AC Phoenix Jan 2013

In Our 29th Year

Issue No. 2014

The International Civil Rights Center and Museum Will Reconize Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole

The International Civil Rights Center & Museum (ICRCM) will recognize Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole, Director of the National Museum of African Art of

I Too Have A Dream

BY Dwight Jones

For more than a half of a century I have seemly listened to a million comments referring to the “I Have A Dream” speech delivered by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the Lincoln Memorial on August 18, 1963. As well over the past twenty-five years I have pondered an idea to quicken the content of that speech.

Now I realized that a dream is an animated perception suspended in time, inoperative, yet capable of creating a transient state of cognitive ecstasy within

January 2013

By John Raye

Serving the Triad

Free

the Smithsonian Institution, as the 2013 recipient of the Alston-Jones International Civil and Human Rights Award. Prior to assuming her current post, Dr. Cole—a distinguished educator, cultural anthropologist, and humanitarian—served as the president of Bennett College for Women in Greensboro, North Carolina, and before that as the president of Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. Her career in higher education includes professorial appointments at Washington State University, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Hunter College and Emory University. Her numerous scholarly publications based on fieldwork in Africa, the Caribbean, and the United By John Raye States have focused on such issues as gender, race It’s true! You no longer have to drive your car, look and class. for a parking space or sit and wait to have your income taxes done.

The Alston-Jones Award is ICRCM’s highest citation.

The wait is over. It’s finished. Done. A new Mobile It is named in honor of the Museum’s co-founders, Income Tax Service is now available which means local businessmen, and former elected officials: the tax preparers come to you!

Chairman Melvin “Skip” Alston [continued on page3]

It’s here…A Mobile Income Tax Service!

the souls of human beings. In fact immediately after the speech Mrs. Corretta King commented, “At that moment it seemed as if the Kingdom of God appeared. But it only lasted a moment.”

Unfortunately her profound comment indicates that the result of Dr. King appearing at the Lincoln Memorial that day was ineffective. The thesis of the speech beginning the third paragraph reads “we’ve come to our nation’s capital to cash a check” alluding to the promissory note in which “every American was to fall heir” according to the Constitution and Declaration of Independence Regrettably in the next paragraph Dr. King states that America has given the Negro a bad check; continued on page 12]

He is not as physically active as he used to be but Winston Salem’s legendary musician and music instructor, Rudolph Boone is still very much a man on the move, an icon who continues to serve and lead by example.

Th e S er vant Le a d er Who Co ntinues To S e r ve

Associate Consultant

One of twelve children, Boone majored in music and graduated from North Carolina A & T State University with a degree in music education. He went on to serve with distinction

in two branches of the military, the Air Force and Army where he blazed a trail as a pioneer by becoming the first African-American to serve in the 392nd Army Band.

But that was not the first time, Boone made history.

After completing military service , he found himself in the right place at the right time, when by court order, school segregation was coming to an end. [continued on page 6]

“You no longer have to come to us, this time we come to the client”, said William Fulton, a long time certified income tax preparer. “Just tell us what time, address and location and we’ll bring our mobile unit directly to your front door”, he said.

The Mobile Income Tax program is pioneered by Comprotax, the nation’s oldest and largest African-American owned income tax and bookkeeping firm.

“We have flexible operating hours and can send our preparers directly to your home, work place or place of business. The other good news is that we also offer free pick up and delivery service”, said Fulton, widely know for his long years of service in the income [continued on page 12]

Inside This Issue International Civil Rights Museum Dinner

pg 3

Mental Illness Not Guns Is Real Issue pg 4 Urgent: Diabetes Myth Debunked,

pg 7

The 12 Most Common Senior Health Poblems

pg 14

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January 2013 The AC Phoenix 3

The International Civil Rights Center and Museum Will Reconize Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole [continued from front page] and Vice Chairman Earl F. Jones. The citation is awarded to one whose life work has contributed to the expansion of civil and human rights.

The Museum will also honor two Greensboro residents that evening. Dr. Joe Dudley, Sr., Co-Founder of Dudley’s Q Product, will receive the Trailblazer Award, while Gladys Shipman, proprietor of Shipman Family Care, will garner the Unsung Hero Award. For their courageous actions, ICRCM will bestow SitIn Participant Awards upon Roslyn Cheagle, Lynchburg, VA, Raphael Glover, Charlotte, NC, Mary Lou Blakeney and Andrew Dennis McBride, High Point, NC. Their actions, like those of protestors in other parts of the country, were conducted in the wake of the February 1, 1960 sit-in protest by four North Carolina A& T College freshmen at the F.W. Woolworth store in downtown Greensboro. The A&T Four, as they came to be known, included Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil, Ezell Blair, Jr. (now Jibreel Khazan), and David Richmond (deceased). The three surviving sit-in participants, their family members, and the family of Richmond will attend the gala celebrating the 53rd anniversary of this watershed event that shaped the course of the civil rights movement and changed the nation.

Serving as the honorary co-chairs at this year’s gala are Robert Brown, CEO of

B&C Associates in High Point, and Larry Audas, President and General Manager of WFMY TV in Greensboro. Tracey McCain, news anchor for WFMY TV, will emcee the eventful evening and Kerry Charles, news anchor for WGHP TV will be our host for the gala’s dance.

Individual tickets for the gala are $125, and sponsorship tables are also available. For more information or to purchase tickets, please contact Pamela Glass (336) 274-9199 ext. 235, or visit www.sitinmovement.org

4 The AC Phoenix January 2013 Mental Illness Not Guns Is Real Issue

By Raynard Jackson, NNPA Columnist

I really had not planned on writing anything about the shooting in Newtown, Conn. because I didn’t have anything fresh or thought provoking to write. As I have indicated before, I can’t muster any extra sympathy for the tragic events in Connecticut when young kids are dying every day in Chicago and they barely get a mention in the news, and definitely not by this White House.

The worst thing any politician can ever do is to legislate while caught up in a cloud of emotion. Every time Americans have a tragedy, politicians and the public demand that “something” be done to prevent the same event from happening again. Here is a truth that most of us do not want to admit: There is no current law or future law that can prevent another mass shooting from occurring. Guns are not the problem, it’s the people.

If we could magically ban all guns immediately, it will have absolutely no impact on violent crime. There are an estimated 300 million guns in the hands of Americans. So, if guns are banned, what are you going to do about the guns already in the hands of Americans?

These liberals who want to take the 300 million guns away from law abiding citizens are the same ones who say it is impossible to find and remove 12 million illegals from this country. Is it really easier to find guns than humans?

I am not taking a position either way on the issue of gun control, but I do think there should be some sanity brought into the discussion. The National Rifle Association (NRA) really needs to shut its mouth. They are coming across as so unreasonable and they continue to embarrass themselves with every ridiculous statement they utter.

Liberals, including those in the White House, don’t want to talk about the moral issues necessary to deal with all this violence. Children are growing up in single-parent households, babies are having babies, Johnnie has two daddies, and Susie has two mommies. We have quickly become a nation with no standards or any absolutes.

When I grew up, there was male and female. Now there is this notion of “sexual fluidity.” This is a growing notion that is sweeping across the country indicating that your sexual preferences are constantly changing—thus is fluid. So, a male sometimes wants to be with a woman, sometimes he wants to be with a man, and sometimes he wants to be with both simultaneously.

We have a society that obsesses about their rights, but never mentions their responsibilities. Christians, especially preachers, are apologizing for their beliefs all in the guise of wanting to be liked.

Well, you can pass all the gun control laws you want, but until you deal with the heart of a man and the culture of a society, there can be no peace. Everyone knows that killing is wrong, but yet we subject people to literally thousands of hours of the most violent images from cradle to grave; and then we wonder why someone goes into a movie theater and shoots total strangers.

You have preachers apologizing for speaking against the homosexual lifestyle and some even remaining silent because they don’t want to hurt people’s feelings. Parents are telling their children that they are at fault when their own kid punches them in the face because they took away their cell phone.

There is wrong and right; there are winners and losers. Mass shootings in Connecticut, Colorado or Virginia are not about gun control, but rather values. Liberal Hollywood puts out all kinds of violent, over the top sexually charged programs, but claims it’s just entertainment. The NRA sees no circumstance that will cause them to compromise on their right to bear arms, not even for the good of the country.

This whole notion of universal background checks, while optically and from a PR perspective seems very reasonable; will do nothing to prevent another mass shooting. Criminals don’t buy guns legally; they buy them illegally or they steal them. So, requiring background checks will prevent very few hoodlums from obtaining guns.

Whether you want to admit it or not, 99 percent of gun purchasers are law-abiding citizens with no mental health issues.

So, making people submit to background checks may make society feel good, but it

doesn’t address the problem.

Raynard Jackson is president & CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC., a Washington, D.C.-based public relations/government affairs firm. He can be reached through his Web site, www.raynardjackson.com. You can also follow him on Twitter at raynard1223

January 2013 The AC Phoenix 5

6 The AC Phoenix January 2013

Is This Flu Season More Dangerous??

by Andrew M. Manis

The flu has been spreading fiercely across the United States, with more than half of states reporting widespread activity. The season has started earlier, and cases are more severe than last year, health officials say.

READ: 5 Natural Ways To Avoid The Flu The latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention flu advisory report, which covers the week of December 23 to 29, suggests that 41 states have widespread influenza activity, which was an increase of 31 states from the previous week. The CDC is expected to issue a statement about the situation.

There have so far been 2,257 hospitalizations associated with laboratory-confirmed flu virus, the CDC report said. Among children, there have been 18 deaths reported during this season.

In Massachusetts, one of the 29 states that the CDC has identified as having high activity of influenza-like illness, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino declared a public health emergency in the city because of the flu.

READ: Flu During Pregnancy Linked To Autism Since October 1, there have been 700 confirmed influenza cases among Boston residents, according to Menino’s office; that’s 10 times more than were seen in all of last year’s flu season.

Menino is collaborating with the Boston Public Health Commission and community health centers to offer free vaccination clinics this weekend. The mayor urged residents to stay home from work or school if they are sick, and to get their flu shots.

“This is the worst flu season we’ve seen since 2009, and people should take the threat of flu seriously,” Menino said in a statement. More than 4% of emergency department

visits at Boston hospitals are from flu cases, up from 1% during non-flu season.

Massachusetts General Hospital has already counted 532 cases of flu among patients, which is more than the hospital saw in any of the previous three flu seasons, said spokeswoman Kristen Stanton.

Why Is The Flu Spreading Faster?

READ: When Is Your Cold Or Flu Contagious?

According to CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden, H3N2 is the predominant strain this year. It’s generally associated with a severe flu season. “The strains we are seeing suggest this could be a bad flu year,” Frieden said. “But this year’s vaccine is an excellent match with the influenza that’s circulating.”

Dr. Melinda Wharton, Acting Director of CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, says current flu activity is highest in the South.

“We’re seeing the highest level in the southeastern and south central region of the

United States,” she said. “Five states had high levels: Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and Texas. Moderate levels of illness have been recorded in Missouri and Georgia.”

Flu cases typically peak in February, according to the CDC. The CDC says about 123 million doses of the vaccine have already been distributed to health care providers, and about 112 million people have already been vaccinated.

Among doctors, nurses and pharmacists, about 80% to 90% have already been vaccinated, Frieden said, along with almost half of all pregnant women. The number of children being vaccinated has also increased. “I encourage everyone 6 months and up to get vaccinated,” Frieden said.

Each year there are approximately 200,000 hospitalizations for flu-related illnesses.

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter”

Martin Luther King Jr,

The Servant Leader Wh o Cont in u e s To S e r ve

By John Raye

[continued from front page]

“When school integration took place, I was among that first group of Black teachers selected to teach in predominately white schools, the first one being Walkertown Jr. High School”, he noted.

Pioneers, especially Black pioneers, are usually confronted with a variety of problems, all associated with being the proverbial, “first one”. But Boone says school integration did not pose any serious problems for him.

“I really didn’t have any problems with it myself.

Now, there may have been problems around me, but I didn’t have any problems with it”, he said.

That could very be because of the manner in which he carried himself and also his ability as an outstanding music educator, especially when showcasing his talents on his favorite instrument, the trumpet.

But it was at Carver High School where Boone would create a lasting legacy. He taught there for 20 years, becoming the school’s longest serving band director, and went on to teach music education to thousands of youngsters in a distinguished career that lasted some 30 years.

Boone’s 30 year teaching career led some 27 schools to request his service. At Anderson Jr. High school, Boone scored another first by becoming that school’s first band director. His love for his

craft and students as a music educator and role model was so renowned that he was voted Carver’s “Teacher of The Year”, not once, but three times! Later the school district itself would expand that honor by naming him “Teacher of the Year” for the district.

“He can hardly go anywhere outside of our home where people do not stop and want to talk to him”said Sarah, his wife of some 62 years. “Wherever we go, we are bound to be stopped by some of his friends, colleagues or former students”, she said.

“They all want to speak with him, show their appreciation and inquire as to how he is doing”.

Though Boone retired from the Winston-Salem/ Forsyth County School System after three decades of service, he did not retire from life. He became active in the Forsyth County Retired School Personnel by serving in a variety of positions including chorus director, vice-president and eventually president of the organization.

Wildly known for his music expertise, Boone has served as guest conductor of choirs for numerous churches including Goler Memorial AME Zion, Mars Hill, New Bethel, Shiloh and Goler Metropolitan AME Zion. Having conducted combined church choirs in concert, Boone somehow found time to serve on the board of directors for the W/S sympathy Orchestra.

Long active in his church, Boone has served as Moderator of the Concord and Salem Presbyteries. Currently, he is serving his second term as Moderator of the Grace Presbyterian Men’s Ministry. A lifetime member of the NAACP and a 60 year member of his fraternity, Omega Psi Phi, Boone shows few signs of being ready to stop or slow down.

Still, he has beaten the odds, overcoming a variety of physical ailments including kidney stones, bladder cancer, double-bypass heart surgery and a 4-day stay in a diabetic coma.

Acting like a man who does not know the meaning of quit or give up, Boone noted that his work is not yet finished. A certified bridge teacher and coach, he remains active in a variety of community-based social and civic organizations including the Forsyth County Emancipation Association where he recently completed a two year term as President.

“God still has something else for me to do, I suppose.

I don’t worry about these setbacks. The Lord’s still keeping me here for a reason”, he said. The recipient of numerous, honors, citations, recognitions and awards, this maestro of the music world continues to do what he set out to do so many years ago—to lead, teach and serve by example. A principal –centered man of enormous conviction, Boone’s character and moral compass can best be seen in the expression made famous by the late noted social scientist, Hannibal Afrik who said, “if we are incorrect reality will correct us. But if we are serious, we will correct ourselves”.

Looking back over a long career of public service, it’s reasonable to assume that long ago, Rudolph Boone found a way not only to correct others, but also to correct himself.

And the music he made and taught continues to linger, long after the melody has died.

By John Raye

“I have decided to stick with love, hate is too great a burden to bear”.

Martin Luther King, Jr,

January 2013 The AC Phoenix 7

Urgent: Diabetics Myth Debunked

Myth #1 You can catch diabetes from someone else No. Although we don’t know exactly why some people develop diabetes, we know diabetes isn’t contagious. It cannot be caught like a cold or the flu. There seems to be some genetic link in diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes. Lifestyle factors also play a part.

Myth #2 People with diabetes can’t eat sweets or chocolate If eaten as part of a healthy meal plan or combined with exercise, sweets and desserts can be eaten by people with diabetes. They are no more “off limits” to people with diabetes than they are to people without diabetes.

Myth #6 People with diabetes are more likely to get colds and other illnesses No. You are no more likely to get a cold or another illness if you have diabetes. However, people with diabetes are advised to get flu shots. This is because any infection interferes with your blood glucose management, putting you at risk of high blood glucose levels, which might make it difficult to fight an infection or heal a wound.

Myth #7 Insulin causes atherosclerosis -- hardening of the arteries -- and high blood pressure No, insulin does not cause atherosclerosis. In the laboratory, there is evidence that insulin can initiate some of the early processes associated with atherosclerosis. Therefore, some physicians were fearful that insulin might aggravate the development of high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries.

But it doesn’t.

Myth #3 Eating too much sugar causes diabetes No. Diabetes is caused by a combination of genetic and lifestyle factors. However, being overweight does increase your risk for developing type 2 diabetes. If you have a history of diabetes in your family, eating a healthy balance of foods and regular exercise are recommended to manage your weight.

Myth #8 Insulin causes weight gain, and because obesity is bad for you, insulin should not be taken Both the UKPDS (United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study) and the DCCT (Diabetes Control & Complications Trial) have shown that the benefit of glucose management with insulin far outweighs (no pun intended) the risk of weight gain.

Myth #4 People with diabetes should eat special diabetic foods A healthy meal plan for people with diabetes is the same as that for everyone -- balanced meals low in fat (especially saturated fats and trans fat), moderate in salt and sugar, with meals based on whole-grains, lean protein, vegetables and fruit. Diabetic and “dietetic” versions of sugar-containing foods may not offer special benefits. They still raise blood glucose levels, are usually more expensive and can also have a laxative effect if they contain sugar alcohols.

Myth #9 Fruit is a healthy food, so it’s OK to eat as much of it as you wish Fruit is a healthy food. It contains fiber and lots of vitamins and minerals, as well as carbohydrates, so it needs to be included in your meal plan. Talk to your dietitian about the amount, frequency and types of fruits you should eat.

Myth #5 If you have diabetes, you should only eat small amounts of starchy foods, such as bread, potatoes and pasta Starchy foods are part of a healthy meal plan. What is important is the portion size.

Whole-grain breads, cereals, pasta, rice and starchy vegetables like potatoes, yams, peas and corn can be included in your meals and snacks. For most people with diabetes, having three or four carbohydrate portions per meal is about right. Whole-grain starchy foods are also a good source of fiber, which helps keep your digestive system healthy.

Myth #10 You don’t need to change your diabetes regimen unless your A1C is greater than 8 percent The better your glucose control, the less likely you are to develop complications of diabetes. The A1C test measures your average blood glucose levels over several months to determine the effectiveness of your current diabetes plan. The closer your A1C is to the normal range (less than 6 percent), the lower your chances of complications.

However, the lower the A1C, the greater the risk of hypoglycemia, or very low blood sugar, especially if you have type 1 diabetes. Talk with your health care provider about the best goal for you.

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January 2013 The AC Phoenix 11

Columbine Student’s Father 12 YearsLater Guess our national leaders didn’t expect this. On Thursday, Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott, a victim of ...the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton, Colorado, was invited to address the House Judiciary Committee’s subcommittee. What he said to our national leaders during this special session of Congress was painfully truthful.

They were not prepared for what he was to say, nor was it received well. It needs to be heard by every parent, every teacher, every politician, every sociologist, every psychologist, and every socalled expert! These courageous words spoken by Darrell Scott are powerful, penetrating, and deeply personal. There is no doubt that God sent this man as a voice crying in the wilderness. The following is a portion of the transcript:

Now gunshots fill our classrooms, And precious children die.

You seek for answers everywhere, And ask the question “Why?” You regulate restrictive laws, Through legislative creed.

And yet you fail to understand, That God is what we need!

“Men and women are three-part beings.

We all consist of body, mind, and spirit.

When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and wreak havoc. Spiritual presences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation’s history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact.

“Since the dawn of creation there has been both good & evil in the hearts of men and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other eleven children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers.

What has happened to us as a nation?

We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine’s tragedy occurs -politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties. We do not need more restrictive laws.

“The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used.. Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain’s heart.

Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts.

“In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA - because I don’t believe that they are responsible for my daughter’s death. Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel’s murder I would be their strongest opponent.

I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy -- it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies!

Much of the blame lies here in this room.

Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. I wrote a poem just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best.

Your laws ignore our deepest needs, Your words are empty air.

You’ve stripped away our heritage, You’ve outlawed simple prayer.

“As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes, he did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right! I challenge every young person in America , and around the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation that violates your God-given right to communicate with Him. To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA -- I give to you a sincere challenge.. Dare to examine your own heart before casting the first stone!

My daughter’s death will not be in vain!

The young people of this country will not allow that to happen!”

- Darrell Scott “What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.”

12 The AC Phoenix January 2013

What Every Black Man Should Be Doing To Protect His Heart

A little weight training may go a long way toward helping improve the heart health of black men, new research suggests.

It’s here…A Mobile Income Tax Service!

By John Raye

[continued from front page] Rapid advances in technology have made it possible for Comprotax to expand its mobile business beyond the normal brick and mortar business. Now celebrating 31 years in the income tax industry, the company has expanded its services to 26 states with more than 225 franchise offices.

“With our Mobile Division we can meet our clients anywhere at anytime. We are in business to provide comfort and convenience for our clients”, said Fulton. “We are just a phone call away...and we provide complete, professional income tax service”, he noted.

The following preparers are members of the Comprotax Mobile Income Tax Division.

Just six weeks of resistance exercise appears to have a positive impact on the blood levels Call for immediate and professional income tax service: of key indicators for inflammation, immune response and/or artery shape among black men. Such indicators, or “markers,” are known to rise in conjunction with tissue damage, William Fulton: 336- 767-4182 infection and stress. But after weight training, levels of two of the markers dropped in Jean Williams: 336-749-7313 these patients, the researchers found.

However, while the association was observed among black men it was not found among white exercisers. This caveat tracked an earlier finding by the same research team that showed that while black men who lifted weights experienced a drop in an important post-injury/infection inflammation marker known as C-reactive protein, white men did not.

“This suggests that resistance exercise training is more beneficial in young African-American men than in [white] men of the same age,” Bo Fernhall, dean of the College of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), said in a university news release.

Fernhall, who led the study as a professor in the department of kinesiology and community health at UIC’s Urbana-Champaign campus, and colleagues reported their findings online recently in the Journal of Human Hypertension.

The researchers noted that in the United States, cardiovascular disease — particularly in the form of high blood pressure (or hypertension), stroke and kidney disease — is more prevalent among blacks than whites.

“Higher blood pressures in African-American children have been shown as young as 8 to 10 years of age,” Fernhall said. “So there’s obviously something going on that predisposes the African-American population to end-stage disease, hypertension and stroke and the more debilitating diseases later on in life.”

The focus of the current investigation was on indicators in the blood that signal arterial trouble, including one involved in blood vessel remodeling and one that signals oxidative stress.

Levels of both dropped among black men who lifted weights. Study co-author Marc Cook, a UIC doctoral student, pointed out that this builds on prior research that has shown that aerobic activity also helps to lower levels of oxidative stress markers. “[So] if you don’t like cardiovascular exercise, if you don’t like running on a treadmill, if you can’t play basketball or you’re not good at it, you can lift weights and improve your health, especially when it comes to high blood pressure,” Cook said. “If you just want to lift weights and you do it on a regular basis, you could improve your function.”

While the study found an association between cardiovascular health and weight training in black men, it did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship.

I Too Have A Dream

BY Dwight Jones [continued from front page] a check that has come back marked insufficient funds. Currently forty six years later the deposit to cash that check is still missing from the federal budget.

Consequently the majority of African Americans continues to live on a “lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity” throughout this country and they are stilll judged by the color of their skin, rather than the content of their

character.

Dr Ernie Wade: 336-391-4136 JoAnn Agnew: 336-749-7313 Sabrina Gist: 336-995-1082 Rosie Smith: 336-782-8383.

“We are always available…and just a phone call away”.

January 2013 The AC Phoenix 13 I lean towards the view that it is a very tragic thing for young people, children to grow up in association, communication with only people of their own race.

Prejudices develop from the very beginning because of this. Narrow provincial views emerge because of this. I think the only way to break this kind of provincialism is to bring people together on a level of genuine intergroup and interpersonal living. I do not think we can afford to wait until all the problems of residential segregation are solved before we grapple with the problem of segregation in educational institutions. Therefore, I lean towards the idea that segregation must be removed from schools all over the country. For I do not think that the residential segregation must be used as an excuse for the perpetuation of segregation in educational institutions.

Dr. King also saw the academic benefits provided by integrated schools. In a speech he gave in 1968 entitled “The Other America,” he stated:

Dr. King’s Unfulfilled Dream of School Integration

By Greg Groves and Philip Tegeler America’s Wire Writers Group

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. believed in the transformative power of school integration. He would be dismayed by America’s present day paradox: the rapidly expanding racial diversity of our society accompanied by the increasing segregation of our urban schools.

Dr. King’s commitment to school integration was ultimately animated by the desire to transform this nation into a “beloved community.” His vision of the beloved community is often associated with the elements of inclusivity, interrelatedness, love, justice, compassion, responsibility, shared power, and a respect for all people. The concept of the beloved community was originally articulated by 19th century theologian-philosopher Josiah Royce. As opposed to “natural communities” which are ruled by selfishness and the destruction of others, Royce proposed that the ideal “beloved community” is ruled by loyalty and truth. Royce’s theory was prominent in the curriculum of Dr. King’s Alma Mater, the Boston University Theological Seminary.

In order to develop such a society, King argued that various elements within America needed to be deconstructed and altered. He once stated, “Our goal is to create a beloved community and this will require a qualitative change in our souls as well as a quantitative change in our lives.”

In Dr. King’s view, segregation was diametrically opposed to his ultimate goal of creating this beloved community. He once asserted, “With every ounce of our energy, we must continue to rid this nation of the incubus of segregation...This is the only way to create the beloved community.” Segregation is inconsistent with a beloved community because it short-circuits any form of true interrelatedness, fragmenting Dr. King’s vision of a “single garment of destiny.”

Dr. King constantly talked about the evils of segregation, both in the broader social arena and in the context of K-12 education. The civil rights leader summarized his analysis of the harms of segregation in his writing, The Ethical Demands for Integration.

In this essay, Dr. King first distinguishes between desegregation and integration. While desegregation, he says, is the elimination of a negative, integration is the affirmative acceptance and implementation of a positive. In a desegregated society, people of different races could be physically near one another, yet spiritually oceans apart. He goes on to argue that segregation hinders human connectivity, curbs liberty, infringes upon the innate sacredness of humanity, and injures the spirit of both the segregated and segregator. He states, “It scars the soul and distorts the personality. It inflicts the segregator with a false sense of superiority while instilling the segregated with a false sense of inferiority.”

Moreover, Dr. King also spoke of the evils of “de facto” school segregation because he saw the detrimental affect it had on the next generation’s social interconnectedness and educational and attainment. Concerning the issue of social interconnectedness, when asked about the controversial issue of busing in a 1963 interview, King answered:

In this other America, thousands of young people are deprived of an opportunity to get an adequate education. Every year, thousands finish high school reading at a 7th, 8th, and sometimes 9th grade reading level. Not because they’re dumb. Not because they do not have native intelligence. But, because the schools are so inadequate, so over-crowded, so devoid of quality, so segregated - if you will - that the best of these minds never come out.

Clearly, Dr. King saw segregation as one of the root causes of the unfulfilled intellectual/academic potential of so many black children. Now that over half a century has passed since Brown v Board, numerous studies have confirmed that one of the best ways to improve the academic outcomes of poor minority students is to provide them with a racially and socioeconomically diverse school setting.

As we reflect on Dr. King’s vision of the beloved community and the current state of education in America, one cannot help but be filled with a spirit of dissatisfaction. Schools are almost as segregated now as they were back in Dr. King’s day. While accolades rightly go towards educational programs like the Harlem’s Children’s Zone and other reforms that improve educational outcomes for low income children in segregated schools, we imagine that Dr. King would have wanted to go further.

As groups like the National Coalition on School Diversity have demonstrated, school integration is still an achievable dream. Many school districts and inter-district programs around the country are successfully implementing school integration programs, in spite of lukewarm federal support. On this anniversary of Dr. King’s birth, we should rededicate ourselves to this policy goal that was at the heart of his vision for an inclusive and just society.

(Gregory Groves is a senior at Princeton University. Philip Tegeler is Executive Director of the Poverty & Race Research Action Council, a civil rights policy organization in Washington, DC. America’s Wire is an independent, nonprofit news service run by the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education. Our stories can be republished free of charge by newspapers, websites and other media sources. For more information, visit www.americaswire.org or contact Michael K. Frisby at mike@frisbyassociates.com. )

14 The AC Phoenix January 2013

How to Offer Comfort to Someone Who Is Dying It’s one of the most dreaded pieces of news we can receive—a friend or loved one is dying. How you respond to the situation can affect not only the person’s death but also your own eventual grieving process.

But few of us have much experience in being with someone who is dying. What should we say—and not say? What if the prospect of a visit seems overwhelming? Whether your loved one has months or just days to live, here’s what helps most…

PLANNING THE VISIT Anxiety about visiting a dying friend or relative is very normal. Death can arouse uneasiness and worry about how the person will have changed—particularly if you have not seen him/her for some time.

But if you can, go ahead and visit. The fact that you care enough to overcome your discomfort will mean a great deal to your friend or relative. And the fact that you got to visit or say good-bye to your loved one before he died may help you avoid any regrets.

During visits, one of the most important messages we can convey to a dying person is a sense of what has not changed—that deep down inside, your loved one is still the same wonderful friend, beloved brother or cousin.

To maintain that sense of connection, remember that dying doesn’t change your fundamental relationship. Be who you are—don’t act differently or phony.

If humor has been a big part of your relationship, don’t stop now. If you and the ill person typically talked about sports, then it’s fine to mention a recent game.

If you’re the kind of friends who got together once a month, resist the temptation to visit every other day—others may have the same idea, putting a burden on the dying person and caregivers.

To maximize your time with the person: A good rule of thumb is to increase the frequency of your get-togethers by half—for example, every two weeks instead of every three.

Ask caregivers about the frequency of visits. They will know what other visits are planned and can gauge the dying person’s condition and mood. Always call, text or e-mail the caregiver (depending on the method of contact he prefers) before you come.

If you are living with a dying person, recognize that he may become quiet and introspective and may not want a lot of conversation or communication with you. Pay attention to signals.

WHAT TO SAY At the end of life, it’s common for the dying person to focus less on physical infirmities (assuming pain is controlled) and increasingly on emotional and spiritual concerns and worries about those being left behind.

What helps: Rather than asking, “How are you feeling?” a gentle query such as “How are things?” is often a more appropriate opening. Also, you may want to ask, “Is there anything you’d like to talk about?” If the person doesn’t wish to talk, don’t persist. If you don’t know what to say, you can praise the person, if it seems appropriate. “I really admire how you’re handling your illness. I don’t think I could deal with it with such dignity.”

Also helpful: If words fail you at the moment, don’t be afraid of silence. If it’s appropriate to your relationship, put your hand on the other person’s. Touch can be more eloquent than speech.

Important: If the dying person is in a phase of denial about his impending death, be compassionate and do not try to break through with the truth. For example, if your brother talks about joining you at the family beach house, there’s no need to tell him that he won’t be going. Instead, validate the feeling behind his wish. “What a delightful place! We’ve always had so much fun there, haven’t we?” You can then reminisce about the happy times you shared there.

SHOW HOW YOU FEEL You may think that you need to put on a brave face. But the fact is, you’re sad about the person’s impending death, so you won’t fool anyone by acting otherwise. Even worse, it could leave the impression that you don’t care.

What helps: Let yourself cry. Don’t worry that if you cry the dying person will start crying, too. Perhaps he will, but there’s nothing wrong with crying together.

Important: Avoid the temptation to shelter children from these painful emotions. How else can they learn to grieve and cope with such situations later in their lives?

You can take children to visit a dying person. If excluded, they often imagine something far worse than reality. Exception: Avoid taking children to the intensive care unit (ICU). Many hospitals do not allow anyone under age 12 in an ICU, and children tend to get frightened of the medical equipment and machines.

CAN YOU FACE IT? If you feel that you just can’t face the prospect of being with someone who is dying, stay home. Uncontrolled sobbing won’t help anyone.

If you’re not able to visit: Send cards, letters and e-mails showing that you care.

Think of practical ways that you can ease the burden on the dying and the caregivers—for example, shop for food or cut the lawn. Leave a pot of tulips on the person’s doorstep with a heartfelt message written in a card. Or drop off a CD of music that you know the dying person likes.

YOUR GIFTS TO THE DYING As most people prepare to leave the world, they look back and need to know— has my life made a difference? Whether you’re a son or daughter or friend, let the person know how he has enriched your life.

What helps: You can say: “You’ve taught me so much,” “Remember all the great times we had?” You can also put together an album of photos recalling your life together.

And contrary to one common myth, it’s fine to recognize that life will go on after the person is gone. You can tell him that his loved ones will take care of one another and that their shared memories will be a continuing source of strength.

Also: As time grows short, most people have a final need—to convey the wisdom they’ve acquired during a lifetime. Listen. You also might want to write down or tape-record these remarks.

Source: Maggie Callanan, RN, who has specialized in the care of the dying for more than 30 years. She is author of Final Journeys: A Practical Guide for Bringing Care and Comfort at the End of Life and coauthor, with Patricia Kelley, of Final Gifts: Understanding the Special Awareness, Needs, and Communications of the Dying (both from Bantam).

The 12 Most Common Senior Health Problems A lot of our elders are coping with at least one of the following conditions, and many are dealing with two or more of the following: 1.Heart conditions (hypertension, vascular disease, congestive heart failure, high blood pressure and coronary artery disease) 2.Dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease 3.Depression 4.Incontinence (urine and stool) 5.Arthritis 6.Osteoporosis 7.Diabetes 8.Breathing problems 9.Frequent falls, which can lead to fractures 10.Parkinson’s disease 11.Cancer 12.Eye problems (cataracts, glaucoma, Macular Degeneration)

As the body changes, other things to be aware of are: ■A slowed reaction time, which is especially important when judging if a person can drive.

■Thinner skin, which can lead to breakdowns and wounds that don’t heal quickly ■A weakened immune system, which can make fighting off viruses, bacteria and diseases difficult ■Diminished sense of taste or smell, especially for smokers, which can lead to diminished appetite and dehydration The list can seem daunting. However, with proper care, aging adults can have a life filled with joy

“Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness”.

Martin Luther King, Jr

January 2013 The AC Phoenix 15