Thecouriermay72015

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Courier www.couriernews.org

S ERVING C OLUMBUS , F T. B ENNING , P HENIX C ITY & S URROUNDING A REAS

The Voice Of The Community

Vol. 10 Edition 4 Free Thursday May 7, 2015

Columbus Scholars Story

From Hardaway To Hollywood

Ben Holden Shares Why He Started Columbus Scholars

Page 7 On The Runway With ShaLaJa’

Designer Shaquoya Jackson Showcased Her Swimwear Fashions Page 13

Birthday For A Star!

Family & Friends Surprise Royal Cafe’s Ms. Lila M. Star Page 20

Meet Quincy Brown

Page 5

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THURSDAY May 7, 2015

Columbus Consolidated Government aka Peyton Place No wonder everyone wants to work for the Columbus Consolidated Government, where else can you sleep with your boss and still keep your job.

According to the street committee everyone knew better than to believe that after working 29 years with the Consolidated Government, the last seven as Deputy City Manager, David Arrington was retiring under his own free will. The street committee knew there had to be, as the late Bernie Mac would say; “some shady goings on”. Come to find out the street committee again got it right as it was recently revealed that the real reason for Arrington’s departure was because it was discovered he was having an affair with a subordinate, Inspections and Service Coordinator Marsha Thomas.

Apparently Arrington was “busted” by his wife, Carmen Arrington, who is also a city employee, because she found an iphone that Thomas had given him. For this alone Arrington should have his “Playa’s Card” revoked. You don’t leave your designated “side piece’s” phone out so your “main squeeze” can find it. Every ‘Playa” knows you either keep it with you at all times, “on silent” or in the trunk of your car, where you know she is not going. To add insult to injury his wife confronted him at work.

After the dust settled it was revealed that this was not the first time Marsha Thomas was involved with someone “above her pay grade” if you will. It appears that she previously had an affair with the former assistant director of the department, Danny Cargill prior to him leaving his city job. The street committee has also learned that allegedly there is another individual Thomas may have been involved with.

All of the men are gone but she’s still there making $33,600 a year. For those of you who were surprised by Arrington’s sudden departure you only had to listen closely to his speech announcing his retirement, he gave many hints about his extramarital affair such as being grateful to have had the chance to help “solve citizens’ problems and stating that he has “devoted a significant part of his life

The Street Committee

to public service. According to the street committee there is no denying he has put in service.

Is Battalion Chief Janice Bruner Being Judged By A Different Standard?

Recently Battalion Chief Janice Bruner, with the Columbus Department of Fire and EMS was dismissed after it was revealed she made false statements whether she responded to a call on April 5. The complaint was that she did not actually go to the scene of the fire. According to the street committee when interviewed “she insisted on certain facts in connection with the fire call, but they changed in a follow-up interview. As a battalion chief you are required to respond to fires and direct the firefighting process, when you can’t do that you make sure you have a replacement with the proper rank to take your place. This did not occur. But, the street committee has learned this is not an unusual occurrence within the department. This is what happens in many cases involving battalion chiefs; a call comes in and a truck will be dispatched. When the first truck arrives it may be determined that it isn’t a fire so the battalion chief is not needed and does not have to be on the scene so they don’t show up. It just so happened this time there was a fire and the proper replacement wasn’t made available. The bottom line however, is does the punishment fit the “lapse of judgment” as the mayor refers to it. Over the years there have been many instances where high ranking employees with the Columbus Consolidated government have had a “lapse of judgment” or worse and were not dismissed. Under Mayor Jim Wetherington it is well documented that J.D. Hawk, with the Columbus police department lied on record multiple times to police investigators and influenced a subordinate to do the same and he was only given a two (2) day suspension that he was allowed to swap out with his vacation days. Recently Hawk was promoted to major and placed over patrol services. How can the street committee not wonder if there is a double standard on the issue of integrity when it comes to Hawk and Bruner?

Does it seem fair that AfricanAmericans employed with the CCG are fired for “untruthfulness” but Caucasians in high-ranking positions are given a pass? The truth of the matter is no matter how you try to make it so Battalion Chief Bruner has done no worse than any number of other employees with the CCG. Are we saying she should get a pass?

Yes. According to our sources, just last year it was revealed that a sergeant at one of the local fire stations was caught sleeping with a rookie officer, which was allegedly recorded on video. The rookie was fired but according to the street committee the sergeant is still on the job collecting a paycheck. Just prior to going to press the street committee learned that another high ranking officer with the fire department just got away with something that was much worse than what battalion chief Bruner is being accused of. Be assured that when we find out, we will be sure to report it. In the meantime it seems a bit unfair, given the other instances involving CCG employees that Bruner has to come forward with information to lessen the severity of the city’s actions. Perhaps, given her lengthy tenure with the city, she needs to start revealing where all of the “bodies are buried” and other information she is aware of that has gone on in this city. That’s obviously what these other high ranking officials must be

The Courier Eco Latino Newspaper is published bi-weekly *Any editorial content are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper, publisher or staff Member

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doing when they get behind closed doors with those individuals tasked with deciding their continued employment.

TRUST GOD

THURSDAY May 7, 2015

A VIEW FROM A PEW

3

A Mother’s Day Gift To Remember It’s been a little over a year since my father passed away and almost eleven years for my older brother Ricky. Prior to experiencing their death I remember telling others who would be grieving that, “I understand what you’re going through”. I didn’t mean any harm; I really thought I was being thoughtful and considerate. I no longer respond in that way unless they have lost a father or a brother. One thing I’ve learned is unless you’ve gone through it you have no clue how someone really feels.

As a family we continue to move back and forth between what is traditionally agreed upon as the various stages of grief (shock and denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance) even today. Each of us, my mother, sister and brother, have found ourselves, every now and then, calling one another recalling some special memory, such as how my father only drank tea, never coffee and always had a handful of those red and white mints in his pocket. Or how we had to hide our computers whenever Ricky came around because you couldn’t tell him he wasn’t the computer genius he thought he was.

I received one of those phone calls about a month ago from my mother. This is how the conversation went.

“Wane I’m sitting here looking at the flag the Air Force gave me for Ricky and I think I should have one for your father

from the Army, I think he’d want me to have one. I know you can get it so take care of that for me, ok?”

“Uh, I don’t even know where to start, or if they will do it at this late date”, I said. She interrupted me saying, Look, I think

and then called me wanting to know if I wanted them. And another thing, where is this, “he’d want me to have one” coming from?

Again I must remind you that I said all of this to myself because even though she is in her late 80’s her memory is very much intact and I’m not so sure that the next time I visit her she wouldn’t haul off

Needless to say when I did remember, I went immediately to Congressman Sanford Bishop’s local office and explained to his Field Representative, Elaine Gillespie my dilemma. She in turn put me in touch with Harry Crawford whose job title is Office Manager/ Constituent Services.

After filling out a one page form and returning it, I received a phone call from Mr. Crawford just four days later alerting me that my flag was in his office and I could come and pick it up.

I immediately left my office to pick up the flag with the intention of overnighting it that evening so as to surprise my mother. When I arrived, and Harry handed me the box, I was puzzled because it was square and I was expecting it to be in a triangular one. Of course I didn’t say anything other than thank you and offered my appreciation for tak-

he’d want me to have one to look at along side Ricky’s so just make it happen, bye!

and hit me up side my head for being “smart mouthed” as she would say.

I said to myself, “I know she didn’t just give me an ultimatum and hang up on me? Not the woman my siblings and I had to convince to at least have a memorial for my father in spite of the fact that they had agreed that neither would have a funeral. Not the woman who would tell me, “As long as I can carry his memory in my heart that’s all I need! And I knew this wasn’t coming from the woman who, when the crematorium called to ask where to send my fathers ashes she quickly responded, “Not here”

Needless to say I spent about two weeks trying to figure out how to go about getting this flag. Well, actually I procrastinated for two weeks. Ok that’s not entirely true, to be honest I forgot all about it. It’s a wonder my mother’s not up there with my father as long as it’s taken me to follow through on the task she asked me to undertake. I guess that’s why you have girls and obviously why she refused my brother and my request for her to stay with us optioning rather to live with our sister instead.

ing care of my problem in such a short time period.

As I sat outside the Congressman’s office and opened the box finding the flag neatly folded, I realized I had another dilemma, how was I going to get this folded in the

tri-cornered tradition? Of course I knew living in a military town someone would be able to get it done for me, but who?

Fortunately the first person I asked; Carl Brown of C. Brown and Associates solved my problem. As one who served in the military he offered a great suggestion, why not contact Chris Lindsey the principal at George Washington Carver High School and ask if their JROTC could fold it for me?

I called Mr. Lindsey and he said no problem, I could bring it right away. When I got to the school Chris introduced me to Major Branch with the JROTC department and he gave Sgt. 1st Class Collier, Sgt. Alexander, Sgt. Fleet and 1st Sgt. Graves the task. The cadets did an excellent job folding my father’s flag.

On behalf of my brother Gary Lamar, sister Tonya Terese, and me, Wane Alfred, the Hailes

family would like to thank my friends, Elaine, Harry, Carl, Chris and the Carver High School JROTC program for providing our mother, Margie Alexander Hailes the best Mother’s Day Gift ever!

Wane A. Hailes

Page 4

Opinion/Editorial

By George E. Curry NNPA Columnist

By Brother Love Special To The Courier

Brother Love, Are Good Christians To Be Good Citizens?

Michael Eric Dyson vs.

Cornel West

(Continued) It’s the academic version of the world heavyweight championship boxing matches between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in Zaire labeled “The Rumble in the Jungle” and the Philippine’s “Thriller in Manila.” Whatever label you attach to it, the public feud between Professors Cornel West and Michael Eric Dyson, two of our most gifted intellectuals, cannot be ignored.

Dyson’s original opus weighed in at nearly 10,000 words – four to five times the length of a typical magazine feature story – and landed plenty of punches to West’s body of work. Dyson charged that Obama’s inauguration marked “a pronounced and decades-long scholarly decline” for West.

He explained, “It is not only that West’s preoccupations with Obama’s perceived failures distracted him, though that is true; more accurate would be to say that the last several years revealed West’s paucity of serious and fresh intellectual work, a trend far longer in the making. West is still a Man of Ideas, but those ideas today are a vain and unimaginative repackaging of his earlier hits. He hasn’t published without aid of a co-writer a single scholarly book since Keeping Faith, which appeared in 1993, the same year as Race Matters.”

Despite other issues addressed by Dyson in his tome, at its core, this heavyweight fight is personal. In the interest of full disclosure, I know both Cornel and Michael and count each of them as a friend.

Except for the length of Dyson’s article, the only thing surprising is that he waited this long to reply to West’s attacks on him. And readers had to wait almost until the end of the article to learn what West specifically said about Dyson that so enraged him.

“In November 2012, West, friend and mentor, one of the three men whose name is on my Princeton doctoral dissertation, let me have it in the national media. It was during an appearance with Tavis Smiley on Democracy Now, shortly after Obama’s reelection. ‘I love Brother Mike Dyson,’ West said. ‘But we’re living in a society where everybody is up for sale. Everything is up for sale. And he and Brother Sharpton and Sister Melissa and others, they have sold their souls for a mess of Obama pottage. And we invite them back to the black prophetic tradition after Obama leaves. But at the moment, they want insider access, and they want to tell those kinds of lies. They want to turn their back to poor and working people. And it’s a sad thing to see them as apologists for the Obama administration in that way, given the kind of critical background that all of them have had at some point.’”

See Curry Page 10

Respect for Government Authority 13 Everyone must submit to governing authorities.

For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.

3 For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you.

4 The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong.

5 So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.

6 Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do.

7 Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority. (Romans 13: 1-7 NLT) Civil government is part of God’s plan for the world we live. No one form of government is divinely chosen, but government itself is ordained by God. Romans 13: 1-2 clearly tells us that everyone must submit to governing authorities and that anyone that rebels or opposes civil government is defying God’s command and will be punished. Verse 3 tells us that the only ones that should be in fear of government authorities are those that do wrong, not those that are law-abiding and do right.

Verse 4 goes on to tell us that government authorities are God’s servants sent for our good, which is a very important point for all of us to pay very close attention to, especially the government authorities themselves. The authorities are not sent by God to be deceitful or unjust or corrupt or indifferent to taxpaying citizens in any way whatsoever. They are not to abuse their authority, condone or help cover-up neglect or any form of wrongdoing. They are “sent for your good.” Therefore, if they are not doing what is fair and just, which would all be of good, in their See Love Page 10

May 7, 2015

By Georgia Ellyse Special To The Courier

Should You Move in with Him? Living together before marriage is controversial topic for some. While some are strongly opposed to the idea of moving in with a significant other before marriage, others think it’s a fundamental part of a relationship. For those of you who are seriously considering taking that next step in your relationship and moving in with your significant other, there are a few things to take into consideration.

Are you doing it for the convenience factor?

A lot of the time in relationships, it gets to the point that one of you is spending most of your time at the other person’s place and it makes more sense just to move in together. While that may be true, don’t let that be the main reason you make the big move. You need to be sure that living together is something you’re ready for and a step that both of you are ready to take.

Are you nervous?

It’s okay to be nervous. It’s a big decision that needs to be thought through and if you’re not the least bit nervous about it, that may be a sign that you’re more interested in playing house than joining lives with another person. Building a life with another person is a journey in itself and it requires a lot of work and sacrifice. The sooner you come to this realization, the easier the transition will be.

Are you 100% sure?

If you’re not 100% sure that this is something you want and something you’re ready for, don’t do it!

Living together changes a lot of things in a relationship. Not only will you be sharing your space with someone, but you’ll also be sharing your life with this person. If you’re not sure if you want to let go of your individual lives just yet, take some time to think it through. Maybe do a trial run and see if it’s something you really want to do.

Do you ignore problems?

When you move in together, you’re going to deal with your fair share of arguments and disagreements and that’s something you need to be prepared for.

Arguing isn’t necessarily a bad thing so don’t be discouraged when it happens. Just be sure to actually address the issues and come up with a solution.

Are you on the same page?

It’s crucial that you both want the same things out of you relationship. If you’re both on different places in the relationship, there’s a chance that it will

eventually cause a rift between the two of you.

Living together should be a stepping stone to the next step of your relationship, it shouldn’t tear you apart

C OVER S TORY

PAGE 5

May 7, 2015

Quincy Brown: From Hardaway High School To Hollywood Georgia attending, Reese Road, Blackmon Middle School and Hardaway High. We were surprised to learn that his passion, early on, was baseball.

By Wane A. Hailes Special To The Courier He is the son of model and actress Kim Porter and Sean Combs and his biological father is 80's New Jack Swing singer Al B. Sure!.

His name is Quincy Brown, singer, model and actor.

Quincy grew up in Columbus,

“ It’s true. During High school my dream was to one day becoming a major league baseball player, said Brown.

But today music and movies are a huge passion for him.

Brown was in Columbus recently to premiere his new movie, “Brotherly Love”. The movie, set on the backdrop of Philadelphia's Overbrook High School, tracks the lives of the nations No. 1 high school basketball player Sergio Taylor and his family as he deals with the early pressures of "hood fame."

Quincy plays the role of Chris, who is the lead actress' love interest, according to a news release.

"I play Chris, who is loving and genuine. I fall in love with Keke Palmer’s character, Jackie. The character is similar to me

because of his smooth approach on things. He is someone you will become attracted to through his demeanor and charming personality," Brown says”.

At just 23 Quincy is considered a mini-mogul. With titles such as producer, photographer, director, singer, model, actor, philanthropist and cofounder of his own production c o m p a n y, F o u r X a m p l e Productions, Quincy continues to evolve into an unstoppable force by pursuing each and every passion and aiming for nothing less than success at the finish line.

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May 7, 2015

Who’s Got Next?...

Young Professionals On The Move Nadine Haralson, provides up close and personal interviews with young professionals who are making a difference in our community. Join us each issue as we introduce, recognize, and celebrate those individuals in Columbus, Phenix City and Ft. Benning who are… “On The Move”

Dr. Brandon Mays

Ashleigh Kaufmann

had a deep “commitment to reach the lost and embrace the forgotten” which led him in January of 2014 to found Revamp Church and CEO of BAM ministries.

His sincere ability to understand and connect, has allowed Dr. Mays to be anointed to preach and teach in such a way that crosses generational, cultural, and denominational barriers. “ I understand that sometimes there’s a need to go outside the church to reach and touch lives,” explains Mays.

By Nadine Haralson The Courier Dr. Brandon Mays is a prime example of how the Biblical quote “train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it ”, is primitive to the lives of young children, and the significant role it plays in ones adulthood.

In November 2001 Brandon Mays answered the call to preach the gospel and to minister. He became an ordained minister in February of 2009 serving as associate pastor of Corinth Missionary Baptist Church in Columbus, GA, alongside the late Rev. Raymond Mays Sr., his grandfather.

“I attribute my growth in the ministry to the teachings of my late grandfather and Apostle Horace Leonard”, shares Dr. Mays. Under the current guidance of Bishop Norman Hardman (Mount of Transfiguration in Opelika, AL,) Mays realized and understood he

In 2014 Dr. Mays became a published author of the book entitled “Fertile Faith” which he proclaims is a must read for those who want to increase their faith for greater possibilities with extraordinary results.

Continuing to strive to be a man/Christian in harmony with God, Mays established Revamp Bible College which he is Chancellor and CEO, moving on to acquire his Doctorate of Divinity from St. Thomas Christian University in January of 2015.

Having been blessed to minister in various cities and states to young and old, there’s no slowing down Dr. Mays, a Pastor who say’s he is here to “bring a relevant and intelligent message that rebirths and revamps the spirit to reconnect to God’s given purpose.”

To be young, a man of strong faith, and spirit lead, there’s no disbelief as to why Dr. Brandon A. Mays is “On the Move”.

Columbus, GA, which led her to cross paths with Gerald Riley owner of Overflo Barber Shop who became a mentor to her. After graduating from Jordan Vocational High School in 2008 with a 3.8 GPA, Ashleigh moved in with some friends and soon began engaging in criminal activities that lead to jail time.

“Sitting in that jail I beat myself up a lot, my life was upside down, I knew better, and I knew my purpose” states Kaufmann, “I knew I had to help younger people make better decisions.”

By Nadine Haralson The Courier “I’ve be in a beauty Salon/Barber Shop as long as I can remember,” explains Ashleigh Kaufmann, a young Barber at Overflo Barber Shop.

Helping her mother, who was working as a barber in a popular barbershop in the town of Milwaukee, WI, Ashley remissness about her days and time spent in hair shops as a kid, sweeping, cleaning towels, mopping, fixing clipper, and running errands for her mother kept her quite busy, until 2001when her mother asked if she wanted to learn the trade. With a shrug and a nonchalant “Sure”, that was the beginning to a promising career.

A quick learner, cutting hair became an everyday part of life and passion for Ashleigh, cutting friends hair for free whenever she could, before school, after school, even cutting out her school lunch to cut hair in her English class.

“I would hear, “you’ll never be as good as a man”, and it would drive me crazy. I would see wasted talent in my neighborhood, and didn’t want to become that”, shares Kaufmann.

In June of 2007 her parents decided it best for Ashleigh to move to

With everything she had learned growing up, opportunities and encouragement she had been given, and her brief stint with the law, once released she hit the ground running.

She enrolled and graduated from Rivertown School of Beauty. Since then she has hosted her first barber tutorial DVD, worked as a plat form artist at the Bronner Brother’s International Show, cut hair for award, shows, weddings, schools, recreation centers, homeless shelters, and sporting events. Currently Ashleigh is the treasurer of Columbus Barbers United and one of the lead instructors for the Manikin House. Both are organizations that deal with youth development and preservation of the Beauty industry and community.

“Our job is to use past experiences, mixed with memories of childhood and figure out how to connect with that kid in front of you”, relays Kaufmann. How encouraging is it for children who may feel the odds are against them, or may find themselves in trouble to know that there’s still hope and a chance, and there’s someone you can truly relate and help guide them, it’s no wonder Ashleigh Kaufmann has been nominated for the 2015 Beauty Honors, Barber of the Year.

“I don’t believe in getting pats on the back for doing what I’m supposed to.”

Maybe not Ashleigh but we’re going to give you a well-deserved pat on the back anyway.

PAGE 7

C OVER S TORY

May 7, 2015

The Columbus Scholars Story

By Ben Holden Special To The Courier When I was a 17-year-old high school senior, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch ran an annual scholarship program aimed at identifying an underprivileged

but academically gifted kid in St. Louis and sending that kid to college.

I got the scholarship that year, 1981.

There was an awards banquet at a fancy hotel and many civic leaders from the community

attended. It may have been the first time I wore a suit outside church since going to the child services office 13 years earlier to take my father’s last name when my parents got married.

Only later did I learn that there were 60 other applicants for a single $1,800-per-year journalism scholarship to attend the University of Missouri School of Journalism, where the projected cost of education for the Class of 1985 was $3,200. I remembered two childhood rivals, one a girl who competed with me in English and one a boy, who was probably slightly better than me in math.

Neither went to college, nor did, by my unscientific survey years later, 87 of the 90 mostly North Side kids from the 5th grade who were bussed from the black parts of St. Louis to Madison School downtown near Busch Stadium.

I was eventually plucked out

of Madison to finish elementary school on the South Side at Wade Gifted School and later Bush Gifted Center.

My brother Percy, who was much smarter than me, went to Wade first and graduated from there.

We all called him Bill, which was short for his middle name William (yeah, a black kid from the ghetto named William Holden) and he was my friend and my hero. More than anything in the world I wanted to be like him.

Bill and I both were given “permissive transfers” to attend the only college-prep public high school in St. Louis: Southwest High. Southwest force-fed students a steady diet of math and science and English. In four years I was ready for the University of Missouri, which I found surprisingly easy my freshman year. I went on to get a law degree and an MBA from the University of California

at Berkeley, where I met my wife, Melanie, who is a partner in a Columbus, Ga. law firm.

Over the years, as a lawyer and a journalist, I have periodically encountered colleagues who, when chatting about our backgrounds, have shared an awkward, sometimes embarrassed surprise at the difference in our upbringing. As a Wall Street Journal reporter, my sources and indeed my coworkers typically had parents who were college educated and often had graduate degrees.

Neither of my parents graduated high school. The same was true for Melanie as she grew up (although her mother went back to school as an adult, earned a GED and eventually a bachelor’s and master’s degree and became a teacher).

In fact, at an event for African See Ben Page 12

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PAGE 8

Governor Nathan Deal Visits Reese Road Leadership Academy, Signs HB 70

By Wane A. Hailes The Courier On Thursday April 30, 2015 Governor Nathan Deal visited Reese Road Leadership Academy to sign House Bill 70, the legislation that officially names the white-tailed deer as the new state mammal.

At the beginning of the school

year, Kevin Green, a fourth grade student and son of school board Vice President Pat Hugley Green, was working on a cub scout project to list a few of the official state symbols. Green learned that Georgia was one of at least three states that did not have an official state mammal.

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The fourth grade students shared the project with a team of first grade students and teachers who were eager to take on the project. They wrote a letter to State Representative Carolyn Hugley (D-Columbus) asking her to sponsor legislation and the rest, as they say is history.

PAGE 9

May 7, 2015

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May 7, 2105

Curry From Page 4 As Dyson wrote, “West was just warming up.” Dyson continued, “After a fiftieth anniversary celebration of the 1963 March on Washington on the National Mall, a celebration Sharpton led and at which I spoke, West argued that Martin Luther King Jr. ‘would’ve been turning over in his grave’ at Sharpton’s ‘coronation’ as the ‘bona fide house negro of the Obama plantation,’ supported by ‘the Michael Dysons and others who’ve really prostituted themselves intellectually in a very, very ugly and vicious way.’

And recently, while promoting Black Prophetic Fire, West

Love From Page 4 governmental capacities, then they are rebelling against God as well betraying the trust of the people. If they are doing any of that, any of it, then our duty as taxpaying citizens is to hold each and every responsible party accountable.

Verse 5 makes it plain that the Christians should submit to government authorities to avoid punishment, which is obvious, but also that the Christian will have a clear conscience. You should not want to do anything as a Christian or a good citizen that is going to leave you

By Jesse Jackson NNPA Columnist

Baltimore: We Have Been Here Before Now it is Baltimore. There Freddie Gray, a Black man, was stopped on the street, pinned to the ground, dragged to the back of a police wagon, and died in police custody.

Six officers were suspended.

The mayor promised justice.

But the city erupted in non-violent demonstrations that turned ugly, despite Gary’s family pleading for peace. Over three dozen were arrested. “Oh, Baltimore,” sang Nina Simone in 1978, “Ain’t it hard just to live.

Baltimore is a tale of two cities. The Inner Harbor now

argued ‘the Sharptons, the Melissa Harris-Perrys, and the Michael Eric Dysons … end up being these cheerleaders and bootlickers for the President, and I think it’s a disgrace when it comes to the black prophetic tradition of Malcolm and Martin.’”

West responded to Dyson briefly on Facebook, saying: “Character assassination is the refuge of those who hide and conceal these issues in order to rationalize their own allegiance to the status quo.”

Dyson responded to West’s response and pushback from other quarters with a second, with a “guilty” conscience weighing you down. Verse 6 tells us that government workers need to be paid because they are serving God in what they do, so the good Christian is to pay their taxes. Verse 7 reminds us to give respect and honor to those in authority, and to pay your government fees as well as your taxes.

The liars and deceivers will try to convince you that I am just a racist troublemaker that hates M a y o r Te r e s a To m l i n s o n because she is White, or for some other reason just as backward. They do not want you glimmers with new restaurants, new condominiums, the stadiums that house the Ravens and the Orioles. West Baltimore, in contrast, is marked by boarded up stores, abandoned homes, and too many people with no hope. The jobs are gone; the schools crowded, the streets harsh. Here the police – many of whom live in the suburbs – are tasked with waging a war on drugs and enforcing order. The inevitable result is a tinderbox, a spark away from bursting into flame, one incident of police misbehavior from eruption.

We’ve been here before; Baltimore is not unique. We’ve

2,623-word article in The New Republic. Regarding his decision to publicly answer West, Dyson, quoting old folks who administered public spankings to children, said, “Where you did it is where you get it.”

Of all the issues facing Black America – police murders, poverty, mass incarceration, drones, unfair trade policies, electronic surveillance, failing schools, unemployment, Wall Street power, and Israeli occupation of Palestinians, to use part of West’s list of pressing issues – a heavyweight fight between two prized Black intellectuals is an unwanted distraction.

Four years ago, I arranged and moderated a conversation between West and Sharpton at a National Newspapers Publishers Association’s convention in Chicago. It was a cordial and respectful conversation. However, it wasn’t long before West personally attacked Sharpton again. So I have little hope that a sit-down between West and Dyson would yield anything beyond a temporary truce.

to know the facts or stay focused on the truth. Holding Mayor Tomlinson and Columbus City Council accountable as I have been doing is not my duty alone as a concerned citizen. It is your duty as well. It is your duty as a good Christian and a good citizen.

izens first as far as service, safety and security. Law-abiding citizens minding their own business at their own places of residence should not have to fear Columbus, Georgia police officers or Phenix City, Alabama police officers. A police officer just cannot force his way into your home without prper cause or a legal warrant, as what happen at the Phenix City home of Elizabeth Coty-Green regarding a civil matter. Police officers just cannot come onto a disabled citizen’s property and inflict physical harm on that citizen claiming some mysterious witness told them some cocka-

mamie, made up story that never proved true.

We’ve been here before, too.

In 1968, after race riots had erupted in Watts, Chicago, Detroit and Newark, Lyndon Johnson convened the Kerner Commission to investigate the causes of the riots. The Kerner Report descried a nation “moving towards two societies, one black, one white, separate and unequal.” It called for better training for the police, but also for new jobs, new housing, an end to de factor segregation.

Police misbehavior was often the match that sparked the eruption, but there would be no answer without fundamental change.

York Times reports on 1.5 million “missing black men,” one of every six aged 24 to 54 who have disappeared from civic life. They are either dead or locked away. Jobs have dried up as manufacturing plants closed and where shipped abroad. Mass incarceration – with African Americans still suffering from racial profiling and injustice – destroys possibility.

The official Black unemployment rate is twice that of whites, but that does not even count those who want a job but have given up trying to find one.

In closing, I hope and pray that you fully understand why what these scriptures are telling us regarding government is so very important. It is the duty of the citizen as well as of the Christian to hold government officials accountable whenever they fail in any way to put citseen Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., Eric Garner in Staten Island New York, and Trayvon Martin in Sanford Fla. Now that demonstrations have put the question of police violence on the front pages, each week brings another horror, another victim, another injustice.

Much focus has been put on cameras as a technical fix, but we need a change of culture, of character, of circumstance.

Police need new training, and a new relationship with the communities they patrol. But at the end of the day, police are not the answer. They are the occupying force, but they are not the cause of the underlying distress.

In the end, West and Dyson will be judged not by the amount of flowery venom they can direct at each other – we’ve had more than enough of that already –

Baltimore and America have changed, but for too many in our ghettos and barrios, the reality is the same. The New

but whether they can help find solutions for the array of vexing problems that still plague our people.

George E. Curry, former editor-in-chief of Emerge magazine, is editor-in-chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service ( N N PA ) and BlackPressUSA.com. He is a keynote speaker, moderator, and media coach. Curry can be reached through his Web site, www.georgecurry.com. You can also follow him at www.twitt e r. c o m / c u r r y g e o r g e a n d George E. Curry Fan Page

Law-abiding citizens do not pay their taxes for police officers to abuse their bodies and violate their rights as American citizens. I would hardly call it doing good when those in authority over these officers never act to protect the rest of us from similar or worse harm by taking the officers off the streets or addressing failed departmental policies that led to the incident. We must stand up and speak out demanding better for our taxpayer dollars.

May God bless and keep you

The stigmatization of African Americans continues. African American children are more likely to be suspended for the same misbehavior than Whites.

See Jackson Page 17

Next Issue June 2015!

Courier Eco Latino, The Magazine is the premiere source for an authoritative perspective on the tricity’s African-American and Hispanic community.

Specifically serving the African-American and Hispanic businessmen and women, professionals and concerned citizens our goal is to ignite conversation, promote empowerment and celebrate aspiration.

In This Issue “Serving Our Community” Articles Include: -

Dr. Robert L Wright, Jr. Columbus Scholars The Divine 9; Local Fraternities and Sororities New Destiny Church International Mel & Abe’s Barber Shop The Controllers Civic & Social Club Congressman Sanford D. Bishop State Court Judge Ben Richardson

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May 7, 2015

PAGE 12 Ben From Page 7 grew up (although her mother went back to school as an adult, earned a GED and eventually a bachelor’s and master’s degree and became a teacher). In fact, at an event for African American law students during my first year of law school, Melanie and I recall that we were the only people in the room who’d been raised by parents who lacked college degrees. It goes without saying that we were the only ones raised by parents who didn’t graduate high school.

In 1993, after leaving the law to return to journalism, I began working at the Wall Street Journal and mentoring young African American boys, as the statistics on prison and recidivism and poor educational attainment poured forth from the think tanks. One statistic stood out more than the others: According to the Wa s h i n g t o n , D . C . - b a s e d Sentencing Project, in 1995, one in three black boys in his 20s was in jail, on probation or on parole . The figure was an acceleration of the 1990 statistic, which was one in four.

My first long-term mentoring relationship was with a young man named Brandon Kosoko, who I met when he was 10 years old and living with his grandmother in South Los Angeles. He was a good kid in a tough situation, but with a little help, he made it to college and eventually graduated.

That’s his graduation photo at the top of our website.

I was matched with Brandon by happenstance. I knew of no systematic mechanism to identify and support smart kids standing at a fork in the road where one path might lead to Yale, and the other to jail.

In the greatest, freest nation the world had ever known, in the Land of Opportunity, this struck me as fundamentally wrong. It seemed simple, even obvious that if people of good will were marshaled together to identify poor, smart kids early

and guide them through the treacherous terrain of difficult neighborhoods, temptations and bad choices, we could build sturdy, long-standing bridges to success.

That is the fundamental premise of the Columbus Scholars Project.

After a series of promotions in the news business, I was named Vice President and Executive Editor of the Gannett newspaper in Columbus, Ga., the Ledger-Enquirer. And in Columbus, as in other places I’d lived, a few folks mentoring kids kept asking the same question: what are the common factors in determining who makes it and who doesn’t?

Eventually, a small group of us settled on a simple two-part answer: Money (or the early promise of college) and Mentoring.

I had my brother Bill as a role model, and long before I got the scholarship, folks at the Post let me know that they planned to help me. And I believed it.

On October 5, 2007 my brother Bill died of a heart attack at the age of 45. In one of life’s oddest and cruelest coincidences, he died about eight hours after the death of my mother, who died of natural causes halfway across the country, the same day, about eight hours earlier.

In their honor, I redoubled my efforts to pay homage to the mentoring and leadership Bill had offered me. A small group of friends had been meeting at the newspaper every other week prior to his death, planning what would eventually become the Columbus Scholars Project. That small group included political consultant Karl Douglass, lawyer Jorge Vega and dance entrepreneur Patti Taylor. We met for about two years every month or so in my office at the newspaper and mostly talked policy and ideas.

Bill’s death (and my mother’s) knocked me off-kilter for nearly a year. But on June 3, 2008, on my 45th birthday, I sat in my office at the Ledger-Enquirer and wrote a check for $250 to open the Columbus Scholars Fund with the Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley. CFCV Executive Director Betsy Covington, who was part of our early planning team, wrote our Mission Statement and personally accepted our first contribution.

At the risk of sounding cliché, it was truly a team effort. My wife’s law partner, Jorge Vega, matched my gift and we began planning our organizational structure, drafting Bylaws, setting goals, and planning our first big fund-raiser. Jeff Hendrickson, a senior editor at the newspaper, designed our logo. Nick Blair, the paper’s webmaster, designed our first website. Joe Paull, the paper’s videographer, produced an explanatory video, narrated by L-E editorial page editor Dusty Nix. Karl Douglass, a former Aflac exec turned political consultant, gave the organization its name. Patti Taylor, a local dance entrepreneur, mapped our fundraising strategy and led us to the critical decision to limit the program to the Muscogee County School District.

Nine months later, we held a launch supper event at my home in Midland. My wife and my brother Stacey (an accomplished cook) fed sixty two people attended across two days: March 29 and 30, 2009.

MCSD Superintendent Susan Andrews attended, as did Chattahoochee Circuit Chief Judge John Allen. Brandon

was able to fly in from Los Angeles.

But perhaps the most significant guest that day was Ken Henson, who became an instant supporter of our efforts, as well as the eventual Big Brother to David Crall, who is in our first class of scholars.

By November 2009, we’d raised just under $30,000 and Columbus State University President Tim Mescon pledged an additional $10,000 for one of our scholars once they reached CSU. He repeated the pledge the following year.

We settled on $7,500 per scholar for five Scholars -$7,500 times four, plus the CSU scholarship.

Later gifts received shortly after our December 14, 2009 initial induction meant we could add two alternates, bringing the first class to seven.

Each year afterward, our goal has been to take up to 10 scholars. As of our Class 6

Induction in January 2015, we have 50 Columbus Scholars.

With the help of our partner at Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Chattahoochee Valley, and the Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley, we have settled on this simple formula: For each new scholar, we recruit a mentor and make a new $7,500 into the Columbus Scholars Fund.

Our ongoing belief is captured in the words written on the front page of our website: “Americans believe fundamentally in opportunity, and that each of our nation’s children should achieve to the highest limits of his or her character and intellect. This is true from shore to shore, from North to South. It is true in Columbus. . . But poverty and lack of parental involvement often create an achievement gap between ability and performance. . . The most effective way to close this gap is by providing long-term mentoring and guaranteeing college funding for deserving students.”

PAGE 13

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PAGE 14

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May 7, 2015

Page 17 Jackson From Page 10 African American men are more likely to be stopped, more likely to be arrested if stopped, more likely to convicted if arrested. The result hurts African Americans generally.

The Harvard sociologist Devah Pager has found that a White with a criminal record has a better chance getting hired than Black with no record whatsoever. Being Black in America today is just about the same as having a felony conviction in terms of one’s chances of finding a job,” she concludes.

We need a serious plan for urban redevelopment. We need a plan to put people to work, a public works project that hires and trains and employs peo-

May 7, 2015 ple in work that needs to be done. We could provide guarantees to pension funds to invest in rebuilding the boarded up homes. We could train young people to retrofit buildings with solar and energy efficient insulation and windows.

We could insure that transportation exists to take workers to where the jobs are.

Baltimore has put us on notice once more. Our cities are at a breaking point. There are more horrors to come, more explosions to follow. 50 years after the Kerner Commission, we ignore its teachings at our peril.

Harris First Runner-Up as System’s Student of the Year Columbus Technical College respiratory care technology student Leonna Harris was named first runner-up for the annual GOAL (Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership) student in the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). This accomplishment means Harris will serve as an ambassador for technical education in our six-county service area and may be called upon to represent the TCSG on the state level as well. To put her position in perspective, the TCSG provided instruction to more than 141,000 students in academic year 2014!

The Delta Iota Lambda Educational Foundation Of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Award Twelve Local Students, College Scholarships.

Mccall Memorial Scholarship Recipient Isaiah Hugley City Manager, Columbus, Georgia [Back Row L-R:] Deuandre Elam Central High School 2015 Delta Iota Lambda Scholar Gabriel Gordon Northside High School 2015 Delta Iota Lambda Scholar Gavin Kerr Spencer High School 2015 Delta Iota Lambda Scholar Hayley Robinson Shaw High School

The members of the Delta Iota Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. are pleased to support this annual scholarship program. Delta Iota Lambda Educational Foundation award scholarships to students whoexcel in academics and community service.

2015 Scholarship Chairman Lionel Haynes, said: "We are proud to continue helping high school students in the Columbus Georgia and surrounding areas pursue their educational goals." City Manager of Columbus, Georgia Mr. Isaiah Hugley was the guest s p e a k e r f o r t h e Aw a r d s Program.

The 2015 recipients are: (Pictured)[Front Row L-R:] Alexander Amerson Carver High School J. Mencer Kindrick Memorial Scholarship Recipient Oladipupo Dada Columbus High School Harvey C. Phelps Memorial Scholarship Recipient J'haria Dallas Columbus High School Robert L. Wilson Memorial Scholarship Recipient Shayla Jones Central High School David E. Bennett Sr. Memorial Scholarship Recipient William Maben Iii Shaw High School Wesley Thomas Memorial Scholarship Recipient Adam Rodgers Columbus High School Dr. Robert L. Wright And June Wright Scholarship Recipient Morgan Woods Columbus High School Troy

2015 Delta Iota Lambda Scholar Breancha Scott Smith Station High School 2015 Delta Iota Lambda Scholar Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. Who’s Motto Is “First Of All Servants Of All, We Shall Transcend All” And Who’s mission is to “develops leaders, promotes brotherhood and academic excellence, while providing service and advocacy for our communities”, also pro-

vides mentoring and direction with the fraternity’s national projects like “a Vote less People is a Hopeless People”, “Go to High School Go to College” and “Project Alpha” a junior high school mentoring program. The Delta Iota Lambda Education Foundation scholarship program has awarded nearly $250,000.00 in scholarship assistance since its beginning in 1998 with close to 200 students being awarded scholarships

PAGE 18

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May 7, 2015

Page 20

May 7, 2015

Family & Friends Treated The Royal Cafe’s Ms. Lila M. Starr To A Surprise Birthday Party At Green Island Hills

Jueves 7 de Mayo 2015

PAGE 4

South Columbus Elementary School Students Talk About Cinco de Mayo and their Latino Culture

Cinco de Mayo, in many Mexican Marcos Lopez - “I’m glad the battle households will be a gathering of friends ended with Mexico winning, hard work and family, reflecting on their history pays off, Cinco de Mayo means enchiand culture, and celebrating accom- ladas and tamales, my favorite.” plishments and the future.

Yeraldin Alvardo- “It’s a great time for For many elders and historians Cinco my family to come together and enjoy de Mayo is a Mexican holiday cele- music and fun.’ brating the victory and defeat of the Alahanna Hernandez - “I’m Puerto French army in the Battle of Puebla, Rican, but being Latina means a lot which took place on May 5, 1862. But, to me, I’m happy for who I am, and for the Latino students of various everything we can do now.”

Hispanic backgrounds, who may not One thing this young group of 5th be quite familiar with the French defeat, graders could agree on, is that they it means something a little more per- are all proud of who they are, their sonal to them. history and culture, and that they’re all Dayannara Trejo-Martine - “Cinco de looking forward to enjoying family food Mayo gives me a sense of pride, it and fun. makes me proud of who I am. My parents always tell me I need to work hard and get an education.”

Jennerik Perez, who Principle McFadden notes as one of her friendliest and highly intelligent students, chooses to represent his heritage and culture by always displaying good manners and being respectful.

Juan Camaja - “Definitely the celebrating. I like the Tango and the Salsa Juan Lopez, Jennerik Perez, Marcos Lopez, Juan Camaja, Eduardo Dance” Gonzalez, Ms. McFadden Alahanna Hernandez, Dayannara TrejoMartinez,Yeraldin Alvarado

Georgiacares está aquí para ayudarle!

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¿Su iglesia y/o organización basada en la fe o organismo de un grupo superior y/o alto cargo del ministerio? ¿Le gustaría saber más acerca de cómo proteger a los adultos mayores en su comunidad de medicare/Medicaid Errores, fraude, abuso y el robo de identidad?

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Llame a la oficina hoy Georgiacares que prepare una presentación de su iglesia u organización a aprender sobre el programa de Medicare, ayuda extra para aquellos que califican, Medicare servicios de prevención y asistencia mecánica llamada prescripción oportunidades de trabajo voluntario llame al 1-866 -5524464, Opción 4 y pedir Shameika Averett, Coordinador Georgiacares

Pagina 2

Jueves 7 de Mayo 2015

5 Sugerencias Para Tomar Unas Vacaciones de Verano ‘Sin Arruinarse’ (StatePoint) Las vacaciones son buenas para usted. Pero también pueden ser agresivas con la billetera.

Para más de un tercio de los estadounidenses, el costo de las vacaciones será uno de sus mayores gastos el año próximo, según la reciente encuesta de Wells Fargo “De qué modo Estados Unidos compra y adquiere préstamos.” ¿Cómo puede evitar una desagradable sorpresa por el costo de las vacaciones?

Una opción está allí, en su cartera, ya que algunas tarjetas de crédito ofrecen recompensas con prácticamente todas las compras.

Aquí tiene cinco sugerencias sobre cómo utilizar su tarjeta de crédito para hacer realidad sus sueños vacacionales.

• Lea cuidadosamente los términos y condiciones para entender cómo puede obtener y hacer efectivas las recompensas. Algunas tarjetas ofrecen devoluciones de efectivo mientras que otras ofrecen puntos. Algunas tarjetas de crédito permiten a los clientes hacer el canje por diversas opciones, mientras que otras tarjetas – como las que ofrecen algunas líneas aéreas y hoteles– lo conectan con canjes de recompensa para su producto en concreto. Debe saber cuáles cuotas o cargos, de haber-

los, se producen al hacer el canje, y si las recompensas tienen alguna caducidad.

• Algunos consumidores hacen el seguimiento de las recompensas y las canjean periódicamente. Otros casi nunca piensan en ellas. Si usted corresponde a la segunda categoría, verifique su saldo de recompensas. Es posible que haya ganado suficientes recompensas como para compensar gastos como pasajes de avión, estadías de hotel o tarjetas de regalo a comerciantes que tenga previsto visitar mientras está de vacaciones.

Opcionalmente, puede optar por canjear sus recompensas como una cuenta de crédito y utilizar el dinero durante el viaje.

• El turista promedio gasta algo más de $1,300 para viajar, lo que incluye alimentos, alojamiento y transporte, según calcula la Oficina de Estadísticas Laborales de los Estados Unidos. Usando responsablemente para los gastos de vacaciones su tarjeta de crédito con recompensas, éstas pueden acumularse. Puede canjearlas más tarde –¡quizá para las vacaciones del año próximo!– • Viajar con su tarjeta de crédito ofrece una manera más segura de pagar, porque si una tarjeta se pierde o es robada, una llamada rápida a su ban-

co puede detener los cargos a su cuenta. Además de los programas de recompensas, muchas tarjetas ofrecen beneficios poco conocidos que pueden ayudar a hacer más amable su viaje. Por ejemplo, algunas tarjetas de crédito ofrecen servicios de conserje 24 horas al día, 7 días a la semana que le pueden ayudar a planificar su viaje o incluso hacer reservaciones para cenar.

Su tarjeta también puede ofrecer seguro de coche de alquiler, conversiones de divisas sin cargo, tasas competitivas de cambio de moneda y protecciones para el viaje tales como el seguro para equipaje perdido o dañado. Para saber más acerca de estos beneficios, lea el contrato de su tarjeta de crédito.

• Busque ofertas especiales de viaje en su programa de recompensas.

Además, compruebe para ver si su tarjeta de crédito ofrece condiciones de viajes especiales que vienen con recompensas adicionales de tiendas concretas. Para obtener más información sobre las ofertas disponibles, los tarjetahabientes típicamente pueden comprobar el sitio web de su programa de recompensas. Para revisar las ofertas disponibles de We l l s F a r g o , visite www.MyWellsFargoRewards.com y www.MyWellsFargoRewardsEMM.com.

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EN CASA.

En Georgia Power sabemos que para ahorrar no hay que ir lejos.

Hay muchas oportunidades para ahorrar energía y dinero en tu propia casa. Por eso tenemos muchos consejos y reembolsos para ti. ¿Sabías que si instalas materiales aislantes aprobados en el ático, puedes obtener un reembolso de hasta $300? Para averiguar sobre más maneras de ahorrar y nuestro programa de reembolsos, sólo llama gratis a Georgia Power al 1-800-253-1077 y uno de nuestros representantes te atenderá en español.

Aprende más en georgiapower.com

Clientes de Georgia Power pueden ser elegibles para un reembolso de 50% del costo de instalación, hasta $300 en mejoras de aislamiento calificadas. Reembolso disponible hasta diciembre 2014.

Solicitud y recibo/factura deben ser sometidos dentro de 60 días después de la fecha de compra o instalación. Instalación de aislamiento “dense pack” o celulosa o de espuma (también considerado una mejora de sellado de aire) debe ser instalado por un Contratista Participante en el Programa.

Deben cumplirse ciertos requisitos y precondiciones para calificar. © Georgia Power Company. Todos los derechos reservados.

Eco Latino Vol. 10

couriernews.org

S ERVING C OLUMBUS , F T. B ENNING , P HENIX C ITY & S URROUNDING A REAS

La Voz de la Minoría

Edición 4

Gratis

Jueves 7 de Mayo 2015

5 sugerencias para tomar unas vacaciones de verano ‘sin arruinarse’

Coming June 2015, Courier Eco Latino The Magazine South Columbus Elementary School Students Talk About Cinco de Mayo and their Latino Culture

Pagina 4

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