The cost of raising a kid SEE PAGE 8
EE FR
RAYNARD JACKSON: Do we perpetuate African-American stereotypes? SEE PAGE 4
B-CU GRAD TEACHING FREE DANCE CLASSES AT CENTERS SEE PAGE 3
East Central Florida’s Black Voice AUGUST 21 - AUGUST 27, 2014
YEAR 39 NO. 34
www.daytonatimes.com
Makeover of Orange Avenue moving forward BY ASHLEY D. THOMAS DAYTONA TIMES aysheldarcel@gmail.com
The $17.6 million Orange Avenue Reconstruction Project is well under way as commuters in each direction make their way along the rocky thoroughfare. Soon the patchwork, obscure sidewalks and potholes will be a thing of the past. Cranes, excavators and dump trucks are a typical sight as contractors and subcontractors of Thadcon LLC, work to update the road. Thadcon is the same company that handled the Beach Street Streetscapes and the multimillion-dollar makeover of Atlantic Avenue. The dust and commotion of repairs do not seem to bother business owners who say business has remained constant throughout the process.
Business not affected “I don’t think it’s making a difference, it’s about the same amount of customers. People understand,” Bush Abu told the Daytona Times. Abu is the owner of Hi Five Hair Beauty Supply located on Orange Avenue. A ramp has been placed in front of businesses like Abu’s to lead patrons into the parking lots of affected areas. Jessica Long told the Daytona Times she is glad that work is finally under way. “I come down here to take my son to the barbershop, and I go to the beauty salon on MMB (Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard). I’m just glad that something is finally being done to Orange Avenue besides sticking another band-aid on a wound that needs a cast. You can tell it’s going to look nice when they are finished. Somewhere you aren’t embarrassed to drive home to.’’
In Zone 6 The project will include sixfoot sidewalks, improved lighting, the installation of new traffic lights and new underground utilities including water, sewer and storm water. “When the entire project is completed, not only will it look much better but it will be safer for motorists and pedestrians,” Mayor Derrick Henry relayed to citizens at the groundbreaking ceremony back in July. The burgeoning project runs through the Zone 6 district of Daytona Beach and intersects with Midtown, a majority Black neighborhood. Orange Avenue leads straight to the steps of City Hall.
JOHN REEVES/B-CU
Bethune-Cookman University students made their own “Don’t Shoot! Hands Up’’ photo on Monday in protest of Michael Brown’s killing.
B-CU STUDENTS JOIN GLOBAL PROTEST In a video appeal, young adults implore: Stop. Don’t shoot. We are Bethune women and Cookman men and we have dreams.”
BY ASHLEY D. THOMAS DAYTONA TIMES aysheldarcel@gmail.com
A
cross the nation, throngs of college students have joined a #DontShoot campaign posing with each other, hands in the air – as witnesses say the hands of Michael Brown’s were as he was fatally shot last week in Ferguson, Mo. About 300 Bethune-Cookman University students held their hands up on Monday to protest the fatal shooting. The students also made a 17 second video that asks viewers: ‘Stop. Don’t shoot. We are Bethune women and Cookman men and we have dreams.’ The students were gathered for an information session on Greek life. The protest was organized by senior Reuben Rifin
Orange Avenue is getting a much-needed and highly anticipated makeover.
ALSO INSIDE
Remembering Brown, others “The shooting of Michael Brown is tragic because it’s not the first time this has happened,” Rifin said from the stage of the Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center. Rifin went on to list numerous shootings and physical assaults against unarmed AfricanAmericans across the country, including Eric Garner and Ezell Ford. Garner died last month when, as police arrested him in Staten Island, allegedly for selling single untaxed cigarettes, an officer placed him in a chokehold while several oth-
ers pinned him to the ground. Los Angeles police are investigating the shooting of Ford who died when an officer fired upon him during an “investigative stop” that led to a struggle.
Sign of surrender The shooting of an unarmed Brown, who witnesses said raised his arms in surrender before being shot multiple times by a White police officer, touches everyone, Rifin said. “We are people of color and we want to spread awareness,” he said. “I should be comfortable driving and not in fear for my life if I am pulled over just because of the color of my skin.” The idea for the protest came from a photo taken at Howard University in Washington, D.C., where students held their hands up in surrender. The
‘Our kids were just as good as any’ Campbell Street Elementary teacher and student reflect on experience at all-Black school BY ASHLEY D. THOMAS DAYTONA TIMES aysheldarcel@gmail.com
DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR./ HARDNOTTS PHOTOGRAPHY
of Naples, Fla. His Instagram account proclaimed, “Now I may not be able to change the world but I’ll be damned if I don’t try.”
Geneva Loper has only good things to say about the students she and her colleagues taught at Campbell Street Elementary during the 1960s. “We had some very smart kids who have gone on to have great careers,” she said in an interview with the Daytona Times. Campbell Elementary was Daytona Beach’s all-Black elementary school from 1962-1969.
Rewarding experience “I went back to school after 14 years of marriage. Teaching was always a great desire of mine,” Loper relayed, chuckling as she recalled the days of her youth holding a switch in one hand while teaching youngsters their ABC’s and numbers. Loper graduated from thenBethune-Cookman College (now University) with a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education in 1962 at age 35. She already had received an associate of arts degree in 1960 from VoluGeneva sia County ComLoper munity College (now Daytona State College) and
taught on the kindergarten level for three years before receiving either degree. “I was just there to teach because that had always been my desire,” she said. “My experience at Campbell Elementary was most rewarding. It was really my first teaching job. It was just a learning experience for me and my students, we just learned together.” She continued, “Campbell Elementary was a great school for learning. All the teachers were competitive and wanted to see the students do well. The parents were so involved and everyone was interested in everyone. We were one great team.”
Life after integration One reason the students and teachers were so well connect-
photo has gone viral on social media. “Howard’s photo shows how you can say volumes without opening your mouth,” Rifin said. “B-CU supports all people of color. You don’t have to be in Missouri or New York to show that support.”
Beyond a hashtag In an interview with the Daytona Times, Rifin who is majoring in mass communications and is the vice president of Student Government at B-CU, added that young people had to go “beyond what you see on Twitter and Instagram.” “I shared my sentiments with my peers. I want it to go further than a hashtag. It is open season on people of color especially adolescences. We need Please see B-CU, Page 2
ed was because they really knew each other, Loper explained. “I would walk through the neighborhood and visit the families. I’d visit the parents. They knew me. They’d say what they wanted for their kids and were supportive. It was altogether different during integration,” Loper noted. “Campbell was phased out in ‘69 so it was about ‘67 or ‘68 I was sent to Westside Elementary along with four other teachers. The principal came in and asked if we wanted to work at his school, to make an appointment and come in for an interview. They needed Black teachers to integrate their faculty. There were four of us who went over – Dorothy Moore and Elouise Edwards too. Others went to Leonard school, I think Mary Fears, our librarian came to Westside too.” “He (the principal) was rePlease see CAMPBELL, Page 2
COMMUNITY NEWS: PUBLIC RELATIONS GROUP RECOGNIZED FOR HELPING STUDENTS | PAGE 3 COMMENTARY: JULIANNE MALVEAUX: DOGS GET MORE RESPECT THAN MICHAEL BROWN | PAGE 4
7 FOCUS
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AUGUST 21 – AUGUST 27, 2014
Wildcats football team worships at Mt. Carmel BY JAMES A DAVIS JR. SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
On Sunday, Aug. 10, Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church of Daytona Beach and the entire Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats football team worshipped together at the church’s annual Deacon-Deaconess Day. Mt. Carmel is led by Pastor Jeffrey D. Robinson Sr. a B-CU graduate, who has been the pastor of Mt. Carmel for the past 10 years. The church has been a landmark for more than 80 years in the Daytona Beach community. The main speaker for the celebration was Mrs. Willie Mae Church of Greater Friendship Baptist Church of Daytona Beach. Her sermon spoke to the issues of how “prayer is the motivator that will take you to the next level.’’ When prayer was offered to the church, more than half of the B-CU team came down to
B-CU’s football team bows in prayer during a service at Mt. Carmel. the altar to receive the prayer that was delivered by the Rev. Ryan Griffin, an associate pastor at Mt. Carmel. He also is a former B-CU football player, .the team’s current football
chaplain and is employed at the university.
James A. Davis Jr. is a deacon at Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church.
Recent B-CU grad to teach free dance classes at local centers Since her freshmen year at Bethune-Cookman University, Chaleak Grier has been preparing herself to one day teach the art of dance to children in the Daytona Beach area. On the day of her graduation in May, Grier, who is from Jacksonville, received a phone call from City of Daytona Beach Leisure Services notifying her that she could begin teaching ballet at a local community center free of beginning costs.
Aug. 28 class Grier’s Royal Pointe Dance Academy will offer two free dance classes at the Schnebly Community Center and the Midtown center. The two free ballet classes will be held at the Schnebly Community Center from 5:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. on Aug. 28 and Sept. 2. The two free jazz classes at the Midtown center are 6:45 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on the same dates. After the two free sessions, parents will have the option of continuing for a fee of $4 a class. To receive more information about the program, call 904352-5671 or email royalpointedanceacademy@gmail.com.
B-CU
from Page 1 to support each other. Anybody could be next. We should still be able to stand together and stand united.” Rifin also shared his concerns as a young Black male. “As a United States citizen, I should feel comfortable walking down the street or driving. If I get pulled, I shouldn’t be in fear of my life. I see an officer as a friend not an enemy. “It has been 50-plus years
CAMPBELL from Page 1
ally nice to work for and treated us professionally,” Loper related. “We worked hard; we thought we had something to prove.” In 1974, Loper was nominated for outstanding teacher, a national award.
Not smarter Loper explained that there was a type of anticipation she faced during integration that the other kids would be smarter than those she taught. “I found out it was altogether different. You could hold up any of our Campbell Elementary students to any of the others. They could stand their ground anywhere,” she said. “I always thought about if we would have had all the material that the other schools had, as we had limited resources and the teachers spent so much of their own money for our kids to make them shine. But what it would have been like if we had the money they did?” “I would have loved to just stayed there with Black boys and girls all of my teaching career.”
Fond memories A reunion for alumni, teachers
Chaleak Grier graduated from B-CU in May.
since the Civil Rights Act passed. We have a false sense of freedom. For those of us away from home, it is just as scary for our family as it is for us.”
Fearful at 22 Rifin participated in a Million Father March held on the first day back to school for elementary and middle school students to show them that there are positive Black men they can look up to even if they have no father figure at home. He also gave out school supplies. Following the march, he spoke to a group of students.
and staff who attended Campbell Street Elementary School takes place on Saturday, Aug. 23. Dr. Patricia Jackson-Smith, a former student, is heading up the reunion and gave insight to how planning the reunion brought back memories from those beginning years. “Our first few meetings we spent a lot of time reminiscing, remembering the teachers, and talking about the ones we’ve kept in touch with, the ones who have gone on,” Jackson-Smith said. “We were at an all-Black school, with all-Black teachers and an all-Black administration. We didn’t have the problem of racism. We saw each other in the neighborhood, in the church. There was a sense of community. Students now don’t have that, where your teacher may sing in the choir with your mom or is someone you would see outside of school,” she continued.
‘They gave us self-confidence’ “I was very enthusiastic (about school) because the teachers motivated us, they always had something exciting going on. I felt that I could do anything because the teachers inspired us to think that. They believed in excellence and encouraged us not to be slackers. They gave us self-confidence. We were creative, I can remember in
Although most of the students were positive, he was struck by the response of one fifth-grade student who took a photo with him imitating the photo taken with B-CU students. “I asked him if he knew what it meant for us to place our hands up for the photo. The young man said ‘that’s what you do when the police come at you.’” “I’m 22 years old. I’ve never been arrested. I’m not the typical stereotype of a Black male, but living in today’s world I don’t know if I’ll make it to 23.”
the fifth grade; we produced our own play, made our own costumes for “The Land of Talking Birds.” I still remember what bird I was,” she said with a laugh. “We had spelling bees and the teachers enjoyed us and made us enjoy being there.” “There was one teacher- Mrs. Eula B. Gray. Before we left every day, she had us line up and we said our evening prayer. Everybody talked about Mrs. Joretha Hayes, our P.E. teacher, and every May we had May Day and she had us wear all white and we plaited the maypole. I remember our music teacher taught us the Negro National Anthem. They taught us about Black poets so we could be encouraged to write. It was really a good experience.” “I am really happy that we have an opportunity to let our teachers know how much we appreciate them.”
How things changed Jackson-Smith gave her account of integration after Campbell. “We had teachers we didn’t know. They didn’t have any history of us,” Jackson-Smith said. “They didn’t know if we came as advanced students, our abilities, didn’t know our families, and didn’t know our neighborhood. Just like any type of change, there were those who really weren’t
CareerSource Flagler Volusia seeking long-term unemployed for new program In an effort to connect businesses with local unemployed talent, CarrerSource Flagler Volusia is offering a new program called Paid Work Experience. This program will provide up to four months of wages to qualified jobseekers working at local businesses. CareerSource Flagler Volusia will screen and select 25 to 30 long-term unemployed individuals from Flagler and Volusia Counties. These individuals will undergo a rigorous selection process, which will include personality and aptitude tests along with panel interviews. The selected jobseekers will be matched with participating businesses. CareerSource Flagler Volusia will pay the costs associated with the selection and recruiting of the jobseekers. Most notably it will pay for their wages and worker’s comp, up to 30 hours per week for a maximum of four months. The hourly training wage will be $12 per hour. To participate in Paid Work Experience, businesses must be located in Flagler or Volusia County and agree to mentor and train the jobseekers during the program. While it is desired that the jobseekers become permanent employees, there is no expectation for businesses to hire them. Businesses interested in this opportunity are encouraged to contact Ted Young at 386-3237094, as soon as possible, as slots are limited. Jobseekers interested in this opportunity must be unemployed for 27 weeks or longer and willing to undergo extensive training and career assessments. The recruitment process for jobseekers will begin in September. Anyone interested should contact Velma Lowe at 386-323-7013. CareerSource Flagler Volusia offers tools to find jobs and advance careers for residents of Flagler and Volusia Counties. On average, the organization provides nearly 5,400 job seekers each month with services such as access to an online job bank, career counseling, recruitment events, training, financial aid, career assessments and internships. It also assists an average of 2,800 employers each month with recruitment, retention and training. For more information, visit www.CareerSourceFV.com.
Palm Coast church plans Football Sunday Palm Coast United Methodist Church will celebrate its third annual Football Sunday on Aug. 24. The day provides the opportunity for those who worship together to see if they have been students of the same schools, hail from the same states or otherwise support the same teams by wearing their
ready for integration. There was resistance.” “I was an advanced student. I’ve always been strong in math, however, my math teacher did not believe I was a good math student. I made all A’s and B’s on my quizzes and tests in math but when it was time for report cards, I brought home a C. I wasn’t allowed to bring C grades home,” she remarked. Jackson-Smith explained how she was able to show her parents all of her quizzes and exams and then as she puts it, her mother “was able to handle that.’’ The teacher was forced to give her the right grade. “I had teachers who made me think I wasn’t capable and that was a really harsh experience,” she continued, noting that she attended Mainland Junior High during the integration transition. “I no longer had classmates from my neighborhood, none of my playmates. There were three Black students in math and I was the only Black student in English. I felt left out, I felt isolated. My experience was so different. They were used to each other all their lives; I wasn’t used to making friends with White students.” Jackson-Smith recalled one White student with whom she had a budding friendship with, but it was only allowed during the schoolday. “My daddy would give her a
favorite jerseys and teams’ colors to church. Members of Matanzas High School football team and cheerleaders will attend a contemporary service at 9:30 a.m. service while members of the Bethune-Cookman University football will attend the 11 a.m. service. For more information, contact the church at 386-4451600.
Author to discuss Florida’s role in Civil War Bob Grenier will discuss his new book, “Central Florida’s Civil War Veterans,” during a free program at 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, at the New Smyrna Beach Regional Library, 1001 S. Dixie Freeway. His sixth book of Florida history includes more than 200 vintage photos and looks back on the Sunshine State’s role in the Civil War. He explores the battles of Olustee and Natural Bridge, the sinking of the USS Columbine on the St. Johns River, Birney’s Raid, the intrepid Cow Cavalry, and the Sánchez spy sisters. Reservations are not required. For more information, call 386-424-2910, ext. 20854.
Kids invited to join ECHO rangers Children in grades one through five are invited to join Volusia County’s ECHO Rangers, a hands-on educational program that focuses on the county’s ecological, cultural, heritage and outdoor resources. The program is offered at more than 40 sites including parks, museums, libraries and historical sites. Using a “Passport to Adventures” guide, children are asked to visit at least eight sites and participate in specially designed ECHO Rangers activities. The program also includes 15 self-guided adventures children can complete with their parents any time; these include hiking, biking, fishing and creating artwork. Children and parents can learn more about the ECHO Rangers program at the following kick-off meetings: • 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4, at Marine Science Center, 100 Lighthouse Drive, Ponce Inlet • 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, at Lyonia Environmental Center, 2150 Eustace Ave., Deltona • 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, at Michael Crotty Bicentennial Park, 1800 N. Ocean Shore Blvd., Ormond Beach • 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, at DeBary Hall Historic Site, 210 Sunrise Blvd., DeBary ECHO Rangers is supported by Volusia County’s Parks, Recreation and Culture Division and coordinated by the staff of DeBary Hall Historic Site. For more information, visit http://debaryhall.com/ranger. htm or contact Kayce Looper at 386-668-3840 or klooper@ volusia.org.
ride home from school, but I was never allowed to ride in her car or go to her house.”
On Campbell reunion “I am looking forward to seeing my former classmates that I haven’t seen in a while,” JacksonSmith told the Daytona Times. “Some since junior high.” “It has really been a pleasure meeting with my classmates and plan the event. I was sitting at our last meeting and I said, ‘I remember when we were kids sitting around the table, creating plays and paper mâché. We would never have thought we would be sitting around a table as grandparents sitting around a table again.” Campbell Elementary alumni who attended the school from 1962 to 1969 will celebrate the school’s legacy with a banquet recognizing and memorializing the school’s faculty and staff. Students from around the country are expected to attend. A banquet is set for Saturday, Aug. 23 at 2 p.m. at the John H. Dickerson Community Center, 308 South Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd,. Daytona Beach. The public is invited. For more information, contact Dr. Pamela Jackson-Smith at 386447-8997.
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AUGUST 21 – AUGUST 27, 2014 DECEMBER 14 - 20, 2006 COMMUNITY
M A YNEWS OR
Getting ready for school Parents and students line up to receive school supplies on Aug. 16 at Daisy Stocking Park during the City of Daytona Beach’s final Mayor’s Backpack Giveaway stop. DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR./HARDNOTTS PHOTOGRAPHY
State public relations association recognizes local chapter for work with college students SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Hands-on learning
The Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) recognized its Volusia/Flagler chapter last week for outstanding accomplishments at its annual conference in Orlando. The local chapter received the President’s Award for Student Development, recognizing its creative internship program for college students majoring in public relations. Students from BethuneCookman University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Stetson University, University of Florida, Florida State University and the University of Massachusetts have successfully participated in the program hosted by the Florida Department of Health in Volusia County.
Strong, who also serves as the FPRA Volusia/Flagler chapter president, said the internship program is comprehensive, with students learning how to craft news releases, produce video scripts, conduct media interviews and plan special events while promoting the value of public health in the local community. “Along with learning public health communications, students have the opportunity to work directly with our chapter members who represent the top public relations professionals in Volusia County,” Strong said. Volusia/Flagler chapter’s student liaison Tangela Boyd coordinated an effort that raised nearly $1,000 to be used toward college student development. She also is working directly with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical
JOE GALLAGHER/GERLINDE PHOTOGRAPHY
Left to right: Chris Gent, Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) president; Stefany Strong, FPRA Volusia-Flagler Chapter president; and Tyler Stover, FPRA Volusia-Flagler Chapter president-elect. University to create a student chapter on campus. Currently, the only institution of higher learning with an FPRA student
chapter in Volusia County is Bethune-Cookman. FPRA’s Volusia/Flagler Chapter gears it monthly programs toward pro-
fessional development for students and has enhanced its member directory to include a special section called PR Tips for
College Students. For more information, visit www.fpravf.org or www.facebook.com/fpravolusiaflagler.
Volunteers sought to read to students in Flagler, Volusia
unitedwayvfc.org/readingpals.
386-257-6036, ext. 16235. The club is sponsored by the Friends of the Daytona Beach Library.
The United Way and Flagler Volunteer Services are seeking ReadingPals volunteers to read to pre-k through third grade students at local public schools for one hour a week from late September 2014 through May 2015. No experience is necessary. Flagler County schools Bunnell Elementary, Bunnell; Belle Terre Elementary, Palm Coast; Old Kings Elementary, Palm Coast; Rymfire Elementary, Palm Coast; Wadsworth Elementary, Palm Coast Volusia County schools Deltona Lakes Elementary, Deltona; Horizon Elementary, Port Orange; Mid Florida Community Services Head Start, DeLand; Pathways Elementary, Ormond Beach. Contact Judy Mazzella at 386-597-2950 or judyfvs@ cfl.rr.com to learn about training dates and times. To find out more about ReadingPals go to http://www.
Knit and crochet club seeks new members The Knit and Crochet Club at the Daytona Beach Regional Library at City Island is looking for new members to help them create fashions for fun and charity. Members, who meet at 2 p.m. Wednesdays in the library’s board room, create: • Personal projects for friends and family • Blankets and shawls for people in nursing facilities, group homes and hospice care • Baby items for hospital newborns • Sweaters and hats for children’s organizations Veteran knitters are asked to share their expertise with beginners or just relax and spin a yarn or two. The library provides yarn, patterns, and knitting and crochet tools for group projects. For more information, call Adult Program Coordinator Catherine Relda at
Mainland High class plans 20thyear cruise The Mainland High School Class of 1995 will celebrate its 20-year class reunion with a Carnival Cruise to the Bahamas in September 2015. The deadline to reserve a cabin is Aug. 31, 2014. For more information visit www.mhs1995reunion. wordpress.com.
Butts Miracle Temple hosting revival Bishop Richard “Mr. Clean’’ White will be the guest at revival services Aug. 21-22 at Butts Miracle Temple Church of God in Christ, 636 Hawk St., Daytona Beach. Services will begin nightly at 7 p.m. For more information on the revival, call 386-2528565.
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7 EDITORIAL
AUGUST 21 – AUGUST 27, 2014
Do we perpetuate Black stereotypes? Many African-Americans feel like there has been an unofficial war declared on Blacks, especially young Black males. Just in the past month alone, there have been the police murders of Eric Garner (Staten Island, N.Y.), Ezell Ford (Los Angeles, and Michael Brown (Ferguson, Mo.). Each of these victims were all unarmed, young, Black and male. Based on what we know so far, I think all the policemen involved in these unjustified deaths should be convicted of murder and sent to jail.
Misperception and stereotypes As abhorrent as these actions were, they should spark a larger, separate conversation about the images that we have created around Black life and Black culture. To reiterate, regardless of these images, there is no justification for killing those young Black men. Let’s be clear about that. For the past 30 years, we have created images of Blacks in the most negative of lights. For those who would say it’s just music, it’s just a movie, it’s just a reality TV show; I say now there is just another Black body lying in the streets of America. Before you go to war, the first thing that is needed is to create a psychological operations campaign (psy-ops). This is a tactic that the military uses to marginalize its targeted population so that when the troops are sent in to destroy this group, there is no public outcry.
RAYNARD JACKSON NNPA COLUMNIST
Devalue the group
at this new creation and people were willing to pay to see and hear it. There was “Rappers Delight,” there was “The Message,” and there was “Fight the Power.” Then, the imagery and lyrics took a twisted turn under a perverted interpretation of the First Amendment called “keeping it real.” When rap music started, it was a verbal extension of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s in the spirit of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; it was about the uplifting of our community and providing a voice to those often without a voice. Then in the 1990s, rap took a more militaristic tone with the creation of “gangsta rap.” This too, was an verbal extension of the Civil Rights movement; but more in the spirit of Malcolm X on steroids. This ultimately led to the “thug” culture, personified by hit movies like Scarface, New Jack City and Carlito’s Way; each glorified the criminal lifestyle. Then you had the crack epidemic of the 1990s with the violence that it brought into the hood. All these factors combined to create a narrative that Black life was worthless and Black youth brought no value to society.
Just look at how the U.S. military vilified and demonized former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein and terrorist Osama Bin Laden before we set out to kill them. Upon their deaths at the hands of the U.S. military, the American people cheered because we had devalued and marginalized them before the American people. I can’t help but ask the Black community, have we unleashed a pys-ops campaign on our own people? In the horror movie series Frankenstein, Dr. Frankenstein did not set out to create a monster; but rather he was a scientist playing around in his laboratory. As a result of this experimentation, he created a monster that neither he nor society could control. In a similar manner, one could argue that Blacks, specifically in Hip-Hop, have experimented in the laboratory called a recording studio; and by exercising their First Amendment Right of freedom of speech and expression through music, they have creatRaynard Jackson is presied their own version of Franken- dent & CEO of Raynard Jackstein. son & Associates, LLC., a Washington, D.C.-based public relaKeeping it real goes wrong tions/government affairs firm. In the beginning, like with Write your own response at Frankenstein, people marveled www.daytonatimes.com.
Ending the payday lending debt trap In just a few days, the debt trap at the core of small-dollar loans that come with triple digit interest rates has generated an unprecedented groundswell of national and local attention. From prosecutors filing criminal charges, to grassroots activists gathering support for strong federal rules, and cable television personalities poking fun, the multi-billion dollar payday lending industry is making headlines and more. On August 10, the barrage of recent attention was heightened when John Oliver, host of HBO’s Last Week Tonight, dedicated a segment of his hour-long show to expose the pernicious nature of predatory payday lending. In 16 minutes, Oliver rattled off a string of zinger comments that were as memorable as they were true. Using many of the industry’s defense lines as lead-ins, Oliver turned them into hearty laugh lines.
Poking fun After citing store names like Quik Cash and Kwik Kash, Oliver posed the rhetorical question, “What can be more reassuring than a business that can’t correctly spell either their product or the speed in which they get it to you?” Noting the claim that the payday industry is simply meeting customer demands, Oliver quipped, “It’s also worth pointing out that the customer demand for
CHARLENE CROWELL NNPA FINANCIAL WRITER
heroin is overwhelming and that doesn’t mean it’s a product you’d necessarily recommend to your friends to get them out of a jam.” Oliver also referred to ACE Cash Express as ‘the circle people’ after showing a graphic from the lender’s training manual that illustrated payday lending’s cycle of debt. It was the same graphic that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) used last month when it levied a $10 million fine against ACE for coercive collection tactics. Despite Oliver’s humor, however, the reality is that payday loans are not a joke for the 12 million consumers caught each year in its debt trap of 400 percent interest or more.
Charges filed The day following the popular HBO program, August 11, state prosecutors in Manhattan filed criminal charges against a dozen online payday lending companies and Tennessee-based owner Carey Vaughn Brown. Also indicted was Ronald Beaver, chief operating officer for several of the companies with names such as My-
CashNow.com. The indictment followed a yearlong investigation and discovered that among the companies, there was a “systematic and pervasive usury scheme.” It also detailed how payday lenders charge up to 500 percent interest. The excessive fees violate state laws that cap interest rates at 25 percent. A conspiracy count was also added to the criminal charges. “The exploitative practices – including exorbitant interest rates and automatic payments from borrowers’ bank accounts, as charged in the indictment – are sadly typical of this industry as a whole,” said Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., the Manhattan district attorney. Still more advocacy developments are occurring in municipalities whose states’ have failed to enact meaningful payday lending reform – despite data that verifies its lending ills. The Iowa Division of Banking found that approximately 53 percent of customers at the state’s payday storefronts averaged 12 or more loans in a year, and 32 received 15 loans or more in a year’s time.
Charlene Crowell is a communications manager with the Center for Responsible Lending. Write your own response at www.daytonatimes.com.
Dogs get more respect than Michael Brown It doesn’t matter if you are state legislator or an alderman, a journalist or a local leader. If you are in Ferguson, Mo., you won’t get any respect. You can be the uncle of a victim whose body was left to lie on the street for several hours and you will not be allowed to cover your young nephew. Not many would let a dog lay uncovered for several hours. Young Black Michael Brown apparently got less consideration than a dog. The streets burst into flames, but Gov. Jay Nixon couldn’t make a statement until five days after Michael Brown was massacred. We know Michael Brown’s name; we know how he was treated, but Chief Thomas Jackson refused to release the shooting officer’s name until he was forced to by an enterprising Internet hacking group. The officer was supposedly entitled to privacy, however briefly, but Michael did not deserve enough privacy to have his bloody body covered after he was massacred.
Protect whom? The police, armed with stun guns, pepper spray, SWAT teams and plastic bullets, were heavily armed to “contain” the protesting crowd. Who will contain the out-
DR. JULIANNE MALVEAUX TRICEEDNEYWIRE.COM
of-control so-called officers of the law? When is it all right to call a McDonald’s a site of trespassing, or to knock reporters around, fail to offer identification, and then get flippant about it? Charles Dooley, the St. Louis County Executive, gave a facetious news conference where he suggested, “We sit down and talk about it.” Let’s talk about the shooter’s police file. Let’s talk about the fully armed and unreasonable police officers. The St. Louis mayor spoke of “protecting the innocent.” Who is innocent? Certainly not the police officer who shot Michael Brown. The unarmed folks chanting “no justice, no peace,” are certainly innocent.
Kumbaya moment With police officers clad in military gear and armed as fully as those who are fighting abroad, the governor said ‘Yesterday was yesterday.” He added, “I’m not looking backward, I’m looking for-
ward.” In other words, he refuses to hold the officers accountable. “We want to get trust built,” says the governor. He seems to be totally clueless. How do you build trust when so-called officers of the law callously and lawlessly fire into peaceful crowds because they could? The governor needs to hold officers accountable before he calls for a “Kumbaya” moment. What do we tell our young men? Michael Brown had his hands up and he was still shot multiple times. Many of us who have Black teens and young men in our lives. We counsel them to be non-combative, non-confrontational, even humble, so they won’t be shot. But police officers should be punished or even fired if they can’t share their badge information. What do they have to hide? There is absolutely no accountability, with police officers being afforded more protection than a murder victim.
Julianne Malveaux is a Washington, D.C.-based economist and writer. She is President Emerita of Bennett College for Women in Greensboro, N.C. Write your own response at www.daytonatimes.com.
VISUAL VIEWPOINT: FERGUSON AND RACE IN AMERICA
PATRICK CHAPPATTE, THE INTERNATIONAL NEW YORK TIMES
Black Americans’ threat from Whites wearing badges The disjointed, gap-laden manner in which Ferguson, Mo. Police Chief Thomas Jackson revealed the name of the police officer who shot 18-year-old Michael Brown to death – all the while alleging that Brown had robbed a convenience store a short time before their encounter – should convince any thinking person that that community’s White power structure is engaged in a cover-up. Jackson’s behavior only increased the already-voluminous questions about the actions of the officer, Darren Wilson, in his confrontation with Brown on August 9, and about the rough-house, violent conduct of the police under Jackson’s command during the following week.
Why the delay? Indeed, one could start by asking why Jackson would release those two pieces of highly sensitive information, which, of course, he had in his possession all week, without first consulting with Gov. Jay Nixon and Capt. Ron Johnson, the state Highway Patrol leader whom Nixon had brought in to end the violence—from freelance looters and police. Why not do that and then, release the information at a news conference with Gov. Nixon and Capt. Johnson at his side? Here’s one answer: Because Jackson and city officials are still “crafting” the “right” story of what happened that ended with Wilson shooting Michael Brown “multiple times.” So, he’s branded Michael Brown a criminal – ‘red meat’ to those who’ll grasp at anything to exonerate Wilson and the police of wrongdoing. Blacks under attack Michael Brown’s death is joined with the recent police killings of Eric Garner, of New York City; and Ezell Ford, of Los Angeles, and a long, tragic list because it exemplifies a particular societal phenomenon: unarmed Black civilians who were not apparently engaged in any wrongdoing killed during a sudden confrontation with White police officers. Ironically, one perspective on why these tragedies recur again and again can be gained from considering what happened to Raymond Wilford, a Black Seattle resident, on the same day of Michael Brown’s death, Sat-
LEE A. DANIELS NNPA COLUMNIST
urday, August 9, as he walked to meet a friend at Seattle’s Westlake Mall. According to news reports, as Wilford approached the mall where a peaceful pro-Palestinian rally was underway, he was suddenly accosted by a White man who was shirtless, and, witnesses later said, had been harassing the demonstrators with racist slurs. Much of the brief confrontation between Wilford and the man was captured in pictures and a video taken by a photographer who had been covering the demonstration.
Mistaken identity Wilford, taken aback, raised his fists as if prepared to defend himself against the man whom he said was saying “a bunch of racial stuff” to him and had also raised his hands as if to fight. But neither man threw any punches. That’s when the White mall security guard appeared and, according to Wilford and several witnesses, completely ignored the shirtless White man who was yelling and actually walking toward him, and sprayed Wilford with pepper spray. In the video, witnesses can be heard yelling to the security cop, “You maced the wrong guy!” The video also shows the security guard grabbing Wilford, now disabled by the pepper spray, by the arm and pulling him into the mall, the both of them followed by witnesses shouting that Wilford had done nothing wrong. A Seattle police officer, who had arrived late to the confrontation, told the witnesses not to interfere. Meanwhile, the shirtless White man just walked away. He still hasn’t been identified. If that Seattle mall security guard had had a gun, would Raymond Wilford’s name now be on the long list of unarmed Black men, women and children killed by “Whites with badges” in questionable circumstances?
Lee A. Daniels is a longtime journalist based in New York City. His latest book is Last Chance: The Political Threat to Black America.
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HEALTH MA YOR
AUGUST 21 – AUGUST DECEMBER 14 - 20, 27, 20062014
NIH accelerates Ebola vaccine clinical trials Research will begin early next month in response to West Africa outbreak BY MARIANNE LEVINE TRIBUNE WASHINGTON BUREAU (MCT)
WASHINGTON — Researchers at the National Institutes of Health are accelerating human clinical trials for what scientists hope is a promising new vaccine to combat the deadly Ebola virus. Phase 1 of the clinical trials, which were previously not expected to begin until the end of September, will start early next month in response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Fauci said researchers now hope to finish Phase 1 by the end of November rather than January 2015, as originally planned. “We’re dealing with an urgent situation,” Fauci said. “We want to respond as safely as we can but also as quickly as we can.” The NIH’s Vaccine Research Center has been working on the vaccine for years with Okairos, a Swiss-Italian biopharmaceutical company now owned by British drug maker GlaxoSmithKline. The experimental vaccine has shown promising results in nonhuman primates, Fauci said. The vaccine will be tested on 20 healthy adults at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Md.
A ‘dead virus’ Known as a chimpanzee adenovirus vector vaccine, the experimental vaccine contains no infectious Ebola virus material. According to Fauci, the chimpanzee adenovirus is a “dead virus,” meaning it cannot replicate once it enters the body. The dead virus is intended to trigger the body to make antibodies, which would reproduce if a person was exposed to Ebola. Researchers will compare the human immune response to the vaccine to previous tests on monkeys to determine whether the vaccine is effective. It remained unclear when the vaccine would be ready, but Fauci said it may be available sometime in 2015, depending on FDA approval.
SHANNON PRATHER/MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE/MCT
Cynthia Kwennah, right, has lost nine family members to Ebola. Thelma Saye, left, is Kwennah’s good friend and neighbor whose husband and 17-year-old son are in Liberia. The acceleration of the vaccine’s development is part of a worldwide effort to respond to the Ebola outbreak, which has claimed the lives of more than 1,100 people in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria. Currently, there is no proven treatment or vaccine.
Exhausted supply Last week, the Canadian government said it would donate 800 to 1,000 doses of an experimental Ebola vaccine to the World Health Organization for use in Africa. To help encourage the devel-
opment of treatments, the WHO has sanctioned the use of some experimental drugs that might help combat the outbreak. ZMapp, an experimental drug developed by San Diego-based Mapp Biopharmaceutical Inc., has been used to treat two American foreign aid workers and three Liberian doctors. But the company recently issued a statement on its website saying that the “available supply of ZMapp has been exhausted.”
Update on missionaries Meanwhile, the husband of
one of the American missionaries ended his quarantine in North Carolina and visited his wife on Aug. 17 at an isolation room at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, a Christian missionary group announced Monday. David Writebol, who has shown no symptoms of the disease but was quarantined as a precautionary measure after returning from Liberia, said his wife, Nancy, was continuing to improve. Nancy Writebol, 59, and a missionary doctor, Kent Brantly,
33, were flown from Liberia this month for treatment at Emory’s special containment unit, one of just four in the country. “I have had the great joy to be able to look through the isolation room glass and see my beautiful wife again,” David Writebol said in a statement Monday. “We both placed our hands on opposite sides of the glass, moved with tears to look at each other again.”
Times staff writer David Zucchino in Durham, N.C., contributed to this report.
Lawsuit pushed for air pollution measurements in Black communities as green space.” No such buyout materialized for Landrum’s community, although it is closer to the refinery. “Things started to not grow anymore,” Landrum says. “A lot of neighbors, friends, and family got sick – breathing problems, asthma, illnesses like COPD, sarcoidosis, all kinds of cancers, skin rashes. They just attributed it to our lifestyle, but a lot of people didn’t smoke or drink and ate healthy, from their garden.” Landrum lost both her parents to lung cancer, and is a cancer survivor herself. She’s part of a growing number of people and communities organizing to hold industrial companies and regulating agencies accountable for toxic emissions.
BY JAZELLE HUNT NNPA NEWS SERVICE
WASHINGTON – For the first time, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may require oil refineries to regularly measure the air quality at their perimeters. These fence line measurements will give surrounding communities – largely low-income communities of color – data on the level of pollution they are exposed to each day. The EPA’s proposed rule changes are the result of a lawsuit brought against them by environmental advocacy nonprofit, Earthjustice and a few grassroots groups around the country, including the Community In-Power Development Association. The group is based in Port Arthur, Texas, a historically Black neighborhood turned fence line community surrounded by four oil refineries, six chemical plants, one international incineration facility, and one pet coke facility. Pet coke is both a refining byproduct and a fuel source that, when burned, emits more carbon dioxide than coal.
Testified at EPA hearing ROY LUCK/CREATIVE COMMONS
Flaring is shown at Shell Deer Park Refinery in Deer Park, Texas, located on the Houston Ship Channel.
Lawsuit filed in 2013 Hilton Kelley founded the association in 2000. He says the lawsuit was years in the making. “For almost 20 years, the EPA has done nothing to revisit their guidelines and say, wait a minute…it’s time to push these guys to upgrade and use better technology to protect human health,” Kelley explains. “We’ve been asking for at least six or seven years to get them to revisit these guidelines and take look at the possibility of updating them. I think it’s every five years or so, they’re supposed to look at ways they can increase protection of citizens who live next to these kinds of facilities.” The civil suit was filed in federal district court last year. In February of this year, the EPA settled and a consent decree was signed for the agency to begin the process of updating its rules for petroleum refineries.
HILTON KELLEY
Hilton Kelley of Texas forced EPA to protect Black communities.
Proposed rules In addition to the fence line data, the proposed rules include caps on emissions from storage tanks and incinerating gases through a process called flaring, which releases billowing black
smoke into the air for hours at a time. They also propose mandatory updates to monitoring equipment and public health procedures. “To its credit, the EPA realized it had a responsibility to people. The case was resolved amicably to avoid unnecessary litigation,” says Emma Cheuse, senior associate attorney at Earthjustice. “Some communities are bearing the brunt of pollution more than others, and that burden is falling too much on communities of color, and low-income communities.” Oil refineries in particular release tens of thousands of tons of toxins into the air annually, including a known carcinogen called benzene. Places such as Richmond, California; Dearborn, Michigan; Port Arthur, Texas; Northeast Philadelphia, and many more, literally host and neighbor hundreds of the nation’s industrial plants.
From pleasant to polluted Take Southwest Detroit, for ex-
ample. When Theresa Landrum was a girl growing up there in the 1960s and 1970s, it was a pleasant place to be. Residents tended vegetable patches and fruit-bearing trees. The land was rich, situated on mineral fields. Just beyond the rail lines, neighborhood kids ventured into wetlands to chase rabbits, salamanders, garden snakes, and other wildlife. The men in Landrum’s family made a decent living at the industrial plants in the area. Marathon Petroleum was the closest one, and at that time, she says, it was “just one building up on a hill.” Today, the Marathon Petroleum Detroit refinery stretches for miles along I-75, refining 123,000 barrels each day. In 2011, University of Michigan researchers found that Landrum’s neighborhood, zip code 48217, was the most polluted area in Michigan. Cancers, breathing problems A few years prior, Marathon bought out and relocated neighboring Oakwood Heights – a predominantly White neighborhood – with intent to “preserve it
On Aug. 5, she and other community members, environmental organizations, and concerned parties from all over traveled to Houston to testify at an EPA hearing on the proposed regulation updates. “The real game changer is the fence line rule,” says Saleem Chapman, environmental justice program manager at Clean Air Council, a mid-Atlantic advocacy organization based in Philadelphia. Chapman, a Philadelphia native, traveled to Houston to give testimony on behalf of the communities the council serves. “Philadelphia is one of the most polluted cities in the nation…and people are not currently aware. We can’t develop proper resources or the proper ways to keep people protected because we don’t have access to the data. We’re as much in the dark as the communities.” Regulations that are already in place to protect fence line communities aren’t being enforced, some say. Landrum, for example, cites local elected officials and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality as barriers to environmental justice efforts. The EPA will continue to solicit public comments on its rulemaking through Oct. 28. The resulting rules will be issued next year.
7 CLASSIFIEDS
R6
AUGUST 21 – AUGUST 27, 2014
09/12/2008
One minute, I’m fine. Then, BAM!
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My body aches so bad I can hardly move. My hair is falling out. I need some answers. NOW. This is the watch Stephen Hollingshead, Jr. was wearing when he encountered a drunk driver. Time of death 6:55pm.
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AGE 35
When you need answers, ask a doctor the right question. COULD I HAVE LUPUS?
Photo by Michael Mazzeo
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THERE’S A LITTLE SMOKEY IN ALL OF US. 9 out of 10 wildfires are caused by humans. Which means 9 out of 10 wildfires can be prevented. So if you see someone acting irresponsibly, step in and make a difference. SmokeyBear.com
photo Jill Greenberg ©USDA Forest Service
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AUGUST 21 – AUGUST 27,142014 DECEMBER - 20, 2006EDUCATION
MAYOR
PHOTO COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES
FROM FAMILY FEATURES
or many parents, the back to school season means running from store to store in search of everything the kids need for a successful academic year. Use this special guide, which includes everything from on-trend footwear to portable chargers that power devices, to outfit your star pupils in style. Whether your child is in kindergarten or finishing up their high school career, these tech and fashion forward products will be a hit in the classroom and beyond.
F Stylish finds for the school year
Smart technology for academic success
Fashionable feet
Power your studies
Get kids off on the right foot this school year with athletic footwear, apparel and accessories including backpacks from Kids Foot Locker, which carries the largest selection for children with brands like Nike, Jordan, Adidas, Converse, New Balance, New Era and more. Visit your area Kids Foot Locker store and www.kidsfootlocker.com to explore the hottest items for back-to-school, including the new Nike Lebron Zoom Soldier VIII, a versatile sneaker for any active child that is available in black and an array of colors.
RadioShack’s Slim Portable Power Bank is the lifesaver you didn’t know you needed as you head back to class. These credit-card sized banks keep devices powered up when there’s no outlet available. They provide 3 hours, 11 hours or 17 hours of talk time and charge quickly from any USB port. They’re great to throw in a backpack, as they maintain 95 percent of their charge for a month with an auto-off feature. Find yours at RadioShack and RadioShack.com.
A bag for school basics Pencils, erasers, calculators and glue — these are just a few of the things your little learner needs to carry with them while hopping from class to class. Help them keep everything in one place with a handy pencil bag. With a variety of size, color and material options available, your student can find the case that suits their academic needs. For a fun way to keep track of their items, look for canvas or heavy-duty fabric options that can be personalized with your child’s name in their favorite font.
Organized and accessorized Keep those notes, papers and study materials in order with a quality, multi-pocket binder. Now available with features — such as plastic strips that quickly lock notebooks and folders into the binder, as well as vertical compartments so important papers won’t slip out — these binders are new and improved from your childhood days. They also come in a variety of colors and patterns, so your child can customize this handy tool to their liking.
Personalized and prepared Fit those papers, tests and homework inside a special folder that reflects your child’s unique style. In their choice of trendy colors and patterns, personalized folders allow kids to proudly showcase their name, stay organized and look chic all at the same time. Whether they like polka dots, stripes or chevron patterns, your child will have no problem locating their folder from all the others.
Learning gets an upgrade Tablets aren’t just for play anymore. From learning systems programmed with software created for young minds to educational apps that can be downloaded onto a standard device, tablets are bringing home classroom skills in an entertaining, engaging way. Let your kids learn their ABCs, brush up on writing skills, solve mathematical problems and create artwork all from these handheld devices. For the accessorizing youngster, many carrying cases and sleeve protectors serve up a splash of color for this powerful learning tool.
Listen up Whether hearing their favorite music while walking to school or using their laptop for an online study tutorial, your scholar needs a set of quality earbuds to take it all in. Designed with lightweight and compact carrying in mind, earbuds have become an essential tool for most students. With styles that range from their favorite cartoon and video game characters to bright neon colors, your child can find the set that perfectly reflects their back-to-school style.
Start the day right When it comes to getting everyone up and out the door in the morning, busy parents have enough on their minds. Give your child (and yourself ) the gift of an alarm clock. For your young student, look for alarms that serve as a nightlight or those that play soothing sounds to lure them to sleep at night. Your middle school or teenage students will enjoy pastel or stainless steel clocks with a retro design and those that offer a smartphone dock to charge their important devices.
R8
7PERSONAL FINANCE
AUGUST 21 – AUGUST 27, 2014
Survey: More than a third of Americans have saved nothing for retirement BY BECKY YERAK CHICAGO TRIBUNE (MCT)
PHOTO COURTESY OF ROMMELL ROGERS
Pictured above is Florida Courier reporter Ashley Thomas’ son Camillus who was born in 2013. A college fund has already been set up for the 2031 graduate as well as the purchase of several “I bonds” from the IRS. Said Thomas, “His father and I hope he scores academic scholarships but like the old folks say, failing to plan, is planning to fail.”
How much does it cost to raise a kid? $245,000 Government report: Cost of rearing a child up 1.8 percent BY PETER FROST CHICAGO TRIBUNE (MCT)
The cost for a middle-income family to raise a child born in 2013 to age 18 rose to $245,340, up 1.8 percent from the previous
year, according to a government report released Monday. Housing comprised the largest expense at 30 percent, followed by child care and education (18 percent), food (16 percent), and transportation (14 percent), the U.S. Agriculture Department’s annual report said. Families living in urban areas in the Midwest had a slight-
ly lower cost than the national average, or $240,570. Families in the urban Northeast had the highest cost of raising a child to adulthood: $282,480. That was followed by the urban West at $261,330. Households in the urban South and in rural areas spent less on average. Adjusted for inflation, the cost of raising a child born last year will be about $304,480, on average, for the average middleincome family, which the government defined as those with pre-tax annual income between $61,300 and $106,140.
Conducted since 1960 Costs are lower for lower-income families. Families with incomes below $61,300, for example, can expect to spend an average of $176,550 in 2013 dollars. Those who make more than $106,140 will spend an average
of $407,820, according to the report. The study, conducted annually since 1960, tracks seven primary categories of child-rearing expenses and is used to help the government estimate child-support costs, according to the USDA. That year, a middle-income family could expect to spend about $25,230 to raise a child to age 18, or about $198,560 in 2013 dollars. For 2013, annual expenses to take care of a child for a middle-income, two-parent family ranged from $12,800 to $14,970, depending on the age of the child, the report said. Expenses per child decrease as a family has more children, the report said, as children share bedrooms, clothing and other items.
Weekly ad in hand. Coupons in pocket. BOGO-vision on. It’s time to save. publix.com/save
More than a third of Americans have no retirement savings, and millennials feel more financially secure than other age groups despite being the least likely to have socked away any cash for their golden years, a new survey shows. Bankrate.com, a publisher of personal finance content, found that on average 36 percent of Americans haven’t saved any money for retirement. Generally, the older the age group, the more likely it is that they are saving.
Millennials more optimistic More than two-thirds of 18- to 29-year-olds have saved nothing for retirement, while 14 percent of people 65 and older have put nothing aside for retirement, Bankrate.com found. But despite their lack of retirement savings, millennials feel more financially secure and optimistic about their personal situations than other age groups. The study was conducted on behalf of Bankrate.com by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. It did phone interviews with 1,003 U.S. adults, nearly evenly divided between land lines and cell phones. The survey was conducted in English and Spanish over four days earlier this month. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. Among people ages 30 to 49, a third have no retirement savings.