BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF GREAT AFRICAN AMERICANS
BATON
ROUGE,
LOUISIANA
SERVING BAKER, CENTRAL, AND ZACHARY A PEOPLE’S PUBLICATION
THURSDAY, JANUARY 6-12, 2019
Mayor Broome Announces Results of January 2020 Operation Fresh Start
VOL. 43 • NO.08 • FREE
BLACK HISTORY
The Baton Rouge Bus
BOYCOTT
Tiffany Foxworth A Champion And Trailblazer for Justice
Tiffany L. Foxworth candidate for 19th Judicial District Court, Judge
Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome
BATON ROUGE, LA — The Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome announced the results of the January 2020 installment of Operation Fresh Start, the mayor’s parish-wide litter abatement and beautification campaign. This quarters Operation Fresh Start began on Saturday, January 18, with a volunteer-led community cleanup effort at several locations across East Baton Rouge Parish. This quarter’s Operation Fresh Start was held in partnership with the 2020 MLK Fest, a week-long event sponsored by the non-profit, The Walls Project, intended to revitalize and reactivate neighborhoods in Baton Rouge through the support of volunteers. More than 3,500 volunteers championed community cleanups in an effort to reduce blight and remove litter in highly visible corridors. The Mayor’s office also partners with Keep Baton Rouge Beautiful, the local non-profit serving as the principle anti-litter organization in the greater Baton Rouge region. “We continue to be aggressive about addressing blight in our community, and with the support of non-profits, businesses and volunteers we can have an even more significant impact on improving the appearance and quality of place of all of East Baton Rouge Parish,” said Mayor-President Broome. “These quarterly Operation Fresh Start beautification efforts not only show our commitment to eliminating litter and reducing blight, but they also bring together this community around a common cause that is a driving force for positive change.” Between Jan. 20 and Jan. 27, East Baton Rouge Public Works
The Free Ride System. Ritchie, Ernest (Photographer)
The 1953 Baton Rouge Bus Boycott was an Organized, Eight-Day Long Protest of the Segregated Seating System on City Buses. BY CHRISTINA MELTON In Baton Rouge organized the first large-scale boycott of a southern city’s segregated bus system. When the leader of the boycott, Rev. T. J. Jemison, struck a deal with the city’s leadership after five days without gaining substantial improvements for black riders, many participants felt Jemison capitulated too quickly. However, the boycott made national headlines and inspired civil rights leaders across the South. Two and a half years later, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. conferred with Jemison about tactics used in Baton Rouge, and King applied those lessons when
planning the bus boycott that ultimately defeated segregation in Montgomery, Alabama, and drew major media attention to the injustices of Jim Crow laws. Long-Simmering Resentment Baton Rouge’s black community had a particular grievance against the municipal bus service. In 1950 the financially stressed city bus company won an exclusive contract for service in Baton Rouge after successfully lobbying the city council to revoke the licenses of nearly forty competing African American-owned bus services that transported black residents from their neighborhoods to jobs and businesses. Three years later, the council approved a fare increase from ten to fifteen cents for the stillstruggling bus company. In 1953 African American residents of Baton Rouge faced daily reminders of the hold white supremacy had over their lives. One-third were unemployed, and most of those with jobs earned low wages as domestic workers or unskilled laborers. But several important factors made race relations in Baton Rouge different
Rev. T. J. Jemison with Martin Luther King, Jr. Ritchie, Ernest (Photographer)
from other southern cities. Just north of the city was Southern University, a nexus for African American political organization, legal education, and economic development. Adjacent
to the university campus, the sizable black middle-class community of Scotlandville was made up of educated professionals, business owners, skilled laborSee BOYCOTT, on page 2
See FRESH START, on page 3
Tiffany Foxworth, #218, candidate for 19th Judicial District Court, Judge, Division M, in the April 4, 2020 election (early voting March 21-28, 2020). She has dedicated over 27 years to public service as an attorney, registered nurse and US Army Veteran. She is a graduate of Southern University School of Nursing and Southern University Law Center, who immediately began the practice of law in the private sector to be a champion for civil rights, justice and equality. Tiffany Foxworth has worked in the community her entire legal career. She has represented hundreds of litigants in criminal, family, probate, adoption, and civil matters all within the jurisdiction of the court, in which she seeks to serve. As a lawyer, she has witnessed injustice and disparity in particular to people of color. She voices, she’s most proud to have represented a young man on a pro-bono basis who was wrongfully arrested and charged with second degree murder and attempted second degree murder. The jury ultimately found him not guilty on all charges in less than 30 minutes. Although, legally people are presumed innocent until proven guilty, this young man spent two years in jail while awaiting trial for crimes he did not commit simply because he couldn’t afford bail. Tiffany Foxworth also represented the family of a young child who was sexually abused for years by a family friend. By contrast, this predator was set free by the system that was designed to protect innocent children. As a result, this predator was set free and subsequently molested and killed a child. Throughout her career, she’s witnessed the system fail mothers and children time and time again. Her number one goal is to protect those who are most vulnerable such as children, women and the elderly. Tiffany Foxworth seeks to See FOXWORTH, on page 6
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INDEX
The Southwestern Athletic Conference has announced a new date for the upcoming 100th Year Anniversary Gala. The event which was initially slated to be held on Saturday, July 18th will now be held on Friday, July 17th....See Page 6
FELLOWS PROGRAM
EVANGELISM: THE BELIEVER'S CALL
NO TO CASHLESS SHOPS
Gov. John Bel Edwards opened the application process for the 2020 Governor’s Fellows Program in Louisiana Government. ..See Page 3
Oftentimes, the more we surrender to God, the greater our ability to see His hand in our life. And the more we watch Him work, the stronger our desire to share with others all that He has done...See Page 4
After almost 10 minutes of standing in line at a coffee shop, Ritchie Torres realized he only had cash in his pocket — a form of payment no longer accepted by this store.... See Page 5
State & Local...................... 2 - 3 Religion....................................4 Business....................................5 Classifieds.................................5 Sports.......................................6
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The Baton Rouge Bus Boycott ers, industrial workers, and teachers, whose union status or employment with national corporations provided a modicum of security. In addition, African American veterans of World War II had organized a successful Negro Chamber of Commerce and voters’ leagues. Baton Rouge also had the young Jemison, hired in 1949 as pastor of Mt. Zion First Baptist Church, the largest black church in Louisiana. His father was president of the National Baptist Convention, the nation’s largest and most prestigious African American organization, with more than six million members. A New Order By mid-February 1953, the same day the bus company had asked the city council for a fare increase, Jemison made a bold and unusual appearance before the allwhite council. He appealed for the right of black passengers, who paid the same fare as whites, to sit down when seats were available. One month later, with the bus company’s support, the city council unanimously approved Ordinance 222, which changed the segregated seating policy to a model already in place in some southern cities. Riders would fill the bus on a “first come, first served” basis, blacks from the back and whites from the front. Best of all for the bus company, buses with empty white sections would not have to pass up paying black riders. Bus drivers immediately received a directive about the new policy, but Ordinance 222 was not enforced for three months. The drivers refused to comply. By mid-June black leaders met quietly with city leaders to appeal for action, and after receiving assurance that the law would be enforced, B. J. Stanley, head of the local National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and Jemison wrote and
Community Organized Free Ride. Ritchie, Ernest (Photographer)
distributed a flier advising black riders of their rights and what to do if bus drivers or police officers challenged them. Still, many African American riders did not know the new policy was on the books. Martha White, a twenty-threeyear-old housekeeper, walked miles every day to her bus stop, stood on the bus, worked on her feet all day, and then had to endure the exhausting return trip home late in the evening. On June 15, 1955, White’s bus was full of standing black passengers, and the “white” seats in the front were available. Worn out from her daily routine, White sat down behind the driver, explaining that she would get up if a white passenger boarded the bus. The driver ordered her out of the seat. Another African American woman sat down next to White and urged the other riders to stick together and remain on the bus. The driver threatened to have the women arrested and summoned police. That morning Jemison had been cruising downtown streets, ready to test the ordinance himself. Seeing the police by the bus, he stopped to find out what was
happening. When he informed the police officer that White was within her rights, the bus driver ejected Jemison from the bus. H. D. Cauthen, the bus company manager, then arrived and ordered the driver to obey the city council’s ordinance, but the driver refused and Cauthen suspended him. The bus drivers’ union responded with a walkout. According to Adam Fairclough, a historian of the civil rights movement in Louisiana, the drivers “saw it as the African American community wielding political muscle and the white community giving in to that kind of political pressure.” The drivers claimed in official statements to be looking out for the rights of white riders, but public opinion in the press criticized the drivers and supported the city council’s actions. “This silly strike is sending Louisiana back to the days of King Cotton,” wrote one reader. “This is a progressive state and I hope the company fires all the drivers who don’t want to comply with the laws of the people.” After four days of striking, union leaders turned to State At-
torney General Fred Leblanc, who overturned the ordinance, ruling that it violated Louisiana’s segregation laws. The June 18 decision that ended the drivers’ strike galvanized the African American community. Black leaders formed the United Defense League (UDL), with Jemison elected as president. The UDL board of directors included church leaders, officers of the First and Second Ward Voters Leagues, Esso (oil company) employees, and local educators. At a packed meeting called that night, participants vowed to stay out all night, knocking on doors and informing community members to stay off the buses the next day. To spread the word quickly, UDL secretary Raymond Scott made an announcement that night on WLCS radio, the city’s most popular station—ironically, a white-owned radio station. Scott appealed to black residents to refuse to ride city buses until the law was changed, and he announced that a carpool service would be available the next morning. By the first light of day, when city buses approached, black people waiting for rides would turn their backs. African Americans who owned automobiles would pick up anyone needing a ride and take them where they needed to go. The UDL’s nightly meetings during the boycott drew thousands of people, and organizers collected thousands
from page 1
of dollars to support the action. Gas station owner Horatio Thompson, the first black man in the South to operate an Esso service station franchise, did his part by selling gas to boycotters at cost. Within four days, the bus company manager was quoted in the press as saying the boycott was a hundred percent effective. “A continuation of this loss,” he said, “will ultimately mean we will have to cease operations.” The historian Fairclough notes, “The sheer fact that they could boycott the buses for a week and do this in a very disciplined way was an example, and it showed that white supremacy was … simply not going to be accepted by black people in the South. … A revelation in consciousness was evolving.” Compromise or Capitulation? With the Baton Rouge Bus Company facing financial collapse (more than 80 percent of its riders were African American), events took a dangerously serious turn. African American leaders and city council members were receiving death threats. As boycott counsel Johnnie Jones drove his car across a set of railroad tracks, two other drivers intentionally trapped him there, with a train approaching, but eventually released him. See BOYCOTT, on page 5
CELEBRATONS
2020: BATON ROUGE & ACADIANA PARADE SCHEDULE Of course, New Orleans goes big for Mardi Gras season. But, you can’t forget about the rest of southern Louisiana! Baton Rouge and Acadiana Parishes celebrate the Carnival season with their own Mardi Gras 2020 parade schedule. So, pack up your king cakes and to-go cups. Mardi Gras 2020 is Tuesday, Feb. 25 and these are all of the parades you need to catch leading up to the big day.
BLACK
Note: We will add updates to this parade schedule as we receive them. If you know of parade schedule news, tell us here.
HISTORY MONTH
Here is the Mardi Gras 2020 parade schedule for Baton Rouge and Acadiana areas.
Celebrating The Achievements Of Great African American
.Saturday, February 8 Krewe of Oshun – North Baton Rouge, 12:00 p.m. This brand new brand debuts in North Baton Rouge. It is the first parade to roll in the area and one of the newest parades to join the city’s lineup in a decade. A festival follows the parade. The Krewe of Oshun enters the parade scene with the theme: “Wakanda Now: Celebration, Prosperity and Expansion. Route (MAP): The parade rolls on Howell Boulevard. Friday, February 14
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Krewe de Canailles Walking Parade – Downtown Lafayette, 7:00 p.m. This year, the Krewe de Canailles celebrates its third run through Downtown Lafayette. This walking parade is comprised of individual subkrewes, so any group of people can join. Their only rules: floats must be man-powered and throws should be eco-friendly. Route (MAP): The Krewe de Canailles begins on Cypress Street, rides down Jefferson Street and ends off of Garfield Street. Krewe of Artemis – Downtown Baton Rouge, 7:00 p.m. This krewe was founded in 2001 with the vision of bringing the Mardi Gras spirit and tradition to the Baton Rouge community with a female twist. Named after the Greek daughter of Leto and Zeus, Krewe of Artemis rolls in downtown Baton Rouge for its 19th year. Route (MAP): The Krewe of Artemis roll across a large chunk of downtown on streets such as, River Road, Government Street, Main Street and Laurel Street. Saturday, February 15 Carencro Mardi Gras Parade – Upper Lafayette, 11:00 a.m. This is Canencro Mardi Gras Parade’s 37th year of riding. The Carencro parade is a family friendly event and a highlight of the Mardi Gras season in the upper Lafayette area.
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SU Ag Center Set for the 10th Annual Louisiana Small Farmer Conference Baton Rouge, La. – For a decade, the Southern University Ag Center’s Louisiana Small Farmers Conference has provided the state’s small agricultural producers with strategies and information on the latest educational tools and resources to help them stay in business. This year’s conference themed, “Investing In Your Small Farm Business,” will be held at Southern University’s Felton G. Clark Activity Center from March 18-21. Two pre-conference sessions will be held on Wednesday, March 18. Participants will have the option of attending either a Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training or a Louisiana HEMP Summit on this day. The conference will officially begin on Thursday, March 19. Natalie Baszile, author of the Louisiana based novel “Queen Sugar” will be the keynote speaker on Friday, March 20th. Baszile is an award-winning author whose works have appeared in O, The Oprah Magazine; The Rumpus.net; the Lenny Letter; and The Best Women’s Travel Writing, Volume 9. She is best known for her book, Queen Sugar, which writer/ director Ava DuVernay and Oprah Winfrey have adapted into a television series for Winfrey’s televi-
sion network, OWN. The book was nominated for an NAACP Image Award, was listed on the Crooks Corner Southern Book Prize and was named one of the Best Books of 2014 by the San Francisco Chronicle. Natalie has an M.A. in AfroAmerican Studies from UCLA and is a graduate of Warren Wilson College’s MFA Program for Writers. The conference will also include a grant writing panel, networking opportunities, an exhibit hall, and the Louisiana Living Legends Luncheon, which honors individuals who have made significant contributions to Southern University in the areas of Agriculture, Family and Consumer Sciences. Limited complimentary registration for small farmers is available until February 28, 2020. After this date, the registration fee for the conference will be $75 for small farmers. The fee for agricultural professionals is $100. All fees should be made payable to the Southern University Foundation – ANR Programs in the form of a check or money order. On-site registration will begin See AG CENTER, on page 5
Fresh Start from page 1 crews aggressively cleared litter and blight throughout the parish. Last month’s Operation Fresh Start produced the following results: • 219.8 tons (439,600 lbs.) of trash and debris collected and disposed • 1,099 abandoned tires in the public right-of-way collected and disposed • 514 illegally placed signs collected and disposed • 165 trash and debris piles collected and disposed • 678 bags of trash collected by volunteers Additionally, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) participated in Operation Fresh Start by cleaning along the Interstate 10 and 110
corridors. DOTD also cleared trash along state highways and unclogged 110 drains of debris. Republic Services also joined the program by supporting cleanup efforts and providing equipment and supplies for the volunteer cleanup. Since it began in July 2018, Operation Fresh Start has netted the collection of over 1,065 tons of trash and debris, the disposal of 9,376 illegally abandoned tires, and nearly 3,800 bags of trash. The next installment of Operation Fresh Start will take place in the second quarter of 2020. For more information, contact Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Rowdy Gaudet at 225-389-5109.
Gov. Edwards Opens Applications for Governor's Fellows Program BATON ROUGE — Gov. John Bel Edwards opened the application process for the 2020 Governor’s Fellows Program in Louisiana Government. The program is an opportunity for college and university students to experience public policy in action, learn the rich history and current affairs of Louisiana government, and earn three hours of academic credit. "Since we began the fellowship program three years ago, its success has cultivated and inspired the next generation of leaders in Louisiana," Gov. Edwards said. "I encourage all college-aged students to apply if they have a sincere interest in better understanding how state government works to serve the citizens of our great state and learning how they can help our state move forward. Louisiana's young people are the future, and I'm looking forward to meeting the next group of leaders who will lead our state and our country." Fellows will be assigned to cabinet-level agencies to observe first-hand how the governor leads and how policies are developed, advanced and implemented. Fellows will also participate in a weekly speaker series and take field trips designed to enhance the overall experience and understanding of Louisiana government and current affairs. The program is open to all students currently attending a Louisiana higher education institution as well as Louisiana residents enrolled in out-ofstate colleges and universities. Fellows will be chosen based on students' commitment to leadership, public service and good government. Participating students will receive housing on the Baton Rouge campus of Louisiana State University (LSU) for the duration of the fellowship, a stipend up to $1,500 and three credit hours through the LSU Public Administration Institute. The governor’s fellows program is a partnership between the Office of the
G o v e r n o r, the Lamar Family, Louisiana State University, Southern University and the Baton Rouge Area Foundation. Gov. John Z o e Bel Edwards Williamson, an alumna of the 2017 inaugural fellows class who is now enrolled in George Washington University's Masters Program, said the program has allowed her to excel professionally. "The skills I learned and the connections I made as a fellow have helped me find a job right out of college that I was excited about. As a communications fellow, the program gave me greater context for the communications and political work that I am now doing every day in Washington D.C., and it made me more passionate about the work I was doing around the state of Louisiana," Williamson said. "The people I met, the skills I learned, and the experience I had in the Governors Fellows program continue to help me in my career."
The application process is open now and will close on March 4, 2020. For more information about requirements and applica-
tion procedures, follow this link https://gov.louisiana.gov/page/ governors-fellows-program-inlouisiana-government
“Those who have no record of what their forebears have accomplished lose the inspiration which comes from the teaching of biography and history.” — Carter G. Woodson
SHIRLEY CHISHOLM
BLACK
H I S TO RY
M O N T H
(1924–2005)
You don't make progress by standing on the sidelines, whimpering and complaining. You make progress by implementing ideas.
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Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by black Americans. The event stems from Negro History Week, the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans, according to history.com. Every United States president since 1976 has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month.
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FAITH
HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS by Creflo Dollar
Having friends who accept and value us is something we all want. Being around godly people who reaffirm our sense of self-worth makes life more enjoyable, yet forming and maintaining healthy friendships is something some people struggle with. A healthy relationship begins with two people who both have positive self-images, without insecurity or self-centeredness. The strongest friendships are based on Jesus Christ. A relationship can only thrive
if both people are secure in who they are in Christ; if so, then they pursue a friendship for unselfish reasons. The mindset Creflo that we need someone else Dollor to complete or fulfill us puts too much pressure on the other person to be perfect; this is an unre-
alistic expectation. A relationship with Jesus, first, constantly reminds us of His unconditional acceptance of us. He’s the only one who can truly fulfill us. “So you also are complete through your union with Christ…” (Colossians 2:10, NLT). To fulfill is to carry out or complete, to develop the full potential in someone. God can complete us better than any human being, and fill our needs better than we ever dreamed. This is because of His great love for us. God’s plans for us are good, and they definitely don’t include being alone and friendless. “For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the LORD. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11, NLT). It’s easy to have a positive selfimage and like ourselves if we see ourselves the way God sees us. The world bases its conditional acceptance of us on how well we succeed in following its ever-changing rules and standards. God, however, loves and accepts us no matter what. “… For he who touches you touches the apple of His eye”(Zechariah 2:8, NKJV). The apple of someone’s eye is someone seen as highly valuable. We matter a great deal to God. When we realize How highly He values us, we’re more likely to value ourselves more. This leads to better and wiser choices in who we choose as friends. A true friend exerts a good influence on us by words of wisdom given in love. “Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a
CHURCH DIRECTORY
friend springs from their heartfelt advice” (Proverbs 27:9, NIV). Not enough can be said about how our friends influence us. Surrounding ourselves with people who care about us and our well-being keeps us on the right path in life. Surrounding ourselves with the wrong people gets us in trouble and causes us to make bad choices. “Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits’” (1 Corinthians 15:33, NKJV). When we’re secure in our relationship with God and we know He loves us, we can love others the way He teaches us to. Godly friendships benefit and build up everyone involved. “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance” (1 Corinthians 13:47, NLT). There’s no downside to following God’s lead in our social lives. Going by His standards instead of the world’s standards allows His love to flow through us and all of our friends. To learn more about forming friendships God’s way, click on the link below for Taffi’s three-CD series, Grace-Based Relationships http://bit.ly/GraceBasedRelationships
Evangelism: Every Believer's Calling
Acts 1:6-8 (KJV) 6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Dr. Charles Stanley
One Sunday, a man approached me between services to share his story. He'd been addicted to drugs and was leading a hopeless life when he heard a Scripture verse in a sermon. He said that one passage led him to place his trust in Jesus. The man was saved, and God transformed his life. Every believer has a story. Oftentimes, the more we surrender to God, the greater our ability to see His hand in our life. And the more we watch Him work, the stronger our desire to share with others all that He has done. The same was true of the early disciples. A small crowd gathered around Jesus before His ascension. They heard His command to spread the gospel around the globe, making disciples and baptizing people from all nations. Surely this seemed like an overwhelming task for a handful of followers, but they obeyed. Their personal experiences with Christ undoubtedly motivated them to share the good news, and they also must have gained confidence from Jesus' promise of His presence and power. We, too, should be taking Christ's command seriously. One of our highest callings as believers is to tell others about Him. As was true for the early Christians, our own experience with the Savior is the most exciting and convincing story to tell. Are you passionately telling others about Christ? Loving God involves not just having a personal relationship with Jesus but also sharing Him with others. The world around you needs the power of Christ. Let the Holy Spirit guide and enable you to share effectively with those around you. For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visit www.intouch.org.
OUTREACH Advertise YourDISCIPLES Church 2032 Gore Rd, • Baton Rouge, LA 70807 Sunday Service............................... Services In The Weekly Press9:00 am Sunday School................................ 8:00 am Bible Studay.......................... Mon.7:00 pm CHURCH DIRECTORY Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the Saturday Sabbath ..................Sat. 11:00 am M
manner of some; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. - Hebrews 10:25
Church directory ads starting at $10 per week call us for details 225.775.2002 CAMPHOR MEMORIAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
8742 Scenic Highway – Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70807 Telephone: (225) 775-4106 - Fax: (225) 615-8359 Rev. Elenora Mackey Cushenberry, Th.D, Senior Pastor Rev. Tiffanie C. Postell, Associate Pastor
Rev. Elenora Mackey Cushenberry, Th.D.
Sunday School................................................................. 9:30 a.m. Worship Service............................................................ 10:55 a.m. Youth Sunday & Contemporary Worship........ 2nd Sun. 8:00 a.m. Bible Study..................................Wed. 12:00 Noon and 5:00 p.m. Prayer Ministry ...................................................... Tues 6:00 p.m.
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Bishop Thelma Pearl Senior Pastor Bishop Michael Pearl, Assistant Pastor
We Don't Count Numbers. We Make Numbers Count
Advertise with us for as little as $10 each week!
New Jerusalem Faith Fellowship 982 N 46th St, Baton Rouge, La. 70802
Hour of Power ..............................................12 Noon Each Wednesday Sunday School............................................................................ 8:00am Church Service ........................................................................... 9:00am Communion Service .............................................. 2nd Sunday 9:00am Bible Study Wednesday .............................................................7:00pm Sister/Brotherhood Meeting...................................................... 6:00pm
We believe the Bible to be the inspired and only infallible written Word of God. We believe that there is One God, eternally existent in Three Persons; God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
PASTOR DONALD A. MONTGOMERY
NEW BIRTH FULL GOSPEL MINISTRIES 1283 Rosenwald Road Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70807 Bishop I. J. Payne, Pastor
'THE NEW LIFE' Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. — 2 Corinthians 5:17
SUNDAY WORSHIP Every Sunday at 11:30 A.M.
HOLY COMMUNION
Every 3rd Sunday at 11:30 A.M.
SUNDAY SCHOOL Every Sunday at 9:30 A.M.
HOUR OF POWER
Every Friday at 12 NOON
Bishop Ernest Mills Dr. Donald Ruth, & Evangelist Yvonne MillsPastor
Radio Broadcast 1st and 3rd Sunday WXOK at 8:00am
NEW HOPE BAPTIST CHURCH 5856 Greenwell Springs Road • Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70806 Telephone: (225) 926-0246 • Facsimile: (225) 925-8022 Toll Free: 888-700-6174 Websites: www.newhopebr.com Rev. Leo Cyrus Sr., Pastor
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BUSINESS DIRECTORY A Guide to Local Businesses Serving the Community To Advertise your Business in the Business Directory, PLEASE CALL (225) 775-2002 TODAY!
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BUSINESS
Cities And States Are Saying No To Cashless Shops After almost 10 minutes of standing in line at a coffee shop, Ritchie Torres realized he only had cash in his pocket — a form of payment no longer accepted by this store. "It was a humiliating experience," he said. "I remember wondering aloud, how could a business refuse to accept cash, which is legal tender?" Torres is a City Council member in New York. He says his constituents, especially seniors, have also complained about a spurt of cashless stores. So Torres led the charge on a bill to ban businesses from rejecting cash, which New York's city leaders passed almost unanimously last month. A similar ban is slated for a hearing in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 13. In the past year, Philadelphia, San Francisco and the state of New Jersey have also banned cashless stores — a rare case of governments fighting a tech trend before it spreads far. Massachusetts has required establishments to accept cash since 1978. "A cashless economy is not an inclusive economy," said Tazra Mitchell, policy director at the re-
A sign alerts customers that cash is not accepted at a shop in San Francisco last year. The city subsequently banned businesses from rejecting cash.
search and advocacy group DC Fiscal Policy Institute. Excluding people from paying with cash means "essentially discriminating against people who are low-income, people who are homeless, also undocumented," she said.
Getting a credit or debit card often requires a form of ID, a utility or another bill, money to deposit and a financial history. Mitchell said that in Washington, D.C., nearly a third of residents rely on cash every day because they don't have a card or even a
bank account. In fact, as cities have cracked down on the cashless economy and spurred new conversations about whom it leaves out, some of the biggest names that tried
get seats for the people, and once we accomplished that, what else was there for us to get?” Short-lived as it was, the Baton Rouge civil rights action nevertheless made national headlines. The New York Times declared, “Bus Boycott Effective,” and widely circulated African American newspapers like the Chicago Defender and the Pittsburgh Courier spread the news that twenty thousand black riders had boldly challenged segregation practices on Louisiana buses. Many lessons learned in Baton Rouge were put to work in Montgomery and in subsequent bus boycotts around the country. The Baton Rouge action showed that direct, peaceful protest could be effective if it was well organized and the cause appealed universally to the black community. One of the most important ele-
ments of the 1953 bus boycott was the emergence of religious leaders as protest organizers. Previously, much of the battle for civil rights had been waged in the courts, led by attorneys for the NAACP or unions. This boycott started from the grassroots and was led by a dynamic African American minister, imparting an air of righteousness to the struggle and conveying a kind of respectability on the protest that was afforded a greater degree of respect by whites. Furthermore, even though the threat of bloodshed existed, the boycott was resolved without violence. The boycott’s most significant impact was perhaps psychological: it demonstrated that change was possible, and it served as a steppingstone toward one of the most significant social revolutions in history.
See CASHLESS, on page 6
Boycott from page 2 On the evening of June 22 more than seven thousand African American citizens gathered in Baton Rouge’s municipal stadium. “We don’t have to ride the buses. There’s nothing wrong with our feet!” they shouted. “We’ll keep walking!” On June 23 Jemison announced he had reached an agreement with the city council, and the boycott was over. On June 24 the city council passed Ordinance 251 stipulating that the bus company would reduce the number of reserved “white” seats, but in exchange, the “first-come, first served” practice was ended, and black riders would have to remain standing even if seats in the whites-only area were available. Jemison’s acceptance of the compromise came as a complete surprise, even to UDL board members. Many in the black community felt betrayed by the deal. Some participants interviewed more than fifty years
later still expressed anger over the boycott’s abrupt end, insisting the protestors could have accomplished more, while others believed that, at the time, the white establishment was not ready to make further concessions. Furthermore, because they were engaging in the first large-scale public transit boycott, the protest leaders had no way to predict the white community’s response to a full-fledged challenge to segregation. Jemison later stated that his personal ambitions outweighed the boycott’s potential consequences: “My father was president of the National Baptist Convention. I didn’t go to the end in desegregation. I stayed on the side where I could become president of the National Baptist Convention, which I did. I wasn’t trying to end segregation. We started the boycott simply to
Ag Center from page 3
at 8 a.m. daily during the conference. Agricultural exhibitors are welcome to participate. To register online, visit http://www.suagcenter.com/ form/smallfarms. Exhibitors can register at http://www. suagcenter.com/form/exhibitor-registration-for-the-10thannual-louisiana-small-farmerconference. For additional information contact Zanetta Augustine at 225-771-2591 or via e-mail at zanetta_augustine@suagcenter.com.
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FIND IT ALL IN THE CLASSIFIEDS Architect (Baton Rouge, LA). Provide support to lead architect in dsgn, selection, coord, detailing of architectural dsgns, materials & systs. Devel docs for schematic dsgn review, permitting, construction. BS or higher, Architecture. In depth knowledge or academic background in: AutoCAD, Revit, Rhino, Adobe Illustrator & Adobe Photoshop. Prof in MS Word, Excel, Office. Exc verbal & written comm skills. MUST follow these specific application instructions in order to be considered: Mail cvr ltr & CV to: J. Dyke Nelson, Dyke Nelson Architecture, LLC dba DNA Workshop, 235 S. 14th Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802 within 30 days and reference Job #18063. Multiple openings.
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Worley Group, Inc. seeks a degreed and experienced Process Engineer V to work in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Submit resume to Recruiting, 5995 Rogerdale Rd, Houston, TX 77072. Must list job code: PEV2019 on resume.
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Weekly Press • Thursday • February 6-12, 2020 • www.brweeklypress.com
SPORTS
Smiley to Serve as Host of 100th Anniversary Gala BIRMINGHAM, Ala.— The Southwestern Athletic Conference has announced a new date for the upcoming 100th Year Anniversary Gala. The event which was initially slated to be held on Saturday, July 18th will now be held on Friday, July 17th. The league has also announced that national radio host and entertainer Rickey Smiley will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the event. “I’m extremely excited to partner with the Southwestern Athletic Conference as the Master of Ceremonies for the SWAC 100th Year Anniversary Gala,” said Smiley. “When SWAC Commissioner Dr. Charles McClelland reached out to me with this opportunity I knew instantly that I wanted to be a part of this historic and prestigious event celebrating the rich history of the conference.” The SWAC 100th Year Anniversary Gala is scheduled to be held on Friday, July 17th at 8:00 pm at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Atlanta. The event will be open
Rickey Smiley
to the general public with tickets set to go on sale during the month of January in 2020. • Harold Carmichael (SU Legend and former Professional Football Player) • Marino Casem (Legendary Coach of Southern and Alcorn State) • Ken Houston (Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee) • Charlie Joiner (Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee) • Emmitt Thomas (Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee) • Doug Williams (GSU Legend and former Professional Football Player) • James “Shack” Harris (GSU Legend and former Professional Football Player) • Mel Blount (Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee) • Robert Brazile (Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee) • Willie Totten (Black College Football Hall of Fame Inductee) • Cynthia Cooper (Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee) • Everson Walls (GSU Legend and former Professional Football Player) • Eddie Robinson (ASU Legend and former Professional Football Player) • Parnell Dickinson (MVSU Legend and former Professional Football Player) • Rickie Weeks (SU Legend and former Professional Baseball Player) • Kenny Burrough (TSU Legend and former Professional Football Player) • Vernon Perry (JSU Legend and former Professional Football Player)
Foxworth from page 1 serve the community to prevent such injustices from occurring and protect the community at large from rapist, child molesters and predators. As a mother and Christian woman, she knows that without God, justice cannot be properly dispensed and she will “Let justice roll down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.” “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. ~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Cashless from page 5 going cashless — Amazon's automated convenience store Go and salad chain Sweetgreen — have reversed their policies in favor of accepting cash. "Going cashless had ... positive results, but it also had the unintended consequence of excluding those who prefer to pay or can only pay with cash," Sweetgreen officials wrote in a Medium post. These reversals show that the market is working to respond to its communities, said National Retail Federation General Counsel Stephanie Martz. She said new laws are "a solution in search of a problem" as the number of businesses to go cashless is very small — in part because each card transaction comes with a fee the business has to pay. "With cash, we can feel this emotional attachment and we value what we have a bit more," she said. "We don't think that in five years laws that ban stores from going cashless are going to look smart," Martz said, envisioning a near future where everyone has access to digital payments thanks to advances in financial technology. In that future, she argued, banning businesses from going cashless could hamstring them from becoming more efficient.