Tak ONEe FRE E
Dr. Martin Luther King for Today Wrtten by Dr, Martin Luther King lll
struggle against segregation to make the promise of the Declaration of I am humbled, Independence a gratified and overreality. joyed at the dediBut my father cation of the also supported Martin Luther human rights, freeKing Jr. National dom and self-deterMemorial in commination for all memoration of my people, including father’s leaderLatino agricultural ship. It of course workers, Native means a lot to our Americans, and the family. But more millions of impovimportant, it is a erished white men great step forward and women who for America. were treated as secIt is wonderful ond-class citizens. that an African Although he was American leader is assassinated before honored on the the women’s rights, Mall, near the gay rights and enviLincoln, Jefferson ronmental moveand Franklin ments reached the Martin Luther King, lll Roosevelt memorials. But it national stage, there is no means even more that a nonviolent question in my mind that my father leader, a man of peace, is represented would have viewed these struggles as batalongside America’s greatest presidents. tles for justice and equality worthy of his That will help young people understand support. that nonviolent leadership can make hisEven as we dedicate a national memotory and transform our nation. rial to my father’s legacy, millions of No doubt, future generations will look undocumented workers live in fear of upon this monument and ask, Who was arrest, separation from their families and this man and why do we honor him laws designed to deny education to their today? children. America has an obligation to The answer should begin by noting secure its borders, but it is wrong to pass that Martin Luther King Jr. was the leader laws that treat human beings as someof a great social movement for equality for African Americans — a nonviolent KING III Continued on page 5
Page 2 The Insider News Wisconsin, January 15-31, 2012
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Black Men Need Schooling To Stay Out Of Jail By Stan Simpson I ran into "Stormin" Norman Bailey the other day. The one-time UConn basketball standout (in the 1980s) is a state juvenile detention officer. Baily, a man of faith and community-minded, and I usually end up chatting about the plight of urban youth. Too many times he sees the unfinished products as they come out of Juvie. As a journalist and urban school educator, I see them before they get to Bailey. Frankly, it's not hard to pick out the ones headed for beds in C Block. They are the ones with report cards chock full of F's. That's if they choose to attend class at all. For the most part, we are talking about males. And if you really want to cut to the chase - black males. A few years ago, the national dropout rate for African American males was 70 percent. Today, the high school graduation rate for black boys is about 50 percent. Bailey recently emailed me a link to "Bring Your 'A' Game,'' a fast-paced, 23minute documentary that showcases an array of high-profile and successful African American males speaking about the value of education and establishing a work ethic. Produced by actor-director Mario Van Peebles and Karen Williams, it is a must see for every urban school student in America. In it, high achievers such as entertainers P. Diddy and Ice Cube; corporate leaders Richard Parsons and Bruce Gordon; author-actor Hill Harper and Newark Mayor Corey Booker (the latter two Ivy League-educated), keep it real about the consequences of dropping out of school. "It's all about your intellectual strength," says Booker, adding that physical prowess "can be taken away from you in an instant." Although many African American boys have misguided aspirations of being professional athletes, the could reality is that most won't. Any shot at a college scholarship is lost when, as the college scouts say, they have "no pencil" - the grades to qualify for college. So, college is out, as are the long-shot prospects of being a pro baller. The result is a high school graduate (or dropout) with few options. As Van Peeples cautions: "You still gotta eat. You've still got to make money. You've still gotta pay rent. You still want all the fly lifestyle, the women, the jewelry, all of it. So how do you get it legally? ... You don't." The viability of the multibillion-dollar prison industry is sustained by underperforming urban schools. These dropout factories produce a precious prison commodity: uneducated urban boys. "Failing schools equal successful prisons," the Rev. Alfonso Wyatt of New York says in the film. Connecticut spends about $720 million a year on its prison system. The Department of Correction, despite recent downsizing, has historically been one of the fastest-growing line items in the state budget. The ethnic makeup of Connecticut's prisons provide fodder for conspiracy theorists. Blacks and Latinos make up about 25 percent of the state's population, but they represent 75 percent of the inmate population. Also,75 percent of the inmates come from the large urban centers - Hartford, Bridgeport, New Haven. The state has the widest academic achievement gap in America between white students and their black and Latino peers. In our prisons, 75 percent of the inmates do not have a high school diploma. Some say poverty (or even racism) is the primary reason for these alarming racial disparities. To me, it is about illiteracy. Education - let's just start with reading - is the great elixir. It is no urban legend that many for-profit prison systems base their population projections on third- and fourth-grade reading scores. Or, that there are more African American men incarcerated than there are on college campuses. One in three black males, studies show, will spend time in prison. The plight of the black male has long been a crisis. Black men talking to young brothers about handling their business in the classrooms is a powerful tool. But "Bring Your 'A' Game" is not enough. "We have to show up on a consistent basis and demonstrate to our children that we care," said Stanley F. Battle, former interim president at Southern Connecticut State University. "And we have to tell them something that makes sense. We can't wait until they're locked up and in the prisons."
Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can't ride you unless your back is bent. Martin Luther King, Jr. Page 4 The Insider News Wisconsin, January 15-31, 2012
King, lll continued from page 2 thing less than human. If my father were alive, he would be in the forefront in the struggle for a fair and humane reform of our immigration laws. Martin Luther King Jr. was an impassioned advocate of economic justice as well as social justice. As he said, “The right to sit at a lunch counter is empty if you cannot afford a meal.” He believed that every American family deserved to have decent living standards, including employment, adequate housing, nourishment, health care, education for children and safe, thriving communities. The 1963 March on Washington, during which he gave his historic “I Have a Dream” speech, was a march for “Jobs and Justice,” rooted in the conviction that it is not possible to have one without the other. That is why my father supported labor unions as a vital force for promoting economic justice. It was in a struggle for union representation that he braved death threats and lost his life. Today, American labor unions are under unprecedented assault. Public workers in Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana and other states face all-out campaigns to destroy their collective-bargaining rights. The magnificent outbreaks of opposition to these attacks provide a potent reminder that economic security, respect and representation on the job are not arrogant demands of “greedy” workers but basic human rights. If my father were alive, he would be linking arms in the front ranks
of the protests against the attacks on trade unions. Finally, my father did not see nonviolence as a special tactic limited to the struggle for civil rights. He saw it as a universal tool for achieving justice — for transforming dictatorships into democracies, unjust laws into just laws, oppression into freedom. He called nonviolence a “sword” for all those who struggle for justice, but he deemed it “a sword that heals, rather than a sword that wounds.” Today we are witnessing the awakening of a third great era of nonviolence. The first was framed by the campaigns of Mahatma Gandhi in India and my father in the United States. The second was the wave of freedom movements that swept across places as diverse as Poland and Eastern Europe, the Philippines and South Africa in the 1980s and ’90s. Recently, nonviolent liberation movements arose in Tunisia, Egypt and elsewhere in the Middle East. The sword that heals is again being deployed for freedom and democracy. Once again, protest leaders are crediting King and Gandhi as sources for inspiration and strategic guidance. These are the three legacies of Martin Luther King Jr. that we must pass down to each new generation. Polished marble can display the nobility of a great leader but not the meaning of his ideas and contributions. Stone may be beautiful but it is mute. It is up to all of us, every American, to give it voice. Page 5 The Insider News Wisconsin, January 15-31, 2012
The Comic Book That Changed A Nation "The comic book [is] the marijuana of the nursery, the bane of the bassinet, the horror of the home, the curse of the kids and a threat to the future." John Mason Brown. (American literary critic, 1900-1969) In December of 1957 a comic book was published that really did threaten the future--at least the future of American segregationists. Carefully preserved in the special collections of several academic libraries, such as The Smithsonian Institution, Morehouse College, and Stanford University, The Montgomery Story, a 14-page comic book is, credited with being one of the most influential teaching tools ever produced for the Civil Rights Movement. The Comic Book's Depiction Of Press Attention For The Montgomery Bus Boycott. Published by the Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR), the comic book bears the name of neither author nor illustrator. It tells the story of the successful 1956 Montgomery Bus Boycott, led by Martin Luther King, Jr. Even more importantly for the future of the Civil Rights Movement, the little comic book that could outlines in a mere two pages the technique of passive resistance used by Gandhi to free India from British rule. The FOR is first and foremost a pacifist organization, and its national field secretary, Glenn E. Smiley, advised Dr. King on the use of Gandhian nonviolence. In a letter to a friend in 1956, Smiley wrote of his hopes for King: "If he can really be won to a faith in nonviolence there is no end to what he can do. Soon he will be
able to direct the movement by the sheer force of being the symbol of resistance." Gandhi's Tactic Of Passive Resistance Graphically Rendered. By succinctly outlining a strategy for peaceful civil disobedience, the comic became a primer for the students who launched the sit-in movement. On February 1, 1960 four black students sat at the counter of a Woolworth's drugstore in Greensboro, NC, and waited to be served. The students knew that only whites were allowed to sit on the stools at the counter--blacks were to eat standing up. The four men remained, unserved, at the counter until the drugstore closed. The next day the four returned--along with 27 others--to continue the protest. The lunch counter sit-ins in Greensboro, NC attracted nationwide media coverage at a time when civil rights activities had slipped from the
headlines. A whole new series of peaceful protests, and a desperately needed publicity boost, were the direct result of college kids reading The Montgomery Story, and putting the words (and the pictures) into practice. King Preaches Peace In The Face Of Hate. The use of a comic book as a text for the fight against Jim Crow was inspired on many levels. Comics are cheap to produce; lightweight; small in size; easy to disguise, hide or smuggle; and highly disposable. Joe Wos, founder and director of Pittsburgh's ToonSeum, spoke of the dangers of possessing a copy of The Montgomery Story in the segregated South of the 1960's: "People were told to read it, memorize it, and destroy it because if they were caught with it, they could be killed." It is estimated that 250,000 copies of the comic were printed, but few copies have survived intact. Klan Violence Comic Book Style. The use of a simple, graphic format to teach young freedom fighters the techniques Dr. King used in Montgomery was a stroke of genius. Many of the foot sol-
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diers in the army for civil rights were teenagers who had been educated at substandard, separate but unequal schools. Those unable to read well can still learn quickly from the pictures in a comic book, and reluctant readers can be lured in by an eye-caching illustration. The Montgomery Story was written to inspire these young victims of segregation to nonviolent action, and to warn them of the consequences. The comic is daringly honest in depicting the Ku Klux Klan's use of cross burnings and bombings to terrorize those seeking equal rights. And time and again the tremendous effort necessary to truly "love your enemies" in the face of hatred and violence is underscored in both words and pictures. The Montgomery Story In Four Languages. The Montgomery Story's depiction of the monumental sacrifices, and the great rewards, that await those who seek to end oppression by nonviolent means still resonates around the world. The comic book was reprinted in Spanish shortly after its publication in English, but as recently as 2008 it was translated into Arabic, Farsi, and Vietnamese. The world still heeds these words from Martin Luther King: "Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle." Sometimes, amazingly, that struggle for change begins with reading a comic book View comic book online: http://issuu.com/hamsa/docs/mlkfarsi
STUDENT SUMMER EMPLOYMENT
Pastor’s Fellowship congregations holds King’s Day Celebration at New Omega Above: Rev. Fred Richmond, (2nd left), Pastor of New Omega Church, President of SWBPF, told the public attending last year’s event at the Roma Lodge,” It is up to each one of us to keep King’s dream alive; Learn to work as an understudy with someone who has accomplished much; Invest in our youth; Think I can..Not I Can’t and mentors can see the potential inside the one being mentored!” This year the group will hold their annual event January 16, 2012, at 6:30pm, at the New Omega Church. The guest speaker will be Jessie Taylor, former Regional Director of the Justice Department. Shown above are members of SWBPF congregation; Seated: Pastor Daryn Crenshaw-Christ Baptist Church; Pastor Fred L. Richmond, Sr. (Presiding Prelate SWBPF); Dr. Riggins R. Earl, Jr. (Last year keynote Speaker); Standing Top Photos (left to right): Pastor Mark Gates, Christ Chapel Baptist Church; Pastor Jesse Sumerall, Greater St. Luke Baptist Church; Pastor Tommie Knuckles, Christian Tabernacle Baptist Church; Pastor Larry Jackson, New Birth Baptist Church; Pastor Jimmie Lockridge, Fellowship Baptist Church; Pastor Mark Freeman, Second Missionary Baptist Church; Pastor Keith Evans, and Greater Mt. Eagle Baptist
The City of Racine is accepting applications from full-time undergraduate college students who are presently enrolled on a fulltime basis, who intend continuing as fulltime undergraduate students in the fall of 2012, and graduating high school seniors intending to enroll in college on a full time basis in the fall of 2012. Positions may include playground leader, lifeguard, student truck driver, student laborer, and student aide (clerical). Major departments that use student employees are Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services, Department of Public Works and the Water and Wastewater Utility. Preference for employment will be given to students who reside within the city limits of Racine. Students meeting the above criteria may apply until April 13, 2012 at the Human Resources Department, City Hall, 730 Washington Avenue, Room 204, Racine, WI 53403. Applications can be downloaded at www.cityofracine.org/City_Student_Jobs.aspx.
A new face to be sworn in as 3rd. District County Supervisor Staff writer When the new Racine county board convenes in April, a new face will be sworn in to represent the 3rd District, a position that has been held by Supervisor Gaynell Dyess for over 14 years. Because of health reasons, Dyess, a retired American Kiana Johnson Motor worker, decided not to seek another term. Kiana Johnson, a Case High School graduate and a lifelong resident of Racine, was unopposed last Friday, January 6, when the deadline to filing nomination papers rolled around. Johnson, 37, is a federal police officer with the Department of Veteran Affairs. She served in the United States Air Force for four years and has been a state correctional officer as well as a county correctional officer at the juvenile detention center in Racine. Three other African Americans were
unopposed by deadline and will also take their seat on the county board in April: 8th District Alderman and Supervisor Q. A. Shakoor II, 1st. District Supervisor Donnie Snow, and 4th District Supervisor Kenneth Lumpkin. The four will serve on the upcoming 21 member board. 2010 redistricting called for the elimination of two positions. A run-off election will be needed in 4th District. There will be a candidate opposing 4th District Alderman Jim Kaplin. At this time, downtown bar owner Thomas Holmes, who recently surrendered his Park 6 bar licenses, completed the necessary paper work and announced that he wants to run for alderman and will step out of the three person race. Holmes and the city has been at odds for the past several years over how he has ran the downtown bar which is frequented by a primarily African-American clientele. The other candidate, Sherri Lawson, is a high school substitute teacher in Unified School District, and will be trying for the second time to unseat Kaplan. Lawson who had no political experience, came within 30 votes of defeating Kaplan in 2010. By phone last week Holmes said that he is strongly considering pulling out of the three-person race in favor of Lawson, while he is preparing to file a lawsuit against the City of Racine. He said that he will hold a press conference to announce his decision soon. Johnson continued on page 12
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Healing for the
Heart
God Wants to Take You to a New Level by Joyce Meyer Give instruction to a wise man and he will be yet wiser; teach a righteous man (one upright and in right standing with God) and he will increase in learning. — Proverbs 9:9 Even though God wants us to live joyful, contented lives, He sometimes causes discontent or a feeling that something is not right because He does not want us to continue doing the same old things anymore. He wants to prod us to seek Him so
He can take us to new levels. God always wants us to grow stronger, to go deeper, and to increase in intimacy with Him. Most of the time, He leads us into that process of maturity by leading us out of places where we have been comfortable in the past. Too much comfort for too long can mean that we are not growing. If you feel something stirring in your heart that you don’t quite understand, just ask God what is happening and take time to wait on Him to answer. Our time with God is vitally important
to our growth and maturity, but we cannot do the same things all the time and experience all that God has for us. I have had times when reading the Bible became laborious and God simply led me to read a different translation for a few months. Just that little change brought new growth because I saw things in a different way. Satan tried to condemn me because I did not want to read the Bible, but God was just trying to get me to make a change in the translation I was reading. One day I felt a bit bored as I tried to
read and pray so I moved to another chair in my office and suddenly I saw things that had been in my office for years, but I had not noticed them. A little adjustment caused me to see things from a whole new perspective and God taught me a spiritual lesson just because I sat in a different chair. God’s word for you today: Don’t be afraid to move your chair.
Belle Urban Bus Fare Changes Effective in 2012 (All changes go into effect the week of January 8) Reductions in State of Wisconsin operating assistance have resulted in the need to raise additional farebox revenue and make service changes. If you have questions about obtaining or qualifying for any of the fare categories below please feel free to call our information line @ 637-9000 or log-on to www.racinetransit.com: • ADULT CASH FARE: The regular base fare goes to $2.00. Applies to all adults ages 18 to 64. The evening “reduced rate” and “Super Weekend Pass” will no longer be offered. Fareboxes accept bills of various denominations. Fareboxes and drivers do not make change. No charge for transfers.
Tharpe presented with award for 50 years of sevice At a meeting of American Legion 546 on Sunday, December 11, 2011, Marshall E. Tharpe, Past Commander, was presented a certificate for serving 50 continuous years as Legionnare. Marshall became a member of the L. Bennett Post 164 in Paris, Tensessee in 1961. After moving to Racine, WI in 1968, he continued his membership with Dori Miller Post 546. Marshalal is a P.U.F.L (paid up for life) member with Dorie Miller Post 546. He served as Racine County Commander from 1978-1979, First District of Wisconsin Historian, which consists of Post 20 Waterford, Post 29 Burlington, Post 171 Union Grove, Post 310 Racine, Post 494 Caledonia, Post 546 Racine, and is presently serving as Historian for Dorie Miller Post 546.
• YOUTH FARE: $1.50 cash fare for young people ages 6 to 17. Mature looking high school students may be asked to provide school ID or proof of age. • CHILDREN 5 AND UNDER: Up to four children 5 and under ride free with an adult fare. • SENIORS AND THE DISABLED: Valid Medicare Cardholders and the disabled qualify for a $1 single ride fare on fixed route buses. Special 30 day passes for the disabled at a reduced rate of $30
Page 8 The Insider News Wisconsin, January 15-31, 2012
are available at 1900 Kentucky Avenue with an ADA certification card issued by the BUS. Once that card is issued the reduced rate 30 day pass is also available at the Racine City Clerk’s office at City Hall. • THE 30 DAY UNLIMITED RIDE PASS: The most convenient and most economical way to travel. Simply swipe your pass on entry. The cost goes to $65. The farebox records your first use and the pass expires after 30 dayºClerk’s Office on the first floor of City Hall and the Belle Urban Offices at 1900 Kentucky Avenue. • THE 10 RIDE PASS: Ten rides at a total cost of $15. Passes are validated by the farebox. Ten ride passes are currently available only at Piggly Wiggly on Washington Avenue, Piggly Wiggly on Durand Avenue, the Racine City Clerk’s office on the first floor of City Hall and the Belle Urban Offices at 1900 Kentucky Avenue. • DART SPECIALIZED SERVICE FARES: Fares for DART qualified demand-response rides go to $3.00 from $2.50. DART service is available within the BUS mainline routes service area during hours comparable to fixed route service hours
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From Left: Will & Stephanie Rae Ortiz, Pastor Jacob & Wendy Johnson and, Chris & Vanessa Killips
What do basketball and the Bible have in common? “In order for God to change my life in the way that He needed to, things had to get worse. I had to bottom-out in order to get rebuilt.” Pastor Jacob Johnson, BY: Allena G. Berry What do basketball and the Bible have in common? For Pastor Jacob Johnson, founder of Inner Court Praise Ministries, basketball and the Bible have both had a profound impact on his life and his decision to go into ministry. Born and raised in Racine, WI, Johnson discovered early in life that he was a talented basketball player; so talented, even, that he was able to play basketball in Russia before entering high school. But the rewards Johnson received from this talent oftentimes sheltered him from real consequences. “Things were handed to me,” Johnson recalled of his lifestyle throughout high school and college. “I was never forced to see the real world.” This shelter gave Johnson a false sense of security in his poor choices, which he made frequently with friends there to encourage him. But these choices eventually caught up with him, resulting in his return to Wisconsin. However, Johnson does not see this downturn as a negative. Aware of a lifetime relationship with God, Johnson now gives the following reasoning for his prior circumstances: “In order for God to
Johnson
change my life in the way that He needed to, things had to get worse. I had to bottom-out in order to get rebuilt.” Leaving Racine for Columbus, OH, Johnson discovered his calling to be a minister. He worshiped in ways that he was not exposed to throughout all of his travels. “You had guys out there with durags on,” Johnson explained of his experiences in various Columbus churches. “People that you would think would be in the street were in the church.” This inclusive philosophy left a profound impact on Johnson and is a driving force in how Inner Court Praise Ministries is run. Johnson, along with wife Wendy, Praise and Worship Leaders Will and Stephanie Ortiz, and Ministers Chris & Vanessa Killips, comprise the leadership of Inner Court, located at 1031 Douglas Ave. Since starting in November 2011, the ministry has three services on Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday nights, all starting at 6:30 pm. Johnson encourages individuals “with all different ailments” to come to the Saturday service, which “is specifically for divine healing.” For Pastor Johnson, basketball and the Bible have changed his life forever, proving that divine inspiration can come from the most unlikely of places.
from page 7
The 4th Aldermanic District is bound by the lakefront to the east and by English Street to the north. The Root River is the bounders to the south, while the east side of Charles and Martin Luther King Dr. are the bounders to the west. If the three stay in the race together, there will be a run-off election on Tuesday, February 21, to narrow the field of candidates to two people. The spring General election will be held in April 2012 to choose the Alderman of the District.
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We are Proud of Our NAACP MLK Civil Rights Service Award. Hire a Law Firm That Takes Pride In The Community: $3 million - largest police brutality settlement in Wisconsin’s history $150,000 - donated to NAACP Scholarship Fund $1000s - donated to CYD’s “Jeannette Simpson-Robinson & Hupy and Abraham, S.C. Educational Scholarship Fund” 20 years - sponsor of YMCA Black Achievers 15 years - sponsor of CTE “Empowering Milwaukee’s Youth” 8,000 - children fingerprinted 100s - holiday meals donated to needy families each year
Our website is
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Founded a successful “Gun Buy Back Program” Signature sponsor of MCLD Minority Achievers Awards Sponsor of VOTFC Single Parent Christmas Drive Named CYD Lawyer of the Year
We trace our roots to Attorney Lloyd Barbee, who started the MPS Integration Lawsuit, and year after year, we are voted “Best Personal Injury Lawyer” by the public.
800.800.5678 | hupy.com Hupy and Abraham, S.C. collects $100s of millions every year for thousands of satisfied clients. Page 13 The Insider News Wisconsin, January 15-31, 2012
If Martin Luther King Were Alive Today, He'd Be Just Like Me Jesse Walker | January 13, 2011
Gloria Rogers speaks to local union members on Walker’s cuts last year.
The NAACP has much hard work ahead in 2012 By Gloria Roger, President Racine Branch of the NAACP
You know all those articles that purport to say what George Orwell would believe if he were alive today, in which Orwell turns out to have had a change of heart on every significant subject where the author disagrees with him? You can do that to Martin Luther King too: If Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. were alive today, would he understand why the United States is at war? Jeh C. Johnson, the Defense Department's general counsel, posed that question at today's Pentagon commemoration of King's legacy. In the final year of his life, King became an outspoken opponent of the Vietnam War, Johnson told a packed auditorium. However, he added, today's wars are not out of line with the iconic Nobel Peace Prize winner's teachings. "I believe that if Dr. King were alive today, he would recognize that we live in a complicated world, and that our nation's military should not and cannot lay down its arms and leave the American people vulnerable to terrorist attack," he said.... Johnson said today's service members might wonder whether the mission they serve is consistent with King's message and beliefs. In King's last speech in Memphis, Tenn., on April 3, 1968 -- the night before he died -- King evoked the biblical parable of the Good Samaritan, Johnson noted....King drew a parallel between those who passed by the man on the road and those in Memphis who at the time hesitated to help striking sanitation workers because they feared for their own jobs. Johnson said King criticized those who are compassionate by proxy, noting the civil rights leader told the audience in Memphis that night, "The question is not, 'If I stop to help this man in need, what will happen to me?' The question is, 'If I
do not stop to help the sanitation workers, what will happen to them?'" Johnson compared today's troops to the Samaritan, who chose to help instead of taking an easier path. "I draw the parallel to our own servicemen and women deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere, away from the comfort of conventional jobs, their families and their homes," Johnson said. Yes, he's referring to the same Martin Luther King who once said this: If we assume that life is worth living and that man has a right to survive, then we must find an alternative to war. In a day when vehicles hurtle through outer space and guided ballistic missiles carve highways of death through the stratosphere, no nation can claim victory in war. A so-called limited war will leave little more than a calamitous legacy of human suffering, political turmoil, and spiritual disillusionment. A world war God forbid! - will leave only smoldering ashes as a mute testimony of a human race whose folly led inexorably to ultimate death. Now, I suppose it is theoretically possible that if Martin Luther King were alive today he would support Washington's wars, in the same sense that it is theoretically possible that Ronald Reagan would be a celebrity spokesman for the Workers World Party. People change! It could happen! Maybe he'd have a personality-changing concussion or something! And hey, Reagan probably told a parable at some point that a socialist could use for his own ends... Come on, people. You want to argue for the merits of a war, either argue forthrightly against King's clear views on the subject or have the good taste to leave him out of the discussion altogether.
Looking back over 2011, we vividly recall a year marked with protests, marches and rallies throughout the state. From halls of local unions to the State Capitol and beyond, Wisconsinites boldly declared their dissatisfaction with political policies, misdirected priorities, and budgetary decisions. We remember the Wisconsin 14; the senators who stood up and spoke for their constituents by fleeing the state in an effort to suppress a vote on Gov. Walker’s proposed budget that would drastically cut school funding, healthcare benefits, and rights of union workers to employ collective bargaining. It is with vigor and passion that Wisconsinites stood up for what they believed in. We fought for what we thought was right, important, and valuable. Unfortunately, the plight of the Black community was not one of the highest priorities of most organizations; the disparities grew even more. Walker and his local elected cronies after being elected, quickly started cutting funding to areas that had a direct benefit to both the African-American and Hispanic communities. For example, the (Wisconsin) Senate voted 19-0 to repeal requirements that law enforcement collect data from traffic stops in an attempt to ascertain whether there was any racial profiling. Before this bill’s appeal, the Racine sheriff told the media that he would not enforce the bill, claiming it would take too much time to fill out paperwork when making routine stops. Another bill that was passed that concerned the local as well as the state branches was the passing of the conceal and carry bill, which allowed citizens with little training to carry concealed weapons. More at home, the branch was very displeased with the Racine Police and fire Commission choosing to overlook two local minority candidates for police chief, in favor of launching a national search. The year 2011 saw Racine and other cities accepting without protest a series of negative social indicators that disproportionately affected African Americans, from a 55.8% unemployment rate for Black males to poverty, incarceration, and infant mortality. This must change in 2012 and we should spearhead the fight on these issues, especially those that impact our young people. We need to harness that same vigor and passion and stand up for our youth. We must believe in them! In 2012, we need to fight for what we know is priceless: our youth. They are our future! In 2012, resolve to stand up and fight for our young people. Volunteer at your neighborhood school, mentor a child, or just be listening ear for a child who needs someone to lean on. Better yet, in 2012, be a part of the solution. Register, vote, and bring others to vote. This is an election year and many political offices are open. Get out and vote for the candidates who will make a difference in the city as they tackle critical issues like jobs, education, and health care. The work that needs to be done is not restricted to legislative policies, but to social action and community involvement. If we ban together and fight for our youth, our families and our community, the images that flash before us in 2012 will tell a different story from those of 2011. In this New Year, let’s make it happen!
Page 14 The Insider News Wisconsin, January 15-31, 2012
Saturday, Jan. 14: 8:00am The 21st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast Miracle Center 1100 Grand Ave, Racine, WI Tickets: $10 Saturday, Jan. 14: 2:00pm-4:00pm King Day 2012 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center 1134 Dr. M.L.K King Dr. Racine, WI Monday, Jan. 16 – 10:30am11:00am 21st Annual Placing of the Wreath Ceremony Corner of MLK Drive & State Street A the base of the Dr. Martin Luther King Statue, Racine, WI Monday, Jan. 16: Noon-1pm 18th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Kenosha Campus Madrigrano Auditorium 3320 30th Ave Kenosha, WI
Monday, January 16: 5:00pm Dr. Martin Luther King Celebration Memorial Hall, Racine WI Monday, Jan. 16: 6:30pm Southeastern Wisconsin Baptist Pastor’s Fellowship Dr. Martin Luther King celebration New Omega Fellowship Hall 5731 Northwestern Ave Racine, WI Friday, Jan. 20: 7:00pm UW-Parkside 13th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration At the Main Stage Theatre in the new Rita Tallent Picken Regional Center for Arts and Humanities Kenosha, WI Saturday, Jan. 21 – 6pm/7pm/8pm Sponsored by the Urban League Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Marina Shores 302-58th St., Kenosha, WI
What’s Your Thoughts
The Dream— T he D ream— Your Own Make Mak e it Y our O wn
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebrations in Racine & Kenosha
18th Annual Annual
Dr. Dr. Martin Martin Luther Luther King, King, Jr. Jr.
Celebration Celebration
Monday, Monday, January January 16, 2012 12 noon until until 1:00 p.m. p.m. Keynote Speaker Dr. D r. Earl Earl Suttle, Suttle, nationally nationally rrecognized ecognized motivational speak address motiv ational speaker, eaker er,, will address er making mak ing the dream dream your your own. own.
Ga atewa ay Technic echnical al C College ollege Madrigrano A ano Auditorium ium Kenosha enosha Campus Campus • Madr 3320 - 30th Ave. A Av • Kenosha, enosha, WI
Photographed Phot ographed Dr. Dr. King King quote quote (above) (above) is engraved engraved in the Martin Martin Luther Luther King, King, Jr. Jr. Memorial, Memorial, Washington, Washington, DC, National National Mall Mall & Memorial Parks; Parks; used with permission from from the National National Park Park Service, Service, U.S. U.S. Department Department of the Interior. Interior.
This coming April will mark the passage of 44 years since the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It would be easy to conjure up anger over the way that he died, yet to do so would dishonor all that he stood for and ultimately died for. Few of us are capable of enduring the indignities visited upon him as a man and as a member of an oppressed minority and responding with a non-violent but very strong and clear rejection of those offenses. His ability to do so without compromising his own dignity is what moved him to the front of the civil rights movement, serving as an example for others who might otherwise have strayed into the dark void of violence. Dr. King’s oratorical skills were unsurpassed and his ability to inspire us to become better people than we would otherwise have been make him one of the most important figures of our time. Any of us who were alive and aware on April 4th, 1968 will remember his death. Remembering his life, his vision and his hope for all of us will honor him more and serve us better. Dr. Kenneth Yorgan, Former Chairperson, Racine Coalition for Peace and Justice
Public Notice The waiting list for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program will open on January 17, 2012. Applications will be taken between 7:30AM and 3:30PM, Monday through Friday, at the offices of the Housing Authority of Racine County located at 837 Main Street, Wisconsin. A government issued picture ID is required in order to complete an application. Page 15 The Insider News Wisconsin, January 15-31, 2012
Bevely Hicks and Barney Nellis speaks to about 100 people at the base of the Dr. Martin Luther King statue to kick-off last year’s celebration.
2012 will mark the 21th year the Insider News will celebrate King’s Birthday The weather was cold and snowy, but the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was very much alive and warm during the 20th Annual Laying of the Wreath Ceremony held at the base of the Martin Luther King Statue in Racine last year . Elected officials, Pastors, leaders, and over 200 Racine Unified students gathered together in unity to honor the Civil Rights leader. This year will be no different according to Yolanda James, the newspaper new owner and publisher. “ It will be a wonderful celebration honoring this great leader. One thing different is organizers plan to hold the event at 10:30am, a half-hour early, in order to allow people who want to attend Gateway’s Dr. Martin Luther King event can have the opportunity to attend both.
13th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration
“A Message For All Generations” Essay and Community Awards, Music, and Readings A Special Evening Dedicated to the Life and Memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Friday, January 20, 2012 7:00 p.m. At the Main Stage Theatre in the new Rita Tallent Picken Regional Center for Arts and Humanities Free and open to the public! For more information contact 262-595-2731.
Page 16 The Insider News Wisconsin, Janauary 15-31, 2012
Insider News
SHEPHERD’S GUIDE ST. PAUL MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
ZOE OUTREACH Ministries
1120 Grand Ave. Racine, Wis.
262-632-1467 www.stpmbc.org
Bishop Lawrence L.
KIRBY Senior Pastor
Christian Faith Fellowship Church Racine, Wisconsin Pastors Willie & Patricia Scott
Sunday School 9:15 AM Sunday Worship Service 7:45 AM & 10:40 AM Wednesday Prayer & Bible Class 11:00 AM and 6:00 PM Dinner - 5:30 PM
Greater Mt. Eagle Baptist Church
262-631-0196 9:00am - Sunday School 10:00am - Sunday Service at Gilmore Middle School Midweek service Tuesday at 6:30pm at other location: call for more information 631-0196 PO Box085576 • Racine, WI 53408
Pastor Tommie Knuckles
2130 Racine Street Racine, WI 619-3027
Melvin Hargove Pastor Sunday School - 8:45 a.m. Sunday Worship Service - 10:00 a.m. Sunday NA Meeting 6:30 PM Community Dinner 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. Wednesday: Midweek Worship 6:15 a.m.- 8:15 p.m. Thursday NA Meeting 6:00 PM
Christian Tabernacle Baptist Church 1201 Center Street Racine, Wis. 53403 (262) 880-6521 Come Worship with us at: Sunday Worship Service 11:00 AM Bible Study Wednesday 6:00 Pm - 8:00 PM
Trinity United Missionary Baptist Church “A God Glorifying, Christ Centered, Spirit-Filled Church”
Rev. Keith Evans Pastor
Sunday School • 9:00 AM Sunday Worship Service • 10:45 AM Bible Study (Wed.) • 6:00 PM Word of Life (Youth Program) (Thur..) • 6:30 PM
Pastors Breon & Karen Norton Sunday Afternoon 1:45pm Friday Night (AP) 7:30pm
306-5th Street, Racine, WI 262.635.1994 email: tumbcc@ameritech.net Rev. Buddy Vinson Senior Pastor
SeARCHInG TOGeTHeR MISSIOnARy BAPTIST CHuRCH Rev. Willie Riley, Senior Pastor 262.633.4421
Pastor Joseph L. & First Lady Thomas
New Brighter Day Baptist Church 1225 25th Ave., Kenosha, WI
262-552-8090
825 21st Street • Racine Sunday School - 9:30 AM Sunday Worship 10:30 AM Prayer Service - (Wed.) 5:00 PM Bible Class & Prayer (Wed.) - 6:00 PM
Sunday School Worship Service Mid Morning Worship Service Wednesday Afternoon Bible Study Wednesday Dinner p.m. Wednesday Evening Bible Study Saturday Morning Prayer
9:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m. 12:00 noon 5:30-6:30 6:30 p.m. 8:00 a.m.
Joseph L. Thomas, Pastor Sunday School - 9:00 a.m. - Sunday Worship Service - 10:30 a.m. Tuesday Prayer Service - 6:00 p.m. Bible Study - Tuesday 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.
Wednesday Night 6:45 pm
Instrument of praise weekly TV
Martin Luther King, Jr.
service Sundays - 11:00am CAR 25
Page 17 The Insider News Wisconsin, January 15-31, 2012
Authorized and paid for by Friends of Keith Fairr for Alderman
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