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APRIL 3 – APRIL 9, 2015

VOLUME 23 NO. 14

EE FR

PRESORTED STANDARD MAIL

UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES? Florida law now prevents Black farmers in Florida from legally growing medical marijuana, continuing a history of discrimination and costing those farmers millions of dollars. The Florida Legislature is in no hurry to make necessary changes. BY DARA KAM THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

TALLAHASSEE – Black farmers, mostly in the South, fought for more than 30 years to reach a $1.3 billion settlement with the federal government over discriminatory lending and assistance practices. Now, Florida’s low-THC medical marijuana law passed last year has reignited old wounds for the state’s Black farmers, who complain that requirements in the law have virtually barred them from participating in the new industry. (THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the chemical responsible for most of marijuana’s psychological effects which cause the “high” feeling. Medical marijuana is specially grown with low THC

Florida’s HBCUs may get a break

levels that don’t produce a high when the plant is consumed.) Under the law, only nurseries that have been in business for at least 30 continuous years and cultivate a minimum of 400,000 plants are eligible to apply to be one of five “dispensing organizations” selected to grow, process and dispense the non-euphoric cannabis. But none of the state’s Black farmers meet the criteria, Howard Gunn, an Ocala farmer and president of the Florida Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Association, told the Senate Health Policy Committee during a discussion Tuesday of a new plan to get the medical-marijuana industry up and running.

More resentment

George Hildebrandt was one of three Black Kansas farmers who were part of the initial lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture alleging discrimination – a lawsuit that has taken more than 20 years to resolve.

“It brings a lot of resentment up from before. We’re disappointed again. What do you say? You’re here in the state. You try to do what’s right. But to carve out a section for certain people. … Just give us a piece. That’s all we ask for,” Gunn told reporters after the meeting. “It’s just being fair. Equal justice. And we feel like it just wasn’t done.” Part of the reason that the Black farmers don’t have operations as expansive as their White and Hispanic counterparts may be blamed on discriminatory lending practices by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that led to a class-action lawsuit, known as “Pigford I,” filed in 1981. A second lawsuit, called “Pigford II,” was finally settled by a federal judge in 2011. Many of the claimants have yet to receive their portion of the $1.3 billion settlement, and others have died waiting for the cases to be resolved.

KEVIN ANDERSON/ KANSAS CITY STAR

See FARMERS, Page A2

2015 MIAMI OPEN

700 wins with more to come

Legislature considers ‘state’ college restrictions COMPILED FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

TALLAHASSEE – The battle over how far Florida colleges should be allowed to go in offering four-year degrees, once largely the responsibility of state universities, has spawned a new effort to more strictly limit those opportunities. The newest measure is sponsored by Sen. Joe Negron, a Stuart Republican who could become Senate president after the 2016 elections and has worked before to limit college offerings that he says overlap with what four-year universities already provide. “One of my goals over the next several years is to make our good universities great,” Negron said. “And you can’t find the funding to do that when you have unnecessary duplication of effort.”

Helps state HBCUs Negron’s efforts may help Florida’s historically Black colleges and universities become more competitive for students who are seeking four-year degrees. Three of Florida’s four HBCUs – Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach; Edward WaSee HBCUs, Page A2

SNAPSHOTS NATION | A3

Another plea for Loretta Lynch vote

Buhari claims historic win in Nigeria election BY ROBYN DIXON LOS ANGELES TIMES / TNS

FLORIDA | A6

Jobless rate dips a little more in state SPECIAL REPORT: | B4

Survey tracks progress of homes damaged by Katrina

ALSO INSIDE

KIM GIBSON / FLORIDA COURIER

Miami Open defending champion Serena Williams hustles toward the ball in a quarterfinal match in this year’s tournament in Miami-Dade. With her win Wednesday against Sabine Lisicki, Serena notched her 700th victory as a pro tennis player. See B1 for more on the Miami Open.

In a historic breakthrough for Nigerian democracy, President Goodluck Jonathan conceded defeat Tuesday in a hard-fought presidential election, signaling that he will peacefully turn over power to his victorious rival, Muhammadu Buhari. Jonathan, 57, the first sitting leader to be defeated at the ballot box, was hailed as a hero by the opposition after he called Buhari, 72, to congratulate him on his victory late Tuesday afternoon, even before the final result was announced.

Strong message A peaceful transfer of power in Africa’s most populous nation sends a strong democratic message across a continent where many presidents cling to power for decades. Nigeria, a country of 170 million, remains balanced between the mainly Muslim north and predominantly Christian south. When he takes power at the end of May, Buhari, a northern Muslim, will face the difficult task of allaying lingering southern fears and smoothing the divide, particularly along the troubled central belt at the crossroads of

north and south that has seen sectarian violence in the past. Buhari’s election comes at a difficult time for the country, with a sharp decline in Muhammadu government reveBuhari nue from oil leaving scant money in government coffers. For decades, officials and corrupt insiders have skimmed billions of dollars from the country’s national oil company. Although Nigeria is one of Africa’s biggest producers, it has to import gasoline.

Disciplined, uncompromising As military ruler from 1983-85, Buhari ran a harsh anti-corrup-

tion drive and ruled by decree, introducing restrictions on journalists and dissidents, who could be prosecuted for criticizing the government. Still, Buhari’s uncompromising stance on corruption and his promise to take a tough stand on the militant group Boko Haram make him attractive to many. He hammered at those two themes in his first televised address as president-elect Wednesday. “Boko Haram will soon know the strength of our collective will. We should spare no effort until we defeat terrorism,” he said. He also vowed to fight corruption, saying it undermined democracy and made some people unjustly rich. “Corruption will not be tolerated by this government.”

COMMENTARY: CHARLES W. CHERRY II: RANDOM THOUGHTS OF A FREE BLACK MIND | A4 COMMENTARY: GLEN FORD: U.S. VOTER TURNOUT IS LOW BECAUSE THERE’S LITTLE TO VOTE FOR | A5

FOCUS

APRIL 3 – APRIL 9, 2015

Black Press honors Floridians Crump and Carroll COMPILED FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

WASHINGTON – Benjamin Crump, the Florida-based lawyer who skyrocketed to national prominence by representing the family of Trayvon Martin, and Jennifer Carroll, Florida’s first Black female lieutenant government, were both recognized and celebrated by Black newspaper owners last week. During the 2015 Black Press Week, the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Foundation honored Crump as the Newsmaker of the Year for his service to the community, especially to the families of young people of color who had been brutalized or killed by law enforcement officials. Carroll was honored with a Torch Award for her successful political career. The NNPA is a trade group that represents more than 200 Black newspapers published in the United States.

‘Our children are watching’ Crump said that since the fourth grade, he always knew that he wanted to grow up and fight for the community. “The measure of a man is defined by the impact that they make on the world,” said Crump. “Ev-

HBCUs from A1

ters College in Jacksonville; and Florida Memorial University in Opa Locka (Miami-Dade County) – are privately funded. (Florida A&M University in Tallahassee is state-funded.) In each of their localities, the private HBCUs have been forced to compete against former twoyear community colleges that became state-funded four-year colleges offering baccalaureate degrees at a fraction of the HBCUs’ necessary costs.

Degrees capped Under Negron’s proposal, which was attached to an existing measure on higher education (SB 1252), colleges would have to give notice a year before they expect to start offering new four-year degrees, up from 60 days in the current law. It would cap at 5 percent the share of a college’s enrollment that could be made up of students pursuing baccalaureate degrees. And in a shot to the marketing of the colleges – which used to be called “community colleges” – the institutions would no longer be allowed to use “state” in their names. Sixteen colleges would have their names changed to

FLORIDA COURIER FILES

Left: Attorney Benjamin Crump poses in the practice courtroom located in his Tallahassee-based law office. Right: Former Florida Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll sat for an exclusive interview with Florida Courier Senior Editor Jenise Griffin Morgan in 2011. eryday we have to get up and ask, ‘What impact are we going to make on the world?’ and we have to do it, because our children are watching us.” “I go on Fox News a lot and I have these intelligent debates with these Bill O’Reillys and these Meagan Kellys and I know that when I leave they’re going to make it look bad and everything, but you gotta go, you gotta keep talking to them and not let them [create] the only narrative,” said Crump. “We’ll come on to talk about Trayvon, and we’ll come on to talk about Michael Brown and Eric Garner because if don’t talk about it, it’s swept under the rug.”

Knowing the names Crump, 45, said that giving a voice to the voiceless has been the most important part of his career. “Making people know the name of Trayvon Martin, the name of Michael Brown, know the name of Tamir Rice, know the name of Chavis Carter, know the name of Kendrick Johnson in Valdosta, Ga., know the name of Victor White III in New Iberia, La., know the name of Alesia Thomas in Los Angeles, Calif., Jesus Huerta in Durham, N.C., know the name of Leon Ford in Pittsburgh, Pa., know the name of Antonio Zambrano-Montes in Pasco, Wash., the list goes on and on,” said Crump. “If this was happening to

White children, it would be a war.” During his remarks at the dinner, Crump credited Black-owned news media for daring to write and talk about the phenomenon he called the ‘‘Houdini handcuffed suicide killings” of young people of color in the back of police cars. “Without the Black Press I don’t know where we would be in these campaigns of justice for all these unknown, unnamed people of color who are killed everyday all across the world and swept under the rug,” said Crump. Crump, a North Carolina native, attended high school in Fort Lauderdale before earning a bachelor’s degree and a law degree

from Florida State University. His law firm, Parks and Crump, is based in Tallahassee. He is married to Dr. Genae Angelique Crump, is the guardian of two adopted cousins, Marcus and Chancellor Crump, and is the father of Brooklyn Zeta Crump.

‘Fills the vacuum’ Carroll also thanked the Black press for sharing her story. A native of Trinidad and Tobago who emigrated to America as a child, Carroll was the first woman to be elected as lieutenant governor and the first AfricanAmerican of Caribbean descent to be elected statewide since Reconstruction.

Loss of prestige?

Tense relationships

FARMERS from A1

No small farmers “They have carved out most of the small farmers, not only the Black farmers, but the small farmers. We can’t compete with those companies. It’s just a shame. It’s a travesty. Again, going back 30 years ago with the USDA, the same thing you saw in Pigford I and Pigford II. It’s the same thing again, right here in the state of Florida. It’s not right,” Gunn said. Thirty years ago, “not many of us were growing or had nurseries,” Gunn told the panel. “We basically would love to get into this business. We see the profitability. We think the Black farmers can somehow make a better living,” he said.

Latest complaint The Black farmers’ claim of discrimination is the latest in a litany of complaints about Florida’s low-THC pot law – the first of

NNPA Senior Washington Correspondent Freddie Allen contributed to this report.

programs, according to senators. Negron said he would be open to language capping that school’s fouryear enrollment at 15 percent, along with other levels for colleges that already have more than 5 percent of their students pursuing those degrees. Institutions with less than 5 percent of their students in those programs might still face the lower cap.

comply with that rule, in addition to Florida Gateway College being renamed Lake City College. Negron said that part of the proposal would refocus the colleges on their regional missions. Each state college has an area of the state which it is supposed to serve spelled out in state law. “As far as the use of the term ‘state,’ it’s a misleading, inaccurate term,” he said. “When you say ‘Florida State College,’ that college does not serve all of Florida, it does not serve all the state.”

There has long been tension between colleges, which are overseen by the State Board of Education, and universities, which are managed by the Florida Board of Governors, about whether the Board of Education is too quick to grant four-year degrees to its institutions. Last year, when he chaired the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, Negron threatened to slash $3.5 million from state colleges and give it to universities to try to force a change. Senators also considered taking away the Board of Education’s authority over four-year degrees. Eventually, lawmakers settled on a moratorium on new four-year pro-

“Had it not been for the Black press, my accomplishments would not have been told at all in mainstream media,” Carroll said. “We have an audience that needs to be informed and the Black press fills that vacuum that exists in mainstream press.” Carroll continued: “For many of you, it’s been a struggle to keep the lights on, but you know the importance of the work that you do that your commitment is to not let down the journalists and the publishers that have come before you.” Carroll, once the most powerful Black Republican in the state, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of New Mexico and a Master of Business Administration from St. Leo University. She was an elected state lawmaker for more than seven years. A Navy veteran, she also served as the executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs and led various state agencies as lieutenant governor. She has been married to Nolan Carroll of Miami Florida for 31 years and they have three children: Nolan II, Nyckie and Necho.

FLORIDA COURIER FILES

Changes in Florida law years ago allows Daytona State College to offer four-year degrees in the same majors as historically Black Bethune-Cookman University, but at less cost to students. grams at state colleges. Negron’s new proposal would do away with that moratorium, as would a House bill (HB 7127) approved Tuesday by the House Education Appropriations Subcommittee. However, the House measure doesn’t have Negron’s further language about the colleges and four-year degrees.

‘No comment’ A spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Education said through email that officials there “prefer

its kind in the nation. Senate Regulated Industries Chairman Rob Bradley, who was instrumental in passage of the 2014 law, is pushing a proposal this session that would give state health officials the ability to begin selecting qualified nurseries to start cultivating non-euphoric pot as soon as the bill, if approved, is signed into law. Bradley’s measure would increase the number of dispensing organizations to 20 and expand the types of eligible patients – now limited to those with severe muscle spasms and cancer – who can purchase products with a maximum of .08 percent of euphoria-inducing tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, and at least 10 percent cannabadiol, or CBD. But even some supporters of last year’s law now object that the THC levels are so low that the cannabis products, usually delivered in paste or oil form, won’t help even those for whom the law was intended.

Amendment filed, withdrawn And on Tuesday, the Black

to not comment on proposed legislation since it may change.” Jim Henningsen, president of the College of Central Florida, speaking to a Senate committee last week on behalf of college presidents, said colleges were focused on the narrow goal of the original authority for them to offer four-year programs. “Our goal in our system is to support exactly as you stated, that regional approach to economic development, workforce training in those areas. ... There are some (situa-

farmers injected a new twist into the drawn-out drama. Sen. Oscar Braynon, a Democrat from Miami Gardens, proposed an amendment to Bradley’s bill (SB 7066) that would have removed the 30-year continuous business requirement and the minimum number of plants. Excluding the Black farmers was an unintended consequence of last year’s bill, Braynon said. But he withdrew the amendment after Sen. Oscar Bradley pledged Braynon to work with him as the bill moves through the legislative process.

Focused on patients Bradley said he, too, had problems with the 30-year provision tucked into the measure by the House during the final days of the session. But he said he is focused on making the cannabis available to patients. Parents of children with severe epilepsy pushed for legalization

tions) where universities as well as the colleges work together and find a baccalaureate solution that was needed for that specific region,” he said.

Cap concerns But there have been some concerns raised about the enrollment cap, which Negron has conceded might need to be modified. St. Petersburg College, which was one of the earliest schools to offer fouryear degrees, now has about 12 percent of its students enrolled in those

of the low-THC, high-CBD products, believing the cannabis can eliminate or dramatically reduce life-threatening seizures. “My fear is that by changing the rules too much we interfere with that goal, getting it into the hands of folks as soon as possible,” Bradley, R-Fleming Island, said.

Troubled start Under the law, health officials were supposed to begin selecting by Jan. 1 five nurseries to operate as vertically integrated “dispensing organizations.” But a judge tossed the department’s first attempt at regulations last year, siding with a handful of nurseries and other businesses that objected, among other things, to the use of a lottery system to select the licensees because a lottery wasn’t included in the law. Health officials earlier this month made a second attempt at the regulations after a rare and lengthy “negotiated rule-making” workshop. But three different entities have filed legal challenges to the revised proposal, creating more delays in getting

Sen. David Simmons, RAltamonte Springs, said he doesn’t want the proposal to come across as adversarial, highlighting especially the impact of striking “state” from the names of the colleges. “That means that the students are the ones that end up bearing the brunt of this,” he said. But Negron said he doesn’t believe the institutions would lose any prestige under his proposal, which would change the name of the system to the Florida Community College System but would give the schools themselves names without that term, like Daytona College. “To me, let’s agree on the place of the community colleges in our overall educational system,” he said.

Brandon Larrabee of the News Service of Florida contributed to this report.

the law implemented. A judge has set an April 14 hearing in one of the cases, while the other two cases have been consolidated and are scheduled for an April 23 hearing.

Didn’t know Rep. Matt Caldwell sponsored the amendment last year that created the requirements of being in business for three decades and cultivating 400,000 plants. On Tuesday, Caldwell said he was unaware that the criteria would exclude Black farmers. “I’ve never had anybody approach me about that issue before,” Caldwell, R-North Fort Myers, told The News Service of Florida. Caldwell said he would be willing to speak with the Black farmers or others regarding the requirements. The provisions were intended to give Florida’s oldest nurseries a leg up in what was expected to be fierce competition for the licenses, Caldwell said. “I thought the ones who’ve been here the longest should be the first in line,” he said.

APRIL 3 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; APRIL 9, 2015

NATION

frustration. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At the end of the day, she is being used as a political football and that is not acceptable,â&#x20AC;? said Campbell.

McConnell â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;too busyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

PHOTO COURTESY OF CG AT CITVISUAL

Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner leads members of the Black Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Roundtable and women members of the Congressional Black Caucus in prayer outside the office of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. The women, led by Melanie Campbell, were demanding that McConnell allow a vote on the attorney general candidacy of Loretta Lynch.

Black women activists: Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make Loretta Lynch a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;sacrificial lambâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; BY JOYCE JONES TRICE EDNEY NEWS WIRE

Civil rights leaders and activists have over the past weeks conducted a flurry of conference calls to vent their growing frustration and anger over Senate Majority Leader Mitch Loretta McConnellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reLynch fusal to bring to the floor a vote to confirm Loretta Lynch. The federal prosecutor is poised to make history as the first African-American woman to serve as U.S. attorney general. But Lynch is instead making history for being forced to wait lon-

ger for a confirmation vote than any nominee for the position in 30 years. Tired of talking among themselves, a group of about 20 women faith and civil rights leaders on March 26 took Lynchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s case directly to the source of the delay by staging a protest outside of McConnellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leadership office in the U.S. Capitol. The protest took place just as the Senate prepared to recess for Easter recess. The members areÂ set to return April 13.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;We will not stopâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Melanie Campbell, president and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and convener of the Black Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Roundtable, and Barbara Williams-Skinner, president and

co-founder of the Skinner Leadership Institute organized and led the protest. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will not be moved, we will not go back, we will not stop,â&#x20AC;? declared Williams-Skinner as she led a prayer at McConnellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s door. Earlier in the morning, the group met with the Kentucky lawmakerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chief of staff to discuss the reasons for the delay. Since the Republican Party took control of the Senate in January, the list has grown: President Obamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s executive actions on immigration; a human trafficking bill with controversial abortion language that Democrats oppose; and passing a federal budget. The stafferâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s responses boiled down to a series of talking points that only added to the groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

So instead of leaving the Capitol after being informed that McConnell was â&#x20AC;&#x153;too busyâ&#x20AC;? to speak with them, the group formed a circle a few feet away from his office, held hands and prayed, asking God and the Senate majority leader to not allow Lynch to be used as a sacrificial lamb. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ironic and distasteful that during this upcoming Holy Week that she would be used as a sacrificial lamb, like a pawn being played. No other nominee has had a more than an 18-day wait on average,â&#x20AC;? said Williams-Skinner. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If it looks like a duck and talks like a duck, it is a duck,â&#x20AC;? she added. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The duck is that [Lynch] is being treated differently. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a standard that allows some people to call this both racist and sexist.â&#x20AC;?

Historic delay Her sentiments echoed other Black leadersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; speculation in recent weeks that there might be more sinister reasons for the delay. After all, she is imminently qualified for the position, as even those whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve said theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll vote against her agree. Moreover, she has already been confirmed by the Senate twice before. So, her opponents ask: Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s left? Texas Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who met with the women between House votes and accompanied them to McConnellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office, did not want to accuse anyone of racism, but did acknowledge that the historic delay raises questions that need to be answered. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is a group of women representing thousands of women, thousands of African-Americans, who are appalled and outraged that Loretta Lynch, a qualified African-American woman, whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been confirmed twice by the Senate, hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even gotten a date [for a vote] and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been five weeks since she was confirmed out of the Judiciary Committee,â&#x20AC;? said Jackson Lee. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think

anything other than she has been discriminated against.â&#x20AC;?

Just want a vote Campbell observed, â&#x20AC;&#x153;History is a great teacher. If you study, it you see this is the second woman and the first African-American woman [attorney general nominee] and the only difference in whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going on is [race. Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s imminently qualified. Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s jumped through all the hoops and is ready to serve. And thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re talking about â&#x20AC;&#x201C; serving the country. The American people know fairness and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not fair whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s happening.â&#x20AC;? Added Williams-Skinner, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mitch McConnell doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to guarantee that sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s confirmed. He only has to make sure that a vote is made possible. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re asking him to do, not to guarantee confirmation â&#x20AC;&#x201C; thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s up to the 100 members of the U.S. Senate. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our issue right now is he has the authority today to call for a vote. It has nothing to do with human trafficking; it has to do with his lack of will. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an issue of leadership and we want him to step up as a leader and do whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s morally right.â&#x20AC;?

Mid-April at earliest Before convening for a twoweek recess March 26, the Senate held whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s known as a vote-arama â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a blizzard of amendment votes before passing a final budget bill â&#x20AC;&#x201C; that lasted until 3 a.m. Lawmakers voted to repeal Obamacare, but a confirmation vote for Lynch was not on the table. That vote will now not take place before mid-April and will most likely happen later. Until then, the group declared, lawmakers have not heard the last from them. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We plan to continue through the recess in the districts,â&#x20AC;? Campbell said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to the district offices and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be right back here on April 13.â&#x20AC;?

The iconic statue honors James Howard Meredith, the first graduate of the University of Mississippi.

Former Ole Miss student who defaced Meredith statue indicted TRICE EDNEY NEWS WIRE

UNIVERSAL PICTURES PRESENTS IN ASSOCIATION WITH MRC AN ORIGINAL FILM/ONE RACE FILMS PRODUCTION VIN DIESEL PAUL WALKER GIBSON CHRISEXECUTIVE â&#x20AC;&#x2DC; LUDACRISâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; BRIDGES JORDANA BREWSTER DWAYNE JOHNSON â&#x20AC;&#x153;FURIOUS 7â&#x20AC;? MICHELLE RODRIGUEZ TYRESE MUSIC DJIMON HOUNSOUBASEDWITHONKURT RUSSELL AND JASON STATHAM PRODUCED BY BRIAN TYLER PRODUCERS AMANDA LEWIS SAMANTHA VINCENT CHARACTERS BY NEAL H. MORITZ p.g.a. VIN DIESEL MICHAEL FOTTRELL CHRIS MORGAN CREATED BY GARY SCOTTWRITTENTHOMPSON DIRECTED BY CHRIS MORGAN BY JAMES WAN A UNIVERSAL PICTURE SOUNDTRACK ON ATLANTIC RECORDS

STARTS FRIDAY, APRIL 3

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A former University of Mississippi student who defaced a statue, honoring James Meredith, the first African-American to attend and graduate from Ole Miss, has been indicted. A federal grand jury on March 27 indicted Graeme Phillip Harris on one count of conspiracy to violate civil rights and one count of using a threat of force to intimidate African-American Graeme students and employees Phillip on the Oxford campus beHarris cause of their race or color. Harris and others hung a rope and an outdated version of the Georgia state flag, which prominently depicts the Confederate battle flag, around the neck of James Meredith statute during the early morning hours of Feb. 16, 2014. At one time, Georgia was the center of lynchings in the United States.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Ignorant actâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; White terrorists in Georgia lynched 586 Black men, women and children between 1877 and 1950, which was more than any other state, including Mississippi, which was second with 576 individuals mur-

dered, according to Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, Ala. Three freshmen, who were allegedly involved in the incident, were kicked out of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, which closed its Ole Miss chapter. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This shameful and ignorant act is an insult to all Americans and a violation of most strongly held values,â&#x20AC;? said Attorney General Eric Holder. â&#x20AC;&#x153;No one should ever be made to feel threatened or intimidated because of what they look like and who they are. By taking appropriate action to hold wrongdoers accountable, the Department of Justice is sending a clear message that flagrant infringements of our historic civil rights will not go unnoticed or unpunished.â&#x20AC;?

Iconic statue The U.S. Justice Departmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorneys Office of the Northern District of Mississippi are prosecuting the case. The iconic statue honors Meredithâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s role as the universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first African-American student, following the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s violent 1962 integration. After the incident, students gathered around the statute to decry racism and to support Ole Miss.

EDITORIAL

APRIL 3 – APRIL 9, 2015

The new Negro voice Back during the days of slavery, when the wicked slave master was curious about what was going on in the slave quarters he asked questions. The slave master didn’t ask the cotton pickers or the nanny. He didn’t ask the tobacco choppers or leaf rakers. And, he damn sure didn’t ask the runaways or the rebellious freedom fighters that hated him. The slave master would question the house Negroes that loved the slave master more than the slave master loved himself about slaves in the field or outside of the big house.

Still the same Four hundred years later, communications and conversations between Whites and Blacks are pretty much the same. Those Black people in Ameri-

LUCIUS GANTT THE GANTT REPORT

ca that are arrested the most, over charged over sentenced and jailed the most, brutalized the most, mis-educated the most, denied the most, oppressed the most and exploited the most still don’t have a voice when it comes to discussing their lives and the conditions in their communities. Today, when the major news networks and major national newspapers want to interview or ask questions about AfricanAmerican, Black, inner city or urban events and activities of national or worldwide interest, they parade the same old neocolonial-

Limited audience

ist puppets onto the front pages, the television shows and the radio shows to articulate the status of Black America in the way that the modern day slave masters want them to articulate! If you are White, you can be liberal, conservative, moderate or indifferent when you go on Meet The Press or 60 Minutes. You can be a Christian, Muslim, an atheist or an agnostic and still be acceptable to any media outlet if you’re blond and blue-eyed. However, if you are a Black man or woman that refuses to be told what to say, refuses to be contained or controlled and refuses to abide by White definition of “political correctness” you will never get a chance to share your views on American media’s most watched and listened to programs or in the publications that have the greatest readerships and distributions in the United States and the world!

VISUAL VIEWPOINT: STOP AND FRISK

It is even harder to get people that look like you to give you a voice on so-called Black shows that are financed, supported or paid for by White advertisers and/ or White individuals! Don’t take my word for it, line up all of the Black network or White network TV show hosts that you love and tell them you would like to watch and hear some different voices and view points from the diverse talkers and writers that represent the Black community. Call The Tom Joyner Show and ask him to interview someone from The New Black Panther Party. Call Steve Harvey and tell him you want to hear Yahweh Ben Yahweh tell his story on Steve’s TV or radio show. Call Creflo Dollar and T.D. Jakes and ask if Henry Lyons, Victor Curry, or Geno Jennings can appear on their TV shows as a guest preacher. I’m sure they all have testimonies and experiences to share. Yes, I know Arsenio Hall and Kathy Hughes both interviewed

Don’t tolerate it

Random thoughts of a free Black mind, v. 252 Black farmers and weed – Here are excerpts of what we wrote about 2014’s Amendment 2, which would have made medical marijuana legal in Florida: “This law is designed for “Big Weed” – the weed-growing industry similar to “Big Tobacco.” Check the huge profit margin on legal marijuana… A quote from Michelle Alexander, the author of “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness,” explains things well. “Here are White men poised to run big marijuana businesses, dreaming of cashing in big. Big money, big businesses selling weed, after 40 years of punishing impoverished Black kids for selling weed. Their families and futures destroyed. Now White men are planning on getting rich doing precisely the same thing.” Are we surprised that Black farmers got cut out, or that frightened Democrats won’t stand up for the farmers? Hell no… Congratulations, Nigeria! Goodluck Jonathan, the ironically named but highly incompetent incumbent president of Nigeria, got lucky when he lost his re-election campaign this week to Muhammadu Buhari, a retired Nigerian Army general (and former dictator)who held power from 1983-85. Why was Goodluck lucky in losing? Buhari has to tackle the terrorist jihad-

QUICK TAKES FROM #2: STRAIGHT, NO CHASER

CHARLES W. CHERRY II, ESQ. PUBLISHER

ist group Boko Haram, that is strapping bombs on little girls and detonating them in local markets; government corruption; infectious diseases like malaria; widespread poverty; poor or nonexistent infrastructure such as roads and sewers; the world’s highest rate of HIV/AIDS deaths; 25 percent national unemployment; and Nigeria’s international reputation for online fraud and scams. All this in a nation of 180 million people consisting of 250 ethnic groups living in an area twice the size of California. Goodluck was as happy to get out of Nigeria’s presidential chair as George W. Bush was to leave the White House in 2009. That’s why Goodluck wisely conceded early – an unprecedented step that allowed a peaceful political transition to occur. We wish Buhari Godspeed and “good luck” as he tries to turn Nigeria – Africa’s most populous nation – around.

Maybe we need to take a page out of other cultures who refuse to be degraded. When a culture understands their value and worth, they will not tolerate abuse of any kind. In addition to this, whenever a culture is able to come together to collectively vote for their interests, own businesses within their community, establish schools and systems that reminds them of their history, they tell the world unashamedly and unapologetically this is who we are. When this happens, people begin to listen. Let’s pause for a moment and ask why you don’t hear people speak negatively about other cultures? The answer is twofold. On one side, they are taught how disrespectful it is and how they should embrace cultural diversity. Now on the other side, they understand full well, there will be repercussions (e.g. professionally and financially). They can apologize all they want, but in the end, they know it would be a ‘death-blow’ to their career.

Too accepting Within the African-American community, we sit back and accept apology after apology. Perpetrators and spectators get some air time to show people standing and holding hands saying ‘we need to talk about race and racism.’ Once again, I have to say ‘please give me a break’ because without power and any influence, people (e.g. the media, politicians, entertainment executives, and others who sign checks) will continue to label us, mistreat us, and define us. Even though I don’t prescribe to have all of the answers, I would like to offer a few suggestions that we (as African-Americans) can do.

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 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.

W W W.FLCOURIER.COM Central Florida Communicators Group, LLC, P.O. Box 48857 Tampa, FL 33646, publishes the Florida Courier on Fridays. Phone: 877352-4455, toll-free. For all sales inquiries, call 877-352-4455; e-mail sales@flcourier.com. Subscriptions to the print version are $69 per year. Mail check to P.O. Box 48857 Tampa, FL 33646, or log on to www.flcourier.com; click on ‘Subscribe’.

SUBMISSIONS POLICY SEND ALL SUBMISSIONS TO NEWS@FLCOURIER.COM. Deadline for submitting news and pictures is 5 p.m. the Monday before the Friday publication date. You may submit articles at any time. However, current events received prior to deadline will be considered before any information that is submitted, without the Publisher’s prior approval, after the deadline. Press releases, letters to the editor, and guest commentaries must be e-mailed to be considered for publication. The Florida Courier reserves the right to edit any submission, and crop any photograph, for style and clarity. Materials will not be returned.

Charles W. Cherry, Sr. (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

When I was 24 years old working in my dream job at my hometown newspaper, I received an email that changed my life forever and sent me on a journey to make sure I retire rich. The email included four statistics: 63% of the people who begin working at age 21 and retire at age 65 will depend on the government, family, friends and charity, 32% are dead, 4% are well off, only 1% are rich. This was right after I found out from a co-worker that our newspaper job wasn’t offering a pension when we retire. I had planned on working on that job into my 60s. But I quickly starting thinking of alternatives after finding out there was no pension and that most workers my age were headed down the road to retire broke.

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

If you want to hear diverse, different and unadulterated Black views about Black life you’ve got to have a good AM radio, a computer fast enough to stream video and audio and the time and desire to search for Black “alternative” media programs and if you want to read hard hitting Black news stories and editorial columns all you have to do is visit a Black web site or pick up a Black newspaper that is not afraid to print the truth regardless of whether modern day slave masters like the truthful Black information or not!

Buy Gantt’s books and contact Lucius at www.allworldconsultants.net. Click on this article at www.flourier.com to write your own response.

DR. SINCLAIR GREY III GUEST COLUMNIST

The future of the AfricanAmerican community begins with us taking a stand and refusing to back down. • Refuse to use the ‘N word.’ For those in the entertainment industry, we must call out those companies and/or individuals who encourage people to do so. The power of social media can be used for our benefit. • Stop supporting advertisers who contribute financially to the downgrading of the African-American culture and community. • Say ‘no’ to selling out the African-American community. No longer can we allow the need for money, fame, and/or recognition cloud our moral judgement in doing what’s right. • Register to vote and vote on issues that are relevant to our community. Party loyalty has to be thrown out. It’s time for our issues to be addressed. • Establish our own businesses. Through owning our businesses, we fulfill the need of those we serve. In addition to this, we must support one another financially so that we can expand our reach not only locally and nationally, but globally. The future of the African-American community begins with us taking a stand and refusing to back down. As African-Americans, we have to create such a fear in other groups that the thought of even using the ‘N word’ will frighten them. That’s not being violent, it’s being real.

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). Contact him at drgrey@sinclairgrey.org or on Twitter @drsinclairgrey. Click on this article at www.flcourier.com to write your own response.

Will you retire in the 1 percent?

Contact me at ccherry2@gmail.com.

THE CREDO OF THE BLACK PRESS

‘Alternative media’

A death-blow to the N-word Doesn’t it bother you that every so often we hear someone of a different ethnic group use the ‘N word’ and then apologize for their actions after getting caught. I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of hearing the same thing over and over again. The repetitive apology for getting caught and saying that ‘I’m not racist – I wasn’t brought up that way.’ To comments like this, I have to utter the words, ‘SHUT UP.’ Why? Because it’s a lie that has been perpetrated for so long and as long as people within the African-American community keep accepting this nonsense, we will find ourselves continuing discussions on race and racism.

ERIC ALLIE, CAGLECARTOONS.COM

Muslim Minister Louis Farrakhan at one time or another but so did Lucius Gantt and the questions asked the minister was asked were as different as night and day!

Make a plan So now more than a decade later, I can happily say that I am well off by building three businesses that offer multiple income streams and will most definitely help me to retire rich. But just as important, I am teaching others how to achieve wealth and multiply it to retire rich. My hope is that this article inspires you to stop the insanity of overspending and not saving or investing enough or stop working on the same job that doesn’t make ends meet. If you want to be among the 1% who retire rich or the 4% who are well off, you have got to take control and

TENESHIA LAFAYE MISS MONEY SENSE

make a plan. Find ways to earn an extra income. Start a new business. Meet with a financial advisor to create a plan to invest for retirement. Last week, I had the pleasure of speaking in front of hundreds of college students in a national campus activities conference, and I was able to share with them my story of receiving the email in my early 20s and several of them stated that they are going to retire in the 1%.Which group are you going to retire in? The broke, the well off or the rich?

Teneshia LaFaye is a former awardwinning newspaper journalist and a nationally certified financial education instructor. She owns a health insurance agency and has written two books, What My Mom Taught Me About Money and Mom’s Money Lessons, available on her web site www.mytensense.com. Click on this article at www.flcourier. com to write your own response.

APRIL 3 – APRIL 9, 2015

An open letter to the unknown

cause we believe that there should be no privilege because terrible things happen because of privilege (Like slavery, Nazis, concentration camps, internment camps, and Apartheid…). What I think is really terrifying to you is that we actually read the Bible. We listen to that stuff Jesus says about loving our neighbors. We listen when we’re told to go against the empire. We listen when we’re told that those with voices need to speak up for justice when others can’t. We listen when we’re told to stand up against oppression and injustice — to stand in solidarity with those who are suffering. Jesus scares you. I get it.

Privilege to speak up

Regular people

HALEY ASBERRY GUEST COLUMNIST

These friends are pastors, theologians, business owners, leaders, health workers, and on and on and on. We talk about and I have learned so much from them. I am grateful and thankful

You said I “like gay people.” This statement is not true. I LOVE GAY PEOPLE. Like is not a strong enough word. My LGBT friends are fantastic. Do you know what we do when we hang out? We go to the movies, we eat, we listen to music, we do ministry, etc. because gay people are just people. If you find it offensive that people love LGBT people so much that they want them protected under the law (which is not the case in Indiana currently) then I’m sorry you feel that way. I am not sure why it is so threatening that they have protection under the law. It’s not like giving them equal rights is going to make you gay. You can’t catch gay….unless you want to.

for that because my mind and heart are not closed. I’m sorry you’ll never attend a gay wedding. They’re fabulous — like all weddings that celebrate love. Throwing Leviticus at me to demonstrate how I am helping people commit sin will not work. Unless you show me that you follow all of the laws in the Bible yourself. Then, maybe we can talk about that.

tional western democracies uncomfortable. He practiced a form of authoritarianism that included jailing some opposition politiLEKAN OGUNTOYINBO cians, intimidating the press, and suppressing dissent and some NNPA COLUMNIST forms of free speech. Singapore is largely a one-party state. Lee died last week at age 91, the world’s most efficient counspawning many western news tries and, arguably, the least coroutlets – including the New York rupt. Times – to comment on Lee’s “mixed legacy.”

Wealthy country

Due largely to Lee’s efforts, the World Bank now lists Singapore as the world’s fourth wealthiest country based on per capita income – ahead of other powerhouses such as Brunei, Norway, Saudi Arabia and the United States. Singapore is the cultural and recreational hub of Asia. It is a major destination for shoppers and affluent medical tourists from nearby countries like Vietnam and Malaysia. But in propelling Singapore into the club of the world’s wealthiest nations, Lee took some steps that made leaders of many tradi-

GLEN FORD BLACK AGENDA REPORT

portant when comparing Black voter turnout with whites, white Americans also vote in numbers far below almost all of the rest of the developed world.

All about the money Americans don’t vote because both major political parties are answerable to the same people: the moneyed classes, the power structures that determine the issues that will be on the political agenda long before the party primaries begin. This is called the hegemony of the bourgeoisie, the rule of the rich. The corporations and bankers choose the menu; the only option citizens have is whether to select from the pre-packaged list of candidates, or stay home. Almost two out of

MIKE KEEFE, CAGLE CARTOONS

race and racism openly

‘Says who?’ “As Singapore reflects on Mr. Lee’s legacy, in seven days of national mourning, many people will focus on the country’s economic growth under his rule,” the Times opined in an editorial. “But a leader’s accomplishments should not be measured by material achievements alone. The next generation of leaders should make Singapore a political model, not just an economic one.” Says who? Singapore’s political model has been studied by many Asian countries, including China.

U.S. voter turnout is low because there’s little to vote for President Obama wants you to believe that the political map of the United States would be transformed – “completely changed,” he says – if citizens were required by law to vote. Obama told a town hall meeting in Cleveland that mandatory voting would “counteract” the influence of money in the U.S. electoral process. That’s a hell of a statement from the guy who wrecked the public campaign finance system by opting out of it in 2008, and outspent his Republican opponents in both of his runs for the presidency. Obama ought to have his picture on a million dollar bill. But, why does the United States have the lowest voter turnout in the industrialized world, including Russia? It’s not because Americans are happier with the way they’re living than the rest of humanity. The U.S. ranks 17th on the global Happiness index and 23rd on the Satisfaction with Life scale. And, although racial exclusion in voting is very im-

VISUAL VIEWPOINT: MIDEAST MADNESS

races and ethnicities.

Democracy overrated? Long before China and India became the economic wonders of Asia, there was Singapore, a small, diverse country with no natural resources that took the audacious step of breaking away from the Malaysian federation in 1965 to become an independent nation. Lee Kuan Yew, the new country’s founding father, knew that the odds of survival were clearly against them when they decided to go it alone 50 years ago. “To understand Singapore and why it is what it is, you’ve got to start off with the fact that it’s not supposed to exist and cannot exist,” Lee said in a 2007 interview with the New York Times. “To begin with, we don’t have the ingredients of a nation, the elementary factors: a homogeneous population, common language, common culture and common destiny.” Still, Lee played the odds. By the time he stepped down as prime minister in 2000, he had transformed Singapore into an economic powerhouse, one of

I love my friends of all

Editor’s note: Haley Asberry, a minister and social justice activist received a negative anonymous message on the social networking website Facebook. Publicly she shared the following response. An open letter to the person who private messaged me to say that I am a terrible representative of Christianity: You privately sent me a message telling me that I am a terrible representative of Christianity because I “like gay people” and you heard that the last person I dated “is a nigger.” I address this in a public forum because I believe in transparency. I address this in a public forum because I want those who read it to know that your words and any words like them are unacceptable. First of all, I will agree with you that I am a terrible representative of Christianity. We’re all sinners, right? That’s the beauty of the gospel and the love of God. We never measure up but we’re still loved. What I think you meant to say, though, is that I am a “terrible representative of straight, White Christianity.” I also agree with you on that. I am really bad at oppressing people. My batting average when it comes to beating people with the Bible is so low that I think I have been benched. I’m not good at throwing around my privilege. It’s probably really scary for you to know that there are straight, white Christians out there who try to find ways to dismantle privilege. I get that. I, and people like me, are your worst nightmare. We look for avenues of conversation. We look for ways to dismantle hate and evil. We look for ways to help and listen to those around us be-

EDITORIAL

three chose not to vote in 2014. They were not behaving irrationally. Since both major parties are controlled by the rich, only the most minor tinkering with the way the country is actually run, is tolerated. No matter how many people vote, very little changes, because the U.S. offers the narrowest spectrum of electoral choices in the industrial world – which is why it has the lowest voter turnout. There is much more to politics than voting. The sixties was the most productive decade in Black American history, but the victories came mainly from the street. The vote can be put to good use, but not when it’s cast for a Republican or a Democrat, which is why so few votes are cast on Election Day in the United States.

BAR executive editor Glen Ford can be contacted at Glen.Ford@ Bl a ck A ge n d a R e p or t . com. Click on this article at www.flcourier. com to write your own response.

‘Hate speech’ The last thing I would like to address is that you said you heard that the last person I dated “is a nigger.” I am going to assume that you were typing really fast and somehow the autocorrect demons took over and changed “Nigerian” to the other. If you meant to type “Nigerian” then yes, that would be correct. The last guy I dated is Nigerian. It didn’t work out because we want very different things in life. Thank you for your concern. It was a tough break-up for me because I don’t like hurting people. If you meant the other then I can guarantee that anyone you heard that from did not use that word. Your use of the word is nothing more than hate speech that is probably just for a reaction. My reaction is this: I love my friends of all races and ethnicities. These friends are pastors, theologians, business owners, leaders, health workers, and on and The Times’ editors added that now is a good time to rethink the order of things in Singapore, particularly given rising economic inequality there. Hmmm! I wonder if that same lesson of reflection could apply to some other country like, say, the United States. Singapore’s story of prosperity also has some observers pondering another crucial question: Is democracy overrated? Since the fall of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, we’ve seen a staggering rise in the number of democratic countries around, especially in third world regions, particularly in Africa and the Americas. Some countries have remained unmoved by this trend. For example: China, which has the world’s largest economy and has shifted more than 300 million people into the middle class in the last 20 years, remains stubbornly authoritarian. Vietnam remains a communist country, but its people are enjoying a degree of affluence and economic prosperity unknown since independence from France more than 60 years ago.

on and on. We talk about race and racism openly and I have learned so much from them. I am grateful and thankful for that because my mind and heart are not closed. I do not spew hate and instead they teach my how to love my neighbors in new ways. As for my dating life, it’s really none of your business or anyone else’s unless I share that information. Whether I date someone who is Black, White, Latino, Asian, African, etc., I know that my family and friends could care less because I surround myself with people who believe that love is love. Please accept my apology for upsetting you but for future reference you should know that I don’t plan on changing.

Haley Asberry is a student at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, IN. Click on this article at www.flcourier. com to write your own response. Although Cuba has loosened some economic and political restrictions in recent years, it is still an authoritarian country. Yet, the island nation’s literacy rate is one of the world’s highest, its doctors are among the best on the planet and its first-rate health system is accessible to all Cubans. In contrast, Nigeria, which had elections this weekend, returned to democratic rule in 1999. But it is rated one of the most corrupt countries in the world. Given a choice, then, would you rather live in a safe, clean and mildly authoritarian society that is economically prosperous and ensures that all citizens benefit from the wealth or in a democratic society where most people are mired in economic struggle and the government has no concrete plans to lift them out of it? Talk about a no-brainer.

Lekan Oguntoyinbo is an independent journalist. Contact him at oguntoyinbo@gmail. com. Click on this article at www.flcourier.com to write your own response.

Power to question bullies You have to question bullies. I am adamant about that. I saw how bullies were as a kid and as an adult I developed ways of dealing with bullies that vacillated between wisdom and brutality. The range between the two extremes are dependent upon the maturity of the other person. Bullies can be manipulated easily if you know what you are doing. They operate from a fear, or set of fears interwoven into bravado enabled by a group setting. There is something dense within all bullies that lends itself to humor. One can teach a victim how to deal with or eliminate a bully in front of a bully and the bully somehow misses the fact. Nationally, bullying is the technique gay activists employ to get their agenda accepted as normal. It is fear-based, and mean to the point it inhibits love and acceptance in a natural way crouching millions into huddles afraid to voice opinions, or emotions outside of the prescribed script. The question posed by an old celebrity from the original Star Trek series recently upset that Indiana’s governor signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act into law devalues religious freedom. He wanted people

GREGORY E. WOODS GUEST COLUMNIST

to not do business with the state of Indiana until the gay community got its way. Would I join such a movement? No. Would I join a movement to shut a whole state down because one group didn’t get their way in a political process? No, not when religious freedom is shunted to the side. The ripple effect would cripple millions of lives and destroy families, dreams and hopes of tomorrow.

‘Myopic view’ The myopic view and focus of the subject is a telltell sign of something deeply engraved in Western ideology. I am speaking from a long memory as an Indian. I hear my ancestors and remember the depth and complexity of the way the ‘Americans’ impeded the creative flow of life for us. This myopic approach has undermined our ways of life cleverly for the length of five centuries. The subject of homosexuality from Europe and

its influence over American subjects isn’t respected enough to become part of dialogues to help people’s understanding Western homosexuality. Currently, logic and law are spearheading the movement. Bullying is the tactic that makes people afraid for their jobs and reputation and forces compliance. There are questions that are shot down in every public discussion of the subject. It is a fear based approach few have the courage to challenge because they have to keep their jobs and appear enlightened. Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned? These are questions to hold and trust that they will lead to better understanding in a balanced way instead of bullying people into a posture.

Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories, is Native American and African. He works as a community activist and as a ceremonial leader in the Washington, D.C. area facilitating in the reconciliation processes between races. He can be reached at crowcreekndn@yahoo. com. Click on this article at www.flcourier.com.

FLORIDA

TOJ A6

APRIL 3 – APRIL 9, 2015

Governor appoints Tampa pastor to Elections Commission

WALTER MICHOT/MIAMI HERALD/TNS

Hundreds of construction workers march through the Miami Tunnel during the dedication at Port Miami on May 19, 2014. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics placed Florida third for job growth over the past year trailing Texas and California.

State’s jobless rate goes down to 5.6 percent BY JIM TURNER THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

TALLAHASSEE – Florida’s unemployment rate dipped slightly from January to February with Gov. Rick Scott continuing his focus on private-sector job creation. The state’s jobless rate for February stood at 5.6 percent, down from 5.7 percent a month earlier, the state Department of Economic Opportunity announced on March 27. Out of a workforce of 9.7 million, the monthly mark represented an estimated 548,000 jobless Floridians, a decrease of 6,000 from January, according to the state agency. Scott, who went to Norris Sports Group in Naples to announce the latest numbers on March 27, pointed to a projected 14,900 pri-

vate-sector jobs created across the state in February, saying that “more opportunities are becoming available for families each month.”

The gains The largest month-to-month gains were found in the fields of education, health care, food and drink services, administrative and support services, and state and local government. Increases were also recorded in construction, real estate and transportation. However, as the calendar moved away from the year-end holiday shopping period, the largest reductions in staffing were seen in retail stores focused on electronics, appliances, clothing, sporting goods, hobbies, books and music.

5.5 percent nationwide The state continues to slightly exceed the national unemployment mark, which stood at 5.5 percent for February. Florida was one of 26 states that recorded reductions in unemployment between January and February, while six went up and 18 reported no change, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The state with the largest monthover-month increase in employment was California, where Scott will travel in April on a two-day business recruitment effort. The next highest states were Georgia and New York, another anticipated destination for one of Scott’s “business development missions.”

Third in job growth Looking at employment over the

past year, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics placed Florida third for job growth, up 266,600, trailing only increases of 357,300 in Texas and 476,400 in California. Across Florida, the metro areas with the lowest unemployment marks for February were Gainesville at 4.7 percent, followed by 5 percent in the Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin metro area, the West Palm Beach-Boca RatonDelray Beach metro area and the Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island metro area. At the other end, the Homosassa Springs metro area had the highest unemployment, at 7.9 percent. Others at the upper end of unemployment were The Villages at 7.6 percent; Sebring, 7.2 percent; and Ocala, 6.7 percent.

Gov. Rick Scott has appointed the Rev. Dr. Thomas Scott to the Florida Elections Commission. Scott, 61, of Tampa, is the senior pastor at 34th Street Church of God. He served as a Hillsborough County Commissioner from 1996-2006 and as a member of the Tampa City Council from 2007-2011. Scott received a bachelor’s degree from University of North Florida and his doctorate from Southern California School of Ministry. He fills a vacant seat and is appointed for a term beginning March 30 and ending Dec. 31, 2016. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

Rev. Dr. Thomas Scott

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APRIL 3 – APRIL 9, 2015

South African will host ‘Daily Show’ See page B5

SHARING BLACK LIFE, STATEWIDE

SOUTH FLORIDA / TREASURE COAST AREA

$16 billion to be spent during Eastertime See page B2

WWW.FLCOURIER.COM

SECTION

HANDLING THEIR BUSINESS ON THE COURT

Venus Williams, now 34, played first in Key Biscayne when she was 16. She lost Tuesday to Carla Suarez-Navarro of Spain.

MIAMI OPEN 2015

Serena. Venus. Sloane. How sisters are faring at Key Biscayne tournament FROM STAFF REPORTS

t was a grueling battle against Sabine Lisicki but Serena Williams pulled it off on a scorching hot Wednesday afternoon at the Miami Open. The top-ranked player in the world got her 700th career win. The 2015 Miami Open presented by Itaú, is being held at the Crandon Park Tennis Center on Key Biscayne through Sunday, April 5. Williams needed three sets to defeat Lisicki, struggling to a 7-6(4), 1-6, 6-3 win to advance to the tournament semifinals for the third straight year. She was seeking her third consecutive title and eighth title overall. For Williams, the victory was the 700th of her career, placing her just four victories behind Evonne Goolagong for eighth all-time. “I didn’t know I had 700 wins,” Williams said after the match. “Now, I just want to keep going, do the best that I can.” She berated herself point after point and struggling to find her rhythm all afternoon. “Today was not my best day,” Williams said. “I just told myself I’m not serving the way I normally serve and hitting the way I normally would hit, so at this point all I can do is just fight and try to give 200 percent instead of 100 percent.” She will face either third-seeded Simona Halep or Sloane Stephens in her semifinal match.

Above: Richard Williams, dad of Serena and Venus, watches the tennis action. Left: Fans and family show their support.

Venus out Her sister, Venus, Williams defeated Caroline Wozniacki 6-3, 7-6 (7-1) Monday afternoon to advance to the Miami Open quarterfinals. However, she lost on Tuesday, defeated by Carla SuarezNavarro of Spain 0-6, 6-1, 7-5. “I feel like I have the ability to win a match like this, but unfortunately it was a loss,” Venus said. “Just a little too many errors. I was going for it the whole match, but towards the end I never found the happy medium between being aggressive and putting the ball in the court. But I learn a lot from my losses – they always make me better.” Sloane Stephens, 22, of Plantation, Fla., was to face Simona Halep of Romania after the Florida Courier’s deadline.

Above: Florida’s Sloane Stephens also was a contender at the Miami Open. Left: Serena Williams makes more history on the court. PHOTOS BY KIM GIBSON

CALENDAR

APRIL 3 – APRIL 9, 2015

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Consumers expected to spend $16 billion on Easter candy, clothes, food, other items BY LORRAINE MIRABELLA THE BALTIMORE SUN/TNS

EL DEBARGE

R&B Love Fest 2015 features Keith Sweat, Bell Biv Devoe, K-Ci & JoJo along with El DeBarge. The show is April 4 at the BankUnited Center in Coral Gables.

HANNIBAL BURESS

The comedian will perform at the South Beach Comedy Festival takes place April 11 at the Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason

ROBERT FLACK

See the legendary Roberta Flack on April 24 at the Au-Rene Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale. BRIAN T. SILAK

FLORIDA COMMUNITY CALENDAR Tampa: The Tampa Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority will present a career expo on April 4 at the University of Tampa from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for youth 11-14. Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor will kick off the event. Orlando: Jazmine Sullivan performs April 13 at the House of Blues Orlando. Aventura: Jazz singer Nicole Henry performs April 9 at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center at 8 p.m. Miami: Catch Dave Chappelle at the Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater on April 9 and the Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater on April 13. Tampa: Computer Mentors is offering computer training classes for adults beginning April 6 at the Hillsborough County Lee Davis Neighborhood Service Center, 3402 N. 22nd St. Register by calling 813-236-1191. Miami Gardens: An International Festival of Praise takes place April 18 from 4 to 11 p.m. at the Betty T. Ferguson Recreation Complex, 3000 NW 199th St., Miami Gardens. Free admission and parking. More information, call the Word of Life Bible Ministry at 954-604-5724. Fort Lauderdale: The Mighty

Clouds of Joy and Lee Williams will be at the War Memorial Auditorium on April 5. Orlando: Florida Department of Health in Orange County’s 5K walk and health fair is April 4 at Barnett Park, 4801 W. Colonial Drive. Details: www.orange.floridahealth.gov under the events section or call 407-858-1464. Orlando: Actor and comedian Kevin Hart’s tour makes stops on April 25 at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, Amalie Arena in Tampa on May 8 and AmericanAirlines Arena on May 9. Orlando: Catch Wanda Sykes on April 25 at Hard Rock Live Orlando. Tampa: Candy Lowe hosts Tea & Conversation every Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. at 3911 N. 34th St., Suite B. More information: 813-3946363. St. Petersburg: The legendary Smokey Robinson performs April 12 at The Mahaffey Theater and April 4 at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall in Fort Myers. Tampa: Tickets are on sale for the Nephew Tommy Comedy Tour featuring Thomas Miles at the University of South Florida’s Sun Dome on April 18. Tampa: Nas performs April 23 at Club Skye in Ybor City. The show starts at 10 p.m.

Miami Gardens: The city’s sixth annual Easter Family Fun Day will be held noon to 4 p.m. Aug. 4 at Rollings Oaks Park, 18701 NW 17th Ave. There will be free food, games and prizes. Attendees need to bring their own baskets. Sanford: Gloria Esteban, care coordinator for Friends of Children and Families, which provides care and housing for foster children, mentoring, inhouse counseling and other programs for at-risk children and their families, will give a presentation on April 17 at the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, 100 Bush Blvd, (First Floor, Community Room). More information: 407-2128040 or visit www.SeminolePreventionCoalition.org and www.friendscf.org. Orlando: The Florida Department of Health in Orange County (DOH-Orange) will sponsor its ninth annual Let’s Move 5K Walk and Health Fair on April 4 at Barnett Park, 4801 W. Colonial Drive. Registration begins at 8 a.m. A recognition program honoring local public health heroes is April 7 at 6101 Lake Ellenor Drive. More information: http://orange.floridahealth. gov. Largo: A classic car show takes place April 18 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Armed Forces History Museum, 2050 34th Way N. Tickets are $15 can be purchased at armedforcesmuseum.com, by calling 727-539-8371 or in person at the museum.

Consumer spending for the Easter holiday, on apparel, decorations, gifts, candy, food and flowers, is expected to reach $16.4 billion this year. Nearly 90 percent of shoppers in a National Retail Federation (NRF) survey said they will buy candy, spending more than $2.2 billion, while more than 85 percent will buy food, a $5.3 billion category. Nearly half will buy new outfits, spending nearly $3 billion, according to the survey, conducted for NRF by Prosper Insights & Analytics. Retailers are also expected to do brisk business in gifts, flowers, decorations and greeting cards. Individually, consumers will likely spend just over $140, slightly up from $137 last year, the trade group said. “As one of the busiest times of year for several retail sectors, and as shelves begin filling with both traditional spring and holiday merchandise, retailers are looking forward to welcoming shoppers with attractive promotions on home goods, garden equipment and traditional Easter items,” said Matthew Shay, NRF president and CEO.

Source: http://www.statisticbrain.com Graphic: Greg Good, Tribune News Service

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’: “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

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APRIL 3 – APRIL 9, 2015

CAMPUS NEWS

‘Isis’ video sparks controversy at Miami university BY KATHLEEN DEVANEY MIAMI HERALD/TNS

A controversial conservative activist Monday trumpeted his latest undercover adventure: trying to trick Barry University in Miami Shores into allowing a pro-ISIS campus club. James O’Keefe is a self-described “guerrilla journalist and muckraker” known for his baiting tactics on video. On Monday, in an airport Hilton hotel conference room off State Road 836, his team handed out press kits and he talked about the campaign of catchJames ing college officials O’Keefe embracing the terror group by endorsing a mock club. “Brace yourselves, this one is beyond anything you’ve ever seen,” O’Keefe tweeted Monday morning. After the event, he then took to Twitter to tout the media attention.

Fake club Here’s what led to his “gotcha” announcement Monday: A Barry student reached out to O’Keefe’s group, Project Veritas, which then cooked up a plan for a fake pro-ISIS club and to get Barry University staffers on board. Barry never approved the club and O’Keefe’s group had no intention of running it. One of the Barry campus coordinators even suggested that “ISIS” be omitted from the club name in favor of “Middle East.” “It is immensely hurtful to our university community, to the Dominican Sisters of Adrian, Michigan, who founded and continue to sponsor Barry University, and to the international members of the Dominican Order who have suffered as a result of the violence created by ISIS,” Sister Linda Bevilacqua, the university president, said in a statement Monday.

Not the first time The video shows a series of visits the undercover student had with college coordinators about the steps to start the club, Sympathetic Students in Support of the Islamic State. At first, the student, whose name Project Veritas did not divulge, said she wanted to form “the humanitarian club” to raise money for widows and children of dead Islamic State fighters. The student also mentioned she wants to buy flashlights for fighters being attacked at night so that they can protect themselves. This is the second time O’Keefe’s group has gone after a college on ISIS. Last week, Project Veritas released a video showing a Cornell dean who advised another undercover student on how to start and fund a pro-ISIS student club. “We believe that taxpayers and parents need to know what’s happening at universities across the country,” O’Keefe said. “People have talked about some of the malfeasance happening on campuses, about the mentality of professors and administrators and we want to expose that.”

University responds Barry University didn’t take too kindly to the campaign. “Barry University does not and never will allow or authorize the formation of an ISIS-related humanitarian aid group on campus. There has been no formation of any such group at Barry University. No paperwork requesting such an organization has ever been filed with the proper authorities at the University,” Bevilacqua said. “The images and video released were edited and spliced to unfairly represent the university and staff being featured. It is reprehensible to think any organization would acquire video and edit in such a way as to denigrate the reputation of Barry University or its staff.”

Martese Johnson is shown shackled in the back of an ambulance on March 18.

Photo shows Virginia student shackled during arrest COMPILED FROM WIRE REPORTS

A photo has surfaced that shows University of Virginia honor student Martese Johnson shackled at the ankles as he sat on the back of an ambulance truck after a March 18 incident that sparked protests on the campus. Johnson, 20, ended up bloody and bruised during a rest outside of a bar. He was accused of using a fake ID to enter the Trinity Bar in Charlottesville by state Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) agents charged with enforcing alcohol laws in Virginia. During a confrontation with three agents, Johnson ended

up on the ground and bloodied, and charged with obstruction and public intoxication. Twitter user Deray Mckesson appeared to be the first person to post the image of Johnson in shackles. “And they chained Martese Johnson’s feet the night of the arrest. America,” wrote Mckesson, who has nearly 75,000 Twitter followers.

Training for officers Johnson appeared in court for the first time on March 26 and was expected to enter a not guilty plea. However, the prosecution asked for a continuance so the investigation could continue. The case has

been continued to May 28. Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe has ordered ABC agents to be retrained on cultural diversity, use of force, young adults and community policing and effective interaction with youth. In Virginia, there is no legal requirement that customers entering a restaurant where alcohol is served must be over the age of 21. So Johnson had every right to attempt to enter Trinity so long as he was using his lawful identification, ABC News reported. Trinity’s decision to enact a 21 and over policy after 10 p.m., for busy evenings, did not make Johnson’s attempt to enter illegal.

SPECIAL REPORT

APRIL 3 – APRIL 9, 2015

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TRAVIS HEYING/WICHITA EAGLE/TNS

Blue tarps cover the damaged roofs of homes east of New Orleans as seen from the air on Nov. 17, 2005. Officials were making searches by helicopter looking for bodies of victims of Hurricane Katrina in the remote marshes of the area.

Survey tracks the progress of homes damaged by Katrina Nearly a decade after the devastating storm, 81 percent of homes in New Orleans have been rebuilt

‘The justice system continues to discriminate against Black people, the cost of living in New Orleans continues to force Black families to leave the city as Whites move back...’ Ramessu Merriamen Aha New Orleans businessman and former congressional candidate

TRICE EDNEY NEWS WIRE

Nearly 10 years after Hurricane Katrina and subsequent levee breaks flooded 80 percent of the Crescent City, a study by the University of New Orleans Department of Geography found that 81 percent of homes damaged in Orleans and St. Bernard parishes have either been rebuilt or are in the process of being rebuilt. WWL-TV in New Orleans reported the study’s findings in a story last month. The curbside survey was conducted between October 2014 and February 2015 of homes within the Hurricane Katrina flood zone of Orleans and St. Bernard, according to the university. It is the seventh edition of the survey, tracking “the progress of more than 2,000 Katrina-flooded single- and double-family residences in a set of 39 U.S. Census block groups, selected randomly to provide a representative overview of the flood zone.”

Lots of empty lots The 81 percent is up from 79 percent in an April 2013 survey. The survey also found 15 percent of the homes were demolished and are now empty lots, while four percent are only gutted or in a state of derelict. The two percent increase in rebuilt homes matches a similar rise of two percent from 2010 to 2013. Among the trends of rebuilding, the survey found a six “percent increase from 2009 to 2010 and the nine percent rise from 2008 to 2009. Gutted and/ or derelict homes continue to decline in abundance, dropping to four percent from eight percent in 2013, 11 percent in 2010 and 17 percent in 2009. The proportion of empty lots (with houses removed) increased slightly to 15 percent from 14 percent in 2013.”

While taking a break from drywalling his damaged home, Clarence Augustine sits on the steps of his FEMA trailer in New Orleans on Feb. 22, 2006. Augustine continued to rebuild his home despite the warnings from the urban planning experts that recommend the most low-lying, flood-vulnerable areas of the city should not be rebuilt.

Rebuilding complaints Recovery experts predicted that it would take a decade for New Orleans to recover from the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina. With parts of eastern New Orleans and the Lower Ninth Ward still looking like Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans last year, it has become painfully evident that much more time will be needed for the entire city to recover from the 2005 storm. Some of the city’s Black residents have complained that a number of facts have made it difficult for communities of color to rebuild after the storm, including inequitable compensation from the state’s Road Home program, the continuing struggle of many displaced residents to return to the city, the destruction of the city’s public housing developments and the misuse of federal dollars earmarked for rebuilding in low-income communities to build dog parks, bike lanes and renovate the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

‘Not a priority’ “It is clear that in this post-Katrina recovery process, rebuilding Black communities and lives are not a priority,” the Rev. Raymond Brown, a community activist and president of National Action Now, told The Louisiana Weekly. “SUNO (Southern University at New Orleans) still hasn’t recovered from the storm because elected officials are playing games with the money earmarked for that, there are still schools waiting to be built and others that have been torn down without replacements. (John F.) Kennedy alumni are still trying to get answers about why Kennedy High School has not been rebuilt and what

happened to the money set aside for that but no one is talking. “On top of that, many of our neighborhoods have been gentrified and displaced Black residents hoping to return home have been replaced by White transplants to the city,” Brown said.

Discrimination cited Brown added that he is concerned by plans to separate Algiers from New Orleans, a move that would further disenfranchise Black residents by altering the racial makeup of the city and diluting the Black vote. “To my knowledge, there has not been indisputable proof that the powers that be blew up the city’s levees but there is no doubt that the White business community and local elected officials, Black and White, used the storm to get a firm grip on the city and its resources,” Ramessu Merriamen Aha, a New Orleans businessman and former congressional candidate, told The Louisiana Weekly. “The justice system continues to discriminate against Black people, the cost of living in New Orleans continues to force Black families to leave the city as Whites move back from surrounding parishes after decades of White flight and Blacks have considerably less decision-making power than they had before Katrina.” Aha said part of the blame must be assigned to Black elected officials who aligned themselves with the White business community and Black residents who have failed to use their votes to effect positive change or become engaged in community-wide efforts seeking social, economic and racial justice.

This story is special to the Trice Edney News Wire from the Louisiana Weekly.

SEAN GARDNER/ CHICAGO TRIBUNE/TNS

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FINEST & ENTERTAINMENT

APRIL 3 – APRIL 9, 2015

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.

Model Shalisa describes herself as edgy, sexy and unique. She loves fashion and considers the runway her second home. She says to “look out, Shalisa is going to take modeling to a higher level.” CREDIT: Sosdezign

shalisa

maba ba

Maba Ba, is a native of Dakar, Senegal, and currently lives in New York where he is pursuing a passion in acting and filmmaking. He played division football at Old Dominion University and graduated with a degree in computer science and international business. Contact him at baempire@gmail. com. CREDIT: Gabrielle Linden photography.

A surprise pick: South African comedian to replace Stewart on ‘Daily Show’ BY MEREDITH BLAKE AND JULIE WESTFALL LOS ANGELES TIMES/TNS

Trevor Noah, a 31-year-old comedian who has been a contributor to Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show,” will be the program’s new host when current host Jon Stewart leaves later this year, the network announced Monday. “Trevor Noah is an enormous talent. He has an insightful and unique point of view, and most importantly, is wickedly funny,” said Comedy Central president Michele Ganeless in a statement, noting that he would bring “a fresh voice” to the satirical news show. Noah, a biracial South African who grew up in Johannesburg’s Soweto township, was a surprise pick. Though he has hosted his own program, “Tonight with Trevor Noah,” in his native country,

Tasha Smith has to pay $7,000 a month in alimony FROM STAFF REPORTS

The “Why Did I Get Married?’’ star probably has been asking that question a lot lately. According to court documents,

the comedian joined “The Daily Show” as a contributor only in December and his name had not been among those floated in the press as a possible successor to Stewart until recently. One of the show’s behind-the-scene podcasts features an interview with Noah.

More late-night diversity “It’s an honor to follow Jon Stewart. He and the team at ‘The Daily Show’ have created an incredible show whose impact is felt all over the world,” said Noah in a statement from Comedy Central. “In my brief time with the show they’ve made me feel so welcome. I’m excited to get started and work with such a fantastic group of people.” Noah will also bring further diversity to late-night TV — and to Comedy Central. “The Nightly Show,” hosted by African-American comedian Larry Wilmore, premiered in January in the 11:30

Trevor Noah, who hosted his own show in South Africa, has been a contributor to “The Daily Show’’ since December 2014. slot vacated by “The Colbert Report.” In a tweet Monday, comedian Chris Rock — who some had hoped might step in as Stewart’s replacement — thanked President Obama for Noah’s hiring, presumably because both men are biracial and share powerful personal biographies.

White dad, Black mom As reported by the New York Times, which first broke the news

Tasha Smith, the star of Tyler Perry’s “Why Did I Get Married?’’ movies and “For Better or Worse’’ TV show on OWN, has to pay nearly $7,000 a month in spousal support to ex-husband Keith Douglas. The actress, who also appeared in episodes of “Empire’’ this season, referred to him as a “glorified assistant.” The amount is on top of the $50,000 she had to pay him in December, according to news reports. The couple filed for divorce after Douglas filed for a restraining order against Smith. He said Smith threatened him on multiple occasions. After Douglas filed for a restraining order, Smith did the same and said he constantly accused her of having extra marital affairs.

Tasha Smith and Keith Douglas

of Stewart’s replacement on Monday, Noah was born to a White Swiss father and a Black Xhosa mother, a relationship that was illegal under apartheid. Noah is the subject of a documentary, “You Laugh But It’s True,” currently available on Netflix, and rose to international attention in 2012 following a soldout show, “The Racist,” at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, a famed launching pad for comedy talent. Noah also joins a growing list

of internationally born late-night hosts that includes “The Daily Show” alum John Oliver, who now hosts “Last Week Tonight” for HBO, and James Corden, who made his debut as host of “The Late Late Show” on CBS last week. Both are British. Stewart, 52, announced in February that he would be leaving the show after 16 years at its host. The show premiered in 1996 under then-host Craig Kilborn.

FOOD

APRIL 3 – APRIL 9, 2015

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How to create an eggs-traordinary

FROM FAMILY FEATURES

Brighten up your Easter feast with unique flavor twists to refresh traditional dishes like ham and deviled eggs. And don’t forget the decorations — it’s easy to create vibrant centerpieces using eggs dyed in the hottest seasonal shades. “We’ve developed easy tips to dress up your table, from the ham to the centerpiece,” said Mary Beth Harrington of the McCormick Kitchens. “An orange glaze can bring new flavor to the classic ham, while food color can be used to make a variety of spring-inspired egg dyes to feature in Easter table décor.” For more Easter dinner recipes and egg dyeing ideas, check out www.McCormick.com and visit McCormick Spice on Facebook and Pinterest.

Use food color to create custom egg dyes you won’t find in a kit. Visit McCormick.com for seasonal color combinations inspired by the Pantone Spring “Fashion Color Report” as well as simple directions to create an egg-cellent floral centerpiece.

SMOKY DEVILED EGGS Prep time: 10 minutes Servings: 6 6 hard-cooked eggs, peeled 1/4 cup mayonnaise 1/2 teaspoon McCormick Mustard, Ground 1/2 teaspoon McCormick Paprika, Smoked 1/4 teaspoon Lawry’s Seasoned Salt 2 slices bacon, crisply cooked and crumbled Slice eggs in half lengthwise. Remove yolks; place in small bowl. Mash yolks with fork or potato masher. Stir in mayonnaise, mustard, smoked paprika and seasoned salt until smooth and creamy. Spoon or pipe yolk mixture into egg white halves. Sprinkle with crumbled bacon. Refrigerate 1 hour or until ready to serve. Tip: Deviled eggs are a snap to customize once you create the base of egg yolks, mayonnaise and ground mustard. Try adding chili powder, red pepper and cumin for a Southwest variation or dill weed and parsley for a Dill Mustard version.

ORANGE GLAZED HAM Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 1 hour 45 minutes Servings: 24 1 bone-in spiral-cut ham, about 10 pounds 1 cup orange marmalade 1 teaspoon McCormick Mustard, ground 1/2 teaspoon McCormick Garlic Powder 1/4 teaspoon McCormick Black Pepper, Ground 1/4 teaspoon McCormick Cloves, Ground Preheat oven to 325°F. Place ham on side in roasting pan. Mix marmalade and spices in small bowl until well blended. Brush 1/2 marmalade mixture over ham, gently separating slices so mixture can reach middle of ham. Cover loosely with foil. Bake 1 hour, basting occasionally with pan drippings. Remove foil. Brush with remaining marmalade mixture. Bake 45 minutes longer. Serve ham with pan drippings. Tip: Pair spices like ginger or chipotle with fruity jams and preserves to balance out saltiness of ham. Cherry Bourbon, Apricot Pineapple Chipotle or Lemon Ginger are easy flavor combinations your guests will love, and are all available on McCormick.com.

EASY LEMON DAISY CUPCAKES Prep time: 30 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes Servings: 18 1 package (2-layer size) white cake mix 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons McCormick Pure Lemon Extract, divided 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, softened 2 tablespoons sour cream 1 package (16 ounces) confectioners’ sugar 10 drops McCormick Yellow Food Color 18 large marshmallows Decorating sugar Jelly beans Green sprinkles Prepare cake mix as directed on package, adding 1 tablespoon of lemon extract. Spoon into 18 paper-lined muffin cups, filling each cup 2/3 full. Bake as directed for cupcakes. Cool cupcakes on wire rack. For frosting, beat cream cheese, butter, sour cream and remaining 2 teaspoons lemon extract in large bowl until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in confectioners’ sugar until smooth. Stir in food color until evenly tinted. Frost cooled cupcakes. To decorate cupcakes, cut each marshmallow crosswise into 5 slices. Sprinkle 1 side of each marshmallow slice with decorating sugar. Arrange 5 marshmallow petals on top of each cupcake to resemble daisy, pressing marshmallows into frosting. Place jelly beans in center of petals. Garnish with sprinkles.