Daytona Times - June 16, 2016

Girls get lessons on aviation, life SEE PAGE 3

East Central Florida’s Black Voice

EE FR

GLENN ELLIS: What you should know about high blood pressure and strokes SEE PAGE 4

ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY PRESENTS ITS DEBUTANTES FOR 2016 SEE PAGE 8

JUNE 16 - JUNE 22, 2016

YEAR 41 NO. 24

www.daytonatimes.com

‘This could have happened here’ Gay leaders: ‘Tears are not enough’

BY DARA KAM THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

PHOTOS BY DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR./HARDNOTTSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

A diverse crowd attends the prayer service Monday at the Daytona Beach Police Department.

Daytona Beach, others reflect on Orlando shooting during multi-faith prayer service.

BY ANDREAS BUTLER DAYTONA TIMES

In the wake of a mass shooting at Orlando’s Pulse nightclub, the Daytona Beach community came together on Monday to pray, reflect and offer support.

A multi-faith prayer was held at the Daytona Beach Police Department. About 200 people praying for and paying respect for the victims who died and were injured. The suspect, Omar Mateen of Port St. Lucie, was killed by police after his shooting spree that left 49 dead and 53 wounded as of Wednesday night.

“We stand with our sister city Orlando, which is built like us off tourism. This could have happened here. We come together in unity. We stand united with the world, our nation, state and county. We won’t let hate, violence, intolerance or injustice divide our community,” said Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry.

See SERVICE, Page 2

National NAACP leader to speak at local banquet Hilary Shelton, the National NAACP’S Washington bureau director and senior vice president for advocacy, will be the keynote speaker for the Volusia County-Daytona Beach NAACP’s 43rd annual Freedom Fund and Awards Banquet. The event is Saturday, June 25, at the Hilton Daytona Beach Resort, 100 N. Atlantic Ave. “We have planned another very special event this year as we honor

ALSO INSIDE

TALLAHASSEE – Walking through a Chicago airport on Sunday, it wasn’t merely the horrific massacre of 49 clubgoers at a gay bar in Orlando earlier that morning that reduced Christian Ulvert to tears.

It was how he heard a couple of fellow travelers characterizing the event.

“They said it was such a tragic event, but at least it wasn’t a school where children were, it was a club where gays hung out,” Ulvert, a gay Democratic political consultant told The News Service of Florida in a telephone interview Monday.

“That was a very painful moment.

It was very hard to hold back the tears.”

The shooting deaths of 49 people, many of them Hispanic, at Pulse, a popular gay nightclub in downtown Orlando, has sparked outrage, grief and a global outpouring of support for the LGBT community.

Federal authorities say gunman Omar Mateen, 29, acted alone, but, in the words of President Barack Obama, was “radicalized” by Islamic terrorists via the internet.

In the short time since the event, much of the analysis has focused on Mateen’s links with terrorists.

Feel ignored But while reeling from the worst mass shooting in the nation’s history, many LGBT people throughout Florida, and the nation, feel they’re being ignored.

“I think it’s pretty much gone viral that our political leaders not only in Florida but throughout the country need to say the words that this was an attack on our gay community,” said Ulvert, a Miami resident who has been married to his husband, Carlos Andrade, for three years. “You have to say those words.”

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Sunday, Obama called the tragedy that brutalized Orlando “an act of terror and an act of hate” that was “especially heartbreaking for all of our friends … who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.”

Scott criticized

Local clergy offered words of support at the service, which was the idea of a high school student.

individuals and corporations who have worked and dedicated their time to ensure positive changes in our community,’’ said Cynthia Slater, president of the local chapter.

The theme this year is “And Justice for “ALL” Lives Matter.’’

“This theme is quite fitting as we embark on a new year while addressing health care, educational, social, political and economic challenges in America,” Slater stated.

Shelton’s portfolio In his position as bureau director, Shelton is responsible for advocating the federal public policy issue agenda of the national organization.

The Washington bureau of the NAACP is the federal legislative and national public policy division of the

over 500,000- member, 2,200-membership unit, national civil rights organization.

Shelton’s government affairs portfolio includes crucial issues such as affirmative action, equal employment protection, access to quality education, stopping gun violence, ending racial profiling, abolition of the death penalty, access to comprehensive health care, voting rights protection, federal sentencing reform and a host of civil rights enforcement, expansion and protection issues.

The Freedom Fund Banquet is the local NAACP’s premier fundraising event. The branch will honor citizens and corporations in Daytona Beach who worked to influence positive changes in the area.

For ticket information, call the local branch at 386-679-6520.

In his remarks to the media, Gov. Rick Scott has talked about terrorism and expressed sorrow for the victims and their families. But he has avoided references to the gay See LEADERS, Page 2

National NAACP leader Hilary Shelton is a longtime advocate for civil rights.

PALM COAST: AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL SOCIETY ELECTS NEWS PRESIDENT | PAGE 3 POLITICS: THE CONTROVERSY OVER USING A NORTH CAROLINA PUBLIC BATHROOM | PAGE 5

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7 FOCUS

JUNE 16 – JUNE 22, 2016

SERVICE from Page 1

Young organizer The event was organized by Reagan Creamer, who will be a senior at Atlantic High School in the fall. She is the daughter of Daytona Beach Police Sgt. John Creamer.

“What happened in Orlando is so close to home that it even affects people here in Daytona. I think that we need to show support for the victims and their families as well as the law enforcement and first responders who had to deal with this. I think that as a community something needs to change. We need to come together, bring ideas and show support,” Creamer told the Daytona Times.

Creamer boasts a 4.2 grade point average and is a member of both the Academy of Law and Government and the yearbook staff at her school. She wants to pursue a degree in broadcast journalism in college.

“I don’t know anyone who was affected directly by the shooting, but I do have family members who are in law enforcement in Orlando,” she said.

‘Evil is amongst us’ Daytona Beach Police Chief Mike Chitwood stated, “When this first happened, I was checking FBI databases on the computer to see if the shooter had a connection to Daytona Beach. In all these mass shootings across the country, we see someone wanting to blame an individual race, religion or ethnicity for something.

“The reality is a lot of these people are just evil while others are just nuts. Evil is amongst us.

Many of them want to divide us and cause strife.’’

The vigil consisted of people of all races, nationalities, ethnicities and faith backgrounds including, Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Shieks and Hindus. Local political and religious leaders also attended.

Unity and tolerance Religious leaders emphasized the need for love, peace, respect, tolerance, understanding and unity for all people.

“We give our deepest respect and condolences to the victims and families affected by what took place in Orlando,’’ commented Imam Belal Alzuhiry Shemman of the Daytona Islamic Center. “We came here to show our support.

“We came as one community to show the world that we stand united against terrorism, injustice, inequality and bigotry. We send a message that we will not let this disunite us.’’

“The spirit of God is with all of us. We are all brothers and sisters. We are all God’s children. We must respect all women and men.

There is no reason for hatred or bigotry,” said Singh.

“This prayer was needed. It’s

PHOTOS BY DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR./HARDNOTTSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

Local clergy offer words of support at the prayer service on Monday night in Daytona Beach. Singers Lorenzo Smith and Daytona Beach Detective Nate Williams performed for the crowd. great when people come together from different faiths. Even though this tragedy happened in a gay club, a lot of many heterosexual people were there too. I don’t know anyone who knows someone who was there, but I heard of some local college students that were supposed to go that didn’t,” commented Daytona resident Iris Quinn.

“I don’t know anyone directly affected by this tragedy. Since my time here in Daytona. I haven’t really seen any real hate towards the LGBT community,” added Dupuis.

Muslims misunderstood Shemman also expressed his thoughts on the anti-Muslim rhetoric.

“The position of the vast majority of Muslims around the world is against those who commit these gruesome crimes. We as Muslims believe that the people responsible for these crimes do not present Islam and Muslims. They misread, misquote, misinterpret and misunderstand the religion. Any logical person should not pave the actions of a few against the 1.5 billion Muslims in the world,” he explained.

“The majority of the victims of violence from Islamic extremists are the 1.5 billion Muslims in the world. Muslims are killing Muslims. Terrorism anywhere is a threat to peace anywhere,” he added.

Interfaith participants Along with Imam Shemman, prayers and reflections were offered by Bethune-Cookman University chaplain, the Rev. John Baldwin II; Rabbi Stanley Howard Scharwtz of the Interfaith Family Network; Sensai Morris Sullivan of the Volusia County Buddhist Fellowship; Rev. Nathan Mugala, pastor of Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church; Rev. Monzell Ford, vice president of the Daytona Black Clergy Alliance and pastor/founder of Kingdom Minded Ministries; Kirpal Singh, president of the Shiek Community of Central Florida; Father Phil Egitto, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church; and Laureen Dupuis of Our Lady Lourdes Catholic Church’s LGBT ministry.

LEADERS or LGBT component of the attack.

“This is clearly an attack on the LGBTQ community. It was clearly an attack on Latinos as well.

A supermajority of the victims that have been named so far are young Latino men, most of them LGBTQ,” said Carlos Guillermo Smith, governmental affairs director for Equality Florida, a gayrights advocacy group.

“We have to remember that it is an attack on our community, which we have to call out for what it is – an anti-gay, anti-Latino, disgusting act of terror and hate,” Smith, a Democrat running for the state House in Orlando, said in a telephone interview.

The timing of Sunday’s attack – during LGBT Pride month – was especially heart-wrenching.

On a June night in 1969, habitues of the Stonewall Inn – an integral component in New York City’s gay community – fought back during a police raid, in an event widely believed to have given birth to the gay liberation movement.

Since then, gay nightclubs like Pulse, the scene of Sunday’s bloodbath, have been considered safe havens for LGBT patrons.

“These types of places, they’re the gathering spots for gay people. It is where we can be ourselves. We can go have a good

Local vigils Earlier this week, vigils were held around the area for the victims.

On Monday, First Presbyterian Church in New Smyrna Beach offered prayers, support and music. There also was one at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in DeLand.

On Tuesday, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Daytona Beach held a prayer service and so did Community United Methodist Church in DeBary.

A special prayer service was held at St. James Episcopal Church in Ormond Beach.

and make it known that we are going to make this stop. If we have to march through hell itself, we are going to make this stop. We’re not a bunch of wimps that are going to go like lambs to the slaughter. This is not going to happen anymore,” Brenner, a Tallahassee resident, said.

from Page 1

Safe haven

Lorenzo Smith and Daytona Beach Detective Nate Williams also sang for the crowd.

Not backing down

JOSHUA LIM/ORLANDO SENTINEL/TNS’

Andy Garcia, a longtime resident of Orlando, holds signs outside Camping World Stadium in Orland on Wednesday to show support to those affected by the Pulse nightclub shooting. time and be away from the critical eye of society and be out and open and free. The clubs have always been a really important part of our culture,” said Susan Gage, a gay activist who lives in Tallahassee.

A step backward Gays in Florida – and the nation – have racked up victories in the courtroom in recent years.

Same-sex marriage has been legal in Florida for more than a year, and gay couples are now

permitted to legally adopt children.

But the reaction to Sunday’s attack, for many, is seen as a step backward, especially after reports that Mateen’s father said his son was enraged after witnessing two men kissing in Miami.

“Our work to change hearts and minds needs to continue in a more aggressive way because that’s the only we overcome the hate,” said Ulvert, who described news of Sunday’s historic massa-

cre as being like “a punch in the gut.”

‘Make this stop’ Jim Brenner, who was one of the plaintiffs in a successful challenge to Florida’s prohibition on same-sex marriage, is focused on pushing for a ban on assault weapons, but he is also concerned that the hate-crime component of the Orlando mass murder is being downplayed.

“Tears are not enough anymore. We have got to stand up

Many gay leaders also view Sunday’s tragedy as an opportunity to strengthen the community.

“That’s the thing that this whole episode is never going to take away from the gay community. We pull together and then we become even more of a juggernaut,” said Gage. “We’ve been hurt. We are crying. We are in pain. But we’re not backing down.”

Gage is a longtime member of Mickey Faust, a community theater group she said has been a “haven” for LGBT locals in the Tallahassee area. The troupe’s Friday show will go on, Gage said.

Ulvert favored a sort of “turn the other cheek” approach, despite hateful comments he said he viewed on social media accusing gays of being punished for their lifestyle.

“Our community has to be resilient and not show hate with hate, instead stick to what we’ve been doing, which is love will conquer,” he said. “It’s challenging, though, when you do go online and you see people commenting. I’ve stopped looking.”

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JUNE 16 – JUNE 22, 2016 COMMUNITY DECEMBER 14 - 20, 2006

M A YNEWS OR

AACS prepares for cruise; elects new president Actor Kim Sullivan’s arrival at the African American Cultural Society (AACS), performing excepts from playwright August Wilson’s plays, kick started the society’s 25th anniversary. The steering committee, led by 25th Anniversary Chairwoman Stephanie Robinson, reacted to spearheading events, sponsorships and publicity.

Sullivan has delighted audiences in St. Petersburg at the American Stage Company for the Wilson plays, and for which the AACS members have gone day-tripping to see.

An eight-day cruise in November will take off sailing to San Juan, Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua, St. Maarten and St. Thomas. In addition, the committee has sponsored a 25th Anniversary Sweepstake Drawing, and historical prospectives of short narratives on the society’s history have been presented each month at the membership meetings. The history will be reproduced for a DVD.

Sharpe steps down Moreover, the timeline denotes that the African American Cultural Society has a new president and his name is Joseph Matthews.

President James M. Sharpe Jr., 86, resigned and owes a grateful heart to those who have gone before and paved the way to establish the organizaJoseph tion. Mr. Sharpe, an AACS Matthews founder and charter member, took the initiative of serving the organization in various capacities over the past 25 years.

“Although I didn’t run as president, I am honored because of the support and confidence that I have and continue to receive from our members,” said Matthews, who

PALM COAST COMMUNITY NEWS JEROLINE D. MCCARTHY

was elevated from first vice president to president.

“It is a huge job, and bigger than I ever imaged,” he said. “I hope I can live up to the confidence that was given to me, and I hope I can lead AACS during this historical period.”

Tourney in the works A 25th anniversary golf tournament is in the works, and has been set for June 18 at Cypress Knolls Golf Club, 53 Easthampton Boulevard, Palm Coast. It is a four-person scramble.

Registration will begin at 7:30 a.m.; the shotgun start is 8:30 a.m., and the entry fee is $75.

An awards ceremony and luncheon will follow in the restaurant of the golf club.

Call on John Reid, golf chairman, for more details at 386-237-7744; William Seeney, 386-586-1411; or the AACS at 386447-7030 regarding the golf tournament, or the eight-day cruise. The e-mail address is africanameric955@bellsouth.net.

First Church to address state of young men The Men’s Ministry of the First Church of Palm Coast will lay out the state of the young Black men in America, which was predicated on David asking Joab’s servant, “Is the Young Man Safe” (II Samuel 18: 29)?

In Chicago alone, 69 Black youth were shot during the week of May 30, and nothing was said.

“And, we ask, ‘is the young man all right?’

“No. No. Our young men are under attack, the attack from without, and the attack from within,” the Rev. Gillard S. Glover responded.

Invaluable information discussed at a forum will develop strategies for the condition of young men. It will be open to everyone, especially youth and women alone raising young men by themselves.

The forum will take place June 18, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with breakfast served from 10 to 10:30 a.m. The actual duration of the forum is 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and a cookout will follow from 2 to 3 p.m.

The discussion will be presided by Pastor Gillard S. Glover, followed by speakers: Dr. Betty Green facilitating “Teach Thyself;” Dr. Irving Robinson giving direction to “Heal Thyself;” Dr. Robert Whiting, “Know Thyself;” and the Rev. G. Vincent Lewis, “Restore Thyself.”

The donation is $20 for adults and $10 inclusive of all children in a family.

To register, call the church at 386-4465759. And don’t forget the Father’s Day Worship Services on the following day, June 19, which will take place at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., at 91 Old Kings Road North, Palm Coast.

Rogers to perform at Gospel Café Vocalist Jessica Rogers will set the stage June 17, 7 - 9 p.m., with the artistry of jazz and gospel, showcasing the Gospel Café at 91 Old Kings Road North, Palm Coast.

Rogers will offer the classy set with new songs and favorites.

Enjoy “mocktails” of virgin daiquiris, pina coladas and margaritas. The café will

set the atmosphere for recreation minus the rigor of the contemporary jazz clubs.

A dinner of honey barbequed wings, potato salad, Romaine and iceberg mix, and grape tomatoes – served at 6 p.m. – will contribute toward an amazing evening with Jessica Rogers.

The ticket to the Gospel Café sells for $15, and the dinner, $7.

To purchase tickets, call First Church at 386-446-5759, where the Rev. Gillard S. Glover serves as pastor. First Church is located at 91 Old Kings Road North, Palm Coast.

Schools serving free summer meals School’s out! Power up for summer fun!

Kids and teens, 18 years and younger, can take advantage of the free meals served through July 29 at the Versie Lee Mitchell Community Center, Espanola Community Center, The Imagine School, Reverse Church, Wadsworth Elementary School and Bunnell Elementary School.

Parents can key in “Flagler Schools Nutrislice” on the Internet, and then access “Flagler Schools Food & Nutrition Services - facebook.com.” The scheduled meals and locations are posted on the site.

There’s no enrollment or costs.

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

Celebrations Birthday wishes to Imani Kinshasa, June 18; William Seeney, Elaine Koonce, June 19; Randenese Litkett, June 21; and James Sharpe, June 22.

No Limits: Program teaches girls about aviation, leadership, team building The Boys & Girls Clubs of Volusia/Flagler Counties hosted Terry L Carbonell and the Aviation Adventures “No Limits” program over a five-month period that ended with a real-life flight for the participants. The mission of Aviation Adventures is to provide aviation education and career development for women and disadvantaged youth, especially girls.

The program emphasizes STEM education concepts, encouraging young people to apply this knowledge in preparation for careers in all aspects of aviation, including clerical, technical, management and pilot careers. The program also emphasizes using aviation to enhance self-esteem, and to promote team building, and leadership training.

More than 70 girls from the Boys & Girls Clubs in Daytona Beach, Edgewater, New Smyrna Beach Holly Hill, DeLand, Deltona, Lake Helen and Palm Coast participated in the program.

Months of activities The highlights of the monthly program included:

January - introduction to air racing, the documentary “Breaking Through the Clouds,’’ geography lessons, paper airplanes and the introduction to communications, pre-program evaluations, and relay races in geography.

February - career month with visits from female aviation professionals including Bee Haydu, one of the first women Air Force service pilots during World War II. This event was hosted at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

March - “Aviation Olympics” with both team and individual aviation sports.

Team events included mapping and charting exercises, a sectional chart scavenger hunt and paper airplane construction and design and “flight test competition.’’

Individual events included making airport flash cards, working with the military based alpha code, completing US geography oversized floor puzzles, understanding time and time zones, using a compass for routing races, and participating in an aviation spelling bee.

April – The girls participated in an Aviation Ex-

A girl in the program gets to check out the pilot’s seat. travaganza at the DeLand Municipal Airport, which included flying remote control airplanes, an outdoor scavenger hunt using a compass and “flying” an airport traffic pattern with various experimental weather conditions.

May - Young Eagles

Flights. This took place at the DeLand Municipal Airport. The girls had the opportunity to “take flight” in actual airplanes.

In 2015, nearly 1,700 youth were served throughout our eight local Boys & Girls Clubs. The clubs provide youth with a safe place to learn, grow, and receive guidance from caring adults.

To learn more about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Volusia/Flagler Counties, visit www.bgcvfc.org.

Students enjoy their flight experience at the DeLand Municipal Airport.

Volusia Charter Review Commission submits final report

77 sites participating in summer food program

Volusia County’s Charter Review Commission submitted its final report to Volusia County Council members on June 3. The report includes three proposed amendments to the county’s Home Rule Charter: • Modification of legislative procedures to conform to law; and repeal of superseded or obsolete provisions • Authorization for payment of in-county expenses of County Council members • Designation of at-large member as County Council vice chair Three public hearings must be held before the recommendations can be placed on the election ballot in November. The hearings will take place during County Council meetings on July 7 and July 21. The first was June 16.

After the final public hearing, the council will adopt a resolution placing the proposed amendments on the ballot.

The final report can be read at www.volusia. org/charter-review.

Volusia County’s Human Services Office is sponsoring a Summer Food Service Program for children at 77 sites through Aug. 12.

The program, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, provides nutritionally balanced meals during summer vacation when school breakfasts and lunches are not available.

All children 18 and younger are eligible for meals at no charge.

Meals are served Monday through Friday. All sites will be closed July 4.

Summer feeding sites listed under city headings will provide meals to all children in the immediate vicinity in addition to those enrolled in summer school.

To view all of the food sites, visit www.SummerFoodFlorida.org.

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7 EDITORIAL

JUNE 16 – JUNE 22, 2016

Expanding the non-White teacher pipeline The Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) has just completed a week of national training for nearly 2,000 college students and recent graduates preparing to teach in CDF Freedom Schools summer literacy programs across the country.

We are so proud of the young, energetic, hardworking and committed servant leaders who spend very long hours preparing to serve more than 11,000 low-income children when they return home to 95 cities and communities in 27 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

I hope many or most of them will become public school teachers who love, respect, and set high expectations for every child in their care. Since 1995, more than 17,000 college-aged students, public school teachers, and juvenile detention personnel have come to CDF-Alex Haley Farm for training to teach in summer Freedom Schools. Many have gone on to become teachers, principals, administrators, college professors and more.

They are filling a great need.

Secretary of Education John B. King, Jr. was among the extraordinary leaders who spoke to and inspired them this year. As our first Puerto Rican-African-American secretary of education, he spoke movingly of losing his mother at 8 and his father at 12 and how caring teachers saved his life and put

MARIAN WRIGHT EDELMAN GEORGE CURRY MEDIA

Seventy-eight percent of new teachers are White, compared to 8 percent Black and 10 percent Hispanic. him on the path to success.

Ivy League education He graduated from Harvard University, Columbia University’s Teachers College, and Yale Law School. He stressed the crucial importance of building a strong multiracial and multicultural teacher pipeline to inspire and guide all of our children, especially those who are poor and non-White.

Students of color constitute a majority in our schools, but teachers of color constitute only 18 percent of their faculties.

In a Washington Post Op-Ed Secretary King noted, “We have strong evidence that students of color benefit from having teach-

High blood pressure, strokes and Blacks Few, if any, health issues touch the lives of more African-Americans than high blood pressure.

Usually, hypertension is defined as blood pressure above 140/90, and is considered severe if the pressure is above 180/120.

Blood pressure numbers between 120-139 systolic (upper number) or 80-89 diastolic (lower number) are considered prehypertension.

High rate More than 40 percent of African-Americans have high blood pressure, a rate that is one of the highest in the world. Racial disparities between African-Americans and Whites are striking: in addition to having a higher prevalence of high blood pressure, African-Americans are more likely to develop hypertension at a younger age and are at higher risk of strokes, heart failure, endstage renal disease and deaths from heart disease.

Research has shown that

GLENN ELLIS GEORGE CURRY MEDIA

health insurance coverage can influence the successful control of hypertension. Quality care, seeing the same doctor, and coverage for prescription drugs all help. Fortunately, there are millions of African-Americans who now have access to care, in large part, as a result of the Affordable Care Act. The higher prevalence of hypertension in Blacks living in the United States instead of Africa demonstrates that environmental and behavioral characteristics are the more likely reasons for the higher prevalence in AfricanAmericans.

African-American stroke survivors fare worse than other groups, too. They are more likely

‘Justice’ in Black and White Their names will – or should – become household words: Brian Banks and Brock Turner. Both are athletes. Both were good students with no criminal histories.

One, Banks, is Black. Turner is White. Both were accused and convicted of rape.

Banks was 16 and still in high school in 2003 when he was accused and convicted. He spent a year in juvenile detention before his case came up and faced a sentence of 41 years to life, but a judge eventually gave him six years. He served five years and two months of his sentence before he was released.

Didn’t do it But he didn’t commit rape.

His accuser recanted her story

SUSAN K. SMITH GEORGE CURRY MEDIA

in 2012. By then, the life of this once-promising football player had been forever altered. He missed graduating from high school and could not go to college, though he had committed to play at the University of Southern California.

Turner is 20, a student at Stanford University, and a champion swimmer. In 2015, he was caught in the act of raping an unconscious woman behind a dumpster. A jury convicted him of three

VISUAL VIEWPOINT: ZIKA VIRUS FUNDING

ers who are positive role models, as well as from the changes in classroom dynamics that result. Teachers of color often have higher expectations for students of color, are more likely to use culturally relevant teaching practices, are more likely to confront racism in their lessons and, yes, also serve as advocates.”

DEA summit On May 6, Secretary King and the U.S. Department of Education held a National Summit on Teacher Diversity.

Researchers noted that Black and Hispanic children in schools with high concentrations of Black and Hispanic teachers are less likely to be suspended, more likely to be recognized as better students and be placed in academically gifted classes, and more likely to graduate on time than those who attend schools with fewer diverse teachers.

Teachers of color are underrepresented compared to students of color in every state and a report released at the Summit by the Department of Education showed how the supply of teachers of color decreases at multiple points in the educator pipeline including enrollment in and completion of education programs, initial hiring, and retention.

Seventy-eight percent of new teachers are White, compared to 8

to become disabled by stroke and unable to participate in everyday activities like walking, lifting or grasping objects, and socializing with others.

High odds Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States, and African-Americans are about 50 percent more likely to experience them than Caucasians.

The odds are especially high for Black men:70 percent. Experts believe that the increased stroke risks result from a combination of genetic and environmental factors, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, coronary heart disease, and a sedentary lifestyle.

Even though African-Americans are the population at highest risk, research shows that many don’t know very much about strokes. Calling 911 right away was the most appropriate way to respond to stroke symptoms.

And time does matter. If given within three hours of the start of symptoms, a clot-busting drug called tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) may reduce long-term disability for the most common type of stroke, according to the

felony counts of rape.

Santa Clara County Judge Aaron Persky thought that prison time would be damaging to the young man. His exact words: “A prison sentence would have a severe impact on him.” Turner was sentenced to only six months (with the possibility of early parole), though he faced the possibility of 14 years. His father pleaded with the court for even more leniency.

The Turner sentence sparked outrage. Thousands of people signed petitions protesting the sentence and demanding that Judge Persky be removed from the bench. It is unlikely that the outrage will have any effect.

‘System worked’ People are saying that the sixmonth sentence is unfortunate, but that the “system worked.”

That’s the same system, one must suppose, that worked for Ethan Couch, the young White youth who pleaded guilty to four counts

ADAM ZYGLIS, THE BUFFALO NEWS

percent Black and 10 percent Hispanic. Only 2 percent of teachers are Black males.

‘Invisible tax’ Secretary King pointed out the “invisible tax” paid by teachers of color, especially males – often given extra tasks like planning cultural activities or mentoring or disciplining students of color. Adding these roles on top of standard responsibilities without extra support can lead to teacher burnout.

Recent research by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) found more teachers of color are being hired than in the past but they are leaving more quickly than White teachers. Making the educator workforce much more

American Stroke Association.

It was once thought that certain genetic and biological differences caused the risk to be greater in African-Americans. Experts are now looking into how socioeconomic disadvantages and lifestyle factors may add to these risks.

African-Americans are more likely to be sensitive to the effects of salt on blood pressure; have blood vessels that are more sensitive; be overweight or obese; and have diabetes than do nonHispanic Whites.

Lifestyle effects There are other things that may make up for the difference in high blood pressure risk: less access to health care and health care information; lower levels of education and income; lack of resources for a healthy lifestyle; diets high in salt, fat, and sugar, and low in vegetables and fiber; stressful lifestyle from things such as unemployment and living in neighborhoods with noise, violence, and poverty; and of course, smoking.

Make the changes There is much that is not known about why African-Amer-

of intoxication manslaughter.

Prosecutors sought a 20-year prison sentence, but Couch received no jail time. His attorney argued that he was sick; that his affluence had affected his ability to make good decisions.

When Brian Banks was accused, convicted, and sentenced for a rape he didn’t commit, there was no outrage. And it took time between the recantation of Banks’ accuser and his release from jail. There was no hurry, no concern about how this entire experience had affected, or would affect, this young man.

No impact Turner got a free pass. The woman whom he raped was ignored. She pleaded for justice.

Her long letter was read to the judge, to the court, and now to the public, but for naught. The rich White kid has virtually gotten away with rape.

Banks now works for the National Football League – not as a

Charles W. Cherry II, Esq., Publisher

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.

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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diverse would help everyone.

Secretary King emphasized a more diverse workforce would be good not just for students of color but for all students: “Breaking down negative stereotypes helps all students learn to live and work in a multiracial society. Ultimately, the work we can do together to create opportunity for all students will determine not only the kind of economy we have and the kind of people we will be, but also whether we will become the nation we ought to be.”

Marian Wright Edelman is founder and president of the Children’s Defense Fund (www. childrensdefense.org).

icans are so prone to be affected by strokes and high blood pressure. What we do know is that if you have high blood pressure or prehypertension, you can lower your blood pressure by making changes in your lifestyle.

I close by shattering a big myth: Having high blood pressure does not mean that you’re tense or nervous. You can be calm and relaxed and still have high blood pressure. You usually can’t tell if you have it. The only way to know if your blood pressure is high is to have it checked regularly.

Remember, I’m not a doctor. I just sound like one.

Glenn Ellis is a regular media contributor on health equity and medical ethics. For more information, visit www. glennellis.com. The information included in this column is for educational purposes only.

It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Consult your healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation or if they have any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment plan.

player, but in the NFL offices. He still remembers the all-White jury pronouncing him guilty and the people in the courtroom that day regarding him with disdain.

Nobody, it seems, cried at Banks’ conviction and nobody cared that his life was ruined.

It is the law of the land in these United States: justice for some, not justice for all – especially if you are an African-American male.

Someone said that Turner’s life is forever ruined. He has been ordered to register as a sex offender. He will not be able to compete as a swimmer anymore, and he probably will not be able to go to college.

Or maybe he will.

Rev. Susan K. Smith is an author and ordained minister who is founder of Crazy Faith Ministries. Contact her at revsuekim@sbcglobal.net.

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5 7

M ANATION YOR

JUNE 16 –14 JUNE 2016 DECEMBER - 20, 22, 2006

The controversy over using public bathroom What it’s like to live under North Carolina law if you’re transgender

BY MATT PEARCE LOS ANGELES TIMES/TNS

Going to the bathroom in public makes Payton McGarry nervous now.

He’s worried somebody will confront him. Or, worse, attack him. So before he leaves his apartment, he asks himself: “Have I drunk too much water today?”

That’s because McGarry, a 20-year-old student at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, is a transgender man. But because his birth certificate says he’s female, North Carolina law says it’s illegal for him to use the men’s room at school.

“I really try not to go to the bathroom at all,” McGarry said. “When I was still in school for the semester, I literally had to walk two buildings down to legally use the restroom, and that’s the kind of situation transgender people are being put in all over the place now.”

Major inconvenience On March 23, North Carolina became the first state in the country to ban people from using government-owned restrooms and locker rooms that don’t match the gender written on their birth certificates.

Since then, transgender North Carolinians interviewed by the Los Angeles Times say that going to public bathrooms has become an inconvenience and a conundrum, a daily choice between risking their personal safety or breaking the law.

Transgender women seem to have largely ignored the law for fear of being attacked or sexually assaulted in the men’s room. Some transgender men have gone into women’s rooms to avoid prosecution, or as a protest – to create the kind of awkward situations that conservative lawmakers had intended to avoid.

Climate of fear Some transgender North Carolinians even plan their entire days around future bathroom trips or avoid public restrooms altogether, like McGarry, saying debate around House Bill 2 has brought a new climate of fear to the state.

McGarry, who is suing the state and the University of North Carolina system over the bathroom bill, wants to be a lawyer someday, so he wants to follow the law. But between going to the men’s room

PHOTOS BY ROBERT WILLETT/RALEIGH NEWS & OBSERVER/TNS

Krys Didtrey, left, and Gloria Merriweather, center, of Charlotte, N.C., lead chants in opposition to HB2 during a protest in the lobby of the State Legislative Building in Raleigh, N.C., on April 25. A large group of people starting chanting in the lobby moment after the House adjourned for the evening. where he fits in or going to the women’s room where he sticks out, the choice is clear.

“This is a situation where I’m choosing between safety or breaking the law, and I’m going to choose my safety every time,” McGarry said. “So I go to the male restroom.”

Source of anxiety North Carolina has become the epicenter of a national battle over transgender rights since the city of Charlotte passed an ordinance in February barring discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

State Republican lawmakers immediately recoiled – claiming Charlotte’s law allowed men and potential sexual predators into women’s bathrooms – and responded by passing House Bill 2, which also overrides local nondiscrimination packages like Charlotte’s.

Bathrooms have long been a source of anxiety for transgender men and women whose gender transitions are in progress. As their appearances change, it can be difficult to know when it’s best to stop using one gender’s bathroom and start using another.

‘Nothing wrong’ Restrooms can even be dangerous. Seventy percent of transgender people have been attacked,

North Carolina NAACP President Rev. William Barber leads a peaceful sit-in protest in opposition to HB2 at the State Legislative Building in Raleigh, N.C., on April 25. harassed or denied access to a bathroom, according to a survey conducted in Washington, D.C., and published in the Journal of Public Management and Social Policy in 2013.

House Bill 2, which has drawn boycotts and lawsuits, has added institutional pressure to the mix.

Ethan Mayo, 18, started his gender transition this year, and he struggled over the right time to switch bathrooms.

He started using the

men’s room at his Charlotte, N.C., high school when he started “getting more weird looks in the girls’ bathroom.”

“I didn’t want to feel out of place, I guess,” Mayo said.

But House Bill 2 was passed not long after Mayo began using the men’s room, and he said another student complained.

After a teacher quizzed him about his bathroom habits, Mayo said, the school’s administration quietly urged him to use a single-person restroom on campus.

“I was just ticked off,” said Mayo, who graduated this month. “I was kind of just hoping I could go as long as possible without getting caught. I knew I wasn’t doing anything wrong.”

‘Passing privilege’ The law has also been a source of worry for transgender North Carolinians who don’t have what’s often called “passing privilege” – the ability to not stick out as transgender.

Before the law’s passage, using the men’s room came naturally to Joaquin Carcano, 27, an employee of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

Carcano has some facial hair. But, he said, “there’s definitely times I don’t pass.” Now “there are times where I walk to the men’s restroom and before I went in, (I think), ‘Oh, wait, this law exists, there are restrictions.’”

Carcano didn’t want to risk losing his job, so he began using a gender-neutral bathroom in a hospital next to his workplace. He

recently discovered that his building, which is six stories, has one single-use bathroom – in the basement, for maintenance staff.

Suing system Carcano is now suing the state as part of the same lawsuit with McGarry. The head of the state’s university system, Margaret Spellings, said in May that she will not enforce the law until the lawsuit has been resolved.

Schools aren’t the only danger zones. Terri Phoenix, the director of the LGBTQ Center at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, uses the women’s restroom when he’s traveling in more conservative parts of the state because that’s the gender listed on his driver’s license.

Many transgender people interviewed by The Times said they weren’t afraid of prosecution because House Bill 2 doesn’t specify a punishment for breaking the law. But Phoenix says that same ambiguity worried him.

“I don’t pass well as a guy,” Phoenix said. What if a rural sheriff tried to arrest him for, say, indecent exposure at a public restroom? “If I get challenged, I need to be able to show that I have the correct driver’s license in order to be in the bathroom.”

Political statement Others say following the law creates the kind of awkward situations the state purported to be legislating against.

August Branch, 25, of Greenville, has a full beard.

But as a transgender man, he is legally supposed to use the women’s bathroom when he gives workshops on transgender issues at East Carolina University.

So, Branch has sometimes used the women’s room – as a political statement.

“It makes everybody uncomfortable,” Branch said.

“For me in general, it’s safer to use the men’s room. ... I’m, like, a 200-pound bearded guy. That’s the bathroom I should be using.”

Many transgender women would rather play it safe - often fearing bathroom vigilantism by private citizens more than punishment for breaking the law.

“Every day I’m in dresses and tight clothing with a full face of makeup,” said Angie Mullowney, 20, of Raleigh, a transgender woman who was attending North Carolina State University when the new law was passed.

“If I were to use the men’s room, I would be putting myself in physical harm, or putting myself in a situation where I could be sexually assaulted, and there’s no way I’m going to be doing that.”

Kaylin Mercer, a 21-yearold North Carolina State University student, says she passes so well that many people don’t know she’s transgender, so she largely ignores the law with “no fear whatsoever.”

Erica Lachowitz, a 40-year-old transgender woman and advocate in Charlotte, said, “I would rather go to prison, receive a civil fine, than put myself at risk” by going into a men’s room.

5.6

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7

M AHEALTH YOR

JUNE 16 –14JUNE DECEMBER - 20, 22, 20062016

PHOTO COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES

Fixing the pain problem SAFE, EFFECTIVE OPTIONS FOR LONG-TERM TREATMENT FROM FAMILY FEATURES

America is in the midst of an opioid epidemic. Sales of prescription opioids have nearly quadrupled since 1999. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2012 alone enough opioid prescriptions were written for “every American adult to have their own bottle of pills.”

Prescription opioids – medications that reduce pain by interrupting pain signals to the brain – only mask the sensation of pain, and they come with side effects including depression, overdose and addiction, plus withdrawal symptoms when stopping opioid use. Pain relief doesn’t have to come in a bottle, however. Physical therapists can provide a safe, drug-free alternative for treating pain.

When to choose physical therapy In March 2016, the CDC released guidelines urging prescribers to rely less on opioids in favor of non-drug alternatives.

The guide­ lines recognize that prescription opioids are appropriate in certain cases, including cancer treatment, palliative care and end-of-life care, but for most long-term pain management non-opioid approaches are recommended.

The American Physical Therapy Association, through its national #ChoosePT campaign, is reminding patients that they have the right to choose their method of pain treatment. Physical therapists treat pain through movement and patients get to play an active role in their recovery.

Based on the CDC guidelines,

Pain relief doesn’t have to come in a bottle, however.

Physical therapists can provide a safe, drug-free alternative for treating pain. patients should choose non-opioid alternatives, such as physical therapy, when: The risks of opioid use outweigh the rewards. “Experts agreed that opioids should not be considered first-line or routine therapy for chronic pain,” according to the CDC. “Given the substantial evidence gaps on opioids, uncertain benefits of long-term use and potential for serious harm, patient education and discussion before starting opioid therapy are critical so that patient preferences and values can be understood and used to inform clinical decisions.”

Physical therapists can play a valuable role in the patient education process, including setting realistic expectations for recovery with or without opioids. As the guidelines note, even in cases when evidence on the long-

term benefits of non-opioid therapies is limited, “risks are much lower” with non-opioid treatment plans.

Pain or function problems are related to low-back pain, hip or knee osteoarthritis or fibromyalgia. The CDC cited “high-quality evidence” supporting exercise as part of a physical therapy treatment plan for those familiar conditions.

Opioids are prescribed for pain. Even in situations when opioids are prescribed, the CDC recommends that patients should receive “the lowest effective dosage” and opioids “should be combined” with non-opioid therapies, such as physical therapy. Clinicians should continue opioid therapy only if there is “mean­ing­ful improvement in pain and function that outweighs risks to patient safety.”

Pain lasts 90 days. At this point, the pain is considered “chronic” and the risks for continued opioid use increase. An mated 116 million Ameriesti­ cans are living with chronic pain, but the danger of masking pain with prescription opioids is clear.

More than 165,000 people in the United States have died from opioid pain medication-related overdoses since 1999, and every day more than 1,000 people are treated in emergency departments for mis­using prescription opioids.

If you or a loved one needs help managing pain, talk with your health care provider about safe alternatives to opioids. Additional information on the #ChoosePT campaign, including a pain self-assessment that patients can use to facilitate conversations about their care, is available at MoveForwardPT. com/ChoosePT.

Understanding pain Before exploring and choosing long-term treatment options, consider these facts about pain: 1. Pain is output from the brain. While researchers used to believe that pain originated within the tissues of the body, newer evidence indicates that pain does not exist until the brain determines it does. The brain uses a virtual “road map” to direct an output of pain to tissues that it suspects may be in danger. This process acts as a means of communication between the brain and the tissues of the body to serve as a defense against possible injury or disease.

2. The degree of injury does not always equal the degree of pain. Research has demonstrated that people experience pain in individual ways. While some people experience major inju­ries with little pain, others experience minor injuries with a lot of pain.

3. Diagnostic imaging (MRIs, X-rays, CT scans) results may not show the cause of pain. A 2015 study in Spine, which analyzed MRI results of more than 1,200 individuals ages 20-70 who had no symptoms of lower-back pain, found that 87.6 percent suffered from bulging discs. Even most subjects in their 20s had bulging discs – 73.3 percent of males and 78 percent of females, respectively.

4. Psychological factors, such as depression and anxiety, can make pain worse. Pain can be influenced by many different factors, such as psychological conditions. A recent study in the Journal of Pain showed that psychological variables that existed prior to a total knee replacement were related to a patient’s experience of long-term pain following the operation.

5. Your social environment may influence your perception of pain. Many patients state their pain increases when they are at work or in a stressful situation. Pain messages can be gener­ated when an individual is in an environment or situation that the brain interprets as unsafe. It is a fundamental form of selfprotection.

6. Understanding pain through education may reduce your need for care. A large study conducted on military personnel demonstrated that those who were given a 45-minute educa­tional session about pain sought care for lower-back pain less than their counterparts.

7. The brain can be tricked into developing pain in prosthetic limbs. Studies have shown that the brain can be tricked into developing a “referred” sensation in a limb that has been amputated, causing a feeling of pain that seems to come from the prosthetic limb – or from the “phantom” limb. The sen­sation is generated by the association of the brain’s perception of what the body is from birth (whole and complete) and what it currently is (post-amputation).

8. The ability to determine left from right may be altered when you experience pain. Networks within the brain that assist you in determining left from right can be affected when you experience severe pain. If you have been experiencing pain and have noticed your sense of direction is a bit off, it may be because the part of the brain that details a path to each part of the body may be impaired.

9. There is no way of knowing whether you have a high pain tolerance or not. While some people claim to have a “high tolerance” for pain, there is no accurate way to measure or compare pain tolerance among individuals. While some tools exist to measure how much force you can resist before experiencing pain, it can’t be determined what your pain “feels like.”

R8

7COMMUNITY NEWS

JUNE 16 – JUNE 22, 2016

Instructor to discuss early 20th-century immigration

COURTESY OF GAMMA MU OMEGA CHAPTER/ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY

The 2016 debutantes are Sadejah Stalling, Jasmine Davis, Teren Culver, Maliaka Jackson, Brittany Norris, Nikiya John and Leslie Collins. Their escorts, standing behind them, are Re’Nard Wright, Daryus Drayton, Todd Powers, Charles Fordham, Julius Cardon II, Nathan Butts and Jordon Crooms.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority presents 2016 Debutante Cotillion

Scholarships awarded

The Gamma Mu Omega chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority staged its biennial Debutante Cotillion presentation on June 4 at the Museum of Arts and Sciences.

Seven young ladies made their debut to society. They are Sadejah Stalling, Jasmine Davis, Teren Culver, Maliaka Jackson, Brittany

Davis was crowned Miss Debutante Cotillion for 2016. Several girls also received scholarships.

Following the presentation, the girls, their families and guests enjoyed a reception at the museum.

Khalelah Jones and Tori Culver served as chairpersons for the event. Participation is

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. is the oldest Greek-letter organization established in America by Black college women. It was founded in 1908 at Howard University. Since then the sorority’s membership has grown to more than 290,000 college-trained women.

The Gamma Mu Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority was chartered in 1941.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the local chapter.

Applicant organizations must be incorporated in the state and registered with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services as a nonprofit tax-exempt organization and be able to demonstrate at least one year of successful service delivery. Additional criteria regarding eligible services, agency capacity and financial stability are also applicable.

Applications for contingency funds may not include requests for the following services: •Services for persons with disabilities •Infant, early childhood and maternal health •Services to seniors 65 and over

•Non-school-hour services for school-age children or youth development and academic programs •Services for adolescents ages 10 to 17 •Family-based intervention, counseling services, and services to prevent or intervene in family violence •Basic needs services, including emergency intervention and assistance and financial stability Applications, funding criteria and a list of eligible services will be available June 17 at http://volusia.org/community_assistance/ applications.stml or by contacting Brittany Scott at bscott@volusia.org or 386-736-5955, ext. 12959.

County funds available for children’s and community programs Contingency grant funds are available for fiscal year 2016-2017 programs in Volusia County that serve children and the community.

A mandatory workshop to review the application will be conducted at 9 a.m. Friday, June 17, in the Easter Seals conference room, 1219 Dunn Ave., Daytona Beach.

Norris, Nikiya John and Leslie Collins.

The event was the culmination of several months in which the girls took part in workshops, attended cultural events and participated in community service activities.

open to girls that are high school juniors or seniors in Volusia County.

75th anniversary

Kim Nelson, a humanities instructor at Seminole State College, will share her research on the passage of millions of European immigrants through Ellis Island during a free program at 2 p.m. July 2 at DeBary Hall Historic Site, 198 Sunrise Blvd., DeBary.

Nelson used her research to write “Stitching: A Novel of Love and Immigration,” a fictionalized story of her grandparents’ immigration from Italy. Her novel addresses recruitment methods, the conditions of steamship passage, and resettlement in a strange land. She will sign and sell copies of the book after her presentation.

The program is part of the Lemonade Lectures series, which is sponsored by the Enterprise Historical Conservancy and Volusia County.

Light refreshments and lemonade will be served.

Reservations are not required. For information, call 386-668-3840.

DeBary Hall Historic Site, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is owned by the state and managed by the county’s Parks, Recreation and Culture Division. Tours of the lodge are available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from noon to 4 p.m.

Sunday.

Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $2 for children ages 3 to 12, and free for children 2 and younger.

For more information about DeBary Hall, visit www.debaryhall.com.