B-CU quarterback named top MEAC player SEE PAGE 7
EE FR
Stetson lecture will revisit Black power salute at Olympics SEE PAGE 3
East Central Florida’s Black Voice
OBAMA TALKS ABOUT RACE, FERGUSON AT CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS DINNER SEE PAGE 5
OCTOBER 2 - OCTOBER 8, 2014
YEAR 39 NO. 40
www.daytonatimes.com
City hears result of homeless research BY ASHLEY D. THOMAS DAYTONA TIMES aysheldarcel@gmail.com
A presentation, action plan and recommendation on the city and county’s growing homeless problem was presented by Robert G. Marbut Jr., Ph.D., at Wednesday night’s Daytona Beach City Commission meeting. The commission chambers were standing room only as over a dozen peo-
ple addressed the commission on the hot topic. Eleven cities within Volusia County, with the City of Daytona Beach acting as the lead agency, tasked Marbut Consulting with developing recommendations for reducing street-level homelessness throughout the county by suggesting more effective methods of helping homeless individuals and families. According to a report
shared with the Daytona Times in April, F.A.I.T.H., (Fighting Against Injustice Toward Harmony), an inter-faith organization comprised of over 30 congregations in Volusia County, says there are estimates of 2,000 homeless children in Volusia County’s schools. Although there are more than 5,000 homeless people in the county, there are only 21 emergency beds for single homeless people. F.A.I.T.H. has a 13-year
history of mobilizing large numbers of people around issues of injustice.
Volusia Safe Harbor Marbut recommended that Volusia County come together to “build, create and open a 24/7/168/365 Come-As-You-Are (CAYA) Services Center for single homeless men and women called Volusia Safe Harbor.” He says that having the center would “dramatically improve the effective-
ness and efficiency of service delivery by co-locating and integrating homeless services at one location.” Marburt indicated that because of interconnected services and overlapping service populations, CAYA should be co-located and physically attached to the Stewart-MarchmanAct (SMA) facility at 1140 Red John Drive in Daytona Beach formally known as Volusia County Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU), De-
toxification Unit (Detox) and Emergency Screening (Pinegrove). He further recommended that Halifax Urban Ministries is currently the bestsuited agency to operate Safe Harbor. Service partner agencies such as Haven Recovery Center and Second Harvest should then be recruited to co-locate all or part of their operations. Safe Harbor would house Please see CITY, Page 2
New study underscores power of the Black press BY JAZELLE HUNT NNPA NEWS SERVICE
PHOTOS BY KIM GIBSON/DAYTONA TIMES
Wildcat fever! Bethune-Cookman University Homecoming activities will commence on Sunday, Oct. 5 celebrating 110 years.
Wildcat Fever: University celebrating 110 years during Homecoming week FROM STAFF REPORTS
The Bethune-Cookman University family is gearing up for an actionpacked Homecoming week, which takes place Oct. 5-12. This year’s theme is “110 Degrees of Wildcat Fever: Celebrating 110 years of Greatness and the Legacy Continues.” Activities begin on Sunday with a community service project titled ‘Homeless for a Fedrick Night’ in which students Ingram and campus organizations gather on the quad overnight to put themselves in a homeless person’s situation. A busy week of activities will lead up to the annual Homecoming parade at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11. The football game starts at 4 p.m. Albert Bethune The grand marshals of the parade are Albert Bethune, the grandson of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune; Joseph Petrock, executive director of Halifax Health - Foundation and Government Relations and a member of B-CU’s board of trustees; and Fedrick InJoseph gram, president of UnitPetrock ed Teachers of Dade and B-CU grad. Visit www.cookman.edu/homecoming for more information.
ROUNDUP OF EVENTS
All of the events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. Monday Mr. and Miss Homecoming Pageant, 7 p.m., Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center
Who is reading
Tuesday All White Party featuring K Camp, 8 p.m. at the Center For Civic Engagement Wednesday Cultural Extravaganza: The Cultural Experience, 7 p.m., along Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd. Thursday Step show featuring Young Jeezy, 6 p.m., Daytona Beach Ocean Center. Students: $25 in advance, $35 dollars at the door; Non-students: $35 in advance, $50 at the door. Friday Open house at noon, Alumni Center, 558 Oak St. Family Reunion barbecue, noon, at the Quad on campus; $8 non-students and visitors. Homecoming Pep Rally, 7 p.m., Daytona Beach Ocean Center. Free for students, $5 for non-students. Saturday Homecoming parade: 9 a.m. The parade will proceed from the rear of the Daytona Mall, 100 North Nova Road. It will then travel east on Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard, turn right on to Walnut Street, turn right on Oak street and travel west across Martin Luther King Boulevard to enter the Bethune –
The most effective way for companies to connect with African-Americans is by reflecting diversity in their advertisements and utilizing Black media, according to a new study by Nielsen. This year’s edition, titled, “Powerful. Growing. Influential: The AfricanAmerican Consumer 2014 Report,” marks the start of a partnership between Nielsen and Essence magazine. It was released last week during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Leadership Conference. “What’s also important is when you take a look at other groups as well, you’ll find that they are also more likely to buy a product [when shown diversity],” said Cheryl Pear- Cheryl son-McNeil, senior Pearsonvice president of U.S. McNeil Strategic Community Alliances and Consumer Engagement for Nielsen. “Pearson-McNeil said. “…Campaigns that have ads in it featuring Blacks also resonate with Caucasian and Hispanic audiences, as they find diversity in casting equally, or as likeable than advertisements featuring only their own ethnicity.”
All about the band. The 50-yard line will be home to the Marching Wildcats at halftime. Cookman University entrance way, south of Bronson Hall. Homecoming tailgate parties start at noon at Municipal Stadium Homecoming game: B-CU vs, Howard University, 4 p.m. Victory jam session, B-CU Center for Civic Engagement, $10 in advance, $15 at the door Sunday, Oct. 12 Gospel brunch and concert featuring Tye Tribbett and Spirits Ablaze at the B-CU Performing Arts Center. The brunch is at 2 p.m.; the concert starts at 4 p.m. Cost for students, $5 for concert and brunch; $20 for non-students.
Acknowledgment of racial identity was important for 87 percent of all Black respondents, compared to 59 percent of the general population. Blacks were 38 percent more likely to make a purchase when the advertisement included Black people, and 43 percent more likely to patronize a business if it is minority-owned. Black media, as well as brands that have advertised within these channels, have consistently resonated well with Black consumers. According to the report, 59 percent of respondents agreed that advertisers in Black Press publications “know how to connect with the African-American audience.” Additionally, 45 percent of Black adults with incomes above $50,000 per year have read a Black-focused magazine in the last month. The data shows that Black Americans consume more media than average, particularly in the case of Black-centric radio, magazines, and television, and digital media in general. Pearson-McNeil stated, “When we’re talking about what we want the corporations to take away from this, it’s also the influence that we as African-Americans bring to the table. We tend to be trendsetters. We tend to have spokespersons that cross all ethnic, racial, and social lines. …It makes sense [for corporations] to want incorporate diversity into their overall strategy.” Please see PRESS, Page 2
ALSO INSIDE
COMMENTARY: LAUREN VICTORIA BURKE: MORE BLACKS HEADING TO CONGRESS | PAGE 4 SPORTS: NASCAR’S STEWART NEVER CONSIDERED QUITTING AFTER DEADLY ACCIDENT | PAGE 7
7 FOCUS
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OCTOBER 2 – OCTOBER 8, 2014
Johnson, Freeman to speak at Palm Coast expo Salamander Hotels and Resorts CEO Sheila Johnson and Orlando Magic Executive Vice President Charles Freeman will be the keynote speakers at the fourth annual Palm Coast BAC Business Expo on Friday, Nov. 7. “Be In It to Win It” is the theme for the 2014 BAC Business Expo, set for 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Hammock Beach Resort, 200 Ocean Crest Drive, Palm Coast (beachside in the Hammock). Johnson, whose company manages Hammock Beach Resort, will speak on “The Customer Experience.” In addition to being CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts, Johnson is a founding partner of Black Entertainment Television and the first African-American woman to be owner or managing partner in three professional sports franchises: the Washington Capitals, Washington Mystics and Washington Wizards.
Jazz singer to perform at Ormond library Jazz and blues with singer Sybil Gage is scheduled to perform at 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17, at the Ormond Beach Regional Library, 30 S. Beach St. Gage’s performance will include jazz
CITY
from Page 1 250 individual men and women inside the facility, plus room for about 50 in an outdoor courtyard with a male:female ratio of about 3:1.Outreach, case management, medical, dental, vision, mental health, addictive and substance abuse service are slated to be offered as well as job placement services. Additionally hygiene services such as 24/7 bathrooms and showers would be available..
Homeless weigh in Overall, the report said there appeared to be around 375 to 450 individuals experiencing homelessness on the western side of county and about 400 to 475 on the eastern side of the county. These observations were corroborated by a wide variety of “streetlevel” agency workers, firefighters and law enforcement officers. “I have very little knowledge but I have something to say. This homeless thing has really become a mess. I’m homeless, I have mental illness,” Beverly Davis said, addressing the commission, adding that she also doesn’t get much medical assistance. “If you all move the coalition from North Street to way out there by the jail people such as myself who doesn’t have transportation to get around that’s going to be a burden. I have bipolar depression, hallucinations and am a schizophrenic. I need help, OK? Thank you.” Marbut conducted his research by firstly becoming homeless. His report explained the reasoning behind this facet: “One of the most effective ways to gain accurate information about homeless services is to observe services from the view of person experiencing homelessness, rather than from an agency and/or gov-
The Flagler County Branch of the American Association of University Women will present a candidate forum at 11 a.m. Oct. 11 at Cypress Knoll Golf Club, 53 Easthampton Blvd., Palm Coast.
PRESS Power of women
Sheila Johnson and Palm Coast location of the Florida Small Business Development Center. “The annual BAC Expo is a unique opportunity for business people in Florida to learn from great thinkers and discover how their strategies apply to running a business, all in a day of top-notch professional development,” Roy added. For more information, contact the Palm Coast BAC at 386-986-2499 or visit www. BACExpo.com. and blues standards and original compositions in the New Orleans tradition. Florida Today magazine has called her “the undisputed queen of local jazz.” The Friends of the Library, which is sponsoring the event, requests a $5 admission donation. Refreshments will be served. Reservations are not required. For more information, call the reference desk at 386-676-4191, ext. 21084.
ernment perspective. This vantage point combined with observations from other stakeholders help to provide a more complete picture of the existing issues. If one only observes homelessness from a service-provider perspective, he or she will only develop agencycentric solutions.” Therefore, Marbut became homeless at the street level in Volusia County for several days and conducted research before agencies were notified of his start date and arrival.
Inventory of services Next Marbut performed an inventory of homeless services in the Volusia County regional area and a needs assessment. Following these steps, Marbut conducted a gap analysis of services followed by a strategic framing of an action plan and draft and finally the presentation at the commission. The report, which is 39 pages, recommends the entire Volusia County Community to move from a culture of enablement to a culture of engagement in all aspects. This includes service agencies, volunteers, staffs, donors, funders, government agencies, programs, residents, tourists and the homeless community. In Volusia County, this is especially true for the faithbased community. Free food handouts and cash from panhandling although well intended by nice folks - actually perpetuates and increases homelessness through enablement. Street handouts of food and cash should be redirected to high-performing agencies. The mission should no longer be to “serve” the homeless community, instead, the mission should be to dramatically and consequentially increase “street graduation” rates. A media and public awareness campaign needs to be developed to educate and
encourage the community to move from a culture of enablement to a culture of engagement. “We will always have questions, what you have provided are some answers,” Mayor Derrick Henry said to Marbut after hearing much of the presentation. “As a collective community, well beyond Daytona Beach, as you can see here (referencing the standing room only commission meeting), We have to decide what the answers will be as a collective community,” Henry suggested. “It expresses how genuinely interested people are. All of whom have publicly highlighted their support for this endeavor. The real work starts now.” “We are going to need all hands on deck,” continued Henry. “We have broad shoulders as a commission, but they are not nearly broad enough without a helping hand from across the county. We all know what needs to be done but need everyone on the ship. Once everyone is on the ship, we decide this is the ship we want to sail in the right direction.”
Learn about the candidates running for office in the November election. A representative from the League of Women Voters also will talk about the three amendments to the Florida Constitution that will be on the ballot. The meeting is open to the public. Call 585-4859 by Oct. 7 to make a reservation.
‘Tremendous resource’
from Page 1
‘Pure Magic’ speech “Pure Magic” will be the topic of the speech by Freeman, who is also the Orlando Magic’s chief revenue officer. Freeman, who oversees ticket sales and sponsorships, arena operations and retail departments for the Magic, was selected by SportsBusiness Journal’s “Forty Under 40” showcasing the nation’s top young sports executives. The 2014 BAC Business Expo is presented by the City of Palm Coast Business Assistance Center, which is Flagler’s office of the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida. “We have an exceptional lineup of speakers from national-level, highly successful companies – all of which are ‘In It to Win In’ and are ready to share their expertise and knowledge with us,” said Joe Roy, area manager of the Palm Coast BAC
Flagler AAUW to host candidate forum
Among trendsetters, no one exercises more economic clout than Black women. That was made clear by a special section of the report on women. “The entire report is about African-American consumers,” Cheryl Pearson-McNeil said. “But, we have a special page dedicated to Black women, because we know for our households, we see Black women making the spending decisions.” When Black women spend, they rely heavily on brand loyalty and word of mouth: 79 percent of Black women respondents said that it is important to trust a brand when purchasing its products, and 80 percent will tell a friend about a product if they like it. At the same time, the report suggests that Black women are open to trying new products under certain circumstances. They are 40 percent more likely to use a daily deal app than the general market. They’re two times more likely than the general market to spend more than three hours a day on social media sites, where they may learn about new brands. And 46 percent shop only online, where it is easy to shop around.
dressed the commission representing F.A.I.T.H. He pressed the commission to move forward with Safe Harbor saying F.A.I.T.H. will do “all we can do to get the cities and county on board. You asked for all hands on deck. They are.” “We really need the entire community to care about our homeless brothers and sisters. There are veterans, the mentally ill, there all types of people who are homeless,” Egitto previously told the Times. “Let’s do and not talk,” Tammy Kozinski, owner of Sweet Marley’s, a coffee and café shop, added to the conversation. She added that giving the homeless a cheese sandwich does not equate to much. “Then they beg my customers for cash for drugs and prostitutes,” to a roaring applause from many seated in the commission chambers.
Other factors may sway a Black women’s wallet: 59 percent believe supporting Black-owned businesses is important, and the same percentage expects companies with large Black consumer bases to give back to the Black community. “Having this data is a tremendous resource. It’s important because absent the data…marketers tend to work from their own reference points,” says Michelle Ebanks, president of Essence Communications, Inc. “It seems a study of this magnitude reinforces the importance of [diversity], which is very helpful to marketers — or else they reinforce the same stereotypes about beauty, success, and relationships.” According to the report, 62 percent of Black women surveyed agreed that “embracing and supporting their ethnic culture” is important to them.
Lifestyle changes The report also briefly discusses trends in health and wellness, and financial management. It seems Black consumerism is sprouting new dimensions because Black socioeconomic factors are changing. “A younger, growing population and higher educational achievement are the engines behind gains in economic
A turning point “We are at what can be a turning point in our city and county’s history. From the very beginning most of the mayors have been very supportive of this concept. We recognize it’s going to take a big effort and a big commitment and I thank you for having the courage to jump at this fire. Ten years from now, the mayor suggested, property values will increase, the number of people who are incarcerated because of homelessness and the amount of officers needed for situations involving the homeless will decrease. “There is almost no part of our budget that this won’t positively impact,” he concluded. Marbutt was to give another presentation as well as hold a question-andanswer session to answer additional questions on Thursday, Oct. 2, at the De-
power… Along with exercising more purchasing power, African-Americans have started adopting behavioral changes in their lifestyles,” the report explains. Essence succeeds the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), also known as the Black Press of America, as Nielsen’s newest partner. The custom survey they co-created was administered to more than 7,000 visitors during and in connection to the 2014 Essence Festival; those results were added to Nielsen’s data to create a sample size of 10,208 respondents. Ebanks says the survey “was a great opportunity.” She points out that Essence Fest is the largest live event in the nation, and that the host city, New Orleans, rakes in more than $200 million from the three-day affair. Pearson-McNeil adds that advertising firms have referred to it as “the Super Bowl of marketing to Black women.” “One thing that surprised me was the reaction from folks who stood in line to take the survey. A woman hugged me and said, ‘thank you for this opportunity, for caring about how I spend my money,’” Pearson-McNeil said. “So often we don’t get asked and our voices are not heard; that’s why it’s so important if you’re asked to participate in a study or survey, you say yes.”
Land City Chambers from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. “Daytona is on board 100 percent,” Commissioner Patrick Henry told the Times. “We need the other cities to get on board to finance this.” For now, it is wait and see. Marbutt earned a Ph. D. from the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas in International Relations (with an emphasis in international terrorism and Wahhabism), Political Behavior and American Political Institutions/Processes from the Department of Government. He also has two Master of Arts degrees – one in government from the University of Texas at Austin and one in criminal justice from the Claremont Graduate School. His Bachelor of Arts is a full triple major in economics, political science and psychology from Claremont McKenna College.
The price tag Operating expenses for the Safe Harbor facility ring in at anywhere from 1.4 million to 2.4 million annually, Marbut told the Daytona Times, though he says the lower end is more likely. The disparities come from whether or not the expense of food is donated or not. Marbut estimates food costs, if not donated will be $746, 516. Other expenses in the estimate include yearly utilities at $84,000, 250 mattresses annually at $44 each, 250 pillows at $8 each and 500 blankets at $12 each. Staffing salaries and wages for the facility would cost $535, 832 for 11 staff and $379,491 for seven case managers. Overtime wages at $24,000 are also calculated in the final figure. Father Phil Eggito ad-
WRITERS WANTED! The Daytona Times is looking for writers to cover local community events (entertainment, fashion, recreation, religion, music, etc.) No journalism experience required, but you must be proficient in grammar and spelling, know the local community well, and submit stories on a deadline. Send résumé and three writing samples to news@ daytonatimes.com. Equal opportunity employer. No phone calls, please.
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OCTOBER 2 – OCTOBER 8, 2014 COMMUNITY DECEMBER 14 - 20, 2006
M A YNEWS OR
‘Quiet, Justice, Love’ will focus on Black power salute at the Olympics On Oct. 14, Stetson University’s Social Justice Lecture Series will feature a lecture by guest speaker Kevin Quashie, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Afro-American Studies at Smith College, a women’s college in Massachusetts. His topic is “Quiet, Justice, Love.” The free lecture, which is open to the public, will be held at 7:30 p.m., in the Stetson Room, second Dr. Kevin floor of the CarlQuashie ton Union Building, 131 E. Minnesota Ave., DeLand. In his talk titled, “Quiet, Justice, Love,” Quashie will describe two men, both African-American, who stand on a medal podium at the summer Olympics in 1968. One of them has won the 200-yard dash while the other has finished third; both men raise their fists in a Black power salute.
Questions on race He plans to explore the following questions: 1) what can this image tell us about how we think of race, and blackness specifically; 2) what can it say about notions of resistance and justice; and 3) what does it say about quiet,
Business, professional women to meet Oct. 14 The Halifax Business and Professional Women’s Club (BPW/ Halifax) will host its monthly business meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 14, at Vince Carter’s Restaurant at 2150 LPGA Boulevard, Daytona Beach. Following networking from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., Joyce Case, program director of the Health Planning Council of NorthEast Florida, will present a program titled, “Taking the Scare out of the Affordable Care Act.” Even after the official rollout, a
about love? Quashie will discuss AfricanAmerican culture, often considered expressive, dramatic and even defiant, characterizations, which are linked to the idea of resistance. Indeed, these terms come to dominate how we think of blackness. He will address the topic of “reimagining how we think about Black culture, about resistance and justice.” The professional also will question “How could the idea of quiet, as a notion different from silence and as a metaphor for one’s inner life — include insight into how to be alive in ways that are aware of social violence, but that retain the power and grace that is inevitable in the everyday act of being human?”
Author, editor With a bachelor’s in English in 1991 from Florida International University, Quashie received both his master’s in English in 1997, and Doctor of Philosophy in English in 2000 from Arizona State University in Tempe. Quashie is the author or editor of three books: “New Bones: An Anthology of Contemporary Black Writers in America,” edited with Keith Miller and Joyce Lausch. Prentice Hall Inc, 2000; “Black Women, Identity, and Cultural Theory: (Un)Becoming the Subject,” Rutgers UP, 2004; and most recently, “The Sovereignty of Quiet: Beyond Resistance in Black Culture,” Rutgers UP, 2012. For more information, contact Amy Gipson at agipson@stetson. edu, or call (386) 822-7220. majority of Americans don’t understand the very basics about how the ACA impacts them, especially from the standpoint of women’s health. Case will take the mystery out of the ACA and answer questions you might have on this important law. The organization, which meets on the second Tuesday of each month, is a chapter of the Florida Federation of Business & Professional Women’s Clubs Inc. The general meetings are open to the public and there is no cost to attend. RSVP to Cynthia Ramirez at cynthiaramirezbpw@gmail.com.
Evening of rap at Ocean Center As part of Bethune-Cookman University’s Homecoming Week, rap artist Young Jeezy will perform during the step show on Thursday at the Daytona Beach Ocean Center. The 6 p.m. show is $25 for students and $35 for non-students.
Library hosting ‘Get Healthy’ series Dr. Diana Lee will discuss the challenges a patient faces while preventing or managing type II diabetes from 1 to 3 p.m. on Oct. 15 at the Daytona Beach Regional Library at City Island, 105 E. Magnolia Ave. Lee is director of the Odessa Chambliss Chamber for Health Equity at Bethune-Cookman University. Type II diabetes has become more prevalent among Americans, especially African-Americans, and treatment has become more costly. Preventing the disease is one of the most important health issues we face today, Lee said.
The free program is part of the monthlong “Get Healthy @ Your Library” series sponsored by the Volusia County Public Library system.
Hip and knee replacements Orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Charles Williamson will compare traditional treatments for arthritic knees and hips to new technologies in joint replacements during a free program from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 16 at the library. Joint replacement techniques have undergone numerous enhancements over the years and generally result in significant restoration of function and reduction of pain.
PROTECT OUR CHILDREN
VOTE NO ON AMENDMENT 2
Hearing loss Sheila Adams will discuss hearing loss issues and cochlear implants during a free program from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Oct. 15, at the library. Adams used a hearing aid for 20 years before getting her first cochlear implant in 2000. Now a retired teacher of learning disabled students, she heads the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of the Bionic Ear Association, a cochlear implant support group. Participants can share their experiences as they learn about the latest technology to combat hearing loss. For more information, call Adult Program Coordinator Catherine Relda at 386-2576036, ext. 16235.
• AMENDMENT 2 “Would have a negative impact on public safety for our residents … is a threat to AfricanAmerican children and their pursuit of educational excellence … I will not vote to legalize the street drug marijuana, label it medicine and make it available to anyone, at any age, for any condition.” – T. Willard Fair, CEO, The Urban League of Greater Miami; former Chairman, Florida State Board of Education
• The Obama Administration continues to oppose the legalization of marijuana because it “affects the developing brain and substance abuse in school age children has a detrimental effect on their academic achievement” * *Source: White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, July 28, 2014
• AMENDMENT 2 imposes NO age limit and allows teens to get marijuana WITHOUT parental consent • AMENDMENT 2 is opposed by the Florida Medical Association which represents 20,000 Florida doctors
NO MORE DRUGS IN OUR COMMUNITY www.VoteNo2.org • twitter.com/SayNoAmendment2 • facebook.com/NoOnAmendment2 • instagram.com/voteno2fl
Paid political advertisement paid for by Drug Free Florida Committee, 115 East Park Avenue, Suite 1, Tallahassee, Florida 32301
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7 EDITORIAL
OCTOBER 2 – OCTOBER 8, 2014
Power-broke Black leaders Frederick Douglass said, “Power concedes nothing without a demand, it never did and never will.” I often wonder what Black people do not understand about that statement. We love to quote it, but when it comes to putting it into practice, we fall far short of the spirit of Douglass’ words. Maybe Douglass should have added this caveat: “A demand is nothing without power to back it up.” In response to incidents of injustice, we are quick to resort to the same old tactics directed by leaders who sell us out. They tell us, as our president told the Congressional Black Caucus a few years ago: “Take off your bedroom slippers. Put on your marching shoes,” and hit the streets chanting and singing in an effort to show our discontent.
running like a hamster inside a wheel – going nowhere. What we hear and see from some of our leaders is shameful and insulting to Black people. Instead of, or even in addition to, putting forth their weak responses to killings on all levels, they should also offer strategies based on economic power. That’s where the issue will be solved, but we are woefully inadequate when it comes to implementing economic sanctions that will bring real change.
So-called power
Power of the dollar
Tepid solutions offered by our “leaders” do absolutely nothing to change our situation, because there is no power behind them. Demands sound great and make for good photo opportunities and press conferences, but they fall on deaf ears because they have no power backing them up. Thus, the conundrum of so-called Black Power. We know that power concedes nothing without a demand, but a demand not backed by real power gets no concessions. In their quest to be important, many of our leaders are, as a comedian once said, “Impotent,” which only exacerbates our collective situation and keeps us
It is sad to see Black “powerbrokers” strut to the microphones and threaten folks, only to walk away with their proverbial tails between their legs, having received absolutely no concessions from the establishment. Rather than contenders, these folks are pretenders. And rather than powerbrokers, they are really “powerbroke.” The conundrum of today’s notion of Black Power resides in false bravado and impotence. Anheuser Busch (A-B), Radisson, and Nike withdrew or threatened to withdraw their economic support from the NFL. They know exactly where power resides: in dollar bills, y’all. They wielded
JAMES CLINGMAN NNPA COLUMNIST
their power immediately to show their “outrage” about domestic and child abuse. Apparently Nike was not outraged by Eric Garner, Ezell Ford, and John Crawford, being “abused.” Pardon me, but isn’t abuse – no matter the form – still abuse? Pepsi Cola CEO, Indra Nooyi, spoke against the NFL but voiced no indignation about Marlene Pinnock’s abuse on a California highway? Hypocrisy abounds in reactions to Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson, as with Michael Vick and his abuse of dogs, for heaven’s sake. Dogs! But those company execs and others fail to speak out and use their economic clout to put a stop to the abuse of their Black consumers by police officers because we have no power behind our demands. Folks with power are not reluctant to use it to punish those who do not operate in their best interests. Black Power has been reduced to calling for and falling for voting rallies and worn out speeches laced with demands not backed up by any real power at all.
Jim Clingman is the founder of the Greater Cincinnati African American Chamber of Commerce and an adjunct professor at the University of Cincinnati. Write your own response at www.daytonatimes. com.
Breaking White silence on racism On September 15, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka did something quite fascinating. He spoke to a labor audience in St. Louis about race and racism. What was particularly noteworthy is that he was not speaking to a largely Black or Latino audience. (To hear and see the speech, go to: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=ny8loBhqmhc.) I have known Richard Trumka for almost 25 years. He has been outspoken against race and racism, but what is significant here is that all too often Whites speak about race and racism to the victims of this oppression, specifically, to African-Americans, Latinos, Asians and Native Americans. No matter how powerful a speech it may be, it always begs a simple question: Why are you telling us what we already know?
Flip the script Trumka decided to flip the script. Seizing on the anger that has arisen in connection with the murder of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., Trumka went to the Missouri AFL-CIO Convention to, among other things, speak about race and class. His audience was not the tried and true. Although it was racially mixed, Trumka was especially targeting his remarks towards White trade unionists, many of who have contradictory attitudes toward race and racism. Trumka’s remarks have set off a whirlwind of excitement on the Internet, and so they should. Yet the problem that we confront is
Different attitudes
ers generally grasp the means through which they have been played against one another and who has actually gained. The sort of dialogue we need must also tackle questions like immigration, and specifically, why the dramatically different attitudes in White America towards immigration to the U.S. from Ireland and Russia, compared with their attitudes towards migrants from Mexico, the Dominican Republic, the Philippines, and Nigeria. Trumka deserves praise for his remarks. One does not have to agree with every word, and it is not the speech that I would have delivered. But it was a speech delivered by a White union leader seeking to move White union members to rethink the racial instinct that has been implanted within them, and within generations preceding them. That said, we need to go much further and move a broader discussion and then, of course, together take some very concrete steps to challenge racist oppression. The silence has been broken by the solo. Now we must have the chorus.
Such a dialogue is not a ‘touchy/ feely’ exchange along the lines of too many well-intentioned but misguided multi-cultural programs. Rather, the dialogue needs to rest on history such that work-
Bill Fletcher, Jr. is the host of The Global African on TelesurEnglish. Write your own response at www.daytonatimes. com.
BILL FLETCHER, JR. NNPA COLUMNIST
one that the union movement confronted in 2008 when the same Richard Trumka challenged White workers to put aside their racial biases and vote for Barack Obama. The problem is that his speeches — in both cases — were courageous and progressive. Nevertheless, the 2008 speech was not followed up by a broader dialogue in the trade union movement about race and it is far from clear whether such a discussion will happen this go-round subsequent to his September 15th speech. Organized labor desperately needs a discussion about race. Such a discussion is not only about African-Americans and Whites, but concerns the entire racial spectrum of the USA. We are in need of a discussion that helps Whites in particular, to come to understand how and why “race” as a method of social control was introduced into North America.
More Blacks headed to Congress There are 44 African-American members of Congress. Next year, five more are expected to join them, bringing the total to 49. That will represent the highest number of Blacks in Congress in American history. But will it make a difference? Can they leverage their numbers? Another record-breaking development in the record-breaking 114th Congress will be that all of the new Black members will be women. It is likely that as many as 20 Black women could take the oath of office on Capitol Hill, which is also a record. That’s the good news. The bad news is that as we’ve seen in statehouses throughout the South, when Democrats become a minority in a legislative chamber that means less clout for everyone in the party, including AfricanAmericans.
Delayed power Depending on how many House Democrats there are in 2015 (there are now 199), the Black Caucus could become 25 percent of the House Democratic Caucus. As the Tea Party members in the House Republican Caucus have proven over and over, a voting bloc of just 25 mem-
LAUREN VICTORIA BURKE NNPA COLUMNIST
bers can leverage a great deal of power. Despite the large percentages and the voting power within the Democratic Caucus that could help drive a Black agenda, the biggest issue that can block Black power is that all but three Black members are likely to serve in the minority in the U.S. House from 2015 and 2016. Unless there is an unexpected shock on November 4, Black Caucus members may have to wait until 2017 to use the full force of their power.
Get out the vote Last week, Congressional Black Caucus Chair Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) announced a new strategy to make sure that Black voters are aware of the importance of the midterm elections. The plan is to contact more than 3,000 pastors in battleground states and make sure they urge their parishioners to vote. “Freedom Sun-
days” was launched on September 21 and the goal is to reach more than 1 million voters. More than $250,000 was spent on the launch day alone for the get-outthe-vote effort. The upcoming midterm elections on November 4 feature what are expected to be very close statewide races in states that feature a high percentage of AfricanAmerican voters. They include Georgia, North Carolina, Florida, Louisiana and Arkansas. In all of these states and a few others, Black voters literally have the fate of control of the U.S. Senate and a few governor’s offices in their hands. Many primaries over this past year and several elections over the last few cycles have featured races that have come down to only one or two percentage points. Next year, as the Congressional Black Caucus grows to the largest number in their history, they will also have to work to adopt a strategy that will solidify their power.
Lauren Victoria Burke is freelance writer and creator of the blog Crewof42.com, which covers African-American members of Congress. Write your own response at www.daytonatimes. com.
VISUAL VIEWPOINT: CONGRESS RUNS FROM CAPITOL HILL
RJ MATSON, CAPITOL QUIP
Decriminalizing school discipline The purpose of public schools is to educate not exclude children, and to help identify and meet child needs, not make children serve adult convenience, self-interest, and systems. So huge reforms are required in school discipline policies and practices across our nation as school pushout has worsened in past decades with the criminalization of children at younger and younger ages aided and abetted by school expulsion and suspension policies which funnel children into the prison pipeline often crippling them for life. Nationally, the number of secondary school students suspended or expelled during a school year increased about 40 percent from 1 in 13 in 1972– 73 to 1 in 9 in 2009–10. Schools with higher suspension and expulsion rates have worse school climates, lower student academic achievement, and are often less safe. Racially discriminatory school discipline policies contribute to the Cradle to Prison Pipeline® crisis with a Black boy born in 2001 having a 1 in 3 chance of going to prison in his lifetime and a Latino boy a 1 in 6 chance of the same fate.
Policy reform Some school districts are significantly reforming their discipline policies and, more fundamentally, how they view and treat children by moving away from harsh and exclusionary policies. Of approximately 9,000 arrests and tickets issued to students in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) in the 2011-12 school year, 93 percent involved Black and Latino students. The district recently announced that it will stop issuing citations for most campus fights and many other minor infractions. Positive change is also happening throughout Maryland. Nearly 1 in 5 students were being suspended in Baltimore’s 85,000 student school district annually until a new discipline code was implemented in 2008 emphasizing intervention and prevention and minimizing outof-school suspensions and expulsions — especially for subjective offenses such as disrespect, insubordination, and classroom disruption. The first year after the new code’s adoption, out-of-school suspensions dropped 26 percent.
MARIAN WRIGHT EDELMAN NNPA COLUMNIST
New framework In January, the state released a new progressive discipline framework for all Maryland districts and more districts are seeing results. In Montgomery County, the state’s largest school system, out-of-school suspensions for high school students dropped 37 percent in one year (2012-13 to 2013-14) concurrently reducing racial disparities. A new code of conduct this school year emphasizes out-ofschool suspensions as a last resort and provides steps to help students learn from their mistakes. Over the past two years, with support from the Atlantic Philanthropies, the Children’s Defense Fund has partnered with the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) on child health enrollment and school discipline policies. We recently released a joint national survey of superintendents that showed that 92 percent of superintendents believe out-ofschool suspensions have negative consequences; half the responding superintendents indicated that reducing the use of suspension is important or very important to their leadership agendas. We know what works and what doesn’t work for children and need to place the highest priority on keeping students in school, safe, and learning. Engaged students and communities working with committed educators are showing that change is more than necessary — it’s possible. As our nation’s children become majority non-White in 2019, greater sensitivity and awareness of the children being taught is essential and precautions must be taken so that “differentness” of race, gender, culture, and special needs or gifts are better understood and respected.
Marian Wright Edelman is president of the Children’s Defense Fund. Write your own response at www.daytonatimes. com.
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Obama: Let’s finish the unfinished work President speaks Saturday at Congressional Black Caucus awards dinner BY GEORGE E. CURRY NNPA NEWS SERVICE
WASHINGTON – Though the U.S. has made tremendous progress since the passage of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964, there is plenty of unfinished work to be done in order to make the nation a more perfect union, President Barack Obama said on Saturday. “Our high school graduation rate is at a record high, the dropout rate is falling. More young people are earning college degrees than ever before,” Obama told those attending Saturday night’s Congressional Black Caucus awards dinner. “Last year, the number of children living in poverty fell by 1.4 million – the largest decline since 1966. Since I took office, the overall crime rate and the overall incarceration rate has gone down by about 10 percent. That’s the first time they’ve declined at the same time in more than 40 years. Fewer folks in jail. Crime still going down. “But our work is not done when too many children live in crumbling neighborhoods, cycling through substandard schools, traumatized by daily violence. Our work is not done when working Americans of all races have seen their wages and incomes stagnate, even as corporate profits soar; when African-American unemployment is still twice as high as white unemployment; when income inequality, on the rise for decades, continues to hold back hardworking communities, especially communities of color. We’ve got unfinished work.”
On race, Ferguson Speaking just days after Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr., the administration’s point man on race, submitted his resignation, Obama spoke more directly about race than perhaps anytime since he has been in office. In past CBC appearances, Obama was sometimes viewed as lecturing CBC members about personal responsibility while failing to do the same to White audiences. In his speech before
ROY LEWIS/NNPA NEWS SERVICE
During his speech at the Congressional Black Caucus dinner, President Obama talked about how men of color feel threatened. the CBC dinner Saturday night, Obama dropped his reluctance to speak boldly about the racial atmosphere in America. “… We still have to close these opportunity gaps,” he said. “And we have to close the justice gap – how justice is applied, but also how it is perceived, how it is experienced. Eric Holder understands this. That’s what we saw in Ferguson this summer, when Michael Brown was killed and a community was divided. We know that the unrest continues. And Eric spent some time with the residents and police of Ferguson, and the Department of Justice has indicated that its civil rights investigation is ongoing. “Now, I won’t comment on the investigation. I know that Michael’s family is here tonight. I know that nothing any of us can say can ease the grief of losing a child so soon. But the anger and the emotion that followed his death awakened our nation once again to the reality that people in this room have long understood, which is, in too many communities around the country, a gulf of mistrust exists between local resi-
dents and law enforcement.”
Being Black in America Obama spoke to the everyday experiences of being a Black man in America. “Too many young men of color feel targeted by law enforcement, guilty of walking while Black, or driving while Black, judged by stereotypes that fuel fear and resentment and hopelessness. We know that, statistically, in everything from enforcing drug policy to applying the death penalty to pulling people over, there are significant racial disparities. That’s just the statistics. “One recent poll showed that the majority of Americans think the criminal justice system doesn’t treat people of all races equally. Think about that. That’s not just Blacks, not just Latinos or Asians or Native Americans saying things may not be unfair. That’s most Americans.” It is unclear what poll the president was referencing. Most polls show a majority of Whites feel the criminal justice system is colorblind. For example, a Pew Research Center survey last year
Mom: Son’s ‘sentence wasn’t death’ Justice Department urged to stay focused on police killings BY FREDDIE ALLEN NNPA NEWS SERVICE
WASHINGTON – Officials from the National Action Network, the National Urban League the National Bar Association, the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, the NAACP, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other civil rights groups have urged the Justice Department to remain focused on the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner cases and to make sure that the police officers involved are held responsible for their deaths. During a press conference last week attended by the parents of Brown and Garner, Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League said, “In recent weeks and months confidence around the concept of justice for all in our nation has plunged to the lowest levels that we have seen in a generation.” On July 17, Eric Garner, 43, was choked to death by Officer Daniel Pantaleo in Staten Island, N.Y. Moments before his death, officers had attempted to arrest Garner, who was unarmed, for allegedly selling untaxed cigarettes. Although Garner’s death has been ruled a homicide, no charges have been filed against the officer involved.
Didn’t deserve death On Aug. 9, Michael Brown, 18, was shot to death by Darren Wilson, a White police officer in Ferguson, Mo., following a brief confrontation. Moments before Wilson fatally shot Brown, the officer had asked the teenager, who was also unarmed, and another young man to stop walking in the street. Gwen Carr, Garner’s mother, said that although her son wasn’t perfect, he didn’t deserve to die.
FREDDIE ALLEN/NNPA
The Rev. Al Sharpton talks about Michael Brown, Eric Garner and police brutality during a press conference in Washington, D.C. “Our children might have made mistakes in their lives, but at the time that they were being killed, they weren’t doing – the sentence wasn’t death,” Carr said. “For selling cigarettes, the sentence wasn’t death. For the children walking in the street, the sentence wasn’t death.” Morial said that the group demands justice, fairness and a full and complete investigation by the United States Department of Justice into Brown and Garner’s death. In recent weeks the Justice Department has announced plans to investigate the Ferguson police department to determine if they violated the rights of Black residents in the past.
National initiative On Sept. 18, Attorney General Eric Holder launched the National Initiative for Building Community Trust, a program that “will create a substantial investment in training, evidence-based strategies, policy development and research to combat distrust and hostility between law enforcement and the communities they
serve,” according to a press release issued by the Justice Department. Holder said that the events in Ferguson reminds us that we can’t allow tensions, which are present in so many neighborhoods across America, to go unresolved. “As law enforcement leaders, each of us has an essential obligation – and a unique opportunity – to ensure fairness, eliminate bias, and build community engagement,” said Holder. “The National Initiative for Building Community Trust and Justice represents a major step forward in resolving long standing tensions in many of America’s communities and it will allow us to build on the pioneering work that the Justice Department and our law enforcement partners across the country are already doing to strengthen some of our nation’s most challenged areas.” The project, funded with $4.75 million grant, will also provide research and technical support to law enforcement officials and others who work in the criminal justice system.
found that 70 percent of Blacks feel they are treated less fairly than Whites in their dealings with police. Only 37 percent of Whites said they think Blacks are treated less fairly by police.
‘A corrosive effect’ The mistreatment of AfricanAmericans harms Whites as well as Blacks, the president said. “And that has a corrosive effect – not just on the Black community; it has a corrosive effect on America,” Obama said. “It harms the communities that need law enforcement the most. It makes folks who are victimized by crime and need strong policing reluctant to go to the police because they may not trust them. And the worst part of it is it scars the hearts of our children. “It scars the hearts of the White kids who grow unnecessarily fearful of somebody who doesn’t look like them. It stains the heart of Black children who feel as if no matter what he does, he will always be under suspicion. That is not the society we want. It’s not the society that our children deserve. Whether you’re Black or
Holder: Hold killer accountable The Rev. Al Sharpton, civil rights activist and founder of the National Action Network, said that talking about sensitivity and training is good, before adding that you don’t need people who would choke a man when he says 11 times on tape, ‘I can’t breathe.’ He does not need training, Sharpton said. He needs to be held accountable. Sharpton said that the coalition of civil rights groups and community stakeholders is not antipolice, and the group doesn’t believe that all police are bad. “But acting as though that no police is wrong none of the time is moving this country towards a police state where we don’t have the right to question police under any circumstances,” said Sharpton. Sharpton described a recent case in South Carolina where a state trooper shot an unarmed man.
Many questions On, Sept. 4, just outside of Columbia, S.C. Sean Groubert, South Carolina Highway Patrol trooper pulled Levar Jones over allegedly for not wearing his seat belt. Groubert asked Jones to exit his vehicle then asked him for his driver’s license. As Jones reached back into his vehicle to retrieve his license, Groubert opened fired, striking Jones at least once. The incident was captured on Groubert’s dash-camera. “Well, I raise this question to the Justice Department: If that police officer in South Carolina was arrested, why isn’t the police officer that shot Michael Brown arrested? Why isn’t the police officer that choked Eric Garner arrested?” Sharpton asked. “Does probable cause not work all work the country? You don’t need a grand jury indictment to make arrest you need what you had in South Carolina. But what we seem to have is different strokes for different folks.” Groubert was subsequently fired and arrested on charges of assault and battery of a high and
White, you don’t want that for America.”
Working on problems Three countries – Russia, Iran and Egypt – have cited America’s mistreatment of African-Americans as evidence of U.S. hypocrisy on human rights. Obama retorted, “…As I said this week at the United Nations, America is special not because we’re perfect; America is special because we work to address our problems, to make our union more perfect [a reference to the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution]. We fight for more justice. We fight to cure what ails us. “We fight for our ideals, and we’re willing to criticize ourselves when we fall short. And we address our differences in the open space of democracy – with respect for the rule of law; with a place for people of every race and religion; and with an unyielding belief that people who love their country can change it. That’s what makes us special – not because we don’t have problems, but because we work to fix them. And we will continue to work to fix this.”
aggravated nature, which could lead to his serving up to 20 years in prison.
Frustrated parents Most law enforcement agencies have not been as decisive in South Carolina in handling wayward officers. Instead, there is an “intrinsic relationship” between local prosecutors and the local police that makes less likely that police officer will be prosecuted, Sharpton state. He said the federal government can place a key role in making sure justice is served. “If you have the federal government, that does not depend on local police, you have a more objective and fair investigation,” said Sharpton. “It protects everyone.” During the press conference, Michael Brown’s parents, spoke briefly about the frustration they have felt in dealing with law enforcement officials in Missouri. An emotional Leslie McSpadden, Michael’s mother said, “Missouri has not shown us anything that we are looking for.” The father, Michael Brown, Sr., said, “This is very terrible for us and for everyone else that has lost. We’re here to get justice. We need your help.”
NAACP responds Cornell William Brooks, president and CEO of the NAACP, said that within 12 hours of Brown’s death, civil rights group were on the ground in Ferguson, trying to keep peace while seeking justice in the community. Brooks said that the NAACP has worked with the Justice Department to locate witnesses. “Where you have communities under siege, where you have communities that feel, based upon their experience and empirical evidence that they are in the midst of a pandemic of police misconduct, they have every reason to be afraid of coming forward,” said Brooks. Brooks continued: “We want to honor these families with our service and commitment. [We will] see it to the very end.”
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OCTOBER 2 – OCTOBER 2014 DECEMBER 14 - 20, 8, 2006
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M SPORTS AYOR
B-CU’s Williams is MEAC player of the week
KIM GIBSON/DAYTONA TIMES
Quentin Williams gets top honor from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Game on Saturday
NORFOLK, Va. – Bethune-Cookman University football student-athlete Quentin Williams registered two career-highs over the weekend, and has been named this week’s Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Offensive Player of the Week. The announcement came from the MEAC Office on Monday in Norfolk, Va. Williams, a 6-0, 190 senior quarterback from Tampa, helped No. 14 Bethune-Cookman erase a 27-20 fourth quarter deficit against Florida Tech of Melbourne. On the afternoon, he contributed on three of B-CU’s five touchdowns, including a gamewinning 67-yard strike to Frank Brown late in the fourth quarter, allowing BCU to take a 34-27 lead over the Panthers.
Overall, Williams connected for a career-high tying 16 completions on 28 attempts, and registered a career-high 222 yards through the air along with two passing touchdowns – both to sophomore receiver Frank Brown. He also scampered for a rushing touchdown (tying the game midway through the fourth quarter at 27all), capping 15 rushing attempts for 31 yards. This is Williams’ first Offensive Player of the Week award in 2014, as well as the first of its kind for any Wildcats performer. Bethune-Cookman opens MEAC play on Saturday, welcoming Delaware State to Municipal Stadium for a 4 p.m. kickoff. For the latest information on the football team, visit www.BCUathletics.com. More on MEAC standings is available at www.meacsports.com.
Stewart never considered quitting after deadly incident NASCAR driver struck and killed Kevin Ward Aug. 9 in New York BY SCOTT FOWLER CHARLOTTE OBSERVER (MCT)
KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — A subdued Tony Stewart said Monday he never thought about giving up driving racecars in the past seven weeks after a car he was driving struck and killed sprint car driver Kevin Ward Jr. during a dirt track race in New York. But he said he still thinks constantly about what he called a “100 percent accident.” “I think about it every day, Stewart said, “and I wish I could say it was once a day but it’s not. ... It will never go away. It’s always going to be a part of my life the rest of my life.” Stewart answered questions for 40 minutes from reporters at his race shop in Kannapolis on Monday – the first time he has done that in a news conference forum since Ward’s death. The news conference began, however, with the announcement that Stewart would not answer questions about exactly what happened during the accident itself.
No criminal charges Last week, an upstate New York grand jury declined to indict Stewart in Ward Jr.’s death. Ward, 20, had climbed from his car
to confront Stewart and died of blunt force trauma after Stewart’s car hit him with its right rear tire on Aug. 9 and sent Ward hurtling through the air. Ward was under the influence of marijuana the night of the accident, according to authorities. Stewart said he had not spoken to the Ward family but that he wanted to be “available” to them if they did want to talk. Stewart said he didn’t have to talk to Ward’s family, however, to have “closure.” Although the three-time NASCAR champion won’t face criminal charges, a civil lawsuit is still possible.
Sought professional help Stewart, who said he didn’t know Ward but had read a lot about him since the wreck, said he remained in seclusion for the days immediately following the incident. “I didn’t want to talk to anybody, didn’t want to see anybody,” he said. He has sought professional help to cope with his emotions following the accident and said he has often had an “awkward feeling” when appearing in public, since he knows some people still blame him for Ward’s death. Smith said he did not know if he would ever resume his driving career at the lower levels of racing — he often competed in those races just for the fun of it — although he left no doubt that he would con-
tinue to drive in NASCAR’s top series. Said Stewart: “This is what I’ve done for 36 years... I love driving race cars.” Palm Coast to host national soccer tourney for high-school age girls The City of Palm Coast’s Indian Trails Sports Complex has been selected as the host site for a prestigious, national-level soccer tournament for US Club Soccer, to be played Dec. 31, 2014, through Jan. 2, 2015. The National Premier League Showcase to be played is for U-15, U-16 and U-17 girls. “This is a huge one for us,” said Rich Weber, vice president of the Competitive Program for PDA Florida, the Palm Coast soccer club that proposed the new tournament. “The NPL Showcase Series is for high-level teams across the United States, and many college coaches and scouts will be here to see these talented athletes play.” The tournament to be held at the Indian Trails Sports Complex is a new tournament within US Club Soccer’s NPL Showcase Series. US Club Soccer has partnered with the Surf Club in San Diego, California, and the Jefferson Cup in Richmond, Virginia, to provide top NPL teams slots at both events in 2015.
Perfect timing The NPL Showcase Series provides NPL players with opportunities to participate in premier na-
MARK HAMES/CHARLOTTE OBSERVER/MCT
Tony Stewart gives a press conference to national media at Stewart-Haas Racing in Kannapolis, N.C. on Monday. tional showcase events while competing against top teams from across the country. “Palm Coast is an ideal setting for the NPL Showcase (Girls),” said Bill Sage, US Club Soccer Executive Director. “The fields at Indian Trails Sports Complex are top-notch for competition, and the nearby beaches are great for when teams and attending college coaches have some free time.” The Palm Coast tournament over New Year’s will have 72 teams. Almost all of the players, their coaches and families will come
Former Rattler chaplain offering his spiritual wisdom to Wildcats religious guidance for the students and reaffirm spirituality in both the classroom and on the field of play,” James said. “We employed programs focusing on religious and ethical values to uplift the students spiritually and encourage them in every endeavor.”
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
The uniqueness of having served as a chaplain for both the Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman football teams sets up the Rev. Kevin James for some scriptural humor. Ministering unto both Rattlers and Wildcats? Does not Matthew 6:24 tell us “You cannot serve both God and mammon”? “Okay, you got me there,” James said, laughing. “You know my love goes for both sides, but on one Saturday in November, you know who I am rooting for.” James, pastor of Palm Coast United Church, has served the spiritual needs at both FAMU and B-CU as a chaplain. It’s been one of the most rewarding aspects James’ calling. “To see the response of the players, their witness of Christ and their commitment is extremely satisfy-
Accessible and passionate COURTESY OF B-CU ATHLETICS
The Rev. Kevin James (right) enters the gridiron with Brian Jenkins, B-CU’s head football coach (center). ing,” James said. “I’ve seen growth, and I’ve seen lives change. It’s a blessing.”
Religious guidance While at Florida A&M, James approached thenRattlers Head Coach Ken Riley about starting a weekly Wednesday devotional, which eventually expanded to a Sunday service and a campus-wide ministry.
The concept continued when he came to Bethune-Cookman to replace the retiring Rev. Rogers P. Fair, a man who had been hired by Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune herself, B-CU’s founder. James expanded the outreach by chartering the Wildcats’ first official chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. “We wanted to provide
Programs work sometimes, but sometimes, especially in football, helping a young athlete requires the right touch. James likened it to “calling an audible.” “Sometimes you have to be aggressive; and there are times you have to be passive,” James said. “But you always have to be accessible and always passionate.’’ For the record, James, his wife and daughter are Florida A&M graduates while his son is a senior at B-CU.
This story is courtesy of B-CU Athletics.
from outside Florida, and many are expected to arrive early and stay beyond the end of the tournament, Weber said. “The timing is perfect. It’s cold up North, and this is the deadest week of the year for hotels and retail for us,” he said.
A Palm Coast goal Attracting sports tournaments is a key goal of the city’s Prosperity 2021 strategic economic development plan. Palm Coast prides itself on the high quality and condition of the fields at the In-
NFL: Abdullah should not have been penalized for Muslim prayer BY RYAN PARKER LOS ANGELES TIMES (MCT)
Kansas City Chiefs safety Husain Abdullah was flagged during Monday night’s game after he kneeled for a Muslim prayer after returning an interception for a touchdown. Abdullah, a practicing Muslim, was flagged 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct after the pick-six during the Chiefs 41-14 rout of the New England Patriots in Kansas City. Tuesday morning, the league said the penalty should not have been issued. “Abdullah should not have been penalized. Of-
dian Trails Sports Complex. Construction has just been completed on two new soccer/lacrosse/rugby fields, and they are now undergoing final preparation for play by mid-fall. “We truly appreciate the hard work of PDA Florida to attract this prestigious NPL Showcase event,” said Luanne Santangelo, Director of Palm Coast Parks & Recreation. “This is the second national-level tournament we’ve scheduled at our sports complex this year, and we’re very excited to show off our community to these talented athletes and their families.” ficiating mechanic is not to flag player who goes to ground for religious reasons,” said Michael Signora, vice president of communications for the NFL. The penalty stirred controversy on social media, many saying Christian players are not penalized when they make religious gestures after a scoring play. “Brandon Marshall gets on knees & raises hands to Jesus after TD..No penalty..Husain Abdullah bows to Mecca..15 yards!,” Arsalan Ifikhar, a international human rights lawyer and author, posted on Twitter. The referee said Abdullah’s penalty stemmed from him “falling to the ground on the knees.” After the game, there were reports that Abdullah said he believed he was flagged for sliding into the prayer. Abdullah’s name began trending on Twitter on Tuesday morning.
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OCTOBER 2 – OCTOBER 8, 2014
Board to discuss sickle cell services
KENNETH K. LAM/BALTIMORE SUN/MCT
Ray Rice, right, and his wife Janay made statements to the news media on May 5 at the Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Md., regarding his assault charge for knocking her unconscious in a New Jersey casino. On Sept. 8, Rice was let go from the Baltimore Ravens after a video surfaced from TMZ showing the incident
Report: Genderbased violence is ‘too costly to ignore’
Study focuses on economic impact of violence against women worldwide NNPA NEWS SERVICE
On the heels of the Ray Rice scandal in the U.S., a new report by the accounting firm KPMG says that violence against women in South Africa costs the country between $2 and $4 billion yearly. The lost funds could pay wage subsidies for all unemployed youths, build half a million houses or give health care to a quarter of all South Africans, the report states. “We aren’t always able to put a number to human suffering, and it is controversial to do so,” said KP-
MG staffer Laura Brooks. “But this [figure] puts gender-based violence in a language that people can understand. If we can try put a number to it, it at least draws attention to it.” The report, “The Economic Impact of Violence Against Women,” also follows the manslaughter conviction of Olympian “Blade Runner” Oscar Pretorius, who claimed to have shot his girlfriend four times by mistake.
Killing every eight hours In South Africa, a wom-
an is killed by domestic violence on average every eight hours. The rate of intimate femicide, the killing of women by their partners, is five times higher than the global average. To put that figure into perspective, more than seven times as many murders are committed in South Africa than in the U.S., and South Africa has a population of just 51 million, compared with 317 million in the U.S. The cost to government of $45 million a year includes expenses associated with preventative programs, medical and aftercare services and police and judicial services.
Worldwide study A related study by researchers at Stanford and Oxford universities found that domestic violence, mainly against women and children worldwide, kills far more people than wars and is an often overlooked scourge that costs the world economy more than $8 trillion a year. The authors urged the United Nations to pay more attention to abuse at home that gets less attention than armed conflicts such as those in Syria and Ukraine. “For every civil war battlefield death, roughly nine people … are killed in inter-personal disputes,” Anke Hoeffler of Oxford University and James Fearon of Stanford University wrote in the report.
Homicides: $650 billion From domestic disputes to wars, they estimated that all violence worldwide cost $9.5 trillion a year, mainly in lost economic output and equivalent to 11.2 per-
cent of world gross domestic product. In recent years, approximately 20 to 25 nations experienced civil wars, devastating many local economies and costing approximately $170 billion a year. Homicides, mainly of men, unrelated to domestic disputes, cost $650 billion. But those figures were dwarfed by the $8 trillion annual cost of domestic violence, mostly against women and children. Bjorn Lomborg, head of the Copenhagen Consensus Center, which commissioned the report, said household violence was often overlooked, just as car crashes attract less attention than plane crashes even though many more die in road accidents. “This is not just about saying ‘this is a big problem,’” he told Reuters. “It’s a way to start finding smart solutions.”
This story is special to the NNPA from the New York Amsterdam News.
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The Children and Families Advisory Board will meet at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 14 at the Lifeguard Headquarters and Administration Center, 515 S. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach. Members will discuss the 2014 annual report and make funding recommendations for the Justice Assistance Grant and an agency or agencies to work to provide sickle cell disease services. The board assesses and evaluates strategies to meet needs, monitors program compliance, advertises funding availability, recommends appropriations for programs serving children and families, and provides recommendations to the Volusia County Council. For more information, call Brittany at 386-7365955, ext. 12959, or visit www.volusia.org/cfab.
Human Services board meets Oct. 6 The Planning Development Committee of Volusia County’s Human Services Advisory Board will meet at 2 p.m. Oct. 6, in Room 107 of the county’s Daytona Beach Administration Building, 250 N. Beach St. Members will review and discuss the Human Services mission statement and organizational standards. The aboard assists the Volusia County Council in developing Community Services Block Grant program goals and objectives, identifying community needs, and evaluating program effectiveness. For more information, contact Myralis Hopgood at mhopgood@volusia. org or 386-736-5956, ext. 12985.