Florida Courier, July 27, 2012, #30

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JULY 27 - AUGUST 2, 2012

VOLUME 20 NO. 30

STILL A BLACK DISEASE During this week’s International AIDS Conference, activists and researchers said Black journalists are critical to getting the word out within Black America that HIV/AIDS is no longer a death sentence. dren living in D.C. is 3.2 percent. The World Health Organization states that As Washington hosts the 19th Inter- a 1 percent prevalence rate in the general population meets the criteria for national AIDS Conference this week, an HIV/AIDS epidemic. residents in the nation’s capital continue to battle epidemic levels of HIV/ End in sight?

AIDS – as does much of Black America President Obama lifted the 22-year– despite the stunning progress made old order that banned people living in treating the illness.

According to a report released by with HIV/AIDS from traveling to the the District’s Department of Health, United States, paving the way for the conference to return to the United the prevalence rate – or the proporStates for the first time in 22 years. tion of cases within a given populaSee DISEASE, Page A2 tion – of HIV among adults and chilCOMPILED FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

Sherman Hemsley dies at 74

RAY CHAVEZ/OAKLAND TRIBUNE/MCT

Hundreds of people form a red ribbon with umbrellas as part of the ‘Keep the Promise on HIV/AIDS’ rally on the National Mall near the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., on July 22.

NATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION 2012 CONVENTION

Equal Justice award for Martin attorney

TV’s ‘first angry Black man’ was Black American favorite COMPILED FROM WIRE AND STAFF REPORTS

Sherman Alexander Hemsley, who is rooted in the minds of Black American television viewers as Archie Bunker’s bombastic Black neighbor, George Jefferson, in “All in the Family” and “The Jeffersons,” and as Deacon Frye in “Amen,” died Tuesday of natural causes. He was 74.

The actor, who had a home in El Paso, Texas, was found dead by the El Paso Sheriff’s Department.

Widely watched actor Hemsley “moved on up” from working at the post office to acting on New York Broadway stages to prime-time celebrity in 1973 when producer Norman Lear cast him in “All in the Family,” the comedy that starred Carroll O’Connor as the bigoted patriarch of a White working-class Queens, N.Y. household.

As George Jefferson, Bunker’s Black and proud neighbor, Hemsley was a thorn in Bunker’s side.

Hemsley appeared on the hit show from 1973 to 1975, when he left to star in the Lear spin-off “The Jeffersons” with Isabel Sanford, who played his wife, Louise – nicknamed “Weezy” – the onSee HEMSLEY, Page A2

SNAPSHOTS FLORIDA | A3

Obama or Romney? Polls show most folks have already made up their minds NATION | A6

State revises grades at 213 schools OBITUARY | B2

Soul food queen Sylvia Woods dies at 86 FINEST | B3

Meet Joyner cruisers

KEA TAYLOR/IMAGINE PHOTOGRAPHY

National Bar Association President Daryl Parks presents his Tallahassee-based law partner Benjamin Crump with the Equal Justice Award at the Black lawyers’ association’s convention this month in Las Vegas. Joining them on stage are Trayvon Martin’s family – Tracy Martin, left, Sybrina Fulton and Jahvaris Fulton.

See more on the convention in next week’s Courier.

Florida Courier wins more awards for writing, design FROM STAFF REPORTS

The Florida Courier continued its six-yearlong winning streak and has racked up more awards from the Florida Press Association (FPA) and the Society of Professional Journalists (SBJ).

The Florida Courier took first place from the SBJ, one of the country’s leading journalism organizations, for a series about Africa, and won two awards this month in FPA’s annual Better Weekly Newspaper Contest. The Florida Courier’s sister paper, the Daytona Times, also won a first-place award.

Charles W. Cherry II, publisher of the newspapers, won first place in the SBJ’s annual Green Eyeshade Awards for his “Back to Africa’’ series published last year in the Florida Courier. He won in the non-dailies category for Travel Writing.

Andreas Butler

Charles W. Cherry II

James Harper

Sports, faith awards The Florida Courier’s awards from the FPA included first place for Sports Page or Section in the Open Circulation Division by sports writer Andreas Butler and Angela van Emmerik, presentation editor and page designer.

The Florida Courier also took second place in the Feature Story: Non-Profile category for

the Back to Africa series by Cherry.

James Harper, who writes for the Daytona Times and Florida Courier, took first place in the Faith and Family Reporting category for a story that appeared in the Daytona Times titled “The Doors of the Church are Closed.’’

The story focused on the events that led to the foreclosure of a predominantly Black church in Daytona Beach.

The FPA awards were presented during the Southeastern Press Convention held July 5-7 in Destin. The recognition is the latest in a number of state and national awards and recognition that the Florida Courier, Florida’s largest Black-owned newspaper, has won from the Florida Press Association, the Society of Professional Journalists, the Poynter Center, and the National Association of Black Journalists for its work since its statewide

ALSO COMMENTARY: CHARLES W. CHERRY II: RANDOM THOUGHTS OF A FREE BLACK MIND | A4 INSIDE COMMENTARY: PHILL WILSON: BLACK PEOPLE PRETEND IT WAS SOMEONE ELSE’S PROBLEM | A4

See AWARDS, Page A2

FOCUS

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JULY 27 - AUGUST 2, 2012

Why we may owe Tavis and Cornel an apology It has recently been reported that if poverty goes up by just .1 percent this year, it will be the worst poverty that America has experienced since 1965.

Peter Edelman, director of the Georgetown Center on Poverty, Inequality and Public Policy, attributes the poverty increase to a host of factors, including globalization, outsourcing, immigration, and an attack on unionization.

Workers’ wages are not increasing at the rate they once did, jobs are being sent to other countries, and those who don’t want comprehensive immigration reform are more than happy to watch wages drop as illegal workers are exploited by large corporations. The breakdown of unions and even the use of prison labor are changing our economy for the worse and endangering the livelihoods of millions of Americans.

Many aren’t listening Two men who’ve been consistently blowing the horn on poverty are Tavis Smiley and Cornel West. What’s saddest is that many Americans have been so interest-

DR. BOYCE WATKINS GUEST COLUMNIST

ed in maintaining their love affair with the Obama administration that they won’t even listen to policy advocates who have legitimate points of view.

Whenever Smiley and West try to bring up poverty, they are shut down, like the cousin who wants to tell grandma that her delicious soul food is going to give her diabetes. People don’t care to actually try to figure out if Cornel and Tavis have a point. Instead, they consider poverty to be a highly inconvenient truth that throws cold water on the Intoxicating Negro Fairytale that is the Obama presidency.

It doesn’t matter Do either Cornel West or Tavis Smiley have a personal issue with President Obama? I don’t know and I don’t care. Neither should you. The point is not whether their issue with Obama

is personal. The point is that poverty is a critically important issue that affects millions of President Obama’s most loyal constituents.

In keeping with the expected interaction between a political leader and the people he claims to represent, it is unfathomable that we can get angry because someone wants President Obama to address poverty. We sing and dance when Obama addresses gay marriage, immunity for illegal immigrants and the concerns of liberal White women, yet the matters that impact our community are considered to be too much trouble for such a busy and important person. This point of view is sad, sick and just a little bit creepy.

After we finish saying “Aww, them Negroes just be hatin’ on the president,” nobody says a word about whether or not the White House is taking poverty seriously. That’s like a kid telling his mother, “My teacher’s just hating on me, and that’s why she is accusing me of not doing my homework.” If the mother doesn’t verify what the teacher is saying, then she’s a bigger fool than her son.

Black pain is personal I know Cornel West after speaking with him on the phone a few times and meeting him in person. I’ve never met Tavis Smiley, nor have I met Barack Obama. I am not in a position to speak on whether or not any of these men have personal issues with one another, nor would I care to be. In fact, I wasn’t even invited to the inauguration (I wouldn’t have gone anyway; voting for Obama was enough).

But I do have a personal relationship with the starving families of America who are living in the streets because our people have forgotten to protect their interests. I also care deeply for the families that have been destroyed because the father has been serving a 50-year drug sentence that could be commuted by a presidential pardon, or the Black kids dying in the streets of Chicago every single day of the week. That’s where it certainly becomes personal for me.

Demand change Poverty is important, poverty must be addressed and the issue

quit his local gang after they abandoned him to police after they broke up a fight with a rival gang.

After quitting school, he served four years as a clerk in the Air Force in Japan and Korea before returning to his hometown, where he worked as a mail sorter in the post office. His day job enabled him to pursue a childhood dream of acting, which was sparked by his portrayal of “fire’’ in a school sketch for Fire Prevention Week.

“I was at home on the stage immediately. Of course, I hammed it up. They threw water on me and I rolled on the floor and said ‘Foiled again!’” he told the Associated Press in 1986.

In Philadelphia, he joined a Black theater company, where he gained experience in a variety of roles. From there, he was selected in 1967 to join the Negro Ensemble Company’s advanced acting workshop in New York – while still working in local post office. (Actors John Amos, Angela Bassett, Laurence Fishburne and Samuel L. Jackson also studied in the Ensemble.)

The right man COURTESY OF YOUTUBE

As “The Jeffersons,’’ Isabel Sanford and Sherman Hemsley paved the way for other Black sitcoms like “The Cosby Show’’ and “The Fresh Prince.’’

HEMSLEY from A1 ly person who could put him in check. “The Jeffersons” ran for 11 seasons on CBS, making Hemsley one of TV’s most widely watched Black actors.

DISEASE from A1 There was a refrain that was heard in almost every speech this week at the conference: Humanity is on the verge of ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic. That wasn’t a statement that could be made 30 years ago when the pandemic was first identified.

After studying the virus for more than 30 years and developing potent drugs that transformed the disease from a death sentence into a manageable chronic condition, a growing number of researchers now say the search for a cure should be a major research priority.

While acknowledging substantial challenges, they argue that the effort is necessary because the epidemic cannot be contained through treatment and prevention alone. And recent medical and scientific advances – including the case of the first man definitively cured of the human immunodeficiency virus – offer proof that it’s possible.

The current solution At the opening session Sunday night, Michael Sidibe, executive director of UNAIDS, said: “Now I want you to close your eyes. Listen to my words. We can end AIDS...Wear a condom, end AIDS. Give money, end AIDS.” “...We decided to embark on

Military, post office Hemsley was born Feb. 1, 1938, in Philadelphia and grew up on the city’s tough Southside. His father worked at a printing press; he was raised by a single mother who worked long hours in a factory.

As a teenager, he belonged to a gang and became a “high school kickout,” as he described it. He a program that really tried to change the paradigm in Washington,” said Dr. Carl Dieffenbach of the Division of AIDS at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Dieffenbach said that getting tested has to become a badge of honor in the Black community, like it is in the gay community in San Francisco. The researcher also said that educating Blacks about the critically important role that clinical trials, such as those Earvin “Magic” Johnson participated in, play in fighting HIV/AIDS and stemming the tide of HIV infections.

Dieffenbach announced that NIH will be bringing a series of PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) demonstration projects and clinical trials. In the trials, HIVnegative people at risk of infection would take daily antiretroviral therapy to decrease their risk for becoming infected if exposed to HIV. According to the CDC, PrEP, when used as prescribed, has been shown to be effective in reducing the transmission of HIV in men who have sex with men (MSM).

Although MSM is the highest mode of HIV transmission for Whites (75.2 percent), a majority of Blacks (34.3 percent) contracted HIV through heterosexual contact, followed by MSM (24.3 percent). Clinical trials for MSM who live in D.C. will begin in August and another for women will begin later this year.

In 1970, Lear was scouting for talent on Broadway when he saw Hemsley, who was playing the role of Gitlow in “Purlie,” a musical set in the Jim Crow South. Hemsley auditioned and got the job, but told Lear he preferred steady money from theater work – and his day job at the post office.

“George Jefferson” had been mentioned but never seen on “All in the Family” as the husband of Edith Bunker’s close friend, Louise Jefferson, but Hemsley finally appeared two years later – after serving out his “Purlie” theater contract.

Can be ended “We are on scientifically solid ground when we say we can end the HIV/AIDS pandemic,” Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, told the audience of scientists, researchers and policymakers from around the world.

He added this caveat: “The end of AIDS will not be accomplished, however, without a major global commitment to make it happen.

We have a historic opportunity – with science on our side – to make the achievement of an AIDS-free generation a reality.”

Still alive Phill Wilson, president and CEO of the Black AIDS Institute, made the same point when he followed Fauci. Unlike many Black males who were diagnosed with the disease in the 1980s, Wilson has beat the odds and kept himself alive since learning about his status 32 years ago.

“No, we don’t have a cure or a vaccine yet. But David only had a slingshot, and he felled Goliath.

Our tools are far from perfect, but they are good enough to get the job done – if, and this is a big if, we use them efficiently, effectively, expeditiously, and compassionately.”

This week, the Black AIDS Institute also released a report he authored entitled the “State of AIDS Among Black Gay Men in

must be kept on the table. Any words you hear from (wealthy) Black public figures like Steve Harvey, who might allude to the personal nature of the West/Smiley critique, are the result of inside conversations meant to distract you from focusing on the real issues at hand and holding anyone in the Obama administration accountable for what happens to the African-American community. The Black elite are wired to protect one another, and this often comes at the expense of regular people.

So, after you get done figuring out if Cornel is angry over not getting his inauguration tickets, refocus on the matter at hand and start demanding that all Washington politicians do something about poverty. It’s time to stop making excuses, for hope and change only start with people who demand it.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is a professor of finance at Syracuse University. Read his columns and weblog at www.boycewatkins.com. Click on this story at www.flcourier.com to write your own response.

‘Moved on up’ When George Jefferson turned his small Harlem dry-cleaning establishment into a successful chain, he moved from Queens to a luxury high-rise on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. That provided the starting point for “The Jeffersons.”

“I loved the character because I knew people like that,” Hemsley said of George Jefferson in a 2003 interview for the Archive of American Television.

Years after the show ended, Hemsley frequently encountered fans who asked him to re-enact George’s famous strut from the show’s opening credits. Hemsley said the Philly Slop, a dance he learned as a boy in Philadelphia, inspired it. But he insisted that in most other ways he and his character were very different.

Long career His television career spanned four decades, with guest appearances on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” and “Family Matters.” He played Ernest Frye, a holier-thanthou church deacon and lawyer, in the sitcom “Amen,” which ran on NBC from 1986 to 1991. He also voiced a character on “Dinosaurs,” a puppet sitcom that aired on ABC from 1991 to 1994. From 1996 to 1997, he starred in the short-lived UPN series “Goode Behavior.”

Information on survivors was not immediately available.

Hemsley’s best episodes from “The Jeffersons” will run on cable network TV Land Saturday, July 28, from noon to 4 p.m.

Elaine Woo and Valerie J. Nelson of the Los Angeles Times (MCT) contributed to this report.

America: Back of the Line.” Wilson hoped during the conference to shine a spotlight on how HIV/ AIDS is at epidemic proportions among Blacks in America.

National strategy Gregorio Millet works for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and serves as the Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of National AIDS Policy.

Millet told the group about the White House’s national HIV/ AIDS strategy, which has three goals: reduce the number of infections; get more people diagnosed; and reduce the racial disparity within HIV/AIDS cases.

Millet said there are 50,000 new cases every year. Most are Black – specifically Black women – and young gay men.

Better care in jail “Black women comprise twothirds of women’s new infections,” said Millet. He also shot down the myth that prisons and jails are “breeding grounds” for HIV/AIDS. He said people who are incarcerated are more likely to get the medications they need to survive.

Millet said once they are released from prisons and county jails, there are not enough transitional services for them to receive the same care they had while incarcerated.

Millet pointed out that high incarceration rate for Black men means there are fewer Black men

AWARDS from A1 launch in 2006.

“As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said ‘Praise is like Vitamin A to the ego, even when you don’t deserve it and even if you don’t believe it,’” Cherry exclaimed.

“Winning anything always feels good, and publishing two weekly newspapers is a successful collaborative effort involving writers, photographers, designers, printers, distributors, sales staff, the back office and ownership. Everyone on our team shares these awards.”

Statewide competition The Florida Press Association includes all of the Florida’s daily newspapers and many of the state’s weekly newspapers in its membership. The Florida Courier completed in categories for newspapers with circulations of 15,000 or more, while the Daytona Times competed against newspapers with circulations under 7,000.

For the first time, five states – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi – came together for a multi-state convention. In addition to members of the Florida Press Association, the Alabama Press Association, Florida Society of News Editors, Georgia Press Association, Louisiana Press Association and Mississippi Press Association participated in the convention.

available for Black women who exclusively date Black men. The high percentage of Black men who are HIV-positive makes it easier to transmit the disease to Black women.

Existing problem He said men who are on the “down-low,” those having sex with men and women, is not only unique to Black men, and that bisexual men are statistically less likely to be HIV-positive. Millet said stigmatizing bisexual men makes it more likely that they will not get tested.

“There is already a problem with just getting Black men who have access to health care to go to the doctors,” he explained.

Dr. Jonathan Mermin, director of HIV/AIDS for the CDC, informed the Black journalists that the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the Black community contributes to the high percentage of those being diagnosed, because most Blacks only have sex with other Blacks.

“We are in a vicious cycle in the African-American community,” he said. “When you meet a new partner, the chance of them having HIV is more prevalent and the chance of getting infected greater.”

James Harper of the Florida Courier; Freddie Allen and George E. Curry (NNPA) and Erin Loury of the Los Angeles Times (MCT) contributed to this report.

JULY 27 - AUGUST 2, 2012

NATION

A3

Obama or Romney?

Polls show most folks have already made up their minds

BY DAVE HELLING MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS (MCT)

Is the race for president already over?

On one level, the answer is clearly no. Mitt Romney, Barack Obama and their surrogates are hammering each other in TV ads, speeches and interviews. And the party conventions and presidential debates are just around the corner.

But a growing number of political scientists and campaign consultants — backed by the latest polling data — think the daily campaign back-and-forth is having no significant effect on voters.

Most Americans have locked in their presidential decisions, polls released last week suggested, and the already small number of persuadable voters shrinks by the hour. Put another way: America could vote for president next week, and the outcome would probably be the same as it will be in November.

“That’s accurate, barring some really big, big event or change in the political environment,” said Alan Abramowitz, a political science professor at Emory University in Atlanta, who has studied presidential voting patterns.

sity, agreed. “Most people have decided who they’re going to vote for early on,” he said.

Recent polls show those who have decided are split almost evenly between Obama and Romney. In a CBS/New York Times poll, Romney led by 1 point.

In a Fox News poll, he trailed Obama by 4 points. A National Public Radio poll found Obama leading by 2 points. A Gallup tracking poll over the same time period showed the race dead even.

The average of polls puts the Obama advantage at 1.2 percent, according to Real Clear Politics, a political aggregation website.

The incumbent has led Romney in that average by a one- to twopoint margin since last October.

MCT

dential choice or a messy convention could flip some voters.

“It depends on whether someone makes a huge blunder,” Warren said. “And by the way, the people don’t notice it. The media brings it out, and it can hurt.”

Democratic consultant Richard Martin said a candidate also could make a tactical error. “McCain made a mistake” by picking Sarah Palin four years ago, Martin said, costing the Republican votes.

But again, such a serious misstep isn’t considered likely. Romney is expected to pick a noncontroversial running mate, and though both he and Obama have said things in speeches they’d probably like to rephrase, neither candidate’s lips have fatally slipped so far, most political observers agreed.

They said that meant the election would probably be decided by turnout and voter enthusiasm, and not a big swing by persuadable voters.

History has shown, however, that July leads can slip. In 2004, Democrat John Kerry led incumbent George W. Bush by 1.9 points in the July 16 polling average. In November, Bush won by a 2.4 percent margin, a comeback that began in September of that year.

But this year’s polling suggests daily attack ads — whether on Romney’s role with Bain Capital or Obama’s problems with the sluggish economy — aren’t persuading many voters to switch sides.

“There is little in the way of persuasive evidence that the race is moving much in one direction or another,” columnist Nate Silver wrote last week in The New York Times.

limited. In 2008, 92 percent of voters locked in their presidential choices by June. The 8 percent who changed their minds, however, were roughly split between Obama and John McCain — yielding virtually no effect on the outcome.

There are some circumstances, of course, that could change the state of the race.

A major foreign policy crisis, for example, could change voters’ minds. In 1980, anger over the Iranian hostage situation damaged President Jimmy Carter in the final days of his race against Ronald Reagan.

Also, Abramowitz said, any dramatic change in economic conditions, such as higher food or gasoline prices — “something that people could feel in their daily lives” — could move the needle.

But he considers that unlikely. Even the 2008 economic meltdown, he noted, didn’t move many voters.

Crisis votes

Blunder possible

The polling also confirms studies of the last presidential election, where voter movement was

The candidates could also make a serious campaign mistake — a flubbed debate, a weak vice presi-

That’s particularly true in crucial states such as Ohio, Florida and Iowa, where residents are now being inundated with political ads. Because of the Electoral College, the national polling numbers may be less significant than the margins in battleground states, some observers said.

“Whatever is going on in the popular vote, it looks like this is going be decided by the electoral votes of nine to 11 states,” said Dennis Goldford, political science professor at Drake University in Des Moines.

But polls show state races are close as well. A Rasmussen poll released July 19 found Obama leading Romney 47 percent to 45 percent in Ohio, a key swing state.

“All signs are, this race is going to be won or lost by 1 or 2 percentage points,” Warren said.

More Americans choosing not to join religious group

by the politicization of religion, and people are simply less into theology than ever before,” Kosmin said.

Mark Chaves, a professor of sociology at Duke said that young and higher educated people are likely to reject a traditional religious affiliation. On the other

hand, Chaves found that many immigrants continue to associate and maintain the religious affiliation from their origin country.

“Only 10 percent of U.S. residents say they do not believe in God, but that is up from one percent a few decades ago,” Chaves said.

What polls show Kenneth Warren, a political science professor at St. Louis Univer-

BLACKAMERICAWEB.COM

New research suggests that more Americans are choosing not to affiliate with any religious group.

Dangerous sign Political scientists and consultants said there were several reasons for early presidential decision-making. In an Internet-cableTV age, voters are pounded with political messages daily, helping them make up their minds far in advance of the election.

An incumbent in the race makes at least one of the candidates a known quantity. And American voters are deeply divided, further cementing their choices.

But the relative stability of the polls doesn’t mean Obama will win.

His margin is well within the polls’ margins of error, strongly

In a tracking poll conducted by the Pew Research Center, 19 percent of Americans did not classify themselves as a part of a religious sect. Previously, Barry Kosmin found that 6 percent of poll

suggesting the White House is up for grabs. And Obama’s consistent polling below 50 percent, experts said, is a danger sign for the Democrat.

Ads aren’t persuasive

respondents identified themselves as religiously unaffiliated in 1990.

“Young people are resistant to the authority of institutional religion, older people are turned off

Close race

EDITORIAL

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JULY 27 - AUGUST 2, 2012

Black people have pretended it was someone else’s problem Thousands have descended on Washington, D.C. for preparation for the 19th International AIDS Conference, which opened July 22. Leading up to the conference, the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of a drug called Truvada for the purposes of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Pre-exposure prophylaxis is when a person who does not have HIV uses anti-HIV medications to prevent acquisition of the virus. That means even if you are exposed to the virus, you don’t get infected and therefore don’t get sick.

PrEP will be a very useful tool in stopping HIV infections. And for the most at-risk population on the planet, Black gay and bisexual men – and particularly

PHILL WILSON TRICE EDNEY WIRE.

young Black gay and bisexual men – this decision happened not a moment too soon.

Why I’m worried

know if our community will embrace this new tool.

The challenges for us: Will we get the information that will allow us to learn what PrEP is and what PrEP is not, who should be taking it and who should not, where to find it and how to use it?

Sometimes I think that if the cure for HIV was in the air, Black folks would hold our breaths. The reason why the 19th International AIDS Conference in Washington is so important is because it is time for us to stop playing with HIV. Every step of the way, Black Americans have resisted protecting ourselves and saving our lives.

We know that the science shows PrEP works for gay and bisexual men. We know in some of our urban communities, nearly half of Black men who have sex with men are already HIV-positive. We know that there has been nearly a 50 percent increase among HIV cases among Always hesitant young Black men over the In the beginning, Black past 3 years. But we do not people pretended like it

VISUAL VIEWPOINT: GUNS IN AMERICA

DAVID FITZSIMMONS, THE ARIZONA STAR

Random thoughts of a free Black mind, v. 146 The latest mass shootings – Not much for me to add. On May 7, 2007, after the Virginia Tech massacre, I wrote, “Millions of guns in America; billions of bullets.

Thousands will die. All we can do is try to reduce the numbers, and pray it’s not us or someone we know.”

Gun control provisions I proposed then included criminally prosecuting everyone in the gun’s ‘chain of custody.’

“The owner of any gun used to maim or kill someone, even in cases of suicide, should be prosecuted for negligent possession of a deadly weapon, no questions asked. If the injury is slight, it’s a misdemeanor. If the injury is serious, it’s a felony. If someone is killed, it’s manslaughter. This is similar to ‘felony murder’ laws.

If someone is killed in the commission of a felony, for example if two thieves rob a bank and one shoots and kills a teller, the accomplice can be convicted of ‘felony murder,’ even though he didn’t fire the shot,” I wrote then.

Other ideas: mandatory gun insurance allowing victims to get paid; and controlling ammunition. “Comedian Chris Rock is correct,” I wrote. “We need bullet control, not gun control. If a single bullet cost $500, most people couldn’t afford to buy them. Fine by me.”

I wrote on August 7, 2009: “On Tuesday, 48-year-old George Sodini, a man who (according to him) had been rejected by ‘30 million women,’ shot up an L.A. Fitness Center. He wounded nine women and killed three women before killing himself. His guns were properly licensed under Pennsylvania law.

“For every homeowner who defends him/herself with a handgun, there are multiple nutcases like Sodini whose paranoid delusions send them on violent rampages. For every hunter, there are multiple instances of temporary insanity involving family members, spouses or significant others where a gun is handy and somebody’s dead in a flash. For every target shooter, there’s an inner city kid who’s ‘strapped’ either to take what (s)he thinks (s)he needs or to defend him/herself against the streets.

“The people who were shot and the families of those who were killed at the fitness center will file lawsuits alleging that the club’s security is inadequate. They will also sue the dead killer’s estate. But nobody confronts the truth – the easy (and legal) availability of guns in America.

“The carnage that kills 85 Americans daily, a disproportionate number of whom are Black, will continue. Why? Because the National Rifle Association owns and operates the legislative branch of America’s federal and state governments, and can

QUICK TAKES FROM #2: STRAIGHT, NO CHASER

CHARLES W. CHERRY II, ESQ. PUBLISHER

block any serious gun control laws. Why no outrage in the Black community?”

What’s changed since I wrote those columns? The NRA also now owns the judicial branch (the U.S. Supreme Court) and the executive branch, i.e., the presidency (Bro. Prez won’t fight and Mitt Romney is spineless on this issue). Gun ownership is now America’s No. 1 protected constitutional right.

What hasn’t changed? Still no Black outrage...

Penn State – Despite a $60 million fine (which rich alumni will pay), forfeited wins, no bowl appearances, etc., the school got off easy. Penn State football continues in 2012.

Wrote Washington Post columnist Mike Wise: “The NCAA essentially said that grade-fixing and paying players in the 1980s – violations that led to the ‘death penalty’ shutdown of Southern Methodist’s football program for two seasons – was more egregious than former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky molesting prepubescent boys in the football building’s showers even after (Head Coach Joe) Paterno and others received eyewitness accounts of the behavior.”

NCAA leadership is greedy and hypocritical. And free your student-athlete ‘slaves’ by sharing the profits...

“The Black Press is dead” – Our ‘death’ is exaggerated. We’re still here, while large ‘mainstream’ newspapers are dying around us and other Black media owners cashed out and sold out, i.e., BET and Essence. Bottom line: it’s a business with real expenses (printing, circulation, etc.), and we don’t apologize for being entrepreneurs. As we learn to harness the Internet, the future is bright for Black-owned media outlets like ours with real journalists...

Sherman Hemsley, 1938-2012 – Anytime you saw Hemsley play any role, you were ready to laugh. What a gift! I only knew two strong, Black male small business owners who called White men “honkies” or “crackers” to their faces in the 1970s: “George Jefferson” and Charles W. Cherry, Sr....and Daddy wasn't playing...

Contact me at ccherry2@gmail.com; holler at me at www.facebook.com/ ccherry2; follow me on Twitter @ccherry2.

was someone else’s problem. When the first treatments became available, we resisted making the treatments available even for folks for whom it was appropriate. I suffered thru the horrible days and nights of AZT, a terrible drug. But I’m alive 32 years later because I stayed alive long enough for the next generation of drugs to become available.

When needle-exchange programs were proven to stop transmission of HIV without increasing IV drug use, Black Americans developed a not-in-my-backyard attitude and resisted needle-exchange programs at the expense of thousands of lives.

When the new protease inhibitors became available, again we were slow to respond. Now we’re being presented with a host of breakthrough biomedical interventions, yet around the country we are obsessing on issues that, while important, are not paramount.

Every racial ethnic community in America is making progress toward the end of the AIDS epidemic except Black people.

Standing and watching During the Holocaust when the Nazis were rounding up the Jews, people just stood by and watched it happened not realizing that people like them were being rounded up as well. For years Black people have watched everybody else dying from AIDS, not realizing that we were infected as well. In Nazi Germany people remained silent until it was too late. Will we?

The prominent Protestant pastor and outspoken critic of Adolph Hitler, Martin Niemöller, said it like this: “First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out -- because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out -- because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out -- Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me -- and there was no one left to speak for me.”

else) has left the building.

We are just about the only ones still left around. And nobody else seems to give a damn. Federal dollars for HIV are down; corporate dollars to fight HIV are down; foundation dollars to fight HIV are down.

This is the last flight out.

We choose to not get on board at our own peril. Black Americans have to build our own infrastructure and capacity to beat this thing. And we can’t do it if we don’t have the latest scientific information.

Nobody can save us from us, but us. This is our problem. Our people. Our solution.

Phill Wilson was diagnosed with HIV more than 30 years ago, and is the president CEO of the Black AIDS Institute, the only national HIV/AIDS think tank in the United States focused exclusively on Black people. Contact him at PhillWilson@ BlackAIDS.org. Click on Get on board! this story at www.flcouriBlack America, take no- er.com to write your own tice: Elvis (and everybody response.

Florida’s Black business boondoggle It’s 2012, an election year, and every other word coming out of the mouths of political candidates speaks about jobs and business.

What does this business talk mean to Florida’s and America’s Black business owners? The answer will come in an investigative report about the status of Black business in one of America’s largest states!

The Gantt Report has agreed with two professional and award winning Black journalists to put together a comprehensive report on Black business achievement, the laws written to assist and enhance Black business and the state, local and other agencies, departments and offices allegedly designed to create more Black business opportunities.

Let us know Readers are encouraged to contact The Gantt Report via www.flcourier.com, or by going to my website at www.allworldconsultants. net to let us know your Black business success stories – or Black business horror stories.

Has your media business been getting government and private sector advertising in this time of electionrelated extreme profit-making by White-owned TV and radio stations? Has your construction company or professional services companies gotten substantial contracts or sub-contracts from government or private sector builders and developers?

Has your company been

LUCIUS GANTT THE GANTT REPORT

helped or hurt by MBE offices that primary focus on “certification” rather than focusing on getting more Blacks involved in purchasing transactions?

Contact us and tell us your Black business story. No one will write our story but us, and no one will tell our story but us!

We hire Blacks Black business prosperity is important because Black businesses hire Black workers. There were far more successful Black businesses 40 years ago than now.

Once upon a time, Blacks could buy everything they needed in Black communities from Black vendors and Black businesses. Nowadays, many African-Americans will drive past five Black restaurants to get to a Taco Bell or a Kentucky Fried Chicken.

All Black businesses are catching hell. We can’t get business loans, we can’t get mortgages and we can’t keep our customers in some instances. Not only are the legitimate Black businesses suffering, the dope dealers aren’t selling as many drugs, the hookers can’t sell as much sex and the numbers runners can’t compete with unwinnable lottery games.

Governments are quick to go on trade missions in exot-

ic countries and foreign locations but when will there be trade missions in the ghettos and barrios of America?

Florida Gov. Rick Scott, explain to me how Florida is a “business state” when there are only two business from Florida in The Black Enterprise list of top 100 Black businesses in America.

Black elected officials, tell me. Even though you are quick to send out weekly press releases to Black media, none of those releases talk about bills you have sponsored or pushed that will help Black businesses make more money.

Numbers never lie The number of contract opportunities for Black businesses in public and private sectors is worst than dismal.

And don’t talk to me about “minorities” and business.

White women and Hispanics, in terms of business, are not in the same class as Blacks!

Help us put this story together about Black business in Florida and in America.

Share your experiences and ideas with us.

There is power in Black community unity and in Black business unity. We need to put an end to the current Black business boondoggle!

Buy Gantt’s book “Beast Too: Dead Man Writing” at any major bookstore and contact Lucius at www. allworldconsultants.net.

Click on this story at www. flcourier.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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However, current events received prior to deadline will be considered before any information that is submitted, without the Publisher’s prior approval, after the deadline. Press releases, letters to the editor, and guest commentaries must be e-mailed to be considered for publication. The Florida Courier reserves the right to edit any submission, and crop any photograph, for style and clarity. Materials will not be returned.

Charles W. Cherry, Sr. (1929-2004), Founder Julia T. Cherry, Senior Managing Member, Central Florida Communicators Group, LLC Dr. Glenn W. Cherry, Cassandra CherryKittles, Charles W. Cherry II, Managing Members Dr. Glenn W. Cherry, Chief Executive Officer Charles W. Cherry II, Esq., Publisher Dr. Valerie Rawls-Cherry, Human Resources Lynnette Garcia, Marketing Consultant/Sales Linda Fructuoso, Marketing Consultant/Sales, Circulation Angela VanEmmerik, Creative Director Chicago Jones, Eugene Leach, Louis Muhammad, Lisa Rogers-Cherry, Circulation Jenise Morgan, Senior Editor Starla Vaughns Cherin, Karin Davis-Thompson, James Harper, Andreas Butler, Ashley Thomas, Staff Writers Delroy Cole, Kim Gibson, Photojournalists MEMBER National Newspaper Publishers Association Society of Professional Journalists Florida Press Association Associated Press National Newspaper Association

JULY 27 - AUGUST 2, 2012

Predatory lending, ghettoes are wages of White affirmative action White people have started to return to South Los Angeles. They can be seen watering lawns, walking dogs, and frequenting local restaurants.

Legend has it that there are a few White families that never left during the postwar mass exodus that magically transformed what was once Southwest L.A. into “South Central” – that internationally notorious, mythic den of drugs, drive-bys and destruction that launched a thousand gangsta rap careers and corporate parasites rolling to the bank on the backs of “bitches” and “hos.”

Back in the day, all of the “bad” Black and Brown schools in Compton, Watts, and Inglewood were teeming with Whites. “Leave It to Beaver” mom icon Barbara Billingsley even graduated from a local ‘hood school in the 1930s.

But these new White transplants are merely symbols of the turbulent real estate market, not inner city missionaries slumming for an ethnographic high. They’re canaries in the coalmine of negative equity.

Priced out of the ‘better’ (read White) areas of the city, some White homebuyers have been forced to venture back into the ‘hood. In savvy short sales, they’re rediscovering the “quaintness” of Black neighborhoods that their forebears escaped decades ago courtesy of government programs like the GI Bill and FHA mortgage lending.

SIKIVU HUTCHINSON BLACK AGENDA REPORT

housing policies is part of Whites’ democratic birthright. White American democracy has always meant the bliss of segregation and the willful ignorance of the bodies that get displaced.

Even in the era of rampant “Main Street” foreclosure and negative equity, White American democracy still means the privilege of mobility. White dislocation is called “a tragedy.” But when Whites move into neighborhoods that residents of color have been forced to leave due to plummeting home values and high unemployment, it’s called “gentrification.” It is only cause for national political action and reform when imploding housing bubbles impact White middle-class homeowners.

Bipartisan political rhetoric that fixates on the “middle class” while marginalizing disproportionately asset-poor working class people of color, merely reinforces a colorblind class myth where struggling White people have it “just as bad” as people of color.

‘Cultures of poverty’

God’s pecking order does not favor being on the dole and accepting handouts. American exMobility is a birthright ceptionalism is validated by the But having the luxury to move specter of the Black ghetto as back to the ‘ghetto’ they built den of immorality. According to through generations of apartheid this narrative, African-Americans

have squandered the advantages of living in a democratic society in which everyone has an equal chance at economic mobility. Black poverty is only immoral insofar as it reflects a certain cultural indolence and pathology on the part of shiftless Blacks.

While “cultures of poverty” corrupt, cultures of success, based on capitalism, free enterprise, and hard work, uplift and moralize. Systemic discrimination has never been deemed immoral in the American mainstream. For the Right, systemic discrimination is a quaint oxymoron, a vestige of a primitive era when the U.S. was presumably less evolved.

In 2011, former mortgage giant Countrywide was found guilty of engaging in predatory lending targeting Black and Latino homebuyers. This month, Wells Fargo settled a lawsuit after it was accused of steering over 30,000 Black and Latino homebuyers to subprime loans. The class action stemmed from a Baltimore city lawsuit in which former employees alleged that Wells Fargo “loan officers referred to minority borrowers as ‘mud people’ and called subprime mortgages ‘ghetto loans.’”

So while homebuyers of color were essentially taxed for being Black or Brown, White homebuyers “bootstrapped” their way to the American dream with lower interest rates and better terms handed to them by the big banks.

“Homebuying while White,” many of them had the same credit scores and incomes as applicants of color.

What they didn’t have was the same capital and asset hold-

EDITORIAL

A5

VISUAL VIEWPOINT: THE COLORADO THEATRE SHOOTING

NATE BEELER, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

ings. Not only is Black and Latino wealth a fraction of White wealth, but the vast majority of it is based on home equity that has been pillaged by Wells Fargo, Countrywide, Bank of America and other lenders. As Yuan Miu of the Washington Post argues, the housing bust has “left a scar on the finances of Black America…(it) has not only wiped out a generation of economic progress but could leave them at financial disadvantage for generations to come.”

Different assets Yet mainstream narratives on the housing meltdown tend to revolve around irresponsible homebuyers lapping up variable mortgages they couldn’t pay off, or vulnerable homebuyers sacrificed on the altar of Wall Street’s credit default swap morass.

After President Obama finished bailing out the big Wall Street banks, his rhetoric turned to shoring up Main Street. To hear Obama tell it, the brunt of the crisis was squarely centered in Middle America. Urban neighborhoods devastated by the TKO of

predatory lending, foreclosure, job discrimination, and mass incarceration barely registered on the radar of the administration or the mainstream media.

There was little mass outrage over the immoral systematic disenfranchisement of Black and Latino homebuyers by the banking crooks. No lawmakers, other than a few in the Congressional Black Caucus, rushed to criticize the lending industry’s White affirmative action. Nor did they condemn the racist practices of bankruptcy attorneys who refer debt-ridden Black consumers to more costly Chapter 13 bankruptcy filings.

It’s the wages of White affirmative action that have always defined American democracy – model for the civilized world.

Sikivu Hutchinson is the author of “Moral Combat: Black Atheists, Gender Politics, and the Values Wars.” Click on this story at www.flcourier.com to write your own response.

Romney disses entrepreneurs and loyal Black Republicans I have been extremely critical of President Obama’s non-engagement with the Black community.

President Obama has deliberately ignored the plight of the Black community while giving preferential treatment to the homosexual and Hispanic communities.

But I can’t in good conscience criticize Obama and then give the Republicans a pass when they display similar behavior towards the Black community. I can’t excoriate Black Democrats for following Obama blindly and then remain silent when Black Republicans do the same towards Mitt Romney.

Inexperienced advisors As I watched Romney address the NAACP, I tried to force myself to be optimistic about what he would say. But my years of being an avid Republican prepared me for the worst. And that’s exactly what I saw.

At the NAACP national convention, Romney had a golden opportunity to make a credible argument for Blacks to support him. But because he doesn’t have experienced Blacks in his inner circle, he thoroughly embarrassed himself and deserved to be roundly booed.

For Romney to speak before a

from work.

More than anyone else, business leaders understand the cost RAYNARD of capital issues and therefore are more likely to support a reduction JACKSON or total abolition of the capital NNPA COLUMNIST gains tax. He or she is more likely to support school choice and Black audience and not talk about vouchers, all topics the NAACP the Black entrepreneur is like go- members can relate to. ing to church and not mentioning God. This is what happens when GOP ‘ignorant’ you don’t have the right people Black business leaders are the around you, people who understand communications, messag- most important entry point to the ing and the nuances of the audi- Black community and Republicans, of all people, are totally igence being addressed.

Contrary to what the White me- norant of this fact. And they will dia thinks, the preachers and pol- remain ignorant of what’s imporiticians are not the leaders in the tant to the Black community unBlack community – businessmen til they have campaign staffs that and businesswomen are. That look like America.

Like Jeremiah in the Bible, I Black businessperson is typically head of the board of trustees or have been labeled as one crythe deacon board of the church. ing in the wilderness. And I am So if you get the business leader not about to surrender that label on your side, he or she will bring now.

Am I the only one who is ofalong the minister and the confended that Romney has fewer gregation.

Business leaders have a vest- than five Blacks on his national ed interest in having an educated campaign staff and none in top Black community because they decision-making positions? I am have to hire people in order to talking about someone who congrow their businesses. Like every- trols a budget, has the final say on one else, those leaders care about hiring, and has the ability to put crime and don’t want employees an event on the candidate’s calto be victims as they travel to and endar or arrange a private meet-

The Black Press is dead – get over it There was a time when the Black Press played a key role in tying together and defining local and national African-American communities, when it truly echoed many of the authentic voices of a people struggling for justice and dignity.

But that was the Black Press of the early 20th century.

It wasn’t perfect. It reflected the class and other biases of its publishers and editors. All the same, Black reporters and editors were producing content for African-American audiences under an economic regime largely independent of White corporate America. During those times, African-Americans were free to create our own institutions that often paralleled those of the larger society that enclosed us.

Historical changes The Black Press was often a fierce and relentless foe of segregation in all its forms. But at the same time, other far-reaching changes were taking place. Jim Crow was finally lifted, and Black

About the dollars BRUCE A. DIXON BLACK AGENDA REPORT

professionals like journalists were able to work outside the Black Press in significant numbers.

Those were also the years corporate America stopped needing Black labor. As late as the 1960s, firms were still locating to Gary, Ind. and the south side of Chicago to take advantage of ready pools of willing Black workers.

In the 1970s, that ended. When U.S. elites no longer needed Black labor, they no longer needed the old ghetto that enclosed all Blacks and separated them from the larger society. Black professionals and some others fled the neighborhoods where they once lived with their poorer relatives, while White corporations openly vied for the Black consumer dollar with Black businesses which segregation had once protected.

The Black Press lost much of its reason for existence. The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) is largely a professional advocacy group for journalists at White institutions. What does that mean in practice? It means that Black newspapers and the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), the national trade association for Black newspapers, openly admit that their chief purpose isn’t just to get advertising dollars, but to be the Black voice in print of those advertisers.

The owners and managers of commercial Black radio and TV are not the least concerned about our past or future, our housing or health care crises, the Black imprisonment rate or the digital divide or the education of our young or the dignified security of our elderly. To them we are just a market, passive consumers to be sliced and diced according to marketing industry guidelines.”

News for Black audiences? For-

have toiled for years in the vineing with the candidate.

Am I the only one who noticed yard of Republican politics. the optics of Romney not having photos of any Black Republicans Why the silence? on his campaign website? Why Where are the voices of Black has Romney has never met with a Republicans who know better? group of Black entrepreneurs?

Their silence is deafening; they are just as bad as the Black DemFormer Dem hired ocrats I have been criticizing.

I was stunned to learn that With Romney’s NAACP speech Romney had chosen a recent and making Bell one of his surDemocrat-turned-Republican, rogates, the candidate has spent Ashley Bell, to be one of his sur- more time with Black Democrats rogates and to help him craft his than he has with Black Republispeech to the NAACP. cans. The best way to get attenAm I to believe that Romney tion from the Republican Party couldn’t find any veteran Black as a Black Republican is to be a Republicans who have both party credentials and relevant presiden- Black Democrat.

Where is Black Republican outtial campaign experience to help rage?

They can criticize Obama him craft the speech that would for his treatment of Blacks, but define his relationship with Black when Romney does the same America?

Does his staff know people thing, they get laryngitis. As I ofsuch as Shannon Reeves, Allegra ten say, the best way to get attenMcCullough, David Byrd, Aaron tion from the Republican Party as Manaigo, Francis Johnson, Ada a Black Republican is to be a Black Fisher or James House? If they Democrat. don’t, I will be happy to put RomRaynard Jackson is president ney’s staff in touch with them and & CEO of Raynard Jackson & many other able Blacks.

For Romney to pick a Republi- Associates, LLC., a D.C.-public can-come-lately over party vets relations/government affairs who have endured years of criti- firm. Click on this story at www. cism for supporting the GOP is flcourier.com to write your own a grand old insult to Blacks who response. get about it. The Black print press exists to sell ads, nothing more and nothing less. It means that among the most generous sponsors of last month’s NABJ national conference in New Orleans was British Petroleum, the homicidal corporate criminal conspiracy responsible for what may have been the worst oil spill in history just offshore from New Orleans less than two years earlier.

NABJ also thumbed its nose at Black New Orleans in a session that presented the closing of more than a hundred New Orleans public schools and the firing of all staff, the wet dream of charter and privatization advocates, as “educational reform.” One could take a look through the conference program book and doubtless find several more examples of the distance between the professionals of NABJ and the lives led by ordinary African-Americans in New Orleans as elsewhere.

Not advocating Black journalists are no longer advocates for the interests of African-Americans. Their Blackness doesn’t call them to protect the interests of ordinary Black families

and communities, who are suffering from grossly disproportionate unemployment and poverty, from over-policing, the 40-year war on drugs and mass incarceration.

Their Blackness is only relevant as it reinforces their claim to specialness, namely the crumbs of affirmative action in hiring, promotion, and in rare cases the ability to own print or broadcast outlets.

Black journalists are adrift without paddles in the big White corporate shark pond, doing what they think they have to, or think they want to. We can’t count on them for much of anything.

And with the exception of a very few outlets not dependent on corporate advertising dollars, like the Final Call, the Black Press is pretty much dead. It’s time we acknowledge this truth, get over it, and move on.

Bruce Dixon is managing editor of BlackAgendaReport.com.

Contact him at bruce.dixon@ blackagendareport.com. Click on this story at www.flcourier.com to write your own response.

TOJ A6

FLORIDA

JULY 27 – AUGUST 2, 2012

State revises grades at 213 schools 40 Florida counties affected by problems with calculation process

BY BRANDON LARRABEE THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Education is once again dealing with the fallout from test scores and school grades, this time after admitting that dozens of grades released earlier this month were mistaken.

In all, 213 schools and nine districts had to have their grade revised as part of a “continuous review process,” according to the agency. The move affects 8 percent of the schools in the state.

All of the scores increased by a single letter grade.

“School grades are important to students, parents, teachers, principals, administrators and the community,” Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson announced. “And, while I am pleased that the continuous review process has resulted in better grades, we will continue to look for ways to improve the grade calculation process.”

Dramatic drop The changes, announced after the close of business day on July 20, eased some of what had been a dramatic drop in the grades so far. The number of “A” schools, for example, had plummeted from 1,481 in 2011 to 1,124 this year. That number is instead 1,240 – representing a jump of 5 percentage points in the number of schools getting the highest grade.

And the number of “D” and “F” grades had climbed to 285. But 35 of those schools have apparently been removed by moving from a “D” to a “C,” while another seven schools moved from “F” to “D.” The grades include elementary and middle schools as well as

WALTER MICHOT/MIAMI HERALD/MCT

Clinton Mitchell teaches an ethics class on April 2 at Miami Carol City Senior High where Trayvon Martin once attended school.

The day’s lesson used Martin’s shooting as a case study. In a recent snarl relating to Florida’s school grades, Miami-Dade County saw the most revisions with 31 changes. elementary and middle-school programs at combination campuses.

Series of problems Schools in 40 counties were affected by the grade changes, with Miami-Dade County seeing the most revisions by far at 31. Duval County was second with 19, Pinellas had 18, while Broward, Hillsborough and Orange County each saw 17 schools increase their grades.

Other districts that saw their

marks go up were Collier, Desoto, Gadsden, Hillsborough, Okeechobee, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco and Union.

The grade changes are the latest in a series of problems that have roiled the state’s school accountability system in recent months. Because of the inclusion of students with disabilities and English language learners, the State Board of Education approved a policy keeping all schools from dropping more than a letter grade.

Scathing resolution The FCAT itself was snared in a crisis when passing scores on the writing test collapsed from 81 percent to 27 percent for fourth graders and showed similar drops in eighth and 10th grades.

The board eventually met in emergency session to lower the passing grade from 4.0 to 3.0 while they develop a long-term answer.

And in June, the Florida School Boards Association approved a scathing resolution about the

state’s testing regimen, saying “the over-emphasis on standardized testing has resulted in a variety of unintended consequences that diminish the quality of the educational program, including stifling student engagement, narrowing the curriculum, reducing student access to elective and other desired courses, and impeding the recruitment and retention of excellent teachers and administrators.”

Former state senator gets six months in prison NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

ERIKA BOLSTAD/MCT

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks at a press conference with other attorneys general, following the second day of arguments in the health care case in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on March 27. This week, judges ruled against Bondi on a procedural issue relating to privatization of Florida prisons.

Appeals court rejects privatizing 29 state prisons

BY JIM SAUNDERS THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

TALLAHASSEE – An appeals court ruled Tuesday against Attorney General Pam Bondi in a long-running battle about the Legislature’s attempt last year to privatize prisons across southern Florida.

The 1st District Court of Appeal rejected Bondi’s appeal of a circuit-court ruling that blocked the privatization plan from going forward.

A three-judge panel ruled against Bondi on a procedural issue – saying she did not have the authority to file the appeal after the original state party in the case, the Department of Corrections, declined to do so.

“The secretary of the Department of Corrections, against whom the final declaratory and injunctive judgment was actually entered (in circuit court), has not appealed,’’ Tuesday’s opinion said. “Like any other nonparty in the trial court, the attorney general lacks standing to initiate an appeal on her own.”

Victory for officers The decision was a victory for the Florida Police Benevolent Association, which filed the lawsuit last year after lawmakers included the privatization plan in budget fine print,

known as “proviso language.”

Leon County Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford ruled that it was unconstitutional to use proviso language to direct the changes, which would have privatized 29 prison facilities.

“This ruling (Tuesday) reaffirmed our argument that the attorney general did not have the authority to appeal the lower court’s decision,’’ Matt Puckett, the Florida PBA’s executive director, said in a prepared statement. “This was never more than the Legislature’s last-second attempt to privatize public prisons in South Florida.”

Bondi responds A spokeswoman for Bondi said the attorney general filed the appeal at the request of the Legislature.

“We respectfully disagree with the court’s decision to dismiss the appeal,” said the spokeswoman, Jenn Meale.

Regardless of the appeals-court ruling, the privatization plan was already all but dead.

The proviso language expired June 30 with the end of the state’s 2011-12 fiscal year; lawmakers also failed in a separate attempt to pass a privatization plan during this year’s legislative session.

In a concurring opinion Tuesday, Judge Ronald Swanson cautioned that the decision did not resolve the broader question of whether lawmakers could make such policy

changes in proviso language. Also, he wrote that the decision should not be construed as a limit on Bondi’s power to represent the state in lawsuits.

“This case does not serve as a precedent to limit or curtail the power of the attorney general,’’ Swanson wrote.

“It is a well-settled principle of common law – a principle embodied by statutes – that the attorney general has broad authority to represent the people of Florida. Nonetheless, the attorney general has to follow the procedural rules; something she failed to do here.”

Bondi’s office represented the Department of Corrections in the circuit-court case, but the department declined to challenge Fulford’s ruling. The attorney general nevertheless moved forward with the appeal, which her office said at the time was done at the request of the Legislature.

Bondi’s office did not seek approval from the circuit court to formally intervene in the case, a move that the appeals court focused on during arguments in June.

“Not having moved to intervene as a party below, the attorney general lacked authority to initiate an appeal,’’ appeals-court Chief Judge Robert T. Benton wrote for the panel.

“We are therefore without jurisdiction to review the trial court’s judgment, and the appeal must be dismissed.”

A federal judge last week sentenced former South Florida Sen. Mandy Dawson to six months in prison and two years of supervised release after she pleaded guilty in April to tax-evasion charges, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Miami.

Dawson, 55, served from 1998 to 2008 in the Senate, following six years in the House. Dawson was part of a broad federal investigation into influence buying in Tallahassee, with convicted ophthalmologist and lobbyist Alan Mendelsohn saying in court Mandy that he funneled Dawson money to Dawson in exchange for her not blocking legislation.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a news release that Dawson, a Democrat who represented parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties, failed to file tax returns over a series of years and evaded at least $29,000 in taxes.

HEALTH FOOD || HEALTH TRAVEL | |MONEY SCIENCE | BOOKS | MOVIES | TV | AUTOS LIFE | FAITH | EVENTS | CLASSIFIEDS | ENTERTAINMENT | SPORTS | FOOD July 27 - August 2, 2012

IFE/FAITH Where to go In London See page B4

SHARING BLACK LIFE, STATEWIDE

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Athletes poised to shine during Olympics See page B5

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Thousands make their way into the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in D.C., the site of the 19th International AIDS Conference.

PROGRESS, BUT MUCH MORE WORK TO DO Attendees express thanks for lift of ban that previously restricted travel of those with HIV, but they’re still trying to fight stigma

Florence Uche Ignatius of Nigeria is shown with her daughter Ebube Francis Taylor.

BY JAMES HARPER FLORIDA COURIER

T

ears welled in Florence Uche Ignatius’ eyes as she thanked America for saving her life and the life of her daughter Ebube Francis Taylor.

Ignatius, who is from Nigeria, is living with HIV and was one of the thousands whose health status would not prevent her from entering the United States for the 19th International AIDS Conference in Washington D.C. She was one of a dozen speakers at the opening session of the conference on July 22 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Ignatius was not the most famous speaker but her message is likely to be remembered by the more than 20,000 expected to attend.

“I am alive today because of you, the American people. Millions are waiting for treatment. Millions are dying for lack of treatment. I do not want to be the only one standing. Continue in the fight against HIV. I am living proof. We know it is possible,” she said to thunderous applause.

Daughter’s plea Ignatius’ daughter was born without the HIV virus, and, like her mother, also expressed gratitude for the generosity of Americans and millions around the world for their help in making a difference for those living with HIV/AIDS and those affected by it.

Taylor first thanked the American people for helping keep her mother alive. Then she pleaded for help for others like her and her mom.

“I don’t understand why other children are still born with the virus, why children don’t have treatment and their mothers are still dying of AIDS,” Taylor said.

“I want all children to be born just like me – free of

Members of the Black Press enjoy a light moment with actor Danny Glover during the International AIDS Conference.

HIV. Please, I am begging you. Let us make this world an AIDS-free generation. Let’s make it a reality.’’

Historic conference Others speaking to more than 7,000 during the opening session included Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services, United States; Jim Kim, The World Bank; D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray; Michel Sidibe, UNAID; the co-chairs of the event, El-

ly Katabira, international chair, and Diane Havir, U.S. co-chair; along with U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Lee from California.

Lee has been at the forefront of getting a ban lifted that prevented people living with HIV/AIDS from entering the United States.

She had dozens of her supporters from Alameda County and Oakland in the audience, who made the See PROGRESS, Page B2

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FLORIDA COMMUNITY CALENDAR

JULY 27 - AUGUST 2, 2012

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DIGGY SIMMONS

The Scream Tour Next Generation Part 2 featuring Diggy Simmons and the OMG Girlz will be at the Times Union Center Performing Arts in Jacksonville on Aug. 19.

Miami: The Art of Bellydance Studio presents “A World of Dance” showcasing Middle Eastern dance and other world dance forms is Aug. 12 from 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Venue: 1431 Alton Road. More information: www.artofbellydanceflorida.com Vero Beach: The Christian Student Fellowship at Indian River State College is hosting a 10th anniversary celebration and fundraising banquet. It is Sept. 21 at the college’s Richardson Center on the Mueller Campus. Seating is limited.

Tickets are $20. More information: Elsie Mokoban at 772-559-8325 or emokoban@aol.com.

Miami: The Children’s Trust 2012 After-School Programs Guide is available online at www.thechildrentrust.org and in all MiamiDade Winn-Dixie stores.

The information also can be accessed by calling 211, the Children’s Trust helpline.

Homestead: A natural farmer’s day fest celebrating natural health and wellness while supporting local fresh markets will be held July 28 from 9 a.m. to

KIRK FRANKLIN

The King’s Men Tour with Kirk Franklin, Marvin Sapp, Donnie McClurkin and Israel Houghton is scheduled at the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami on Sept. 30.

3 p.m. at The Farm at Verde Gardens, Southwest 280th Street and 127th Avenue.

This free event features music, children’s activities, local organic foods, juicing, cooking classes, exhibitor booths and guided farm walks. More information: festival.harvestmarkets.org or 305-598-3315.

Miami: Mary J. Blige will be in concert with D’Angelo and Melanie Fiona at the

AmericanAirlines Arena on Aug. 30 for an 8 p.m. show.

lywood on Aug. 10 for an 8 p.m. show.

Fort Lauderdale: Live jazz, blues, pop and everything in between along Hollywood’s signature 2.5 mile Broadwalk is every Friday of every month. More information: 954-924-2980.

Fort Lauderdale: A threehour cooking class with professionally trained chefs is scheduled at City College Fort Lauderdale, 2000 W. Commercial Blvd.

The class is 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

Cost: $39.99 per person per class. More information: 954-703-6745 or www.chef954.com.

Hollywood: The “Guess Who’s Back” tour featuring comedian Chris Tucker will stop at Hard Rock Live Hol-

Boca Raton: An open mic night for 18 and up featuring comedy, poetry and music is held every Monday at the Funky Biscuit in the back of Royal Palm Plaza, 303 SE Mizner Blvd. Signup is at 8 p.m. The show begins at 8:30 p.m. More information: Richy Lala 561-512-8472.

Miami: Miami-Dade County hosts a Downtown Harvest Market every Friday

from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Residents and visitors have the opportunity to purchase seasonal produce directly from Miami-Dade growers at the Stephen P. Clark Center’s Courtyard, 111 NW 1st St. More information: www. earth-learning.org.

Miami: Tickets are on sale for a show featuring Enrique Iglesias and Jennifer Lopez at the American Airlines Arena on Aug. 31.

Black Archives foundation, Urgent to present Miami birthday celebration The Historic Ward Rooming House Cultural Tourist Center Gallery at 249 NW Ninth St. in Overtown will be the host site for Happy Birthday Miami! A Celebration of 116 Years of Heritage, History, and Legacy of the City of Miami.

The event, presented by the Black Archives History and Research Foundation, is July 28 from 2 to 4 p.m. It will start with an art opening by the students of Urgent Inc.’s art program at noon.

The goal of the event is to present the literary, visual and performing arts as a means of promoting and understanding of the various cultural heritages of residents of Overtown as well as celebrate the descendants of the city of Miami’s incor-

porators from 1896. The Ward-JenningsAlbury-Braynon families will be honored this year.

Visitors will participate in the reenactment of the 1896 vote that incorporated the city so they are asked to dress in overalls or other old-fashioned attire from the late 1800s to early 1900s.

Happy Birthday Miami is a cake and ice cream social that is free and open to the public. The event is sponsored by the Black Archives as part of the City of Miami Community Redevelopment Agency’s Ward Rooming House Initiative.

For more information, call 305-6362390.

OBITUARY

PHOTO BY FREDDIE ALLEN/NNPA

Phill Wilson, president and CEO of the Black AIDS Institute, spoke to Black Journalists on July 21, prior to the start of the International AIDS Conference in Washington.

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Sylvia Woods

Soul food queen Sylvia Woods dies at 86 ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK – Sylvia Woods, founder of the famed Harlem soul food restaurant that carries her name and was a muststop for locals, tourists and politicians, has died. She was 86.

Woods died on July 19 at her home in Mount Vernon, N.Y., said her granddaughter Tren’ness Woods-Black. She had been dealing with Alzheimer’s disease for the past few years.

Woods and her husband, Herbert, natives of South Carolina who met as children, started Sylvia’s Restaurant in 1962.

The restaurant became a Harlem fixture, with tourists and locals going there for cornbread, ribs, collard greens, fried chicken and other staples of Southern cooking.

Politicians made frequent visits while on the campaign trail.

‘Meeting place for Black America’ One of those politicians, Rep. Charles Rangel, said he celebrated his recent victory in the Democratic primary for Congress at the restaurant, which is in his district and which he described as “a magical place that brought the community together.”

“Ms. Sylvia created a special place on Lenox and 127th street. Sylvia’s may have been famous nationally and internationally, but its soul has always remained in Harlem,” he said. “Nothing can replace its founder, but her legacy will live on in the memories she helped make.”

The Rev. Al Sharpton said Sylvia’s was “more than a restaurant, it has been a meeting place for Black America.” He said he had dined there with many famous faces, including President Barack Obama and Caroline Kennedy.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said, “We lost a legend today. For more than 50 years, New Yorkers have enjoyed Sylvia’s and visitors have flocked to Harlem to get a table. In her words, the food was made with ‘a whole lot of love’ and generations of family and friends have come together at what became a New York institution.”

50th anniversary of restaurant in August From its start as a restaurant, Sylvia’s has grown to include multiple cookbooks and a nationwide line of food products.

Woods-Black said the restaurant, marking its 50th anniversary in August, is more than just a place to eat, that it’s a place where her grandmother could express her hospitality, a tradition that following generations have maintained.

“If you come alone, you’re never going to dine alone,” she said.

Woods-Black said her grandmother had officially stepped down from running the restaurant when she was 80, leaving it in the hands of her children and grandchildren.

Herbert Woods died in 2001.

journey with her to be part of what many were calling a historic event since this was the first time the conference was in America in 22 years and opened up to thousands living with HIV/AIDS. Lee thanked everyone “for helping us fight to lift the unjust and discriminatory HIV travel ban that prevented so many of you from coming to the United States and hosting this important conference.”

“Few believed that it could be done. But together we said, ‘Yes, we can,’ ” Lee noted.

She also gave credit to America’s past and current president.

“Thanks to bipartisan support, President Bush signed the repeal into law and President Obama lifted the travel ban,” she continued.

Alarming rates Twenty-two years ago, the last conference was held in San Francisco, an area Lee represents. “So here we are 22 years later once again in the United States.

Although AIDS has made the transition from a death sentence to a chronic disease, new infections continue at alarming rates,” Lee remarked.

Lee than preceded to list facts, including that HIV/AIDS disproportionately affects no group of people in the United States more than African-Americans.

“Of the more than 1 million people in the U.S. living with HIV, nearly half are Black men and women even though Blacks make up about 14 percent of the population,” Lee continued.

She also noted that communities of color are most affected by HIV than any other group, and Black gay and bisexual men account for one in four new HIV infections.

In addition, African-American women account for the largest share of new infections among women.

In the spotlight Lee said there is more work to do.

“This conference brings an important opportunity to shine a global spotlight on the fight against AIDS in America and a national spotlight on the ongoing global epidemic,” she continued.

“As we said in a December 2002 letter addressed to President Bush, and I quote: “We cannot win the war against AIDS without greater financial resources and a clear plan of action for the United States,” Lee said.

“In the words of my good friend and great humanitarian Bono, ‘We’re not here today for a victory lap, we’re here to pick up the pace,’ ’’ she concluded.

Denisha DeLane traveled from Lee’s district and works for the HIV/AIDS at ministry at Allen Temple Baptist Church, the church in which Lee attends.

She was among the dozens who cheered as Lee spoke.

“We are working in the faith community to reduce the stigma (associated with HIV/AIDS) and increase more awareness (about the disease),” DeLane said.

She said the church does a number of non-traditional events to get the word out, especially to young people.

“We have conversations in intimate settings with clergy (with the youth) so we can discuss and help them grow and stretch them in certain areas,” DeLane explained.

Personal mission Gloria Crowell, chair of AIDS ministry at Allen Temple, identified herself as a heterosexual married woman with two boys who understands the importance of the disease and getting tested.

Crowell said she became an HIV/AIDS activist in 1989 working on the streets passing out condoms to sex workers. This is her fourth International AIDS Conference.

“I make a point to go. It is the place where delegates are in one room,” Crowell said, who also praised her church member, Rep. Lee. “She understood this conference needed to be on this soil, that we needed to have the ban lifted. I’m proud we have an administration that cares about HIV and AIDS,” Crowell concluded.

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Think you’re one of Florida’s Finest?

E-mail your high-resolution digital photo in casual wear or bathing suit taken in front of a plain background with few distractions, to news@flcourier.com with a short biography of yourself and your contact information. (No nude/glamour/ fashion photography, please!) In order to be considered, you must be at least 18 years of age. Acceptance of the photographs submitted is in the sole and absolute discretion of Florida Courier editors. We reserve the right to retain your photograph even if it is not published. If you are selected, you will be contacted by e-mail and further instructions will be given.

Florida Courier photojournalists were onboard Royal Caribbean ships with thousands of “Tom Joyner Morning Show” fans on the Fantastic Voyage 2011 and 2012.

We’re featuring some of the “Finest” cruisers.

Photos by DELROY COLE/FLORIDA COURIER and TONY LEAVELL/FLORIDA COURIER

Ryan Gentles

South Florida ministry creates program to help mentors who work with at-risk boys SPECIAL TO THE FLORIDA COURIER

Only 41 percent of Black boys graduate from high school in the United States and more than half of all Black men without a high school diploma go to prison at some time in their lives.

Elder Mathes Guice, director of the Men’s Ministry at South Florida’s Koinonia Worship Center and president of Elder Mathes the Practitioners Technical InstiGuice tute (PTI), considers these facts evidence of a “war on our boys.’’

“We are seeing more young Black men leave the classroom, resulting in delinquency, unemployment and imprisonment.

EDUCATION We’re not fighting for our boys, and therefore, we’re losing them,” Guice said.

Most ministries targeting atrisk boys develop programming to keep kids engaged and off the streets. Koinonia’s Men’s Ministry has taken it a step further by developing programs targeted toward the mentors as well.

for younger generations.

“These young men are living in a world vastly different from the one we grew up in,” said Guice.

“To understand the issues and how to address them, you have to realign the thinking of mentors. Our program uses proven methods to build an army of men ready to take back our wayward boys.”

Setting an example

Improved behavior and grades

In their Youth Coach Training kit, PTI teaches men that through self-actualization and purpose fulfillment, they positively impact young lives around them. As Guice readies a national rollout for the program, he hopes the tools will spark a recommitment to self-improvement, and setting an example

The training program consists of a reference booklet, “Who Am I and Why Am I Here?” and a seminar presentation. Topics include skill-building, effective parenting techniques, developing positive peer associations and cultivating activities that support responsible social growth.

Koinonia’s Men’s Ministry has

used the kit to train mentors in their Rites of Passage program.

Over 10 years, dozens of at-risk boys have improved reading levels, school attendance and become functional members of society through the program.

During the 2010-2011 school year alone, 94 percent of participants showed improvement in productive behaviors, including school attendance, grades and participation in pro-social activities. (Source: Dr. Susan E. Day, research faculty, School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Florida Atlantic University) “None of our boys have served time in the juvenile or criminal justice systems because we are more than just their afterschool program,” said Guice. “We worked to get our pastor elected as mayor of the city of West Park, the only such pastor/mayor

in the state, and have supported campaigns for dedicated school board members, judges, city commissioners and state representatives. Any community can be transformed, but it takes a holistic, 360-degree commitment to improving the lives within it.”

The Youth Coach Training kit’s book, titled “Who Am I and Why Am I Here? How to Develop Your Gifts, Talents and Purpose for God’s Divine World,” was authored by Steve White and is accompanied by a PowerPoint seminar presentation, “Becoming a Practitioner.” The package will be available for purchase across the U.S. later this year.

To learn more about the training kit, the process for recruiting and developing youth mentors, or to reserve a copy, call 954-2394297.

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London calling Stories and photos by

Five spots to grab traditional tea The Chesterfield Mayfair Highlights: Greenhouse-style setting, flower teas and tea poetry readings.

Price: £28.50 for the Traditional Afternoon Tea and the Chocolate Lover’s Tea. The Chesterfield has one of the most charming tea services in London, thanks to the setting in The Conservatory, a greenhouse-style space with garden views. A number of unique tea services are offered, including a Chocolate Lover’s Tea, Champagne Tea and “poetea,” where live poetry about the different brews is recited. An impressive variety of teas is offered, including some unusual flower teas.

This summer, all eyes are on Britain’s crown jewel. Whether you’re headed for the Summer Games or planning a future trip, here’s a guide on everything London.

Five highdesign hotels Draycott Hotel The style: Classic This 35-room combo of Edwardian townhouses is warm and intimate with a country home feel and in a great location for exclusive West End shopping. From the quaint — but glamorous — library, with a cozy fireplace and antique furniture, to the gorgeous rooms, complete with rich curtains and crystal chandeliers, it has an upscale, traditional vibe that is quintessentially British.

With wonderful boutique perks such as the free English afternoon tea (guests at other hotels will have to pay at least a £15 premium to enjoy such a tradition), free pre-dinner champagne and free hot chocolate before bed, it’s hard to find much at the Draycott to complain about.

Sanderson The style: Funky Chic The Sanderson is an edgy hotel with original and extravagant design by Philippe Starck. Innovative rooms feature a mostly all-white color palette designed without interior walls. There is an emphasis here on texture, seen in the layers of sheer curtains that divide different areas of the room.

Design touches include carpets with Voltaire’s handwriting and luxurious bathrooms, some with

MCT

The Draycott Hotel features a library with a cozy fireplace and antique furniture.

The conservatory in The Milestone hotel follows a blackand-white color scheme.

separate walk-in showers and freestanding soaking tubs. But they’re not as over-the-top as the lobby, which features a lips-shaped sofa.

There are many hotel highlights beyond the rooms, including an all-white tranquil spa with 14 treatment rooms and meditation beds. A contemporary fitness room has individual TVs at cardio machines, and a billiard room features 1950s stained glass.

The restaurant, Suka, serves Malaysian food and a MadHatter’s-themed afternoon tea is served in the striking courtyard.

The Milestone Hotel The style: Retro Contemporary The Milestone is perhaps the most famous boutique hotel in London, and certainly lives up to its expectations, with exquisitely designed rooms and exceptional service. Old meets new in the hotel’s de-

cor, particularly in the conservatory. Animal-print pillows and a funky black-and-white scheme adds a pack of punch to the otherwise traditional room, featuring leather chairs and elegant light fixtures.

The service is where the hotel really shines, as each member of staff is superbly trained, which helps ensure guests get the first-rate luxury experience for which The Milestone is known. With ample boutique perks on top of that, and a convenient location for London’s most exclusive shopping, it’s difficult to find something wrong with this hotel — just expect to pay a high price for all these luxuries.

The Lanesborough The style: Straight Up Luxe The Lanesborough, a St. Regis hotel, is a luxurious property overlooking Hyde Park in Knightsbridge. The 93 rooms have palatial bathrooms, big flat-screen TVs and free butler service. Stately decor — gorgeous and over the top — is inspired by the early 19th century, and free Wi-Fi and laptops are available in every room.

Some rooms have great views of Hyde Park. Hotel highlights include fine dining at the Michelin-rated restaurant Apsleys, a ground-floor piano bar and traditional afternoon tea. An excellent staff, luxurious touches and exclusive location on the busiest corner of Hyde Park make the Lanesborough a great luxury pick.

The Lanesborough’s decor is inspired by the early 19th century.

Ambassadors Bloomsbury The style: Bright and Bold The 100-room Ambassadors Bloomsbury is located in the historic literary heart of London. Beyond the convenient location near tube stations, this hotel also offers bright rooms with crisp white linens and flat-screen TVs. Bathrooms are sleek and modern — guests can choose between wet rooms or larger bathrooms with tubs — and the stylish lobby offers free apples and filtered water.

Number Twelve is the popular on-site bar and restaurant, serving three delicious meals a day along with traditional afternoon tea. This hotel offers good value for the location, especially with free Wi-Fi and a small fitness center.

The Chesterfield Mayfair

The Capital Highlights: Homemade scones and jams.

Price: £25 or £37 with a glass of champagne.

The Capital hotel has a renowned afternoon tea prepared by the hotel’s dedicated pastry chef. The scones, jams, preserves and pastries are all homemade.

Clotted cream is also on offer, as are sandwiches and, of course, a number of teas, brewed in clear glass teapots.

The Langham London Highlights: Jewelled Jubilee Tea, and a history as the tradition’s birthplace.

Price: £40 for the Langham High Tea; £49 for the Jubilee Tea. The Langham hotel is known as the birthplace of the afternoon tea tradition, originated in the 1860s, and is arguably the most famous afternoon tea spot in London. Palm Court, where the tea is served, is offering a special tea in honor of the Jubilee: a Jewelled Jubilee Tea, featuring handcrafted delicacies inspired by the royal jewels. To ensure authenticity, the hotel partnered with royal jewelers, Aspreys. Eating jewels might be a bit heavy for some, and those who prefer a traditional tea can sample finger sandwiches (including smoked Scottish salmon with horseradish), French pastries and mini cakes.

The Langham London

Brown’s Hotel Highlights: Free food and tea refills, live piano music, and a unique house tea blend.

Price: £39.50 for Traditional Afternoon Tea; £49.50 for Champagne Afternoon Tea. Brown’s Hotel, located in prestigious Mayfair, offers a highly rated afternoon tea. Seventeen blends, including Brown’s own unique blend, are available, and two tea sommeliers are on hand to help diners navigate the options. Even more impressive: The tasty finger sandwiches, scones, cakes, and pastries are replenished throughout teatime, so guests can eat their fill.

The Egerton House Hotel Highlights: Classically English setting in a historic townhouse.

Price: £15.00, for the Devonshire Cream Tea; £31.50 for Traditional Afternoon Tea. The Egerton’s afternoon tea is notable for its setting in the hotel’s lovely drawing room — and for the tasty homemade fare.

Diners can sample homemade scones and fruit preserves, as well as Devonshire clotted cream. Champagne lovers should try the Champagne Afternoon Tea (with a glass of house champagne) or the Royal Afternoon Tea (with a glass of Joseph Perrier Rose Champagne). Tourists will appreciate that the Knightsbridge location is just a short walk from Harrods.

The Egerton House Hotel

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Athletes poised to shine

10 international competitors that may steal the limelight during the Games

BY MICHELLE KAUFMAN MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS

The London Olympics promise theater as riveting as anything on stage in the West End, and some of the athletes in leading roles are familiar names.

Usain Bolt, the aptly-named Jamaican sprinter, is back for an encore after his show-stopping performance in Beijing four years ago — gold medals and world records in the 100 meters, 200 meters and sprint relay. In his way is a slight injury that is keeping him out of a July race in Monaco. He also faces countryman and world champion Yohan Blake, Americans Tyson Gay and Justin Gatlin, and Frenchman Christophe LeMaitre, who shrugs off questions of race but is best known for being the first white man to break the 10-second barrier in the 100 meters.

Tennis triumvirate Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, fresh off Wimbledon, will ditch their whites and return to the hallowed grass of the All England Club in their national colors to battle for Olympic gold.

And soccer player Neymar (no last name necessary) will try to lead Brazil to the only major title it has yet to win. In three seasons, the 20-year-old has scored nearly 100 goals for Santos (Pele’s former club) and Pele considers him better than Argentine star Lionel Messi.

More than 10,000 athletes from 200 countries will compete in 36 Olympic sports. Most competitors are not famous, but every one of them has a story. Here are 10 to keep an eye on:

Jessica Ennis Track and Field, Great Britain British tennis star Andy Murray is known around the world.

But he will be sharing the spotlight this summer with heptathlete Jessica Ennis, the golden girl of Great Britain’s Olympic team.

The Games have yet to begin, and already the photogenic Ennis, 26, has endorsements with Jaguar, Aviva, Olay, Adidas, Powerade, Omega and BP. She is pulling in more than $1.5 million a year, making her the highest-paid female athlete in England.

Ennis’ father was born in Jamaica, and her mother was born in England. He is a painter and decorator. She is a social worker.

Neither excelled at sport, but they signed their 11-year-old daughter up at a track club in their hometown of Sheffield, England and she proved to be talented at most disciplines. Ennis won the world heptathlon titles in 2009 and 2010, and was poised to medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

A stress fracture in her right foot kept her home.

In the past year, she settled for a silver medal at the 2011 world championships behind Russian Tatyana Chernova and silver at the 2012 indoor world championships behind Nataliya Dobrynska of Ukraine. She wants the gold that has eluded her. Badly.

CHRISTIAN CHARISIUS/DPA/ABACAPRESS.COM/MCT

Jessica Ennis, center, of Great Britain leads the pack in the women’s pentathlon 60-meter hurdles event at the IAAF World Indoor Championships at the Atakoy Arena in Istanbul in March. Ennis finished second overall in the competition. spirational is Oscar Pistorius, a double amputee from South Africa who hopes to make history by becoming the first amputee runner to compete in the able-bodied Olympics.

Pistorius runs on carbon-fiber blades, and thus, is known as “The Blade Runner.’’ Although he didn’t meet the South African track federation’s requirement that athletes competing in the 400 meter race have two finishes of 45.3 seconds or less (with at least one of those finishes occurring at an international event), he was chosen to run in both the 400 meters and the 1,600 meter relay at the London Games. He also plans to compete in the Paralympics.

Born without fibulas in either leg, Pistorius had both legs amputated below the knee when he was 11 months old. His disability didn’t keep him from competing in rugby, water polo and tennis in school. As he got older, he focused on running.

Pistorius’ remarkable success in able-bodied races has not come without controversy. Some competitors feel the artificial limbs give him an unfair advantage, and the international track federation ruled as such before the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Pistorius challenged the ruling, and it was overturned later that year by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Although he was eligible for the 2008 Olympics, he fell short of the qualifying standard. He won gold medals in the 100, 200, and 400 meters at the Paralympics that summer. Four years later, he is determined to make history.

Hiroshi Hoketsu Equestrian, Japan

WALLY SKALIJ/LOS ANGELES TIMES/MCT

Oscar Pistorius will become the first amputee runner to compete in the able-bodied Summer Games.

Oscar Pistorius Track and Field, South Africa Usain Bolt may be the most phenomenal track athlete at these Olympics, but the most in-

Septuagenarians across the globe can rally around Japanese equestrian rider Hiroshi Hoketsu, who, at the age of 71 (yes, 71!), will be the oldest competitor in London.

Hoketsu qualified for the individual dressage, riding a 15-yearold horse named Whisper. He first competed in the 1964 Games when he was 23. He was 67 when he finished ninth in the team event and 35th as an individual at the Beijing Olympics four years ago.

Back home in Japan, they call him “The Hope of Old Men.’’ He has an endorsement deal with a health food chain, and continues to train twice a day.

Believe it or not, Hoketsu is not the oldest Olympian in history.

But he is the oldest in 92 years.

Swedish shooter Oscar Swahn was 72 when he won a silver medal at the 1920 Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium.

Aliya Mustafina Gymnastics, Russia and Larisa Iordache Gymnastics, Romania Every Olympics needs its gymnastics pixies, and this time, two teens to watch are Russian Aliya Mustafina and Romanian Larisa Iordache.

Mustafina won the 2010 allaround world championship at age 15, and was favored to win the 2010 European championship. But she tore her left ACL on the landing of a difficult vault, and was carried off the podium, reminiscent of the Kerri Strug vault injury at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

She had surgery and did not compete for eight months. She started training again in December 2011, and though she has struggled in her first few meets, she is considered one of the favorites. Also watch for 15-yearold Iordache, who has drawn comparisons to Nadia Comaneci, the tiny Romanian who won the 1976 gold. Iordache won the gold in floor exercise and silver in beam at the recent world championships.

Chris Hoy Track Cycling, Great Britain They call Chris Hoy “The Real McHoy,’’ and who can argue?

The Scottish track cyclist won three gold medals in Beijing and was knighted Sir Chris by Queen Elizabeth II in 2009. He is on pace to become Great Britain’s most successful Olympian, as he has collected four golds and a silver.

Rowing legend Steve Redgrave holds the national record with five golds and a bronze.

Hoy is the first Briton to win three gold medals in a single Olympics since freestyle swimmer Henry Taylor in 1908.

Caster Semenya Track and Field, South Africa Doubts about her gender made life miserable for South African runner Caster Semenya three years ago, but she says she has put it behind her and if she wins a medal, she will dedicate it to Nelson Mandela, who helped her during her tough times.

When then-19-year-old Semenya won the 800-meter world title in 2009, skeptics insisted she was not a woman, and she was forced to undergo testing. It turned out she had excessive male genes due to a medical condition, but the international track federation cleared her to compete as a woman. She won the silver medal at the 2011 World Championships, and is now coached by Mozambique legend Maria Mutola.

China’s Yang Wei has retired, the door is open for the Japanese gymnast to win it all.

Ranomi Kromowidjojo Swimming, Netherlands

BERND THISSEN/DPA/ABACA PRESS/MCT

South African sprinter Caster Semenya won a silver medal in the 800 meter race at the 2011 World Championships “Life wasn’t easy, but I kept dealing with the situation with help from my family, friends and management,” Semenya said. “It (the gender question) is not in my mind anymore. For me it’s in the past. I have to focus on the future and that’s what I’m doing right now.”

Kohei Uchimura Gymnastics, Japan His parents ran a gym out of their home, and he grew up doodling gymnastics routines in his schoolbooks. It’s no wonder, then, that the mop-topped Uchimura wound up winning three consecutive world all-around gold medals in 2009, 2010 and 2011. No other man has ever won three titles in a row.

Uchimura won the silver at the 2008 Games, and now that

Her name will likely be the longest on the aquatic center scoreboard, and it could be on the top line in the 50m and 100m sprints. Ranomi Kromowidjojo, a 21-year-old Dutch swimmer of Indonesian descent, is one of the favorites in both events. Her name may be new to casual fans, but swimming enthusiasts have known about her for years. She has been competing at the elite level since age 15, swam in her first world championship at 17 and at 18 won an Olympic gold medal in Beijing with the Dutch 4x100 relay team. A bout of meningitis interrupted her training last year, but she is fully healthy now and the natatorium announcer ought to start practicing her name.

Lin Dan Badminton, China China’s “Super Dan’’ is back.

Spiky-haired Lin Dan is considered the best badminton player of all time, and his fiery personality (read: hot temper) makes him a crowd favorite, à la John McEnroe. He can smash the shuttlecock 200 mph, and has also been known to abuse rackets and argue with referees. Lin is a fourtime world champion, defending Olympic champion, and fivetime All England champion.

He is one of the most recognizable athletes in China, and a paparazzi favorite, especially because he is married to Xie Xingfang, China’s No. 1 women’s badminton player. The Olympic badminton competition will be held at Wembley Arena, and Lin is favored to win gold again. Let the Lin-sanity references begin.

Chris Hoy JOHN PHILLIPS/ UK PRESS/ ABACA PRESS/MCT

FOOD

TOJ B6

FFROM FAMILY FEATURES

Food always seems to taste better when enjoyed outdoors. No matter the occasion or location, these packable, snackable recipes are foods fit for a fabulous picnic.

Bean Salad Stuffed Shells are a simple, flavorful, portable appetizer. Jumbo shells filled with a can of 3 or 4 bean salad, herbs and cheese make great finger food.

Baby Beet and Farro Salad is an easy pack-and-go side. Whole pickled baby beets â&#x20AC;&#x201D; just right for one bite â&#x20AC;&#x201D; are the star of this whole grain salad, tossed with Dijon mustard dressing.

PICNIC SANDWICHES WITH BEET-MANGO SLAW Preparation Time: 20 minutes Makes 6 servings 1 jar (16 ounces) Aunt Nellieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sliced Pickled Beets 1-1/2 cups cabbage slaw mix 3/4 cup cubed mango (about 1/4inch cubes) 1/4 cup sliced green onion 2 to 3 tablespoons prepared vinaigrette Baguette or other loaf, plain or multigrain (about 21 inches x 3 inches) 1 package (4 ounces) creamy goat cheese or other spreadable cheese 1/2 pound thinly sliced deli roast beef or turkey Drain beets well; discard liquid or save for another use. Coarsely chop beets; reserve 1/2 cup for Pink Lemonade (see recipe to follow).

In large bowl, toss together slaw mix, mango and onion. Add vinaigrette; toss to coat well.

Cut baguette lengthwise in half.

Remove insides leaving 1/2-inch shell on top and bottom. Spread bottom half with goat cheese.

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JULY 27 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; AUGUST 2, 2012

Picnic Sandwiches with Pickled Beet-Mango Slaw, piled high with deli meats, goat cheese and a tangy-sweet slaw can be made ahead. Wrapped tightly and refrigerated for several hours, the flavors meld deliciously.

A Tex-Mex inspired picnic of Southwestern Marinated Chicken with Bean Salad is a meal all its own. The grilled chicken â&#x20AC;&#x201D; marinated in liquid from a can of southwestern bean salad â&#x20AC;&#x201D; pairs perfectly with the bean salad for a fast fiesta that can be served warm or chilled â&#x20AC;&#x201D; just add tortillas and perhaps a margarita.

For additional recipes, visit www.

AuntNellies.com and www.READsalads.com.

Toss beets with slaw mixture; spoon half over goat cheese. Arrange beef over slaw; spoon remaining slaw over beef.

Close sandwich and press firmly. Wrap tightly with aluminum foil; refrigerate up to 4 hours before serving.

To serve, cut baguette into 6 pieces.

BEAN SALAD STUFFED SHELLS Preparation Time: 20 minutes Makes 6 servings 1 can (15 ounces) READ 3 or 4 Bean Salad 12 jumbo pasta shells 1/2 cup cubed (1/4-inch) cheese (see note) 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil, parsley, chives or a combination Coarsely ground black pepper Additional herbs Drain bean salad; discard liquid.

Cook pasta al dente according to package directions. Drain; rinse in cold water and drain well.

Combine bean salad, cheese and herbs. Add black pepper, as desired.

Spoon bean mixture into shells.

Sprinkle with additional herbs, as desired. Serve immediately or chill.

Note: Use smoked Gouda, mozzarella, Monterey Jack, or other favorite cheese.

BABY BEET & FARRO SALAD Preparation Time: 25 minutes Makes 6 servings 1 jar (16 ounces) Aunt Nellieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Baby Whole Pickled Beets 3 tablespoons white or red wine vinegar 1 tablespoon grainy Dijon mustard 1/3 cup olive oil 6 cups cooked farro 1/2 cup coarsely chopped toasted walnuts 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion 3 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs such as rosemary, thyme, basil, chives or a combination 1/2 cup crumbled feta (optional) Salt Pepper Drain beets well; discard liquid.

For dressing, in small bowl, whisk together vinegar and mustard, then whisk in oil.

In large bowl, toss together farro, walnuts, onion, herbs, dressing and feta, if desired. Gently toss in beets just before serving. Add salt and pepper, as desired. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

SOUTHWESTERN MARINATED CHICKEN WITH BEAN SALAD Preparation Time: 20 minutes Marinating Time: 1 hour up to 6 hours Cook Time: 12 minutes Makes 4 servings 1 can (15 ounces) READ Southwestern Bean Salad 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice 2 large cloves garlic, minced 2 teaspoons vegetable oil 1 teaspoon lime zest 1/2 teaspoon salt (optional) 1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional) 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves Bean Salad (see recipe below) Chopped fresh cilantro Drain bean salad. Place bean salad in large bowl; place liquid in medium bowl. For marinade, stir together bean liquid, lime juice, garlic, oil, zest, salt, if desired, black pepper, and red pepper, if desired.

Place chicken in large food-safe plastic bag or place in single layer in glass dish.

Add marinade; coat chicken well. Close bag or cover dish.

Marinate, refrigerated, 1 hour up to 6 hours.

Remove chicken from marinade. Place on grill over medium coals or medium setting on gas grill. Grill about 12 to 15 minutes, turning once, or, broil in oven 5 to 6 inches from heat about 6 minutes per side, or until chicken is cooked through. Serve with Bean Salad. May be served immediately after cooking or chilled. Sprinkle with cilantro just before serving.

BEAN SALAD Preparation Time: 10 minutes Makes 4 servings Reserved Southwestern Bean Salad 1 large tomato, coarsely chopped 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro In large bowl, combine bean salad, tomato and cilantro.

Toss gently. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

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