INSIGHT NEWS August 15 - August 21, 2011 • MN Metro Vol. 37 No. 33 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • www.insightnews.com
WE WIN & Zion Baptist Church garden By Titilayo Bediako WE WIN Institute has a commitment to teaching youth about the importance of healthy food and healthy eating. This is the second year that children at WE WIN Institute have taken part in all aspects of growing food at their urban garden. Anyone driving or riding their bikes in north Minneapolis on Olson Highway, can see the church on the hill with corn, cauliflower, broccoli, peppers, pumpkins, strawberries,
squash, zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes, egg plant and so much more; growing abundantly. “Look at how tall the corn is,” says an elder about the five-foot corn, in the garden in front of Zion Baptist Church. Congressmen Keith Ellison said, “The WE WIN garden is contributing to ecological movement that is taking place in our country.” He continued to talk about the importance of the urban garden movement.
MARKET TURN TO 12 Titilayo Bediako
Above: Tiffany McGowan, Brandie Hill, Lailah Wright, Jaylea Wright and Ellanah Wright
Part 1 of 2: Conversations with Al McFarlane broadcast interview
New pioneers in multicultural marketing Al McFarlane: We believe we have to be responsible for telling our own story, projecting our definition of who we are, and declaring the centrality of our existence both to ourselves and to the world. We must identify our interests and argue the best outcomes for our families. It is incumbent upon us in the arena of business and economic development, in the arena of marketing to show that we can and do connect, creating collaborations that make sense. I started my career as a newspaper man. I am a former reporter for the St. Paul Pioneer Press. I launched Insight News as a magazine in 1974, working for a printing company that owned a suite of industry magazines. I
Suluki Fardan
Ivan Phifer
Donald Bryant
Joe Mudd
bought Insight and re-launched in 1976 under my own company. Over the years, we have emerged as the leading ethnic
newspaper in the marketplace. We have discovered that the challenge is to find ways to collaborate. The
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Gerry Fernandez
Nghi Huynh
principle that has guided our success and our development is our ability to reach out to other publishers, communicators, media companies
across ethnic and geographic lines and say, ‘You know what, we are all small businesses. We have the same challenges. How
can we collaborate? How can we partner, connect and find value, deliver value to the marketplace? We created a group called the Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium. That Consortium now has evolved to where it has a relationship with the University of Minnesota, a wonderful and powerful training relationship where we are conducting a $3.9 million Broadband access and adoption initiative. It is a 3-year project designed to introduce and connect communities of color, African, African American, Asian Latino, and Native American communities to internet technology, to high-speed internet and to the
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Jackie Robinson: A relentless competitor By Abeni Hill abeni@insightnews.com On August 8, 2011, Sharon Robinson, the daughter of Jackie Robinson, visited the Twin Cities and was a guest speaker at Hallie Q Brown Community Center, 270 N. Kent Street, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55102. Hallie Q Brown is an 82-year old organization founded by community leaders in the 1920s. Robinson gave a personal view about her father and how he broke the color barrier in major league baseball. She also had a slide show of photographs and drawings from her children’s book—Testing the Ice. Robinson was introduced by Frank White, a fan of Jackie Robinson, and whose own coach Howie Shultz was replaced by Jackie Robinson. White met Robinson at an event for Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI), an organization
that strives to get more inner city children involved in baseball and softball. Robinson acknowledged several people in the audience. One of them was a man name Ronnie Rabinovitz, who as a little boy had exchanged letters with Jackie Robinson; then playing for the Dodgers. A young woman in the audience was a winner of the Breaking Barriers Essay Contest—a national essay contest that allows children in grades 4–8 to express and tell personal stories and how they used Jackie Robinson’s values (courage, determination, teamwork, persistence, integrity, citizenship, justice, commitment and excellence) to overcome obstacles in their lives. Robinson said she was really happy to spend some time with her and meet her family. Of her father’s early childhood, Robinson said that he was the youngest of five
The Riverfront
A new view of North Minneapolis
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John Vecchiolla
Sharon Robinson
children and had an absent father. Young Jackie Robinson along with his mother and siblings lived in the Deep South during the summer of 1929— the ‘bloody summer’ of many lynchings. His mother fearing for the lives of her young sons during the bloody summer moved the family to Pasadena,
Aesthetics
Erica Gluck and Young Marcus
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California to live with her brother. While in school the baseball star participated in almost every sport. He set records in track events, basketball, and baseball in high school. Later he attended the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) but dropped out in the second semester of his senior year. Robinson said he stopped attending because the school wasn’t offering him financial aid anymore and because he felt as a black man whether he had a college degree or not wasn’t important. Robinson also made mention of the achievements of Mack Robinson her uncle. He was silver medalist in the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics and ran second to Jesse Owens. According to his daughter, Jackie Robinson was very active in the Civil Rights Movement and would hold jazz concerts at his house to raise
money for the movement. “I remember my siblings and I giving up our bedrooms so that musicians could change their clothes.” Many greats, such as Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie and others, performed at these concerts. Robinson admitted that she didn’t know much about her father’s baseball career from personal experience and memory. “I learned about my father’s career after he retired or through my own research.” The only way she knew she was present at a game when she was 6 years old, is a photograph. One of the photos in the PowerPoint slide show had Robinson and her family in front of their house in Connecticut. There were many boulders in front of the house, which she and her siblings used for the bases and home plate in their family baseball games. The Robinsons loved to play all types of games. “We liked
Freedom From Fear Awards Arizona student fights for DREAM act
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to play card games and board games after dinner. Every game my father played, he played to win. So we would have long nights of Monopoly and cards. My father would love to play with us outside—as long as it didn’t include getting into the lake by our house.” Robinson’s fondest memory of her father was a coffee shop called Chock o’ Nuts, and when he would take her shopping for dresses. “There was a whole-sale designer named, Mr. Love and he only designed little girl’s dresses. I would be escorted around to look at these beautiful dresses around the store.” Robinson said she adored her father and they were very close. “We were thick as thieves. There were only two things he wouldn’t let me have, a cat and a poster of Huey P. Newton.”
ROBINSON TURN TO 12
Lifestyle
Watching anything good this summer
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The Riverfront: A new view of North Minneapolis By Ivan B. Phifer Staff Writer The August 4th meeting of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board’s Minneapolis Riverfront Development Initiative (MRDI) told area stakeholders about benefits and opportunities that will come from restoring the Riverfront, a long neglected community asset. The MRDI builds on Minnesota’s rich Mississippi River heritage of passion for parks, nature and wildlife. The initiatives goal is to bring life to places along the Upper Riverfront where neighborhoods and businesses can grow. The meeting at Farview Park 601 29th Av. N. provided information about RiverFIRST, the competition-winning vision for new riverfront parks along the North and Northeast sides of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis.
“The MRDI was actually phase two,” said Mary deLaittre, Project Manager for the Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership. “Phase one was the Minneapolis Riverfront international design competition, last September. We had 55 submissions from 14 different countries, reflecting 400 different firms,” she said Three primary goals of the Riverfront initiative are: reestablish parks as an engine for economic development along the river; reorient the city toward the river; and make connections from the neighborhoods to the river. “The disconnect, between neighborhoods and the river, is huge,” deLaittre said. The initiative proposes eight areas of opportunity along the Riverfront including beaches; wetlands, overlooks, scenic views, regional and neighborhood connections, bridges, island habitats, and commemorative art.
Mary deLaittre, Project Manager for the Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership The initiative will provide a Gateway Park to connect the Minneapolis Central Library to
Suluki Fardan
the river. It will also propose a Farview Park expansion. “Farview Park is an extraordinary
location because of views and closeness to highway 94,” deLaittre said. “Farview Park becomes a center rather than an edge condition, to make the connection to the river system and parks and trails system.” 26th Ave is another North Minneapolis location receiving attention. “There is a lot of attention being paid to 26th Ave by neighborhoods, the City of Minneapolis, and the Park and Recreation Board, as a critical connection from Theodore Wirth to the Mississippi River,” deLaittre said. The wetland reclamation, owned by the city of Minneapolis, consists of the Upper Harbor terminal, located between Lowry and 38th Ave. in the McKinley neighborhood. The harbor will assist with a civic-scaled climate and change eco-infrastructure by providing bio-filtration for storm water flow. This will increase flood protection and provide new riverfront habitats. “The lower
half of that area historically was a wetland; the design team is proposing turning it back into a wetland,” deLaittre said. Bicycle and walking trails are essential infrastructures in the initiative. “This infrastructure is of critical importance to bridge the gap along the river and make the connection to the regional parks and trails,” deLaittre said. The initiative will compliment other projects underway in North Minneapolis, such as the new Minneapolis Public Schools district building on Broadway, the Lowry corridor, Dowling, 42nd and 49th Ave. Corridors. “RiverFIRST does not exist in isolation, but can support many of these proposals to make critical connections in North Minneapolis,” deLaittre said. For more information on MRDI visit MinneapolisRiverfront DevelopmentInitiative.com
Amy Xu joins Cultural Jambalaya Board of Directors Min (Amy) S. Xu, attorney and partner with Dorsey & Whitney LLP, has been named to the board of directors of Cultural Jambalaya. Edinabased Cultural Jambalaya, ( h t t p : / / w w w. c u l t u r a l j a m . org/)is an award-winning and volunteer-based nonprofit that creatively uses international cultural photography to promote understanding and respect for all cultures, founded by globe trekker and photographer, Gail Shore. Shore travels the world on self-funded solo treks to
obtain compelling images of individuals and the traditions, rituals and religions that enrich fragile cultures around the world. Many of her images are currently available to educators who want to creatively and visually illustrate to students the diverse cultural backgrounds that continue to make up more of America’s rich mosaic. Xu is a patent attorney for Dorsey and Whitney with substantial experience in the field of electronics and telecommunication
Q&A
Kerr joins the conversation from Toronto, Canada, where he is Regional Director of JAMPRO, which was formerly Jamaica Trade & Invest. Robert Kerr, what are the challenges to American business for doing business in Jamaica and in the Caribbean?
From 1 power of technology to enable our success in the areas of health, education, culture, and business. Today we connect with the idea of our global posture. Gerry Fernandez is president of the Multicultural Food Service and Hospitality Alliance. He is joining us from Baltimore. Robert
Robert Kerr: Well I think there are number of challenges that companies face. One is the availability of
Courtesy of Dorsey & Whitney
Min (Amy) S. Xu
information. Another would be knowing what areas are most lucrative? Where are the opportunities? We see tremendous growth in some of the areas like tourism where we have seen increase in arrivals; we have seen quite a lot of investments in hotel chains for example. That we expect to continue. For members of our diaspora, we are seeing increased interest in coming back to Jamaica and going into agriculture, going
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and extensive knowledge of intellectual property rights and enforcement in China. She earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering/ Computer Science from Fudan University in Shanghai, China; M.S. in Electrical Engineering/Computer Science from the University of Minnesota; and J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law. She has received The Business Journal’s 2002 “Up and Coming Attorneys” Award and 2003 “Women in Business” Award.
An active member of numerous nonprofit boards and civic projects, Xu has served as a national board director for the University of Minnesota Alumni Board; director for William Mitchell College of Law Alumni Board; director and advisory board member for National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, Minnesota; director for Silent Sports Foundation; and council board director for the China Center of University of Minnesota. She has also been recognized by Dorsey
& Whitney for her work with Habitat for Humanity and received the firm’s pro bono housing award. Her efforts in the grueling 3,000 mile Race Across America (RAAM) in 2008 and 2010 supported Camp Odayin, a Minnesota camp for young people with heart disease. Race Across America (RAAM), which is considered one of the world’s toughest endurance races, as official completion requires cyclists to cover 250 miles per day within 12 days.
into housing development and a range of other areas. So the first priority is to get information. The challenge is to know the opportunities and of course to know the process to engage them.
Kerr: It is an important question because depending on perceived difficulty, people may look at other opportunities in other countries. But actually, doing business in Jamaica is very easy. We speak English. We are very in tune with American business with American institutions, with American culture and the American way of doing things. And many Jamaicans of course have families in North America.
So it is quite acceptable for persons coming in to be accepted and to be embraced. We have a very strong Chamber of Commerce. The American Chamber of Commerce is very active in Jamaica. There are actually American institutions that help companies do business in Jamaica. So it gets very easy to get information and to get moving.
McFarlane: How difficult or how easy is it for American business to do business in Jamaica? Do you encourage African Americans to pursue business opportunity in Jamaica? Is that important?
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Insight News • August 15 - August 21, 2011 • Page 3
BUSINESS
Sayra Loftus, Math Facilitator for the High School of the Recording Arts
Students pictured from left to right when they won (with medals and #1 fingers): LaShawn (goes by Roxie) Williams, LaDawn Morris, Sayra Loftus (advisor), Ro Abrams-Carter, Chris Gavin and Kurtis Greenwood.
Permission to dream: Teen entrepreneurs win national competition By Julie Desmond Contributing Writer When math advisor Sayra Loftus signed on as mentor for a group of teen entrepreneurs, she saw a handful of teenagers who were curious, interested and completely lacking in business experience. By the time they were selected from among fourteen U.S. and Canadian companies by Junior Achievement as winners of the 2011 North American JA Company of the Year Competition in Washington, D.C., Loftus’ group had been transformed into young, eager, ambitious and successful professionals. Junior Achievement’s competition requires students to identify a product or service to bring to market. The teens then experience the entire lifecycle of a business, from
start up through success. The student entrepreneurs who own and operate “L.Y.M.E” (“Leave Your Mark Everywhere”) produce customized jingles and radio commercials for clients and air them on the school’s radio program. The competition is a contest of business skills, ingenuity and innovation and is a challenge for any group of high school students, but the LYME group faced a few extra hurdles. The students attend the High School for the Recording Arts in St. Paul, an alternative school where kids come and go throughout the year due to changes in residence, family responsibilities and other situations. Additionally, the students and Loftus were all new to the JA program. This is where some of Junior Achievement’s 7000 volunteers stepped in to help. Business professionals from
State Farm sponsored the team both financially and with volunteers. These people took time out of busy workdays to guide students through the process of developing business plans, brainstorming marketing strategies and developing and selling their jingles to companies. At the national competition, the LYME kids participated in a trade fair where they promoted and sold their product and pitched their company to a panel of judges comprised of business leaders. The companies were evaluated on their financial performance, their presentation to the judging panel and, in a new addition to this year’s event, on a commercial they self-produced and posted on Facebook. Loftus couldn’t be more proud of her entrepreneurs. “They were transformed,” she said, from regular kids to young
professionals. The business they created has been profitable and the kids continue to market their service locally. As far as Loftus’ take on the project? Well, she’s already started with another JA team. According to Lachelle Williams, Vice President for Education and Programs with Junior Achievement, JA offers a hands-on curriculum in financial literacy, entrepreneurship and workforce readiness. “Watching our leaders struggle to balance the budget,” says Williams, “there has never been a more important time than now for everyone to achieve financial literacy.” And once kids have permission to dream, she says, they find out the sky is the limit. Adults who want to get involved can be part of a worldwide organization that inspires and impacts 130,000 children and teens every year.
Becoming a JA volunteer is easy and the rewards are endless. Those interested in volunteering should call Lachelle Williams at 651-255-0031 or visit the JA
website at www.jaum.org. To learn more about the High School for the Recording Arts and the LYME group, write to lyme@hsra.org.
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EDUCATION Money skills every child should have (StatePoint) Money matters, and money management skills are even more important -- at any age. With the help of parents, friends and teachers, children can develop essential financial skills that will be an asset throughout life. Nearly half of parents believe that schools should teach their children financial literacy, according to the 2010 Intuit Town Hall Money Matters Consumer Survey. However, with cuts to education budgets across the country, teachers often lack the resources they need to impart good financial advice to young ones and many parents don’t have the tools to reinforce lessons at home. “Today’s economic crisis underscores the need for financial education and the importance of budgeting and planning ahead -life skills that are not necessarily included in the standard American school curriculum,” says Aaron Forth, Vice President and General Manager for Intuit Personal Finance Group. Some basic money skills will help your child develop financial
literacy and be responsible adults. Give Them Some Control If kids don’t have control of money before adulthood, they learn that money will always be provided for them, and tend to then spend liberally when they do have their own money. To avoid this, give your child some control over the household budget now. If you allot $125 a month for toys and entertainment, let them have complete say in how $30 of it is spent. They’ll probably end up buying $30 worth of junk in the first week, but eventually they’ll gain an understanding of what’s worth buying and how to make money last longer.
It’s never too early to teach your kids about money
Rob - Fotalia.com
Have Fun with Finance Goals and games are great -- for adults and kids. They bring out the competitive nature in all of us, even if we’re just competing against our selves. For example, the free personal finance website Mint.com has capitalized on children’s love of games by teaming up with Scholastic to create a financial literacy game
called “Quest for Money.” Children can choose from a variety of savings goals (a new bike, concert tickets, etc.) and roll the dice to see if they can make wise financial decisions that let them reach their goals. The site, located at www.mint.com/blog/ education, also provides teachers with lesson plans and resources for instilling good money habits. Control Impulse Buying By controlling impulse buying, you teach your kids that patience is the key to good judgment when it comes to financial planning. Establish a 30-day wait rule for all big purchases. Or have your children make a list of items they need (preferably long before any shopping trip) and keep it in their wallets. Then let them purchase anything on that list when it goes on sale. For more tips on teaching children financial literacy, visit www.mint.com. And remember to practice what you preach! Example is the best teacher when it comes to money management.
Budgeting for back to school (StatePoint) It’s time once again to buy new school supplies, clothes and other necessities your kids need for the school year. This can be a big financial undertaking for many families, making back-to-school shopping a great opportunity to talk to your kids about important money management topics like budgeting and saving. “This year our annual back-to-school survey found that only 15 percent of parents have created a back-to-school shopping budget with their child,” says Shelley Solheim, Director of Financial Education at Capital One. “Back-toschool shopping season is often overlooked as a financial
education opportunity, but it’s an optimal time for parents to teach teens about budgets and smart spending in a real-world situation.” Here are some tips to help you and your teen budget for back-to-school supplies: • Make it a family affair: Sit down and compile a list of supplies your child needs. Then see if you have any leftover supplies from last year, such as binders that can be re-used or glue sticks and crayons. • Do reconnaissance: In addition to contacting the school and visiting their website to find out what supplies your kids will need, consider talking to teachers and parents of older
kids to find out what students actually need for each grade level. • Create a budget: Ask your teens how much they think is reasonable to spend on supplies. Then draft a list and price each item using the Internet or a mobile app. If you or your teen exceeds the projected estimate, work to divide the list into needs and wants, explaining why it’s important to prioritize. • Be flexible: If your teens really want those big-ticket items, work with them to find the money. They can find ways to cut costs by clipping coupons,
SCHOOL TURN TO 7
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AESTHETICS Erica Gluck and Young Marqus By Alaina L. Lewis Contributing Writer The youth engine is chugging along in full steam when it comes to today’s rising stars and their ascent towards success in entertainment. For two dramatically diverse talents, Erica Gluck and Young Marqus, it has been their skill set that has demanded such an attention from audiences worldwide and has them both cornering the market as today’s next to blow-in the entertainment industry. At all of 12 years old, Gluck got her start doing commercials for companies like Target. But, it was a role on the hit sitcom The Game as the character ‘Brit Brat’ which made her a household name. Between seasons, Gluck set her sights on conquering the world of entertainment on a larger platform. A role alongside Paula Patton and Keifer Sutherland in a film entitled Mirrors helped her stretch her abilities. She also had the opportunity to play little sister to Nick Cannon in the film American Son. Currently Gluck is gearing up to promote her latest and greatest film to date, a starring role in the GMC networks new film entitled
Erica Gluck
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Insight News is published weekly, every Monday by McFarlane Media Interests. Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane CFO Adrianne Hamilton-Butler Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford Vice President of Sales & Marketing Selene White Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Sr. Content & Production Coordinator Ben Williams Production Andrew Notsch Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Facilities Support / Assistant Producer, Conversations with Al McFarlane Bobby Rankin Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Staff Writer Ivan B. Phifer Contributing Writers Maya Beecham Brenda Colston Julie Desmond S. Himie Marcia Humphrey Alaina L. Lewis Ryan T. Scott Lydia Schwartz Stacey Taylor Photography Suluki Fardan Tobechi Tobechukwu Contact Us: Insight News, Inc. Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis., MN 55411 Ph.: (612) 588-1313 Fax: (612) 588-2031 Member: Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium (MMMC), Midwest Black Publishers Coalition, Inc. (MBPCI), National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Postmaster: Send address changes to McFarlane Media Interests, Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55411.
Trinity Goodheart. “Trinity Goodheart is story about a relentless 12 year old girl who gets to the age where she wants to know where her mom and grandparents are. When she goes to her dad for the answers, and he’s not giving them to her, she decides to go on a quest to find them on her own,” Gluck shares with Insight News. Trinity Goodheart also stars R&B superstar, Eric Benet and veteran actor James Hong. The role entailed filling some pretty big shoes in respect to acting alongside some of the Hollywood’s most talented artists. In many ways, Gluck identifies with this role more than any other character she has played to date. “I truly identify with this role in Trinity Goodheart, because she is also a 12 year old girl whose determination is unstoppable and in that respect we mirror each other,” Gluck says. In the film, Gluck stares challenges in the face with sheer willpower. Not only did she have to push herself to the limits to carry this role as the film’s star, but she also got an opportunity to explore her physical prowess. “It was the people around me that really helped me prepare for
STARS TURN TO 7
Photos courtesy of Smart Boy Entertainment
Young Marqus
The Deal, The Dance and the Devil better also believe there is a Devil. The Devil comes to kill, steal and destroy.” The novel, although completely fictional, truly captures the essence of where individuals are today in respects to the struggling economy. The storyline breaks all barriers of being solely molded around the turmoil within a struggling marriage. It also reflects the way many of us are feeling with our own financial blues and the question of how strong our patience and
By Alaina L. Lewis Contributing Writer The Deal, the Dance and the Devil, is the name of the new novel by veteran author Victoria Christopher Murray, and one of her most mindbending concepts to date. Quite like the title illustrates, the story definitely charts the development of a pickle no individual would ever want to go through when dealing with the struggle for wealth and power in the dawn of this horrid recession. As the story unfolds, the reader realizes that when it comes to standing in faith, sometimes temptation becomes the hardest part of the journey. “Don’t quit when you’re three feet from gold,” Murray shares about the message in the book, “If only the couple and others would stay the course— wait one more month, they’d actually get to where they’re going. For me the message was simple after I wrote it, no matter what you’re going through, you can get through anything with God.” Quite like the classic theatrical thriller, Indecent Proposal, this novel brushes lightly on this concept while also adding several current gender-bending twists—all set to a backdrop of Christianity and the struggle one family encounters after a change in stability. In the book, after husband and wife team, Adam and Evia start to experience a string of financial downfalls due to Adam losing his corporate job, they are approached by Evia’s boss Shay, who gives them a 5 million dollar offer
in exchange for one weekend alone with Adam for her 50th birthday. Evia turns down the offer without question, but when their struggles seemingly become larger than their faith, Adam begins to consider trading his soul for the money. Like most forbidden deals, it’s not long before the offer begins to feel a lot like dancing with the Devil. “I really wanted to write a modern day Garden of Eden story, and I actually gave the couple names very close to
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Adam and Eve,” Murray tells Insight News, “That’s why their lives, their sex, their everything was so perfect, until the day they started having issues—then, temptation was able to come to them. We all want to believe in God, but we
faith really is. This marks the 10th adult novel for Murray, and 14th book overall. She hopes that this novel will catch people at the right place in their life and not only offer entertainment, but enlighten them to seek God to bringing them towards clearer skies. If you like sitting on the edge of your seat, you’ll enjoy this offering. The Deal, the Dance and the Devil is available in stores everywhere or online at SimonandShuster.com.
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HEALTH The pitfalls of loving narcissists Murua (Swahili for ‘Respect’) By Dr. BraVada Garrett-Akinsanya, Ph.D., L.P. There is a difference between being selfish, self-less and selfcaring. People involved in
unhealthy relationships often have imbalances in the degree to which they get what they want. You’ve heard about it in movies like Tyler Perry’s “Why did I get married?” when the characters referred to that fact that at times you give eighty-percent and your partner gives twenty, but later the situation may be reversed so that you give twenty percent and your partner gives eighty. This concept is called reciprocity (give and take). Many of us have been taught that in order
to be in relationships we have to expect nothing (or very little) from others and that in order to be in relationships we must give them everything. The problem is that many of us do not know how to give; we only know how to take. Some of us do not know how to take, we only know how to give, and among this group are those who only know how to give to others and never to ourselves. While future articles will address the differences between being self-less and self-caring, this article addresses those who are perceived as “selfish” or “takers” in relationships and how their personality traits affect others. Generally speaking, “takers” are the types of people who tend to be emotionally unavailable, stingy with affection, and stuck on themselves. They relate to others as if they are objects to be manipulated and used. I often hear those who are in relationships with “takers” as describing “takers” as behaving
as if the “world revolves around them.” Psychologists refer to such self-centered patterns as being characteristic of “Narcissist” or of people who have a “Narcissistic personality disorder”. Narcissistic personality
developing this disorder include parental put-downs for fears and needs expressed during childhood, a lack of affection and praise during childhood, neglect, and emotional abuse in childhood, unpredictable or unreliable care giving from parents and learning
“Those with narcissistic personality disorder honestly believe that they are superior to others and often have little regard for other people’s feelings.” disorder is one of several types of personality disorders. Personality disorders are generally learned by having to cope with unhealthy and dysfunctional environments while growing up. Factors that place children at risk for
manipulative behaviors from parents. Therefore, personality disorders are not diagnosed in children. As people grow up, these coping traits become a part of the individual’s “personality” and cause them to feel and behave in socially distressing ways, limiting their ability to function in relationships and in other areas of their life, such as at home, work or school. Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental disorder in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance and a deep need for admiration by others. Those with narcissistic personality disorder honestly believe that they are superior to others and often have little regard for other people’s feelings. However, behind this mask of ultra-confidence lies a fragile self-esteem, vulnerable to the slightest criticism. When I hear parents say about their children “she thinks the world revolves around her” or “he is so selfish” I try my best to explain to them that children are “adults in training.” Our jobs as parents involve a constant effort to model and teach appropriate responses to life’s demands. The problem is, some of us are Narcissistic parents and we expect our children to nurture
us and take care of our emotional, psychological and social (and some times financial) needs. My colleague, Jawanza Kunjufu in his book, “The Conspiracy to destroy Black Boys” says that these parental characteristics are so pervasive that they actually harm our children. He contends that while fathers are absent, mothers have different standards in the ways that they raise their girls and boys. In fact, he says, “mothers raise their girls and love their boys”. They do not require their boys to do equal chores/ tasks or to take responsibilities or follow similar “house rules” as their daughters. According to Dr. Kunjufu, the problem is particularly seen among single mothers, who use their children (especially their boys) as “social substitutes” for the adult male relationships that they are missing in their lives. Unfortunately, I now see that mothers use their daughters as social substitutes for the female friendships that they are lacking. These leads parents to break boundaries in what they say to their children by using their children as confidants, sisters, best friends—as if their children are equals and adults. Research says that children’s brains do not fully develop until they are in their twenties. They are incapable of having “adult” conversations. Yet, we expose our children to grown folks’ talk, movies, experience---and at the same time get angry when our children act “grown”. Last I looked; children did not ask to be born. When we decide to have babies, we need to know that they will come into the world totally dependent on US for those needs (not the reverse). As they get older, they should gradually become more independent and less dependent on us to meet their needs. By the time they reach adulthood, if we have parented them correctly, we will produce
HEALTH TURN TO 7
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Insight News • August 15 - August 21, 2011 • Page 7
Freedom From Fear Awards
Arizona student fights for DREAM Act By Courtney Lee New America Media Editor’s Note: The newly established Freedom From Fear Award recognizes people who put aside their fear of immigration laws and made a significant impact on immigrants and refugees. This is the fifth of six articles profiling some of the awardees. For a complete list of winners, visit the award’s website at freedomfromfearaward.com A surprise phone call that her college tuition had gone from $5,000 to $18,000 made Erika Andiola wonder if her educational career was over. Andiola had been looking forward to her third year at Arizona State University after having financially secured her education with six scholarships and excellent grades. But the school told her that as an undocumented student, she could not pay in-state tuition, and no longer qualified for two of her scholarships. “I called my mom crying, ‘I think I’m dropping out of school.’” Erika Andiola, 24, is one of 15 people across the nation
Stars From 5 this role.” Gluck shares, “The fight scene in the film was one of my favorite. The writer’s son is actually a black belt in Taekwondo and he is my age. It was fun working with him. He taught me how to kick while we were on set. It felt so weird because I had to kick this guy and I just kept saying ‘sorry’ to him after every scene and take.” Trinity Goodheart premieres
Health From 6 independent, responsible, loving adults who can be involved in healthy reciprocal ways in their relationships with you and others. Narcissistic parents may tend to see their children as a burden, hindrance, or problem when it comes to their personal desires as parents. Consequently, narcissistic parents are often emotionally absent, neglectful or abusive. They will go out on dates, take two or three jobs, work and go to school—often with legitimate explanations such as “I need my own time” or “I need money to raise these kids.” They tend to tell children “I wish I had never had you” when the children do not perform as expected. The problem is children are not like weeds, they cannot grow up unattended or in “bad soil”. In fact, there is an
School From 4
“People in Arizona label us as illegal,” she said, “criminals living on welfare.” When Arizona voters passed Proposition 300 in 2006, making it illegal to give public scholarships to undocumented students or charge them instate tuition, Andiola felt the effects on a personal level. “There was anger inside of me, but I felt like I couldn’t do anything,” she said. “My hands were tied.” Despite the increase in her tuition and the loss of two scholarships, Andiola was able to graduate with the help of private scholarships and an
organization, Chicanos Por La Causa, which provides assistance for students. She graduated in 2009 with a Bachelor’s degree in psychology. Since her graduation, Andiola has devoted herself to activism with Promise Arizona, an organization that was created to encourage Latinos to vote and foster Latino leaders. In 2008, Andiola met a group of other undocumented youths, including 22-yearold Michael Nazario, the leader of the group called the Dream Army. Together, they mobilized grassroots lobbying efforts and set as their goal passage of the DREAM Act, which would provide a path to legalization for undocumented high school graduates who enroll in college or the military. Their demonstrations included a mock boot camp in front of Senator John McCain’s Phoenix office in September 2010 and a mock graduation in Washington, D.C., that took place during the DREAM Act senate hearing in July 2011. “We had 20 people sleeping (in front of John McCain’s office) every day for a month,” Andiola said. In July 2010, Andiola was
arrested along with 20 others who participated in sit-ins at the Capitol Hill offices of various Democratic and Republican senators. Recognizing that the DREAM act provides a narrow scope of qualifying individuals, Andiola says, “Of course it’s not fair, but we’ve always said, ‘We’re gonna push for it to be the first step.’” Andiola’s main focus continues to be the legalization of the DREAM Act. She hopes to go to law school so that she can know her rights and continue the fight. “This is the county that we all love. I am not willing to give up,” she said, “and I’m not going to leave.”
he told Lupe about me and he heard my music, and he loved me. Next thing I knew, I was opening up for the Steppin’ Laser Tour in 2010.” For YM, following his dreams inside the microphone has been a journey. Cornered with also having to prove himself worthy— of crown he carries—to other rappers and individuals that look at his age and try and sum up his talent. Since he can remember, he’s been a rapper, even down to finding new ways to put a spin on his ABC’s as a toddler. For him, rapping has always been his
life, and he’s now amped up and promoting his very first mixtape entitled Respect Me which dropped on July 4th, 2011. “I’ve had a lot of criticism because certain people don’t believe that I write my own music,” he states. “I’m always wowed because it’s like they think that kids these days are not intelligent, or don’t have knowledge, so I made the Respect Me mixtape because it doesn’t matter how old you are, you still need respect and you still need to have respect. Respect is earned, and I feel if you give respect you
should get it back.” His music touches upon a heavy yet culturally and worldly subject matter, but he is careful to maintain a sterile palette in his approach; he keeps it fresh and clean but doesn’t fear our current events. Like other young musicians whom YM looks up to, Willow Smith and Justin Beiber, it’s his innocence that sells the story, and our desire to see the world through different eyes that makes him so appealing, “I do my music to inspire and motivate because I want people who want to be in the rap game
and are young like me, to know that they can do whatever it is they want to do. They can accomplish their dreams and goals at whatever age they are,” YM explains. Currently, YM is out promoting his very first mixtape entitled Respect Me which is available on his website www. YoungMarqus.com Both Erica Gluck and Young Marqus are admirable young talents who together exhibit the limitless ocean of where hard work can bring you if you believe in yourself.
African Proverb that says: “The cattle is as good as the pasture in which it grazes.” We as parents can ill afford to leave our children to their own devices and we must be available to assure that they are safe. We must also supervise, model, teach, nurture, and guide them. If you cannot be available for your children, you need to create a “village”. Parenting is a process that was never intended for us to do alone—that is why it is biologically impossible to have a baby by yourself! It does take a village to raise a child.” Therefore, you need to find someone else who is responsible, nurturing, and safe to watch your children while you are not available. Do not leave your children with the person you just met last month at Alcohol Anonymous, in the nightclub, church or over the internet. Narcissistic personality disorder is characterized by dramatic, emotional behavior. If you or someone you know has
the disorder, you may see the following symptoms: • Viewing yourself as being special and better than others to the degree that you frequently express disdain for those who do not agree with you or who you feel are inferior • Fantasizing about power, success and attractiveness • Exaggerating your achievements or talents • Trouble keeping healthy relationships and expecting constant praise and admiration • Setting unrealistic goals and expecting others to go along with your ideas and plans • Taking advantage of others • Being jealous of others or believing that others are jealous of you • Being easily hurt and rejected and having a fragile self-esteem • Appearing as tough-minded or unemotional and failing to recognize other people’s emotions and feelings Although some features of
narcissistic personality disorder may seem like having confidence or strong self-esteem, it is not the same. A recent study put out by the The Association for Psychological Science (APS) revealed that Narcissists look like good leaders -- but they are not. The study indicated that while they appear to put people in the right direction (on the short run), Narcissists cross the border of healthy confidence and self-esteem into thinking so highly of themselves that they place themselves on a pedestal. In relationships, they tend to love and value others, but not close to the degree to which they value themselves. In contrast, people who have healthy confidence and selfesteem do not value themselves more than they value others. When people have narcissistic personality disorder, they may come across as conceited, boastful, or pretentious. They often monopolize conversations
and do not allow groups to develop creative solutions. Complications of narcissistic personality disorder, if left untreated, can include the development of addictive behaviors for coping including eating disorders, alcohol/drug abuse, depression, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, as well as relationship difficulties in multiple life areas. There is no known way to prevent narcissistic personality disorder due to the family of origin issues around its development; however, getting treatment as soon as possible for childhood mental health problems may help. Family therapy may also help families learn healthy ways to communicate or to cope with conflicts or emotional distress. Parents with Narcissistic personality disorder may benefit from parenting classes and guidance from therapists or social workers.
BraVada Garrett-Akinsanya, Ph.D., L.P. is a Clinical Psychologist in private practice, serves as President of Brakins Consulting and Psychological Services, and is the Executive Director of the African American Child Wellness Institute. The mission of the African American Child Wellness Institute is to promote the psychological and spiritual liberation of children of African Descent by providing culturally specific mental health services and by developing culture-based, holistic wellness resources, research, and practices. Dr. Garrett-Akinsanya warns that this column should in no way be construed as constituting a therapeutic relationship through counseling or advice. To forward a comment about this article or to make an appointment, please contact Dr. Garrett-Akinsanya by email @ bravadaakinsanya@hotmail.com or by telephone at 612-302-3140 or 763-522-0100.
looking for sales or buying used books. Any extra earnings can be put into a savings account, which lets families work towards
savings goals together. Parents can also help kids develop financial planning skills throughout the year, using methods and tools that resonate with them, such as online and video games. In fact, 76 percent of teens say educational video and online games are a good way to learn, according to the study from Capital One. One such tool
is a new kid-friendly website, JA Finance Park Virtual, which tasks kids with meeting reallife needs, such as developing a budget, maintaining a household, supporting a family and pursuing a career through virtual simulation. To learn more, visit www.financepark. ja.org. After all, 55 percent of teens
said they want to learn more about money management skills, according to the study. So take
advantage of this opportunity to begin talking to your kids about money today.
who has been selected for the Freedom From Fear Award. Produced by Public Interest Projects, the awards are granted to ordinary people who have exhibited exceptional courage in the fight for social changes for immigrants and refugees. Born in Durango, Mexico, Andiola crossed the border with her mother and four siblings when she was 11 years old. Fleeing domestic abuse, the family decided to make Mesa, Ariz. their new home. Erika always knew that she did not have legal status in the United States but could not comprehend the consequences at her young age. When she first tried to apply for a driver’s license, her mother simply said, “Well, you can’t.” The same response would reappear time and again for Andiola. “It’s very hard for us to get jobs [even, for example] when we have degrees in engineering. We have to stick to babysitting and cleaning houses with our mothers, or doing construction with our dads.” The 2009 American Community Survey estimates that more than 900,000 residents of Arizona (14.7
percent) are foreign born and more than 1,800,000 people are of Hispanic descent (29.8 percent). Arizona has passed a series of laws cracking down on immigration, including the infamous law SB 1070, which made it a crime to be undocumented in the state. The law went into effect last year after several of its key provisions were blocked by a federal judge. It has since been replicated in various states across the country. Growing up undocumented in Arizona, Andiola said the state’s anti-immigrant climate was palpable.
on the GMC cable network on August 20, 2011 at 9pm ET. She’s hoping this film will pave roads to a lifelong career in entertainment. For 10-year-old wordsmith, Young Marqus (YM), stage performance means rolling with some of the greats. Not many newcomers to the hip hop scene can say that their mentor is Lupe Fiasco, but after being slipped some sample tracks by a DJ, it wasn’t long before YM was being asked to join Lupe Fiasco and B.O.B. on the Steppin’ Laser Tour. “My producer was a DJ for Lupe Fiasco,” YM recalls, “And
Erika Andiola
freedomfromfearaward.com
The first Freedom from Fear Awards honors “ordinary people who have committed extraordinary acts of courage on behalf of immigrants and refugees -- individuals who have taken a risk, set an example, and inspired others to awareness or action.” The Freedom from Fear Award was created by philanthropic leaders Geri Mannion and Taryn Higashi and administered and produced by Public Interest Projects.
Page 8 • August 15 - August 21, 2011 • Insight News
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LIFESTYLE Watching anything good this summer? Dissecting Diversity By Cheryl Pearson-McNeil Well, we’re a little more than half-way through these lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer. You can tell because the barrage of backto-school commercials, which started in July, has intensified. Like holiday advertising, they seem to begin earlier every year (the Pearson-McNeil household
is already prepared)! Besides the back-to-school ads, the escalating plugs for the new fall line-ups have me excited about TV again. What are you watching this summer? Working for Nielsen, which most of you think of as the “TV Ratings” Company, it should come as no surprise that I can actually share with you who’s watching what (I can also share information on consumer purchases, online, and mobile habits and trends, but for today, we’re going to stick with TV viewing). Traditionally, summer is designated for fun, sun, a spike in outdoor activities and vacationing, so broadcasters
typically see a dip in ratings during this time period. Nonetheless, according to the latest Nielsen Cross-Platform report Americans overall were watching television an average of 22 minutes more per month per person than last year. Yes, even though today we have more innovative choices on which to view video content -- computers, tablets or even mobile phones -- old school television sets are still the leader in providing that viewing pleasure for all demographics. The report confirms that Blacks still watch television (approximately 213 hours per month) more than any other ethnic group on both traditional television and our mobile phones. We average about 57 more hours of viewing per month than Caucasians, and almost four hours more than Hispanics, who follow Blacks in viewing habits. AsianAmericans watch the least amount of traditional television, but make up for it by leading the time spent watching video on the Internet. African-Americans also watch less time-shifted television (think DVR) than the rest of the population. Television viewing service providers – satellite, broadcast-only and wired cable – are spread pretty evenly across the board among Blacks, Whites and Asians. Hispanics, however, are more likely to get satellite or be broadcast-only. So I know you’re wondering:
ABUSED, NEGLECTED, AND MAYBE AWAY FROM HOME…
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in all that television viewing, are African-Americans watching the same programs as the rest of America? Yes and no. According to the ratings for the week of July 25, “America’s Got Talent,” was the most watched show with both the general population (11. 5 million) and African Americans (1.2 million). An example of a glaring difference in viewing taste, however, is “The Bachelorette.” It won the number
five slot at 8.1 million viewers for the general population, but didn’t even register a blip on the ratings radar screen for AfricanAmericans (umm, perhaps if we saw people who looked like us on the show, more of us would tune in? I’m just sayin’). Conversely, “So You Think You Can Dance” made the African-American top 10 Television Viewing List, but failed to find a spot in the ratings that same week among the general
Q&A
McFarlane: Don?
From 2
Don Bryant: The Alden Group launched three years ago as a consumer products manufacturing company., I consider us an innovator in certain spaces. We have launched two national brands, one with a partnership with B. Smith who is a celebrity personality out of New York, to bring what is now considered one of the only African American owned celebrity-branded olive oils around the country. We have gained distribution in over 2300 stores. We just closed Wal-Mart for about a third of their stores in the South East and the North East. We also were innovative in launching a new concept that involved a product that actually was manufactured in Israel in Upper Galilee. It’s the first organic cotton wipe that targeted on the biodegradable the alcohol free, the eco-friendly consumer concept. When we launched that in 2009, we initially gained distribution in about 1500 stores. We are headquartered in North Minneapolis and right now we are looking not only to do national retail distribution
Of course my head office is in Jamaica as well.
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McFarlane: Joe Mudd is the President of a new company called Garth McFarlane & Mudd. Don Bryant is an entrepreneur who owns a company called the Alden Group. Both sell products to American consumers that they manufacture in different facilities around the globe. Joe Mudd I am the new President of Garth McFarlane & Mudd. We consider ourselves a multicultural marketing company. We connect products and services back to Fortune 500 companies. My background is that I have come from corporate America and stepped into the entrepreneurial realm about three years ago. I created a product company called Muddco Inc. which still exists. We have now developed the marketing company, Garth McFarlane & Mudd with a couple of leaders in the African American marketing space. Formerly I spent 13 years with Target Corporation.
population viewers. I haven’t watched the show, but would I be safe in surmising there’s diversity portrayed on it? Ya’ll know I always go back to our power as consumers. Remember, both programmers and marketers take the viewing choices you make – and don’t make – very seriously. In addition to race and ethnicity, Americans’ television/ video viewing habits also vary by age and gender. Nielsen data shows that women ages 25+ watch more television than men at 16 hours more per month. On the other hand, men are consistently bigger fans of streaming video online. It makes sense that older Americans (65+), spend more than twice as much time watching television as teenagers and about 37 percent more than the 35-49 demographic. Here are some other ways video consumption breaks down according to age in the report: • 25 percent of Americans, 5064, comprise the largest segment of the traditional television audience. • 27 percent of adults, 35-49, represent the largest chunk of the Internet video audience. • 30 percent of mobile video viewers are mostly 25-34 year olds. • Younger Americans, 12 -17 spend a third of their Internet time watching video. So, as the summer days near an end . . . what are you watching? Trust me, it matters. Cheryl Pearson-McNeil is senior vice president of public affairs and government relations for The Nielsen Company. For more information and studies, please visit www.nielsenwire.com.
of products and service, but we are also starting now to look internationally for distribution and also looking at new product categories. So not only looking at innovation in existing categories or existing brands in existing markets but we are looking at how can we take existing brands and find new markets for those brands. As we continue to grow, we are trying to evolve and we recognize certain categories have a ceiling. Certain categories are extremely competitive. Olive oil, for example, is extremely competitive in commoditized markets but we recognize that once you gain the distribution, once you have the relationships in place, those relationships have value. We are looking at how we can take that value and leverage that value in those relationships for new markets. McFarlane: Gerry Fernandez, the Multicultural Food Service Alliance deals sort of upstream from the issues that Joe and Don have talked about. They are manufacturers. You represent
Q&A TURN TO 12
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Insight News • August 15 - August 21, 2011 • Page 9
COMMENTARY
The widening wealth gap Gateway to excellence By Scott Gray MUL President/CEO Recent reports on the widening wealth gap between African Americans and White Americans serve up more sobering and compelling evidence of the financial pain that most of us are facing. In the midst of debt ceiling debates, stock market fluctuations, and tax manipulations, I fear these gaps will widen if we don’t take pointed steps toward moving more African Americans to opportunities to achieve higher education, to earn higher wages, and to own a home. These opportunities that were once viewed as great accomplishments are now the basic requirements to begin
to build wealth in this new economy. As I try to create solutions for my family as well as for the organization I lead, I first ask myself these key questions: 1) What is really the problem? 2) How did we get here? And 3) How do we get out of this mess? To answer these questions appropriately, I think we should examine a little history and open our eyes to the resources available to us. What is really the problem? In late July the Pew Research Center released its latest Social and Demographic Trends Report, entitled, “Twentyto-One: Wealth Gaps Rise to Record Highs Between Whites, Blacks and Hispanics.” The findings were based on the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) data from 2005 and 2009, which is an economic questionnaire distributed periodically to tens of thousands of households by the Census Bureau.
The SIPP, segmented by race and ethnicity, is considered the most comprehensive source of data about household wealth in the United States. Based upon 2009 dollars, the net worth of Whites was calculated to be $113,149; compared to $6,325 for Hispanics and $5,677 for Blacks. The disparity in wealth between whites and blacks was a gaping 20 to 1! Not to be confused with household income, wealth is defined as “the accumulated sum of assets (houses, cars, savings and checking accounts, stocks and mutual funds, retirement accounts, etc.) minus the sum of debt (mortgages, auto loans, credit card debt, etc.).” In the report’s Executive Summary, Pew researchers note, “These lopsided wealth ratios are the largest since the government began publishing such data a quarter century ago and roughly twice the size of the ratios that had prevailed between these three groups for the two decades prior to the
Great Recession that ended in 2009.” How did we get here? Two factors were highlighted as primary contributors to these dismal numbers: first, HOUSING, a crippled housing market, limited homeownership amongst minorities, growing numbers of foreclosures, and plunging home values; secondly, UNEMPLOYMENT, long term unemployment, pervasive amongst African-Americans and Hispanics, believed to be even more detrimental than the dwindling value of assets. Currently, homeownership for African-Americans in Minnesota hovers at only 32%, while unemployment remains stagnant at 20.4%, speculated to be even higher in certain census tracts. These figures, without even digging beyond the surface, reflect diminished opportunities for wealth building in the absence of programmatic intervention.
What does this mean to far too many African-American who live in Minnesota? Simply this: in the absence of technical training, or some level of postsecondary education, which is now required for 75% of all jobs, employment opportunities in today’s marketplace are limited. With limited or no income, buying a home or avoiding foreclosure becomes a daily challenge. Not owning a home means you have no equity, or simply put, no financial stake on which you can borrow against, leverage to start a business, or send your child to college. Additionally, when we spend all of our money on assets which decrease in value such as cars; or on expensive clothes, instead of also setting aside money for savings and retirement, we are rendering ourselves economically powerless and sadly positioning ourselves to live a life dominated by strife.
How do we get out of this mess? So what does this all mean to me, to you, to our brothers and sisters we see everyday in the community? Each of us must commit to constructing a personal wealth building plan, and deliberately take daily actions in support of that plan. We must proactively commit to teaching and mentoring both our children and the next generation, equipping them with wealth building strategies. In the end, what matters is not only how much money you make, but what you do with the money you make. Economic empowerment is essential if people of color are ever to transform their lives and their communities, and asset accumulation provides a solid foundation for dream building and personal achievement.
GRAY TURN TO 11
Obama to the GOP: I’ll huff and I’ll puff and… bluff Opinion
By Dr. Ron Daniels Once again Liberals/ progressives and a large sector of the electorate have witnessed a dismal and disappointing performance by President Obama and the Democrats. In the face of staunch opposition by conservatives and fanatical determination by the Tea
Party Caucus, the Democrats and Obama abandoned the “principle” that legislation to lift the Debt Ceiling must include “revenues” as well as cuts in spending. Even though polls indicated support for Obama’s concept of a “balanced” approach, including closing tax loopholes for the wealthy, he and the Democrats capitulated, handing the Grand Obstructionist Party (GOP) another major victory. Though some Tea Party fanatics wanted total victory (they wanted even more draconian cuts in spending), House Speaker John Boehner was content to declare that he had achieved 98% of what he wanted!
The bill calls for $2.4 trillion in cuts over the next 10 years, $970 billion of which must be imposed immediately. By Christmas of this year a bipartisan Congressional Super Committee composed of 6 Republicans and 6 Democrats is to recommend another 1.5 trillion in savings. If the Super Committee cannot come up with a proposal or the Congress votes its proposal down, 50% of the savings would automatically be imposed from social programs and 50% from Defense. In previewing the next battle of the debt/deficit, President Obama served notice that “everyone will have to chip in. That’s the principle I
will be fighting for during the next phase of the process.” Obama was signaling that this time, this round would be different, essentially promising that revenues from closing tax loopholes on the wealthy and/ or increases in taxes for those with incomes of $250,000 or more, will be part of the package. The problem is we’ve seen this movie before. Obama huffed and puffed and drew a line in the sand declaring that he would not extend the Bush tax cuts as part of the 2011 budget agreement. When the GOP called his bluff by screaming that taxes should not be raised on anyone during an
economic slow-down, Obama backed down – a capitulation that increased the deficit by some $800 billion. During his Budget message he huffed and puffed that Medicare and Social Security were off the table and would be protected at all costs. Apparently, Speaker Boehner challenged him on this pledge when they struck their “grand deal” that would have resulted in $4.5 trillion in savings over the next decade. By his own admission, the President put cuts in Medicare and Social Security on the table. Now he is huffing and puffing that he will really fight to ensure that savings from revenue will be part of the next deal. Well
by now we know that Obama sometimes talks a good game, but the obstructionists are totally prepared to say, “not by the hair on my chinny chin chin.” Having successfully called the President’s bluff on more than one occasion, they will hold fast to their demand for a spending cuts only approach, confident that when the going gets tough, Obama will lead the majority of Democrats in full retreat! This is what’s so disappointing and frustrating about President Obama. Liberals/progressives and
OBAMA TURN TO 11
Page 10 • August 15 - August 21, 2011 • Insight News
Calendar
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Images courtesy of The Whittier Alliance
Whittier Neighborhood Field Day - Aug 27 Get ready to head back to school! The Whittier Alliance, in conjunction with Bolder Options, invites you to join in an afternoon of fun and games for youth ages 5-14. From soccer dribble to races to jump rope contests, the event features 8 station games and various group games. Sat., Aug. 27 12-4pm @ Whittier Park (26th St W & Grand Ave S). Free and open to youth ages 5-14 (and their parents). Registration is appreciated: (612) 871-7756, jen@whittieralliance.org. Downey Side…families for youth - Aug 16 Invites community members to attend a FREE information session regarding adoption and Minnesota’s Waiting Children. Downey Side’s next information session will be Tue., Aug. 16, 6-7:30pm at Downey Side Minnesota, 450 N. Syndicate St., Suite 321 St. Paul. Preregistration required. To register, email stpaulmn@downeyside.org or call 651-603-5927. Dealing with the Tough Stuff: Adoptees and Resiliency - Aug 17 Deborah Jiang Stein is a national keynote speaker and writer who believes that we all have the capacity to transform ourselves, no matter how tough or traumatic our origins may be. Wed. Aug. 17 noon1:30pm. $15/person ($25/person includes webinar CD) Registration: Amy Fjellman, 612-746-5133, afjellman@mnadopt.org Honoring Pastor Clarence and First Lady Beverly Hightower Aug 17-21 Celebrating 7 years of service to the church and community. @ New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church 1115 30th Ave. N. Mpls. Aug. 17-19 @ 7pm, Aug. 21 @ 4pm. I-35W Transit/Access Project for Lake Street Open House - Aug. 17 Residents, local business owners, and neighborhood groups are invited to attend an open house from 5–7pm Wed., Aug. 17, at the Zuhrah Center, 2540 Park Ave., Mpls, where they can learn more about the I-35W Transit/Access Project involving transit and transportation improvements in the vicinity of I-35W, Lake Street and the Midtown Greenway. A Family With Problems That Heals - Aug. 19-20 Connected Singles Ministry presents
a dramatic play about a family facing issues and circumstances that brings anger, hurt, disappointment, addiction and other traumatic emotions. But, they find out that there are solutions to everything. August 19-20 @ 7pm. Capri Theatre - 2027 W. Broadway Mpls. Tickets: $20 - Reserve Tickets: 612-2395439. STATUS UPDATE: CHAT’s 10th Annual Hmong Arts and Music Festival - Aug. 20 Center for Hmong Arts and Talent invites you to celebrate our 10th Annual Hmong Arts and Music Festival! Sat. Aug. 20 11am-7pm Western Sculpture Park on Marion St. in St. Paul. Tea Honoring First Lady Daniels - Aug 20 The Center, Lutheran Social Service. 2400 Park Ave. S., Mpls, MN Time: 1:30-3:30pm - $10 Donation. Run/Walk for Wheels - Aug 20 Kaposia, inc., a Twin Cities based nonprofit organization that provides job development and retirement services for individuals with disabilities, will host its 5th annual Run/Walk for Wheels, on Sat., Aug. 20 at Fort Snelling State Park. The gates open at 8am; the run starts at 9:15am as does the Walk; local musician Billy Johnson and a Pancake feed follow at 10am and we wrap up at 11:30am. El Milagro - Aug 20 “The miracle” features the work of over 30 well known local, national, and international artists and will address the religious, mystical, cultural, political, psychological and historical nature of miracles and the miraculous, especially amongst Latin Americans. Opening Reception: 7pm, Sat., Aug. 20 at Intermedia Arts, 2822 Lyndale Ave. S. Mpls. Runs: Aug. 3-Sep. 11 -
Gallery Hours: 10-6pm Mon.-Fri.; 12-5pm Sat. $3 suggested donation Black Blondie Workshop - Aug 20 A music workshop featuring demonstrations, private and group lessons, and a jam session where participants can play with the band. Workshop led by members of Black Blondie. Bring your instrument or voice. Amps, drums, mics, and keyboards provided, bring all other instruments. Sat. Aug. 20 2-5pm West Bank School of Music - 1813 S 6th St. Mpls. Black Blondie in concert - Aug 20 Black Blondie’s live show, distinctive song writing and innovative musical style has earned the band “Best Live Act” recognition from the Star Tribune, and “Best R&B band” by the City Pages. Black Blondie’s music has traces of dub, old school soul, reggae, and hip hop. Sa., Aug. 20 7-8:15pm. West Bank School of Music - 1813 S 6th St. Mpls. FREE Tips to Help Your Child Be Successful - Aug 22 Free workshop for parents of children with disabilities from birth to age 7. Mon., Aug. 22 6:308:30pm, at PACER Center, 8161 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington. Advance registration is requested. To register, call PACER at 952-8389000. Live on the Drive concerts - Aug 25 Pack a picnic, invite your friends and bring your neighbors to the Live on the Drive concert. La Gran Charanga - Thur., Aug. 25, 6-8pm FREE. @ 34th Ave. N. and Victory Memorial Pkwy. Documentary “The Letter” and Members of the Somali Community to Speak - Aug 25 World Without Genocide will show the documentary film The
Letter: An American Town and the ‘Somali Invasion,’ on Thur., Aug. 25, 6-8:30pm at William Mitchell College of Law, St. Paul. 875 Summit Ave., St. Paul. Rasmussen College Career Fair Aug 25 The fairs will provide local job seekers with a unique opportunity of speaking to local employers face to face. In addition to the career fair, Rasmussen will also offer webinars and workshops designed to help job seekers improve their changes of landing a dream job. • Blaine Campus: 11am-1pm at 3629 95th Ave. NE • Bloomington Campus: 5-7pm at 4400 West 78th St. • Brooklyn Park Campus: 3-5pm at 8301 93rd Ave. N. • Eagan Campus: 11am-1pm at 3500 Federal Dr. • Lake Elmo/Woodbury Campus: 11am-1pm at 8565 Eagle Point Circle • Mankato: 3-5pm at 130 Saint Andrews Dr. • St. Cloud: 2-4pm at 226 Park Ave. S. Back 2 School Bash – Aug 26 Learn about resources for youth and adults on the East Side of Saint Paul. Education, Mental Health, Fitness, Literacy, Community Services, ESHP. Sign your children up for youth competitions: Basketball Shoot Off, Ring Toss, Double Dutch Contest, Hula Hoop Contest. All youth ages 5-18, Register with Dedric Payne at (651) 771-9339. Food will be served. @ Merrick Community Services - 715 Edgerton St. Saint Paul. More info: jwatson@ merrickcs.org Member Appreciation with Rev. & Mrs. Daniels - Aug 28 501 W. Lawson Ave. St. Paul. Shiloh North Location, after 11am service.
Musical Tribute “A Celebration of Gospel” honoring Pastor & Mrs. Daniels - Sep 11 501 W. Lawson Ave. St. Paul. Shiloh North Location, 4-6pm - Free Will Offering. Downey Side…families for youth - Sept 13 Invites community members to attend a FREE information session regarding adoption and Minnesota’s Waiting Children. Downey Side’s next information session will be Tue., Sept. 13, 6-7:30pm at Downey Side Minnesota, 450 N. Syndicate St., Suite 321 St. Paul. Preregistration required. To register, email stpaulmn@downeyside.org or call 651-603-5927. Edison Class of 1961 - 50 Year Class Reunion - Sept 15-16 4 fun activities planned. Contact Gary Jones ASAP - 612.789.7000 Community Luncheon honoring “The Good Shepard” - Sep 17 1-3pm at the Prom Center in Oakdale, MN. Anniversary Worship Service Sep 18 At Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church North Location. 501 W. Lawson Ave. St. Paul. 8-11am Worship Services. Guest Speaker: Dr Frank E. Ray, Senior Pastor of Salem Missionary Baptist Church, Memphis, TN Hawthorne’s Annual Meeting and Board of Directors Elections - Sept 22 This meeting is free and open to the public and all Hawthorne residents are encouraged to attend and participate. Dinner will be served for all those in attendance. Thur., Sept. 22 6-8:30pm at Farview Park.
Coffee Break S T A T E P O I N T 6. Player in St. Louis CROSSWORD 9. *Type of mistakes to be avoided THEME: BACK TO SCHOOL 13. On a dashboard 14. Winter glider ACROSS 15. Knight’s protection 1. Lessen the intensity of, as 16. Mode of communication in fear 17. Soccer mom’s ride
18. African equine 19. *Phys. ed. movement 21. *Colorful staple for kids, pl. 23. Immeasurable period 24. One of three square 25. Tax helper 28. Skilled in deception 30. Popular pie filling in South 35. Not easy 37. “____ and turn” 39. Administer 40. Copycat 41. “Revolutionary Road” novelist Richard 43. Describes duckling before it became swan 44. Pl. of #3 Down 46. Bog down 47. *Thrown during gym or recess 48. North American evergreen 50. The only thing to fear? 52. Tommy of “Motley Crue” 53. The hunted 55. La Cosa Nostra, e.g. 57. *Occasionally subbed for 61. Greek monsters of nine heads 64. Greeting 65. Olympic chant 67. One born to Japanese immigrants 69. Donor’s bequest 70. Buddy
71. Authoritative proclamation 72. Seacrest or Phillippe 73. *Pencil number 74. “The Second Coming” poet
36. *Played in a marching band 38. Withered 42. Morally degraded 45. One way to steal gas from a car 49. “Is” is to “she” as ___ DOWN is to “we” 1. *It helps determine grade 51. *He played Thornton level Melon in “Back to School” 2. Sight aid 54. Combust or break out 3. Hawaiian feast 4. Nimble 5. *School buses have this in common 6. Please get back to me 7. Theodor Geisel, ___ Dr. Seuss 8. People who are direct don’t _____ words 9. Squirrel’s nest 10. Rounded protuberance 11. Period before noon 12. Women’s undergarments 15. Popular flowering shrub 20. Oneness 22. Lil Wayne’s genre 24. Bewilder 25. *Soft white calcite 26. _____ New Guinea 27. Relating to an area 29. Type of rich soil 31. *Group of one sort or another 32. Relating to alga 33. _____ prosequi 34. Manner
Answers on page 11
56. Here she comes? 57. God of thunder 58. Spooky 59. Aquarium scum 60. Kin group 61. Light above a saint 62. World’s largest continent 63. Dissenting clique 66. 2004 horror movie 68. “___ now or never”
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Insight News • August 15 - August 21, 2011 • Page 11
UK riots stir response worldwide Widespread riots have been viewed on the internet, with looting, burning buildings and vehicles and attacks against civilians and even the police. The disturbances were reportedly triggered by the death of a Black London man and father of 4, Mark
By Fungai Maboreke (GIN) - The spectacle of anarchy unfolding in Britain’s low income neighborhoods of Black Africans, South Asians and others, has prompted mixed reactions of worry and concern from African, Caribbean and Asian communities around the world.
Obama From 9 a sizeable segment of the American electorate keep waiting for him to lead, to stand and fight for anything, as opposed to positioning himself as the “referee” in a game where he should be picking sides and sticking to his “principles.” At the eleventh hour when it became clear that the obstructionists were willing to default on America’s debt if they could not get their way, President Obama should have invoked the power some constitutional scholars and former President Clinton indicated he had at his disposal under the 14th Amendment and raised the debt ceiling by Executive Order. Simultaneously, he should have sent Congress his “balanced” deficit reduction package with increases in revenue and spending cuts, timed to kick-in after economic indicators signal the economy
Gray From 9 MUL Offers The Community Solutions To say that the Pew findings are startling is an understatement. Moreover, the report must be viewed as a wake-up call for human development organizations, social service providers, communities riddled by multi-dimensional disparities, and individuals
GIN
Mark Duggan
Duggan, 29, believed to have been caught in a crossfire of police shooting in a raid called Operation Trident. A peaceful vigil in North London’s Tottenham neighborhood, led by the family of Mark Duggan, turned violent when police apparently failed to meet with the Duggan family and supporters. Now, similar incidents have been reported in Birmingham and
is in full recovery. In a separate bill, the President should have submitted a New Deal type WPA/CCC jobs program to put hundreds of thousands of Americans back to work immediately; an act which progressive economists believe would stimulate the economy by increasing aggregate demand/consumer spending. No doubt the obstructionists would have cried foul, and there would have been court challenges. It would have been too late because the debt ceiling would have been raised. The President would have come off as a bold and decisive leader! This time the huff and the puff would not have been a bluff. This is the Obama we’ve been waiting to emerge to no avail. Rather than act boldly, Obama has allowed the obstructionists to handcuff him with a deficit reduction deal with cuts that stifle his ability to put forward a meaningful jobs program. Indeed, there is the imminent danger that reducing spending will further aggravate a stagnating economy.
By calling Obama and the Democrats’ bluff, the obstructionists are forcing them to play with what they hope is a losing hand in the 2012 elections – high unemployment/joblessness, crawling GDP, low consumer confidence and legions of people who feel the country is headed in the wrong direction. At the moment, Obama’s prospects for re-election appear dim. They will become bleaker unless he sheds the self-imposed shackles of timidity, caution and obsessive bi-partisanship. He needs to stand, fight and lead or all may be lost. To be fair, there were a number of Democrats, many of whom are associated with the Progressive Caucus in Congress, who voted no on the deficit/debt bill deeming it harmful to the interests of workers, the middle class and poor people. In fact the Progressive Caucus urged Obama to reject the bill and lift the debt ceiling using provisions of the 14th
Dr. Ron Daniels is President of the Institute of the Black World 21st Century and Distinguished Lecturer at York College City University of New York. His articles and essays also appear on the IBW website www.ibw21. org and www.northstarnews. com . To send a message, arrange media interviews or speaking engagements, Dr. Daniels can be reached via email at info@ibw21.org
who must come to recognize and appreciate a need for more defined solutions and pathways to wealth-building, not simply short term money making pursuits. In a globalized, technological, capitalist society assets such as education, knowledge, and industry expertise are fundamental for creating personal opportunities and a stellar quality of life. Clearly understanding this, the MUL staff and Board of Directors spent months creating a
visionary strategy specifically focused on addressing the very factors which are noted in the Pew report as fostering generational poverty. MUL’s Gateway to Opportunity, inclusive of the Wealth Building and Workforce Solutions Gateways, offer residents of this community tools that can be used to break the strongholds that poverty and underachievement can cultivate in one’s life. Yet, all of the programs in the world cannot spur and sustain change, if we fail
to respond to the winds of change and begin to invest in ourselves. If you need to gain new job skills, ask the staff at MUL how you can become more prepared for the 21st century workplace. If you need financial education, seek it at MUL. If you are ready to decrease or wipe-out your debt, increase your savings, or create a wealth building plan, MUL can teach you how. Together, as a community, we must work to close this widening gap, and the time for us to start is now.
Amendment. The vision and courage of these Democrats is to be commended. Hopefully, they will be among those who will join in a major effort to galvanize a liberal-progressive force for change in 2012 and beyond. Liberal-progressives cannot allow disappointment with Obama to deter the essential effort of building a movement with a message so clear and an economic security platform so strong that a majority of Americans will repel the obstructionists and align with the forces seeking to create a more just and humane society.
Liverpool which forced the Metropolitan Police to deploy at least 16,000 riot police officers in riot gear to deal with it. In Zimbabwe, President Robert Mugabe joined a chorus of international critics of the UK saying, “Britain I understand is on fire, London especially and we hope they can extinguish their fire, pay attention to their internal
problems and to that fire which is now blazing all over, and leave us alone.” Black activist Lee Jasper from Brixton said the riots could be traced to alienated youth, low paying or no jobs, lack of opportunities and “crap” housing. He accused the government of cutting youth projects and suggested re-investing millions of pounds recovered from criminal assets.
Solutions From 10
BACK TO SCHOOL
Page 12 • August 15 - August 21, 2011 • Insight News
Market From 1 WE WIN Institute is a community based organization whose mission is the academic and social success of all children. It serves children 5–18. WE WIN has programs in north and south Minneapolis and Robbinsdale. The children in WE WIN’s summer program took part in every aspect of the garden. With the support of Northway Trust, children were able to till the soil, and place mulch for the garden paths to the produce. They planted all the vegetables and fruits, and worked hard to eliminate what seemed like endless weeds. The children have been incredibly
consistent, in spite of the grasshoppers, Japanese beetles and millions of mosquitoes. “It has been so wonderful to watch the children’s willingness to struggle through the elements to take care of their crops,” says Linda Benford, the Northside supervisor for WE WIN Institute. “Even when it rains, “says Benford, they want to be out in the fields taking care of their food.” This is the first year that WE WIN has sold their food to the public. Several children have been selling their fresh produce at the West Broadway Farmer’s Market. It is a new market designed for the urban gardener in mind. WE WIN’s table consisted of baskets that had at least four different vegetables. Next to the baskets were collard greens, stevia
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(a natural sweetener), basil and parsley. Children were so excited to participate in the total process of food production. Tiffany McGowen, a 7th grade student in WE WIN’s program said it best, “It is so amazing to think that we planted seeds in May and now we have so much food. All our hard work has been worth it. I love growing my own food.” On Thursday, August 18, WE WIN Institute’s youth will be hosting, “Celebrating Excellence.” Children will teach the community about the great contributions of many local heroes and she-roes, including Congressman Keith Ellison, State Representative Jeff Hayden and Sister Kenna Cottman. There will be African dance and drumming, African rituals, storytelling and delicious food made from the produce in their garden. The doors open at WE WIN Institute, 3805 3rd Avenue South at 5:30 p.m. It is Free and Open to the Public.
Q&A From 8 an alliance or an association that tries to bring manufacturers like them into the marketplace by creating the bridge that brings together corporations and companies and individuals from communities of color. You also work to advance professionals in the food service and hospitality industry. Gerry Fernandez: Well we have been promoting diversity as a solid business practice for 15 years, beginning back in 1996 when I was with General Mills. And the reality today is that not every company has quite embraced the fact that
Robinson From 1
Titlayo Bediako
you can’t just target Black or Latino or Asian domestic markets or international markets, for employees and for good markets to sell your products. You have to also commit to reinvesting in those communities by doing business with the Black, Latino or Asian, or multicultural audiences that make up the community. Think about how the forestry industry has changed over the course of the last 25 years from just cutting down trees, taking the harvest, and building wood products and making profits. They have gone to the place where they now replant three trees for every tree they cut down. So we advocate that companies who target Black communities and other multicultural communities need to not only focus their efforts on attracting them as employees and
selling them products and goods and services but also to reinvest in the Black entrepreneurs in those communities. I would like to add is that we as consumers need to hold those companies to task. We need to ask those questions. What are you doing to support the economic health of the Black community here in the US or Minneapolis or with countries internationally. Restaurant and food service companies, lodging companies, as you heard the gentlemen from Jamaica talk about, are looking at foreign markets to grow. In fact many of them would have drawn most of their profits from international markets. The question that needs to be asked is: “are people of color participants in that flow of the economy or is it non-minorities that are reaping all
the benefits?” According to the census data, multicultural is mainstream. It is mainstream. It is time we started acting like mainstream and asking the hard questions. If Restaurant A is supporting minority business development and Restaurant B is not, maybe we should ask them why not? Maybe we should support company A. So I am encouraged to see people talking about what’s going on globally because I can tell you the food service industry, the restaurant industry is very much about being global and when they enter into these Black markets. But is it White operators that are benefiting? Or do they extend the arm of partnership to the Black operator potential that exists right there in those countries, just like in our communities here?
Robinson has worked with the Major League Baseball as an educational consultant. When asked she said that she always had interest in writing.
She wrote a textbook for a women’s health course. When she was interviewed in Ebony, the interviewer apparently persuaded her to write a book about her experience with the Baseball Hall of Fame member, her father.
Robinson herself had had an athletic childhood. “I played many sports. I enjoyed swimming, horseback riding, and ice skating. I was never great a baseball but I always enjoyed playing it with me siblings.”