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WEDNESDAYS • April 1, 2015

INSIDE Rule change for payday lending - 2 Kindergarten rhyme time - 5 Art therapy sessions - 10 Hookah warning - 14 LEGACYNEWSPAPER.COM • FREE

In Virginia ABC arrest numbers, tilt is toward buyers rather than sellers Agents working for Virginia’s Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control issued more arrest warrants to minors for buying or having alcohol than to stores for selling to underage drinkers in 2014, agency records show. The statistics, obtained via a Freedom of Information Act request, shed some light on the ways in which the agency in charge of the state’s liquor monopoly also cracks down on crimes ranging from shoplifting to child abuse. Approximately 130 special agents are tasked with enforcing Virginia’s alcohol laws, but they are also given the legal authority to address any crime in the commonwealth. Since the violent arrest of a black University of Virginia student celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in March, lawmakers and school officials are questioning the department’s law enforcement power and judgment. The ABC agents made 397 arrests in 2014 related to the illegal purchase of alcohol, of which 343 were for unauthorized purchase by people younger than 21. The remaining 54 were for the use of fake IDs or for adults buying alcohol for underage people. Agents made 377 arrests for alcohol sales to underage drinkers. About 20 percent of the arrests ABC agents made in 2014 involved charges that have no direct connection to alcohol. Ninety-one arrests targeted drugs, more than half of which were possession of marijuana. An additional 50 involved theft,

U-Va. student Martese Johnson, center, and his lawyer, Daniel Watkins, right, speak to the media after Johnson's hearing at the Charlottesville District Court on March 26 in Charlottesville. GETTY IMAGES including four for shoplifting. The agency made two arrests for child abuse or neglect. “They’re not looking for these things, but they discover them” in the course of investigating alcohol violations, said Carol Mawyer, a spokeswoman for the agency. Only six charges were logged for resisting arrest, assault on law enforcement officials or obstruction of justice, suggesting that contentious

encounters with the public — like the arrest of Martese Johnson near U-Va.’s campus on March 18 — are rare. Altogether, 1,157 people were charged with crimes after ABC agents arrested them in 2014. Because some were accused of multiple crimes, the agency catalogued a total of 1,394 charges. In the same year, the agency issued 783 administrative charges to bars and restaurants for failing to comply

with the state’s strict rules regarding alcohol sales. Public drunkenness or swearing and resisting arrest without force were the two charges ultimately lodged against Johnson, 20. ABC agents were videotaped handcuffing Johnson as he lay on the ground, bloody and indignant. He required 10 stitches to his head. The ABC has declined to comment (continued on page 4)

2 • April 1, 2015

The LEGACY

News

Va. AG effort aimed at predatory lending WIRE REPORTS The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s plans for revamping payday lending set off a fierce debate last week over whether the agency had gone too far or not far enough, proving that this is likely to be one the trickiest rulemakings the agency will ever attempt. Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring is launching an effort aimed at combatting predatory lending. Herring announced the move Thursday at a field hearing of the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in Richmond. The agency announced proposed rules to set standards for the industry. Herring’s office is aiming to develop a plan to revitalize consumer protection efforts by May 1. Critics of payday lending say shortterm, high-interest loans prey on the poor. Defenders counter that they offer an option for people who find themselves in a desperate financial fix. Virginia’s efforts in regard to predatory lending will focus on enforcement actions, education and prevention, strengthening and expanding partnerships with other

groups and examining new laws. Herring’s strategy also will include alternative lending solutions for consumers. Paul Kiel of ProPublica notes in a recent piece that if there’s any industry that has mastered the art of the loophole, it’s high-cost lending. When faced with unwanted regulation, lenders are well-practiced at finding an opening that will allow

them to charge triple-digit interest to their customers. “As we have reported, they’ve been playing a giant, ongoing game of whack-a-mole with regulators and lawmakers in states across the country over the past decade or so,” noted Kiel, who gives a partial list of alleged dodges that have been employed over the years by payday and other high-cost lenders. These

License plate scanners to help identify delinquent taxpayers in Newport News

Treasurer Marty Eubank said, “It is only fair to all the taxpayers who pay on time to enforce the collection of taxes on those individuals who do not. These taxpayers have already been sent several notices and have been informed that legal and/or collection action will be enforced. They are individuals getting around other enforcement tools including DMV Stops and wage liens. This new technology allows us to ramp up collection efforts and I am pleased Sheriff Morgan has been so willing to aid in this endeavor.” Sheriff Gabe Morgan said, "This collaboration demonstrates the commitment of both the Sheriff and the Treasurer to be more efficient and aggressive in the collection of

Newport News Treasurer Marty Eubank and Sheriff Gabe Morgan have partnered to use license plate scanners to help identify taxpayers who owe more than $200 in delinquent personal property taxes. There is currently over $3.9 million in those delinquent taxes accounts to be initially targeted in this collection effort. The license plate scanners are mounted on the back of Sheriff’s deputies’ cruisers and automatically

read license plate numbers. If a match is found in the database of delinquent tax accounts, an alarm alerts the deputy who then contacts the Treasurer’s Office. The City Treasurer Office will verify the status and amount of the past due account(s) and then authorize the Deputy to seize the vehicle until such time as the taxes are paid in full. If the debt is not paid within thirty (30) days, the vehicle will be sold at public auction.

include posing as a credit-repair organization, posing as a mortgage lender, using a bank as a front, using a Native American tribe as a front, offering cash for free to hook borrowers, lengthening loan terms when rules targeted short-term loans, larding loans with useless insurance. But after fights in cities and states across the country, the industry now faces its most powerful foe yet. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), created by the 2010 financial reform bill, has the authority to regulate high-cost loans on the federal level for the first time. “You can expect lenders to respond by opening up their playbook,” noted Kiel. “They won’t have to study too hard. The new rules come with clear, ready-made gaps.” Below is the rest of Kiel’s piece: The simplest and most comprehensive way for the CFPB to prevent lenders from charging sky-high interest would be to, well, prohibit them from charging skyhigh interest. But Congress blocked the CFPB from setting an interest rate cap. So instead, the new rules (continued on page 3)

past due taxes. No one should expect to use the services provided by the City without an expectation of paying their required share of those services." This partnership between the Treasurer and Sheriff eliminates costly third party collection agency fees as charged by other localities using a similar program to seize vehicles for unpaid taxes. The taxpayer will only be required to pay the tax debt, a $30.00 administrative fee, and a $51.55 towing fee if the debt is not paid in three business days. There is no additional 20% finder’s fee, boot fee, or impound and daily storage fees. The new vehicle seizure program begins on April 1.

www.LEGACYnewspaper.com (continued from page 2) focus on preventing borrowers from renewing loans over and over. A typical payday loan—borrowing $350 with a fee of $45—is due in full after two weeks. But if the borrower can’t pay the full $395, then the lender accepts just the fee. Two weeks later, the situation is repeated. This often happens for months on end. To stop this cycle, the CFPB’s proposal would give lenders an option. Either they can actually check to make sure borrowers can afford the loans or they can face restrictions on how often they can renew a borrower’s loan. The restrictions would essentially prohibit lenders from making more than six payday loans to a borrower in a year. What would such requirements do to the industry? According to the rough estimates CFPB provided in a lengthy analysis, if payday lenders had to underwrite their loans, they would be forced to cut their lending by about 70 percent to 80 percent. If lenders opted to restrict the number of renewals, the number of loans

April 1, 2015 • 3 would drop by around 60 percent. And that would certainly send many lenders reeling. Predictably, the industry is critical of a proposal that, if enacted, would slash profits. Dennis Shaul, head of the Community Financial Services Association of America, an industry trade group, said in a statement that payday lenders were “disappointed” in what he described as the CFPB’s rush to judgment. The rules do not end there, and here’s where they get slippery. The proposal also would cover longerterm loans, which the CFPB defines as loans stretching longer than 45 days. But unlike the rules for short-term loans, these are limited to only high-cost loans with certain characteristics. As a result, a lender could avoid being covered by these rules at all— allowing them to renew high-cost loans all they like—by offering a loan that lasts at least 46 days, as long as it doesn’t have the covered characteristics. Payday lenders have been moving to longer-term loans for years, largely in anticipation of a crackdown on shorter-term products. The CFPB has its reasons for

choosing this approach. The rules target what the CFPB views as the two riskiest types of longer-term loans for borrowers. The first type involves loans where the lender collects payments through access to the borrower’s bank account. The second involves loans where the borrower puts up title to their car as collateral. In those situations, borrowers risk having their bank account raided or car repossessed if they fall behind. But there are plenty of highcost loans that don’t have those characteristics and leave borrowers vulnerable. Two years ago, we reported on World Acceptance, one of the largest installment lenders. The company charges annual interest rates that can exceed 200 percent and often keeps borrowers renewing loans over and over. Its practices would be largely untouched by these new regulations. Moreover, installment lenders are often extremely aggressive in pursuing debtors who fall behind, including filing lawsuits as a means to garnish debtors’ wages. The CFPB acknowledges its rules fall short of comprehensiveness. “The

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Bureau is not seeking to identify all potentially unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices in these markets in the proposals under consideration for this rulemaking,” it states in the analysis released last week. Rather, the bureau says more rules are to come, including separate rules governing lenders like World Acceptance. The CFPB is certainly aware of World and related companies: it actually opened an investigation of World last year which has yet to conclude, according to a company statement last month. This federal game of whack-a-mole seems likely to last years. The rules put forward last week must still wend their way through a lengthy approval process that will likely take many, many months. It could be years before the new rules are actually enforced. And sometime in the indeterminate future, the CFPB says it will get around to the gaps those new rules leave open. Meanwhile, you can expect highcost lenders to exploit every gap and possibly discover other loopholes yet to be recognized.

The LEGACY

4 • April 1, 2015

GOP remains silent as Dems question role of ABC

entry to a local bar and turned away. Footage of the bloody incident has sparked protests across UVA’s campus. Johnson’s arrest comes just 1 1/2 years after six ABC agents, one with a gun drawn, descended on 20-yearold UVA student Elizabeth Daly because she had a pack of sparkling water, which apparently looked like beer. Now, one online petition is just a few signatures shy of the 44,000

it needs to go to Attorney General Mark Herring. Seven Democratic members of the House public safety committee have sent a letter to Secretary of Public Safety Brian Moran, expressing their concerns about the enforcement arm of ABC. Republicans are awaiting an investigation by the Virginia State Police. “It’s illegitimate overreach,” said John Whitehead, president of the Rutherford Institute, a civil liberties-focused think tank based in Charlottesville. “There’s definitely government overreach.” “ABC should be dismantled,” Whitehead said. “There’s no reason that the state should run the alcohol business.” If anything, local police, not ABC agents, should be keeping towns safe. “Only local police should patrol towns, because they’re accountable to the local people,” Whitehead said. “ABC is not accountable to us.” Watchdog.org has filed a request under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act for all records of complaints against ABC and the agency’s entire enforcement policy. Whitehead said incidents like those involving ABC agents and

Charlottesville students happen for a reason. American law enforcement agents are generally trained militarily in the academies and to view the people they are supposed to protect differently, he said. “Basically, how they view a citizen now is not as a citizen,” Whitehead said. “They use the word civilian, and I object to that. I’m not a civilian. … The police used to look at us differently, to protect and serve. They’re there to occupy.” A friend in another state, Whitehead said, quit the police academy because he didn’t like how he and future officers were trained to think and act — as the military against a foreign enemy. Johnson’s situation, Whitehead said, could have been handled differently. Even if Johnson talked back to officers, questioning government agents falls under the First Amendment, and it’s not obstructing justice. “Obstruction of justice is the charge you lay on someone when you have nothing else,” Whitehead said. “That’s just talking back. Here’s the thing, in America, we have the right to talk back to the government.”

council voted unanimously last week to urge the governor and state legislature to dissolve the ABC’s criminal law enforcement powers. “A lot of students are just confused that the people who enforce alcohol laws are allowed to carry guns,” said the council’s president, Abraham Axler. State Del. David B. Albo (R-Fairfax) said that judging the department for enforcing underage drinking laws doesn’t make sense. “They’re doing their job,” he said. “Their job may change; I would like their job to change. I would like them to focus more on administrative enforcement, because that’s not really being done. But to say that they should not be doing underage drinking arrests is not what the law is.” Northern Virginia restaurants have complained to Albo that rival establishments are getting away with selling little or no food with their liquor, despite state requirements to the contrary. He hopes to try next year to refocus the agency’s mission but acknowledges that doing so without taking away its criminal enforcement powers altogether is a

challenge. “We couldn’t strip their authority to do underage drinking, because what if they see someone doing it?” he asked. Focusing on the people selling alcohol to minors rather than the minors who are drinking is entirely within the ABC’s discretion, said U-Va. law professor Brandon L. Garrett. “Their primary role isn’t policing,” Garrett said. “You would think that it would be a reasonable view that buyers could be left to local enforcement and ABC could focus on what it knows best.” A 2005 study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that alcohol board agents are also sworn police officers in 35 states. Some states limit their arrest powers to the areas around liquor stores or bars; several do not allow agents to carry guns. In the District and Maryland, alcohol regulators have no arrest power. ABC arrests account for just a small fraction of liquor law enforcement in Virginia. There were

nearly 10,000 arrests of adults across the state last year for liquor law violations and an additional 32,000 for drunkenness. According to crime statistics that colleges must report to comply with the Clery Act, police arrests for alcohol-related crimes have remained steady in recent years. At Virginia Tech, police made 145 arrests for liquor law violations in 2013, and they referred 525 cases involving alcohol to the school for disciplinary action. At James Madison University, police made 57 liquor law arrests in 2013 and sent 527 alcohol-related cases to the school for disciplinary action. That same year, U-Va. police made 23 arrests for liquor law violations and referred 498 cases to the administration for discipline proceedings. Under Clery Act definitions, liquor law violations include the sale and possession of alcohol by underage people. Drunkenness and drinking and driving violations are not included.

KATHRYN WATSON WATCHDOG — It’s Democrats, not Republicans, who are speculating the government may be overstepping when it comes to a state agency with a liquor monopoly. Democratic lawmakers and many concerned Virginians are demanding the state rein in Alcoholic Beverage Control’s enforcement arm — or eliminate it entirely — after the second aggressive and controversial arrest of a Charlottesville college student in two years. But Virginia Republicans, who were split on former Gov. Bob McDonnell’s plan to privatize the state’s monopoly on liquor, have remained eerily silent. Selfdescribed conservatives in Virginia’s Republican Party, as Watchdog. org has reported, oftentimes call for limited government but change their collective tune when it comes to police powers. Recently, ABC agents charged 20-year-old UVA student Martese Johnson with public intoxication or swearing and obstruction of justice. Johnson required 10 stitches for a head wound. Police confronted the UVA junior after he was denied (from page 1) on agents’ use of force in that case until an independent Virginia State Police review is completed. Johnson’s criminal case has been delayed until after the outcome of the investigation. In advance of the State Police report, Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) has ordered all ABC agents to be retrained in the use of force and in cultural diversity and interaction with young people. He also ordered that law enforcement agencies in college towns be given more oversight over local ABC agents’ activities. But many in the state have questioned whether ABC agents should be arresting underage drinkers at all, regardless of how much sensitivity they display in the process. “The ABC Board has no business going around arresting people. That was not the purpose of that agency,” said state Sen. J. Chapman “Chap” Petersen (D-Fairfax). “I have no idea why they’re doing it.” The University of Virginia student

John Whitehead

www.LEGACYnewspaper.com

April 1, 2015 • 5

As Kindergarten Registration Day nears across Virginia, tips for parents and guardians -Photo ID for parent of legal guardian “Our goal is to reach more parents about the kindergarten registration date and help more parents understand what school readiness is. Parents are their child’s first and most important teacher,” said Jacque Hale, director of Smart Beginnings at United Way of Greater Richmond and Jacque Hale playing with kids at Southside Child Development Center in Richmond, which offers a full range of childcare and educational programming for children ages one to five, including a Head Start program conducted in partnership with Richmond Public Schools, and after-school and summer enrichment programs for children up to age 12. SUBMITTED

(continued on page 12 )

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Becoming a successful, productive adult starts at birth. One of the biggest milestones in that journey is starting school ready to succeed. Thursday, April 16 marks the fifth annual Regional Kindergarten Registration Campaign, coordinated by Smart Beginnings Greater Richmond. Children who are five years old by September 30th can start kindergarten in the fall, but first they need to be registered. Thursday, April 16 is the day for on-time registration for Richmond Public Schools and 14 surrounding school

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6 • April 1, 2015

The LEGACY

Op/Ed BRIAN L. PAULING I am saddened and frustrated every time I hear about the academic achievement gulf that exists between Black students and their White classmates in our nation’s public schools. Saddened because I know that, without a quality education, the future for these children is bleak; frustrated because, if we don’t do something now, we will continue to fail these children in a way that will cause irreparable harm to them, their families (both current and future), our communities and the world. That’s why 100 Black Men of America, Inc. (“The 100”) is issuing a clarion call to all Americans who share our concern about the fate of our children and communities and asking them to raise their voices with ours to bring attention to one of the most critical civil rights issues of our time: education equity. The reason is as clear-cut as it is troubling: Far too many low-income and Black youth are languishing in failing schools. This places them at a severe disadvantage in achieving their full potential, becoming leaders in their communities and competing in a global economy. No child’s future should be determined by their color, economic status or zip code. To The 100’s network of more than 100 chapters around the world, this is appalling and unacceptable! We need organizations and caring adults to join us in a collective effort for systemic and sustainable education reform. The LEGACY NEWSPAPER Vol. 1 No. 9 Mailing Address 409 E. Main Street 4 Office Address 105 E. Clay St. Richmond, VA 23219 Call 804-644-9060 • 757-244-5654 Online www.legacynewspaper.com

The 100’s 50-year history of mentoring African American youth has given us a unique perspective on what is and isn’t working in many of the nation’s public schools through the experiences of the young people we serve. Although the high school dropout rate is improving, it still is not where it should be. It is also disturbing that, of those African American youth who do successfully graduate high school, far too many are woefully unprepared for freshman-level college coursework. As a result, they are required to complete remedial classes as a prerequisite for acceptance into post-secondary institutions. Some find themselves so far behind that it seems impossible to catch up. Not only does this situation shatter their self-esteem, but it also suffocates their desire to even try. Rather than face the humiliation of trying to catch up to their peers, some simply give up and drop out. While there is no silver bullet or quick fix to these problems, we believe the journey toward solutions begins with creating highperforming schools. Schools, for example, that promote high student expectations and achievement, insist on teacher accountability through regular evaluations and encourage innovation among principals and other school leaders. The 100 has been a longtime supporter of traditional public schools, where most of the youth we serve attend. While each of our chapters is deeply rooted and The LEGACY welcomes all signed letters and all respectful opinions. Letter writers and columnists opinions are their own and endorsements of their views by The LEGACY should be inferred. The LEGACY assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material. Annual Subscription Rates Virginia - $50 U.S. states - $75 Outside U.S.- $100 The Virginia Legacy © 2015

involved in their communities, true education reform requires a collective effort from like-minded organizations and individuals. To that end, in October during The 100’s Education Summit in Washington, D.C., our members from across the country met with leaders from several nonprofit, education and civil rights organizations to explore ways to collaborate, mobilize and advocate for action that leads to positive, tangible and lasting change. During our discussions, areas of agreement included advocating for public school education options for parents and their children. Our youth should not be doomed to 12 years – between kindergarten and senior year – of academic failure. We will remain committed to supporting those public schools that are high-performers and able to demonstrate exceptional and measurable academic outcomes for our children – or those that are executing a plan to successfully reach that goal. When traditional public schools fail to perform at high levels, our organization supports educational alternatives, including successful nonprofit charter schools. We also need to encourage nonprofit public charters and traditional public schools to collaborate and share best practices that have proven to be

successful in educating low-income and Black children. No matter which type of schools parents and guardians ultimately decide are best for their children, all public schools – particularly those in African American and economically disadvantaged communities – must be high-performing, evidencebased institutions of learning where children are prepared to advance successfully to the next grade level, graduate from high school and progress seamlessly into college and career. The time is now – before another child’s future is lost – to raise our collective voices in advocacy and take action so that high-performing public schools in our communities become the norm rather than the exception. While this task may seem daunting, our children’s futures, quality of life and, in some cases, their very lives are at stake. As we continue to mobilize and boldly declare that “Black Lives Matter,” I submit that we must also affirm through immediate community engagement that Black Minds Matter, too. Collectively, we can help ensure that our children get the education – and the future – they rightfully deserve. Pauling is national president of 100 Black Men of America, Inc.

www.LEGACYnewspaper.com

April 1, 2015 • 7

P.T. Hoffsteader, Esq.

Poisonous indeed In the past 20 years, pediatric obesity has become an epidemic across the United States of America. The Hampton Roads area is above national and state obesity averages. Eighteen percent of our youth in the city of Hampton suffer from this disease, which is related to Type 2 Diabetes, stroke, heart attacks, and certain types of cancers. Health care costs and insurance premiums will continue to skyrocket if these issues are not seriously addressed. Fast foods contributes to this epidemic every day and our innocent children are the victims. We are protesting because [they are] responsible for selling meat that is pumped full of artificial growth hormones, antibiotics, and a whole array of toxic chemicals and substances. Fast food restaurants are torturing millions of animals every day and killing them using very cruel, outdated methods. unsanitary environments. We the people need to expose these powerful corporations that are drugging up our children with addictive ingredients and deliberately poisoning our youth for the sake of shareholder's profits. Children are the future of our city, our communities, and our local economy. Real hope and real change is alive and we are here to deliver this to the Hampton Roads area, across the state of Virginia and all over the United States of America. The solution for our obesity epidemic is through community

education and encouraging our children and families to establish a more raw, plant based, vegan lifestyle, which has been clinically proven to reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Camden Long

Valdemort-worthy? The moon over Washington was blood red. The Ghost of Foul-Ups Past emerged from his cave. Stroking a hairless cat named Halliburton, he moved silently through the roomful of lobbyists, plutocrats and fat cats, his cape trailing in the mist. Though crowded, the room was suddenly cold, chilled from the icy presence of former Vice President Voldemort. As he stood atop the podium to address his minions, flames shot from his fingertips and sulfur steamed out of his nose. His eyes glowed red as he inhaled deeply, sucking in the souls of every man and woman in the room, turning them into his private malevolent army of flying monkeys. At least that's what I imagine the Dick Cheney fundraiser for House Republicans Tuesday night was like. I may have a few of the details wrong, but this I do know: The worst vice president in history (yes, worse than Agnew, who was a felon; worse than Burr, who shot and killed Alexander Hamilton) raised $17.5 million for the House GOP this week. I gotta hand it to House Republicans: they sure know how to pick their heroes. They are fawning over a man who refused to convene his anti-terrorism task force until

after 9/11; who lied, manipulated and cherry-picked intelligence to march America off to an unwise, unwarranted, unjust war; who said “deficits don’t matter” as he squandered the Democrats’ hard-won surplus; who shot his hunting buddy in the face and then—in a move only Stalin could love—had the victim apologize to him... This guy is the House Republicans’ hero. The Tea Partiers who have taken over the House GOP idolize Dick Cheney. They have the same destructive, dangerous, deranged agenda; the same slavish devotion to Washington special interests; the same contempt for middle-class Americans as Cheney. Paul Begala

Irresponsible, he says Nebraska state Senator Ernie Chambers' irresponsible and inflammatory comments at a legislative hearing recently, equated American police with ISIS and suggesting that he would shoot a cop if only he had a weapon. Comparing police to Islamic terrorists is preposterous, but we have to take comments like those of Mr. Chambers seriously because they endanger the lives and undermine the authority of police and the rule of law. Comments like these reinforce the warped view that police are enforcers of an unjust system. Mr. Chambers' comments are beneath the dignity of elective office, and people who think this way do not belong in public office.

ISIS takes lives. Police save lives. Police are hired by elected officials or their assigns. That is the way our system works. The police represent us, the citizens. There is no excuse for Mr. Chambers' incendiary and despicable remarks. Together, let us say no to those who would incite racial conflict and violence against police that we will not tolerate their irresponsible words and actions! The next time you have an opportunity, thank a police officer for putting his or her life on the line to keep our communities safe. Bishop E.W. Jackson

Easter reflections During this time, let us remember our brave men and women who are overseas defending the rights and liberties we so enjoy. May we never forget that our freedom to celebrate Easter comes from the selfless acts of individuals from all walks of life who simply fight to keep America free and secure. Praying for our troops, that God will watch over them and protect them on their difficult deployments. As we reflect and give thanks for all the goodness in our lives, lets also remember those men and women who every day, are fighting to preserve our freedoms and liberties we so cherish. During one of the most important religious holidays of the year our troops miss their families at home, so let our troops know that they have our support! Scott Raab

The LEGACY

8 • April 1, 2015

Keeping the Faith More than a change of scenery “Repent” is a religious word I’ve heard most of my life, and to this day, it still makes the hair on the back of my neck stand with fright. As a child, I heard the call to repent burst from the lips of many a revival preacher. With the evangelist’s bulging carotids, burning eyes, and angry finger pointing, I could feel the fires of hell licking at my heels. With “turn or burn, get right or get left,” as a vital piece of my spirituality, I repented every chance I got (whether I needed it or not). But for most, this kind of intensity is reserved for the sandwich-boardprophets of our time; those walking the streets with the declaration that “The End Is Near.” Or sometimes you find a wild-eyed television evangelist furiously condemning immorality. Many proponents of organized religion are very angry, and sometimes ruthlessly so, taking real pleasure in pounding the pulpit, and they can hardly wait for God’s consuming wrath to fall on the ungodly. Repentance is thrown out there as a lifeline, but secretly, I don’t know if they really want anyone to actually escape. How could some religionists be happy for all eternity if they knew that all the sinners, heretics, and reprobates weren’t actually burning in hell somewhere? Still, we should not let the fuming fundamentalists of the world rob us of a good word: Repent. Yes, we must repent. But what does that mean? It means we must change our minds or turn around. It means the direction we are heading is a dead end, so we start over. It means the thoughts we are constructing are destructive. It means we recognize that the way we are living is not life at all. Sure, we preachers like to use the word in the context of lying, cheating, stealing, and such, but I don’t think it is that simplistic.

True repentance is to completely forsake one way of life and take up another. Repentance means our hardness of heart is replaced by compassion; vengeance is replaced by forgiveness; those we despised because of their race or color or gender are now accepted; and where there was greed, now is found generosity. A couple of years ago a friend of mine decided he wanted to do more camping, to get out and experience the great outdoors. He went out and bought this huge, grotesque recreational vehicle that was a rolling luxury home. Satellite television; queen-sized bed; stainless steel appliances; Berber carpet; surround sound. This vehicle was a technological masterpiece, and I was scandalized. If you’re going to go camping, go camping. Strap on a backpack. Hike a few hills and feel the burn in your thighs and in your lungs. Eat out of a can. Sit around a camp fire. Sleep in a tent with a stream lulling you to sleep. Swat bugs. Count the blisters on your feet every night. That’s camping. RVs are great, but don’t roll around the countryside in such a limousine and call it “camping.” So I said to my friend, “Russ, you can go to the woods and never leave home!” He answered, “That’s the idea.” We live our lives the same way. Yes, we need to change some things - our attitudes, our priorities, our biases - we need to repent. Instead, we often just rearrange the furniture, change our surroundings a bit, or adjust the landscape. But our way of life remains the same. Do you have relationship troubles? Well, just change partners. Is your career in the toilet? Change jobs. Have you grown tired of the troubles at home? Change houses. You can do all of these things and succeed in only taking your dysfunction down the road with you, never experiencing anything that resembles transformation. Repentance is not about saying a prayer or complying with the wishes of some wild-eyed preacher. It is about conversion. It is about a fundamental change in who you are, not just a change of scenery. Ultimately, it is about becoming who you were always made to be. McBrayer is a syndicated columnist, pastor, and author/ronniemcbrayer.me.

RONNIE McBRAYER & MORE

Is it time to contemplate Good Friday observances? JEFF BRUMLEY BNG — A group of teachers in Rhode Island, where Catholicism is the prevailing faith, sued their school system recently, demanding they get the day off for Good Friday. The Associated Press reported that the teachers’ union in Cranston asserted a civil right to observe the day commemorating Christ’s death. School officials said teachers can take the time off only when services occur during the school day. Whatever the outcome, it’s a lawsuit and debate that would be very unlikely in states dominated by evangelical Christians. But some Baptist ministers say Good Friday is a moment

in Christianity that should be observed by more Protestants. Some even say Easter and the whole of the Christian calendar make little sense without it. By no means is Good Friday an isolated event, said Winn Collier, the pastor of All Souls Charlottesville, a partner church with the Baptist General Association of Virginia. Following the church calendar is a congregation’s way of following the footsteps of Christ throughout the year. And for both churches and individuals it’s an attempt to follow the way of Jesus and embody his story in their own lives, Collier said. “There’s no way you cannot do (continued on page 15 )

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10 • April 1, 2015

The LEGACY

Marine Sgt. Jorden Smith describes his artwork and how art therapy is helping him recover from traumatic brain injury, as therapist Jackie Biggs looks on at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE) at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia.

Art therapy provides pathway to healing for those with traumatic brain injuries For Jackie Biggs, art is everything. “Art has always been for me an extremely valuable way to process things,” she said. Now the former public school art teacher has found a way to use that tool to help people who might need it the most: wounded warriors recovering from traumatic brain injuries (TBI). “Art provides an experience for people to get in touch with their true feelings,” explained the therapist who manages the TBI art therapy program at the National Intrepid Center

of Excellence (NICoE), at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. “For service members who might already have trouble expressing themselves and are now experiencing the challenges of TBI, art therapy gives them a chance to use free expression, allowing whatever needs to bubble up from below the surface to be seen and evaluated.” Art Therapy video image that says Fort Belvoir’s clinic is a satellite of NICoE’s main operation headquartered on the campus of the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

Jackie Biggs

Biggs said many of her patients show reluctance when first introduced to art therapy. They balk with excuses like they’re not artistic or haven’t done it since they were young, and they don’t think it will do them any good. “But then, magic happens. Because even during the very first session, those very same people say, ‘Wow! This feels like medicine! I haven’t felt this relaxed in a long time. My head hasn’t been this clear in a long time.’ Engaging in art has a really profound effect they feel right away.”

Biggs explained the therapy works at the cellular level within the brain, restoring connections that might have been damaged during a traumatic event, whether it was the explosion of a roadside bomb in Afghanistan or a sports injury on a friendly softball field back home. Restoring to the brain that neuroplasticity, the changes in neural pathways and synapses that end up affecting behavior, helps to reveal the “invisible wounds of war.” Biggs said understanding what really underlies the TBI patients' anger and frustrations also helps the patients with their home and family life and gets them on the path to healing. “When they have an understanding of that, it's easier for them to gain control over their symptoms, and in turn, develop stronger relationships with their loved ones, because after creating their art, they’re better able to explain at home what’s going on inside them.” One of the patients benefiting from Biggs’ art therapy session is Marine Sgt. Jorden Smith, who was hit twice by roadside bombs in Afghanistan. His smudged fingers work the eraser to fine tune the shading on his latest charcoal drawing: the haunting face of a Taliban member looking out from a dark background. Smith said the process of creating art, something he had never done, gives him time to think about what happened and how to move forward from the trauma he suffered. “When you go to war, you never really get your life back,” he said, adding that everything he went through also affects his wife and two children at home. “I’ve been dealing with this for five years. Coming to this clinic gives me a path to get my life back. ”Smith admitted art therapy is not a magical cure, but he sees (continued on page 11)

www.LEGACYnewspaper.com (from page 10)

progress in how he deals with his issues and an opening to help him put words to what he is feeling. “It’s hard to explain, especially while you’re still on active duty, when you are expected to get the job done,” he said. “People have trouble grasping that it’s hard for you to remember or process things. It’s hard to describe or talk to someone about.” Biggs said while the final products the patients produce are valuable, they initially take a process-oriented, intuitive approach to the art, making sure the creation of the actual pieces of art help her patients express the fears and anxieties that might have kept them from advancing in other therapies. “Jorden is getting more and

April 1, 2015, • 11

more expressive with his art,” Biggs said, and that leads to being more expressive in his feelings about what happened to him in Afghanistan. She said being able to see progress in the service members who have suffered a TBI is very rewarding for her, especially since they are using art to work through that healing process. “I love it. It’s very important to me,” Biggs said. “It’s extremely valuable to have this [type of therapy] for service members.” For Smith, the therapy has helped tremendously. “Since I came here, my wife and I have seen a big improvement,” said Smith. “It’s amazing to work with Jackie. My issues are finally being resolved, mostly thanks to her.” © Military Health Service

Ask k Alma

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Mom’s friend turned on me Dear Alma, My husband was laid off after 16 years on the job. My salary alone wasn’t enough to keep up with the bills, so we decided moving in with my mom was the best thing. She has been having health problems anyway and is in need of care, so this works out for all of us. My mom was in the hospital a few months back and was talking out of her mind. She told the doctors that I had been mistreating her, which wasn’t true. During that time her best friend and neighbor visited regularly and knew everything that was going on. I’ve knonw this woman all of my life. While my mom was in the hospital, this friend totally turned on me. I think she was even talking about me to the other neighbors. We had a big falling out about my mom’s care and what was really the truth. It was ugly! Anyway, I say all this to give you some background because she recently died and my mom wants me to cook and help her family out with her funeral. I’m thinking she must be crazy. Remember this woman has been awful to me, about all I can do is write a check. My friend told me about your column so I thought I’d ask your opinion. T.B. T.B., I want to make sure I’ve got a hold of all that’s happening in your house – oh wait it isn’t, it’s your mama’s home. Now that we’ve established authority, I can understand how difficult it is to find your adult-self and your husband, moving in with your mother. You and I both can agree and recognize, clearly it wasn’t ever a part of the game plan. But let’s not be ungrateful for this blessing, at least you have somewhere to go, so don’t get it twisted. While I can sympathize with your situation, why are we talking about

you and your immature issues when your mother just lost her dear friend? Since you asked... this shouldn’t be about you, it’s all about your mama! Yes, by all means you should help. This woman and your mom have had a long, loving and valuable friendship over the years. I’m sure, similar to Lucy & Ethel, Florida & Willona, Maary & Rose, you hear what I’m saying? These women, although on television, lived as neighbors who took great care of each other. When you saw one, you saw the other. They knew each other’s business and everybody else’s business, too, for that matter. I too grew up with these friendships beautifully displayed in my old neighborhood. I watched grown women weathering the various storms of life, supporting each other through marriage and children, sometimes divorce, the loss of a child and even widowhood. Can’t you see, your mother is asking this of you because it’s just as if an aunt has died? It’s all the same to her – her best friend was just like family. She loved her and her love for her friend (your play aunt) outweighs anything you can argue, cuss or fuss about. So simmer down, reach for a cup of compassion, your mother is in a very fragile place, bless her heart. ***** Want advice? E-mail questions to alwaysaskalma@yahoo.com. Follow her on Facebook at “Ask Alma” and twitter @almaaskalma *****

12 • April 1, 2015

The LEGACY

All about diabetes and hoping for the best SPM — When it comes to Type II diabetes, many only consider weight when examining their risk. Diabetes is complicated however, and risk factors are numerous. Some of the confusion is potentially reflected in statistics. From 1980 through 2011, the number of Americans with diagnosed diabetes more than tripled, from 5.6 million to 20.9 million, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and millions more have prediabetes or are undiagnosed. On the bright side, cutting-edge research has uncovered strategies for avoiding, controlling and even reversing diabetes. “It’s tempting to think that there’s not much you can do except take medication and hope for the best,” says George L. King, M.D., Chief Scientific Officer at Joslin Diabetes Center, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and author of the new book, ‘The Diabetes Reset.’ “However, anyone can improve their body’s response to insulin and its ability to metabolize glucose in the blood.” Each individual’s glucose control problems are unique, which is why King offers a range of evidencebased, diabetes-fighting strategies in his book. Here he shares a few: Diet A recent study by Dr. King and his Joslin colleagues has shown that insulin sensitivity, glucose metabolism and type 2 diabetes risk can all be significantly improved by switching to a low-fat, highfiber diet consisting of 70 percent carbohydrates, 15 percent fat and 15 percent protein, including 15 grams of dietary fiber for every 1,000 calories consumed. This dietary approach, known (from page 5) are born. Every day, there are teachable moments that parents can use to prepare their child to be ready for school,” said Hale. Smart Beginnings recommends these activities to help children build their skills and confidence: -Read and look at books every day -Practice counting real objects -Show respect and use good

carbohydrates, which are high in fiber, and will be converted into blood glucose much more slowly. Weight Loss If your BMI is above 25 and you’re able to reduce your body weight by 5 to 7 percent, you can reduce your insulin resistance and improve your glucose metabolism. Be advised, many doctors feel that BMI is of limited value in determining a diabetes risk because it doesn’t distinguish between fat and lean tissue or between different types of body fat. Abdominal fat is the most dangerous type of fat in terms of diabetes risk, so many doctors use waist circumference as an additional measurement. Exercise Your muscles can lose insulin sensitivity due to inactivity. This can be largely reversed through a combination of 150 minutes of aerobic activity per week plus weekly strength training sessions. Together, these activities can increase your muscles’ ability to oxidize fats, glucose and other fuels, while also helping you lose weight.

PHOTO: Michael Jung as the Rural Asian Diet, is easy to maintain, as it doesn’t call for restricting calories or totally avoiding any particular food group.

While many diabetes experts promote restricting carbohydrates, this diet distinguishes between refined carbohydrates and complex

manners -Follow directions and listen to others -Practice writing their name – with an uppercase first letter -Find name letters of the alphabet everywhere you go -Play with Play-Doh and toys to strengthen hard and finger coordination -Use scissors to practice cutting, and crayons and markers to draw

and develop finger strength “Sticking to routines at home reduces stress and teaches your child good habits,” said Hale. She advises parents and caregivers to keep to a regular bedtime and wakeup time for children so they know what to expect. Hale recommends letting children make choices, visit new places, meet new people and talk about feelings. “It will help them build their confidence and be ready for their first

Sleep There is mounting evidence that lack of sleep can contribute to insulin resistance and possibly causes damage to the pancreas, putting you at heightened risk for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. Attempt to get seven to eight hours of high-quality sleep every night to improve insulin sensitivity. Whether you have diabetes or not, understanding this disease and how it can be controlled can significantly improve your overall health.

big day of kindergarten.” There are advantages for parents, children and schools when kindergarteners are registered on time on April 16: -Parents can get important information that they might otherwise miss; -Schools can adequately prepare for space, staff and materials; and -Teachers can prepare for the child in the classroom.

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April 1, 2015 • 13

Hampton Roads business group on 2015 GA session The Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce recently celebrated successes at General Assembly, which included preserving funding for the future Interstate 64 widening project on the Peninsula, and maintaining protection of Hampton’s Langley Air Force Base encroachment program. The chamber listed the two issues as priorities in the recently concluded General Assembly session. But a third priority issue, a study to evaluate the best corridor options for a fixed-guideway transit plan in Newport News and Hampton, lacked support from the House of Delegates and wasn’t included in the General Assembly budget conference report. Susan Gaston, a member of the chamber’s Board of Directors and chair of the Public Policy Committee, bemoaned the rejection by the House of Delegates of the fixed-gateway study. The funds would have been used to analyze the potential for public transportation in Newport News and Hampton around high-growth, highdensity areas such as Oyster Point, City Center and Peninsula Town Center, Gaston said. The Senate funded the plan but the House did not, killing the proposal. “There is simply a philosophical difference between the two leaderships on how transit should be funded,” Gaston said. “We were looking at a study being funded. Maybe when there's a little more in the pie to go around we may be successful. My theory is to keep pressing it and we might get to where we need to be.” There are myriad issues the Public Policy Committee could tackle at the General Assembly, from economic development, to tourism, to energy, to veterans, to right to work, Gaston said. The Public Policy Committee honed in on a few issues or legislation where members thought they could be effective and helpful to the Peninsula delegation and the Chamber membership, she said. With a focus on transportation, the biggest message to the General

Interstate 64 Capacity Improvements – Segment II City of Newport News, York County and James City County

Design Public Hearing

Susan Gaston Assembly was "don't let your foot off the gas" in regard to transportation, in particular the efforts to widen I-64 on the Peninsula, Gaston said. “We were fearful of a money grab and that they would take revenue earmarked for I-64 widening and push it somewhere else.” Another success story was state funding to match state dollars with local funding from the city of Hampton to ensure the viability of Langley Air Force Base. This comes through the purchase of adjoining properties in what is called the Clear Zone and Accident Potential Zone; the Zone avoids civilian encroachment and ensuing conflicts that have plagued other bases such as Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach. Langley will receive $250,000 in FY 2016. “We want to do everything we can to protect, preserve, and grow the mission at Langley,” Gaston said. The program is essential in this era of base closures and military cutbacks - hundreds of civilian and military employees have lost jobs at Langley recently - to ensure the preservation of the base and the positive economic benefits it provides to the region, Gaston said. “We don't want to give the Department of Defense, or a Base Closure Commission (BRAC) or like panel, the ability to say, ‘Wait a minute, Langley has a civilian encroachment problem.,’” Gaston said.

Wednesday, April 29, 2015, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. York High School 9300 George Washington Highway, Yorktown, VA 23692 Come and see the proposed project plans for capacity improvements on I-64 Segment II in the City of Newport News, James City County and York County. The purpose of this project is to extend the three-lane section of I-64 approximately 7.08 miles west, with widening occurring in the existing median of the interstate from 1.05 miles west of Route 199 (Humelsine Parkway/Marquis Center Parkway) to 0.54 miles east of Route 238 (Yorktown Road). Proposed improvements include the pavement reconstruction of existing lanes, additional 12-foot wide travel and shoulder lanes, and the repair and widening of existing bridges and culverts within the project corridor. Review the proposed project plans and the environmental documentation at the public hearing or at the VDOT Interstate Maintenance Office, 757-494-5478 or 1-888-723-8400, TTY/TDD 711, or at the VDOT Williamsburg Residency Office, 4451 Ironbound Road, Williamsburg, VA 23188, 757-253-4869. Please call ahead to ensure the availability of appropriate personnel to answer your questions. Property impact information, relocation assistance policies and tentative construction schedules are available for your review at the above addresses and will be available at the public hearing. Give your written or oral comments at the hearing or submit them by May 9, 2015, to Ms. Janet Hedrick, P.E., Project Manager, VDOT, 1992 South Military Highway, Chesapeake, VA 23320. You may also email your comments to Janet.Hedrick@VDOT.Virginia.gov. Please reference “I-64 Segment II Capacity Improvements Comment” in the subject line. In compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act, Section 106 and 36 CFR Part 800, information concerning the potential effects of the proposed project on properties listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places is provided in the environmental documentation. VDOT ensures nondiscrimination and equal employment in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. For more information or special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, contact VDOT’s Civil Rights Division at 757-925-2500 or TTY/TDD 711. State Project: 0064-965-264, P101, R201, C501, B627, B628, B629, B630, B631, B632, B633, B634, B635, D603, D604, D605, D606, D607, D608 Federal Project: IM-965-5(086) UPC: 106665

14 • April 1, 2015

The LEGACY

Researchers discuss dangers of hookah smoking Waterpipe tobacco smoking and its risks were recently discussed in Abu Dhabi, at the world’s largest conference on tobacco research, which also featured the release of a special supplement to the journal Tobacco Control. Researchers from around the world explained the past decade of research on what is commonly known as hookah, narghile or arghile smoking. The supplement was sponsored jointly by the Center for the Study of Tobacco Products at Virginia Commonwealth University, VCU's Massey Cancer Center, New York University Abu Dhabi Institute and the American University of Beirut. “We look into the epidemiology of the waterpipe — who’s using it now? Why have so many people started using it? What have we learned about what’s in the smoke of the waterpipe? What are the health effects of using it? Does it cause dependence? Is the secondhand smoke dangerous?” said Scott Sherman, M.D., associate professor of population health at New York

University School of Medicine and co-director of the NYU/Abu Dhabi Public Health Research Center. Thomas Eissenberg, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Psychology of the College of Humanities and Sciences and codirector of the Center for the Study of Tobacco Products, said that after looking at hookah smoking over the last 10 years, the researchers believe there is an urgent need for further policies and regulations to reduce waterpipe tobacco smoking. “We have this longstanding interest, we’ve been doing this research, and what we really want to do is to start getting the word out about the research that we and other folks are doing on tobacco use globally,” said Rima Nakkash, Dr.P.H., associate professor and coordinator of the American University of Beirut’s Tobacco Control Research Group.. One of the articles, co-authored by Eissenberg and VCU researcher Eiman Aboaziza, weighs the evidence that waterpipe smoking supports

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nicotine or tobacco dependence. The researchers specifically looked at two common claims about waterpipe tobacco smoking — that the water filters the smoke, making it less dangerous, and that many users smoke hookahs so infrequently that they are unlikely to become addicted. In both cases, the researchers concluded those claims are myths. Researchers note that the water

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does not filter out anything and that while it is true that many people use waterpipes only occasionally, they still deliver the dependenceproducing drug nicotine, and at least some people escalate their use from a social activity to daily use, and even begin smoking alone. Additionally, researchers have found that when waterpipe tobacco smokers are not using it, they feel anxious, impatient, restless and crave using a waterpipe.

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Urban League: Black America remains in crisis FREDDIE ALLEN NNPA — When it comes to the equality in America, a new report by the National Urban League says that blacks are missing nearly 30 percent of the pie. The annual State of Black America (SOBA) report compared how well blacks were doing in economics, health, education, social justice and civic engagement. In the introduction to the report, Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League, wrote that “on many fronts, black America remains in crisis – and we see justice challenged at every turn.” Morial added: “The world watched as non-indictments of the police officers responsible for the deaths of unarmed black males including Eric Garner, Michael Brown and John Crawford signaled that police accountability for taking black lives was reaching a modern-day low – and that the widespread and dangerous mistrust between law enforcement and too many communities of color in America was reaching a new high.” Morial also expressed concerns about separate and unequal

(from page 8) Good Friday because this is one of the pivotal turns in the story,” he said. Good Friday commemorates the day of Jesus crucifixion, and historically has been observed primarily by Catholics, Episcopalians and other liturgical Christian traditions. However, Good Friday — together with the rest of Holy Week, Lent and the church calendar concept — have been either ignored or condemned by conservative Protestant groups. Many have seen these practices as beholden to Catholicism and, according to them, therefore connected to more ancient pagan rituals. But ignoring Good Friday robs Easter of its full meaning, Collier said. “We have to reckon with ruin and death to fully celebrate the power and liberation of life that we encounter in Christ’s resurrection,” he said. There are other reasons Baptists should consider observing Good

Marc Morial resources in schools, doubledigit unemployment in the black community and continued attacks on voting rights. The black equality index increased from revised score of 71.5 percent in 2014 to 72.2 percent in 2015. In 2005, the black equality index was 72.9 percent. Higher scores in social justice (56.9

Friday, said Tony Lankford, the pastor at Park Avenue Baptist Church in Atlanta. “We talk about participating in Lent and Good Friday because they allow us to participate in the greater global church,” said Lankford, whose congregation is part of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. “That’s the reason we’re doing it with St. Paul [United Methodist Church],” he said. The two congregations on Good Friday will share choirs, readings of the passion narratives and communion served by both pastors. It’s a powerful time because participants know there are millions of Christians around the world holding similar observances, Lankford said. “We gather with the community of believers to acknowledge in worship the death of Christ,” he said, adding it’s an especially powerful holy day for Americans to consider, given the culture’s aversion to any talk of death. “Without Good Friday it allows

percent reported in 2014 report vs. 60.6 percent in the 2015 report) and health (78.2 percent vs. 79.8 percent) fueled the rise in the index. The economic indicator also rose slightly from 55.4 percent to 55.8 percent. “The education (from 76.7 percent to 76.1 percent) and civic engagement (from 104.7 percent to 104 percent) indexes both declined slightly,” stated the report. The report said that fewer blacks are falling victim to violent crimes and a lower number of black high school students are carrying weapons, which had a positive affect on the social justice index. The report also credited the Affordable Care Act and a decline in binge drinking for helping to improve the health index. However, the report found that gaps in unemployment and homeownership widened. “With an index of 65 percent, the smallest black–white unemployment gap was in the Providence–Warwick, RI–MA metro area, where the black unemployment rate was 13 percent and the white rate was 8.5 percent. Last year’s most equal metro—Augusta–Richmond County, Ga.,–S.C.—fell to #13 this year as the black unemployment rate increased

from 13.3 percent to 16.5 percent and the white unemployment rate was essentially unchanged.” Toledo, Ohio’s black unemployment rate was 22.6 percent, the highest rate among the metro areas in the study. The National Urban League also reported that the, “black and white incomes were least equal in San Francisco–Oakland–Hayward, Calif., where the gap was 42 cents on the dollar.” Morial wrote that 2014 was a catalytic year propelled by cataclysmic circumstances, “little accountability for law enforcement responsible for killing unarmed black men, teenagers and children; a continual assault on voting rights; widening economic inequality gaps; and an increasingly partisan education debate far more rooted in political agendas than in putting our children first.” Morial continued: “While we celebrate the tremendous progress and transformation of our nation, we have a continuing need to be vigilant, to persevere and to protect past gains. We must not allow the forces of division, intolerance and rightwing extremism to turn back the hands of time.”

you to have a journey to Easter that doesn’t include its darkest moments,” Lankford said. But most Baptist churches aren’t anywhere near adopting Good Friday or Lenten services, said Rodney Kennedy, the pastor of First Baptist Church in Dayton, Ohio. While now leading an American Baptist Churches USA congregation, Kennedy said he grew up Southern Baptist in northern Louisiana. There, Good Friday marked nothing more than the day his family planted their garden every year. “I was a grown man before I knew that there were Good Friday services,” said Kennedy, co-editor of the 2013 book Gathering Together: Baptists at Work in Worship. Nor did he understand what the day even meant until much later in life. “It’s not Good Friday for Jesus — it’s awful Friday for him,” Kennedy said. “But God turns Good Friday into resurrection.” Holding services is vital to

communicating that reality to congregations, Kennedy said. At First Baptist, the tradition is to present the Stations of the Cross throughout downtown Dayton. “It’s a really big deal because it’s a cornerstone of Holy Week,” he said. That evening, First Baptist holds a Tenebrae service in which 14 scriptural passages are read. As each reading is completed, a candle is extinguished and eventually the sanctuary ends up in complete darkness. As each participant exits in silence, he or she will drop a nail into a large washtub. “The echoing sound creates an awesome sense of what crucifixion must have been like,” Kennedy said. It also reminds believers that crucifixion is a form of capital punishment, he said. “Good Friday is serious business and we reenact it because we believe that drama is necessary for us to remember … that we belong to Jesus and we are his body,” Kennedy said.

16 • April 1, 2015

MOTHER’S DAY STORIES

The LEGACY

SHARE THE STORY OF YOU AND YOUR MOM Submit with photos to:

NEWS@LEGACYNEWSPAPER.COM Deadline: April 30, 2015 Publishing date: May 6, 2015

April 1, 2015 • 17

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