Daytona Times - March 21, 2013

GEORGE E. CURRY: Southern governor breaks with past Page 4

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One more glance at Bike Week 2013 See page 5

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Daytona

PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit #189 Daytona Beach, FL

A ROUNDUP OF LOCAL SPORTS See page 7

East Central Florida’s Black Voice

www.daytonatimes.com www.daytonatimes.com

MARCH 21 - MARCH 27, 2013

YEAR 38 NO. 12

No-shows by most elected officials irk F.A.I.T.H.

PEOPLE SPEAK

Few that show up pledge to do something about Volusia’s jobless and homeless issues

BY JAMES HARPER DAYTONATIMES STAFF harperjames59@yahoo.com

More than 2,000 Volusia County residents packed the Dr. Mary

McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center on March 18 for F.A.I.T.H.’s (Fighting Against Injustice Towards Harmony) annual Action Assembly.

Just a few elected representatives were present to be persuaded to do something about the homeless and jobless issue in the area.

The lack of participation from all Volusia County Council members and mayors and oth-

er elected officials from cities in the county upset the two chairs of the group, which is made up of members of 32 churches across the county.

Only Volusia County Council members Joyce Cusack and Josh Wagner along with Mayors Derrick Henry of Daytona Beach and Roy Johnson of Holly Hill plus Daytona Beach City Commissioner Carl Lentz were present.

Father Phil Egito of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church and Dr. L. Ronald Durham of Greater Friendship Baptist Church are co-chairs of F.A.I.T.H. “We will take the message directly to those who did not show up, voice our disappointment to them for not appearing. We are hoping they will play a role because it affects them,” Durham said.

Please see F.A.I.T.H., Page 2

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN REEVES

Thousands listen to presentations about homelessness and joblessness on Monday night.

Dutton to speak, Wright to sing at Daytona NAACP banquet

State data shows there are qualified minorities for Speedway renovation Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series of stories on the plight of minority contractors who try to get work on major construction projects.

Charles Dutton

Legendary R&B singer Betty Wright to perform at NAACP event.

BY JAMES HARPER DAYTONA TIMES harperjames59@yahoo.com

corporations who have worked and dedicated their time to ensure positive changes in our community,” Slater said.

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Activist, ‘Roc’ star

ctor and civil rights activist Charles Dutton will be the speaker for the Volusia County-Daytona Beach NAACP’s 40th Annual Freedom Fund and Awards Banquet May 24 at the Plaza Resort and Spa in Daytona Beach.

Branch President Cynthia Slater also confirmed to the Daytona Times that legendary R&B singer Betty Wright will close the evening singing some of her popular hits. Wright is known for songs like “Clean Up Woman,” “No Pain, No Gain,” and “Tonight is the Night.’’

“We have planned another very special event this year as we honor individuals and

Slater said the executive committee voted unanimously to have Dutton serve as the speaker – not only because he is an awardwinning actor, but because he is a supporter of the NAACP’s national campaign of felon disenfranchisement.

The campaign advocates for the restoration of voting rights for millions of citizens who were felons who have done their time and have completed their sentence obligations. It features billboards of formerly incarcerated citizens from across the country, including celebrity activists Judge Greg Mathis and Dutton.

For more information on the banquet Call the NAACP office at 386-255-3736 or stop by the office at the John H. Dickerson Center, 308 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Daytona Beach.

Dutton’s acting career spans almost 30 years and he is best known for his starring role in the television series “Roc.’’ His work also includes roles in the films “DC Sniper,’’ “Rudy,’’ “Alien 3,’’ “Crocodile Dundee II,” “A Time to Kill,’’ “The Sopranos’’ and the new television series “Zero Hour.’’

BY JAMES HARPER DAYTONA TIMES STAFF harperjames59@yahoo.com

Saying there are no Volusia County minority contractors is not an excuse Daytona International Speedway officials can use when they begin work on a $250 million dollar renovation project later this year.

Sixty-six minority firms are listed on Florida’s Office of Supplier Diversity website.

On the website, 13 Blacks, 14 Hispanic and 38 women companies are certified as contractors - from construction companies, financial services providers, consultants and suppliers of materials.

Statewide there are 1,190 Black, 1551 Hispanic and 3,747 women businesses that are certified by the state and can be located through the Office of Supplier Diversity website.

The Office of Supplier Diversity (OSD) was created in 1996.

Mission of OSD Ben Wolf, director of Communications for the Florida Department of Management Services, which oversees OSD, said the mission of the OSD is to promote equity in state contracting for small, minority, women, service disabled veterans and wartime veteran business enterprises.

Please see SPEEDWAY, Page 6

Henrys denounce gun violence, tout education at slain teen’s funeral

BY ANDREAS BUTLER DAYTONA TIMES butleramj@yahoo.com

More than 300 people, some standing, packed New Life World Ministries’ sanctuary in Daytona Beach last Saturday for the funeral of Ji’Ron Jeffrey Dent, also known as “Boobie.’’

Dent 17, died on March 7 from a gunshot wound suffered two days earlier during an incident that took place in the Madison Heights subdivision.

Daytona Beach Mayor Der-

rick Henry and his older brother, Commissioner Patrick Henry, spoke at the funeral.

“I come as the mayor and an African-American male born and raised in this community. I am committed to making this community a better place. I have received phone calls and e-mails from those outside this community asking what they can do to help,” Henry said.

“Today, I ask you all to do what you can to make positive changes in this community and in the lives of young people.’’

‘We should be outraged’ Both Henrys gave the family words of condolence while condemning violence and encouraging education.

“We cannot allow the tragedy of this circumstance to go in vain. Go to school and graduate, live life with a purpose, and do not drive cars that look a certain way but do not belong to you.

The purpose of education is to teach people how to handle power. When I was working in education, kids often said they had no power. You do have power. You

have the power of choice, hope and God,” added the mayor.

Echoed Commissioner Henry, “More young Black men die in one day in America than U.S. forces in a war zone. We should be outraged. Young Black men are an endangered species. Gun violence is an infectious disease in our community.’’

Mentoring programs starting for boys, girls Out of Dent’s tragedy is born a program for young Black men and teens. The program is being

started by Commissioner Henry and will be housed in the Derbyshire area with 15 young men to begin with.

“I challenge every Black man to take two young Black men and mentor them no matter where they are. If we start to show these young men love, maybe they will show love for themselves,” responded Commissioner Henry.

Community activist Norma Bland, who is serving as a spokesperson for Dent’s family, is also starting a mentoring program for Please see FUNERAL, Page 2

7FOCUS

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MARCH 21 – MARCH 27, 2013

‘March Against the Madness,’ gun buyback program in works for May 18

BY JAMES HARPER DAYTONA TIMES harperjames59@yahoo.com

Bringing people together and working toward a solution against gun violence and domestic abuse will be the focus of a “March Against the Madness” set for May 18. It is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. from Derbyshire Park near Hope Fellowship Church in Daytona Beach.

Bishop Derek T. Triplett, pastor of Hope Fellowship and one of the organizers of the march said, “The fire is hot in our communi-

ty. Every day we are dealing with these ills and ailments.”

Triplett said he had hoped to have the march this month but because of Bike Week and other calendar issues they were not able to pull it off.

“I am not tying the march to any particular episode in our city but to aggregate violence across America,” Triplett said. He explained that the march wasn’t timed because of recent shootings across the city since December where Black teens were either killed or injured.

Bishop Derek Triplett

the planning stages of the gun buyback program in conjunction with Hope Fellowship the day of the march.

The last gun buyback took place in Daytona Beach last August at the Dickerson Center.

Residents turning in the weapons received a $50 Walmart gift card with no questions asked.

Triplett said he wants the rally and march to become a catalyst to bring people together who usually wouldn’t work together.

“We have a lot of people doing things in isolation,” he noted.

‘Complement to F.A.I.T.H.’ DBPD planning gun buyback Triplett said there are plans to work with the Daytona Beach Police Department (DBPD) for a gun buyback program the same day as the march.

DBPD spokesman Jimmie Flynt confirmed to the Daytona Times that the department is in

Triplett said he was aware this week about a rally organized by F.A.I.T.H. (Fighting Against Injustice Towards Harmony), a group of 32 churches targeting homelessness and joblessness.

F.A.I.T.H. invited elected officials to hear their concerns and asked them to pledge to do something about the issues.

“We are not members of F.A.I.T.H. We are a complement to F.A.I.T.H. Our audience is not

the government,” he said.

Triplett said the rally and march is not directed at elected official but to “bring awareness to our citizens.”

“We start to expect a way of life to be a way of life - someone gets killed, a senior is a victim, a child is a victim. We become desensitized to such happenings until it becomes normative. This should not be a regular part of our lives,” said Triplett.

“We need to dig deeper in the issues that come from repercussions of poverty. Poverty creates a certain culture. It creates a certain mindset approach to education, to ethics, to parenting. We are living results of non-sustainable communities,” he continued.

Triplett said the plan is to look at the landscape of the community and focus in on a couple of issues every year.

“Our kids are acting out in part of what the culture has produced,” he added.

For more information on March Against the Madness, call Hope Fellowship at 386-226-1122.

AIDS network to host ‘I Am My Brothers/ Sisters Keeper’ conference The Minority AIDS Network of Volusia/Flagler is hosting the “I Am My Brother/Sister’s Keeper” Conference from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 30 at Bethune-Cookman University’s L. Gale Lemerand School of Nursing, 739 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach.

The keynote speaker is HIV/AIDS activist and Jacksonville native Renee’ LadyByrd Burgess. The mother of three became an HIV/AIDS activist in 2008, months after being diagnosed as HIV positive. She is a junior at the Florida Institute of Technology majoring in computer information systems.

Burgess will share her experience of hearing that she was infected while being in a married relationship with a partner who had knowingly infected her without telling her of his status.

The conference is free to the public. Registration includes continental breakfast, lunch, door prizes and information.

To register for the conference, call 386-274-0500 ext.

0662.

F.A.I.T.H. from Page 1 Will reach out Durham said they are up against the clock to create a homeless center in the county. He said F.A.I.T.H. will put together a game plan to reach out to mayors and other elected officials who didn’t attend the rally.

“We hope the mayors will be supportive of items on our agenda. We will ask mayors to look at their own budget to find funds to ease the burden of Volusia County Council to create the homeless center,” Durham explained.

Durham said it also is up to citizens to write, email and call all elected officials, especially their county council representatives.

“We want our representatives to help alleviate the condition of homelessness and joblessness in Volusia County,” Durham continued.

DUANE FERNANDEZ/DAYTONA TIMES

Seated at right are Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry and his brother, Commissioner Patrick Henry. Both spoke at Ji’Ron Dent’s funeral last Saturday.

funeral from Page 1 young girls. The program is in the developmental stages and she is taking names for those who wish to attend.

“We are looking for those who may have had brushes with the law or are going astray but want to change their life rather in employment or education. I also ask all young men in the wake of this tragedy to pull their pants up, stick their chest out, walk proudly and clear the smoke from their heads. You do not have to die,” commented Bland.

Egito: Be part of solution Egito was specifically upset that more mayors and city council members were not at the rally. He noted that on the east side of the county the homeless problems mainly exists in Daytona Beach and Holly Hill but cities should also want to help solve the problem.

“They should be part of solution because it affects our entire community. If tourists are not coming to Daytona Beach because of the problems, they are not going to other cities,” Egito explained.

“Homelessness affects all of us equally. Daytona shouldn’t bare the brunt of the problem.’’

Egito also is upset that area residents aren’t aware of the many jobs that are available in the area. He also said residents are not qualified to handle the jobs that are available.

“I think all elected officials should have been there. If all of us went to a county council meeting and had spoken for three

Family mourns for two sons

in this community,” said Jackie Cord, Dent’s aunt.

Dent’s family asked the community to stop the violence and help young people in life.

The teen was the cousin of Rayshad Mitchell, a 23-year-old who was found dead on Verdell Street from a gunshot wound in December. No arrests have yet to be made in Mitchell’s murder.

“We are sorrowful. We are grieving. We are not retaliating.

We are standing strong. We asked that everyone let the police do their jobs. We ask that others do something to stop the violence and help youngsters with their lives. We will fight for our loved ones. Their legacies will live on

Suspects in jail In Dent case

minutes, we would have been there for weeks,” Egito said.

Superintendent present F.A.I.T.H had Volusia County School Superintendent Margaret Smith at the rally to pledge to do more to educate and train those coming out of the county’s schools.

Smith committed to providing more opportunities for high school students to earn industry certifications that meet workforce needs of Volusia County.

“What we found out is that there are thousands of jobs for people to fill but residents are not qualified or educated. The superientdent has programs already in place to help,” Egito noted.

A representative from the Center for Business Excellence (CBE) also was invited to the rally.

Egito said research found that the CBE is not wellknown in the community. “They were not making connection (to those who need the service most). We

Reports indicate that Dent was riding in a vehicle with John Headon when the vehicle was fired upon from occupants of another vehicle.

Both vehicles were reported stolen and the incident stemmed from an argument over the ownership of the vehicle that Dent was riding in according to reports.

Four young men were arrested in accordance with the shooting.

Tijuan Isaac, Enrique Chapman, George Green, Jr. and Nelson are

are counting on them to get with the program.’’

A representative from CBE pledged to update the website with the correct dates and times that the centers are open; provide clear and recognizable signage at the minicareer links; provide training and monitoring for volunteers at your mini career links; and promote their services, create new partnerships, and strengthen existing partnerships outside of the CBE. As of Jan. 29, there were 2,384 homeless people in Volusia. Twenty-three percent of the homeless are veterans and 66 percent of them suffer from mental illness, substance abuse problems, or both.

Support for homeless center F.A.I.T.H. members hope to create a homeless center similar to one operating in Pinellas County called Safe Harbor.

The center has assisted 13,693 people since its opening and only 2.4 percent of those came from

all behind bars.

Both Isaac and Chapman are facing first-degree attempted murder charges, according to police reports. Isaac was identified as the shooter and Chapman the driver, reports state.

Headon was arrested on Monday and charged with violation of probation but police say that his arrest has nothing to do with the shooting. Headon had fled the scene by the time police arrived to the shooting in the Dent case, according to police reports.

Dent is survived by his mother Katrina Cord, father Jeffrey Dent, two brothers and four sisters.

out of state and less than 5 percent were from outside the Pinellas area.

The elected officials present at Monday’s F.A.I.T.H. meeting committed to support a proposal for a homeless assistance center; and submit a proposal to the city commission and county council to contribute financially to this project.

The officials also committed to come up with a plan with F.A.I.T.H. representatives to create a center to be open by April

2014, which will include an eventual total of 250 shelter beds for single men and women; jail diversion; case management for all residents and partner with agencies who deal with health care, mental health, addiction assistance and outreach team.

Wagner and Cusack committed to use county land for this homeless assistance center and to meet with F.A.I.T.H. leaders by May 1 and quarterly thereafter, to report on their progress.

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Come let the Holy Ghost Get Ya!

MARCH 21 – MARCH 27, 2013

COMMUNITY M ANEWS YOR

3 7

DECEMBER 14 - 20, 2006

Campbell Middle students complete banking program

Food Brings Hope and Campaign for Working Families present graduation certificates to Campbell Middle School students in the FBHonors program.

SPECIAL TO THE DAYTONA TIMES

Campbell Middle School recently celebrated the graduation of 12 of its students from the Money Smart Banking Program presented by Food Brings Home and the United Way of Volusia & Flagler Counties’ “Campaign for Working Families.”

Money Smart Banking is an interactive banking program designed to teach students how to budget, the importance of saving, how to use bank services to protect money, and how to be a smart shopper.

The participating students were part of Food Brings Hope’s FBHonors initiative, which provides enrichment opportunities for high-achieving students in Volusia County Schools, which Food Brings Hope supports.

“At Food Brings Hope, we believe equipping young people in their formative years with the basics in financial education will give them the knowledge, skills, and confidence they will need in managing their money,” said Forough B. Hosseini, founder and chair of Food Brings Hope.

“We thank the United Way’s Campaign for Working Families, the teachers and administration at Campbell, and the financial experts who shared

their knowledge with our students. And most importantly, we thank our students for their enthusiasm and eagerness to learn and congratulate them for completing the program.”

Balanced checkbooks Tyna Lynn Hilton, a trained FDIC Money Smart facilitator and a United Way of Volusia Flagler Counties Campaign for Working Families volunteer, taught the four class sessions.

“I’m really happy that our students are getting the opportunity to learn the importance of savings, how to write checks and balance their checkbooks,” said Craig Zablo, Campbell’s principal. “These are life skills that will assist our students for the rest of their lives.”

Food Brings Hope provides collaborative solutions for families with children who experience hunger due to homelessness, poverty, or unfamiliarity with community resources.

Among other services, Food Brings Hope offers school based programs that provide meals, tutoring and activities for at-risk students.

For more information, visit www.FoodBringsHope. org or contact Fay Theos, Executive Director at 386453-1588 or Fay@FoodBringsHope.org.

Cancer survivors to take runway at March 30 fashion show Guests will have a fresh take on cancer awareness, jazzed up by cancer survivors modeling for the “Phenomenal Woman” breast cancer awareness fashion show. These are people we know and have no idea that they are cancer survivors.

Cynthia Black, a former professional runway model, debuts the show, bringing awareness to her passion for helping and looking good. She cuts through with guests on “FYI on the 411” radio show, sharing information on critical issues. The show airs Sundays, 10 a.m., on WNZF 106.3 FM and 1550 AM. However, this time, Black will have a rundown on fashion at Vince Carter’s, the cuisine and entertainment venue, in Daytona Beach, on March 30, 11:30 a.m.

Michelle Carter-Scott will be a special guest. She is co-owner of the restaurant with her son, NBA star Vince Carter. In the mix will be Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick L. Henry, Commissioner Patrick Henry, and

Palm Coast

Community news

By Jeroline D. Mccarthy | Daytona Times Shaquille O’Neal’s mom, NBA Moms President Lucille O’Neal.

Retired Army Col. Lloyd Freckleton will close the gap as a breast cancer survivor and the guest speaker. The show will be broadcast live. Black’s mission seeks to launch a foundation to treat breast cancer patients, as well as continue to network her viable talk show.

The sponsors are Vitas Innovative Hospice Care; The Holley Group; WNZF; Halifax Health of Volusia County; Florida Hospital, Flagler; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority; the NAACP, and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.

Black can be reached for more information at 386546-1817.

Community Calendar To list your community event FREE, e-mail us at news@daytonatimes. com. No phone calls or faxes, please. Events are listed on a space-available basis, and in the sole discretion of the Daytona Times staff. Effective immediately, paid events will no longer be listed in the Daytona Times Community Calendar. You can advertise local events for as little as $35 per week. Call 813-319-0961 or email sales@daytonatimes for more information.

Compiled by the Daytona Times ‘Journey to the Cross’ exhibit The Mt. Calvary Baptist Church of Palm Coast invites the public to its “Journey to the Cross” exhibit featuring scenic interactive stations that depict places and events highlighting Jesus’ journey to the cross of Calvary on March 27 from 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., 75 Pine Lakes Parkway South in Palm Coast. More information: 386-447-5719.

Holly Hill egg hunt The City of Holly Hill will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt on the front lawn of City Hall on March 23 from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Resurrection service at Hope Fellowship Hope Fellowship Church invites the public to Resurrection Sunday service at the News-Journal Center, 221 N. Beach Street

on March 31 at 10 a.m. Bishop Derek Triplett will deliver the sermon. More information: 386226-1122.

Crime info-session with DBPD Join Daytona Beach Police Department Chief Mike Chitwood and his command staff as they discuss current crime patterns and learn how to assist police in preventing and solving crimes in your neighborhood on March 21, 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. at the DBPD Headquarters, 2nd Floor CompStat Room, 129 Valor Blvd. More information: 386-671-5102.

Cultural Council to meet The Cultural Council of Volusia County will meet at 9 a.m.

March 22 at the Museum of

‘Signing Hands Showcase’ Using manual communication and body language, songs will be presented in the American Sign Language on March 23, 7 to 9 p.m., at Matanzas Auditorium, 3535 Old Kings Road North, Palm Coast.

“The Singing Hands Showcase” will bring awareness to people unable to hear and/or speak.

The students have performed songs, like “I’m Singing in the Rain.” It will be their fourth annual performance.

Tickets are $5; $3 for students with ID, as well as staff, and seniors 55 and older.

Half the ticket sales are earmarked for The Florida Association of the Deaf.

Florida Art, 600 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand. Members will discuss the Cultural Council’s programs and upcoming activities. The public is invited to attend and participate in the meeting. More information: 386-736-5963, ext. 15872, or mfincher@volusia.org.

County Council retreat The Volusia County Council’s team-building retreat will begin at 10 a.m. March 28 in the Volusia Room of the Daytona Beach International Airport, 700 Catalina Drive. The public is welcome, but there will be no public participation. Parking tickets will be validated. More information: 386-736-5920.

Watch ‘Gump’ under the stars The Daytona Beach Regional Library – City Island and Cinematique will feature “Forrest Gump” during their free book-and-a-movie series titled “Cinematique under the Stars” in March. The movie will begin at dusk March 22 in Riverfront Park. A book discussion will begin at 10 a.m. March 25 in the library’s boardroom. More information: 386-257-6036, ext.

16264.

East Central Florida’s Black Voice Visit us online at daytonatimes.com

Former runway model Cynthia Black will participate in the breast cancer awareness fashion show on March 30.

Easter services Easter is the most wellattended of the Christian observances. The First Church of Palm Coast will make the most of celebrating Easter, beginning Palm Sunday, March 24, for the 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. services.

Maundy Thursday, March 28, 6 p.m., will be celebrated by the Rev. Roger Williams, pastor of Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church, Hastings. The service will follow with a seder meal.

The Seven Last Utteranc-

es of Christ, Good Friday, March 29, noon to 3 p.m., will be the offering by various ministers. The Sunrise Service, Easter Sunday, March 31, 6 a.m., and the Resurrection Celebration, 10 a.m., will be preached by the Rev. Gillard S. Glover, pastor of First Church. A free brunch for guests will accompany the Sunrise Service. First Church, at 91 Old Kings Road North, can be reached at 386-4465759.

••• As always, remember

B-CU to present 23rd Humanities Advisory Council Seminar The 23rd Annual Humanities Advisory Council Seminar will be held March 21 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the President’s Dining Room of the Center for Civic Engagement at Bethune-Cookman University.

This year’s event focuses on four values – responsibility, compassion, humility, and commitment. Four guest speakers have been chosen by the planning committee of the Humanities Advisory Council to explore the theme “The Values of the Arts and Humanities.

They are: Barbara Mainster, executive director of Redlands Christian Migrant Association, an organization providing childcare and

our prayers for the sick, afflicted and bereaved.

Happy Birthday to You! Birthday wishes to: Christopher Robinson, March 21, Rory Ragoonan, Arthur Pete and Master Mason Sword, March 22; Evangelist Robin Campos, March 24; Vicki Seward, March 26, and my son, Christopher McCarthy, March 27.

educational assistance for rural, low-income children and families.

Anna M. Elias, co-founder of Random Acts Entertainment, a charitable film company producing independent, socially relevant films, which generate revenue, streams for charity.

Dr. Gail M. Robinson-Oturu, Professor of Music at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tenn., and an internationally renowned soprano, educator, performing artist, and Dr. Gail scholar.

RobinsonDr. Connie L. Lester, ProOturu fessor of History at the University of Central Florida and Director of RICHES of Central Florida, an interdisciplinary, digital research project that seeks to understand the history of the Central Florida region.

For more information, call 386-4812726.

AKAs seek participants for Men of Tomorrow program The Gamma Mu Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is seeking participants for its 16th Biennial Men of Tomorrow program.

Men of Tomorrow honors high school juniors and seniors in Volusia and Flagler counties. The young men will participate in four months of activities contributing to their cultural, educational and social enrichment.

Participation in the program develops leadership skills and provides career guidance. Interested young men must have a minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point average to participate.

The program will culminate in June with a formal presentation of participants to the Daytona Beach community.

To request an application for participation in the program, send an email to MenofTomorrow@gmoaka.org.

7 EDITORIAL

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MARCH 21 – MARCH 27, 2013

Southern governor breaks with the past There are some painful things from my childhood in segregated Tuscaloosa, Ala., that I will never forget.

At the top of the list is Gov. George C. Wallace’s June 11, 1963 “Stand in the School House Door” at the University of Alabama. I had just completed my sophomore year at Druid High School when Wallace came to my hometown to prevent two African-Americans – Vivian Malone and James Hood – from registering for classes at Foster Auditorium.

Wallace steps aside Deputy U.S. Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach asked Wallace to step aside and allow Malone and Hood to register. After Wallace refused, Katzenbach left and placed a call to President John F. Kennedy. The president federalized the Alabama National Guard and Katzenbach returned later in the day with Gen. Henry Graham, who was now under federal command.

Graham told Wallace, “Sir, it is my sad duty to ask you to step aside under the orders of the president of the United States.”

After a few more comments, Wallace stepped aside and Vivian Malone and James Hood registered as students.

Riots in Mississippi That was a joyous day on the west side of town, where most Blacks lived.

A year earlier, riots erupted in the state immediately west of us when James Meredith desegregated the University of Missis-

George E. Curry NNPA COLUMNIST

sippi at Oxford. Another segregationist governor, Ross Barnett, led the opposition to Meredith’s enrollment.

Meredith graduated with a political science degree on Aug. 18, 1963.

In 1966, Meredith returned to Mississippi to embark on what he called the “March Against Fear,” an effort to encourage Blacks in Mississippi to vote. Thirty miles into his 220-mile march from Memphis to Jackson, he was shot several times by a White sniper. Meredith survived the bullet wounds.

On the east side of Alabama, Lester Maddox was elected governor of Georgia in 1966, largely on his reputation as a staunch segregationist. When Blacks tried to integrate his restaurant in 1964, Maddox confronted them with an ax handle. He sold his restaurant rather than comply with the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

Victims of the times North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue broke with that racist past when she made the bold decision to pardon the Wilmington Ten just before completing her term. Upon issuing the pardons – the only ones she signed in office – Perdue said, “I believe the Wilmington Ten were victims of the times, and victims of a deep-

seeded prejudice and racism that circumvented any kind of likelihood that their trial was fair.”

A federal appeals court reached the same conclusion in 1980 when it overturned their conviction on arson and conspiracy charges in connection with the firebombing of a White-owned grocery store. Although an earlier governor had commuted the sentences of the Wilmington Ten, only Perdue would issue pardons of innocence, which had the same effect of their never having been convicted of a crime.

At a luncheon last week sponsored by the National Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation, Perdue Was honored for her courage.

For all the talk of a New South, nothing symbolized a changed region more than Perdue sharing a stage with Ben Chavis, the leader of the Wilmington Ten, and Mary Alice Thatch, whose activist father preceded her as publisher of the Wilmington Journal.

As we have seen, doing the right thing has not always been the hallmark of White governors in the South.

The sight of the former governor standing beside Chavis and Thatch was another memory I will always cherish.

George E. Curry is editorin-chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service. Curry can be reached through his Web site, www.georgecurry.com. Click on this story at www.daytonatimes.com to write your own response.

Being moral only when it’s convenient As a result of Ohio’s Republican Senator Rob Portman’s declaration last week that he now supports homosexual marriage, I am once again compelled to ask: Why are Christians and conservatives constantly apologizing for what they believe?

Portman said he changed his position because his son told him that he was homosexual. Typically, I would not write about someone’s family issues. But, in this instance, I want to come at this issue from a somewhat different perspective. I want to use Portman’s renunciation of his Christian beliefs to have a more broad discussion of morals and values.

You should know that Portman is one of the most decent people you will ever meet. It’s almost impossible not to like Portman. People like Portman makes me want to stay engaged in politics. Throughout his decades of public service, he has made it perfectly clear that he is a Christian conservative, who believes in the sanctity of life and marriage being between a man and a woman.

RAYNARD JACKSON NNPA COLUMNIST

a woman.” How does his son being homosexual change what the Bible has to say on this issue?

Portman ends his column with, “I’ve thought a great deal about this issue, and like millions of Americans in recent years, I’ve changed my mind on the question of marriage for same-sex couples.

As we strive as a nation to form a more perfect union, I believe all of our sons and daughters ought to have the same opportunity to experience the joy and stability of marriage.”

Portman is doing what most parents would do — support their child. But he would be supporting his child even more by telling him that he totally disagrees with his personal lifestyle choice, but loves him anyway. That way, he would abandon neither his son nor God’s word.

rooted in my faith tradition that marriage is a sacred bond between a man and a woman. Knowing that my son is gay prompted me to consider the issue from another perspective: that of a dad who wants all three of his kids to lead happy, meaningful lives with the people they love, a blessing Jane and I have shared for 26 years.

“I wrestled with how to reconcile my Christian faith with my desire for Will to have the same opportunities to pursue happiness and fulfillment as his brother and sister. Ultimately, it came down to the Bible’s overarching themes of love and compassion and my belief that we are all children of Raynard Jackson is presiGod.” dent and CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC., a WashAbout face ington, D.C.-based public relaWhat makes me uncomfortable tions/government affairs firm. about Portman’s about face is the He can be reached through his Another perspective implication that in order to love Web site, www.raynardjackson.

In a column he wrote last week, his son, he must turn his back on com. Click on this story at www.

Portman said, “…My position on “my faith tradition that marriage is daytonatimes.com to write your marriage for same-sex couples was a sacred bond between a man and own response.

Credit check can be barrier to job or promotion As Black America continues to struggle with high unemployment rates, a new research report

by Demos, a public policy organization titled, “Discredited: How employment credit checks keep qualified workers out of a job,’’ unveils how the use of credit history in employment decisions is often leaving people of color in the unemployment lines.

Among employers with fiduciary responsibilities, it is a longstanding practice to include credit reviews in hiring decisions. Banks, credit unions and similar employers should be careful in handling others’ money and deposits.

Discriminatory hiring But the Demos report found employment credit checks now are becoming standard operating procedures for many employees without such responsibilities. In these instances, disproportionately screening people of color out of jobs can lead to discriminatory hiring.

With higher rates of unemployment and the additional burden of wealth disparities, many African-American and Latino households have a greater need to borrow for emergencies and are also at a greater risk for foreclosure or loan default.

Blacks worse off Surveying nearly 1,000 low- and

Charlene Crowell NNPA FINANCIAL WRITER

middle-income households with credit card debt, Demos found that people of color are disproportionately likely to report worse credit than Whites. Even for employed persons seeking a promotion at work, credit scores can be a factor in deciding which employee will get the better job.

Consumers surveyed shared that much of the debt going to collections agencies was for unexpected medical costs rather than for retail credit card usage.

Households without health coverage were more than twice as likely to report that their credit score had declined in the past three years.

“It makes little sense to say that someone is not a good candidate for a job because they are still coping with the expense of a costly family medical emergency several years ago,” the report said.

These consistent findings on medical debt are also reflected in America’s disproportionate unemployment data. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics continues to show that Black unemployment doubles that of Whites.

From December 2012 through February 2013, White unemployment averaged 7 percent. By contrast, Black unemployment stood at 14 percent.

So what is a debt-burdened, unemployed consumer to do?

Consumer rights The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) allows employers to request credit reports on job applicants and existing employees. The statute also lays out specific steps under which these credit checks must occur.

By law, employers must: first obtain written permission from the affected consumer before a credit review; notify individuals before any adverse action is taken as a result of the credit review; offer the employee or applicant a copy of the credit report, along with a written summary of his/her consumer’ rights; and provide job applicants with a brief period of time to dispute any errors in their report.

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

She can be reached at Charlene. crowell@responsiblelending. org. Click on this story at www. daytonatimes.com to write your own response.

VISUAL VIEWPOINT: OBAMA VISITS ISRAEL

DAVE GRANLUND, www.davegranlund.com

Trayvon Martin: One year later “We’re here to let the community, and particularly teenagers, know that they have a right to walk in peace without being followed, without being harmed and without being killed.”

- Sybrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin A year has passed since that awful day last Feb. 26 when 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed while returning from a convenience store to a townhouse he and his father were visiting in Sanford.

Trayvon Martin was an unarmed African-American teenager, wearing a hoodie. The shooter was George Zimmerman, a 28-year-old neighborhood watch volunteer, who called 9-11 to report a “suspicious” person and then ignored a police dispatcher’s order not to follow Trayvon.

Right to shoot first Moments later, Trayvon was shot dead. Since then, thousands of other gun deaths and several mass shootings have elevated the issue of gun violence to the top of the national agenda.

But the death of Trayvon Martin remains especially disturbing to many of us because of what it says about the racial profiling of young Black males, police departments that are often slow to protect their rights, and a fatally flawed law that gives people — possibly even criminals — the right to shoot first and ask questions later.

It took a while, but the wheels of justice are turning in the Trayvon Martin case. In the wake of widespread criticism of the nearly six-week delay in arresting and charging Zimmerman with a crime, former Sanford police chief, Bill Lee was fired last June.

Former Elgin, Illinois deputy police chief, Cecil Smith is set to take over as head of the Sanford police force on April 1.

Zimmerman’s second-degree murder trial begins on June 10.

It is believed that he and his lawyers will base their defense on Florida’s troubling Stand Your Ground law which states that anyone in fear of his or her life could be justified in using lethal force against a potential or per-

MARC H. MORIAL TRICE EDNEY WIRE

ceived attacker.

‘I am Trayvon’ Thousands of citizens have rallied in recent days to mark the one-year anniversary of Trayvon Martin’s death. On February 9, four days after what would have been Trayvon’s 18th birthday, his parents, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, sponsored an “I am Trayvon Day of Remembrance Community Peace Walk” in North Miami-Dade County.

Students at Florida State University in Tallahassee have rallied for a repeal of the Stand Your Ground law. And on Feb. 26, a “Million Hoodie” candlelight vigil was held in New York’s Union Square that was attended by hundreds, including actor Jamie Foxx.

Justice for Trayvon While attention now turns to the upcoming trial, as the father of a 10-year-old son, I cannot help but recall what Sybrina and Tracy said about their son a year ago: “Trayvon was our hero.

At age 9, Trayvon pulled his father from a burning kitchen, saving his life. He loved sports and horseback riding. At only 17, he had a bright future ahead of him with dreams of attending college and becoming an aviation mechanic. Now that’s all gone.”

Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin have formed the Justice for Trayvon Martin Foundation to honor their son and to “advocate for all victims of injustice and senseless crimes throughout the world.” Like millions of Americans, we continue to stand with them. We will not rest until justice is done.

Marc H. Morial, former mayor of New Orleans, is president and CEO of the National Urban League. Click on this story at www.daytonatimes.com to write your own response.

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.

THE CREDO OF THE BLACK PRESS The Black Press believes that Americans can best lead the world away from racism and national antagonism when it accords to every person, regardless of race, color or creed, full human and legal rights. Hating no person, fearing no person. The Black Press strives to help every person in the firm belief...that all are hurt as long as anyone is held back.

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MAYOR ENTERTAINMENT

MARCH 21 – MARCH 27, 2013DECEMBER 14 - 20, 2006

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DAYTONA TIMES OUT & ABOUT

One more glance at Bike Week 2013 Bike Week 2013 kicked off on March 8 and culminated on March 17. Photographer Duane Fernandez captured the images of bikers having a grand time the last weekend of the annual event.

The heart of Bike Week activities in Black Daytona occur on Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard (formerly Second Avenue) and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

4 1. A motorcycle club from Jacksonville posts up during Bike Week. Bikers from all over the country were seen hanging out on “The Avenue’’ (Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard).

2

2. A look at bikes along Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard.

3. Two bikers take time to kick back, chat and enjoy the sights.

4. A fellow who favored funk legend Bootsy Collins talks to a kid during Bike Week. The impersonater garnered plenty of attention.

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5. A couple cruises down The Avenue on a custom-made bike.

6. Bike Week had The Avenue busy and packed with bikes, spectators and vendors.

7. Even the women had pimped-out rides during Bike Week like this sister from North Carolina on her custommade pink bike.

8. A group shows off their bikes, which are custom made for racing.

PHOTOS BY DUANE FERNANDEZ/ HARDNOTTS PHOTOGRAPHY 8

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SPEEDWAY from Page 1 There are thousands of other minority businesses across the state that may be qualified to work on such a large project that are not listed.

“Vendors submit a certification request with information required by DMS (Department of Management Services). Our Office of Supplier Diversity receives the request and confirms that the vendor meets the qualifications for certification,” Wolf explained.

Wolf said vendors on the OSD list are registered under a specific commodity code and are notified of a potential bid opportunity that exceeds $35,000. There is no designated preference for public or private projects.

Impact of bill Daytona Speedway President Joie Chitwood III announced last month that the organization wants to do a complete overhaul of the Speedway’s frontstretch grandstands, from creating an iconic entrance to the facility that includes escalators to the stands, football-field-length “neighborhoods’’ that include video screens, bars and themed restaurants and new and more comfortable seating as well as the addition of more restrooms and concession stands.

The future of the Speedway’s renovation project hinges on if state legislators pass a bill, submitted by Florida State Rep. David Santiago, that could potentially add up to millions of dollars of tax breaks for the Speedway.

If the bill is passed as is, there are no conditions that would encourage or force the Speedway to exercise diversity and hire minority contractors to help begin and complete the project.

This is because of Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush’s One Florida initiative, which has a race-neutral requirement involving state construction projects.

Santiago said in reference to the Speedway hiring minority contractors he wants to make sure everybody has equal access.

“I want to find places for people to work. The more and more

people who work is better for the economy. I believe in investing dollars where we can put people back to work,” he said.

“You always have people that prosper. Not everybody plays fair.’’

Controversial requirement At one time in the state, percentage goals for minority participation were used in purchasing contracts in some state agencies.

When the race-neutral requirement began, opponents of the race-neutral component, such as the state’s NAACP said people doing the hiring for state and private construction projects “hire based on friendship, what you look like, where you live, usually leaving Blacks and other minorities out of the mix.”

Judge Stephen Mickle, a Black federal judge, found Florida’s law setting minority participation goals for state contracts unconstitutional, saying it violates the Equal Protection clause of the 14th Amendment.

Wolf said “One Florida,” which forbids minority set asides and quotas, encourages the state to explore all opportunities to contract with minority- and womenowned business.

Daytona Speedway officials will have to be pressured into hiring minority contractors to be part of their $250 million renovation project, Orlando Attorney Veronica Anderson told the Daytona Times earlier this month.

What bill does Santiago said he was approached by Speedway officials to file a bill seeking sales tax refunds and rebates contingent on the Speedway, investing at least $250 million of its money in the overhaul over a four-year period.

Rep. David The legislator Santiago said he wrote the 17-page measure with input from Speedway officials.

If passed, the Speedway would

MARCH 21 – MARCH 27, 2013 be reimbursed for the sales tax spent on building materials for the construction. That would be a one-time refund. For the next 30 years, the Speedway would receive up to $2 million annually in sales tax rebates for sales at the Speedway.

The bill has to go through several committees then come up for discussion and a vote in the state House and Senate.

State Senator Dorothy Hukill filed a companion bill for the Senate.

Taylor contacted Initially it appeared unusual that Santiago was asked to write the bill for the Speedway, considering the entertainment complex is located in Rep. Dwayne Taylor’s district.

Santiago, a Republican who Rep. Dwayne lives in Deltona, Taylor told the Daytona Times in a recent interview that the first person he contacted after he was approached to file the bill was Taylor, who is a Black Democrat. Taylor lives in Daytona Beach.

Taylor was first elected to the Florida House in 2008 and has been re-elected ever since compared to Santiago who began his first term as a legislator last November.

He said Taylor immediately agreed to co-sponsor the bill.

Santiago said he was aware that the construction project was taking place in “Dwayne’s backyard, but I had a bill slot” to fill.

“I see he (Taylor) has a great relationship with the Speedway,” Santiago noted, elaborating that he doesn’t believe there was anything personal as to why he was asked to file the bill and not Taylor.

Taylor ready to help When contacted by the Daytona Times on Santiago filing the bill for the Speedway, Taylor agreed that since Republicans control both the Florida House and Senate, it would be easier to get the bill passed because Santiago filed it.

He also noted that all his bill

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slots were taken.

“I filled bills in November. My slots were already committed,” Taylor said.

As far as amending Santiago’s bill so there is a minority set aside, Taylor said they’ve tried doing that on related bill with no success adding, “It’s not on any of the other bills passed related to sports franchises seeking tax breaks.”

Taylor said when the bill is presented on the floor of the House he will talk about minority participation on the construction project and will ask that people who live in Daytona Beach and surrounding cities be given preference and more consideration than anyone else.

He said Speedway officials told him 4,000 jobs will be created as a result of the renovation project and he received a commitment from them that they will be hiring minorities.

Taylor said he knows a number of minority contractors and will be introducing them to Speedway officials.

“I am going to work with the Speedway to hire minorities and locals before they (Speedway) branch out (to hire others),” he said, adding that he cannot dictate who they hire but will encourage who they should hire.

Taylor said he is aware that many local minority contractors may not have capital or the necessary equipment or be able to get bonded for some of the contracts that will be offered.

Nevertheless, Taylor said he will work to locate those that can do the work.

“Black people need to show up if they want to be part of the process,” Taylor concluded.

Attorney: Apply pressure Santiago said he would engage in a conversation with track officials about a minority set aside and research the history on similar bills like he is filing for the Speedway to see if there is any political and private support for such an amendment to his bill.

He said he at least wants the Speedway to guarantee that local contractors play a role in the expansion.

Orlando Attorney Anderson said in a Daytona Times article two weeks ago that if the Black com-

munity wants jobs on the Speedway project, they must put pressure on elected officials, pack city commission and county council meetings and contact their state representatives and senators, all of whom have a role or will have a role in the project getting off the ground.

In an recent interview, Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry, who is Black, didn’t comment on whether the Speedway should be encouraged or forced to hire a certain percentage of minorities for their construction project but did say, “I think it’s no more than fair that the Speedway gets the same tax benefit those other sporting events receive.”

“Furthermore the economic impact of their proposed plans will be positive and are consistent with my hopes that the private sector leads the way in our local economic recovery,” Henry added.

Volusia County Councilman Joshua Wagner, who represents the bulk of Daytonans living in the county also shied away from suggesting a minority set aside for the Speedway construction project.

“I am glad to see a bill filed that supports our local community. It would be prudent of the Legislature to help increase tourism in Daytona Beach and Volusia County,” Wagner told the Times.

‘Workforce composition’ condition The Speedway already has received support from the City of Daytona Beach and the Volusia County Council with no strings attached, such as a “workforce composition” condition.

This workforce composition – which could mean the Speedway must hire a percentage of minorities or set a goal of hiring such minorities – could take place when Speedway officials go back to the city for permits, said Deputy City Manager Paul McKitrick. But he noted the political will for commissioners to attach such a condition may not be there.

Next week: Minority contractor Anderson Hill, formerly of Daytona Beach, shares his experiences acquiring work on major projects.

MARCH DECEMBER 21 – MARCH 14 -27, 20,2013 2006

MSPORTS AYOR

7

PHOTOS BY CASEY BELL/SPECIAL TO THE DAYTONA TIMES

Spruce Creek’s Chandler Rodrigueze (24) tags New Smyrna’s Diamonte Mitchell (8) during a recent game, but Mitchell is safe. The Hawks played district rival DeLand on Bright House Networks on Tuesday night.

Spruce Creek’s star pitcher out for the season

BY ANDREAS BUTLER DAYTONA TIMES butleramj@yahoo.com

Spruce Creek, the defending Class 8A state champions, took a big blow to defending its title with the lost of star pitcher Kyle Marsh for the rest of the season.

The junior pitcher broke a kneecap while playing basketball on Monday and is expected to miss 8 to 10 weeks. He was scheduled to pitch against Lake Mary in a district game on March 21.

Marsh is committed to the University of Central Florida. He also is an offensive threat. So far this sea-

son he is batting over .400 with a team high 16 RBIs. Last year, Marsh went 110 with a 0.43 ERA on the mound, garnering Central Florida Player of the Year honors. His ERA was the best in all of Central Florida.

Marsh is 1-1 on the season with three saves and a 0.46ERA and is batting over .400 with a team high 16 RBI’s.

Local teams garner spotlight Spruce Creek and DeLand garnered the local television spotlight on Tuesday when the two teams

VOLUSIA COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS REVIEW squared off on Bright House Network’s Channel 47.

Both programs have been successful in recent years. Creek won the Class 8A state title last season and DeLand made the Final Four back in 2006 and 2007.

Seabreeze and Mainland also played that day with Bright House Networks on hand as live updates of their game were scheduled to be given during the Spruce

Davis played two seasons at Clemson. In 2012, he played in 13 games registering 18 tackles. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

A lack of playing time and being away from his children – a 3-year old son and 1-year old daughter – were reasons for Davis to return home.

He also looked at the possibilities of playing for Miami, Florida and Florida State.

As of Tuesday, Davis had yet to enroll at BethuneCookman confirmed Assistant Athletic Director for Communications/Sports Information Director Bryan Harvey.

Spruce Creek’s Kyle Marsh throws a pitch during a recent game against New Smyrna.

Creek-DeLand matchup.

Both of the games were played after the Daytona Times’ deadline.

Football: Former Bucs standout at B-CU Former Mainland High School standout defensive back Cortez Davis is now at Bethune-Cookman University.

Creek’s Colubiale to UCF Spruce Creek senior wide receiver Michael Colubiale will accept a walk-on invitation with the University of Central Florida.

The 6’ 3” Colubiale caught 57 passes for 717 yards with eight touchdowns for the Hawks in 2012. He also recorded 29 tackles on defense as a linebacker.

Middle school basketball The Middle School basketball season tipped off for Volusia County schools on Tuesday. The season will run through May 19.

Games are played on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

All 13 of the county’s public middle schools boast boys and girls squads. Each team plays a total of 12 games.

The Eastside division champion will face the Westside division champion in the championship game on May 21 at Mainland in Daytona Beach.

Check with schools and the school district for schedules and times.

Prep Sports Seven Baseball 1. Spruce Creek (11-2); New Smyrna (9-1), 3. University (11-4), 4.Trinity (n/a), 5. Mainland (7-4), 6. Taylor (10-4), 7. Father Lopez (6-3). Lurking: DeLand (6-7), Seabreeze (56), Deltona (6-5-1), Flagler Palm Coast (4-5). Records are as of March 19 at noon.

Madness magic runs out for the B-CU Wildcats

BY ANDREAS BUTLER DAYTONA TIMES butleramj@yahoo.com

Bethune-Cookman had its basketball season come to an end with an 81-72 loss to Morgan State University in the semifinals of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) tournament on March 8.

The Morgan Bears shot 57 percent from the field and scored 48 points in the paint.

“It took us a while to adjust to how big and physical they were. Their inside scoring was the difference in the game,” said B-CU head coach Gravelle Craig.

The Wildcats finished the 2012-13 campaign with a 14-20 record and were hoping for a third straight appearance in the MEAC tournament title game.

Kevin Dukes had 20 points and Ricky Johnson scored 18 points to lead BCU. Shaquille Duncan had 17 points with three blocks to lead Morgan. The Bears also got 16 points apiece from Justin Black and Dewayne Jackson.

North Carolina A&T State University topped the fifth-seeded Bears to win the MEAC tournament and earned the automatic berth to the NCAA tournament.

B-CU upsets Norfolk Two days earlier the Wildcats pulled off a 70-68 overtime win to shock the top seeded Norfolk State University Spartans in the quarterfinals.

B-CU ROUNDUP The Spartans had gone undefeated in conference play (16-0) in the regular season.

“We played them 10 days ago and lost, but we could have won that game. We knew that we could play with them. We knew that it would be a challenge,” said Craig.

Adrien Coleman posted 24 points with 13 rebounds to lead B-CU in that game.

The Wildcats were able to get out in transition and shot 59 percent from the floor.

Dukes and Paul Scotland also added 11 points apiece for B-CU. Pendarvis Williams had 19 points, Kris Brown 15 and Rashid Gaston 12 for the Spartans.

Baseball: Wildcats drop series to Aggies On the diamond, the Wildcats dropped two of three games to MEAC rival North Carolina A&T this past weekend.

The Aggies took the first game of a double header 15-6 to open the series, but the Wildcats bounced back to take the second game by a score of 15-2.

For the day, David Lee was 4-for-7 with seven RBIs, Eros Modena 6-for9 with two RBIs, Brandon Turner 5-for-8 with three RBIs and Josh Johnson tallied four RBI’s while Ali Simpson got his first win of

“We had a great outing.

We are definitely headed in the right direction,” commented Donald Cooper, BCU’s head track and field coach.

B-CU will compete in the Florida State University relays in Tallahassee March 22-23.

Softball: Ladies struggling

COURTESY OF B-CU SPORTS INFORMATION

BCU’s Adrien Coleman (1) posted 24 points in a game last week against Norfolk State. He is shown here in a previous game against Florida A&M University. the season on the mound for B-CU. The Aggies (7-12, 3-3) took the series finale with a 9-6 win on Sunday. Shaun McCarthy went 3-for-4 with an RBI and Eric Sams 3-for5 with an RBI for B-CU. The Wildcats hosted South Florida on Wednesday, after the Daytona Times’ deadline.

B-CU (11-11, 6-3) travels to Kansas State for a threegame series from March 22-24 and to North Florida on March 26.

The Wildcats’ game with Stetson, which was rained out on Feb. 26, has been re-

scheduled for 6 p.m. April 8 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in downtown Daytona Beach.

Track: Dunkley leads at Hurricane Invite Kadian Dunkley (4:45.69) led the Bethune-Cookman women’s track and field performers by winning the 1,500-meter run at the Hurricane Invitational on the campus of the University of Miami.

Tristie Johnson (11.60s) finished second in the 200-meter dash while the women’s 4x100 relay team (Keyona Thomas, Apple

Harris, Johnson and Shakira Garner/46.22s) took third for B-CU. The Wildcats men were paced by Keron Stoute (6,069 points), who won the decathlon. Stoute won five events out of 10.

Barry Kimbrough (149008 ft) took second in the discus, Martin Embry (5,546 points) also finished third in the decathlon and La’Quan Howard 947-04.50 ft) was third in the triple jump for B-CU. Overall, the Wildcats’ track and field program finished with 31 top 10 finishes.

The Lady Wildcats softball team is off to a slow start. They were swept in a double header by Cornell on Monday at the friendly compounds of Sunnyland Park in Daytona Beach.

Cornell led 6-0 en route to a 6-3 victory in the first game. Michelle Banuelos-Smith hit a two-run homerun and Wanda Darby scored on an error following a single by Aurelia Gamch for B-CU. Cornell took the second game by a score of 7-3. Baneulos-Smith hit a tworun double and Shmaria Engram scored on a wild pitch for B-CU. The Lady Wildcats have lost 11 consecutive games and are 3-22 on the season.

They were to host Monmouth in a double header on Tuesday.

B-CU travels to Boca Raton for the Florida Atlantic University Invitational Tournament from March 22-24 and to Durham, N.C., from March 30-31 to face North Carolina Central to open MEAC Southern Division play.

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7MARCH 21 – MARCH 27, 2013

Education chief: Schools failing Black students Duncan describes paradox of progress during session last week with Black publishers

nership with families and communities.

5. College must be accessible and affordable for all students who are qualified to attend college.

“For too long, educators and members of the public often shrugged their shoulders in the face of persistently poor performance in our lowest-achieving schools. Too many school leaders wrote off poor children and children of color,” Duncan said.

“President Obama and I refuse to accept that fatalism. Both our life experiences working in the community tell us that with supports, opportunities, and guidance, our children can and do achieve at high levels. We just have to meet them half way.”

BY GEORGE E. CURRY NNPA NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON – Instead of being the traditional ticket to success, many of our nation’s troubled schools hinder opportunity for upward mobility, especially for students of color, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan told Black publishers in a private meeting last week.

“The hard truth, the brutal truth, is that in too many places, our education system is falling short of being the engine of mobility, the prized pathway to the middle class,” Duncan told members of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA). “Instead, tragically, these schools often perpetuate inequality and restrict opportunity.”

In a White House meeting with Black newspaper publishers, Duncan described what he calls the paradox of progress.

“The good news is that after the Brown (Brown v. Board of Education) decision, school segregation declined dramatically in the South. The bad news is that our schools today are as segregated as they have been at any time since the death of Dr. (Martin Luther) King.

“The good news is that many more Black students today are graduating from high school and enrolling in college than ever before. The bad news is that Black students are still less likely than their peers to receive equal access to top-notch teachers and the college-prep classes they need to succeed in today’s globally competitive economy.

“The good news is that there are now many more Black men in college than in prison. The bad news is that not enough of those young men are staying in college to get their degree — and far too many of them are losing

On gun violence NNPA NEWS SERVICE

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan spoke to members of the National Newspaper Publishers Association in Washington, D.C. is not increasing nearly as fast as it should.”

their lives as a result of gun violence and our unwillingness to do what is necessary to keep our children safe.

“The good news is that by 2010, the on-time graduation rate for Black students had risen to 66.1 percent. Two-thirds of Black ninth-graders now graduate on time. That is an increase of almost six percentage points from 2008 — and it is probably the highest high school graduation rate for Black students in our nation’s history… The bad news is that one-third of Black students are still not graduating on time — and we know those numbers are even higher in many inner-city neighborhoods.

“The good news is that Black enrollment in college went up by about 15 percent from the fall of 2008 to the fall of 2011. Nearly 400,000 more Black students are in college today than when the president took office. The bad news is that Black enrollment was essentially flat between 2010 and 2011. And enrollment

Opportunity gap Duncan said while there is much public debate about the achievement gap between people of color and Whites, he is worried about another gap.

“In 2013, children of color in America not only confront an achievement gap, they confront what I call an opportunity gap that, too often, is unacceptably wide,” he told the publishers. “…

The scope of the gap today — and the reasons it persists — is spelled out in the recent report of the Equity and Excellence Commission and in the data we gathered as part of our Civil Rights Data Collection Project.

“This opportunity gap is deeply troubling. It is painfully at odds with the American creed — that if you study hard and play by the rules, you get a fair shot at the future, regardless of your zip code, skin color, or the size of your bank account.”

According to Duncan, nearly 40 percent of Black and Hispanic students attend schools that are more than 90 percent White. Consequently, at a time the U.S. is growing more diverse, its classrooms are becoming less diverse.

“Think about that for a moment,” Duncan said. “The data are clear: A decrease in diversity and an upswing in racial isolation are one reason that the opportunity gap is not ending.”

Some solutions To tackle the problem, Duncan said he and President Obama believe: 1. Every student should have access to a world-class education that includes access to rigorous, college- and career-ready coursework.

2. Every student should have an effective teacher.

3. Schools must be accountable for the needs and performance of all students.

4. Schools must work in part-

Duncan said violence has to be reduced, especially in urban areas, if educational programs are to be successful.

“I hope you will work together with the nation’s responsible gun owners — including police officers and members of the clergy and the business community — to enact the commonsense restrictions that President Obama has proposed on the sale of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

“I hope you will join in the fight to expand background checks and close the gun show loophole. For if there is even one step we can take to prevent a child from dying unnecessarily, we must take it.”

In an attempt to personalize gun violence, Duncan told publishers about a picture a student had drawn for him.

“It was a picture of him as a fireman. And the caption that he wrote to go along with it was: ‘If I grow up, I want to be a fireman.’

That’s a deep statement about the reality of this young man’s world. Think about what this means for so many of our young kids today, who think about if I grow up. If, not when.”

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