Summer concerts underway at the Bandshell SEE PAGE 8
East Central Florida’s Black Voice
EE FR
DR. SINCLAIR GREY III: How America can get over the hate and promote love and peace SEE PAGE 4
LOCAL JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION INCLUDES BANQUET, FESTIVAL SEE PAGE 7
JUNE 23 - JUNE 29, 2016
YEAR 41 NO. 25
www.daytonatimes.com
City seeking community input on MLK road project Another meeting
BY ANDREAS BUTLER DAYTONA TIMES
With construction on Orange Avenue still going on, the City of Daytona Beach is planning another road construction project on a major artery in the heart of the Black community. The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard Roadway and Pedestrian Improvement Project will cover the area along the boulevard between Orange Avenue and International Speedway Boulevard. “This is not a large project. It’s kind of a small project, but it’s still an important project. We really need to replace the pipes and utilities in this area,” Scott Van Pelt, Daytona Beach’s technical services director said at a meeting on June 16 at the Dickerson Community Center.
City officials hope to establish communication and avoid problems that occurred with the Orange Avenue project. “We expected more business owners here,” Commissioner Paula Reed said about the sparse crowd at the meeting. “We want to communicate better with the community. We will do another meeting for this project next month. We had meetings for the Orange Avenue project but those meetings weren’t always accessible for the business owners.’’ L. Ronald Durham, the city’s special projects manager, also mentioned the lack of attendance. The meeting was held at the same time as the Juneteenth banquet at the Midtown Cultural and Education Center. See PROJECT, Page 2
DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR./HARDNOTTSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
The MLK Boulevard project is scheduled to start after the Orange Avenue reconstruction is completed.
Police department to host survival workshop Saturday
Restaurant owner gives his account of shooting Three recovering after being shot at popular eatery on International Speedway Boulevard. BY ANDREAS BUTLER DAYTONA TIMES
A firing led to three people being shot at Crab Stop II, a popular Daytona Beach seafood restaurant late Monday night. One of those shot was the business owner himself, Oliver Ross, 43, who sustained gunshot wounds to the shoulder and buttocks. He is recovering at Halifax Health Medical Center. The incident occurred at the location at 933 West International Speedway Blvd. According to a police report, Ross and two others were shot. “I am just more upset than anything else,” Ross told the Daytona Times.
Two others hurt
PHOTOS BY DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR./HARDNOTTSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
Those attending the vigil at the Bandshell express support for the victims who perished at a gay nightclub in Orlando.
The second victim, Cory Ford, 34, was grazed in the forearm and chest while the third victim, Paul English, 73, received a wound in the leg from a stray bullet while See SHOOTING, Page 2
BY DAYTONA TIMES STAFF
The Daytona Beach Police Department is offering a free workshop on Saturday to teach residents how to increase their chances of survival if faced with an active shooter situation. The workshop is being held in the wake of the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando that left 49 victims dead and another 53 injured. Saturday’s workshop will be held from 10 a.m. to noon in the community room at police headquarters, 129 Valor Blvd., Daytona Beach. This is the third time the department has offered the informational class to the public. Refreshments will be provided. “The whole purpose of this seminar is to get people to think about what to do in the event they are confronted Mike with an active shootChitwood er. The people who stay calm and have a plan are more likely to survive,” said Daytona Beach Police Chief Mike Chitwood.Topics to be covered include how to develop a personal plan and how to foster a “survivalist mindset,” pre-incident indicators and law enforcement response.
ALSO INSIDE
Local NAACP to present annual banquet on Saturday The Volusia County-Daytona Beach NAACP’s 43rd annual Freedom Fund and Awards Banquet is Saturday, June 25, at the Hilton Daytona Beach Resort, 100 N. Atlantic Ave. Hilary Shelton, the National NAACP’S Washington bureau director and senior vice president for advocacy, will be the keynote speaker. “We have planned another very special event this year as we honor 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 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.
CULTURE: CULINARY EXPERTS EXPLORE HISTORY OF THE TERM ‘SOUL FOOD’ | PAGE 3 COMMENTARY: MARIAN WRIGHT EDELMAN: INACTION CANNOT BE AN OPTION | PAGE 4
R2
7 FOCUS
JUNE 23 – JUNE 29, 2016
State NAACP VP to Flagler crowd: ‘Somebody’s got to stand up’ Branch President Linda Sharpe Matthews and the Flagler County NAACP Executive Committee had the presence of mind to invite Don Brown to be keynote speaker for the Freedom Fund Banquet on May 7 at the Hammock Beach Resort. Brown, who is first vice president of the Florida State Conference, addresses the civil rights issues relevant to the minority community within the state. Although he’s first vice president, what he was about to say was not necessarily in keeping with the principals of the NAACP. Aside from that, Master of Ceremonies Donald Matthews engaged with the audience, keeping the program entertaining in an exquisite setting. Chester McNorton of C-Style Entertainment provided the accompaniment of dance music, and a raffle drew accommodations for two in a golf package at the Hammock Beach Resort. The Rev. Dr. Gillard S. Glover, pastor of the First Church of Palm Coast, was publicly recognized for his achievements and accomplishments. Rev. Glover received the NAACP Community Service Award for his commitment to the social and economic development of the African-American community.
‘Our Votes Matter’ The program radiated with a theme, “Our Votes Matter,” and a step forward, Brown acknowledged that the presidential candidacy is not the mechanism that has propelled us into the situation we are in; it is our state legislatures across the country that have caused much grief. Moreover, he said that we have a president who has done everything in his power to advocate for us, and we have people in the legislature on their way out, who are trying to stop what the president is doing.
PALM COAST COMMUNITY NEWS JEROLINE D. MCCARTHY
“And, what do we do?” queried Brown. “We sit around and eat chicken and steak. No idea to vote, no encouragement to vote.” If you are too lazy to get out of the bed and vote, and with the use of modern technology, go on Facebook and round up 10, or 12 individuals and tell them to vote, he remarked. “We need you in a worse way,” said Brown. Anything that Donald Trump cannot identify with, “he’s got a problem with it... Talking about, we don’t want to have Muslims to come into our country...They’ve just elected the mayor of London, who is a Muslim...You are going to tell him, he can’t come?” questioned Brown... “And you got a man (Trump) that has everything... And, some of us in this room, you don’t want to risk what you got... “And, that’s why I tell people, if you are lacking in intestinal fortitude, call Don Brown. I don’t care. I don’t mind telling people what time of day it is...We need to understand that somebody’s got to stand up and represent those of us who are afraid to speak,” Brown added.
Linda Cole heading to Gospel Café Songstress Linda Cole will rock the mic
Edward Hayes Jr.
Honorees
Jeanette Moore Merritt
Alumni to be honored and their years in education are as follows: Betty J. Williams, 33 Essie Smith, 23 Hand N. Presley, 15 Ruth C. Hankerson, 29 Johnny Welch, 31 Alvin Porter 33 Daphane Porter, 32 Edward Hayes Jr., 40 Joretha Hayes, 36 Amina Scurry, 15 Gina Petty Sanders, 33 Gwendolyn Anderson, 37 Helen D. Davis, 35 Arthurene Williams, 38 Jeanette Moore Merritt, 55 Teresa Ward, 17 Mshende Brown, 16 Eyvette Troutman Pressley, 38 Dr. Terence Colver, 30 Betty William Prince, 39 Harold V. Lucas Jr., 46 Patricia Hamilton Heard, 44 Harriett M. Fordham, 16 Susan Lewis, 27 Jessie Jackson Childs, 31 Celestine Hinson, 37 Lucille Morris, 30 Harry T. Morris, 35
with polished, smooth jazz on June 24, 7-9 p.m. at the Gospel Café, 91 Old Kings Road North, Palm Coast. She vocalized with her parents and six siblings since the age of 3 in Freeport, Illinois. She’s sensational in becoming a musical director, coach, stage and screen actor. She has worked with Billy “Spinner” Henderson of the superstar group, The Spinners, and Billy Davis Jr. of the Fifth Dimension. She’s performed around the country and, settling in Central Florida in 1991, performs at hotels and jazz and other nightspots. She has laid down her vocals with The Temptations, The London Symphony Orchestra, Maynard Ferguson. Bob Newhart, Chuck Mangione, Spyro Gyra, and the Count Basie Orchestra. Enjoy “mocktails” of virgin daiquiris, pina coladas and margaritas. A dinner of honey-barbequed wings, potato salad, Romaine and iceberg mix, and grape tomatoes – served at 6 p.m. – will contrib-
PROJECT
B-CU alum to honor teachers The Volusia County Alumni Chapter of Bethune-Cookman University is hosting its 48th Annual National Alumni Association Convention June 22-26 on campus. The theme for the convention is “Returning to the Old Landmark.” The highlight of the convention will be the honoring the university’s graduates who made a positive impact in the field of education. “Our founder would be proud of the legacy of contributions to our youth in developing the head, heart and hand of our future leaders,’’ said Percy Williamson, the host convention chairman. The Golden Award Banquet will be held on June 25 at the Midtown Cultural and Educational Center, 925 George Engram Blvd., Daytona Beach. Singer/entertainer Tony Wynn will perform.
PHOTOS BY JEROLINE D. MCCARTHY/DAYTONA TIMES
Left: Linda and Donald Matthews. Right: The Rev. and Mrs. Gillard S. Glover
from Page 1
“We want to make sure that we do a good job of communicating with residents and businesses. Unfortunately, the scheduling of this meeting slipped under us. It was unfortunate, but we’re happy that we did have some residents and businesses come. Their input was insightful.’’ The next public meeting on the project will take place at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 7, at the Dickerson Center.
Joretha Hayes
Concern for businesses Evyette Troutman Pressley
Betty Powers, 41 Margaret Hill, 35 Dianne Ross, 40 Ervin Ross Jr., 40 Collins Smith Ellistine Smith Sylvia Howard Gipson, 44 Tanya Desdemona Matthews, 37 Samuel W. Oliver Sr., 30 Alva Jean Holley, 30 Carmen Oliver Williamson, 38 Cynthia Oliver Carter, 30 Westley “Doc” Holiday, 31 Dr. Evelyn Bethune, 12 Harry Morris Jr., 9 Betsey Hardeman, 36 Carol Jones, 36 Dr. Cynthia Mitchell Clark, 36 John Williams, 47 Gladys White Murphy, 31 James Poitier, 39 Beverly Hughes Postell Paula A. Reed, 24 Benjamin Franklin Broxton Sr., 37 Betty J. Powers, 41 Hurstina Moss Wright, 35 Jerome Wiley, 30
Residents still have a sour taste in their mouths from the slow pace of the Orange Avenue road construction project. They hope that the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (MLK Boulevard) project goes more smoothly. “The Orange Avenue project isn’t complete. Even the new roads are still dangerous and bumpy,’’ commented resident Constance Pope. “Even the lighting isn’t complete. I’m concerned for business and residents. I hope that this project doesn’t take long like Orange Avenue.” Hemis Ivey, a local businessman and former chairman of the city’s Midtown Redevelopment Area Board added, “This has been planned for a long time. What hurts our community is a lack of businesses. This part of the community still pays taxes. We can come up with creative ways to fund this project. We need the city to fund this project completely. We need this project done correctly so it can be a grade A-One project in our community.’’ Some owners of small businesses on Orange Avenue are have sued the city, seeking
SHOOTING from Page 1
driving by the area. They also were taken to Halifax Health Medical Center and treated for their injuries. English is a volunteer with the Daytona Beach Police Department’s Citizen Observer Program. Ross said the incident stemmed from him firing a 25-year old waitress, Trinisha Gilmore. He said she was fired for stealing. “She was caught red-handed. We noticed that during her shift things weren’t adding up. Her register was always coming up short. We kept a good eye on her this particular night,” Ross explained.
Victim’s account Ross said he terminated Gilmore but decided not to call the
Oliver Ross, center, was honored as a Hometown Hero on June 16 at the Juneteenth banquet in Daytona Beach. He is flanked by Daytona Commissioners Patrick Henry and Paula Reed. Ross was shot as his restaurant on Monday. police and press charges. A verbal dispute ensured, according to the police report. “No I didn’t want to. It wasn’t a pretty moment. I just asked her to leave. I’ve done a lot to help her out. You do well by people
and this is how they do you. I’ve even given her friends jobs to help them get on their feet,” Ross told the Times. The police report states that, “According to a witness, Gilmore called someone on the phone.
ute toward an amazing evening with Linda Cole. 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. ••• As always, remember our prayers for the sick, afflicted and bereaved.
Celebrations Birthday wishes to Monica Baker, June 24; Howard Wilson, June 25; Mattie DeVore, June 29. Happy anniversary to Donald and Shirley Jones, June 24; and Errol and Carmel Hooke, June 25.
“We want to make sure that we do a good job of communicating with residents and businesses.”
as advocates, volunteers and strive to work with businesses, youth and other organizations to service the surrounding communities.
Construction schedule
The MLK Boulevard project won’t commence until Orange Avenue is completed, which will be anywhere between September to November depending on the weather. L. Ronald Durham Orange Avenue road work is Daytona Beach still taking place between MLK special projects manager Boulevard and Seagrave Street. The MLK Boulevard condamages for money and busi- struction project is scheduled ness they lost during the ex- to take nine months with estended road closures and con- timated road section closures lasting between one to three fusing detour routes. weeks. The project is estimated to cost between $1.3 to $1.5 Advice from teens Even the youth weighed in on million. “The bad news is there will the MLK Boulevard project. Members of the Daytona be some road closures, but we Beach Teen Leadership Coun- still plan on having accessibility cil attended the meeting and to businesses as we only plan to close sections and have detours gave their concerns. “We need to make the com- directing traffic to alternate munity a good place for the routes,” Van Pelt explained. youth. We need good influences as well. We need to demol- Outdated pipes ish old buildings and bring in The purpose of the project is businesses and jobs,” said Des- to replace water lines, which intiny Jeffrey, 16, the group’s vice cludes drinking water, sewage president. and drainage. The group’s president, According to the city, many 17-year old Travis Johnson addof these pipes underground are ed,” We need to fix up our parks, outdated, mostly made of clay get them up to safety standards and anywhere between 40 to 50 and provide them with water fountains. We also need speed years old. The project will improve bumps or to find away to stop roadways, widen sidewalks people from speeding through neighborhoods, which is a haz- from six to eight feet and move utility poles to the backside of ard to everyone.” Both Jeffrey and Johnson at- sidewalks away from the road. New parking also will be contend Spruce Creek High School. The Teen Leadership Coun- structed with a creation of a cil aims to empower teens to new parking area that will have recognize their full potential as 16 new spaces along with at citizens and future leaders of least one handicapped space. The city plans to create a the community. They promote social and economic develop- Facebook page to show updates ment. The group also serves and photos.
Shortly thereafter her parents and brother showed up on scene.’’ “A large crowd then began to gather in the parking lot, and a verbal argument ensued between Ross and the suspects. Immediately thereafter, shots were fired by the two suspects at Ross,’’ the report continued. “Fearing for his safety and well being, Ross withdrew his holstered hand gun and returned fire against the suspects. Ross was struck in the shoulder and buttocks area. The suspects fled the scene in a Silver Cadillac and a Silver Dodge Charger,” the police report included.
Manager responds Patrick Lee, manager of the restaurant, offered his account to the Times. “She should have just left and went home. They got out the car with pistols drawn. You know what happened after that. Everyone scattered. I do believe he saved our lives,” Lee said, refer-
ring to Ross. Reports also indicate that it isn’t clear if the shooting suspects were shot by Ross.
Ross honored As of the Daytona Times’ presstime on Wednesday, no arrests had been made in the shooting of Ross, Ford and English. “We have video and we are doing interviews. At this moment, it looks as if Mr. Ross was defending himself. All evidence will be handed to the state attorney’s office like all investigations. They will determine if charges and arrests are made,” said Daytona Beach Police Chief Mike Chitwood. Ross was honored on June 16 as one of the “Hometown Heroes’’ at the annual Juneteenth banquet. “This man is one of the few people in the community that is actually giving jobs. It’s bad that this had to happen,” Lee added.
JUNE 23 – JUNE 29,2006 2016 DECEMBER 14 - 20,
3 7
MCULTURE AYOR
The widening of the nutrition gap research shows. Non-Latino Blacks and MexicanNo simple task Americans were All told, the proportion of adults whose disignificantly less likely American ets were assessed as “poor” deto have upgraded the creased from 55.9 percent in 2000 to 45.6 percent in 2012, and the quality of their diets proportion whose diets were conthan were non-Latino sidered middling rose from 43.5 percent to 53.9 percent over the Whites. same period. BY MELISSA HEALY LOS ANGELES TIMES TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
More American adults are eating better, but a new analysis of American diets between 2000 and 2012 shows that the trend of improved nutrition is largely limited to middle- and upper-income White Americans. The result: a widening nutrition gap separating White Americans from African-Americans and MexicanAmericans. Over the years studied, Americans 20 and older reduced their intake of sugar-sweetened sodas by nearly half, says the research published Tuesday in the journal JAMA. They came close to doubling their consumption of whole grains. And they began eating nuts and seeds a little more frequently, the study found. Adults in the United States modestly boosted their intake of fish and shellfish. But they largely turned a deaf ear to advice to eat more fruits and vegetables and trim their consumption of red meat and processed meats, the
The tiny remaining fraction of U.S. adults — 0.6 percent in 2000 and 0.5 percent in 2012 — followed dietary patterns deemed by the American Heart Association to be “ideal” for promoting cardiovascular and metabolic health. “Getting people to eat right is not a simple task,” wrote Dr. Margo Denke, a Texas endocrinologist and general internist, in an editorial published Tuesday in JAMA. “Habits often change slowly, and rational discussions about the harm poor habits create may not be an effective motivator for longterm change.” Patients, their doctors, and the food industry need to work together to make “meaningful dietary changes” possible and sustainable, she wrote.
34,000 respondents The new study is based on 24-hour dietary recall reports, elicited for a few days every few years from close to 34,000 American adults. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a federally funded gauge of consumption and other health-related behav-
REX C. CURRY/DALLAS MORNING NEWS/TNS
Re Richardson, right, serves a vegan meal of quinoa and sauteed vegetables at her Dallas, Texas home in 2013. Her mother James R. Watson, left, hadn’t adopted the vegan lifestyle. iors, has been widely criticized for using unreliable methods. It relies heavily on respondents’ imperfect memories and their desire to burnish their images by exaggerating positive behaviors and minimizing less healthy ones. But it has changed little over the years. Men and women alike upgraded the quality of their diets from poor to intermediate, and improvement was seen across all age groups. But progress was far more uneven when broken down along ethnic lines. Non-Latino Blacks and Mexican-Americans — the only two minority ethnic groups to be studied in the latest effort — were significantly less likely to have upgraded the quality of their di-
ets than were non-Latino Whites.
Slow improvement Among White American adults, roughly 1 in 5 of those who had poor diets in the year 2000 were found to have pushed their nutrition into the intermediate category by 2012. Among MexicanAmericans and African-Americans, only 1 in 10 had made the same improvement during the study period. And that slower rate of improvement came against the backdrop of poorer diets to begin with among Mexican-Americans and AfricanAmericans: While 53.9 percent of Whites had diets considered to be poor in 2000, 64.7 percent of Blacks and 66 percent of Mexican-
Americans started the study period with poor-quality diets.
Suggestions for change Denke pointed to a welter of initiatives as holding promise to promote change. Those included offering fresh fruits and vegetables at food banks and food-distribution practices that get nearly expired fresh foods to low-income neighborhoods for sale at discount prices. The new study, Denke wrote, “highlights how barriers of race, low income and poor education can reduce adherence to a healthy diet.” But it also provides a report card against which future efforts to promote nutritional improvements can be measured.
Getting to the heart of the meal BY RONDA RACHA PENRICE URBAN NEWS SERVICE
The roots of soul food run deep. Mary McCallum-Stewart isn’t as well-known as Sylvia Woods, purveyor of Harlem’s legendary eatery, Sylvia’s Restaurant. But McCallum-Stewart also built a soul food legacy. The Jackson, Mississippi native launched her own soul food empire in 1969. Los Angeles’ M&M Soul Food Restaurant was inspired by her nickname, “Mississippi Mary.” Although McCallumStewart passed away in 1998, her contribution thrives through various restaurants that bear some form of her name. They reach from southern California to Las Vegas, where her younger brother Ventress McCallum expanded the business. Her daughters Nicole Shaw and Debra Ratliff run Mary Stewart’s Southern Soul Food in the city of Rialto in the L.A. metro area.
‘Cook by taste’ “We had to learn by our mom showing us,” Shaw says of their culinary inheritance. “It’s not like us
“When you look at what people were eating, it’s actually closer to what we call ‘vegan’ today because there wasn’t a lot of meat.’’ Author Adrian E. Miller cooking by watching Food Network, by measurement. You can’t cook by measurement . . . We had to learn by our mom showing us, ‘This is what you do,’ and you cook by taste.” Oxtails — cow tails, actually — are their most popular dish, along with greens, mac and cheese, yams, and red beans and rice. For most, the term “soul food” harkens back to the 1960s’ civil rights and Black power movements. But the term has a longer history, says Adrian E. Miller, the Denver-based author of “Soul Food: The Surprising Story of An American Cuisine, One Plate at a Time.’’
Racialized and radicalized Shakespeare employed the expression in his first play, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona. During early American history, Black Americans used “soul food” in a religious context for centuries. Black jazz musicians created a style of play in the 1940s known as “soul food” that White musicians couldn’t easily duplicate. Soul food became most popular, though, during the 1960s. “What happens in the ’60s is that ‘soul food’ as a term gets racialized and radicalized,” said Miller, also known as “the Soul Food Scholar.” “The Black Power advocates were trying to figure out, ‘How do we connect the very diverse African-American communities around the country?’ because what was happening in the rural South resonated with people to some extent, but what was going on in the urban North and out west was different. So they decided that culture was one of the best ways to connect people, and food was the great connector. “[Also,] the Student Non-
This book by Adrian E. Miller focuses on the history of soul food. violent Coordinating Committee, by this time in the mid-’60s, had expelled all the White members. A manifesto of theirs was leaked to The New York Times, and that manifesto said that White people can’t understand things like ham hocks, brains, pig’s feet, which was news to White Southerners because they’d been eating the same foods for 200 years. “So, at that point, in that decade, ‘soul’ becomes ‘Black,’ and ‘Southern’ becomes ‘White,’ and we’re still living with the legacy of that today. So much so that African-American contributions to Southern cuisine have been obscured,” Miller said.
‘Grits and Greens’ National Soul Food Month, observed in June, is in its 15th year, says Char-
la Draper, a former food editor for both Ebony and Southern Living magazines. She now provides food consulting and public relations through her company, It’s Food Biz. “National Soul Food Month grew out of a conference that was hosted in Chicago by one of the organizations I belong to, the Culinary Historians of Chicago,” Draper said. “The conference occurred in 2000 and 2001. The conference was called Grits and Greens and, in the second year of the conference, we created the National Soul Food Month identity, just really to help spread the word.” Today some may view soul food as the unhealthy cuisine that Black Southerners carried over from slavery. But the “unhealthy” assessment, Miller says, is untrue.
“When you look at what people were eating, it’s actually closer to what we call ‘vegan’ today because there wasn’t a lot of meat,” he said. “Meat] didn’t anchor the meal the way it does now.”
Special dish Food pioneer Edna Lewis — whose grandparents were enslaved — recalled in her revered 1976 cookbook, “The Taste of Country Cooking,’’ fried chicken was “a very special dish … produced only once a year in late spring through early summer” in her native Freetown, Virginia. Today, fried chicken is widely considered a soul food staple. One main soul food feature never changes, however. “We just cook from the heart,” said Nicole Shaw. “We just cook from the foundation of what we were brought from.”
R4
7 EDITORIAL
JUNE 23 – JUNE 29, 2016
Donald Trump – the treason candidate Donald Trump is now showing the world that he really is something new in American politics. He’s a political monster the likes of which we’ve never seen before as a major party’s candidate for the presidency. He’s shown all those Republicans who’ve taken refuge in cynical calculation and tortured logic to endorse him that there is no bottom to his pathological narcissism, no limit to his amorality, no loyalty to the interests of the Republican Party itself, and not a shred of commitment to following time-honored traditions of American politics, the rule of law, or the principles of the Constitution.
To himself only Trump’s only commitment is to himself: to avoiding facing Hillary Clinton in one-on-one debates during the general election campaign in order to conceal his compete ignorance of policy issues; to obscuring the damning evidence media outlets have been uncovering about his terrible record as a businessman, especially that involving his “Trump University” scheme of a decade ago; and to seizing the reins of power so he can establish his vision of the United States of America – a police state. As law enforcement begins to investigate the mass murder in Orlando and the nation grieves, Trump publicly congratulates himself for having predicted another terrorist attack would occur in the U.S., and then proposes closing America to all Muslims outside of its borders – and, in ef-
LEE A. DANIELS GEORGE CURRY MEDIA COLUMNIST
When you accuse the first Black president of the United States of “sympathizing” with America’s enemies, you’ve made common cause with the Ku Klux Klan, the neo-Nazi, White racist militia and White Christian Identity groups that have been peddling that line since Obama took office. fect, stripping Muslim-Americans and Muslim nationals inside the U.S. of their rights.
He’s the traitor Still haunted by President Obama’s humiliating destruction of his “birther” gambit of five years ago, Trump re-arranges the elements of Birtherism to declare Obama sympathizes with the ter-
Inaction cannot be an option How can inaction continue to be an option in the face of senselessness and intolerance fueled by guns? We must act to save our country’s soul and the lives of our people – all of our people. The June 12 attack at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando was both our nation’s worst act of terrorism since 9/11 and a hate crime. In that, it was all too common: lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are too-likely targets of hate crimes in America. A large number of victims were gay people of color who were celebrating Latin Night in what many said they trusted and believed was a desperately needed “safe space.”
Seen this before But as we have seen over and over again, America is running out of safe spaces. Not Pulse. Not
MARIAN WRIGHT EDELMAN GEORGE CURRY MEDIA
Bible study at Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, S.C. Not an office holiday party in San Bernardino, Calif. Not a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado. Not a dorm or university hall at Virginia Tech. And not a first grade classroom in Newtown, Conn., in a country where hate, bigotry, terrorism, and mental illness collide with unfettered access to these weapons of war that leave us with no hiding spaces – unless we do something now. Connecticut Senator Christopher Murphy couldn’t face the
Can America love? Sadly, sinfully, and shamefully, we cannot escape the hatred and violence so many people have in their hearts. From the tragic and senseless killings happening in the streets in the United States to what happened at Orlando’s Pulse nightclub, it seems as though hatred and violence is a dominant factor.
Preached, not practiced What’s even more troubling is that the propensity to love is loudly preached all over the world in the wake of a mass shooting – and whispered when violence happens every day in communities of color. Because love is an action word, too many people have relegated love to simple beliefs. When one’s belief (being in agreement with something) dominates
DR. SINCLAIR GREY III GUEST COLUMNIST
one’s ability to show love through his or her actions, we will continue to see people labeled, categorized, and stereotyped based on their lifestyle. The LGBTQ community is grieving. All over the world, many of them still continue to experience discrimination from people who don’t agree with their lifestyle. In addition, individuals who subscribe to the Islamic faith are labelled as terrorist by the same ones who profess to love people in spite of their race, creed, color, and sexual orientation.
rorists who would do America and the world harm. In fact, it is Donald Trump who is the traitor in our midst. When you accuse the first Black president of the United States of “sympathizing” with America’s enemies, you’ve made common cause with the Ku Klux Klan, the neo-Nazi, White racist militia and White Christian Identity groups that have been peddling that line since Obama took office. It’s no wonder those treasonous groups have flocked to Trump’s campaign, and have no doubt helped stoke a fierce racist, antiSemitic and sexist online harassment of journalists who’ve written critically of Trump. In much the same way violent White racists “enforced” White supremacy at the ground level of the South during the Jim Crow decades, these people will be the vigilante enforcers of a Trump administration’s war against the media and war against Muslim Americans and other “undesirables.” In fact, a small but growing number of Republican officeholders and conservative pundits have, in so many words, acknowledged Trump’s betrayal. They’ve condemned his practicing politics of “trickle-down racism” and staining the public discourse with this and that “textbook example(s) of racism.”
Growing pressure
VISUAL VIEWPOINT: RUSSIA BANNED FROM THE 2016 SUMMER OLYMPICS
PAUL ZANETTI, AUSTRALIA
tempt a radical course of action that Washington Post conservative pundit Jennifer Rubin suggested in her June 15 column. Rubin wrote that Republican leaders should first “explain why as Americans, as conservatives and as Republicans they have concluded Trump is unfit to serve and incapable of improvement. Second, they should demand that the convention delegates be entitled to vote their conscience on the first ballot, and/or demand Trump’s tax returns. Third, they should make clear an independent center-right candidate who is qualified and has a competent operation would be a savior – either as an alternate, independent candidate or a substitute at the convention for Trump.”
Now that polls have clearly indicated voter reaction to Trump’s rhetoric is threatening the GOP’s hold on Congress, pressure is growing for party leaders to at-
‘Up in smoke’
families of the children of Sandy Hook unless he did something. The Senate filibuster he led in the aftermath of the Orlando slaughter lasted for more than 14 hours before there was bipartisan agreement to allow a vote on two common-sense amendments that would make all of us and our nation safer. Creating a “No Buy List” so that the more than 800,000 people on our terror watch lists cannot legally buy guns in America should be an easy decision for all of us. Closing the loopholes in existing background checks to reach sales at gun shows and through the Internet to keep more criminals, would-be terrorists, and others from buying guns should be another easy decision.
cides during the first 10 years following the law’s enactment. These are measures the majority of Americans strongly support – and it’s long past time that Congress followed the will of the people instead of the will of the National Rifle Association and gun manufacturers whose profits are soaked in the blood of our people. The majority of Americans also support reinstating the ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines that have been used time and time again. Why should it be perfectly legal to buy an AR-15 in a Five Guys parking lot in Vermont the day after the massacre at Pulse with no background check and no paperwork at all? Weapons designed for war are now as easy to buy as a loaf of bread. Since 1963, more than 176,000 children have died from gun violence in America – more than three times more than all the soldiers killed in action in the Vietnam War and every external conflict since.
A right to live
one another without agreeing all of the time. Whenever people are forced to agree with something that goes against their belief system, hatred can escalate. Eliminate party politics and concentrate on individuals. If all people are created equal in the image of God, political party loyalty hinders seeing people as humans. Stopping assuming America is this Christian country. Why? Because Christianity doesn’t hate, judge, or kill. If America was to practice Christian love it professes to have, then it would display Biblical love which says, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” Seek to find commonality
rather than concentrating on differences. No one is perfect. Focusing on the good in someone while fixing what’s wrong with us (individually) will help people transition from disorder to order. When people spend more time showing love through their actions, this world will begin to be peaceful. When people decide that enough is enough and start speaking out for the least, leftout, and disenfranchised, love will be in action. And when we teach our younger generation to love themselves and treat people fairly and justly and not label them because they may ‘appear’ different, love will become a dominating factor.
Clear evidence The evidence is clear that expanded background checks work. A recent study found that a Connecticut law that expanded background checks on all handgun purchases helped achieve a 40 percent reduction in gun homi-
As long as love is boxed in by those with limited thinking and a shallow ideology, we will not progress; we will decline.
No improvement What’s happening in the political race between presumptive presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton shows no signs of improvement. It seems as though the American public is faced with one politician who continually makes speeches that are degrading, demeaning, and demonic, and another politician who panders to Black people and has a history of lying to save face. There is no love because love is based on beliefs that are party-centric and not people oriented. How do we get over the hate and promote love and peace? Accept people for who they are as human beings. Acceptance doesn’t mean there has to be agreement. People can love
Rubin went on to say she thinks this scenario possible only if “someone of stature” – such
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.
as Speaker of the House Paul Ryan – calls for it. And she ends her column with these words: “If not, Republicans, please proceed to panic. The election and possibly your party is going up in smoke. And you have only yourselves to blame.” It is, of course, highly unlikely such an unprecedented open revolt against the party’s presumptive nominee will occur at next month’s Republican convention, or that it would succeed if it did. What is important, however, is that some with impeccable conservative credentials are suggesting it be tried. That sense of desperation underscores the fact that many Americans, regardless of party affiliation, realize Donald Trump, the would-be dictator, represents a terrible presidential-election first: America’s first treason candidate.
Dr. Glenn W. Cherry, Sales Manager
W W W. DAY T O N AT I M E S .C O M
Dr. Valerie Rawls-Cherry, Human Resources
Charles W. Cherry, Sr. (1928-2004), Founder Julia T. Cherry, Senior Managing Member, Central Florida Communicators Group, LLC Dr. Glenn W. Cherry, Cassandra CherryKittles, Charles W. Cherry II, Managing Members
Jenise Morgan, Senior Editor Angela van Emmerik, Creative Director Cassandra Cherry Kittles, Willie R. Kittles, Circulation Andreas Butler, Staff Writer Duane Fernandez Sr., Kim Gibson, Photojournalists
MEMBER
Florida Press Association
National Newspaper Publishers Association
Society of Professional Journalists
National Newspaper Association
Associated Press
Lee A. Daniels is based in New York City.
Our children have a right to grow up in a caring and decent society that protects their right to live and learn in safety. That right must take precedence over anyone’s right to own assault weapons or high-capacity magazines that have nothing to do with selfdefense or hunting and have no place in the hands of non-military and non-law enforcement personnel. Without these weapons of war how many would be alive today? How many Newtown or Aurora or Orlando victims would have survived? Our children are afraid for their friends, their families, and themselves. And this needs to change. We all need to stand up until we are heard and laws are changed. Contact your Senators right now to urge them to support these common-sense safety solutions all of us so desperately need.
Marian Wright Edelman is founder and president of the Children’s Defense Fund (www. childrensdefense.org).
Dr. Sinclair Grey III is a speaker, business trainer, writer, and success coach. Contact him at drgrey@sinclairgrey. org or on Twitter @drsinclairgrey.
Central Florida Communicators Group, LLC, P.O. Box 48857 Tampa, FL 33646, publishes the Florida Courier on Fridays. Phone: 877-352-4455, toll-free. For all sales inquiries, call 877-352-4455; e-mail sales@flcourier.com. Subscriptions to the print version are $69 per year. Mail check to P.O. Box 48857 Tampa, Fl 33646, or log on to www.daytona.com; click on ‘Subscribe’.
SUBMISSIONS POLICY SEND ALL SUBMISSIONS TONEWS@DAYTONATIMES.COM Deadline for submitting news and pictures is 5 p.m. the Monday before the Thursday publication date. You may submit articles at any time. However, current events received prior to deadline will be considered before any information that is submitted, without the Publisher’s prior approval, after the deadline. Press releases, letters to the editor, and guest commentaries must be e-mailed to be considered for publication. The Daytona Times reserves the right to edit any submission, and crop any photograph, for style and clarity. Materials will not be returned.
JUNEDECEMBER 23 – JUNE 14 29, - 20,2016 2006
5 7
BUSINESS M AYOR
PHOTOS COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES
FROM FAMILY FEATURES
Consumers today increasingly rely on connected devices to research products and services before making purchases – so it’s no secret that small businesses need to focus more of their marketing resources than ever before on online strategies. As the journey from consumer query to purchase becomes more complex – incorporating multiple devices, websites, apps and offline activities – so too do the options for tracking consumer behavior and leveraging online media for targeted advertising. There are companies today specializing in almost every aspect of online marketing, leaving business owners with a dizzying array of options. For many the question is not the value of online marketing, but rather where to start and how much they need to do to accomplish their marketing objectives. Fortunately, there are some foundational activities that are effective, manageable and comprise an important starting point for leveraging digital media to grow your business. Here are four basics you can focus on right now to promote your business and grow your customer base online:
Mobile mindset Mobile is quickly becoming the device of choice for consumers to search the web. According to research by International Data Corporation on behalf of YP, nearly one in three consumers uses two or more devices when looking for information about products and services; and in 2015, Google announced that it receives more searches from smartphones and tablets than from computers. Yet many businesses are slow to adapt. If your website is difficult to navigate from a mobile device, you can lose business to your competitors – especially since mobile searches are often about more than finding information. Consumers are using their mobile phones to take action after visiting a site, including calling a business, checking store hours and mapping directions. Make sure your site is mobilefriendly and easy to use from a variety of devices so you don’t miss out on potential customers.
Simple search Search marketing is a powerful tool to drive quality leads. At minimum, you need to optimize your web presence to make sure people who are looking for the types of products and services you sell can find you through the major search engines. After that, you can supplement your organic search engine traffic with paid search ads during peak seasons, special promotions or when you have budget to invest. In any case, the first step is to form a clear vision of your target consumers and the keywords that drive searches in your industry. For additional ideas, consult others, such as customers, relatives, competitor websites and industry news. The time and money you invest in search marketing can be undermined if you neglect the basics such as making sure your
SUMMIT FUELS GROWTH For business owners looking to grow their businesses, the Local Breakthrough Summit organized by YP may deliver the knowl edge and tools they need. The series of nationwide events brings together leaders in digital marketing, including Bing, Google, Verve and Yahoo, while also giving small business owners the opportunity to share best practices and gain insights about their communities. For more information on YP’s Local Breakthrough Summit, visit adsolutions.yp.com/breakthroughsummit.
AL SEIB/LOS ANGELES TIMES/TNS
George Snarberg, right, community manager, and Phoenix Normand, left, office manager and executive assistant to the CEO, sort through photo albums at Flipagram, which allows cell phone or Facebook photos to be set to music and made into a video album. The business is located in California. company contact information is accurate, consistent and easy to find on your website, in online directories and anywhere else your business appears on the web. Think about what makes your life easier when you’re searching for a product or service that you need and then strive to provide that same experience on your own website.
Social graces Social media is a great platform to connect and engage with potential customers. The key to making it work for your business is to listen first. Look for social media groups related to your industry, the services or products you provide, or the interests of your target consumers, and observe conversations to find out what’s important to the people you need to reach. Avoid promoting your business in these settings, but look for opportunities to add value and expertise to the discussion. In time, this will help to build a community of followers. Keep in mind that each social media channel has its own rules and user base, and not all may be a fit for your business. Find the channel(s) that makes the most sense for you and your business, and be sure to incorporate social links in all of your marketing efforts to further grow your network. Content and character In the age of information, every small business needs to be a content publisher. Good content serves many purposes, from attracting higher search engine rankings to helping prospects choose your products or services, and reinforcing your brand. A good start is to look for opportunities to educate and share your expertise. How-to videos, FAQs or links to informative resources about your industry are great ways to add value and encourage people to come back to your website. Other content, such as seasonal greeting videos or stories about work you’re doing in the community, may serve to humanize your brand and build authentic connections with your customers.
DOES A LOCAL BUSINESS REALLY NEED A WEBSITE? When your business is pri marily focused on local clients and you don’t sell products online, you may wonder whether your business even needs a website. The answer is unequivocally yes. Websites are how local businesses get found via directories and search engines. It’s the “home base” for pertinent inform ation about your business, including hours, location, products, services and more. Remember that keeping your website information current and correct is extremely important. Inaccurate infor mation can get picked up by other sites and directo ries, which, in turn, makes it harder for your potential customers to find and engage with your business.
R6
7 CLASSIFIEDS
JUNE 23 – JUNE 29, 2016
HUNGER KEEPS UP ON CURRENT EVENTS, TOO. 1 IN 6 AMERICANS STRUGGLES WITH HUNGER.
TOGETHER WE’RE
Hunger is closer than you think. Reach out to your local food bank for ways to do your part. Visit FeedingAmerica.org today.
CHOOSE CAR SEAT: BY AGE & SIZE
THE ONES
WHO ACTUALLY DO.
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
WHO THINK THEY HAVE THEIR CHILD IN THE RIGHT SEAT.
KNOW FOR SURE
IF YOUR CHILD IS IN THE RIGHT CAR SEAT. VISIT SAFERCAR.GOV/THERIGHTSEAT
7
JUNE 23 – JUNE 29, 2016 COMMUNITY DECEMBER 14 - 20, 2006
M A YNEWS OR
Honoring Hometown Heroes, observing Juneteenth Area residents were honored last week for their “selfless’’ service to the community during the annual Juneteenth banquet held June 16 at the Midtown Cultural and Education Center in Daytona Beach. The Hometown Heroes honored by the Juneteenth Festival Committee included Mario Davis, Ferida Sadiqq Ibrahim, Judge Shirley Green, Bettie Mitchell, Thaddeus Collins, Colonel Lloyd Freckelton, Gary Libby and Dr. Thomas LoBasso. Along with the banquet, an annual outdoor festival was held Saturday at Cypress Park in Daytona Beach to commemorate Juneteenth. The event included educational displays, music, food and recreational activities. Juneteenth originated in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865. It commemorates when slaves in that area of the country learned of their freedom following the Civil War.
Mrs. Bettie Mitchell, center, is one of this year’s Hometown Heroes. With her are Florida Rep. Dwayne Taylor and Daytona Commissioner Paula Reed.
PHOTOS BY DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR./HARDNOTTSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority was well-represented at the festival. Cynthia Slater, far left, was among the diverse crowd at the Juneteenth banquet.
There were plenty of activities for children at the festival, including train rides.
The B-CU Cubcats, junior cheerleaders for Bethune-Cookman University, entertain the crowd at Saturday’s Juneteenth festival.
Above: Youth Scholarship Awards were presented at the banquet to Brooke Dawn, Tamara Lowe, John Leland Huger Jr., Cameron Austin Taylor and Jasmine Conde. Left: Some brave festivalgoers take their turn at the rockclimbing wall.
R8
7COMMUNITY NEWS
JUNE 23 – JUNE 29, 2016
PHOTOS BY DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR./HARDNOTTSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
The Earth Wind & Fire Review Band from Philadelphia performs on June 18 at the Daytona Beach Bandshell.
‘Boogie Wonderland’ at the Bandshell Earth Wind & Fire Review Band belts out fan favorites at Daytona Beach event The Daytona Beach Bandshell was the place to be on June 18 for Earth Wind & Fire fans and for residents who just love listening to great music in a relaxing, scenic atmosphere. The Earth Wind & Fire Review Band, a 10-piece group from Philadelphia, wowed audiences last Saturday with songs like “Boogie Wonderland,’’ “Shining Star,’’ “September,’’ and “Reasons.’’ The review band performed hits made famous by the legendary band, Earth Wind & Fire during a session of the Star Spangled Summer Free Concert Series. The free concert series is being hosted by the Boardwalk Merchants and the Friends of the Bandshell every Saturday through Sept. 17 at 7:15 p.m., followed by fireworks at 9:45 p.m. A variety of performances are still to come, including Purple Masquerade, a Prince tribute band on July 15. For the full lineup and more details, visit www.daytonabandshell.com.
The Star Spangled Summer Free Concert Series draws a large crowd to the beachside. The family friendly event continues through Sept. 17.
Your everything.
These are the people who mean the most to you. The stories and jokes you’ve always known. And the foods that really bring you home. This is a chance to celebrate the gift of togetherness—with the people who remind you what life is all about. Your family. Your everything.
Learn how Publix can help make it a family reunion to remember. publix.com/familyreunion