014 theme is “I Am My Brother’s and Sister’s Keeper. Fight HIV/AIDS!” The day has been set aside by activists as an awareness campaign for the Black community, which has historically shown a higher percentage of HIV/AIDS infection rates in comparison to other ethnicities. In recognition of Black History Month and National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness, a local organization, Rising Against All Odds, will provide an educational and inspirational message through songs and presentations featuring the Positive Champion Speakers Bureau, NAACP and the Volusia County Health Department.
to provide the community with the history and heritage of New Smyrna,” said the Rev. Lorenzo Laws, chairman of the Mary S. Harrell Black Heritage Museum. “The festival is to celebrate the history but also to bring residents throughout the city, the county and the state for tours of the museum and other activities of the festival.” Please see FESTIVAL, Page 2
A festival attendee reads the historical placard in front of the Old St. Rita Colored Mission Church at last year’s festival. file photo
7 FOCUS
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FEBRUARY 6 – FEBRUARY 12, 2014
National Urban League to hold convention in S. Florida HIV/AIDS from Page 1
BY CHARLES MOSELEY NNPA NEWS SERVICE
FORT LAUDERDALE – In today’s highly volatile socio-economic political climate, it is rare that you find elected officials, civil rights leaders, and the top heads from the business community in agreement on virtually anything. Recently, however, the stars appeared to align as all of the aforementioned entities joined forces to announce that the National Urban League will hold its annual convention next July in Broward County. National League President and CEO Marc Morial made the announcement recently during an address before a group of local business leaders, elected officials, and local residents attending a Broward County Urban League Business Leadership Breakfast. The event took place at the Broward County Urban League-Sunrise Health Community Empowerment Center in Fort Lauderdale.
‘Great location’ “Two years ago after the Urban League held its Mid-Winter Conference in Fort Lauderdale, we sat down with Germaine SmithBaugh, Nikki Grossman and her team from the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.” Morial said. “During the process of thinking about where we would meet, there were all these cities on the list: Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Minneapolis, and Houston, among others. After about 30 minutes I came away convinced that this community would be an excellent host of the Urban League annual conference. “We are excited and I want to pay tribute to Germaine, the CVB, and the whole team here in Broward that twisted our arm. It didn’t take much twisting to convince us that this was in deed a great location for our annual conference.”
10,000 participants Nikki Grossman, president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Visitors & Convention Bureau, said: “We are so honored delighted and thrilled that we were able to
Volusia County Health Department data shows that in Florida, for newly reported adult HIV infection cases in 2013, the case rate among Black men was four times higher than the rate among White men and the case rate among Black women was 15 times higher than the rate among White women. Among adults, one in every 40 Black men and one in every 61 Black women were living with HIV disease in 2012 compared to one in every 192 White men and one in every 1,092 White women.
Mortality rate
STEPHANIE S. CORDLE/ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH/MCT
Carla DeBoe, foreground, with Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis Head Start, participates in an activity break during a training session in August 2013 for Taking Steps to Healthy Success, a program aimed at keeping pre-schoolers at healthy weights. come through that selection process and have your staff to work with us so diligently that you were able to make that recommendation. “It will never get better than this, I will tell you that. With the 2015 National Urban League Conference right around the corner we’re working hard to make this the best conference ever, the best Urban League experience ever, and the best destination experience ever.” The Urban League’s National Conference will attract some 10,000 participants and Urban League officials predict will have an estimated economic impact on the local economy in the range of $8 to $10 million dollars. Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness viewed the news of the Urban League National Conference coming to Broward County in historical as well as from a pragmatic economic perspective. “It’s a powerful thing with 40 years of the Urban League with 100 years of Broward being an incorporated county. It tells the story of how far our country has come- our community has come,
from days when many of us wouldn’t be welcome in hotels. “Today, we’re giving them everything they need to be accommodated here in Broward County to show that we are a united community, a community moving forward working to insure that all our people are empowered. This is what the Urban League is about – empowerment. ‘’
Four focus areas Broward County Urban League President/CEO Germaine SmithBaugh recounted, “There are several things that we’re focused on but very much so, four areas; education, jobs, housing, and health and in those four areas what we want to do is really begin to close the income gap for families that we’re helping to understand that they need to build their assets, how do they grow their assets, to make their families more sufficient.” She added, “One of the things that’s really important is that we highlight is the impact that the Urban League is having on our community. And the second area is being able to demonstrate the value of the national conference
coming here locally.” Former Board Chairman of the BCUL John Ruffin Jr . said, “The Urban League of Broward County is certainly a premier institution in a lot of different venues. It’s ours so we need to support it.” Albert Tucker, Vice President of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau has been instrumental in recent years in attracting multi-cultural organizations to hold similar events in Broward County including, the 100 Black Men of America, National Newspaper Publishers Association, and American Tennis Association, which will be relocating their permanent home to Fort Lauderdale in a few years. “Today is an important day because it brings together the National Urban League in conjunction with our local Urban League and most importantly our business community in terms of raising funds and awareness of economic empowerment and what’s going to take place in 2015.”
This story is special to the NNPA from the Westside Gazette.
Statistics show that of 47,756 Blacks living with a diagnosis of HIV through 2012, 77 percent were U.S. born, 15 percent were Haitian-born, 2 percent were born in Jamaica, 4 percent were born elsewhere, and the country of birth was unknown for 2 percent. For 22 consecutive years (1988-2010), HIV has been the leading cause of death for Blacks between the ages of 25 and 44 in Florida. In 2012, HIV dropped to the fourth leading cause of death among Blacks. HIV was also the leading cause of death among Black women 25-44, but dropped to second since 2010.
Local efforts The local program centered on “It Takes A Village’’ will take place Feb. 15 at St. Joseph United Methodist Church, 530 E Voorhis Ave., in DeLand from 3 to 7 p.m. The Rev. John T. Long, III, senior pastor of Tubman-King Community Church in Daytona Beach, will be a guest speaker. Additionally a free rapid test for HIV will be held Feb. 14 at the Florida Department of Health in Volusia County, 1845 Holsonback Drive from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Contact the health department at 386-274-0634 for more information.
freemanville from Page 1 Home of freed slaves
file photo
Children can enjoy face painting as part of the entertainment scheduled at Saturday’s event.
festival from Page 1 Glimpse of history, customs It is one of the few of its kind in the state of Florida. The museum houses a
LAND from Page 1 tion to determine the proposer who is most qualified and offers the best value to the city. Proposals will be evaluated on the following criteria: Whether the proposer owns property adjacent to the city-owned property; the dollar amount offered to purchase the real estate; and the proposer’s
Port Orange was officially recognized as a community at 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 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 Hawks and his partners formed. An additional 1,000 freed slaves made Port Orange their home six months later.
collection of photographs, memorabilia and artifacts that are displayed to educate citizens about the history and race relations in small-town Florida over the course of the 20th century. The information dates back to the early 1960s offering a glimpse at AfricanAmerican history and customs.
“Mary Harrell has been a trailblazer in the City of New Smyrna Beach since the 1960s,” Laws explained. She has been presented with numerous awards, recognized by many communities and participated in various organizations.” Harrell holds a 32-year teaching career in Volusia County. She founded
the festival in 1991 and established the museum in 1999. There will be Dutch oven cooking, line dancing, tours at the museum, sugar cane grinding and fish smoking demonstrations. For more information, call 386-478-1934 or 386416-9699.
Expansion of area
intended use or development. Due to this criteria, it is possible that someone who offers a lower price but has a development plan that is more favorable to the city versus someone who wants to purchase the property with no plans of enhancing it at a higher price can win the contract with the city. “I would hope that whomever does purchase the property (the commercial/mixed development) would consider some type of economic development
for that community,” shared Daytona Beach Commissioner Paula Reed. To submit a proposal, a full 14 digit parcel number, the amount offered, intended use of property, proposed date to build structure (if any) and a summary of the purchaser’s proposal must be given. The city will consider all proposals submitted. Proposals will be reviewed and ranked in order for each property, beginning with the one deemed most
advantageous to the city. A form needs to be completed for each property the proposer intends to make an offer on and can be found on the city’s website at codb.us. These sealed proposals are to be delivered to the office of the Purchasing Agent, Daytona Beach City Hall, Room 146, 301 South Ridgewood Ave. Daytona Beach, Florida 32114. Upon completion of satisfactory negotiations, the proposal negotiated as the
best will be recommended to the City Commission.
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 fam-
Properties located in minority areas As previously reported in the Daytona Times, only two properties on the original list are from the Main Street area and one from downtown. The remaining 50 properties are located in or near Midtown, a predominantly Black section of the city. Thirty-eight of the lots are residential and suitable
ilies and individuals who stayed made up the pioneering African-American neighborhood of Port Orange known as Freemanville. “During its heyday in the 1920s, Freemanville expanded in size and included homes both on the east and west side of U.S. 1.,” Lempel explained. “The hamlet at its peak boasted a tworoom schoolhouse with 65 pupils, two teachers, and a principal along with two churches – Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, built in 1911 and Mt. Zion AME Church.” Many years later, Freemanville’s population saw a steady decline as many residents moved north to the rapidly growing city of Daytona Beach. Freemanville’s school closed in the 1950s, and today all that remains are a few crumbling remnants of the building’s foundation and today only one house remains from the era when Freemanville flourished. For information on the ceremony, call 386-5065522.
to be redeveloped in accordance with the respective Community Redevelopment Area master plans. Three lots are commercial to Midtown and suitable to be redeveloped in accordance to the Midtown Redevelopment Plan. Additionally, four lots are not buildable but can be combined together and sold as buildable lots and eight lots up for sale, are not buildable and should be offered to the adjacent property owners for purchase.
FEBRUARY 6 – FEBRUARY 12, 2014
M ANEWS YOR COMMUNITY
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DECEMBER 14 - 20, 2006
Coming soon: The Youth Black History Reality Show Lighting up the stage and shedding light, the Youth Black History Reality Show provides rich history and contributions to the world from a contingency of AfricanAmerican achievers. Youth from local churches, sororities and the community as well will adapt scenarios featuring such standouts as Dr. Patricia Bath, Dr. Maya Angelou, James Weldon Johnson, Osceola McCarty, Gordon Parks, Shirley Chisholm, Barack Obama, et. al. Last year was a banner year, and so, the 11th annual staging has been set for Feb. 16, 4 p.m., at the African American Cultural Society, 4422 U.S. 1 North, Palm Coast. The show is the most informative youth program in Palm Coast, affording the opportunity of learning about the rich heritage of African-Americans. It is free, but donations are encouraged to sponsor the annual scholarship awards for upcoming high school graduates having met the requirement of a 3.0, or above grade-point average. It is the unique brand of the African American Cultural Society, chaired by Jeanette Wheeler of the Youth Black History Reality Committee. So save the date for this entertaining, educational event.
11 years and counting Over 11 years ago, a seed was planted in the mind of Mrs. Wheeler to involve youth in an active way of increasing their knowledge of African-American history and its contribution to the world. Mrs. Wheeler nourished the seed of thought and enriched the idea through involving others to bring the idea to fruition – a reality for all to learn and enjoy. As a result of this venue, the Af-
Palm Coast Community news Jeroline D. Mccarthy
rican American Cultural Society’s Youth Black History Reality Show will now celebrate 11 years of active, educational learning, involving youth through cooperative parent, community, and organizational support. The Youth Black History Reality Committee implemented a scholarship program in 2010, to further support the postsecondary, educational goals of participating youth.
Film explores life In South Africa “Nothing But The Truth’’ is beyond the talking point of Black Studies Chairman Robert Brooks. The film will be featured Feb. 13, 2 p.m., at the African American Cultural Society, 4422 U.S. 1 North, Palm Coast. The 78-minute show – in English and French subtitles – is based on the award-winning, long-running play by director/actor John Kani. It will explore the complex dynamic between those who risked their lives to remain in South Africa for ending apartheid, and those who lived in exile for bringing attention to the cause. A suburb of Johannesburg, New Brighton librarian Sipho Makhaya prepared for the return of his brother’s ashes. His brother had gained a reputation as a hero of the anti-apartheid movement while Sipho spent most of his life on the front lines. From a series of presentations,
JEROLINE MCCARTHY/DAYTONA TIMES
Shown with Chairman Jeanette Wheeler, 2010 scholarship recipient Jessica Crockett has emceed the Youth Black History Reality Shows. the movie will be shown costfree.
Food giveaway Saturday at First Church The Women’s Missionary Society of First Church – the Rev. Gil-
lard S. Glover, Pastor – has scheduled the monthly food giveaway for Feb. 8, 1-3 p.m., at 91 Old Kings Road North, Palm Coast. For more information, call 386-446-5759. ••• As always, remember our
prayers for the sick, afflicted and bereaved.
Celebrations Birthday wishes to: Margaret Young, Feb. 7; Randolph Greene, Feb. 9; Lillian Gaddis, Feb. 12.
Daytona State to host FAFSA assistance day Students, both returning and first-time-in-college, will find a clear path to applying for federal tuition assistance during a free statewide event known as College Goal (Saturday) Sunday or CGS!Florida, part of the national CGS project. On Saturday, March 1, Daytona State College will host the only local CGS event, from noon to 4 p.m. on the Daytona Beach and DeLand campuses. Financial aid specialists will help college-bound students and their families complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students will receive step-by-step instructions for completing and submitting their FAFSA. The FAFSA helps students access billions in federal funds available for higher education. In addition, informa-
BRIEFS Halifax Health to present inaugural marathon On March 29, Halifax Health will present the inaugural Live Your Life Well Tomoka Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K in partnership with Final Mile Race Management and the Ormond Beach Mayor’s Health and Fitness Challenge. “Halifax Health is pleased to announce this inaugural event. We think it fits perfectly with our long-term goal of helping our entire community live their life well through exercise and proper nutrition,”
tion about other financial aid resources such as state government, grants, scholarships and loans will be available. “Some students fall through the cracks in the financial aid process because they’re intimidated by the forms and have not been exposed to the financial aid process,” said Buck James, vice president for enrollment and student development. “The College Goal project helps break the barriers that prevent students from accessing funds to pursue higher education.”
Access to support
ALLEN J. SCHABEN/LOS ANGELES TIMES/MCT
Makiah Green, college adviser for Garden Grove Unified School District, teaches parents and students how to complete their financial aid application for college in Garden Grove, Calif., on January 16. The U.S. Department of Education has made changes to the application to simplify and streamline the process.
Filling out the FAFSA does not obligate the student to anything; it opens access to federal tuition support, whether students are pursuing a one-year certificate, two-year asso-
ciate degree or four-year bachelor’s degree at colleges or universities around the region and the country. All are welcome to stop by the Daytona Beach
Campus, Baker Academic Support Center/computer lab, at 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd., or the DeLand Campus, Business Hall, room 115, at 1155 County Road 4139, on Sat-
urday, March 1, from noon to 4 p.m. Students who attend may also be eligible for a drawing for a $250 scholarship provided by CGS!Florida.
said John Guthrie, director of corporate communications for Halifax Health. A Boston Marathon qualifying race, the Tomoka Marathon is the area’s newest, multi-distance running event. The race begins at The Casements in Ormond Beach – the historic former home of John D. Rockefeller – and travels along the scenic Tomoka Loop through beautiful Tomoka State Park. The race event is being held in conjunction with The Casement’s Centennial Celebration.
a part of this inaugural event. “We are proud Tomoka State Park is a part of the marathon route which showcases our natural and cultural resources, including the historic sites of the Mount Oswald Plantation and Timucuan Indian Village of Nocoroco,” said Aggie Armstrong, park services specialist for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Ormond Beach Mayor Ed Kelley is also excited about the upcoming race event and its potential. “Having this involvement with one of our partners further shows the value that has been created by the Mayor’s Health and Fitness Challenge. We hope that additional activities may evolve from the events, positively affecting our quality of life,” he added. Groups and businesses interested in taking part in the race event as either volunteers or sponsors should call 407-314-8583. To register for the race, visit tomokamarathon.com.
Grief Center will present Hearts and Hooves – a camp for families, young children and teens involving expression through art and horses – on Feb. 22. During the all-day retreat, trained grief counselors will guide participants through artistic activities and allow them healing interaction with horses. These activities give children and teens, who have experienced the death of a loved one, a safe and peaceful outlet for their grief expression. The retreat will take place at Artquest School of Art & Design, 571 Leeway Trail, Ormond Beach. The retreat is available for families, children eight to 12 years of age and teens 13 to 18 years of age. To receive an application to register or for additional information, call 386-2585100. The deadline to apply is Feb. 14.
Daytona Beach (between Ridgewood Avenue and Beach Street.) Attendees can bring information they have from an agency as it pertains to adoption and the search for birth parents. For more information, call Sylvia Meincke at 386451-5223.
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Mayor touts potential Tomoka State Park officials are excited to be
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Financial aid tips
Come let the Holy Ghost Get Ya!
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Grief Center plans Hearts and Hooves retreat this month Halifax Health – Hospice BeginAgain Children’s
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Session to focus on ‘Finding the family I never knew’ Adoption and the search for birth parents will be discussed at Lifetree Cafe on Feb. 9 at 9:30 a.m. and on Feb. 12 at 6:15 p.m. The discussion will be held at 142 Fairview Ave.,
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Professor to enact Hurston story Feb. 15 Dr. Lynn Hawkins, professor of English at Daytona State College, will present 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 portrays a wife’s revenge on her abusive husband. Before the reading, Hawkins will introduce Hurston, her literary achievements and her personal challenges. This free program is 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.
Supporters of the CGS!Florida program include the Florida Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (FASFAA), Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA/ FLDOE) and USA Funds. • Finances should not be a barrier to attending college. • The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first and most important step to applying for college financial aid. It should be completed now if you plan to attend college in 2014-15. • Use the proper website to complete the FAFSA: www.fafsa.gov – do not use other sites that charge money – the application is free. • The U.S. Department of Education offers free assistance at 1-800-4-FED-AID and www.fafsa.gov. For more information, visit www.DaytonaState. edu/FinAid or call 386-5063015. For more information, call Deborah Shafer at 386257-6036, 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 386257-6036, ext. 16264.
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 Regional 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 386-2576036, ext. 16315.
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FEBRUARY 6 – FEBRUARY 12, 2014
A cereal tweet exposes serial unfairness MSNBC’s President Phil Griffin was forced to apologize last week for an incendiary and grossly unfair tweet about conservatives. This all got started with a simple TV commercial for Cheerios breakfast cereal. The only thing that was noteworthy about the commercial, which ran during the Super Bowl on Sunday, was that it featured an interracial married couple (one man and one woman), with a beautiful bi-racial 6-year-old daughter. Some anonymous employee (MSNBC refuses to name the person) felt comfortable tweeting the following from MSNBC’s official twitter account: “Maybe the rightwing will hate it, but everyone else will go awww: the adorable new #Cheerios ad w/ biracial family.” RNC Chairman Reince Priebus demanded an apology from Griffin and barred all RNC employees and surrogates from appearing on MSNBC.
An apology Priebus’ move forced Griffin to issue this apology: “The tweet last night (last Wednesday) was outrageous and unacceptable. We immediately acknowledged that it was offensive and wrong, apologized, and deleted it. We have dismissed the person responsible for the tweet. I personally apologize to Mr. Priebus and to everyone offended. At [MSNBC] we believe in passionate, strong debate about the issues and we invite voices from all sides to participate. That will never change.” Strangely, Griffin then sent one of his on air personalities to read
ing so this will not happen again (as conservatives are always implored to do)? Where is the righteous indignation from the senRAYNARD sitivity police – groups such as JACKSON GLAAD (founded as Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against DefamaNNPA COLUMNIST tion), the Human Right Camthe apology on the air on his be- paign, NAACP, the National Urhalf. Why didn’t he do it himself? ban League, and Al Sharpton’s Now juxtapose MSNBC’s re- National Action Network? sponse with that of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who happens What about Sharpton? to be a Republican. Reporters in On his TV show last week, the media clamored for Christie Sharpton read some meandering to hold a press conference and an- statement about Coretta King that swer all of their questions, which had absolutely nothing to do with he did for almost two hours. Con- the tweet in question. He didn’t sequently, we now know who have the guts to stand on princiChristie fired and why he fired ple and demand more accountthem. Whether you liked his an- ability from Griffin, probably beswers or not during his press con- cause Griffin personally hired him ference, at least people were held even over the objection of Black accountable. journalists who wanted a trained journalist in that seat. Had a White Tea Party memDemand accountability ber or Republican done the same Where is this same accountability demand for Griffin to stand be- thing, MSNBC would have wallfore the public and do the same? to-wall coverage of the issue. That’s why it is critically imporHe claims to have fired the emtant for the groups listed above, ployee who wrote the tweet. How who claim they stand for equality do we know that since no name for all, stand up for all. has been released from MSNBC? What these groups should fiHow can we be sure that the tweet nally state is that they only believe didn’t come from Griffin himself? in equality if you agree with their Even more troubling is what point of view. practices or policies did Griffin Is it really too much to ask Black have in place that would make an and White employees of MSNBC employee comfortable enough to to be subjected to the Christie send that type of tweet? I think standard – full information, full MSNBC should have an outside accountability? panel investigate the work environment it has created for its emRaynard Jackson is presiployees. As Ronald Reagan once dent & CEO of Raynard Jackson said, “trust, but verify.” & Associates, LLC., Write your Will MSNBC force all employ- own response at www.daytonaees to undergo sensitivity train- times.com.
Facing challenges of business ownership There is nothing like doing what you love to do. And it’s even better when others around you share your vision and goals. Tuesday, January 28 was almost perfect. I, along with three key supporters of the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc., started the day off telling the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. story on TV One’s “News One Now with Roland Martin.” Joining me on air were Marie Johns, former Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration; Michael Grant, President of the National Bankers Association and Antwanye Ford, Co-Founder of Enlightened, Inc., one of America’s premier Blackowned businesses. Roland Martin cut to the reason we were guests on his show: Did we expect that President Obama’s State of the Union address would include anything to benefit Black America, particularly Black businesses?
SBA delivers Marie Johns was able to quickly tell Martin and his audience that despite the horror stories that make up the reality of far too many Black businesses, there are SBA programs that deliver as promised. In fact, Ford’s company, Enlightened, Inc., recently graduated from the SBA’s 8(a)
RON BUSBY, SR. NNPA COLUMNIST
program. It is now a $16 million, 150-employee company as a result of taking advantage of federal procurement opportunities. Of course, it’s not easy, and every business won’t meet the same level of success, but the opportunity is there. Antwanye Ford, a past chair of the D.C. Chamber, put it this way: “The 8(a) experience forced us to think in terms of scale. Too often, Black businesses find themselves unprepared when confronted with ‘next stage’ opportunities. The SBA program, coupled with the relationships gained through our chamber membership, are key advantages for our company – and we wouldn’t be here without those experiences.” Did we answer Roland Martin’s question about what we believed would be in the President’s State of the Union Address to benefit Black America? I don’t know. What I do know is immediately following the broadcast, the White House called for our input on the president’s proposal to increase the minimum wage.
To cap off the day, we had the opportunity to huddle with Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) and Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (DFla.), just two of the Congressional leaders that the president relies on to shepherd key legislation through the House of Representatives. Both are committed to reversing recent declines in contracting opportunities for Black businesses and to making sure that other interests of the USBC and our members are considered in everything that passes their desks. Every opportunity to tell our story doesn’t result in five or 10 minutes on a national network news program, or with us offering our solutions to the White House or members of Congress. But every time we get to tell our story, we are recommitted to our mission – to do everything we possibly can to improve opportunities for Black-owned businesses. Yes, we have some sleepless nights, yes there are moments when our stomachs are a little queasy from uncertainty, but there is never a minute when we don’t believe that we’re on the right path.
Ron Busby, Sr. is president and CEO of U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. Write your own response at www.daytonatimes. com.
One thing that I wish that President Obama had said I was pleased that President Obama spent so much time on the matter of economic inequality and the need to raise the minimum wage in his State of the Union address. Better late than never. But there was something that he did not address that I wish that he had taken up. Stated simply, if you want to overcome economic inequality and raise wages, you need labor unions. Yes, at one point the president did mention the term “labor leaders,” but what has been striking throughout most of his presidency is that he is neither an advocate for labor unions nor one who figures out a way to slip in the basic fact that labor unions are the single most effective route to raising the living standard of working people. This, by the way, is not a disputable point. Study after study demonstrates that unionized workers earn more in wages and benefits than do non-union workers. There is also sufficient real-life experience to know that it was through good-paying, unionized employment – whether private sector or public sector – that workers were able to earn enough to buy homes and send their children to college.
BILL FLETCHER, JR. NNPA COLUMNIST
While I certainly support the president’s call for an increase in the minimum wage and his appeal to employers to voluntarily ensure that their employees are making at least $10.10/hour, such a wage is clearly insufficient. How many of us can live, these days, on $10.10/hour ($21,008 a year)? No, the answer is that the economic inequality in this country must be addressed by putting more wealth into the hands of the people who create the wealth in the first place – the people who work, who produce things, who keep this country running. But the president should know this. Yet, year after year it is as if labor unions are an afterthought, unless he is addressing a union audience.
where he stated that were he to go to work in a factory, the first thing that he would do would be to join a labor union. I cannot imagine President Obama saying something like that, as much as I would like to hear it in one of his eloquent speeches. The bottom line, however, is that regardless of what he may think about unions, he certainly does not feel compelled to say anything approximating FDR’s words because there is little pressure on him to do so. So, once again, it is up to us to actually write his script. And that means changing the so-called facts on the ground, and creating enough mass pressure around economic inequality; around workplace health and safety; around job discrimination; and rights at work, that the president has no choice but to publicly stand with working people in insisting on their right and necessity to join or form unions if we are to turn things around.
Bill Fletcher, Jr. is a racial justice, labor and global justice No pressure to speak up activist and writer. Write your There is a famous quote from own response at www.daytonaPresident Franklin Roosevelt, times.com.
VISUAL VIEWPOINT: GROUNDHOG DETERMINED NOT TO SEE HIS SHADOW
RJ MATSON
War on women hurts children too In President Barack Obama’s State of the Union (SOU) address, he appealed to our nation’s employers to raise wages from the current minimum of $7.25 an hour to $10.10 an hour. He has already signed an executive order that requires federal contractors to be paid $10.10 an hour, an only appropriate move since so many workers on federal contracts are living in poverty. The plight of federal contract workers at the bottom is especially galling, given that CEOs at the top have no limits in what they can be paid. Many earn more than president Obama’s $400,000 salary. They are awarded contracts by coming up with a minimum bid, which too often means paying people the lowest possible wage. There are many consequences to workers earning so little money that they often work at a level below the poverty line. The federal government through food stamps, subsidized health care, and a number of other well-deserved benefits subsidizes those with families surviving on low wages. They are also stigmatized by receiving government help. Why not pay these folks enough to make it on their own, instead of railing about those who “depend” on the government?
Unfortunate side effect When women with children earn a minimum wage, they are challenged to take care of their children. If there is not affordable childcare, or a family support system, many of these women are desperate to figure out a way to work and find someone to take care of their children. In Henrico County, Virginia, which is part of the Richmond metropolitan are, 23-year-old Brittney R. Downing admitted her role in the deaths of her two children, aged 3 months and 20 months. Brittney Downing left her children in a parking lot, inside her vehicle, while she went to work at a Henrico hotel. Both of her children were affected by heat strokes. Her 20 month old son died first, her daughter four days later. She is charged with involuntary manslaughter and can spend as many as 25 years in jail.
DR. JULIANNE MALVEAUX TRICEEDNEYWIRE.COM
Some will say that Brittney Downing should have had better sense than to leave her children in a locked car. I would say that those who value life so much that they rail against a woman’s right to choose ought to consider the consequences of choices, especially when they aren’t supported. Why don’t we have a work/family policy that makes child care assessable and affordable? Given these provisions, or a living wage, Brittney Downing may not have found the need to bring her children to work with her, and to keep them in the car.
Need a break There have been spates of cases where mothers have left their children “home alone.” Not all of them have been cases similar to Brittney’s, when a woman leaves her children because she has no childcare support system. Some of the cases happen to be women who have walked out to buy a soda or get a stamp. That’s likely to be a woman, cooped up with her children, with not enough support to take a break. Other women have left their children “home alone” while they engaged in social activities. While their actions are foolish, the lack of a support system is still quite evident. The low wages that many single mothers earn limit opportunities. The children they try to raise are the collateral damage that our Congress is complicit in when they refuse to raise the minimum wage. Julianne Malveaux is a Washington, D.C.based economist and writer. She is President Emerita of Bennett College for Women in Greensboro, N.C.
Julianne Malveaux is an author, economist, and President Emerita of Bennett College for Women. 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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MCULTURE AYOR
Do Americans still believe in Obama? Blacks express hope he can achieve his State of the Union goals BY KELLY-ANN BROWN TRICE EDNEY NEWS WIRE
In the wake of President Obama’s State of the Union Address, it remains unclear whether or not U.S. voters are receptive to his plans for the nation’s future. The president addressed the United States Congress last week with passionate plan for the future, promising a “year of action”. However his fifth State of the Union address was unable to capture the hearts of the American people as it had in the past. “[It] all sounds good and always has,” said Dominique Ingram, a 23-yearold graduate from Howard University and full time retail manager from Roslyn, N.Y. “[but] I’ve heard all this before and nothings really happened.”
Wait-and-see approach It seems the president’s natural talent for eloquent speeches may have lost its magic. In his fifth year, Americans are more concerned with his ability to deliver on his promises rather than just his aspirations. Following the Jan. 28 State of the Union, the president launched a strategic national tour to pitch his economic plans in key places. The next day, he spoke at a Costco in Lanham, Md., underscoring his intent to fight for a hike in the minimum wage.
But many are taking a wait-and-see approach on whether he will be able to achieve all that he outlined.
Poll numbers According to an online news poll conducted by CBS News, 83 percent of Americans who watched the State of the Union approved of Presidents Obama’s proposals and action plans from wages to possibilities for economic growth. However, 57 percent of viewers do not believe he will be able to accomplish these goals. Separately, a CNN poll said 56 percent of those questioned said they believe most of the proposals announced in the speech will fail while 36 percent said they believe they will succeed. It is evident that President Obama intends to fully exert his executive power to influence public policy. In his speech, he vowed to “act on my own to slash bureaucracy.” This aggressive strategy will undoubtedly be rebuffed by Republican lawmakers as partisan bickering has been the cause of a major stalemate over the past several years. Despite minor concerns, Ingram said he was, “glad to hear he plans to take steps on his own [without Congress].”
Expecting too much? There have also been concerns with issues Obama did not address. The complications that occurred from the Affordable Care Act went ignored.
MIKE THEILER/CORBIS VIA ABACA PRESS/MCT
President Barack Obama is escorted by Costco employees Ray Quevedo (left) and Rickey Banner as he tours the store in Lanham, Md., prior to delivering remarks at a store rally on Jan. 29, a day after his State of the Union address. Th president was pushing Congress to raise the federal minimum wage as part of his economic plan. These concerns ranged from a malfunctioning website to workers losing insurance coverage provided by their employer. The connection between racism and poverty were also omitted. Some Americans still have complaints regarding whether or not the president has done enough for African-Americans and whether the plight of the Black community is his burden to bear.
Black Press attacked for efforts to strengthen ties with Africa Media critic criticizes NNPA delegation’s trip to Morocco BY FLOYD ALVIN GALLOWAY NNPA NEWS SERVICE
Black media critic Richard Prince has launched a series of attacks on a National Newspaper Publishers Association-led delegation for a trip to Morocco in early January paid for by the government, writing under one headline, “Black-Press Visitors to Morocco Called Pawns.” Prince, who has spent all of his professional career with Whiteowned newspapers, made only a passing reference to Israel’s practice of funding trips for U.S. journalists and dignitaries. He strongly criticized the 14-member delegation for taking the all-expense paid trip because journalistic standards prohibit such trips. However, in a major disservice to Black media, he neglected to point out that the Black Press does not have anywhere near the same resources as the White media and therefore should not be held to the same standard.
Disparity in funds A study by Nielsen, for example, titled, “Resilient, Receptive and Relevant: The African-American Consumer 2013 Report,” stated: “Advertising expenditures geared specifically toward Black
ELIZABETH RAGLAND/NNPA
George E. Curry, editor-in-chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service, carrying a camera, walks during the NNPA visit to Morocco. audiences reflected only three percent of advertising dollars spent. Advertisers spent $75 billion on television, radio, internet, and magazine ads in 2012, with only $2.24 billion of that spent with media focused on Black audiences.” Even the tobacco industry, which admits to disproportionately targeting the Black Press as part of its marketing efforts to reach young Black customers, recently agreed to a proposed settlement with the Justice Department valued at $30 million-$45 million that would not place a newspaper or magazine ad or TV or radio commercial with any
South Dakota legislative panel drops ‘squaw,’ keeps ‘Negro’ BY NORA HERTEL ASSOCIATED PRESS
PIERRE, S.D. – A legislative committee has approved a bill allowing use of the word “Negro’’ in South Dakota place names but makes it clear that the word “squaw’’ should be removed from all locations. The Legislature previously had passed laws requiring the renaming of any geographic features that include either term. A state board responsi-
ble for getting rid of offensive names planned to rename places with “Negro’’ in their names. But Black leaders in Sioux Falls said the term is not offensive and should continue to be used to recognize the state’s African-American heritage. The Senate State Affairs Committee voted unanimously for a bill that specifically declares the word “squaw’’ offensive and bans its use in place names.
The day after his State of the Union President Obama takes his promise to fight for a hike in minimum wage on the road to a Costco in Lanham, Md. But some ask if it will happen.
More than 90 percent of the Black vote went to Obama in both of his elections. “Sometimes I wonder if we [African-Americans] are expecting too much,” says Michael McCook, academic Coordinator for the Pride through Educational Pursuits (PEP) Program in Summit, N.J. “[However], who knows when we’ll ever get another chance like this.”
Black-owned companies. The settlement is being challenged in court by the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters (NABOB), the NAACP and other groups.
Too important to ignore In one article, Prince quoted the travel policies of such news organizations as the New York Times and the Washington Post, which have significantly more financial resources than the Black Press.
MARK MAHONEY/TRICE EDNEY NEWS WIRE
“Of course, we understand that it is preferable that we pay our own way on such trips,” said NNPA Chairman Cloves C. Campbell, Jr. “But since we’re not getting our fair share of ad dollars and therefore don’t have the resources to pay for the trips, we have to come up with creative ways of covering Africa because the Motherland is too important for us to ignore.” Africa is so important that seven of the 10 fastest-growing economies in the world are in Africa – Ethiopia, Mozambique, Tanzania, Congo, Ghana, Zambia and Nigeria. Prince published pictures of the delegation in the southern province of Dakhla and a photo of NNPA News Service Editor-inChief George E. Curry near the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, crediting the wrong photographer in both cases. Prince quoted a representative of Morocco’s opponent in the ongoing dispute over Western Sahara but did not quote anyone from the Moroccan government. Morocco claims the land as part of its country and proposes that it remain part Richard of the country but Prince retain its own autonomy, a position contested by neighboring Algeria through the Polisario Front.
Ulterior motives? The Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro (Polisario), an organization that has sought independence for the former Spanish ter-
ritory since 1973, has called for a referendum that will offer residents the choice between autonomy or independence from Morocco. Prince wrote, “…Ahmed Boukhari, the Polisario’s representative to the U.N., told Journal-isms that Morocco’s bankrolling of the Black-press trip had ulterior motives. “’In my opinion [it] is a trip politically motivated and with political objectives related to Western Sahara. Morocco’s credibility has been stained these last years as a consequence of human rights violations in Western Sahara,’ he said. ‘Journalists who are not well informed about what is going on in Western Sahara and sensitive to a good reception could be used as a propaganda tool. In any case, any journalist of this group could and in my opinion must be authorized by Morocco to enter into contact with Saharawi human rights defenders.’” However, as NNPA Chairman Campbell stated, “No limitations have been placed on what we can write or discuss and we’re under no obligation to write anything.” He said the journalists need not seek or need permission from the government to interview Moroccans. Campbell also rejected the charge that journalists who went on the trip “are not well informed about what is going on in Western Sahara” or that they “could be used as a propaganda tool.” “The journalists who went on the trip are probably better informed about that region than most White journalists,” Campbell stated.
This story is special to the NNPA from the Arizona Informant.
Rutgers course examines Beyonce’s career ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – Beyonce is one of the world’s most scrutinized pop stars, and now that study is moving to academia. The Department of Women’s and Gender Studies at Rutgers University is offering a course called “Politicizing Beyonce.’’ Kevin Allred, a doctoral student who is teaching the class, tells the university’s online news site that he is using Beyonce’s career as a way to explore Ameri-
can race, gender and sexual politics. The class supplements an analysis of Beyonce’s videos and lyrics with readings from Black feminists. Allred says he’s seeking to help students think more critically about media consumption. Rutgers also has a class examining the theology of Bruce Springsteen’s lyrics. Georgetown University has a class called “The Sociology of Hip-Hop: The Urban Theodicy of Jay-Z,’’ focusing on Beyoncé’s rapper husband.
ALLEN J. SCHABEL/LOS ANGELES TIMES/MCT
Beyonce is shown backstage at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 10, 2013.
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M ASPORTS YOR
FEBRUARY 6 – FEBRUARY 2014 DECEMBER 14 - 20,12, 2006
Lolo Jones back at Olympics, savoring the moment BY TIM REYNOLDS ASSOCIATED PRESS
SOCHI, Russia – Lolo Jones is telling the story about how she became a bobsledder, her words becoming difficult to decipher as she tries to keep herself from crying. So she wraps the tale up quickly, her eyes welling with tears. She shouts the four words: “They had my back.’’ Of all the words Jones said Monday, they might have been the most telling. It’s no secret that she wasn’t going to win popularity contests with her U.S. track and field teammates, especially after enjoying some spoils of fame despite failing to win a hurdles medal in either the Beijing Games of 2008 or the London Olympics four years later. As a hurdler, she was always alone, often feeling unwanted. As a bobsledder, she’s never alone – her teammates go just about anywhere she does. And despite some faux complaining from her about that, it’s clear Jones is enjoying her trip to the Sochi Games more than anyone would have guessed when she showed up in Lake Placid, N.Y., for a tryout in the fall of 2012. “From the first week they accepted me, they embraced me, they lifted me up, and I think it was what I needed to not only be a bobsled athlete but return back to track with my head held high and proud of the things I have achieved in that sport,’’ Jones said. “So I really am grateful for them. I’m almost about to cry because they really gave me a fresh start, for sure.’’
More drama Jones is one of three brakemen on the women’s team, and U.S. officials plan to announce this week the driver-pusher pairings for the competition. Drama tends to find Jones at any Olympics, and this one is no exception, with some members of the national team questioning why she was selected over such experienced pushers as Emily Azevedo and Katie Eberling – both of whom openly aired their frustrations about
The USA’s Lolo Jones walks through the media area inside Olympic Lolo Jones is one of three brakemen on the 2014 women’s bobsledStadium following her fourth-place finish in the women’s 100m ding team. U.S. officials plan to announce this week the driverhurdles at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, in London, England, pusher pairings for the competition. on Aug. 7, 2012. CHUCK MYERS/MCT not making the squad. Once Jones was picked to the team, conspiracy theories started coming out. NBC played a role, some said. Others felt the U.S. Olympic Committee hoped to capitalize on Jones’ popularity. (For the record, American officials not just deny, but laugh at those notions.)
Did popularity help? Azevedo was quoted as saying Jones’ Twitter followers – 377,293 of them as of Monday morning – helped make her a more attractive candidate to the selection committee. Jones expected some naysayers to question her being selected. She didn’t expect how big the storm would be after the pick was revealed.
“This is a sequel,’’ Jones said, drawing a parallel between this and how some track teammates complained that her popularity soared without winning a medal in Beijing or London. “I just wasn’t prepared for it. ... I definitely didn’t feel it coming this time, but it’s hard when you don’t make a team. I think sometimes people forget that.’’ She seems perfectly content now. Jones and fellow first-time Olympic push athlete Lauryn Williams, another Summer Games veteran who won a silver medal in the 100-meter dash in 2004 and helped the U.S. win gold in the 4x100-meter relay in London, will become the ninth and 10th Americans to compete in both the summer and winter versions of
the games. “I’ve gotten to see her over the last six months, see how hard she’s working toward this and she won’t be outworked by anyone,’’ Williams said. “She put in every effort and she’s as deserving as everyone on this team. It was really tough to see the hurt on all sides, and without picking sides. What they did wasn’t right, but at the same time, you know it was from a place of deep hurt.’’
More tears On Monday, Jones was doing more laughing and smiling than crying. She was joking with Elana Meyers, one of the three pilots, on her walk to the media center about how if it hadn’t been for falling short in Beijing and Lon-
don, she wouldn’t be in Sochi. Jones went to Lake Placid looking to escape her Olympic troubles, not thinking about a new Olympic path, and it was Meyers and fellow pilot Jazmine Fenlator who were among the first to befriend the hurdler. Jones was depressed, underweight after not really eating for a month or so after London, and in desperate need of change. Fenlator didn’t even recognize Jones, thinking instead she was a distance runner because of her much leaner-than-usual build at the time. “I mean, I have legit stats or whatever but sometimes you kind of forget those especially if you get thrown under the bus so many times in the me-
dia,’’ Jones said. “I’ve even been thrown under the bus by my teammates in track and field. So to go into the training center and they barely knew me and they kind of just took me under their wing and were like, ‘No, you’re one of us.’’’ That’s when the tears started to fall. Make no mistake: These Olympics mean plenty to Jones. “I truly believe that your greatest failures or mishaps in life can have the best motivation for you to do something amazing,’’ Jones said. “I’ve just kind of taken that stance and that’s really why I feel like I’m here as a bobsled athlete. I’m not willing to give up.’’
Super Bowl champion Seahawks already focused on next year BY BOB CONDOTTA SEATTLE TIMES/MCT
NEW YORK — Coach Pete Carroll’s mantra of “Always Compete” doesn’t come with exceptions, such as “until the Seahawks win their first Super Bowl.” No, even before the cheering had died down at MetLife Stadium on Sunday in the wake of Seattle’s 43-8 win over Denver in Super Bowl XLVIII, the Seahawks were talking about doing it again. “The important thing when you leave this game of football is the legacy,” said receiver Doug Baldwin, who led Seattle with five catches for 66 yards and a touchdown. “We’ve accomplished one goal. But if you want to be the best of the best, you’ve got to do it multiple times. So we’ve already said it. We are going to win this one, and what’s next is winning another one, so we are already on to that one.” In fact, Carroll said the expectations for next season — specifically, trying to become the ninth team to repeat as Super Bowl champs and first since the 2003-04 New England Patriots — would be laid out when the team met back in Seattle on Tuesday. “We’ll take this in stride, and we’ll have a big celebration on Wednesday in town (the planned parade in Seattle) and enjoy the heck out of it. Everybody will enjoy the heck out of it. We won’t miss the fun part of it. But that doesn’t mean we can’t set our sights on how this is going to go.
DEAN RUTZ/SEATTLE TIMES/MCT
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) hoists the Lombardi trophy after a 43-8 win against the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on Sunday. They would be surprised if it was anything other than that.”
Look at the roster And the good news for the Seahawks is that their roster is constructed in a manner that means most of the key pieces of this year’s team could be back next season. Of the 53 players on the active roster for Sunday’s game, only 13 are unrestricted free agents. The key names on that list are re-
ceiver Golden Tate, defensive end Michael Bennett, defensive tackle Tony McDaniel, cornerback Walter Thurmond, kicker Steven Hauschka, offensive tackle Breno Giacomini and guard Paul McQuistan. Two more are restricted free agents, notably Baldwin, meaning Seattle could match another team’s offer or get a draft pick back if the player departs. Given the team’s present and presumed future, all would probably like to stay. But inevitably some
will receive other offers that the Seahawks might consider too rich to match. The team has been said to make re-signing Bennett, who blossomed into a dominant player this season, a priority. Seattle could also look at cutting or restricting the deals of some veteran players who make big money, allowing them to spend on other players on the roster or in free agency, notably defensive end Chris Clemons (due $9.6 million next year), tight end Zach Mill-
er (due $7 million) and receiver Sidney Rice (due $9.7 million and still rehabbing a knee injury suffered in October). The rest of Seattle’s youthful core — the team was the second-youngest to win a Super Bowl and the seventh-youngest at the end of the NFL season — is under contract.
Wilson under rookie contract The Seahawks, though, could seek to extend the
contracts of a few players, with NFL.com reporting over the weekend that Seattle will make it a priority to sign safety Earl Thomas to a new contract before the 2014 season, as it did last year with Kam Chancellor. (NFL.com reported that for now, Seattle might not do that with cornerback Richard Sherman, salary-cap considerations playing a role.) Continuing to give the team massive financial flexibility is the fact quarterback Russell Wilson remains under the terms of his initial rookie contract, which will pay him just $662,434 next season, and cannot seek a new deal until after the 2014 season. “I think we are in a very fortunate situation,” Carroll said Monday. “(General manager) John Schneider has done an extraordinary job of structuring this roster contractually and with the vision of looking ahead so that we can keep our guys together. “One of the things that happens every so often is teams have a big fallout after they win the Super Bowl. We’re not in that situation. We’ll be battling and competing. We don’t need to be in that situation. We’ve done that with foresight with looking ahead so that we would be prepared, and we’ll go back to work eventually. I guess it’s in the springtime when we kick it back in high gear, but the guys will start a lot sooner than that. We’ll get going (with the) next challenge.”
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P U B L I X C E L E B R AT E S B L A C K H I S T O RY Reading books to learn about all of the historic contributions made by African Americans isn’t the only way to celebrate Black History Month. Enjoying delicious, secret recipes passed down from family members during Sunday Dinner can also be satisfying for the soul. Publix joins you in celebrating African American history at the dinner table and beyond. Visit the Publix Sunday Dinners Tab on Facebook for traditional recipes, family dinner table topic discussions, and activities for each Sunday during Black History Month.
facebook.com/publix