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Volume 14 Issue 7

Editorial

Talk is no substitute for action By Lauren Victoria Burke NNPA columnist

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ave you ever seen a photo of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. taking part of a panel discussion? It’s likely he didn’t have time if he were asked. It’s also likely that in the 1950s and 1960s, he wasn’t asked much. The period King conquered was a time of action. The actions Dr. King took got results and won huge victories. Last year, we commemorated the 50th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. This year, we are commemorating the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. And next year will mark the 50th anniversary of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. In all of the commemorating and celebrating, maybe it’s time we ask ourselves: has activism been replaced by retracing marches and yet another panel discussion? There is no escaping the endless hot air. There is a panel at every turn. At every annual convention. At every luncheon. Even sometimes at breakfast. Even worse, many African-American events feature the same panel discussion. It is a repeat of the same problems and virtually the identical discussion the year before. Wait, it gets worse. It’s typically the case that the discussion features no “call to action” or a clear, detailed set of ideas that might lead to action. That these discussions often feature some of the best and the brightest “public intellectuals” of the era may not be something to celebrate. If the smartest among us spend more time talking than acting, that can’t be a good thing. With the understanding that the centerpiece of the American civil rights movement was based around action rather than panel discussions, we should view endless talk as a problem and perhaps even a barrier. No panel discussion ever ended police brutality. No panel discussion you will ever see or ever hear will end income inequality or put a young person through college. Clearly, the exchange of ideas is important. But when all discussed begins and ends with “the exchange” only, it

Peaceful protests and boycotts, not panel discussions, bring about action.

may be time to re-think what creates real change. In history, when we’ve seen change, we’ve often seen it after unrest. Unrest that scared those in power. We’ve often seen change after civil disobedience. Perhaps African Americans saw the biggest change after America’s War Between the States. Currently, the centerpiece of “civil rights” activity appears to be talking. What we just witnessed in Ferguson, Mo., provides a perfect example. Before so-called “Black leaders” arrived to tell everyone to relax – a notion so ridiculous it should have perhaps set off more unrest – protesters were receiving worldwide attention. If an event such as the shooting death in the middle of the street of an unarmed teenager doesn’t cause active protest, what will? We don’t need another panel discussion to understand what brought those in power to the table on the issue. We don’t need another discussion from “pubic intellectuals” who spend more time talking rather than doing (and making plenty of money in the process) to know what kept attention on the situation in Ferguson. The activities of five decades

ago yielded big results – Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, among others. But few of those big results and political victories are being duplicated today. And the problems, for the African-American community in particular, are getting larger. Four days after Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on December 1, 1955, Blacks boycotted buses in Montgomery, Ala. The protest lasted 381 days. Every day was a day of action. Every day was strategy session. The effort required 13 months of patience and perseverance. The result: The U.S. Supreme Court ordered the city of Montgomery to integrate the bus system. None of this happened because of panel discussions and press conferences. Without applying constant pressure none of it would have ever happened. Without active pressure on power today, we will be left with nothing but talk. Lauren Victoria Burke is freelance writer and creator of the blog Crewof42.com, which covers African American members of Congress. Her website is laurenvictoriaburke.com. Reach her at LBurke007@gmail.com or on Twitter at @Crewof42.

Finance

African Americans sidelined from labor market By Julianne Malveaux NNPA columnist

ne of the most interesting findings of the data recently released by the Census Bureau is that so many recent college graduates live with their parents. Described as “boomerang” graduates, a third of them occupy a basement, a spare room, their old room, a floor or couch. Blessedly, they have parents with whom to live. And if they are 26 or younger, they have health insurance, thanks to the Affordable Care Act. On the other hand, these boomerang graduates will postpone many adult decisions that affect economic markets. They won’t rent apartments or buy furniture or homes. If they don’t have credit cards from college (and they shouldn’t), they are unlikely to get them as residents of their parents’ homes. They will delay marriage and other decisions that also have an impact on consumer spending. They are missing out on the low interest that would make the

purchase of a car or a home much cheaper. Their inability to fully participate in the economy hurts them, and it hurts the economy, too. African-American graduates experience less of a boom because they have much less to boom back to. Their parents and grandparents will make room for them, but instead of staying in a basement room, they are staying on the same floor. Not only is there pressure to find a job, but their failure to do so affects younger siblings and neighbors who think: Why should I go to college? Big brother went and can’t find a job. Or, big brother is working at a fast food restaurant. I could do that without a degree. The Census data showed the first decrease in poverty since 2007, from 12.7 percent to 12.4 percent. Black poverty went up slightly, from 25.6 to 25.7. Hispanic poverty dropped from 24.6 percent to 22.3 percent, the largest decrease for any group Given the high Black unemployment rate and the weaker

The recession birthed the boomerang generation, college graduates who live with their parents, but it has affected African Americans even more.

networks that African Americans have, few relatives can’t refer them to jobs – many are still looking for jobs for themselves. Boomeranging hits African-American young people harder, and the consequences are greater. Already the recipients of lower wages, they so find that it takes longer to locate employment than their White counterparts. When young people are out of work, economists refer to the impact as “scarring.” This means

that boomerangers will have lower wages for the rest of their lives, unless they go to graduate or professional school, a costly proposition. And those who stay out of the labor market for a year or two are less preferred than graduates who find jobs right after college. The Great Recession had a permanent impact on the graduating classes from 2007 through 2012. The inability of recent college graduates to find jobs are structural, and they are also racial. Efforts to close the unemployment gap could generate post-graduation outcomes that are similar for young African Americans as they are for Whites. But Black unemployment has been twice that of Whites as long as these data has been collected. The unemployment rate gap is seen as so normal that nothing has been done to reduce it. President Obama has, by executive order, indicated that veterans should have hiring priority for federal jobs. Such ruling has caused resentment among federal

workers, with the allegation that some veterans are not qualified for the jobs they hold. Qualifications notwithstanding, human resource specialists at federal departments are required to offer veterans a hiring privilege. Doesn’t this sound like affirmative action to you? Yet affirmative action has been all but forgotten. Veteran preferences are the “new” hiring preference. The rationale for these preferences is that those who served our country should not be homeless. Yet, the overwhelming majority of veterans have homes and, indeed, lower unemployment rates than the general population. While no one begrudges veterans special opportunities, there are other groups that deserve preferences, too. When African-American graduates are sidelined, their very absence from the labor market sends a disturbing signal to others who would apply to college but for their perception that college completion offers them no advantages over the friend or colleague who did not go.

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eace Corps Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet and Corporation for National and Community Service CEO Wendy Spencer have joined U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray in pledging to help public servants and national service participants, including Peace Corps volunteers and AmeriCorps members, reduce their student loan debt. The agencies are among the first federal agencies to take CFPB’s public service pledge on student debt. “This marks an important step forward in Peace Corps’ continuing effort to break down barriers to service and open doors of opportunity for new generations of potential Peace Corps volunteers,” Hessler-Radelet said at the National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week Conference in Washington, D.C. “Student loan debt is a significant factor for many young people considering public service, including Peace Corps volunteers, so it is incumbent upon us to help educate them on the benefits available.” “Given that more than 60 percent of AmeriCorps alums go into public service careers, it’s important they know about options that can help them reduce their student debt,” said Spencer. “Our nation needs more public servants, and the effort we are kicking off today will help more AmeriCorps alums translate their service commitment into careers in the public interest.” Through this pledge, the Peace Corps and CNCS commit to share information about options for managing student loan debt with applicants, volunteers, and employees. In partnership with the U.S. Department of Education and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Peace Corps launched a new web portal and public education campaign to help current, future and

Peace corps members who go into public service will benefit from student debt forgiveness.

returned volunteers understand the benefits that may be available to them to help manage their student loans if they choose public service. “Student loan forgiveness has become a key tool to enhance the affordability of public service careers,” said CFPB Director Richard Cordray. “We are working to raise awareness of this program by getting more employers involved and are so pleased that leading public service agencies like the Corporation for National and Community Service, AmeriCorps, and the Peace Corps are joining our efforts.” “I am delighted to sign this pledge to actively inform the employees at the U.S. Department of Education about Public Service Loan Forgiveness as a way to reduce their student loan debt,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. “This program can save thousands of dollars for government workers and non-profit employees who dedicate their lives to public service. It’s also a great recruiting tool for government agencies and tax exempt non-profits that want people to be able to follow their heart and passion—and not just chase a big paycheck because they have to pay back loans. We can’t afford to lose that talent because of student debt.” There are a number of benefit options to help reduce student loans for Peace Corps volunteers and returned Peace Corps volun-

teers, including the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). Peace Corps volunteers may qualify for forgiveness of remaining federal student loan debt after they have made 120 qualifying payments (10 years, if consecutive payments) on those loans while employed fulltime by certain public service employers. If enrolled in PSLF under an income-driven repayment plan, volunteers may have qualifying payments as low as $0 throughout their service. AmeriCorps engages more than 75,000 Americans in intensive service each year at non-profits, schools, public agencies, and community and faith-based groups across the country. After successful completion of their term of service, AmeriCorps members are eligible to receive a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award to help pay college tuition or pay back student loans. Since 1994, AmeriCorps members have earned more than $2.7 billion in Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards. AmeriCorps members can take advantage of a number of student loan benefits, including the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Find tools and resources on student loan relief for Peace Corps volunteers at peacecorps.gov/loans. For more information on the CFPB’s public service pledge, please visit www.consumerfinance.gov/ pledge.

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Does the church have the right tools to identify and resolve domestic abuse within its walls?

By Autumn Miles Religion News Service

oo often, it can be easy to assume that some issues are less prevalent in the church. We forget that, as a collective of individuals shaped by the culture at large, sin is indiscriminate in whom it touches. Many church leaders do not realize that all evils are present in their congregations, especially sins that carry a heavy culture of silence. A new LifeWay Research poll shows that 74 percent of pastors misjudge the prevalence of sexual and domestic violence within their congregations. Considering that the World Health Organization estimates that 35 percent of women globally have experienced sexual or physical abuse, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control reports that this statistic for men is 25 percent, it is past time pastors learned how to recognize the signs of domestic abuse and effectively address it. After TMZ’s release of the video showing NFL running back Ray Rice assaulting then-girlfriend and now-wife Janay Rice in an elevator, pundits have criticized NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s handling of the case – specifically, that he suspended Rice indefinitely from the league only after the video became public (and after initially suspending him for a mere two games). Victims advocates, sports columnists and legal experts, alike, have condemned Goodell for in-

terviewing Janay and Ray Rice together during the disciplinary process, which took place after Ray Rice had been indicted by a grand jury on an assault charge. Asking a victim’s opinion of her abuser – while he is in the same room – parallels a broader concern about abuse victims not being supported or empowered to voice the crimes being committed against them. At the age of 22, after I finally mustered up the courage to file for divorce from the man who had injured me verbally and physically, the elders of our congregation sat us both down in the same room to confront what they felt was my sin in choosing divorce. These men were individuals whom I had looked up to for my entire life, whose children I had babysat, who served alongside my father – the lead pastor of the church – who had been denied a seat at this meeting. With my then-husband in the room, my attempts to explain the desperation of my situation fell on hardened hearts. “If you go through with this divorce,” one of the elders told me, “God will never use you.” Miraculously, God has used that terrible situation to work great good in my and others’ lives. But the culture of silence that kept me in that situation in the first place continues to haunt churches in America and across the world. Looking at the totality of the Bible and the culture in which it was written, we see that Moses, Jesus and Paul never contradicted

one another with matters of divorce, but each offered a better understanding of it. When dealing with abuse in the church, it is important to be biblically literate on the subject and not to make a decision based on opinion or a legalistic mentality. The words “God hates divorce” should not be used to keep a spouse trapped in an emotionally and physically dangerous situation. No divorces are to be celebrated, but it is clear God allows them because of the hardness of hearts. A pastor must carefully study all biblical passages concerning divorces, but within the larger context of Christ’s forgiving love and compassion toward individuals living under oppression of all kinds. After I escaped from the abuse and degradation of my first marriage, I took great comfort in knowing that Jesus understood what it was like to feel rejection and shame. I grew to learn that though I had faced rejection and hurt, God still had a significant plan for my life. While cases like mine can be discouraging, they present opportunities for the church to become more effective at recognizing and addressing these issues with Christ-like love. Autumn Miles is author of “Appointed” and the founder and president of the Blush Network, a conference ministry dedicated to spiritually challenging the way young women think. She is also the co-host of “Power Talk,” a Christian radio show in Dallas.

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Cover

CBC joins Black churches for ‘Freedom Sunday’

By Freddie Allen NNPA Senior Washington correspondent

WASHINGTON– If the Democrats lose the United States Senate and more seats in the House of Representatives in the upcoming midterm elections, the Republicans would impeach President Barack Obama, according to Mercia Fudge, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. Even though he won’t be on the ballot in November, the CBC hopes to use the Republican threat of impeachment and other personal and political attacks on President Obama to fuel Black voter turnout for the 2014 midterm elections. Fudge said that if Republicans win the Senate they would continue to challenge President Obama’s legitimacy by threatening him with lawsuits, questioning his birthplace and intelligence, and accusing him of violating the Constitution. “We’re going to have two more years of that foolishness, if they takeover the Senate and win more seats in the House,” said Fudge. “They will make our lives miserable for the next two years.” Lorenzo Morris, political science professor at Howard Univer-

sity in Washington, D.C., noted that the focus on the threat to voters’ rights through stricter ID requirements, redistricting and plans to reduce early voting in some states, motivated minority voters and saved President Obama during the 2012 election. “African Americans, as well as, Latino and even Asian voters were mobilized by the sense that the Republican Party was trying to disenfranchise them,” said Morris. Fudge said that Republicans would not only continue attacks on President Obama, but also continue efforts to make changes to entitlement programs like Social Security, Medicaid and food stamps that would disproportionately hurt Blacks. During a recent press conference at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) Headquarters, Fudge, joined by Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) and Donna Brazile, vice chair of Voter Registration and Participation for the DNC, announced a national partnership with Black churches designed to rally Black voters and increase civic engagement.

Fudge said that by collaborating with thousands of churches across the country, the “Freedom Sunday” campaign hoped to reach 12 million people before the November elections. Morris said that the strategy that the CBC is undertaking is important because churches have the capacity to mobilize voters independent of individual candidates. “While we know that voter turnout significantly decreases during midterm elections we also know that there is an opportunity to ensure that African-American voters and particularly those where we have highly-contested Senate races know what is at stake in this election,” said Fudge. During the 2010 midterm elections, Black voter turnout was 44 percent, compared to White voter turnout which was 49 percent, according to the U.S. 2010 Current Population Survey. During the 2012 elections, Black voter turnout eclipsed White voter turnout by more than 2 percent. The CBC also plans to target 19 key district and House races where they believe Black voters can make a difference in California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, New

Brazile and the DNC will partner with churches to rally Black voters.

York, Arkansas, Colorado, New Jersey, Nebraska and Virginia. “The African-American vote is crucial for Democratic successes all across the country,” said Brazile. “The Democratic National Committee has launched the most aggressive voter expansion program, and not just in the 19 targeted congressional districts where the AfricanAmerican vote will make the difference, in terms of winning or losing, but also in eight Senate races.” Brazile continued: “This is not just a campaign to say, ‘go out and vote.’ We’re talking about crucial issues like raising the minimum wage, preventing gun violence, making education more affordable

and protecting voting rights.” Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) who faces a tough battle in Louisiana, publicly criticized President Obama in the wake of the Affordable Care Act rollout last year and Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) said that the president had not “done enough to earn the lasting trust of our veterans and implement real and permanent reforms” in the wake of the Veteran Affairs scandal that forced resignation of then-Veteran Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki. “This [midterm] election can be a real cliffhanger and all it will take is for African Americans to be mobilized to make a difference,” concluded Morris.

By Carla Murphy St. Louis native Johnetta Elzie, 25, will always remember Michael Brown’s blood on the ground. “It was very intense, almost like someone took a paint brush and just painted the street with his blood,” said Elzie of the scene that took place on Saturday, August 9. “What in the world do you do when there is a dead Black boy on the ground?” Even after spending nearly every day and night since Brown’s murder providing protesters with food, water and tear gas cures such as Maalox and milk, Elzie’s question remains unanswered. The only thing she knows for sure is that the time for reconciliation has not yet come. “Mike Brown was murdered and none of these White officials have any answers for all these people who’re angry, hurt, sad,” she said. “ … Hell, I’m angry. The officials just don’t have any answers for anything. You can’t reconcile [or heal] when there’s no acknowledg-

ment of anything that’s happened.” In the past few weeks, government officials have made what appear to be efforts at reform, if not reconciliation. Following the FBI’s announcement of an investigation into Ferguson’s police department, Ferguson’s city council proposed municipal court reforms and a citizens’ police review board. But is this enough to return Ferguson and the greater St. Louis area to a calm, new normal? Is it enough to help residents to heal? “There’re people who want calm and quiet but who do not want peace or justice,” said Rev. Starsky Wilson, pastor of Saint John’s Church, a progressive church that hosted U.S. and Canadian activists that arrived in Ferguson. “When we move too quickly to reconciliation without also addressing truth, we [again] oppress people by calling on them to forgive before anyone has acknowledged their wrong.” Wilson describes the reforms recently put forth by Ferguson’s majority White city council as “po-

6 | Oct. 2 - Oct. 8, 2014 | District Chronicles

tentially conciliatory.” According to him, a response steeped in airing truths or acknowledging wrong would have enabled Ferguson residents to debate the proposals at the council’s first meeting since Brown’s fatal shooting. Instead, as reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the city council’s reforms were read directly into the record, leading to accusations that they had met in secret. The simplest and arguably most healing institutional response, Starsky feels, would be the arrest of Officer Darren Wilson. Another longer-term institutional response for Ferguson could be to examine Cincinnati’s Collaborative Agreement, a document described as “the envy of Black communities throughout the country.” The historic pact instituted community policing and other reforms one year after the 2001 fatal police shooting of black, unarmed 19-yearold Timothy Thomas. His killing led to four days of unrest, martial law and a multi-million-dollar boycott

Jamelle Bouie/Creative Commons

Healing, reconciliation has yet to arrive in Ferguson

Protesters outside Ferguson’s Police station want justice.

of the city’s downtown area. Rev. Michael Kinman, dean of the progressive Christ Church Cathedral in St. Louis, is looking at how to work for true reconciliation on an individual level, for both himself and his congregation. “For us White folks, we can talk about peace and really want quiet. But how do we look in the mirror and ask, ‘How am I a part of the situation that’s gotten us to this point?’” said Kinman. Taking stock of how few Black pastors he knows, Kinman added, “Part of the challenge

is that St. Louis is fragmented by design and that’s been an effective strategy for keeping poor people and people of color from power.” “I went to a [community] meeting, and it was about 11 or 12 of us,” said Elzie. “We literally went around the room asking, ‘How hopeful are you that the grand jury will indict [Darren Wilson]?’ Only one person said, ‘Maybe there’s a chance.’” The deadline for the grand jury decision, according to the Post-Dispatch, has been extended until January 7, 2015.

By Lauren Victoria Burke NNPA Columnist

here are 44 African American members of Congress. Next year, five more are expected to join them, bringing the total to 49. That will represent the highest number of Blacks in Congress in American history. But will it make a difference? Can they leverage their numbers? Another record-breaking development in the record-breaking 114th Congress will be that all of the new Black members will be women. It is likely that as many as 20 Black women could take the oath of office on Capitol Hill, which is also a record. That’s the good news. The bad news is that as we’ve seen in statehouses throughout the South, when Democrats become a minority in a legislative chamber, that means less clout for everyone in the party, including African Americans. Depending on how many House Democrats there are in 2015 (there are now 199), the Black Caucus could become 25 percent of the House Democratic Caucus. As the Tea Party members in the House Republican Caucus have proven over and over, a voting bloc of just 25 members can leverage a great deal of power. Despite the large percentages and the voting power within the Democratic Caucus that could help drive a Black agenda, the biggest issue that can block Black power is that all but three Black members are likely to serve in the minority in the U.S. House from 2015 and 2016.

Unless there is an unexpected shock on November 4, Black Caucus members may have to wait until 2017 to use the full force of their power. The 1993 class of Black members, who arrived after many minority-majority districts were created, is also set to control at least six committees in the House. Six African American chairmanships would also be yet another historic benchmark. That’s if Democrats can regain control of the House. But will it happen? Last week, Congressional Black Caucus Chair Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) announced a new strategy to make sure that Black voters are aware of the importance of the midterm elections. The plan is to contact more than 3,000 pastors in battleground states and make sure they urge their parishioners to vote. “Freedom Sundays” was launched on September 21 and the goal is to reach more than 1 million voters. More than $250,000 was spent on the launch day alone for the get-outthe-vote effort. The upcoming midterm elections on November 4 feature what are expected to be very close statewide races in states that feature and high percentage of African American voters. They include Georgia, North Carolina, Florida, Louisiana and Arkansas. In all of these states and a few others, Black voters literally have the fate of control of the U.S. Senate and a few governor’s offices in their hands. Many primaries over this past year and several elections over the last few cycles have featured races that have come

crewof42.com

Politics More Blacks headed to Congress next year

Five more African American could join the 44-member Congressional Black Caucus next year.

down to only one or two percentage points. To punctuate the importance of midterm voting, Barbara R. Arnwine, executive director, of the Lawyers Committee on Civil Rights Under Law, announced that her group will send out “voter toolkits” to thousands of community groups and civic organizations ahead of November 4. Arnwine is stressing that November’s election is the first since and slew of changes in several states became law. The efforts at voter protection by the Congressional Black Caucus and the Lawyers Committee are earlier than usual in an off-year election cycle. In past cycles, there has been lots of criticism that get out the vote efforts get underway too late to be effective. At some point, the changing demographics in the U.S. will have to show up not only on Election Day turnout stats but in the complexion

of members of Congress. Though Hispanics are the largest minority group in America at 16 percent, the face of Congress still has not reflected the number. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus has 28 members, 16 members less than the Congressional Black Caucus. A rarely reported fact is that, there could be even more than 49 Black members in Congress, maybe as many as 52. Congressional seats now held by Whites in California, Tennessee and Florida were once recently held by African Americans. To take it another step further, seats now held by Reps. John Barrow (D-Ga.) and Republican Randy Forbes (R-Va.) are in districts that are more than 30 percent African American. Then there is redistricting games. In states where Republicans packed most of the African Americans in one or two congressional districts,

there would more than likely be one or two more Black U.S. Representatives in the state delegations. If the GOP hadn’t run the table on the state level during 2010 redistricting, there would likely be another Black U.S. Representative in Florida, Virginia and North Carolina. Next year, as the Congressional Black Caucus grows to the largest number in their history, they will also have to work to adopt a strategy that will solidify their power. Lauren Victoria Burke is freelance writer and creator of the blog Crewof42.com, which covers African American members of Congress. She Burke appears regularly on “NewsOneNow with Roland Martin” and on WHUR FM, 900 AM WURD. She worked previously at USA Today and ABC News. She can be reached through her website, laurenvictoriaburke.com, or Twitter @Crewof42 or by e-mail at LBurke007@gmail.com.

Black organizations announce ‘Get Out the Vote’ campaign (September 19, 2014) The National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters (NABOB) American Urban Radio Networks (AURN) and the NAACP have partnered to produce and distribute a national radio campaign encouraging African Americans to both register and vote in the upcoming mid-term elections. “It’s important we build on the momentum from the 2012 presidential election when record numbers of African Americans showed up at the polls to vote,” said Jerry Lopes, AURN President of Program Operations and Affiliations.

NAACP Board Chair Roslyn Brock and President and CEO Cornell William Brooks voice the 30 second messages encouraging African Americans to register to vote up through October 6, 2014 registration deadline and then vote on Election Day November 4, 2014. “ Vo t i n g is not a social luxury, it is our civic responsibility,” stated NAACP President and

CEO Cornell William Brooks. “Ensuring that all Americans have access to the ballot box protects the bedrock of our democracy. For the 2012 election, the NAACP regis-

to the ballot and we have no intentions of taking these 2014 mid-term elections off. We are excited to partner with AURN and NABOB in galvanizing a strong turnout from communities of color this November” said Brooks. “ W e are pleased to be part of this Brooks, NAACP important campaign,” said Jim Winston, Executive Director of NABOB. “We will use our considerable influence

Voting is not a luxury, it is our civic responsibility – Cornell William

tered more than 374,000 new voters and mobilized 1.2 million citizens

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to make sure every urban formatted radio station in the country airs these messages, and we will make them available to stations at our upcoming conference in Washington, DC.” Stations may access the radio messages by going to http://webftp.aurn.com (user name GOTV/ password vote 2014). Phase one of the campaign will be available up through October 6, 2014, and phase two will be available October 7, 2014 through the November 4, 2014 elections. Each phase of the campaign will contain six separate 30 second messages.

District Chronicles | Oct. 2 - Oct. 8, 2014 | 7

Health

App provides fresh new way to address childhood obesity

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JASPER, AL – During Childhood Obesity Awareness Month in September, the Walker County Public School System in Jasper, Ala. integrated what’s been called a ground-breaking health and weight-conscious app called Kids Making Healthy Choices. Based on the award-winning children’s book “Making Healthy Choices: a Story to Inspire Fit, Weight-Wise Kids,” the app will become part of the iPad-enabled health and physical education curriculum at Bankhead Middle School in Cordova, Ala. Designed for both iPad and iPhone with iOS 6.0 and higher, the app informs and inspires kids to make wise lifestyle choices and better understand and empathize with peers struggling with a weight problem, which can lessen the all-too-common incidence of bullying. Alabama has the 8th highest childhood obesity rate in the United States, with 35 percent of Alabama’s youth currently overweight or obese, according to Jason Adkins, Walker County Board of Education Superintendent. “As educators and residents of this community, and American citizens in general, concerned about the well-being of our nation’s youth, it behooves individual schools and systems/districts at large in Alabama, and beyond, to capitalize on salient opportunities to promote good nutrition and fitness … “ said Adkins. The app features six sections, such as: A complete digital copy of the award-winning children’s book the app is based on. It provides both gender-specific versions to assure the story resonates with the young reader to the greatest extent possible, helping them identify with the main character’s struggles and ultimate achievements. The eBook is also self-contained within the app, so Internet access is not required. Story discussion questions to help facilitate discussion between educators/caregivers and children. The prompts are directly related to the story, and offer a non-combative opportunity for the child to express

The app was based on the award-winning children’s book “Making Healthy Choices.

their thoughts and feelings on what is often a sensitive subject. The app also contains healththemed game and activity sheets, healthy, kid-friendly recipes, and free online tools and resources. “Unfortunately society tends to be reactive to childhood obesity, dealing with the problem after it manifests, rather than proactive with a preventative mindset,” said app creator and author Merilee Kern. “Many educators don’t know how to approach the subject within classrooms in general or

communicate one-on-one with children who may actually be dealing with weight issues. This unique app, which directly educates and inspires children to live a healthy lifestyle, can be easily integrated into an elementary and middle school curriculum as a classroom lesson – one that children can truly identify with and relate to.” Schools/educational institutions can purchase the app for approximately $1.49 per unit, 50 percent of the $2.99 retail price, when purchasing in quantities of 20 or more on the iTunes Store.

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Metro Briefs: Notable news in and around Washington District of Columbia D.C. Statehood hearing invigorates statehood movement

ongresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) said last week’s historic Senate hearing on District of Columbia statehood will be remembered not only because it was the first official senate hearing on D.C. Statehood but also for reinvigorating the movement for statehood. “The outpouring signaled not only what residents want, but their willingness to hear what it will take to win passage of a bill on a difficult issue,”said Norton. “Residents came knowing that the Congress in recent years has acquired a historymaking record of low productivity even on ‘must- pass’ legislation. “Quite apart from attracting unprecedented support from members of the House and Senate who broke the record of cosponsors, the most important effect of the hearing is the new alert it has given to residents that their role in building public support is now key.” Norton joined statehood supporters at Union Pub on Capitol Hill after the hearing for an impromptu celebration. Supporters indicated they were already planning for a meeting very shortly to build on the support for statehood and chart next steps.

Montgomery County Voter registration deadline nears for Maryland residents Is your voter registration up to date? Do you wish to change your political party affiliation or make any other changes to your voter registration? If so, you need to complete and submit your voter registration application no later than Tuesday, October 14, by 9 p.m. You must be registered to vote to cast a ballot in the 2014 Gubernatorial General Election on November 4, or dur-

Norton got the only House vote on statehood, in 1993, not long after being elected to Congress. Almost two-thirds of the Democrats and one Republican voted for the bill, giving it a strong start, but the Democrats lost the House majority in the next Congress. Since that vote, Norton was able to get the D.C. House Voting Rights Act through the House in 2007 and the Senate in 2009, which would have given D.C. a voting House member, had it not been derailed by a National Rifle Association-backed amendment that would have wiped out D.C.’s gun safety laws.

The Office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) recently announced that, when the House reconvenes, Norton will introduce legislation to strip the NFL of its tax exempt status as long as it continues to promote the current name of its Washington football team. Norton’s bill will be the House companion to Senator Maria Cantwell’s (D-WA) bill, which she announced two weeks at a Change the Mascot campaign press conference. Norton and Cantwell both spoke at the press conference, which was initiated by the National Congress of American Indians,

the Oneida Nation, and other native tribes. “We must relieve the American people of the burden of subsidizing an organization that promotes a racial slur for profitable gain,” Norton said. Last year, Norton was one of the nine original cosponsors of H.R. 1278, the Non-Disparagement of Native American Persons or Peoples in Trademark Registration Act, which calls for the cancelation of existing trademark registrations containing the Washington football team name. The House bill helped alert the country that the Washington football team name is a racial slur. Norton also joined several of her colleagues in sending a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Washington football team sponsor FedEx, team owner Dan Snyder, and the 31 other NFL franchises, urging them to support a change to the Washington football team name. In June, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office canceled the Washington football team’s trademark registration. Norton and Cantwell’s legislations prohibit tax-exempt status only for professional sports leagues that promote use of the Washington football team name, excluding sports leagues such as the National Hockey League and Professional Golfers Association, which receive the same tax-exempt status.

ing early voting from October 23 through 30. If you are already registered to vote, you do not need to register again. Registering to vote requires that you must be a U.S. citizen and be at least 18 years of age on or before November 4. You must be registered at the Maryland address where you live, so that your ballot will list the correct candidates for your area. To register or confirm that your registration is up to date, call 240.777.VOTE, visit the state’s online voter registration system at http:// elections.state.md.us, download a paper voter registration form at www.777vote.org or visit the Mont-

gomery County Board of Elections, in person, at 18753 N. Frederick Avenue, Suite 210, in Gaithersburg. The office is open Monday through Friday from8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; on Saturday, October 11, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on Tuesday, October 14, from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Applications are also available at county libraries, regional service centers, all offices of the Montgomery County Health and Human Services, the State of Maryland Department of Motor Vehicles, and U.S. Post Offices. For more information, follow the Montgomery County Board of Elections on Facebook or Twitter.

Norton to introduce House bill to strip NFL of tax exempt status

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