Living Roots Magazine February/March 2012 by Deona Smith

February/March 2012

Representative Jim Clyburn 6th District

Representative Tim Scott 1st District

A Tale of Two Congressmen U.S. Reps. Jim Clyburn and Tim Scott

McKinley Washington Serving the Sea Islands for Four Decades

Phylicia Rashad

on the Strength of Family

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L i v i n g R o o t s | F e b r u a ry/March 2012

Contents Letter from the Editor ......................................... 2 By Deona Smith

Our Contributors ................................................. 3

Sections

Features

STYLE

A Tale of Two Congressmen ..................................18

The Evolution of Hairstyles .................................. 4

Jim Clyburn and Tim Scott By Brian Sherman

By Angie Ravenel

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT Reynier Llanes and the Cultural Importance of Coffee .................................. 8 By Kristen Gehrman CULTURE Safety Cab – A Charleston Institution .................... 12

Immeasurable Commitment ...................................22 McKinley Washington and the Sea Islands By Kristen Wright-Matthews

Challenged To Excel ...............................................26 Career Diplomat Got His Start On The Peninsula By Brian Sherman

By Professor Damon L. Fordham

The Gullah Huntsman and Chef ............................ 14 By Julian Gooding

VERGE Heaven Scent ........................................................ 17 A Q&A With Ausar Vandross

MONEY The Importance of Social Security ......................... 30 By Chris Jenkins

VILLAGE Lessons on Family, Humanity and Love ................. 32

February/March 2012

An Interview With Phylicia Rashad By Donloyn Gadson

RISE A Beautiful Shade of Love ..................................... 34 By Kevin L. Smith

��

�� U.S. Reps. Jim Clyburn and Tim Scott

SHE FLIES The Inspiring Story of Sadie Alexander .................. 36 By Doretha Walker

McKinley Washington

��

Phylicia Rashad

��

18 THE COVER They are about as different as different can be, but James Enos Clyburn and Timothy Eugene Scott have two critically important things in common: They are AfricanAmericans and they are members of Congress. Febr uary/March 2 0 1 2 | L i v i n g R o o t s

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Publisher / Editor-In-Chief Deona Smith Copy Editor Brian Sherman Graphic Artists Dana Coleman Angela McMillan Style Editor Angie Ravenel Fashion Stylist Theresa Spann Contributing Writers Damon Fordham, Donloyn Gadson, Kristen Gehrman, Julian Gooding, Brian Sherman, Kevin L. Smith, Doretha Walker, Kristen Wright-Matthews Photographers Darrin Todd Little Angie Ravenel

LR Marketing and Development Director Greta Thomsen Advertising Otto S. Riley Administrative Support Hope Manigault Interns LaQunya Baker, Sara Daise Bianca Flowers, Tiffany Hughes D’yanis Samuel Living Roots Magazine 1150 Hungryneck Blvd., Suite C-351 Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29464 (843) 937-9600 Living Roots Magazine, Vol. 1 No. 2, is published bimonthly, six times per year, by DeJo Communications Group, LLC. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of the publisher. Printed in the U.S.A. Copyright 2012 by DeJo Communications Group, LLC. All rights reserved. 2

L i v i n g R o o t s | F e b r u a ry/March 2012

VERY U.S. PRESIDENT

since 1976 has officially designated February as Black History Month, a time to note the achievements of African-Americans and celebrate the role we have played in virtually every corner of our society, from sports to entertainment to education to business to politics to community service. At Living Roots, we are proud to mark the accomplishments of African-Americans, especially those with connections to our part of the country. In this issue, you’ll find a contrast between two congressmen who represent South Carolinians in Photo by Angie Ravenel Congress. At the age of 71, Jim Clyburn is the third most powerful Democrat in the House. First elected in 1993, he is a staunch supporter of President Barack Obama. Meanwhile, 46-year-old Tim Scott is finishing his first term in the House. A conservative Republican, he opposes the president’s policies. What do they have in common? They both are African-Americans and they have earned a place in history. In the business world, we’ll give you a look at the life of Henry Smith, who saw an entrepreneurial opportunity and took advantage of it. The company he launched in downtown Charleston in 1936, Safety Cab, is still around today. Long before the civil rights movement changed America forever, Dr. Sadie T. Alexander battled racial and gender discrimination to write an inspiring chapter in the story of African-Americans in the United States. Against all odds, she earned a law degree and a doctorate and started a national organization for black attorneys. Rev. McKinley Washington has spent his life serving the needs of the residents of Edisto, James, Johns, Wadmalaw and Yonges islands and the surrounding communities. The bridge named in his honor doesn’t do justice to all he accomplished for the people of the Sea Islands. James Gadsden, a product of a segregated high school on the Charleston peninsula, had a lengthy career as a diplomat, serving at one time as the U.S. ambassador to Iceland. Now he is involved in a nationwide program that encourages minorities to seek careers with the U.S. Foreign Service. We are proud of all these people, not just because they are AfricanAmericans and not simply because of their connection to the Lowcountry. We salute them because they all overcame obstacles to help make the world a better place for all of us. Warmest regards,

Deona Smith Editor-In-Chief

OUR CONTRIBUTORS

Damon L. Fordham is a professor of history at Springfield College and Virginia College in Charleston, S.C. He is the author of “True Stories of Black South Carolina,” “Voices of Black South Carolina” and the upcoming “Mr. Potts and Me.” Damon contributed the Safety Cab story for this issue. Donloyn T. Gadson, wife and mother of eight, is a writer and an aspiring novelist and children’s book author. Although she originates from Louisiana, she has made Charleston her home for the past 32 years. Her Southern background, rich in culture and history, is the driving force behind her passion for great storytelling. She has an extensive education in health care and has held positions in child development and pediatrics. Darrin Todd Little Photography is synonymous with quality. Photography is defined as the art or process of producing images by the action of radiant energy, especially light, on a sensitive surface. Photography is an art, but the finished product is only as good as the artist. He brings his clients behind the camera and lets

them see through his eyes. His goal as a photographer is to immortalize special moments for future generations. Darrin is married to the lovely Dr. Shelma M. Little. Visit www.darrintoddlittlephotography.com. A native of Philadelphia, Brian Sherman has been a newspaper and magazine editor in Tennessee, Texas and Oklahoma. A graduate of Memphis State University, he currently earns a living as a freelance writer, editor and graphic designer and is the self-proclaimed protector and defender of the English language. He spends a large portion of his free time assiduously studying the sacred sport of baseball. A native of Charleston, Kevin L. Smith is a professional educator, talk show host, consultant and speaker. He earned his undergraduate degree at Winthrop University and a graduate degree from The Citadel. Kevin is the author and illustrator of the self-published “Get Up, Get Out, Go For It!” and currently writes a weekly motivational publication titled “Lift-Off!” He loves to spend time with his wife and

children, coaching and sometimes playing basketball, and he is a connoisseur of bow ties. A Los Angeles native, Kristen WrightMatthews moved to Charleston seven years ago. She has been a publicist, freelance writer and magazine editor for 16 years. She’s worked with countless celebrities, but Kristen’s love for children led her to a higher calling. She was a middle school teacher for two years, and she was widely recognized for her contributions in bringing awareness to community issues. An aspiring children’s writer, Kristen is a newlywed and mother of a 4-year-old boy, who she considers to be her most extraordinary accomplishment. February/March 2012

��

�� U.S. Reps. Jim Clyburn and Tim Scott

McKinley Washington

��

Phylicia Rashad

��

Are you interested in contributing to Living Roots Magazine? Email your contact information and a work sample with the subject “Living Roots Contributor” to deona@livingrootsmag.com

Febr uary/March 2 0 1 2 | L i v i n g R o o t s

STYLE

The Evolution of Hairstyles by Angie Ravenel The hair on your head is there to adorn and protect you. However, we as pretentious women cannot accept such simplicity. Over the years, hairstyles have emerged, evolved and repeated themselves. Allow me to introduce the evolution of hairstyles from distinctive eras. From the “boogie woogie” ‘50s, the “feel the funk” ‘70s and the current reform era, hairstyles have truly become a part of our lifestyle. Model Shuvonna Spann showcases these evolving styles with ease.

50s

Fifties hairstyles were a class act of luxurious curls achieved with Marcel irons and and pin curls that were molded to perfection.

waves

Hair. Makeup. Photography by Angie Ravenel Fashion Styling by Theresa Spann

L i v i n g R o o t s | F e b r u a ry/March 2012

STYLE

‘7 s 0

The tightly coiled afro wasn’t simply a fad of the ‘70s but rather a part of a celebratory movement. It exuded fun and conﬁdence.

Present

Today’s styles offer many options and . This style has shine and a sleek, modern look that’s great for the work day, as well as for a night on the town.

textures

Febr uary/March 2 0 1 2 | L i v i n g R o o t s

“

This book is a must have! Angie gives you all the tools you need to make your makeup experience a great one! —R. Sanders, Realtor

Absolutely love the book! It was a pleasure to read and will be my “go to” guide for makeup tips. Thanks, Angie for a great guide!

”

—Elizabeth L. Jennings, Carolina Eye Candy LLC, Owner

I use this book as a guide to getting the perfect natural look that I can feel good about. The book has been so helpful. Great job, Angie! Lorraine S. Brown, Administrative Assistant

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Reynier Llanes By Kristen Gehrman

L i v i n g R o o t s | F e b r u a ry/March 2012

Photo by Richard Ellis

HERE LOCAL ARTIST REYNIER Llanes (JAH’-nes) grew up, the cultural importance of coﬀee has little to do with drive-throughs or to-go cups. In his home of Pinar del Rio, Cuba, freshly roasted coﬀee has always been the central focus of an unhurried way of life, bringing families together for hours at a time.

nes) d (by Reynier Lla Full Steam Ahea Reynier Llanes) King of the Rhythm (by

Reynier Llanes)

Pachanga (by Re

ynier Llanes)

My Heritage (by

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

“On Sundays, when I was a kid, my whole family would come over and spend the entire day around the coffee pot,” Llanes reminisced. “We told old stories and really listened to each other. This is how we preserved our heritage.” Even though Llanes now lives far from his family, coffee and old family stories are still an integral part of his life and art. An artistin-residence of renowned local painter Jonathan Green, Llanes has been recognized throughout the Southeast for his coffee paintings, intimate works on paper painted exclusively with Cuban roasted coffee. “People don’t always believe me when I tell them that my paintings are all coffee, but it’s true,” Llanes explained. “You can’t get these sienna colors from acrylics.” Llanes’ painting process is similar to watercolor. He prepares his palette by roasting different kinds of Cuban coffee that his mother sends him from home. The rich shade of brown he produces depends on the color of the bean and how much water is in the pot. Drawing on his fine art background in oil and acrylic painting, Llanes composes nostalgic scenes of family and farm life that seem familiar but at the same time surreal. His subjects appear wise, bearing expressions that toy with the viewer’s imagination: a man gazing into a coffee cup at his own reflection; a weary cigar roller with striking eyes; a boy playing with a butterfly as his father fixes the car. “When I drink the coffee as

I paint, the stories flood back to me. People can approach the stories in my work any way they like,” said Llanes. “They are living paintings. Even though they come from my heritage, they represent stories within all of us.” Llanes was discovered by Jonathan Green after immigrating to Naples, Fla., in 2007. He had attended the Federico Engels School of Art Instructors in Havana and had taught art in Cuba for two years. However, despite his educated background and deep connection to his homeland, there was little opportunity to pursue his art in Cuba. “Being an immigrant, I have suffered from being far from my family. I know that I will not move back, but still my paintings are about passing my heritage down to future generations,” Llanes explained. “Jonathan Green and I are similar in that way. He is from the Gullah culture, and I from the African diaspora, but we both paint our heritage with positive memories and a sense of ‘tranquillo.’” Llanes currently works out of his West Ashley studio. He recently received the 2011 MOJA Arts Festival Juried Exhibition Award, and the Myrtle Beach Art Museum purchased some of his work for its permanent collection. With one year left in his three-year residency with Green, he plans to continue with his signature coffee paintings and also develop his acrylic and oil painting skills. To view more of Llanes’ work, visit www.jonathangreenstudios.com and click on the artists link. Febr uary/March 2 0 1 2 | L i v i n g R o o t s

Coming Soon!

Gullah Visitors Guide Gullah Visitors Guide, a premium publication highlighting the Lowcountryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unique Gullah culture, debuts in May. This easy-to-use guide offers all the information tourists traditionally crave, while featuring historic sites, tours and businesses of African-American significance. It is the perfect vehicle to diversify your marketing campaign and drive visitors to your business.

For more information: Deona Smith, Publisher Living Roots Magazine (843) 937-9600 ads@livingrootsmag.com This publication is produced by Living Roots Magazine in support of the Gullah Roots Project. The Gullah Roots Project, a nonproďŹ t organization established in 2011, is dedicated to preserving, promoting, sustaining and sharing an appreciation and awareness of Gullah Geechee arts, crafts, music, folkways and culture.

L i v i n g R o o t s | F e b r u a ry/March 2012

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CULTURE

Safety Cab A CHARLESTON INSTITUTION

R E C E N T LY D RO V E M Y

mother, who is nearly 90, to her doctor for a routine checkup. Stopped at a traﬃc light, we noticed one of the ubiquitous green Safety Cabs, with its gold and red lettering – a common sight in the Charleston area. “I see they still have the same phone number after all these years,” my mother said. I was pleasantly surprised that she would remember this. Before she married my father in 1960, my mother lived on BY PROFESSOR DAMON L. FORDHAM, MA Spring Street in downtown Charleston and took a Safety Cab to her job at the Medical University Hospital. “They were the only taxis that black people in Charleston could use back then,” she explained. I was intrigued that Safety Cab is 12

L i v i n g R o o t s | F e b r u a ry/March 2012

still around, while most of the older black-owned businesses no longer exist. I decided to learn more about the company and of the reasons behind its continued success. Dr. Maxine Smith recalled this information about her father, Safety Cab founder Henry Smith: “Henry Smith was born in Charleston on May 12, 1913, and died on April 13, 1995. He was the son of the late James Arthur Smith and Bessie Brown Smith. I did not get to meet my father’s parents or grandparents. I was told that my father attended Simonton School, formerly on Morris Street. He completed the seventh grade. “I would describe my father as a man who kept to himself. He didn’t have many close personal friends, but he was the kind of person who always had people coming to him

for advice. He had many business associates – both blacks and whites. Back in the day, I can remember being introduced to lawyers, doctors and other business professionals who knew my father. He was invited to weddings, baptisms and other family functions of people from all races and backgrounds in the city of Charleston. “If you don’t make your presence known, when someone needs your service or expertise, they would not have a frame of reference to call you with a special inquiry. My father was instrumental in identifying many men and women who became the ﬁrst blacks to drive the city buses – formerly run by SCE&G; now run by CARTA – and the ﬁrst AfricanAmerican bank tellers, when banks began to integrate. Staying in the mix with decision-makers gave my father

CULTURE

clout when persons making hiring at the site of his Esso Service Station do business with us.” decisions decided it was time to inte- on the corner of Fishburne Street One of Henry Smith’s best grate the workplace in Charleston. and Ashley Avenue in 1936. The fare friends was Jerry Fordham Sr., a “When I reflect on my father’s was 10 cents at the time and rose to civil rights activist and entrepreneur sense of owning, operating and a quarter in the 1950s. There was born in nearby Berkeley County sustaining a business, I wonder how another black taxi company called and the owner of Fordham Shell he knew so much with such a limited Economy Cabs and a number of Service Station, Fordham Exxon, the education. There is an expression that black hackers – men with private cars Fordham Bus Company and a superyou hear often about people who who independently charged people market. After Smith died, his daughwere born with a great ter, Maxine Smith, sold deal of common sense the Safety Cab Company – well, my father was to Fordham’s son, James one of those persons. I Fordham, who still owns wouldn’t compare him to the business. After the a Steve Jobs, the founder sale, James Fordham of Apple, but he was a told Tony Robertson of business genius ahead of The Charleston Chronicle his time.” on Sept. 2, 1998, that Smith is in the process he would continue the of writing a book about traditions of his father her father and his role in and the elder Smith. local history. “My father never Emily Smith, a worked for anyone but Charleston native, was himself, and I guess that a first cousin of Henry kind of rubbed off on Smith. She explained: my brothers and me,” “Henry Smith was he said. a true entrepreneur. Fordham has kept his He also owned service promise over the years, stations, liquor stores and and Safety Cab has conEmily Smith, a first cousin of Henry Smith who started working at Safety Cab in 1950, even a drive-in movie tinued to be a successful and the company’s current owner, James Fordham. theater for blacks that business. He recently was located on Highway 17 near the for rides – but Safety is the only black made these comments to Living Roots St. Andrews Shopping Center. He taxi company that has survived as Magazine: would also promote dances and jazz long as we have in Charleston under “Some of the youth don’t realize shows at Charleston County Hall its original name. I joined Safety Cab the money that you can make in the – now an apartment complex – and in 1950 as a dispatcher over the radio taxicab business. It’s not as dangerous I would sell tickets. This was how I and telephone.” as people think if you just use some got to see famous jazz stars such as Smith added: “By being the sense and answer your calls on the Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan and oldest independent black company radio instead of picking up people at Lionel Hampton. in this area, we have built up a good random off the streets. We currently “In those days, many blacks could reputation. Part of this is because have 18 cars and drivers, which is not afford cars. Also, white taxi drivwe are in America’s most historic good. However, we would love to ers would not serve black people uncity. Everyone remembers our phone get more young people mentored in less they were servants and maids who number. People from London, this business as a positive alternative worked for their families. Therefore, Boston, New York City, Chicago and to the streets. I hope that this story Mr. Smith saw a need that was not other cities have been customers of makes people realize that this is a being met and established Safety Cab ours, remember us and continue to legacy that we could keep going.” Febr uary/March 2 0 1 2 | L i v i n g R o o t s

The Gullah Huntsman and Chef WILLIAM “BILL” GREEN

T’S A SUNNY BUT CHILLY

winter morning, and I’m standing on the grounds of historic Middleton Place in Charleston, S.C. Powerful and majestic horses surround me; astride them are men and BY JULIAN GOODING women dressed in regal red hunting jackets. The sounds of hounds yelping and a brass horn blowing can be heard in the distance, signaling the start of a centuries-long tradition of fox hunting. Just ahead of the hunt – not unlike a character in an old Western, with a cowboy hat and full-length leather duster – rides William “Bill” Green, huntsman, horseman and trainer of hounds. He’s the man creating the excitement, the exhilarating rush of horse 14

L i v i n g R o o t s | F e b r u a ry/March 2012

and hound in hot pursuit of a streaking fox. But in this hunt, Bill is the fox. For nearly 40 years, Bill Green has been perfecting the drag hunt. He is the only African-American in the nation teaching this style, which really isn’t hunting at all – not in the traditional sense. There are no foxes, and no animals are harmed or harassed. Just before a hunt, Bill shares his techniques for drag hunting, which involves dragging a rag or a piece of fur, scented with real fox urine, tied to a rope or line – hence the term laying a line. A spray bottle can be used to achieve the same eﬀect, usually on rainy days. Then, on horseback, he creates the course for the hounds to ﬁnd and follow. The hard part, Bill explains, is

training the hounds used during the hunt. He wants them to learn to follow the scent he lays down and not a real fox that might be in the woods at the time of the hunt. The training begins when they are pups, as the hounds learn to move together as one unit. Alongside the hounds on horseback is the lead huntsman, assisted by the “whippers-in,” who help keep the hounds on course while they locate Bill’s cleverly-laid fox scent. Although hounds have a natural instinct to hunt, it takes many months or sometimes years for them to master the intricacies of the drag hunt. Born and raised on James Island, S.C., Bill is proud of his Gullah ancestry. Firmly rooted in his heritage and culture, he observes and respects

CULTURE

the natural world that surrounds him. “You should always have love and kindness in your heart and put that in everything you do,” he shouts with his wonderfully unique Gullah voice. “Love and kindness is my motto. Without that, everything just falls apart.” After the hunt, we sit and chat awhile. His handsome smile and Southern Gullah charm draw you in. He learned as a child all about how clever a fox can be. As if he were that little boy again, he told me of his ﬁrst live fox hunt and how he focused on the fox and its playful nature. He tells me, “A fox can run a pack of hounds in circles and sit right there and watch ’um and never get caught.” Later, as a young man, he ventured to Colorado, discovering that he had a talent for working with horses. “Some say I’m a bit of a horse whisperer. There’s no horse, so far, I can’t get my leg across,” he said with a smile. “I love what I do. I love my horses and raising hunting hounds up from pups so people can have an exciting drag hunt. Man, there’s no sweeter music. When those hounds hit the line, it gets no better than that. Their howling is better than anything you’ll hear on the radio.” Bill knows his way around the woods, and, thanks to his grandmother, he also knows his way around the kitchen. Through her, Bill has preserved recipes and ideals ﬁrmly rooted in the Gullah culture, adhering to the Gullah traditions of eating fresh, local and in season. For more than 10 years, Bill has earned respect as a chef specializing in Gullah cooking. As the owner of the Gullah Grub, a down-home restaurant on St. Helena Island, S.C., just outside historic Beaufort, his menu includes crab soup; gumbo; baked and barbecued chicken; ribs; shrimp and grits; mac and cheese; red rice; collard greens; and cobblers. Bill is nationally recognized as

one of the few purveyors of authentic Gullah food. His traditional Gullah oyster roasts and seafood boil gained notoriety on “Martha Stewart Living” and the Travel Channel’s “Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations.” Bill refuses to let his Gullah heritage be forgotten, devalued or stolen. He told me that one day while he was shopping in a grocery store,

“A lady held up a cabbage and a head of lettuce, confused, asking me which one is the cabbage. I knew I had to do something.” His jovial tone changes as he laments how things use to be. You can feel his worry that much of the Gullah culture, land and healthy ways of living have been encroached upon. Like many of his generation, he feels nobody cares anymore, especially about Gullah heritage. This lack of caring and knowledge throughout the Lowcountry prompted Bill and his wife, Sara, to start teaching young people in their community about organic farming and Gullah heritage cooking. They’re part of the slow food movement – eat fresh, eat local and in season. Through food, Bill reminds us all of better, simpler days. In 2011, he launched his own cooking show, “Gullah Grub,” on Comcast 2 in Charleston, and has his own line of natural cooking rubs, sauces, soups and gumbos. Alongside him preserving the Gullah heritage is his daughter, Oshi, and oldest son, William. They help run his restaurant and catering business. His youngest son, Jaime, followed in his other footsteps; he is the lead huntsman for the Middleton Place Hounds hunt club. Bill, like many people his age, is a living history. I’m a better person for taking the time to know him and his family. As I learn more about South Carolina, I ask: Why are we allowing this beautiful Lowcountry to fade away to gated communities and town centers? It’s time we start recognizing the Gullah people in the present and not as a relic of time long since passed. I like Bill’s motto: “Just put love and kindness in your heart and you can’t go wrong.” To ﬁnd out more about this amazing man or to order cooking products and DVDs, visit www.gullahgrubs.com. Febr uary/March 2 0 1 2 | L i v i n g R o o t s

CITY SCENE

HE EAST COOPER INTERDENOMINATIONAL MASS CHOIR HAS AWARDED

$6,100 in scholarships to East Cooper area students. First place winners received $2,100, second place winners received $750 and third place winners earned $500.

FIRST PLACE HONORS: Sharonic Irving, Timberland High School; Kayla Porcher, Lincoln High School; and Thaddeus Lyle-Dennis, Wando High School.

SECOND PLACE HONORS: Kristen Mack, Hanahan High School; and Hilary Washington, Wando High School.

THIRD PLACE HONORS: Tambar Manigault, Timberland High School; and Allison Chisolm, Wando High School.

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VERGE

Heaven Scent

IVING ROOTS CAUGHT

up with Ausar Vandross to discuss his store and products in the City Market.

LR: What inspired you to start your business, and why did you select products of African origin? Vandross: I was inspired by my wife, Tammy, and family to start Heaven Scent. I credit them with my business success. Having worked in sales, I took a look at what I thought would be a positive product with increasing demand. Shea butter and African black soap had been introduced to me by brothers from Africa when we were living in Louisiana. Tammy was pregnant with our first child. It just seemed natural and appropriate that the origin of our product be African. LR: Please describe your products and their benefits to your clients. Vandross: We offer the finest organic shea butter and African black soap. Shea butter is a moisturizer extracted from the pressed nuts of the karite tree. It is made by the women of West African countries. Our shea butter comes from Ghana and Mali. The butter is the purest we have found. Shea butter keeps skin healthy, treats eczema and psoriasis, dry skin and problematic skin. It heals damaged skin resulting from trauma. African black soap cleans skin like you could not imagine. It is prescribed for acne, eczema, psoriasis and dirt removal. Black soap looks crazy to some but will convince and convert disbelievers and doubters. Black soap comes

from plantain skin palm oil, palm kernel and coco pods. I call my products nature’s proactive. LR: Many products now contain shea butter, but you seemed to understand its value before it became a market trend. How did you discover your products and what new products will you debut in the near future? Vandross: Call me clairvoyant if you will. I was sold on the intrinsic value and benefits of shea butter and black soap even when the Africans were literally giving it away. When shea butter and black soap were being poorly sold and misrepresented in flea markets and street corners, I was putting together a marketing plan to mainstream them and make them the highly-respected products deserved by Africa’s finest. In the future, our product line will expand to include developed and advanced skin care and maintenance to include skin scrubs and exfoliates. Stay tuned. LR: What has been your greatest challenge and triumph during your entrepreneurial journey? Vandross: My greatest challenge has been our rapid growth. We were surprised to discover the demand by all peoples, white, black, Asian and Hispanic, for our product. We do

not consider ourselves simply a black business; we consider ourselves to be a viable business catering to the community, and that includes everyone seeking healthy skin. Now I just want to hurry up and ﬁnish my website so that the rest of the world can experience our products. I truly love my customers. Over the years, I’ve remained connected to my customers, who are like family. I strive to remember their names and details that are the ties that bind. When you see people instead of dollar signs, success comes automatically. Heaven Scent, in the Charleston City Market, is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Febr uary/March 2 0 1 2 | L i v i n g R o o t s

aofTtwo ale

Congressmen

REPRESENTATIVES

HEY ARE AS diﬀerent as a slow Southern drawl and a nasal New York twang, as diverse as a sunny summer day in Summerville and a mid-winter dusting of snow in Spartanburg and as dissimilar as homemade B Y BRIAN SHERMAN Charleston grits and the kind you mix with water and heat up in the microwave. They are not, however, as diﬀerent as black and white. James Enos Clyburn and Timothy Eugene Scott have little in common 18

L i v i n g R o o t s | F e b r u a ry/March 2012

JIM CLYBURN & TIM SCOTT

except the color of their skin – they both are African-Americans – and the fact that they serve the people of South Carolina as members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Jim Clyburn is 71 years old, and, though he was a teacher early in his professional career, he has been involved in government and politics in one way or another for the past four decades. He has represented South Carolina’s 6th District since 1993 and as assistant Democratic leader is currently the third-ranking Democrat in the House. He is a staunch supporter of President Barack Obama,

insisting that the nation’s chief executive deserves another four years in oﬃce and the opportunity to continue the policies he has established since moving into the White House in 2009. “He has demonstrated a capacity to lead this country,” Clyburn explained. “When he took over we were hemorrhaging 700,000 jobs a month. We lost 2.1 million jobs in the three months prior to him being sworn in. The ﬁrst thing he had to do was stop the hemorrhaging. It took time to put the tourniquet on. He has done a tremendous job, and his policies will

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families: Paul Thurmond and Carroll Campbell. Scott gives the president a failing grade for his first term in office. In his efforts to see that his party regains control of the executive branch of government, he has held town hall meetings in his district for most of the Republican candidates for president. “Our unemployment situation is a result of a model that simply doesn’t work in the 21st century,” Scott commented. “We are being driven by a larger, more centralized government. In a global economy, that fails. Unfortunately, that has been the approach of this administration.” PUTTING PEOPLE BACK TO WORK

make the economy well again.” Tim Scott, 46, is one of 60 or so conservatives swept into oﬃce by the “Tea Party Revolution,” when the Republicans wrested control of the U.S. House in 2010. He and U.S. Rep. Allen West of Florida are the ﬁrst black members of their party to serve in Congress since J.C. Watts of Oklahoma retired in 2002. Scott, who represents South Carolina’s 1st District, sat on the Charleston County Council for 13 years and was a state representative for two years before besting eight other Republicans and then Democrat Ben Frasier in the general election. Among those he vanquished in the primary were members of two of South Carolina’s most prominent political

Scott and Clyburn obviously have a difference of opinion on the president’s performance. They do agree, however, that the most important issue during the 2012 election cycle is putting people back to work. They don’t agree on how to accomplish that monumental feat. According to Scott, a three-pronged approach would cut the nation’s unemployment rate in half: reducing regulations on businesses, allowing businesses to return profits earned outside the borders of the United States without double taxation, and lowering the corporate tax rate. Scott said this plan would help provide jobs for 7 million Americans. Clyburn prefers to depend on earmarks – funds included in legislation for a specific purpose, usually for a project in a specific legislator’s state or district – to kick-start the economy into high gear. Scott and many other Republicans see eliminating earmarks as a way to make a dent in the evergrowing national debt. In Clyburn’s opinion, that attitude is stifling South Carolina’s economy because an earmark is the only way to obtain funding to deepen the Charleston

Harbor shipping channel, making Charleston more competitive with other ports, including nearby Savannah. “To have that port jeopardized is a real serious problem. I got the money through the House twice to deepen the harbor. Both times it failed in the Senate,” Clyburn explained. “I don’t understand people who hold onto a philosophy that is detrimental to the state. The same non-earmark philosophy was held by senators from Georgia, but when it came to the Savannah port, they decided they were going to find the $600 million to deepen the harbor.” According to Clyburn, without an earmark, federal funding for work on Charleston’s shipping lanes won’t be available until 2024. He blamed conservative U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina, a Republican, for the demise of his earmark for the harbor. “We need to stop making the defeat of the president the number one priority,” Clyburn said. “You’ve got people in the Republican Party whose priority is to make sure Obama is a one-term president. My number one priority is getting people back to work. You have people who believe that in order to drown the captain you have to sink the whole ship.” THE PARTY OF LINCOLN Clyburn, who served on the staff of Gov. John West and as South Carolina’s human affairs commissioner before winning his current congressional seat, actually started life as a Republican, though he sees little similarity between the party of Lincoln and today’s party of Romney, Gingrich, Santorum and Palin. He remembers wearing “I Like Ike” buttons in 1952 and 1956, supporting the candidacy of Republican President Dwight David Eisenhower, and working to elect Richard Nixon as president on the Febr uary/March 2 0 1 2 | L i v i n g R o o t s

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South Carolina State campus during remembered. “The plea went the 1960 campaign. He also was deeply unaddressed. That was when I began to involved in the civil rights movement, organizing sit-ins and helping to establish the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee at a meeting at Shaw University in Raleigh. Following a civil rights demonstration at a lunch counter in Orangeburg in March 1960, he and around 300 of his colleagues were carted oﬀ to jail, which turned out to be a fortunate stroke of luck for the future congressman. He explained that the students who were not arrested – because there was no place to put all of them – returned to the South Carolina State campus, raided the dining hall and brought dinner to their incarcerated friends. His 6th District Rep. Jim Clyburn future wife, Emily, was among them. “She came up to me with a see a Republican strategy that was, if not hamburger in her hand, broke it in anti-student and anti-black, certainly two, and we each ate half,” he said. struck me as being so. That was my They now have three daughters and three grandchildren. During this tumultuous time in his life, Clyburn began to see what he considered to be the dark side of the Republican Party. He said Nixon’s running mate, Henry Cabot Lodge, made some positive comments about the progress South Carolina State students were making and what the Nixon administration would do for African-Americans. Instead of agreeing with his colleague, Nixon repudiated his statements and “took him to the woodshed,” according to Clyburn. Later that year, when the Rev. 1st District Rep. Tim Scott Martin Luther King Jr. was jailed in Albany, Ga., the civil rights leader’s wife got an empathetic call from break with the Republican Party.” Nixon’s opponent, John F. Kennedy. He added that in 1964, when the Clyburn tried unsuccessfully to get Republican candidate for president, Nixon to do the same. Barry Goldwater, opposed the Civil “There was no response,” Clyburn Rights Act, the majority of African20

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Americans turned to the Democratic Party. According to Clyburn, they have stuck with the Democrats because even in the 21st century, many Republican policies are seen as anti-black. “There are exceptions, but, for the most part, Republicans are against Social Security, Medicare and universal access to health care. Most blacks believe that health care is a fundamental right. It’s no accident that African-Americans die younger and get less health care. If the president didn’t do anything else, putting health care on the agenda was monumental, and every black person knows that.” BLIND LOYALTY Scott, on the other hand, is not convinced that African-Americans should blindly follow the Democratic Party. He grew up in a broken home in North Charleston and made such poor grades in his freshman year at Stall High School that he had to take summer school classes to advance to the 10th grade. He survived and eventually thrived through the inﬂuence of his mother, football and a mentor who taught him about free enterprise system. “I have a very strong mom, and she kept me pumped with optimism,” Scott said. “She taught me that if you shoot for the moon and miss, you’ll still end up among the stars.” He added that the lessons he learned growing up about individual responsibility and “being right is far more important than being popular” took him in the direction of the Republican Party. “There’s no doubt that those lessons led me to be a conservative,” Scott explained. “My mentor taught me that you have to have a plan. You can think

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your way out of poverty. That was revolutionary for me.” He ﬁrst encountered his mentor when he was in high school, working at a movie theater. The man, who owned a fast food restaurant, taught him about life and succeeding in the business world, lessons that proved important later when Scott owned an insurance agency. “It turned into a mentoring situation for me, and it was quite impactful. The lessons stuck with me and led me in many ways to become a Republican,” Scott said. While Clyburn said he knew from the age of 8 that he would someday run for Congress, Scott set his sights at an early age on playing football for a living. Though his dream of wearing a Dallas Cowboys uniform never materialized, he did play a few years at Stall and at Name... information... Presbyterian College. “Football taught me leadership skills and to be a team player,” he commented. “And I saw it as a way out of poverty. At the end of the day, it’s a great recreational activity and one of my best experiences in life.” Unlike Clyburn, Scott doesn’t necessarily see African-Americans as a natural ﬁt for the Democratic Party. He said the Republican Party aligns better with the basic value system of the black community, but he added that he

hopes African-Americans will vote for candidates rather than for candidates who belong to speciﬁc political parties. “Ultimately, my hope is that the African-American community would embrace not political parties but philosophies that will lead us where we are destined to go as a community and as a nation,” he said. “Far more important than parties is voting for the right candidate. Voting straight down party lines is not eﬀective.” “We continue to take our message to the African-American community,” he added. “There are more AfricanAmericans running as Republicans now

than since Reconstruction. We hope the voters will start investigating the best candidates and vote accordingly. We need to eliminate the whole notion of being judged superﬁcially. I live by that creed. People should be judged by what they do.” DEEPLY RELIGIOUS MEN Both Scott and Clyburn are deeply religious men. Clyburn related that his father, a minister, enforced two main

rules in the house. “We had to recite Bible verses every morning, and before you put a fork-full in your mouth, you had to do a Bible verse, and you couldn’t say the same one twice. And every evening we had to share with him or my mother a current event. We had to share something we learned from the newspaper that day.” His father’s rules about current events eventually drew Clyburn into the political arena. In 1948, he was captivated by Harry Truman, the ultimate political underdog, and he still reads books written by the former president, as well as the Bible. “I was carried away with Harry Truman. He was running against Thomas Dewey, a member of a wealthy upstate New York family. And this little known, handicapped person from Missouri got elected when nobody thought he could,” Clyburn remarked. “When I’m wrestling with things, I ask myself, ‘What would Jesus do, or what would Harry do?’” Scott agrees that religion and moral values should play a role in American politics. “A better America is an America with a moral foundation that is as solid as a rock,” he commented. “In this country, there is a strong conviction that there is a God who overlooks us and works on our behalf.” Febr uary/March 2 0 1 2 | L i v i n g R o o t s

Reverend McKinley Washington: IMMEASURABLE COMMITMENT

HE MCKINLEY WASHINGTON JR. Bridge connects Edisto Island on the coast of South Carolina to the mainland. It was named for the former state legislator who represented the area in the House and Senate for more than 30 years and spearheaded the effort to appropriate funds to replace a swing bridge that tied up traffic when it opened for boats to pass. And while the new bridge B Y KRISTEN WRIGHTMAT THE W S represented an important milestone for southern Charleston County and neighboring Colleton County, it pales in comparison to some of Washington’s other accomplishments. A pastor, legislator, activist and devoted member of the community, Washington is not unlike the bridge that bears his name, repeatedly providing a way to rise above the many obstacles that have plagued the Charleston metropolitan area. He has faithfully and selflessly dedicated many years to 22

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The McKinley Washington Jr. Bridge - Edisto Island, S.C.

issues such as civil rights, employment, education and especially health care for the poor residents of the Sea Islands through his involvement with the Sea Island Comprehensive Health Care Corporation. SICHCC is a private, nonproﬁt corporation established in 1972 to help make health care aﬀordable and accessible to residents of Edisto, James, Johns, Wadmalaw and Yonges islands and the surrounding communities. Before SICHCC was created, access to health care was limited for the geographically dispersed populations of the Sea Islands. SICHCC currently operates a nursing home, a home health unit, an adult day care and the Johns Island Rural

Housing Complex, which has 88 one- and two-bedroom apartments for elderly and disabled residents. “I am honored to have been a part of the Sea Island Comprehensive Health Care Corporation from the beginning,” said Washington. “It gives me great pride that an African-American organization operating in the Sea Island area has made such a great impact on Charleston County as a whole.” His wife, Beulah, voiced a similar opinion. “He has served diligently as chairperson for many years. He has worked so hard and been so loyal to accomplish so much for the Sea Islands. His wish is that SICHCC continues to thrive and that it will continue to be a

beacon of light for the Sea Islands.” SICHCC celebrates its 40th anniversary this year; Washington was there from the beginning, serving as its chairman for 30 years, until 2011. “This guy is a total icon,” Harold M. Rhodes, DDS, chair of the 40th Anniversary Committee, humbly admitted. “In my opinion, McKinley Washington is single-handedly responsible for the success of the Sea Island Comprehensive Health Care Corporation.” “When SICHCC was having financial trouble, the staff would work extra hours for weeks without extra pay and even with no pay at all,” he continued. “People believe in him. I can only hope that I could make merely a percentage of the impact that he has made here during my lifetime.” “McKinley is a selfless, giving person, one who always looks out for the needs and concerns of others. He has given tirelessly of himself, never asking for anything in return,” Beulah Washington added. Despite the praise offered by those around him, Washington remains a demure gentleman, giving tribute to others who were instrumental in the survival and success of the SICHCC. Among those he mentioned were Mary Howe, mother of Charleston attorney Gedney Howe, and Rev. Willis Goodwin, both of whom traveled with him to Washington to sign the initial grant with the Department of Health and Human Services. He also cited former U.S. Sen. Ernest “Fritz” Hollings, who played a huge role in keeping the organization funded, and last, but definitely not least, Esau Jenkins. “Fritz was our go-to person when we had a problem with the federal government, but Esau Jenkins, he started it all,” said Washington. “When I was a young pastor, he called me every Sunday morning to talk about issues Febr uary/March 2 0 1 2 | L i v i n g R o o t s

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such as voter registration and anything executive officer, Everard O. “Rod” he thought the people should hear in Rutledge, Ph.D., FACHE, it remains church,” he remembered. “Esau himself the mission of SICHCC to ensure that would carry people into Charleston to area residents have access to affordable the emergency room in his truck.” medical care and human services. Solemnly, he recalled, “Some did not “Rev. Washington has served make it across the old drawbridge.” SICHCC and the citizens of the Sea The commitment demonstrated by Islands and the metropolitan area in a Washington is a rare commodity. He superb manner over these many years, has dedicated more than half of his life and he continues to be a strong steward to helping the indigent people of the over many community organizations Sea Islands obtain proper health care. such as SICHCC,” said Rutledge. He has touched countless lives in more Gerald Mackey, now SICHCC’s ways than one, saving bodies and souls as a volunteer with SICHCC and as pastor of Edisto Presbyterian Church for 48 years. “I have known McKinley Washington for a number of years, and I am aware of his positive involvement dating back to civil rights up to the present,” said Curtis Inabinett Sr., the first African-American mayor of Ravenel, S.C., and a former South Carolina state representative who served alongside Washington as vice chair of the SICHCC. “McKinley has been involved with so many state and community issues Reverend McKinley Washington during his days as a state legislator. – too numerous for me to recall – but I do know that he has been chairman of the board, served with an extremely positive force not only Washington for about eight years. for minorities but for the good of all “Rev. Washington is a very dedicated people,” he said. “I really wish that we and committed soldier who I have had many other people who were as enjoyed working with,” said Mackey. dedicated to preserving human dignity “He has been fighting for the indigent for all of humankind as he is, and we people on the islands for many years are much better off as a people having and has given his time and resources to had McKinley on our side.” SICHCC as well as other committees Over the years, SICHCC has on which he serves.” helped provide services to the people “We are on the right track as on the Sea Islands and in Charleston we have an excellent CEO in Rod County, but it also has engendered a Rutledge, and our goal is to remain significant amount of positive change. on financially solid ground so we Under the direction of its new chief can continue to provide services to 24

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the poor people who do not have insurance,” he added. A devoted husband and father of two, Washington was born in Maysville, S.C. He was a member of the state Legislature from 1976 to 2000 and was subsequently elected to the South Carolina Employment Security Commission, where he served from 2000 to 2010. He retired last year from the SICHCC and is retiring from the pulpit this year. “I will continue to volunteer and preach, but the administrative functions won’t be as great,” he said. When asked if he thought SICHCC would grow so extensively, he answered, “I never knew, but it is the reason that I stayed for so long. We have a good board of young people with fresh, new ideas, and now I can sit back and feel secure that this much-needed institution will survive and ﬂourish.” “There have been good times and bad, but there were so many wonderful moments to name,” he said, adding that he is most proud of the dignity shared among he, Mary Howe and Rev. Goodwin when they signed their ﬁrst documents; when SICHCC emerged from bankruptcy a few years ago; and, of course, when the housing development opened. I could sense the smile on the other end of the line as he reminisced about the opening of the nursing home. “To see the pride and joy on the seniors’ faces as they moved in was priceless,” he said. Neither can a price be placed on Rev. McKinley Washington’s contributions to his community.

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Challenged To Excel: DIPLOMATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S DREAMS NURTURED IN SEGREGATED SOUTHERN SCHOOL Story by Brian Sherman Photos courtesy of Ambassador James Gadsden

L i v i n g R o o t s | F e b r u a ry/March 2012

S A YOUNG HIGH school student in a segregated Southern city, James Irvin Gadsden dreamed of a world far removed from the east side of the Charleston Peninsula. Nearly half a century after

he left Charles A. Brown High School following his sophomore year to expand his horizons and enhance his education at a small private school in New York City, he can look back on his lengthy career as a diplomat and an educator and say with great certainty that his dreams have been realized.

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Gadsden, who now lives with his wife, Sally, in Bethesda, Md., spent 35 years with the U.S. Department of State, serving as the nation’s ambassador to Iceland from 2002 to 2005. Besides Reykjavik, his assignments have taken him around the globe, from Washington, D.C., to Paris

to Budapest to Brussels to Taipei. He has studied at three of the country’s most prestigious schools – Harvard, Stanford and Princeton – and he is fluent in no fewer than five languages. At 63 and nowhere near retirement, he directs a national program that helps disadvantaged minorities obtain the education they need “for leadership roles in addressing global challenges.” Though Gadsden has attended some of the world’s finest universities, he credits much of his success to his dedicated teachers and competitive classmates at C.A. Brown, a blacks-only high school in downtown Charleston on the site of what is now the Palmer Campus of Trident Technical College. “We loved school and we loved our teachers, and they pushed us and encouraged us in many ways,” he commented. “Some people say you couldn’t get a good education in a segregated school, but we had very fine teachers.” Nearly 50 years later, Gadsden can reel off the names of the instructors who helped shape his career and his life. Among them were Nevada Hayward, Vera Macanic, Barbara Massey, Joyce Houston Moore and James Clyburn, who has represented South Carolina’s 6th District in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1993. When Gadsden was sworn in as George W. Bush’s ambassador to Iceland, Clyburn, now the third ranking Democrat in the House, was his guest of honor. In addition to his teachers, Gadsden was challenged to excel by his fellow students. Though C.A. Brown has been gone since the early 1980s, its alumni strive to keep the memory of their school alive. They still hold regular reunions, and they also produce a newsletter. They remain connected by the dreams they dared to dream and by the aspirations they dared to share. “We talked about things like

national politics and what we wanted to be when we grew up,” Gadsden remembered. “And we took great pride in our work. On the day of a big exam, we would leave a match on the teacher’s desk to let her know that ‘We’re going to burn your test up.’” “Deep down, we really wanted to do something great, but we had not a clue how we would get there,” he added. “We didn’t even know we would be able to go to college. But thanks to a lot of people who showed us the way and taught us to think well beyond the horizons in front of us, we were motivated to take the next step.” For Gadsden, the next step was a big one – leaving C.A. Brown for the big city. Encouraged by Principal Nathaniel L. Manigault and Guidance Counselor Harriet Simpson, he considered attending New York Friends School and Brooklyn Friends School but ended up at Little Red School House and Elisabeth Irwin High School in Greenwich Village. Students were assigned to bring him up to speed in French, physics and math, but, within a few weeks, Gadsden was tutoring his classmates. “As I’ve said often, we got a quality education in a segregated school,” he remarked. When it came time for Gadsden to move on to college, he set his sights on black schools such as Howard, Hampton and Morgan State. His guidance counselor at LREI insisted that he apply to Harvard. To his surprise, he was admitted, joining a class that was no more than 5 or 6 percent African-American. He planned to major in astrophysics but met resistance from a guidance counselor who tried to convince him that he would be studying nothing more than science ﬁction. Since he was involved in social issues and had an interest in improving the economic condition of black communities, he settled on Febr uary/March 2 0 1 2 | L i v i n g R o o t s

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economics, earning his degree in 1970. After returning to the United States capital until leaving the Foreign Service Gadsden didn’t wait until graduation to spend a year learning the Hungarian in 2007, moving on to Princeton to start learning firsthand about how language, the Gadsdens left for University in New Jersey as a diplomatpeople live in countries outside the Budapest, where he was a commercial in-residence and lecturer in public and United States. He international affairs. spent two summers Gadsden said he living with a family in and his wife will never Peru, an experience live anywhere but in that shaped his future the United States, but and changed his world he added that he was outlook. impressed with each “My education had foreign city that been a little too served as their Europe-oriented,” he temporary home. explained. “But what “I enjoyed them all does the rest of the but for very different world think? I came to reasons,” he said. the conclusion that “Taiwan is an Columbus didn’t absolute model of discover America. He how an energetic traveled to America people can not only Ambassador Gadsden at his swearing-in ceremony. and met indigenous survive but strive. In people. They didn’t Hungary, as long as need Europeans to discover them and officer with the American embassy. He the people didn’t challenge the party define them.” later served as an economic and and Soviet foreign policy, they could Going into his senior year at political officer in Brussels and as a do what they wanted. It was a Harvard, Gadsden made another counselor for economic affairs and Communist society, but their aim in decision that would take his career path deputy head of the American embassy’s life was to make money. They had in a different direction: He got involved economic section in Paris, and returned started some reforms and they lived in Chinese studies, earning a master’s in to Budapest from 1994 to 1997 as well. And Brussels was incredible. It that subject two years later at Stanford. deputy chief of mission at the was incredible to see former warring President Richard Nixon’s visit to American embassy. His assignments states, France and Germany in China in 1972, which ended a particular, pool their quarter-century period during resources. The idea of war in which the two countries all but Europe is unthinkable.” ignored each other, opened the Gadsden leaves no doubt door for the beginning of about which foreign city he Gadsden’s career as a foreign enjoyed the most. He said if service officer. After some time he and his wife ever decide to in Washington, he and his wife establish a second home, it moved to Taipei, Taiwan, where will be somewhere in the he was a market research officer capital of France. at the U.S. Trade Center. “Imagine New York, with a “I definitely enjoyed the work lot more greenery, beauty and and met a lot of interesting parks, but with small people. My wife was a foreign communities, some of them Ambassador Gadsden meeting with diplomats from Paris and Iceland. service spouse, but she worked ethnic,” he mused. “Paris has at just about every assignment we had. were in Washington until Bush that and more. The atmosphere there is She ends up in some leadership position appointed him ambassador to Iceland so relaxing, peaceful and stimulating. in whatever she is doing,” he said. in 2002. He returned to the nation’s It’s just a great city. Almost every day, 28

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some group is giving a breakfast with a speaker of note from around the world. The real problem was ﬁguring out which one to go to.” “In our neighborhood, we woke up to the smell of baguettes every morning. It was like our alarm clock,” he added. “It’s hard to describe. There’s no place else in the world like that.” Throughout his diplomatic and academic careers, Gadsden has developed some strong opinions on how to invigorate the intertwined economies of the United States and the rest of the world and how to make life better for the billions of people who share the planet. He said shortterm, ideological ﬁxes such as cutting taxes at any cost won’t secure the future of high school students with the same dreams he and his classmates had in 1960s Charleston. Education, he pointed out, is becoming less of a priority in this country, to the detriment of America’s future place in the world. “You can lower taxes to zero if you want to, but the fact is, we do not have people who speak and write well or who are skilled in the vocations,” he said. “We are falling behind in math and the sciences, and we are producing very little these days.” “We need people who are better educated and teachers who are motivated and paid,” he went on to say. “We need to get a bit more balance between athletes who make millions of dollars and teachers who are hired for $25,000 or $30,000 a year.” He added that developing our public transportation systems, roads and bridges must be a priority, as should health care. He said one reason medical care costs are rising at such an alarming rate is that Americans are destroying their health by consuming too much prepared food. “Knowledge, infrastructure and human capacity are important.

Lowering taxes won’t help in the long students each year. He was involved in term. It won’t move us forward to be similar work during his three years at competitive,” Gadsden said. Princeton. He is, however, optimistic that the According to Gadsden, many of the United States eventually will bounce back. students he has encountered both at “Are we going to get there? I think Princeton and with the Woodrow we will. We have an enormous Wilson National Fellowship capacity for debate and serious Foundation faced more daunting introspection. It’s interesting to watch challenges than those he and his these student movements. Just like classmates at C.A. Brown High School with civil rights, when they grab the had to hurdle. attention of the middle class, changes “It’s amazing. Some of these kids are will be made in policy.” from backgrounds far more “I have unlimited faith in American disadvantageous than what my friends ingenuity and capability,” he added. and I had in Charleston,” he remarked. “It’s worked for over 200 years. I have “I’m so motivated by these kids. This is a feeling it’s going to work well for the where I want to focus now. My own life next 200 years. We just have to find experience plus meeting and teaching our way forward. We’ve done it over these fantastic young people over the and over again.” last several years has really turned my One reason for Gadsden’s optimism efforts to find more of them. If there can be found in his current position are a few, we can find more.” with the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation. As �� senior counselor of international affairs for the Foundation, he is in charge of the Pickering Fellowship Program, which is aimed at enhancing diversity in the U.S. Foreign Service. The program recruits students of all With numerous creative outlets, science labs that rival ethnic those of universities, and Chaplains to guide, your child is sure to grow. And with more than $1,000,000 in needbackgrounds at based financial aid and our Malone Scholars program high schools and for gifted students, we can help you make it a reality. universities across Apply today. INVEST IN THEIR LIFETIME. the country, accepting 20 843.402.4775 �� graduate and 20 undergraduate Febr uary/March 2 0 1 2 | L i v i n g R o o t s

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Social Security Is Important To African-Americans

By Chris Jenkins, Public Affairs Specialist Social Security Administration

OCIAL SECURITY IS

neutral with respect to race or ethnicity – individuals with identical earnings histories receive identical beneﬁts. The system is progressive; it returns a greater percentage of pre-retirement earnings to lower-wage workers than to higher-wage workers. With this in mind, AfricanAmericans should be aware of some important facts. For example, in 2009, the median earnings of working-age African-Americans who worked full-time, year-round were about $35,000, compared to $40,000 for all working-age people. The average annual Social Security income received in that year by AfricanAmerican men 65 years and older was $13,889, compared to $11,369 for African-American women. In 2009, African-Americans made up 12.4 percent of the total U.S. population. However: • Among African-Americans, 29 percent of elderly married couples and 56 percent of unmarried elderly persons relied on Social Security for 90 percent or more of their income; • Eighteen percent of all children receiving Social Security survivor beneﬁts were African-American; • Seventeen percent of disabled workers 30

L i v i n g R o o t s | F e b r u a ry/March 2012

receiving benefits were African-American. How do you access Social Security’s many programs, rules and regulations? Most people are aware that they can file for retirement, disability or spouse benefits either by phone or in person. However, there is a third way that might be more convenient – Social Security online. According to a recent survey, Social Security’s online retirement benefit application ranked at the top of all federal government websites in customer satisfaction. Last year, more than 50 million people took advantage of doing business with Social

Security online by visiting www. socialsecurity.gov. Here are some of the services you can take advantage of online: APPLY FOR BENEFITS AND MEDICARE - You can apply for Social Security retirement, spouse, disability benefits and Medicare over the Internet. If you are applying for disability benefits, you will need to complete the disability report, which also is available online. Disability appeals claims can be filed online as well. After filing, you can check the

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status of the application. Documents are signed electronically. PERSONALIZED RETIREMENT ESTIMATOR - This tool allows you to get an immediate and personalized estimate of your potential Social Security retirement benefit. If the information you enter matches our records, it is combined with other information, including your yearly earnings, to provide a quick and reliable online benefit estimate. The Retirement Estimator allows you to compare different retirement options by changing the date you will stop working or your expected earnings. To protect your privacy, only your benefit estimates are provided online.

EXTRA HELP WITH MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS - If you are eligible for Medicare and Medicare Part D – prescription drug coverage – you may be eligible for help in paying the monthly premium, deductibles and co-payments. This option is available for people who have limited income and resources and can be worth as much as $4,000 per year in savings. BUSINESS SERVICES ONLINE - Registered users may request, activate and access various BSO services and functions, such as verifying Social Security numbers and names of employees, sending W2 and W2c forms to Social Security and more.

REQUEST A BENEFIT STATEMENT The statement includes a detailed report of earnings over the years, an estimate of benefits you would receive upon retirement or disability and an estimate of how much family members would be eligible for in survivor benefits. You can also find the nearest Social Security office, change your address, phone number or direct deposit information and more online. Whatever your needs, you might be able to save a trip to the local Social Security office by visiting www.socialsecurity.gov. You can contact Social Security by phone at (800) 772-1213 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Febr uary/March 2 0 1 2 | L i v i n g R o o t s

VILLAGE

Phylicia Rashad: Lessons On Family, Humanity And Love

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H AT D O E S

family mean to you?” Living Roots Magazine recently asked this question of Tony Award winning actress Phylicia Rashad, who played Clair B Y D O N LOY N G A D S O N Huxtable on “The Cosby Show” and also has appeared in many roles that have showcased her as a strong, nurturing and wise matriarch. With one six-letter word, Rashad demonstrated what a positive force she is and why such delicate and influential roles are placed in her talented care. Her response: “Anchor.” A young person’s desire to be “the captain of his own ship” develops far earlier than his ability to navigate life’s choppy waters. In Rashad’s opinion, a strong attachment to family can prevent a person of any age from drifting, wandering off course and losing sight of personal direction and purpose. Rashad graciously agreed to share her insight on family and, in doing so, confirmed how and why her past, present and future work will have lasting impact for years to come. LR: In 2010, in recognition of National Family Week, President Obama issued a proclamation declaring that “The strength of our families will determine our success as a nation. Families of all kinds can provide a supportive and stable foundation to unlock the promise in

L i v i n g R o o t s | F e b r u a ry/March 2012

each of us.” What do his words mean to you? Rashad: As I listened to you read that, I thought about my parents, my grandparents, my aunts, uncles and cousins. I have been very privileged in this life to have been granted time with family – and time with family that was kind, supportive and held a vision for all the family

members, especially the young people. It was not rigid, but it was deﬁnite. We, the young children, would be wellmannered. We would be educated. We would be responsible, and we would

Photo courtesy of Phylicia Rashad

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be responsive. We would be delivered to our creative selves. We would understand our roles as citizens, and we would understand, always question and search for the answer for our purpose of being born. This was all coming from my family. From the time we spent together ... what that time was like ... from each exchange, this is what it would be. From looking at old photographs and listening to family history ... this is what was being nurtured in us ... all of those things I mentioned. It wasn’t rigid; it was just deﬁnite.

LR: More speciﬁcally, what are your thoughts on the condition of the black family?

LR: Over the years, the family dynamic has changed and now encompasses a wide variety of makeups. How can “families of all kinds” work?

LR: How much of your talent and success do you attribute to your family and upbringing?

Rashad: Just as you understand the importance of your own family and just as you grow and respect members of your own family, it should dawn upon a human being, at some point, that we are all a part of the larger family of humanity. And with that same respect, we should approach each other, engendering trust in each other. That’s the only way it can work. LR: What do you think of the current overall state of the institution of family? Do you think it’s in jeopardy? Rashad: Family is natural. People write all kinds of books today about what people hundreds of years ago understood without being able to read. We make things so complicated. I think the larger question is, “Is humanity in jeopardy?” Have we moved into the direction of gross materialism to such an extent that we would make ourselves extinct? That we would rob, steal, plunder and kill anybody? That’s what I see.

Rashad: Black families are not diﬀerent from other families. People are people. When people think that everything is so separated by racial divide and by ethnic diﬀerences, then people need to pay attention to the news a little bit more because it is coming down on everybody. And the only hope is that we bond as the human family.

Rashad: My mother recognized things in her children, and she was determined that they should know about it. She felt that her own children should see in themselves what she was seeing in them and that they would be delivered to that within themselves. This was supported by my father and embraced by other family members. LR: Though you have portrayed a host of other characters, you are mostly associated with performances that present you as the nurturing female head. Additionally, you were aﬀectionately christened as “the mother” of the African-American community during the 42nd NAACP Image Awards. How does that make you feel about yourself, your character and how others view you? Rashad: It’s an honor to be a part of a work that is so meaningful to others because, as an actress, you can do any number of things that don’t mean anything to anybody. As a person, people see me that way, and it’s grati-

fying – it really is. I don’t discount the importance of it, but, I have to tell you, the way my own children see me is far more important. LR: Do you think your own children appreciate your wisdom the way your fans do? Rashad: I think in time they do. It’s easy when you’re scripted and when the kids are scripted, too. When you’re not, you’re human like everybody else, and you’re in the human circumstance. LR: How have you tried to instill the value of family within them? Rashad: Time together ... the time we spend together. It’s really different now because everybody is dispersed. Everybody is gone. This is what has happened with family. There was a time when family lived closer together, and, now, family lives further apart. So, now, there has to be a conscientious effort made to come together in celebration of good things, not just for those saddened occasions. And, in a way, it’s OK because that is what family should do ... grow up and create lives for themselves. But we do need to come together. LR: What is the most important lesson that life has taught you about family? Rashad: The love that you share is what always remains. People come and go, as people do ... it’s the love that you’ve shared. Fans can see Phylicia Rashad in Tyler Perry’s “Good Deeds,” which premieres in theaters Feb. 24. Febr uary/March 2 0 1 2 | L i v i n g R o o t s

RISE

A Beautiful shade of

Love

By Kevin L. Smith

L i v i n g R o o t s | F e b r u a ry/March 2012

OVE IS A FOUR-LETTER WORD, BOTH A VERB AND A noun, with a seemingly inﬁnite number of meanings. But what does it mean in the 21st century black community? Is genuine love still an ideal, or has it simply become a bad idea? Do little black girls still dream of big weddings to their Prince Charming? Do little black boys imagine themselves taking a knee and asking their princess to ride oﬀ into the sunset with them? Do couples still dream of sitting on porches in rocking chairs, surrounded by children and grandchildren? Have we given in to the new – not better – ideas of love being pumped through urban – code for black – music and reality TV?

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Both pairs of my grandparents were married for well over 50 years. By the time I came along, their love was not marked by candlelight dinners or nights out on the town. Rather, it rested on their decision to love, support and respect each other. Their love was not the stuff of reality TV; it was simply reality. At the time, I don’t know that I classified it as love at all. Then there was “The Cosby Show.” I remember how on Thursday nights my family would gather together to watch the antics of the Huxtables, which included the on-screen marriage of Cliff and Clair, who had an ideal love and lived an ideal life. People of all races and all backgrounds watched, even though many of the themes were rooted in the black community. I also remember how we admired the bond between James and Florida Evans of “Good Times.” Their love reflected the pressures of their socioeconomic status. Rather than falling apart, their situation drew them closer together, until death did them part – I can hear Florida’s famous lines now. Since 2009, we have seen the real strength of love between a man and woman of color in the most pressure-packed position possible in the relationship between President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama. While they are not my close and personal friends – yet – I am sure that when the world, quite literally, is trying to beat our president down, his wife’s love lifts him up. Regardless of your political affiliation, that is the kind of love we all want to see. Conversely, popular culture has presented love to us as if it is the attraction between objects such as magnets and metal rather than a sacred relationship between people. Since when did explicitly discussing

a young lady’s body parts induce her to fall in love with you? Is love the message at all? The images we see aren’t conducive to long-lasting relationships. Some people apparently would have you believe that love and marriage are on the verge of becoming prerequisites for joining an ever-shrinking, increasingly inclusive secret society. As a black male living in the 21st century, my personal view is that being in love has become a sign of weakness. Even some women feel that if a man exposes his feelings for a woman, he reinforces the idea that

“Men who love and protect their women are the standard bearers. Love is not a sign of weakness, and it is not fleeting.” love equals weakness. In fact, love equals vulnerability, which can be risky but rewarding. If you are vulnerable in battle, you give your enemy the opportunity to claim the upper hand, but this isn’t true in a healthy relationship. In some ways, men and women have come to distrust each other, to consider the other to be the enemy until urges and desires encourage them to call a truce. The idea transmitted through music and movies is that men must watch out for women who either want to take their money or play them – make them look silly. On the flip side, many women who were promised love instead were left with a broken heart, a fatherless child and no financial or emotional support.

Consequently, we have a glorified culture of “baby mommas,” a term I abhor. Because of the almighty talk shows and other sources, society not only accepts but expects this situation. If you don’t believe me, ask yourself when you see a young black woman with a child if you believe she is married or if she is a baby momma. Men who love and protect their women are the standard bearers. Love is not a sign of weakness, and it is not fleeting. The men I knew and admired growing up might not have brought their wives flowers every day, but they always brought them their hearts and their undying commitment. The women I knew and respected were committed to their relationship. Black people face challenges today, and a down economy can push couples further apart – but it can also serve to draw them closer together. I came across an interview with Dr. Tera Hunter, a professor at the Center for African-American Studies at Princeton University. She pointed out that some slaves whose relationships had been torn apart on the auction block sought their spouses in post-slavery America: “... I think that’s really important for people to understand, is that African-Americans made great sacrifices in order to give their relationships meaning, even though they were being disregarded by the larger society,” she stated. No matter what society continues to say, I believe the black community still believes in real love. We still want to hear real love ballads. Men still want to give their women roses and chocolates and women still want to fall in love with their Prince Charming. We still want to find someone to grow up with and grow old with. People of all races – black, white or brown – can agree that love is beautiful in all shades. Febr uary/March 2 0 1 2 | L i v i n g R o o t s

SHE FLIES

Dr. Sadie T. Alexander

O ME, FLYING AND for Durham, N.C., where she worked succeeding are synonyas an assistant actuary with Mutual mous terms. One of my Life Insurance Co. She returned to inspirations for flying Philadelphia to marry and continue is Sadie T. Alexander, a her studies, obtaining her law degree woman I knew nothing about until a and being named to the Law Review. few years ago when I saw a calendar As if that wasn’t enough, she and her featuring husband opened their own law firm BY DORETHA WALKER Africanand, in 1921, she was elected the American women in history. I wish I first president of the Grand Chapter had known about her earlier. Dr. Sadie T. Alexander was the first African-American woman in the United States to receive a Ph.D. in economics. She earned this prestigious degree from the University of Pennsylvania and later was the first African-American woman to graduate from Penn’s law school and to be licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania. She did a lot flying, or, if you will, succeeding. Her road to success was not easy, however. She completed her bachelor’s in education with honors at Penn in 1918, and, though her grades were certainly high enough for Phi Beta Kappa “Don’t let anything stop you. honors, she would not be There will be times when able to claim this honor for you’ll be disappointed, but you more than half a century. can’t stop. Make yourself the She obtained a master’s in very best that you can make of economics in 1919 and was a what you are. The very best.” Francis Sergeant Pepper fel~ Sadie T. Alexander low, earning one of five grants given to women in the field of economics. But because her world pre-dated civil rights and of Delta Sigma Theta, the Africanwomen’s rights, it was difficult for American sorority. her to find gainful employment in In 1925, when African-Americans Philadelphia. were not allowed to join the Undaunted, she left Philadelphia American Bar Association, Dr. 36

L i v i n g R o o t s | F e b r u a ry/March 2012

Alexander helped establish the National Bar Association. One of her roles with the organization was to spotlight African-American women in law. Still not satisfied with her own accomplishments, she opened her own law firm, which specialized in domestic relations. Dr. Alexander’s efforts did not go unnoticed. In 1946, President Harry Truman appointed her to his Committee for Civil Rights, where she was instrumental in producing the committee’s report, “To Secure These Rights,” later a foundation of the civil rights movement. In 1979, President Jimmy Carter appointed her chair of the White House Council on Aging. Among all her accomplishments, the one that inspired me the most was her Ph.D. because I am in the dissertation stage of my own Ph.D., and it has been at times an arduous task. Mine is not an easy road, but I try to imagine what it must have been like for Dr. Alexander to earn her degree despite the racism and sexism she faced. Her life reinforces the notion that no excuse should be able to thwart forward progress and education, that hard work, diligence and service to others are the keys to success. What a legacy to leave behind for others to follow. I wish I had known about Dr. Alexander earlier. She died in 1989, and I never had the opportunity to follow her accomplishments or to shake her hand. Hers is an African-American success story at its finest.