STEM majors racking up SEE PAGE 5
East Central Florida’s Black Voice
EE FR
REV. JESSE JACKSON: Better wages will come when we start demanding them SEE PAGE 4
BRUCE MCNORTON BRINGS IN NFL PALS AGAIN FOR FREE FOOTBALL CLINIC SEE PAGE 7
JUNE 11 - JUNE 17, 2015
YEAR 40 NO. 24
www.daytonatimes.com
West Volusia NAACP honors Starke principal Dwayne Coleman one of local leaders honored at banquet
NAACP President Mike Williams presents Dwayne Copeland with The Difference Maker of the Year Award.
BY DAYTONA TIMES STAFF
Dwayne Copeland, who has been a Volusia County Schools educator for nearly 20 years, became principal of Starke Elementary School in DeLand at the start of last year’s school year and is working hard to boost test scores and get the students more en-
DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR./ HARNOTTSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
gaged in the learning process. Since going to Starke, Copeland has reinstated the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) program, and has implemented events that have students reading more and working on math and science projects.. Copeland’s diligence earned him the Difference Maker of the Year Award from the West Volusia Branch of the NAACP. He was recognized during the branch’s annual Freedom Fund and Awards Banquet presented June 5 at New Hope Baptist Church in Deltona.
From Cookman to classroom The branch’s focus was “Pursuing Liberty in the Face of Injustice,’’ which is the national organization’s theme for this year. Prior to becoming principal of Starke, Copeland was an assistant principal at Spruce Creek High, Silver Sands Middle, Hurst (now Champion) Elementary. He also is a former teacher and behavioral specialist. The Mount Dora native is a Please see HONOR, Page 2
Juneteenth festival in Daytona an annual day for entertainment and education BY PENNY DICKERSON DAYTONA TIMES
PHOTOS BY DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR./HARNOTTSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
Daytona 500 Champion Joey Logano, right, presents Navy Petty Officer Marshannon Garland with her autographed grandstand seat. Also shown is Joie Chitwood III, president of the Daytona International Speedway, left, and a longtime racing fan.
A Speedway surprise for veterans
Service men and women receive free tickets to race, autographed memorabilia
Juneteenth: The back story
Veterans representing the different military branches pose Tuesday with Joey Logano, center.
Daytona 500 Champion Joey Logano and longtime Daytona International Speedway ticket holders surprised 22 local military members with free tickets to the 2015 Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola and vintage grandstand seats autographed by the driver on Tuesday. Along with the two tickets each, the honorees got a chance to see Logano add his “square” to the Daytona 500 Champion’s Walk of Fame during a special ceremony and tour of the Daytona Rising renovation project. The 57th annual Coke Zero 400 will be held the evening of Sunday, July 5.
Local residents can celebrate African-American history for free on Saturday at the 15th annual Juneteenth Family Festival at the Cypress Park and Recreation Center in Daytona Beach. The festival is from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The community gathering of family and friends will present the Sankofa African-American Museum on Wheels and there will be events for children and teens. Free blood pressure checks and more will be available at a health fair. Food vendors will on site and free fruit and vegetable bags will be provided by Farm Share. “Juneteenth brings the entire community together for one day to put aside our differences. It’s not a white thing or a black thing. It is all religions and races coming together,” shared Linda McGee, festival chairperson. “This is a celebration that Daytona is proud of and gets bigger every year. We have our first major sponsors, which are Halifax Health and Halifax Health Hospice.” Last year’s Juneteenth festival drew about 6,000 people to the park.
It took two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation that the word that slaves had been freed was issued through Union soldiers in Galveston, Texas. Folklore reports that the messenger was murdered or that plantation owners withheld the news in order to retail slave labor and reap a final cotton harvest. The single historical truth is that slaves in America’s Midwest learned on June 19 that the war was over, the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed, and they were free. An unrivaled Please see FESTIVAL, Page 2
B-CU mourns death of former quarterback, football and basketball coach SPECIAL TO THE DAYTONA TIMES
Raymon Thornton, one of the top quarterbacks in Bethune-Cookman history and a member of the University’s Athletics Hall of Fame inaugural class, died on June 22. He was 87. As a student-athlete, Thornton helped lay the groundwork for the success of Wildcats football. He was named the program’s second All-American in 1951 and garnered the top quarterback award from the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SI-
ALSO INSIDE
AC) after setting the record for most touchdowns in a season with 14. The previous year, he was named first team quarterback on the SIAC in Bethune-Cookman’s final year with that league. Thornton returned to BetRaymon hune-Cookman as an assisThornton tant football coach and head basketball coach from 1956-61. As a basketball coach, he compiled an overall record
of 43-34 with his best campaign being a 15-4 mark during the 1958-59 campaign.
Head coach, educator In 1960, Thornton served as head football coach after the legendary Rudolph “Bunky” Matthews suffered a heart attack before the start of the season. The Wildcats finished the year 3-4 overall. After Bethune-Cookman, Thornton went on to serve as a teacher and school administrator in South Florida. His contribution to Bethune-Cookman
Athletics was so appreciated that he was selected as one of 20 inaugural members of the Hall of Fame in 2000. He is survived by one son, Raymond, Jr. A visitation was scheduled June 11 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Royal Funeral Service, 17475 NW 27th Av., Miami Gardens. His funeral is set for Friday, June 12, 10 a.m. at Mt. Hermon AME Church, 17800 NW 25th Ave., Miami Gardens.
This story is courtesy of B-CU Athletics.
COMMUNITY NEWS: YOUNG GOSPEL ARTISTS PUT ON POWERFUL SHOW IN PALM COAST | PAGE 3 SPORTS: FUNDS BEING SOUGHT FOR FORMER B-CU FOOTBALL PLAYER BATTLING CANCER | PAGE 6
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JUNE 11 – JUNE 17, 2015
Volusia accepting applications for charter review committee The Volusia County Council is seeking civic-minded citizen volunteers to spend the next year studying the Volusia County Home Rule Charter. The county charter, the equivalent of a local constitution for the operations of Volusia County Government, requires a citizen review at least every 10 years. The county council has opened the application process and intends to appoint 15 citizens to serve on the charter review committee. According to the charter, the citizen review committee must be appointed not more than 18 months prior to the next general election.
June 15 deadline The charter review commission can look at the structure of county government operations and the charter itself. Any recommended amendments to the charter are placed directly on the next general election ballot. In addition to any proposed charter amendments, the charter review commission can present a report on matters that do not require a vote by the Volusia electorate. Residents who want to serve on the charter committee must fill out an application no later than June 15. Applications can be obtained on the county’s website, volusia.org, or in the community services office by calling 386-9437029.
Palm Coast’s AACS to host Juneteeth event Saturday The African American Cultural Society again will host a Juneteenth observance on Saturday, June 13, 2015 at The Cultural Center, 4422 US 1 North, Palm Coast. All are welcome to join this free cultural event partially supported by the City of Palm Coast. While the day’s program begins at noon, vendors will be available at 10 am. The program will honor African and African American ancestors in song, dance and dramatic performance. Parents are encouraged to bring children for an educational and entertaining experience. Freewill donations will be gratefully accepted at the observance and online at aacspc.eventbrite.com to help defray remaining expenses.
PHOTOS BY DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR./HARNOTTSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
Striking a pose with DeLand Commissioner Jessica Davis (center, back row) are kids from the Bright House Spring Hill Boys and Girls Club.
HONOR from Page 1
graduate of Bethune-Cookman and Nova Southeastern University. He also is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity’s Beta Delta Lambda Chapter and Hope Fellowship Church in Daytona Beach.
Kudos for new commissioner The West Volusia NAACP also honored DeLand City Commissioner Jessica Davis. Davis, 31, made history last year when she became the first Black female commissioner in the Volusia County seat’s 132-year history. Davis is a graduate of Florida A&M University where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in broadcast journalism and a minor in education. She is a career coach with Henkels and McCoy Training Services, a partner with CareerSource Flagler Volusia. She works with atrisk youth on GED preparation and work readiness skills. Davis is a member of the DeLand Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., where she serves as the chapter’s Economic Development Committee chair. She also is a member of the West Volusia NAACP. Davis was the banquet speaker and highlighted the need for students to better excel in their studies and for more adults to become mentors. Other honors at the banquet included the Trailblazer Award, which went to Bessie Pender, who participated in the Montgomery Bus Boycott. A $1,000 scholarship went to student Jus’tevia Ch’year Lewis.
Jessica Davis, center, shares a moment with her sorors of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Clarence and Vivian Davenport were among the attendees. Mr. Davenport is William J. Anderson holds up his Certificate of Silver the retired director of public works for the Life Membership. City of DeLand.
FESTIVAL from Page 1
celebration took place and since, Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. “Imagine being a slave for two years and finding out that you’re the only one still a slave. When they found out they were free, they celebrated and their slave masters and other people helped them, so Juneteenth now is a celebration for everyone,” explained McGhee.”
A united effort Volunteers throughout Volusia County have committed their most valuable resource to make Juneteenth a success – time. The Gamma Mu Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. will be joined by the Black Bikers Association led by Leroy Robinson, Volusia County Health Department, the NAACP and others to ensure that Juneteenth is a success. A strong sponsorship base allows the festival to remain cost-free for community attendees. In ad-
FILE PHOTO
African drumming, interpretation dance and song were part of last year’s festival. dition to local businesses, this year’s co-sponsors include the City of Daytona Beach, Daytona International Speedway, NASCAR, and VITAS. According to McGhee, any child who comes to Juneteenth and cannot af-
ford to buy a meal from food vendors will be given a free plate as part of an initiative set forth by the festival committee.
Healthy offerings While an abundance of food – from fried chick-
en to a pound-cake contest will be plentiful – volunteers will distribute free fruit and vegetable bags on a first-come, first-serve basis to those in need. The Florida Department of Health in Volusia County has partnered with
Farm Share and the Midtown Health Equity Action Team to provide the free produce, which aligns with healthy eating and initiatives to curve childhood obesity. Farm Share is a statewide food program that
provided more than $40 million worth of fresh produce to families last year. “We distribute food all across the state of Florida. We typically target ‘food deserts,’ an area where nutritious food is difficult to find. The only food options in these areas are typically dollar stores and convenience stores, not stores such as Winn-Dixie, Publix, etc,” said Chris Hughes, a warehouse manager for Farm Share Inc. “These areas can be found in urban and rural areas all across the state. We recover food from all over the state and rely on donations and government funding as it is all distributed free of charge unlike other hunger-relief organizations. Added Stefany Strong, public information officer of the Florida Department of Health in Volusia County, “This is a great opportunity for local residents to pickup some fruits and vegetables for their family meals. It is very important to eat healthy and to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This effort is just one of many ongoing in our community to promote healthy living.” The Cypress Park and Recreation Center is located at 925 George W. Engram Blvd.
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JUNE 11 – JUNE 17, 2015 COMMUNITY DECEMBER 14 - 20, 2006
M A YNEWS OR
Young gospel artists put on powerful show A Youth Benefit Concert called on Maurice Griffin, BET’s “Sunday Best” vocal finalist; Melvin Eugene Cotton, III, a.k.a. G.E.N.E.; and Jeremy Wallace and Peerless Songs of Worship for jammin’ recently contemporary gospel and hip-hop rap and exalting the name of Jesus. It evidenced the artists’ popularity and why they were called to the praise scene of the First Church of Palm Coast. Pastor Gillard S. Glover had given Director Nathaniel Shropshire, III, the initiative to start a youth choir and to take it to a different level. Griffin, G.E.N.E., Wallace and Peerless Songs of Worship were joined by the Adult Choir and the Youth Choir for an appreciable turnout and cheering from children concertgoers, who captured a spectacular show. Griffin was a finalist during season two of the gospel competition TV show. Shropshire said it was an opportunity to merge together the Youth Choir and the Adult Choir - and that the Lord had predestined him to be there and plant seeds of excellence in each and every one of the young people. Shropshire was the commentator for the concert, presented on behalf of the Youth Choir. The Youth Choir, nonetheless, performed Martha Munizzi’s “Excellent (All the Earth is Yours)” and Kirk Franklin’s “Smile.” The Adult Choir, with Octavia Evans in the lead, sang Jonathan Butler’s “I Need You Lord,” and young Alexis Williams vocalized Tamela Mann’s “Take Me to the King.” The orchestration was performed by Ernest Williams and Jared Evans on piano and organ, Carlos Felder on drums, and the setting conducive to additional backup. “Ladies and gentlemen, without further adieu, please put your hands together for the gospel-rap style of G.E.N.E.,” Shropshire said.
G.E.N.E. raps G.E.N.E. is known as “God‘s Evangelist Neutralizing the Enemy.” He is a “P.K.” – a preach-
JEROLINE D. MCCARTHY/DAYTONA TIMES
At the benefit concert were BET’s “Sunday Best” finalist Maurice Griffin, director Nathaniel Shropshire, III, concertgoers Jayla and Camron McCarthy, G.E.N.E., and gospel artist Jeremy Wallace, along with Peerless Songs of Worship.
PALM COAST COMMUNITY NEWS JEROLINE D. MCCARTHY
er’s kid – hailing originally from Montgomery, Ala., and now living in Orlando. He’s “got talent,” producing events and managing artists, and having a heart attesting that young people should not perish. He wants them in a saving relationship with Christ “knowing that it is cool to be saved and living for the Lord.” G.E.N.E., himself, was saved at the age of 11. And, he’s a newlywed! “As Christian believers, we are called to strive daily and reflect the life of Jesus Christ,” said G.E.N.E. “And so, we are going to do that here in this dark world. We are going to love, live, laugh, and pray hard, and we are all going to be worshipers. Amen?” In rhythm and rhyme in hiphop style, G.E.N.E. brought his
griot rap to “I’m So Official” and “I’m All In.”
Songs and testimonies With clapping and foot stompin’, Jeremy Wallace and Peerless Songs of Worship sang the gospel genre to the lyrics of, “First Fruit” and “We Come to Worship.” “You may not drive a car that you want to drive,” Wallace witnessed, “but you are not walking. You don’t eat the food that you wish you could eat, but you are not starving. No matter what the situation is, look at your neighbor and say, ‘I trust Him.’” Wallace and Peerless Songs of Worship are music majors at Edward Waters College. He started the group at home in Pahokee and continues it with students on campus. They are professionals with know-how and experience in recording music and working in the studio. Because the genre of gospel includes testimonies, BET’s “Sunday Best” vocal finalist Maurice Griffin stepped in to sing Israel Houghton’s “Resurrection Power
(Oh, Clap Your Hands).” Griffin is celebrating 10 years as an independent artist, and, just a week earlier, he celebrated his 29th birthday. He has a diverse, pristine vocal style, and has elevated his music ministry to a global audience. Delivering his CD, “Believer The EP Project, Hear Us,” the contemporary gospel singer was the headliner of the show. He is a native Chicagoan, who once made Jacksonville his home, and is now living in Houston. Griffin vividly reflects that it was 19 years ago that he started his ministry. But, the year before, he was homeless for six months. “I thought I was dead, freezing in the cold in the City of Chicago,” he said. “But to come from the coldness and brought out of the darkness into the marvelous light - Whoa-ooh-oh, Glorify, Glorify His Name. Resurrected Power...,” Griffin bellowed while singing and frequently getting his praise on. “Some people just don’t understand where God brought
If you think you can can spot a person with HIV, consider this: Did you even spot the error in the first six words of this headline?
you from,” he said. “They only see what they see. So I am grateful to dedicate myself to God. I said, ‘God, if you give me a second chance, I’ll serve you to the day I die.’’’ Showing himself to be a powerhouse vocalist and a passionate worshiper, Griffin, in addition, sang, “Hear Us,” “Somebody Prayed for Me,” and Al Green’s “Depending on You.” He has sung with New Direction, Canton Jones, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Bobby Jones and VaShawn Mitchell, among other artists. ••• As always, remember our prayers for the sick, afflicted and bereaved.
Celebrations Birthday wishes to my niece, Kelli Coaxum, in Manhattan, June 12; Ray C. Henderson, June 14; my 95-year-old dad, Rufus S. Coaxum, in the Bronx, including the Rev. Pat Coley-Ford, June 15; Danielle Delaney and Lamar Wilkerson, June 16.
DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR./HARDNOTTSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
ANYBODY CAN HAVE HIV. USE PROTECTION.
Marcia Manthey, Lois Fennelly and Deborah Shafer show the award received from the Florida Library Association.
Right now, AIDS is the leading cause of death
Library series, which focused on civil rights, wins state award
among African-Americans aged 25 to 44. If you’re having unprotected sex, you’re at risk. Be smart: Use protection, and get tested. For a testing site near you, text your zip code to 477493.
The “Connecting with the Community” series, created and coordinated by the Friends of the Daytona Beach Library, recently won the Florida Library Association’s 2015 Friends, Foundations and Boards Award for Outstanding Program. The series of social and cultural presentations, which began in November 2013 and culminated with a tribute to Dr. Jimmy Huger on April 11, highlighted the important role AfricanAmericans have played in Volusia County’s history.
In 2014, programs focused on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This year’s programs addressed contemporary issues and continuing traditions.
Lectures, forums After receiving an $8,000 grant from the Florida Humanities Council, the library volunteers developed an ambitious schedule of lectures, community forums, book reviews and musical presentations that
Free concert Friday at bandshell The City of Daytona Beach will present another free concert on Friday at the Oceanfront Bandshell. The June 12 show will feature Mark Robertson from 7 to 7:45 p.m. and John Nickoloff from 8 to 9:30 p.m. Food, beer and beverages will be available for purchase at the bandshell but no coolers are allowed. For a lineup of concerts, www.DaytonaBandshell.com.
attracted more than 1,400 attendees. Friends’ representatives and library staff accepted the award at the Florida Library Association’s Friends Day Luncheon in Orlando on May 14. The Friends group was founded in 1968 to raise funds, stimulate use of the library’s resources, and support staff in developing programs and services. For information on becoming a member, contact Deborah Shafer at dshafer@volusia.org or 386257-6036, ext. 16264.
Palm Coast hosting free swimming lesson The “World’s Largest Swimming Lesson’’ will take place at 10 a.m. June 18 at Palm Coast’s Frieda Zamba Swimming Pool, 339 Parkview Drive. Registration is at 9:30 p.m. Palm Coast is joining water parks, pools and other aquatic facilities around the globe for a simultaneous swimming lesson to learn about water safety and to break the Guinness World Record. The event is free. For more information, visit www.worldslargestswimminglesson.org or call 386986-4741.
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7 EDITORIAL
JUNE 11 – JUNE 17, 2015
Better pay comes when we demand it Los Angeles just voted to raise its minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2020. The nation’s second-biggest city joins Seattle, San Francisco and little Emeryville, Calif., in forging the way to a decent minimum. Similar measures are now being considered in New York City, Kansas City, Mo., and Washington, D.C. Facebook is now paying its workers a $15 minimum and joins Apple and Microsoft in demanding that its contractors pay a $15 minimum and offer paid leave days.
Risked jobs These victories are a product of the demonstrations and protests of fast food and other low-wage workers. They risked their jobs to demand decency. They put a human face on workers who labor full time but can’t lift their families out of poverty. They exposed the lie that these were transitory jobs for the young while they went to college or high school. Their demonstrations – organized under the hashtag slogan #FightFor15 – drew national press attention. Their struggles touched the hearts of citizens of conscience. They built the coalition that forced the politicians to respond. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. taught us that “freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.” There are three ways to respond to repression, he told us. The first is acquiescence, adjusting quietly to injustice and be-
REV. JESSE L. JACKSON, SR. TRICEEDNEYWIRE.COM
coming conditioned to it. “Been down so long it feels like up to me.” Acquiescence, he warned, turns people into part of the problem. The second way to respond is with physical violence and corrosive hatred. But violence never solves problems; it simply creates more difficult and complicated problems. An eye for an eye, he warned, would leave us all blinded. The third way is nonviolent resistance. Nonviolence rejects acquiescence and violence. It confronts the oppressor, gives voice to the oppressed, and exposes the injustice. It starts always against the odds, so it requires faith. “Faith,” Dr. King wrote, “is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”
Faith-filled workers
our food, clear our plates or carry our bags. California also voted to start publishing the names of companies that have more than 100 workers on Medicaid and the costs that they force on the states. Informed customers may well prefer to do business with highroad employers rather than those profiting from a low road. Most of our news coverage follows the frozen partisan politics of Washington. There, Republican leaders in Congress won’t even allow a vote on a modest Democratic proposal for a $12-an-hour minimum wage. The only time Congress seems to act is when the corporate community wants a tax break or a trade deal passed, or when the Pentagon demands more money to waste.
People are stirring Blacks and Whites are joining together to demonstrate that #BlackLivesMatter. Latinos are demanding immigration reforms that will bring millions out of the shadow economy. Gays and lesbians are demanding equal rights. Women are demanding equal pay, and men and women are insisting that the decision to have a child has to be one that they and not politicians make. Change will come, but only when people demand it and force their politicians to salute.
The #FightFor15 workers had faith. They chose to resist and not accept their poverty wages. They demonstrated for decency. And they have created a movement that surely will spread across the country. California is one of eight states that ban the subminimum wage The Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, that is inflicted on so-called “tipped workers,” the wait staff Sr. is president and CEO of the and service workers that serve Rainbow/PUSH Coalition.
Mississippi still stuck in the past I believe that if given a word association test asking which American state first came to mind when accounting for the worst consequences to African-Americans, many people would immediately blurt out, “Mississippi.” Arguably, in the history of American race relations, no other state commands the reputation for racial brutality, violence and mayhem that Mississippi does. When I visit Mississippi, I sense that I’m venturing into a time and place that history has passed by. The murders of Emmitt Till, Medgar Evers, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, Michael Schwerner, and countless others, color our perception of the state and support its legacy of infamy. Nor can we forget the institutional and personal racism directed at Fannie Lou Hamer and the army of civil rights workers who attempted to bring Mississippi out from the dark ages.
Blacks targeted In 2011, White teenagers conspired and plotted violence against innocent African-Americans in Jackson, leading to the death of James Craig Anderson. Prosecutors said 10 youth from a nearby suburb drove into the poorer, predominantly Black town of Jackson to assault Black people late at night, often targeting the homeless or the intoxicated in the hopes that such people would be less likely to report crimes to the police. Three White
clap and applaud,” she said. In what is reported as the worst ofDR. E. FAYE fense, her son, Henry Walker, cheered, “You did it, baby!” when WILLIAMS, his sister’s name was called. He ESQ. was promptly whisked outside. “I TRICE EDNEY WIRE don’t think it was right for what they did to him,” Linda Walker teens were convicted of Ander- told news sources. son’s murder. Mississippi is seemingly reach- Many won’t graduate ing for a new low in the treatI’m a proponent of appropriate ment of its African-American citi- decorum at public events. I’m alzens. For four Black Mississippi- so in touch with the emotions of ans, the graduation of their loved African-American parents whose ones and their celebration of that children present them with the event led to criminal prosecution. gift of graduation – an accomTwo weeks after graduation, four plishment that many were nevrelatives of members of the Sen- er expected to achieve. Three of atobia, Miss. High School Class 10 African-American Mississippiof 2015 were charged with disor- ans will not graduate. Often those derly conduct for their public cel- who do are the first in their famiebration and face a possible six lies to reach this milestone. The months in jail and a $500 fine! seven who do graduate are worSenatobia Superintendent Jay thy of celebration. Foster pressed disorderly conIt’s not unexpected for Africanduct charges against the four American family members to enwho failed to abide by guidelines gage in exuberant rejoicing on ocprinted in the graduation procasions of achievement. Restrictgram that admonished the audiing these celebrations may suit ence to hold their applause and the sensibilities of a school and cheers –an instruction almost expedite the movement of a pronever followed. The warning also gram, but they undermine the advised that anyone deemed dispublic acknowledgment of the ruptive could be removed. individual achievement of proud African-Americans. Very happy Jail time for applauding Linda Walker said she was so achievement? Really? happy to see her daughter graduate that she was crying. Dr. E. Faye Williams is na“When a child does all they can tional chair of the Nationto graduate, it’s an honor and a al Congress of Black Women, privilege for them to walk that Inc. Contact her via www.nastage. It’s a privilege for me to tionalcongressbw.org.
Why Black America needs baseball A video of Chris Rock has made the rounds in which he offers a critique of Major League baseball and its relationship to Black America. The monologue is funny, sad and very profound. He attempts to explain the distance that has emerged between Black America and a sport that it actually helped to build. I have watched the video several times. Each time, I find myself thinking about his final comments, i.e., that Black people do not need baseball, but baseball needs Black people.
Rephrase that statement Over the long term, Major League Baseball needs Black America as its current fan base ages out and as younger people grow intolerant of the pace and culture of the game. On the other hand, I actually do think that Black America needs baseball – though it does not need Major League Baseball, as we currently know it. What has struck me in reading and hearing about the period of the Negro Leagues, or the period of the desegregation of baseball (roughly 1947-1975), is that base-
BILL FLETCHER, JR. NNPA COLUMNIST
ball, and its progeny, e.g., softball and stickball, were community sports. It was not just that teams represented communities, but that the sport itself seemed to knit communities together. In basketball, there is little space for mixed talent, especially when one is playing full court. The game truly is for the best. While some members of the community who are not the best – people such as me – could occasionally play, it was in baseball, softball and stickball that you always sensed that chance for excitement and greatness, even for those who were not the most talented.
A team sport In baseball, you can be an outstanding hitter or pitcher, but you cannot win the game by yourself or even you and one other person. Baseball, softball and stick-
ball really taught me about collective action in a manner unlike any other experience during my childhood, a theme that would become central to who I became as an adult. In this sense, I strongly believe that Black America needs baseball. I do not mean that we need the major leagues. Nor do I mean that baseball will be the route out of poverty for the bulk of Black America. The baseball that we need is the culture that surrounds the actual sport. We need the sense of the team, including the reality of unevenness. We also need to regain the sense that the game does not end with a single play nor, necessarily, when the gong sounds. Sometimes the end is drawn out, necessitating that the team is prepared for a protracted struggle in which victory is never guaranteed.
Bill Fletcher, Jr. hosts The Global African on Telesur-English. He is a racial justice, labor and global justice activist and writer. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and at www.billfletcherjr.com.
VISUAL VIEWPOINT: HILLARY CLINTON 2016
BILL SCHORR, CAGLE CARTOONS
Blacks must be part of energy debate Numbers released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that income disparities among different ethnic groups in the U.S. remain pronounced. Median weekly earnings for Black males are just 75.6 percent of the median for White males, and Black females’ earnings were 82.3 percent of the median for White females. Overall, African-Americans are more than twice as likely to live in poverty as non-AfricanAmericans. Those Americans – including many minority families – who remain below the poverty line face a sea of challenges, but one of the most important is the cost of household energy. Every family needs to heat and cool its home. So when we talk about energy policies in this country, we must focus on the importance of affordability.
Discussions, forums I recently participated in a discussion in Charlotte, N.C. at the 2015 American Association of Blacks in Energy national conference, where we discussed some of the energy policy challenges of particular concern for the African-American community. One such topic is renewable energy and how to foster its growth so that one day all consumers who want to make the choice to rely on clean fuels can. Any new opportunity brings challenges along with opportunities, and the dynamics behind the growth of rooftop solar panels specifically are no exception. In fact, one rooftop solar policy that I spoke about at the conference is actually tipping the scales against minority and underserved communities like mine in favor of those who are more fortunate. That policy, called “net metering,” overcompensates rooftop solar users and essentially lets them bypass the cost of paying for the grid. This just does not work – the grid is something we all rely on to get our electricity. This includes those with rooftop solar panels that depend on the grid to get electricity when the sun doesn’t shine. So when rooftop solar users cut and run from paying for the grid, everyone else has to pick up the slack. Because
MATTHEW C. WHITAKER NNPA GUEST COLUMNIST
of the economics of rooftop solar, “everyone else” in this case ends up being the less financially well-off.
Must be homeowner First and foremost, you’ve got to have a house. This automatically eliminates anyone who lives in community housing, rents an apartment, or lacks clear property rights. And according to a 2008 study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, approximately 75 percent of all residential rooftop areas in the United States aren’t suitable for rooftop solar panels, because of climate, trees, and other constraints. Finally, rooftop solar systems – which can run up to $40,000 – are not financially feasible for many. Even to lease the panels, consumers must have a high credit score – another barrier. So net metering is a regressive policy, serving as a wealth transfer from the poor to the rich. Ultimately, this is an issue of social justice, especially if it leads to the creation of energy “poverty zones.” There are some bright spots, however. Arizona is leading the way by trying to institute a cost structure that ensures the fair integration of rooftop solar while also sufficiently supporting the grid. The path forward is clear. Through forums and discussions like the one we had in Charlotte, energy stakeholders can shape policies that are more inclusive of minority communities. Meaningful public policies changes really can smooth the economic outlook for Americans, and importantly, minority populations like ours.
Matthew C. Whitaker is ASU Foundation professor of history and founding director of the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy, in the School of Letters and Sciences, at Arizona State University.
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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JUNE 11 – JUNE 17, DECEMBER 14 -2015 20, 2006 EDUCATION
MAYOR
STEM majors receiving up to $25,000 a year for college BY FREDDIE ALLEN NNPA NEWS SERVICE
WASHINGTON – When Morgan Grayned opened the envelope from the Buick Achievers’ scholarship program and learned that she would receive $24,000 a year to attend college, she screamed and danced and ran around her house with the letter. She posted it on Facebook. Her mom called the scholarship a blessing. Grayned applied for the scholarship less than a week before high school graduation with limited expectations. That was four years ago. Recently, Grayned, 22, graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in finance from Hampton University on Mother’s Day, a great gift for her mom, a single parent who had wholeheartedly supported her throughout her entire academic career. “Coming from a single parent household, I just knew that I needed assistance to [pay] for college,” said Grayned. “I knew that I was going to go regardless, I just wasn’t sure how I was going to pay for it. The biggest thing for me with having the Buick Achievers’ scholarship is the fact that I didn’t have financial stress.”
Scholar and leader Grayned joined the Sigma Beta Delta Business Honor Society and Ebony Fire, Hampton’s dance troupe, where she was team captain her senior year. The Stone Mountain, Ga. native said that traveling with the football team and performing with the band were great experiences and
more students. Since the program’s inception, 3,400 students have received nearly $28 million in scholarships to attend college. “Students can receive up to $25,000 dollars and the scholarships are renewable for up to five years for some eligible majors,” said Nicklin. “Those eligible majors are all STEM or automotive-related majors.” Last year, 15 percent of the Buick Achievers scholarship class was Black.
About the program
Morgan Grayned said she was able to find a lot of minority scholarships to attend predominately White institutions, but resources for an African-American student to go to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) were harder to come by. provided a creative outlet while helping her to hone her leadership skills. Those experiences may not have been possible without the Buick Achievers’ scholarship she received four years ago. The General Motors Foundation started the scholarship program in 2011 in an effort to increase the pipeline of students flowing into careers
in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
3,400 students helped A 2013 study on STEM jobs conducted by the Census Bureau reported that Blacks account for just 6 percent of the STEM workforce even though they make up 11 percent of
the labor market in the U.S. Karen Nicklin, the manager of educational initiatives at the GM Foundation said that the group targeted first-generation students, veterans and children of veterans, children from diverse backgrounds and students from low-income households in an effort to ensure that that a quality education was affordable and accessible to
Applicants for the scholarship have to enroll full time at an accredited fouryear college or university based in the United States or Puerto Rico for the entire 2015-16 academic year. There are more than 40 majors that are eligible through the program, including computers science, graphic design, finance and chemical engineering. A full list of majors and eligibility requirements is available at www. BuickAchievers.com. “Awards are renewable for the given years noted above or until a bachelor’s degree is earned, whichever occurs first. Renewal is contingent upon maintaining a cumulative 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale), full-time enrollment and continuing to major in an eligible field of study,” according to the program’s website. Grayned credited the program for providing opportunities for Black students to attend historically, Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) continuing a legacy started by their parents or starting a new one in a nurturing and culturally-rich environment unique to Black colleges. She said she was able to find a lot of minority scholarships to attend predominately White institutions, but resources for an African-American student to go to historically Black col-
5 7 leges and universities (HBCUs) were harder to come by. Grayned’s mother, who graduated from Spelman College in 1989 with an economics degree, encouraged her to go into an HBCU. She stumbled across the scholarship days before she finished high school said that she was grateful to have the opportunity to be in the first wave of Buick Achievers to graduate. Nicklin said that the GM Foundation and the Buick Achievers Scholarship program has worked with the White House Initiative on Historically Black colleges and Universities and the United Negro College Fund to get the word out about the scholarship program.
Help through UNCF Paulette Jackson, the vice president of development at UNCF, said that General Motors was one of the original sponsors for the group. Jackson said that the Buick Achievers Scholarship is a need-based scholarship and students that come to UNCF often have extreme needs. Jackson said that students can find more information about the Buick Achievers scholarship and more than 400 other plans managed by the nonprofit group at www.UNCF.org. The group also promotes the unique scholarship opportunity through their traveling “Empower Me Tour” that provides high school students with tips for succeeding in college and career readiness exercises for undergraduates. As the country’s infrastructure ages and the global technology industry continues to evolve, Jackson said that the U.S. needs more people getting into STEM-related fields. The country is going to need more people to getting involved in STEM-related fields.
R6
7 SPORTS
JUNE 11 – JUNE 17, 2015
COUNTY OF VOLUSIA EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS:
Cancer patient Zac Adrian has had chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
Fund started for former B-CU punter footsteps as an educator and high school coach. His father, Pete, was a defensive coordinator for the Wildcats before moving to Norfolk State as the Spartans’ head coach. Both have remained in touch with the university and athletics staff. “Once a Wildcat…always a Wildcat and Zac and Pete are a part of the Bethune-Cookman University family. We now ask for all Wildcats to rally around this great family and show them how much we love them by praying, serving
and giving to the Adrian’s in their greatest hours of need,” said B-CU Athletic Director Lynn Thompson. Pete Adrian said that his son was incredibly appreciative to learn that B-CU is joining in the support. “His spirits remain high and he’s a fighter, so that’s a big thing,” Pete Adrian said. The link to contribute: http://www.gofundme.com/sctt2s?fb_action_ ids=817710584992454&fb_ action_types=og. shares&fb_ref=undefined
NOTE TO PUB: DO NOT PRINT INFO BELOW, FOR ID ONLY. NO ALTERING OF AD COUNCIL PSAs. Wildfire Prevention - Newspaper - B&W - WFPA03-N-01263-E “Your Name Here” 3 3/4 x 3 1/2 85 line screen digital files at Schawk: (212) 689-8585 Ref#: 212243
Review the complete job description & other opportunities online at: http://agency.governmentjobs.com/volusiaco/ default.cfm or at the Personnel Division, 230 N. Woodland Blvd., Suite 262, DeLand, FL 32720. Applications are accepted on-line only. EOE/AA. 5.687 in. Veteran’s preference pursuant to State law where applicable.
2.562 in.
The Bethune-Cookman University Athletic Department family is seeking spiritually and financially assistance for former punter Zac Adrian. A GoFundMe.com page has been established to help Adrian and his wife, Melissa, with their needs as he continues chemotherapy sessions. He has had major surgeries on his hip and femur as well as 32 radiation treatments. Adrian played football at B-CU from 1998-2001. After graduating from B-CU, he followed in his father’s
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JUNE 11 – 14 JUNE 2015 DECEMBER - 20,17, 2006
7
PHOTOS BY DUANE C. FERNANDEZ/HARDNOTTSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
Local youngsters get a workout during Bruce McNorton’s football camp held June 4 at Derbyshire Park in Daytona Beach.
NINTH ANNUAL BRUCE MCNORTON FOOTBALL CLINIC
NFL scout and friends share their expertise with local kids BY DAYTONA TIMES STAFF
R
etired NFL player Bruce McNorton continues to give back to the community in which he grew up. Last week, he returned to share his talents with area students eager to pick up tips on becoming great athletes. On June 4, the former Detroit Lions player who grew up in Daytona Beach, conducted his ninth Bruce McNorton Football Clinic, held at Derbyshire Park in Daytona Beach. McNorton, a scout for the Pittsburgh Steelers, is a 1977 Spruce Creek High School graduate. McNorton recruits some of his NFL friends every year to help with the camp that’s free to local boys and girls. This year’s participants included former players Richard Shelton, now a scout for the Tennessee Titans; John Williams, Seattle Seahawks; Reggie Cobb, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Ernie Mills, Pittsburgh Steelers; James Jones, Detroit Lions; James Cribbs, Detroit Lions; and Kelvin Fisher, now director of scouts for the Buffalo Bills. “I do this because athletics was very important to me when I was growing up. My friends and I say we wish we would have had something like this when we were growing up. There are a lot of kids that have been here every year. They seem to be looking forward to it every year,” McNorton told the Daytona during a previous camp. On June 6, McNorton and friends attended a fundraiser for the youth program at the Yvonne Scarlett Golden Cultural and Educational Center.
Above: The pro football players are shown June 6 at an allwhite party fundraiser for the youth program held at the Yvonne Scarlett Golden center.
R8
7BUSINESS
JUNE 11 – JUNE 17, 2015
Blacks ‘segregated’ in low-paying retail jobs Income, housing
BY JAZELLE HUNT NNPA NEWS SERVICE
WASHINGTON – More than 1.9 million Black Americans work in retail, accounting for 11 percent of the industry’s total workforce. Despite being the secondlargest source of employment for Black workers, new data from the NAACP and equality advocacy organization, Demos, finds that the industry is rife with racial inequality and poor earning potential. According to the report, titled “The Retail Race Divide,” fulltime Black and Latino salespersons earn 75 percent of the wages of their White counterparts. For Black and Latino cashiers, the figure is 90 percent. Further, Black and Latino workers are sometimes stuck in “occupational segregation.” Not only are they overrepresented in low-wage industries such as retail, they’re also overrepresented in the lowest paying positions within these industries. Consider: Black people make up 11 percent of the retail force but 6 percent of those in managerial or leadership roles.
Segregated by circumstance “They are, in effect, segregated by color and income. Now, not segregated as a matter of law, as was the case many years ago… but certainly by circumstance, by industry practice. Even where we don’t have overt discrimination that violates Title VII [of the Civil Rights Act], there are subtle forms of discrimination that may also violate Title VII, but are less obvious,” said Cornell Williams Brooks, president and CEO of the NAACP. “It’s not necessarily that a company has a policy that says African-Americans and Latinos should be overrepresented at the cash register and in lower paid positions. But rather, if they do not have policies to ensure that African-Americans and Latinos have access to and are encouraged to apply for better paying
TOMWSULCER/NNPA NEWS SERVICE
Blacks who work in retail are paid less, according to a new report from the NAACP and Demos. positions as managers, there’s something profoundly wrong.”
Hard work Brittany O’Neal has worked in retail for three years, most currently in the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City in Arlington, Va. The 25-year-old full-time student is a few credits shy of earning a criminal justice degree, but also works full-time hours as a salesperson to support her 3-year-old son. “The store I work at...comes with a lot of customer service. Sometimes you work really hard and [customers] end up just returning everything,” she explained. “[Our pay] is all commission, unless you don’t make enough. Then you get your hourly wage.”
O’Neal says support from her family and managers in accommodating her schedule make it easier to earn enough money and still finish school. Not everyone is so fortune.
Unreliable schedules According to the report, retail wage disparities also happen through inadequate and unreliable scheduling practices. While Black, White, Latino and Asian people work part time at even rates, nearly half of all Black and Latino retail workers would prefer full-time hours (compared to 29 percent of Whites and Latinos). The report’s measure doesn’t include workers who want more hours while remaining part time, which would likely play out along
racial lines as well. There’s also the difficulty in being “on-call,” a common practice among retail managers. “Although just-in-time scheduling can have negative effects for any retail worker, there is reason to believe that the burden is disproportionately heavy on Black and Latino workers,” the report states, adding that this is the population most likely to juggle their educations, parenting, and additional employment while holding a retail job. “Moreover, due to residential segregation and other socioeconomic constraints, Black workers have longer commute times than White workers, leading to greater time and money costs when their shifts are cut short.”
The disparities spell serious repercussions for Black Americans, and particularly Black families. Fully 17 percent of Black retail workers live below the poverty line, compared to 9 percent of retail workers overall. More than half of Black workers are responsible for at least half their household’s income, and they are the most likely of all retail workers to be the sole breadwinner in their households – 26 percent are, compared to 15 percent of White workers, and 18 percent of retail workers overall. Black retail workers also are significantly more likely to be raising children on these wages; 65 percent are, compared to the overall 33 percent. And, according to recent analysis from the National Low Income Housing Coalition –an affordable housing research and advocacy organization – there’s nowhere in the country where a full-time minimum wage worker can afford a one-bedroom apartment (priced at the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s standard of Fair Market Rent), without paying more than 30 percent of their income. “There’s this notion that people working in the retail industry are young, inexperienced, and lack dependents. But here’s the bluecollar reality: 90 percent of African-American and Latino retail workers are over 20 years of age and half of them provide at least 50 percent of the income their families need to survive,” Brooks said. “We’re not talking about adolescents at the cash register working part time or working to add a little something to their young budgets. We’re talking about people who have families to support.” The NAACP/Demos report suggests that the problems can be alleviated if retailers raise the wages for their least paid positions, as well as through state and federal policies. It also points out that legal battles and union actions have been useful tools in securing better outcomes for retail workers.