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Roxbury’s Lovely Hoffman at home in “The Color Purple”

Study shows racial gap in pension, retirement savings...............pg. 3

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2013 Mayor Thomas M. Menino, the longest serving mayor in Boston history, told a packed crowd at Faneuil Hall last March that he would not seek re-election. (Photo courtesy of Mayor Menino’s Office)

Key events of 2013 left indelible mark on Boston

Police SWAT teams converged on the area of the bomb explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon last April. (Don West photo)

Yawu Miller From the departure of Mayor Thomas Menino and the resulting political shakeup to the school assignment policy, Boston underwent major changes in 2013, and not all of them good. The tragic marathon bombing and ensuing days-long manhunt for the perpetrators also left an indelible mark on the city. The year rolled in quietly, with newly-elected U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren holding a swearing-in ceremony at Roxbury Community College, a move seen by many as an acknowledgement of the pivotal role the state’s black, Latino and Asian voters played in her election. In March, the Boston School Committee voted to change the school department’s three-zone controlled choice system for the first time since 1989. Racial and ethnic classifications had been dropped as a factor in school assignments in 1999, but parents had lobbied to keep the existing three-zone plan in place to afford families more choices. Then, in 2012, a renewed call for a return to neighborhood schools and an end to busing prompted the latest changes to the policy.

Under the new policy, which will go into effect for the 20142015 school year, the school department will generate a list of every school within a one-mile radius of a student’s home, and will include nearby schools in the top-tier of student performance. Parents can rank their choices on the school department generated list. The assignments will be made by lottery. In one of the more disappointing developments, the Roxbury Comprehensive Community Health Center abruptly shut its doors in February, in the midst of federal and state investigations into the institution’s finances. Employees were left without paychecks and patients were re-assigned to other community health centers. In April, Attorney General Martha Coakley placed RoxComp in receivership. The Warren St. building is likely to be sold to cover the health center’s debts. In March, an independent audit of Roxbury Community College detailed serious shortcomings in the administration of the school, including misallocation of recontinued to page 6

Politics of polarization dominated U.S. news Martin Desmarais On the national stage, the politics of polarization were on display with Democrats and Republicans locking horns over the roll-out of the Affordable Care Act, voting rights laws and myriad other issues. Nothing embodied the partisan divide as much as the government shutdown that held the nation hostage this fall. While the shutdown technically ran for 16 days from Sept. 30 to Oct. 17 — five fewer than the last government shutdown in 1995 — the political

battles between the Democrats and the Republicans leading up to, during and after the shutdown left most of the American public with little confidence in the government’s ability to solve problems. Technically, the shutdown was a result of GOP lawmakers holding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act hostage, despite its passage in Congress in 2010 and survival of a Supreme Court challenge in 2012. The shutdown was ended after Senate Democrats and Republicans agreed to continued to page 8

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama arrive for an official dinner at the Presidential Palace in Dakar, Senegal, June 27, 2013. (Photo courtesy of the White House)

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2 • Thursday, Janurary 2, 2014 • BAY STATE BANNER

ShapeUp with Shaumba stomps out obesity Kassmin Williams Hub resident Destiny Edwards, now 13, made the decision to lead a healthier lifestyle and joined ShapeUp with Shaumba in 2012 to help. “I always felt a certain way about my weight, and I’m a dancer,” Edwards said. “I felt like it was my job to be healthy.” ShapeUp with Shaumba is a Boston-based nonprofit organization working to reduce childhood obesity by working with the youth in Boston to educate them about diet, nutrition and exercise, and by using writing as a strategy to

build self-esteem. The program focuses on dance — African, hip hop, and line dancing — as exercise, and incorporates calisthenics like jumping jacks, sit-ups and push-ups. With the New Year here, organization founder Shaumba Dibinga looks forward to growing her programs and expanding her services to reach other youth in Boston. One of Dibinga’s major goals for 2014 is to gain the attention of First Lady Michelle Obama. “I want to get Michelle Obama to Boston to see what young kids are doing here,” Dibinga said.

ShapeUp with Shaumba visited the National Speakers Association Youth Association in Philadelphia last year.

Dibinga started the program in 2011 after noticing low self-confidence in some of the students she worked with in her performing arts program, OrigiNation. “I started ShapeUp with Shaumba to specifically focus on stomping out childhood obesity, and to not just deal with the weight issue, but to deal with the self-confidence issue,” Dibinga said. “I focus on their minds and their hearts because, if they can’t figure out what’s going on in their heads, they’re not going to be able to tailor their bodies.” Edwards, whom Shaumba has identified as a student who has made significant progress, echoed Dibinga’s belief when asked how the program has helped so far. “[ShapeUp] has been really good because I have seen a difference in my weight and it helped me mentally because, in order to feel good about yourself on the outside, you have to feel good about yourself on the inside,” Edwards said. ShapeUp consists of multiple programs that occur during school vacations and some holidays. One of the programs, “Fit Fierce and Fashion,” is broken down into three parts focused on one of the three words in its title. The “Fit” part of the program deals with exercise. The “Fierce” portion deals with academics and the “Fashion” section allows the students to sketch and create a design.

ShapeUp with Shaumba works with youth as young as 5 years old to build self-confidence through exercise. At the end of the program, the students do a presentation for their families, Dibinga said. “They have a boot camp. We talk about calories and what a healthy meal should look like. We talk about what is making them feel small and what they

hold a Fit Fierce and Fashion wellness expo where youth can participate in a variety of workshops and art and craft activities. Dibinga also wants to expand the Fit Fierce and Fashion program to cater to children in foster care.

“We talk about calories and what a healthy meal should look like. We talk about what is making them feel small and what they need from their parents and families to help empower them.” — Shaumba Dibinga need from their parents and families to help empower them,” Dibinga said. Students are also encouraged to lead workshops, Dibinga added. This year, Dibinga wants to

Another program called “Girls Vibe” acts as a discussion group where the attendees do an exercise routine and then write about any issues or challenges they are having at home or school. “It allows them to feel free and go back to school in a different frame of mind and even go back home with a different frame of mind,” Dibinga said. ShapeUp also partners with other organizations and Boston schools to hold dance and exercise sessions. ShapeUp has worked with the Boston Renaissance Charter School, the Martin Luther King School, the Higginson Lewis School, the Boston Teachers Union School and Greater Egleston Community High School. This year, Dibinga hopes to establish a partnership with the YMCA to provide free year-long memberships to 50 youth in the program. Last June, ShapeUp with Shaumba held its first annual walk to fight childhood obesity. The event Walk to Stomp Out Childhood Obesity attracted more than 70 participants to raise money for the program. This year, Dibinga hopes for an even bigger turn out and said she’d like to see local officials and the City of Boston become more involved. “I would love to see then stomp out obesity,” Dibinga said.

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Study shows racial gap in pension, retirement savings Paul Kleyman “People of color face particularly severe challenges in preparing for retirement,” states a new report titled “Race and Retirement Insecurity in the United States” by the National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS). Although every demographic group faces significant risks, says the analysis, “Americans of color are significantly less likely than whites to have an employer-sponsored retirement plan or an individual retirement account (IRA), which substantially drives down the level of retirement savings.” In a live webinar last month, NIRS Research Manager Nari Rhee stated that unless the United States addresses the paucity of retirement resources, “I think we’re in real trouble.”

National Retirement Crisis

Underscoring the national retirement crisis ahead is the report’s finding that the typical U.S. household nearing retirement age has only an average of $12,000 set aside in retirement savings to supplement often modest Social Security checks. Delving into federal data, Rhee examined racial disparities in retirement readiness among working households age 25-64.

She found that three in four black households and four in five Latino households of working age have less than $10,000 in retirement savings, compared to half of white households. In addition, says the report, about two-thirds (62 percent) of black and (69 percent) of Latino households of working age have not one dime in a retirement account, compared to a still-paltry 37 percent of white households. According to the report, “Workers of color, in particular Latinos, are significantly less likely than white workers to be covered by an employer-sponsored retirement plan.” While 62 percent of whites had pensions, just over half (54 percent) of working age black and Asian workers and 38 percent of Latino employees work for an employer that sponsors a retirement plan. The report stresses, “Some 92 percent of working households do not meet conservative retirement-savings targets for their age and income. Even when counting their entire net worth, 65 percent still fall short.”

Racial Disparities Between Public, Private Pensions A major area of retirement se-

Governor Patrick narrates “Twas the Night Before Christmas” at the annual, Company Christmas at the Pops, at Symphony Hall in Boston. (Photo courtesy of the Governor’s Office)

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curity for non-white workers has been landing a government job, such as a postal carrier, teacher or transit worker. According to the NIRS report, 81 percent of all public employees report having an employer-sponsored retirement plan compared to only 52 percent of private employees. In addition, most retirement benefits in public jobs are in more

racial and ethnic inequalities and strengthen the middle class,” that trend is changing. Polls show falling public support for public-service workers and their pensions, while pension coverage in the private sector is also declining. “Black workers are more heavily represented in the public sector than are other major racial groups,” says the report, which means they are more apt to have the older type of pensions that do not depend on stock market fluctuations. Latino households are half as likely (12 percent) as white or black households to have a traditional pension. This is partly because far fewer Hispanics work in

“Workers of color, in particular Latinos, are significantly less likely than white workers to be covered by an employersponsored retirement plan.” — NIRS Report generous traditional pensions that provide retirees a defined amount every month with cost-of-living increases to keep ahead of inflation. In contrast, most private employers that do offer pensions set up 401(k) type plans to which they may contribute funds, but which leave investment decisions (such as funds to put the money in) up to individual workers. The report emphasizes, “Interracial disparities are much greater in the private sector than in the public sector.” Rhee said in an e-mail, however, that although public employment “has helped narrow

public sector jobs and are highly concentrated in low-wage industries, the study says. The new analysis supplements a report NIRS published earlier this year, “The Retirement Savings Crisis: Is It Worse Than We Think?” The study found that 45 percent, or 38 million working-age households, have zero assets in retirement accounts. Suggesting possible solutions, NIRS called for strengthening Social Security “to stabilize system financing and enhance benefits for vulnerable populations.”

Social Security for Blacks, Latinos

The NIRS report comes on the heels of a recent paper titled, “Social Security Is Especially Important to Minorities” by economist Paul Van de Water of the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities. Van de Water’s analysis is a response to a narrower study by the Urban Institute concluding that African Americans and Hispanics as a group pay more in Social Security taxes in a given year than they receive in benefits. But Van de Water counters that although the share of payroll tax contributions from black and Latino workers in a single year may exceed their share of benefits, “this doesn’t change the fact that African Americans and Hispanics will typically receive above-average returns on their contributions over their lifetimes.” Van de Water adds, “Low earners are also more likely to become eligible for Social Security disability benefits.” Many more black, Latino and Asian workers tap Social Security disability benefits prior to retirement than whites. Among seniors, Social Security represents 90 percent or more of income for 35 percent of whites, 42 percent of Asian Americans, 49 percent of blacks and 55 percent of Hispanics, according to Van de Water. “The fact remains that Social Security is particularly important for minorities,” Van de Water states. New American Media “Facts on Ethnic Elders” is a monthly column on research findings about ethnic elders present and future. It is supported by a grant from The Atlantic Philanthropies.

4 • Thursday, January 2, 2014 • BAY STATE BANNER

Established 1965

Tax credits and special concessions for businesses require the transparency of a formal audit Corporate tax credits and concessions reduce the state revenue available to finance the public’s business. State Auditor Suzanne Bump seeks the authority to assess these programs to determine whether such tax expenditures are truly beneficial. During one of the final debates for mayor of Boston, Jim Braude asked John Connolly to justify his vote in the City Council to provide a tax credit to Liberty Mutual Insurance Company. Liberty Mutual is constructing its world headquarters in Boston. Sensing that the question would cause some difficulty for Connolly, Marty Walsh jumped into the fray. Deftly averting a potentially damaging encounter, Connolly reminded his opponent that Walsh had actually requested city council members to support the measure. The question of the Liberty Mutual tax credit quickly disappeared as a campaign issue. The building unions love tax credits that promote construction development and create jobs. Cities and states are always ready to offer tax credits to induce major companies to locate within their borders in order to provide tax revenue from their employees and from profits earned by local supporting businesses. However, there should also be a way to evaluate whether the benefits to the community are greater than the cost of the tax expenditures. The Department of Revenue (DOR) can determine in a tax audit whether the deductions have been taken appropriately, but there is no regu-

lar assessment of the value of the tax incentives to the city or state. The state auditor already has the authority to investigate to determine whether state programs attain their established goals. It makes no sense to reinvent the wheel and create another state agency to make an equivalent assessment of tax concessions. As might be expected, representatives of the business community are opposed to the idea of an audit. Bump reviewed corporate tax breaks in 2011 to show that the Commonwealth loses more than $2 billion in revenue per year from tax concessions. According to a report from the auditor’s office, revenue lost in tax breaks has grown at “nearly double the rate of the state budget over the past five years.” The problem is that corporations, just like individuals, have the right for their tax returns to remain secret except to authorized personnel at the DOR. The law would have to be modified in order for officials from the auditor’s office to acquire the tax information necessary to perform the special assessment. According to the auditor, 36 other states already provide access to such information by the auditor’s office. The allowance of tax concessions will continue to be a useful strategy for corporate development by cities and towns. However, the opportunity for fraud and political abuse is great. There must be great transparency in the administration of such strategies to assure that the promised public advantage is attained.

“Make sure we get in on the tax break. We’ll worry about the jobs later.”

USPS 045-780

Publisher/Editor Assoc. Publisher/Treasurer Senior Editor

Melvin B. Miller John E. Miller Yawu Miller

ADVERTISING Marketing-Sales Director Advertising Coordinator

Sandra L. Casagrand Rachel Reardon

NEWS REPORTING Health Editor Staff Writer

Karen Miller Martin Desmarais

Contributing Writers

Gloria J. Browne-Marshall Kenneth J. Cooper Colette Greenstein Caitlin Yoshiko Kandil Sandra Larson Shanice Maxwell Anthony W. Neal

LETTERSto the Editor

A New Year’s resolution

Last week I saw a late-model black SUV pull into a parking space at the Grove Hall Mecca Mall. A well-dressed couple alighted, the man clutching what appeared to be a take-out bag from a fast food restaurant. Before his smartly-shod foot hit the curb, he dropped the bag and its contents on the blacktop between his SUV and the car parked next to him. If you live in the community, you know this is not an aberration, but rather a common practice. Even when there are trash barrels within a short walking distance, we can’t seem to take the extra step to keep trash off the streets and sidewalks or out of the parks and front yards in the communities where we live. Although it seems this phenomenon is peculiar to our community – you certainly don’t see this behavior in Boston’s tony suburbs or on Beacon Hill – it hasn’t always been this way. Decades ago, litter was endemic in the United States. Remember the Ad Campaign television spots with the Native American man, his tear-stained visage taking in the littered landscapes of 1970s America? Back in the day, even Smokey

WHAT’S INSIDE

Brian Wright O’Connor Tiffany Probasco

the Bear was enlisted in midcentury advertising campaigns to keep U.S. roads and parks litter free. More recently, the state of Texas launched a “Don’t Mess With Texas” campaign appealing to Texan’s macho sensibilities in an effort to keep its environment trash free. These campaigns worked. B u t s o m e h o w, t h e m e s s a g e hasn’t made its way into Boston’s black community, where drivers routinely discard trash items from

the windows of moving vehicles, despite the threat of a hefty fine. It’s time for residents of Roxbury, Dorchester and Mattapan to take a stand against litter. Let’s all make a New Year’s resolution to change the hearts and minds in the black community. Let’s put an end to the practice of dumping litter in our community. E. Johnson Roxbury

Staff Photographers

Ernesto Arroyo John Brewer Tony Irving Don West

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Contributing Writers

Robin Hamilton Susan Saccoccia Lloyd Kam Williams

PRODUCTION Production Manager Production Assistant

Marissa Giambrone Heather Austin

ADMINISTRATION Business Manager

Karen Miller

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Thursday, January 2, 2014 • BAY STATE BANNER • 5

ROVINGCamera

OPINION Black-owned TV stations disappear Joseph Torres and S. Derek Turner

We just experienced a shameful milestone in the history of U.S. media — and barely anyone noticed. There are now zero black-owned and operated full-power TV stations in our country. This sorry state of affairs is the culmination of a trend that started in the late 1990s when Congress and the Federal Communications Commission allowed massive consolidation in the broadcasting industry. This policy shift crowded out existing owners of color and ensured that it would be nearly impossible for new owners to access the public airwaves. Recent FCC actions (and in some cases, inaction) have only hastened this decline in opportunities for diverse broadcasters. When Free Press released its first report on the state of TV ownership in 2006, we found that there were only 18 African American-owned and operated fullpower commercial TV stations — representing just 1.3 percent of all such stations. By December 2012, those 18 had shrunk to just five. And now they’re all gone. Roberts Broadcasting, a black-owned media company, just announced a deal to sell its three remaining full-power TV stations to ION Media Networks for nearly $8 million. Once considered a phenomenal success story in an industry known for its stunning lack of diversity, Roberts Broadcasting was forced to declare bankruptcy in 2011. This decline stemmed primarily from Viacom’s decision to shutter the UPN network, which Roberts had affiliated with due to UPN’s unique focus on programming featuring ordinary portrayals of African Americans. Roberts Broadcasting’s exit from the market comes on the heels of the departures of two other prominent black owners. In late October, the Sinclair Broadcast Group continued its buying spree by acquiring a Fox affiliate in Portland, Maine, from a company helmed by Charles Glover, a funk musician turned broadcaster. That same month, Access.1 Communications agreed to sell its Atlantic City NBC station to Locus Point Networks. New Jersey residents are up in arms about the deal: Locus Point is expected to close the station and give up its license as the FCC takes broadcast stations off the air and auctions those airwaves to cellphone companies. It’s hard to fathom the sorry state of broadcast ownership during the administration of our nation’s first black president. After all, during his first presidential campaign, President Obama pledged to “encourage diversity in the ownership of broadcast media.” But that hasn’t happened. Public interest and civil rights groups have warned the FCC that its policies allowing for greater media consolidation were going to push out the few remaining people of color who owned broadcast stations. Media consolidation has made it harder for people of color to own broadcast stations because it raises entry barriers for small owners. Concentration makes it harder for any small owner to compete, and the few non-white broadcast licensees we have are far more likely to be small owners who control just a handful of stations or a single broadcast outlet. Our nation’s history of discrimination created a lack of wealth in communities of color and, without access to capital, people of color find themselves permanently on the outside. And for those few owners of color who have been able to acquire stations, consolidation has made it harder for them to compete against larger and better-financed media conglomerates. If you think this situation can’t get worse, think again. While owning a full-power TV station has been out of reach for most people of color, low-power TV has offered an opportunity to get into this otherwise closed industry. Low-power TV commercial stations serve smaller areas than their full-power counterparts, and often lack legal protections, including guaranteed carriage by cable and satellite providers. Consequently, they’re far cheaper to own. At the end of 2011, the FCC reported that people of color owned 15 percent of all low-power TV stations, compared to just 3 percent of full-power TV outlets. But this small ray of hope is expected to dim as the prospect of an auction to cellphone companies could drive out the owners of these low-power TV stations too. The FCC is preparing to conduct that incentive auction in the next year or two. As a result, speculators have been buying up both low- and full-power TV stations in an effort to cash in. This fervent speculation is creating a climate where many existing owners are forced to sell (as their creditors are more interested in pocketing a financial windfall than serving the community). We’re already seeing several full- and low-power owners of color exiting the market. The FCC has a long and pitiful track record here, failing to promote or even preserve what little ownership diversity remains. There’s hope this could change now that the agency has a new chairman. But leaders have to lead. In this case, that means the new FCC has to acknowledge that we’re well beyond a crisis point. Its own policies are responsible for the shameful state of minority ownership. The elimination of black owners is a tragedy, but the FCC must take action to address its own failures.

It’s hard to fathom the sorry state of broadcast ownership during the administration of our nation’s first black president.

Joseph Torres is senior external affairs director and S. Derek Turner is research director for the Free Press.

The Banner welcomes your opinion. Email Op-Ed submissions to:

yawu@bannerpub.com Letters must be signed. Names may be withheld upon request.

What was the biggest change in your world in the year 2013?

The new Ferdinand Building. I see them giving jobs to people in the community. It will bring a lot of change for the better to the community.

Taking care of my mother. I know it’s not important to other people, but it’s important to me. She’s 93 years old.

The biggest change in my life was an organization called Project Me out of the Whittier St. Health Center. It picked me up and gave me a purpose. I’m in school now.

Shawn Matthews

Debra Clark

Ijalil Supreme

The community got an opportunity to sit at the table and make decisions about the new direction the city is taking.

The experience of taking my community to a higher level, civically and spiritually.

I’m now semi-retired, and I went to my first International African Film Festival in Montreal and it was wonderful.

Bob Marshall

Jumaada A.H.K. Smith

Shania Bakuba

Program Coordinator Dorchester

Retired Roxbury

Business Owner Roxbury

Health Worker Roxbury

Semi-retired Dorchester

INthe news

Ed Gaskin

The Greater Grove Hall Main Streets has hired Ed Gaskin as executive director. Gaskin’s work experience includes consulting at Deloitte and IBM and extensive business experience ranging from helping successful startups to Fortune 500 companies. He has also worked for the Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency, where he helped over 300 individuals start, expand or acquire businesses, making him familiar not only with the skills required to start and expand a successful business, but also with the kinds of resources available to help business owners succeed. Gaskin has a bachelor’s degree in marketing and a master’s degree in management from MIT’s Sloan School and is a former Grove Hall resident. “We are very excited that Greater Grove Hall Main Streets has chosen a new executive director with broad economic development experience,” said Sheila Dillon, director of Boston’s Department

of Neighborhood Development. “Ed’s expertise in the small business sector is a wonderful fit for Grove Hall, and we look forward to working with him to build on the great momentum in this district.” Greater Grove Hall Main Streets is part of Boston Main Streets, a

public-private initiative of the City of Boston, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation devoted to the continued revitalization of Boston’s neighborhood commercial districts through design, technical and financial support in 20 districts across Boston.

6 • Thursday, Janurary 2, 2014 • BAY STATE BANNER

2013 LOCAL

The 150th anniversary of the first black Union regiment’s attack on Fort Wagner in South Carolina was celebrated at the State House in Boston on July 18. Among the speakers was Gov. Deval Patrick, who laid a wreath in front of the Robert Gould Shaw Monument, dedicated to the memory of the 54th Regiment. Seated center is Winifred Monroe, the only living granddaughter of Henry Monroe, who was a 13-year-old drummer boy on that fateful day. (Don West photo) continued from page 1

David Ortiz was named most valuable player for the 2013 World Series. (Michael Ivins/ Boston Red Sox photo)

sources and the underreporting of crimes on campus. RCC President Terrance Gomes resigned. In June, the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education approved the RCC Board of Trustees’ selection of Valerie Roberson as the new president of the college. Also in March, Menino ended weeks of speculation, announcing he would not run for reelection as mayor. The mayor’s announcement led to an outpouring of thanks for his 20 years of service to the city and unleashed a tidal wave of pent-up political ambition as three city councilors gave

up the safety of their seats to vie for the corner office. In all, 12 candidates threw their hat in the race for mayor and 19 for the four at-large City Council seats. And even more running for District Council seats. Menino’s announcement seemingly paved the way for a summer filled with candidate forums, mass mailings, robo calls and door-to-door campaign volunteers. April 15, 2013 will likely go down in history as one of the most terrifying days the city has endured after brothers Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev detonated two bombs near the finish line of the 117th Boston Marathon, kill-

ing three and injuring 264. Many Bostonians were gripped by fear in the minutes and hours following the bombing, wondering whether and when another bomb would detonate. Then, after surveillance videos surfaced with images of the brothers carrying the black duffel bags containing their home-made pressure cooker bombs, the manhunt began. Thursday of that week, the pair killed an MIT security guard and led police on a chase that ended in a shoot-out and the death of Tamerlan. On Friday, Boston-area residents were again gripped by fear as several Greater continued to page 7

Thursday, Janurary 2, 2014 • BAY STATE BANNER • 7

2013 LOCAL

continued from page 6

Boston towns went on lockdown during a daylong manhunt for Dzhokhar, who was found hiding in the backyard of a Watertown home. It’s hard to imagine Boston being the same after the bombing and its aftermath. And, while the public will likely endure a heavier level of security at public gatherings for the foreseeable future, the courage of first responders — professional and volunteer — and the outpouring of support for the bombing victims and their families left a more indelible mark on the city, summed up with the catchphrase “Boston Strong.” During the summer months, politics dominated the headlines as dozens of candidates vied for city council seats and the mayor’s office. The trial of South Boston mobster James “Whitey” Bulger dragged on in federal court as African American Judge Denise Casper kept a cool steady hand on the proceedings as the jury made its way to an inevitable guilty verdict in August. The headline, “Whitey found guilty,” was a long time coming. On the development front, Roxbury’s landscape changed materially. The Ferdinand Building, which will house the city’s school department, evolved as a steel frame grew behind the building’s limestone and brick facade and red brick and glass curtain walls enclosed the empty spaces that for decades have made Dudley’s anchor building an eyesore. Colorful graffiti covered the walls of the old Bartlett Street bus yard in advance of the site’s demolition, planned to commence in 2014. New housing and commercial space is planned for the site.

And along Quincy Street in Dorchester, new housing units and commercial spaces are taking shape, the fruits of nearly $100 million in investment. In Jackson Square, a 103-unit $53 million mixed-income development, 225 Centre, went from bare bones to almost complete. As September rolled around, mayoral and City Council politics were front and center. The mayor’s race whittled down to at-large Councilor John Connolly, and state Rep. Marty Walsh. Black, Latino and Asian activists inserted their issues into the race, calling on candidates to diversify City Hall and the police department, bring transparency and accountability to the Boston Redevelopment Authority and work to close the achievement gap in the city’s schools. In what could be a signal of the growing clout in communities of color, both candidates signed on to the agenda advanced by the activists. When Walsh sailed to victory on Nov. 5, he did so with the support of 60 percent of black and Latino voters. As Walsh began assembling a leadership team, the state Senate voted to up the state’s minimum wage to $11 an hour. Meanwhile, a union-backed coalition submitted 275,000 signatures securing a spot on this year’s ballot for a question that would up the minimum wage to $10.50, plus guarantee Massachusetts workers paid sick time. In 2014, a new mayoral administration takes power with new faces, new policies and new possibilities. This year, we can expect to see a new Dudley Square with new office space and retail bringing renewed economic activity to Roxbury’s commercial hub. There will be new campaigns vying for the support of voters of color, with a growing field of gubernatorial candidates and contested races for treasurer and attorney general rounding out ballots. It will be the first year for the new school assignment process. Workers may or may not see a higher minimum wage in Massachusetts. The changes this year brings will be momentous. And the Banner will be here, bringing our readers the news. Happy New Year 2014!

Selwyn Malcolm’s costume at the Caribbean Festival on Aug. 24 portrays a fierce mare in keeping with the Trinidad and Tobago Social Club’s theme for 2013, “Nightmares.” See more pictures from the festival on page 20. (Yawu Miller photo)

President Barack Obama is greeted by Bill Russell during a stop to view the statue of Russell at City Hall Plaza in Boston, Mass., on Oct. 30. The statue was publicly unveiled on Nov. 1. (Photo courtesy of the White House)

The Ferdinand Furniture Building under construction, January 2013. (Banner photo)

8 • Thursday, Janurary 2, 2014 • BAY STATE BANNER

2013 NATIONAL continued from page 1

extend funding for government services until January 2014 with only minor adjustments to the law, which has become known as Obamacare. Even after the Congressional battle over the Affordable Care Act and the resulting government shutdown were resolved for the time being, the launch of Obamacare did little to quell doubters when the program went online and was immediately plagued by delays, glitches and long waits to enroll. The main website launched to handle enrollment but suffered technical difficulties, causing frustration for millions of users. Beyond partisan politics, the other defining divide of 2013 was economic — the growing divide between the top ten percent of wage earners and the rest of the nation. Wages for the middleand working-class have hit a 40year low, while unemployment rates for African Americans have remained at near Depression levels.

Race issues take center stage

Thanks to a slew of prominent whites with a seeming inability to filter their public utterances, race

Crowds gathered in Dudley Square on Sunday night to protest the not guilty verdict in the trial of George Zimmerman for the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. (John Brewer photo) remained a hot topic throughout 2013. In June, celebrity chef, cooking show host and prolific cookbook author Paula Deen became embroiled in a racism controversy when a discrimination lawsuit brought against her by a former employee led to a deposition in which she admitted to using the N-word. Though Deen said she hadn’t used the word in a long time, her nonchalant attitude toward the use of racist epitaphs and their history in the South angered many. The blowback was quick and fierce. The Food Network announced it would not renew Deen’s contract when it expired. Smithfield Foods dropped her as a spokeswoman. Other companies including Walmart, Target, QVC, Caesars Entertainment, Home Depot, Novo Nordisk,

J.C. Penney, Sears and Kmart have terminated or suspended endorsement deals with Deen. Her book publisher, Ballantine Books, cancelled its five-book deal with her. Cooking queen Deen wasn’t the only face in the media in a

controversy surrounding the use of the N-word. The NFL had its own racism controversy in October when reports emerged out of the Miami Dolphins organization that veteran white player Richie Incognito was accused of using racial slurs and threatening sec-

ond-year African American player Jonathan Martin, which led to Martin’s decision to quit, citing concerns about not feeling safe with the team. The ensuing national debate continued to page 9

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President Barack Obama talks with Tom Grilk, head of the Boston Athletic Association, as he greets first responders and marathon volunteers at Cathedral High School in Boston, Mass., April 18, 2013. The President and First Lady Michelle Obama traveled to Boston to attend an interfaith prayer service dedicated to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings. (Photo courtesy of the White House)

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focused on use of racial epitaphs such as the N-word and had several scratching their heads as many current and former NFL players seemed to condone such behavior as part of “locker room” culture. For its part the NFL and the Miami Dolphins were quick to condemn the behavior, but with both Incognito and Martin out of the game for the time being, the

edging that he could have been Martin 35 years ago. For a country questioning racial discrimination in the legal system, the ruling in August that New York Police Department’s “stop-and-frisk” program was unconstitutional and the directive to change the program was welcome news. The police practice of searching pedestrians for weapons and other contraband has long drawn criticism and pro-

Critics of the Supreme Court decision said the move effectively gutted the Voting Rights Act and delivered a serious blow to democracy. incident discouraged many in the way the latter was ostracized for standing up. This summer, many Americans anxiously awaited the verdict in the George Zimmerman trial as he faced second degree murder and manslaughter charges in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. The neighborhood watchman’s claim of self-defense from the Feb. 26, 2012 incident in Florida during which he shot and killed the unarmed teenager had many bracing for a controversial verdict. And when a jury acquitted him of all charges, it triggered nationwide protests and had President Barack Obama acknowl-

test that more African American and Latino males are stopped than anyone else. However, the celebrations were relatively short lived. In October, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit blocked the order requiring changes to the NYPD stop-and-frisk program and removed presiding Judge Shira Scheindlin from the case. But the legal battle is still ongoing and most are hoping that new Mayor Bill De Blasio will keep his campaign promise to reform the stop-and-frisk program. Another legal shot to civil rights in this country was the Supreme Court striking down Sec-

President Barak Obama visited Boston in November to promote the Affordable Care Act, which was plagued by delays and computer glitches on its website. (Banner photo) tion 4 of the Voting Rights Act in June. That provision of the landmark civil rights law had dictated that changes to voting laws have to be cleared by the federal government or in federal court. This part of voting rights has been credited with stopping policies that prevent minorities from voting. Critics of the Supreme Court decision said the move effectively gutted the Voting Rights Act and delivered a

The world mourned the departure of former freedom fighter and South African President Nelson Mandela. (AP photo/Simon Dawson)

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serious blow to democracy.

Looking back While 2013 delivered some challenges to race relations, the year also offered several opportunities to celebrate the efforts that have been made to promote racial harmony. On Aug. 28, tens of thousands of people attended the 50th anniversary celebration of the March on Washington, which was led by Martin Luther King Jr. in 1963. President Obama spoke and was joined by former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. The commemoration of the march was celebrated with a week-long slate of events. Other

speakers included: Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rev. Al Sharpton, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and Martin Luther King III. The year ended with a touching goodbye to one of the greatest champions of human and civil rights the world has ever known when Nelson Mandela died at the age of 95 on Dec. 5. The former South African president, Noble Prize winner and conqueror of apartheid was fondly remembered throughout the world and the United States with a number of tributes and memorials for the man who championed reconciliation and embodied South Africa’s long walk to freedom.

10 • Thursday, Janurary 2, 2014 • BAY STATE BANNER

Aubin Wise and Lovely Hoffman. (Photo courtesy of SpeakEasy Stage Company)

Roxbury’s Lovely Hoffman at home in

“THE Kassmin Williams When Roxbury native Lovely Hoffman walked into the first audition for the upcoming musical “The Color Purple” back in June, she went in without any expectations for the role she would play. The contemporary R&B artist said she was “taken aback” when she landed the main role as Celie, a young African-American woman living in rural Georgia in the early 1900s, who overcomes great odds to discover her voice. The SpeakEasy Stage Company production will be in Boston from Jan. 10 to Feb. 8 at the Virginia Wimberly Theatre in the Stanford Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts. “It’s a very moving musical. It’s a story about courage, strength and resilience and I think it’s a story that’s a timeless story,” Hoffman said.

COLOR

While landing the role of Celie wasn’t Hoffman’s main objective, it becomes clear that Hoffman and Celie have a connection. Hoffman describes Celie as someone who is abused at the beginning of the story, and someone who struggled to learn her selfworth. By the end of the story, she discovers her worth and establishes herself as a businessperson. Hoffman said she underwent a transformation of her own growing up, making it easier for her to relate to Celie. “For someone who has gone through what [Celie] has gone through, it is easy for them to give up. But she has not,” Hoffman said. “She’s a very faithful person. It’s a spiritual journey that Celie makes and those are the things that connect me with her.” Hoffman highlighted two portions of the musical in particular

that she could relate to: a conversation Celie had about God and Celie’s sister Nettie’s trip to Africa. In one scene, Celie is having a conversation with another character Shug Avery, played by Crystin Gilmore, about what God looks like. Celie described God as a white man with blue eyes and Shug corrects her. “Shug Avery has to correct and recreate [the image of God for Celie] and help Celie understand that the way God has been given to her is not what God looks like,” Hoffman said, and noted that she had a similar struggle as the daughter of a minister. Hoffman, who has visited Africa multiple times and whose father is from Liberia, also identified with Nettie’s trips to Liberia and Senegal, she said.

” PURPLE As Nettie, played by Aubin Wise, tells Celie about her trip to Liberia as a missionary, Hoffman connects it with the stories her father told her about his experience with and influence from missionaries in Liberia. “There are a lot of things that helped build Celie up as a person, and those are the things that impact her, and it’s the same for me,” Hoffman said. Hoffman wears many hats, including R&B singer, sixth grade geography teacher, and member of City Life Vida Urbana — a grassroots organization in Jamaica Plain focused on affordable housing and tenant rights. As a contemporary R&B artist, Hoffman has toured with Grammy Award-winning artist T-Pain and been an opening act for R&B artists Ne-yo and Dennis Edwards of The Temptations.

As a person who is involved in the city in many ways, Hoffman expressed the importance of having “The Color Purple” musical in Boston. “I think it’s going to be excellent for Boston because, when you look at the musicals that are usually in Boston, they don’t have this type of spirituality and uplifting feeling, in my opinion,” Hoffman said. “I think the audience is going to like it. I think they’re going to be moved by the music and I think they’re going to be inspired by the show.” Other cast members include Anich D’Jae as Squeak, Jared Dixon as Harpo, Valerie Houston as Sofia and Maurice Emmanuel Parent as Mister. Tickets for the show start at $25 and can be purchased by calling 617-933-8600 or visiting SpeakEasyStage.com.

Thursday, Janurary 2, 2014 • BAY STATE BANNER • 11

ARP’s ‘Robin Hood’ adds romance to classic tale

From (l): Jordan Dean, Christina Bennett Lind and Christopher Sieber in the American Repertory Theater production of “The Heart of Robin Hood.” (Photo courtesy of Evgenia Eliseeva/ART) Susan Saccoccia A state of wonder sets in even before the actors appear in the deliriously enjoyable American Repertory Theater production of “The Heart of Robin Hood” at the Loeb Drama Center in Harvard Square through January 19th. Branches of a massive oak tree extend above the stage and over half the rows in the theater. A quintet of musicians, the altrural-folk band Poor Old Shine, roams the aisles, serenading the audience as they take their seats. With their scruffy beards and vintage outfits—bowler hats, vests and baggy pants—they resemble forest gnomes. Conjuring Sherwood Forest, the tree and stage set—a backdrop of a grassy hillside that extends across the stage to create a wooded glade—harmonize with the rustic earthiness of the band who, in every scene, sing and play such quaint instruments as the mandolin, banjo, saw, glockenspiel and pump organ. As they come on stage, the actors turn the forest into a haven of freedom, a scene of violence and, as in Shakespeare’s comedies,

a place of transformation and disguise. In between hand-to-hand combat, testy confrontations and scenes of gore equal to any fairy tale by the Grimm Brothers or Hans Christian Andersen (what is it about these northern Europeans?), they hurl themselves down the grassy slide, pop in and out of bubbling holes, break-dance, and ascend on ropes to the great branches overhead. Written by David Farr, a Royal Shakespeare Company associate director, the play is directed by Icelandic director Gisli Örn Gardarsson, who infuses his acrobatic flair as a former gymnast and his Icelandic appetite for keeping nature close at hand. “The Heart of Robin Hood” premiered in November 2011 at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, directed by Gardarsson, who reunites his staging team for the ART production, with set design by Borkur Jonsson, costumes by Emma Ryott and lighting by Bjorn Helgason. In February, Gardarrson and Farr were in Boston to jointly adapt and direct the Arts Emerson production of Kafka’s “Meta-

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morphosis.” Gardarrson performed the lead role of Gregor Samsa, who wakes up one day to find himself transformed into an insect. The transformations in this play take their cues not from Kafka’s bleak satire but instead from

Shakespeare’s comedy, “As You Like It.” Like Rosalind, the heroine who takes to the forest and disguises herself as a man to avoid her father’s would-be usurper, Farr’s Marion heads to Sherwood Forest to escape evil Prince John, who conspires to marry her and usurp the rule of her father who is away fighting the Crusades. She wants to join Robin Hood and his band of men who, she believes, rob from the rich and give to the poor. Rejecting her offer to join his band, Robin Hood tells her that they avoid any contact with women, who “cause storms in the heart of a man.” She and her faithful manservant Pierre also learn that Robin Hood and his men steal from the rich but keep their booty for themselves. “There’s nothing merry about us,” they tell Marion. In fact, they are heartless knaves. Turning herself into “Martin of Sherwood,” Marion claims her own place in the forest and robs the rich to help the poor. As its name suggests, “The Heart of Robin Hood” is a love story as well as a comedy. And with a hunk like Jordan Dean in the role of Robin Hood, romance is afoot. The muddled mix of an assertive heroine who pines for Robin Hood, an “emotionally unavailable man,” keeps this play from reaching the sublime power promised in its early scenes. But the director and his merry band of actors overcome the play’s deficiencies with a spellbinding production. The actors turn their

characters into real people—even as they leap, tumble and tangle with each other in fights and balletic, aerial ascents. Christina Bennett Lind’s Marion is a spirited and wholesome beauty. Dean’s Robin Hood has smoldering appeal and even, at times, comic flair. And as Prince John, Damian Young is a totally loathsome villain. Two actors were commanding in their roles as sidekicks. Small and wiry, Jeremy Crawford was a feral and fierce Little John. As a servant freed from an abusive lord by Robin Hood’s gang to become one of its most aggressive members, his explosive and unpredictable portrayal adds gravity to the play’s early scenes. Sherwood Forest is the scene of multiple transformations. None is more fun to watch than the evolution of Christopher Sieber’s Pierre, Marion’s loyal manservant, from a bewigged and foppish courtier into “Peter, man of nature.” Five members of this nimble ensemble play a total of 23 parts, including the roles of a bishop, a hapless friar and a wild boar. Injecting stylish break-dancing into their fight scenes were Moe Alafrangy in his trio of bad guy roles and Zachary Eisenstat as Robin’s henchman, Will Scathlock. Like the comedies of Shakespeare, “The Heart of Robin Hood” ends with the world in better order and celebrates the new harmony with a wedding. The stage artistry concludes with a glorious tableau true to the earthy magic of this production.

Thursday, January 2, 2014 • BAY STATE BANNER • 12

12 • Thursday, Janurary 2, 2014 • BAY STATE BANNER

2013

2013 politics marked by multitude of campaigns Yawu Miller

Former state Rep. Charlotte Golar Richie, Councilor Felix G. Arroyo, Mayor-elect Marty Walsh and nonprofit leader John Barros in an endorsement photo that became emblematic of the 2013 mayoral race. (Banner photo)

Mayor Thomas Menino’s March announcement that he would not seek office opened a floodgate of political ambition, as five city councilors, one state rep., three nonprofit leaders, a businessman, a district attorney and several perennial candidates joined a pool that thankfully winnowed down to 12. It was no surprise then that five vacancies on the city council stoked more political ambition, drawing an even more unwieldy field of 19 candidates for the four at-large seats and dozens more contenders for district council seats. Election Department staff, battered by a slew of special elections in 2012, plus the special election to fill the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by Secretary of State John Kerry and a state Senate race to fill the seat formerly held by Jack Hart – were now facing the prospect of one of the most multitudinous elections since the city scrapped its elected school committee in 1989. Black, Latino and Asian candidates and voters had mixed luck with the year of political musical chairs. On the positive side, state Rep. Linda Dorcena Forry, who repre-

(Photo courtesy of Linda Dorcena Forry) sented the 12th Suffolk District in Dorchester and Mattapan, beat out South Boston state Rep. Nick Collins to win the First Suffolk Senate District seat formerly held by Hart. And in the at-large race, Councilor Ayanna Pressley was the top vote-getter for the second consecutive election cycle. And political neophyte Michelle Wu scored a major victory, coming in second in the at-large race with strong support from black, Latino, Asian and progressive-leaning white voters. On the negative side, none of the six candidates of color who entered the mayor’s race was able to secure enough votes to make it past the preliminary balloting. Post-election political pundits debated whether the sheer number of choices discouraged voters of color from coming to the polls, or the candidates themselves failed to catch fire with the public. In the end, voters in predominantly black and Latino precincts turned out at or below the politics, continued to page 13

Community Calendar Upcoming

Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr. Event Monday, January 20 Create a luminaria to illuminate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr., enjoy youth performances, and engage in participatory activities. Event takes place from 3:00-5:30 pm at Hawthorne Youth and Community Center, 9 Fulda St., Roxbury; refreshments served. Contact hyccroxbury@hotmail.com to sign up. Brian Stokes Mitchell Dubbed “The Last Leading Man” by the New York Times, Brian Stokes Mitchell has enjoyed a rich and varied career on Broadway, television and film, along with appearances in the America’s greatest concert halls. He will lead a master class for undergraduate singers, and observers are welcome; admission is free (tickets/RSVPs not required). This event is co-sponsored by Celebrity Series of Boston. Thursday, January 23, 2-3:30pm, Agassiz Theatre. 21+.

Ongoing Another World Artist Violet Byrd chose “Another World” as the title of

her exhibit after reading an article that made her realize how otherworldly artists can seem, even to those who buy, sell and appreciate their art. “With this title,” says Byrd. “I frame the exhibition as an introduction to a stranger who may be known through a series of objects and images.” Byrd’s 2D and 3D works in cut paper depict “hybrid life forms of fantastic creatures.” The creatures made of black paper invite the viewer to step closer to discern the layers within each silhouette, while the white paper creatures emphasize both the negative space surrounding each shape and the rainbow of shadows beyond. The pieces may look fragile, but Byrd packs heavy ideas into their sprightly forms. “Another World” is on display at the Chandler Gallery from January 13 through February 14 with an opening reception on Thursday, January 16, from 6-8 pm. A preview of Byrd’s work can be seen in the Maud Morgan Arts Porter Square window display. Chandler Gallery, 20 Sacramento St., Cambridge. Free

Solidarity Works: Politics of Cultural Memory Solidarity Works explores how art and architecture can act as

vehicles for community making, both real and imagined, and generate a sense of solidarity in contexts of conflict and crisis. Critical reflections on Islamic architecture and the politics of cultural memory are presented through multiple thematic clusters. Bridging art, architecture and history, Solidarity Works presents work in a variety of media, including textile, furniture, architectural sculpture, video, audio and networked productions. Featured is Aksamija’s prayer space design at the Islamic cemetery in Altach, Austria, winner of a 2013 Aga Khan Award. Wolk Gallery, MIT School of Architecture + Planning. Through March 21. For more information visit http:// sap.mit.edu/resources/galle ries/wolk_gallery/. South Shore Chess Club 100% free and open to everyone, the SSCC meets Mondays 7-10pm at the Hough’s Neck Community Center, 1193 Sea St. Quincy. Play chess, learn chess, and make new friends. www.sout hshorechess.com, 857-888-1531, or southshore chess@gmail.com for more info. Toddler Drum Circle Toddler Drum Circle series with

Cornell Coley will run every Saturday during the school year. 9:3010:30am. Songs, stories, puppets, drumming and cultural info! Ages 1 – 4 yrs old! Spontaneous Celebrations, 45 Danforth St., Jamaica Plain. Contact: Cornell Coley www.afro latin.net 617-298-1790 cc@afrola tin.net. Cost: $8, $5 for sibling.

West African Drum class Master Senegalese drumm e r M a m a d o u Ly n x N d j a y e teaches all level of Djembe drumming. Thursdays from 7:30-9pm. English High School, 144 McBride St., Jamaica Plain. Contact: 617-359-1552 for further information. $10.

SEE MORE UPCOMING EVENTS ONLINE AT BayStateBanner.com/events

The Community Calendar has been established to list community events at no cost. The admission cost of events must not exceed $10. Church services and recruitment requests will not be published. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE OF PUBLICATION. To guarantee publication with a paid advertisement please call advertising at (617) 261-4600 ext. 7797 or email sandra@bannerpub.com. NO LISTINGS ARE ACCEPTED BY TELEPHONE, FAX OR MAIL. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE. Deadline for all listings is Friday at noon for publication the following week. E-MAIL your information to: calendar@bannerpub.com. To list your event online please go to www.baystatebanner.com/events and list your event directly. Events listed in print are not added to the online events page by Banner staff members. There are no ticket cost restrictions for the online postings.

Thursday, Janurary 2, 2014 • BAY STATE BANNER • 13

Mayoral candidates Bill Walczak, Mike Ross, Marty Walsh, John Barros, Charles Clemmons, Dan Conley, Charles Yancey, Felix G. Arroyo, Rob Consalvo and Charlotte Golar Richie during a candidates forum. (John Brewer photo)

politics

continued from page 12

city-wide average of 30 percent while voters in John Connolly’s West Roxbury base and Marty Walsh’s Cedar Grove stronghold approached 50 percent turnout. While turnout was modest, candidates in the preliminary and final election campaigned heavily in communities of color, with walk-throughs in Dudley Station,

visits to churches and pledges to diversify city government. While turnout in the city’s black and Latino precincts remained average, Walsh and Connolly fought for their votes to the end, investing heavily in get-outthe vote machinery with dollars and volunteers. Perhaps the most positive political story for people of color didn’t come through the ballot box and only lasted three months – the appointment of William “Mo” Cowan to fill the

U.S. Senate seat formerly held by Kerry. Cowan became the second African American in Massachusetts history to serve in the Senate. While the Massachusetts Black and Latino Caucus gained a seat in the state Senate with Dorcena Forry’s victory, they lost a seat in the House when neither Mary-dith Tuitt nor Stephanie Everett succeeded in their bids for the 12th Suffolk seat. Former Walsh aide Dan Cullinane secured the predominantly African

American Mattapan/Dorchester seat in a decisive victory. In the predominantly black and Latino Council District 5, formerly represented by Rob Consalvo, black candidates also failed to win in the preliminary. In the final election, Jean Claude Sannon lost to Timothy McCarthy by 10 percentage points. After two special election-packed years, Boston Election Department workers may actually get a much-needed break. Democratic Party ac-

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Credit card debt higher for U.S. black middle class

Zenitha Prince African-Americans have been pummeled by the recent financial crisis, including facing the most adverse consequences of credit card debt and higher interest rates, according to a recently released study by the NAACP and Demos, a U.S.-based research and policy center. Findings from “The Challenge of Credit Card Debt for the African-American Middle Class” indicate that black Americans suffered disproportionate economic losses since the Great Recession, weathering the highest jobless rates, steepest declines in income and deepest cuts into their assets and investments. Additionally burdened by systemic discriminatory policies that left blacks with fewer assets and lower rates of homeownership than whites, many African-Americans turned to credit cards as a “plastic security net” to help make ends meet, according to the report which is dated December 2013. “Much of the disproportionate impact of credit card debt can be

attributed to the fact that African Americans have fewer assets than other households to fall back on in emergencies,” explained Catherine Ruetschlin, report co-author and Demos policy analyst, in a statement. “Unlike white households, more than half of African-American wealth is held in housing, which was devastated in the financial crisis. We’re also seeing African Americans turning to credit cards to cover their household finances as incomes continue to stagnate and unemployment rates hover around twice that of white workers.” According to the report, while blacks owe less than they did in 2008, 42 percent—consistent with other groups—reported using credit cards to pay for basic living expenses like rent, mortgage payments, groceries, utilities, or insurance. As with other moderate-income Americans, middle-income blacks also used credit cards to invest in their future, including higher education, entrepreneurship and medical expenses. Many of the black entrepreneurs surveyed said they used a

Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department SUFFOLK Division

Docket No. SU13C0456CA In the matter of Gladys Loraine Cooper of: Roxbury, MA

NOTICE OF PETITION FOR CHANGE OF NAME To all persons interested in a petition described: A petition has been presented by Gladys L Cooper requesting that Gladys Loraine Cooper be allowed to change her name as follows:

credit card to pay for the expense of starting a new business, and 99 percent have not been able to pay it off, compared to 80 percent of whites. Troublingly, while black credit card holders were no more likely to be late on their payments than whites, blacks were nevertheless unevenly targeted by bill collectors—71 percent of African-American middle-income households, compared to 50 percent of whites—and were more likely to have their credit cards cancelled, credit limit reduced or be denied a new card. Black families also reported lower credit scores and different causes of poor credit. Just 66 percent of African-American households report having a credit score of 620 or above, compared to 85 percent of white households. African Americans were more likely to attribute poor credit to late student loan payments or errors on their credit report, while whites cited late mortgage payments. “African Americans rely on credit cards to make ends meet and invest in their futures because they have faced (and continue to face) persistent structural and economic barriers that limit their ability to create wealth and build a solid credit history,” said Dedrick Asante-Muhammad, report co-author and senior director of NAACP Economic Department, in a statement. “And when African Americans are engaging in the credit market, they are more likely victims to predatory and discriminatory lending which further increases their economic insecurity,” he said. “Unless we want to maintain the nation’s historic and contemporary racial economic divide, we must confront the reality of today’s racial inequality and advance reforms that address these disparities, fairness and security around consumer credit.” The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 has helped African Americans make strides toward

WITNESS, HON. Joan P. Armstrong, First Justice of this Court. Date: December 10, 2013 Patricia M. Campatelli Register of Probate Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department SUFFOLK Division

Docket No. SU13P1806 Estate of O.D. Fitzpatrick, II Also Known As O.D. Fitzpatrick Date of Death Feb 21, 2012

INFORMAL PROBATE PUBLICATION NOTICE To all persons interested in the above captioned estate, by Petition of Petitioner Shanae C Fitzpatrick of Lakeville, MA. Shanae C Fitzpatrick of

to information in their monthly statements mandated by the CARD Act. Nearly one-third reported being charged over-thelimit fees less often since the act went into effect. One in four has been charged late fees less often, and 25 percent said they experienced a drop in the interest charged on their credit card. New American Media

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