Daytona Times - August 20, 2015

Calling All Men Million Father March Monday, Aug. 24 7-8 a.m.

Turie T. Small Elementary

EE FR

CHARLENE CROWELL: Auto financing consumer protection rollback begins SEE PAGE 4

DAYTONA BEACH HOUSING AUTHORITY TEAM WINS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT SEE PAGE 8

East Central Florida’s Black Voice AUGUST 20 - AUGUST 26, 2015

YEAR 40 NO. 34

www.daytonatimes.com

Mission accomplished for Flagler students, NAACP Dr. Amir Whitaker, who spearheaded a complaint against the district for racial disparities in school discipline, will speak at the Aug. 29 Freedom Fund Banquet in Palm Coast.

BY PENNY DICKERSON DAYTONA TIMES news@daytonatimes.com

The Flagler County NAACP annual Freedom Fund Banquet will be celebrated on Aug. 29 with a heightened triumph, thanks to its scheduled keynote speaker Dr. Amir Whitaker, attorney and

educator for the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).

A civil rights and education stalwart, Whitaker spearheaded a federal civil rights complaint that led to a recent settlement between the SPLC and Flagler County School Board aimed at ending racially discriminatory school discipline directed to-

ward Black students, which includes excessive suspensions or expulsions.

The class-action victory was reached in June following a threeDr. Amir year battle that Whitaker began in 2012 when the Montgomery, Ala.-based organization filed a formal complaint on behalf of three African-American students and a same-race populous of others whose education

and civil rights were similarly affected.

Disparity in suspensions Flagler County is one of five Florida school districts the SPLC filed complaints against and the first to resolve its case. The most egregious disciplinary habit alleged in the SPLC’s initial 22-page complaint was out-ofschool suspensions.

African-American students in the district accounted for 31 percent of all out-of-school suspensions during the 2010-11 school

year even though they were only 16 percent of the student population.

“The state of Florida is No. 1 out of the 50 states when it comes to suspending students and telling them to go home and stay out of school…,” stated Whitaker who entered the juvenile justice system at age 15 and went on to successfully earn five college degrees, including a juris doctorate from the Miami School of Law and master’s and doctorate in educational psychology from Please see NAACP, Page 2

Volusia steps up fight against sale of candyflavored tobacco to children

BY PENNY DICKERSON DAYTONA TIMES news@daytonatimes.com

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

One more treat before school resumes Festival offers day of fun for students, parents Bethune-Cookman students help to give treats to students and parents gathered Saturday, Aug. 15, at Daisy Stocking Park for the Community Unity Festival sponsored by the City of Daytona Beach and others. It was the city’s last big summer event for students before school resumes. The first day for student attending public schools in Flagler and Volusia counties is Monday, Aug. 24. Fall classes started Monday for B-CU students. See more photos on page 3.

The Florida Department of Health has announced that all cities in Volusia County have signed and passed non-binding resolutions to urge retailers not to sell or market candy-flavored tobacco products. The Volusia County Council additionally passed a resolution covering the unincorporated areas.

Non-cigarette tobacco products in flavors like kiwi-strawberry, chocolate and sour apple are available across the state and in Volusia County. Many children and teens mistakenly believe these products are less harmful than their non-flavored counterparts.

Nationwide reports prove that youth are indulging in record numbers despite overwhelming evidence that these deadly products both appeal to youth and lead to a lifetime of tobacco addiction. Once youth start using one tobacco product, they are more likely to experiment with others.

“Nearly 90 percent of adult smokers start before their 18th birthday,” said Ron Rondeau, interim director of the Florida Department of Health in Volusia County. “Volusia County is no exception, with one in six youth reporting that they have even tried flavored tobacco.”

More SWAT students Volusia County is seeing an increase in participation in Students Working Against Tobacco or SWAT, the health department announced this week.

There are 13 schools that indicated they would participate this year. Last year, there were seven SWAT chapters. Each school will have its own SWAT advisor who is trained to guide the students through the meetings and activities.

According to the health department, SWAT is Florida’s statewide youth organization “working to Please see TOBACCO, Page 2

Rescued Nigerian girls need funds to attend college in US

BY FREDDIE ALLEN NNPA NEWS WIRE

WASHINGTON – This month, teenagers across the nation prepare to make the transition from high school to college and at least two of the survivors of the Boko Haram mass kidnapping in Chibok, Nigeria, last year could be joining them – if they can raise the money.

Emmanuel Ogebe, a law-

ALSO INSIDE

yer and human rights activist who worked to bring 10 of the Chibok girls to the United States following their harrowing escape from the terror group known as Boko Haram, said that he was excited when he learned that girls were accepted to college. However, at this time, the group that is sponsoring the girls in the U.S. doesn’t have the resources to send them.

Campaign launched A few weeks ago, Ogebe launched a GoFundMe. com campaign titled “Bring Our Girls Back-To-School” to raise $75,000 for tuition, fees and living expenses for the girls. Some of the funds will also be used to help the girls who don’t attend a four-year college go to vocational school and learn life and social skills that will enable them to live in the

U.S. independently.

“For the moment, the girls have a very sheltered experience that is not fully American,” said Ogebe. “At some point, they have to encounter the ‘real’ America. Very frankly they need coping skills. They need survival skills.”

It’s one thing to go from rural America to Washington, D.C., Ogebe explained, “But the transition Please see GIRLS, Page 6

FREDDIE ALLEN/NNPA NEWS WIRE

Lili, one of the Chibok schoolgirls that escaped Boko Haram militants last April speaks during the #BringBackOurGirls press conference hosted by Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.) at the U.S. Capitol.

EDUCATION: DESEGREGATION LINKED TO CLOSING ACHIEVEMENT GAP | PAGE 5 HEALTH: WHY MORE BLACKS DON’T HAVE WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY | PAGE 7

7 FOCUS

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AUGUST 20 – AUGUST 26, 2015

TOBACCO from Page 1

mobilize, educate and equip Florida youth to revolt against and deglamorize Big Tobacco.’’

The SWAT clubs for the new school year are: Basilica School of St. Paul (Daytona Beach), Creekside Middle School (Port Orange), Deltona High School, Holly Hill School, New Smyrna Beach Middle School, Ormond Beach Middle School, Reign Homeschooling Academy (Daytona Beach), Silver Sands Middle School (Port Orange), Southwestern Middle School (DeLand), Spruce Creek High School (Port Orange), Taylor Middle School (Pierson), Taylor High School (Pierson) and Word & Praise Christian Learning Center (Daytona Beach).

Cheap smoke screen Smokeless tobacco products includes chew, dip, snus (smokeless tobacco that users slip between the lip and gum) and a host of emerging products and compared to cigarettes, these products can contain more nicotine.

The flavoring and lower costs of these non-cigarette smoked tobacco products make them especially appealing to youth.

In 2009, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act banned fruit-and candy-flavored cigarettes. However, men-

NAACP from Page 1

the University of Southern California.

“This is a great day for families in Flagler County,” stated Whitaker in June. “The Flagler County School Board has demonstrated with this agreement that it is committed to ensuring that no student is needlessly pushed out of school. We are excited to work with the schools and the district to introduce these new policies and improve education for Flagler’s 13,000 students.’’

The Hammock Beach Resort at 200 Ocean Crest Drive in Palm Coast will host the NAACP and guests beginning at 6 p.m. The Community Service Award will be presented to the Rev. Edwin Coffie, pastor, Mt. Calvary Baptist Church. Music will be provided by Darnel Butler & Xpression.

Florida’s Jim Crow past Florida’s history and tourism boasts St. Augustine as the nation’s oldest city, but less than one hour away is neighboring Flagler County, the last county in the state to desegregate its schools.

The state’s failure to invoke haste continues to plague the district’s educational status. It further aligns with the varied discrimination and biases against disenfranchised groups that the SPLC has fought against since its founding in 1971.

According to the SPLC website, “Our lawsuits have toppled institutional racism and stamped out remnants of Jim Crow segregation; destroyed some of the nation’s most violent white supremacist groups; and protected the civil rights of children, women, the disabled, immigrants and migrant workers, the LGBT community, prisoners, and many others who faced discrimination, abuse or exploitation.

Whitaker amplifies that inherited issues have been carried over from history and because Florida is a former Jim Crow state.

“There were two separate school systems here in Flagler…” he said, “and if you look at student outcomes today, you still see two separate stories, and we are trying to address that to where all students are achieving at the same level.”

“Flagler is one of 67 counties in Florida that is still under what is called a ‘court jurisdiction order,’ Whitaker asserts. “The

The flavoring and lower costs of non-cigarette smoked tobacco products make them especially appealing to youth. thol cigarettes, flavored cigars, cigarillos and smokeless products were not included.

According to the health department, all of these tobacco products can cause cancer, heart disease and other smoking-related diseases. Traditional smokeless products, like chew and dip, contain 28 cancer-causing agents and users of these products have an 80 percent higher risk of oral cancers and a 60 percent higher

United States Department of Justice came into Flagler in the 1970s to investigate school desegregation,’ he added.

Blacks statistically behind Flagler County has been an A rated school district for four straight years (until its fall to B last year) and ranks No. 12 of 67 counties, an indicator based upon the FCAT scores.

However, Black students still defy the nostalgic W.E.B. Du Bois formula that the public educational school system is supposed to nurture and showcase “The Talented Tenth,” where talented, educated Blacks lead and elevate the masses.

The White male FCAT reading passage is 62 percent vs. 26 percent for Black students.

Not a single Black student was enrolled in an Advanced Placement science class in 2009-10, and just 35 Black students took AP classes at all.

In the entire district, just 12 Black students were enrolled in the gifted education program.

The courts found proven biases in tests taken by Black students including biased language (such as idiomatic terms), which may not be familiar to Black students.

Flagler County had 1,821 school suspensions in 2013 of which 33 percent were Black students. In 2014, Black students comprised 36 percent or 1,557 of all suspensions.

Moreover, Blacks represent 39 percent of those suspended multiple times.

“It’s a civil rights issue,” stated Whitaker, “because every child has the right to be in that classroom receiving that instruction every day, and unfortunately in Florida, it (suspension) happens here more than any other place.”

Coalition for Student Success The settlement agreement was unanimously passed by the Flagler school board and calls for the SPLC to withdraw the complaint it filed with the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights in 2012.

It expires in June 2018 placing the district in a probationary period with the SPLC and holding it responsible for fulfilling specific requirements that include expanded accountability for an existing committee that predates the settlement called the “Coalition for Student Success.”

Comprised of 11 members, the coalition consists of parents, students,

risk of pancreatic and esophageal cancer.

The 50th anniversary of the first Surgeon General’s report released last January concluded that unless youth smoking rates drop rapidly, 5.6 million youth up to age 17 will die early from a cigarette smoking-related illness.

Trending tobacco With cigarette smoking rates

community members, one of whom must represent the local NAACP chapter, the sheriff’s office, a mental health counselor and a representative from the school district’s administrative staff.

They are required to hold their first meeting of the school year by Sept.

15 and must then meet at least quarterly to review disciplinary data and make recommendations to the superintendent regarding disciplinary policies.

All subsequent quarterly meetings must be public with notices posted two weeks prior, and the panel must also provide a final annual report to the district’s board of directors.

New policies Concrete policies that stem from the reached agreement are vast, but ultimately seek to eradicate the most discriminatory disciplinary actions: suspensions.

District approval will be required for suspensions of five or more days this upcoming school year, and for three or more days in the next school year. The district will consider eradicating suspensions completely once an alternative school program is created.

The agreement further mandates that Superintendent Jacob Oliva write an advisory letter spelling out the mission of school resource deputies. Oliva will collaborate with SPLC attorneys to establish satisfactory language. The latter aspect of the settlement hints that the district may eventually “re-establish an alternative program.”

A previous alternative school program was closed following budget cuts.

“We appreciate the agreement; I think it’s a collaborative, cooperative kind of agreement,” said Colleen Conklin, chairman of the Flagler County School Board. “When we tend to shine the light on things we tend to know what we’re working with, and work better to try to improve them.”

The school district and law enforcement also will work to reduce in-school arrests for minor offenses and schools are encouraged to consider alternatives to suspension like peer mediation and an innovative restorative justice program.

The SPLC is still pursuing federal civil rights complaints in Escambia, Bay, Okaloosa and Suwannee school districts.

For more information on the Freedom Fund Banquet, contact Chairman Donald Matthews at 646220-9600 or the NAACP at 386-446-7822.

on the decline, the tobacco industry has created products and strategies that attract a new generation of tobacco users. The array of flavored tobacco products that appeal to youth present new challenges and concerns in the fight against tobacco use. These products help create a new generation of lifelong nicotine addicts and of life-threatening diseases.

The U.S. Department of Health

Children’s programs resume Monday at library The Daytona Beach Regional Library at City Island will kick off its fall season of preschool and family programs beginning Aug. 24.

Upcoming programs include: • Baby tales: 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays. Babies from birth to 18 months and their parents or caregivers can enjoy music, stories, finger rhymes and playtime.

• Preschool storytime: 10:30 a.m.

Wednesdays. Activities for children ages 3 to 5 include books, music, flannel board stories, coloring and social time,

and Human Services (Office of Adolescent Health) reports that more than 450,000 12-to-13year-olds and around 4.4 million 14-to-17-year-olds have smoked.

Although tobacco use by adolescents has declined substantially in the last 40 years, nearly one in 15 high school seniors was a daily smoker in 2014.

Substantial racial/ethnic and regional differences in smoking rates exist. Among high school students, White teens are more likely to smoke than are their Black or Hispanic peers and smoking rates are typically higher in nonmetropolitan areas, and in the Southern and Midwestern regions of the country.

Tobacco products used by adolescents include cigarettes (both store-bought and hand-rolled), cigars, pipes, hookahs, smokeless tobacco and newer oral products such as e-cigarettes, pouches, lozenges, strips and sticks. All of these products deliver tobacco’s toxic effects.

Statewide campaign Tobacco Free Florida is a statewide cessation and prevention campaign funded by Florida’s tobacco settlement fund. The program is managed by the Florida Department of Health, specifically the Bureau of Tobacco Free Florida. The campaign’s website includes a wealth of information on the dangers of cigarettes and ways to quit.

For more information, visit www.tobaccofreeflorida.com.

short movies and puppet shows.

• Toddler time: 10:30 a.m. Thursdays.

This program, for kids 18 months to 3 years, contains a mix of books, flannel board stories, music, coloring and social time.

• Family storytime: 10:30 a.m. Saturdays. Children of all ages and adults can read books, make crafts and watch short movies and puppet shows.

• Family movies: 2 p.m. Sundays. Children and families can watch G and PG films on the big screen in the children’s auditorium. Attendees can bring snacks and drinks.

For more information, visit www.volusialibrary.org or call 386-257-6038.

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE FOR BLACK STUDENTS. NO EXCUSES. The classic guide from Florida Courier publisher, lawyer and broadcaster CHARLES W. CHERRY II PRAISE FOR ‘EXCELLENCE WITHOUT EXCUSE’: “This guide for African-American college-bound students is packed with practical and insightful information for achieving academic success...The primary focus here is to equip students with the savvy and networking skills to maneuver themselves through the academic maze of higher education.”

– Book review, School Library Journal • How low expectations of Black students’ achievements can get them higher grades; • Want a great grade? Prepare to cheat!

• How Black students can program their minds for success; • Setting goals – When to tell everybody, and when to keep your mouth shut; • Black English, and why Black students must be ‘bilingual.’ …AND MUCH MORE!

www.excellencewithoutexcuse.com Download immediately as an eBook or a pdf Order softcover online, from Amazon, or your local bookstore ISBN#978-1-56385-500-9 Published by International Scholastic Press, LLC Contact Charles at ccherry2@gmail.com

Facebook ccherry2 excellencewithoutexcuse

for info on speeches, workshops, seminars, book signings, panel discussions.

Twitter @ccherry2

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AUGUST 20 – AUGUST 26, 2015 COMMUNITY DECEMBER 14 - 20, 2006

M A YNEWS OR

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

Members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity work at a booth at the festival.

Kids, adults savor end of summer at Community Unity Festival

A choo choo train was a draw for youngsters and adults.

BY DAYTONA TIMES STAFF

The Community Unity Festival at Daisy Stocking Park on Aug. 15 had something for everyone.

The Second Avenue Merchants Association sponsored activities for youth ages 4-12. It was the last weekend of summer fun for many students in public school, who return to the classrooms on Monday, Aug. 24.

The festival also was a time for parents to kick back and enjoy summer’s end.

At evening time at the park, the focus was on the grown folks.

Those who stuck around that evening heard comedy by “Tight Mike’’ and were entertained by local favorites L.A. “Bopeep’’ Robinson & Streetlife along with Daniel “Saxman” Fuqua.

Along with the City of Daytona Beach, sponsors of the event included VITAS, Bethune-Cookman University, Islamic Center of Daytona Beach, Bright House Networks, Brown & Brown Insurance, Muslim Women Association and AFSCME.

Port Orange to conduct annual water treatment maintenance SPECIAL TO THE DAYTONA TIMES

The Port Orange Utilities Department will perform its annual flushing of the water distribution system beginning Monday, Aug. 24. The treatment is done to improve water quality and is referred to as the “annual flushing and treating of the Water Distribution System.”

Above: Daniel “Saxman” Fuqua entertains the crowd.

Left: L.A. “Bopeep’’ Robinson and his band performs.

What’s a party without some line dancing?

The scheduled completion date of the treatment and flushing is no later than Monday, Oct. 6.

During this six-week period, the city will change its disinfectant residual to free chlorine. The water will be of the highest standards and safe to drink. However, some customers may notice a slight difference in the taste of the water.

Besides the Port Orange Distribution System, this treatment will cover Harbor Oaks, Allandale, Ponce Inlet, Wilbur by the Sea, and Daytona Beach Shores north to Thames Avenue.

If you have questions regarding this procedure, contact the Port Orange Water Treatment Plant at 386-506-5770. FAQ information can be found under the Public Utilities section of the city’s website at www.port-orange.org.

Alpha Kappa Alpha, NAACP to present College Prep Boot Camp The Flagler County NAACP and Chi Delta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority are sponsoring a free College Prep Boot Camp seminar on Aug.

22 and Aug. 29, 10 a.m. to noon, at the African American Cultural Society, 4422 U.S. 1 North, Palm Coast.

The boot camp is designed for grades 9 through 12 and will provide information and strategies to successfully pursue and complete a college education with emphasis on the college admissions process and funding.

Sessions will be facilitated by a retired college professor. College recruiters will be available at the Aug. 29 session. Parents are invited to participate at both sessions.

Pre-registration is not required, but students must arrive

30 minutes earlier to sign in at each session.

For further information, contact the NAACP at 386-446-7822.

Free sickle cell screening Friday The Odessa Chambliss Center for Health Equity at BethuneCookman University will host a free sickle cell anemia screening on Friday, Aug. 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 113 Lockhart St., Daytona Beach.

For more information, contact Dr. Diana Lee at leed@cookman. edu or call 386 481 2838.

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7 EDITORIAL

AUGUST 20 – AUGUST 26, 2015

Auto financing consumer protection rollback begins When it comes to public policy, most citizens tend to think in terms of what government can accomplish on their behalf.

Multiple civil rights laws and the Americans with Disabilities Act are but a few such examples.

There is also another side to public policy reforms: attempts to roll back or take away regulations that are often favored by industry and championed on Capitol Hill by paid lobbyists.

Bill filed Just last week, a U.S. House committee moved a bill that will stop the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) from taking action against discriminatory practices in auto lending.

This legislative development is an example of how Washington often responds to industry and its lobbyists.

The proposed rollback in consumer protection in auto financing has the support of more than 170 Members of Congress, including a number of Democrats. H.R. 1737, co-sponsored

by House Members Frank Guinta (R-N.H.) and Ed Perlmutter (DColorado), recently passed in the House Financial Services Committee.

What it does H.R. 1737 would require the CFPB to drop guidance it issued in 2013 that called for auto lenders to comply with anti-discrimination laws. The bill would also require the Bureau to gather

CHARLENE CROWELL NNPA FINANCIAL WRITER

public comment before issuing any other guidance related to auto lending.

Supporters say it is simply about proper process. No, it is not. The bill would condone discrimination in auto lending.

All of its supporters should be ashamed.

The 2013 CFPB guidance took direct aim at a specific practice in auto lending. Auto dealers get bonuses from lenders for selling consumers a higher interest rate than that for which they qualify.

These bonuses add up to billions of dollars in added dealer compensation. On top of these lucrative deals, this practice is completely hidden from consumers.

Billions lost Research by the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) found that consumers who took out loans in 2009 paid $25.8 billion in more interest over the lives of their loans – all because of dealer interest rate markups.

For the past two decades, this lending practice has resulted in a series of lawsuits and more recent enforcement actions that all alleged discrimination resulting from this practice. The data from these lawsuits and related

Environmental Protection Agency is out of control Gone are the days when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was set up as an agency that would draw recruits from the civil rights movement and the legions protesting the Vietnam War. It was a diversion concocted by the very slick President Richard Nixon. It has developed into a monster, wreaking havoc on businesses and jacking up the price and reducing the supply of our energy stocks. It’s an agency that defies our Constitution by ignoring our courts and writing its own laws in defiance of Congress.

A farce We first started challenging the EPA when Al Gore encouraged them to declare environmental racism against Black communities by violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. This was a lie and we proved them wrong. We also showed where the EPA constantly violates Title VI of the Civil Rights

HARRY C. ALFORD NNPA COLUMNIST

Act on a nonstop basis. The whole thing is a farce, but many naïve Blacks have bought the lie.

That died down for a while until President Obama appointed Gina McCarthy to become the administrator. McCarthy is a zealot who chooses activism over implementation of regulations. What she and her minions want to do is remove all fossil fuels from our manufacturing facilities. They want to kill coal, stop harvesting natural gas, and cease pumping oil from our precious earth.

They want 100 percent of our energy to come from windmills, solar panels, hydroelectric dams, etc. There is one big problem with

#AllVotesMatter − Restoring the Voting Rights Acts On the eve of the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a federal appeals court in New Orleans struck down a strict Texas voter identification law. In a unanimous ruling, the three-judge panel found that the law violated the federal Voting Rights Act and had a disproportionate and discriminatory impact on Blacks and Hispanics in the state.

The law – which requires forms of identification that many poor people and people in communities of color either do not have or have great difficulty accessing – made it far more difficult for these groups, including college students and the elderly, to exercise their constitutional right as citizens to vote.

MARC H. MORIAL TRICE EDNEY WIRE

Small victory It was a small victory in the larger enterprise of many Republican-controlled states efforts to limit voters’ rights. It was a reminder of why the landmark civil rights legislation signed into law

by President Lyndon Johnson 50 years ago remains an important weapon in the fight to expand access to the polls. And it underscored why Congress needs to make restoring the Voting Rights Act a political priority.

The aftermath of the Supreme

enforcement actions consistently show that borrowers of color pay higher interest rates than White borrowers, solely because of this dealer kickback.

Recent CFPB enforcement actions total more than $176 million in fines and restitution to consumers. By utilizing the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), CFPB has taken steps that no regulator to date has taken to end discrimination in auto lending.

Fortunately, just as a coalition of interests pushed for and won passage of reforms that created CFPB, several consumer and civil rights groups are now simultaneously pursuing preservation of the Bureau’s pro-consumer actions.

A late July letter sent to the entire 435-member House of Representatives on behalf of the NAACP, the National Council of La Raza. Americans for Financial Reform, the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) and other organizations, reminded lawmakers of the history and scale of discriminatory auto lending finance.

“This is one of the last areas in consumer lending where an individual sitting across the desk from a consumer makes a decision about how much to charge that particular consumer for financing above and beyond the financing costs dictated by their credit worthiness. Intentionally or not, this often leads to people of color paying more than their fair share,” wrote the advocates.

this philosophy – it is impossible.

You can’t end our traditional energy sources and replace them with inefficient and expensive means that will jeopardize our economy and national security. Still, she moves on and the president allows her reckless motions and smiles when she defies court orders.

Severe damage

VISUAL VIEWPOINT: FAST FOOD

WOLVERTON, CAGLE CARTOONS

Lawsuits filed “In the mid-1990s, a series of lawsuits was filed against the largest auto finance companies in the country alleging that borrowers of color were most likely to have their loans marked up and paid larger markups,” continued the advocates. “The data used in those lawsuits indicated that borrowers of color were twice as likely to have their loans marked up, and paid markups twice as large as similarly situated Whites borrowers with similar credit ratings.”

It is doubtful that the consumers who received restitution for faulty financing of vehicles through Ally Financial and Ally Bank, American Honda Financial and Evergreen Bank would support a regulatory rollback, either.

From their perspective, monies the industry returned to consum-

the hardworking community are now endangered. People are complaining of severe headaches since the spill.

Some say McCarthy did this to increase her budget for cleanup, to scare the public about how fragile our environment is, and to stop our manufacturing and reliance on fossil fuels and chemicals.

I wouldn’t be surprised.

Recently, she and her crew breached an earthen dam that was filled with pollutants from a closed Colorado gold mine. Among the pollutants are arsenic and other deadly chemicals. They created a plume that has flowed into the Animas River traveling across Colorado and into Mexico. They have been lying to the press about the seriousness of this tragedy.

There are at least 3 million gallons of the pollutants flowing across some of America’s most pristine land. Wildlife, cattle, horses and other agricultural animals are going to pay a deadly price.

Farmers cannot irrigate their crops in the middle of August when they need it the most. Fishing will become a thing of the past. Businesses that rely on tourism and serving

No empathy

Court’s regrettable 2013 decision in Shelby County v. Holder to gut Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act – that established which states had to get advance approval from the federal government before making any changes to their election laws – ushered in a wave of tough voter suppression laws.

founded time and again. The myth of widespread voter identification fraud appears to be nothing more than a political fraud orchestrated by officials eager to shift political fortunes to their party.

The seemingly obvious idea that a democracy functions at its best when the largest number of its citizens is afforded the opportunity to determine who will lead it –and how it will be led – is under a modern-day legislative assault. If our elected officials truly do believe that all votes matter, Congress must commit to stemming the tide of suppression and get to the work of fully restoring voter protections in the Voting Rights Act.

Not alone Texas does not stand alone in its zeal to make it harder for Americans to vote. Wisconsin and North Carolina have passed similar voter identification laws.

Restrictive measures don’t just end there. Eliminating sameday registration, shortening early voting, doing away with online voting registration, and aggressively purging voters from the voter registration rolls are some of the other tactics legislators are using to deny eligible voters access to the polls.

These lawmakers justify their restrictive policies with allegations of voter fraud – a claim that experts have proven to be un-

Standing together The National Urban League stands with President Obama and the civil rights and voting rights advocates calling for the full restoration of the Voting Rights Act and the reinstatement of the voter protections disman-

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.

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

Charlene Crowell is a communications manager with the Center for Responsible Lending. Contact her at Charlene. crowell@responsiblelending. org.

declared the rule unconstitutional. Her reply was that she didn’t care what the Supreme Court says.

They destroyed all of those power plants – mission accomplished.

Recently, McCarthy put out a proposal to implement a “Clean Power Plan.” Thirty-five governors and legislators have complained; many have filed suit. The Supreme Court said she was wrong doing this. What did she do? She said “I don’t care what the Court says, I am going to do it.” She has done just that! She is implementing the plan and the lawsuits are again flying.

The Clean Power Plan will directly damage the African-American community as well as the Hispanic community. We have a commissioned study that proves that and they are trying to ignore it.

Yes, the EPA is definitely out of control. With the help of God and the courts, we are going to stop this madness.

She made an obligatory flight out to the spill sight; looked at the river; held a small press conference; and immediately flew back to D.C. She made no time to see some of the victims or talk to some of the damaged business owners. Why? Because she just doesn’t care.

A good example of how this evil woman thinks is the mercury rule that she implemented in spite of massive protests. People and businesses sued and the case went all the way up to the Supreme Court.

During this time, dozens of fuel Harry C. Alford is the coplants were forced to close down and lay off thousands of work- founder, president and CEO of ers. After four years, the Supreme the National Black Chamber of Court ruled against the EPA and Commerce®.

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.

ers are financial justice.

“Consumer protections in auto lending have been non-existent until the CFPB came on the scene,” said Chris Kukla, CRL senior vice president. “Auto dealers and their allies in Congress are now trying to stop the CFPB from enforcing anti-discrimination laws. Dealer interest rate markups are unfair and discriminatory, and should be prohibited entirely.

“With the record of discrimination tied to this practice, Congress should be thanking the CFPB for acting instead of getting in the way.”

Jenise Morgan, Senior Editor Angela van Emmerik, Creative Director Cassandra Cherry Kittles, Willie R. Kittles, Circulation Penny Dickerson, Staff Writer Duane Fernandez Sr., Kim Gibson, Photojournalists

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tled by the Supreme Court.

And we would do well to remember that this fight goes beyond maneuvers in the halls of Congress. As President Obama said during his remarks at the White House commemoration of the golden anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, “Far more people disenfranchise themselves than any law does, by not participating, by not getting involved.”

The number of Americans who participated in the 2014 midterm elections was reportedly the lowest it’s been since World War II. We cannot clamor for the right to vote only to turn around and ignore our civic duty. We owe that much and more to those who fought and bled and died to secure the right to vote because it is not enough to gain the right, we must employ, maintain and protect it as well.

Marc H. Morial, former mayor of New Orleans, is president and CEO of the National Urban League.

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.

5 7

AUGUST 20 – DECEMBER AUGUST 26, 142015 - 20, 2006 EDUCATION

MAYOR

Desegregation linked to closing achievement gap

BY JAZELLE HUNT NNPA NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON — Year after year in measure after measure, Black, Latino, and Native American students trail their White peers in educational outcomes.

These gaps were at their lowest in 1988, the same year public schools hit peak integration levels – and long-term data shows that this was no coincidence.

“As long as we have schools and classrooms that have concentrated the most disadvantaged children together, there’s no way that schools can overcome the disadvantage, because every student can’t get special attention. So the level of instruction has to decline,” said Richard Rothstein, a research associate at the nonpartisan Economic Policy Institute.

“The only way that we’re ever going to raise the achievement of African-American children living in ghettos, substantially, is to desegregate those ghettos. Make sure that more children are attending schools that are predominantly middle-class.”

Still inequitable access Schools with student bodies of color aren’t inherently inadequate – there are plenty around the country that graduate bright, motivated Black and brown scholars. Still, it is the better distribution of resources, not merely the presence of White students,

BRUCE CUMMINS/U.S. NAVY

Harold Jones is shown a few years ago reading to first-grade students at Timucuan Elementary School in Jacksonville as part of a Navy Medicine Support Command-sponsored community service volunteer program at the school. At the time, Jones was a paralegal specialist and diversity officer at Navy Medicine Support Command. that make integration necessary.

“We know that there’s inequitable access to advanced coursework, for example, so we know that many African American and Latino students attend schools where they can’t take algebra II or chemistry, or they don’t have advanced placement courses,” said John King, delegated deputy secretary of the Department of Education. “To the extent that we can integrate schools by race and class, we’re likelier to reduce

those inequities.”

The way schools are funded can also worsen the effect. Most districts are funded through property taxes, other state taxes, and federal money (through grants or as part of a larger budget given to each state).

Money’s the issue Often, needy schools are left at the bottom of the list when it’s time to distribute these funds,

forcing them to rely more heavily on already-meager property taxes. And as individual schools make cuts to stretch the money, they are unable to attract and keep highly effective teachers, and provide students enriching extracurricular activities, challenging classes, and first-class facilities.

“It’s not because they’re sitting next to a White child, it’s because they’re not in an environment where children with serious disadvantages are so concentrated that the school can’t focus on…grade level instruction,” said Rothstein. “[Funding] varies enormously by state. Most of the special money that is needed to address the problems of low-income schools…is because of the concentrations there. You need so much more money in such a school.”

Historical reasons White flight, class politics and gentrification also play a major role – if neighborhoods are racially and economically segregated, the local public school system is likely to reflect that.

“It wouldn’t be fair to say that schools can’t produce great outcomes for kids if they don’t have White students or if they don’t have middle-income students,” said King. “But I think it is fair to say that, for a variety of complex political and historical reasons,

resources often have been inequitably distributed based on race and class.”

Updating Education Act The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), a civil rights law, is now up for renewal – No Child Left Behind was its most recent update, and that expired in 2007. Currently, both the House and Senate have passed their versions of this update, and they are significantly different when Congress returns from summer recess, the appropriate committees will have to find a way to merge the bills into one policy.

Direct government orders to integrate schools would not be accepted today as they were did during the Civil Rights Movement.

For starters, a 2007 Supreme Court ruling found it unconstitutional for schools to assign students to schools by race (and other factors), even for the “compelling” goal of desegregation.

The Department of Education has been monitoring racial isolation trends for decades.

Rothstein and King felt it unfair to expect affected parents to compensate for the lack of diversity in their schools. Rothstein did mention that, although hard to find, supplemental resources exist; King expressed that it was something the Obama administration was committed to working on it for the remainder of the term.

3rd Annual MILLION FATHER MARCH Sponsored By: Bethune-Cookman University

Turie T. Small Elementary School 800 South St. Daytona Beach August 24, 2015 7:00 a.m.-8:00 a.m.

Westside Elementary School 1210 Jimmy Ann Drive, Daytona Beach August 31, 2015 7:00 a.m.-8:00 a.m.

The Million Father March is an opportunity for all men to show their commitment to the educational lives of children on the first day of school and throughout the school year.

“It’s part of the university’s mission to reach out to the surrounding community, including providing educational opportunities to local school children” - Dr. Edison O. Jackson, President, Bethune-Cookman University Office of Community Affairs and K-16 Initiatives College of Education Bethune-Cookman University

R6

7 FOCUS

AUGUST 20 – AUGUST 26, 2015

GIRLS

from Page 1 from rural northern Nigeria to the capital city of the United States of America is a much tougher road to travel.”

The lawyer and activist said that the challenges to the girls living on their own are both emotional and financial.

Many still missing On April 14, 2014, the same day that an explosion destroyed a bus depot on the outskirts of Abuja, killing at least seven and injuring more than 100, Boko Haram abducted nearly 300 schoolgirls as they studied for exams that night from the northeastern town of Chibok in Borno state.

The mass kidnapping sparked an international social media campaign under the #BringBackOurGirls hashtag. Little information about the girls’ whereabouts has come out of the region since they disappeared with their captors into the bush more than a year ago.

Ogebe attended a meeting between some of the Chibok schoolgirls who escaped and a small contingent of lawmakers that included U.S. Reps. Frederica Wilson and Lois Frankel, both Florida Democrats.

Ogebe said that his heart began to break as he imagined the girls returning to their town after the meeting, still living under the threat and violence of Boko Haram.

“I couldn’t live with that,” said Ogebe. “I said, ‘If anything happens to these kids, it would be on my conscious forever.’”

So, the lawyer arranged to bring 10 of the girls to the United States almost a year ago where they live with host families. Ogebe said that the girls are most-

PHOTO BY FREDDIE ALLEN/NNPA NEWS WIRE

Three of the girls that escaped from the Boko Haram militants during the mass kidnapping in Chibok last April bow their heads in prayer before the #BringBackOurGirls press conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Emmanuel Ogebe (second from right) joins them. ly homebodies, but some of them like swimming, most of them like cooking and they take turns braiding one another’s hair.

Staying hopeful During a press conference about the missing schoolgirls in July, Wilson said that, according to her sources, the girls are being guarded closely by Boko Haram militants, because the terror group hopes to use them as a bargaining chip.

“And until someone can show me a mass grave where all of these girls are or show me one of the girls has been married off or have been killed, I will continue to believe that they are still alive,” said Wilson.

She continued, “We have faith and we have hope that at some point we will find those girls.”

Wilson said U.S. lawmakers were disappointed by the lack of progress in finding the girls and the absence of any real support

for the families of the abducted students during her visit to the region a year ago.

A former public school principal, Wilson said she was shocked when she learned about the abduction of the Chibok girls, who were preparing to take exams at night, because of fear of terrorist activity in the area.

“Here these young girls are in school trying to get an education and they’re kidnapped by a terrorist group called Boko Haram. How offensive is that?” Wilson remarked. “If they were boys, I might be able to swallow it a little bit better, but little girls.

‘Sugar and spice and everything nice?’ No.”

Lawmakers respond Wilson visited the region a year ago with a small contingent of lawmakers from the U.S. and met with some of the girls who had managed to escape. Wilson said that they were disappointed by the lack of progress in finding the missing girls

ARE YOU FEELING GAS HIKES AT THE PUMP?

and the absence of any real support for the families of the abducted students.

With the recent election of President Muhammadu Buhari, U.S. lawmakers hope that he shows more determination in finding the girls and to ending violent extremism in the western African nation.

“Nigeria now has the opportunity, under the new leadership of their new president for renewed efforts to bring our girls home and to end Boko Haram’s brutal campaign of terror,” said Frankel.

Last month, White House officials announced plans to work with Congress to provide $465 million in aid for training, equipment and capacity building to African nations to assist them in their counterterrorism efforts during the 20152016 fiscal year.

The U.S. government also planned to increase support to Nigeria, Niger and Chad through youth and sports programs to boost

social and civic engagement in areas besieged by Boko Haram.

Illegal tactics Ogebe said that the geography and tactics of the terror group pose incredible challenges to what the Nigerian military can do on its own.

“The territory is a tough one,” said Ogebe. “Boko Haram is using land mines in Sambisa Forest against the military.”

Because the Sambisa Forest shares borders with several neighboring countries, Boko Haram is able to trek back and forth across international borders illegally, a travel pass not afforded to the Nigerian military.

“The military is limited by constraints that don’t limit the terrorists,” said Ogebe. “This is why the search requires a global coalition.”

‘Here there is peace’ Going by her first name

to protect family and friends still living in northeastern Nigeria, Lili, one of the rescued girls who is still in high school, said that going to school in the U.S. is safer because no one is threatening you.

“Going to school here is better than Nigeria because here there is peace,” said Lili, adding that she doesn’t know when she’ll return to Chibok.

“When it is safer, maybe,” said Lili. “When Boko Haram is gone.”

Ogebe hopes to raise enough money so that the girls who got accepted into college can attend this semester.

“We don’t know what has become of the 219, but we do know what the 10 can become,” said Ogebe. “We can help them achieve their dreams and let them be an example to the world.”

On Aug. 12, the Reuters news agency reported that Boko Haram militants launched an attacked just outside of Maidguri in Borno state, north of Chibok.

Six people were killed in the raid and Ogebe said he’s waiting to hear if any friends or family members of the Chibok girls were among the dead.

Now that Boko Haram has pledged allegiance to the so-called Islamic State in Syria (ISIS), human rights advocates hope that stamping out the terror group that continues to ravage western Africa becomes an international priority.

“When it comes to global terror, Black lives matter too,” said Ogebe. “And we need to work to put this horrific group out of business.”

To learn more about the “Bring Our Girls Back-ToSchool” fundraising campaign, visit http://www.gofundme.com/rux936pg.

Freddie Allen is a senior Washington correspondent for NNPA.

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AUGUST 20 – AUGUST 26, 2015 DECEMBER 14 - 20, 2006

tant to consistently visit the doctor, increasingly are participating at BlackettDibinga’s studio.

“Mothers are bringing their spouses or their sons,” she said. “And they don’t come to see what it’s about. They come because they have health issues they want to address.”

Healing arts Maurissa Stone of Baltimore founded The Living Well as a “center for social and economic vibrancy.”

Her studio hosts yoga classes, various dance lessons and almost any activity that promotes a healthy lifestyle.

“We are located in a neighborhood that is a desert for yoga and tai chi not to mention music education. Many African-Americans have never been exposed to healing arts so we provide the introduction and support to keep folks involved,” she explained.

Eating right too COURTESY OF URBAN NEWS SERVICE

Kendra Blackett-Dibinga, right, teaches hot yoga in the D.C. area.

Black entrepreneurs address health concerns with businesses that focus on wellness and fitness

BY CURTIS BUNN URBAN NEWS SERVICE

Bad knees forced fitness enthusiast Kendra Blackett-Dibinga to quit her passion of running and training. But those same knee troubles ultimately lead her to a business that has not only relieved her pain, but also provided her Washington, D.C.- area African-American community a haven for improved health.

An elder woman who had arthritic knees suggested she try hot yoga to alleviate pain. She did.

“And I fell in love,” Blackett-Dibinga said.

Reports by medical professionals indicate health and health care for

Black Americans lead to a shorter life span and that African-Americans are pre disposed to a myriad of crippling diseases.

But Black entrepreneurs like Blackett-Dibinga are forming businesses across the country that focus on wellness that can combat inherit heath concerns.

Hot yoga, also known as Bikram yoga, is a 90-minute program that consists of a series of 26 postures in a studio heated to 105 degrees with 40 percent humidity. The postures require lengthy, forceful and well-controlled contractions of all major muscle groups. The demanding nature of the poses and the heat are designed to raise heart rate and tire muscles

– and have healing properties.

For Blackett-Bibinga, it worked. And realizing this option of wellness was non-existent for residents in Prince George’s County, Maryland, outside of Washington, D.C., hot yoga filled the void.

Women and wellness After completing a nineweek certification class on hot yoga in California, she became an instructor and eventually opened Bikram Yoga Riverdale Park 18 months ago with plans to open a D.C. location soon.

And the rewards have been many.

“I’ve always believed

that women were the gateway to good health for the family, community and the nation,” Blackett-Dibinga said. “Women set the tone for what the family ate. At the same time, Black people have been plagued with some of the most debilitating chronic diseases. The thing is, those issues can be controlled with changes in in your life.

“So, it’s been an interesting process watching these Black women come in and eventually become in tune with their bodies.

Their health concerns are being addressed and they are feeling better physically and about themselves.

It’s powerful.”

But Black men, who historically have been hesi-

Operating the business can be challenging, but Stone, like Blackett-Dibinga, has found it gratifying to see community members embrace working on their health.

“It’s an amazing experience to see my people not only engage in physical health, but emotional and financial wellness,” Stone said. “We understand that generational poverty and economic strife is a major contributor for AfricanAmericans experiencing high blood pressure and diabetes.

“Ninety percent of our events offer vegetarian options. We have created healing circles that provide our community with exposure to wellness. Mental health is another aspect that is traditionally under resourced in our community. We are working to make sure people have a safe place to share and heal.”

Stone said her business has taken on more significance in the community with the April and May uprisings following the controversial death of Freddie Gray, who sustained fatal injuries while in police custody.

“Much of the work we

Is weight-loss surgery a good option for you?

Doctors say lack of insurance and education keeping Blacks from going under the knife

BY VICTORIA T. DAVIS NNPA NEWS SERVICE

In the last few weeks, Dalelynn Bradshaw-Settle, 28, did something she never thought she would enjoy – hiking.

“Come on, let’s go,” she screamed to her husband below as she made her way on Rattle Snake Trail in Black Mountain, N.C. From her enthusiasm and physical state, no one would know BradshawSettle weight just over 300 pounds one year ago. Today she weighs in at about 210 pounds thanks to her recent bariatric lap band surgery.

In August 2013, The American Journal of Gastroenterology released a study titled “Inpatient Bariatric Surgery Among Eligible Black and White Men and Women in the United States, 1999-2010,” which discovered “a higher percentage of Black than White women and of Black than White men were eligible for bariatric surgery.

But, higher proportion of eligible White women and men than Black women and men received bariatric surgery.”

Major barriers The study concluded this may be due in part to differences in insurance

coverage for various races.

Dr. Steven Clark, medical director and bariatric surgeon at Community Bariatric Services - South in Indianapolis, says although African-Americans are eligible for bariatric surgery based on the National Institute of Health guidelines, they aren’t the individuals going under the knife as often.

About 80 percent of Community Bariatric Services - Souths patients are women and about 10 percent are African-American.

Clark disagrees that insurance is a major barrier for patients.

“The thing I find very odd is, out of all the patient population, Black women suffer the most from obesity,” said Clark. I wonder if it’s (lack of ) education, more in terms of people not recognizing that it’s available. Some of it is also cultural and I don’t think it’s as accepted in the Black community as in others.”

Ashamed to admit it Bradshaw-Settle said she knows of African-Americans who have had surgery but refuse to admit it.

“A lot of people are ashamed to say they’ve had surgery,” mentioned Bradshaw-Settle. “I don’t know what there is to be ashamed about, but I think it’s because a lot of people believe surgery is the easy way out so we let naysayers persuade our judgment.

I’ve had people ask, ‘Oh, you didn’t do it on your own?’ ‘’ According to the American Society for Metabol-

have been doing before, during and after this historic but familiar outcry for justice is about creating alternative options for people to ‘get ahead’,” she said.

“My work is really about incubating dreams. . . There is major stress and trauma in the city. The #Uprising was an outcry of the people who experience hell on a daily basis. The Living Well is working on transforming and healing the city.”

Healthy weight fast Many health concerns start with obesity, a rampant problem in Black communities.

Daphne Grissom’s SkinnyU and InShapeMD outside of Atlanta specializes in developing custom wellness programs for clients that help them lose weight and, in the process overcome other health issues like high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol and diabetes.

Since 2009, Grissom and her staff physician have provided appetite suppressants, supplements, bio identical hormone replacement therapy, vitamin, fat-burner injections and suggested meal plans for clients “to get them to optimal health fast,” Grissom said.

“There is no better business than helping people,” she added. “I get excited when I see more and more African-Americans taking their health more seriously. Many of us are now focused on prevention. We are not waiting until we have a heart attack or stroke or even given a life sentence filled with prescription pills to treat our illness. I literally get chills just thinking of some of the stories through the years.

“Many people that come to me want to lose 10 to 30 pounds in less than a month. Doing so makes them feel good about themselves and about me for being the catalyst, but I also have clients that need to lose 50, 70, or 100 pounds. It is a life-changing experience for them and for those around them who witness it. (And) their joy is contagious.”

“A mechanic was working on her car when she collapsed right outside of her home.

Some of the contributing factors to her death were stress and high blood pressure and, because it went untreated, it exploded,” she said. “I had a panic attack after she died and went to the doctor to find out I weighed my heaviest at 302 pounds.”

Paying out of pocket, on March 3, 2014, BradshawSettle began the process to undergo lap band surgery and March 17 was her official surgery date.

Getting started

Dalelynn Bradshaw-Settle is shown before and after her lap band surgery. ic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), between 2011 and 2013, the number of bariatric surgeries performed in the U.S. grew by nearly 15 percent. In 2011 over 158,000 people received the surgery and in 2013 that number increased to 179,000.

Among those procedures in 2011 were sleeve gastrostomy utilized at 42.1 percent followed by gastric bypass at 34.2 percent and gastric band at 14 percent.

“The good news is cases are growing again. The bad news is, this still represents less than 1 percent of the eligible patient population for surgery,” said Dr. Jaime Ponce, immediate past president of the ASMBS.

How procedure works In the gastric sleeve procedure, about 60 percent of the stomach is removed laparoscopically, leav-

ing behind a sleeve of the stomach. Gastric bypass works by laparoscopically reducing the volume of the stomach.

The intestines are rerouted and a small stomach pouch is created by stapling off the main body of the stomach. Gastric banding involves placing a silicone gastric band with an inflatable inner collar around the upper stomach to restrict food intake.

Too much soul food Bradshaw-Settle, who lost over 100 pounds thanks to lap band surgery, said her family’s eating habits and cultural traditions contributed to her rapid weight gain.

“It’s called ‘eating good.’

My family has big dinners every Sunday and we cook like it’s Thanksgiving year round,” she said. “We eat for any and all occasions with big, hearty meals,

then nap.”

Experts say because eating traditions such as these aren’t uncommon in the Black community, this minority group has a high risk for obesity-related health issues.

Meals considered “soul food,” which may include starchy vegetables, cornbread and collard greens with bacon fat, have contributed to the overall downfall of Black Americans.

Sibling’s death leads to action The American Diabetes Association finds type 2 diabetes among African-Americans is 1.6 times higher than that of the total U.S. population.

After losing her 34-yearold sister to a sudden aortic aneurysm in January 2014, Bradshaw-Settle became more aggressive with her weight loss plan.

The day of surgery she experienced flashbacks of a thinner physique before she gained over 100 pounds in a year and a half due to depression and other factors.

“I started to cry because I’m the mom of two children and I thought back my daughter’s childhood when she would ask, ‘Mommy why are you always so tired?’ or “Why don’t you want to play?”

Clark at Community Bariatric Services - South said those with no prior diabetic health conditions and a body mass index (BMI) over 40 are eligible for bariatric surgery. Those with health conditions should have a BMI over 35 to have surgery.

Currently 12.2 percent of African-Americans have a BMI over 40, with over 16 percent being 1 women.

Next steps in the process involve in-office appointments to become aware of the types of surgeries available.

This story is special to the NNPA from The Indianapolis Recorder.

R8

7SPORTS

AUGUST 20 – AUGUST 26, 2015

Daytona team wins housing basketball tournament SPECIAL TO THE DAYTONA TIMES

The Daytona Beach Housing Authority (DBHA) recently won the Florida Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (FAHRO) Invitational Statewide Basketball tournament.

It was the second consecutive year the Daytona team won the event.

The tournament took place Aug. 7-9 at the Orlando Sports Complex.

Housing authority teams participating were from Tampa, Fort Pierce, Lakeland, Palatka, Ocala and Orlando.

The teams were made up of students 14-18 who currently are enrolled in high school. They also live in affordable housing or partner with housing through some other organization (Boys & Girls Club, YMCA, Police Athletic League, etc.).

Local schools represented The Daytona team was made up of Stacy Beckton (Atlantic High School), Keyshawn Johnson (Spruce Creek), Nysean Giddens (Flagler Palm Coast), Jimmy Hawkins (Seabreeze), Raekwon Sloan (Spruce Creek), Anthony Butler (Seabreeze), Tyrell Brown (Atlantic), Jihad Abdul-Wahab (Spruce Creek), Da’von Robinson (Atlantic), Tony Robinson (Mainland) and Marcus Baker (Mainland).

Johnson was named tournament MVP. “We are proud of the kids. They not only represented the Housing Authority of the City of Daytona Beach but also their families, communities and themselves to the highest degree,” commented Anthony Woods, DBHA’s executive director.

Longtime youth coach

and former prep coach Terry Johnson coached the Daytona team. Johnson is a City of Daytona Beach employee. He also runs Baldy Athletics, which features a 14 and under AAU boys basketball team called the Daytona Beach Super Sonics.

“I’m proud of the kids. I would have been regardless of the outcome. They played hard and left it all out there on the court,” Johnson remarked.

Local sports editor/reporter, radio talk-show host and youth baseball coach Andreas Butler served as Johnson’s assistant coach.

Impressive play DBHA was impressive on the court. On the second day of the tournament, the team swept pool play by beating Palatka, Ocala and Orlando.

The following day, the Daytona players defeated a talented Tampa team in the championship game after taking down Lakeland in the semifinals.

Daytona won every game by 12 or more points, including three by 20 or more.

During the tournament’s four-year history, only Tampa (2012, 2013) and Daytona (2014, 2015) have won titles.

Johnson has coached Daytona each year.

“Most of the games are very competitive. With our recent success, most teams look forward to playing Daytona. It is a good experience for the kids,” Johnson noted.

Another goal of the tournament is to provide a positive outlet for kids living in affordable housing.

According to its website, FAHRO is a group of organizations from around the state that work to provide affordable housing throughout Florida.

Front row: Assistant Coach Andreas Butler, Jimmy Hawkins, Anthony Butler, Da’von Robinson, Marcus Baker, Tyrell Brown, Tony Robinson, Head Coach Terry Johnson. Back row: Nysean Giddens, Raekwon Sloan, Keyshawn Johnson, Stacy Beckton, Jihad Abdul-Wahab and DBHA Executive Director/CEO Anthony Woods.

Daytona Beach Housing Authority Executive Director Anthony Woods (left), Keyshawn Johnson (center) and Coach Terry Johnson are shown at the Florida Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials tournament.

Daytona went 5-0 in the eightteam tournament. Keyshawn Johnson was named tournament MVP.