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Remembering Black celebs we lost in 2014 See Page B1

2014

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JANUARY 2 – JANUARY 8, 2015

VOLUME 23 NO. 1

OUR TOP 10 STORIES The Florida Courier staff chose the top 10 of the hundreds of stories our newspaper staff reviewed, covered or wrote during 2014. Factors considered include newsworthiness, relevance, uniqueness, familiarity of the issue, the intensity of statewide interest, emotional impact, and whether there is a uniquely “Black’’ perspective.

Economy recovers, but Blacks left behind – According to government statistics, monthly job growth is at its strongest since 1999. The national unemployment rate is 5.8 percent, the lowest since 2008. Gasoline is below $2 per gallon in some places; corporate profits and the stock market have hit all-time highs. Such positive economic news largely hasn’t trickled down to Black America or to the middle class generally. Black unemployment is double the national rate, and is 50 percent or above in inner cities. Black Americans have yet to recover from the foreclosure crisis and the loss of residential homes, the largest single component of Black wealth. The racial wealth gap as well as the gap between upper-income families and middle- and lower-income families are both at record high levels according to recent figures from the Pew Research Center.

ities in Ferguson, Mo. and a national debate on law enforcement’s relations with Black Americans, particularly Black men. Ezell Ford, a 25-year-old mentally ill Black man, was unarmed when he was shot dead by LAPD officers in August. In New York last month, a grand jury declined to indict an officer who placed a chokehold on Eric Garner, which, a medical examiner said, ultimately led to his death. Protests have been fueled primarily by young people using social media to launch online campaigns and large marches and demonstrations nationwide.

Florida Democrats wrecked – Despite spending $137 million, Florida Democrats got their clocks cleaned in statewide elections, losing the governor’s race, all of the Cabinet races, and a supermajority of the state House races. The Florida Democratic Party went into virtual Police killings and protests – Un- free-fall with no discernable strategy to get armed Black teenager Michael back into power, or to engage and energize its most loyal base – Black voters in Florida. Medical workers rolled patient Nancy Writebol, the second American aid worker Brown’s shooting death on Aug. 9 See 2014, Page A2 infected with Ebola, into Emory University Hospital in Atlanta in August. set off months of protests against author-

2014 MIAMI DOLPHINS

Playoffs? What playoffs?

Waiting for justice Civil rights ‘cold cases’ drag on COMPILED FROM WIRE AND STAFF REPORTS

KIM GIBSON / FLORIDA COURIER

Miami Dolphins running back Lamar Miller outran New York Jets defensive back Marcus Williams for a 97-yard touchdown, a franchise record, during the Dolphins’ final game on Dec. 27. Still, the Jets came back to beat the Dolphins 37-24 to cap a disappointing 8-8 season for the Fins.

SNAPSHOTS FLORIDA | A3

Minimum wage hike among new laws

BY MICHAEL MUSKAL LOS ANGELES TIMES /TNS

NATION | A6

What researcher says about Obama’s gray hair SPORTS | B2

New coaches at B-CU, FAMU

ALSO INSIDE

Florida among fastest-growing states Eight of the fastest-growing states are in the South or West, according to the latest U.S. census data, and five of those growing are Sun Belt states as the nation continues its political, economic and social redistribution. The U.S. Census Bureau produces population estimates each year, statistics the agency says help planners make policy decisions during the period between the mandated counts every decade. The decennial count is used to apportion congressional seats among the states, though the decision on how to carve specific districts is left to the states themselves where rival parties often compete for control.

We’re No. 3 California has the country’s largest population at 38.8 million. Texas was second at 26.9 million. Florida passed New York in total population to become the third most populous state with almost 20 million people. Florida added an estimated 800 people a day in the last year, many of whom were New Yorkers. Though the data are just an estimate, they still indicate ongoing trends and this year’s numbers, from July 1, 2013 to 2014, are no different.

Largest change The U.S. Census Bureau found that the states with the largest percentage change in population in the year ending on July 1

were North Dakota, followed by Nevada and Texas with about 1.7 percent growth each. Colorado, at 1.59 percent growth; Florida, 1.49 percent; Arizona, 1.45 percent; Utah, 1.38 percent; Idaho, 1.34 percent; and South Carolina, at 1.27 percent, all made the top 10. The District of Columbia, at 1.51 percent also made the fastest-growing group. States losing population were New Mexico, which dropped 1,323 people, or 0.06 percent; Alaska, with 527 fewer people over the year, or 0.07 percent of its population; Illinois, down 9,972 people, or 0.08 percent; West Virginia, 3,269 people, or 0.18 percent; Connecticut, 2,664 people, or 0.07 percent; and Vermont, 293 people, or 0.05 percent.

Juanita Evangeline Moore hates Christmas. It was on Christmas night 1951 when her father, Harry T. Moore, was murdered instantly when a bomb placed by racists exploded under the family’s Mims home. Nine days later, her mother Harriette V. Moore died as a result of injuries sustained in the bombing. The Moores were some of the earliest civil rights leaders in Florida and began their work in Brevard County. Harry Moore, a graduate of Bethune-Cookman College (now University), was the Florida state field secretary for the NAACP. He fought for equal pay for teachers, spoke out against violent atrocities against AfricanAmericans, and registered thousands of voters. At the time they were killed, Harry Moore, who also founded the Brevard County chapter of the NAACP, was registering large numbers of Blacks to vote and protesting the circumstances around a rape trial in Groveland – including the killings of two of the defendants by the Lake County sheriff. Such activism, in a state still under the harsh rule of Jim Crow, drew the ire of the Ku Klux Klan.

Circumstantial evidence In 2006, Florida’s then-Attorney General Charlie Crist spoke about the Moores’ murders under a rambling oak tree just yards from where the Moore home stood, now the site of a cultural center honoring the couple. Crist said strong circumstantial evidence – unearthed during a 20-month investigation – pointed to ultra-violent factions within the KKK “as being responsible for this horrible act.’’ In the Moore case, investigators interviewed more than 100 people and combed through 50 years of documents. The bombsite was even excavated, though it yielded no new evidence. But the stories of witnesses did. They told of a particularly violent group of men who were working

COMMENTARY: CHARLES W. CHERRY II: RANDOM THOUGHTS OF A FREE BLACK MIND | A4 COMMENTARY: GEORGE CURRY: UNFAIR AND UNBALANCED MEDIA COVERAGE IN 2014 | A5

See JUSTICE, Page A2

FOCUS

JANUARY 2 – JANUARY 8, 2015

A new day and a new way It’s 2015, a new year, and hopefully a new time for African-Americans in the United States of America. Last year was full of sorrow, tears and blood. Heavily-armed and trigger-happy law enforcers gunned down teen after unarmed teen. American bombs were dropped on the African continent and the Ebola virus in African went pretty much unchecked, until non-Black health providers caught the virus and fears the virus would spread caused panic worldwide. The American economy improved for every U.S. citizen – except for the Black ones. Interest rates remained low, the stock market went up, and Amy and Bruce began to find more jobs. But Black men and women continued to be unemployed, exploited and oppressed in too

OUR TOP 10 STORIES

2014 from Page 1

Millions sign up for ‘Obamacare’ – A year after their disastrous launch, health insurance marketplaces created through the Affordable Care Act (reopened to consumers this month in a high-stakes new test for the health law and its ambitious program for expanding coverage to millions of Americans. More than 7 million people have gained insurance through the markets. More than 7 in 10 Americans who bought coverage ranked their insurance as “excellent” or “good,” according to a new Gallup poll. And combined with Medicaid expansions in some states, the marketplaces helped cover about 10 million previously uninsured Americans, surveys indicate. Nearly 1 million Floridians enrolled in a private health plan through the national ACA exchange.

Constitutional amendments decided – Floridians appeared poised to overwhelmingly pass a constitutional amendment to legalize medical marijuana. But after a barrage of negative ads by opponents, and an aggressive campaign in Black-owned media statewide, the amendment failed by about 2 percent. Voters easily passed an amendment that will lead to increased funding for land conservation and other environmental projects. They rejected a third amendment that would have allowed Gov. Rick Scott to appointment Supreme Court justices and appeals-court judges.

Ebola hits West Africa – The plague erupted deep in the forests of West Africa, sweeping through isolated villages and teeming cities before reaching across oceans to Europe and the United States. Previous Ebola outbreaks have felled hundreds of people. But health officials report that this year’s epidemic has already sickened nearly 20,000 and killed about 7,700 of them, more than all other known occurrences combined. As 2015 approached, there was reason to hope that what at first

JUSTICE from A1

to squash the efforts of the Moores. Those implicated were Earl J. Brooklyn, Tillman H. Bevlin, Joseph N. Cox and Edward L. Spivey. Crist, who said others may have been involved, failed to elaborate on the roles each man played.

All dead Spivey reportedly confessed to investigators and an anonymous tipster before his death from cancer in 1980. But by that time, the case was nearly 30 years old and the other three men were long dead. Bevlin died less than a year after the bombing, reportedly of natural causes. Brooklyn died on the attack’s one-year anniversary, and Cox committed suicide in 1952 – one day after an interview with the FBI

LUCIUS GANTT THE GANTT REPORT

many areas.

Why? There is little or no progress in Black communities because the politicians and fake community leaders that so many Black people love have failed us! The people we expected to help us have done so much to hurt us! This 1950s strategy of marching and praying every time something bad happens to Black people is outdated, played out and pretty much reactionary. The Black community voic-

was a plodding international response is finally catching up with the virus. In Liberia, where just a few months ago bodies were left in the streets for days and patients were turned away from treatment facilities because there weren’t enough beds or personnel, the number of cases has been dropping rapidly. There are also signs that the disease may be slowing in Sierra Leone, which has overtaken Liberia as the country with the biggest caseload. Still, the plague has had serious economic impact, virtually stopping economic activity in the affected countries.

es our people currently hear are primarily the voices that modern-day devils want you to hear. The characters on the “Roots” television programs aired over the holidays had more encouraging things to say about Black progress than the real-life Fiddlers and Chicken Georges that are running around and bowing down today.

Lives, not days In 2015, we shouldn’t hope and hope and hope for a better day. We should work and fight for a better life! You don’t have to take my word for it, but most African-Americans don’t have many problems that money can’t solve. If the politicians that you love and the preachers, teachers and other so-called Black communi-

‘Never have closure’ Sixty-three years later, Moore has given up hope that her parents will receive justice. She was praying that the four suspects in the killings would be formally named as suspects when she received a letter from the FBI telling her that investigators had been unable to find anything that would help them to definitively identify the culprits. “I haven’t heard from them since. I guess I will never have closure,” said Moore, of New Carrollton, Maryland. Moore, 84, is among

today, our people are content to recycle the leaders that people in power want us to have. I hope that God will send us a 2015 Moses or Joshua or even a modern day Martin or Malcolm. In 2015, we need a new way to realize a new day! Thank you for continuing to support The Gantt Report. Predictions of my demise have been greatly exaggerated. This column will always be here when my people want to read it!

Gantt’s book “Beast Too: Dead Man Writing” is on sale online or at major bookstores. His new book “The Light is The Truth” is scheduled for a 2015 release. Contact Lucius at www.allworldconsultants.net. Click on this story at www.flcourier.com to write your own response.

Different voices Throughout African-American history, a variety of different leaders and voices have come along to help us improve our status and our community conditions. But

President Obama’s Cuba initiative is expected to open up the island to American tourists.

President Obama goes it alone on immigration – Frustrated by a lack of action in Congress, Obama unveiled a series of unilateral steps on immigration Nov. 20. Undocumented immigrants who are the parents of U.S. citizens will be allowed to defer the threat of deportation for three years and apply for work permits, as long as they meet a host of other requirements including criminal background checks. The administration is also expanding a 2012 program known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals that allowed immigrants who entered the country before their 16th birthday to apply for relief. While the announcement has been applauded by immigrants – and criticized by Republicans – some note that no one knows what will happen to the immi- Assata Shakur, a radical Black nagrants in the program when tionalist who was serving a life Obama leaves office in 2017. sentence for felony murder when she escaped from prison in 1979, Obama eases Cuba re- will be forcibly returned to Amerilations – Sweeping away ca. In May 2013, on the 40th annimore than half a century versary of her arrest, Shakur was of official U.S. animosity, Obama added to the FBI’s Most Wanted announced plans to restore dip- Terrorists list. A $2 million reward lomatic relations with Cuba and is offered for her capture. broaden business ties after the swap of several jailed spies and Bill Cosby accused of sex the release of an American concrimes – Assault accusatractor held in a Havana pristions have buffeted the on. Obama instructed Secretary 77-year-old comedian for years. of State John F. Kerry to initiate But it wasn’t until this fall that the high-level discussions with Cu- accounts from women claiming ba and re-establish a U.S. Embas- he had drugged and then violated sy in Havana. The administration them began to take hold. Seemalso will ease travel restrictions ingly, each week has brought a to Cuba, allow an increase in renew accuser. Despite the similarmittance levels, expand commer- ity of their stories, each woman’s cial sales and exports to the is- claim has been met with skeptiland and review Cuba’s designa- cism in some quarters. tion since 1982 as a state sponsor For weeks the question has of terrorism, a special source of been asked across social media, tension. on news talk shows and in casuRemaining unresolved is al conversations among friends: whether American fugitives like Why did it take many of Bill Cos-

about the case. Investigators said Brooklyn and Bevlin had floor plans of the Moore home, and Cox may have been rewarded with a paid-off mortgage for participating in the crime. Spivey is believed to have been at the home on the night of the bombing.

ty leaders can’t lead you to better employment, better housing, more business opportunities, safer Black communities, more affordable health care and judicial equal rights and justice, then you shouldn’t let them lead you! It takes a village to raise a child and it takes a whole community to improve a community! Can’t we accept some other community activists? Can we read some other opinions, and listen to some other Black voices other than those that are acceptable to the people that want to keep us politically and economically ignorant?

Opponents of medical marijuana in Florida aggressively used Black-owned media to beat back an amendment legalizing the drug in Florida.

Mass protests against police brutality started in August in Ferguson, Mo. and have continued. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist, center, lost a close race after Democrats refused to invest resources to boost Black voter turnout.

FILE PHOTOS

by’s accusers decades to come forward with allegations of sexual assault against him? If the attacks happened, why wait so long to say so? Cosby has been charged with no crime, and he hasn’t responded directly to the allegations. Cosby’s support within Black America is split across gender, age, and political lines. His reputation and career have been damaged, perhaps, beyond repair.

Gay marriage coming to Florida – For the first time, a majority of Americans are living in a state that allows gay marriage – to the chagrin of much of Black America, which is generally against gay marriage. At year-end, gay marriage is legally approved in 35 states and the District of Columbia, and court reviews are pending in many others. In Florida, a 2008 constitutional amendment banning gay marriage in the state was deemed unconstitutional by U.S. Dis-

trict Judge Robert Hinkle. In August, the judge placed a stay on his decision amid appeals. That stay will expire Jan. 6, which gayrights groups say will allow samesex marriages to start throughout the state. The Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers, however, has issued a legal memo that said Hinkle’s August ruling only applied to issuing a marriage license to two gay men in Washington County who are plaintiffs in the case and not to other same-sex couples. Parties in the lawsuit filed documents Monday with Hinkle, who could clarify the scope of his August ruling. For opponents, the battle is not over and they are looking to the U.S. Supreme Court in the coming year to make a final determination. The first inkling could come Jan. 9 when the court holds a conference on which cases it will take.

hundreds of loved ones of men, women and children killed in decades-old civil rights cases who still yearn to have someone held accountable for the killings.

Congress acts In 2007, at the urging of civil rights activists, Congress passed the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Act that was named for 14-year-old Emmett Till, a Chicago youth who, in 1955, was brutalized and killed by racists in Money, Miss. after he whistled at a White woman. At a panel discussion Dec. 9 at Washington, D.C’s National Press Club, relatives of civil rights murder victims described their efforts to see done for their loved ones. The event was sponsored by the Cold Case Justice Initiative (CCJI) of the Syracuse University College of Law, one of a handful of universitybased programs where law students investigate civil

CHUCK KENNEDY/MCT

Evangeline Moore holds photos of her parents, Florida civil rights activists Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore, in this 1999 file photo. rights murders. “For years, I didn’t know anything about what happened. I guess my mom didn’t want us to know what went on because we still live in that town,” said

Darlene Morris-Newbill, 41, whose great grandfather, Frank Morris, died after he was set on fire by racists in Ferriday, La., in 1964. The case was investigated by the CCJI and

turned its research over to the Department of Justice, which said it was unable to determine or prosecute a culprit. Speakers urged Congress to extend the Till Act, which is set to expire in 2017. Under the act, Congress appropriated funding to the DOJ to investigate unsolved civil rights murder cases and, whenever possible, to bring killers to justice. The panel included Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-Texas); Emmett’s cousin, Thelma Edwards, who still remembers the night he was snatched from her parent’s home at gunpoint; Paul Delaney, a former editor at the New York Times who wrote extensively about civil rights murders; and Paula Johnson and Janis McDonald, the Syracuse law professors who co-direct the CCJI.

Avis Thomas-Lester of NNPA and the Washington Informer contributed to this report.

JANUARY 2 – JANUARY 8, 2015

FLORIDA

Minimum wage hike among Jan. 1 new laws State legislation includes booster seats for kids through age 5

harness until the child is 40 lbs,” AAA spokeswoman Karen Morgan said in a release. “Age should not be a determining factor.” People charged with violating the law (HB 225) face $60 fines and three points on their driver’s licenses. The law includes exceptions such as when a driver is unpaid and is not a member or a child’s immediate family or when a child is being transported because of a medical emergency.

BY JIM TURNER THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

TALLAHASSEE – Some children could travel with more protection in 2015 as a new law about child car seats took effect Jan. 1. Overall, the start of 2015 will be quiet for new laws in Florida. Lawmakers sent 255 bills to Gov. Rick Scott after passage during the 2014 legislative session, but only three took effect on Jan. 1. The majority of the new laws, 158 of them, went into place July 1. Florida residents and businesses, however, will see other changes with the start of the new year. As an example, the state’s minimum wage will increase from $7.93 to $8.05 an hour, thanks to a 2004 constitutional amendment that leads to annual adjustments. Also, employers will see an overall 5.2 percent decrease in workers-compensation insurance rates.

‘Geologist in training’

C.W. GRIFFIN/MIAMI HERALD/MCT

Striking fast food workers such as Franz Nerette, left, hold picket signs as they walk the line in front of restaurants where they picketed during a nationwide protest on Sept. 4, 2014 in Miami in favor of a $15 per hour minimum wage increase. The state’s minimum wage increases from $7.93 to $8.05 an hour this month.

Kids and car seats The new law getting the most attention this week will require children through age 5 to be placed

FLORIDA BRIEFS Bill could bar questions about criminal pasts Pointing to a need to increase employment opportunities and reduce recidivism, a South Florida lawmaker last week proposed restricting the ability of employers to ask about job applicants’ criminal histories. Sen. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, filed the proposal (SB 214) for the 2015 legislative session. The bill would bar employers

in car seats or booster seats while riding in vehicles. Currently, children ages 3 and younger are required to ride in the child-restraint devices, while children ages

from asking about job-seekers’ criminal histories on initial applications. Employers would be able to ask about such information and consider it after applicants’ qualifications have been screened and found to meet minimum requirements for the jobs. The bill states that “reducing barriers to employment for people who have a criminal history and lowering unemployment rates in communities that have concentrated numbers of people who have a criminal history are issues of statewide concern.”

4 and 5 can use seat belts, according to a House bill analysis. AAA Auto Club supported the change although the organization recommends

that booster seats continue to be used until children reach 4 feet 9 inches tall. “The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the use of a 5-point

Senators to get ethics training

Sugar, insurance money boost inauguration

Leaders have set aside two hours during committee meetings next week for members of the Florida Senate to receive ethics training. The ethics session is scheduled from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 7 and will include a presentation by Senate General Counsel George Levesque. Senators will hold committee meetings spread over four days next week as they prepare for the annual legislative session that starts in March.

With big chunks of money coming in from the insurance and sugar industries, the Republican Party of Florida has raised more than $500,000 to pay for Gov. Rick Scott’s inauguration activities. The party last week released a list of donations it had received through Dec. 19, including $100,000 from the Florida Insurance Council and $90,000 from Florida Crystals Corp., a major player in the sugar industry.

Another new law (SB 404) set new rules for geologists. The measure includes requirements for registering as what is known as a “geologist in training.” That would include taking part of the exam for licensure as a professional geologist and meeting educational requirements. The third new law (HB 343) involves a $1 surcharge on the use of carsharing services. That will be instead of the state’s $2-a-day rental-car surcharge. The $1 surcharge will apply when a member of a car-sharing service uses a vehicle for less than 24 hours, according to a House staff analysis.

In earlier reports, the party said it received $30,000 from insurance companies and $25,000 from U.S. Sugar Corp. In all, the party had raised $512,700 through Dec. 19 for activities surrounding Scott’s Jan. 6 inauguration, according to lists of donors released in recent weeks. Among other donations in the latest list were $25,000 from the Florida Concrete & Products Association and $25,000 from the law firm Holland & Knight.

The News Service of Florida

EDITORIAL

JANUARY 2 – JANUARY 8, 2015

Why we must keep on marching The protests began in Ferguson, exploding after the prosecutor announced that the policeman who killed Michael Brown would not be brought to trial. They spread across the country after the Staten Island grand jury refused to charge the policeman who strangled Eric Garner, killing him on camera. Now, as others – Tamir Rice, John Crawford III, Akai Gurley – are added to the list of casualties, the marches keep on building. Professional and college athletes don shirts saying, “We can’t breathe.” Congressional aides go on strike to stand on the steps of the House, calling “hands up, don’t shoot.” From Boston to Denver to Miami, die-ins and protests tie up major intersections in big cities. Non-violent protestors chain themselves to a Bart car, declaring they want to stop the line for four and one-half

REV. JESSE L. JACKSON, SR. TRICEEDNEYWIRE.COM

hours, the time Michael Brown was left on the street in Ferguson. Two weekends ago, tens of thousands marched in Washington, Boston, New York and elsewhere.

Attention please Why march? Marching is a public protest, a witness demanding attention be paid. Marching is a public classroom, teaching millions about what has long been true about police violence and racial injustice, but too seldom acknowledged. Marching forges community, an evolving community of ordinary heroes

who put their bodies on the line to call the powerful to account. Marching involves moving from spectator to participant in history, going from being on the sidelines to being on the field. It is exhilarating and frustrating at the same time. These marches are spreading, in part because many share Eric Garner’s final plea, “I can’t breathe.” African-American outrage is clear. We experience police abuse as a daily reality. African-American males are 21 times more likely to be shot by police than white males. To even out the disparity over the last three years, according to Propublica, police would have to shoot an additional White male a week -- for three years. But this isn’t just a Black male problem. According to Propublica, 44 percent of those shot and killed by police are White. And even this data is incomplete,

VISUAL VIEWPOINT: ECONOMIC CHEER

since many police departments do not file fatal police shooting reports at all.

eras. Even conservatives have joined in speaking out against police abuse.

Reality of many

Fundamental reform

These marches reflect the reality that many can’t breathe in this current arrangement. The unjust judicial system reflects an unjust economic order. The day after the first Garner demonstrations that shut down much of New York City, low wage workers walked off their jobs in over 190 cities. They came from McDonalds and Wal-Mart, Dollar Stores and discount chains. They too can’t breathe in jobs that offer low wages, few benefits and less security. The protests have now gained national attention. The White House has promised reforms in sentencing, in police practices and in police equipment, with millions promised for new cam-

This is all good, but merely a first, baby step. We need fundamental reform not simply of police practices but of economic and educational policies if we are to meet the challenge exposed by Ferguson and Florida and New York and more. And all of our history teaches that real reform comes only if the people are in the street demanding it. Those who are comfortable with the current arrangement will not lead the change. Those who can’t breathe must lead the change. And now, they are.

Protesters must be mindful of dirty tricks Immediately after hearing about the killing of two New York City police officers by a seemingly mentally-deranged Black male, I called my 48-year-old son whose work often requires him to be in the city at night. “Unless there is an emergency situation,” I told him, “it will be best to avoid being on city streets at night for the next couple of days. And spread the message to your friends who live in the city.”

A reasonable precaution

NATE BEELER, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Random thoughts of a free Black mind, v. 239 Happy New Year! Looking forward to ’15, as ’14 was a year of resolution and conclusions for me. Let’s all push forward toward success… Gay marriage – I’m one of the most nonjudgment folks I know, because it’s nunna my bizness what people do. So it was interesting get into a late-night back and forth on Facebook with a male gay doctor who is an expert in human sexuality. My position: I’m for homosexuals having the same legal rights that every American citizen does, including the right to marry. But being a ‘loving ally’ of a homosexual man is not required of me. I don’t have to ‘love’ you to stand up for the principle of human and civil rights for all. I’m only required to ‘tolerate’ the actions of my fellow American citizens who engage in legal conduct, whether I like it or not. (Homosexual activity is legal.) I explained to the doctor that most men who are hard-wired 100 percent heterosexuals involuntarily cringe when two dudes passionately kiss. The doc then accused me of homophobia, of not being comfortable with my sexuality, of being on the “down low,” and cited studies concluding that “verbally homophobic” men are aroused by homosexual porn. My denial and partial response: “The

QUICK TAKES FROM #2: STRAIGHT, NO CHASER

CHARLES W. CHERRY II, ESQ. PUBLISHER

use of “homophobia” (a non-scientific conclusion) as an ad hominem attack against someone with a different opinion is why you’ll get tolerance, but NOT win hearts and minds, especially among Black Americans…Your response is typical of White “do as I say” entitlement that even Black lesbian, gay, bisexual transgendered community (LGBT) activists have identified as problematic. You want me to be a “loving ally” but you won’t “tolerate” my right to have an opinion contrary to yours? Sorry, bruh…” My advice to the lesbian, gay, bisexual transgendered community: Quit calling names. Make your case. It’s an uphill climb from tolerance to acceptance to love. Let’s start with tolerance…

Contact me at ccherry2@gmail.com. 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.

THE CREDO OF THE BLACK PRESS The Black Press believes that Americans can best lead the world away from racism and national antagonism when it accords to every person, regardless of race, color or creed, full human and legal rights. Hating no person, fearing no person. The Black Press strives to help every person in the firm belief...that all are hurt as long as anyone is held back.

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Charles W. Cherry, Sr. (1928-2004), Founder Julia T. Cherry, Senior Managing Member, Central Florida Communicators Group, LLC Dr. Glenn W. Cherry, Cassandra CherryKittles, Charles W. Cherry II, Managing Members Charles W. Cherry II, Esq., Publisher Dr. Glenn W. Cherry, Sales Manager Dr. Valerie Rawls-Cherry, Human Resources Jenise Morgan, Senior Editor Angela VanEmmerik, Creative Director Chicago Jones, Eugene Leach, Louis Muhammad, Lisa Rogers-Cherry, Circulation Ashley Thomas, Staff Writer Delroy Cole, Kim Gibson, Photojournalists MEMBER National Newspaper Publishers Association Society of Professional Journalists Florida Press Association Associated Press National Newspaper Association

Jesse Jackson is the founder/ president of the Rainbow PUSH coalition. Write your own response at www.flcourier.com.

This may sound like an overreaction to some but I was convinced that some revenge-seeking police officers or some of their supporters would strike out at any Black male they came across. This attitude was based on lessons I learned from Brother Malcolm X in the early 1960s on tactics used by the police and other government agencies to go after Black males. When hearing some of the protesters chanting “What do we want? Dead cops! When do we want it? Now!” I remembered Brother Malcolm warning his supporters in the Organization of Afro-American Unity to be very suspicious of anyone in attendance at one of our meetings or rallies who shouted out, “We should go bomb the subways.”

Working against us That person, he said, should be immediately removed from our gathering. Nine times out of 10, Brother Malcolm told us, that person is a plant working for either the police or other hostile government agencies. And if there is even the briefest discussion of his or her proposal everyone in the room could be charged with conspiracy. Equally relevant are the events that occurred in Ferguson over the acquittal of the police officer who killed unarmed Michael Brown. First, there was the announcing of the grand jury’s decision at 9 o’clock at night. In my nearly 50 years as a journalist I had never heard of such an explosive issue being publicly announced at 9 p.m. Then, there were the fires. For more than a week before the decision was announced, there was constant news reports about extensive preparations by the police and National Guard to prevent any expression of violence. Despite all those precau-

A. PETER BAILEY TRICEEDNEYWIRE.COM

I was convinced that some revenge-seeking police officers or some of their supporters would strike out at any Black male they came across. tions, fires were set and allowed to burn. It is entirely possible, and to me probable, that those fires were set off by supporters of the police.

Set fire to the wind In both New York City and Ferguson press coverage and commentary focused almost exclusively on the chants and the fires, respectively, instead of the police misconduct which led to the deaths of two unarmed Black males. The chants and fires were huge propaganda gifts for fearmongering haters such as Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, clever Bill O’Reilly and their cohorts throughout the country. What all this means is that those who challenge racial and economic injustices must understand clearly that a few hundred or even a few thousand people chanting “No justice, no peace” and “Hands up, don’t shoot,” won’t do it in 2014 and beyond. They must become very knowledgeable about the true devious tactics of the defenders of those status quos and develop strategies to counteract their destructive agenda.

A. Peter Bailey latest book is, Witnessing Brother Malcolm X, the Master Teacher. Write your own response at www.flcourier.com.

12 affirmations for the African-American community As we approach 2015, many people will make New Year’s resolutions. Resolutions from losing weight to going into business for themselves. While it’s a proven fact than many people don’t keep their resolutions after the 2nd month, what needs to happen is that people need to move from making resolutions to declaring affirmations they will embrace throughout the year. Beginning today, I would like to provide you with 12 affirmations for the AfricanAmerican community. We will value the life of all persons regardless of race, creed, color, nationality, ethnicity, or sexual orientation We will not support record companies/ artists that demean and degrade our women and the Black community We will not live beneath our potential when the Creator has called us to be victorious in all that we set out to do We will support Black-owned businesses more We will begin/continue saving and investing more money We will go back to school to acquire new skills and talents to make ourselves more marketable We will start businesses that will not only add more revenue to our financial portfolio, but will create employment opportunities for those within our community We will not stereotype, categorize, and/ or label people we don’t know We will become more engaged political-

DR. SINCLAIR GREY III GUEST COLUMNIST

ly and socially within our community to ensure justice for all persons We will not engage in senseless discussions and/or behavior that’s destructive and damaging to ourselves, our family, and our community We will support our youth and encourage them to strive to be the best in all things We will not give up in seeking to improve our quality of life You might be asking yourself, why did I choose only twelve when so many other affirmations could have been used? Well, I will leave that up to you. Every day, we should find ways to not only uplift and empower ourselves, but also people within the African-American community.

Dr. Sinclair Grey III is an activist, speaker, writer, author, life coach, and host of The Sinclair Grey Show heard on Mondays at 2 p.m. on WAEC Love 860am (iHeart Radio and Tune In). Write your own response at www.flcourier.com.

JANUARY 2 – JANUARY 8, 2015

Curing the lies Several years ago, I heard a Futurist predict that, in the not so distant future, wealth, instead of the accumulation of money, would be determined by the control of information. However incredible that information may have sounded upon first hearing it, each passing day suggests to me that any doubt I may have harbored about that statement was unfounded. A clear example of this circumstance is illustrated in the fact that Rupert Murdoch has gobbled up as many radio, television and newspaper outlets in this country as the law will allow for the singular purpose of controlling what Americans think, feel and believe. Sadly, he has had significant success in disseminating a conservative dogma that appears to be winning the hearts and minds of a majority of the less-educated, blue-collar, white Americans.

Eric Garner, Michael Brown, John Crawford, Tamir Rice and others. Of particular interest on Fox News is Sean Hannity’s new favorite personality – Ferguson Grand Juror #40. Over numerous broadcasts, Hannity has used the testimony of this witness to decry the legitimacy of support for Michael Brown and criticism of the St. Louis prosecutor and the Grand Jury process he orchestrated. Unfortunately for Hannity, but tragically for the family of Michael Brown, even prosecutor Robert McCullough admitted that this witness was “likely lying” to the Grand Jury. Even the website, “The Smoking Gun,” confirmed Witness #40 as a person with “...a criminal past who has a history of making racist remarks and once inserted herself into another high-profile St. Louis criminal case with claims that police eventually dismissed as a “complete fabrication...”

DR. E. FAYE WILLIAMS, ESQ. TRICE EDNEY WIRE

this articulated in statements from “one side of mouths” condemning Obamacare as an illegal, unworkable government health mandate while the “other side of the mouth” spews venomous hatred against anyone who even remotely proposes plans that threaten Medicare. Despite all of the President’s successes, he gets credit for doing nothing right for them. I find it interesting that those who commonly contradict themselves on points of government policy frequently confess that their news outlet of choice is Fox News. Fox News continues to report their distorted perspectives for the mis-information of those Marketing fear who are willing to listen. Truth sufThe Murdoch Empire and othfers. er right leaning outlets have been characterized by many as the “official voice of Corporate America Juror in Ferguson Although I occasionally look at and the Republican Party.” Uncannily, they have used the prin- Fox News to determine what anciples of propaganda to convince ti-Obama spin is being promota significant number of Ameri- ed, I’ve had great interest in their cans to vote for politicians and demonization of other Black men policies that directly conflict with and support for suppressing protheir personal interests. We see tests resulting from the murders of

No complacency For most Black people, these revelations aren’t surprising. Sometimes I think our reaction to the characterization of Black people, especially males, is as measured only because we must endure them so often. I would recommend that we not become complacent in these matters. I urge

EDITORIAL VISUAL VIEWPOINT: LAME DUCK

MILT PRIGGEE, WWW.MILTPRIGGEE.COM

the continued relentless opposition to public and media characterizations that justify the killing of Black people. In the past several weeks, we have demonstrated our outrage and opposition to the heightened level of unrestrained violence meted-out upon Blacks. We must now take that outrage into city council chambers, state assemblies and attorneys general offices to voice our displeasure with legal status quo. Instead of allowing time to assuage our anger, we must coordinate with Department of Justice officials to identify methodology to

wing attacks are treated as isolated incidents that are mostly void of politics. Instead, the perpetrators are portrayed as lone gunmen (and women) who do not repreNew York City Mayor Rudolf Gi- sent any cultural or political moveuliani insisted the message from ment.” recent Obama ‘propaganda’ was that ‘everybody should hate the More observations cops.’ (No such Obama ‘propaganTo buttress its assertion, Mediada’ actually exists.) MediaMatters noted, “Yet in Matters stated: “On a September night this year, stark contrast, as Media Matters has documented, Fox News has 31-year-old marksman Eric Frein was allegedly laying in wait outroutinely paid very little attention side the Blooming Grove police to breaking news stories that feabarracks in northeastern Pennture right-wing, or anti-govern- sylvania, preparing to assassinate ment, gunmen who target law en- state troopers. That night, state poforcement officials as a way to de- lice officer Bryon Dickson was shot liver their warped political mes- and killed as he walked towards sages. his patrol car. “And critically, when they have “…In the two weeks after the touched on those deadly attacks, shooting, as a massive manhunt Fox talkers have stressed that it’s unfolded in the mountains of not fair to blame politics. Note Pennsylvania, Fox programs menthat in 2013, after racist skinhead tioned Frein’s name in just six reMichael Page started killing wor- ports, according to Nexis transhipers at an Oak Creek, WI., Sikh scripts. One of the reports mentemple, and then murdered a po- tioned Frein’s hatred of law enlice officer, Fox’s Andrea Tanta- forcement, but none mentioned ros stressed that the killing spree Frein’s vocal anti-government was an isolated event that didn’t leanings. have any larger implications. ‘How “When Frein was finally capdo you stop a lunatic?’ she asked. tured in late October, Fox News ‘This is not a political issue.’ covered the stories a handful of “At Fox, that has been the pat- times. Again, there was no emtern: These kind of deadly right- phasis on his possible anti-gov-

2014: Unfair and unbalanced media Fox News, which mislabels itself as “fair and balanced,” was anything but in 2014, according to MediaMatters.org, the independent media watchdog group. The way that the right-wing network covered the deaths of police officers in 2014 is a case in point. “The politicization surrounding the killing of two New York Police Department officers over the weekend was amazingly swift. Fox News led the right-wing media charge, immediately claiming Democratic elected officials were somehow responsible for the gun rampage…,” the MediaMatters analysis observed.

Pointing fingers “On Fox, hosts and guests were sure who was to blame for the tragedy; not the gunman necessarily, but political and community leaders like President Obama, Attorney General Eric Holder, Mayor Bill de Blasio and MSNBC’s Al Sharpton. Why? Because the men, to varying degrees, have spoken out about the troubled relationship between law enforcement and the black community, and raised concerns

GEORGE E. CURRY NNPA COLUMNIST

about two recent high-profile cases, Michael Brown and Eric Garner, in which unarmed black men were killed, and police officers responsible were not indicted.” The watchdog group continued, “…former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik told Fox News, ‘I personally feel that Mayor de Blasio, Sharpton and others like them, they actually have blood on their hands.’ “’Let’s talk about the president as well,’” responded Fox’s Jeanine Pirro, suggesting Obama and Mayor de Blasio were to blame. “’The two of them have undoubtedly created racial tensions that worsens, not betters the situation for law enforcement.’”

Giuliani’s thoughts Appearing on Fox News, former

2014 lies of the year There are critical similarities between the furious controversy in the fall about the Ebola crisis in the U.S. – that never materialized – and that which has followed the heinous murder of two New York City police officers by an apparently mentally unstable Black man with a long criminal record. First, in both instances, conservatives ignored “inconvenient” facts in order to spin falsehoods and half-baked conspiracy theories and play the guilt-by-association card. Secondly, conservative politicians and pundits used both developments to bash progressives, especially President Obama and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, and stoke anti-Black and anti-Brown bigotry and hatred of undocumented immigrants.

National panic The facts available at the time made it clear there was no danger of either a large- or a smallscale outbreak of the lethal virus. Yet, the conservative echo chamber, and some centrists, insistently tried to gin up a national panic. That gambit – obviously done with the November elections in mind – included outlandish and racist claims that Obama and de Blasio actually favored having the disease take root here. Those and other “exaggerated claims from politicians and pundits” helped “fear of the disease … [stretch] to every corner of America this fall” and “produced a dangerous and incorrect narrative.” That assessment comes from Politifact.com, an independent fact-checking journalism website affiliated with the Tampa Bay Times. Because those “claims – all wrong – distorted the debate about a serious public health issue,” Politifact’s editors labeled the Ebola exaggerations Polit-

LEE A. DANIELS NNPA COLUMNIST

fact’s “2014 Lie of the Year.”

No connection The words Politfact.com used to describe the Ebola scare precisely describe the fear-mongering of conservatives in the aftermath of the two New York City police officers’ murders. There’s no evidence that 28-year-old IsmaaiylBrinsley, who had shot his girlfriend in Baltimore before traveling to New York to commit a second reprehensible crime, had any connection to the legitimate, justifiable protests of police killings of unarmed Black Americans in questionable circumstances – or that anyone significantly involved in those protests had any connection to him. Yet, from the moment the tragedy unfolded, conservative politicians and pundits spewed the kind of race-baiting, guilt-by-association lies that racists have always used to try to obscure legitimate Black protest. It is a measure of both the political progress Black Americans have forged, on the one hand, and, on the other, of the persistent virulence of racism in American society that some so-called respectable White current and former public officials, and police union officials labeled the president of the United States and the mayor of New York City as “anti-police” and claimed they bear some responsibility for the murders.

hypocrisy. Last June, two Las Vegas city cops who had stopped to take their lunch break at a restaurant were ambushed by Jerad and Amanda Miller, a young White couple who had been part of the mob of a thousand armed antigovernment extremists who had gathered at the Nevada ranch of government-chiseler Cliven Bundy prepared to shoot to kill federal agents there to collect the fees Bundy had long owed (a potential insurrection that many conservatives supported). In the ensuing effort to capture them, the Millers killed a civilian before being shot to death by other officers. In October, Eric Frein, a White Pennsylvanian who had long espoused anti-government and anti-police attitudes, ambushed two state troopers as they walked out of their barracks. One died; the other was seriously wounded. Frein, an experienced survivalist who had apparently long planned to murder police officers, then took to the thick woods in the area and eluded a massive manhunt for nearly 50 days before being captured. As numerous commentators have pointed out in recent days, neither of these reprehensible police-officer murders – in which White men were the perpetrators – drew any interest from the conservative echo chamber. Here’s an outlandish suggestion: Should we then conclude that conservative politicians and pundits have no interest in the murder of police officers when their killers are White?

Lee A. Daniels is a longtime journalist based in New York Racial hypocrisy City. Write your own response And so is conservatives’ racial at www.flcourier.com.

eliminate future police violence in our communities. Last, we must tell our own story. We must demand that conventional media not ignore the distorted or false characterizations that allow for the indignant reaction to our desire for equal justice under the law without regard to race.

E. Faye Williams is President and CEO of the National Congress of Black Women. Write your own response at www.flcourier.com.

ernment motivations and why the “survivalist” set out to assassinate law enforcement officers. Fox has plenty of company on the right.

‘Black lives matter’

In November 2014, Breitbart. com criticized the media for not mentioning that President Obama’s nominee for attorney general, Loretta Lynch, “was one of the Clintons’ Whitewater defense attorneys.” But Breitbart.com targeted the wrong Loretta Lynch – the woman they named, a defense attorney for the Clintons, is a California based attorney who has worked on several prominent political campaigns, and is White. The nominee Loretta Lynch became a federal prosecutor in 1990, two years before the other Lynch participated in the Whitewater investigation, was appointed by President Clinton as a U.S. Attorney in 1999, and is Black.” [Media Matters, 11/9/14] Yes, Black lives matter. And so does the truth.

George E. Curry, former editor-in-chief of Emerge magazine, is editor-in-chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA.) Write your own response at www.flcourier.com.

Republicans 2015: A trip into the past At this time of the year everyone is making predictions about the coming year and/or reflections on the past. Let me add a quick note, by way of a warning. The November 2014 elections, at the national and state levels, brought together some very conservative forces who, according to most opinion polls, do not represent the point of view of the majority of the population. They do, however, represent the views of about 15-20 percent of the population that voted for them on Election Day 2014. The vast majority of the Republican Party has suggested, for many years, that their objective is to overturn the 20th century, that is, to reverse the various gains made by the average person in the 20th century. This means everything from the victories of the New Deal to the increase in voting rights in the 1960s. With majorities in the House and Senate, we should expect that these conservative forces will go all out, with no interest in compromising, to advance their agenda. Added to this, of course, is the conservative hatred for President Obama even when they agree with him on matters of policy. As soon-to-be Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) made clear in 2009, the objective of the Republicans was to make Obama a one-term president. Well, they did not succeed at that, but they have continued in their efforts to undermine all of his major efforts.

Youth involvement

BILL FLETCHER, JR. NNPA COLUMNIST

of the U.S. That is what we should appreciate. As I am fond of saying, conservative forces in the U.S. are attempting to block the future. They are hoping to gerrymander our politics in such a way that despite a popular majority to the contrary, rich and conservative forces will continue to dominate society (this is what makes the census and who controls state legislatures so important). Next year will be another year of struggle but with what we have seen in the upsurge of youthful, Black action in response to police lynchings, there are good reasons to be believe that passivity will have little place in our future. The activism and energy that emerged in response to police violence must be translated into fights for voting rights, healthcare, housing, education and jobs. It must be translated into a recognition that the battle for justice in so-called post-racial USA is a battle to establish consistent democracy rather than any acceptance of a political and economic establishment that looks a lot like a 21st century Jim Crow or apartheid regime. Happy New Year!

Bill Fletcher, Jr. is the host of What we should expect to see, in 2015, is not about President The Global African on TelesurObama. It really is more about English. Write your own reconflicting visions of the future sponse at www.flcourier.com

NATION

TOJ A6

JANUARY 2 – JANUARY 8, 2015

Obama isn’t aging any faster than rest of us Face technology

JASON REED/REUTERS/TNS

OLIVIER DOULIERY/ABACA PRESS/TNS

Above left: A dark-haired President Obama addresses a joint session of Congress on health care reform on Sept. 9, 2009. Above right: A salt-and-pepper haired Obama delivers remarks at the Global Health Security Agenda Summit at the White House on Sept. 26, 2014.

That’s what researcher says about president’s transformation over the past six years BY KATHLEEN HENNESSEY TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON — It’s arguably his most well-worn joke. President Barack Obama loves to thank supporters who knew him before his hair was more salt than pepper. His driver’s license photo is the evidence, he joked at a polling booth this fall. Sometimes he blames his daughters. But don’t worry, he reassures audiences, “Every gray hair is worth it.” As all presidents do, Obama has aged before our eyes — over six years shifting from a darkhaired politician drowning in his suit to a weathered presi-

dent with the facial lines of an elder statesman. Or, perhaps, just a very tired one. The transformation can be striking even for those who see him daily. A photo can capture red eyes and new wrinkles. A news conference with a younger leader, such as Italy’s baby-faced Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, can draw a stark contrast.

Expert evaluation Obama’s worn visage recently prompted an expert on the subject (and there are experts on the subject) to call his wife over to the television to check it out. And it led an ecology professor in North Carolina to spend hours collecting photos of Obama for an only partially satirical scientific analysis. Playing off the term for graying of the hair, he titled the work, “Yes We Canities! A quantitative

analysis of the graying of Barack Obama’s hair.” The graying of Obama has been a topic of discussion — and a favorite punch line — since his temples started to turn in 2009. But as Obama ends a year packed with turmoil, toil and political trouble, the temptation to blame the stress of a rough 2014 is strong, says the expert, S. Jay Olshansky, a public health professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago who has studied presidents and aging. But it appears neither Russian President Vladimir Putin nor incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell can claim direct responsibility for the changes that Olshansky and his wife spotted on TV. His research found no evidence that presidents show signs of accelerated aging while in office or die sooner than other men.

Presidents, including this one, appear to age at the same rate as the rest of us, he said. As evidence, he turns to technology that analyzes the wrinkles, spots, freckles, jowls and other insults to the face to estimate the approximate “face age.” The technology is available at facemyage. com. Obama’s face age regularly averages below his 53 years, he says. “It’s just a misconception,” Olshansky says of the idea that presidents age faster than others. That false impression predates Obama. Almost every recent president has been observed as aging fast under the weight of a job with immeasurable pressure and a relentless schedule. Bill Clinton’s eight years saw his blond locks turn colorless. George W. Bush was often described as aging faster after Sept. 11 and the Iraq war. Ronald Reagan spent his two terms repeatedly denying that he dyed his perpetually dark waves — even as he departed office at 77 years old. This president, too, has denied such charges, or at least his wife has for him. In 2011, first lady Michelle Obama joked that that ship had sailed: “I think that if he had known he would be president, he would have started dying his hair, like, 10 years ago.”

Diet and exercise Obama’s anti-aging practice appears to primarily involve his diet and exercise. Known to be a creature of habit, Obama sticks to a workout routine, complete with huffing and puffing as captured on cell phone video taken at a hotel gym this year, as well as what aides describe as a boring diet of fish, veggies and whole grains. As a stress reliever, there is the golf — hours and hours of weekend golf — and regular card games with aides, a staple of any

long flight on Air Force One. When asked whether he was exhausted by the job, Obama claimed just the opposite. “You know, I actually feel energized about the opportunities that we’ve got,” he said on “Meet the Press” in September. By comparison to some, he’s still young, Obama noted recently. He mentioned that Cuban President Raul Castro, 83, called Obama “a young man” in their historic phone call to discuss reestablishing formal ties between the nations.

‘100 percent MFH’ This fall, Matt Michel, an adjunct professor at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, looked at a picture of Obama and got an idea for a new research paper for his online journal, Proceedings of the Natural Institute of Science. Michel collected and cropped dozens of photos of Obama’s hair, assembled them in chronological order, plugged them into Photoshop and quantified the gray value. Michel’s result: As of October, Obama had gotten 136 percent grayer. And odds are that his hair will indeed, as Obama joked in 2012, reach “100 percent MFH” (Morgan Freeman Hair) by 2016, according to the article. Even in MFH territory, Obama will likely be within normal range, Olshansky notes, stressing that when we note that a president suddenly looks old, what we’re probably observing is actually a harder truth: We look old, too. “It’s a reflection on us. It is a direct reflection of the normal process of aging that we all experience and especially that we all experience right at that phase in our life,” he said. “Those of us that are in that our 50s and 60s — I’m sorry. We’re all aging; he’s just part of the crowd.”

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SECTION

YEAR IN REVIEW 2014

Gone but not forgotten Remembering notable Black celebrities who died last year They were celebrated stage stars of Broadway, television and film. We were in awe of their talent. They used their voices to speak, sing and protest and inspire. We watched others excel in sports. They were role models for many others with Olympics-sized aspirations. We pay tribute to these famous figures we lost in 2014. Their legacies will live on through their many achievements and the magnificent work they left behind.

Dr. Maya Angelou The celebrated author, poet, educator, dramatist, producer, actress, historian, filmmaker and civil rights activist died May 28, 2014 at age 86 in her home in Winston, N.C. She was born Aug. 4, 1928 in St. Louis and grew up between there and Stamps, Ark. A notable accomplishment was the recital of her poem “On the Pulse of Morning” at President Bill Clinton’s inauguration in 1993. She became one of the most renowned and influential voices of our time and received over 50 honorary doctorate degrees.

Alice Coachman Davis The Olympic athlete was the first Black woman to win a gold medal. She achieved the accomplishment in 1948 in London in the high jump. She was born Nov. 9, 1923 in Albany, Ga. and died there on July 14, 2014 at age 90. The Tuskegee Institute graduate also was the only American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in athletics in 1948. She was inducted to the USA Track and Field Hall of fame in 1975 and the United States Olympic Hall of Fame in 2004.

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

Ruby Dee

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

Big Bank Hank Born Jan. 11, 1956 in New York as Henry Lee Jackson, Big Bank Hank was a member of the famous rap trio, the Sugarhill Gang. His performance on the 1979 single “Rapper’s Delight” brought hiphop to mainstream audiences. Sugarhill Gang was the first hiphop act to have a crossover hit single. Big Bank Hank died in New Jersey on Nov. 11, 2014 at age 58 after a battle with cancer.

The legendary actress, playwright, screenwriter and journalist died in New York on June 11, 2004 at age 91. She was a noted civil rights activist as well working alongside her husband, fellow actor Ossie Davis who died in 2005. Born in Ohio in 1922, she grew up in Harlem and joined the American Negro Theatre in 1941. Her film career includes “The Jackie Robinson Story, “A Raisin in the Sun’’ and “Do the Right Thing.’’ In 2008, Dee received her first Academy Awards nomination for playing Mama Lucas in “American Gangster.’’

Rubin ‘Hurricane’ Carter

Anthony ‘Tony’ Gwynn, Sr.

The professional boxer and activist, born May 6, 1937, died April 20, 2014 in Toronto. He was 76. The middleweight boxing champ served almost 20 years in prison for murders he did not commit. His story inspired Bob Dylan’s song “Hurricane” as well as a biopic starring Denzel Washington. After his release in 1985, he became an advocate for others wrongly convicted of crimes.

The baseball Hall of Famer outfielder who spent his Major League career with the San Diego Padres, died on June 16, 2014 after a battle with cancer. He was 54. Born May 9, 1960 in Los Angeles, he is considered one of the best and most consistent hitters in baseball history. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007, his first year of eligibility.

Geoffrey Holder

Juanita Moore

Meshach Taylor

Bobby Womack

The iconic dancer, choreographer and actor was born on Aug. 1, 1930, in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. He won the 1975 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical for his staging of “The Wiz.’’ He also won one for best costume design for the 1978 Broadway musical “Timbuktu!’’ He also was known for his 7-Up TV commercials and played the villainous Baron Samedi in the James Bond film “Live and Let Die.’’ He died on Oct. 5, 2014 in New York at age 84.

The legendary actress died Jan. 1, 2014 at age 99 in California. She won acclaim and a best supporting actress Academy Award nomination for her role as Lana Turner’s Black friend in the classic movie “Imitation of Life.’’ She also had an active career in theater. She appeared on Broadway in 1965 in James Baldwin’s “The Amen Corner’’ and in London in a production of “Raisin in the Sun.’’

Born April 11, 1947 in Boston, the actor and comedian died of cancer on June 28, 2014 in California. He was 67. Taylor was nominated for an Emmy for his role as Anthony Bouvier in the TV series “Designing Women.’’ He also received acclaim as the flamboyant department store window dresser Hollywood Montrose in two “Mannequin” movies.

The legendary soul singer was born March 4, 1944 in Ohio and died on June 27, 2014 in California. He was 70. His musical career ranged from playing guitar for Sam Cooke to scoring numerous solo hits. He is most notable for the “Lookin’ For a Love,” “That’s The Way I Feel About Cha,” “Woman’s Gotta Have It”, “Harry Hippie,” “Across 110th Street” and “If You Think You’re Lonely Now.’’

CALENDAR

JANUARY 2 – JANUARY 8, 2015

STOJ

FLORIDA COMMUNITY CALENDAR

MAZE

Maze featuring Frankie Beverly returns to the Zora Neale Hurston Festival of Arts and Humanities (ZORA! Festival) on Jan. 31 in Eatonville. Saxophonist Najee will entertain the crowd on Feb. 1.

Tampa: The Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival takes place Jan. 15-25. The 11-day celebration includes live entertainment, cultural events, health tutorials, business advising seminars, renowned speakers, food vendors, craft vendors and a music festival. Details: www. tampablackheritage.org.

EDDIE GRIFFIN

The Black and Brown Comedy Get Down featuring Cedric the Entertainer, Mike Epps and Eddie Griffin is Jan. 23 at the Amalie Arena in Tampa and at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena on Jan. 24.

Jacksonville: Catch Doug E. Fresh and friends on Jan. 10 for an 8 p.m. show. Satellite Beach: See Afroman on Jan. 3 at Sports Page Live and Jan. 7 at the Bottoms Up Bar & Grille in Fort Pierce.

R. KELLY

The singer is a scheduled artist for the 2015 Jazz in the Gardens, which takes place March 21-22 at Sun Life Stadium.

Fort Lauderdale: Audra McDonald and Seth Rudetsky are booked for the Parker Playhouse on Jan. 8. The concert begins at 8 p.m. Jacksonville: Tickets are on sale for the 70s Soul Jam featuring The Spinout of 13 teams in the MidAmerican Conference. He was tapped to serve as interim head coach in October replacing head coach Jeff Quinn.

‘Stars aligned’

COURTESY OF B-CU ATHLETICS

Bethune-Cookman University Director of Athletics Lynn Thompson, left, congratulates Terry Sims on the new position.

New head football coaches for B-CU, FAMU Wildcats promote assistant to head position; Rattlers hire Buffalo coach FROM STAFF REPORTS

On Dec. 22, BethuneCookman University introduced Terry Sims as its new head football coach. Sims had been the football team’s assistant head coach. A day later, on Dec. 23, Florida A&M University announced the hiring of Alex Wood as its head football coach, former offensive coordinator at the University of Buffalo. A 43-year old native of Jesup, Ga., Sims was named B-CU’s 11th head coach by Director of Athletics Lynn W. Thompson. The announcement came just five days after the resignation of head coach Brian Jenkins, who accepted a similar position at Alabama State University. “I am grateful for this opportunity afforded to me by Lynn Thompson,” Sims said during a press conference on campus. “Brian Jenkins left a great legacy to try and follow here at BCU. I am honored to accept this position, and I hope to continue the winning tradition of Wildcats football.”

Swift process Thompson stated that Sims’ name kept coming up for the head coach job from the majority of the football players. “It was a swift process and we reviewed five outstanding candidates for the job,’’ he noted. Before arriving in Daytona Beach, Sims spent four years as recruiting coordinator, special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach at Howard University. He also has coached teams at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Prairie View A&M

and Texas Southern University. Sims is a 1994 graduate of Knoxville College, where he was a team captain as a defensive back on the gridiron, while also patrolling center field in baseball. He would go on to earn his master’s degree from Louisville in 1997. He said at the press conference, “It’s time to get down to work molding young men’s lives in a positive way, and win some football games along the way. It’s time to get to work.”

Winning record Jenkins replaced Alvin “Shine’’ Wyatt who was fired in 2009, two days after the Wildcats suffered a 42-6 defeat to Florida A&M University in the Florida Classic. With Jenkins as head coach, B-CU has won the Classic for the past four years. Jenkins served five seasons as head coach at Bethune-Cookman (20102014), winning more than 76 percent of their games (46-14), winning or tying for four MEAC titles, earning three FCS playoff berths and two HBCU national titles. B-CU won at least eight games each season, including a pair of 10-win seasons, and never finished below second place in the conference standings in posting a 34-6 record in MEAC contests, including a perfect 8-0 mark in 2012. The Wildcats also won 18 straight conference games between 2011-13, the second-longest streak in league history.

Big changes at FAMU FAMU’s new coach has more than 30 years of coaching experience at the high school, collegiate and professional levels. He replaces former NFL player

“When President Mangum tasked me with completing the search for a head coach with a proven record of developing a competitive football program, possessing high moral and ethical character, a capacity to inspire our student-athletes, and the capabilities to take the program in a new direction, one of the first coaches that came to mind was

ners, The Stylistics, Jimmy Walker, Cuba Gooding Sr. and Main Ingredient. Shows are Jan. 8 at the Florida Theatre Jacksonville, Jan. 9 at the Kravis Center in West Palm and Jan. 10 at the USF Sun Dome in Tampa. Jacksonville: Maze featuring Frankie Beverly will perform Jan. 15 at Florida Theatre Jacksonville. Miami: The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County will present a program of culture, dance, drumming and more by DeLou Africa on Jan. 24 at 1:30 p.m. Sunrise: The Between the Sheets Tour with Chris Brown, Trey Songz and Tyga takes place at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 12 at the BB&T Center in Sunrise. Fort Lauderdale: Aaron Neville is scheduled for an 8 p.m. show Feb. 12 at the Parker Playhouse. Jacksonville: Rick Ross, GunPlay, Kkutta, FatTrel and Duece Poppi are scheduled at Morocco

Alex Wood,” said Interim Athletic Director Nelson Townsend. “The stars aligned perfectly for FAMU to get a coach of the caliber of Alex.” “I am delighted to join the Rattler family,” said Wood at the news conference. After meeting with Interim AD Nelson and President Mangum, I am thoroughly convinced that through working together with the Board of Trustees, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and supporters, we can build a competitive football program that will play a positive role in helping FAMU enhance its brand and achieve its mis-

Shrine Auditorium on Jan. 17. West Palm Beach: Tickets are on sale for a Jan. 4 show featuring Vanessa Williams at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. She also performs Jan. 5 at the Capitol Theatre in Clearwater. Boca Raton: Catch the Four Tops, Supremes, Temptations, Miracles and Marvelettes at Florida Atlantic Univrsity’s Carole & Barry Kaye Performing Arts Auditorium on Feb. 14. Tampa: Candy Lowe hosts Tea & Conversation every Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. at 3911 N. 34th St., Suite B. More information: 813394-6363. Fort Lauderdale: Wale is scheduled Feb. 11 at Revolution Live. St. Petersburg: Tickets are on sale for a show with Smokey Robinson at The Mahaffey Theater on April 12. sion of becoming a bestin-class academic institution.” Commenting on the hiring of Wood, President Mangum said, “I applaud the ability of Interim AD Townsend to swiftly, yet carefully and deliberately, complete the search for a new head coach. Moreover, I commend him for identifying a person with the capabilities and integrity of Alex Wood.”

A report from BCUAthletics.com and a release from FAMU were used in this story.

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE FOR BLACK STUDENTS. NO EXCUSES. The classic guide from Florida Courier publisher, lawyer and broadcaster CHARLES W. CHERRY II PRAISE FOR ‘EXCELLENCE WITHOUT EXCUSE’: Alex Wood is FAMU’s new head football coach. and FAMU Hall of Famer Earl Holmes, who was fired in October during the week of FAMU’s Homecoming. The timing of the firing by then-Athletic Director Kellen Winslow angered many FAMU alumni, students and supporters. Winslow resigned on Dec. 15 and was replaced by Nelson Townsend, a former FAMU AD. Wood comes to FAMU with a rich coaching background. He served as running backs coach at the University of Miami from 1989-93 helping the team win a pair of national championships, including a perfect 12-0 season in 1991.

Coordinator, head coach He also was head coach at James Madison University from 1995-1998 and led the team to an 8-4 record and the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs in his first season. Wood also served as a coach and coordinator for four years in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals, and Minnesota Vikings. He had been offensive coordinator at the University of Buffalo since 2011. He is often given credit for the team’s prolific offense. In 2014, the team finished fourth in total offense and third in scoring offense

“This guide for African-American college-bound students is packed with practical and insightful information for achieving academic success...The primary focus here is to equip students with the savvy and networking skills to maneuver themselves through the academic maze of higher education.” – Book review, School Library Journal • How low expectations of Black students’ achievements can get them higher grades; • Want a great grade? Prepare to cheat! • How Black students can program their minds for success; • Setting goals – When to tell everybody, and when to keep your mouth shut; • Black English, and why Black students must be ‘bilingual.’ …AND MUCH MORE!

www.excellencewithoutexcuse.com Download immediately as an eBook or a pdf Order softcover online, from Amazon, or your local bookstore ISBN#978-1-56385-500-9 Published by International Scholastic Press, LLC Contact Charles at ccherry2@gmail.com

Facebook ccherry2 excellencewithoutexcuse

for info on speeches, workshops, seminars, book signings, panel discussions.

Twitter @ccherry2

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JANUARY 2 – JANUARY 8, 2015

FINEST & ENTERTAINMENT

Meet some of

FLORIDA’S

finest

submitted for your approval

Think you’re one of Florida’s Finest? E-mail your high-resolution (200 dpi) 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.

More than 4,000 cruisers joined nationally syndicated radio talk show host Tom Joyner on the 13th annual Tom Joyner Foundation Fantastic Voyage 2012 aboard Royal Caribbean’s “Navigator of the Seas,” one of the world’s largest cruise ships. The Florida Courier spotlights some of the best-looking people on board. Danielle, a native of Miramar, Fla., was on her seventh Tom Joyner cruise. Antoine of Los Angeles, Calif. was on his first Tom Joyner cruise. DELROY COLE / FLORIDA COURIER

danielle antoine Want to Instagram like Beyonce? Here are a few tips td hashtag puts you in line with other fashionistas. Plus, the more photos you take, the more you’ll hone your killer posing skills. Remember, Beyonce is all about confidence. No matter what she wears, she owns it. Even if you can’t afford Chanel or Yves Saint Laurent, you can own your own personal style with grace and ease.

BY DANIEL T. EURWEB.COM

Beyonce: She is a talented, gorgeous megastar who manages motherhood while remaining fashionable and powerful. We all look upon her Instagram page with envy. Whether modeling trendy designer threads, strutting a runway, posing in front of a private jet or dominating on stage, she is stunning. While we can’t be Beyonce, we can all take photos and learn to shape our Instagram using her as our inspiration. Here’s where to start.

Take photos of your outfits Have you seen #ootd (outfit of the day)? It is a popular hashtag that any fashionista can track. Following and using this hashtag yourself is a great way to see what other peo-

Take photos in places of interest

While we can’t be Beyonce, we can all take photos and learn to shape our Instagram using her as our inspiration. ple are wearing and get style tips. When you’re feeling flawless, take photos of your outfit in a sul-

Denzel on Forbes’ overpaid actors’ list EURWEB.COM

Denzel Washington finds himself among Hollywood’s 10 most overpaid actors, according to numbers crunched by Forbes magazine. The annual list exposes those whose movies bring in the lowest return on the studio’s investment. Adam Sandler tops the list for the second year in a row, with Johnny Depp, Ben Stiller, Ryan Reynolds and Tom Hanks, right behind him. Will Ferrell, Channing Tatum, Washington, Sandra Bullock and Ben Affleck round out the top 10.

How list is selected To come up with the list, Forbes uses data from its research for its Celebrity 100 list combined with Box Office Mojo data. They look at the last three movies of the biggest stars in Hollywood and calculate what they were paid and what the movies earned, to produce what is essentially a return-on-investment number for each star. “We estimate that for every $1 Sandler was paid, he returned an average of $3.20,” the magazine concluded. “Sandler’s latest movie, ‘Grown Ups 2,’ was a hit but it didn’t do well Denzel Washington enough to compensate for the losses from ‘Jack and Jill’ and ‘That’s My Boy.’” By contrast, the next most overpaid actor on the list, Depp, returned $4.10 for every dollar paid. At the bottom of the top 10, Affleck returned $9.37.

try Beyonce pose and post it using #ootd. If fashion is something you enjoy, the #oo-

Rack of surfboards? Take a photo. No matter where you are, you can take a Beyonce-worthy photo by capturing the best of your surroundings. Find an interesting backdrop or prop to feature in your photo. Even a brick wall can be interesting; find a backdrop your outfit will stand out against. We can’t all travel the world, so take photos in your favorite places and hangouts.

It isn’t just about you Highlight the beauty and happiness in your life. Family and friends are just as important as killer selfies. Beyonce may be a fashion icon, but she is also a family woman. Take a cue from her and include photos of your loved ones and the moments you share.

Find your sense of style Celebrate who you are through your unique personal style. Beyonce is first and foremost about female empowerment. Assert who you are as a woman and what this means to you. No matter how you dress, embrace your look and don’t be afraid to show it off in photos. You can show off your own individual style through unique accessories. It’s the little touches like accessories that add flair and show your person-

al style. For any fashionista, a chic designer handbag is a must. Choose a style that captures your personality. And don’t forget jewelry, killer shoes and cute sunglasses.

Strength, confidence, beauty Beyonce is all about strength, confidence, beauty and all things woman. Whether hanging backstage at Coachella, looking glamorous at a gala or getting dolled up for a photo shoot, Beyonce posts dynamic, visually stunning photos that show off the many facets of her life and personality. Take photos in your favorite outfits, in your favorite places or with your friends and family to give yourself that Beyonce edge. Treat yourself to hip, stylish accessories that will up your fashion game. You’ll be well on your way to Instagramming like Beyonce.

Angelou leaves ‘personal tangible property’ to New York friends

With Maya Angelou on the screen, Sara Barielles sings “Smile” during the memorium during the 66th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Nokia Theatre at L.A. Live in Los Angeles on Aug. 25, 2014.

EURWEB.COM

ROBERT GAUTHIER/ LOS ANGELES TIMES/MCT

Songwriter Valerie Simpson, Tonyaward winning dancer and producer George Faison and Harlem, New York Firehouse Theater founder Tedao Schnugg where highly thought of by Maya Angelou. So much so that the late poet and author left them gifts in her will. According to the New York Daily News, Angelou left unspecified “personal tangible property” to six New York residents through a trust she set up before she died in May at age 86. Court papers filed in Manhattan Surrogate’s Court reveal that her only child, Guy Bailey Johnson, of Oakland, Calif., is administering the trust, which consists of all of Angelou assets. In addition to Simpson, Faison and Schnugg, beneficiaries include

screenwriter Khephra Burns and Altavise Alston, who works with Simpson at Ashford & Simpson’s Sugar Bar. Although she had roots in the South, Angelou maintained strong ties to New York. “In the last couple of years, she would talk about her will but just say that everything was taken care of,” Schnugg told the Daily News about Angelou’s will. “Nobody has given it a thought. We’re dealing with losing our best friend.”

Memorial service in works With an estimated value at $1.5 million from estate attorneys, Angelou’s property in North Carolina and

New York was bought by the author in 2002. Her ties to the Big Apple go back to the early 1960s, when she moved there from California and became a member of the Harlem Writers Guild. The Daily News notes that although no valuation was put on the full estate in the North Carolina or New York filings, but before Angelou died, published reports have her net worth valued between $10 million and $34 million. Although preparations for a memorial service for Angelou are being made by Faison, Schnugg told the Daily News that details are not ready to be announced.

WORLD

JANUARY 2 – JANUARY 8, 2015

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Re-imagining Cuba in the new year What changes could be like in 2015 because of policy changes announced by Obama BY MIMI WHITEFIELD MIAMI HERALD (TNS)

MIAMI — With glasses raised, some Cubans have kept up the ritual toast “Next Year in Havana” as the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve. It has gone on for decades, ever since the 1959 Cuban Revolution brought Fidel Castro to power. Now, for the first time in a long time, things may be quite different in their homeland in the coming year — just not in the way many expected. For some, it will hardly be a cause for celebration. They had envisioned a joyous, triumphant party as the dictator died, democracy returned to the island, and the U.S. and Cuba once again became friendly neighbors. What changed everything, however, were the simultaneous announcements Dec. 17 in Washington and Havana that the U.S. and Cuba planned to renew diplomatic relations with Fidel’s brother, Raul Castro, still in power — albeit making slow, methodical economic changes. There are countless details to be worked out and the U.S. still must write the regulations that will govern the expanded trade and travel to the island that President Barack Obama outlined. Another important caveat that Ted Henken, a Baruch College professor, points out is: “If the Obama administration extends an open hand, there has to be a willingness by the Cubans to meet them half way.” But here are what some of the changes could look like in 2015 as the process of rapprochement unfolds.

Supplies from America A homeowner in Havana’s Playa neighborhood, just past the Almendares River, slaps a new coat of paint on his home and prepares to tile his patio. Both the paint and tiles have arrived on a commercial shipment from Miami. Havana has been referred to as a city in need of a million gallons of paint and there are plenty of U.S. suppliers eager to sell Cuba paint. Although the embargo will remain in place, under the Obama plan American companies would be allowed to export building supplies, inputs for small private farmers, and a range of products that Cuba’s self-employed population needs to set up businesses or expand them. At this point, it’s up in the air how this would work. The products are intended for private Cuban citizens but Henken said, “It’s unclear whether private entrepreneurs will be able to capitalize on this directly or sales will continue to go through the government.”

Replacement parts

TIM JOHNSON/MCCLATCHY/TNS

Shoe repairman Roberto Suarez tends a workbench on Dec. 19, 2014, in Old Havana as his wife, Dayami Rio Pena, looks on. The owner of a vintage car in Santiago de Cuba wants to use his 1950s automobile to squire tourists around the eastern Cuba city but the car is barely running and lacks the chrome adornments that will catch the eye of visitors. Now he can purchase those products in Cuba. It could happen, said Miami lawyer Pedro Freyre, a self-described car nut. “I’ve seen Russian tractor engines in old cars in Cuba,” he said, “but we have an entire replacement parts market for 1957 Chevys in the United States.” Phil Peters, who heads the Cuba Research Center, said he expects American products would have a great advantage in the Cuban market. “We have good products, good prices and we’re right next door,” he said. “I’m optimistic but it does require a partner. It’s one thing to say we’ll sell but the Cubans have to want to buy.”

12 CATEGORIES OF AUTHORIZED TRAVEL

Travelers in 12 categories will be able to visit Cuba under general licenses without seeking formal permission from the Office of Foreign Assets Control. That means they won’t have to submit any prior paperwork and will probably only need to sign an affidavit when buying their tickets. Travelers who fell into some of these categories, such as journalists, were already allowed to travel under general licenses. Now, no one in these categories will need to specifically apply for a license: 1. Those on family visits 2. Travelers on official business of the U.S. government, foreign governments and “certain intergovernment organizations” 3. Journalists

4. Professionals engaged in research or who are attending meetings in Cuba 5. Those participating in performances, clinics, workshops, and athletic and other competitions 6. People engaged in religious activities 7. Those pursuing educational activities 8. People engaged in activities that support the Cuban people 9. Individuals or groups engaged in humanitarian projects 10. Those carrying out the activities of private foundations or research or educational institutes 11. People engaged in the export, import or transmission of information or information materials 12. Those engaged in export transactions authorized under existing regulations and guidelines

SOURCE: WHITE HOUSE

Internet access Juan Pablo breaks his cell phone and heads to a store in Vedado operated by a cuentapropista, a self-employed entrepreneur, who can repair it but also sells new smart phones imported from the U.S., as well as data plans from U.S. providers. Prices for the data plans are half what they were the previous year because there is now competition. He learns that soon the government plans to provide Internet service to homes and that at the end of the year broadband service will be coming from the United States, rather than just Venezuela, enabling a wifi network to be set up where he studies at the University of Havana. But Henken said this is the dream scenario. It’s theoretically possible if the Cuban government goes ahead with its pledge to in-

crease Internet access for Cubans and takes up Obama on new rules that would allow U.S. companies to sell consumer communications devices, related software and apps and services to update or establish communications systems in Cuba. In the interest of providing telecom services, the U.S. would also allow American companies to provide telecom infrastructure and Internet services. “What I expect is the government might try ways to have its cake and eat it too,” Henken said. “The government might try to remake the Internet in an authoritarian way.” If that is the case, he said, Cuban civil society needs to demand that the government “treat Cubans like citizens and consumers rather than subjects.”

Cuba has an Internet penetration rate of only about 5 percent — among the lowest in the world — and the cost of telecommunications in Cuba is extremely high. However, it has opened a chain of Nauta cybercafes, and ETECSA, the government telecommunications service provider, allows those who have Nauta cellular plans and addresses to receive emails on their phones, Henken said.

ATMs and credit cards An American visitor puts a U.S. bank card into an ATM machine near Old Havana’s Cathedral Square and withdraws $100 worth of cash. The traveler can pay her hotel bill with a U.S. credit card, too. Under the new U.S. Cuba pol-

icy, both would be allowed and U.S. financial institutions would be able to open correspondent accounts at Cuban banks to facilitate processing of authorized transactions. Previously, American visitors to Cuba had to carry large quantities of cash or use credit cards from foreign banks.

More funds for family A Hialeah businessman who has been saving up money to help a close friend open a small business in Artemisa heads to a local remittance forwarder and requests a transfer of $2,000. Before, he could only send up to $500 per quarter. The new upper limit applies only to Americans who don’t have family members in Cuba. They can send to anyone on the island — except ranking government officials and members of the Communist Party. “That’s really a form of investment. We’re talking about potentially a lot of capital that could go to that island,” said Julia Sweig, Council on Foreign Relations director of Latin American Studies and author of “Cuba: What Everyone Needs to Know.” Those with family members in Cuba can already send unlimited remittances under a 2009 relaxation of the rules. “Hialeah is already the center of micro-financing for just about every paladar (private restaurant) in Havana,” Freyre said only partly in jest. Remittances worth an estimated $2 billion are sent to Cuba annually, and that number is expected to increase under the new rules. It’s also going to be easier for the remittance forwarders to do business because they will no longer need to apply for a license.

Funding cuts blamed for heightened Ebola crisis in West Africa TRICE EDNEY NEWS WIRE

Spending cuts, pushed by an international lender, “weakened health care systems in the West African region,’’ leaving the countries “underfunded, insufficiently staffed and poorly prepared.” In a report published last month in the journal Lancet Global Health, UK-based researchers blamed policies of the Washington-based International Monetary Fund (IMF) that hobbled the development of an effective health care system in the three affected West African nations. The number of people who have died from Ebola has crossed the 7,500 mark, with over 19,000 infected. “Even though the IMF provided financial support to Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea, the lending comes with strings attached – so-called “conditionalities” – that require recipient governments to adopt policies that prioritize short-term economic objectives over investment in health and education,” said the report’s lead author Alexander Kentikelenis.

Several factors By reviewing IMF policies from 1990 to 2014, the researchers from Cambridge, Oxford University and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, identified three factors that weakened health care systems. These

ROBYN DIXON/LOS ANGELES TIMES/TNS

Famata M. Dunoh is director of a transit center outside Monrovia, Liberia, where children orphaned by Ebola find shelter. were IMF’s requirement for economic reforms, caps on publicsector wages and the decentralization of health care providers. Wage caps limit the capacity of these nations to hire and adequately pay key health care workers such as doctors and nurses, the researchers said. These caps are linked to the “brain drain” of health workers in countries that

need them most. The IMF push to decentralize health care systems makes it difficult to mobilize coordinated responses to outbreaks of deadly diseases such as Ebola, the researchers said. “All these effects are cumulative, contributing to the lack of preparedness of health systems to cope with infectious disease

outbreaks and other emergencies,” Kentikelenis said. “The IMF’s widely proclaimed concern about social issues has had little effect on health systems in low-income countries.”

Improvements cited An IMF spokesman denied the claims, calling them “completely untrue.”

In a letter to the Lancet, an IMF deputy director insisted that health outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa, including the three Ebola-hit countries “improved significantly” over the past decade or so, including improvements in mortality rates. The deputy, Sanjeev Gupta, acknowledged that health care systems were fragile in the three Ebola-hit countries. “The IMF recognized the urgency of the situation—and moved quickly to help, making available an additional $130 million to the three countries to fight Ebola.” The money was approved in September of this year. The Ebola outbreak started in Guinea by the end of 2013 and intensified sharply from July. The IMF, which lends money to financially strapped countries, came under strong criticism this year from African nations led by Nigeria’s Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Ikweala. The Minister cited the underrepresentation of African nations on the IMF board (2 seats for 45 African countries), and an almost insignificant number of Africans in high decision making bodies and among staff. “We welcome efforts to address diversity,” she wrote. “However further progress is needed.”

This story is special to the Trice Edney News Wire from Global Information Network.

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JANUARY 2 – JANUARY 8, 2015

HEALTH

Snacking done right HEALTHY OPTIONS FOR CHILDREN Kids and snacking A number of factors contribute to obesity rates, with snacking as a major culprit. While parents need to consider what they provide their children for three main meals a day, what they eat in between is equally important. Research by DuPont Nutrition & Health shows that children eat two to three snacks each day. Other studies confirm that American kids are consuming more than 700 calories in afternoon and evening snacks alone. Aside from the fact that these calories make up a substantial part of the total daily recommended caloric intake for children, most of the snacks commonly consumed by kids are high in saturated fats or simple sugars in the form of salty snacks, candy and beverages — such as fruit drinks — according to a University of North Carolina study. Parents face many practical challenges in providing healthful snack options to kids who are on-the-go and may not have access to refrigeration or re-heating capabilities. This often leads to snacks which lack the essential vitamins, minerals and protein a growing body needs. While snacking is essential to give kids the energy they need for the day, it’s important to provide snacks that contribute to daily intake goals of nutrients to support healthy growth and development. “For many parents, the primary reason for giving snacks to children is to stave off hunger until their next meal,” said Megan DeStefano, Global Strategic Marketing at DuPont Nutrition & Health. “When choosing a snack, parents should avoid those high in carbohydrates, such as simple sugars, since they tend to leave children feeling unsatisfied quickly and often craving additional unhealthy snacks.”

FROM FAMILY FEATURES

hat makes a healthy and satisfying snack for children? A well-balanced snack with good nutrition can help kids grow and provide them with the proper support and energy needed for school, sports and other daily activities. Parents have the best intentions when looking for nutritious options for their children, but challenges related to lack of access or knowledge of nutritious foods have contributed to an alarming trend. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, childhood obesity rates in the U.S. have more than doubled in the past 30 years, with over one-third of children currently overweight or obese.

lege of Nutrition conducted in both children and adults, soy protein has been shown to help reduce LDL cholesterol, also known as “bad” cholesterol, increase HDL, also known as “good” cholesterol, and decrease triglyceride levels. Just 25 grams of soy protein a day, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease.

Find a fiber-filled option Fiber is another important ingredient to look for when looking for healthy snack options. Many kids are falling behind on their fiber intake. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children only consume half the amount of fiber that is recommended. For proper diges-

tive health, it is recommended that children get 25–31 grams of dietary fiber per day. Snacking provides another opportunity to help kids to meet this goal. Including a fiber-rich food can also eliminate cravings for additional snacks. Snacking doesn’t have to be bad for your child’s health. There are several options that are tasty while delivering a healthy dose of cardiovascular or digestive benefits. With so many great possibilities, parents should continue to offer healthy snack options, with greater nutrient density to their children to help them stay energized throughout the day, while satisfying their hunger and taste. For more ways to get your family to make smarter snacking decisions, visit www.danisco.com.

Understanding better snacks It’s important for parents to know what to look for in a snack. For example, protein helps kids feel full longer, which may support weight management. In fact, numerous studies have confirmed that protein is more satisfying than either carbohydrates or fat. And lean proteins, such as soy, can meet needs to support growth and devel opment without contributing to fat or cholesterol intake. It’s challenging for parents to determine what snacks are best. DeStefano shares some tips on healthful ingredients parents should look for in snack foods.

Protein packs a powerful punch Vegetable proteins are a great way to consume protein without increasing the amount of saturated fats and cholesterol in your child’s diet. If you are considering vegetable proteins, try soy protein. Soy protein snack options can be found in a variety of tasty products such as readyto-drink beverages, bars, cereals and dairy alternatives. Soy protein is also the only widely available vegetable protein that provides all the essential amino acids in the proper amounts that are needed to support growth and development of children. Parents can also rest easy knowing that soy protein delivers cardiovascular benefits as well. According to clinical research published in the Journal of the American Col-

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES

FOOD

JANUARY 2 – JANUARY 8, 2015

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FROM FAMILY FEATURES

The average person’s caloric needs have decreased since the 20th century when lifestyles were more active, yet nutritional needs are generally the same. Getting the nutrition you need without consuming too many calories can be as simple as incorporating nutrient-dense foods, such as potatoes, into your diet. Not only are potatoes a costefficient kitchen staple, there are dozens of quick and easy ways to prepare this ultimate comfort food while taking advantage of an extra helping of nutrition. A medium-size potato (5.3 ounces or 148 grams) has only about 110 calories, 4 to 5 percent of the average adult’s total daily calories, but provides much higher percentages of many nutrients. The potato actually delivers a wide spectrum of valuable nutrients. For example, the potato is an important source of complex carbohydrates, often lacking in the American diet. The potato also is a good source of vitamin C and hardto-get B6 and has long been known to be a storehouse of minerals. The potato contains valuable supplies of essential trace elements such as manganese, chromium, selenium and molybdenum.

Falsely fattening image Although you may think of the potato as a bulky vegetable, it is 80 percent water — just a little less than milk. However, its association with high-calorie toppings like butter, sour cream, gravy and mayonnaise gives the lowcalorie potato a false image. In fact, just one tablespoon of butter doubles the calories in a baked potato. There are many low calorie ways to prepare potatoes deliciously. Here are just a few tasty low or no calorie topping ideas: • Toasted sesame seeds • Whipped butter and poppy seeds • A spoonful of stewed tomatoes and a bit of grated cheese • Melted butter or margarine thinned with lemon juice • A mix of dried herbs: parsley, chives, basil or dill • Mock sour cream (cottage cheese and lemon juice whipped in a blender) • Chopped onion with coarsely grated black pepper • Chive-spiked yogurt • Prepared horseradish • Heated marinara sauce • Low calorie dips or salad dressings For more recipes and tips for preparing nutritious and appetizing potato dishes, visit www.eatwisconsinpotatoes. com.

QUICK AND HEALTHY CHILE LIME TACOS Servings: 4 (two tacos each) Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes 1/2 pound Wisconsin Yukon Gold or red potatoes, cut into bite-size cubes Olive oil cooking spray 1/2 cup chopped onion 1/2 pound diced boneless, skinless chicken breast 1/4 cup finely chopped poblano, Anaheim or bell pepper 1 teaspoon Mexican seasoning blend 1/2 cup red chile enchilada sauce 1/2 cup shredded reduced-fat Monterey Jack cheese 8 small corn tortillas, warmed or crunchy taco shells Optional toppings: shredded cabbage or romaine lettuce, diced tomato, diced avocado, thinly sliced radishes, fresh cilantro leaves and salsa 8 lime wedges Place potatoes in microwave-safe bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Microwave on HIGH 5–7 minutes. Spray large skillet liberally with cooking spray. Add potatoes and onion; cook over medium-high heat 5 minutes, stirring and coating with cooking spray occasionally. Stir in chicken, pepper and seasoning, and cook 5 minutes more. Add red chile enchilada sauce and simmer 5 minutes. Place equal amounts of cheese on each tortilla and heat in skillet until cheese is melted. Add potato mixture and any other desired toppings. Serve with lime wedges.

BAKED FRIES WITH SALSA Servings: 4 Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 25 minutes 3 medium Wisconsin Russet potatoes (5–6 ounces each) 1 tablespoon canola or other vegetable oil 1 teaspoon dried Italian herb seasoning 1/4 teaspoon salt (or to taste) Salsa, optional Heat oven to 450°F degrees.

Slice potatoes lengthwise 3/4 inch thick, then cut each slice into 3/4-inchlong sticks. Place in large bowl. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with herb seasoning and salt; toss to coat evenly. Arrange potato pieces in single layer on nonstick baking sheet or baking sheet coated with vegetable cooking spray. Bake 20–25 minutes, until potatoes are golden brown, turning once after 15 minutes. Serve immediately, with salsa for dipping if desired.

MEDITERRANEAN POTATO SOUP Servings: 4 Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 25 minutes 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil 1 clove garlic, minced 1/2cup chopped onion 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth (or vegetable broth) 2 cups water 3 medium Wisconsin red potatoes, unpeeled and cubed 3 carrots, sliced 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning 1 (15-ounce) can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed 1 cup (2 ounces) whole wheat noodles, uncooked 2 cups fresh spinach (or 1 cup frozen spinach) 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese Heat oil in 2-quart pot; saute garlic and onion about 3–4 minutes. Add chicken broth, water, potatoes, carrots and seasonings; cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes. Add kidney beans and noodles. Bring to boil again; cook until noodles are soft. Remove from heat. Just before serving, add spinach to pot and stir gently. Ladle into bowls and serve with Parmesan cheese.