LAWT-10-22-2009

Vol. XXX, No. 1150

SERVING LOS ANGELES COUNTY WITH NEWS YOU CAN USE

FIRST COLUMN

Former Refugee Recycles U.S. Hotel Soap for Uganda

BY DIONNE WALKER AP WRITER

ATLANTA (AP) — Nearly two decades after he arrived in the United States, Derreck Kayongo is still bowled over by one subtle display of American wealth: the endless array of soaps available in stores.

In Uganda, his African homeland, the cost of soap is out of reach for many, often with tragic consequences. In 2004, the World Health Organization found roughly 15 percent of deaths among Ugandan children under age 5

resulted from diarrheal diseases, many of which could be prevented through hand sanitation.

Now America’s bountiful soap bars have prompted Kayongo to launch the Global Soap Project, an effort to help his country’s poorest — one used bar of hotel soap at a time.

An Atlanta-based anti-poverty advocate, Kayongo has collected several tons of lightly used soap bars under a plan to melt them down, sterilize them, and reshape the soap for shipment to refugees See REFUGEE, page 3

AP Photo by JOHN BAZEMORE

CLEANING UP — In this photo taken Oct. 8, Derreck Kayongo displays bars of soap he has stored in the basement of his Lawrenceville, Ga., home.

Kayongo has collected five tons of lightly used bars through his Global Soap Project, which melts them down, sterilizes them, and reshapes them before sending them to refugees back in Uganda to help curb disease there. The soapmaker’s son forced to flee a dictatorship years ago in Uganda is helping clean up his war-torn homeland, one used bar of American hotel soap at a time.

African American Women Celebrate Life, Continue Fight Against Breast Cancer

BY THANDISIZWE CHIMURENGA ASSISTANT EDITOR

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and at least one local organization marked the occasion with a celebration.

The Denise Roberts Breast Cancer Foundation held its 10th Anniversary Founder’s Day Gala Oct. 18 in the Conga Room at L.A. LIVE. About 250 attendees were hosted by actress Wendy Raquel Robinson and the nine-piece latin salsa band Opa Opa. A representative from Councilwoman Jan Perry’s office was also on hand to present a resolution from the Los Angeles City Council to founder Denise Roberts in recognition of the foundation’s 10th anniversary of the foundation.

About 63,360 African Americans are expected to die from cancer in 2009, the American Cancer Society reported on Sept. 30. Of those deaths, 6,020, or 19 percent, could be of black women from breast cancer, according to the Cancer Society.

Such statistics hardly seem like a cause for celebration, but according to the organization’s Web site, the foundation celebrated “a decade of giving to live.”

Although African American women are not diagnosed with breast cancer at higher rates than white women, they die at greater rates, partly because of the late stage at which the cancer is discovered.

“We need to bring this rate down,” said Roberts, a 22-year survivor of the disease.

74th St. School Library Gets Makeover

BY CHICO C. NORWOOD STAFF WRITER

Andre Cunningham was excited.

“I’m like a kid in a candy store,” the principal of 74th Street Elementary School and Gifted Magnet said before the school’s new library was unveiled Oct. 16.

His Los Angeles campus joined 15 other schools throughout the United States in getting a renovation from the Target Volunteers School Library Makeover program.

The program revitalizes elementary school libraries into “warm, friendly places that engage children in learning, creating a love of read-

October 22, 2009

ing,” according to the Web site for the Heart of America Foundation, which did the makeover with Target Stores.

About 200 Target volunteers were bused to the school to help with the celebration by putting the See SCHOOL LIBRARY, page 14

Photo by IAN FOXX

READY TO LEARN — Students of 74th Street Elementary School and Gifted Magnet cut the ribbon to their new and improved library Oct. 16, as Principal Andre Cunningham (center, red jacket), school staff and volunteers from the Target Volunteers School Library Makeover program look on.

Photo by BILL JONES

CELEBRATNG LIFE — Denise Roberts, singer James Ingram and his wife Debi at the 10th anniversary Founder’s Day Gala of the Denise Roberts Breast Cancer Foundation, Oct. 18, at the Conga Room at L.A. LIVE. They were joined by about 250 others to celebrate the foundation’s 10th anniversary.

Roberts’ personal mantra is, “Breast cancer is not a death sentence.”

The Breast Cancer Awareness Month Web site states that the first observance was a weeklong program in October 1985. Raising the public’s awareness of breast cancer and the need for access to mammography were the main goals of the event.

More than 20 years later, the public is still being made aware of this issue. Within the African American community, Roberts says that early detection is crucial to success.

At 34, Roberts was married

Courtesy of MINORITYNURSE.COM

with two children, a small-business owner, and worked in the Hollywood See BREAST CANCER, page 16

NEWS IN BRIEF THE SOUTHLAND

THE STATE

‘Illegal Alien’ Halloween Costume Sparks Ire

Calif. Sues Bank, Alleges More Than $200M in Fraud

(AP) — A Southern California immigrant rights group on Oct. 16 asked the Target store chain and a costume company to stop selling an “illegal alien” Halloween costume it said is offensive to immigrants.

The costume features the mask of an alien with a green card and an orange jumpsuit with “illegal alien” written across the front.

Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, wrote e-mails to Minneapolis-based Target and Wisconsin-based BuySeasons Inc. calling the costume “distasteful, mean-spirited, and ignorant of social stigmas and current debate on immigration reform.”

The group said it also planned to send letters to other companies that are selling the costume.

Target is removing the costume from the site after receiving several complaints, company spokesman Joshua Thomas said Oct. 16. The store never intended to sell the outfit but included it in its online offerings by mistake, he said.

(AP) — California Attorney General Jerry Brown on Oct. 20 accused State Street Bank and Trust Co. of “unconscionable fraud,” claiming in a lawsuit the firm had bilked the state’s largest pension funds of more than $200 million.

The suit alleges Boston-based State Street overcharged the California Public Employees Retirement System and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System with fees and penalties for handling foreign currency trades.

“For years, State Street, led by a group of its internal ‘risk traders,’ raided the custodial accounts of California’s two largest public pension funds, in a total amount exceeding $56 million, by fraudulently pricing foreign currency trades State Street executed for the pension funds,” the state’s complaint alleges.

The bank denied the claims.

Brown launched an independent investigation into the bank after a group of whistleblowers called Associates Against FX Insider Trading raised the claims in a 2008 lawsuit.

See BRIEFS, page 6

DIVERSITY AWARENESS EDITION

Page 2

L.A. WATTS TIMES

October 22, 2009

OPINION EARL OFARI HUTCHINSON

Slavery Bigger Than Ever America On Oct. 13, the U.S. Coast Guard nabbed 18 persons off Mission Bay near San Diego.

The 18 were foreign nationals being smuggled into the country. The story, like others that involve trafficking human cargo, garnered scant press attention. But what made the capture of the 18 even more noteworthy was that they were captured at all.

Thousands more aren’t. They are part of the trade in human beings who work at forced jobs for subsistence or no wages, and are held in virtual captivity.

The modern-day slave trade nearly equals the illicit drug and arms sale trade as one of the biggest criminal operations in the world. An International Labor Organization report estimates that some 2.5 million people are trafficked from one country to another yearly, and these forced laborers generate more than $30 billion in illicit profits annually, half of it in industrialized countries.

The captives work in plants, factories, farms, hotels and restaurants, and in prostitution and sex rings. The traffickers use coercion, fraud, physical abuse and even torture to prevent the captives from complaining to authorities or demanding minimal pay. Language barriers, unfamiliarity with laws, and physical isolation are major obstacles that prevent many captives from complaining about their servitude.

Five years ago, the University of California Human Rights Center,

in conjunction with the Washington, D.C.-based Free the Slave, an antislavery advocacy group, released a landmark study, “Hidden Slaves: Forced Labor in the United States.”

The center estimated there were 10,000 persons held as captive laborers in the country then. According to federal figures, the number has soared to more than 20 times that since then. Not For Sale, a global anti-slavery advocacy group, estimates that nearly 20,000 forced laborers are brought into the United States every year.

Long and porous borders, lax customs checks, open seas, and the insatiable demand of agribusiness, manufacturing and service industries for cheap labor make the United States a prime destination for the traffickers.

Human trafficking is a federal crime.

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act, passed in 2000 and reauthorized in 2003 and 2005 by Congress, increased penalties, broadened the definition and scope of what constitutes trafficking, and provided more aid and services to help victims of trafficking.

But short of nabbing truckloads of human cargo at the border, slave trafficking can be hard to detect, and relatively few of these cases ever wind up in court.

From 2001 to 2007, the Justice Department conducted fewer than 1,000 slave trafficking investiga-

tions. There were less than 100 convictions. In dozens of cases, the captives were held in bondage for years.

While the penalties slapped on some traffickers have been stiff, they weren’t based solely on slave trafficking, but for the physical assault, torture, and rape of the captives. In many other cases, traffickers received hand-slap sentences such as home detention, probation and fines.

Authorities generally acted only after they received specific complaints or tips they received about workplace abuses.

Local and state police and family service agencies in California and other states have established task forces to investigate and initiate prosecutions of human traffickers. Yet, given the magnitude of the problem, the number of those caught and prosecuted is still abysmally low.

The popular conception is that human trafficking is done by foreigners who operate well-connected smuggling rings. That’s hardly the case. Many human traffickers work for domestic, farm and labor contractors, and many of those are Americans.

Many more Americans unwittingly encourage the practice. The flap over the scam of ACORN was a casebook example of that. Two filmmakers posing as a prostitute and pimp caught ACORN workers allegedly instructing the pair on how to set up a prostitution ring of underSee HUTCHINSON, page 3

Obama’s Chance to Spark Real School Funding Reform

BY TARA KINI NEW AMERICA MEDIA

President Barack Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan have an unprecedented opportunity to lead real school funding reform through the federal stimulus package. They can encourage states like California to fund public schools adequately and equitably. The question is, will they?

While much of the $100-plus billion in education stimulus funding is targeted to stave off teacher layoffs and keep class sizes in check, the socalled “Race to the Top” Fund stands apart. This $4.35 billion pot is the largest infusion of discretionary federal dollars ever into the public education system, bigger than the combined discretionary funds provided to all prior education secretaries over the past 29 years.

States have to compete for funding, and not all will win. Money will be doled out on a selective basis to a subset of states that demonstrate their commitment to bold, systemic education reform. The idea is to reward innovation and results in public education and push states to undertake serious reform if they want access to the pot.

The Race to the Top Fund places Obama and Duncan on the most effective education bully pulpit they are likely to have at any point during their administration.

And it’s one they certainly haven’t been shy to use in pushing

states like California to increase the number of charter schools and to tie teacher evaluations to student test scores. If things in Sacramento are any indication, when the feds dangle billions of dollars in potential education funding, states will jump to comply.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger had called a special session to pass legislation that would address those two issues to improve California’s chances of receiving Race to the Top dollars.

California desperately needs these funds. It ranked 47th in the nation in per pupil spending in 200607. When the latest rankings are released come January, it won’t be surprising if we drop to 50. And in the face of a state budget crisis and a nationwide recession, California state legislators have cut education funding by a shocking $2,000 per student over the past two years.

These massive cuts hit some students harder than others.

Funding among California school districts is vastly unequal, ranging from a low of $6,000 per student in one district to a high of about $30,000 in another.

Wealthy suburban districts like Palo Alto have more flexibility to streamline programs and services.

Meanwhile, students returning to Hawthorne High School in southern Los Angeles County this fall found that English Language Development classes for beginning and intermediate

English Learner students, which are vital to learning, have been eliminated.

At Mt. Eden High School in Hayward, where class size is close to 40, students sit on folding chairs or stand because there are not enough desks to go around. And as anyone who has ever taken a walk through Oakland High School and Piedmont High can tell you, unequal funding produces unequal learning opportunities and — down the road — unequal outcomes.

Sadly, Obama and Duncan have been conspicuously silent when it comes to spotlighting the funding issues at the heart of the current failures of our public education system.

While the department’s proposed Race to the Top guidance requires states to “make education funding a priority,” it pays only lip service to this principle. The fine print requires that states spend only as much on education as they did last year — the year our national recession began and when many states cut education funding to their lowest levels in years — and places no conditions on states to allocate existing funding more equally. Frankly, that won’t solve the problem.

But it’s not too late. The Department of Education was sifting through the hundreds of public comments it received on its proposed Race to the Top guidance and is scheduled to issue final regulations in November.

There is still time for Duncan to See KINI, page 3

‘Good Hair’ Done Bad

BY MAYA RUPERT CONTRIBUTING WRITER

In his documentary “Good Hair,” Chris Rock explores the complicated world of black women and our relationship with our hair.

The project was inspired by Rock’s desire to understand why his young daughter asked him why she didn’t have “good hair.” As the movie began, he posed a question to the audience: “Hmm, I wonder where she got that idea?” The remainder of the film documents his journey as he tries to answer that question.

For me, the question was answered pretty early. In one of the first scenes of the movie, Rock runs his hands through the hair of a woman who has just had dangerous chemicals put in her hair to straighten it — a practice Rock spends significant energy in the film criticizing for its health risks — and coos that he wants to marry her because he can run his fingers through her hair without getting them caught in nappy, natural curls.

“Oh,” I thought to myself. “She got that idea from you.”

I hoped that was going to be the punch line: That on his journey to examine where his daughter got her negative ideas about her hair, Rock would realize how much of the problem was the way he embraced and subtly passed on those same ideas.

I was disappointed in that during all the finger-pointing in the movie, Rock didn’t turn any of the exploration to himself in particular or to black men in general.

Rock’s journey took him to beauty shops where black women put lye in their hair to turn their natural hair silky straight and pay small fortunes to glue the hair of other women to their heads. It took him to corporations where he explored the multibillion-dollar industry that profits from telling black women their natural hair is something to be

ashamed of. It took him to the fashion industry that perpetuates a white standard of beauty that encourages black women to strive to make their hair Maya Rupert look as little like black hair as possible. It took him to India, where most of the hair purchased by black women for weaves originates.

India. He traveled across the globe to understand how his daughter views her natural hair before he ever looked in the mirror.

In one particularly telling scene, Rock stands in a barber shop with a number of black men joking about how difficult it is to date a woman with a weave because she won’t let her boyfriend touch her hair. As they lament the fact that they are not allowed to run their fingers through their girlfriends’ hair, one points out the irony: The only black women who let them touch their hair are those who wear their hair natural, and because of the texture of natural black hair, they can’t get their fingers through that hair.

As they joked about getting their fingers caught in the kinky hair of unstraightened, weave-free black hair, I waited for Rock to point out the hypocrisy of what they were doing.

Just like the women in the film who were held up to scrutiny for not loving their natural hair, these men had internalized the idea that the ideal is smooth, silky hair that a man can run his fingers through. They too have embraced a white standard of beauty that they expect black women to conform to, but then judge the ways they go about doing so.

“Good Hair” didn’t get it wrong; it just didn’t get it completely right. It’s true that the dominant See RUPERT, page 6

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CIRCULATION AUDIT BY

October 22, 2009

L.A. WATTS TIMES

Page 3

BUSINESS A Power of Attorney May Not Be Enough

BIZSHORTS ‘Solution Saturday’ on Nov. 7 (IRS) — The Internal Revenue Service at 300 N. Los Angeles St. in downtown Los Angeles is offering taxpayers a special “Solution Saturday” Nov. 7, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Beginning Oct. 26, taxpayers needing personalized help with difficult issues may call (213) 5764130 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. to schedule an appointment for Solution Saturday. Appointments are recommended, but those without one can also walk in for assistance on Nov. 7.

Foreclosure, bankruptcy, payment plans, penalties, past-due tax returns and other complex tax issues can be a challenge for taxpayers.

Many of these issues require contact with specific IRS departments and tax experts. Solution Saturday brings together IRS employees from across the agency to work face-toface with taxpayers to address unique tax problems or issues.

In addition to the scheduled appointments, Solution Saturday will offer information booths staffed

by IRS employees who’ll explain getting the most out of the new tax credits created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, starting a new business, and navigating IRS programs designed to help taxpayers.

Information: www.irs.gov, 1800-TAX-1040.

Calif. Home Sales Up 1 Percent from August (AP) — The number of homes sold in California last month ticked up last month from August, as low mortgage rates and eagerness to cash in on a soon-to-expire tax credit fueled activity in a normally sluggish time for home buying, a tracking firm said Oct. 15.

San Diego-based MDA DataQuick said 40,216 homes were sold statewide in September, up 1 percent from 39,811 in August. Such gains are rare between August and September, with sales usually dropping an average of about 9 percent during the period, the firm said.

DataQuick President John Walsh said the healthy sales showed an improving market, but he cautioned that activity remained overly dependent on temporary incentives, such as the $8,000 tax credit for some first-time home buyers.

“For those who can buy, there are some very attractive opportunities,” he said. “But it looks like a lot of the normal supply-and-demand activity has been put on hold until the economy comes back.”

The firm said last month’s home sales were down 0.3 percent from 40,317 in September 2008, but still dramatically higher than the low of around 24,500 reached in mid2007.

KINI Continued from page 2 use Race to the Top funds as an incentive to push states to fund their education systems adequately and equitably. The department should grant funds only to those states that are taking concrete steps to close funding disparities and to provide sufficient funding, so that all students have the opportunity to meet their state’s academic content stan-

Obama Recovery Plan Linked to 30,000 Jobs WASHINGTON (AP) — Businesses in the South and Southwest benefited most from the first federal contracts awarded under President Barack Obama’s stimulus program, according to initial data released by a government oversight board.

Military construction and environmental cleanup contributed to a boost of about 30,000 jobs.

The new job numbers — in line with expectations for such an early accounting—offer the first hard data on effects of the $787 billion stimulus program.

The figures, released Oct. 15, are based on jobs linked to less than $16 billion in federal contracts and represent just a sliver of the total stimulus package. But they also represent a milestone of sorts for an administration that promised unprecedented real-time data on whether the program was working.

Until now, the White House has relied on economic models to argue that the program created jobs and eased the recession. The numbers help shift the discussion from whether the program is creating jobs to whether it is creating enough to justify its enormous price tag.

Victims of California Train Derailment Settle for $30M

BY WILLIAM K. HAYES

A power of attorney is a way to delegate your decision-making authority to someone else.

People often ask, “My daughter has my power of attorney, but is that all she needs?”

While powers of attorney can be useful under some circumstances, people think they are of broader effectiveness than they are.

Firstly, a power of attorney is only effective so long as the person granting the power, otherwise known as the “principal,” is alive.

For example, if you appoint your daughter as agent under a power of attorney, and you die, her authority dies with you. If she were to go to the bank and attempt to use the power of attorney to withdraw funds, they would tell her it is no longer valid. Basically, at your death, it ceased to be worth more than the paper on which it was written.

Even while the principal is alive, a power of attorney may not be the most effective way to delegate powers. For example, some title companies will not insure title on real estate when title is transferred pursuant to a power of attorney

REFUGEE Continued from page 1

(AP) — A commuter rail agency agreed to pay about $30 million to settle most of the lawsuits from a derailment that killed 11 people and injured another 180 after a driver trying to commit suicide parked his gas-drenched SUV on the tracks, attorneys said Oct 14.

Jerome Ringler, lead attorney for the plaintiffs, said Metrolink agreed to settle nearly 90 percent of the cases, including nine wrongful death claims and 15 serious injury cases.

Both sides are trying to resolve the remaining cases ahead of trial set for Jan. 4, he said.

The Jan. 26, 2005, disaster in Glendale was triggered when Juan Alvarez parked a Jeep Cherokee on the tracks.

A fast-moving Metrolink train struck the SUV, derailed and struck a parked Union Pacific locomotive before colliding with another Metrolink train traveling in the other direction.

Alvarez was convicted last year of murder for causing the crash and sentenced to 11 consecutive life terms. He admitted driving onto the tracks in an attempt to commit suicide but said he changed his mind at the last minute and couldn’t get the SUV off the tracks.

He jumped out of the way before impact.

in Uganda to help curb disease.

“Most people find it very hard to spend money on something like soap which could actually help them prevent diseases,” Kayongo said. A bar of soap can cost 500 Ugandan shillings — about 10 American cents — on a continent where many refugees have a dollar to live on daily.

Cleaning up with used soap sounds, well, dirty.

But Kayongo said soaps will be separated by hotel brand and gently washed to remove makeup and other surface dirt. Next, bars will go into a high-temperature oven where they will melt and transform into a soapy, sterile slurry. Kayongo said the mixture will go into molds to harden and emerge as large bars of soap.

“All it needs is just cleaning and remelting and remolding,” he said.

Kayongo got the idea back in the mid 1990s. He had recently arrived in America and when he settled into his hotel, Kayongo was surprised to find packages of soap.

He used the bars, but was confused the next day when he found they’d been replaced.

“This went on for two or three days,” said Kayongo, who finally called his father back in Africa and chuckled about it.

The men talked about how the soap could be melted down and

dards, including those requiring greater learning support.

This means requiring states to demonstrate they are providing poorer school districts with sufficient resources so that all students have access to expert teachers, small class sizes, rich and diverse course offerings, high-quality learning materials, equipped science and computer laboratories, and adequately maintained school

facilities — plus the intensive intervention programs that many underperforming students need.

Let’s hope that Obama and Duncan don’t pass up this precious opportunity to lead real school funding reform. They may not get another chance. And our children can’t afford for this one to slip by.

Tara Kini is a staff attorney with Public Advocates Inc., a nonprofit legal and advocacy firm.

drawn up more than 18 months before the transfer.

So, if a power of attorney may not be enough, what is the answer?

A revocable living trust offers the solution. With a revocable living trust, you transfer your assets to the trust, and you serve as the manager, or “trustee,” of the trust during your life.

At your death or incapacity, the person whom you have selected steps in to make decisions for you.

Your successor trustee simply presents the physician statement of your incapacity and thereby gains the ability to manage the assets in the trust. If the vacation home needs to be sold to pay for health care, that person would have the authority to do so, even if the trust were done years before the incapacity.

The trust has the added benefit of avoiding probate, the legal process by which assets in a decedent’s name are retitled after death.

A trust may also provide a flexible way to accomplish your wishes regarding assets in the trust that you would like to distribute. For example, if you want your assets held for your spouse and kids, and

then distributed out only after the youngest child has graduated from college or reached age 25, it can do that.

Regardless of your wishes, a trust can help you achieve your goals. A qualified estate planning attorney who focuses his or her practice in that area can help you tailor an estate plan to ensure that your person of choice has the means to make decisions on your behalf.

William K. Hayes is a member of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys. The Hayes Law Firm specializes in trusts, probate and asset protection planning.

Web site: www.losangelestrustlaw. com.

reused. Kayongo sat on the idea for a few years, until his father recently brought it back up.

Patrick Maher, a consultant to the American Hotel & Lodging Association, said hotels usually throw away used soap. But he said nonprofits have begun stepping up to recycle soap for charitable purposes.

“It’s one of the new things this year,” Maher said.

One such charity, Florida-based Clean the World, says it has collected about 17,000 pounds (7,700 kilograms) of used soap since February for distribution in impoverished countries worldwide.

For the Global Soap Project, Kayongo says he has gathered 10,000 pounds (4,500 kilograms) of used hotel soap from 60 hotels in Georgia, Florida and Tennessee. Hotels collect lightly used bars which they place in bins. One of Kayongo’s 10 volunteers takes the bars to a donated warehouse near Atlanta.

Kayongo’s own family had once thrived off his father’s business making soaps and running a printing press in Uganda. But Kayongo said they went from being members of

the middle class to refugees, losing everything under the harsh rule of former Ugandan dictator Idi Amin.

The family fled to Kenya, where Kayongo said life without basics became the norm.

Now Kayongo wants to give other refugees a small item that can make a big difference. He plans to send off his first shipment in late October.

Kayongo, a senior advocacy field coordinator for CARE International, has committed about $5,000 of his own money toward the $13,000 cost to send the soap and is seeking donations to make up the rest. CARE International, a global anti-poverty group, is not sponsoring the project.

Since June, just one RitzCarlton hotel in Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood has turned over 3,000 pounds (1,400 kilograms) of soap which otherwise would have gone into the trash.

“When I heard Derreck speak about it, I thought it sounded really easy and why haven’t we been doing this all along?” said Olivia Brown, a manager at the hotel.

HUTCHINSON Continued from page 2 age girls from El Salvador and avoid taxes.

The scam was aimed to politically embarrass President Barack Obama. He was a one-time staff attorney for the group. However, the ACORN flap pointed out the wide extent and awareness of slave trafficking.

During the presidential campaign, Obama and Republican rival John McCain said little about the scourge of human trafficking in the United States. Neither proposed new policy initiatives to combat the trade.

In March, though, Obama appointed longtime anti-slavery advocate Lou de Baca as an ambassadorat-large to raise public awareness about trafficking in the country.

However, no mention was made whether Congress will significantly

William K. Hayes

boost funds and personnel to the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons.

Slavery is illegal in every country. The United Nations has passed countless resolutions condemning human trafficking. Politicians of all nations have denounced the practice.

Yet, close to 150 years after the formal abolition of slavery in the United States, modern-day slavery still rears its ugly and shameful head in America.

The United States must wage the same hard fight against it that it waged to end chattel slavery.

Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. His weekly radio show, “The Hutchinson Report,” can be heard in Los Angeles, Fridays on KTYM Radio 1460 AM, and streamed live nationally on ktym.com.

Page 4

L.A. WATTS TIMES

October 22, 2009

COMMUNITY COMMUNITY MEETINGS, FORUMS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS President of L.A.’s Largest Retirement Fund Resigns

Photo by MARTY COTWRIGHT

STRIVING FOR DIVERSITY — The Los Angeles Police Department is actively recruiting African Americans to join its ranks. The latest statistics on African American graduates from the LAPD Police Academy reveal that of this year’s 328 graduates, 20 were African Americans, less than 10 percent.

LAPD Seeks to Recruit African Americans

BY CHICO C. NORWOOD STAFF WRITER

The Los Angeles Police Department is hosting a Job Fair and Hiring Seminar on Oct. 24 at Ahmanson Recruit Training center at 5651 W. Manchester Blvd., Los Angeles.

The information session will be at 9 a.m. with a written test being administered at 11 a.m.

The purpose of the fair is a part of the department’s ongoing efforts to recruit more African Americans to the force.

Despite the presence of such African American officers as Oscar Joel Bryant and Randall “Randy” Simmons (both killed in the line of duty) and the successes of Cmdr.

Jesse Brewer; lieutenant — and former mayor — Tom Bradley; current L.A. councilman and former police chief Bernard Parks; Assistant Police Chief Earl Paysinger and the late Deputy Chief Kenneth Garner, African Americans continue to shy away from joining the Los Angeles Police Department.

According to the LAPD, there are 1,196 (925 males and 271 females) black officers on the force of 9,995, just under 12 percent. The latest statistics on African American graduates from the LAPD Police Academy reveal that of this year’s 328 graduates, 20 were African Americans, less than 10 percent.

The historic relationship between

(AP) — The president of the largest employee retirement system in Los Angeles has resigned, saying a new state law won’t allow him to do his day job.

Eric Holoman — head of the Los Angeles City Employees’ Retirement System and president of Magic Johnson Enterprises — recently stepped down. He is the sixth pension appointee of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to quit in six months.

In an e-mail to the mayor, Holoman cited a law signed by the governor recently placing stronger limits on private financial work done by pension board members.

The law prevents board members from selling investment products to other public retirement systems and forces them to disclose minority communities and the Los Angeles Police Department is described as contentious by many.

Several incidents sparked contention between some blacks and the LAPD, including the controversial arrest that led to the 1965 Watts Rebellion, the LAPD slaying of Eula Love, the Rodney King beating and many other occurrences.

For the Hispanic community, the wounds can partly be traced back to the Zoot Suit riots and

work done by middlemen who pitch investments for fees.

Holoman says the restrictions would impair his ability to work in his private equity and real estate professions.

Foundation of Los Angeles, and others.

Admission is $10 in advance.

Information: (310) 670-4617.

Fatherhood Event Slated

The Raft’s Legal Support Institute will present its Community Connections Forum Oct. 28, 6 to 9 p.m., at the new Courtyard by Marriott, 6333 Bristol Parkway, Culver City.

Forum topics range from “Jobs in High Demand Now” and “How to Prepare for Them, Foreclosure Scam Prevention & Guidelines” to “Loan Modification, Government Benefits and your Right to Access,” to name a few.

Speakers include Wilbur McKesson Jr. of Broadway Federal Bank, attorneys from Legal Aid

A town hall called “Where Are the Fathers?” will be held Oct. 26, 6 p.m., at Comrie Hall of The Expo Center, 3980 S. Menlo Ave., Los Angeles.

Hosted by the Fatherhood Initiative and Unity One Foundation Inc., discussions will focus on paternal responsibility including the impact of absentee fathers on homes and paying child support.

Panelists will include: Areva Martin, of the Special Needs Network Mark Ridley-Thomas, Los Angeles County Supervisor, Second District Daniel Tabor, Inglewood City councilman.

“Bloody Christmas,” when LAPD officers beat up Latinos who were in custody.

In a March 13, 2009, LA Progressive published an online article by columnist Anthony Asadullah Samad, who wrote about trust being an issue between the community and the LAPD. “The black community just ‘can’t trust it’ when it came to expecting the department to arrest abuse and misconduct in the same way it

stopped and arrested black people.

Even now, this department doesn’t believe racial profiling is a problem to the extent it (the department) needs to dramatically modify its training practices. A ‘kinder, gentler,’ more racially sensitive LAPD is just a tough sell all the way around. The site of their uniforms makes our community nervous,” Samad wrote.

Some African American members of the department agree that a See LAPD, page 5

Legal Institute to Hold Community Forum

October 22, 2009

L.A. WATTS TIMES

Page 5

COMMUNITY

WHAT’S GOING ON? Deadline for receipt of What’s Going On listings is Friday, 12 p.m., at least two weeks prior to activity.

Fax to: (213) 251-5720, e-mail us at lawattsnus@aol.com or mail to: L.A. Watts Times, 3540 Wilshire Blvd., PH3, Los Angeles, CA 90010.

ANNIVERSARY — Bowen United Methodist Church will celebrate its 66th year of service for the Lord Oct. 25, 3 p.m., at 3522 Trinity St., Los Angeles. Family and friends are invited to join the celebration with praise dancing, a guest soloist, and preaching from guest speaker the Rev. Gary Williams. Lunch will be served in the Lovinggood Hall before the 3 p.m. service. Information: (323) 559-5775.

BONES AND BLUES — Issac Smith and Charlie Chan will be the featured performers Oct. 30 at this month’s gathering at the Watts Labor Community Action Committee (WLCAC). The doors will open at 8 p.m., and the show will begin at 9 p.m. at Phoenix Hall, 10950 S. Central Ave., Los Angeles. WLCAC is north of the 105 freeway at the Central Avenue exit. Advance tickets are $15 and general admission is $25 at the door, or $10 with a costume. Information: (323) 563-5639, events@wlcac.org.

SEMINAR — Agape International Spiritual Center will have a

free living trust and wills seminar open to the public. This event will take place Oct. 24, 10 a.m., at 5700 Buckingham Parkway, Culver City.

Attorney Caprice Collins will be the speaker, and seating is limited. Information: (310) 677-9787, ext. 5, www.collinslawgroup.com.

ELDER CARE — The California Elder Care Initiative, a project of The Association of African American Professionals, is sponsoring a “Community Conversation on Elder Care” Oct. 28, 2 to 4 p.m., in the community room of the Department of Water and Power, 4030 S. Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles. Resources that can help seniors during tough times and other information will be available. This event is free and open to the public but an RSVP by Oct. 23 is requested. Information: (323) 4175034, info@aaprofessionals.org.

SCARY STORIES — “Scary Stories VII with Melanie Jones” will take place Oct. 29, 6:30 p.m., at the Angels Gate Cultural Center, 3601 S. Gaffey St., San Pedro. Classic and contemporary tales of terror will be read aloud in the dark, outside around a fire. The storytelling is suitable for all ages, and attendees should bring their own seating and dress warmly.

Tickets are $5 general admission and children 6 and under can attend for free. Information: (310) 387-0908,

http://angelsgateart.org.

HOWL-O-WEEN — The South Los Angeles Animal Shelter invites the community to stop by to adopt a pet Oct. 31, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dogs will be dressed for Halloween, and a Howl-o-ween parade will begin at noon. There will be free candy, a raffle, photo opportunities and a chance to meet L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. The shelter is at 3612 11th Ave., Los Angeles. Information: (888) 452-7381.

HALLOWEEN BOWLING — Ultra Wave Entertainment is sponsoring a family event Oct. 31, 2:30 to 5 p.m., at the Midtown Lanes Bowling Center, 4645 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles. Attendees can bowl in their Halloween costumes. The cost is $7 for two games and shoes, plus an all-access VIP pass to the “all ages Boogie room.” “Trick or treating” will take place after bowling. Information: ultrawave@ultrawavemedia.com.

HALLOWEEN SKATE — Ultra Wave Entertainment is co-sponsoring a 1980s Halloween Birthday Skate and Dance Party that will be held Oct. 31, 10 p.m. to 3 a.m., at World on Wheels, 4645 1/2 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles. Participants are encouraged to wear their ’80s gear.

There will be an ’80s dance contest for prizes, and music will be provid-

ed by DJs Myke D, DJ Tee and Will93. Admission is $15 before midnight. Information: (323) 864-3537, (310) 420-7620, (213) 300-7879.

BREAKFAST FORUM — The Black Women’s Network will host its annual Business/Career and Networking Breakfast Forum Oct. 31, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the ballroom

LAPD Continued from page 4 lack of trust plays a big part in the department’s struggle to recruit blacks.

“The main problem is there is a trust issue between the black community and the Los Angeles Police Department. I think many times people have a bad experience with the police department … and in the telling … many young adults overhear these stories,” said officer Brian Brown, a 21-year African American officer with the department who works in South Traffic and joined the department because he wanted to “make a difference.”

Brown also said he believed that African Americans who apply for the department are judged differently.

“It seems to me, if you are an African American candidate you’re twice as likely to be dealt harshly or you’re going to be scrutinized a little bit more or monitored a little bit more,” he said. “I have spoken to people who have applied. Sure their background was not squeaky clean,

of the Proud Bird Restaurant, 11022 Aviation Blvd., Los Angeles. There will be exhibitor booths, a marketplace, and a breakfast forum panel.

Former “Divorce Court” Judge Mablean Ephriam will be the mistress of ceremony. Information: (323) 964-4003, www.blackwomensnetwork.net.

but it wasn’t to the point that I felt they should have been disqualified.”

Officer Cleon Joseph has been with the department for 14 years. He previously worked as a recruiter for the department and was transferred several months ago to the Media Relations Department. He says the community’s perception of the department has played a big part with contentions.

“We’re dealing with the myths and perceptions of law enforcement in the community. I believe it’s past feelings with the African American and the police community, which has gotten better over the years, but we’re still dealing with some myths and misconceptions about law enforcement,” Joseph said.

He disagrees with Brown’s belief that African Americans recruits are treated differently than others.

“What does affect you … is the competition. If you’ve got a thousand applicants and all of them have good backgrounds, you’re competing against that background,” he said.

See LAPD, page 14

Page 6

L.A. WATTS TIMES

October 22, 2009

COMMUNITY BRIEFS Continued from page 1

Atwater City Council to Do Sensitivity Training ATWATER, Calif. (AP) — Atwater’s city council is hiring two consulting firms to conduct racial sensitivity training classes for members after racist e-mails sent by one of them were made public.

Frago’s personal sessions.

Deputy City Attorney Jose Sanchez says if council members had chosen to not undergo training, it could have opened the city up to litigation. The city has not yet negotiated the prices.

Information from: Merced SunStar, www.mercedsun-star.com.

THE NATION Obamas Attend Daughters’ Parent-Teacher Conference

Councilman Gary Frago

Councilman Gary Frago sparked a public outcry in July when the Merced Sun-Star detailed a series of e-mails he forwarded to city and county officials that included racist jokes. Some denigrated President Barack Obama, the first lady and black people.

Frago later apologized and agreed to undergo sensitivity training.

The council voted 3-2 Oct. 19 to use two firms for the group training, including one that conducted

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama attended parentteacher conferences Oct. 19 at their daughters’ private school.

The Obamas traveled by motorcade Oct. 19 morning to the elementary school campus of the private Sidwell Friends School, where Sasha, 8, is a third-grader. Then they went to Sidwell’s Washington, D.C., middle school campus, where Malia, 11, is a sixth-grader.

The school was told ahead of time that the first lady was coming, but the president’s visit was a surprise, the White House said. There was no media coverage of the visits.

Gates Foundation Gives Black History Museum $10M WASHINGTON (AP) — The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is giving $10 million to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture planned for the National Mall in

Washington.

The grant announced Oct. 15 will support the capital campaign for design and construction of the new museum.

Allan Golston, president of the foundation’s U.S. programs, says the museum will make the stories and history of African Americans available to everyone.

Groundbreaking is expected in 2012, and the opening is slated for 2015. Construction is expected to cost about $500 million, with half the funds to be provided by Congress.

Museum director Lonnie Bunch has been quietly working to raise funds. He says the Gates Foundation grant is a vote of confidence for the project.

Former NAACP Executive, Assistant Accused of Stealing ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta NAACP has accused its former executive director and her assistant of stealing more than $275,000 over six years.

In a police report obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the organization accuses Judith WithersHanson and Saundra Douglass of applying for company credit cards and writing checks for furniture, college tuition, and dental work.

Atlanta police are investigating the case. No arrests have been made.

The Atlanta NAACP branch was referring media inquiries into See BRIEFS, page 14

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Judge Grants Change of Venue in BART Shooting Case

BY TERRY COLLINS AP WRITER

OAKLAND (AP) — The trial of a white former transit officer accused of fatally shooting an unarmed black man will be moved out of Alameda County, a judge ruled Oct. 16.

Superior Court Judge Morris Jacobson said in his 28-page ruling the circumstances of the New Year’s Day slaying, the violent protests that erupted in Oakland afterwards, intense media scrutiny and fears of shielding jurors and witnesses from any possible civil unrest, justified granting a change of venue.

Former Bay Area Rapid Transit District officer, Johannes Mehserle, 27, has been charged with killing Oscar Grant, 22, who had been pulled off a train for allegedly fighting when he was shot on an Oakland station platform.

Mehserle has pleaded not guilty.

“The nature of this crime has an implied racial aspect to it in that the defendant is Caucasian and the victim was African American,” Jacobson wrote.

“This case may well be a close one and difficult for some or all of the jurors to decide. Under these circumstances, there is a reasonable probability that (Mehserle) cannot get a fair trial,” he said.

A new location for the trial, still scheduled to begin Nov. 2, will be decided over the next few weeks.

Mehserle’s attorney, Michael Rains, had argued for a change of venue citing a survey where nearly 400 potential jurors said 97 percent of them knew details about the case and nearly half believe he is guilty or probably guilty. Prosecutor David Stein argued that the survey was not credible.

Neither Stein nor Rains were available for comment Oct. 16 because of a gag order.

The Jan. 1 shooting was videorecorded by several bystanders, shown across the Internet and subsequently used as evidence in a preliminary hearing last spring.

Rains argues that Mehserle meant to use his Taser to restrain Grant, but accidentally pulled his pistol while Grant was lying face down on the station platform.

Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums said that he understood many may disagree with the judge’s ruling.

“Whether we agree or disagree

RUPERT Continued from page 2 standard of beauty that is embraced by too many black women tells us that we should try to look as white as we can. It’s also true that a lot of people make a lot of money capitalizing on the cultural insecurity of black women. And it’s tragic to think about the money black women spend to put our health at risk in order to change the way we look.

But it’s disingenuous to pretend that we have no idea where these impulses come from when a group of black men can stand around a barber shop making fun of black women with natural hair.

with the ruling, let us go forward in a civil manner and treat one another with respect,” Dellums said.

“My fervent plea is that this decision does not cause chaos and upheaval in our city.”

Grant’s mother, Wanda Johnson, said she was stunned by the decision, which came a week after a change of venue hearing concluded.

Her family had been encouraged by previous court rulings — including that Mehserle stand trial for murder.

Oscar Grant

Johannes Mehserle

She was adamant that the trial should be held in the city where her son died.

“It shows we still live in a black and white world. Nothing changes,” Johnson said. “We will go wherever the trial goes. Justice will be served.”

Michael Cardoza, a veteran defense lawyer who has closely watched the proceedings, said the new venue makes “imminent sense.”

Even if enough unbiased jurors could be found, “they might fear retaliation should they not bring back a favorable verdict,” Cardoza said.

Venue changes are rare because of the extra cost and logistical obstacles. The California Judicial Council reports that scores of requests have been made in the last two years, but only four granted.

To win a venue change, defense attorneys must prove that their clients cannot get justice in the county where the crime occurred.

“Good Hair” could have been great. Unfortunately, instead of exploring the role of both black men and women in the perpetuation of a damaging standard of beauty within our community, “Good Hair” ultimately tells black women that our issues with our hair are all in our heads.

Maya Rupert is an attorney in downtown Los Angeles. She has previously contributed to the San Francisco Chronicle, as well as other publications. Her column explores issues of race, gender and politics and appears in the L.A. Watts Times regularly. She can be reached at maya.rupert@gmail.com.

October 22, 2009

L.A. WATTS TIMES

Page 7

DIVERSITY AWARENESS EDITION Diversity Awareness Feature

Nation’s Pupils Find Few Black Men to Call ‘Mister’

BY KATHY MATHESON AP WRITER

CHEYNEY, Pa. (AP) — Lenny Macklin made it to 10th grade before having a teacher who looked like him — an African American male. Gregory Georges graduated from high school without ever being taught by a black man.

Only about 2 percent of teachers nationwide are African American men. But experts say that needs to change if educators expect to reduce minority achievement gaps and dropout rates.

Macklin, now an 18-year-old college student, said he understands the circle that keeps many of his peers out of the classroom professionally.

“A lot of males, they don’t like being in school because they can’t relate to their teacher,” said Macklin, of Pittsburgh. “So why would you want to work there?”

American teachers are overwhelmingly white (87 percent) and female (77 percent), despite minority student populations of about 44 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

It’s a job men generally avoid because of gender stereotypes, fear of abuse accusations, and low pay, said Bryan Nelson, founder of the

Minneapolis-based nonprofit organization MenTeach.

The average U.S. teacher salary was about $51,000 in 2006-07.

Yet increasing the number of minority teachers is important because of “the role model factor,” said Greg Johnson, a policy analyst for the National Education Association.

“These students need to see successful adults of color in front of them,” Johnson said.

Macklin and Georges, both sophomores at historically black Cheyney University near Philadelphia, are trying to fulfill that need through the Call Me MISTER teaching program.

MISTER is an acronym — Mentors Instructing Students Toward Effective Role Models — and a reference to the 1967 film “In the Heat of the Night,” in which Sidney Poitier’s character demands respect with the line, “They call me MISTER Tibbs!”

Designed to put more minority men at the head of the classroom, the initiative offers scholarships in exchange for teaching in public schools.

“If we can recruit linebackers, point guards and track stars, we can recruit third-grade teachers,” said

Roy Jones, the program’s national executive director. “It is a matter of priority.”

Jones directs the program from Clemson University in South Carolina, where it began in 2000 after researchers found that fewer than 1 percent of the state’s elementary school teachers were black men; the overall K-12 student population at the time was 42 percent black.

Nearly six years after the first MISTER cohort graduated in 2004, there has been some progress, though Jones concedes not nearly enough.

About 50 program graduates are teaching in South Carolina schools, representing a 25 percent increase in the number of black male instructors statewide, Jones said.

Another 250 future teachers are in the MISTER pipeline, scattered across 28 colleges in seven states.

To improve the national percentage of black male teachers to even 3 percent, another 45,000 would need to enroll.

One hurdle may be that the program is found mostly at historically black colleges and universities, which have lower graduation rates than colleges overall, according to an Associated Press analysis. Men at those schools have a 29 percent

graduation rate within six years, partly due to lack of money and poor academic preparation, The AP found.

Yet some who have finished the MISTER program, like Keith Wilkes, find teaching rewarding.

Wilkes, who works in a predominantly white school in Westminster, S.C., said he believes children of all races need male role models. Wilkes, 50, sees himself as an African American giving back to the community where he grew up — an image he hopes will dispel negative stereotypes of black men for students and parents alike.

“It’s a noble cause,” Wilkes said. “This is not just something you do as a job. This is a lifestyle. You have to believe in what you’re doing.”

Hayward Jean, 27, has found teaching equally inspiring, though not without its challenges. Now in a low-income district in Orangeburg, S.C., Jean said he was caught off guard by the initially chilly reception from boys in his class.

Many are being raised by single mothers and are wary of black men abruptly entering and leaving their lives, Jean said.

“Actually, a lot of them were a little bit bitter toward me,” Jean said.

“We’ve been breaking those walls down, and that’s been helping them tremendously.”

At Cheyney, a public university serving 1,400 students, the Call Me MISTER initiative started last year with a $1 million state grant.

Students receive full tuition, room and board, and a stipend. For every year they receive the scholarship, students in the program are required to teach one year in Pennsylvania public schools.

About a dozen undergraduates are expected to get their bachelor’s degrees in 2011; six graduate MISTER students are expected to receive master’s degrees this spring.

Gregory Georges, 20, said some of his peers are attracted to higher-paying careers with fancier wardrobes. But he notes that all of his teaching salary will be going into his pocket because he’ll have no loans to pay back. And he’s not so much into clothes anyway.

“I’d rather be in a classroom rolling my sleeves up and talking to the kids,” Georges said. “Get some chalk on my fingers.”

On The Net: Call Me MISTER national program: www.callmemister.clemson.edu/; Cheyney University: www. cheyney.edu.

The New Arbor Vitae 405 Interchange document is out for the Public Review.

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We Salute Diversity Awareness

DIVERSITY AWARENESS

Page 8

L.A. WATTS TIMES

October 22, 2009

DIVERSITY AWARENESS EDITION Diversity Briefs Latinos Record 26 Percent of NYPD NEW YORK (AP) — Hispanics make up a record 25.7 percent of the New York Police Department.

The number of Latinos in the nation’s largest police department has increased by 6 percent since 2001.

Figures from last month show that in officer ranks alone,

Hispanics comprise 29 percent.

Hispanics are 27.4 percent of city residents.

Whites in the department have dropped to 53.2 percent from 64.3 percent in 2001.

Blacks are 16.5 percent and Asians 4.5 percent.

Commissioner Raymond Kelly says diversity helps with community relations and fighting crime.

But the National Latino Officers Association laments Hispanics

aren’t represented as heavily in the top ranks.

The group is boycotting this month’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations.

NAACP Voices Concerns About Mayoral Succession BALTIMORE (AP) — Maryland NAACP leaders are asking state lawmakers to make sure the governor cannot appoint a new Baltimore mayor if a mayor is con-

RICK AUERBACH LOS ANGELES COUNTY ASSESSOR AND THE ASSESSOR EMPLOYEES IN A DEPARTMENT AS DIVERSE AS THE TAXPAYERS IT SERVES HONOR

Diversity Awareness Month

RICK AUERBACH LOS ANGELES COUNTY ASSESSOR

IN THIS OCTOBER OF 2009 WE ARE ALL ONE AND MANY!

victed of a crime.

The group is worried that the appointment of a white or Republican leader would not fully represent the majority black and Democratic city.

However, Dan Friedman, an assistant attorney general who is counsel to the General Assembly, says the governor does not have that authority.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s request in a resolution adopted at a meeting recently was first reported by the online news Web site Investigative Voice.

It’s the first time a mainstream organization has raised questions about succession should Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon be convicted of any of the nine charges she faces.

Minor League Drops Name NAACP Calls Offensive RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A minor league baseball team coming to Richmond has eliminated “Hambones” as a potential team name after the local NAACP chapter called it offensive.

The Richmond AA franchise said in a statement Oct. 13 that it was unaware of any negative, derogatory or offensive connotations and that “Hambones” was chosen from submissions as a finalist because of the concept of Virginia ham.

The hambone is the footstomping, hand-clapping, thighslapping dance brought to America by slaves and later performed at minstrel shows for white audiences.

The team, formerly known as the Connecticut Defenders, was down to five choices: Flatheads, Flying Squirrels, Rock Hoppers, Rhinos and Hush Puppies.

Center to Bear Names of Former Governor, Activist BATESVILLE, Miss. (AP) — The Job Corps center in Batesville will be renamed for the late Mississippi Gov. Cliff Finch and Aaron Henry, a former legislator and civil rights activist.

The Department of Labor and MINACT Inc. were set to host a dedication ceremony Oct. 19.

MINACT spokeswoman Desare Frazier says Finch and Henry both worked to bring the first corps center to the state in 1977.

Finch was elected governor in 1976 after a campaign centered on helping the working class.

Henry was president of the state National Association for the Advancement of Colored People for 33 years. Frazier says Henry pushed for the law that led to the creation of the Job Corps, which is still the largest residential education and training program for young adults.

MINACT Inc. is a contractor that supports the Job Corps program in several states.

Louisiana Justice of the Peace Refuses to Issue Marriage License to Interracial Couple NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A white Louisiana justice of the peace said he refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple out of concern for any children the couple might have.

Keith Bardwell, justice of the peace in Tangipahoa Parish, says it is his experience that most interracial marriages do not last long.

“I’m not a racist. I just don’t believe in mixing the races that way,” Bardwell told The Associated Press on Oct. 15. “I have piles and piles of black friends. They come to my home, I marry them, they use my bathroom. I treat them just like everyone else.”

Bardwell said he asks everyone who calls about marriage if they are a mixed race couple.

If they are, he does not marry them, he said.

Bardwell said he has discussed the topic with blacks and whites, along with witnessing some interracial marriages. He came to the conclusion that most of black society does not readily accept offspring of such relationships, and neither does white society, he said.

Beth Humphrey, 30, and 32year-old Terence McKay, both of Hammond, say they will consult the U.S. Justice Department about filing a discrimination complaint.

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October 22, 2009

L.A. WATTS TIMES

Page 9

Page 10

L.A. WATTS TIMES

October 22, 2009

DIVERSITY AWARENESS EDITION Diversity Awareness Feature

Supreme Stats: 106 White Males Among 111 Justices

BY MARK SHERMAN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON (AP) — If President Barack Obama wants to make the Supreme Court more diverse, he has a wider range of options than any of his predecessors.

When Ronald Reagan was president, only about 40 women served on the federal bench, the most common source of Supreme Court nominees.

As of May 2009, more than 200 women hold federal judgeships, along with 88 African Americans, 60 Hispanics and eight Asian Americans.

All but five of the 111 Supreme Court justices in the nation’s history have been white men. Two are African American men, Clarence Thomas and the late Thurgood Marshall, and two are white women, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sandra Day O’Connor. And with the appointment of Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Obama helped make the Supreme Court bench more diverse, adding a Puerto Rican to the bench.

There has never been an AsianAmerican or Native American justice.

The president also has a much wider range of experienced lawyers to draw from than Reagan did when he reached down to a midlevel appeals court in Arizona to nominate O’Connor.

Before Jimmy Carter came to

WE

Supreme Count Justice Sonia Sotomayor

the White House in 1977, presidents beginning with Franklin D. Roosevelt had put just eight women on the federal bench. Carter added 40 female federal judges in four years, including Ginsburg.

As of May, 212 full-time federal judges are women, more than a quarter of the federal judiciary.

“The pool was simply not as broad or as deep as it is now,” said Marcia Greenberger, co-president of the National Women’s Law Center.

State supreme court judges — many of them elected — have an even higher share of women. Nearly a third of the judges on those courts are women. On 22 out of 53 courts, women make up at least 40 percent of the judges, as of May. (The list includes Washington, D.C., as well as two high courts each for Oklahoma and Texas.)

The rise in the number of women

F LY

AS

as judges reflects steady growth in the number of female lawyers. About a third of lawyers, as well as roughly half of law school graduates, are women.

“I wouldn't say the doors have swung open as fully as we would like,” Greenberger said. “Nonetheless, there are superb women in the judiciary, academia and private practice.”

The numbers are smaller for minorities. As of May, of the 793 fulltime federal trial and appeals court judges, 88 are African American, 60 are Hispanic and eight are AsianAmerican. There are no Native American judges.

Again, Carter brought much greater diversity to federal courts than any of his predecessors. In the 16 years beginning with the election of John F. Kennedy, presidents filled 21 judgeships with African Americans.

The total double counts Marshall, who was made an appeals court judge

by Kennedy and then put on the Supreme Court by President Lyndon Johnson.

Carter nominated 37 African American judges in his single term.

He named 16 Hispanics, more than twice as many as previous presidents combined.

George W. Bush and Bill Clinton before him significantly raised the

number of women and minorities in the judiciary. Nearly 30 percent of judges nominated by Clinton and more than 20 percent of Bush’s picks were women.

African Americans made up 16 percent and Hispanics accounted for 7 percent of Clinton-nominated judges.

The numbers were 8 percent and 10

percent, respectively, for Bush.

Sometimes, though, a president’s desire to increase diversity gives way to other political concerns. In 2005, Bush nominated a woman, Harriet Miers, to take O’Connor’s spot. But Miers withdrew from consideration under criticism from the president’s conservative allies.

Diversity On the Bench

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Presidents, excluding Barack Obama, and the total number of judges they named, broken down by women and minorities, dating from the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was the first to nominate a woman to be a federal judge.

• Franklin D. Roosevelt: 184 judges, 1 woman.

• Harry Truman: 131 judges, 1 woman, 1 African American.

• Dwight Eisenhower: 165 judges.

• John F. Kennedy: 125 judges, 1 woman, 3 African-Americans, 1 Hispanic.

• Lyndon Johnson: 167 judges, 3 women (including the first African American woman), 9 African Americans, 3 Hispanics.

• Richard Nixon: 220 judges, 1 woman, 6 African Americans, 2

Hispanics, 1 Asian American.

• Gerald Ford: 62 judges, 1 woman, 3 African Americans, 1 Hispanic, 2 Asian Americans.

• Jimmy Carter: 258 judges, 40 women (including the first Hispanic woman), 37 African Americans, 16 Hispanics, 3 Asian Americans, 1 Native American.

• Ronald Reagan: 358 judges, 29 women, 7 African Americans, 14 Hispanics, 2 Asian Americans.

• George H.W. Bush: 187 judges, 36 women, 11 African Americans, 8 Hispanics.

• Bill Clinton: 367 judges, 104 women (including the first Asian American woman), 61 African Americans, 23 Hispanics, 5 Asian Americans, 1 Native American.

• George W. Bush: 321 judges, 71 women, 23 African Americans, 30 Hispanics, 4 Asian Americans.

Source: Federal Judicial Center

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Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) is a system of four airports—LAX, Ontario International, Van Nuys and Palmdale Regional—that have been instrumental in helping Los Angeles become a world center for business, industry and tourism. Yet while our position in the world is important, what we do locally is ever y bit as impor tant. By suppor ting local schools, partnering with community organizations and helping with job placement oppor tunities, LAWA is making our community stronger. And that in turn helps ever yone reach even greater heights.

Los Angeles World Airports. We Fly as One with the Community.

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L.A. Watts Times...News You Can Use

October 22, 2009

L.A. WATTS TIMES

Page 11

ARTS & CULTURE

Actress Vivica Fox attended the Fox Reality Channel “Really Awards”

Actress Raven Simone at the premiere of “Good Hair”

Malaak and Chris Rock at the premiere of “Good Hair”

Have a wild, spooky and safe Halloween at the Los Angeles Zoo! October 24, 25, 31, and November 1, 2009 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Trick-or-Treat throughout the zoo and watch animals Stomp-N-Chomp pumpkins too!

Discover eerie entertainment, tasty treats, spooky crafts, and ghoulish games on your journey through the Zoo.

Photos by MARTY COTWRIGHT

TASTEFUL — A Taste of Soul, sponsored by the Los Angeles Sentinel newspaper, was held Oct. 17 on Crenshaw Boulevard. Thousands of Angelinos were treated to music and food. Pictured: (top) a portion of the crowd attending A Taste of Soul ’09; (middle) R&B and gospel group “Sounds of Blackness” performs; (bottom) Lenny Williams, formerly of R&B group Tower of Power, performs for the crowd.

SHORT TAKES CELEBRATION • Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos — an ancient Aztec tradition alternately referred as “All Souls Day” — is a celebration known for its festive altars, poems, and specialty food and drink offerings dedicated to the dearly departed. Hollywood Forever Cemetery will give residents of Southern California the opportunity to com-

memorate the Day of the Dead during a one-day festival Oct. 24, 4 to 11 p.m., at 6000 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles. There will be an altar contest with prizes and a special per formance by Latin Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Lila Downs. Tickets are $10 and children 12 and under can get in free. Information: www.LADayoftheDead. com, (323) 447-0999.

See SHORT TAKES, page 12

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Page 12

L.A. WATTS TIMES

October 22, 2009

ARTS & CULTURE SHORT TAKES Continued from page 11

CONCERTS • Cuban singer Omara Portuondo will perform at UCLA Live Royce Hall Oct. 23, 8 p.m., and Brazilian singer Gal Costa will perform Oct. 24, 8 p.m. Portuondo has danced on stage at Havana’s famous Tropicana cabaret as a teen and

the first work on Monk based on access to the private papers and recordings of the Monk family. The signing will take place Oct. 27, 7 p.m., at 4331 Degnan Blvd., Los Angeles. Information: (323) 2901048.

• Patricia Anne Phillips, a local author of seven romance novels, has written her first book of a nonromance nature. “Treading Waters: A Woman Living With MS” is a work of fiction based on the true story of her daughter, who has multiple sclerosis (MS). The 268-page paperback book costs about $15. Information: www.paphillipsbooks. net.

FUNDRAISERS

Omara Portuondo

appeared around the globe in “The Buena Vista Social Club.” Gal Costa will be in duet concert with guitarist Oscar Castro-Neves and their sound will center on samba and bossa nova. Tickets are $38-$70, and $15 for UCLA students. UCLA Live at Royce Hall is at 340 Royce Drive, Westwood. Information: (310) 8252101, www.uclalive.org.

BOOKS/BOOK SIGNINGS • Robin Kelley will sign and discuss “Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of An American Original” at Leimert Park’s Eso Won Books. After 10 years of research, professor Kelley has produced

✁

• The 2009 Jim Hill Celebrity Golf Classic will be held in support of the Los Angeles Urban League’s programs Oct. 23 with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. Golfers should come prepared to bid on auction items and raffle prizes. Some of the confirmed celebrity golfers include Oscar de la Hoya; James Worthy; Norm Nixon; Beverly Johnson; Dawnn Lewis; and others. The event will be held at the Industry Hills Golf Club, One Industry Hills Parkway, City of Industry. Information: (323) 2999660, www.laul.org.

• Women 4 Wesson will sponsor Councilman Herb Wesson’s third annual Halloween Masquerade Ball Oct. 30, 8 p.m. to midnight, at Crenshaw Live Bar and Grill, 3888 S. Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the homeless. Tickets, which are taxdeductible, are $35 and checks should be made out to Cover the Homeless Ministry. Costumes are optional and attendees should RSVP at (310) 672-7281 or (323) 2937502. Information: (323) 350-1167, kingandassociates@yahoo.com.

• The Reparations United Front will hold its annual Community Activist Awards Celebration Oct. 24, 2 to 7 p.m., at Leimert Park’s Lucy Florence Cultural Center, 3351 W. 43rd St., Los Angeles. Admission is a $25 donation, and there will be a fashion show and raffle. Reservations by credit card can be made by calling the center at (323) 293-1356. Information: (310) 967-5871.

Need A $ Bailout?

• Concerned Citizens of South Central Los Angeles is sponsoring a fundraiser during opening night, Oct. 28, of the Los Angeles Clippers vs. the Phoenix Suns. Tickets are $20, which includes a hot dog and a soda, and each ticket is automatically entered into a raffle.

Children who attend will receive a free Clippers wristband and a Clippers magnet schedule. This event will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles. Information: (323) 846-2500.

FILMS • The Arab Film Festival will be held in Los Angeles Oct. 23 to 25 at the Writers Guild of America Theater, 135 S. Doheny Drive, Beverly Hills, and at the Ray Stark Family Theatre at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, 900 W. 34th St., Los Angeles. Screenings on the USC campus are free, and tickets for the WGA screenings range from $12 to $15. Information: www.aff.org.

PRESENTATIONS • Bay Area hip-hop artist and activist Ise Lyfe will make a visual slide and vocal presentation on youth, unity and revolution Oct. 31, 4 to 6:30 p.m., at the Shades of Afrika Bookstore, 1001 E. 4th St., Long Beach. Named one of the Bay Area’s Top 25 Under 35 by City

Flight magazine, his latest CD is “Prince Cometh.” Lyfe is also the executive director of Lyfe Productives, an educational/social marketing firm. Information: (562) 5951192, pambeli@aol.com.

• Harriet A. Washington, a medical ethicist who’s author of “Medical Apartheid,” will be one of the featured panelists at Black Women for Wellness’ annual conference on reproductive health, Respect! Inclusion With Integrity. This event will take place Oct. 29, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the California Science Center, 700 Exposition Park Drive,

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Los Angeles. This one-day symposium will bring together public health advocates, scholars, grassroots leadership and community organizations to discuss the status of black women’s health. This event is free to the public, but attendees are asked to register by Oct. 23. Information: (323) 290-5955, www. bwwla.org.

BLACK BEAUTY — Stacey McBride-Irby, a Barbie designer at Mattel for 12 years, is the developer of “So In Style,” a new line of black dolls by Barbie featuring more authenticlooking facial features.

McBride-Irby, a mother of two, wanted to create a line of dolls “more reflective of her daughter and community.”

Mattel Introduces Black Barbies, to Mixed Reviews

BY MEGAN K. SCOTT AP WRITER

NEW YORK (AP) — Mattel has launched a new line of black Barbie dolls with fuller lips, a wider nose and more pronounced cheek bones — a far cry from Christie, Barbie’s black friend who debuted in the 1960s and was essentially a white doll painted brown.

The “So In Style” line, which hit mass retailers last month, features BFFs Grace, Kara and Trichelle, each with her own style and interests and a little sister she mentors: Courtney, Janessa and Kianna. The dolls reflect varying skin tones — light brown, chocolate, and caramel — and Trichelle and Kianna have curlier hair.

Barbie designer Stacey McBrideIrby, who is black and has a 6-yearold daughter, said she wanted to create a line of dolls for young black girls that looked like them and were inspirational and career-minded. For example, Kara is interested in math and music.

“I want them to see themselves within these dolls, and let them know that black is beautiful,” she said.

Many black women are praising Mattel for its efforts — Black Barbie hit the shelves in 1980 with white features shared by many of the dolls following her.

But some say the dolls with long straight hair are not “black enough” and do not address the beauty issues that many black girls struggle with. In the black community, long, straight hair is often considered more beautiful than short kinky hair.

Chris Rock highlights the issue in his “Good Hair” documentary, which opened in select cities on Oct. 9 and shows black women straightening their tight curls with harsh chemicals and purchasing thousanddollar hair weaves.

“Why are we always pushing this standard of long hair on our girls?” asked Gail Parrish, 60, a playwright in Alexandria, Va., and a mother of four grown children.

“Why couldn’t one of the dolls have a little short afro, or shorter braids or something?”

McBride-Irby said she originally designed all the dolls with long hair. Combing her Barbie’s long hair when she was a girl was the “highlight of my play experience,” she said. She was advised to create some dolls with curlier hair, so she did.

There is a So In Style hairstyling set so girls can curl, straighten and style their dolls’ hair over and over. (It costs $24.99, more than a

pair of dolls at $19.99.)

That is troubling to Sheri Parks, an associate professor of American Studies at the University of Maryland in College Park, because it actively involves girls in the process of straightening hair. She worries that it reinforces the message that there is something wrong with natural hair.

“Black mothers who want their girls to love their natural hair have an uphill battle and these dolls could make it harder,” Parks said in an email.

Aside from the hair, some black women are concerned about the dolls’ thin frames. Barbie, which celebrated her 50th birthday in March, has for years come under fire for promoting an unrealistic body image, with her long legs, tiny waist and large breasts.

While white girls also deal with body-image issues, Kumea ShorterGooden, co-author of “Shifting: The Double Lives of Black Women in America,” believes Barbie has a more negative impact on black girls.

They are already struggling with messages that “black skin isn’t pretty and our hair is too kinky and short,” she said.

Despite those complaints, Mattel seems to have gotten several things right.

Andrea Slaughter, 38, a mom of two in Newnan, Ga., said she likes how the designer highlighted values that are critical in the black community, such as education and mentoring.

Sheila Adams Gardner, 41, a mother of three in Woodbridge, Va., praised the varying skin tones. She said when her daughter was 4, she became very self-conscious about being lighter than everyone else in her family.

“She has always had African American dolls, but rarely dolls with skin like her own,” she said.

“Often the lighter dolls were Hispanic or Indian. It was very heartwarming to look at a series of African American Barbies and hear my daughter, now ll, exclaim, ‘She looks like me!’ ” Even Shorter-Gooden acknowledged the facial features “look like real black people.”

Mattel doesn’t release sales figures. But Michelle Chidoni of Mattel said the dolls are resonating with girls of all colors and ages.

The line will be expanding next year with Rocawear clothing, new dolls Chandra and her little sister Zahara, and Darren, who will have a little brother he mentors.

October 22, 2009

L.A. WATTS TIMES

Page 13

ARTS & CULTURE

A Conversation With Cornel West

BY DARLENE DONLOE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Cornel West is a highly respected educator, philosopher, intellectual giant and stalwart warrior for black folks. All of those descriptions are high praise, indeed, but they don’t even begin to describe him.

He’s a serious man when it comes to serious issues ranging from health care reform, war, civil rights, the economy, poor people, Christianity, family, social justice and more.

The thought of interviewing him left me a bit uneasy. He’s such a conversant individual that I wondered if he would talk over my head or whether he’d think my conversation weak.

After all, he’s not only a scholar with other friends who are also scholars, but he’s the Class of 1943 University Professor at Princeton University, a cultural icon, a New York Times bestselling author and considered a genius by many.

As I walk into the room, West, dressed in his trademark black suit, white shirt, black tie, black vest, black scarf, black spectacles and black loafers, is sitting and munching on grapes and crackers. At 56, his tousled salt-and-pepper mane, moustache and beard belies his youthful exuberance.

As he looks over the rim of his glasses he rises, offered his hands and asks how I’m doing with a genuine concern.

“How are you sistah?” he asks, looking me straight in the eye.

“I’m well,” I answer.

“Would you like some water?” he asks, turning to retrieve it before I’ve had a chance to reply. “Here,” he says, handing me the water. “Have a seat.”

With swift precision, he has managed to disarm me, making me feel at home in a green room inside the Los Angeles Public Library downtown. He’s there to be interviewed by his friend, Tavis Smiley, as part of the facility’s Aloud Lecture Series.

This day the topic is West’s latest tome, a long-awaited work titled, “Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud, A Memoir,” co-written with David Ritz and released Oct. 14.

In the book, West, dubbed by many as “the world’s smartest Negro,” gets personal. He talks about how he went from being a childhood bully to Harvard, among other issues.

Smiley, who hosts talk shows on both public radio and television, describes West as his “dearest friend in the world;” so much so that when he built his home, Smiley added a separate wing for West who stays there whenever he comes to Los Angeles.

Smiley calls it — what else? — The West Wing.

And while West, who was called “Little Ronnie” growing up, gives off a stern, conservative exterior, Smiley says there is much more underneath.

“Besides being the (W.E.B) DuBois of our time, number one, he’s the funniest guy you’d ever meet,” Smiley said. “You don’t see that when you first meet hm. He can be a stand-up comedian. Number two, he is a party animal. He will dance you off the floor. He doesn’t

go home until they play the last song.

He graduated in three years with two degrees, and he never missed a party.

He would go to the party with the books under his arm.”

I caught up with West (who likes to call everyone brother and sister regardless of their ethnicity) just before his well-attended Smiley interview.

LAWT: Why did you decide to do a memoir now?

CW: Brother Tavis raised that question to me. He said, ‘It’s time to let people know who you are.’ I’ve been on the move so long, I never really thought about myself. It takes time, you know, for a retrospective.

And writing about your life is, itself, a life-transforming experience. You have to go back and talk about events and look in the corners of your soul.

Most of us don’t want to stay there too long. We want to get in and quit.

LAWT: So do you think you’ve done a good job with your life?

CW: I think that I’m an undeniable failure because I haven’t loved enough or served others enough. I have fallen short. Now as a Christian I know I’m a cracked vessel anyway.

And so, the question for me, when I talk about Samuel Beckett, is try again, fail again, fail better, try again, fail again, fail better. So the question always for me is how good is my failure. There are failures that are better than other kinds of failures. If I hadn’t tried at all, it would be a colossal failure. If I tried and fell short, I’m a better failure.

LAWT: You write about black leaders’ lack of real righteous indignation and unity, and how it arises from insecurity. What do you mean by that?

CW: We have too many leaders who are spiritually underdeveloped.

Egos too big. Addicted to the camera. Preoccupied with career rather than really serving the people. Someone like Martin King, Fannie Lou Hamer, Stokely Carmichael, you could meet them and within minutes you knew they were for real.

You meet a lot of these stars nowadays, there ain’t no spirit there.

It’s all glitz and blitz. Now, God bless their success, but success is overrated. Greatness has to do with the quality of your spirit. We do have it on local levels. But, on the national level, the television culture, where the camera is so central, makes it difficult for those kinds of people to surface. Another thing we talk about is spectacle. It’s the difference between Aretha (Franklin) and Beyonce. I love both of them very much.

Beyonce is spectacle. In terms of deep, spiritual nourishing and her singing, Aretha, Gladys and even Angie Stone and Jill Scott. But, Aretha will never be a big star because she doesn’t look the way Beyonce looks — these days. I’m sick about that. Cause we need Aretha. Her genius is overwhelming.

The whole culture is spectacle.

LAWT: So, do we have any real black leaders nationally? The question also applies to President Barack Obama.

CW: Barack is a complicated brother because he’s so new. He’s still in some ways untested. We know that if Barack looked the way the late, great Isaac Hayes looked, he wouldn’t be president. That’s specta-

cle. That’s mainly because white folks wouldn’t have voted for him.

Isaac Hayes was a genius. Stereotypically he’s a threat. Now, I think Barack has substance, but it’s more in the form of potential. He hasn’t even begun to fulfill his potential.

We don’t know whether he will or not. Just because you win an election doesn’t mean that you have fulfilled your potential. The question is, are you going to be great? You’re now successful as a politician. You won.

Are you going to be great? What’s the definition of greatness? Well, for me, talk about issues of everyday people, working people. The banking people think he’s great. He just bailed them out $800 million. Wall Street thinks he’s great. They say the recession is over. They ain’t seen the community. What’s over? What recovery are you talking about? It’s a challenge to the brother (President Obama). God bless the brother.

LAWT: What are your thoughts on his Nobel Peace Prize?

CW: It’s more for potential.

What peace have you wrought?

You’re escalating a war. You’re going to be a war president with a peace prize?

LAWT: Are you comfortable with the monikers people give you like cultural icon or visionary?

CW: I don’t believe in all that stuff. The world can elevate you and make you feel like a king. It’s a lie.

Got one King on the cross. The world will talk about you like a dog.

It’s a lie. All that icon mess, it’s fleeting. One moment you’re an icon, the next moment they can’t stand you.

You’re a star one day, the next moment everybody is saying, ‘Wasn’t that the cat who used to be somebody? He ain’t nothing now. He ain’t worth a dime.’ The thing that lasts forever is going to be the thing that really matters, which is the

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“Brother” Cornel West

power of love, the power of education, and the power of your mind and the power of your soul and heart.

That’s true whether you’ve broken the Ten Commandments or live in a mansion.

LAWT: You love music. You talked about being a bluesman. Are we all bluesmen?

CW: No, you have to choose to See CORNEL WEST, page 18

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Page 14

L.A. WATTS TIMES

October 22, 2009

EDUCATION NOTEBOOK University of Maryland Students Research School’s Ties to Slavery COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — A group of undergraduates who researched the University of Maryland’s early ties to slavery are recommending the school issue a statement of regret.

The students, led by history professor Ira Berlin, examined the issue at the urging of the school’s president, C. D. Mote Jr., after he declined to apologize for the university’s past use of slave labor. Black faculty members had asked for the apology.

The students found no smoking gun that proves slaves built any part of the university. But at least 16 of the university’s original 24 trustees owned slaves, and Berlin says the time and place makes it almost certain that slaves were used.

Mote said that he will review the recommendations but has no plans for a statement of regret because all institutions at that time were influenced by slavery.

California Stages Massive Earthquake Drill (AP) — School children dove under tables in Los Angeles Oct. 15 as California practiced how to survive a major earthquake.

“Drop, cover and hold on,” dozens of fourth-graders chanted just before the announcement of a simulated earthquake sent them scurrying under tables at the California Science Center at 10:15 a.m.

At the same moment nearly 7 million other people up and down the state were expected to do the same while emergency agencies and hospitals began response drills and mass casualty exercises.

Medical personnel triaged mock victims at the University of Southern California Health Sciences Campus and the Los Angeles County Fire Department practiced an evacuation of its headquarters and transfer of command to battalion chiefs using their vehicle radios as the primary means of radio dispatch.

A 70-person urban search and rescue unit began a daylong exercise at a county training site that can simulate collapsed structures.

Organizers said the statewide Great California ShakeOut was the largest earthquake drill in U.S. history. The first drill, held last year, focused on Southern California and drew 5.5 million participants.

BRIEFS Continued from page 6 the investigation to the organization’s national office in Washington.

An e-mail to a National Association for the Advancement of Colored People spokesman seeking comment was not immediately answered.

Atlanta Police Department spokesman Officer Eric Schwartz said he was unable to provide a copy of the report to The Associated Press. Attempts to reach WithersHanson and Douglass by telephone were unsuccessful.

Emory University to Honor Black Education Pioneer ATLANTA (AP) — The first black school superintendent in the

SURPRISE! — Students of 74th Street Elementary School and Gifted Magnet received new books to start their own personal libraries, in addition to MacBook computers and a flat screen TV in their new on-campus library, courtesy of the Target Volunteers School Library Makeover program.

U.S. Education Chief Appeals for Great New Teachers RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan recently appealed for a new generation of extraordinary teachers, calling education the civil rights cause of our time.

In remarks prepared for delivery to prospective teachers at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Duncan said veterans, retirees and professionals seeking a second career must heed the call to teach. He said the need is especially acute for black men in the nation’s classroom.

Duncan stressed the importance of teaching as the U.S. competes with an increasingly educated global work force, saying strong education is needed to reduce dropout rates among African-American, Latino and low-income students.

“If you care about promoting opportunity and reducing inequality and social injustice, the classroom is the place to start,” Duncan said.

The departure of veteran educators will create huge demand for new teachers — 200,000 annually in good economic times, he said.

Duncan stressed that the demand for teachers is greatest among “high-poverty, high-needs” and rural schools, as well as in subjects such as math and science.

“It is especially troubling,” he added, “that less than 2 percent of our nation’s teachers are African American males.”

El Camino College, Compton Center, Offers Second Fall Session (El Camino College) — Registration for El Camino College, Compton Center’s second fall session is underway. Register online by visiting www.compton.edu and clicking on MyECC. The second eight-week fall session begins Oct. 24 and runs through Dec. 18.

Compton Center offers transfer and degree courses, career training and technology programs and online classes this fall.

At El Camino College, Compton Center, students may earn an associate degree, transfer to a fouryear university, or receive career training. Fees are $26 per unit. The college catalog and class schedule for day, evening, weekend and online courses is available at www. compton.edu or may be picked up at Compton Center, 1111 E. Artesia Blvd., Compton.

Information: (310) 900-1600.

South after desegregation will be honored by Emory University in a symposium at the end of the month.

Ulysses Byas, who was named the leader of the Tuskegee, Ala., school district in 1970, is expected to attend the Oct. 30 event at the Atlanta college. The event will feature an exhibit of Byas’ personal papers, including handwritten notes, photos, reports and books from his library.

The 85-year-old Byas recently placed his archive at Emory’s special collections library, which has an African American literature and history collection that includes items from poet Langston Hughes, James Weldon Johnson, and author Alice Walker.

See BRIEFS, page 15

Photo by IAN FOXX

SCHOOL LIBRARY Web site, schools are selected for the program based on need and qualified by interviews with school official and site visits.

In addition to validating needs, people at the “site visits evaluate the quality and commitment of the school’s staff and obtain assurances that books we donate will reach the children and be appropriately used,” the Web site said.

The 74th Street School was one of three finalists from the Los Angeles Unified School District competing for the makeover.

Angela Halamandaris, who founded Heart of America with Bill Halamandaris, said 74th Street “really stood out” from the other candidates.

“When you walk onto the school you can just feel the spirit of the school,” she said. “You can see that the teachers and principal really care about those kids.

“We just fell in love with the school. The leadership under Cunningham, the principal, just really have … a true passion for those children and they have really worked hard to bring up their test scores. The children are really focused on academics and you really want to reward schools that strive forward, and you really want to reinforce everything that they are doing.”

Cunningham said the selection of his school has special significance considering the gains and achievements it has made over the past few years.

When Cunningham became

principal nine years ago, 74th Street School was considered underperforming and labeled a Program Improvement School with state Academic Performance Index (API) test scores at 469. Over the years, the test scores have steadily increased.

About four years ago, scores went to 600 and two years ago jumped to 690, he said.

“We were so excited because we had come from so far. We were making big jumps when the demand for us or the expected growth was 8 to 10 points a year. And we made much bigger jumps,” Cunningham said.

Cunningham encouraged the kids to pursue higher scores, and eventually API test scores reached 698. Then 750.

“We said we wanted to make the 800 club and we went up to 828,” Cunningham said. “Our motto with the kids is ‘we’re 828.’ I want them to understand how much we really, really achieved, and what we’ve done with 80 percent of our kids being African American students when folks are saying, ‘They can’t do it.’ ” Although being selected for the library makeover was not related to the test scores, Cunningham said it all fits.

Oftentimes, it may be an ice cream or a pizza party that kids are rewarded with for high test scores, and the kids enjoy it, he said.

“This time we get a great reward for what we’ve done, where we can really feel proud and feel like we’ve really received some great recognition by getting a completely brand new library,” he added.

ing varies, said Officer John Sewell of the LAPD Recruitment Office.

Joseph said the department has been aggressively recruiting African Americans and has made strides in working with local churches and community groups to get more African Americans to apply and test.

Some of the institutions the department has worked with include Compton College, Southwest College, the City of Refuge, First AME and others.

The department has also had several testing events at the academy specifically targeting African Americans.

“As a recruiter I did a lot of my recruitment at places like Compton College and my test numbers went from zero to 20 … Those numbers have gotten bigger over the last year,” Joseph said.

According to Joseph, Crenshaw Christian Center has also been very instrumental in helping the

department African American recruitment efforts.

“They have been extremely supportive. They have always offered their facility for our recruitment, sometimes twice a year but definitely for our February event, the African American Recruitment Expo,” he said.

Joseph said this past February’s event was a success with a record 206 mostly African Americans candidates testing for the department.

The beginning salary of an LAPD officer ranges from about $54,000 to $72,000.

In order to apply for the LAPD, individuals must be at least 21 years old, a high school graduate or have a GED and be a U.S. citizen.

The written civil service test is administered almost daily at police stations across the city. Potential candidates can visit www.joinlapd.com to take the test to find out if they qualify for testing.

Continued from page 1 finishing touches on the library, handing out books, redoing bulletin boards and reading to students.

“The project is so multifaceted.

It’s about the library. It’s about celebrating literacy. It’s about celebrating the school,” said Christine Feller, a spokesperson for the foundation.

“This school we knew really deserved this project.”

The extreme library makeover included installation of new carpets, new paint, new bookshelves, display cases, a theater area and the addition of technology, including Macintosh notebooks and a flat screen television.

The library also took out a wall and added another room to it, Cunningham said.

It’s a big change from the previous library that Cunningham described as being old with unmatching chairs that lacked technology.

“It was just not a place kids could walk in and get excited about reading,” he said.

Also, the school received 2,000 new books, and each child who attends the school of 600-plus received seven new books to begin their own home library.

The school was notified of the award last May. As part of the process, Target representatives met with the students to get their opinion on what they would imagine their library to look like.

“They came out with their designers and architects and incorporated a lot of the kid’s ideas into the design,” Cunningham said.

According to the foundation’s

LAPD Continued from page 5 “It’s not just African Americans; its everybody. In my recruiting experience there are a lot of people with different paths, backgrounds. It’s all about how you sell yourself.

Number one is being very honest about your background. Honesty will not get you kicked out of the process.

“I believe that the process in itself is fair. African Americans get denied, so does every other nationality. My opinion is that they don’t understand the appeal process. If something happens you don’t just quit, you can appeal it.”

When candidates are disqualified, they are notified in writing that outlines the areas of concern such as driving record, credit history, arrest record, drug use, etc. Applicants can appeal the decision in writing.

The length of time for appeal-

October 22, 2009

L.A. WATTS TIMES

Page 15

HEALTH THE PULSE Event to Address Blacks in Health Care “Respect: Inclusion and Integrity of African Americans in Health Care” will take place Oct. 29, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the California Science Center, 700 State Drive, Los Angeles.

At the event, there will be discussion on how black women are affected by laws and health care systems.

Admission is free. The event is being held by Black Women for Wellness, LA Care and the California Family Health Council.

Information: Samantha Wheeler, (323) 290-5955, www.bwwla.com/ index.php.

Wellness Luncheon Set The fourth annual Living in Abundant Wellness luncheon will take place Oct. 24, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at the Long Beach Hilton, 701 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach.

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about breast health awareness and benefits of early detection.

SHORT TAKES Continued from page 12

EXHIBIT • “Without a Car in the World: 100 Car-less Angelinos Tell Stories of Living in Los Angeles,” currently at the 18th Street Arts Center

Cost is $45.

Information: Antionette Greer, sistersluvsisters@yahoo.com; www.liveinabundantwellness4.eve ntbrite.com.

Swine Flu Deaths Rise to 219 in California (AP) — State health officials say there have been 219 swine flu deaths in California, up from 188 last month.

California Department of Public Health Director Dr. Mark Horton said Oct. 15 in Sacramento that the number of deaths is expected to rise.

Horton says a sample of doctors from across the state are reporting that about 5 percent of their patients are presenting with symptoms of flu. About 2 percent is normal for this time of year.

Horton says about 95 percent of those presenting with flu symptoms this season have swine flu.

Swine flu vaccines continue to arrive in California, with 600,000 doses of the nasal spray and 150,000 doses of the injectable vaccine distributed to date.

PERFORMANCE • Nathaniel Ayres, the subject of the 2009 film “The Soloist,” starring Jamie Foxx and based on the book of the same name by Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez, will perform at 5 p.m., Oct. 24, as part of the fifth annual Community Unity Festival. The festival will take place on 5th Street, between Maple and Los Angeles streets, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will bands, food and other entertainment throughout the day. The festival is sponsored by the Corporation for History, Art and Culture. Information: www.thechac.net.

Melba Thorn

until Dec. 11, is a photo exhibit that aims to address “how car culture has shaped psychological, spatial and geographic perceptions of the city,” according to the gallery’s Web site. Photographed by Diane Meyer, the various subjects tell their stories of giving up their cars for different reasons. The 18th Street Arts Center gallery’s hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Information: (310) 453-3711, www.18th street.org.

BRIEFS Continued from page 14

Kan. Lawmaker Criticized Over Anti-Obama ‘Rap’ TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas legislator faces criticism for a “RedNeck Rap” against President Barack Obama that he posted on YouTube because it ends with him describing opossum as “the other dark meat.”

Facts Oct. 22, 1906 Three thousand blacks demonstrated and rioted in Philadelphia to protest a theatrical presentation of Thomas Dixon’s “The Clansman.”

Source: blackfacts.com

Nathaniel Ayers

Rep. Bill Otto, a LeRoy Republican, said Oct. 15 that the last line of his short video is a reference to stereotypes about rednecks, not Obama.

But Kansas Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, a Topeka Democrat, said he’s appalled by the video. Hensley said it’s logical to conclude that the reference is to the first African American president’s race.

Hensley accused Otto of showing bigotry and mocking blacks. But Otto said, “I don’t know where he’s getting that.”

Otto has been posting videos on his own YouTube channel for about 18 months. His latest was posted last month.

See BRIEFS, page 20

Diversity Awareness News

Swine Flu Could Hit Minorities Hard

BY VIJI SUNDARAM NEW AMERICA MEDIA

Aside from pregnant women and children, such high-risk communities as African American, Hispanic and Native American should get vaccinated against the H1N1 virus because many of them suffer from chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems, said a federal health official.

“Even though we’ll be offering the vaccine to everyone who wants to get vaccinated, we’ll give priority to the most vulnerable people,” said Felipe Lobelo, an epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at a New America Media-organized ethnic media briefing on Oct. 13.

Nearly 20 journalists, representing the Chinese, Korean, African American and Hispanic communities, attended the event at St. Anne’s, a social services agency.

“We’re excited to be able to reach all these communities through you,” Lobelo remarked.

A highly contagious form of influenza, H1N1, also known as the swine flu, was first detected in the United States this past March. Since then, the nation has seen a number of cases in nearly every state. Nearly 1 million people have so far been infected, and 600 people, including 86 children, have died from it. About 6,000 people have so far been hospitalized.

“Our priority group (for the vaccine) will be those between 6 months and 24 years,” Lobelo said.

Even though the benefits of the swine flu vaccine greatly exceed the risks, and even though the CDC is making every effort to publicize this, Lobelo said he expects that around the same number of people who die each year in the United States from the seasonal flu — 36,000 — will die from swine flu.

He stressed that the flu shot would have what health officials call a “cocoon effect,” that is, it will protect not only the person getting vaccinated but all they come in contact with as well.

For this reason, Lobelo also advised health care workers to get vaccinated.

The virus strikes hardest in children and young adults who have none of the immunity to the strain that older people have, perhaps because they have had previous exposure to strains akin to influenza, he said.

So far, the pandemic has been moderate in severity, with the symptoms resembling the seasonal flu — fever, body ache, cough and cold, Lobelo said. But he sounded a note of warning: Sometimes, the symptoms go away and return more intensely.

Children, 9 years and younger will need to get two shots, 21 days apart, because their immune response from the vaccine is different from that of older people, who need only one shot, Lobelo said.

The vaccine could be administered as a shot or in the form of a nasal spray, which is approved for healthy persons between ages 2 and 49 years, who are not pregnant and who do not have underlying medical conditions.

Alan Janssen, health communications specialist with the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, noted that

his agency is “trying to share the vaccine as fairly as we can.” That means communities with larger See SWINE FLU, page 18

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Page 16

L.A. WATTS TIMES

October 22, 2009

SPORTS BRAD PYE JR.

SPORTS BEAT Notes, quotes and things picked up on the run from coast-tocoast and all the stops in between and beyond.

With the Dodgers and Angels struggling against the Phillies and Yankees, respectively, it looks like a Freeway World Series between Los Angeles’ two baseball teams will continue to be a dream.

The Angels’ Torii Hunter went into action against the Yankees

Torii Hunter

as a career .316 hitter in 25 playoff games. Chone Figgins and five other Angels stole at least 11 bases in 2009.

And the beat continues‌ Three of the six NFL black head coaches have produced at least three wins each week since week one. The Indianapolis Colts’ Jim Caldwell stands out among them all. At 5-0, the Colts remain unbeaten.

How many black starting quarterbacks are there in the NFL? Included in this group are the Jacksonville Jaguars’ David

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Clippers can, too.

No. 1 NBA draft pick and Clipper Blake Griffin has been playing in the exhibition games like he’s going to be the real thing.

In a 93-90 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, Griffin had 23 points and seven rebounds. Griffin

FIGHTING CANCER — Actress Wendy Raquel Robinson and artist Eloise Laws at the Denise Roberts Breast Cancer Foundation 10th Anniversary Gala Oct. 18.

Photo by BILL JONES

BREAST CANCER Donovan McNabb

Garrard; the Philadelphia Eagles’ Donovan McNabb; the Washington Redskins’ Jason Campbell; and several others. There are also a number of black backup QBs, including Seattle’s Seneca Wallace and the Pittsburgh Steeler’s Charley Batch.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Rev. Al Sharpton agree that conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh should not have been permitted to bid for co-ownership of the St. Louis Rams.

After a firestorm erupted following the news that Limbaugh wanted a stake in the team, the group who plans to buy the Rams dropped Limbaugh.

And the beat continues‌ Perris Citrus Hill High’s Deontae Cooper has a right to be called prep football’s Superman.

Check this out: In a recent game against Temecula Great Oak, Cooper carried the ball 60 times for 412 yards and four touchdowns.

Cooper ended Oct. 16 with 1,472 yards and 19 TDs. The halftime homecoming celebration was just as exciting as the Crenshaw High Cougars’ last-minute victory over Manual Arts Oct. 16. The Cougars visit Fremont High Oct. 23.

And the beat continues‌ The Los Angeles Lakers and L.A. Clippers have posted impressive pre-season victories. Maybe local fans will have two contenders to root for this season. The Lakers are sure to keep up their share of the bargain. Now let’s pray the

Continued from page 1 Blake Griffin

played 27 minutes.

And the beat continues‌ The University of Southern California’s 34-27 victory over Notre Dame Oct. 17 should move the Trojans up in the national polls to No. 4 or higher. The Trojans standouts include Joe McKnight (19 carries for 79 yards and one TD); Anthony McCoy (five receptions for 153 yards to set up a field goal and a pair of TDs); and Matt Barkley (two TDs). The Trojans hosts Oregon State Oct. 24 at the Coliseum.

UCLA (3-3) continued down the defeatist route in blowing a 4526 game to the California Golden Bears. Johnathan Franklin was one bright spot for the Bruins.

Franklin ripped off a 74-yard TD and rushed for 101 yards. The Bruins visit Arizona Oct. 24.

Johnathan Franklin

And the beat ends.

Brad Pye Jr. can be reached at switchreel@aol.com.

entertainment industry. She never found a lump in her breast.

However, other symptoms such as fatigue and what Roberts credits as “knowing her body,� told her something was amiss. “The only reason I am alive is because I was aggressive enough to demand a mammogram,� said Roberts. “I had insurance, but I was told I didn’t need one because of my age and the absence of a lump.�

After she passed the 10-year mark with no reoccurrence of breast cancer, Roberts decided that she wanted to do something, to give back and make a difference. So Roberts left her career behind and started the foundation to devote herself full time to the effort to make early detection commonplace in the African American community. “We encourage men and women to know their body, and if you can’t be your own advocate, call us and we can help,� she said.

Also working to end breast cancer is the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization, founded in 1982.

In March, the organization’s board of directors chose Alexine Clement Jackson to be its chair.

A 23-year breast cancer survivor and the first African American woman to head the organization, Jackson said that in addition to awareness, education and understanding the importance of early detection, the message she’s trying to get out to African Americans is hope. “Whenever I talk to people who have been diagnosed, I tell them there are over 2 million women and some men who have survived this, so you have a chance of being in that large number,� Jackson said. “That’s the reason we have devised the ‘Circle of Promise’ (program). We want people to promise to tell others, to work in their own communities, in casual conversations, to talk about breast cancer, to ask, ‘Have you had your mammogram?’ ‘When was the last time you had your mammogram?’ We’re trying to save lives.�

Jackson said she knew she was at risk because of a family history of breast cancer. Her mother died at the age of 29 when Jackson was 4 years old. “My father said my mother never mentioned the word cancer, never complained about anything until about six months before she died,� Jackson said. “Lots of women just didn’t talk about it. We need to talk about it in our families; we need to tell our stories.�

Virginia Martin agrees.

“Generations of women did not talk about their body parts, and they didn’t talk about cancer, because it was a death thing, and nobody wanted to hear that,� said Martin, a 20year survivor and co-founder of the South Los Angeles-based Sisters Breast Cancer Survivors Network, which began in 1994. “We wanted to lift that veil of silence, bring it out in the open.�

The need for early detection becomes clearer since, according to the American Cancer Society, African American women have a slightly higher incidence rate of breast cancer before age 40, which is the age that many doctors recommend women begin to get regular mammograms.

Had Karin Stanford followed that advice, she might not be teaching at California State University, Northridge today. The 46-year-old professor of political science and Pan-African studies found a lump in her breast, almost by accident, when she was just 34 years old. “I was getting dressed, about to go out one night, and just happened to pick up a breast self-exam card. I did the exam and felt a small lump. I did it again, to be sure, and there it was. I made a doctor’s appointment the next day.�

Stanford’s experience with diagnosis, treatment and support as a young African American woman inspired her to write a book, “Breaking the Silence: Inspirational Stories of Black Cancer Survivors,� which details the stories of 48 African Americans who have all survived some form of cancer.

Knowing that survival — victory over cancer — is possible is a key to a healthy outlook.

Alexine Jackson says that she appreciates all of her 23 years of surviving breast cancer — all of her 11 grand children were born during that time period. “Black women, we are the forefront because of our statistics. When my face is seen as the leader, I hope that someone will pay a little bit more attention,� Jackson said. “Every woman’s life is important; we want all women to be involved in the fight, because that’s what it is going to take.�

Information: Sisters Breast Cancer Survivors Network, www. survivorsofbreastcancer.org; The Denise Roberts Breast Cancer Foundation, www.tdrbcf.org; Susan G. Komen for the Cure, www. komen.org.

Editor’s note: Karin Stanford is a longtime friend of assistant editor Thandisizwe Chimurenga.

October 22, 2009

L.A. WATTS TIMES

Page 17

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Page 18

L.A. WATTS TIMES

October 22, 2009

PUBLIC NOTICE PSOMAS REQUEST FOR BIDS & NOTICE OF INTEREST

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION NUTRITION SERVICES DIVISION

Psomas is bidding on the following project as a Prime Contractor: Complete On-Call Engineering Design Services for Various Airports & Capital Improvement Projects for Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) Bid Date: November 5, 2009 @ 2:00 pm

CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAMS (REV. 10/09)

CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM PUBLIC MEDIA RELEASE (Non-Pricing Program)

Psomas is seeking interest, qualifications, bids, and quotes from DBE subcontractors in the following areas of services/work: AGENCY NAME

Project Management, Geotechnical, Survey, Traffic, Structural (bridges & buildings), General Civil, Drainage, Right of Way, Utilities (dry & wet), Landscape Architecture, MEP, GSE Charging & PCA, Fault Current Analysis, 30 Day Meter Readings, Public Outreach, Environmental, PSR/PR, QC/QA, Security, Cost Estimating, Technical Writer (specifications), Laser Scanning, Balancing/Testing, Noise/Acoustics, Title 24 Support, and Reprographics/Printing

The Drew Child Development Corporation announces sponsorship of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). The program is available without charge to all enrolled children at the following location(s):

Center Name: Address:

Johnnie Tillman Child Development Center 11427 S. Avalon Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90061

All interested subcontractors must be certified as a minority business by the California Unified Certification Program (CUCP).

Responsive subcontractors will also be required to provide acceptable insurance and appropriate bonding—or immediately inform Psomas if assistance is needed.

Center Name: Address:

Stellar Child Development Center 1007 N. Long Beach Blvd., Compton, CA 90221

Center Name: Address:

92nd & Maie Child Development Center 9200 S. Maie Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90002

Psomas intends to conduct itself in good faith in regards to all DBE and OBE firms participating in this project.

Center Name: Address:

Drew Child Development Center 11211 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90047

Center Name: Address:

New Liberty Child Development Center 5328 Central Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90011

All interested firms should FAX a one-page firm overview and CUCP documentation to Debra Rahal at 213-223-1444.

All additional materials will be directly solicited via phone and/or fax.

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 7953272 or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

For more information, contact:

Photo by JULIAN DO/NEW AMERICA MEDIA

GOT HEALTH? — New America Media sponsored an ethnic media roundtable on the H1N1 (swine flu) virus, communities of color and vaccinations Oct. 13.

Pictured (left to right): Alan Janssen and Laurel A. Fowler with the Centers for Disease Control in Prevention in Atlanta; Michelle T. Parra with the Los Angeles County Public Health and Dr. Felipe Lobelo of the CDC.

CONTACT PERSON

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Diann C. Fauntleroy

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1770 E. 118th Street

SWINE FLU Continued from page 15 populations will get larger number of doses of the vaccine, he said.

The undocumented should also get vaccinated against the H1N1 virus when the vaccine rollout program begins in Los Angeles County on Oct. 23, said Michelle T. Parra, who directs the county’s immunization program. No questions will be asked about anyone’s legal status, she said.

She said her agency would be working with the city, which has already identified several venues where people can get vaccinated.

The city will embark on an intensive outreach program.

The United States expects 200 million doses of swine flu vaccine by the end of the year, as pharmaceutical companies are churning it out at “unprecedented speed,” but not at the expense of compromising its safety, health officials say.

“The H1N1 vaccine has been created the same way as we create the seasonal flu vaccine, with the same safety and rigor,” Lobelo said. “The only difference is the combination of strains in the H1N1 vaccine.”

Lobelo said more information on the flu could be found on the CDC Web site at www.cdc.gov/ h1n1flu or www.cdc.flu.gov, or by calling 1-800-CDC-INFO.

CORNEL WEST Continued from page 13 be a bluesperson. Blues has to do with character. The blues confronts catastrophe with courage and compassion. The blues is an elevated state. It takes courage to keep loving.

LAWT: Does race still matter?

CW: Absolutely! And by race matters, what we’re saying is black people count. Black suffering ought to make a difference in how we understand the world.

LAWT: When Martin Luther King Jr. was killed, you said you

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were filled with anger and outrage that was hard to control.

CW: From the beginning, I’ve been full of rage. That’s why I was a gangster when I was small. I was Robin Hood-like — taking from the kids who had and giving it to kids who didn’t have. I couldn’t stand the fact that people were just treated wrong and unjustly. So, I had that rage, but you have to find a positive channel for your rage or it will devour your soul and you’ll drink from the cup of bitterness. But, the rage is still there.

LAWT: Why do you still have rage?

CW: The suffering is still so intense.

LAWT: Any regrets about your life?

CW: My major regret is I wish I’d met one woman who I could have stayed with.

LAWT: Was it them or was it you?

CW: Both. I think our standards were so high. You got to have more admiration, personal adoration and

C E L E B R A T E

t h e

P A S T

by GIVING in the

PRESENT to PROMOTE our

FUTURE

physical attraction. That’s a whole lot.

LAWT: Why do you love black people so much?

CW: I try to love everybody, but I love Negroes. I don’t know. I started off with mama. She’s the ultimate Negro. My father is gone. But, I think it has a lot to do with the fact that they loved me so much. When you have that kind of pure, unadulterated love coming at you, you want to give it back.

LAWT: Tavis (Smiley) says at a party you would be the last one on the dance floor.

CW: He’s right about that. I love to dance.

LAWT: If you’re on the dance floor, what are you dancing to?

CW: Oh, Lord, some James Brown, The Funkadelics, Ohio Players, Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band — anything funky. I’m old school, ya know. Dancing is unbelievable joy. There is joy in just dancing, getting your thang off.

West is currently in the middle of a six-week book tour. His book costs $25.95.

An American Heart Association Memorial gift lets you honor your loved one and gives hope to others.

For more information please call 1-800-AHA-USA-1 or visit us online at americanheart.org

October 22, 2009

L.A. WATTS TIMES

PUBLIC NOTICE SUMMONS (CITACION JUDICIAL) CASE NO.(Numero del Caso) BC409221 NOTICE TO DEFENDANT: (Aviso Acusado) ROBERTA MELL; AND DOES 1 to 20 YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF: (A Ud.le esta demandando) ANDREW LAZAR You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons is served on you to file a typewritten response at this court.

A letter or phone call will not protect you; your typewritten response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case.

If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case, and your wages, money and property may be taken without further warning from the court.

There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may call an attorney referral service or a legal aid office (listed in the phone book).

Despues de que le entreguen esta citacion judicial usted tien un plazo de 30 DIAS CALENDARIOS para presentar una respuesta escrita a maguina en esta corte.

Una carta o una llamada telefonica no le ofrecera proteccion; su respuesta escrita a maguina tiene que cumplir con las formalidades legales apropiadas si usted quiere que la corte escuche su caso.

Si usted no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso, y le pueden quitar su salario, su dinero y otras casasde su propiedad sin aviso adicional por parte de la corte.

Existen otros requisitos legales. Puede que usted quiera llamar a un abogado immediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de referencia de abogados o a una oficina de ayuda legal (vea el directorio telefonico).

The name and address of the court is: El nombre y direccion de la corte es) Los Angeles Superior Court 111 N. HILL STREET LOS ANGELES, CA 90012 The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiff’s attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney is: El nombre, la direccion y el numero de telefono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es) Donald Iwuchuka, SBN 181726 Law Offices of Don Iwuchuku 3540 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 917 Los Angeles, CA 90010 NOTICE TO THE PERSON SERVED: You are served 1. [x] as an individual defendant.

2. [ ] as the person sued under the fictitious name 3. [ ] on behalf of (specify): PUBLISH DATES: 10/8/09,10/15/09, 10/22/09, 10/29/09

NOTICE OF POLLING PLACES AND DESIGNATION OF CENTRAL COUNTING PLACE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk's office of polling places designated for the CONSOLIDATED ELECTIONS scheduled to be held on NOVEMBER 3, 2009.

NOTICE IS ALSO HEREBY GIVEN that the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk's facility, 12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk California 90650 has been designated as the central counting place for the above election.

Polling places shall be open between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Persons requiring multilingual assistance in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog, or Vietnamese regarding information in the notice may call (800) 481-8683.

POLLING PLACES 0450004A (0450014C CONS) - VANGUARD LEARNING CENTER 13305 S SAN PEDRO ST LOS ANGELES 90061 Accessible: Y 1450148A (1450148B, 1450148C, 1450148D, 1450148E, 1450148F and 1450148G CONS) - ENTERPRISE PARK 13055 CLOVIS AVE LOS ANGELES 90059 Accessible: Y 7850001A (7850001B, 7850001C, 7850001D, 7850001E, 7850015A, 7850015B, 7850015C, 7850015D, 7850044A, 7850044B, 7850044C, 7850044D and 7850044E CONS) LINCOLN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 1667 E 118TH ST LOS ANGELES 90059 Accessible: Y 7850003A (7850003B, 7850003C, 7850003D and 7850003E CONS) ENTERPRISE PARK 13055 CLOVIS AVE LOS ANGELES 90059 Accessible: Y 7850013A (7850013B, 7850013C, 7850013D and 7850041B CONS) G. WASHINGTON CARVER PARK 1400 E 118TH ST LOS ANGELES 90059 Accessible: Y 7850043A (7850043B, 7850043D, 7850043E, 7850043F, 7850202B and 7850202E CONS) - G. WASHINGTON CARVER PARK 1400 E 118TH ST LOS ANGELES 90059 Accessible: Y DEAN C. LOGAN Registrar-Recorder/ County Clerk County of Los Angeles 10/22/09 CNS-1718386# WATTS TIMES

Page 19

CAREERS

INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) NO. 1679 THE RE-ROOFING OF SIXTEEN (16) BUILDINGS AT AVALON GARDENS The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) invites vendors to submit bids for The ReRoofing of Sixteen (16) buildings at Avalon Gardens Housing Development located at 701 E. 88th Place, Los Angeles, CA 90002. Copies of the IFB may be obtained at the HACLA's General Services Department, 2600 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 3100, Los Angeles, CA 90057.

Copies of the IFB may also be downloaded from the internet at WWW.HACLA.ORG/CGS. Bids will be accepted at the same location until 2:00 p.m. (local time), October 30, 2009.

INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) No. 1681 THE RE-ROOFING OF TWELVE (12) BUILDINGS AT MAR VISTA GARDENS The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) invites vendors to submit bids for The Re-Roofing of Twelve (12) buildings at Estrada Courts Housing Development located at 11965 Allin Street, Culver City, CA 90230. Copies of the IFB may be obtained at the HACLA’s General Services Department, 2600 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 3100, Los Angeles, CA 90057. Copies of the IFB may also be downloaded from the internet at WWW.HACLA.ORG/CGS. Bids will be accepted at the same location until 3:00 p.m. (local time), October 30, 2009.

10/15, 10/22/09 CNS-1709755# WATTS TIMES ® FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. 20091469841 The following person is doing business as: Colemine Studio 119 S. Hayworth Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90048 Michael A. Coles 119 S. Hayworth Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90048 This business is conducted by an Individual. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct (The registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime.) is Michael A. Coles. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles County on September 28, 2009.

The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A. NOTICE: This Fictitious Name Statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the Los Angeles County Clerk. A New Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before that time.

The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a Fictitious Business Name in violation of the rights of another under Federal, State, or common law (See Section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code).

First Filing: 10/1/09, 10/8/09, 10/15/09, 10/22/09 LAWT 387 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. 20091469840 The following person is doing business as: Out Da Basement 119 S. Hayworth Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90048 Da Funk Factory 119 S. Hayworth Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90048 Michael A. Coles 119 S. Hayworth Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90048 Taurus R. Hamilton 3659 Motor Ave., Apt. 1A Los Angeles, CA 90031 This business is conducted by an Unincorporated Association other than a Partnership. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct (The registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime.) is Michael A. Coles and Taurus R. Hamilton. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles County on September 28, 2009.

The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A. NOTICE: This Fictitious Name Statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the Los Angeles County Clerk. A New Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before that time.

The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a Fictitious Business Name in violation of the rights of another under Federal, State, or common law (See Section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code).

First Filing: 10/1/09, 10/8/09, 10/15/09, 10/22/09 LAWT 388

Facts Oct. 23, 1911 The Committee for Improving the Industrial Conditions of Negroes in New York; the Committee on Urban Conditions; and the National League for the Protection of Colored Women merged, under the leadership of Dr. George E. Hayne and Eugene Kinckle Jones, to form the National Urban League. Jones was named executive secretary.

Source: blackfacts.com

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. 20091518022 The following person is doing business as: Tasha’s Home Health Services 420 E. 131st St. Los Angeles, CA 90061 Veleka N. Gipson White 420 E. 131st St. Los Angeles, CA 90061 This business is conducted by a Individual. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct (The registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime.) is Veleka N. Gipson White.

This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles County on October 6 , 2009.

The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A. NOTICE: This Fictitious Name Statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the Los Angeles County Clerk. A New Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before that time.

The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a Fictitious Business Name in violation of the rights of another under Federal, State, or common law (See Section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code).

First Filing: 10/8/09, 10/15/09, 10/22/09, 10/29/09 LAWT 389 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. 20091527268 The following person is doing business as: House of Venusian 1608 Centinela Ave., Suite 11 Inglewood, CA 90302 Stewart Clemons 1608 Centinela Ave., Suite 11 Inglewood, CA 90302 This business is conducted by an Individual. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct (The registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime.) is Stewart Clemons. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles County on October 7 , 2009.

The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A. NOTICE: This Fictitious Name Statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the Los Angeles County Clerk. A New Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before that time.

The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a Fictitious Business Name in violation of the rights of another under Federal, State, or common law (See Section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code).

First Filing: 10/15/09, 10/22/09, 10/29/09, 11/5/09 LAWT 390

DBA’s and Legal Notices Call (213) 251-5700

MBE/WBE/OBE SUBCONTRACT OPPORTUNITY NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR BIDS STOVALL VILLA SENIOR APARTMENTS PROJECT 535 WEST 41ST STREET, LOS ANGELES, CA 90037 ALPHA CONSTRUCTION CO. INC. INVITES SUBCONTRACTORS FROM MBE/WBE/OBE FIRMS TO BID ON THE STOVALL VILLA SENIOR APARTMENTS PROJECT. INTERESTED FIRMS MUST PROVIDE A COPY OF THEIR CURRENT M/W/OBE CERTIFICATION ISSUED BY THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES, MTA OR CALTRANS. THIS PROJECT IS A PREVAILING WAGE JOB. FOR INFORMATION REGARDING PLANS AND SPECS OR FOR TECHNICAL QUESTIONS CONTACT ED GOLDMAN AT 818.779.3000 X227.

BIDS MUST BE RECEIVED AT ALPHA CONSTRUCTION’S OFFICE LOCATED AT 14601 AETNA STREET, VAN NUYS, CA 91411, NO LATER THAN MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2009 AT 2 P.M. BIDS CAN BE FAXED TO 818.779.3003 ATTN: JOHN AMBICKI OR EMAILED TO johnambicki@alphaconstruction.com THE FOLLOWING TRADES ARE SCHEDULED TO BID ON NOVEMBER 2, 2009: FINAL CLEANUP, SITE CONCRETE, ASPHALT PAVING, STRIPING & SIGNAGE, SITE ACCESSORIES, FURNISHINGS, ORNAMENTAL IRON, FENCES & GATES, HANDRAILS & RAILINGS, ROOFING, FIRESTOPPING, INSULATION, CABINETS & MILLWORK, COUNTERTOPS / SOLID SURFACE, DOORS, FRAMES & HARDWARE, GLASS & GLAZING, WINDOWSALUMINUM, DRYWALL & METAL FRAMING, CERAMIC TILE, ACOUSTICAL CEILINGS, FLOORING, PAINT, RESTROOM ACCESSORIES, WINDOW COVERINGS, APPLIANCES, FIRE SPRINKLER, PLUMBING, HVAC & ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL / LOW VOLTAGE SYSTEM BID DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH: ftp://mall.alphaconstruction.com NAME: STOVALL, PASSWORD: Stovall ALPHA CONSTRUCTION CO. INC. IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER THAT IS COMMITTED TO, AND ENCOURAGES PARTICIPATION OF, MBE/WBE/OBE SUBCONTRACTORS/SUPPLIERS ON THE STOVALL VILLA SENIOR APARTMENTS PROJECT PERFORMANCE AND PAYMENT BONDS MAY BE REQUIRED FOR THE FULL SUBCONTRACT AMOUNT

Page 20

L.A. WATTS TIMES

October 22, 2009

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FREE MONEY U.S. Government Grants To Buy Homes Call Joe (310) 674-8822 BRIEFS Continued from page 15

Woman Claims McNair Father of Her Daughter NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A Mississippi woman is claiming that the late Steve McNair fathered her daughter and is seeking part of the former NFL quarterback’s estate.

According to WTVF-TV, court documents filed Oct. 16 in Nashville identify Clover Lee as the mother of the child, whose age and name were not given.

An attorney for the woman said a paternity test is being done.

Police said McNair was shot to death on July 4 in a Nashville condo by his mistress, who then turned the gun on herself.

McNair’s estate, valued at $19.6 million, is currently being divided among his widow and four sons.

A judge ruled Oct. 16 that a

portion of a Nashville restaurant McNair owned can be sold.

Information from: WTVF-TV, www.newschannel5.com.

Durham Unveils 3 Markers for Black Wall Street DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Durham has unveiled the remaining three of six historical markers commemorating the history of the city’s Parrish Street, also known as the Black Wall Street.

The city and the Parrish Street Advocacy Group unveiled the markers Oct. 16 at East Parrish and Church streets. The first three markers were placed on West Parrish Street in October 2008.

The area was known as the Black Wall Street in the late 1800s and early 1900s because of the success of black-owned businesses such as North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Co. and Mechanics and Farmers Bank.

SC Board Pardons 2 Black Men Executed 94 Years Ago COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Two great-uncles of syndicated radio host Tom Joyner, sent to the electric chair for the 1913 murder of a Confederate Army veteran, were unanimously pardoned Oct. 14 by South Carolina. Officials believe the men are the first in the state to be posthumously pardoned in a capital murder case.

Black landowners Thomas and Meeks Griffin were executed 94 years ago after a jury convicted them of killing 73-year-old John Lewis, a wealthy white veteran living in Blackstock, a Chester County town 40 miles north of Columbia. Two other black men were also put to death for the crime.

“This won’t bring them back, but this will bring closure. I hope now that they rest in peace,” Joyner said. “This is a good day.”

Joyner, who lives in Dallas, and his attorney made a presentation to the state parole and probation board on Oct. 14, then left the room while the board voted. Family members who flew in for the hearing included his wife and sons, of Dallas, and brother and his family, from Jackson, Miss.

THE DIASPORA Protests Evoke Apartheid Era in South Africa STANDERTON, South Africa (AP) — Protesters have barricaded a major highway with rocks and burning tires, clashing with police who fired on them with rubber bullets.

Youths retaliated with slingshots and threw rocks.

The protest Oct. 16 evoked images from decades earlier, when township residents took to the streets to fight apartheid. Now the issue is the government’s failure to

improve the lives of poor South African’s since democracy replaced legal racial separation.

More than 150 people were arrested last week in protests that spread from Standerton, about 90 miles (150 kilometers) southeast of Johannesburg, to at least four other towns in eastern South Africa.

A decade and a half after the end of apartheid, many South Africans feel that they have not benefited from economic growth that has made many government and ANC officials rich.

Jacob Zuma, a popular figure among the poor who won the presidency in the April vote, promised to speed up delivery of houses, clinics, schools, running water and electricity as well as create jobs.

But he also has acknowledged the difficulties amid South Africa’s first recession in nearly two decades.