Florida Courier - August 2, 2013

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Prize-winning author explores the re-enslavement of Blacks from the Civil War to World War II

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VOLUME 21 NO. 31

Page B1

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AUGUST 2 - AUGUST 8, 2013

OCCUPIERS

Florida’s ‘license to kill’

The youthful ‘Dream Defenders,’ who are staging a sit-in in Gov. Rick Scott’s office to fight ‘Stand Your Ground,’ say their protests have just begun.

ferred,” quoting Langston Hughes’ famous poem entitled “Harlem (Dream Deferred).” That’s according to Curtis What happens to a dream deferred? Hierro, the group’s field secretary.

Hierro spoke exclusively to the FlorDoes it dry up like a raisin in the ida Courier Tuesday as they were consun?

Or fester like a sore – And then run? cluding their 15th day of occupation.

On this day, they were visited and Does it stink like rotten meat? motivated by the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

Or crust and sugar over – like a Last week, another longtime civil syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. rights activist, entertainer Harry Belafonte, traveled to Tallahassee to ofOr does it explode? fer support.

The group of college aged-students who have kept Florida Gov. Rick Scott ‘A new generation’ out of his Tallahassee office off and on “We are here to no longer defer the for more than two weeks call them- dream. These issues are real to our selves the “Dream Defenders.” generation. This is our movement, Their goal is to make sure the See OCCUPIERS, Page A2 dreams of their generation are not “de-

BY JAMES HARPER FLORIDA COURIER

Black lawyers urge state to change law

BY KOREN MCKENZIE-JOHN SPECIAL TO THE FLORIDA COURIER

SPECIAL TO THE FLORIDA COURIER

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, center, encourages Dream Defenders Executive Director Phillip Agnew and Legal and Policy Director Ahmad Abuznaid at Gov. Rick Scott’s office.

BLUE RHINO FIRE / TAVARES

A late-night fireball

“A license to kill” is how John E. Page, president of the National Bar Association (NBA), characterized Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law at a press conference Monday during the NBA’s annual convention at the Fontainebleau Hotel on Miami Beach.

The press conference focused on the controversial law in the aftermath of George Zimmerman’s acquittal for the killing of 17-year old Trayvon Martin on Feb. 26, 2012.

Founded in 1925, the NBA is the nation’s oldest and largest predominantly African-American association of lawyers and judges in the world. It is comprised of a professional network of over 20,000 lawyers, judges, educators and law students. This year’s convention theme was “The Power of Us,” emphasizing “strength in unity.”

‘Concealed courage’ NBA President Page led the discussion during a community response to gun violence and legislation such as Florida’s Stand Your Ground law that he said could lead to more “justifiable homicides” carried out by vigilantes with “concealed courage.”

Participants in the press conference included Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon Martin’s mother; Attorney Benjamin Crump, the Martin family attorney; and Nathaniel and Cleopatra Pendleton, the parents of 15-year old Hadiya Pendleton, who was gunned down in Chicago on January 29, 2013 while in a local park with classmates.

Page exclaimed, “It’s not enough to have soundbite rallies and soundbite events. You have the power to stop it right now and change the course of how our children’s lives are affected.”

Speaking to Florida lawmakers, he said, “In essence, we’re asking you, the legislatures, to turn the pain that parents are feeling into a plan…that our youth will come home every night and more importantly, our unarmed youth who are not engaged in any illegal activity or doing anything to incur the wrath of violence.

“What you have done, quite simply, is you’ve given a license to kill. You’ve allowed ‘Shoot first, ask questions later.’ You’re returning us back to the Wild West.”

TOM BENITEZ/ORLANDO SENTINEL/MCT

Firefighters continued to work a fire at a Blue Rhino propane plant in Tavares – just northwest of Orlando – on Tuesday. Explosions lit up the sky for miles as thousands of 20-pound propane canisters used for barbecue grills burned and detonated late Monday night. Five of nine people injured are in critical condition.

Special session Page is calling on Gov. Rick Scott to convene the legislature to discuss repealing, amending or removing the “Stand Your Ground” law.

Page stated, “We will boycott if we See LAW, Page A2

SNAPSHOTS

GOP blasts Jackson for Florida ‘apartheid’ comparison

BY BRANDON LARRABEE THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

FLORIDA | A3

Florida now has more ‘F’ schools Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa part of sex-trafficking sweep NATION | A6

FINEST | B5

Meet Danielle

ALSO INSIDE

Recent injustices have helped to reignite protesting

Gov. Rick Scott and other Republican leaders slammed the Rev. Jesse Jackson on Wednesday after Jackson called a sitin protest at Scott’s office “the Selma of our time” while implicitly comparing the state to South Africa and Scott to George Wallace.

In a statement issued by his office, Scott took Jackson to task for the Selma comments made Tuesday and an earlier reported comment labeling Florida an “apartheid state.”

‘Reckless comments’

ly comparing Scott to Wallace, the infamous segregationist governor “Jesse Jackson owes of Alabama, during reevery Floridian an apol- marks Tuesday. ogy for his reckless and divisive comments,” ‘Change Scott said. “It is unfortunate that he would come their minds’ Jackson spoke ahead to Florida to insult Floridians and divide our of an overnight visit with state at a time when we the Dream Defenders, a are striving for unity and group that has staged a sit-in at Scott’s office to healing.”

Appearing on the demand a special legis“Rick Sanchez Radio lative session to considShow” a few hours later, er changes to the state’s Jackson dismissed the self-defense laws, initiacall for him to apologize tives to end racial profiling and an end to zeroas “absurd.”

Jackson also drew tolerance discipline polscorn from some Re- icies in schools. publicans for apparent“We’ve seen Southern

governors before have to change their minds,” Jackson said when asked about Scott’s insistence that he wouldn’t call a special session. Jackson mentioned Wallace as an example of someone who had to change his mind.

GOP upset “With Jesse Jackson having a history of making offensive remarks, like calling New York City ‘Hymietown,’ it’s surprising to see that Democrats are not denouncing Jackson for what he said about Florida and Governor Rick

Scott,” Republican Party of Florida Chairman Lenny Curry said in a statement. “Jesse Jackson’s attacks are offensive, inappropriate, divisive and ill-informed.”

Pensacola Rep. Mike Hill, the only Black Republican in the Legislature, also blasted Jackson’s comments as “a disgrace” in a sharply worded statement.

“When Jackson uses language that describes us as an apartheid state and compares our governor to one of history’s most notorious bigots, he is either hopelessly See COMMENT, Page A2

COMMENTARY: Dr. E. Faye Williams: Time to stop tolerating what’s happening in Florida | A4 COMMENTARY: Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr.: From conversation to action After Trayvon | A5

FOCUS

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AUGUST 2 – AUGUST 8, 2013

Dear God, can we pass the baton?

How do we make America better…with our own agenda?

I come to you as a man with a clear vision about the future and how to focus our energy as African people in the world’s greatest nation.

We built this nation with many generations of GREAT Black folks.

We are invested in America. Hip yourself and anyone else coming to America to this fact.

So how can Black America improve mankind during our ripple on the pond of life?

Did you know the state of Florida turned 500 on March 3, 2013?

August is the 50th anniversary celebration of the Crescent City, Fla. native A. Phillip Randolph’s vision to meet at a reflection pool in Washington, D.C. and to address a few American problems.

Speed ahead to July 2013, where we were humbled by the disrespect of Trayvon Martin’s life in the Sunshine State.

On the opposite end of this American tragedy is a success story born out of civil rights excellence.

Surprisingly one of the leading civil rights organizations in Florida is a sports team: The Miami Heat NBA basketball family.

Lessons from losing Heat executive Pat Riley was a witness to Black excellence during his college playing days with the Kentucky Wildcats, when having an all-White team was

G. I. FOLKES GUEST COMMENTARY

standard practice.

In 1966, Kentucky ran into Texas Western University, which boasted an all-Black starting five ready for its big moment and the America’s history books. Riley played 40 minutes and scored 19 points in a 72-65 loss. Still, the Associated Press ranked Kentucky No.1. Texas Western was ranked No.3, even after whipping Kentucky.

Today, the NBA world champion Miami Heat is the symbol of love, respect, understanding, family, single focus, superior talent and a wonderful collection of human winners working together – thanks to the character of Pat Riley and that butt-whipping he received in college.

Dwayne Wade is an unselfish three-time champion with a character approach that would make A. Phillip Randolph proud.

Just as Randolph did for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1963 on the Mall in Washington, Wade let new teammates shine in his reflection pool.

That’s a lesson for the Black community. We have four groups of folks: the old guard, the ma-

ture/experienced guard, the young guard and finally the masses looking for directions... to anywhere. The art of sharing power is tough.

What we can do If you have not decoded the past and learned some new skills from history, then history says you will repeat, repeat and repeat. So let’s move in a new direction with new ideas with an interest to serve African-American folks – first with great innovation and secondly with worldclass customer service as the key cornerstone.

Muhammad Ali taught us to take of care of our cultural agenda first. If you use your platform of success to stand for Black culture and you’re doing great works, mankind has reason to respect your humanity. When some Hartford, Conn. moms created a solution for their young sons, the world did not get mad at them. It embraced their innovation. Today, we all call the organization the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

I struggle to support the idea of a Florida boycott because the George Zimmerman verdict was unfair. Our first response should not be to step back into a time machine and use methods from five decades ago to display our anger. That’s a bad example for our babies...poor leadership.

A humble vision I offer this humble vision to our community for a discussion among the ten decades of African-Americans generations. Here are ten innovative ways to create “the changing of the guard” in Black America: • Study the history of the leading civil rights organizations and the current achievements by fearless young folks.

• Study the pros and cons of current Black organizations and publish the findings online.

• Change the position of musical chairs in the Black community among unions, churches, educational institutions, entertainers, social services, businesses, social organizations, community organizations and philanthropists.

• Develop a New Black Agenda with young minds running the national agenda.

• Develop 500 brand new Black innovative organizations focused on our 22nd century concerns and solutions.

• Develop 500 customer service institutions design to fight racism and to empower families during a crisis... with Black excellence as the standard policy.

• Develop a national award for media institutions respectful to Black America voted on by all 50 states...run by fearless young folks.

• Develop university hip-hop

and rap endowment chairs for the improvement of Black male life in America.

• Develop the Hip Hop & Rap Music Hall of Fame in Bronx, New York; make it a global center for good works run by fearless young folks.

• Develop 500 world-class 21st-century digital libraries honoring our cultural legends.

Let’s CHARM the world. CHARM stands for Character, Humanity, Art, Relationship Building, Manners.

A blueprint for this vision was displayed during the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London.

The way our young sisters performed during the 4x100 relay is the model. Setting a world record (40:82) for mankind, the red, white and blue showcased the unselfishness of Black America... there’s your generational benchmark.

Therefore, I believe the answer is YES. Young folks, you can handle the baton if you keep God first…and open yourself to a little help from the mature guard. The 22nd century is ready for your grandchildren.

G. I. Folkes is an independent filmmaker, humorist, college lecturer and educator, and the author of a book entitled: “30 Character Words...To Put In Your Shoes.” He graduated from Morehouse College in 1978.

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COMMENT

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must, but right now we’re asking Gov. Scott to engage in dialogue; but to date, he has offered no good reason why he has not brought together a legislature to talk. We need to raise our voices together and say, ‘Enough. Enough!’

“If there is no response to our “whispers” for action, the Florida tourism industry will be impacted by a boycott. The Stand Your Ground law must fall,” Page said.

out of touch or purposefully dishonest,” Hill said.

The multipronged attack on Jackson came as the protests wore through a 16th day at the Capitol. Protesters have called their own “People’s Session,” and held a committee meeting in Scott’s office to take testimony on zero-tolerance policies in schools.

During that meeting, officials from local chapters of the Democratic Black Caucus of Florida delivered a letter to Scott endorsing the protests. After being told Scott wasn’t at the Capitol and chief of staff Adam Hollingsworth was in a meeting, the group read the letter from Henry Crespo Sr., the organization’s president, before handing it to Scott’s receptionist.

‘Too dignified’ Crump, the Martin family’s lawyer, expressed concern over the precedent that he believes KOREN MCKENZIE-JOHN / FLORIDA COURIER the Zimmerman verdict sets.

National Bar Association President John E. Page, center, focused on Florida’s ‘Make My He believes the law should not allow a person to be the initial Day’ law, commonly known as ‘Stand Your Ground.’ aggressor or pursuer and then claim, “stand your ground.” ness going home, but it was ed about the nightmare of losHe said that the term “Stand to get away with murder.

“I think we have to change somebody else’s perception of ing a child to gun violence. She Your Ground” is “too dignified” for the law, which he thinks these laws so that people don’t him that changed everything, said that laws need to be put in place and communities need should be renamed the “Make get away with murder because that caused his death.” from the trial, you’ve seen that She said, “It doesn’t make to be regained.

My Day” law. my son wasn’t doing anything sense” that Trayvon would Both the Pendleton family ‘Simply walking home’ wrong. Trayvon was just sim- cause his own death, as some and Martin family have startpeople have argued.

When asked how impor- ply walking home. ed foundations in response to “He didn’t have a weap“So some of the more realis- the murder of their children. tant it was to her that the law is changed and how hard will she on,” she explained. “He didn’t tic thoughts in my mind is that To learn more about their would be fighting to see that is have a gun. He had candy and we have to change these laws foundations and to donate, in fact changed, Sybrina Fulton a drink. So we need to take a so that they don’t happen to visit www.trayvonmartinreplied that, “The thing about look at that. He wasn’t a sus- someone else’s child,” she con- foundation.org and http:// this law is I just think it assisted pect. He wasn’t a burglar. He cluded. www.hadiyasfoundation. the person who killed my son was just minding his own busiCleopatra Pendleton talk- org/

OCCUPIERS from A1 though we welcome icons of the past,” concluded Hierro, who is a recent graduate of the University of Central Florida in Orlando.

“We are a movement of a new generation. We can’t rely on other people to do it for us. We are an organized youth resistance.

The onus is on us to organize and bring people here.”

Recent start The Dream Defenders first organized themselves in April 2012.

Students from Bethune-Cookman University, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee Community College, and other schools set out on a three-day, 41-mile journey from Daytona Beach to Sanford to protest the improper handling of the Trayvon Martin case by Sanford authorities.

About 40 students from Gainesville, Tallahassee, Miami and Daytona Beach kicked off the march, which was organized to pay homage to Dr. Martin Luther King’s march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama.

The group began the march at a local Daytona Beach park and rested at churches along their way to Sanford. The march ended three days later at Allen Chapel AME Church in Sanford, which has been ground zero in the city where Martin was killed by George Zimmerman on Feb. 26, 2012.

Active again The protesters were spurred to action again after Zimmerman was acquitted on July 13 after his jury trial.

On July 16, about 40 students sat in at the governor’s office in Tallahassee, waiting for Scott to return from a trip to New York and take up their demand for a special legislative session addressing laws they say unfairly affect non-White youth.

They want Scott to call a special session to create a Trayvon Martin Civil Rights Act and address "Stand Your Ground vigilantism, racial profiling and a war on youth that paints us as criminals and funnels us out of schools and into jails."

At the time, Scott's office put out a statement suggesting that Scott would not meet their demands.

“As the governor has said, as a father and a grandfather, his heart goes out to Trayvon Martin’s family and all those affected by his death,” said Communications Director Melissa Sellers in an email. “We are grateful that people across our great nation have the right to assemble and share their views. …

“Immediately following Trayvon Martin’s death, Gov. Scott called a bipartisan special task force with 19 citizens to review Florida’s Stand Your Ground law. This task force listened to Floridians across the state and heard their viewpoints and expert opinions on this law. The task force recommended that

the law should not be overturned, and Gov. Scott agrees.”

Scott also called for “a day of prayer” throughout Florida.

A meeting After putting them off for five days, Scott did finally meet with the Dream Defenders, only to tell them that he supported “Stand Your Ground” and had no intention of calling a special session.

After the meeting, Scott left town again, but not before sending Department of Juvenile Justice Secretary Wansley Walters to chat with students for several hours on Aug. 22.

Dream Defenders Political Director Ciara Taylor said of Walters’ visit: “While we appreciate Secretary Walters taking the time to meet with us, we believe the time for talk has passed.

“We currently find ourselves in a state of emergency. There is a growing fear among Black and Brown young people in Florida that their lives are of little value to the state, and the governor’s unwillingness to do anything about it is disappointing to us all….

“We urge both Governor Scott and Secretary Wansley to take our calls for justice for Florida’s youth seriously and to correct the circumstances that led to the killing of Trayvon Martin last year: racial profiling, Stand Your Ground vigilantism, and the school-to-prison pipeline.”

The sit-in continued. As of the Florida Courier’s press time late Wednesday night, the Dream

‘Power to calm’ “As governor of Florida, you have the power to calm the fears of thousands of Florida families, especially Blacks and Latinos, who are questioning the ability of this state to protect their children from the gross deficiencies of the aforementioned laws,” the letter said.

Also Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, unveiled a new website – FloridaStandYourGround.org – to help push for changes to the “stand your ground” self-defense law that has spurred a large amount of the debate.

“The website is a one-stop information center for anyone who wants to know more about the law, what it does, how it‚s being misused, and the proposed changes to fix its dangerous flaws,” Smith said.

Defenders were still occupying the governor’s office.

Not going anywhere Hierro said the Dream Defenders are not going anywhere, even if that means maintaining their protests at the governor’s office until March 2014 – Florida’s next regularly scheduled legislative session.

“Our goal is to put pressure on.

We are going to be here until they come to the table with something.

“They keep talking about costs.

What’s the cost of a human life?”

Hierro said, referring to media reports that it is costing the state $5,000 a day to handle the protests.

“We are not going to sit idly by.

We will move across the state and put in work on the ground,” Hierro continued.

Movement will grow He said whenever a legislative session does convene, Dream Defenders hope to have chapters in colleges and universities across the state that will organize and apply pressure to local state representatives and senators to vote to repeal “Stand Your Ground” and address other issues, including a national call to action to stop racial profiling and end the school-to-prison pipeline.

“Within this month, we expect more engagement as students return back to school. In the fall, we expect our base to experience growth,” he said.

Hierro said they are organizers first and they are working to bring even more of their supporters to Tallahassee.

“We don’t want any more George Zimmermans. (We want to) stop the climate of hate and injustice,” he continued.

No leadership Phillip Agnew, the organization’s executive director, says Scott “is not exercising real leadership.

“So we will remain here, not to retry George Zimmerman, but to express our anger and disappointment at our governor for what happened under his watch peacefully, and to provide a constructive way forward,” Agnew said.

“You cannot confront the world as it is without presenting a vision of the world as it should and could be,” Agnew stated. “We envision a way forward for a new generation of Floridians – and Americans – that acknowledges race and confronts race, but is not shackled by race. We want to provide this generation with the power and the tools to remove the barriers that stand before us.”

Melanie Andrade, president of the FAMU chapter of the Dream Defenders, added, “The governor told us when we met with him that we had big goals, big dreams.

Our contention is if it isn’t big or doesn’t seem impossible at first, you can’t call it a dream.”

AUGUST 2 – AUGUST 8, 2013

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FLORIDA

Florida now has more ‘F’ schools Change kept 261 schools in state from failing grade

BY BRANDON LARRABEE THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

TALLAHASSEE – The highest number of Florida elementary and middle schools in at least a decade received “F” grades in the first draft of state report cards issued last week, despite efforts by state officials to restrict how far grades could fall.

In all, 107 elementary and middle schools – slightly more than 4 percent – received failing grades on the preliminary report cards.

(The numbers also include “combination schools” and high schools that don’t have graduating classes.)

In 2012, 40 schools got F grades, amounting to just more than 1.5 percent.

The department graded 21 more schools this year.

That marked the highest number of schools to get an F at least since the program started including learning gains as part of the report card in 2002. And it came despite the State Board of Education agreeing to extend by a year a rule preventing schools from dropping more than one letter grade on the report cards.

But without the changes, officials said, 261 schools would have received failing grades.

‘Volatility’ expected The Board of Education changes were made after local superintendents

The state has continued to ratchet up its expectations as it moves toward the nationwide “common core” standards, set to be completely implemented by the 2014-15 school year. warned of a looming collapse in school grades and said there were so many changes to the accountability system that it made it impossible to figure out what might be causing the upheaval.

The state has continued to ratchet up its expectations as it moves toward the nationwide “common core” standards, set to be completely implemented by the 2014-15 school year, and Education Commissioner Tony Bennett said

he expected the “volatility” in grades to continue over the next three to five years.

“This is exactly why I made the recommendations I made to the board,” he said.

‘System is flawed’ In addition to the increase in schools with failing grades, the number of “A” schools dramatically declined, from 1,242 schools in 2012 to 760 in 2013. That marked a drop

of 19 percentage points in the share of schools that received the highest mark.

The Florida Education Association, the main state teachers union, responded to the report cards by blasting the grading system on July 26.

“The constantly changing measures the Florida DOE uses in grading schools renders them meaningless as a comparison of school progress,” FEA President Andy Ford said. “ ... This system is

flawed and does not reflect rising student achievement and the dedicated and caring efforts by our public school teachers and other school employees to provide our children with a high quality education.”

No surprise Patricia Levesque, executive director of former Gov. Jeb Bush’s Foundation for Florida’s Future, said the drop in grades was not surprising given the in-

crease in standards.

“The progress we have made, moving from near the bottom to above the national average in rankings, will not continue if we don’t ensure children are moving forward each and every year,” she said.

“These grades are a wakeup call that we have to do much better for our students.”

High school grades, which are released later, will probably be issued in the winter, Bennett said.

Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa part of sextrafficking sweep NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

MICHAEL LAUGHLIN/SUN SENTINEL/MCT

The owner of this massage parlor in Plantation was among 161 Florida-licensed massage therapists under suspension last year. The suspensions were part of a probe into potential human trafficking in the massage industry. Florida passed a bill this year restricting hours of massage parlors.

Democrats take first shot at Scott’s re-election bid In some of its first paid ads of the 2014 campaign cycle, the Florida Democratic Party announced last week that it would take to social media and online news sites to whack away at Gov. Rick Scott.

The ads, which will be on Facebook and Twitter along with newspaper sites, will direct readers to a website about “The Real Rick Scott.” Democrats say they are responding, in part, to Scott’s efforts to recalibrate his message as he prepares to make a bid for re-election.

“It hasn’t worked all year, and we are going to make sure that it doesn’t,” Democratic Chairwoman Allison Tant told reporters on a conference call on July 25.

The latest survey from the Gov. Rick Quinnipiac University Polling Scott Institute, taken last month, still showed Scott losing by double digits to former Gov. Charlie Crist – a Republican-turned-independent-turned Democrat – or U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, two of the potential candidates most frequently cited as front-runners.

But that poll also showed Scott with a 43 percent job approval rating compared to a 44 percent disapproval rating, some of the best marks of his tenure, and some observers predict that the Scott campaign and related groups will spend as much as $100 million on the re-election effort.

Sunpass now good on North Carolina roads Some Tar Heels – those with North Carolina’s electronic toll transponders – may find a little more convenience when traveling across Florida. Meanwhile, Floridians with SunPass can now use their electronic transponders on North Carolina’s first modern toll road.

SunPass is good as payment on the Triangle Expressway, a 19-mile stretch located in the Research Triangle Park Region of North Carolina, and will be good on other all-electronic toll roads that are being planned.

As part of the joint agreement, Florida is accepting the NC Quick Pass on all its toll roads.

“This agreement will allow our customers to travel on Florida’s toll roads with the same ease that they enjoy here in North Carolina,” North Carolina Turnpike Authority Operations Director John Breedlove said in a release.

“It comes at the perfect time---- making summer vacation travel easier and more efficient for motorists in both states.”

Tolls will be billed to the accounts established in the account holders’ respective states. The agreement is the first for Florida with another state, but more may be on the way.

“Interoperability between SunPass and electronic toll systems in other states is something we’ve been diligently working toward for some time,” Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti, executive director of Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, said in a release.

In a nationwide sextrafficking sweep that included Miami, Tampa and Jacksonville, the FBI said Monday that law enforcement had recovered 105 children involved in prostitution and arrested 159 pimps.

The three-day sweep included recovering three children in Tampa and arresting four pimps in Miami and one in Jacksonville, according to an FBI news release.

“Child prostitution remains a persistent threat to children across America,” Ron Hosko, assistant director of the FBI’s Crim-

inal Investigative Division, said in a prepared statement.

“This operation serves as a reminder that these abhorrent crimes can happen anywhere, and the FBI remains committed to stopping this cycle of victimization and holding the criminals who profit from this exploitation accountable.”

The nationwide effort came amid a push by Florida officials to curb sex trafficking. As an example, state lawmakers this year approved a bill that restricted the operating hours of massage establishments.

FAMU grad named Tampa director of March of Dimes FROM STAFF REPORTS

Chelsea Hall Padgett has been named executive director of the March of Dimes’ Tampa Bay Division. Padgett will oversee all fundraising campaigns and work with the community on programs, education, and advocacy. Her supervision will extend to Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco and Sarasota counties.

“It’s a pleasure to welcome Chelsea to the March of Dimes,” said Tampa Bay Division Board Member Patrick Emrich. “Her extensive experience in special event fundraising, advocacy, communications and volunteer recruitment make her an excellent fit for the Foundation and will benefit all babies and families.”

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health.

Previously at American Cancer Society Padgett recently was associate director for the American Cancer Society, where she managed a $1.3 million portfolio that included fund development and event implementa-

tion for 18 Miami-area events and advocacy activities.

Starting her career with the American Cancer Society in 2006, she was promoted to Di- Chelsea Hall rector of Diver- Padgett sity Initiatives within a year. Throughout her progressive career she was responsible for recruiting, training, empowering, and guiding staff and volunteers to fulfill the mission and successfully manage development.

Padgett also has been an adjunct faculty member at Barry University since 2011, where she teaches public administration in the Tampa campus.

She received her Bachelor of Science degree in agribusiness from Florida A&M University (FAMU) and a master’s in public administration from Nova Southeastern University.

She is a member of the Tampa Metropolitan Alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and the Junior League of Tampa.

For more information about the March of Dimes, visit marchofdimes.com/florida.

EDITORIAL

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AUGUST 2 – AUGUST 8, 2013

Time to stop tolerating what’s happening in Florida When something we’ve been doing all our lives becomes too difficult to continue doing, yet we want to do something to make a difference, we often agonize over what we can do.

After an unbelievable verdict in the George Zimmerman case, Stevie Wonder made a choice not to perform in certain states that insist upon holding onto their dangerous Stand Your Ground laws.

A few days later, people of all colors and cultures made a decision to attend rallies in over 130 cities around the country at the call of Rev. Al Sharpton to put our thoughts together on con-

Sick and tired

Dr. E. Florida isn’t the only Faye place we find problems, but Williams, one must admit it’s a huge Esq. example of what we should TRICE EDNEY WIRE

structive things we can do to deal with our pain over the murder of Trayvon Martin.

We came up with many ideas from numerous speakers. One of the consistent themes was voting in every election. Another recurring theme was not to spend our money in places that are not only dangerous for our children, but where even adults like us are not respected.

no longer tolerate, and even Floridians must be sick and tired of what’s happening in their state.

There was a time when we knew Florida for great oranges and wonderful sunshine, but those are the last things we have on our minds now when we think about Florida.

For years now, we’ve had serious concerns about Florida, and now uppermost in our minds are such things as Florida refusing to count votes right, putting up road-

VISUAL VIEWPOINT: PHONY SCANDALS

Washington, it would be worth it to bring your children to see the Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial and teach them all that Dr. King did to make our nation a better place for all.

Show them Sojourner Truth who presides over Emancipation Hall in the Capitol. Visit the statue of Frederick Douglass, there, too. Go to Statuary Hall. See memorials for Dr. King and Rosa Parks. Tell your children about their great work.

Don’t forget to tell them the Capitol was built on the labor of our ancestors who were brought here in chains and forced to work, but never paid fairly.

Stop by to see Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune’s memorial and Benjamin Banneker Overlook. Visit Dick Gregory who speaks truth to power for us, and devour the geCome to D.C. nius of a man who risked As crazy as things are in his life and gave money to blocks to voting, sending a woman to jail 20 years for defending herself in a domestic violence case, blaming a child for his own death when an overzealous neighborhood watchman decides to pick a fight with an unarmed child, then claim to be the victim and murder the child, having an adult decide he can just drive up, shoot into a car and murder another child because he doesn’t like his music.

The Dream Defenders began a sit-in at the Florida governor’s office to discuss issues that can no longer be ignored. With all the tragedies there, surely many Floridians would prefer that we not risk taking our children there to see a rat at Disney World! There’re far more meaningful things to do.

buy food for hungry people when their officials tried to starve them during the Civil Rights Movement.

Show your children the White House where the President and his family live. Tell them just 50 years ago Black people weren’t allowed to vote, but our many strengths helped us work our way out of slavery faster than any group in the world has ever done.

Come by Truth House — home of the National Congress of Black Women to see the work we do every day to make a difference in the world.

Dr. E. Faye Williams is Chair of the National Congress of Black Women. www.nationalcongressbw.org. Click on this story at www.flcourier.com to write your own response.

It’s time for Blacks to support their own

RICK MCKEE, THE AUGUSTA CHRONICLE

Obama and GOP speak the same language President Obama went to a low-wage warehouse in Chattanooga in the rightto-work state of Tennessee to renew his offer to massively lower corporate tax rates – from 35 to 28 percent – and had the nerve to call it a “Grand Bargain” for the middle class.

Surrounding the president were employees who do backbreaking work for $11 or $12 an hour – and can by no stretch of imagination be considered middle-class. Obama praised their cutthroat Amazon corporation bosses as the sort of benign masters that he’s depending on to bring the country back to economic health – once they’ve been properly incentivized with lower tax rates on the one hand, and outright public subsidies on the other.

Amazon is only invested in Tennessee because the state has given the corporation huge tax breaks that

GLEN FORD BLACK AGENDA REPORT

Obama promised to call a meeting of the CEOs of the same corporations that sent the jobs overseas, to ask them to do more for the country – as if they haven’t done enough already. He’s got another program called Select USA, that offers tax breaks and other incentives to foreign corporations that locate facilities in the U.S. There is no jobs creation plan, only a series of corporate tax giveaway programs.

For workers, there’s the minimum wage, now set at $7.25 an hour. Obama promised, once again, in Chattanooga, to try to raise that to $9.00. But back in 2008, candidate Obama vowed to fight for $9.50. I guess somewhere along the way, he lost his incentive.

will allow it to undercut other booksellers, forcing them out of business and their workers into unemployment. Amazon’s 7,000 new low-wage jobs come at the cost of layoffs and bankruptcies among its competitors.

Obama used the Chattanooga visit to re-pitch much of his last State of the Union Address, in which he pledged to work for a public-private partnership to upgrade the privatelyowned U.S. infrastructure such as energy grids and ports. That’s a euphemism for spending billions in Glen Ford is executive public monies to subsidize private profit-making cor- editor of BlackAgendaReporations. port.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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Frederick Douglass once said, “You can’t get crops without plowing the land.’’

Samora Machel said, “You can’t get tea without boiling the water” and Lucius Gantt said, “You can’t get wine without stomping the grapes!”

African-Americans are the only group of people I know who want a heavenly life who feel the way to get it is to please the devil!

Many African-American organizations and groups have had or have scheduled conventions and meetings in Florida. Those groups have been asked to boycott Florida until laws that allow racists to haunt, stalk, follow and kill unarmed children are changed or repealed.

Devil’s puppets But the devil’s little puppets said don’t do that because if people don’t stay at Disney hotel properties, Black people will be hurt and if people don’t fly Delta or Southwest or American Airlines to Florida, Black people will get hurt.

The devil’s messengers will say the same things that house Negroes said during slavery, “If massa is sick, we sick too” or “if missy is hurt, we hurt too!’’

Fifty years ago, AfricanAmericans could buy ev-

Lucius Gantt THE GANTT REPORT

bankers so let’s use an example of what AfricanAmericans can do to the world’s most powerful financiers.

If Black churches, Black businesses, Black families and Black individuals would withdraw all of their money from any single bank all in one day, that bank would be terribly damaged financially and perhaps have to stop doing business because White people with a lot of money don’t keep their money in American banks.

If we want to progress, we must understand that oftentimes proper limits have to be exceeded in order to right a wrong.

The devilish ones want us to merely suffer and smile!

The devil’s puppets want us to sing and pray our way to justice and equality but freedom is more likely to come from swinging instead of singing.

erything they wanted or needed from Black business people. There were Blackowned clothing stores, hardware stores, laundries, cleaners, hotels, restaurants, cab companies, bars, grocery stores, fish markets, tailors, nightclubs, liquor stores, national and statewide newspapers, radio stations, colleges and other schools.

Those businesses are still in Black neighborhoods but now are owned by Jews, Indians, Arabs, Cubans and others that exploit Black communities by taking money out of our neighborhoods and taking it to White neighborhoods in the suburbs. There are more Chinese restaurants in Black communities than there are Excerpts from Gantt colBlack restaurants! umns are now posted every week on The Gantt ReWe must change port’s Facebook page. Buy Yes, we must begin to un- Gantt’s latest book, “Beast derstand that things must Too: Dead Man Writing” change. We cannot prog- on Amazon.com Contact ress in 2013 doing things we him at www.allworldcondid in 2003 but we can use sultants.net. Click on this strategies that worked well story at www.flcourier. in earlier days. com to write your own reI don’t care for beast sponse.

‘No one winning under Obama economy’ Unemployment is still well above seven percent. The recession ended long ago, but Americans are still hurting. Considering the politics of President Obama, however, should we really be surprised?

Remember when Obama was caught on an open microphone in early 2012 passing word to Vladimir Putin that he expected to have “more flexibility” after his re-election? He’s certainly made good on that assertion, and now openly exhibits progressive extremism.

Getting worse While not documented as unemployment demographic, one Obama constituency seemingly doing well is the same-sex marriage community. They recently got a huge influx of federal benefits due to the Supreme Court’s invalidating the Defense of Marriage Act and overturning the will of California voters to define marriage as strictly a man-woman affair.

Beyond special interest jealousy in counting out their spoils, all Americans are losing under the policies of the Obama administration. Despite a brief dip in unemployment close to Election Day 2012 (and

DERRYCK GREEN GUEST COLUMNIST

further regulate the coal industry toward extinction, he has raised energy efficiency standards that will make products less safe and more expensive and he has doubled (or is it tripled or quadrupled?) down on the alternative energy boondoggles that brought shame to his first term.

Despite assurances from other Obama Administration officials after the speech that there is no “war on coal,” White House advisor Daniel Schrag told the New York Times “a war on coal is exactly what’s needed.”

So, in short, unless you’re a healthy, engaged (or married) homosexual union member working for an alternative energy company, there are some tough years ahead.

how suspicious is that?), economic misery is getting worse. With more than three-quarters of Americans living paycheck-topaycheck, the circumstances bode ill for the future of the republic.

Take the example of Obamacare – the crown jewel of Obama’s presidency. So far, it’s led to higher premiums, higher taxes, layoffs, cut hours and rationing.

Exposing the foolhardiness of passing Obamacare before finding out what was in it, the Obama Administration recently postponed enforcement of the emDerryck Green, a memployer mandate until 2015 (again, conveniently past ber of the national advisory council of the Projan upcoming election). ect 21 Black leadership network. Comments may War on coal And health care is on- be sent to Project21@naly one of many econom- tioanlcenter.org. This is ic woes these days. For in- a New Visions Commenstance, electricity prices in tary paper published in May were the highest for July by the National Cenany May ever. And what is ter for Public Policy ReObama doing about it? He search. Click on this story announced executive ac- at www.flcourier.com to tions in June that would write your own response.

AUGUST 2 – AUGUST 8, 2013

EDITORIAL

From conversation to action: After Trayvon President Barack Obama eloquently described the agony experienced among African-Americans from the slaying of Trayvon Martin. He called for a more thoughtful “conversation” on race, convened not by politicians, but among families, in churches and workplaces.

He suggested modest steps to provide greater training on racial profiling with police, greater efforts to figure out how to do a “better job helping young AfricanAmerican men feel that they’re a full part of this society and that they’ve got pathways and avenues to succeed.”

The president’s courageous comments merit praise and consideration. But we’ve had a long conversation about race in America. No small part of American history has been devoted to that “conversation” and that struggle. And as the president said, great progress has been made.

Policies next step What we need now is action.

The president’s personal narrative must translate into policy. His sentiments must be turned into meaningful solutions.

Young African-American boys need positive reinforcement, but they also need adequate nutrition

Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. TRICEEDNEYWIRE.COM

as infants, good education as children, and jobs once they get out of school. Unemployment among Black teenagers not in school hit a staggering 42.6 percent in June (up from a miserable 36.4 percent a year ago).

Blacks and Hispanics are clustered into low-wage, unstable jobs, and physically concentrated in impoverished ghettos and barrios, mostly in our nation’s cities.

Fodder for prison According to the census, in 31 cities, the unemployment rate is above 40 percent. In six of them, the unemployment rate is above 50 percent, which makes these young men fodder for the prison industrial complex. This is a global disgrace.

These men need more than a conversation about them from those who already have jobs. They need a plan. Lift them up where they belong. This is good policy for Americans. Lifting them is cheaper and much more wholesome

A5

VISUAL VIEWPOINT: PHONY SCANDALS

than talking about them and leaving them in the margins.

Yet, the last time we had any major effort targeted at the concentrated areas of poverty and joblessness was Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty in the 1960s.

In fact, Johnson’s war was remarkably successful, reducing childhood poverty and providing work or training to millions. But its programs fell victim to the costs of the Vietnam War.

Attacks on poor Now, instead of concerted programs to provide hope and opportunity, African-Americans witness concerted attacks on the poor.

North Carolina, for example, has become one of six southern states to introduce new voter ID laws since the Supreme Court’s conservative justices dismembered the Voting Rights Act. The Senate version requires a state issued ID, disqualifies student IDs for voting. The House version cuts early voting, same day registration and more. Of the 316,000 registered voters without a state-issued ID, 34 percent are African-American and 55 percent registered Democrats.

Since Republicans took control in North Carolina in 2012, the state has taken a hard shift to the

NATE BEELER, COLUMBUS DISPATCH

right. So far this year, bills passed or pending by Republicans would eliminate the Earned Income Tax Credit for 900,000 low wage workers, reduce Medicaid benefits for 500,000 and federal unemployment benefits for 170,000, cut 30,000 kids out of pre-K, and transferred $90 million from public to voucher schools.

Moral Mondays In North Carolina, people of conscience realized that a conversation about the situation wasn’t enough. The Rev. William Barber III, president of the North Carolina NAACP, helped create “Moral Mondays,” weekly protests at the state capitol to “dramatize the shameful condition of our state.”

These protests have grown dramatically, with thousands getting

arrested in peaceful civil disobedience to challenge the assault on voting rights and on the poor.

If we are to provide hope for young African-American boys, we need a bottom up economics targeted to provide jobs in communities scarred by high levels of unemployment and poverty.

Whatever the president’s agenda, Rev. Barber is right. Nothing will get through the obstructionists in Congress unless citizens of conscience mobilize across the nation and demand action. That will create the conversation we need to make progress once more.

Keep up with Rev. Jackson and the work of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition at www.rainbowpush. org. Click on this story at www. flcourier.com to write your own response.

The profit of protest – definitely in the black Overruling myself, I am now doing what I said I would not; I am writing a column in which I mention two items: Skittles and Iced Tea. I cringed every time I heard those words during the pursuit of justice for Trayvon Martin and his family, and throughout the trial of George Zimmerman.

They became synonymous with Trayvon himself, and were mentioned just as much as his name was mentioned.

As far back as March 2012, demonstrations and protests were held, one of which took place in Liberty City, Florida, that featured protesters holding up bags of Skittles and cans of Arizona Tea. In case you have not yet figured out the connection by reading the title of this article, as Booker T. Washington said many years ago, “Beneath politics, beneath education, even beneath religion, lies economics.”

And I would add, even beneath

JAMES CLINGMAN NNPA COLUMNIST

protest lies profit. Understanding that nothing happens in this capitalistic society until something is sold, when I read about the windfall profits of Wrigley and Mars, makers of Skittles, that truism hit home even more.

Residue of profit Having discussed this phenomenon in a previous article, titled “Marching in Place”, I felt compelled to finally write one that includes the words: Skittles and Tea. Our protests leave a residue of profit for many companies, some of which is unavoidable, admittedly; but in the case of Trayvon

nothing to do with George Zimmerman killing Trayvon Martin, and yet they have become “symbols” in the aftermath of his death. If young Martin had nothing in his hands that night, would it have made any difference? Absolutely not.

Would it have made any difference at Emmett Till’s funeral if they announced what brand of bubble gum he bought in that store? Of course not. But folks back then had a little more sense than we do now. They did not rush out and buy the bubble gum and wave it during their protests and mail it to the police chief of “Money,” (another irony) Mississippi.

Now some may say this is a trivial thing and maybe even question why I chose to write about it. Well, my intention is to get us to see, once and for all, the role Death aftermath Blacks play in the economics of Quite honestly, Skittles and this country – yes, even in the face Arizona Iced Tea had absolutely of tragedy.

Martin, the protests in which people purchased candy and tea, and even hoodies in many instances, resulted in unexpected, incremental, and welcomed profits by the manufacturers of those products. What a country! Huh? We protest while others profit.

And as I said in my previous article, we count people “at” our protests while others count profits “from” our protests. Symbolism over substance.

Arizona Beverage and Wrigley/ Mars, although innocent and unattached to the tragedy received windfalls from it. Mark my words, someone will soon, if they have not already, go to these two companies for money, thus, exploiting even further the death of Trayvon Martin. I wonder who will be first at that feeding trough.

Viewing trends from coast to coast Have I told you how much I love being part of the cutting edge research of the latest and greatest in technology and how consumer trends and behaviors impact that technology; or how much I especially love sharing that knowledge with you? It is empowering to know that our tech savvy world we live in continues to evolve at rapid speeds, largely because of our preferences as consumers.

Nielsen recently released its first ever Local Watch Report, which explores the media consumption trends of U.S. consumers, depending on where they live.

As a group, Blacks log more TV viewing hours, about six and a half hours a day, (including both live TV and DVR playback) than any other demographic. But, what’s also interesting, is the viewing time, detailed what area you live in these great United States.

The leading cities in live TV consumption in daily hours and minutes are: Pittsburgh (five hours, 28 minutes, up 21 minutes from 2012); St. Louis (five hours, 23 minutes, up 15 minutes from 2012); Baltimore (five hours, 19 minutes, up eight minutes from 2012); Philadelphia (five hours, 18 minutes, and that’s down 11 minutes from 2012) and Detroit (five hours, 15 minutes, up six minutes from 2012).

Consumers are watching the least amount of TV in San Francisco (two hours, 57 minutes, down eight minutes from 2012); followed by Los Angeles (three hours, 39 minutes, down 15 minutes

cause 69% of African-Americans own them. It appears CHERYL that we are taking a little PEARSON- longer, though, to warm up MCNEIL to tablets –about 11% of us overall own these gadgets.

NNPA COLUMNIST And, just as we watch the most TV, we use our mobile from 2012); Denver (three devices for watching video hours, 45 minutes, down at a 30% higher rate than the 11 minutes from 2012); Se- rest of the population. attle (three hours 50 minutes, down 24 minutes from 2012) and Minneapolis (four Smart phones The percentages of our hours, also down 24 minutes from 2012). When we talk device ownership tend to traditional TV, we also have jump, however, when we to keep in mind the other check out the numbers martimes-shifted choices. ket by market. These are the In addition to live TV, DVR top African-American Marplayback, VOD (video on kets for smartphone pendemand) and viewing over- etration: Chicago (75%), the-top content (video deWashington, D.C. (73%), Atlivered via the Internet) are lanta (72%), New York (72%) also measured. and Dallas (72%). Here are our top areas for tablet ownSmart TV ership: Tampa (28%), AtlanLet’s get back to that overta (27%), Boston (26%), New the-top content viewing for a minute. Smart TV (also York (26%) and Washington, known as connected or hy- D.C. (26%).

What does all of this mean brid TV, a television set that integrates the use of the In- to any of us? It means that ternet or is connected to a marketers and manufacturset-top box (signal receiver), ers have a myriad of opporBlu-Ray player or game con- tunities to understand, apsole) ownership is experi- preciate and reach you as encing some growth in pop- unique and diverse consumularity. ers in locations (as equally The largest penetration of diverse) each with their own these Smart TVs with their personalities. Best of all, you over-the-top video streamget to choose. So, you drive ing capabilities is in San Francisco, where there is the market. eight percent ownership. On the other hand, Smart TV ownership is lowest in Charlotte with 2.9 percent.

As for other options to view content portable is also the way to. For example, we love our smartphones, be-

Cheryl Pearson-McNeil is senior vice president of Public Affairs and Government Relations for Nielsen.

For more information and studies go to www.nielsenwire.com.

I want us to understand how to keep the main thing the main thing in all that we do, especially when it comes to economic empowerment. If this article does not at least cause you to think about our collective actions and the futility thereof in many cases, if it does not make you know that many times our dollars just don’t make good sense, then I have failed to do my job. I will keep trying though; you can count on it.

Jim Clingman is founder of the Greater Cincinnati African American Chamber of Commerce. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Cincinnati and can be reached through his Web site, blackonomics.com. Click on this story at www.flcourier.com to write your own response.

Justice for Trayvon is about justice for all “Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago.”

President Barack Obama In the weeks since the not-guilty verdict in the second-degree murder trial of George Zimmerman, widespread outrage and legitimate questions about the treatment and perception of young Black men in America have reverberated throughout the nation.

On Friday, July 19, in an unscripted appearance in the White House Press Room, President Obama spoke personally about the historical racial context and the negative preconceptions that may have led to the death of Trayvon Martin.

He also talked about the racial indignities and systemic disparities that millions of Black men face every day and the questionable Stand Your Ground laws that may be causing more violence than they are supposedly meant to prevent.

And the President suggested he would use his “convening power” to engage a cross-section of citizens in doing more to give African-American boys “the sense that their country cares about them and values them and is willing to invest in them.”

Obama insightful We applaud the President for his insightful comments. We hope they touch the nation’s conscience

the ceiling to scare off her abusive husband who was charging towards her with MARC H. murderous intent.

Unlike the Zimmerman MORIAL case, a Stand Your Ground TRICE EDNEY WIRE self-defense claim did not prevent Alexander’s conand advance the kind of viction. dialogue and action that is needed to heal America’s festering racial divisions Something’s wrong Clearly, something is and prevent the deaths of wrong when the man who more Trayvon Martins.

The death of Trayvon killed Trayvon Martin is Martin has re-energized acquitted, while a Black the civil rights community woman who fired a warnand inspired an outpour- ing shot gets 20 years. As ing of citizen action not President Obama noted, seen since the height of the “there is a history of racial movement 50 years ago. disparities in the applicaThe NUL we will be in- tion of our criminal laws, tensifying our quest for a everything from the death thorough civil rights in- penalty to enforcement of vestigation, along with ef- our drug laws.” forts to end to racial proThese disparities are filing and abolish of Stand more than demeaning, Your Ground laws across they are leading to the the country. Many of over-incarceration, underthose “shoot first”laws are employment and disencontributing to needless franchisement of millions bloodshed and are ripe for unequal application based of African-American men.

The death of Trayon race. von Martin has ignited a A recent study by Texas firestorm of protest. And it’s A&M University found that Stand Your Ground type not just about the shooting, laws increase homicides but the many ways Ameriby 17-50 percent, “which ca continues to devalue translates into as many as young Black men. Justice 50 additional justifiable for Trayvon is about justice for all. homicides a year.”

And as the case of MaMarc Morial is presirissa Alexander shows, the Florida law is not even be- dent/CEO of the National ing applied consistently. Urban League. Click on Alexander, who is Black, this story at www.flcouriis serving 20 years in pris- er.com to write your own on for firing a single shot at response.

TOj A6

NATION

AUGUST 2 – AUGUST 8, 2013

A rebirth of ‘protesting and organizing’ National Urban League, NAACP say recent injustices have helped to reignite movement

members into the NAACP family – with the energy and determination of an organization that understands that in a democracy. Organized people can win every time - but only if they are organized.”

Other civil rights groups

BY HAZEL TRICE EDNEY TRICE EDNEY NEWS WIRE

As America prepares to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, civil rights leaders are declaring a rebirth of protests and demonstrations in the face of new injustices.

“Our protesting and organizing days are not over. They are beginning anew,” declared the Rev. Roslyn Brock, chair of the NAACP. “For 104 years, we have been keepers of the flame.

We are those who burn with a desire to ensure justice for all. I challenge you tonight my friends, to take up the torchRev. Roslyn es of freedom, libBrock erty and justice.

Go back to your neighborhood, towns, and states and shine a light on injustice where ever it may be found.”

That was the clarion call made

by Brock in her opening speech at the NAACP Convention in Orlando in mid-July. Brock is not alone in her sentiments.

More from Morial A week later, National Urban League President/CEO Marc Morial told thousands at his annual convention in Philadelphia that recent infringements on civil rights have reignited the movement.

“In less than 30 days, we’ve seen the United States Supreme Court gut and disable a core provision of the Voting Rights Act that improved our democracy and was one of the crowning achievements of a civil rights generation whose sacrifices – of both life and

TRAVIS LONG/RALEIGH NEWS & OBSERVER/MCT

Emmanuel Thombs, 13, rallies with about 100 people to protest the not-guilty verdict in the George Zimmerman murder trial on July 14 at Moore Square in downtown Raleigh, N.C. limb – propelled us to more progress in the past 50 years than we had experienced since our nation’s inception,” Morial said.

“In less than 30 days, we’ve seen a decision in Florida in the killing of a young unarmed teenager – one of our sons – once again bring to light the inequities in America’s criminal justice system. These events have sparked the flame of the 21st century Civil Rights Movement. However, these events are not isolated – they join a growing list of old challenges.”

Fueled by verdict Asking the audience, “Can we count on you?” Morial echoed the song “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now!” and invited the audience to “Join us in Washington, DC next month as we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom with the highest honor possible – by continuing its work and ushering in the change necessary

for ongoing progress.”

In part, the not guilty verdict of George Zimmerman in the killing of Florida teen Trayvon Martin has fueled the fiery moment. Even President Obama weighed in with a Black perspective on the racial disparities that remain.

But, as stated by Morial, it has been a convergence of civil rights events that has bought America back to a boil over the apparently digressing state of justice and equality. Among those events is the string of major civil rights anniversaries that have created an atmosphere of reflection and commemoration this year.

Year of anniversaries Brock listed this year’s anniversaries as shining like “stars in the heavens. ‘’ Among them: • 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation (Jan. 1, 1863) • 100th anniversary of the death of abolitionist Harriet Tubman (March 10, 1913)

• 100th anniversary of the birth of civil rights heroine Rosa Parks (Feb. 4, 1913) • 50th anniversary of the assassination of NAACP Field Secretary Medgar Wiley Evers (June 12, 1963) • 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom (August 28, 1963) • 50th anniversary of the bombing of 16th Street Baptist Church (Sept. 15, 1963) • 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy (Nov. 22, 1963) The next commemoration, the Aug. 24 march on the Washington Mall, launches a new season of unity and protest, predicts Ben Jealous, NAACP president/CEO. “We will start this August by turning up the heat in every Congressional district, at every Senator’s Town Hall Meeting and on the National Mall at the March on Washington,” he said in his convention speech.

“And we will continue to recruit new activists and dues-paying

The NAACP, at 104 years old, and the National Urban League, at 103, represent the oldest civil rights organizations in the country. But, they are joined in their sentiments by other Black leadership groups that are equally stable and respected.

Those groups include Melanie Campbell’s Black Women’s Roundtable; Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network; Rev. Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow/PUSH Coalition; and Barbara Arnwine’s Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, all of which have committed to uniting for an escalated movement.

Morial stressed that recent events are so impactful that they should not be exclusive to African-American protest.

“When I sat down to prepare these remarks and I started thinking about what I would say, I had no idea that the nation would be riveted and communities challenged in the way they have been in the past month. But the challenge before us now is to create a new “Civil Rights Movement for Economic Empowerment and Justice,” he said.

“If 1963 was about Jobs and Freedom – two, zero, one, three is about economic empowerment and justice…a continuation movement standing on the shoulders of progress in which a new generation of Blacks, Whites, Hispanics, Native Americans, Asians, Jews, Gentiles, Protestants, Catholics, Hindus, Muslims – people from all walks of life, dispositions and orientations coalesce around working together to ensure that the promise of life, liberty and economic opportunity becomes real for this generation.

“We started it 50 years ago, and it’s time to finish our business.’’ He added.

Willie Louis, witness to 1955 murder of Emmett Till, dies at 76

BY NAOMI NIX CHICAGO TRIBUNE/MCT

Willie Louis, a witness to the murder of Emmett Till who testified in court in the case that opened the nation’s eyes to the dangerous discrimination facing AfricanAmericans in the 1950s, died of intestinal bleeding July 18 at a hospital in a Chicago suburb, his family said. He was 76.

After the trial, fearing for his life in the South, Louis fled to Chicago, changed his name and slipped out of the public eye for nearly 50 years.

Louis was born June 14, 1937, in Greenwood, Miss., and lived with his grandparents, who worked as shareEmmett croppers, said his wife, JuTill liet.

On Aug. 28, 1955, the 14-year-old Till, who was visiting Mississippi from Chicago, was murdered after he allegedly whistled at a white woman. On that day, Louis, then known as Willie Reed, noticed two White men driving a truck into a barn with two Black males in the back.

Had to tell He was standing with an older woman near a well when he heard a male screaming for his life inside the barn, his wife said.

“He heard all this hollering and screaming until there was no more hollering and screaming,” she said.

Later that day, a White man approached Louis with a gun, Juliet Louis said. “He said, ‘Boy, did you see anything?’ And he said ‘no.’ He said, ‘Did you hear anything?’ He said ‘no.’”

The next morning he found out that Till’s lynched body had been dumped in the Tallahatchie River.

Louis’ grandfather told him he shouldn’t tell anyone because it was too dangerous to accuse a White man of murder, but a few days later civil rights leaders asked him about what he may have seen, his wife said.

“He said he couldn’t have lived with it; he had to tell them what he saw,” she said.

Hid by doctor Louis agreed to testify in court, and a local Black doctor hid him until the trial started later that year.

Despite his testimony, the two White men accused of the murder were acquitted

CHARLES CHERNEY/CHICAGO TRIBUNE/MCT

Willie Louis is shown in this February 10, 2009 file photograph. He died of intestinal bleeding July 18. by an all-White jury.

After the trial, Louis took a train to Chicago, where he changed his name. The psychological stress of witnessing a murder and testifying in court took a toll, causing him to suffer a nervous breakdown that landed him in a hospital, his wife said.

Till’s family lost touch with Louis soon after the trial, Till’s relative Wheeler Parker said.

“We thought something had happened to him,” Parker said. “We thought someone killed him.”

In the late 1950s, Louis became an orderly at Woodlawn Hospital in Chicago and later at Jackson Park Hospital. He retired in 2006.

Louis met his future wife in 1971 at Jackson Park Hospital. She was working as a nursing aide in the intensive care unit when Louis came to pick up a patient.

The couple married in 1976, but it would be eight more years before Juliet Louis discovered her husband was a witness in the Till case, she said. Even after she found out, “he didn’t talk about it much.”

That changed when a journalist, Stanley Nelson, came to Louis’ home in Chicago asking him to participate in his research project about the murder.

“Stanley started having him bring back memories,” his wife said. “It opened up a wound.”

Featured on PBS Nelson’s research turned into a book and a documentary, which eventually aired on PBS. Nelson introduced Louis to Till’s mother. Soon after, Louis began talking about what he witnessed publicly at community events and in a 2004 “60 Minutes” interview.

Those close to him hope his legacy will last beyond his death.

“I think his story needs to be told over and over again,” Parker said. “He’s a great role model in doing what’s right.”

Besides his wife, Louis’ survivors include a stepson, seven grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.

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Pulitzer Prize-winning author explores the re-enslavement of Blacks from the Civil War to World War II

A CRY FOR HELP

Editor’s note: This is the first of a series on Race in America Past and Present America’s Twentieth-Century Slavery. It explores the little-known story of how hundreds of thousands of Blacks worked in brutal bondage right up until World War II.

H

aving exhausted all other options, a desperate young woman named Carrie Kinsey wrote a letter directly to President Theodore Roosevelt asking him to help her brother, who had been taken to a forced labor camp nearby. She writes: “Let me have him. He have not don nothing for them to chase him in chanes.”

On July 31, 1903, the letter addressed to President Theodore Roosevelt arrived at the White House. It had been mailed from the town of Bainbridge, Ga., the prosperous seat of a cotton county perched on the Florida state line.

The sender was a barely literate African-American woman named Carrie Kinsey. With little punctuation and few capital letters, she penned the bare facts of the abduction of her 14-yearold brother, James Robinson, who a year earlier had been sold into involuntary servitude.

Kinsey already had asked for help from the powerful White people in her world. She knew where her brother had been taken – a vast plantation not far away called Kinderlou. There, hundreds of Black men and boys were held in chains and forced to labor in the fields or in one of several factories owned by the McRee family, one of the wealthiest and most powerful in Georgia. No White official in this corner of the state would take an interest in the abduction and enslavement of a Black teenager.

No action taken Confronted with a world of indifferent White people, Mrs.

Bottom row left: Child convicts work in the field in 1903.

Photo is courtesy of Detroit Publishing Company.

TRICE EDNEY NEWS WIRE

Grisly correspondence As dumbfounding as the story told by the Carrie Kinsey letter is, far more remarkable is what surrounds that letter at the National Archives. In the same box that holds her grief-stricken missive are at least half a dozen other pieces of correspondence recounting other stories of kidnapping, perversion of the

Top row left: John Spizack’s photo of a man tied to a pickax in the early 1930s is courtesy of the Harry Ransom Center University of Texas at Austin.

Top row right: Four convicts are photographed between 1900 and 1906.

Photo is courtesy of the Library of Congress.

DOUGLAS A. BLACKMON

Kinsey did the only remaining thing she could think of.

Newspapers across the country had recently reported on a speech by Roosevelt promising a “square deal” for Black Americans. Mrs. Kinsey decided that her only remaining hope was to beg the president of the United States to help her brother.

“Mr. Prassident,” she wrote.

“They wont let me have him....

He hase not don nothing for them to have him in chanes so I rite to you for your help.”

Considered more than a century later, her letter courses with desperation and submerged outrage. Yet when received at the White House, it was slipped into a small rectangular folder and forwarded to the Department of Justice.

There, it was tagged with a reference number, 12007, and filed away. Teddy Roosevelt never saw it. No action was taken. Her words lie still at the National Archives just outside Washington, D.C.

THE PHOTOS ON THIS PAGE AND B2 ARE FROM PBS.ORG. THEY WERE FEATURED IN PBS’ DOCUMENTARY, “SLAVERY

BY ANOTHER NAME’’ BASED ON THE BOOK

BY DOUGLAS A. BLACKMON.

Bottom row right: A guard at the new Louisiana State Penitentiary holds a bull whip in 1955. Photo courtesy of Getty.

Left: This photo, courtesy of the Birmingham Public Library, shows convicts on a wagon in the Alabama city. courts, or human traffickingas horrifying as, or worse than, Carrie Kinsey’s tale.

It is the same in the next box on the shelf. And the one before. And the ones on either side of those. And the next and the next. And on and on.

Thousands and thousands of plaintive letters and grimly bureaucratic responses-altogether at least 30,000 pages of original material-chronicle cases of forced labor and involuntary servitude in the South decades after the end of the Civil War. “i have a little girl that has been kidnapped from me ... and i cant get her out,” wrote

the Rev. L. R. Farmer, pastor of a Black Baptist church in Morganton, N.C. “i want ask you is it law for people to whip (col) people and keep them and not allow them to leave without a pass.”

Thousands of stories A farmer near Pine Apple, Ala., named J. R. Adams, writing of terrible abuses by the dominant landowning family in the county, was one of the astonishingly few White southerners who also complained to the Department of Justice. “They have held negroes ... for years,”

Adams wrote. “It is a very rare thing that a negro escapes.”

A similar body of material rests in the files of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the one institution that undertook any sustained effort to address at least the most terrible cases.

Dwarfing everything at those repositories are the still largely unexamined collections of local records in courthouses across the South.

In dank basements, abandoned buildings, and local archives, seemingly endless numSee HELP, Page B2

B2

HELP from B1 bers of files contain hundreds of thousands of handwritten entries documenting in monotonous granularity the details of an immense, metastasizing horror that stretched well into the 20th century.

Hundreds of thousands re-enslaved By the first years after 1900, tens of thousands of African-American men and boys, along with a smaller number of women, had been sold by southern state governments. An exponentially larger number, of whom surviving records are painfully incomplete, had been forced into labor through county and local courts, backwoods justices of the peace, and outright kidnapping and trafficking.

The total number of those re-enslaved in the 75 years between the end of the Civil War and the beginning of World War II can’t be precisely determined, but based on the records that do survive, we can safely say it happened to hundreds of thousands.

How many more African-Americans circumscribed their lives in dramatic ways, or abandoned all to flee the South entirely, to avoid that fate or mob violence? It is impossible to know. Millions.

Generations.

AUGUST 2 – AUGUST 8, 2013

STOJ

In the 1880s, Alabama, North Carolina, and Florida passed laws making it a crime for a Black man to change employers without permission...

laborers held against their will. He discovered that the brothers had arrangements with sheriffs and other officers in at least six other Georgia counties.

Brothers indicted

a crime for a Black man to speak loudly in the company of a White woman... a crime to sell the proceeds of his farm to anyone other than the man he rented land from... a crime to fail to yield a sidewalk to White people.

Above: Work is being done on a pit in Macon, Ga.. around 1900. Photo courtesy of the Georgia Archives Vanishing Georgia Collection.

Left: An overseer watches the chain gang at Oglethorpe County, Ga. Photo courtesy of Library of Congress.

Bottom left: Slavery was over, but Blacks still weren’t free.

Bottom right: No action was taken on Carrie’s Kinsey’s letter to Teddy Roosevelt.

After ‘Lincoln’ victory This is not an easy story for Americans to receive, much less accept. The idea that not just civil rights but basic freedom itself was denied to an enormous population of African-Americans until the middle of the 20th century fits nowhere in the triumphalist, steady-progress, greatest-generations accounts we prefer for our national narrative.

That the thrilling events depicted in Steven Spielberg’s recent film “Lincoln,’’ – the heroic, frenzied campaign by Abraham Lincoln leading to passage of the Thirteenth Amendment abolishing slavery – were in fact later trumped not just by discrimination and segregation but by the resurrection of a full-blown derivative of slavery itself.

This story of re-enslavement is irrefutably true, however. Indeed, even as Spielberg’s film conveys the euphoria felt by African-Americans and all opposed to slavery upon passage of the amendment in 1865, it also unintentionally foreshadows the demise of that brighter future.

Back to reality On the night of the amendment’s passage in the film, the AfricanAmerican housekeeper and, as presented in the film, secret lover of the abolitionist Congressman Thaddeus Stevens, played by the actress S. Epatha Merkerson, reads the amendment aloud. First, the sweeping banishment of slavery. And then, an often overlooked but powerful prepositional phrase: “except as a punishment for crime.”

It began with Reconstruction. Faced with empty government coffers, a paralyzing intellectual inability to contemplate equitable labor arrangements with former chattel, profound resentment against the emancipated freedmen, and a desperate economic need to force Black workers back into the fields, White landowners and government officials began using the South’s criminal courts to compel African-Americans back into slavery.

In the first years after the Civil War, even as former slaves optimistically swarmed into new schools and lined up at courthouses at every whisper of a hope of economic inde-

pendence, the Southern states began enacting an array of interlocking laws that would make all African-Americans criminals, regardless of their conduct, and thereby making it legal to force them into chain gangs, labor camps, and other forms of involuntarily servitude.

New statutes By the end of 1865, every Southern state except Arkansas and Tennessee had passed laws outlawing vagrancy and defining it so vaguely that virtually any freed slave not under the protection of a White man could be arrested for the crime. An 1865 Mississippi statute required Black workers to enter into labor contracts with White farmers by January 1 of every year or risk arrest.

Four other states legislated that African-Americans could not legally be hired for work without a discharge paper from their previous employer-effectively preventing them from leaving the plantation of the White man they worked for.

After the return of nearly complete White political control in 1877, the passage of those laws accelerated. Some, particularly those that explicitly said they applied only to African-Americans, were struck down in court appeals or through federal interventions, but new statutes embracing the same strictures on Black life quickly replaced them.

Most of the new laws were written as if they applied to everyone, but in reality they were overwhelmingly enforced only against African- Americans.

Trumped-up crimes In the 1880s, Alabama, North Carolina, and Florida passed laws making it a crime for a Black man to change employers without permission. It was a crime for a Black man to speak loudly in the company of a White woman, a crime to have a gun in his pocket, and a crime to sell the proceeds of his farm to anyone other than the man he rented land from.

It was a crime to walk

beside a railroad line, a crime to fail to yield a sidewalk to White people, a crime to sit among Whites on a train, and it was most certainly a crime to engage in sexual relations with-or, God forbid, to show true love and affection for-a White girl.

And that’s how it happened. Within a few years of the passage of these laws, tens of thousands of Black men and boys, and a smaller number of Black women, were being arrested and sold into forced labor camps by state officials, local judges, and sheriffs. During this time, some actual criminals were sold into slavery, and a small percentage of them were White. But the vast majority were Black men accused of trivial or trumped-up crimes.

Compelling evidence indicates that huge numbers had in fact committed no offense whatsoever. As the system grew, countless White farmers and businessmen jostled to “lease” as many Black “criminals” as they could. Soon, huge numbers of other AfricanAmericans were simply being kidnapped and sold into slavery.

The forced labor camps they found themselves in were islands of squalor and brutality.

New slavery Thousands died of disease, malnourishment, and abuse. Mortality rates in some years exceeded 40 percent. At the same time, this new slavery trade generated millions of dollars for state and local governments-for many years it was the single largest source of income for the state of Alabama.

As these laws and practices expanded across the South, they became the primary means to terrorize African-Americans, and to coerce them into going along with other exploitative labor arrangements, like sharecropping, that are more familiar to 21stcentury Americans.

This was the terrifying trap into which Carrie Kinsey’s young brother had been drawn. After a trip through the counties near Kinsey’s home, W. E. B. Du

Bois, who was then teaching at Atlanta’s Morehouse College, described in 1905 one such convict farm.

“It is a depressing placebare, unshaded, with no charm of past association, only a memory of forced human toil-now, then, and before the war,” he wrote.

He described Black farmworkers who never saw wages because charges for rent and food always exceeded any compensation.

“A dismal place it still remains, with rows of ugly huts filled with surly ignorant tenants,” Du Bois wrote. “And now and then it blazes forth in veiled but hot anger.”

Grueling work Du Bois could easily have been describing Kinderlou, where Kinsey’s brother was taken.

Encompassing 22,000 acres, it was an enterprise that dwarfed any antebellum definition of the word “plantation.” Owned by state Rep. Edward McRee and his brothers, Kinderlou was an unparalleled center of economic and political power in Georgia.

By 1900, the siblings had inherited the enterprise from their father, a noted Confederate officer named George McRee. Each lived in a lavish mansion within a square mile of the center of the plantation, basking in the subtropical warmth of the Gulf Coast.

Initially, the McRees hired only free Black labor, but beginning in the 1890s they routinely leased a hundred or more convicts from the state of Georgia to perform the grueling work of clearing land, removing stumps, ditching fields, and constructing roads. Other prisoners hoed, plowed, and weeded the crops. Over the course of 15 years, thousands of men and women were forced to Kinderlou and held in stockades under the watch of armed guards.

After the turn of the century, the brothers began to arrange for even more forced laborers through the sheriffs of nearby counties in Georgia and Florida-fueling what eventually grew into a sprawling traffic in humans

30 lashes A Black worker in 1904 described to a journalist how he arrived at the farm at age 10 as a free laborer.

A few years later, he attempted to leave to work at another plantation. Before sundown on the day of his departure, one of the McRees and “some kind of law officer” tracked him down. The new employer apologized to the McRees for hiring the young worker, saying he would never have done so if he had known “this nigger was bound out to you.”

“So I was carried back to the Captain’s,” the man said later. “That night he made me strip off my clothing down to my waist, had me tied to a tree in his backyard, ordered his foreman to gave me thirty lashes with a buggy whip across my bare back, and stood by until it was done.”

When his labor contract finally expired after a decade, the man was told he could leave Kinderlou, so long as he could pay his accumulated debt at the plantation commissary-$165, the rough equivalent of two years’ labor for a free farmer. Unable to do so, of course, he was compelled to sign a contract promising to work on the farm until the debt was paid, but now as a convict.

‘Prison laborers’ He and other “prison laborers” slept each night in the same clothes they wore in the fields, on rotting mattresses infested with pests. Many were chained to their beds. Food was crude and minimal. The disobedient were tied to a log lying on their backs, while a guard spanked their bare feet with a plank of wood.

After a slave was untied, if he could not return to work on his blistered feet, he was strapped to the log again, this time facedown, and lashed with a leather whip. Women prisoners were held across a barrel and whipped on their bare bottoms.

In the summer of 1903, the assistant U.S. attorney in Macon, Georgia, began a brief investigation into Kinderlou’s army of Black

These law enforcement officials would seize Blacks on the grounds that they were “committing crimes,” often specious and sometimes altogether made up, and then sell them to the McRees and other businessmen, without ever going through the regular processes of the criminal courts. When the McRees learned of the investigation, they hastily freed the workers being held involuntarily. At least forty fled immediately.

James Robinson, the brother of Carrie Kinsey, may have been one of them, though federal officials never connected her allegations to the Kinderlou investigation. Even if Kinsey’s brother’s case had been investigated, her letter misspelled the name of the plantation.

In November 1903, a grand jury indicted the McRee brothers on 13 specific counts of holding African-American men and women illegally.

Appearing with his brothers before a Savannah courtroom, Edward McRee assured the judge that while his family had held many Blacks in the four decades since slavery’s abolition, they had never intended to enslave anyone or break the law.

“Though we are probably technically guilty we did not know it,” he told the court. “This custom has been [in] existence ever since the war.... We never knew that we were doing anything wrong.”

Symbolic punishments The judge, hoping to avoid inflaming the anger of local Whites, dispensed symbolic punishments.

The McRees were allowed to plead guilty and pay a token fine of $1,000.

In the wake of that trial and other failed prosecutions in the first years of the century, the U.S. Department of Justice turned a blind eye to such practices for the next 40 years.

Only the advent of World War II, a declining need for low-skill laborers, and a new era of federal prosecution would finally bring a true end to American slavery.

More than 100 years after Carrie wrote her letter, I received an unexpected call from a man who identified himself as Bernard Kinsey. He believed he was one of Carrie’s cousins.

Her letter had haunted me through years of research for the book I wrote on re-enslavement. What those few lines conveyedthe seizure of a teenage boy and his sale to a powerful businessman, the abject refusal of authorities to assist her, the brutalization of thousands of other Blacks on the same plantation, the heroism of Carrie in seeking the aid of President Roosevelt, and, finally, the futility of her letter-captured the entire epic tragedy of Black life in the rural South in the time between the Civil War and World War II. Even to this day, I find myself turning back to her story, resifting census records and cemetery records, looking for the fate of her brother. Did he escape? Did he die at Kinderlou? The answer still eludes me.

Douglas A. Blackmon is the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning “Slavery by Another Name: The Re-enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to World War II.” He teaches at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center and is a contributing editor at the Washington Post. This article is sponsored by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation and was originally published by the Washington Monthly Magazine.

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AUGUST 2 – AUGUST 8, 2013

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POLITICS

What GOP must do to court Black voters In post-Obama America, small inroads with AfricanAmericans would be big for Republicans

BY JAMES ROSEN AND KEVIN THIBODEAUZ MCCLATCHY WASHINGTON BUREAU/MCT

Down in Monroe, La., U.S. Rep. Rodney Alexander wonders why Republican leaders in Washington haven’t sought his advice on their initiative to improve the party’s anemic standing among AfricanAmerican voters.

Compared with his Republican peers in the House of Representatives, Alexander is unusually adept at drawing Black votes.

“It’s something they should have been doing to begin with,” Alexander said of his party’s new outreach to Black voters.

Alexander’s congressional district is one-third Black, the largest share among the 234 House districts held by Republicans — none of whom is African-American.

Nationwide, nine in 10 Black voters chose Democrats over Republicans in congressional races in November, and 93 percent of African-Americans supported President Barack Obama over GOP nominee Mitt Romney, exit polls showed.

Easy re-election Alexander drew 43 percent of his African-American constituents’ votes, four times more than the typical Republican lawmaker gets, on his way to winning easy re-election in November, according to a McClatchy analysis of the outcome in 93 virtually allBlack precincts in his district.

“You would think (the GOP) leadership would recognize that someone who gets 78 percent of the vote in a 33 percent Black district might ask me how I do that, but you’re the first person who’s asked,” Alexander told McClatchy.

Eleven of the 234 Republican House seats are in districts where at least one-quarter of eligible voters are African-Americans, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures. Those districts are all in the South, spread among Georgia, South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and Virginia.

Election results McClatchy was able to obtain November 2012 precinct-level election results, broken down by race, for six of the 11 districts. McClatchy analyzed 193 precincts with an average of 94 percent African-American voters in those six districts.

Support for the White Republican lawmakers among Black voters in the 11 districts varies widely, from Alexander’s 43 percent and the 30 percent standing enjoyed by fellow Louisianan Rep. John Fleming, to virtually no support — in the 1 percent range — for Reps. Tom Rice of South Carolina and Martha Roby of Alabama, according to the McClatchy analysis of 187 African-American precincts in their districts.

Alexander and the other lawmakers who represent those districts have some ideas for their GOP colleagues about how to court Black voters: Go into their communities, avoid inflammatory language, don’t come across like a big shot and answer all questions forthrightly no matter how tough.

“I don’t think you’ll find anybody at my town hall meetings who thought that I used harsh rhetoric,” said Rep. Mick Mulvaney of South Carolina.

‘Open for Repairs’ While Republicans’ out-

MCT

Congressman Rodney Alexander (second from right) stands with constituents, from left, James E. “Jamie” Mayo (mayor of Monroe, La.), Clarence W. Hawkins (USDA Rural Development State Director for Louisiana), and James Bradford. reach to Hispanics has received broad attention of late, the Republican National Committee, led by chairman Reince Priebus, has launched a less-heralded bid to break Democrats’ electoral stranglehold on African-American votes.

Under Priebus’ new motto “Open for Repairs,” the initiatives are part of Republicans’ broader rebranding effort following Obama’s decisive defeat of Romney with strong support from women, youth, Blacks, Hispanics and Asians.

“Young voters are increasingly rolling their eyes at what the party represents, and many minorities wrongly think that Republicans do not like them or want them in the country,” a task force of GOP leaders concluded in a March report.

As they begin to look toward the post-Obama era, even modest improvements among AfricanAmerican voters could bring Republicans big electoral gains.

President George W. Bush got 16 percent of the Ohio Black vote in 2004, helping him carry the decisive state in his narrow reelection win. Only 3 percent of African-Americans in Ohio voted for Romney in November, by contrast, and the former Massachusetts governor had drop-offs among Blacks in Florida, Virginia and other swing states that he lost.

Challenges for GOP Republicans, though, face formidable challenges in their quest to increase support among AfricanAmericans: • Their intense criticism of Obama is viewed by many Blacks as personal and hostile, likely offsetting any steps they take to build goodwill with African-Americans. “Today it’s racial because you have a Black man in the White House and they are determined to make him a failure,” said James Bradford, a Black constituent of Alexander in Jonesboro, La. “They are attacking every program that affects Black folks. That may not be their intention, but that’s what they’re doing.”

• The GOP-controlled House of Representatives has voted 37 times to repeal what Republicans deride as Obamacare, even though the Senate Democratic majority makes those votes purely symbolic. Voting dozens of times to repudiate Obama’s signature legislative achievement strikes Blacks as political overkill.

• Most congressional Republicans’ desire to slash government spending has led them to target safety net programs that disproportionately impact African-Americans because a larger proportion of Blacks than Whites are poor.

David Bositis, who has tracked Black voting for two decades while doing extensive polling and focus groups among African-

MELISSA C. TOTH/ROCK HILL HERALD/MCT

U.S. Rep. Mick Mulvaney speaks at a town hall meeting with the Rock Hill chapter of the NAACP in Rock Hill, South Carolina in February 2013.

Americans, said Republican officeholders in the South are setting their party back among Blacks for years by blocking the enactment of the 2010 landmark health insurance law.

“Black support for Medicaid expansion is 90 percent, and yet these state legislatures and governors are not going to expand Medicaid,” said Bositis, an analyst with the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies in Washington. “There will be dead Black people because of them.”

RNC recommendations The Republican National Committee task force recommended developing “best practices of Republicans who were successfully elected in districts with a high population of AfricanAmerican voters.”

That description fits Alexander, a sixth-term congressman who suggests one good practice: Stop using rhetoric that offends many Blacks.

As Exhibit A, Alexander offered Romney’s “47 percent” campaign claim that most Obama supporters view themselves as victims who are on the government dole because they don’t take responsibility for their lives.

“I supported Romney, but I was very disappointed he said that,” Alexander said.

“It hurt all of us (Republicans). That’s one reason the Republican Party gets in trouble sometimes — assuming that if you are in need of help, you are asking for something you don’t deserve.”

Republicans don’t expect a mass political conversion of African-Americans anytime soon. But especially once Obama leaves office, they see an opening for the party of Lincoln. It must start, party leaders say, with baby steps: Republican candidates going into Black communities, explaining their positions and asking for AfricanAmericans’ votes.

In South Carolina, Mul-

vaney didn’t fare nearly as well as Alexander among the Blacks who make up one-quarter of his constituents, the ninth-biggest share among all Republican House members. Mulvaney drew just 4 percent of their votes in November, according to a McClatchy analysis of 19 heavily African-American precincts in his district.

Yet Mulvaney has attended town hall meetings hosted by the local branch of the NAACP, most recently in February, when he spent two hours answering questions from a mostly Black audience of about 60 people.

“I’m not doing this to try and get votes,” Mulvaney told McClatchy afterward.

“I’m doing this because these are people I represent.”

Gained some respect Melvin Poole, a tax-preparation firm owner and head of the Rock Hill, S.C., branch of the NAACP, said Mulvaney gained some respect and may have picked up a few votes.

People were impressed that the second-term lawmaker walked into Freedom Temple Ministries church in Rock Hill without aides or notes, carrying only a bottle of water, and then spent so much time there.

“He got some real tough questions — about the Affordable Care Act, about the budget cuts, about jobs,” Poole recalled. “He didn’t cut us off and run out of the building. He stayed until every question that anybody had was asked and answered. He was really down to earth.

It was like standing next to a guy in the park and just talking.”

Mulvaney was surprised in January when he attended Obama’s second inauguration at the U.S. Capitol and a reporter asked him why he was there, given that most of his fellow Republican lawmakers were absent.

“That’s absurd,” Mulvaney responded. “Forty-five percent of the people I rep-

resent voted for this gentleman, so I’m going to come and represent them at this very important proceeding.”

In Mississippi, Rep. Gregg Harper was the only one of three White Republican House members who attended an emotional memorial service last month at Arlington National Cemetery for Medgar Evers on the 50th anniversary of the civil rights leader’s murder.

“What happened in that murder was a great tragedy,” Harper told McClatchy.

“It’s part of our history — not one that we’re proud of, but to see where we’ve come is pretty remarkable.

And I just wanted to be there to pay my respects.”

Echoing Mulvaney, Harper added: “I didn’t do that hoping I might pick up minority voters. I did it because I thought it was the right thing to do.”

Voting rights Some Southern states’ responses to the Supreme Court’s June 25 decision weakening the 1965 Voting Rights Act also might hinder Republicans’ progress with African-Americans.

Republican leaders in several Southern states covered by the high court ruling, including Texas and North Carolina, have indicated they will move forward with voter ID laws that the Justice Department or federal courts had blocked or restricted.

Leading civil rights groups argue that such laws depress the Black vote by requiring driver’s licenses or other forms of identification that relatively fewer African-Americans possess.

“It is hardly reaching out to Blacks to push these harmful laws forward, particularly since there is no voter fraud that needs to be addressed with drastic legislation that disenfranchises African-Americans,” said Garrard Beeney, a New York lawyer who represented the NAACP and other groups in the South Carolina voter ID case.

Other proposals In Washington, the GOP

rebranding task force recommended that the Republican National Committee hire Black communications and political operatives to head the African-American outreach, which it has done. The GOP leaders made a slew of other proposals: • Establish ties with the NAACP and other civil rights groups.

• Recruit party members at historically Black colleges.

• Develop a training program for African-American Republican candidates.

• Create a database of Black leaders.

• Promote Black staffers “who should be visible and involved in senior political and budget decisions.”

• Assemble a “surrogate list” of African-Americans to appear in Black news media.

For Sen. Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican and possible 2016 presidential candidate, these steps are all well and good, but he’s focused on more concrete measures.

Paul and Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., are pushing a bill to authorize judges to disregard mandatory minimum sentences for an array of federal crimes, many of them drug-related. Such sentences, which give judges no leeway in setting punishment even for relatively minor crimes, have helped swell the country’s inmate population, with a disproportionate impact on young Black men.

Paul is developing separate legislation to prevent federal grants to police and sheriff departments from being tied to arrest rates, which he says leads officers to detain a disproportionate number of AfricanAmericans.

“We think it’s at the very least implicitly racist, and we’re going to put a stop to it,” Paul told McClatchy.

Mulvaney, though, thinks it will take a “transformational figure” to draw significant numbers of Blacks to the Republican Party.

Mulvaney believes that such a figure will have to be an African-American.

He names Sen. Tim Scott, a fellow South Carolinian who is the only Black Republican in Congress, and J.C. Watts, the former college football star and lawmaker from Oklahoma.

GOP Blacks respond Scott dislikes focusing on the color of his skin, much like Obama. He does, though, believe that his personal story of having risen from an impoverished childhood to a prominent place in American politics could gain him an audience that other Republicans don’t have.

“It’s really taking the time to share my personal journey, which has a lot of roadblocks, a lot of hurdles and a lot of failure, and connecting that to the American dream and how it is available to all of us,” Scott said in an interview.

“And perhaps if pain and failure lead forward, I have an opportunity to share that with others,” Scott said.

“I hope to be part of bringing that message to (South Carolina) and maybe one day to the nation.”

While Watts remains a loyal Republican, he’s skeptical that his party’s new push for African-American loyalists will have much staying power.

“The key is to put teeth into it and to be real about it,” Watts said last month while attending the North Carolina Republican Convention in Charlotte. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

TOj B4

HEALTH

STOj

AUGUST 2 – AUGUST 8, 2013

But the same study suggests fiber isn’t the only factor affecting satiety. A third group of participants in the study consumed applesauce containing fiber comparable to that in the apple slices.

That group still consumed more calories at lunch than those who ate raw apples — though not as many as the juice drinkers.

Field offered one explanation: Juice, smoothies and applesauce don’t require chewing, which research suggests helps signal the body that it’s eaten enough calories for the moment.

Field highlighted research published in the journal Obesity in 2012 in which subjects took either one or eight minutes to chew as much cake as they naturally would have chosen, while spitting out each bite at the moment they would typically swallow. At the same time, they had either a small or large volume of cake mixed with water delivered to their stomachs via feeding tube.

Better than nothing E. JASON WAMBSGANS/CHICAGO TRIBUNE/MCT

Kyra Scott loads kale into a juicer at Protein Bar in Chicago.

Are those fruit juices and smoothies really good for your health?

BY ABBY OLENA CHICAGO TRIBUNE/MCT

CHICAGO — The marketing for freshly pressed and blended juices promises instant energy, weight loss, a flood of vitamins and minerals — all in a single, portable, gulpable serving.

Health-minded consumers seem to have bought the claims — and with them, gallons of juice.

Jamba Juice, which sells juices and smoothies, reported $55.1 million in revenue for the 13 weeks ending April 2. Beverage giant Coca-Cola tapped the juice trend early by acquiring Odwalla in 2001, and in 2007 PepsiCo followed suit with Naked Juice.

Raw vegetable and fruit juices make up about 10 percent of sales at The Protein Bar, a Chicago-based chain of health food restaurants, said founder Matt Matros. His customers ask for juice, he said, because they believe it is an important part of their healthy diets.

Tools for juicing at home are also a big business; one of the dozens of juicer choices, a stainless steel model with more than 100 Amazon.com reviews, sells for close to $1,200. Meanwhile, more than 40 books or e-books related to juice or smoothies have been released in the last 30 days alone on Amazon.com, with the ma-

jority mentioning health, weight loss or both in their titles.

Dangerous trend But according to dietitians and nutrition scientists, juice is far from the healthiest way to consume fruit, and one expert went so far as to call its popularity a dangerous trend.

“The fruit juice industry has essentially taken the ‘apple-aday’ mentality and used it to sell fruit juices as healthy,” said Barry Popkin, a professor in the department of nutrition at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Gillings School of Public Health.

Popkin and other experts would rather see people eating whole fruit. Because most juicing methods remove the produce’s fiber, drinking juice omits one of the key benefits of eating fruit, while delivering huge amounts of sugar and calories.

“Every one of the long-term studies of the health effects of fruit juices shows that you increase your risk of diabetes and weight gain” with regular juice consumption, Popkin said.

One 2010 study in the American Journal of Epidemiology followed more than 43,000 adults in Singapore for five years and found that those who consumed two or more servings of fruit juice per week had a 29 percent higher

risk of developing diabetes than those who didn’t drink juice regularly — not far behind the 42 percent increased risk for weekly soda drinkers.

Convenient fix Expensive, freshly pressed fruit juices from the local juice bar are no healthier than the kind sold in grocery stores, Popkin added.

Smoothies do provide fiber, as the entire fruit often goes into the blender, skins and all, but they still contain a lot of calories. Choosing a vegetable-based juice or smoothie is one way to reduce the sugar content, health advocates say.

However, epidemiological studies on juice consumption show correlations, not cause and effect, said Elizabeth Ward, a registered dietitian on Jamba Juice’s Healthy Living Council. Ward said she does not consider juices miraculous but, because of the vitamins and minerals, they are a good alternative to beverages that contain only calories.

Ward and Karen May, a spokeswoman for Naked Juice and Tropicana, agreed that most Americans don’t consume enough produce, and juice products are a good way to help fix that.

“Orange juice is a convenient and great-tasting way to help people meet nutrient needs, providing vitamin C, potassium and

calcium … in fortified varieties,” May said.

Not enough fiber But according to Lara Field, a pediatric dietitian at the University of Chicago Medical Center and founder of a nutrition counseling practice called Forming Early Eating Decisions, or FEED, the sugar in fruit juice far outweighs any possible benefit from the concentrated vitamins and minerals.

“Eating too much fruit can make us gain weight, just like eating too much candy,” Field said.

Plus, the fiber in fruit complements the vitamins and minerals, so juice drinkers miss out on the optimal health benefits, said Bethany Doerfler, clinical research dietitian in the division of gastroenterology at Northwestern Medicine.

Americans already are harming their health by not consuming enough fiber, said Joanne Slavin, professor in the Department of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Minnesota and a self-described “fiber person.”

Diets higher in fiber are associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease and lower body weight, Slavin said, yet most American adults only achieve half the recommended daily fiber intake, which is 25 to 38 grams.

“I want people to eat more fiber,” Slavin said, and that includes choosing whole fruits over juice.

Benefits of chewing Eating fiber also contributes to a feeling of fullness, or satiety, that helps prevent people from overeating. In one study, published in the journal Appetite in 2009, people who ate apple slices before lunch felt more full and subsequently consumed 15 percent fewer calories than those who drank apple juice.

At a subsequent meal, the subjects who chewed for eight minutes ate fewer calories than others, regardless of the volume of food delivered to their stomachs, suggesting that chewing is as important as the amount of food consumed to subsequent caloric intake.

Some nutrition experts acknowledge that drinking produce is better than consuming none at all.

“Considering the fact that more than 90 percent of Americans are not meeting their recommendations of daily fruit, 100 percent fruit juice is an easy and convenient way to meet these goals,” Diane Welland, a registered dietitian for the Juice Products Association, wrote via email.

Federal dietary guidelines state that 4 ounces of 100 percent fruit juice are equivalent to a halfcup of whole fresh fruit, Welland said.

Those guidelines also recommend that the majority of fruit consumed be whole fruit, but it can be challenging for adults to eat the suggested 1 ½ to 2 cups of fruit and 2 ½ to 3 cups of vegetables a day.

Change it up “Sitting down to a bowl of kale is intimidating,” said Doerfler, and that’s one possible reason juices and smoothies are so popular.

“Americans do not eat enough fruits and vegetables, so any step (toward eating more produce) is better than none,” said Cornell University nutritionist Christina Stark.

But Stark cautioned eaters not to choose the same fruit in the same form over and over again, as the goal should be “variety in all aspects” of the consumption of vegetables and fruits, from texture to type.

Doerfler said smoothies and juice could be a less scary way to shift to a more plant-based diet.

Predominantly vegetablebased blends are a healthier choice with “a small amount of fruit to make a juice or smoothie more palatable,” she said.

MSG: What it is and why it’s gotten a bad rap

BY BILL DALEY CHICAGO TRIBUNE/MCT

MSG has long been the food world’s bad boy. Also known as monosodium glutamate, it has been demonized for at least two generations by food purists convinced it dumbs down flavor and quality, and by habitués of Asian restaurants, worried they’ll fall victim to “Chinese restaurant syndrome,” the onset of headaches, nausea or other symptoms often blamed on eating foods thought to be high in MSG. (That explains all those “No MSG” signs you see; whether that’s always true is another story.)

But MSG is “generally recognized as safe” by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and it’s still out there in the nation’s foods, notably in processed products.

Monosodium glutamate looms so large on the culinary landscape that when Michael Pollan speculated on an American “flavor principle” in his new book, “Cooked,” he was left with two choices: Heinz ketchup — used “to domesticate every imaginable kind of food” — or the “familiar” taste of fast food, which he describes as “salt, soy oil and MSG.”

Sold at supermarkets MSG is a form of glutamic acid, which is one of the protein-building amino acids. It was born out of research conducted by a Japanese chemistry professor named Kikunae Ikeda.

In 1908, he extracted glutamates from a seaweed stock and claimed it offered a unique “fifth taste,” or “umami.” Ikeda patented his discovery, and commercial production of MSG began the next year under the brand name Aji-no-moto, or “essence of taste” in English.

Seaweed is not used to make MSG anymore. Today, MSG is made by fermenting “starch, sugar beets, sugar cane or molasses,” according to the FDA, in a process the agency says is similar to what is used in making yogurt, vinegar and wine.

MSG, a white powder, is sold at most supermarkets under various brand names. You can use it like a seasoning, sprinkling it into foods as you cook. Food manufacturers who use MSG in their products must list it on the label.

History traced MSG has yet to recover from the onus of Chinese restaurant syndrome. Leslie Stein, science communications director for the Monell Chemical Senses Center

CHRIS WALKER/CHICAGO TRIBUNE/MCT

Recipes, using foods naturally laden with glutamate, include this dish of bacon, mushrooms and tomatoes served on a bed of greens. in Philadelphia, an independent institute that studies taste and smell, is somewhat surprised at the lingering taint on MSG. “There really is no evidence it has a deleterious effect,” she said, dismissing the “syndrome” as an “old wives’ tale.”

In his “A Short History of MSG: Good Science, Bad Science and Taste Cultures” published in the fall 2005 issue of “Gastronomica,” Jordan Sand traced the century-

old arc of MSG from a symbol of Japanese innovation — and imperialism — to a “vegetarian substitute for meat stock” in mainland Chinese kitchens, to a substance linked to a “syndrome” that many Americans seek to avoid.

Perhaps, he theorized, MSG might be poised for some sort of redemption, thanks to savvy marketing campaigns by manufacturers and scientific research into taste and umami, a Japanese word

roughly translated as “delicious.”

“Only time will tell whether this latest turn in the story will lead consumers back to an open appreciation of the powdered additive, or perhaps some new form of it dressed in the garb of nature and accompanied by new promises,” wrote Sand, who is associate professor of Japanese history and culture at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

TOJ

AUGUST 2 – AUGUST 8, 2013

FINEST & ENTERTAINMENT

Meet some of

FLORIDA'S

finest

submitted for your approval

B5

Think you’re one of Florida’s Finest?

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

More than 4,000 cruisers joined nationally syndicated radio talk show host Tom Joyner on the 13th annual Tom Joyner Foundation Fantastic Voyage 2012 aboard Royal Caribbean’s “Navigator of the Seas,” one of the world’s largest cruise ships. The Florida Courier spotlights some of the best-looking people on board.

Danielle, a native of Miramar, Fla., was on her seventh Tom Joyner cruise.

Antoine of Los Angeles, Calif. was on his first Tom Joyner cruise.

DELROY COLE / FLORIDA COURIER

danielle antoine Diddy anticipates rough start with new music network

CANDACE GLOVER

2013 “American Idol’’ winner Candace Glover and finalists on the Fox show will be on tour at the Amway Center in Orlando on Aug. 1 and American Airlines Arena on Aug. 2.

FROM WIRE REPORTS

Sean Combs, who goes by “Diddy,’’ admitted that the launch of his new millennial-targeted music network Revolt has been “the hardest and most stressful thing I’ve ever done in my life.”

“I literally almost drove (myself ) crazy two weeks ago,” he said during an informal presentation at the TCA Summer press tour in Beverly Hills. The goal of the network is to pry millennials away from the Internet and back to television using live, “unpredictable” music news, performances and videos.

Although he is heavily involved in the project, you won’t see a lot of him in front of the camera: “My job is to stay the visionary for this; I’m more like a Steve Jobs,” Diddy said. Nor will the channel limit itself to urban music.

“It isn’t just hip hop, it isn’t just an urban-based channel, it isn’t just rock and roll,” Combs said, adding that he’d even give Taylor Swift airtime if she did something edgy.

“We’re looking for greatness, we’re looking for great stars, we’re looking for people who have something Diddy to say. Our bar is extremely high; it’s highly curated. There are other places artists will be able to get exposure, but when you make it to Revolt you will feel you’ve been authorized.”

SIR CHARLES JONES A Southern Soul Blues Concert featuring Mel Waiters, Sir Charles Jones and Bigg Robb is scheduled Oct. 5 at the Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center in Daytona Beach.

Consulted Oprah Revolt is set to launch in late October in at least 25 million homes. Previously aired documentaries and concerts will be included in the programming, but the channel will air music and cultural news live each half hour from a Los Angeles studio that Diddy compared to CNN’s “Situation Room.”

The channel will saturate itself in social media, and there’s already a companion web site, Revolt.tv.

Among its first offerings will be the web series, “Making the Brand,” a play off of his MTV series “Making the Band” that will follow Diddy in his day-to-day business of building the network.

“You’ll see me having meltdowns, and you see me being out of my element and being in this element where I’m not just a free-spirited entrepreneur, and I have to be accountable to the business and build a high-level corporate team, which is different for me,” he said.

The road so far has been so stressful that Diddy has sought advice from Oprah Winfrey, who famously stumbled out of the gate with her network OWN. “I’m not going to be out there being flashy about it.

I’m not going to be over-promoting it. I’m not overpromising anything,” he said, referencing Winfrey’s misstep. “I’m just really going to be building credibility; my credibility will be my currency.”

This report was compiled from a story on Eurweb.com.

FLORIDA COMMUNITY CALENDAR Tampa: The Tampa Bay Association of Black Journalists in partnership with the George Edgecomb Bar Association will host a Community Forum on the Trayvon Martin-George Zimmerman case at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, at the University of South Florida’s Patel Center for Global Solutions. More information: 813-4192490 or email TampaBayABJ@gmail. com.

Orlando: Ladies Night Out starring Dru Hill, K-Ci & JoJoe, Silk and Melanie Comarcho takes place on Aug. 10 at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre.

St. Petersburg: July 29 is the voter registration deadline to vote in the Aug. 27 City of St. Petersburg primary election.

More information: or 727-464-8683.

Jacksonville: Soulbird presents a SongVersation with India.Arie on Oct. 17 at the Florida Theatre St. Petersburg: A ground breaking for the new Youth and Family Empowerment Initiative, a comprehensive community service program to be housed at the former Campbell Park Neighborhood Family Center, takes place July 30 at 10:30 a.m. at 201 Seventh Ave. S. More information: 727-894-1393.

Orlando: 102 Jamz presents Hook Up #4 starring Jason Derulo and Kat Dahlia at the House of Blues Orlando on July 26.

The show starts at 7 p.m.

St. Petersburg: Shut Up and Laugh presented by WiLD 94.1 will feature comedians Bruce Bruce, DeRay Davis and Hannibal Buress on Aug. 16 at The Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg.

Tampa: Bruno Mars’ Moonshine Jungle world tour makes a stop at the Tampa Bay Times forum on Aug. 28.

St. Petersburg: Tickets are on sale for a concert at the Mahaffey Theater with Maze featuring Frankie Beverly. The show is Sunday, Sept. 15.

Miami Gardens: The Legends of the Summer tour featuring Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z takes place Aug. 18 at Sun Life Stadium.

St. Petersburg: Youths ages 7 to 11 can enjoy a night of football, kickball, pingpong, foosball, video games and dance parties during “Freestyle Fridays” at the Fossil Park and Willis S. Johns Center, 6635 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N. First visit free; $6 each following visit.

More information: 727-893-7756.

St. Petersburg: First Fridays are held in downtown St. Petersburg at 250 Central Ave. between Second and Third Avenues from 5:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. More information: 727-393-3597.

TOj B6

FOOD

TOJ

AUGUST 2 – AUGUST 8, 2013

Bean & Vegetable Salad and Beef & Horseradish Wraps Beef & Horseradish Wraps Makes 4 servings Preparation Time: 30 minutes 1 jar (16 ounces) Aunt Nellie’s Sliced Pickled Beets 1/2 cup shredded carrots 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish 1/2 cup spreadable cheese (such as goat cheese or herb/garlic soft cheese) 2 large soft flour tortillas (about 10- to 12-inch diameter) 10 green onions (green part only) 10 thin slices deli roast beef Drain beets; chop. Discard beet liquid. In medium bowl, combine beets, carrots and horseradish.

Spread 1/4 cup cheese evenly over each tortilla, leaving 1-inch border. Arrange 5 green onions (do not chop) on each; press lightly into cheese. Place 5 slices beef on each tortilla covering green onions, then sprinkle beet mixture evenly over beef.

Roll up in parallel direction of the green onions. Wrap each roll tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate up to 4 hours.

To serve, remove plastic wrap; cut each tortilla into 2 pieces.

FROM Family Features

Warm weather is welcome for a variety of reasons, but for many of us it signals the season for dining al fresco. Whether stepping out back onto a porch or patio, or planning a picnic at the beach or park, the food is the star.

These recipes showcase exciting flavors and easy preparation. One way to liven up outdoor menus is with unexpected ingredients, such as pickled beets. They add flavor, color and nutrition to a variety of dishes. Aunt Nellie’s line of pickled beets tastes homemade — only the peeling and pickling are done for you. Just open the jar and you’re on your way to fabulous appetizers, main dish wraps and, even, dessert. For a colorful vegetable side, a can of READ 3 or 4 Bean Salad is the perfect base. Just add fresh vegetables cut into thin strips and toss with a quick dressing. Dine al fresco — cheers to fresh air and fabulous food.

For more delicious recipes made with Aunt Nellie’s products, visit www.AuntNellies.com. Additional ideas for READ salads can be found at www.ReadSalads.com.

Baby Beets & Olives

Herbed Eggplant & Beet Dip Makes 8 servings (approx. 1/4 cup each) Preparation Time: 30 minutes Cook Time: 15 minutes 1 jar (16 ounces) Aunt Nellie’s Sliced Pickled Beets, drained 2 tablespoons olive or canola oil 1 medium eggplant (about 1 pound), cut into 1-inch pieces 1 cup chopped onion 3 cloves garlic, sliced Salt Coarse ground black pepper 1/2 cup plain nonfat yogurt (Greek or traditional), optional 1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil 1 to 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme leaves Pita chips, fresh vegetables Coarsely chop beets.

In large nonstick skillet heat oil over medium heat until hot. Add eggplant, onion and garlic; cook 15 minutes or until vegetables are tender, stirring frequently. Add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, if mixture seems too dry or begins to stick. Salt and pepper, as desired.

Place eggplant mixture in bowl of food processor; process until mixture is chopped and combined. Measure out 1/2 cup chopped beets; set aside. Add remaining chopped beets to eggplant mixture.

Process until dip is desired consistency.

Transfer dip to serving bowl. Stir in yogurt, if desired. Stir in herbs and reserved 1/2 cup chopped beets just before serving. Serve with pita chips and vegetables for dipping. If not served immediately, cover and refrigerate up to 6 hours. Allow to stand about 15 min­utes before serving if chilled.

Spicy Beet, Fruit & Nut Bars Makes 28 bars Preparation Time: 25 minutes Bake Time: 20 minutes 1 jar (15.5 ounces) Aunt Nellie’s Harvard Beets 1 package (15.25 ounces) spice cake mix 1 cup packed light brown sugar 1/4 cup canola or vegetable oil 1 large egg 1 cup dried mixed fruits, chopped if necessary 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, pecans or almonds (or a combination), toasted Confectioners’ sugar Preheat oven to 350°F. Drain beets. Puree beets in food processor or blender until smooth; set aside. Line 15 x 10 x 1-inch baking pan with aluminum foil. Spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray.

Place cake mix in large bowl. Add pureed beets, brown sugar, oil and egg. Beat on low speed of electric mixer 2 minutes or until com­ pletely combined, scraping bowl as necessary. Stir in fruits and nuts.

Spread dough evenly in prepared pan. Bake 20 minutes or until pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely. Sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar. Cut into bars.

Herbed Eggplant & Beet Dip

Spicy Beet, Fruit & Nut Bars

Baby Beets & Olives Makes 6 servings Preparation Time: 15 minutes 1 16-ounce jar Aunt Nellie’s Whole Baby Pickled Beets, drained 3/4 cup assorted pitted olives 1 to 2 tablespoons orange zest 1 clove garlic, minced 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper Combine all ingredients in medium bowl. Serve at room temperature or chilled Bean & Vegetable Salad Makes 4 servings Preparation Time: 30 minutes 1 can (15 ounces) READ 3 or 4 Bean Salad 2 cups vegetables, cut into thin strips* 1/4 cup very thinly sliced red onion, optional Cracked black pepper Chopped parsley, optional Dressing: 2 tablespoons reserved bean salad liquid 1 tablespoon apple cider or wine vinegar 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 large clove garlic, minced Drain bean salad; reserve 2 table­spoons liquid.

For dressing, combine reserved bean salad liquid, vinegar, oil and garlic. Whisk until combined.

In large bowl, toss together drained bean salad, vegetables and onion, if desired. Toss with dressing.

Season with black pepper and stir in chopped parsley, if desired. Serve at room temperature or chilled. *Cut vegetables into thin strips about 2 x 1/4 inch. Vegetables can be one or a combination of: carrot, celery, bell pepper, cucumber, zucchini, yellow squash, or other favorite vegetable.

Smoked Salmon & Beet Wraps Makes 4 servings Preparation Time: 30 minutes 1 jar (16 ounces) Aunt Nellie’s Sliced Pickled Beets 2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion 1 to 2 tablespoons capers 1 to 2 teaspoons lemon zest 1/2 cup spreadable chive cream cheese 2 large soft flour tortillas (10- to 12-inch diameter) 8 slices smoked salmon 1/2 cup baby spinach leaves Drain beets; chop. Discard beet liquid. In medium bowl, combine beets, onion, capers and lemon zest.

Spread 1/4 cup cream cheese evenly over each tortilla, leaving 1-inch border. Place 4 salmon slices over cream cheese; press lightly.

Top each with spinach. Sprinkle beet mixture evenly over spinach.

Roll up. Wrap each roll tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate up to 4 hours.

To serve, remove plastic wrap; cut each tortilla into 2 pieces.