Daytona
Matanzas seniors preparing for next step See page 3
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit #189 Daytona Beach, FL
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LEE A. DANIELS: RNC Twitter ‘mistake’ wasn’t a mistake See page 4
Wildcats named HBCU champs
East Central Florida’s Black Voice
YEAR 38 NO. 50
DECEMBER 12 - DECEMBER 18, 2013
See page 7
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Two Blacks on list for Grimes’ circuit seat
PEOPLE SPEAK
Governor sent six names as replacement for Seventh Judicial Circuit Court judge
to Gov. Rick Scott are David P. Gillespie, Howard O. McGillin, Jr., Dawn D. Nichols and Michael S. Orfinger. Scott has until Feb. 3 to pick a replacement for Grimes.
About the circuit
BY ASHLEY THOMAS DAYTONA TIMES aysheldarcel@gmail.com
Two Black women are among the six nominees for the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court judge. The position opened because of the retirement of Judge Hubert L. Grimes, 60, the first Black judge in Volusia County. He was elected in 1988. His resignation is ef-
Judge Hubert Regina Grimes Nunnally
Alicia Washington
fective Jan. 30, 2014. Along with Regina Nunnally and Alicia Washington, four other names submitted by the Judicial Nominating Commission
The Seventh Judicial Circuit is one of 20 in the state. It serves Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns and Volusia counties. Forty-two judges, including 27 circuit judges and 15 county court judges, make up the circuit. In Florida, the circuit courts are one of four types of courts created by the Florida Constitution – the other three being the Florida Supreme Court, the Florida District Courts of Appeal, and the Florida
Midtown lights up for the holidays
county courts. The circuit courts primarily handle civil cases where the amount in controversy is greater than $15,000, and felony criminal cases, as well as appeals from county courts, according to a description on the Florida Court System website.
Based in Bunnell This week, the Daytona Times focuses on Washington, a graduate of Louisiana State University A&M in Baton Rouge, who received her Juris Doctorate degree from Texas Southern University Law School in Please see JUDGE, Page 2
Ministry giving away food, shoes BY ASHLEY THOMAS DAYTONA TIMES aysheldarcel@gmail.com
The youth group at Tomoka Christian Church is donating 1,000 pairs of shoes to those who attend the Unity in the Community event on Sunday at Masonova Plaza. The shoes are for anyone who is in need, from children to adults. Pastors John and Lisa Polite along with Ministries for Christ Outreach will be hosting the event featuring food, live music, fun and games from 9 a.m. to noon. The Volusia County Health Department will provide a health fair at the event along with other community agencies offering beauty and barber services. “A lot of people and organizations are partnering with us,” explained Pastor John Polite. There also will be free barbecue, cash giveaways, raffles. Spanish ministries also will participate. “Some people do things and are looking for a prize or a reward, but this is all free. We put back in what God gives us.”
Shoes for everyone
Above: Daytona Beach Commissioners Patrick Henry (left) and Carl Lentz IV sit atop a fire engine during the Christmas parade Saturday held in Midtown. Right: Santa Claus (aka Ray Hartsfield of the Daytona Beach Fire Department) stops for a picture with Narae Ivey during the Light Up Midtown festivities. PHOTOS BY DUANE FERNANDEZ SR./ HARDNOTTS PHOTOGRAPHY
Parade, health fair begin celebration in Black community
Christina Moore, a coordinator from Tomoka Christian Church, said the shoe giveaway has grown each year. “The first year was 180, then they doubled that at 360 and last year there were 735 pairs of shoes,” shared Moore. “Our youth group helped raise the money and some donate their own money.” “It’s open to anyone. We have shoes for boys, girls and adults. We haven’t had to turn anyone away. God just works that out somehow.” “We actually sit them down in chairs and talk to them just like they were in a shoe store. Some of the shoes you see have holes or the sole has worn out that people are wearing; they haven’t had a pair of shoes in forever,” she explained. “We do it until we run out of shoes.”
FROM STAFF REPORTS
Touching lives
W
inners of the “Light Up Midtown” event held last weekend will be recognized at Daytona Beach’s Dec. 17 city commission meeting. Businesses and residents that were simply asked to “Light Up Midtown” with festive decorations are encouraged to light up the community throughout the holiday season. A health fair and parade were held Saturday as a part of the celebration with children taking advantage of a large bounce house and slide. Daytona Beach Commissioner Patrick Henry of Daytona Beach’s Zone 5 district shared a fire truck with Zone 1 Commissioner Carl W. Lentz IV as the parade made its way down Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard. “I thought the parade had a nice turnout,” Henry remarked. “We threw a lot of candy at the kids and it was well-attended. I see that it is growing from last year.” Please see MIDTOWN, Page 2
Moore said the shoe giveaway has touched many lives and recounted a special memory of a single mother who came to the event last year along with her six children. Please see SHOES, Page 2
Photo courtesy of Christina Moore
There will be plenty of shoes for children at Unity in the Community on Sunday.
7 FOCUS
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DECEMBER 12 – DECEMBER 18, 2013
MIDTOWN
Mariah Montgomery flashes a smile while inside a bounce house at Daisy Stocking Park.
from Page 1 Bigger next year The commissioner added that he hopes to have even more participation in the future. “I do think we should start planning earlier and get some high school bands involved that were participating in other parades around the county,” he said. Vendors at the health fair
DUANE FERNANDEZ SR./ HARDNOTTS PHOTOGRAPHY
judge from Page 1 Houston and began her legal career in 1995 drafting legal briefs and motions in criminal and civil cases in Houston. Washington owned her own practice in Daytona Beach from 2003-2005, later serving as the juvenile division chief in the public defender’s office of the Seventh Judicial Circuit from 2005-2009. In 2009 she opened a private practice in Bunnell where she currently practices criminal defense, family law and civil litigation. The former assistant public defender, who has also served in the juvenile, misdemeanor, sex crimes and felony divisions in both the seventh and fourth circuits, told the Daytona Times why she believes she is the best candidate for the job. She credits the practice of family law as giving her the most insight. “The family law is really where I think I learned the people skills, you can’t always just tell people what they want to hear; you have to be able to tell people what they need to hear,” she shared. “That’s a delicate balance; it doesn’t
win you a lot of friends a lot of the time but it’s about maintaining your integrity not just making your opinion follow where the dollar is.”
Advocating diversity Admitted to both the Florida and Texas State Bar Associations, Washington has expertise as both a prosecuting and defense attorney and has served as a mentor and teacher to junior attorneys. “Aside from the legal accomplishments, I think it’s very important for judges to be well-rounded. I’m a lawyer, but I’m also a wife, a mother. I’m involved in the community. I try to keep my experiences varied so that I’m not tunnel-visioned. “I told the nominating committee that other than my qualifications I offer diversity and I think diversity is important. Being a Seventh Judicial Circuit judge is a role of public service. The judiciary should reflect the community. It doesn’t make sense to me not to have a diverse judiciary because the community is diverse. I think that’s important because that goes to perception.’’
Compassion for litigants Washington
also
ex-
plained that she understands those who find themselves in a courtroom. “I talked to the committee about how a lot of times when I had to go to courtrooms in Hillsborough County or Dade County, it was very intimidating to me as an African-American woman to walk into a courtroom and only see faces that don’t resemble mine and I have an education and I have skills and it was still very intimidating. So I can’t imagine what that feels like for a litigant who does not have that much education or experience. I would imagine that they walk in and feel like ‘I’ve lost this battle even before I’ve had a chance to open my mouth,’” she remarked. “So I think the perception of the fairness is just as important as the actual process of fairness. I’m not trying to insinuate that any of the judges that we have here aren’t fair or impartial jurors, but I think if you ask the public because they don’t feel a connection with a lot of them that they might perceive that. That kind of erodes the integrity of the process. You’re serving the public. The public has to believe in the system. If you don’t diversify, you are going to have some
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held in Daisy Stocking Park included an ophthalmologist, HIV/AIDS awareness booth and a table from the Volusia County Health Department that showed what fat looks like inside the body, which evoked many turned-up noses. The event is in its second year with plans of continued growth in the future. “We are excited about the events that are being planned,” said Charles J. Bryant, Daytona Beach’s Redevelopment project manager.
real problems.”
First Black woman? Washington added that her background brings added understanding. “I have the unique position of being biracial,” she continued. “My father is African-American, my mother is Korean. I am equally proud of both parts of my heritages, and I understand that you have to know where you come from to know where you’re going. I understand the obligations to continue to make sure that just as people pave the way for you, you pave the way for others.” The nominee added that women are as equally prepared for the position as men. She noted that it was shameful that at the time of the appointment, it is possible that a first will be happening in the history of the open seat, that a Black woman would hold it. “There are two AfricanAmerican females on the short list, myself and Regina Nunally. I think it is a shame that we can say in this day and age, in 2014 it may be the time when Governor Scott appoints the first African-American female judge in the Seventh Judicial Circuit, that we’re even talking about the first in 2014.’’
SHOES from Page 1 “We put shoes on all the kids and she started to walk away and we told her, ‘hey we want to give you a pair too.’ And she just burst into tears.” Masonova Plaza is at 1055 Mason Ave., Daytona Beach. Those wishing to participate in the shoe giveaway do not have to register in advance.
Qualifications speak for Washington Washington said she’ll keep trying for a judgeship. “I’ve heard some people say to me, it will only be because you’re Black and you’re a female it’s a political advantage,” Washington shared; speaking of those who believe the appointment by Scott may be a political ploy. “It’s not how I get it, but what I’ll do with it. There will be other openings that come available. If if I don’t get this one, they’ll see me again for the next one. When you know your destiny, when you know where you’re supposed to go you march forward.” Nunnally and Washington are the only Blacks up
for consideration of Scott’s appointment to the soonto-be vacant seat. Nunnally is a graduate of Barry University’s School of Law in Orlando and is the assistant public defender in Flagler County. The governor has recently received flack for a lack of diversity in the state’s upper level offices, as well as around the state even though the second-highest seat in Florida was held by Jennifer Carroll, who is Black. She resigned as lieutenant governor in March after she became part of an investigation into a charity organization for veterans, which was tied to an Internet cafe company suspected of racketeering. Next week: An interview with Regina Nunnally.
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Come let the Holy Ghost Get Ya!
DECEMBER 12 – DECEMBER 18, 2013
M ANEWS YOR COMMUNITY
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DECEMBER 14 - 20, 2006
Matanzas players take step toward next phase in life The Pirates football players stepped up their game to become part of the first Senior Night Adventure at Matanzas High School. Parents of the teammates stepped out under the banner of a booster club to honor the 2014 graduating players. It was a step in the right direction as seen by coaches Jeff Nettles and Devin Mathews: President Elsa Mosley and the Booster Club had laid a foundation of support to the players. It was only the beginning and a step across to a new life. Highlights of the football games were sent to colleges for connecting with the recruiting coaches. “Triple Threat” was in step, and made up by three videographers who tape the Pirates football games. The three have received college acceptances and will share a room as college roommates. They are Kemba Griffith, Widline Guillaume and Rosie Basquin. It was a step inside to good food, photo collages of players, the parents’ written encouragement, and the players noting the sacrifices that were made by their parents. It was a step forward in appreciation of the parents.
Flagler NAACP to meet Dec. 17 The Flagler County NAACP will have its meting earlier this month on Dec. 17, 6 p.m., at the African American Cultural Society, 4422 North U.S. 1, Palm Coast. In addition to the items on the
Palm Coast Community news Jeroline D. Mccarthy
agenda, branch president Linda Sharpe Haywood announced that light refreshments will be served and seven “200 Club” winners will be drawn. For additional details, call the NAACP at 386-446-7822
Churchwomen announce food giveaway The Women’s Missionary Society of First Church has scheduled its monthly food giveaway for Dec. 14, 1-3 p.m., at 91 Old Kings Road North, Palm Coast. The Rev. Gillard S. Glover is the pastor. For additional details, call 386446-5759.
Another Obama rally set for Dec. 14 Loyce Nottage Allen, President of the Florida Friends for Obama, emails that another “United Citizens in Action” rally will take place Dec. 14, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., on Pine Lakes Parkway, off Belle Terre Parkway, and down from Mother Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church. The group will continue to show support to President Obama and the Affordable Health Care Act. Allen notes that Dec. 14 marks
Kemba Griffith beams after reading a letter to her mother, Karen, during the program. the one-year anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, where the lives of 26 victims - including 20 children were lost. As a result, the victims and their families will be remembered and all who have experienced tragedy through gun violence. The group will rally with communities across the nation and take a stand for justice and liberty. A food drive will benefit the local food pantry so the group is asking that cans of food be brought. As always, remember our prayers for the sick, afflicted and bereaved. •••
Celebrations Birthday wishes to: Rayna K. Henderson, Trevor Brown, Dec. 15; Christine Robinson, Linda Sharpe Haywood, Dec. 16; Loida Dehaney, Dec. 18.
Kristian Kane reads his letter of appreciation to his mother, Sabrina.
BRIEFS MLK scholarship application extended The MLK and Trayvon Martin scholarship application deadline has been extended to Dec. 20 for high school seniors. Students can pick up applications from their high school guidance counselor or visit the website at www.mlkdaytonabeach.org •••
Christmas cantata at New St. James The seniors at New St. James Missionary Baptist Church will present a Christmas Cantata at 6 p.m., Dec. 14, at 418 Laura St. The public is invited to attend. •••
Church conference at Choice Christian A prophetic conference will be held at the Choice Christian Worship Center with special guest speaker Gerald Mitchell, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m. 327 S. Dr. MLK Blvd. •••
Kwanzaa celebrations at art museum The African American Museum of the Arts will host a Kwanzaa celebration titled A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture on Dec. 28 from 5 p.m. 8 p.m. A film presentation of the black candle (Unity) will begin at 5 p.m. followed by the Kwanzaa celebration beginning at 6:30 p.m.with the principle of the day: Ujima (collective work and responsibility). It will be followed by a libation ceremony, candle lighting ceremony and a tasting of traditional Kwanzaa food. Historian Mike Brown will be the guest speaker and local poets will speak. The celebration will be held at the African American Museum of the Arts, 325 S. Clara Avenue in DeLand. Free. More information: 386-736-4004.
SUN-SENTINEL/MCT
Kwanzaa celebrations are being planned throughout the area this month. The holiday takes place Dec. 26-Jan. 1.
Child Care assistance available in Flagler, Volusia
The City of Palm Coast’s StarThe Early Learning Coalition of Flagler and Volusia is calling light Event & Parade is Saturday, customers from October’s wait- Dec. 14, at Central Park in Town ing list. This means the wait peri- Center, 975 Central Ave. (off State od to receive childcare assistance Road 100/Bulldog Boulevard beis very minimal right now. This is hind Flagler Palm Coast High an income eligible program that School). Admission is free. The day kicks off at 2 p.m. with requires participants to be working or going to school at least live local entertainment and performances; a 70-foot Snow Slide; 20 hours/week. Apply online at www.elcfv.org, arrival of Santa and pictures with call 386-323-2400 ext. 396, or vis- Santa; face-painting; sand art; it one of the following locations: and a Letters to Santa activity. Daytona Beach: 135 Execu- Santa will visit with children untive Circle, Suite 100, Monday til 5:30 p.m., and a photographer through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 will be available for photos. At 6 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to p.m., the Starlight Parade will get under way. 4:30 p.m. ••• DeLand: 1205 S. Woodland Blvd., Suite 1, DeLand, Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 6 Crime prevention p.m. Flagler: 800 E. Howe, Bunnell, lecture in Palm Coast Monday/Wednesday/Thursday,by TheShelterPetProject.org Mark Rutledge of the Crime 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Prevention Task Force of Flori-
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Kwanzaa celebration in Palm Coast The African American Cultural Society is announcing that Kwanzaa 2013 will be held on Dec. 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the AACS Center, 4422 N. US High-
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da will give a presentation titled “Helping Citizens Be Aware” during a free Lunch n’ Lecture program offered by the City of Palm Coast’s Parks & Recreation Department, from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Dec. 18. Topics to be covered include identity theft, fraud and scams, purse snatching, guns and alternative weapons, home safety, carjacking and more. The lecture will start at 11 a.m. at the Palm Coast Community Center, 305 Palm Coast Parkway NE, with lunch immediately following. The event is free, but pre-registration is required. Register online at www.palmcoastgov.com. •••
way 1, Palm Coast. This annual free public festivity of vendors, food and entertainment is partly supported by a cultural arts grant from the City of Palm Coast. Contact Cynthia Bachoo at 386-986-6992 for vendor participation and Vikki Taylor for Kwanzaa event details. •••
Halifax-Health Holiday Choir announces performance schedule The Halifax-Health Holiday Choir will be performing at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 14 at Daytona Beach Health and Rehabilitation Center, 1055 Third St., and at 12:30 p.m. at Manor on the Green, 324 Wilder Blvd., Daytona Beach. In addition, the choir will perform at Halifax-Health Medical Center of Daytona Beach for patients and staff on Dec. 16 and 19 beginning at 4:30 pm.
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7 EDITORIAL
DECEMBER 12 – DECEMBER 18, 2013
The taxman cometh When the taxman cometh, Black dollars “goeth.” Where will they goeth? Down a myriad of paths in pursuit of new items such as furniture, cars, clothing, and other niceties. But first, unless you do your own tax return or get it done for free by someone, Black dollars goeth to tax preparation firms, the vast majority of which are not owned by Black people. I can hear the two excuses right now: “I don’t know where to find a Black tax firm;” and “I don’t want ‘them’ to know my business.” The first one I can deal with, but the second excuse just blows my mind. Nonetheless, let’s see if we can get the conscious ones out there to give a Black-owned company some business. There are many independent Black-owned and operated tax preparation firms, and we should seek them out, especially if they exist locally. But, there is one I have written about for years now that I strongly encourage you to support. With more than 200 offices in various cities, Compro Tax is the oldest and largest Black-owned tax/financial assistance firm in the country. Go to the website, comprotax.net, and find the office closest to you, which eliminates the first excuse for some of you.
Not less competent As for the second excuse, and those among us who are still suffering from psychological enslavement, thinking Black businesses
JAMES CLINGMAN NNPA COLUMNIST
are somehow less competent and beneath the businesses of others, you need serious help. Knowing your business is exactly what you want in a tax firm. The better they know what you are doing, the better they can serve your needs.
Entrepreneurship and wealth-building In business for more than 30 years and headquartered in Beaumont, Texas, Compro Tax is dedicated to helping its employees and franchise owners obtain the training they need to provide great service to their customers; it also offers great incentives that result in entrepreneurship and wealthbuilding opportunities. Compro Tax owners believe in giving back; they built their own convention center (Compro Event Center) in which to hold annual events and training, and they rent space to other local and national groups for their conferences and events, thus, creating jobs and business opportunities in the Beaumont community. Compro Tax, founded by Mr. Jackie Mayfield, is well ahead of the consciousness curve and has set a great example for other Black businesses to follow; but more im-
portantly, it has built a viable, sustainable, and needs-based business, one that millions of people can use throughout the year, not just during tax filing time.
Competently unconscious In keeping with my theme of economic empowerment, this is about Black business in general, not just one individual business. This is about doing what every other group in this country does in a “competently unconscious” way. They support one another and grow their businesses. The more we pass our dollars around to one another, the more empowered we become and the stronger we will be, even to the point of building and maintaining a solid unshakeable economic foundation for our young people. We will also provide them with the proper examples of what they, in turn, should do. (Note: Ironically, while writing this I received a call from a White friend of mine asking for the number of “that tax firm you told me about.” It was Compro Tax.)
Jim Clingman, founder of the Greater Cincinnati African American Chamber of Commerce, is an adjunct professor at the University of Cincinnati and can be reached through his website, blackonomics.com. Click on this story at www.daytonatimes.com to write your own response.
Booker deserves a presidential honor At the White House, President Barack Obama recently awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 16 luminary recipients. Along with the Congressional Gold Medal, the Presidential Medal of Freedom is considered the highest civilian award in the United States. The award recognizes those individuals who have made “an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, culture or other significant public or private endeavors.” Since its establishment by President John F. Kennedy, “more than 500 exceptional individuals from all corners of society” have been Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients. Four African-Americans counted among this year’s list or recipients: Bayard Rustin received the distinguished medal posthumously for his work in civil rights. Rustin is recognized for his leadership in social movements for civil rights, socialism, pacifism and non-violence. Rustin promoted and accomplished non-violent protest success alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He was a leader of the early 1947–1955 Civil Rights movement and helped initiate a 1947 Freedom Ride on interstate busing.
WILLIAM REED BUSINESS EXCHANGE
players of all time, Banks played 19 seasons with the Chicago Cubs. He played in 11 All-Star Games, hit more than 500 home runs, and became the first National League player to win Most Valuable Player honors in consecutive years. Cordy Tindell or “C.T.” Vivian, is a distinguished minister, author, and organizer. A leader in the Civil Rights Movement and friend to King, he participated in Freedom Rides and sit-ins across our country. Vivian also helped to establish numerous civil rights organizations. Oprah Gail Winfrey was honored as one of the world’s most successful broadcast journalists. Winfrey, 59, is an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer, and philanthropist. She is currently North America’s only Black billionaire.
Journalist skipped over
Again in 2013, President Obama has neglected to award a Presidential Medal of Freedom to 95-yearBaseball, civil rights old Simeon Saunders Booker, Jr. A Eighty-two-year-old Ernie legendary journalist who chroniBanks is known to many as “Mr. cled “Black Life in America” for 65 Cub.” One of the greatest baseball years, “Mister Booker” is steeped
in Black culture and race issues. Booker deserves recognition for the attentiveness he has provided Blacks over the years. JET magazine continues as the No. 1 African-American newsweekly, even though it does not come out weekly anymore. The publication has been a staple in Black Americans’ homes and businesses since 1951, when it was founded by the late great entrepreneur John H. Johnson. Booker is a writer of stature in African-American literature. The hordes of Black Americans who swept Obama into the Oval Office, twice, are asked to lobby the president on behalf of getting the Medal of Freedom to Booker in 2014. Let’s persuade Obama to show Booker similar support as have his peers. During Black Press Week 2007, Booker was honored with the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s News Maker of the Year Award. In 2013, Booker was inducted into the National Association of Black Journalists’ Hall of Fame. He’s been honored by the National, and Capital, Press clubs as well.
William Reed is head of the Business Exchange Network and available for speaking/seminar projects through the Bailey Group.org. Click on this story at www.daytonatimes.com to write your own response.
Notes from the Dominican Republic The weather was perfect. The facilities were clean and professionally run. All participants wore smiles and had no complaints. Such was Punta Cana, Dominican Republic in the heart of the Caribbean Ocean. It was the venue of our 2nd PanAfrican Entrepreneurs Conference, an international extension of the National Black Chamber of Commerce (NBCC). Last year’s conference was in Houston, which was mainly organizational. This one was about action and making serious plans for progress during 2014. A major highlight of the conference was the growing affinity between the NBCC and the people of Colombia. We, hereby, introduce to the world the African American Chamber of Commerce of Colombia. It is a charter member of the NBCC and has the leadership of Luis Carlos G. Playonero as general director. It has a documented 650 bona fide members and has received the recognition of the Colombia government.
Self-governing Juan Camilio Cabezas is the assigned Project Manager representing the president of Colombia to work with this new chamber and to assist in our collaboration. This is unique in the world. Most of our international chambers are extensions of the ruling party of Parlia-
HARRY C. ALFORD NNPA COLUMNIST
ment and do nothing without orders and the blessings of the prime minister or president. This chamber in Colombia is free standing and self-governing just like the NBCC. Our first mutual project will be a full fledge Trade Mission to Colombia during April. The majority of the Black population of Colombia is along the Pacific Coastline with the city of Cali being the center point. The Trade Mission will be held there. We will identify projects in both nations and start to encourage joint ventures between the members of both chambers. A major match-making event (between companies and live projects) will occur during a week in April 2014 in the lovely town of Cali, Colombia. This is going to be historical.
More Blacks Colombia has the highest percentage (16 percent) of Blacks in any Spanish-speaking nation, which makes this a natural in terms of potential and selection. There are 187 Black mayors in Colombia
Visual Viewpoint: Jolly Old Elephant
right now. Also, the United States now has a Free Trade Agreement with Colombia that makes all business activity duty and tariff free. Our 22nd Annual Conference for the National Black Chamber of Commerce will be held in downtown Chicago during the week of July 10 – 14, 2014. That will give us an opportunity to report on the progress of the above and to further gather more resources in our worldwide endeavors. We expect this to be our largest event ever. Stay tuned for details. The remainder of 2014 will involve two other major venues. We have established a “beach head” in Senegal. A formal Trade Mission will be planned for this nation shortly. It will have a focus on the Fashion Industry but not exclusive from general trade and infrastructure. The other venue will be Havana, Cuba. Cuba is allowing small business activity and land ownership now and that makes the timing just great. All national business organizations, including us, want the doors to Cuba to open wide. The timing is right and capitalism is going to win in the end.
Harry C. Alford is the cofounder, president/CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce. Click on this story at www.daytonatimes.com to write your own response.
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune
RNC Twitter ‘mistake’ wasn’t a mistake The Republican Party’s inability to prevent some of its elected officials and party operatives alike from making racist and sexist remarks and tamp down others’ penchant for cringe-worthy gaffes along those lines necessitates a slight revising of that old saying: It’s always like déjà vu all over again. Last week, it was – actually for just a moment – the Republican National Committee’s sole turn in the spotlight. On Dec. 1, it sought via a tweet to mark the anniversary of the 1955 arrest of Rosa Parks, the legendary incident that provoked the famous Montgomery (Ala.) Bus Boycott and the start of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s: “Today we remember Rosa Parks’ bold stand and her role in ending racism,” it said.
Ending racism? The blogosphere and Twitterverse immediately exploded with derisive reminders that racism and racial segregation continued long after the victory of the bus boycott movement in overturning segregation on the Montgomery buses. Not until the next day did the RNC issue a corrective tweet – implicitly acknowledging it’s worthwhile getting the facts and consequences of history exactly right: “Previous tweet, should have read ‘Today we remember Rosa Parks’ bold stand and her role in fighting to end racism.’” Unfortunately, GOP Rep. Duncan Hunter, of California, soon added to the GOP’s reputation for offensiveness when, in a Dec. 2 interview on CSPAN, he declared that lying “is part of Middle Eastern culture.” Hunter added for good measure that “In the Middle Eastern culture it is looked upon with very high regard to get the best deal possible, no matter what it takes, and that includes lying.” Later, Hunter’s spokesman made a weak stab at damage control, claiming he was only referring to the leaders of Middle Eastern countries, not their entire populations.
Every week, something new Has there been a week in the
LEE A. DANIELS NNPA COLUMNIST
last five years – since Barack Obama took the oath of office as the 44th president of the United States – in which some Republican politico in a low or high position has not been exposed as the author of a racist, sexist and/ or homophobic e-mail, video, tweet, or remark? There must be some kind of mechanism virtually implanted in the minds of Republicans these days that goes ringgggggg—your turn! compelling someone somewhere in its elective-office or operational structure to make particularly outlandish remarks or claims that underscore the breadth of the backward attitudes that rule the Party. If it’s not Kentucky Senator Rand Paul earlier this year wrongly lecturing students at predominantly Black Howard University on some elementary facts of Black American history, it’s Iowa Rep. Steve King weirdly asserting last July that many undocumented immigrants who had come to the U.S. as children had actually been ferrying drugs – producing in them “calves the size of cantaloupes because they’ve been hauling 75 pounds of marijuana across the desert.” There are many, many more examples one could cite, ranging from the picayune to the deeply disgusting. And they themselves are just a portion of the voluminous evidence that bigotry itself has become a more and more powerful congenital virus within the GOP. These “gaffes” and “mistakes” GOP officials keep making aren’t gaffes or mistakes. They are at this stage of its existence markers of what the GOP is: the party where bigotry thrives. And by the time this column will be read, there’ll be one, or two, or three or more similar Republican Party “mistakes” and “gaffes” to add to the list.
Click on this story at www. daytonatimes.com to write your own response.
Opinions expressed on this editorial page are those of the writers, and do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance of the newspaper or the publisher.
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DECEMBER 12 –DECEMBER DECEMBER1418, 2013 - 20, 2006
5 7
HOLIDAYS M AYOR
Zoomer ages 5 and up
Spin Master, $99.99 zoomerpup.com
He sits. He stays. He barks, rolls over and plays dead. He even (ahem) lifts his leg. This lovable robotic pup got top honors from our testers for doing just about everything a real dog does, right down to requiring a bit of training to follow commands. Expressive LED eyes and realistic body movements — Zoomer puts his whole back end into wagging his tail — make this spotted wonder nothing short of fetching.
John Deere Monster Treads Radio Control Tractor ages 6 and up
Tomy, $99.99, johndeeregifts.com
This revved-up tractor careens over anything in its path, when it’s not backing up, popping wheelies, or spinning in circles, all on supersized, bouncy wheels. According to one tester, the vehicle takes on “carpet, grass, mud and water and still runs like new!”
To find the very best toys of the year, magazine recruited dozens of families to test more than 300 playthings. Based on their feedback, here are the top 10 winners. Play on!
FurReal Friends Cuddles Hot Wheels Carcade
ages 4 to 10
ages 5 and up
Meet Cuddles, an animatronic plush playmate who won lots of hugs from testers. Programmed with more than 100 different responses, she squeals and blinks, swivels and sighs, and drinks from a banana bottle. Even her burps and snores are adorable. But to really hear her “hoo-hooha-ha!,” tickle her belly or swing her fast by the arms or legs.
Mattel, $79.99, mattel.com
Air-Stream Machines ages 8 and up
Thames and Kosmos, $69.95, tkkits.com
Science and play intersect in this “Wow!”-packed kit, themed around the power of air. Learn about mass, airflow and pressure through the construction of 10 air-powered gadgets, including a hovercraft (pictured), basketball launcher and batting machine.
Testers adored this fast and furious game, where players send race cars around a pinball machine-like speedway. The goal (and the fun): crashing vehicles through lit-up targets, up a ramp and into a hoop, all while trying to score major points in 60 seconds. Drivers, start your engines ...
Hasbro, $79.99, hasbro.com
Battroborg ages 6 and up
Tomy, $79.99, walmart.com
Remember the YouKnocked-My-Block-Off boxing robots? This modern take battled its way to the top of our testers’ picks. Using the handheld, Wii remotestyle controllers, players punch their arms in the air and see the same movement played out by the mini ‘bots. As players try to get the robots to land punches, the LOL action can get so frenetic that the fighters end up on the ropes.
B-Daman Crossfire Break Bomber Battlefield ages 6 and up
hasbro, $29.99, hasbro.com
R.V. Seeing You Camper ages 3 to 10
Our Generation, $59.99, target.com
Pom-Pom Puppies ages 8 and up
klutz, $19.99, klutz.com
It doesn’t get much cuter than a Chihuahua made out of pompoms. That is, until you see the dozen other poufy canines kids can fashion from this DIY yarn kit.
Featuring a comfy, foldaway bed and cozy kitchenette, the easy-rolling, 20-inch-tall camper for the Our Generation line of dolls is a real trip. One tester mom marveled that the camper was big enough for all four of her kids (under the age of 6!) to play with at the same time.
In this rapid-fire game, a companion to the anime TV series, opponents face off with humanoid launchers and send marbles flying, trying to be the first to blast three red bricks into enemy territory. Two players.
2-in-1 Shop & Cook ages 3 to 5
VTech, $49.99, vtechkids.com
Kids can go from shopper to chef with this clever combo. Fill up the grocery cart with play food, then flip down the sides to cook the feast. Both incarnations make dinner prep deliciously entertaining with sing-along music and interactive learning prompts.
Photos by Dave Bradley/FamilyFun magazine
R6
7 DECEMBER 12 – DECEMBER 18, 2013
Mechanic B Minimum of 2 yrs experience with diagnosing, repairing and maintaining internal combustion engines, accessories, power-trains, chassis components, and sub-systems. Must be familiar with the practices and procedures of preventive maintenance; be able to obtain your own tools, willing to work a flexible schedule including nights and weekends and be able to obtain a CDL Class B permit and passenger endorsement. This is a full-time position with benefits. $12.99 per hour. Votran is an equal opportunity employer and a drug and tobacco free workplace. Please email resume to esuchsland@ volusia.org OR fill out an application at: 950 Big Tree Road; South Daytona, FL 32119 between the hours of 9AM – 4PM
Service iSland Worker Fuels, cleans, and details buses on a daily basis. Checks oil and fluids and add as needed. Operates buses and other vehicles around the shop area and may be required to drive to road calls and/or the Westside facility. Must be able to obtain a permit for a class B CDL with a Passenger (P) endorsement. Hours: 5:30 PM – 2:30 AM. Monday thru Saturday. SUNDAYS: 1:30 PM-10:00 PM. Pay Rate $9.82 per hour. Apply in person between the hours of 9 AM – 4 PM, Monday through Friday at 950 Big Tree Road South Daytona. Full Benefits Including Health and 401 (k). Votran is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a Drug Free Workplace.
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7
SPORTS MA YOR
DECEMBERDECEMBER 12 – DECEMBER 18, 2013 14 - 20, 2006
Wildcats football team named 2013 HBCU champs Bethune-Cookman University has been named the Boxtorow 2013 HBCU Football National Champions, giving the Wildcats their first HBCU national title since 2010. It is the team’s second Boxtorow national title in the history of the media poll. After compiling a 10-3 overall record, and a 7-1 mark in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play, B-CU received just four firstplace votes out of a possible 18 in the final media poll. Champions of the MEAC for three of the past four years, the Wildcats narrowly edged Tennessee State for the HBCU crown. The Tigers of TSU collected six first place votes, but the head-to-head matchup against B-CU in the annual John Merritt Classic weighed heavily on the voters. The Wildcats claimed a hard-fought 12-9 victory over the Tigers at L.P. Field in Nashville on Labor Day weekend. For more information, visit www.bcuathletics.com.
JERMAINE HANKERSON/SPECIAL TO THE DAYTONA TIMES
Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats face the Florida A&M University Rattlers during the Florida Classic game in Orlando last month.
Further look at exploitation of Black athletes Sports agent outlines plan to achieve success
BY EVERETT L. GLENN SPECIAL TO NNPA NEWS SERVICE
WASHINGTON – A description of Rice University’s stand-alone major in sports management describes the enormity of the sports business: “Experts conservatively estimate the sport industry at $500 billion a year making it one of the top 10 industries in the nation.” Touting its sports management program, George Washington University in the District of Columbia observes: “No single aspect of our culture receives as much media attention nor has the power to bring people together as sport.” It is clear from above that universities are following the money in hopes of their students getting a larger slice of it and, along the way, praying that alumni will not forget their alma mater when they write checks to charity. However, Black athletes are primarily fueling this money-machine at the collegiate and professional levels yet African-Americans are excluded from everything from getting in on construction contracts, agent representation, media advertising and accounting to financial planning. This must change. In its TV commercials, the NCAA accurately states that most college athletes will turn pro in a field other than athletics.
Community action plan 1: NCAA study needed Petition the NCAA to finance a study to determine what happens to the 99 percent of Black student-
As a sports agent, Attorney Everett Glenn has negotiated contracts for some of the biggest names in sports. In a series for NNPA News Service, he outlines what can be done to halt the wholesale exploitation of athletes and initiate economic reciprocity.
athletes in college basketball and football who do not go pro. Some who do turn pro are ill-equipped for life. One of the saddest spectacles I have ever witnessed was former All-Pro defensive end Dexter Manley of the Washington Redskins testifying before Congress in 1989 that he could not read, write or spell. He was failed at every point in his life – from high school and university coaches who allowed him to play football without mastering basic academic skills to the NFL that allowed him to continue on his dead-in path to nowhere. That’s one of the reasons we at the National Sports Authority established our Business of Sport Success program (BOSS). Essentially, we use sports as a vehicle to motivate middle and high school students to complete high school and go on to college by exposing the students to the business side of athletics.
Community action plan 2: Convene national conference As part of the BOSS initiative, convene a national conference, to be jointly sponsored by such organizations as 100 Black Men and male Greek organizations for the fall of 2014 to
address Black male issues, including Black male student-athletes. Black athletes represent 52.9 percent of Ohio State University’s basketball and football rosters and dominate among its star players, fueling a nearly $130 million athletic department budget on a campus where Black males represent only 2.7 percent of the student body. The disparity between the graduation rate for OSU’s Black football players, at 38 percent, and all student-athletes, at 71 percent, represent the highest disparity in the Big-10.
Community action plan 3: Impose sanctions Petition the NCAA and each of the six major conferences (ACC, Big East, Big-10, Big-12, Pacific-12 and SEC) to impose sanctions on their members, including the loss of scholarships and/or a ban on bowl appearances, if the graduation rate of Black studentathletes in basketball and football is not within 20 percent of the graduation rate of all student athletes in their respective institutions, commencing in 2016 when the NCAA’s new eligibility standards for prospective student-athletes go into effect. It was inspiring to see that Philadelphia 76ers rookie Michael Carter-Williams, who is being managed by his mother and her best friend, is placing his entire salary in a trust fund that he cannot touch for three years. Instead of dipping into his salary of $4.5 million over his first two season – with the possibility of earning $10 million if the 76ers pick up the final season of his two-year deal – CarterWilliams is living off of the
Everett Glenn is shown with Minnesota Vikings Coach Leslie Frazier. money he is making from endorsement deals with Nike and Panini trading cards. Other pro athletes should follow his example. Of course, athletes need stadiums and arenas in which to play. And, like everything else related to the business side of sports, Blacks are missing in action. Our taxes are used to help finance new or modernized sports facilities, but we do not get a return on our investment. Approximately twothirds of the $21.7 billion spent on the 95 stadiums and arenas built between 1990 and 2000 were heavily subsidized or entirely financed by tax revenues. The carnival of construction taking place today is proceeding without an effective strategy to ensure meaningful participation by Black construction professionals. The entire Black com-
munity will benefit if we can redirect just 10 percent of the sports industry spend on goods and services. Such a shift will create new and exciting opportunities for Black accountants, construction professionals, consultants, financial and real estate professionals in the sports industry. It will also have the trickle down effect of increasing discretionary income available to Black professionals and businesses to support institutions and organizations in our community, from the NAACP, the National Urban League, the National Action Network and the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition to Black churches that have been the backbone of our community.
Community action plan 4: Develop more strategies Convene a national conference in July of 2014 joint-
ly sponsored by major civil rights organizations and the U.S. Black Chamber to develop strategies for holding colleges, professional leagues and major corporations accountable for the lack of economic reciprocity in their goods and services they purchase. As Cheryl Pearson-McNeil, senior vice-president, public affairs and government relations for Nielsen, said, “Until we do a better job as consumers in the choices we make and invest in companies that invest in us, we are not going to have any changes.” We hope you’ll join our nationwide effort at the National Sports Authority to empower our community by letting everyone know that sports is more than a game – it’s a business.
Everett Glenn of the National Sports Authority can be reached via email at eglenn@thensa.org.
UK bans Tyson because of ’92 rape conviction EURWEB.COM
Mike Tyson is shown onstage in his one-man show “Undisputed Truth.’’
Former boxing champion Mike Tyson has been forced to cancel a number of press events in London after U.K. immigration officials banned him from entering the country due to his 1992 rape conviction. The new Broadway star was due to promote his autobiography “Undisputed
Truth’’ in the city this week, but a change in British immigration laws means anyone who has been sentenced to more than four years in prison is barred from entry. Tyson served half of a six-year sentence for the 1992 conviction. As a result, Iron Mike has instead headed to Paris to salvage his European book tour, which was expected
to include a London book signing and a questionand-answer session with fans in a boxing ring. A spokesman for the book’s publishers HarperCollins says, “There was a change in the U.K. immigration law in December 2012 of which we were unaware.” The immigration change has also put his 2014 U.K.
stage production of his one-man show, “Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth,” in jeopardy. The 47-year-old was due to begin a touring production of his Broadway hit in March. Producers and director Spike Lee have yet to issue a statement about how the law will affect their plans.
R8
7 VETERANS
DECEMBER 12 – DECEMBER 18, 2013
Companies nationwide stepping up to hire vets Home Depot holds its own job fairs for veterans at its stores, and has a “military skills translator” on its website to help veterans explain how their military experience can be applied at the chain, she said. “We are looking for knowledgeable, hard-working, solution-based experience, and of course customer service is a definite plus,” Frazier said. “We really targeted military veterans because they tend to stay with you.’’
BY LINDA MOSS THE RECORD/MCT
It took Francisco “Frank” Miranda, a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, about three years to find a job in the civilian world that was a good fit. Since August, Miranda has been working at Home Depot in Totowa, N.J., where he and two fellow vet employees refer to each other by their former military ranks. “That’s the respect that we give each other,” said Miranda, a 50-year-old Woodland Park, N.J., resident. “They call me by saying, ‘Hey, master sergeant.’” Home Depot is one of a number of companies that have stepped up their efforts to recruit U.S. military veterans, helping exservice members such as Miranda who have struggled to find work and to adjust to life back home. The chain of home-improvement stores employs 35,000 veterans, around 10 percent of its workforce, and has committed to hire about 55,000 vets over the next five years. And Home Depot isn’t the only business that’s looking to beef up its staff, and find innovative ways beyond job fairs, to connect with veterans.
Wal-Mart, wireless jobs This year, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. pledged to hire every veteran who wanted a job and who had left the service in the prior year. Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and power company PSE&G participated in two separate pilot programs aimed at matching them with veterans to hire, and disabled vets handled customer calls for the utility following Superstorm Sandy. And last month, the White House unveiled “Warriors 4 Wireless,” an initiative seeking to place 5,000 vets in jobs in the wireless telecom industry by 2015. Alex Leniw, a 33-year-old Garfield, N.J., man who served 10 years in the Coast Guard, knows firsthand how hard it can be for a veteran to get a job. When he got out of the service, he attended Caldwell College for two years
Nonprofit program
MITSU YASAKUWA/THE RECORD/MCT
Frank Miranda, a former Army master sergeant who served in Afghanistan, showed one of his medals while at work in Totowa, N.J., on Nov. 26. and graduated. For a year since then, he has been hunting for work. “It’s just so frustrating,” Leniw said. “The economy’s not helping. I had my resume on Monster. com for a while, and that went nowhere. … Every job I’m applying for, there’s over 100 other applicants.”
New battles Veterans returning to civilian life have new battles to fight on the home front. They face a competitive job market; are sometimes emotionally challenged by the transition from the military; and they often lack the ability to explain and translate how their military skills can benefit an employer. Nationally, unemployment for veterans has been trending down, falling to 7 percent last year from 8.7 percent in 2010. “Most of the employers are very eager to hire veterans,” said
New Jersey Labor Commissioner Harold Wirths. “I always tell them not only morally is it the correct thing to do, but economically it’s great. You’re getting a highly skilled employee. You don’t have to worry about telling them how to dress. They come to work on time. They’re used to harsh conditions.” Wirths also said younger exservice members often go to college under the GI Bill and are therefore counted as unemployed. That can skew veteran unemployment figures, he said, including in New Jersey, where the unemployment rate for veterans was 10 percent last year. At job fairs, the commissioner said, he is seeing many Vietnam Warera vets, in the 50- to 60-year-age range, seeking work.
Big adjustment Miranda is in that age bracket. He spent 27 years in the U.S. Army, serving in places such as Af-
ghanistan and Kuwait, before retiring in October 2010. The transition took an emotional toll on him, Miranda said. “It was a big adjustment,” he said. “It was overwhelming not having that responsibility of commanding and being responsible for soldiers.” Miranda worked briefly for a supermarket, and eventually applied online for a job at Home Depot. Now he works about 25 to 30 hours a week, in the appliance department and “doing the racetrack,” running from department to department to help customers. At Home Depot, Miranda said he has a chance to advance and is working for a company that shares the same values of the Army — such as loyalty, duty, respect and service. “We really have been proactive trying to recruit military,” said Pam Frazier, human relations manager for the Home Depot district where Miranda works.
The GI Go Fund, a Newarkbased nonprofit that assists veterans, developed a work-athome-training program for veterans with disabilities. The nonprofit in 2011 received a $30,000 grant from the Kessler Foundation in West Orange, N.J., and set up the training, which led to 50 veterans with disabilities getting work as home-based customerservice representatives for companies such as PSE&G and Johnson & Johnson. The program has been expanded and adopted as a model by some companies, which are creating U.S.-based call centers staffed by veterans with disabilities. “It really just highlights how valuable veterans are and the resources they bring and their ability to work on their own,” said Jack Fanous, executive director of the GI Go Fund. Still, veterans such as Leniw remain disheartened about their lack of job prospects and struggle to make employers recognize their skills. He recalled applying for a job and being told that he, and other vets, hadn’t been picked for interviews because they didn’t have the keyword “manager” on their resumes — not a common term in the military. “If you’re in the military for two or three years, you’re already going to start building your management repertoire once you get two or three ranks under your belt,” Leniw said. “You’re going to have people below that you’re supervising.”
Scoop up hugs, kisses and
Savings.
What can make “Mommy and me” time even sweeter? How about the money you save shopping at Publix for your favorite treats and other items your family loves? With a little planning, you can enjoy great Buy One Get One Free deals and weekly specials throughout the store. Bring in your coupons, and save even more. With all the ways Publix helps you stretch your grocery dollars, you can indulge and have something left over: money.
Love To Shop Here. Love To S ave H e r e . For a list of current Buy One Get One Free deals, weekly specials, and coupons, visit publix.com/save. To view deals on your smartphone, scan the code.