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MAY 2 – MAY 8, 2014

VOLUME 22 NO. 18

LIFETIME BAN A racist NBA team owner gets hammered by the league. But the story isn’t over.

FROM WIRE REPORTS

Standing next to a statue of Magic Johnson, Clyde Davis holds up a sign protesting Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling outside Staples Center on Tuesday.

the NBA’s constitution and bylaws, will be donated to anti-discrimination and tolerance organizations jointly selected by the NBA and the NBA Players Association. “The views expressed by Mr. Sterling are deeply offensive and harmful. That they came from an NBA owner only heightens the damage and my personal outrage,” Silver said at the news conference in New York City. “Sentiments of this kind are contrary to the principles of inclusion and respect that form the foundation of our diverse multicultural and multi-ethnic league.” Sterling is barred for life from any association with the Clippers organization or the NBA. He can’t attend NBA games or practices, be present at any Clippers facility, or participate in any business or player personnel decisions involving the team.

WASHINGTON (NNPA) – After Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling was sternly denounced for racist comments by a spectrum of individuals, ranging from President Obama to the Miami Heat’s LeBron James, NBA Commissioner Alan Silver on Tuesday fined Sterling $2.5 million and banned him from the NBA for life. At a news conference Tuesday, Silver said he will ask the NBA Board of Gov- League crisis Donald ernors to force Sterling to Sterling This was Silver’s first major crisis since sell the Clippers, an action succeeding David Stern as commissioner in that would require a three-fourths approvSee BAN, Page A2 al. The fine, the maximum allowed under

ROBERT GAUTHIER/ LOS ANGELES TIMES/MCT

FLORIDA COURIER / OUT AND ABOUT

All hail the queen mother!

Still excluded Big Tobacco won’t apologize through Black media BY GEORGE E. CURRY NNPA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

CHARLES W. CHERRY II / FLORIDA COURIER

Part-time Florida resident Dr. Arikana Chihombori was ‘enstooled’ as queen mother for the African Diaspora community of Nashville, Tenn. last week. In April 2013, the Florida Courier wrote about her purchase of a 30-acre former Tennessee slave plantation that she turned into a retreat called Africa House. Her official name is Nana Abena Chihombori the first.

WASHINGTON (NNPA) – A revised plan for major tobacco companies to purchase courtordered ads to admit that they deliberately misled the public about the dangers of smoking would add nine White-owned newspapers to the list of publications carrying tobacco ‘apology’ ads. But the plan shuts out more than 90 percent of Black newspapers and all Black-owned radio and television stations, according to documents filed in federal court. “If they had asked, we could have helped them develop a better plan than this,” said National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Chairman Cloves Campbell. “They didn’t consult us and the end result is that we’re back to where this process started last year.” If the NNPA files a motion in opposition to the revised plan, as expected, the judge has a number of options from which to choose, including making a final decision on the merits of the case or ordering the defendants to come up with a more comprehensive plan.

RICO violations After being sued by the Justice Department and the TobaccoSee EXCLUDED, Page A2

FAMU student accepted into six medical schools SPECIAL TO THE FLORIDA COURIER

TALLAHASSEE – Florida A&M University graduating senior Nellena Adekoya has a lot to smile about. On Saturday, May 3, she will be among more than 1,300 candidates who will receive diplomas during FAMU’s spring 2014 commencement ceremonies. The Grayson, Ga. native has accomplished the phenomenal feat of being accepted into six medical schools: the University of Tennessee College of Medicine, the Meharry Medical College, the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, the Florida State University College of Medicine, the Indiana University School of Medicine and Nellena the Medical College of Georgia Adekoya School of Medicine. She’s decided to attend the Medical College of Georgia, which is located near her hometown.

ALSO INSIDE

Good interviews With her sights set on becoming an obstetrician-gynecologist, Adekoya, 21, said she believes what’s made her such an attractive candidate for medical school is simply her warm personality and passion for helping others. “I think what helped me to stand out was the interview process. I was able to show them that what I had to offer was more than what was on paper,” said Adekoya, who will graduate summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in biology.

Childhood dream “Since I was a four-year-old I’ve wanted to become a doctor. I used to watch a show called ‘Rescue 911’ with my mother and I was inspired to help people in need,” said Adekoya. “From there I took science classes, shadowed physicians and volunteered. I’ve never had any other career option in mind.”

According to Adekoya, FAMU has served as a foundation for her ability to excel in and out of the classroom. She was a recipient of FAMU’s Life Gets Better Scholarship, which offers a full-ride to National Achievement and Merit semifinalists who maintain at least a 3.5 GPA in high school and major in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Tools to succeed “FAMU gave me every tool I needed, both academically and socially, to form a great foundation for medical school,” Adekoya said. “We have some of the most caring and available professors around. I’m very proud to be a Rattler.” “My main goal is to help as many people as I can,” she said. “Once I’m established, I’d like to do my best to institute free or discounted medical care services every year. I’m not interested in fame or fortune, just impacting lives.”

SNAPSHOTS FLORIDA | A3

Jailhouse calls a nightmare for attorneys FAMU grad nominated for Tony Award NATION | A6

Congressman pushing again for reparations ENTERTAINMENT | B5

COMMENTARY: BRUCE A. DIXON: DONALD STERLING REALLY DOES OWN THE NAACP | A4 GUEST COMMENTARY: QUINNE LOWE: THE NEW VOICE OF SOCIAL ACTIVISM | A5

Carol’s Daughter files for bankruptcy

FOCUS

MAY 2 – MAY 8, 2014

The lessons of Cliven Bundy and Donald Sterling There is nothing like the musings of racist White people to garner media attention and public outrage. Unfortunately there is usually more heat than light generated in these situations. The opportunity to gain insights on the condition of Black America is lost. Such is the case with mooching rancher Cliven Bundy and racist basketball team owner Donald Sterling. Hopefully they woke Black Americans from any delusion of a post-racial society and in Sterling’s case simultaneously revealed the traitors and mis-leaders in our midst.

Deadbeat farmer Bundy is a Nevada rancher who, like 16,000 others across the country, grazes his cattle on federal property – 85 percent of that state’s land area. Bundy has the right to graze his cattle there, but he is required to pay a fee. He paid nothing for 20 years and after losing many court cases, now owes the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) more than $1 million. When the BLM finally had enough and confiscated his cattle, Bundy issued a call to arms to other terrorist-minded White people. They came from all over the country, pointing guns at federal agents and creating a media fire-

MARGARET KIMBERLEY BLACK AGENDA REPORT

storm. Bundy held court among his fellow domestic terrorists and became the darling of Fox News and the Republican Party. The government backed down to prevent violence. Black people or even White people on the left would not get away with publicly brandishing firearms, forming a de-facto militia, and threatening the lives of federal employees. Bundy ended what had been a galvanizing event for the right wing when he uttered his opinions about “niggers,” saying that Black people were better off in slavery than we are today because we had work to do when we picked cotton. He summed up his theories by saying that freedom just didn’t help Black people very much. The best part was watching Republicans flee from the public relations disaster. But the whole episode should be treated as a serious lesson.

Not uncommon Bundy is no outlier in any of the opinions he holds. There are mil-

lions of Americans who would take up arms to kill. They might defend their actions with an appeal to patriotism or a sagebrush rebellion or doomsday prepping or whatever rationale would be most convenient. That is why we have “stand your ground” laws and why Georgia recently passed legislation making it legal to carry guns anywhere in that state. Bundy is also not alone in seeing chattel slavery as being worthy of nostalgia. Gun and slavery lovers often find common cause. The Second Amendment is directly tied to the granting of police force status to every White person in the country in the days of slavery. Los Angeles Clippers’ owner Donald Sterling is a rich man in a sport where a majority of players are African-American. The angst surrounding his racism is far more instructive – and more dispiriting.

Protecting herself The public drama began with a private one. Sterling’s wife wasn’t pleased about the amount of time and money he spent on a woman known as V. Stiviano. Mrs. Sterling was so fed up that she sued Stivano for $2 million – who decided to tape conversations to protect herself. The rest is history.

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Free Kids Action Fund, the major tobacco manufacturers were found guilty in 2005 of violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corruption Organizations Act (RICO) when they deliberately misled the public about the dangers and addictiveness of smoking. U.S. Judge Gladys Kessler ordered them to halt the offending practices and place a series of full-page ads in newspapers and commercials on network TV during prime time for a year, reported by Target Market News to be valued between $30 million and $45 million, acknowledging their wrongdoing. The defendants – Philip Morris USA, Inc., Altria Group, Inc., R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company (in its own capacity and as successor to Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation and American Tobacco Co.) and Lorillard Tobacco Company – went along with a plan proposed by the judge that excluded all Black-owned newspapers and broadcast companies. The tobacco companies submitted a revised plan last week after the NNPA and the National Association of Black-Owned Broadcasters (NABOB), two trade associations whose member businesses reach more than 95 percent of all African-Americans, filed a “friend of the court” brief challenging the original plan to run court-ordered ads only in White and Latino publi-

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February. About 75 percent of the players in the NBA are Black. The firestorm was touched off last week after celebrity website TMZ posted nine minutes of an audiotape of a secretly-recorded conversation between Sterling and Vanessa Stiviano, a woman who describes herself as a descendant of Mexicans and African-Americans.

‘Not to my games’ On the tape, the man identified as Sterling says, “It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with Black people. Do you have to?… You can sleep with [Black people]. You can bring them in, you can do whatever you want. The little I ask you is not to promote it on that … and not to bring them to my games… “I’m just saying, in your lousy f-ing Instagrams, you don’t have to have yourself with, walking with Black people…Don’t put him (Magic Johnson) on an Instagram for the world to have to see so they have to call me. And don’t bring him to my games.” Stiviano said she was “very saddened” by the NBA’s decision

FLORIDA COURIER FILES

After decades of advertising cigarettes to consumers of Blackowned media, tobacco companies are refusing to use these same media outlets to set the record straight about the dangers of smoking. cations and on the three major television networks. In an amicus brief supporting the Black Press, the NAACP said, “To rectify the damage created by Defendant in their targeting of

African-American communities, this Court should require Defendants to use NABOB and NNPA member organizations to fulfill its remedial order. Black-owned print and visual media remain a

to ban Sterling from the sport for life, her attorney said Tuesday. Stiviano “never wanted any harm to Donald,” lawyer Mac Nehoray of Calabasas told the Los Angeles Times. He said the 31-year-old is still reeling from the release of the recordings in which Sterling chastises her for associating with Blacks, including Magic Johnson. He said that “someone released it for money” but it wasn’t Stiviano. He also insisted that Stiviano and the 80-year-old Clippers owner never had a sexual or romantic relationship and descriptions of her as his mistress in the media and in a lawsuit filed by Sterling’s wife are erroneous.

tors, Red Bull energy drink, Diageo (the liquor company whose brands include Johnny Walker and Smirnoff ), the Commerce Hotel and Casino in Los Angeles, Lumber Liquidators, Yokohama Tire, LoanMart, Carona, AQUAhydrate and Sprint – said they are suspending their advertising and sponsorship programs with the team. Encircled by controversy, Clippers Coach Doc Rivers and his team, privately seething with anger, continued to play for an NBA title after winning their division championship this year for the first time in team history. To register their dismay, the team wore black socks and turned their warm-up jackets inside out to hide the team logo Sunday. On Monday night, other players followed suit. Players felt they were on solid ground and were prepared to boycott the NBA if Silver had not acted decisively, a Players Association official said Tuesday.

Wife sues Rochelle Sterling, who has been married to Donald Sterling for more than 50 years, filed suit against Stiviano in March in an effort to reclaim a $1.8-million apartment, luxury autos and cash he gave her. Rochelle Sterling also denounced her husband. Meanwhile, Clippers sponsors began abandoning the team. Mercedes-Benz USA, used car dealership chain CarMax, Virgin America airline and the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, Calif. announced that they are terminating their sponsorships of the Clippers. At least 10 others – Kia Mo-

Great investment Sterling bought the Clippers in 1981 for $12 million, but the club is now worth at least $575 million and is the league’s 13th most valuable franchise, according to Forbes’ annual list of NBA team valuations. Silver needs a three-quarters vote of ownership to force Ster-

It is interesting what the media chose to emphasize and to cover up in their conversation. Sterling’s rant was racist and bizarre, telling Stiviano that she could have sex with Magic Johnson, but that she shouldn’t be photographed with him or bring him or any other Black people to Clippers’ games. Sterling – whose real name is Tokowitz – defended himself by pointing out how badly Black people are treated in Israel. This exchange with Stiviano was ignored by many news organizations. “It’s the world! You go to Israel, the Blacks are just treated like dogs…there’s White Jews and Black Jews…(The Black Jews are) a hundred percent, fifty, a hundred percent” (less than the White Jews).

A history

to give him a lifetime achievement award before the scandal was revealed. The branch had to be dragged kicking and screaming to cancel the honor for Sterling and to return funds he had donated over the years, estimated to be about $45,000. The NAACP sold itself cheaply. Apparently its sole mission is to raise money because it clearly has no integrity and does nothing to help anyone outside of its own shallow circle. It does no good to anyone who is in need and if it were disbanded it wouldn’t be missed.

Jordan silent They are not the only bad guys in this tale. Former NBA star and current team owner Michael Jordan had nothing to say about Sterling for a full two days after the story broke. He finally announced that he was “disgusted” and “outraged” – but apparently only after his handlers gave him permission to speak up. There is an endless supply of racism, and wishful thinking makes it tempting to forget until the next clueless person raises his or her head. There are many villains to go around in this story, and Bundy and Sterling are just two of many.

Sterling’s racism was wellknown in Los Angeles. In 2008, he was sued by former NBA star and Clippers General Manager Elgin Baylor, who claimed a “plantation mentality” permeated the work environment in that organization. In 2009, the Sterlings were forced to pay $2.7 million due to discriminatory housing practices against Black and Latino tenants in apartment buildings they owned in Los Angeles. It was the largest such judgment paid in a housing case at that time. None of this mattered to the Los Angeles branch of the NAACP, which honored Sterling with a humanitarian of the year award in 2009 and was prepared

Margaret Kimberley’s column appears weekly in BlackAgendaReport.com. Contact her at Margaret.Kimberley@ Black AgendaReport.com . Click on this story at www.flcourier.com to write your own response.

primary method of receiving information for African-Americans.”

public record under court order, they want to leave most of our papers on the sidelines.”

Lackluster plan

Strange selections

Under its latest plan, the tobacco firms propose advertising in only 13 of approximately 200 Black newspapers. The tobacco companies proposed reducing what it called “major-circulation newspapers,” i.e. White dailies, from 29 to 27. The initial proposal called for television ads to be placed only on ABC, CBS or NBC because they reached the largest number of viewers Monday through Thursday in the desired 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. prime time slot. The same holds true for AfricanAmerican viewers. TV One would technically be eligible to receive commercials, but probably won’t get them because they can’t match the audience numbers available on ABC, CBS and NBC. No proposal was made to advertise on radio or magazines in either the original or revised plan. Campbell said the Black media remains deeply dissatisfied. “What they have done is include some key cities that were ignored in the original proposal and assigned them to White papers, while again bypassing local Black newspapers that were subjected in the past to heavy tobacco advertising aimed at Blacks,” he explained. “Tobacco companies can’t have it both ways. They can’t say we were effective advertising vehicles when they were peddling life-threatening cigarettes, but when it comes to correcting the ling to give up his ownership, according to league by-laws. But even if Silver can gather the necessary votes, something he likely knew before meting out the decision, Sterling could sue. He could claim that the lifetime ban is a violation of antitrust law. Sterling is a lawyer and could argue that throwing him out of the league and forcing him to sell the team is restraint of trade.

Sterling could lose There is, Baruch College law professor Marc Edelman said, “a narrow exception from the antitrust law ... that leaves open the possibility that a trade association might be able to ban one of its members if the member’s conduct would expose the entire industry to forward-looking liability,” such as litigation by the NBA Players Association. “Another possibility,” said Edelman, “is that these statements by Sterling open up the team, and perhaps the entire league, to claims of a hostile environment and other forms of race-based discrimination.” “This is a man who has shown an unwillingness to take the easier road,” Northeastern University law professor Roger Abrams said. “He has always taken the route of the flagrant foul and has had extraordinary success — in court, in business, even in changing

An examination of the proposed advertising reveals some curious selections. According to the 2010 Census, the New York City metropolitan area has the largest number of African-Americans (those checking the Black-only box), followed by Atlanta, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Miami, Houston, Detroit, DallasFt. Worth, Baltimore, Memphis, and Norfolk-Virginia Beach. Yet, there are no plans to place ads in any Black newspaper in those top 13 urban areas. Equally curious, the tobacco companies plan to place ads in states where the Black population is sparse. For example, they propose placing ads in the Omaha Star. There are only 82,865 African-Americans in the entire state of Nebraska, representing 4.5 percent of the population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. “The tobacco companies considered us effective when they were targeting us for their products,” the NNPA chairman said. “If anything, with our stronger circulation, digital platforms and our use of social media, we are even more effective in delivering messages to African-Americans today than we were when they willingly patronized us.” his name.” (Born Donald Tokowitz, he legally added “Sterling” as an adult because it telegraphed prosperity.) “But another factor,” Edelman said, “is that based on the reaction of several national sponsors to Donald Sterling’s comments, the value of that franchise would continue to fall as long as Sterling is at the helm. One could argue that, legal rights aside, Sterling’s best financial decision would be to sell the team immediately.” Abrams, who blogs for the Huffington Post on matters of sports and law, said that “one part of me wanted to see Sterling twist slowly in the wind. Because every time his name is mentioned, people will remember that there is deeply ingrained, in this society, a racism that is disgusting. “The more I thought about it, the more I realized that what you do is you put out your trash. You don’t leave the trash in your house.”

George E. Curry of the NNPA Newswire; Harriet Ryan and Jim Peltz of the Los Angeles Times; John Jeansonne of Newsday; and Steve Popper of The Record (Hackensack, N.J.) (MCT) all contributed to this report.

MAY 2 – MAY 8, 2014

FLORIDA

Phone calls made from jail could hurt inmates’ cases Recorded conversations can become nightmare for defense attorneys BY AMY PAVUK ORLANDO SENTINEL/MCT

ORLANDO — Jennifer Helen Richmond may have thought she was talking in confidence when she allegedly detailed plans to get out of jail and then flee to Jamaica with her pimp. George and Shellie Zimmerman likely didn’t think anyone else would decipher the codes they used during phone calls. But investigators were listening to their jailhouse phone conversations, and prosecutors later used their words against them. Telephone calls are recorded for security purposes at the jail, but these conversations can bolster prosecutors’ cases and become a nightmare for defense attorneys. Despite being warned every time they make a call that they are being recorded, inmates in Central Florida talk about their cases and sometimes make incriminating statements over the phone. “Depending on how strong the case is for the prosecution based upon the evidence, it could blow the case right out of the water,” said Orlando defense attorney Andrew Moses. “It can lead to their conviction.”

Talks with attorneys exempt Recording inmate phone calls is a common practice at jails across the country, said Dave LaBahn, president of the Washingtonbased Association of Prosecuting Attorneys. State laws dictate how law enforcement can access the conversations. In Orange County, law enforcement and prosecu-

tors can request recordings of calls from a jail administrator. Authorities can also listen to live calls. The only calls not recorded or monitored at the jail are those between inmates and their lawyers — because those conversations are privileged, said Orange County Jail spokeswoman Carrie Proudfit. The phone system is designed to recognize attorney phone numbers so the calls aren’t recorded, she said. Defense attorneys say they tell their clients to not discuss their case over the phone, but inmates don’t always listen. Richmond, a suspected upscale “escort” facing a racketeering charge in Orange County, seemed surprised during a bond-reduction hearing last month when a federal agent said he listened to more than 100 of her jailhouse phone calls and heard her talk about plans to flee the country. The judge denied Richmond’s request for reduced bond and additionally ordered she surrender her passport. Richmond remains behind bars.

Zimmerman perjury charge In June 2012, prosecutors charged George Zimmerman’s wife, Shellie, with perjury after determining she lied during her husband’s bond hearing and said they were broke. George Zimmerman was jailed at the time of that hearing, and recorded calls showed he and Shellie used a “code” to talk about the thousands of dollars being donated to his defense fund. Shellie Zimmerman

GARY W. GREEN/ORLANDO SENTINEL/MCT

George and Shellie Zimmerman arrive in Seminole circuit court in Sanford on June 20, 2013. In June 2012, prosecutors charged Shellie with perjury after determining she lied during her husband’s bond hearing and said they were broke. pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor perjury charge in August and was sentenced to one year of probation. “It’s such an obvious thing that an inmate shouldn’t do,” said Orlando defense attorney Richard Hornsby. “It’s something we’ve been dealing with for years.” Jail recordings have been used by prosecutors to help build cases against suspects and during sentencing proceedings to show a defendant is less than remorseful. One of the reasons jailhouse phone calls can be so important to prosecutors is they contain the actual voice of the suspect — not hearsay, LaBahn said.

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Prosecutors handling the case against Jesse Davis, convicted of killing two Winter Park High students, said jailhouse phone calls showed he was faking signs of mental illness to trick doctors who were evaluating his competency. Jailhouse calls also lead police to a suspect’s associates, LaBahn said. Whom the inmate is calling can be just as important as what the inmate is saying. Prosecutors can use the recorded conversations to track money earned from criminal activity — such as if inmates tell someone who owes them money and to collect it. And, LaBahn said, the calls “may corroborate

something you already know about the case.”

Talking in code So why do inmates talk on the phone about such sensitive matters? Moses said some inmates don’t think anyone is actually going to take the time to listen to their calls. But diligent prosecutors and detectives will listen to hours of these conversations to find a nugget of information. “All you have to do is slip up once,” Moses said. LaBahn and Hornsby agreed on another reason: Inmates think they’re smarter than the authorities. They’ll talk in code to try to thwart investigators.

Senate set to approve extra check on inmate releases NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

A little more human verification will be required when paperwork arrives at a prison indicating an inmate’s release date has been moved up, under a measure that passed the Senate on Tuesday. The measure (SB592) is lawmakers’ response to convicted murderers Charles Walker and Joseph Jenkins using forged

Lawmakers look to reduce Florida Prepaid costs The Florida Senate on Tuesday unanimously approved a proposal (SB 732) that would hold down costs for families in the Florida Prepaid College Program. Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, and House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, indicated before the leg-

“They don’t think they’re ever going to figure it out,” LaBahn said. Some inmates don’t think what they’re saying is incriminating or don’t realize the significance of whom they are calling. And Hornsby said some inmates may just be lonely and let their guard down. Whatever the reason for talking on the jail phone, these calls pose a major challenge to defense attorneys once a prosecutor introduces them in court. “Once a defendant says something that’s been recorded, there’s not a lot of objections you can raise,” Hornsby said.

documents to walk out of Franklin Correctional Institution last fall. They were captured in Panama City Beach on Oct. 19. Authorities know of five other attempted escapes using the same method, including two that were under way when the fraud was discovered. One of the prior attempts was by Jenkins. The attempts occurred at the Franklin Correctional and Gulf Correctional institutions and the Pinellas County Jail. The bill requires the Department of Corrections to take steps to verify the authenticity of court orders when inmates’ release dates are advanced to earlier dates. The forged documents used by Walker and Jenkins were created at Franklin Correctional Institution and included the seal of the Orange County clerk of court’s office and signatures of circuit officials, including Ninth Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Belvin Perry Jr. and Orange County State Attorney Jeffrey Ashton. islative session that they would push to reduce costs in the program, which is formally known as the Stanley G. Tate Florida Prepaid College Program, after a Miami businessman who played a key role in its development. Changes made in 2009 have driven up the costs, and the bill would revamp the formula that determines how much families pay. Sponsor Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, said the bill would lead to payment amounts being based on the program’s actual reserves. “The result of what we are doing is going to be a significant savings for participants in the prepaid program,” he said.

• 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!

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Veteran administrator to head DCF BY MARGIE MENZEL THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

TALLAHASSEE – A veteran Department of Children and Families administrator will be the agency's next interim secretary. Gov. Rick Scott announced Monday the appointment of Mike Carroll, managing director of DCF’s Suncoast Region in the southwestern part of the state. Carroll will be the eighth secretary or interim secretary at the beleaguered agency since 1999. Carroll follows Esther Jacobo, who was appointed by Scott as interim secretary in July after David Wilkins resigned in the wake of a series of child deaths from abuse and neglect. Those deaths are still very much on lawmakers' minds, and Carroll’s appointment came as the Legislature is close to passing a proposal (SB 1666 and HB 7169) aimed at fixing the state's longtroubled child welfare system. That means Carroll is likely to direct the first steps of a host of reforms. And assum-

ing lawmakers pass the current child-welfare budget for 2014-15, and Scott signs it, Carroll would also be involved in hiring and deploying 191 new child protective investigators statewide. Carroll has spent 21 years at the agency in a number of roles, overseeing programs dealing with substance abuse, mental health, family safety and adult-protective services in the 11-county SunCoast region, which stretches from Pasco to Collier County, according to the DCF website. He's known for playing a lead role in such systemic child-welfare shifts as the move to privatized community-based care, the redesign of the ACCESS system, which administers Mike what were once known as Carroll food stamps, and, most recently, the transition to the “managing entity” concept in substance-abuse and mental-health treatment.

EDITORIAL

MAY 2 – MAY 8, 2014

Black life and death not a public concern In spite of all the dazzling media tools bringing about instant global communication, Black life is still often devalued, marginalized and grossly under the radar of public concern. Two startling recent examples of this repugnant negligence happened in Chicago and in Nigeria. Major news organizations are giving virtually blanket coverage to the Malaysian Airlines flight 370 lost somewhere over the Indian Ocean, but are virtually ignoring the 223 missing Nigerian school girls who were kidnapped recently by Islamic extremists. The same shameful lack of concern was displayed as violence spiraled out of control ending with 48 people, mostly Black being murdered in Chicago in the three day Easter weekend. Five of the victims were children

DR. BARBARA REYNOLDS TRICEEDNEYWIRE

between 11 and 15 who were playing in a park next to an elementary school, the Chicago Tribune reports. The youngest had just returned from church and shared Easter dinner with relatives when a car pulled up and opened fire. She was struck by two bullets, one of them puncturing her lung and breaking her collarbone, leaving her in a critical condition.

Clergy ignores Equally sad is the lack of attention so-called Black politicians and clergy give to these horren-

dous episodes. It is as if Black life imploding from the bottom has become disconnected to those enjoying more comforting realities at the top. In Nigeria, the abduction was reportedly carried out by Nigerian Islamist extremists, known as the Boko Haram, a group linked to Al-Quaida. The abductors reportedly struck after midnight on April 14h at the Chibok Government Girls Secondary School in North-eastern Nigeria, school officials have reported. So far, no one seems to know what is happening to these young women. In February, Boko Haram – whose founding purpose is to defeat the influence of western education and all education for girls – murdered 59 students. This group, according to police reports, is militantly and violently carrying out their expressed

goal of establishing an Islamic Shariah state in Nigeria, whose 170 million people are about half Muslim and half Christian.

Questions left unanswered This latest adduction is not new. Others have taken place where women and girls have been forced into sex slavery, according to Nigerian officials. It appears to me that the Nigerian authorities are dragging their feet on releasing the conditions of these girls. If all have been returned, what was their condition? And what is going to prevent this from happening again or to ensure girls can get an education. What U.S. political and grass roots should be involved and why aren’t more coming to their defense? In the same way that the plight

Donald Sterling really does own the NAACP The most telling angle on the story of Donald Sterling, the racist billionaire owner of the LA Clippers, was that the Los Angeles NAACP, which had been about to give Sterling a second “Lifetime Achievement Award,” eagerly stepped forward to offer redemption and forgiveness for the small cost of a few more donations from Sterling’s deep pockets. This won’t be the first time Sterling has purchased absolution for his many sins. In 2003, Sterling settled a housing discrimination lawsuit paying $5 million to plaintiff attorneys alone, and in 2006 he was accused again of refusing to rent apartments to AfricanAmericans and Latinos. But a steady stream of donations to big-name socalled civil rights organizations –amounting at most to a few ten thousandths of his net worth – were sufficient to make it OK in the eyes of those outfits.

BRUCE A. DIXON BLACK AGENDA REPORT

the hunter always gets captured by the game. Wells Fargo had aggressively sold sub-prime mortgages to Blacks, and is believed to have engaged in thousands or tens of thousands of the same kinds of robo-signings and illegal foreclosures that Bank of America pled guilty to. So after the bailout, Wells Fargo partnered with the NAACP to do “financial literacy” classes for youth. Donald Sterling may imagine he owns basketball players. But he really does own the NAACP, just as surely as Verizon and Comcast, Aetna, Wal-Mart, MSNBC and others own many Black organizations and the rest of our politically bankrupt Black misleadership class.

Depending on the rich and powerful to pay their bills while pretending to speak for the poor and oppressed is a fundamental feature, baked into the bones not just of the NAACP, but of the National Urban League, the League of United Latin American Citizens, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, the National Conference of Black State Legislators, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Al Sharpton’s National Action Network, and many others of this kind. In the practice of catching corporate racists with their pants down and extracting a Bruce Dixon is manfranchise here, a dealership there, a TV show or hefty aging editor of BlackAgdonations to worthy causes, endaReport.com.

Opinions expressed on this editorial page are those of the writers, and do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance of the newspaper or the publisher.

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Dr. Barbara Walters is the President of the Women’s Christian Action Network. Write your own response at www.flcourier.com.

Plessy redux

VISUAL VIEWPOINT: BUNDY, THE LONE RANGER

RICK MCKEE, THE AUGUSTA CHRONICLE

of these African girls does not seem news fit to print, neither is the Black-on-Black carnage in Chicago. Anytime you had nearly 50 people shot, one as young as eleven years old, this is a war zone. This is terrorism. This would be considered an epidemic if the bloody wounded were Whites. The National Guard no doubt would be called out. But since this is happening among the Black poor, the media and Black leaders seem numb to the devastation. Black death or Black life. No big deal. Isn’t it shameful how some things remain the same?

Often the most insignificant, simple statements ring the truest in our lives. Appropriately, that wellworn admonition, “It’s the little things that will kill you,” rings true as I survey my world this week. I should, however, re-state that while the things that may kill us are not insignificant or simple, the attention or significance that many of us give or place upon them is frequently minimal. A clear example of this is the aftermath of an event that occurred on May 18, 1896. On that day, the Supreme Court of the United States rendered a decision in the case of Homer Adolf Plessy v. Ferguson. This single decision affirmed the concept of “Separate But Equal”, codified institutional discrimination and gave legitimacy to the practice of personal race-based discrimination. Since that date, this country has been wrestling with, attempting to escape or trying to ignore the legacy of this 7-1 decision, which has infected and plagued its social development. Nearly sixty years passed before a succeeding Supreme Court took action with the Brown v. Board decision of 1954 that had the effect of beginning to reverse the travesty of Plessy.

Institutional discrimination In his own way, each U.S. President from FDR to Barack Obama has undertaken efforts to shift the

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

scales of this inequity. All of these men expressed a measure of understanding that a meritorious race could not be run with one competitor starting running under the burden of the weight of discrimination. Even Richard Nixon, who is not known as a champion or friend of civil rights and social justice, is credited with giving the concept of affirmative action functional “teeth.” It was Nixon who in the 70’s, established requirements for mandatory reporting of the achievement of targeted milestones and goals. Jump now over time and circumstance to Tuesday, April 22, 2014, when the U.S. Supreme Court rendered a decision on a Michigan case, Schuette v. BAMN. This decision, as asserted by the e-Washington Times, “upheld a state electorate’s right to ban the use of race in public university admissions, a decision that rekindles the debate over affirmative action in an election year and could clear the way for ballot initiatives across America.”

As simple as it gets Supreme Court Chief Justice Roberts is famously known for his cavalier statement, “The way to stop discrimination on the basis

of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.” As intellectually accurate as his statement may be, it is disingenuous as it discounts the lingering consequences of years of institutional (and personal) discrimination suffered by African-Americans. The Court’s decision securely locks legal remedy at a point in time when, as a society, we are still grasping for remedies to the inequities that shape our collective lives. The Times continued its reporting by saying, “The justices, in a 6-2 ruling, said they had no authority to strike down a Michigan law that allowed voters to decide in 2006 that race-based preferences should play no role in public education, hiring and contracting. to the court’s decision made it clear that decades-old battle lines over affirmative action are still in place and could influence decisions at the ballot box for years to come.” Like the Plessy Court of 1896, the current Court’s decision appears to be another step down the slippery slope of intuitional discrimination. As the Times states, we must allow the Court’s actions to influence our decisions at the ballot box. True!

Dr. E. Faye Williams is National Chair of the National Congress of Black Women. Write your own response at www.flcourier.com.

Why bring up Black-on-Black crime? Every single time an African-American says something about George Zimmerman, Donald Sterling or someone else who has committed some act perceived to be hurtful or harmful to African-Americans wicked people usually have the same reactions. People with devilish intentions are bound to ask, “What about Black-onBlack crime?” Personally, I’m sick and tired of the pot calling the kettle Black, so to speak! OK, I study history and I know people of African descent have fought and killed each other over the years. There has been tribal warfare throughout the continent of Africa and today there are still some Tutsis that don’t like Hutus, for example. But all races and creeds have fought and killed each other. Members of the same biological families have oftentimes fought and killed each other.

Such a ridiculous argument So, bringing up ”Black-onBlack” crime to dissuade African-Americans for speaking out about mistreatment, wrongful treatment or criminal acts against Blacks by non-Blacks is a stupid and ridiculous argument! My research indicates on-

Get over it? LUCIUS GANTT THE GANTT REPORT

ly one race of people used atomic weapons against another race of people. Only one race uses drones and similar weapons mostly against another race of people. And only one race tries to economically hurt or harm other races of people with calls for unnecessary and undesirable trade sanctions. Now, let’s talk about White on White crimes. The American Revolution was a White on White “crime,” the Spanish-American War was a White on White crime, the Civil War featured White on White crimes, Irish-Catholic uprisings in Ireland are White on White crimes and even the Biblical Crusades could be described by some as White on White crimes! People that love to see people hated, harmed, exploited, oppressed and victimized as a group love to blame the victims of crimes, the victims of discrimination and the victims of racism by suggesting the victims do bad things to themselves and should take most of the responsibility for their own situations.

If crime is a joint and severe liability matter, yes, you could say that AfricanAmericans have contributed and continue to contribute to their current status in the United States. However, you should also admit that many of the bad things Black people do were things they learned to do by watching slave traders, slave masters and lowlife overseers! It is easy for some people to tell African-Americans to “get over” slavery, Jim Crow, and modern day comments and acts by satanic beasts but its hard for the same people to tell Jews to get over the Holocaust, hard to tell Native Americans to get over genocide attempts and hard to tell Cuban Americans to get over Communist Cuba. You don’t have to tell me about Black-on-Black crime. I see all kinds of crimes every day by all kinds of people!

Buy Gantt’ book “Beast Too: dead Man Writing.” Contact Lucius at www. allworldconsultants.net. Write your own response at www.flcourier.com.

MAY 2 – MAY 8, 2014

EDITORIAL

Johnson-Crapo housing reform: Weapons of mass deception A new housing reform proposal slated for a Senate Banking Committee vote next week could accelerate the already significant post-recession decline in homeownership among communities of color and all working and middle-class communities. The bill, which is co-sponsored by Sens. Tim Johnson, D.-S.D., chairman of the banking committee, and Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, the ranking member, would wind down Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and replace them with a new agency, the Federal Mortgage Insurance Corporation (FMIC). This new agency would end the affordable housing goals of Freddie and Fannie, which helped boost the percentage of AfricanAmerican homeownership to a pre-recession all-time high of 50%. The current African-American homeownership rate is 43%, and African-Americans are the only group that continues to experience a homeownership decline in the recovery, down 2.5% since 2000. The Johnson-Crapo bill is driven by weapons of mass deception that perpetuate the myths that affordable housing goals and the Community Reinvestment Act created the housing crisis when nothing could be further from the truth. The affordable housing goals of Fannie and Freddie did not cause the crisis. In fact, according to the Fis-

MARC H. MORIAL TRICEEDNEYWIRE

cal Crisis Inquiry Commission, the body that was created to investigate the causes of the financial crisis, the affordable housing goals only “marginally contributed” to the crisis. But they made a tremendous impact on helping responsible borrowers purchase homes. As a result, according to the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, during the last 10 years, more than 60 million hard-working families have benefited from the affordable housing goals.

Bad financial products The foreclosure crisis was not caused by irresponsible borrowers. It was caused by irresponsible financial products and a subprime lending market that were faulty and predatory in design, a result of reckless greed, doomed to fail from the start. By repealing the affordable housing goals that have been in place since the early 1990s – and through a reduced government guarantee – we are extremely concerned that the Johnson-Crapo bill will lead to cost increases that make

homeownership unaffordable for the millions of working and middle-class Americans who have already borne the brunt of the impact of the foreclosure crisis, wiping out the majority of family wealth amassed during the last decade. This bill would also exacerbate some of the widening economic disparities highlighted in the National Urban League’s 2014 State of Black America® report. For example, the Black-White homeownership Equality Index™ is now only 60%, and Blacks are three times as likely to be denied on a mortgage application. Our report also shows that Blacks have a median wealth of $6,314 vs. Whites at $110,500 – a wealth equality index of a dismal 6%. With the critical role that homeownership plays in wealth accumulation, any further impediments to minority and low-tomiddle-income homeownership will only widen that gap.

Concerns voiced That is why the National Urban League joined with the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, NAACP, National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development, National Council of La Raza, National Fair Housing Alliance, and Center for Responsible Lending to voice our serious concerns

Slamming the door, again The Roberts Supreme Court decided, this week, that the state of Michigan had the right to vote against affirmative action policies in college admissions. Michigan State is one of many - where mediocre White students challenge the fact that African-American students, far more qualified than they are, have been admitted to college. This has happened in Texas and California, among other states. These challenges to affirmative action have roots in the 1976 Bakke care, where the 38-year-old Alan Bakke sued because his application to medical school was rejected and he felt that he was displaced in favor of a minority student. The Supreme Court ordered Bakke admitted to the University of California at Davis, and also ruled that affirmative action was permissible but not mandatory. What bothers me most about these anti-affirmative action cases is the implicit White skin privilege that compels them. College

DR. JULIANNE MALVEAUX TRICEEDNEYWIRE.COM

admissions are an art, not a science. Students whose parents contribute generously to a college get an edge. In the name of diversity, a student from California, regardless of race, may get a bit of an edge at Dartmouth or Columbia. A violist, newspaper editor, or budding sports star, might also get a break. Meanwhile obdurate and privileged Whites don’t go after these people. Their ire is directed toward African-Americans and other people of color.

Historical discrimination Justice Sonia Sotomayor got it completely right when she said that race still matters. When the Supreme Court upholds these anti affirmative laws they deny histo-

ry. Make it plain. The Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964, a scant sixty years ago. Affirmative action policies were developed shortly after that so that the formerly closed doors of academic could be opened. Affirmative action had a short shelf life before it was challenged in 1978, just 14 years after the passage of the Civil Rights Act. The opponents of affirmative action say that the color blindness that the Civil Rights Act mandated prevents remediation from past discrimination. What about contemporary discrimination? The University of Michigan, in its admissions policies, has evaluated students by a point system. Students get extra points if they have participated in Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. How many high schools in troubled Detroit, have access to these classes? Yet the people of Detroit pay taxes to support a college that discriminates against them. When the anti affirmative action crowd talk about fairness do they

The horse-trading has started at the end of the legislative session The end of the 60-day Florida Legislative session is coming to an end, and it is time to play let’s make a deal. The major players have paid to play, and now is the time for Governor Rick Scott, Senate President Don Gaetz, and House Speaker Will Weatherford to put their heads together, and make deals. Everyone wants to come out as a winner; therefore they are working behind the scenes to negotiate in good faith so there will not be standoffs, and limited communication. The entire process is built on respect and integrity, and their ability to be leaders. Politics deals with the allocation of billions of dollars, and the budget conferences between the House and Senate are starting to work out their differences.

Nursing home bill questioned

ROGER CALDWELL GUEST COLUMNIST

investors connected to the nursing home business, and there are enormous profits made in a state where seniors will eventually need nursing care. In 2012, the nursing industry spent over $3 million in political campaigns, and in 2014, our legislators have crafted a bill to put fewer regulations on the owners.

Shame on owners Seniors have died in Florida, because of some of the deplorable conditions that can be found in the state nursing homes. The investors who are really the owners are putting pressure on the workers and management to cut staff and budgets to maximize profits. If our governor signs this bill, he is against cleaning up the deplorable conditions that the state nursing homes find themselves in. There are a half-dozen of wrongful death and patient-neglect cases in the state, and investors are trying to avoid paying damage claims. It is obvious that the Senate President Don Gaetz and House Speaker Will Weatherford were on the wrong side of the seniors and the residents of Florida, when this bill was passed in this session. It is now time that Governor Scott does the right thing, and veto this terrible bill. We all can hope and it is important that residents write and call the governor, but it may be too late, because our legislators operate behind closed doors and in secret.

There will be meltdowns, and certain representatives will get angry, but negotiations are for thick-skinned politicians. Everybody wants something and everyone owes favors to certain power brokers. At this point the budget is not finalized so everyone is “horse trading.” No one can decipher how things will turn out, but there will be many twist and turns in the last days of the session. There are certain bills that have been passed by both houses, and the Florida legislature has sunk to a new low when it passed its nursing home investor bill. Everyone in the country is well aware that Florida has a large senior population, because they retire to the sunny climate. It would appear that our legislators would be working on their side, but don’t hold your breath in Florida. The Florida legislature has passed a bill that would shield nursing home investors from lawsuits stemming from abuse and neglect. The measure would stop “passive investors” from being named in a Roger Caldwell is the CEO of On lawsuit unless the court determined they Point Media Group in Orlando. Write had an active role. your own response at www.flcourier. There are millionaire and billionaire com.

VISUAL VIEWPOINT: DONALD STERLING

RICK MCKEE, THE AUGUSTA CHRONICLE

about this bill in its current form. As noted in our original statement, today’s mortgage market excludes families of color almost entirely.

Change the industry

ing Committee to change course on this bill now, ensure the inclusion of affordable housing goals, and pass legislation that will help to ensure access to affordable mortgage credit for all creditworthy borrowers, while at the same time protecting taxpayers from bearing the cost of a housing downturn. As it stands, working families – and the essence of the American Dream – cannot afford JohnsonCrapo.

Housing finance reform is necessary. But we believe that it should be true reform – and not retrogression. Its goal should be to create a secure housing finance system that is open and available to all creditworthy borrowers and that provides affordMarc Morial is president/ able mortgages to families with CEO of the National Urban lesser incomes and wealth. The National Urban League League. Write your own restrongly urges the Senate Bank- sponse at www.flcourier.com. take this into consideration?

Setting a precedence In a few weeks we will commemorate the 60th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education. While it took some time for Brown to be implemented, it was a Supreme Court decision that opened doors to equal education for those who have been discriminated against. With the most recent affirmative action case, the Supreme Court has chosen to slam doors in the face of those who have experienced historical discrimination. This Supreme Court, collectively, has behaved no better than Southern night riders who would stop at nothing too exclude African-Americans from participation in education, voting, or owning property. This court is no better than the administrators at the University of Georgia who denied Charlayne Hunter Gault and Hamilton Harris admission, despite their qualifications. This court has legalized educational segregation, and Sonia Soyomayor’s blistering attack on her colleagues reflects the sen-

timents of millions of people who are tired of this Court trampling on their rights and history. Justice John Roberts is 59 years old. He attended college when people of color were admitted because of race conscious policies. What are his resentments toward his classmates who, equally qualified, may have “displaced” some of his friends? Does everyone who has been “displaced” have grounds for a lawsuit? What impact will Roberts have on race matters in the future? While Justice Soyomayor is on the court to check him, and while her opinions will have some weight, she and her colleagues will not be able to outvote the historically myopic coalition. Roberts led the cabal that slammed the door in the faces of people of color. His justice is a “just us” attempt to reinforce White privilege.

Dr. Julianne Malveaux is a D.C.-based economist and writer, and president emerita of Bennett College for Women. Write your own response at www.flcourier.com.

New voice of social activism The social consciousness of the modern-day Black athlete may finally be awake and all it took were the racist views of an owner to be the catalyst. In the ‘50s and ‘60s, the Black athlete was no stranger to being at the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement. Jim Brown, Muhammad Ali and Paul Robson, to name a few, freely spoke on the poor treatment of Blacks during that time period. Maybe their voice was just as loud as the pastors organizing peace rallies and students sitting at lunch counters across this nation because they too were directly impacted by Jim Crow segregation. But as the fight for social equality appeared to wind down, it seemed as if the need for that loud voice from the sports field did as well. The playing field became level and the Black athlete seemed to become complacent with his place in the sports world. You no longer saw the prominent athletes speaking out against issues that seemed to still arise from time to time.

Had enough Was it because they were scared to lose what they had seemingly fought so hard for – financial security – or was it just that they didn’t care anymore? Recently we have seen an occasional gesture of team solidarity – the Miami Heat players wearing hoodies demanding justice for

QUINNE LOWE GUEST COMMENTARY

side of the league-mandated uniforms. Also, other teams and prominent players like LeBron James and Kobe Bryant did not hesitate to voice their displeasure of Sterling’s opinion as well. Some sponsors have even gone as far as to suspend or completely end business relationships with the team as well due to the words that were recorded by his “ex” girlfriend V. Stiviano. Whether you agree or disagree with the severity of the lifetime ban assigned to Donald Sterling by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, you have to applaud the willingness of the players to speak out against the actions of someone who signs their checks. There still is the ultimate decision of whether the NBA owners will vote to force Sterling to sell the franchise and make his exodus from the NBA complete. In the end, it’s good to see current athletes recognizing the need for someone to take the mantle of civic leadership, and they are now beginning to show that they can do more than dribble a basketball or throw a football.

Trayvon Martin. But criticism from individual players was never expressed to the magnitude that cyber activists felt it should be. However, when it was revealed that Donald Sterling, who owns the Los Angeles Clippers NBA franchise, not only had issue with his girlfriend posting photos on Instagram with Blacks but did not want Black fans being in attendance at Clippers games, fans, corporate sponsors, and perhaps most importantly, players had enough of his bigoted attitude. There have been previous race-driven incidents involving Sterling ranging from bringing women into the Clippers locker room to show off the naked Black players to creating a “slave-like” work environment, according to former team general manager Elgin Baylor, and even being sued by the federal government for housing discrimination. But no one spoke out publicly against him nor was any action taken against him by the NBA in Tampa Bay resident response to his behavior… Quinne Lowe is the founduntil recently. er and co-host of the weekly show “Sports Q&A’’ at Finally speaking out www.sportsqanda.com. The Clippers franchise Visit www.flcourier.com took a stand by not wear- to write a response to this ing any team apparel out- column.

NATION

TOJ A6

MAY 2 – MAY 8, 2014 Caribbean nations will revitalize the reparations movement in the United States. "I think it is going to be a springboard for reparations," he said. Conyers first introduced the legislation, titled "Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act," in 1989 during the 101th Congress. The bill was referred to the House Judiciary Committee, where Conyers is the ranking member. The eight-page piece of legislation, which was co-introduced by U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott (D., Va.), said the 4 million Africans and their descendants were enslaved in the United States and colonies that became the United States from 1619 to 1865. The government sanctioned slavery from 1789 through 1865, enabling it to flourish. At the same time, it deprived Africans of life, liberty, citizenship rights, and their cultural heritage. In addition, slavery denied them the fruits of their own labor.

What it would study

DETROIT FREE PRESS/MCT

U.S. Rep. John Conyers looks on before speaking at at a Michigan event. He first introduced reparations legislation in 1989.

Congressman to push again for reparations legislation BY FREDERICK H. LOWE TRICE EDNEY NEWS WIRE

U.S. Rep. John Conyers Jr. said he will re-introduce in the 113th Congress legislation that calls for

a seven-member commission to study reparations for AfricanAmericans. "It is the most important piece of legislation I have ever introduced, and I will re-introduce HR40 in the 113th Congress,"

Conyers (D., Mich.) told the 400 attendees at the "Revitalizing The Reparations Movement" conference last week at Chicago State University. The 113th Congress first met Jan. 3, 2013. He made his comments in the

wake of 14 Caribbean nations demanding reparations and apology from Britain and other European countries for the trans-Atlantic slave trade. If the countries fail to negotiate with the Caribbean nations, they will sue them in the World Court, which is located in The Hague, The Netherlands. Thus far, Sweden is the only country that has indicated a willingness to negotiate reparations.

Introduced in 1989 Conyers said the actions by the

The Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act would study the lingering negative effects of slavery and discrimination and recommend appropriate remedies in consideration of the Commission's findings. In addition, the commission would examine defacto discrimination against freed slaves and their descendants from the end of the Civil War to the present, including economic, political, and social discrimination. The commission would hold hearings and submit a written report. Conyers said he wants to hold hearings in Washington, D.C. about reparations for African-Americans. He said, "If the Republican Congress blocks the hearings, I will hold them throughout the country."

This story is special to the Trice Edney News Wire from TheNorthStarNews.com.

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The B-CU Wildcats and FAMU Rattlers battle it out on the field last year at the Florida Classic in Orlando.

The presidents and other officials met recently to prepare for game scheduled Nov. 22 in Orlando SPECIAL TO THE COURIER

The Florida Classic Consortium met April 16, kicking off plans for the 2014 Florida Blue Florida Classic game between Bethune-Cookman University (B-CU) and Florida A&M University (FAMU). This year’s game will take place Nov. 22 at the reconstructed Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando. The nation’s largest HBCU rivalry matches the Florida A&M University Rattlers and the Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats for the 69th time and the 35th time as part of the Florida Blue Florida Classic. The consortium, consisting of several members from both institutions including the presidents and athletics directors, met with members from Florida Citrus Sports on a number of topics to begin planning for the 2014 Florida Blue Florida Classic weekend.

Classic history The Classic has surpassed the Bayou Classic between Grambling and Southern in New Orleans as the top attended game in NCAA Division I-AA as well as the nation’s largest football game between two historically Black college/university (HBCU) schools. Since its inception in 1978, the game has now seen over 1.5 million spectators attend the game (1,560,893). The series began in 1925, with Florida A&M winning 25-0. B-CU’s (then B-CC) first win came a year later, 12-0 in 1926. Despite FAMU’s early dominance in the series overall (at one point, the Rattlers won 19 straight), the two schools drew ever-increasing crowds until they had to abandon their home stadiums for larger venues. Sites like Daytona International Speedway and Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee were the sites of some of those “home” games before the two schools agreed on a permanent site – Tampa – in 1978. In that first Flroida Classic game in 1978, Florida A&M turned a 17-0 halftime deficit into a scintillating come-from-behind 27-17 win en route to the inaugural NCAA Division 1-AA title. The series between the two schools went through a two-year hiatus in 1983 and 1984 when they could not agree on a

Left to right: FAMU Athletics Director Kellen Winslow Sr.; FAMU President Dr. Elmira Mangum; B-CU President Dr. Edison O. Jackson; B-CU Athletics Director Lynn W. Thompson; and Florida Citrus Sports CEO Steve Hogan. playing site. Public pressure from alumni, fans and state officials brought them back to the negotiating table and the series was resumed in 1985. The renewal of the rivalry was as good as it gets, as Bethune-Cookman won a wild shootout, 31-27 in 1985. In 1997, the two schools moved the Florida Classic to Orlando’s Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium. That year’s affair was a rousing success, as 56,351 fans swarmed into the Citrus Bowl, over 25,000 fans more than the previous year in Tampa. Overall attendance for game has now surpassed the 1.5 million mark. In 2005, the game made its debut on an ESPN channel.

Renovated stadium Plans for the renovated Citrus Bowl indicate construction is on schedule and is expected to be fully functional by game day. Fans can get a live look-in on stadium development by visiting the Turner Construction page dedicated to the stadium

(http://turnerwzc.workzonecam.com). “We’re so excited to open Orlando’s brand-new stadium with a game that has a deep history in this region,” said Florida Citrus Sports CEO Steve Hogan. “The Florida Blue Florida Classic has resulted in some of the best games – and biggest crowds – that the old Citrus Bowl hosted. There’s no better event to commemorate the opening of the new building.” During the April meeting, Hogan presented each institution with a check for the proceeds from last year’s event. Bethune-Cookman won the 2013 Florida Blue Florida Classic, 29-10. Afterward, Hogan paused for a photo with B-CU President Dr. Edison O Jackson, FAMU President Elmira Mangum, BCU Director of Athletics Lynn W. Thompson and FAMU Athletics Director Kellen Winslow. For more information on the Florida Blue Florida Classic, visit FloridaClassic. org.

FLORIDA COURIER FILES

Bethune-Cookman’s band performs at last year’s Classic. The battle of the bands is a big draw to the game.

FAMU grad nominated for role in ‘A Raisin in the Sun’

Anika Noni Rose

Florida A&M University (FAMU) alumna Anika Noni Rose has been nominated for the Tony Award for best performance by an actress in a featured role in a play. Rose is nominated for her role as the inquisitive Beneatha Younger in “A Raisin in the Sun.” Rose currently appears in the Broadway play starring opposite Denzel Washington and directed by Kenny Leon. In 2009, Rose made history as the voice of Princess Tiana, Disney’s first African-American princess, in the movie “The Princess and the Frog.”

Rose starred in the 2006 movie “Dreamgirls” and also was featured in starring roles on Broadway such as Maggie in “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” In a 2010 interview, Rose described how she decided to move from Connecticut to attend FAMU, following in the footsteps of several relatives. “I wanted to major in musical theater and I chose FAMU because it was smaller, more intimate and hands-on than some of the other schools,” Rose said. Dean of the College of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities Valencia Matthews, Ph.D.,

taught Rose while she was a student. “Anika was always very clear about what she wanted to do,” said Matthews. “This was going to be her life’s work and she pursued it that way. We are very proud of her.”

More ‘Raisin’ nominations The winners of the 68th Tony Awards will be announced Sunday, June 8 from Radio City Music Hall and air on CBS. The Broadway revival of Lorraine Hansberry’s classic play

about a Black family’s decision to integrate a White neighborhood picked up five Tony awards. The play was nominated for Best Revival of Play. LaTanya Richardson received a nod for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play. Along with Rose, Sophie Okonedo received nominations for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play. Leon also received a nomination for Best Direction of a Play for “A Raisin in the Sun.’’

EVENTS & OBITUARY

MAY 2 – MAY 8, 2014

Florida Memorial, FAMU graduations this weekend Here’s a roundup of spring commencements scheduled at Florida’s HBCUs in the coming weeks. Florida Memorial University will host its commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 3 at 10:30 a.m. at the Florida Memorial University Clock Tower Promenade. The ceremony, which will be held outdoors, will include a processional and recessional along the promenade accompanied by drummers. A segment of the promenade will be lined by international flags that represent some of the nations of student candidates. Prior to the official Commencement, there will be a baccalaureate service, beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the Susie C. Holley Religious Center at Florida Memorial University. Dr. Joseph D. Turner of the Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in Miami will be the speaker.

JAHEIM

Jaheim, Fantasia and Maze featuring Frankie Beverly are among the artists for the May 9 and 10 Funkfest in Jacksonville at Metropolitan Park. More info: www.funkfestconcerts. com. COURTESY OF WARNER BROS. RECORDS

ROB BASE

An Old School Throw Back Hip-Hop event is May 17 at the James L. Knight Center in Miami featuring Slick Rick and Rob Base. The show starts at 7 p.m.

FLORIDA COMMUNITY CALENDAR Miami Gardens: The Haitian Compas Festival is May 17 featuring Taboo Combo, Carimi, T-Vic & Harmonik and others. The 3:30 p.m. show will be at Sun Life Stadium. Sunrise: Tickets are on sale for Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour,

159 graduates

MUSIC SOULCHILD

The singer is scheduled at Florida Theatre Jacksonville on May 25.

which takes place May 23 and May 24 at the BB&T Center.

Mother’s Day Experience at the BankUnited Center.

Naples: The national NAACP Leadership 500 Summit will convene at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel May 22-25. Details: www.1500.org.

Miami Beach: Tamar Braxton will perform May 16 at the Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater.

Miami: Tickets are on sale now for the seventh annual Memorial Weekend Comedy Festival on May 25 at the James L. Knight Center.

West Palm Beach: The Kinfolks Soul Food Festival will be in West Palm Beach on May 23 and Lauderhill on May 24. Performers will include Bootsy Collins, Cameo, Morris Day & the Time, Confunkshun and Lakeside. More information: www.ilovesoulfood.com.

Coral Gables: Deniece Williams, Monica, Jagged Edge and Rico Love are scheduled May 11 for a

House music icon DJ Rashad dead at 34 BY GREG KOT CHICAGO TRIBUNE/MCT

DJ Rashad, aka Rashad Harden, started out as a dancer in Chicago clubs and street corners, and turned into a pioneering producer. He helped usher in the next wave of dance music known as footwork. Harden, 34, of Calumet City, Ill., was found dead on April 26 in an apartment on Chicago’s West Side and pronounced dead shortly after. Narcotics and drug paraphernalia were found near his body, police said. The DJ, who was scheduled to perform that day in Detroit, toured last year with rising Chicago hip-hop MC Chance the Rapper, who mourned Harden’s death on Twitter: “Music lost a legend today. And he was my friend. Love you DJ Rashad. RIP.” Chicago now has lost two pioneering DJs from its hugely influential dance community in the last few weeks. Frankie Knuckles died March 31 after laying the foundation for house music in the late ’70s and early ’80s at his Warehouse club. Harden was one of the more recent innovators in Rashad a city and an African-American community notaHarden ble for providing a blueprint for how people should move on the dance floor — whether it was Don Cornelius’ “Soul Train,” the stepping tradition of the ‘70s or the “jack” movements of early house music and its evolution into the fastpaced juke and footwork styles of more recent vintage. Harden was born Oct. 9, 1979 in Hammond, Ind.

165 beats per minute House and juke shaped the young Harden’s aesthetic, first as a dancer, then as a DJ who began crafting recordings that would inspire dancers to greater feats of daring. The juke and footwork beats were fast — 165 beats per minute, about 40 bpm faster than typical house music — and fired up dancers to battle for money or street fame. Speed and athleticism were at a premium as a dancer would break from the outer circle of onlookers to demonstrate rapid-fire steps such as the dribble, skate and bang. Dancers and DJs described the battles as a competitive sport as much as an art form. Whereas juke music was dense and verging on frantic, footwork offered a warped, stranger and more spacious soundtrack — an avant-garde offshoot that began to find national attention when MTV aired Dude ‘n Nem’s 2007 single “Watch my Feet.” It was in this more esoteric realm that Harden excelled as a producer and recording craftsman, helping frame a scene and a sound alongside such artists as DJ Spinn (his frequent collaborator) and RP Boo.

Both commencement ceremonies are open to the public. “Florida Memorial University will recognize approximately 159 undergraduate and graduate students who have completed all academic requirements for graduation,” stated Dr. Denise Callwood-Brathwaite, associate provost. The speaker for the commencement ceremony is Alberto Carvalho, superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Alberto Carvalho, along Carvalho with Dr. Robert B. Hayling, will be presented with Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters during the ceremony. Hayling graduated from Florida A&M College in 1951 with a BS degree in Biol-

HBCU COMMENCEMENTS ogy. He is a former Lieutenant with the United States Air Force, and the first Black dentist in Florida to be elected to the local, regional, state, and national components of the American Dental Association. The commence will be the first for Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis as the university’s 13th president. For more information, contact Erica McKinney, director of Public Affairs, at 305-626-3626.

Florida A&M Microsoft Chairman John W. Thompson and Essence Editorat-Large Mikki Taylor will be the speakers for Florida A&M University’s spring commencement ceremonies scheduled Saturday, May 3 at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., respectively, at the Alfred Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center and Teaching Gymnasium in Tallahassee. For more information, call 850-599-3413.

Bethune-Cookman Julianne Malveaux will be the keynote speaker at BethuneCookman University at 2 p.m. May 14 at the Ocean Center. Malveaux, former president of Bennett College, also is an author, columnist and economist. More information: www.cookman.edu

Edward Waters College The graduation at Edward Waters is May 10 at the Adams/Jenkins Community Sports & Music Complex. The Class of 1964 also will be honored. Guests need a ticket to be admitted. Call 904-470-8000 for tickets and more information.

Disney On Ice’s Black princess began skating at 11 SPECIAL TO THE COURIER

Disney On Ice’s “Let’s Celebrate!” show will be in Tampa May-15-18. The new production features more than 50 classic and contemporary Disney characters in a captivating compilation of favorite holidays and celebrations from around the world. The production includes a performance from the movie “The Princess and the Frog,” with Disney’s first African-American princess – Tiana. Tennessee native Soniah Spence portrays Princess Tiana on ice. Spence started skating at the age of 11 after she watched the sport on television and fell in love with it. Inspired by ice skater Michelle Kwan and encouraged by her parents, Spence skated her way to four first-place finishes and a host of second, third and fourth-place outings as a competitive skater. In 2008, with more than eight years of competitive ice-skating under her belt, she packed up her skates and postponed her studies athletic training at Tennessee State to become a principal skater in Disney On Ice Presents Worlds of Fantasy.

Family of athletes After more than six years of performing with Disney On Ice, Spence still enjoys the crowd and the spotlight when she’s performing. “I want the audience to feel like they are a part of the show so that they get the full experience of Disney On Ice. I think we do a great job bringing the show to life and getting the audience involved,” said Spence. Spence said she enjoys travel-

Soniah Spence will perform in the show coming to Tampa this month. ing with Disney On Ice. She considers it an amazing experience and loves traveling the world and meeting new people. According to Spence, the toughest challenge while she’s on the road is missing her family. She has a total of 13 siblings. Most of them are gymnasts and both her parents are coaches. Spence encourages children who have an interest in skating to go after their dreams.

“Never think anything is out of reach. Be passionate about what you do and always go for what you want. An amazing opportunity could be right around the corner,” the skater added. The Tampa show is May 15 through May 18. For show times and tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.com. For more on the production, visit www.disneyonice.com.

Landmark album in 2013 Last year, besides touring with Chance the Rapper and appearing at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago’s Union Park, Harden released the acclaimed single “Let it Go.” An eerie vocal sample and synthesizer line floated above intersecting beats that sound as if they were fragmenting at the edges. The track oozed a flawed, dirty, fragility. It wasn’t just a rhythm bed that provided space for dancers to innovate, but also a world for an individual listener to explore between the headphones. Last autumn, the DJ released a landmark footwork album, “Double Cup,” that chopped up beats into ever more eccentric and haunting combinations. On the track “Let U No,” the vocals become part of a hypnotic landscape of rhythm, while a gentle rollercoaster of a synthesizer melody glides above. The constant touring and the increasing recognition of his artistry put DJ Rashad on the verge of a breakthrough, according to many fans of the scene. A new EP, “We on 1,” was due out Monday. Now, it’s expected to coincide with a statement from his record company mourning his death. He is survived by his son, Chad, 9; and his parents, Anthony and Gloria.

“What will happen to us if we lose the house?” If you have mortgage problems, call 888-995-HOPE for one-on-one expert advice from this free government program.

You’re not alone.

STOJ

MAY 2 – MAY 8, 2014

EDUCATION

Haunted for 25 years by bad student loan debt Advocates trying to help trade school students burned by collection fees BY JAMIE SMITH HOPKINS THE BALTIMORE SUN/MCT

BALTIMORE — Janice Peete-Bey didn’t stay long at the Baltimore trade school where she enrolled 25 years ago, leaving after the class seemed useless. But the student loan debt from her non-education haunts her to this day. Her wages have been garnisheed, her tax refunds seized. Those payments total more than $13,500 on a loan that was originally $5,600, according to the Reisterstown, Md., woman’s pro bono attorney, thanks to interest and collections fees that mounted for years. And the school? It closed long ago, and its CEO pleaded guilty to defrauding the government and students by concealing its dropout rate so federal student aid kept flowing. As debate rages about the country’s spiraling levels of student debt, some advocates want more focus on making sure people don’t get suckered into bad educational deals — and on helping those who have already been scammed. The debt is a hole some might never dig out of, they say. “The idea that the government will extend you a subsidized loan to get educated is great in theory,” said Jane Greengold Stevens, director of the special litigation unit at the New York Legal Assistance Group, which recently filed a lawsuit involving students of a closed school. But for those wrongfully saddled with debt, “it’s a nightmare.” “People who went to these schools in order to better themselves so they could get a job and didn’t get decent training … are not in a good position to pay off these loans,” she said. Robyn C. Smith, an attorney who works with the National Consumer Law Center, estimates that “thousands and thousands” of former students fall in that category.

New federal proposal The U.S. Department of Education proposed rules last month that target career colleges, an industry buffeted by criticism and lawsuits. The proposal would apply to most coursework at for-profit colleges, plus the certificate programs at public and nonprofit institutions. It sets a cap for those schools on the rate at which former students default on their loans and on how much loan payments can take from typical graduates’ projected earnings. Colleges that fall short no longer would be eligible to receive students’ federal aid, the predominant source of revenue for most for-profit institutions. For-profit colleges account for 13 percent of the higher-education student population but nearly half of all loan defaults, the Department of Education said when announcing the proposal. It said some programs “produced graduates who on average earned less than high school dropouts.”

Not for everybody The industry, which persuaded a federal judge to toss out a similar regulation in 2012, calls the new proposal arbitrary because it doesn’t include associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs at colleges that aren’t run for profit. “Shouldn’t we apply this to all institutions?” said Noah Black, a spokesman for the Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities. “The real issue that we’re talking about here is: Do we want to continue to provide access and opportunity for everybody who wants to go to postsecondary education?” James Rosenbaum, a social policy professor at Northwestern University who researches for-profit colleges, said the best schools do innovative work that should be encouraged: strong career help; consistent schedules across semesters; and guiding students to earn certifications and associate’s degrees as they work toward a bachelor’s. The problem for stu-

KENNETH K. LAM/BALTIMORE SUN/MCT

Janice Peete-Bey, 47, was scammed into signing up for the PSI Institute trade school and more than $5,000 in student loans 25 years ago. She didn’t earn any credit – she didn’t finish the first semester – but has paid more than $13,500, and still owes more than the initial loan amounts because of interest. The owner of the school was later prosecuted for the scam. dents sorting through their options? The range in quality in the sector is vast, Rosenbaum said.

No statute of limitations Smith, who is also a staff attorney at the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, said the fraud that prompted crackdowns on trade schools in the 1980s and ‘90s often was blatant — like “enrolling homeless people off the streets.” Now, she said, bad schools are accused of being sophisticated, misrepresenting what they offer and requiring students to sign away their right to sue. She sees the proposed federal rule as a step in the right direction but said it offers no relief to students who have already been taken advantage of. There’s no statute of limitations on studentloan collection. Only in rare cases can the debt be erased in bankruptcy, and it’s also hard to qualify for a loan discharge from the Department of Education. Attending a school whose executives are prosecuted for fraud doesn’t, in itself, qualify a former student for a discharge, the agency said. One of those schools was the PSI Institute, a national chain run by the oncepublicly traded Programming & Systems Inc. CEO Irwin Mautner pleaded guilty after a 1996 indictment accused him of defrauding the government

and students from 1988 to 1993. He was fined and served eight months in a federal prison. He did not return a message left at his home in Palm Beach County, Fla. A man who answered last week hung up on a reporter seeking comment.

‘Vulnerable victims’ A federal court called PSI’s students “vulnerable victims” because they were often poor, out of work and “academically unprepared” — targeted purely for their aid eligibility. Peete-Bey, now a nursing home medical assistance employee in her mid40s, said she felt targeted. She was 19, on welfare and pushing her daughter in a stroller near PSI in 1989, she said, when a recruiter for the school started flirting with her. She enrolled in a computer programming course there because she liked him, she said, but also because she hoped to better herself. But the class didn’t seem like an actual class. She recalls no tests. “Everybody was basically just sitting around,” Peete-Bey said. “I don’t even remember the instructor being there. It was more of a hangout spot as opposed to a school. … I knew there was definitely something wrong with this whole scenario.” She said she attended for less than two months, receiving no credits or certifications. What she didn’t

understand then, she said, was that she was on the hook for a student loan — school officials referred to the federal aid she received as a “grant.” She said she also didn’t realize until later that the school kept her on the rolls for four additional months, long enough to receive a second disbursement of money from the loan in her name.

$4,700 tax refund seized For years, she said, she was unaware of the debt even as it grew. But after Peete-Bey landed steady work, the collection effort kicked into gear. Sometimes her wages were garnished. Five times in the past eight years, her tax refund was seized. That includes this year’s. Peete-Bey discovered on April 25 that her $4,700 refund had been seized. She said the company told her it was accepting it as payment in full for the loan. “I’m just trying to stay composed, because I relied on (receiving) that money,” she said. “I don’t know what I’m going to do.” She said the years of collections on the loan have put her in a tight spot on other bills, including braces and after-school care for her 12-year-old twins. To cover everything she owes, she said, “I have to constantly ask, ‘Can you work with me?’”

Legal assistance Finally, unable to take the stress, she sought help. Civil Justice, a nonprofit legal-assistance organization in Baltimore, took her case. “Morally, I have an issue with her paying for an education she never received,” said Kathleen Hyland, Civil Justice’s associate general counsel. But in a year of trying to help, Hyland has hit a lot of dead ends. The Educational Credit Management Corp., the company handling the loan, has asked for paperwork from 1989 that Peete-Bey believes was never provided to her. The ECMC said it is required to follow federal regulations governing discharges. The company declined to comment specifically on Peete-Bey’s case, though she was willing to authorize them to do so. “As a matter of policy, we do not speak publicly about individual borrower accounts,” said Geri Gjesdahl, an ECMC spokeswoman, by email. Hyland said she’s pursuing the matter with the Department of Education’s student-loan ombudsman. She’s hoping for a breakthrough. So is her client. Peete-Bey was in tears over her seized tax refund — for an education she didn’t get. “Why am I paying for something that I don’t have?” she asked.

Public universities face funding cuts over controversial books, programs, research BY ADRIENNE LU STATELINE.ORG

WASHINGTON — State lawmakers around the country are brandishing their budget pens to penalize public colleges and universities for what they teach, what their professors say and which organizations the schools work with. In South Carolina, lawmakers are threatening to cut funding from two public colleges where incoming first-year students were asked to read books that discuss homosexuality. After legislators criticized an unrelated symposium on gay and lesbian studies at one of the two universities, the University of South Carolina Upstate earlier this month canceled a comic performance titled “How to Be a Lesbian in 10 Days or Less.” Some lawmakers have pledged to cut even more money from the second institution, the College of Charleston, after it hosted a musical based on the

book students were asked to read. Last fall, state lawmakers in Kansas vowed to withhold appropriations from the University of Kansas after journalism professor David Guth tweeted after the Washington Navy Yard shootings: “The blood is on the hands of the #NRA. Next time, let it be YOUR sons and daughters. Shame on you. May God damn you.” Guth later apologized.

Other examples In 2012, Michigan lawmakers threatened to withhold up to $7 million in funding from the University of Michigan and Michigan State University over stem cell research, among other issues. In 2010, Maryland lawmakers said they would cut funding from the University of Maryland over an environmental lawsuit filed by a clinic at the law school against the poultry industry, a powerful force in the state.

Also in 2010, Louisiana legislators proposed legislation that would have restricted funding to Tulane University’s Environmental Law Clinic because it filed a lawsuit against federal and state environmental regulators over air quality enforcement. (Tulane is private but receives state funding.) The measure died in committee. In 2002, after the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill asked students to read “Approaching the Qur’an,” by Michael Sells, a House panel adopted a measure — ultimately unsuccessful — to bar the university from teaching a religious book unless it also gave equal time to all religions. The following year, lawmakers criticized the university’s choice of “Nickel and Dimed” by Barbara Ehrenreich, a book that explores the plight of the working poor.

On ‘shaky ground’ Joan Bertin, who heads

the National Coalition Against Censorship, said that when state legislators use their financial clout to punish or deter universities, they undermine them as places where a wide range of ideas — including controversial and unpopular ones — can be explored and discussed. “When state legislatures meddle in purely academic affairs they not only undermine the quality of education but also tread on constitutionally shaky ground,” said Bertin, whose coalition is composed of 50 artistic, educational and other nonprofit groups. “Curricular decisions must be based on legitimate education grounds, not popularity, politics or personal preferences. The integrity of the education system depends on respect for First Amendment rights and academic freedom, and legislators who truly care about education understand that.” John Curtis of the American Association of Univer-

In 2002, after the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill asked students to read “Approaching the Qur’an,” by Michael Sells, a House panel adopted a measure — ultimately unsuccessful — to bar the university from teaching a religious book unless it also gave equal time to all religions. The following year, lawmakers criticized the choice of “Nickel and Dimed” by Barbara Ehrenreich, a book that explores the plight of the working poor. sity Professors, pointed out that while the threatened budget cuts often don’t materialize, even the promise of a cut can be intimidating. “It creates a chilling environment to the idea of academic freedom to think that any time a faculty member is putting a course together that their reading materials might be scrutinized by leg-

islators,” Curtis said. “Our fundamental principle would be that academics should be the ones to determine the curriculum,” Curtis said. “They’re the experts in the field. They know the literature; they’re the ones who are interacting with students in a teaching environment.”

HEALTH

MAY 2 – MAY 8, 2014

STOJ

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

FROM FAMILY FEATURES

elebrities, athletes, talk show hosts and nearly 30 percent of people say they are turning to gluten-free diets to solve health issues from “foggy mind” to bloating and obesity. But before you throw out the flour or start embracing all things non-wheat, barley and rye, it’s important to consider that nutrition experts do not advocate a gluten-free diet for most people. In fact, at least 93 percent of people — and probably many more — are completely healthy and happy following a diet that includes wheat and its protein, gluten. According to Dr. Stephano Guandalini, founder and director of the Center for Celiac Disease at the University of Chicago, “There is a popular belief that gluten is bad for everyone. This is not the case. There is no evidence to show that anyone who does not suffer from celiac disease (CD) or non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) benefits from following a gluten-free diet.”

Gluten: Wheat protein explained Gluten is a protein matrix in wheat formed by gliadin and glutenin. It’s also present in barley and rye, and their many ancient grain ancestors. Gluten’s structure forms pockets that trap carbon dioxide released by leavening agents, such as yeast, baking powder or baking soda, giving bread and baked goods their texture. Gluten-free breads and products are denser and heavier because they can’t form air pockets without gluten.

Wheat and gluten facts Celiac disease, an autoimmune disease, is very real and affects about 1 in 141 people — less than 1 percent of the population. For people who have celiac, even a small amount of gluten is unsafe. When they eat it, their bodies immediately react, damaging the lining of their intestinal tract. The damage allows many proteins and other substances to enter the blood stream that should not, setting up physical reactions and digestive problems with serious health consequences. Incidences of all autoimmune diseases are on the increase, with CD four times more common than it was 60 years ago. Research is being conducted by a number of leading medical and scientific institutions to investigate if changes in our gut bacteria might be the cause. “It’s very important that people who have celiac get diagnosed and tested so that they can begin following a gluten-free diet as soon as possible. And, it’s something they have to stay on for the rest of their lives,” said Dr. Joseph Murray, celiac disease researcher at the Mayo Clinic.

A rare condition Non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) is the other condition that proponents of a wheat-free lifestyle say affects everyone when in fact, research indicates that it, too, is quite rare. According to Dr. Guandalini, “Around 0.5 percent of people react to gluten in a way that is not a food allergy but is also not celiac.” Dr. Alessio Fasano, one of the world’s top scientists in celiac disease and director of the Center for Celiac Research at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Mass., explained, “Some people simply don’t react well to gluten and feel better when it’s removed from the diet. Unfortunately, there is no test for NCGS and this is part of why going gluten-free has become ‘the’ answer to all that ails us digestively and otherwise. It’s unfortunate because there are a lot of causes besides gluten for digestive issues.”

Understanding gluten-free diets “Following a gluten-free diet is very difficult and one must know how to read labels. Foods such as broths, soups, gravies, sauces, seasoned rice mixes and seasoned tortilla or potato chips may con tain small amounts of gluten,” said Tricia Thompson, registered dietitian and founder of the Gluten Free Watch Dog.

“The new FDA labeling rules define ‘gluten-free’ foods as having less than 20 parts per million of gluten. This is extremely helpful for people with celiac disease or NCGS who must avoid all gluten, even in tiny amounts.”

“Wheat, like all other food plants we eat, has undergone farmer selection and traditional breeding over the years,” states Brett Carver, PhD, wheat genetics chair in Agriculture at Oklahoma State University. “The hybridization that led to bread wheat occurred 8,000 to 10,000 years ago. All cultivated wheat varieties, both modern and heirloom varieties, have these hybridization events in common, so the kinds of protein (and gluten) present in today’s varieties reflect the proteins present throughout the domestication process of wheat.” In case there is any doubt of this, scientists have carefully reviewed available data back to 1925 and have not found any evidence supporting increased gluten content due to wheat breeding over the past century. Dr. Guandalini, like many other celiac specialists, is frus trated by the myths about wheat that are promoted by talk show hosts, articles and websites. “Genetically modified wheat is not commercially available anywhere in the world,” said Guandalini. “Wheat has been, and continues to be, a life-saving and nutritious grain for most people.”

Weight management

Gluten-free: The bottom line

According to the NPD Group, a leading market research firm that has followed nutrition trends for more than 20 years, the biggest driver behind the glutenfree trend is weight loss. In addition, gluten-free products can be significantly more expensive — one study showed an average of 242 percent higher in cost. “Eliminating wheat products (bread, rolls, cereals, pasta, tortillas, cakes, cookies, crackers) will result in fewer calories, but important nutrients like B-vitamins (thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and folic acid), and iron and fiber will also be lost,” said Pam Cureton with Boston’s Center for Celiac Research and chair of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ sub-practice group, Dietitians in Gluten Intolerance Diseases (DIGID). “Grains provide 43 percent of the fiber in the U.S. diet and wheat is approximately three-quarters of the grains eaten in the U.S. Nutritionally, many gluten-free products are not equal replacements for their wheat-containing counterparts.” Cureton recommends that anyone thinking about starting a gluten-free diet see a skilled dietitian first to be sure it is nutritionally sound and to help guide them through the difficulties of the diet.

Most of us can eat and enjoy the many varieties of wheat foods available to us. And, luckily, for the few of us who can’t, there are gluten-free options. “The increased awareness by the food industry of the need for gluten-free foods has helped provide many options for those on gluten-free diets. There are more choices and better tasting products every day,” said Amy Jones, dietitian at Mary Rutan Hospital, Bellefontaine, Ohio, and chair-elect of DIGID. But for the vast majority of us, going gluten-free can be expensive, less nutritious and just plain unnecessary. The bottom line: gluten is a complex plant protein found in some of our favorite foods, and most of us have been tolerating it for thousands of years. For more information, visit www.wheatfoods.org.

“There is a popular belief that gluten is bad for everyone. This is not the case.”

Facts about wheat breeding Some promoters of the gluten-free lifestyle say that recent wheat breeding practices have led to higher, more “toxic” types of wheat. They believe that such practices are increasing the rates of celiac and gluten sensitivity, even though you must have a gene to develop celiac disease.

“Grains provide 43 percent of the fiber in the U.S. diet and wheat is approximately threequarters of the grains eaten in the U.S.”

STOJ

MAY 2 – MAY 8, 2014

FINEST & ENTERTAINMENT

Meet some of

FLORIDA’S

finest

submitted for your approval

Think you’re one of Florida’s Finest? E-mail your high-resolution (200 dpi) digital photo in casual wear or bathing suit taken in front of a plain background with few distractions, to news@flcourier. com with a short biography of yourself and your contact information. (No nude/ glamour/ fashion photography, please!) In order to be considered, you must be at least 18 years of age. Acceptance of the photographs submitted is in the sole and absolute discretion of Florida Courier editors. We reserve the right to retain your photograph even if it is not published. If you are selected, you will be contacted by e-mail and further instructions will be given.

lloyd

ivlore

Lloyd Dickenson of Miami was born in Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. The 26-yearold enjoys acting, singing, playing pool, and weight training. This aspiring actor has appeared in several commercials and two independent films – “A Mistaken Look’’ and “Baghdad.’’ When he’s not modeling and pursuing his next acting job, he loves having a good time with friends. Photo courtesy of 1st Million Management LLC / info@ 1stmillionmgt. com.

Ivlore “Eve’’ Desorme is a 21-year-old college student who lives by the motto “I can do anything I set my mind to.” She says modeling fell into her lap last year after she joined a modeling troupe at her college, and she has grown a love for it ever since. Contact Ivlore at ideso001@fiu.edu.

Gospel singer stands by decision to separate from husband EURWEB.COM

It looks like it will take more than begging to earn Tina Campbell’s forgiveness. During a recent episode of “Mary Mary,” Tina’s husband, Teddy, tried to get the singer to welcome him back home despite her not getting over news about his string of extramarital affairs. After telling Tina, “I want to come home,” Tina looked to be very conflicted about the having her husband in their house again. “Deep down in my heart, I’d like to say yes. But the truth is, it wasn’t working when you was at home,” she admitted during a confessional. “Let’s keep some space between each other.” Although she hoped a little more time apart would give her whatever it is she needed emotionally to welcome Teddy home, Tina’s resolve seemed Tina to have hardened with the distance between them. Campbell “I wanted to deep down inside change and feel like I could trust again, but this is too great and I just can’t do this,” the entertainer told Teddy during one phone call. Tina isn’t the only Mary Mary member experiencing hardship. The singer’s sister, Erica, revealed on the show that she had bleeding around her vocal chord.

FLORIDA COURIER FILE

Shown with Mickey Mouse, Steve Harvey and members of Essence Magazine is the Disney Dreamers Academy Class of 2014.

High school students can apply now for 2015 Disney Dreamers Academy BLACKPRWIRE.COM

Carol’s Daughter files for bankruptcy FROM WIRE REPORTS

According to the Wall Street Journal, companies affiliated with Carol’s Daughter filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in connection with the beauty brand’s move to close most of its stores. The brand’s founder, Lisa Price, created Carol’s Daughter, the popular line of beauty products, including those for hair, skin, hands and fragrances. The Wall Street Journal reported that court papers show that CD Stores (formerly known as Carol’s Daughter Stores LLC) is 100 percent owned by parent company Carol’s Daughter Holdings LLC (the parent company didn’t file for bankruptcy).

Lisa Price

The petition reported assets and debts each in the $1 million to $10 million range. New court papers were allegedly filed and noted that most Carol’s Daughter stores have been unprofitable since 2010. Before the bankruptcy filing, the company closed all but two of its seven stores and terminated 29 of its 42 employees, the newspaper stated. It added that the company hopes to consolidate its operations around its two open stores, in Brooklyn and Harlem. Several celebrities have supported the 24 year-old company, including Will and Jada Pinkett Smith and Jay-Z, who have all provided some sort of financial backing in the past.

High school students nationwide can now apply at www.disneydreamersacademy.com to be among 100 selected to participate in the 2015 Disney Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey and Essence Magazine, the innovative, outside-the-classroom, educational mentoring program at Walt Disney World Resort. Each year, students participate in hands-on, full-immersion workshops related to a bevy of career paths, ranging from animation to zoology. Each participant learns important skills such as communication techniques and networking strategies. It all takes place in a magical setting: the Walt Disney World Resort theme parks. Both on stage and behind the scenes, the parks become vibrant ‘classrooms,’ leading to career discoveries, the pursuit of dreams and fun memories to cherish for a lifetime.

Life-changing sessions Motivational speakers and celebrities share their stories and provide insight on how to achieve success and dream big. Dreamers have the opportunity to cultivate relationships with other students from across the nation while they gain first-hand knowledge from Disney experts and world-re-

nowned entrepreneurs and executives. Applicants must answer three essay questions about their personal stories, the people who are most influential in their lives and their dreams for the future. Students are selected based on a combination of attributes, including a strong character, positive attitude and determination to achieve their dreams. Nearly 10,000 students submitted an application in 2014. Participants and a parent or guardian will receive an all-expense-paid trip to Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista where they will engage in lifechanging sessions and enjoy Disney’s magical theme parks. The 2015 Disney Dreamers Academy will take place March 5 to 8. “Disney Dreamers Academy gives us the honor each year to motivate, educate and uplift 100 exceptional students ready to unlock their potential,” said Disney Vice President of Global Initiatives and Integrations/Disney Dreamers Academy Executive Champion Tracey D. Powell. “Disney is proud to once again partner with Steve Harvey and Essence Communications to deliver a program that impacts lives every year.”

Oct. 31 deadline Harvey, syndicated radio and

television personality, along with Essence and Walt Disney World Resort will host the selected Dreamers during their four-day power packed career and educational exploration. Harvey, speaking on the program, says, “Disney Dreamers Academy gives hope and inspiration and exposes youth to a world of possibilities. We are excited about another opportunity to transform lives and give students an inside look at what their future can hold.” Essence Communications President Michelle Ebanks added, “We are excited about the eighth Disney Dreamers Academy. This program transcends the normal classroom setting, taking learning to the next level. This year we plan to go above and beyond to encourage Dreamers. Our valued partnership with Disney Parks and Steve Harvey represents our commitment to the leaders of tomorrow.” Applications are open to U.S. high school students, ages 13 to 19, until Oct. 31. A distinguished panel of leaders representing the best in their fields will judge the applications in November and winners will be announced in December 2014. For more information visit www. disneydreamersacademy.com, www.facebook.com/disneydreamersacademy or follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/dreamersacademy.

F0OD

MAY 2 – MAY 8, 2014

TOJ

MEXICAN STYLE CORN Serves: 4 4 ears fresh Sunshine Sweet Corn, husked 1/4 cup mayonnaise 4 ounces Cotija or feta cheese 1 teaspoon chili powder 4 lime slices Preheat grill or broiler. Grill or broil corn, turning occasionally until hot and some kernels turn golden brown, about 5 minutes. Using knife, coat each ear of corn with about 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise. Crumble cheese on one side of each corn ear. Sprinkle with chili powder, dividing evenly. Broil until cheese starts to melt, approxi mately 1 to 2 minutes. Serve with lime.

FROM FAMILY FEATURES

Cinco de Mayo is, officially, a holiday celebrating Mexico’s victory over France in the 1862 Battle of Puebla. In the U.S., where it is actually celebrated with more gusto than in its native country, the holiday has become a celebration of Mexican heritage and culture. The holiday also provides a great excuse to make irresistible Mexican-inspired recipes for entertaining and, of course, a big batch of margaritas to wash it all down. Fresh sweet corn is an essential component of many Mexican dishes and a cultural staple. Luckily, Cinco de Mayo falls right in the middle of Florida’s Sunshine Sweet Corn season, meaning that the sweetest corn, available all year, arrives just in time to be a part of your Cinco de Mayo celebration. These naturallybred varieties are grown by a group of family farmers who are committed to producing the finest sweet corn. Get the fiesta started with this Fire Roasted Corn and Chorizo Dip and a big bowl of tortilla chips. Crunchy, spicy, sweet and creamy, this addictive dip will have your guests asking for more. Next, be sure to serve Mexican Style Corn, a truly authentic and delicious Mexican street food. Crunchy ears of fresh sweet corn are charred to perfection then slathered with a mixture of cheese and mayo, sprinkled with chili powder and squirted with lime for simple flavor perfection. Finally, no Cinco de Mayo celebration is complete without tacos. For a healthful twist on your typical taco, try this recipe for Charred Corn Tacos with Radish Zucchini Slaw that will have both vegetarians and meat eaters clamoring for seconds. Incorporating more healthful whole foods and veggies into your Cinco de Mayo celebration this year makes it easier to justify one more margarita. No matter what you serve at your Cinco de Mayo celebration, make sure to incorporate the sweet and wholesome flavor of fresh spring sweet corn. Discover more mouthwatering recipes for Cinco de Mayo and every time of year at www.sunshinesweetcorn.com.

CHARRED CORN TACOS WITH RADISH ZUCCHINI SLAW Serves: 4 4 ears Sunshine Sweet Corn Extra virgin olive oil, as needed Salt and freshly ground pepper, as needed 1/2 cup torn cilantro, parsley and mint leaves 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced 2 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice 1 teaspoon maple syrup 1 cup radishes, cut into matchsticks 1 small zucchini, cut into matchsticks 1 jalapeno, seeded and thinly sliced 1/2 cup (2 1/2 ounces) crumbled Cotija or feta cheese 10 to 12 small (6-inch) soft corn tortillas Brush corn with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Over hot grill or open gas stove flame, char ears of corn until well blackened but not completely burnt. Remove from heat; cool. With large knife, shave off kernels into bowl. Add cilantro, parsley and mint; reserve. In small bowl, combine onion and lime juice; let stand 10 minutes. Stir in maple syrup, radishes, zucchini, jalapeno and 2 tablespoons of oil. Season with salt and pepper; set aside. Heat your tortillas one of two ways: Wrap whole stack in foil and place in warm 250°F oven for 15 min utes, or coat cast-iron skillet with thin layer of oil and heat over high heat; warm each tortilla 30 seconds to 1 minute each side, until lightly blistered. To make tacos, fill each tortilla with 1/4 cup corn. Top with cheese and radish-zucchini slaw. Serve with lime wedges, if desired.

SIX GLOBAL SPREADS FOR SWEET CORN 1. North America: Maple Bourbon Butter — Combine one stick butter, 4 teaspoons bourbon, 2 teaspoons maple syrup and pinch of salt. 2. South America: Lime-Avocado Crema — In a blender, combine one avocado, 1/4 cup lime juice, one garlic clove, 1/2 bunch cilantro, 1/2 cup sour cream and pinch of salt. Blend until smooth. Add water if necessary. 3. Europe: Combine 2 ounces goat cheese, 2 tablespoons butter, 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, and pinch of salt and pepper. Stir until smooth. 4. Asia: Sriracha Butter — Combine 1/3 cup butter with 3 tablespoons Sriracha. 5. Africa: Harissa-Yogurt Spread — Whisk together 1 cup Greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice, 2 tablespoons Harissa sauce, one crushed garlic clove and pinch of salt. 6. Australia: Honey-Ginger BBQ Sauce — In saucepan combine 1 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar, 1/2 cup honey, 1/2 cup ketchup, 1 1/2 tablespoons hot sauce, 4 minced garlic cloves, 2 tablespoons minced ginger and 1 teaspoon salt. Simmer, stirring occasionally until thickened and reduced to about 1 1/4 cup, 20 to 25 minutes.

FIRE ROASTED CORN AND CHORIZO DIP Serves: 8 to 12 3 to 4 ears Sunshine Sweet Corn 1 small onion, peeled and sliced into rings 1 small red bell pepper 1 cup cooked chorizo 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1/2 pound spicy pepper cheese, like pepper-jack or habanero cheddar 1/4 cup chopped green onions Preheat oven to 400°F and preheat grill to high heat. Remove cornhusks and corn silk, and place fresh Florida Sweet Corn, onion slices and red bell pepper on grill. Grill corn and bell pepper for 8 to 10 minutes, turning every 2

minutes until all sides are slightly charred. Grill onion slices for approximately 3 minutes per side. When veggies are cool enough to handle, cut corn off cob. Then chop onions and pepper, removing pepper seeds. In 8-by-8-inch baking dish or one quart souffle dish, mix all ingredients together until well combined. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes until edges are bubbly. Serve warm with tortilla chips.