Prison diversion program proves that
'Broken Crayons Still Color'
Wednesday, September 23, 2015 • 6:00PM Join us and a powerful panel of business and thought-leaders live via Periscope for an interactive discussion about creating and maintaining wealth in the black community.
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Be a part of the discussion on Periscope at @TheTitansExp
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michiganchronicle.com
Volume 79 – Number 2
September 23-29, 2015
Black women mobilizing for 2016 vote
WHAT’S INSIDE Never too late to start over (Page B-1) In an effort to help young at-risk black men get on the right track and stay there, Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit’s Flip the Script program is having a major impact. One of many success stories is that of Lorenzo Johnson.
By Jazelle Hunt NNPA WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT
As the 2016 election cycle ramps up, Essence magazine and the Black Women’s Roundtable have come together to mobilize and re-energize black women voters. The partnership hopes to raise the profile of the already-powerful black women’s vote. In the 2008 and 2012 elections, black women had the highest turnout of any group, with 60 percent of 18- to 29-year-old black women hitting the polls in 2012 despite a national decline.
Help for black businesses (Page C-1) The Detroit Development Fund and the Kellogg Foundation have started a new multimillion dollar lending program for Detroit businesses owned by people of color and those that primarily hire people of color.
Senior account executive honored (Page C-5) Linda Moragne will be honored with the Best In the Business Longevity Award by the Detroit Black Women’s Association at their annual Detroit Black Women Business Expo. Moragne has been a Michigan Chronicle senior account executive for three decades.
‘Scandal’ still hot, ready for more (Page D-1) During its first four seasons, “Scandal,” starring Kerry Washington, was one of the hottest shows on television. Most believe that it will be just as hot in its fifth season. Look inside this week’s
LIVING
WELL Magazine
and discover what people are talking about.
“When we’re engaged and folks address our issues, we turn out (to vote). In turning out, we want to make sure our needs are met,” said Melanie Campbell, president and CEO of
The folly of
Ben Carson By Trevor W. Coleman SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
In the fall of 1998, I joined famed neurosurgeon, Detroit native and current Republican Party presidential hopeful Dr. Ben Carson on a panel at Wayne State University to discuss the ongoing assault in Michigan and elsewhere on affirmative action. Soft spoken, cerebral, and just a wee bit didactic in his presentation, Carson projected the air of a man genuinely concerned about the condition of the black community. He shared his own personal experiences growing up poor, fatherless, filled with selfdoubt, and feeling alienated by his circumstances. However, the firm guidance of a strong and deeply reTrevor Coleman ligious mother determined to see him fulfill his potential and achieve allowed him to emerge from his personal darkness and find his self-esteem and self-worth in academic and professional success. That support, along with a strong faith and personal relationship with God, was critical to him be-
COMMENTARY
Overcoming the Fear of Mammograms Could Save Your Life Sisters Empowered by Survival Black Women and Bone Health: A Hidden Epidemic
Overcoming the Fear of Mammograms Could Save Your Life Sisters Empowered by Survival
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Andre Smith photo
the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and convener of the Black Women’s Roundtable, a national civic engagement network. “So we wanted to get this information out early enough that it can resonate in the election cycle.” One way the partnership plans to do this is through its Power of the Sister Vote poll that Essence launched with its readers last month. The results from more than 2,000 respondents were released this month as part of the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. coming the widely admired man he is today. Oh, and so were the food stamps and welfare his family received from the federal government that kept food on the family table and in his belly, allowing him to remain healthy enough to concentrate on his studies and ultimately succeed well enough academically to be admitted to the University of Michigan. And let’s not forget the affirmative action policy at the university that took into consideration his race, socioeconomic status, and other factors in determining his admittance. All of these were positive factors in Carson’s success as a man — and ultimately as a surgeon — that he candidly acknowledged back then without the slightest hint of resentment or embarrassment. Speaking to an audience of predominantly highly educated professional black
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“This year is the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, and we should not take that for granted,” said Essence Editor-in-Chief Vanessa De Luca. “I wasn’t surprised at all at how enthusiastic (readers) were about the survey. Unfortunately, it’s so seldom that people ask. We got the opportunity to share our opinions.” Campaign season began early and under unconventional circumstances. Several candidates for the Republican nomination are attracting significant interest, making it difficult to identify a clear front runner and causing quiet divisions within the party. The Democrats have twists of their own, not the least of which is an email controversy surrounding Hillary Clinton that threatens her run for the White House. One advantage to this lengthy and uncertain election season is that black women can better position themselves as a crucial voting bloc.
CARSON page A-4
“What I do know is that I haven’t
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VOTE page A-4
How to build a better future
…or why African Americans should save more and spend less By Roz Edward REAL TIMES MEDIA
African Americans are feeling better than ever about their financial futures. According to the 2015 African American Financial Experience, an annual study conducted by Prudential Financial, a majority of African Americans were very optimistic about their current financial situations with more than half of those surveyed saying they were better off financially now than they were five years ago. But in this current climate of economic confidence and financial savvy, how affluent are black Americans in the larger commu-
nity, particularly in comparison to whites? Inequalities in wealth continue to hinder overall economic health and wealth. White household wealth is 20 times more than that of African American households, according to a Pew study released in 2014. “African Americans are focused on paying the bills and making sure they can provide properly for their families and loved ones, rather than planning and saving for the future,” said Delvyn Joyce, managing director of Prudential’s South Florida Financial Group. Economic indicators show African Americans lag behind their white counterparts in the areas
of transferring wealth and investing and making financial investments. The African American Financial Experience indicates that blacks remain apprehensive about making financial investments and are operating under the misperception that they lack the financial assets to make investments and build wealth. “The growth in the African American community in terms of annual income is due in part to the growth of African American businesses,” said Peter Rhodes, founder and CEO of BMA Cable Network’s Urban Mass Media Group. “You don’t need a half a million dollars and go into debt to start your own business. I
worked two jobs in order to save enough dollars to start my cable network.” Rhodes has since established a successful enterprise that has become a wealth building legacy for his family. “The majority of black businesses are sole proprietorships with only a single employee. African American businesses employ 921,000 people vs. 23.9 million employees in non-African American (small) businesses,” said Ron Busby, U.S. Black Chamber of Commerce president, emphasizing the lack of support for black businesses.
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FUTURE page A-4