Tamela Mann coming to Daytona SEE PAGE 3
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REV. JESSE JACKSON: Ban of assault weapons once had bipartisan support SEE PAGE 4
ALPHAS WORSHIP AT PALM COAST CHURCH SEE PAGE 3
East Central Florida’s Black Voice DECEMBER 17 - DECEMBER 23, 2015
YEAR 40 NO. 51
www.daytonatimes.com
Merchants losing power, patience with road project Orange Avenue project called ‘slow and sloppy’ DAYTONA TIMES STAFF CHARLES W. CHERRY II / DAYTONA TIMES
On Oct. 30, an AT&T repair worker held the telephone line to 623 Orange Ave. that was shredded during the infrastructure repair project. There was little construction activity noted on the day he repaired the line.
Since construction began on Orange Avenue last year, business owners in the area have complained about the lack of access to
their establishments and the loss of revenue they’ve suffered. The City of Daytona Beach’s $17.6 million project began in June 2014 as an effort to optimize the quality of life and the economic development potential of Midtown through improved infrastructure. According to an update
on the project, the roadway’s base and surface will be rebuilt; new water, sewer and drainage systems installed; traffic signalization and street lighting will be upgraded; sidewalks widened from 4 to 6 feet; and utilities buried. The project was initially expected to be completed next summer.
However, local residents and business owners continue to complain that the project isn’t just slow. It’s also sloppy. The Rev. Derrick Harris, owner of Cut Masters Barber Shop, has been one of the most vocal and has complained at Daytona Beach City Commission Please see ORANGE, Page 2
Documentary takes a close look at life in Midway DAYTONA TIMES STAFF
‘Jingle Bell Rock’ and so much more City hosts holiday health fair, concert
Above: Singer Leroy Robinson hangs out with officers from the Daytona Beach police and fire departments.
Local residents seeking a way to get into the Christmas spirit found it the evening of Dec. 12 at Daytona Beach’s Daisy Stocking Park. The City of Daytona Jingle Bell Rock concert included holiday music and a chance for residents to mingle and be jolly. The event included representatives from the Daytona Bach fire and police departments as well as city leaders. Earlier that day, there was a Light Up Midtown Health Fair, sponsored by the city in partnership with the Florida Department of Health in Volusia County. The health fair included screenings, children’s activities as well as cooking demonstrations and dance fitness demos.
Right: Creamy Hayes plays the saxophone. PHOTOS BY DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR./ HARDNOTTSPHOTOGRAPHY. COM
A documentary is in the works that explores Daytona Beach’s African-American community. The film will include a community forum that took place on Dec. 12 featuring longtime Daytona Beach educators, entrepreneurs, community leaders, and a local historian. The project is the brainchild of longtime Daytona Beach resident Percy Williamson, who is presenting the documentary in partnership with Daytona State College WDSC TV 15. Williamson also is director of Leisure Services for the City of Daytona Beach. Williamson said the documentary was inspired by the 1943 Gordon Parks photo exhibit titled “Midway, A Portrait of a Daytona Beach Neighborhood, 1943.’’ The exhibit is currently on display at the Yvonne Scarlet-Golden Cultural and Educational Center, 1000 Vine Street. The exhibit, which began on Sept. 11, ends Jan. 15. The images are on loan from the permanent collection of the Southeast Museum of Photography on the campus of Daytona State College.
‘Riveting’ discussion On Dec. 12, Williamson moderated a live taping of the community forum titled “Beyond Midway – The Evolution of An African American Neighborhood.’’ During the forum, panelists discussed various issues relating to Midway, including the culture, education, achievements and challenges. The proposed airing of the documentary is February 2016 on WDSC TV 15. The filming included a live studio audience who contributed questions to the panel. Panelists included Attorney Charles W. Cherry III, Esq., publisher of the Daytona Times and Florida Courier; James Daniels, a Please see MIDWAY, Page 2
B-CU graduates 246 students; honors civil rights martyrs DAYTONA TIMES STAFF
History was made by BethuneCookman University (B-CU) on Dec. 12 when 246 students were bestowed 246 degrees during the fall commencement. It was the university’s largest ever fall graduating class. The graduation was made even more special with the bestowing of four honorary doctorate degrees, which included posthumous honors for civil rights martyrs Harry T. and Harriette Moore. On Christmas night 1951, the Moores had just gone to bed at
ALSO INSIDE
their home in Mims when a bomb exploded – on their 25th wedding anniversary. Harry Moore was killed instantly. His wife, Harriette, died nine days later. Drapher “Skip’’ Pagan Jr., the grandson of the Moores, accepted the degrees and the President’s Medallion for his family. The Moores both were graduates of then-Bethune-Cookman College and had two daughters, Annie and Juanita, who also received their degrees from the school. B-CU stated that the Moores were honored “for their impact on the nation, the State of Florida
and this immediate community.’’
Trustees honored Dr. Bob Billingslea, an influential Walt Disney executive, also was honored. He spent 43 years with Disney and continues to serve as an advisor to Disney and other organizations. Dr. Terry Prather, former executive at SeaWorld Orlando, was this year’s commencement speaker and also received an honorary doctorate degree. Prather shared nuggets about some of his personal struggles and encouraged students to remember three key things – family, focus and faith. Billingslea and Prather both are members of B-CU’s board of trustees.
COURTESY OF JOHN REEVES/B-CU
Dec. 12 was a reason for big smiles from this group of graduates. They received degrees from B-CU during the fall commencement at the Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center.
COMMENTARY: MARC MORIAL: DEALING WITH LIES AND COVER-UPS IN CHICAGO | PAGE 4 HEALTH: THE CANCER TREATMENT THAT WORKED FOR PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER | PAGE 5
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DECEMBER 17 – DECEMBER 23, 2015
ORANGE from Page 1
meetings. He told the Daytona Times in September, “It was like a war zone just a couple of months ago. You couldn’t even identify a road much less figure out which one to take,” he said then. “I have a diverse client base that is 20 percent new business and established customers, including older people who’ve been with me for 25 years. Loyalty encourages several to walk across gravel and dirt, but nobody is willing to tear up their Mercedes or Lexus tires or get debris on their cars when they can just drive somewhere else.”
Service interruped Daytona Times Publisher Charles W. Cherry II’s family has owned a building located at 623 Orange Ave. since it was constructed in 1954. Cherry said he recently experienced problems that indicate the process has been sloppy. “It was the building’s alarm system that alerted us to the problem. We got a call from the alarm monitoring company that there was no phone service,” he explained. “We called the building; the phone seemed to ring. We checked with AT&T to confirm the phone bill had been paid. No problem there. “I went to the building
CHARLES W. CHERRY II / DAYTONA TIMES
On Dec. 14, there was no construction activity all day on Orange Ave. looking two blocks east from Henry Butts Drive. and all the phones were completely dead-no dial tone. When I looked outside, I saw a line hanging off the side of the building on top of one of the outdoor porch lights.”
Water halted As best that Cherry could determine, the phone line was yanked off the building by a passing dump truck or backhoe traveling down Henry Butts Drive during the construction process. Cherry called AT&T again, which dispatched a serviceman after a twoday wait. Then he went to
the bathroom to wash his hands. No water. “I confirmed with the city that there was no billing issue,” he sighed. “The bill was current, and no cutoff notice had been issued. The city cashier suggested I call the water department.” The water department dispatched a crew the same day. They examined the problem and determined that water was coming to the house from the city side. In other words, it was Cherry’s problem to fix. They suggested he hire
a plumber to figure out why water wasn’t flowing to the building. “I told them that was ridiculous. We had water here continuously for 60 years and had made no changes to the plumbing. But now there’s no water to the building after this construction project started?”
‘It’s sloppy’ Dissatisfied, Cherry called Thomas Huger of the city’s public works department. A short time later, a construction supervisor knocked on his door. “I told the supervisor
what happened. He got three or four guys to start digging. Long story short: the construction company installed new water valves, but connected them to the wrong pipes going into our building. So we didn’t have water or phone service to our building for weeks. And we are still having a problem with water pressure in the building.” Cherry, a lawyer, intends to write a request to the city for compensation. He also monitored the project activity for about a week from his family’s Orange Avenue building.
Libraries to host breast and cervical cancer programs
Top row, left to right: Len Lampel, Charles W. Cherry II, James Daniels. Bottom row, left to right: Harold Lucas, Betsy Hardemon, Warren Trager.
MIDWAY
Dr. Evelyn Bethune chats with Micheal Brown.
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retired insurance executive; Betsey Hardeman, a retired school superintendent; Dr. Len Lempel, a retired history professor at Bethune-Cookman University and Daytona State College; Harold V. Lucas Jr., a retired school administrator; and Warren Trager, a local business owner and entrepreneur. “The first-hand historical information exchanged by panelist Harold V. Lucas Jr. and James Daniels concerning the impact of the United States Government Program Urban Renewal was riveting and priceless.” Program sponsors were VITAS Healthcare, the F.R.E.S.H. Book Festival and the Daytona Times/ Florida Courier
Rich history According to a commentary written by Lempel, Midway became the center of Daytona’s African-American middle class during the first half of the 20th century. By 1924, its main business district stretched for several blocks
PHOTOS BY DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR./ HARDNOTTS PHOTOGRAPHY.COM
along Second Avenue, and benefited from a captive clientele – the byproduct of rigid segregation. Besides Bethune-Cookman, Midway’s main thoroughfare contained three physicians, one dentist, two churches and an assortment of 41 small businesses. Because Blacks were denied service in White eateries, Black restaurants had become especially prominent along Second Avenue; nine of them operated in 1924,” Lempel stated. “In 1944, Second Avenue contained approximately the same number of Blackowned businesses, including nine restaurants.
There were some new additions, however; a vocational school joined Bethune-Cookman College, as did a “colored” chapter of the American Red Cross, a Black Knights of Pythias Hall, an additional church, and a terminal for the allBlack municipal bus line,” he noted. “Despite Midway’s small but thriving middle class, most Blacks during the 1920s and 1930s held menial jobs in the city’s hotels and private residences, or worked as laborers in the lumber yards, railroad and turpentine camps, and on the farms and in the citrus orchards that dotted the area.’’
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East Central Florida’s Black Voice
Women between 50 and 64 who have no health insurance and limited income may be eligible for free Pap smears, clinical breast exams and mammograms through the Florida Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. Vickie Lawrence, a health outreach representative with the Florida Department of Health in Volusia County, will explain how the program works and share information about breast and cervical cancers and the human papillomavirus during free presentations at four public libraries in January. The presentations, titled “For Peace of Mind,” will be held at: • 5:30 p.m. Jan. 7, Daytona Beach Regional Library at City Island, 105. E. Magnolia Ave., Daytona Beach • 5:30 p.m. Jan. 14, DeLand Regional Li-
“I never saw anyone working from one end of Orange Avenue to another,” he said. “There’d be a backhoe or bulldozer working on a block or two with a few workers. Then they’d move days later to another block. There never seemed to be any continuous activity during the time I watched. “The project is not just slow. It’s sloppy. How do you take down a phone line and not see it hanging from a pole? How do you cut off water to a building and not know it? Our fence has been cut for them to place surveying stakes. Who’s supervising this job? Business owners and residents shouldn’t bear the cost of this company’s carelessness and sluggishness.” Harris also has complained about businesses losing services. He has told the Times, “We’ve had businesses forced to close down for months and during construction, water lines are often interrupted in the middle of clients getting chemical services like relaxers. Yet, we still get billed by the city for water usage.” Commissioner Paula Reed told the Times back in September that the city could have done a better job in assisting merchants. “This was our initial infrastructure so when they got down there and started digging, the sand couldn’t even hold the pipeage,” Reed explained. “We had to bring in everything new because it was all just so old.”
brary, 130 E. Howry Ave. • 5:30 p.m. Jan. 21, New Smyrna Beach Regional Library, 1001 S. Dixie Freeway • 11 a.m. Jan. 28, at the Port Orange Regional Library, 1005 City Center Circle For more information, call 800-226-6110.
Hospice seeks volunteers for Palm Coast, Ormond Beach Halifax Health - Hospice is seeking volunteers to provide assistance for patients in the Palm Coast area and at the Ormond Beach Care Center, 235 Booth Road, Ormond Beach. Volunteers also are need who can visit patients in their homes, nursing homes or assisted living facilities. Orientations are Jan. 12, 19, and 26 from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 156 Florida Park Drive, Palm Coast. More information: 386-425-4701 ext. 66400 or diane.adams@halifax.org.
A heart-felt thank you The Williamson Family would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who touched the life of our mother Katie Williamson and shared in her homegoing celebration. Many thanks to everyone who helped care for her during her illness. Special thanks to Pastor David Strapp, Minister Patrick Harding, Rev. Micheal Mitchell, the Daytona Beach Police Department, KiKi’s Kitchen, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Order of the Eastern Star Majesty # 565, staff of The Daytona Beach Leisure Services Department, Artistic Florist, Mainland & Seabreeze African American Class of 1974, former residents of PPU, Wilburn Williams, Ruth James, Alexander C. Wynn, Clarice Coleman, and the entire staff of Gainous Funeral Home. Your kindness will always be remembered. Cleve, Ruth, Frank, Ann, Percy & Peggy Williamson
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DECEMBER 17 – DECEMBER 23, 2015 COMMUNITY DECEMBER 14 - 20, 2006
M A YNEWS OR
Still inspired by the wonder of Christmas We can’t think of a better pronouncement than to inquire of our readers whether or not they are inspired by the fast approach of Christmas. And when this news release has hit the streets, it will be seven days before Christmas! And yet, Christmas is more than narrowing down the perfect gift for loved ones and friends on our shopping list. “Christmas used to inspire me when the children were growing up,” said Dorothy Robinson, “because I wanted them to have a beautiful Christmas. They enjoyed the holiday...Well, it’s a holiday that comes around more often than it used to,” affirmed the retired nurse, who’s known as ‘Booby’ Dorothy in the communiRobinson ty. “When I was young, it hardly ever came, but since I’ve gotten older, every time you turn around, it’s Christmas!’’ “Christmas inspires me in many ways. I’m reminded of my family a lot because that was a special time when my mother and father were alive that we gathered together and shared,” said Almedia Quarterman. “And, I think of all my associates, and the peoAlmedia ple I worked with, Quarterman and the kids that I worked with, too,” said the retired 42-year Pinellas County educator. “A lot of them had no one to turn to during the holidays, but I was able to provide a little extra something, and that is what inspired me.” “I am inspired because it is a reminder of the gift which God promised, that He would provide a savior through His son, who will not leave us,” said Ernestine Logan, a retired nurse. “And, I feel inspired despite all that’s going on - all the turmoil - but His glory goes on as shown through his love.”
BRIEFS DeLand church to present candlelight concerts The choir of Trinity United Methodist Church will host its annual candlelight concerts on Friday, Dec. 18, and Saturday, Dec. 19, beginning at 7 p.m. nightly. The work to be performed this year is titled “Let There Be Christmas,” which will include celebrative songs of praise to reflective carols of peace. The church is at 306 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Health care signup help available at library Trained navigators will offer enrollment assistance from noon to 6 p.m. Mondays and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays through Jan. 28 (except Dec. 24) at the Daytona Beach Regional Library, 105 E. Magnolia Avenue, Daytona Beach. Navigators will also be available from 9 a.m. to 2
PALM COAST COMMUNITY NEWS JEROLINE D. MCCARTHY
And so, it is this writer’s prayer that Christmas will show forth the true spirit of Jesus’ birth. And Jesus, the Risen One, grant us the right to the tree Ernestine of life - inasmuch Logan as the Lord does not wish for any to perish, but have life and have it more abundantly, indiscriminate of the fight of a menacing battle. May Christmas reinforce for us to surrender ourselves to Christ Jesus and have the will to do what He says to do, and experience His peace that passes all understanding - and in knowing Him, we have everything!
Alphas worship at First Church Pastor Gillard S. Glover’s message Sunday focused on “How to Become First of All.” Rev. Glover preached the sermon for the second service at First Church, celebrating Beta Delta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity’s worshiping with the congregation. The chapter, headquartered in Daytona Beach, has members from Putnam, St. Johns, Flagler and Volusia counties. The fraternity is apprized of such heavyweights as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall; the Rev. Congressman Adam Clayton Powell; and centenarian Dr. James Huger, a former Montford Point Marine, Bethune-Cookman administrator, Daytona Beach city commissioner, Community Development director, who came along. In addition, Dr. Huger has served the organization as the general secretary. Pastor Glover elucidated that
COURTESY OF HERBERT BOOKER
Dr. James Huger, front, and his fellow members of the Beta Delta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity worshiped Sunday with the congregation of the First Church of Palm Coast. we must push to serve - like Congressman Adam Clayton Powell who pushed to protect the rights of the underserved - and to listen to the One who is the Alpha and the Omega, and not distinguished by our dress, designation of seat, or distinguishing title, yet realizing that our gifts will make room for us.
ty), and “Imani” (Faith). Dec. 27, 2-4 p.m., is a date you should have on your radar. Come celebrate the ancestors, culture and rededication of the Nguzo Saba, and enjoy the first fruits of the harvest. The AACS, located at 4422 North U.S. 1 in Palm Coast, can be reached at 386-447-7030.
AACS to observe Kwanzaa on Dec. 27
AACHO to host Dec. 22 party
The African-American Cultural Society (AACS), a marketplace of disseminating Black culture, will celebrate Kwanzaa in a program and a taste of comfort with a “Karamu” meal. It will be free to the public on Dec. 27 at the center. Kwanzaa, which is generally celebrated Dec. 26 through Jan. 1, was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga of the Black Studies Department of California State College. Kwanzaa in Swahili means “First Fruits of the Harvest.” It recommits to the highest cultural ideals of thought and practice of the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa to improve the quality of life in our community. It is a guide to living the seven principles of the Nguzo Saba, which are “Umoja” (Unity), “Kugichagulia” (Self-Determination), “Ujima” (Collective Work and Responsibility), “Ujamma” (Cooperative Economics), “Nia” (Purpose), “Kuumba” (Creativi-
A holiday party will be sponsored by the Afro-American Caribbean Heritage Organization (AACHO). It will be a blend of door prizes and fun on Dec. 22, 3 p.m., at the Palm Coast Golden Corral. It will be free for members who have paid their $50 Scholarship Fund Assessment. Those who haven’t will have to pay for their meal, along with non-members. The cost is approximately $12 at the door. Contact AACHO President Vivian Richardson at 386-446-6935 to RSVP.
p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 23; and from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9. Schedule appointments at 904-762-8609 or by visiting www.getcoveredamerica.org/connector. Walk-ins are welcome but will have a longer wait time.
Daytona State College’s WDSC TV15 has a line up of traditional programming including an encore presentation of its “Our Musical Gift to the Community,’’ which was presented earlier this month. Here’s a listing of upcoming shows: National Christmas Tree Lighting: Sunday, Dec. 20, 4:30 p.m. (repeats Dec. 24 at 7 p.m.) ‘Our Musical Gift to the Community’: Sunday, Dec. 20, 9 p.m. (repeats Dec. 24 at 10 p.m., Dec. 25 at 2 a.m. and 3 p.m.) Daytona State College’s entire Cultural Arts department came
Birthday wishes to Loida Dehaney, Dec. 18; Berthrum Hinds, Angela Williams, Dec. 21. Happy anniversary to Berthrum and Shirley Hinds, Dec. 19; Clifton and the Rev. Cheryl Daniels, and Floyd and Audrey Thorpe, Dec. 21.
Old Label Production & Kingsmen Entertainment will present “An Evening with Tamela Mann’’ on Feb. 6 at the Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center. Mann is perhaps best known as “Cora’’ in Tyler Perry plays featuring the character “Madea.’’ She also stars in “Mann & Wife,’’ a series on Bounce TV with actor husband, David Mann. In addition, Tamela Mann’s popular songs include “I Can Only Imagine,’’ Take Me to the King” and “This Place.’’ The show will be hosted by Dr. Riva Tims, pastor of Majestic Life Ministries in Orlando and host of Star 94.5’s “Glory of Gospel.”
Ken Burns’ “Jazz” documentary is still showing at the Daytona Beach Regional Library at City Island in December. The schedule “The Adventure” Dec. 22, and “A Masterpiece by Midnight” Dec. 29. The acclaimed documentary features musical selections and interviews with jazz performers including Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller and Miles Davis. The free viewings are sponsored by the Friends of the Daytona Beach Library. For more information, contact Adult Program Librarian Cindy Fouraker at 386-257-6036, ext. 16166. together for the annual extravaganza featuring the symphonic band and concert choir, along with dance and theater students, in a performance of holiday music and other surprises. Recorded at the college’s News-Journal Center. ‘European Christmas Markets’: Thursday, Dec. 24, 4:30 p.m. (repeats Dec. 25 at 4:30 p.m.) Visit eight medieval and castle towns in Germany, France and Switzerland and learn of the history of the town, see their Christmas markets, and celebrate the magic of the season. ‘Night Before Christmas Carol’: Thursday, Dec. 24, 9 p.m. (repeats Dec. 25 at 1 a.m. and 11 p.m.)
The Flagler Film Festival will add a photo finish to filmmaking and showcase new filmmakers in all genres, features and shorts to take place Jan. 15-17 in Town Center at the Hilton Garden Inn.
Celebrations
An Evening with Tamela Mann
‘Jazz’ series continues at Daytona library
Daytona State TV station presents global holiday performances
Flagler Festival director accepting films
The success of the festival’s first year is said to be surpassed by its second, and the third is on track to exceed all expectations. Coming soon is the documentary “Imba Means Sing,” featuring three youngsters from Uganda who are touring with the African Children’s Choir. The documentary will be spotlighted Jan. 17, 5 p.m. If you have a film that’s innovative, low budget, micro-budget – or even a no-budget film - founder/director Kathryn Barry encourages you to submit the film. Student films will be given special consideration. The Flagler Film Festival is a sponsor of the Flagler County Education Foundation, the Tommy Tant Memorial Surf Classic, and the African-American Mentorship Program. For further details, visit www. flaglerfilmfestival.com, or call the box office at 386-597-0260. ••• As always, remember our prayers for the sick, afflicted and bereaved.
TAMELA MANN STARS WITH HUSBAND DAVID ON THE TV SERIES “MANN & WIFE.’’
The Night Before Christmas Carol brings spectators into Charles Dickens’ study on Friday, the 13th of October 1843. ‘Festival Celebrations: The Crane Candlelight Concert’: Thursday, Dec. 24, 11 p.m. (repeats Dec. 25 at 3 a.m. and 9 p.m.) The Crane Chorus and the Crane Symphony Orchestra come together to present a concert. It features more than 300 carolers and musicians from the renowned Crane School of Music at the State University of New York at Potsdam. ‘St. Thomas Christmas Jubilant Light’: Friday, Dec. 25, 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. Join the University of St. Thomas in Saint Paul, Minnesota for a
festive concert showcasing their internationally renowned vocal instrumental ensembles in performance with inspired musical programming. Winterfest & Wassail at Chapman University: Friday, Dec. 25, 9 a.m. More than 150 Chapman University singers and musicians from its choirs and orchestras performed in the Holiday Wassail Concert. Friday, Dec. 25, 10 a.m.; Biscuit Brothers Holiday Special #101 and 102 Join the Biscuit Brothers and company on Christmas Eve as they use music to celebrate on the magical, musical farm and try to cheer up Tiny Scarecrow who sits high atop Symphony
Barn waiting for snow. Hanukkah (Chanukah,) Kwanzaa, Hispanic tradition, birthdays and other holidays and celebrations are explored after Tiny Scarecrow accidentally releases all the holiday melodies from Melody Garden. ‘Prima Princessa Presents: The Nutcracker’: Friday, Dec. 25, 11 a.m. Prima Princessa brings you to England’s world famous Birmingham Royal Ballet performing excerpts from ‘The Nutcracker’ that will inspire the ballerina in you. It will be followed by “Prima Princessa Presents: Sleeping Beauty and “Darla Z’s Christmas ‘round the World.’’
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7 EDITORIAL
DECEMBER 17 – DECEMBER 23, 2015
Lies and cover-ups in Chicago “Because a body of men, holding themselves accountable to nobody, ought not to be trusted by anybody.” Thomas Paine, “Rights of Man (Part One)”, 1791 A day after the city of Chicago released the dashcam video showing the cold-blooded murder of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald at the hands of a Chicago Police Department officer, the Chicago Urban League, supported by the National Urban League, formally requested that the Department of Justice initiate a “pattern and practice” investigation into the CPD. Based upon the disturbingly stark difference between official police accounts of the October 2014 shooting of the Black teen and what is seen on the video, our nation’s second-largest police department is now under a wideranging federal investigation that will examine whether the department engages in a pattern or practice of violations of the U.S. Constitution or federal law while policing.
Cops lied Police claimed McDonald moved toward the officers just before the shooting. The video shows McDonald jogging away from the police. Police claimed McDonald continued moving toward the officers even after he fell. The video shows Van Dyke firing shots into McDonald’s motionless body. Police claimed the knife McDonald held was in the open position. State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez said the blade was closed. In other words, the police lied. This long sought-after probe will investigate the CPD’s use of force (including deadly force), ra-
MARC H. MORIAL TRICE EDNEY WIRE
Trump is not the only one The last name I wanted to mention in my column this week or during this “Season of Peace” was Donald Trump! I consider it a travesty, especially at this time of the year, to give platform to a xenophobic, misogynistic racist! The time taken to refute the bile of hatred and intolerance he regularly spews forth only lengthens his time in the public limelight and engenders unnecessary debate and discussion of his positions. Unfortunately, I could not allow Trump’s “Ban the Muslim” comment to go unanswered and felt compelled to add my thoughts to the sentiment of the many who, rightly, condemn him.
Disparaged many Lest anyone forget, since his campaign began, Trump has disparaged Hispanics, women, African-Americans, the physically disabled, Fox News commentators,
DR. E. FAYE WILLIAMS, ESQ. TRICE EDNEY WIRE
and anyone else he assumed critiqued him harshly or asked him a question that displeased him – as well as Muslims. Unlike his ardent fans and those who have excused him, I cannot overlook his “Muslim” comments or minimize their negative impact. From personal experiences in that cultural/religious environment, I can assure you that few who share or understand the Muslim worldview will forget his comments. His comments have jeopardized all who represent U.S. interests in the Muslim world. Our diplomats, soldiers and citizens will now embody the hostile ravings of Trump and, in a region
Gun bans once had bipartisan support In the horror in San Bernardino, Calif., a husband and wife walked into a social services center armed with two AR-15 style semiautomatic assault rifles and two 9-mm semiautomatic handguns and 1,400 rounds of ammunition for the rifles. They opened fire, leaving 14 dead and 23 wounded. We now know that they had apparently committed themselves to the Islamic State. This was an act of terror. In Colorado Springs, Colo., Robert Dear walked into a Planned Parenthood clinic armed with a “long gun” and started shooting, leaving three dead and nine injured. This, too, was an act of terror.
Guns over people Mass shootings – with more
munities –that too many police officers believe they are above the communities and laws they are sworn to protect and serve. According to the New York Times, from 2011 to 2015, in 97 percent of citizen complaints filed, not one officer was punished. Officer Jason Van Dyke, who shot 16 bullets into Laquan – many of them while he was already lying on the ground – had 18 citizen complaints filed against him, but he had never been disciplined. Laquan’s unnecessary and tragic death has pushed aside the dark veil of police department unaccountability. The investigation must usher in an era where the beams of transparency brings sweeping changes and reforms to the CPD.
As long as organizations, community groups and the citizens of Chicago (and beyond) continue to demand that police departments respect and protect the civil rights of everyone it protects Enough is enough and serves, the days of Lies and cover-ups can neither unchallenged lies and appear to be nor be the norm in any of our nation’s police departshameful cover-ups in ments. No one is served when the and citizens look at each the CPD – or otherwise – police other with distrust, fear and hostility. To effectively fight crime, are numbered. citizens and police officers must cial and other disparities in its use of force, and scrutinize the department’s ability to handle allegations of misconduct and effectively discipline rogue officers. The video of Laquan being shot repeatedly as he walked away from the police officer, and the conspiracy to conceal the truth of what happened that night with a concocted account that painted the teenage victim as an aggressor, speaks to a long-standing grievance – particularly among the city’s African-American com-
REV. JESSE L. JACKSON, SR. TRICEEDNEYWIRE.COM
than four victims – occur in this country at the rate of more than one a day. There are more guns now in private hands in America than there are people. Our weak gun laws make it “just too easy,” as President Obama put it, for terrorists or the mentally unbalanced or the irate to walk in and buy an assault weapon, designed explicitly to kill lots of people in battle. The San Bernardino killings
VISUAL VIEWPOINT: CHIPOTLE FOOD SAFETY
be partners in that effort, and that can’t happen if suspicion and anger stand in between that vital, life-saving partnership. The Chicago Urban League was, and remains, at the forefront of those demanding broad and bold reform within the CPD. I applaud both the swift work of the Chicago Urban League on this pressing issue and the Justice Department’s decision to open the investigation. We need to not only understand how the police handled this specific case of a 17-year-old boy shot dead by a police officer, but
JOHN COLE, THE SCRANTON TIMES-TRIBUNE
we also need to know if this points to a pattern of systemic abuse and lies. “The mixed-message of purported concern yet muted response – or even denial – we’ve seen from CPD’s top management highlights the lack of transparency and due process when it comes to officer-involved shootings. It is imperative that the Department of Justice step in and correct this conduct before there is any more loss of life,” said Shari Runner, interim president and CEO of the Chicago Urban League.
Healing the rift This week, the Chicago Urban League is sponsoring “Truth and Justice for All: Advancing Police and Community Accountability,” a community forum that will begin the conversation about strategies to heal the rift caused by decades of mistrust between the po-
CREDO OF THE BLACK PRESS The Black Press believes that Americans can best lead the world away from racism and national antagonism when it accords to every person, regardless of race, color or creed, full human and legal rights. Hating no person, fearing no person. The Black Press strives to help every person in the firm belief...that all are hurt as long as anyone is held back.
Marc Morial is president and CEO of the National Urban League. Click on this story at www.daytonatimes.com to write your own response.
torn with violent acts, become tar- logically manipulate the masses. Through historical analysis, we gets of retribution. should have learned how destructive this course of action could be. Larger problem Sadly, although condemned from many circles, Trump’s com- 61-year ‘fix’ ments are indicative of a larger An example of Trump’s folly is problem facing this nation. It is the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. understandable that so many have This was another “temporary” law identified the Republican position with a ten-year life signed by Presion Muslims as a “War on Islam.” dent Chester A. Arthur. Instead of As reprehensible as his comments expiring, it was renewed in 1892 were, they are only made more ob- and made permanent in 1902. jectionable by the 68 percent of Re- This was the first law established in publican sympathizers/self-iden- the U.S. to restrict the immigration tified voters who continue to sup- of a specific ethnic group. This port Trump and the policies of ex- temporary law was finally repealed clusion he proposes. in 1943 after 61 years. The lukewarm criticism he has Our excursion into national folreceived from his fellow presiden- ly was repeated by the Immigratial candidates is reflective of ma- tion Act of 1924 (the Johnson-Reed ny of the veiled anti-Muslim com- Act). It limited the annual number ments they have already made of immigrants who could be adduring this campaign season. mitted from ANY country, severely What has been made custom- restricted the immigration of Afriary in this campaign, by all of the cans, and imposed an outright ban Republican candidates, is their on Asian and Arab immigrants. appeal to hatred, intolerance The State Department Office of and fear. They are using the old- the Historian purposed this act as est tricks in the book to psycho- a means “to preserve the ideal of
American homogeneity.” Other historians credit this act as being a significant contributor to hostilities leading to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and our involvement in WWII. Most Americans will smugly condemn 1930s-era Germany and its leader for psychotic enmity toward a specific ethnic group. Those with a little knowledge will point to the devolution of the values of that nation and its people. They will speak to the ongoing impact of the barbarity of WWII-era Germany and the stain it has left on the German character. Some Americans will do that without the slightest concern for our own current national temperament. Trump is misguided, but he is not alone. Where do you stand?
san support. Closing of all loopholes for background checks seems just common sense. In fact, four in five Americans support background checks. Similar numbers would prevent the mentally ill from owning guns. Seven of 10 supports creating a federal database on gun ownership. Majorities would ban the sale of assault weapons. Despite this, common-sense gun control has become a bitter partisan issue. The Washington Post reports that from 1993 to 2007, Republicans were split about 50-50 on gun control, with Democrats 2 to 1 in favor. Then after the election of Barack Obama, Democrats didn’t change their views, but now 75 percent of Republicans line up against more gun control. Gun ownership – even of assault weapons – is increasingly defended as a “check against government tyranny.” After Colorado Springs or San Bernardino, or Connecticut or Oregon or Virginia or South Carolina, the
gun lobby and their allies argue that more guns are the answer, not part of the problem.
have triggered a fierce political debate. Republican presidential candidates are using the occasion to indict President Obama for being too passive or too weak. Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio condemn the modest reforms to limit NSA access to private telephone records, suggesting that the right to privacy and the Fourth Amendment must be sacrificed in order to counter terrorism. They call for a war on all fronts against terror – except on guns. Rubio joined with his Republican senators to kill a modest bill seeking to close the loophole that allows people on the terrorist watch lists to buy guns in America. While the fight against terror requires sacrifice and war, he argues, it should not restrict the right of those on terrorist watch lists to buy and hold arsenals.
Wide support The ban on the sale of assault weapons used to enjoy biparti-
Charles W. Cherry II, Esq., Publisher
Opinions expressed on this editorial page are those of the writers, and do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance of the newspaper or the publisher.
lice and the city’s residents. Leading voices on social justice and legal issues will examine the need for improved policing practices and discuss how the CPD can be reformed. If fair policing and justice for all – not some – matters to you, add your ideas and your voice to this vital conversation. As long as organizations, community groups and the citizens of Chicago (and beyond) continue to demand that police departments respect and protect the civil rights of everyone it protects and serves, the days of unchallenged lies and shameful cover-ups in the CPD – or otherwise – are numbered.
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Dr. E. Faye Williams is national chair of the National Congress of Black Women, Inc. Contact her via www.nationalcongressbw.org. Click on this story at www.daytonatimes.com to write your own response.
Break the divide Common-sense gun control won’t happen until this partisan divide is broken. It can advance in blue states, perhaps, and in blue municipalities where the state hasn’t banned local action. National reforms won’t happen until people break the partisan stalemate. This is a time for people of faith – of all denominations – to come together and demand common sense reforms to limit the gun epidemic that continues to spread.
The Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. is president and CEO of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition. Click on this story at www. daytonatimes.com to write your own response.
Central Florida Communicators Group, LLC, P.O. Box 48857 Tampa, FL 33646, publishes the Florida Courier on Fridays. Phone: 877-352-4455, toll-free. For all sales inquiries, call 877-352-4455; e-mail sales@flcourier.com. Subscriptions to the print version are $69 per year. Mail check to P.O. Box 48857 Tampa, Fl 33646, or log on to www.daytona.com; click on ‘Subscribe’.
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M AHEALTH YOR
DECEMBERDECEMBER 17 – DECEMBER 23, 2015 14 - 20, 2006
The cancer treatment that worked for Carter In clinical trials, about 24 percent of those who received a latestage melanoma drug experienced tumor shrinkage. BY VIRGINIA ANDERSON ATLANTA JOURNALCONSTITUTION (TNS)
ATLANTA — Jimmy Carter is receiving groundbreaking treatment at Emory University’s Winship Cancer Institute, but it’s not just because he’s a former president. Indeed, the prognosis for Carter may have been much more grim if he had been diagnosed with latestage melanoma just two years earlier, cancer specialists say. But the former president’s recent announcement in Plains that he is cancer-free comes after decades of trial and error by researchers. That work finally paid off in September 2014, when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted special approval for a drug, pembrolizumab, to treat late-state melanoma for patients who are no longer responding to other drugs. “There have been decades of research, where you build the knowledge one step at a time,” said Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, deputy medical officer for the American Cancer Society. “What we lose sight of is that the knowledge base took an incredibly long time to develop, and a sub-
stantial amount of investment.”
Reasons for hope It’s important to note that not all patients with Stage IV melanoma will have similar results to Carter’s, medical experts said in interviews with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. In clinical trials, about 24 percent of those who received the drug experienced tumor shrinkage, the FDA has reported. Cancer claims more than half a million lives a year. And, doctors say, prevention is still key for many cancers, such as melanoma, where sun exposure and tanning beds dramatically raise a person’s risk. Yet those who work in laboratories and clinics all their lives to overcome the nation’s No. 2 killer said that Carter’s cancer and his response to it are reasons for great hope in the fight against the disease. They also praised the way the former president has shared his diagnosis and treatment openly. “This is extremely important because it allows our patients to feel hope and to allow him to continue to do his very important work,” said Dr. Jedd Wolchok, chief of the melanoma and immunotherapeutics program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. “He’s doing something now — showing such enormous grace, courage and transparency — that may be just as important as anything he’s done.”
War on Cancer Wolchok said he feels great personal satisfaction in the president’s response to treatment because Wolchok was a principal investigator on one of the many worldwide Phase I clinical trials to test the safety of the drug. While the story might sound like an overnight success, it is not. It is the result of years of painstaking and expensive research, clinical trials with successes and failures — with millions of lives lost along the way, despite researchers’ best efforts. The fight against cancer began in earnest with thenPresident Richard Nixon’s proclamation of the War on Cancer in 1971. “There was the thinking that ‘if we can put a man on the moon, we can cure cancer,’ “ Lichtenfeld said. But that goal has been harder to reach than many people anticipated.
Lot of disappointment First, there are many types of cancer — it is not all one disease. Even within certain types of cancer that are designated by organ site, such as lung cancer or breast cancer, there are many genetic subtypes. Researchers also have been confounded because of how “smart” the cancer cells are. “If you treat them with a targeted therapy, they may or may not respond, but then they figure that out, and they change,” Lichtenfeld said. For those who began
BOB ANDRES/ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION/TNS
Former President Jimmy Carter discusses his cancer diagnosis at the Carter Center on Aug. 20 in Atlanta. He announced this month that the cancer is gone. practicing medicine about the time the War on Cancer was proclaimed, there was a lot of disappointment. “You start to scratch your head, and you want to have something to offer your patients,” Lichtenfeld said. Patients, their families, researchers and doctors across the country — and around the world — felt the same way. Work continued. And while today there are more than 14 million cancer survivors across the country, millions of others died as cancer fought back in the war against it.
Success in fight One of the ways cancer fights back is by mutating, said Dr. Amod Sarnaik, an associate professor at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, who specializes in melanoma.
“Melanoma is one of the most heavily mutated cancers there is,” Sarnaik said. Melanoma cells have mutated in thousands of ways, outfoxing many of the drugs that were developed to destroy it. For more than a decade, not a single new drug to treat melanoma was approved, Sarnaik said. Then in 2011 came the immunotherapeutic drug Yervoy, and at least five other drugs to fight melanoma have gained approval since then. These drugs differ from traditional chemotherapy drugs in that they help the body’s own immune system to fight the cancer; they do not destroy the cancer cells themselves.
Impact of trials The immune system typically recognizes cells that
Deaths skyrocket among African teens With HIV TRICE EDNEY NEWS WIRE
A report released this month by the children’s rights agency UNICEF states that AIDS is the No. 1 killer of adolescents in Africa and the second leading cause of death among teens globally. The new data states that most adolescents who die of AIDS-related illnesses acquired HIV when they were babies, 10 to 15 years ago, when it was transmitted during pregnancy, delivery or breastfeeding. When they became teenagers, there was no diagnosis or no treatment, said Craig McClure, the chief of UNICEF’s HIV and AIDS division. “We’ve collectively dropped the ball in the second decade of childhood,” acknowledged McClure. “(They) somehow slipped out of care in the transition from pediatric to adolescent programming, became sick, and died,” he said.
Huge setback Dr. Pierre Somse, deputy regional director of the UNAIDS regional support team for Eastern and Southern Africa, said the data on teenagers is a huge setback in the fight against the virus. “The face of our failure are the children and adolescents,” Somse said. “We are at the intersection of achievement, we have done well... but we are also at the intersection of serious challenges.” A decade ago, less than 1 percent of pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV received treatment which would have prevented transmission of the virus. Be-
For better health, watch the sugar intake FAMILY FEATURES
Consuming more than nine teaspoons of sugar a day for men and six teaspoons for women can lead to health problems such as tooth decay, obesity and depression. Reducing your sugar intake can help more than your waistline; it can improve your overall health. There are two types of sugar – natural sugar and added sugar. Natural sugar is found in fruits, milk and some whole grains. Added sugar is sugar that is added to processed foods and drinks such as cookies, cereals and soda. Added sugar can be as addictive as drugs, tobacco or alcohol because it affects the same regions of the brain, triggering the pleasure sensors to release dopamine. Dopamine makes you want to eat more, even
are bad for the body, such as bacteria that cause infections. “But the immune system has a tough time with cancer cells because they look very much like a normal cell,” Wolchok said. The immunotherapeutic drugs turn off certain “brakes” within the immune system that tell it to leave the cancer cells alone. “We’ve waited many decades for the scientific understanding of the immune system,” Wolchok said. Those years of trial and error are producing significant advances in a disease that once brought a life expectancy of just a few months, he said. “Many, many patients have given of themselves to participate in clinical trials, and none of this would be happening without them.”
cause HIV progresses quickly in infants, testing early and receiving results quickly can be a matter of life and death.
Deaths have tripled Now three in five mothers are said to receive antiretroviral treatment, according to UNICEF. But despite gains made among adults and babies with HIV, the number of 10-to19-year-olds dying from AIDS-related diseases has tripled since 2000, UNICEF said, launching the global data at a press conference this month in Johannesburg. Only a third of the 2.6 million children infected with HIV are on treatment. Untested and untreated, teens may unknowingly spread the virus. Infection rates among those aged 15 to 19 now add up to 26 new infections every hour with girls being 70 percent of those infected.
Young advocate Mani Djelassem is a 17-year-old AIDS activist, spoke at the UN agency’s press conference. As child in Chad, she said, she never knew why she was constantly falling ill. It was only after her mother died that her father told her: she was born with HIV. “I was infected at birth. What was my fault in this? Is it something I should be ashamed of?” asked the soft-spoken teenager. She said no one was talking to teenagers about AIDS so she began speaking out. According to the data in UNICEF’s Statistical Update on Children, Adolescents and AIDS, less than half of children under 2 months old are tested for HIV. Only 1 in 3 of the 2.6 million children under the age of 15 living with HIV is on treatment.
This story was special to the Trice Edney News Wire from Global Information Network.
when you are not hungry. When you consume too much added sugar, your liver has to work extra hard to process it. Excess sugar in the liver often turns into fat, which can lead to liver damage or other health concerns such as high cholesterol, diabetes or heart disease. It can also overload and damage your pancreas, which controls the blood sugar called insulin that powers your muscles and organs. Lack of insulin can cause muscle and nerve damage. Limit added sugars in your diet with these alternatives: • Skip sugary cereals at breakfast. Instead, opt for a protein-rich meal. Options are eggs, turkey sausage and whole-wheat toast with peanut butter. • Sodas, energy drinks and sports drinks sneak in a lot of sugar calories. In fact, a single can of soda has nine teaspoons of sugar – the maximum an adult male should consume in an entire day. Visit guardyourhealth.com for more food and nutrition tips and resources.
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1 in 5 children faces hunger. There’s more than enough food in America for every child who struggles with hunger. Help get kids the food they need by supporting Feeding America, the nationwide network of food banks. Together, we can solve hunger™. Join us at FeedingAmerica.org
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East Central Florida’s Black Voice
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IWitnessBullying.org
DECEMBER 17 – DECEMBER DECEMBER1423, 2015 - 20, 2006
HOLIDAY GIFT
GUIDE For all ages
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SHOPPING M AYOR
ommon Sense Media’s holiday gift guide is packed with ideas hand-selected to inspire, educate, and entertain kids of all ages and stages. Whether your list includes young children, tweens, or teens, you can give the gift of top-rated media kids and parents will feel good about. Find 100+ more ideas at commonsense.org/holiday
Angela Zimmerman Common Sense Media
A searing portrait of a talented young man under the tutelage of a brilliant but heartless mentor. The star’s total investment in his performance makes viewers into witnesses. An ode to the beauty of jazz and an engrossing look at a relationship gone awry.
Told mostly from the perspective of 11-year-old Riley’s feelings, this outstandingly original story is about growing up and learning to handle your biggest emotions. Clever, heartfelt, and beautifully animated, it’s destined to join the ranks of Pixar’s best movies.
‘Lego Star Wars: The Yoda Chronicles’ A laugh-out-loud parody of the “Star Wars” prequels, starring Yoda, with characters and much of the scenery built of Lego pieces. Rapid-fire inside jokes will fly above kids’ heads but delight those who remember the original films’ story line.
The newly discovered Seuss book is filled with jazzy rhymes, familiar-yet-unique characters drawn with strong black lines, primary colors, and a story kids will like. Offers a valuable message about decision-making, especially when choosing a pet.
Chronicles the off-the-wall, colorful, often absurd and hilarious escapades of a boy named Finn and his talking dog, Jake. Rooted in fantasy; fun for older kids and tweens who can get the references and irony and separate it from reality.
Demigod Percy Jackson offers up the stories of 12 mythological heroes in this large-format, gift-size volume. Percy’s witty, sardonic-teen voice helps smooth over any mature content. Brilliantly illustrated and absorbing.
Lets you design, create, and share your very own Super Mario adventures — or, if you want to wait on that, play 60-odd levels. Engaging, fun, and easy to use, it lets you play a nearlimitless number of levels created by players from around the world.
Each October Cara’s family braces for the bumps, broken bones, and concussions that haunt them each year. However, it wasn’t always this way, and their bonds are tested as they dig into their pasts. Excellent comingof-age novel; genuine and emotional.
Learn, create, and share in a safe and inspiring environment that takes learning to the next level. Kids watch videos, draw, take pictures, create, share, and message with family and friends, completing challenges along themes such as music, science, and sports.
Kids can learn about the joys of reading in an encouraging and nurturing environment. The app offers a wide selection of books (you’ll need a subscription) as well as videos that will appeal to a wide audience.
In November of 2013, San Francisco became Gotham City -- complete with the Riddler, the Penguin, and the Batmobile — to help fulfill the Make-a-Wish dream of a 5-year-old leukemia survivor. This heartwarming documentary is for all ages, with basically zero iffy content.
A teen-oriented detective show that just happens to have a zombie protagonist. The quirky police-procedural formula combines good writing, wellplaced humor, and, of course, zombie creepiness to make this unconventional show entertaining and lively.
Dramatic story unfolds over several days; played on an Apple Watch or other iOS device, so kids will feel like they’re talking to a real astronaut, helping make life-or-death decisions. Excellent writing brings Taylor’s voice and personality to life.
Accompanied by a tiny white spirit, catlike hero Ori sets off to defeat the encroaching darkness and restore the forest to its life-nourishing splendor. Gorgeous, gratifying, and emotional, with a wonderfully intuitive interface. Movement is an absolute joy.
In this ridiculously fun, over-the-top action RPG, you mix and match elements to create everything from ice shields to laser beams to fireballs, all to rescue a child of prophecy and fight the forces of evil. A game best shared with friends; a blast to play.
COMMON SENSE MEDIA IS AN INDEPENDENT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION OFFERING UNBIASED RATINGS AND TRUSTED ADVICE TO HELP FAMILIES MAKE SMART MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY CHOICES. CHECK OUT OUR RATINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ONLINE AT WWW.COMMONSENSE.ORG. © 2015 COMMON SENSE MEDIA
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Many people. Seven principles. One culture. We appreciate and honor the vibrant and uplifting spirit of Kwanzaa.