CARE Issue#18 by IQ Inc.

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Concerned Americans For Racial Equality Different Shades Scattered Globally Same Goal

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From Prisoner to Preacher: Rev. Daughtry A Pillar in the Black Community

BY VANDELL PARK

he counsel of King Solomon given in Proverbs 22:6: “Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old he will not depart from it,” proves to be a sure fulfillment of prophecy as it became a reality in the life of a leading local pastor and civil rights activist, Reverend Herbert Daughtry. This man of God and of the people he now serves, was born a preacher’s son in 1931. His father, the late bishop Alonzo Daughtry, ensured that his son received the right training growing up, even encouraging him to be actively engaged in the work of the church. However, this church boy, young Herbert Daughtry, decided that he wanted to explore life and found himself, like

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Reverend Herbert Daughry at his church

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Blow the Whistle on "Stop & Frisk"! ...see page 8

Understanding Civil Rights

BY CARE STAFF WRITERS

ithin our system of juris prudence, one of the broadest practice areas in Civil Rights. Civil Rights focuses on an individual's civil liberties. Civil liberties are personal, natural rights, guaranteed and protected by the Constitution. Examples include freedom of speech, freedom of press, and freedom from discrimination. Civil Rights is that body of law, which deals with natural liberties, and more particularly, the invasion of those liberties ̶ and the equal rights of others. Constitutionally, they are restraints

the prodigal son in the Bible, lost and imprisoned, both mentally and physically. The young Herbert Daughtry was involved in gangs, drugs and crimes. Realizing that his life was drifting away in the wrong direction, he decided to join the U.S. Army in an effort to change his life, but being hooked on heroin, he was discharged from the army after a year of service. Once out of the army, young Daughtry found himself again in bad company, which this time landed him in prison on charges of armed robbery and assault. While in prison, Daughtry once again found Jesus and promised in his heart that once he regained his freedom, he will work for the lord and his fellow men.

on government itself.Following the Civil War, and more recently in 1957 and 1964, federal statutes were enacted intended to implement and give further force to the basic personal rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution. These laws prohibit discrimination based on race, sex, age, or religion.Most states have also enacted statutes and laws which seek to protect civil liberties and fundamental rights of an individual. State statutes may afford greater protection than those afforded by the United States

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Honored by the NAACP

...see page 11

Brian Figeroux, Esq.

It Gets Better

resident Obama recognizes that our civil rights laws and principles are at the core of our nation. He has spent much of his career fighting to strengthen civil rights — as a community organizer, civil rights lawyer, Illinois state senator, U.S. senator, and now as President. He knows that our country grows stronger when all Americans have access to opportunity and are able to participate fully in our economy.

Progress On May 9, 2012, President Obama expressed his support for same-sex marriage. In an interview with ABC News, the president said he believes it's important to "treat others the way you would want to be treated." g On September 20, 2011, the discriminatory law known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t g

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Bell Loved by Obama? ...see page 2

About NACC & AAICC Chamber of Commerce

he New American Chamber of Commerce (NACC) and the African-American International Chamber of Commerce (AAICC) Our Chambers are not-for-profit organizations founded to advance, promote and facilitate the success of New American and African American businesses. The backbone of the Chambers is the diversity of its member entrepreneurs and small business owners. The Chambers’ mission is accomplished by

the following: nImplementing and strengthening local and national programs that assist the economic development of New American & African-American firms; nIncreasing business relationships and partnerships between the corporate sector and New American and African American owned businesses; nPromoting international trade between New American and African-American businesses in the United States and Immigrant Multicultural Countries; nMonitoring legislation, policies and pro-

grams that affect the New American and African-American business communities; nProviding technical, networking and other assistance to our member entrepreneurs, small business owners, business associations and professionals FREE Membership to the New American Chamber of Commerce (NACC) and the African-American International Chamber of Commerce (AAICC). For more information visit www.mynacc.org and www.myaaicc.org

Lynn Spivey, Chairperson, AAICC speaks about Local Law 129 ...see page 12

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CIVIL RIGHTS CHAMPION

Derrick Bell Loved by Obama?

ho was Derrick Bell? Derrick Albert Bell, Jr. (November 6, 1930 — October 5, 2011) was the first tenured African-American Professor of Law at Harvard Law School and is largely credited as one of the originators of critical race theory. He was a Visiting Professor at New York University School of Law from 1991 until his death. He was also a former Dean of the University of Oregon School of Law.

Civil Rights Champion Bell is arguably the most influential source of thought critical of traditional civil rights discourse. Bell’s critique represented a challenge to the dominant liberal and conservative position on civil rights, race and the law. He employed three major arguments in his analyses of racial patterns in American law: constitutional contradiction, the interest convergence principle, and the price of racial remedies. His book Race, Racism and American Law, now in its sixth edition, has been continually in print since 1973 and is considered a classic in the field. Bell continued writing about critical race theory after accepting a teaching position at Harvard University. Much of his legal scholarship was influenced by his experience both as a black man and as a civil rights attorney. Writing in a narrative style, Bell contributed to the intellectual discussions on race. According to Bell, his purpose in writing was to examine the racial issues within the context of their economic and social and political dimensions from a legal standpoint. For instance, in The Constitutional Contradiction, Bell argued that the framers of

the Constitution chose the rewards of property over justice. With regard to the interest convergence, he maintains that "whites will promote racial advances for blacks only when they also promote white self-interest." Finally, in The Price of Racial Remedies, Bell argues that whites will not support civil rights policies that may threaten white social status. Similar themes can be found in another well-known piece entitled, Who's Afraid of Critical Race Theory? His 2002 book, Ethical Ambition, encourages a life of ethical behavior, including "a good job well done, giving credit to others, standing up for what you believe in, voluntarily returning lost valuables, choosing what feels right over what might feel good right now.”

Who Can Speak on Derrick Bell’s Behalf? Those who knew and loved Derrick Bell, including his widow, Janet Dewart Bell. A few months ago, Fox News ran a story featuring footage from a 1991 diversity rally at Harvard Law School where then-student Barack Obama introduced Professor Derrick Bell. In Obama’s remarks, he praised Bell for having the courage to protest the law school’s lack of diversity on the faculty and likened him to Rosa Parks. Following this introduction, Obama and Bell embraced. This is the “bombshell” footage that Andrew Breitbart and Fox News said would prove that the President’s agenda is to sow “racial division and class warfare.” To this, Janet Dewart Bell, Derrick Bell’s widow, said to the Washington Post on 3/9/12, “I think that it’s pathetic and

Race, Racism, and American Law

To purchase this book, please visit www.amazon.com

The Sixth Edition of this innovative text written by Derrick Bell continues to provide students with insight into the issues surrounding race in America and an understanding of how the law interprets those issues as well as the factors that directly and indirectly influence the law. The first casebook published specifically for teaching race related law courses, Race, Racism, and American Law is engaging, offering hard-hitting enlightenment, and is an unparalleled teaching tool.

desperate on their part that they would think that this was such a bombshell. It’s typical in one sense — it’s the radical right wing making a mountain out of a molehill with distortion and misinformation.” As Bell said at the time, "My major effort in teaching is to convince students... that they should be ready and able to take risks and make sacrifices for the things they believe in, and their real success in life will come from making those sacrifices and taking those risks, regardless of outcome. The best way to teach that is to practice it." On October 5, 2011, Bell died from carcinoid cancer at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, at the age of 80. At the time, the Associated Press reported: "The dean at NYU, Richard Revesz, said, 'For more than 20 years, the law school community has been profoundly shaped by Derrick's unwa-

For more civil rights news & updates visit www.figeroux.com/civilrights

vering passion for civil rights and community justice, and his leadership as a scholar, teacher, and activist.” In his book, Derrick Bell, Ethical Ambition: Living a Life of Meaning and Worth ,says: “Courage is a decision you make to act in a way that works through your own fear for the greater good as opposed to pure self-interest. Courage means putting at risk your immediate self-interest for what you believe is right.” We can say with courage and pride that Derrick Bell was loved by President Obama and all of us. l

Some information for this article was obtained from www.professorderrickbell.com and www.wikipedia.com

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Contributors Vandell Park Earl Ofari Hutchinson Carl Dix Dr. Umar Johnson Walter Ewing Demetria L. Lucas Allison R. Brown Marilyn Silverman Lynn Spivey COlin A. Moore Email info@ourcare.org

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FAITH IN THE COMMUNITY From Prisoner to Preacher..

continued from page 1 After being released from prison in 1953, Daughtry began working with his father’s church and was subsequently called to full-time ministry. As a fourth-generation minister, he accepted the call to be pastor of the House of the Lord Church in 1958. One year later he assumed the position of national presiding minister, a position he has held to this day. His contribution to the growth of the church is phenomenal. However, the reverend believes that the work of God involves more than biblical teaching: “we had to develop a holistic approach to ministry... ever striving for deepening spirituality — oneness with God and at the same time applying a spiritual fervor to social political and economic programs, to addressing the needs of our community.” Those needs he refers to encompass a wide range of social initiatives including pre-school, health care facility and recreational programs for both youth and the elderly in his church and the community. Reverend Daughtry believes that education is essential and that every child should be given an opportunity to learn. It is for this reason that his church runs the 44-year-old Alonzo Daughtry Day Care Center in Brooklyn, which caters to the development of children in the community. In fact, his love for children and his wish to maintain the program run by his church at the day care center, resulted in his being arrested in September 2012,

Reverend Dr. Herbert Daughtry and family with Ms. Rosa Parks at The House of the Lord Church

even in his old age and poor state of health. The Bloomberg administration, through its new “Early Learning Initiative” program, is trying to arbitrarily take over Reverend Daughtry’s day care program and run it under the city. Daughtry says that should this happen, the standard of education and the quality of treatment the children and parents receive through his program, will diminish. In addition, all the current teachers at the center will be replaced by teachers recruited by the city and this will put at least 30 teachers out of jobs. It is for this reason

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that he protested by way of civil disobedience, the city takeover of his school, and was arrested. In addition to the Day Care Center program, Daughtry is instrumental in forging a strong relationship between the Atlantic Yard Project and the residents living in the vicinity of the development. Through his influence, Daughtry formed an organization called the Downtown Brooklyn Neighborhood Alliance (DBNA), which is responsible for ensuring that the residents of the area are benefiting from the project. He pointed out that in spite of serious opposition from some of his friends and the members of the community, he pushed for the project because “I have a vision for this community, one that goes beyond the immediate inconveniences that we may encounter. I envisioned the children of this church and community when they grow up being able to have affordable health care, have quality recreational facilities, and both they and the seniors of this community will go to the games over at the stadium and sit in seats that they would not have ordinarily have the opportunity to sit in, to talk with players, to live in affordable homes. These are the benefits that I envisioned for my people.” Reverend Daughtry says that although he is getting on in years, the work he started will go on. Already, his daughters, Leah and Sharon have taken on the mantle of

carrying on the work. Both of them are actively engaged in the day-today leadership of the church and the DBNA initiative. His daughter Leah, who is the national secretary of his church, has the proven leadership skills to run the organizations. She held a number of key positions under the Clinton administration and was the CEO of the 2008 Democratic National Convention committee that led to the election of President Barack Obama. In addition, she is currently the president and CEO of On These Things, LLC, an organization providing strategic planning, issue advocacy, organizational management and event planning services to a number of organizations and business institutions. Daughtry’s legacy of church and civic leadership speaks for itself. From the African Christian Organization he founded in 1982, to the delegation he led to Iraq in 2003, to the DBNA organization now in operation, his focus has been, and still is, service to humanity. He wants to continue to work for God and his fellow men as long as God’s breath is in him. Reverend Daughtry is the presiding pastor of the House of the Lord Church located on 415 Atlantic Avenue, downtown Brooklyn. All are welcome to his church irrespective to where they are from, and what walks of life they may be from. l

Reverend Dr. Herbert Daughtry with Mr. Jerry Hultin, the president of NYU-Polytechnic, at the Plaque Installation Ceremony to Remember Old Bridge Street Church's Anti-slavery Role

CIVIL RIGHTS

Understanding Civil Rights

Constitution. Figeroux & Associates has a strong record representing individuals who have suffered the indignation of sexual discrimination, race discrimination, age and religious discrimination.Likewise, Figeroux & Associates has a strong record of success representing individuals who are subjected to excessive force, including deadly force, by police and other law enforcement, and whose right to medical attention has been deprived by the government. At Figeroux & Associates, Mr, Figeroux has distinguished himself as a Voice for Those Whose Rights are Ignored.

Brian Figeroux, Brooklyn, New York’s Civil Rights Champion When the Declaration of Independence asserted a fundamental right to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," it didn't apply to slaves or even to free black men. It didn't apply to women, and often didn't apply to immigrants. Not until the civil rights legislation of the 1960's, did the laws catch up with this vision of liberty and justice for all.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."? — The Declaration of Independence Reality has still not caught up with the law. Attorney Brian Figeroux, who came of age during the Abner Louima’s, landmark civil rights case in 1997, still finds himself busy addressing civil rights violations in 21st century America. Despite a long record of notable victories for clients stretching back over 15 years, he knows

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there is much work to be done.

A Civil Rights Lawsuit: The Chance to Be Heard The Law Offices of Figeroux & Associates represents men and women of every race and every station in life. Our Brooklyn-based lawyers have represented citizens of the New York City area in the full spectrum of civil rights and constitutional law litigation: 1. Police misconduct including excessive force, deadly force, false arrest, illegal searches, racial profiling and jail abuse. 2. Employment discrimination, including racial discrimination, sex discrimination and wrongful termination. 3. Civil rights abuses of people with mental illnesses or mental impairments 4. Violations of the First Amendment (free speech), Fourth Amendment (search and seizure), Eighth Amendment (cruel and unusual punishment) or Fourteenth Amendment (due process and equal protection).

Helping Citizens Stand Up for Their Rights Our clients are people who are unable to fight for themselves. For some, previous experience with the legal system has been painful or fruitless as a result they have no expectation of justice. For others, a criminal record, mental illness or addiction puts them at an automatic disadvantage when alleging police abuse or workplace discrimination l

Attorney General Holder Vows to Protect the Voting Rights of All Americans

n a speech last week in Austin, Texas, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder affirmed his commitment to protecting the right to vote and indicated that the Department of Justice will be thoroughly reviewing new state voting laws to determine whether they are discriminatory. Speaking at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library & Museum, Holder invoked the momentous passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965, saying that it is his duty as attorney general to enforce the law, which was signed by President Johnson and championed by many civil rights groups. He reminded Americans that this is not only a legal issue, but a “moral imperative that must become our common cause. The right to vote is not only the cornerstone of our system of government – it is the lifeblood of our democracy,” said Holder, who went on to assert: “We need election systems that are free from fraud, discrimination, and partisan influence – and that are more, not less, accessible to the citizens of this country.” Holder’s remarks were delivered amid a wave of recent voting laws passed by states that civil and human rights view as creating barriers to the ballot. Such

For more civil rights news & updates visit www.figeroux.com/civilrights

measures include requiring governmentissued photo IDs, reducing early and absentee voting periods, limiting thirdparty voter registration drives, and restricting the voting rights of citizens with felony convictions. “The reality is that – in jurisdictions across the country – both overt and subtle forms of discrimination remain all too common,” said Holder. The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and its coalition partners are working to prevent the enactment of additional laws restricting voting rights and will be mounting efforts to ensure that all eligible voters have the opportunity to cast a ballot on Election Day. “These efforts amount to a coordinated campaign of intimidation intended to suppress the political will and empowerment of minorities, seniors, students, and low-income working people,” said Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. “Restricting access to the polls is another effort to limit opportunity for many Americans.” l Source: www.civilrights.org

CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER

Mary White Ovington

ary White Ovington (April 11, 1865 - July 15, 1951) was a suffragette, socialist, unitarian, journalist, and co-founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Her parents, members of the Unitarian Church, were supporters of women's rights and had been involved in the anti-slavery movement. Educated at Packer Collegiate Institute and Radcliffe College, Ovington became involved in the campaign for civil rights in 1890 after hearing Frederick Douglass speak in a Brooklyn church. In 1895, she helped found the Greenpoint Settlement in Brooklyn. Appointed head of the project the following year, Ovington remained until 1904, when she was appointed fellow of the Greenwich House Committee on Social Investigations. Over the next five years she studied employment and housing problems in black Manhattan. During her investigations she met William Du Bois, an African American from Harvard University, and she was introduced to the founding members of the Niagara Movement. Influenced by the ideas of William Morris, Ovington joined the Socialist Party in 1905, where she met people such as Daniel De Leon, Asa Philip Randolph, Floyd Dell, Max Eastman and Jack London, who argued that racial problems were as much a matter of class as of race. She wrote for radical journals and news-

papers such as The Masses, The New York Evening Post and The Call. She also worked with Ray Stannard Baker and influenced the content of his book, Following the Color Line (1908). On September 3, 1908, she read an article written by socialist William English Walling entitled "Race War in the North" that was published in a newspaper; The Independent. Walling described a massive race riot directed at black residents in the hometown of Abraham Lincoln, Springfield, Illinois, that led to 7 deaths, 40 homes and 24 businesses destroyed, and 107 indictments against rioters. Walling ended the article by calling for a powerful body of citizens to come to the aid of blacks. Ovington responded to the article by writing Walling and meeting him at his apartment in New York City along with social worker Dr. Henry Moskowitz. The group decided to launch a campaign by issuing a "call" for a national conference on the civil and political rights of AfricanAmericans on the centennial of Lincoln's birthday, February 12, 1909. Many responded to the "call" that eventually led to the formation of the National Negro Committee that held its first meetings in New York on May 31 and June 1, 1909. By May, 1910, the National Negro Committee and its attendants, organized a permanent body known as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People where Ovington was

appointed as its executive secretary. Early members included Josephine Ruffin, Mary Talbert, Mary Church Terrell, Inez Milholland, Jane Addams, George Henry White, William Du Bois, Charles Edward Russell, John Dewey, Charles Darrow, Lincoln Steffens, Ray Stannard Baker, Fanny Garrison Villard, Oswald Garrison Villard and Ida Wells-Barnett. The following year she attended the Universal Races Congress in London. Ovington remained active in the struggle for women's suffrage and as a pacifist, opposed America's involvement in the First World War. During the war Ovington supported Asa Philip Randolph and his magazine, The Messenger, which campaigned for black civil rights. After the war Ovington served the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People as board member, executive secretary and chair. The NAACP fought a long legal battle against segregation and racial discrimination in housing, education, employment, voting and transportation. They appealed to the Supreme Court to rule that several laws passed by southern states were unconstitutional and won three important judgments between 1915 and 1923 concerning voting rights and housing. The NAACP was criticized by some members of the African American community. Booker T. Washington opposed the group because it proposed an outspoken condemnation of racist policies in

For more civil rights news & updates visit www.figeroux.com/civilrights

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contrast to his policy of quiet diplomacy behind-the-scenes. Members of the organization were physically attacked by white racists. John R. Shillady, executive secretary of the NAACP, was badly beaten up when he visited Austin, Texas, in 1919. Ovington wrote several books and articles including a study of black Manhattan, Half a Man (1911), Status of the Negro in the United States (1913), Socialism and the Feminist Movement (1914), an anthology for black children, The Upward Path (1919), biographical sketches of prominent African Americans, Portraits in Color (1927), an autobiography, Reminiscences (1932) and a history of the NAACP, The Walls Come Tumbling Down (1947). Ovington retired as a board member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in 1947 and in doing so, ended decades of service with the organization. She died in 1951.l

POLITICS

Could President Obama be Black President Obama?

BY EARL OFARI HUTCHINSON

resident Obama has heard one persistent grumble from the moment that he entered the White House. And that's that he has not said and done enough to boost African-Americans. It's been nothing more than a low intensity grumble for two simple reasons. One is that blacks backed him in near record numbers in his 2008 presidential drive. They will back him again in November in vote numbers that will equal or come close to those they gave him four years ago. The other reason is that many blacks are disgusted and outraged that Obama has been the victim of a relentless, and unprecedented battering by legions of bloggers, websites, talk show jocks, Tea Party leaders, and followers, and assorted racist and fringe hate groups. This has made the overwhelming majority of blacks even more determined to circle the wagons and back him. That means keeping their grumbles about his efforts on behalf of blacks to themselves. Obama still has to remind blacks on occasion that he's not the black president but the American president. He did it again recently in an interview. And he went a slight step further to reassure that his low keyed record of aiding blacks in education and business through selected programs, initiatives and funding is a record he's proud of. The explicit message is that I don't have to put my blackness on parade or

wear it on my shoulders to push programs that aid blacks. Yet that still begs one, really two questions. They are, should Obama do even more for blacks. And if he does what are the political risks versus rewards? The crisis problems of poor black communities are astronomical. A high crime and murder rate, near Great Depression level jobless rate among young black males, a gaping disproportionate number of black uninsured, chronic failing inner city schools, and home foreclosures that hit blacks harder than any other group. The problems are so great that the Congressional Black Caucus, and a handful of other black activists, have taken occasional shots at Obama demanding that he drop the president of all the people stance, and do more than the quiet, even cautious, initiatives that directly benefit some blacks, and that he frontally attack some of the draining problems of poor blacks. A compelling case can be made for Obama to be more aggressive in earmarking specific programs and initiatives for blacks. He took a step in that direction with his recent African-American Education initiative. That included actually labeling it as such. But Obama has walked a shaky racial tightrope from the moment that he declared his presidential candidacy in 2007. The danger was that as a relatively new and untested African-American presidential candidate, if there was any hint that he'd make race a factor in the campaign his pres-

idential candidacy would be DOA. The memories, suspicions and fears of many whites were too great of the perceived race-tinged politics of Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson. It wasn't just Obama's cross to bear, though. For a quarter century before Bill Clinton won the White House in 1992, Democratic presidential candidates have had to bear the racial cross. During that period Democrats were regarded and reviled by conservatives as the party that tilted to and pandered to minorities. The backlash was swift and devastating. Blue collar and rural white males deserted the Democrats in droves. Their sprint to the GOP became the reliable trump card for Reagan, Bush Sr. and George W. Bush's White House wins. In the South the result was even starker. The Democrats and the GOP directly reversed roles. The Democrats went from a lily white, segregationist party to a liberal to moderate near black majority party. The GOP became just the opposite; it morphed into an ultra-conservative, strongly evangelical, white male dominated party. Clinton slightly broke the Democrat's slide among whites, particularly white males. But he had to reverse gears and tout a strong defense, the war against terrorism, tax reform for the middle class, pro business solutions to joblessness, and most importantly tiptoe around civil rights, and poverty issues. Democratic presidential candidates Al Gore and John Kerry followed the Clinton blueprint to the letter

For more civil rights news & updates visit www.figeroux.com/civilrights

CARE during their campaign. If either had won, the likelihood is they would not have made these problems priority items in their White House tenure. Obama is tugged hard by corporate and defense industry lobbyists, the oil and nuclear power industry, government regulators, environmental watchdog groups, conservative family values groups, conservative GOP senators and house members, foreign diplomats and leaders. They all have their priorities and agendas and all vie hard to get White House support for their pet legislation, or to kill or cripple legislation that threatens their interests. This has demanded a cautious, conciliatory, and above all, a race neutral presidency during his first four years. While Obama can, and at times in his own way, has not ignored the plight of the black poor, it demands that he continue to take the same cautious approach on race in his fight to keep the presidency. l

Earl Ofari Hutchinson is a nationally acclaimed author and political analyst. He has authored ten books; his articles are published in newspapers and magazines nationally in the United States. Three of his books have been published in other languages. He is also a social and political analyst and he appears on such TV programs as CNN, MSBC, NPR, The O'Reilly Show, American Urban Radio Network, and local Los Angeles television and radio stations as well. He is an associate editor at New America Media and a regular contributor to Black News.com, Alternet.com, BlackAmericaWeb.Com and the Huffington Post. He does a weekly commentary on KJLH Radio in Los Angeles.

HOT TOPIC

Blow the Whistle on "Stop & Frisk"!

BY CARL DIX

n September 13, whistles blew all across New York City; and in Cleveland, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and other cities across the U.S. People blew the whistle on Stop-andFrisk, on 2.4 million people warehoused in prison, on the torture-like conditions so many are subjected to in those prisons and on the discrimination faced by formerly incarcerated people even after they’ve served their sentences. Moving stories came to light in the build-up to September13th and on the day itself. In the wake of police in the Bronx gunning down Reynaldo Cuevas on September 7th as he fled from a robbery, whistles sounded the burning rage of people at this foul murder. In a Brooklyn neighborhood, people confronted a cop with whistles and chants of “stop-and-frisk” in defense of a young man who was being harassed for dropping a piece of candy wrapper on the ground. On September 13th in Anaheim, California, family members and friends of four youth murdered by police there gathered to Blow the Whistle on police murder. At California State UniversityNorthridge (just outside LA), students posed with Blow the Whistle signs and whistles. In Oakland, California, students at two high schools wore stickers saying:

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“Mass Incarceration + Silence = Genocide” and blew whistles. At the end of the day in Harlem, people marched to two projects where we were met by residents wearing their whistles and waiting for the march to arrive so they could join in blowing the whistle on stop-and-frisk. These projects had been the scene of frequent clashes between youth from the different projects, but on this day, four youth from one project went with the march over to the other project to get out whistles and join their neighbors in blowing the whistle on all the abuse the cops bring down on people. These whistles marked determination to refuse to any longer suffer abuse from the criminal “injustice” system in silence. They were a way for the people who bear the brunt of this injustice to stand up and resist this abuse. A way for people to stop blaming themselves for this abuse and to start having each other’s back and looking out for each other in the face of this abuse. These whistles can be another nail in the coffin of stop-and-frisk. On September 13th, our resistance to the way the police and the whole criminal “injustice” system come down on the people got taken to another level. The Stop Mass Incarceration Network (SMIN) is dedicated to sustaining the way that blowing the whistle on police abuse has become a form of collective mass resistance, and to

spreading the sense of engaging in this kind of resistance more broadly in society. We understand that anyone who stands up to resist all this could be targeted for retaliation. We also know whole generations of young people have already been targeted — targeted by racial profiling, being put on the road to living their lives going in and out of prison, robbed of any hope for the future. Blowing the whistle on all this abuse is an important part of breaking the pipeline that puts so many of our youth on that road. Going forward, SMIN will be blowing the whistle on stop-and-frisk and all the injustice the authorities bring down on people. We will blow the whistle as we to mobilize support for our demand to Drop the Charges on the Stop “Stop-and-Frisk” Freedom Fighters and Stop the Prejudicial Prosecutions of ‘Noche’ Diaz. As part of doing this will be raising the funds necessary to mount a powerful legal and political defense of these freedom fighters. Two fund raisers are currently planned — one on September 29th in Hadley, Massachusetts, and another in Manhattan on October 30th. (For more information or to help make these benefit events, and the fight to win these legal cases, successful, contact SMIN.) We will blow whistles as we mobilize for the upcoming October 22nd National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation.

Concerned Americans For Racial Equality

IF YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED: þVerbal Abuse by Police

þPhysical Abuse by Police þDenial of a Lawyer

þViolation of your Constitutional Rights

þLearn How to Expunge Your Criminal Results

þLearn How to Apply for Civil Relief

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If you are tired of the way the police harass, disrespect and brutalize young people; if you are horrified at the way so many people are warehoused in prisons across the country, if your heart goes out to the millions of people who are forced to live their lives enmeshed in the criminal “injustice” system, then you need to join us in building a fight to END MASS INCARCERATION AND ALL ITS CONSEQUENCES!l

Contact Information: Stop Mass Incarceration Network 347-979-SMIN (7646)/ @StopMassIncNet / stopmassincarceration@gmail.com w w w. s t o p m a s s i n c a r c e r a t i o n . o r g / www.bearwitnessproject.tumblr.com

Different Shades Scattered Globally Same Goal

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Demographics: As of the census of 2010, there are 2,504,700 people and 1,000,293 households in the County of Kings. The racial makeup of the County is 42.8% White, 34.3% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 10.5% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 10.08% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races; 19.8% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race; 35.7% of the population are Whites not of Hispanic origins. Question: Why are a disproportionate number of “people of color” being arrested and charged in criminal court?

Get a free consultation on police misconduct or any other discrimination issue, when you become a member of CARE. Call 718-243-9431 Ext. 106 to schedule an appointment For more civil rights news & updates visit www.figeroux.com/civilrights

FAMILY ISSUES

Make Time for Family Dinner: It's Good for Your Body and Soul

e all yearn for moments like the Norman Rockwell illustration of a family sitting around the dinner table, enjoying their meals, laughing and spending time together. Sometimes, those moments seem like fairy tales in hectic lives filled with endless activities and deadlines. Yet researchers are learning more and more about the importance of family meals relating to good nutrition and better health. Family meals aren't just good for your body; they're good for the soul. Researchers at Rutgers University recently evaluated results from 68 previously published scientific reports that analyzed the association between children's health and family mealtime. They looked at how the atmosphere or frequency of family meals correlated with the consumption of healthy foods versus unhealthy foods. Their review showed numerous benefits to children associated with having frequent family meals, including increased intake of fruits, vegetables, fiber, calcium-rich foods and vitamins. In addition, the more a family ate together, the less children consumed dietary components thought to be harmful to their health. Additional studies showed that:

g Supper can be a stress reliever for working moms. A 2008 Brigham Young University study of IBM workers found that sitting down to a family meal helped working moms reduce the tension and strain from long hours at the office.

g The family dinner table is a great setting for getting kids to try new foods. A 2003 study in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that more exposure to new foods will teach kids to like different foods. Frequent family dinners provide the perfect opportunity to introduce a variety of healthy foods. g It's more budget-friendly to gather around the dinner table for a meal. The average cost for a meal in your kitchen is approximately $4.50 per person versus $8 per person outside the home. Do the math â&#x20AC;&#x201D; eating in, is better for your budget.

Making Family Meals Happen in Real Time Today's over-scheduled lives may make it more difficult to get a meal on the table for family dinners, but there are many shortcuts you can take to reduce the stress and enjoy your time together. Many people are turning to companies that provide ready-to-cook meals right to your door. From scrumptious ribs to succulent roasts, steaks, ground beef, poultry and seafood, family meal time is as easy as bake and serve. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s making it easier to get a meal on the table without the hassle. Family meals can be as simple. It's all

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about time spent sharing stories, sharing events of the day or just quiet time together. The meals bring everyone to the table, but it's family time that brings them back. Making Family Meals a Priority

It's easy to plan ahead for more family meals together. You can keep meals simple by sticking to nutritional basics and following a few tips:

g Purchase readymade sauces, seasonings or marinades and add chicken, beef or seafood for a great main course.

g Cook on weekends and double the recipes. Roasts, soups and casseroles are great options where you can freeze, thaw and enjoy a great, healthy family meal. g

Stock staples in your cupboard and

freezer. Frozen meats and vegetables are easy to thaw and use at your convenience. Rice and pasta take just a few minutes and round out any meal. Fresh fruits and yogurt make healthy, flavorful desserts in just a few easy steps. Be sure to tuck away a sweet dessert or

two for those special occasions. The next time you reach for your car keys or the phone to order take-out, reach into your freezer and cupboard for meals that are good for your family and your soul. l

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MOVING FORWARD

Understanding Racism & Retention: The Crisis in Black Male High School & College Drop-Out

BY DR. UMAR JOHNSON, PSY.D., NCSP, M.ED.

t's that time of year again; Black boys and young men are preparing for their first days of high school and college life. They begin with optimistic vigor and good intentions, proud that they can now call themselves freshman. However, these next four years of high school or college, statistically, are likely to provide these young Black males with some formidable obstacles that will make graduating in four years quite difficult, if they graduate at all. You can call it an epidemic, a crisis, or a societal illness; regardless of what label you use to describe this war against Black males, you cannot call it normal. Still further, you had better not be one of those growing numbers of people in this society who are increasingly choosing to blame young black men for problems that are not of their making. I have been working with AfricanAmerican & Hispanic Male high school and college students for at least 15 years, and I am proud to say that I have never "lost" a young man in any program that I have developed. Still serving as a "minority male" retention expert on the high school and collegiate level, conducting staff trainings, parent symposiums, and student conferences/workshops for high schools, community based organizations, and colleges around the world, I have uncovered 7 core factors that either create or help maintain this crisis in underachievement amongst African-American male high school and college students. Obviously, there are much more than 7 factors, but this is an article, not a book. Before you read further, let me say that these causes and maintainers are not exclusively based on institutional factors, nor are they purely based on individual personality traits. Since all problems are multi-factorial, and will require a diverse range of strategic points of intervention, responsibility lies with everyone, from parents to academic personnel, towards

eradicating what I call "The PsychoAcademic Holocaust Against Young Black Males" which threatens to make Black & Hispanic Men a permanent underclass in this society. With private prison corporations demanding 90% criminal occupancy, the mis-education of Black males creates a feeder pattern that leads from high school and undergraduate classrooms directly to the jailhouse. As I've always argued, mis-education is the mother of all crime/violence, with economic castration (i.e., the failure to employ) being the father of all crime/violence. Criminals are not born, they are "made." Made by societies who deliberately fail to provide adequate opportunities for all of its citizens, not just the privileged few. If a man cannot read/write and cannot find work a painful inferiority complex is initiated which sooner or later transforms into a rage against the society and community that failed to protect his basic rights; hence the explosive rates of Black-on-Black homicide in communities of color. Remember this, Black men who have a reason to live, aren't interested in dying. Black men who have responsibilities that they can fulfill, aren't likely to end up in jail. Happy people don't kill others, but unhappy people couldn't care less about whose life they take.

1. Failure of Superintendents/Local School Boards to Take The Lead: Every school district in the United States of America, and there are thousands, should have an office of "Black & Hispanic Male Retention & Success." It makes absolutely no sense for top public school officials, on the local and state levels, to be so apathetic and disengaged about this problem to the point where you find almost no serious meaningful programs directed at eradicating the core causes of Black & Hispanic male failure. Furthermore, this office should not just be ceremonial and symbolic (i.e., exists on paper but not in principal) but should have enforcement power to ensure that principals and class-

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room teachers are following its mandates. Simply throwing money at problems (i.e., hiring White and bourgeois Black "experts" whose academic training isn't the least bit effective in addressing the needs of the target population) through the offering of lucrative contracts to outside vendors has been a dismal failure of epic proportions. Even in school districts where I consult, my recommendations have been offered and suggested, but never required.

2. Black Parent Apathy & Disinterest: As a child therapist one of the most important findings of my career is that Black boys suffer equally from poor parental involvement regardless of whether their parents are on welfare or CEOs of a fortune 500 company. Poor Black parents are so busy working to make ends meet that they don't scheduled effectively to participate in their child's emotional or academic lives. At the other end of the spectrum are well-educated and financially elite Black parents whose pursuit of personal and professional status (i.e., tenure, political office, advanced degrees, etc.) find them equally guilty of emotional and academic neglect of their offspring. Racism cannot be blamed for Black parents who are putting their own agendas ahead of their children's lives. Hence the rapid rise in ADHD diagnoses/brain drug prescriptions for children who can't sit still because they need constant attention in school since they are not getting it at home. This is why I often re-define "Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder" as a misnomer with "Absence of Daddy from the Home Disorder" as the more correct terminology in most cases involving African-American boys.

3. Lack of Culturally-Competent Black Male Teachers/College Professors: Let's face the facts, 93% of all teachers/professors in America (Public, Private, Parochial, Charter) are continued on next page

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MOVING FORWARD Understanding Racism and Retantion continued from previous page

middle-class European-Americans; and on the public school level we are looking almost exclusively at a White Female teaching core. The failure of Black boys has to be viewed from the perspective of a serious culturally-based disconnect between the teacher and the student. The schoolhouse represents not only a clash of races, cultures & classes but also an autocratic dictatorship where the cultural opinions of the teacher are considered superior to those of all 20-30 of his/her students. This type of classroom-based "Jim Crowism" feeds Black male uncomfortability in a school where 90% of all the employees already don't look like him. The rumor that not enough Black males are interested in education and school psychology is utter nonsense. The truth of the matter is that not a single district/college (except Historically Black Colleges & Universities) in this country has EVER undertaken a serious and impactful Black male teacher recruitment drive. There are several national teacher recruitment programs (NTRPs) that award emergency certifications and classroom employment to bachelor-degreeholding professionals with no experience, but a desire, to teach. Not one of these national models places emphasis on recruiting Black male professionals whose presence is much more needed in the classroom than their European counterparts. In fact these NTRPs further increase disparities in the teaching corps by giving instructional positions to underprepared non-Black professionals when well-experienced, credentialed and committed Black teachers are unable to find employment. Why hasn't president Obama sought to do just that? Because the two largest public school teacher unions in this country wield considerable financial and voter influence on election day; upsetting the racial & gender dominance that have ruled public school since the beginning of this country could be detrimental to his political future.

4. Special Education Mis-Use & Abuse: In 1975, Congress passed the nation's first special education law, PL94-142, the "Education for AllHandicapped Children Act." In its short 37-year-old career, this program has sent more African-American children to "learning disabled," "educably mentally retarded," and "emotionally-behaviorally-disturbed" classrooms than any other racial group in this country. Special education has become, for most large urban districts, a highway to drop-out, prison, and functional illiteracy. It has become a trash can where "undesirable" Black boys are sentenced when staff/faculty don't want to be bothered. I recently consulted on a special education lawsuit, where a school district placed a YBM in special education without parental consent or notification! In fact, I would argue that special education is one of the primary reasons why so few Black males gain entry to college, or fail to finish, as it awards high school diplomas to young

men and women who have been ill-prepared for collegiate level academic responsibilities. The special education learning disability is a weapon of mass destruction that has destroyed more lives and diminished the academic ambitions of more Black youth than any other institution except prison itself. In fact, special education and juvenile incarceration should be viewed as two sides of the same coin: two institutions that have caused way more harm than good in the lives of Black boys/young men.

5. Mega-Churches Missing in Action: I have no problem with religion, which is a neutral institution that could be used for good as well as for bad. However, I must take serious issue with all these churches, temples, masjids, and spiritual centers who are doing little to absolutely nothing to stem the rising tide of Black male failure on the high school and collegiate levels. Churches (used plurally to include all religions and their denominations) are filled with educators but where are the free tutoring and mentorship programs that our young men so desperately need. It is so ironic that institutions that teach collective responsibility and duty to God are robbing the Black community with "blind faith" and giving them back nothing for their years of loyalty. We complain about ethnic minorities, with their "Stop & Go" markets selling cigarettes and alcohol to our underaged youth, running off with the wealth of the Black community, but rarely do we recognize that the Black church is doing the exact same thing. It may be time for another sit-in movement & another freedom rides initiative, only this time we need to boycott all Black churches/masjids/temples who are doing absolutely nothing to help save our sons. Black people collectively and nationally give the Black church at least $3 Million every weekend; that's $156 Million every year, and what do they have to show for it?

6. Over-Valuation of Athletic & Entertainment Careers: The worship of pop culture in the Black community feeds the lack of commitment that YBMs (Young Black Males) have towards their academics. Unfortunately, this mentally has infested the Black high schools and even predominately White universities where Black athletes are heavily recruited but cannot be found on graduation day. In fact, Black athletes who are not drafted into the NBA/NBL/NFL, and who attempt to complete their degrees after four year of eligibility, are told by their former coaches that they cannot give money to non-athletes, regardless of the millions of dollars these athletes have brought to their schools. On the high school level, I receive regular emails from teachers, Black & White, who often complain to me that student-athletes who should be failing are made to pass, by the school principal, who is under pressure from coaches, the media, recruiters and the local neighborhood to ensure that their star athletes are ready to play on game day regardless of the fact that many of them are functionally illiterate. Only 1% of all high school athletes will ever turn professional; most of them will have to earn a living in something other than

CARE sports. Black men (fathers, coaches, principals, community at large) need to check ourselves and stop promoting this idiotic athleticism which is breeding poor academic outcomes on the high school and collegiate levels. Second only to athletics in the singing/rapper ambitions of so many of our youth, who often skip school, and forego studying, to spend endless hours writing and recording music with hopes of breaking into a career with odds even lower than those in professional sports. When do we recognize the role that that Black community is playing in the "Psycho-Academic Holocaust Against Young Black Males?"

7. Elimination of Trade Skill/Blue Collar Training Programs from High School/College: Beginning in the 1970s, as part of America's War Against Black Men (now disguised as a War Against Drugs), and in preparation for the chemical warfare to come (i.e., the 1980s Cocaine to Incarceration War Against Black Male Youth) inner city high schools, many but not all, were stripped of the trade skill training programs (TSTPs). Until 1980, many YBMs could not only learn auto repair, carpentry, electrical repair, masonry, heating/air conditioning, auto body, wood working, plumbing, etc., but could take their state licensure/certification exams and graduate high school and enter the world of work, with a liveable wage income, the very next day. However, the Black community has since fallen for a bourgeois approach to success, that diminishes working with

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your hands, and replaces it with a mentality that sends all Black high schoolers to college with most of them destined to return home with enormous amounts of loan debt, and unable to find a job to help pay it all back. We have to reassess the messages that we send to our youth. The elimination of TSTPs from inner city high schools puts the future of the Black community on the shoulders of college-educated youth who have minds filled with academic ideas and theories but very little practical skill that will ensure they are able to feed their families after gradutation. There is an excess of unemployed college-educated Black youth who cannot find work. The building trades offer a lucrative alternative to a life of high postcollegiate debt and underemployment. A man who can work with his hands is much more employable that one who can only regurgitate fancy postulates and academic ideologies. This is not a push against college, as we need our professional class (doctors, lawyers, engineers, psychologists, etc), it is simply a warning against sending children there who we know have no interest in finishing. This mindset is also feeding high school dropout rates, as many YBMs who feel that since the only option for life success after high school is college, then why bother going to high school at all? Similarly, too many YBMs are enrolled in four-year colleges when a two-year building trade program would have been much more enjoyable, useful and efficient. l

Source: Nationwide, Blacknews.com.

MOVING FORWARD

AAICC Offers Critique on Proposed Changes to Local Law 129

BY LYNN SPIVEY CHAIRPERSON, AAICC

s the New York City Council begins to hold hearings on changing Local Law 129, the amendment to the New York City charter and the administrative code of the City of New York, in relation to the enhancement of opportunities for minority and women owned business enterprises in city procurement, that was passed in 2005 that was supposed to increase Minority/Women Business Enterprises (M/WBE) contractual participation in the procurement process, the African American International Chamber of Commerce issues this brief statement as a critique of the direction that the discussion has been taking over the past few months. When Local Law 129 was enacted with great fanfare, the goals that were enumerated were complicated and less than ambitious. However, several years later, the overwhelming consensus is that the implementation of the law was a bust and that of the $12.5 billion of City contracts only $345 million were awarded to the M/WBE’s for a grand total of 3%, far lower than the enacted goals of Local Law 129 that was touted by the Mayor’s office and the City

Council. So now that it has been recognized that the current iteration of the Local Law 129 hasn’t worked very well, the City of New York is now looking at ways to increase vendor awards and the goals of the law. So as is normal with the revamping of the goals there has been certain level of partisan jockeying behind the scenes that

has taken place, and that has been with certain women who have felt the need to see that the goals for them remain some of the highest in the M/WBE structure. They felt that the increasing of the goals and potential awards for minorities will take away business and opportunities from them and put them at a disadvantage. The irony is that some women have been some of the largest beneficiary of the 3% contracts that have been awarded and blacks have been at the bottom among these groups with a piddling $32 million in city contracts awarded (FY 2010). Yet when the conversation changed to finding ways to increase that $32 million for blacks businesses to something more substantial in relation to the City of New York’s $12.5 billion in contracts that was awarded, then elected officials were immediately besieged by women advocacy groups who wanted to maintain a certain level of hegemony over the very small pie crumbs that has been set aside for M/WBEs. The reality is that if a rising tide lifts all boats, increases in goals should be equal, at least 15% for Blacks, Hispanics and women for a total of 45% of all contracts awarded. With more ambitious goals, M/WBEs should work together to ensure

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that the City of New York makes sure that those (real) goals are fulfilled for all groups and that no particular group is given special favor or feel the need to maintain what can be best called a tenuous hold on a dubious distinction of being the group getting the most money from what is a failed experiment, which is the implementation of Local Law 129 and the awarding of City contract’s under its procurement process. l

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OBAMA ADMINISTRATION

It Gets Better

Tell” (DADT) was finally and formally repealed. g President Obama has expressed his support for the Respect for Marriage Act, legislation that would uphold the principle that the federal government should not deny gay and lesbian couples the same rights and legal protections as straight couples. g The president signed the certification stating that the statutory requirements for repeal of DADT have been met, ending the discriminatory law that undermines our military readiness and violates American principles of fairness and equality. g The president signed the Claims Resolution Act of 2010 providing funding and statutory authorities for the settlement agreements reached in the Cobell lawsuit, brought by Native Americans; the Pigford II lawsuit, brought by African American farmers; and four separate water rights suits, brought by Native Americans. g The president signed the Fair Sentencing Act, which reduces the disparity in the amounts of powder cocaine and crack cocaine required for the imposition of mandatory minimum sentences and eliminates the mandatory minimum sentences for simple possession of crack

continued from page 1

cocaine. g The president issued a Presidential Memorandum directing the HHS Secretary to ensure that those hospitals that receive Medicare and Medicaid funds will give gay and lesbian patients and their families, the compassion, dignity and respect they deserve in difficult times, as well as widows and widowers with no children, members of religious orders, and others whom otherwise may not have been able to receive visits from good friends and loved ones who are not immediate relatives, or select them to make decisions on their behalf in case of incapacitation. g The president signed into law the FY2010 National Defense Authorization Act which included the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. g The president Obama signed a memo-

randum expanding federal benefits for the same-sex partners of Foreign Service and executive branch government employees. g The president Obama pushed for the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell in his first State of the Union address, and followed through to sign the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Repeal Act of 2010 into law. g The president signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, restoring basic protections against pay discrimination for women and other workers.

Strengthen Anti-Discrimination Laws On January 29, 2009, President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act to ensure that all Americans receive equal pay for equal work. The president is committed to expanding funding for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division to ensure that voting rights are protected and that Americans do not suffer from increased discrimination during a time of economic distress. President Obama also continues to support the Employment NonDiscrimination Act and believes that our anti-discrimination employment laws should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity. He supports full civil unions and federal rights for LGBT couples and opposes a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. He supports repealing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell in a sensible way that strengthens our armed forces and our national security, and also believes that we must ensure adoption rights for all couples and individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation.

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Lead Criminal Justice Reform The president will lead the fight to build a more fair and equitable criminal justice system. He will seek to strengthen federal hate crime legislation and will work to ensure that federal law enforcement agencies do not resort to racial profiling. He supports funding for drug courts, giving first-time, non-violent offenders a chance to serve their sentence, if appropriate, in drug rehabilitation programs that have proven to work better than prison terms in changing behavior. President Obama will also improve ex-offender employment and job retention strategies, substance abuse treatment, and mental health counseling so ex-offenders can successfully re-join society.

It Gets Better President Obama and Vice President Biden are encouraging LGBT youth who are being bullied or harassed because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity to ignore the perpetrators of this discriminatory behavior . l

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IMMIGRATION

Immigrant Entrepreneurs Are Jet Fuel to the U.S. Economy

BY WALTER EWING

he mountain of evidence on the economic importance of immigrant entrepreneurs just keeps growing. Last year, the Partnership for a New American Economy released a report which tallied the number of Fortune 500 companies founded by immigrants (and the children of immigrants). Last month, the Fiscal Policy Institute issued a report which quantified the economic value of immigrant small businesses. And now, the Partnership for a New American Economy has put out another report demonstrating the scale of the economic contributions made by immigrant business owners. As the report points out, “in addition to creating jobs, the businesses that immigrants start also create revenue to boost our GDP, exports to alleviate our trade imbalance, taxes to fund our deficit, and new consumption that fuels our economy.”

The numbers in the report speak for themselves: g “Immigrant-owned firms now generate more than $775 billion in revenue, $125 billion in payroll, and $100 billion

in income, employing one out of every 10 workers along the way. g Immigrants started 28 percent of all new U.S. businesses in 2011, despite accounting for just 12.9 percent of the U.S. population. Just a decade and a half earlier, in 1996, only 15 percent of new U.S. businesses were founded by immigrants. g From 2007 to 2011, immigrants founded an outsized share of new businesses in health care and social assistance (28.7 percent), professional and business services (25.4 percent), construction (31.8 percent), retail trade (29.1 percent), leisure and hospitality (23.9 percent), educational services (28.7 percent), ‘other services’ (28.2 percent), and transportation and utilities (29.4 percent). g The rate at which immigrants start new businesses grew by more than 50 percent between 1996 and 2011. During the same period, the business-formation rate for the native-born declined by 10 percent. g Immigrants are more than twice as likely to start a business as the nativeborn. In 2011, the immigrant businessformation rate was 550 new businesses per month for every 100,000 immigrants,

while the native-born rate was only 270 new businesses per month for every 100,000 native-born. g Over the last decade the income generated by native-owned businesses increased just 14 percent and failed to keep pace with inflation. Income from immigrant-owned businesses, meanwhile, increased by more than 60 percent.”

integral part of the nation’s economic recovery. Specifically, “any serious plan on job growth must recognize and welcome immigrant entrepreneurs, who in the coming years will play an outsized role across the country and across industries in starting new businesses, creating new jobs, and driving economic growth.” In other words, reasonable immigration policies make good economic sense. l

ALL IMMIGRATION MATTERS lGET THE FACTS

lBE SMART

Not surprisingly, the report concludes that immigrant entrepreneurs will be an

lMAKE THE RIGHT DECISION

lBEWARE OF IMMIGRATION FRAUD

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MONEY MATTERS

Should I Worry That He Earns Less Money?

BY DEMETRIA L. LUCAS, THE ROOT

our family members might have come across a 2010 Cornell University study that found men who earn less money are more likely to cheat, up to five times as much when they are completely dependent on their partner for financial security. That same study also found that men who make significantly more than their partners were likely to cheat, too. If you want to increase the likelihood of a man not cheating, then according to the study, you should earn 25 percent less than he does. Oh, and both of you should be churchgoers and college-educated, both of which lessen the likelihood of infidelity but don't eliminate it. When it comes to relationships, we've all been bombarded with these kinds of statistics. We should take note of them to be informed about trends and possibilities, but we shouldn't go around living our lives by what the numbers say. Fortunately, people are more complex than percentage points. If you're going by what a study says, then do something idiotic like quit your six-figure job and go find work that pays around $38,000, so your man can feel like a breadwinner and be faithful. Or

you could do something equally crazy like drop the "great guy" you found and the relationship you describe as a "true partnership" — because, you know, those are so easy to find — and go in search of a man who makes around $140,000 and hope that for the next 30 or so years until retirement, your salaries grow at the same pace. Then again, you could just do something entirely practical and logical like let love rule — not statistics — and marry the man you adore who treats you well. If the enduring recession should have taught us anything over the last few years, it's that jobs come and go. Being the breadwinner today (20 percent of women are), or even being employed, is no guarantee for tomorrow. Marriage isn't about for now; it's about forever. If his current (and quite respectable) paycheck is of great concern to you — which I'm not entirely sure it is; you seem to be hyped up by your family — then you should rethink getting married. If there's a great partnership at work, that means you two are likely communicating well, showing respect and supporting each other's goals. That's great; keep it up for the long haul. In addition, address problems as they arise, chose

your battles and focus on problem solving, not blaming. Those are the oft-cited traits of folks who claim to be happily married and still in love with their partners decades later. You want that to be you, so give their advice a try. And so we're clear, it's much harder than it sounds, but it is possible. Now, about your family and their feedback: This conflict is on you. They are up in your business because you invited them in by spilling the tea on what you and your man earn. They never should have been told that information, especially not about him. Surely some of them have heard of or observed relationships in which the man treated the woman poorly because she made more money, and their naysaying about your upcoming nuptials is coming from a place of genuine concern. Others will never think anyone is good enough for their kinfolk, so what they're saying about your man isn't personal at all. If it weren't this issue that you gave them the ammunition for, then it would be something else to pick at. And still others just don't want you to be happy because they aren't. Your job isn't to figure out who falls into which category, only to decide if your partner is right for you and if you are

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committed to this upcoming union. It doesn't really matter much what your family thinks of him; they are not marrying him. If you're marrying to please your family, then you should let them pick your husband. If you need to talk out your relationship conflicts with someone, call a friend who is a good listener, is discreet and a helpful problem solver, not an instigator. Or you can always call a life coach or a therapist. The cost of hiring a professional is worth keeping your family out of your business.l Demetria L. Lucas is a contributing editor to The Root, a life coach and the author of A Belle in Brooklyn: The Go-to Girl for Advice on Living Your Best Single Life. She answers your dating and relationship questions on The Root each week. Feel free to ask anything at askdemetria@theroot.com.

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SMALL BUSINESS SOLUTIONS

Business Do's and Don'ts to Help Your Startup Succeed

veryone has a dream â&#x20AC;&#x201D; it's the one thing they would rather be doing more than anything else (and are sure they could succeed at). Yet, it's something entirely different from what it is they do to pay the bills. What many fail to understand, however, is that enthusiasm for a product or service may not be enough to guarantee success when starting a business. "So often, would-be entrepreneurs believe they have that one idea that will make them a millionaire, and in fact it may be a very good idea, but what they don't understand is that there's so much more involved for a business to succeed," says Heidi Ganahl, CEO of Camp Bow Wow, a dog day care franchise and boarding authority. The business saw 20 percent year-over-year growth last year in revenues across Camps (individual franchise locations), which opened pre2011. "Unfortunately," Ganahl adds, "passion alone will not dictate or ensure success." To this end, the following do's and don'ts may help you assess whether your idea is ready: Do your research and prepare. So often, failure comes from a lack of preparation. According to Ganahl's book g

have their feet in both the corporate world and their new business venture. If you feel the inability to put your all into your new venture, cut your losses.

Do ensure you have enough capital. Business analysts report that poor management is the main reason for business failure and that poor cash management is probably the most frequent stumbling block for entrepreneurs. Understanding the basic ideas of cash flow will help you plan for the unforeseen eventualities that face nearly every small business.

Do consider owning a franchise. With thousands of systems operating in dozens of industries, there is no shortage of choices here for the would-be entrepreneur. The down side? The plethora of choices can make that decision a challenge, so be clear about what you want, what you're willing to do and how much you need to make. (NewsUSA)l

"Tales From the Bark Side," every good idea must come with the right support to make it profitable, including writing a winning business proposal. Ganahl says that lending or investing individuals will only consider an investment after a thor-

ough review of your project.

Don't go into business if you're not committed. Convinced that they have a good idea, but unprepared to be completely committed, people will try to

For more civil rights news & updates visit www.figeroux.com/civilrights

To schedule an appointment for a free, no obligation small business consultation, call 718-722-9217.

RECESSION & JOBS

Credit Scores: The Silent African-American Job-Killer

s there anything more deadly than a silent killer? You know the kind that goes about its business known by its creator (Frankenstein) but not by its victims. For many Blacks, there lurks a silent killer, who over the last few decades has murdered its share of opportunity and advancement. The credit score background check that more than 60% of U.S. employers use is viewed by many as just another cog in the wheel of discrimination and with more people applying for fewer jobs that practice is expected to increase, a practice which the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission labels as discriminatory. In a 2010 lawsuit against Kaplan Higher Education the EEOC accused the for-profit education company of allegedly discriminating against African-Americans by using credit scores to weed out job applicants. In court papers, the EEOC alleges, “the practice is discriminatory because African-Americans have disproportionately lower credit scores than whites.” For many Blacks poor credit scores resulted from predatory lending practices during the housing boom. Employers argue that credit background

checks allow them to avoid fraud. However, according to a report by the Federal Reserve, the average credit score for Blacks is less than half that of Whites. Common sense alone dictates then that the majority of those disproportionately affected by this practice are AfricanAmericans. It then becomes a vicious cycle. Without jobs, paying bills becomes difficult and falling behind on bills then means chances of employment decrease. In addition to jobs, insurance as well as loans for everything from college tuition to automobiles become less attainable. “Last one hired. First one fired” is a familiar term in the Black community based just on the history of racial discrimination that is common knowledge. The credit score background check, the ‘silent killer’, another foot-on-the-neck of African-Americans.

Credit Scores A recent Washington Post article emphasized how poor credit makes it much tougher to secure loans and gain access to credit, especially for AfricanAmericans. The article entitled, "For

Black Americans, Financial Damage From Subprime Implosion is Likely to Last. According to the article, the Federal Reserve is collecting data on how the recession has affected credit scores by race, in what is expected to be significant research on the issue. But the widespread belief among economists, consumer advocates and community leaders is that black Americans are falling behind. Credit scores summarize consumers’ financial past and help project their future behavior. A critical factor in deciding who qualifies for a loan, they are designed to give lenders a quick way to assess the risk of a customer. For most people, credit is the key to accessing the American Dream, such as higher education and homeownership. That makes the scores, and the detailed personal financial reports that accompany them, one of the most important factors in determining financial opportunity. And for black Americans, that means they are starting at a disadvantage. Even near the height of the country’s economic boom, blacks had lower credit scores than whites. Data collected by the Federal

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CARE Reserve from 2003 — in the most comprehensive study on race and credit scoring to date — showed that less than a quarter of blacks had prime credit scores. Meanwhile, about 65 percent of whites were in this top tier. The gap got wider as black and white Americans grew older, the Fed found. By age 75, the average black consumer’s credit score still had not reached the national average. “It’s one more way that credit scoring. . . sort of sets in stone income and wealth disparities between minorities and whites,” said Chi Chi Wu, a lawyer with the National Consumer Law Center. “The playing field was never level.” Groups such as the NAACP and the National Urban League worry that the nation’s financial crisis has ushered in a new era of de facto economic segregation. Some community leaders are calling the rebuilding of wealth in black communities the next frontier for civil rights. “Folks are going to have to work longer and work harder to even try to maintain a standard of living,” said Kendrick Curry, pastor at Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church in the District. “It really speaks to a backward movement.”l Some information in this article was obtained from The Black American News Network.

SOCIAL CONCERNS

Worrying about My Black Boy's Future in America

BY ALLISON R. BROWN AMERICA'S WIRE WRITERS GROUP

y husband and I fuss and fret over our black boy.

Like other parents, we worry about a lot. We want him to use his smarts for good. Do we coddle him too much? We want him to be tough and kind, but assertive and gentle, and not mean. His boundaries of independent exploration are radiating outward, concentric circles growing farther and farther from us. We wring our hands and pretend to look away in acknowledgment that he's ready to claim his freedom, even as we cast furtive glances his way. We're beginners in the worry department. He's only 9 years old. Our angst certainly isn't unique among parents of black boys. What's unique for us and for other such parents, is that when we peek inside the matrix, we panic. Agents out there are bearing down on our son — bloodthirsty for his dignity, his humanity — as if he were the one. We feel outnumbered, but we hunker down for battle. This is not a paranoid conspiracy rant. Recent data from the Office for Civil Rights in the U.S. Department of

Education reveals that black boys are the most likely group of students to be suspended or expelled from school. Black men and boys are more likely than any demographic group to be targeted — hunted, really — and arrested by police. Meanwhile, the number of black males taking advanced courses in elementary, middle and high schools and entering college, remains disproportionately low. Suicide among black boys is increasing. Media imagery and indifference have locked black boys in their sights. Prisons have become corporate behemoths with insatiable appetites for black and brown boys and men. My husband and I rightfully agonize about our boy. We agonize alongside many who are working to help, including the federal government. I know firsthand the work that the federal government has done and is doing to improve circumstances for black boys. This includes internal memos and meetings, interagency planning sessions, public conferences, community meetings and listening sessions, and now a White House initiative. I also know that the federal government is accountable to numerous constituencies that sometimes have conflicting needs. Federal government workers

must walk a fine line among varying public interests, which occasionally has meant unintended consequences for black boys. For instance, in 1994, the federal priority of "zero tolerance" for anyone bringing a weapon to school was signed into law as the Gun-Free Schools Act. That priority reached fever pitch after the Columbine school massacre in 1999 and subsequent copycat slayings. Federal requirements were overshadowed by local authorities and school administrators who stretched the parameters of "zero tolerance" in schools beyond logical measure to include, for instance, spoons as weapons and Tylenol as an illegal drug, and to suspend and expel students as a result. "Zero tolerance" has entered the realm of the ridiculous. Many schools have removed teacher and administrator discretion and meted out harsh punishment for school uniform violations, schoolyard fights without injury and various undefined and indefinable categories of offense such as "defiance" and "disrespect." Students are suspended, expelled and even arrested for such conduct without investigation or inquiry. There is no evidence to support the use of exclusionary discipline practices as tools for prevention, and they have no educational benefit. The brunt of this insanity has fallen on black boys. Recent federal priorities have targeted harassment and bullying in school to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students from peer-on-peer discrimination dismissed by, and in many cases encouraged by, school administration. Again, understandable. The goal is praiseworthy — to protect, finally, a population of students and segment of society that has long been a whipping post for every political party, ignored in political discussions except to condemn. While my husband and I have ardently supported federal protections for LGBT students, practically speaking, we continue to lose sleep over our black boy. Another peek inside the matrix tells me that the fever pitch around this latest federal agenda item will mean a significant cost to black boys when new categories of offense are created, new ways to characterize them as criminals unworthy of participating in mainstream educa-

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tion or society. It's one thing for educators to guide student conduct and educate students about how to care for and respect one another, which is a primary focus of the federal move against harassment and bullying. It's quite another to change mindsets of adults who run the system, too many of whom believe and speak negatively about black boys and what they cannot accomplish or should not do. To speak and think affirmatively, to affirm behavior and black boys as people, is to relish the silly jokes they tell within their context, to compliment them on their haircuts or groomed and styled dreadlocks and cornrows, to adopt lingo they create and add it to classroom repertoire, and to invite their fathers, grandfathers, uncles, brothers, and cousins to participate in the educational experience. To support black boys is to celebrate their physical playfulness and the unique ways in which they may support and affirm one another. As with any other children, we must teach black boys through instruction and by example, how to read and write, and how to conduct themselves without erasing their identity and attempting to substitute another. We must hone their instincts, whims and knowledge base so they can be empowered to exhibit all the good in themselves. We must be willing to show them our human frailties so they know how to get up and carry on after falling down. Yes, these things can benefit all children, but many children receive them by default. Black boys do not. To love black boys is to refuse to be an agent of forces clamoring for their souls and instead to be their Morpheus, their god of dreams, to help them believe in their power to save all of us and to train them to step into their greatness. Those agents in the matrix are real. If everyone combines forces and uses common sense, we can declare victory for black boys and eventually all of us. But without a change in mindset, federal initiatives, no matter their good intentions or the incredible talents that give them life, will continue to leave black boys by the wayside as collateral damage. My husband and I will continue to fret, knowing the formidable challenges our son faces. We hope that if he has a son, that boy can be just a boy.l (Nationwide via Black News)

Allison R. Brown is a former trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Educational Opportunities Section. She is president of Allison Brown Consulting, which works with educators, students, families and other key stakeholders to improve the quality of education, especially for black boys. America's Wire is an independent, nonprofit news service run by the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education and funded by a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Our stories can be republished free of charge by newspapers, websites and other media sources. For more information, visit www.americaswire.org or contact Michael K. Frisby at mike@frisbyassociates.com.

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SOCIAL CONCERNS

Black Author Tells True Life Story to Educate Single Moms on How to Protect Their Children from Sexual Predators

he book Through a Child's Eyes tells a true-life story that references the importance of protecting your child against sexual predators. Author Phillis T. Forrest opens her old wounds and shares a touching story in order to structure a guideline for single mothers to help protect their children from sexual predators. Through a Child's Eyes speaks on the process of a sexual predator who stalked and preyed his way into the author's life at the young age of seven. This nightmare began the day that her mother broke her household rules that she put into place to protect the author and her siblings. The consequences of her actions allowed a complete stranger to abuse and manipulate the author over a period of 14 years that ultimately led to mothering two of his children. Forrest comments, "I told my story because I wanted to show the world exactly how this man manipulated his way into my existence and to show moth-

ers how this sort of situation can happen." The story is written in a guideline format with plenty of examples of the experiences that the author encountered each time the protection of her mother lessened. The story of the author is told to gain the credibility of her readers, which in turn shows them that the opposite of her mother's actions could have saved her from her nightmare. In chapter 14, entitled "Mother's â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Let's Have a Conversation," the author breaks away from her story to have a heart-to-heart talk with mothers. The chapter touches on subjects that are often not discussed in the homes of sexually abused children. With subtitles such as: "Ripley's Believe It Or Not," "Flipping the Script," and "Knowledge Is Power" (to name a few), the author begins to break down the psychological awareness that parents need to have when dealing with a child that has been preyed upon by a child molester.

Author Phillis T. Forrest

Forrest has been an amazing mother to two beautiful girls despite the circumstances. Her dream is to share her story with the world; in order to educate mothers, protect children, and help victims let go of their pain. l

A paperback copy of Through a Child's Eyes can be purchased online at www.throughachildseyes290611.com and Amazon.com, and a e-book copy can be downloaded via the Kindle. (BlackNews.com)

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CONVERSATIONS

The Stop & Frisk Handbook

he Stop & Firsk Handbook, a concept created by Ryan Mack and authored by Travis Townsend and his brother Trinity Townsend, this handbook is designed and written to be given out to those most susceptible to being stopped and harassed by policed officers. Partnering with clergy and politicians, this small handbook which can fit into anyone’s pocket, will be printed and handed out in mass to inform those of their constitutional rights if they are approached by police officers serves three purposes. 1. Inform those in the community of their constitutional rights if they are stopped and frisked. 2. Demonstrate the ability of the community professionals to solve community problems through combined intellect. 3. Use the book as a means of engaging in empowering conversations between those in the community who seem to need direction, and those professionals who can give sound direction. Ryan Mack, President of The Optimum Institute of Economic Empowerment and author of Living in the Village (www.livinginthevillage.com) said, “I grew tired of hearing about the problems of stop and frisk with no immediate solutions. Yes, we need to fight for systematic change and a long term fix of this problem, but brothers and sisters are continuously being stopped TODAY. The best immediate fix is education which

needs to be put directly into the hands of those in our communities who are being stopped the most. We want churches and other community organizations to purchase this book, hand it out to their constituents, then go through the community handing it out to the Brothers and Sisters on the corners. We want schools to purchase it and hand it out to their students. For those who walk through the community handing it out, don’t just hand the book to the Brother on the corner and walk away. Use that opportunity to ask him if he needs a job or assistance and direct him to some positive resources in the community. They need to feel embraced in our community and this book is a way to connect with them.” "The justice system has a longRyan Mack standing history of being much more harsh on the poor, unedutake our message of proactive criminal cated and on minorities. The disparate law education to the streets where victims application of stop and frisk practices on of unfair stop and frisks are to empower African Americans is yet another example them to be agents of their own protection." of that. The time to address unfair stop l and frisk practices is now. When calls for reform to law enforcement leadership and Travis Townsend, Co-Author of government officials fall on deaf ears, the “When the Cops Come Knockin” and best way to protect our citizens from vioPartner of Torinity, LLC and Ryan Mack, lations of their civil liberties is to arm President of Optimum and Author of "Livthem with knowledge. So my brother Trining in the Village." ity and I decided to team up with Ryan to

To place your order of this book for your organization send an email to ryan@optimuminstitute.org or go to www.optimuminstitute.org. This initiative is being funded by The Optimum Institute of Economic Empowerment, Inc.

To make a tax deductible contribution to this organization you can go to www.optimuminstute.org For more civil rights news & updates visit www.figeroux.com/civilrights

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Racial Profiling? There’s An App for That!

n April 30, the Sikh Coalition, a community-based organization that works toward the realization of civil and human rights for all people, launched “FlyRights,” a mobile phone application that provides a quick and easy way to report complaints of air travel discrimination in real time, right after the incident occurs. Racial profiling is a dangerous and pervasive problem that affects people of color in their homes, at work, while driving, flying, walking, or doing anything in public. This new phone application is a groundbreaking advancement to make it much easier for individuals who have been unfairly targeted to file a complaint with TSA and DHS immediately, and in real time. The app will significantly increase the number of complaints filed and thereby provide greater transparency on the extent of this problem in our nation’s airports. As of May 10, the app was downloaded by over 10,000 users and has been used to file more than 35 detailed complaints of discrimination. FlyRights will help change the reality of racial profiling in air travel. The Leadership Conference (the nation’s premier civil and human rights coalition)is proud to be a part of this cutting-edge moment in enhancing the protection of civil and human rights with use of this new technology. Take Action: Download the new “FlyRights” application on your iPhone or Android phone to report complaints of air travel discrimination. Spread the word; be sure to forward this email to friends, family, and colleagues. l

Buy Now!

They call him “America’s Mayor.” But to blacks that title sugarcoats Rudy Giuliani’s real reputation as one of the most racially divisive leaders in the nation. Peter Noel’s book puts Giuliani’s often-ignored record of oppressing the “other New York” front and center in the 2008 presidential race.

To purchase this book, please visit www.amazon.com

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HEALTH

Paula Deen Shares Tips for Staying on Track with Diabetes Management

ith vacations, barbecue parties and picnics, warm weather season may be a challenging time for people with diabetes to stick with their regular diabetes management routine. American cooking star Paula Deen knows the temptations of delicious summer fare, like potato salads and barbecued meats, which tend to be high in fats and carbohydrates and can be a challenge for people with diabetes. But Paula, who has type 2 diabetes, has found a way to still enjoy her favorite summer recipes and stick with her daily diabetes management routine. "Getting together with family and friends for summer barbecues is one of my favorite activities. Even with diabetes, I've learned that I can still enjoy all the traditional summer fare, but I just don't eat as much of it," said Paula. "I also make sure to get in my daily exercise, which is such an important part of a healthier lifestyle." Earlier this year, Paula announced that she has type 2 diabetes. Of the 26 million people in the U.S. with diabetes, 90 to 95 percent have type 2 diabetes, which can be controlled by following a healthy diet and exercise program, losing excess weight and taking medication.

To help people with diabetes enjoy delicious meals with their family and friends, Paula, along with her sons Bobby and Jamie, teamed up with Novo Nordisk on Diabetes in a New Light™, a national initiative that aims to help people like Paula overcome common challenges associated with type 2 diabetes management. Through the campaign, they have been lightening up their favorite recipes to be diabetes-friendly, many of which are perfect for the summer. People can sign up for some of these recipes — including Strawberry and Spinach Salad and Maple Glazed Salmon with Pineapple Salsa — at www.DiabetesinaNewLight.com. Also available on the website is information on upcoming diabetes cooking events hosted by the Deens and tips and resources for diabetes management. "It's easy to slip out of your regular routine in the summer, but it's important to stay on track by taking your medication daily, getting exercise and eating right," said Stephen Brunton, MD, an adjunct clinical professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and an advisor on Diabetes in a New Light™. "It's also important to keep your regular doctor's appointments,

which are crucial to ensuring that your diabetes management regimen is working for you." Along with changing her eating habits and exercising more, Paula takes her medication daily to help her manage her type 2 diabetes. Paula also sees her doctor regularly to make sure her blood sugar is where it's supposed to be. "I've realized that diabetes management doesn't have to get in the way of enjoying life, even in the summer," said Paula. "In fact, I'm really excited to take advantage of all summer has to offer: from the great fruits and veggies that are growing in my garden to the warm, sunny weather, which makes me yearn for a walk around my property or along the beach. I just love it all!" l(ARA)

For more information on how to manage your diabetes, visit these websites: National Institute of Diabetes and

For more civil rights news & updates visit www.figeroux.com/civilrights

Digestive and Kidney Diseases http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/DM/PUBS /statistics/#fast American Diabetes Association http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/blood-glucosecontrol/checking-your-bloodglucose.html

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KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

What to Do When Your Loved One Falls in a Nursing Home

BY MARILYN SILVERMAN

t's an emotionally painful day when sons and daughters have to accept the somber reality that their parents are no longer able to live independently at home due a plethora of medical conditions that plague our aged population. A viable alternative ideally should be nursing homes that dot the landscape of cities across the nation. When they relocate their parents from their homes to nursing homes, these sons and daughters should be confident that the nursing home creates a nurturing, safe supportive environment where their beloved parents will be taken care of by a team of dedicated compassionate health care professionals every single day as soon as they open their eyes in the morning. But alas, these nursing home residents — our fragile elderly — are all too often, victims of slip-and-fall accidents. When new residents check into nursing homes, they are legally mandated to be the beneficiaries of supervision so as to prevent the onset of slips and falls. The facilities make an initial fall risk assessment of their medical conditions and medical needs and thereupon formulate a care regime designed to prevent falls. This regime is then assigned to staff

members who must implement this in their daily agenda which should be reviewed regularly. Some contributing factors to the unfortunate incidence of falls include: g wet floors g poor lighting g clutter in hallways, common areas and residents' rooms g improperly fitted wheelchairs, etc., etc., etc. A particularly disturbing truism is that quite frequently these accidents are preventable by the mere implementation of some commonsense strategies: g utilizing no-skid wax on floors g replacing carpet that bulges g providing adequate lighting, etc., etc., etc. In fact, The Nursing Home Abuse Center statistically demonstrates that a sizable percentage of potentialliy preventable hospital emergency room visits made by nursing home residents, is due to falls. Why is this happening to our parents? It's really quite simple. It can be succinctly summed up in just five words — staff negligence and lack of supervision. Due to the burgeoning and rampant inci-

dence of injuries sustained by these residents, the federal government enacted a law in 1987, The Federal Nursing Home Care Reform Act. Under its auspices, it's mandatory that nursing homes adhere to a clearly delineated standard of care. But apparently it's not working. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in a booklet tiltled, "Falls in Nursing Homes," survivors often suffer such debilitating injuries as hip fractures and head injuries that can quite conceivably result in permanent disability. Negative psychological behavior can be exacerbated by these traumatic injuries, e.g., depression, feelings of helplessness and social isolation. After kissing and hugging their parents goodbye at the conclusion of visiting hours, families should not have to be awakened by a phone call with bad news — that their parents fell in a facility that employs a staff of trained professionals 24/7. In order for families to initiate legal proceedings, they must be alert and observant and engage in conversations. Ask loved ones or other residents if their parents recently fell. Observe if the staff keeps a sharp eye on residents when they walk. If your parent is unable to walk, observe when the staff transfers him or

For more civil rights news & updates visit www.figeroux.com/civilrights

her out of bed to ascertain it's done both carefully and safely. If you or your loved one has been injured in a nursing home falling accident caused by negligence, the attorneys at Figeroux & Associates are here to help. We are dedicated to helping victims of nursing home abuse obtain compensation for their injuries, pain and suffering and other losses. Contact us today at 718834-0190 to speak with an experienced New York nursing home abuse lawyer. We offer free initial consultations and bill on a contingent fee basis — you won't have to pay us unless we win your case. l

CARE Concerned Americans For Racial Equality CARE

Different Shades Scattered Globally Same Goal

Stop Police Misconduct — Stop Racism

Concerned Americans for Racial Equality

w w w .f i g er o ux. co m

Tel: 718.243.9431 Fax: 718.222.3153

Ahmadou Diallo

Are you a victim of police misconduct or a victim of racism? Then visit our office for a free consultation! Call 718.243.9431 for an appointment. We will work with you for justice.

Egbert Dewgard

Patrick Dorrismond

Alberta Spruill

Abner Louima

WHAT TO SAY TO THE POLICE: 1. What to say to the police is always important. What you say can be used against you and it can give the police an excuse to arrest you, especially if you bad mouth an officer. 2. You don't have to answer a police officer's questions but you must show your driver's license and registration when stopped in a car. In other situations you can't be legally arrested for refusing to identify yourself to a police officer. 3. You don't have to consent to any search of yourself, your car or your house. If you DO consent to a search, it can affect your rights later in court. If the police say they have a search warrant, ASK TO SEE IT. 4. Do not interfere with or obstruct the police - you can be arrested for that. IF YOU ARE STOPPED FOR QUESTIONING: 1. It's not a crime to refuse to answer questions, but refusing to answer questions can make the police officer suspicious of you. You can’t be arrested merely for refusing to identify yourself on the street. 2. Police may "pat-down" your clothing if they suspect a concealed weapon. Don't physically resist, but make it clear that you don't consent to any further search. 3. Ask if you are under arrest. If you are, you have a right to know why. 4. Don't “bad mouth” the police officer or run away, even if you believe that you are innocent.

IF YOU ARE STOPPED IN YOUR CAR: 1. Upon request, show them your driver's license, registration and proof of insurance. In certain cases, your car can be searched without a warrant as long as the police have probable cause. To protect yourself later, you should make it clear that you do not consent to a

.IN YOUR HOME! 1. If the police knock and ask to enter your home, you don't have to admit them unless they have a warrant signed by a judge. 2. However, in some emergency situations (like when a person is screaming for help inside or when the police are chasing someone) officers are allowed to enter and search your home without a warrant. 3. If you are arrested, the police can search you and the area close by. If you are in a building, "close by" usually means just the room you are in. We all recognize the need for effective law enforcement, but we should also understand our own rights and responsibilities—especially in our relationships with the police-Everyone, including minors, has the right to courteous and respectful police treatment. If your rights are violated, do nott try to deal with the situation at the scene. You can discuss the matter with an attorney afterwards or file a complaint with the Internal Affairs or Civilian Complaint Board.

What to Do If You're Stopped by the Police: Be polite and respectful. Never “bad mouth” a police officer. Stay calm and in control of your words, body, language and emotions. Don't get into an argument with the police. Remember, anything you say or do can be used against you.

Our Message

Do you remember these names - Eleanor Bumpers, Michael Stewart, Anthony Baez, Ahmadou Diallo and Patrick Dorrismond? Ancient history? What about these names Egbert Dewgard, Alberta Spruill and Ousmana Zongo? Sounds more familiar? Police brutality is not ancient history; it is current reality. In the first four days in January 2003, five young Blacks and Hispanics were shot to death by "New York's Finest." In the first six months of 2003, 27 young Blacks and Hispanics have been shot to death by the "Men in Blue.” The most effective weapon we can use is the weapon of knowledge. "An informed community is an empowered community."

For a FREE Police Misconduct Complaint Procedure & Litigation Seminar Visit www.mynacc.org

search. It is not lawful for police to arrest you simply for refusing to consent to a search. 2. If you are given a ticket, you should sign it; otherwise you can be arrested. You can always fight the case in court later. 3. If you're suspected of drunk driving (DWI) and refuse to take a blood, urine or breath test, your driver's license may be suspended.

IF YOU ARE ARRESTED OR TAKEN TO A POLICE STATION: 1. You have the right to remain silent and to talk to a lawyer before you talk to the police. Tell the police nothing except your name and address. Don't give any explanations, excuses or stories. You can make your defense later in court based on what you and your lawyer decide is best. 2. Ask to see a lawyer immediately. If you can't pay for a lawyer, you have a right to a free one. Ask the police how the lawyer can be contacted. Don't say anything without a lawyer. 3. Within a reasonable time after your arrest or booking you have the right to make a local phone call to a lawyer, bail bondsman, relative or any other person. The police may not listen to the call to the lawyer. 4. Sometimes you can be released without bail, or have bail lowered. Have your lawyer ask the judge about this possibility. You must be taken before the judge on the next court day after arrest. 5. Do not make any decisions in your case until you have talked to a lawyer.

Keep your hands where the police can see them. Do not run. Do not touch any police officer. Do not resist even if you believe you are innocent. Do not complain on the scene or tell the police they're wrong or that you're going to file a complaint. Do not make any statements regarding the incident. Ask for a lawyer immediately upon your arrest. Remember the officer's badge & patrol car numbers. Write down everything you remember, ASAP. Try to find witnesses’ names and phone numbers. If you are injured, take photographs of the injuries as soon as possible, but make sure you seek medical attention first. If you feel your rights have been violated, file a written complaint with the police department's internal affairs division or civilian complaint board. Text prepared by the American Civil Liberties Union.

Volunteer

If you are a student, computer analyst, journalist, doctor, lawyer, minister or community activist, and you wish to volunteer in this battle against police brutality, please contact us at 718-243-9431 or at email us at immjournal@aol.com. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." We will prevail, because our cause is just.

I AM GOING TO COLLEGE TO START A BUSINESS, NOT GET A JOB! Attend our Small Business Bootcamp Series Visit www.mynacc.org to register now

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