Insight News ::: 04.22.13

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Laugh Now, Laugh Later MORE ON PAGE

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April 22 - April 28, 2013

Vol. 40 No. 17 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

Racial mockery at Hopkins High sparks outrage;

Black student handcuffed By Harry Colbert, Jr. Contributing Writer

MAKING IT

to the MOTHERLAND

By Dr. Anita Davis-DeFoe Choosing to answer the call of one’s spirit-work is a sometimes difficult choice when confronted with the realities of life and survival, but in 2007, that is what I did, leaving the certainty of a job as a Vice-President to chase passion. And over the past six years, the more I persist in honoring purposeful work, what my soul compels me to view as divine assignments, the more opportunity seems to present itself to me.

AFRICA TURN TO

It seems like a case of when keeping it wrong goes real. What started as a celebration of the Hopkins High School’s cross country ski team qualifying for the state tournament culminated is outrage, signs in protest and the suspension and criminal charges of two AfricanAmerican students who decried what they felt was racial mockery. And, according to supporters of the African-American students, no disciplinary action was taken against the white students who openly mocked AfricanAmericans. The incident began on Feb. 13; when eight to 10 white members of the school’s ski team came to school dressed in motley ensembles of do-rags, fur coats, white tank top undershirts, sagging pants and gold chains. One even had a fake marijuana joint tucked behind his ear. Somehow word spread that the students were celebrating a

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Nekima Levy-Pounds “Ghetto Spirit Day.” Those who came to school in costume dispute this assertion, and claimed to school administrators that they were dressing up to mimic popular white rapper, Macklemore, who sings “Thrift Shop.” “That’s absurd,” said Nekima Levy-Pounds, a civil rights attorney and associate professor at the University of St. Thomas’

Dr. Anita Davis-DeFoe (front row 2nd from left) with Grace Restoration International (GRI) – Serving Others group.

HOPKINS TURN TO 10

TOYOTA UNVEILS THE 2013 AVALON

“Great cars do not happen without great people” By Yvonne Coleman Bach, Associate Publisher/Editor, Louisville Defender Newspaper Toyota recently unveiled their 2013 Avalon at a press junket in Cincinnati. The event not only provided the media in attendance with a look at the newly designed vehicle, but also an inside look at the company who makes it and their strong commitment to diversity. Billed a luxury car without the luxury price tag, the Avalon is sure to be a favorite among the African American consumer market. Members of the press got the chance to drive the impressive vehicle and see it being made at the Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. (TMMK) Plant. The plant sits on 1,300 acres and employs about 6,600 people with a payroll of about $492 million. Their annual production capacity is an impressive 500,000 vehicles and 600,000 engines. In addition to the Avalon, the plant produces Camry, Camry Hybrid, Avalon Hybrid, Venza, 4-cylinder and V6 engines, axles steering components, machined blocks, cylinder heads, crankshafts, camshafts, rods and axles assemblies/dies.

George E. Curry/NNPA

Presidential Adviser Valerie Jarrett makes point as (left to right) Cecelia Munoz, director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, and Danielle Grey, Cabinet Secretary, listen.

Jarrett: Obama budget protects most vulnerable By Maya Rhodan NNPA Washington Correspondent

Toyota’s Rob McConnell (principal engineer), Latondra Newton (Group VP, Toyota Motor North America), Wil James (President, Toyota Motor Company Manufacturing/Kentucky) and Jim Colon (Vice President of Product Communications, Toyota Motor Sales/USA). James S. Colon, Vice President-Toyota Product Communications, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. said, “Great Cars do not happen without Great People.” Although he was not referring to himself when he made the statement, Colon is truly one of the great people at Toyota. He was just one of

Reclaiming the narrative

A key step in eradicating racism in America

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the great people from Toyota in attendance at the Press event. Toyota has a diversity strategy that is working. According to Colon, 30 percent of the workforce is people of color. Colon is responsible for gathering and managing information and promotion initiatives for Toyota brand

Business

Forget about the elevator speech

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vehicles in addition to product and sales training. He began his career in 1980 and he has held various roles at Toyota regional offices and at TMS headquarters in Torrance, California, that include general manager for the Portland Region and the

TOYOTA TURN TO

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WASHINGTON (NNPA) – President Obama’s fiscal year 2014 budget focuses on job creation, strengthening the middle class, and cutting the deficit. Those are the overall themes of the proposed budget, which seeks to reduce the deficit by $4 billion, President Obama sticks with his State of the Union promises to raise the minimum wage to $9 an hour and increase access to early childhood education. Yet, along with favoring higher taxes on the wealthiest Americans,

Full Circle

Give me my flowers while yet live

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the president’s budget calls for reducing the cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security beneficiaries. According to the White House, key points from the budget include: • Reduction of the deficit by $1.8 trillion over 10 years, bringing total deficit reduction achieved to $4.3 trillion; • Achieving $2 in spending cuts for every $1 of new revenue by closing tax loopholes and reducing tax benefits for the wealthiest; • $400 billion in health savings

BUDGET TURN TO 10

Health

Ways to get a handle on a “sweet” tooth

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