NJG | Vol. 123, No. 26 - June 29, 2023

Jazz & More

HAMPTON

The 53rd Hampton Jazz Festival was the place to be in Hampton Roads last weekend. Shown is Babyface, one of the favorites see page 7A

THE CANDIDATES NOW GEAR UP FOR NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION RACE

By Leonard E. Colvin Chief Reporter New Journal and Guide

Now that the dust has settled after the June 20 primary races, the candidates of the two major parties are gearing up for the November 7 General Election.

“THE CONSCIENCE OF CONGRESS”

Known as the “Conscience of Congress,” John Lewis of Georgia served in the House of Representatives from 1987 until his passing on July 17, 2020. He became the first Black lawmaker to lie in state at the Capitol, a testament to his indelible mark on American history. An original member of the Freedom Riders, Lewis played a pivotal role in the civil rights movement, enduring brutal violence when Alabama state troopers fractured his skull during the infamous “Bloody Sunday” incident in Selma in 1965.

see page 2B

Two Hampton Roads Leaders Honored During Dominion Program

New Journal & Guide Staff Report

Two members of the Hampton Roads community were honored recently during the Strong Men & Women in Virginia awards program in Richmond. This is the 11th year that Dominion Energy and the Library of Virginia have presented the event.

Col. Quentin Joseph Smith Jr. (Ret) of Hampton and Sheila Bowen Taylor of Norfolk were among six notable African American business and community leaders spotlighted at this year’s event for overcoming obstacles to make significant impacts across the state.

Growing up in Hampton in the 1940s, Quentin Smith Jr. dreamed of

becoming a military pilot.

By the time he joined the Air Force in the 1960s, African Americans like Smith were not even allowed to sit in the front of the bus due to racial segregation under Jim Crow laws. So, his hopes of flying a plane seemed out of reach.

Despite naysayers, Smith never gave up.

Not only did Smith become a U.S. Air Force pilot, but he also rose to the rank of Colonel. Plus, he earned a Distinguished Flying Cross and other awards for his valor in combat during the Vietnam War. Throughout his career, Smith clocked more than 8,000 flying hours.

Sheila Bowen Taylor of Norfolk became the second woman and the

first Black woman in 1981 hired as a nuclear engineer at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, working in the Nuclear Engineering and Planning Department on submarines, surface ships, and aircraft carriers. There, she helped organize the Hampton Roads chapter of the Society of Women Engineers to help connect women in the engineering field.

Taylor grew up in the St. Juliens Creek community of Chesapeake (formerly Norfolk County) near the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, where her father worked as an electrician. After earning a degree in physics from now Norfolk State University, she went on to study nuclear physics at Old Dominion University.

see Locals, page 3A

For the next five months, Democratic and Republican candidates will be working to develop messages they hope will register with voters and drive them to the polls in high numbers.

All 40 State Senate and 100 State House of Delegates seats will be contested on the ballot in the fall.

At stake is the control of the Virginia General Assembly.

Republicans have a fourseat majority in the House and the Democrats have a fourseat buffer in the Senate.

If the Democrats should fail to recapture the House and lose the reins of power in the Senate, Republicans, led by Conservative GOP Governor Glenn Youngkin will push through a conservative

agenda.

Restricting abortion, voting, and other civil rights issues are areas where the GOP is prone to roll back reforms that have been made in Virginia in these areas.

For example, Virginia is one of the last states in the old confederacy that has not passed a restrictive abortion law.

Today the Commonwealth is the destination of many women from other southern states where the procedure has been restricted or curtailed.

Youngkin wants to reduce

the number of weeks a woman can have an abortion to 15. Today it is 22 weeks. He has raised millions to help Republicans win the four competitive seats in the State Senate and seven in the House that likely will determine which party controls the General Assembly after the November election.

If you think the primary races were heated in a number of House and Senate Districts over the past year, expect the two parties to ramp up the rhetoric to motivate their supporters in the fall. see Elections, page 8A

NSU Partners With Nonprofit In New Women’s Program

NSU NEWSROOM

Norfolk State University recently announced its partnership with Black BRAND, a local non-profit, to present Women Who Lead, a 12-week professional development program. The partners aim to support the career needs of primarily low- and moderate-income minority women seeking greater access to opportunity. The program will provide professional mentorship for participants with the intent to lead them to career certification and other development programs that will enhance their lives.

“Women Who Lead aims to reduce brain drain in Hampton Roads by upskilling

the region’s underdeveloped talent and creating a pipeline to career and contract opportunities,” wrote the University in a press release.

Program organizers have noted the viability of several area leadership programs including LEAD Hampton Roads, CIVIC Leadership Institute, and LEFCOE that are noted for networking business leaders and executives. Participants in these ongoing programs are selected by invitation/ recommendation only.

Women Who Lead borrows elements from these programs and will provide opportunity to screened women participants believed most impacted by discrimination

and institutional bias.

“During the pandemic, we watched as organizations carried essential supplies, vaccinations, and information about the coronavirus from door to door in nearly every under resourced community in Hampton Roads. Those initiatives were very effective. It’s time to do the same thing with opportunity,” says Blair Durham President and CEO of Black BRAND. According to a recent report by Harvard Business School graduate Sam Pressler, if there were no racial gaps in income or employment in Hampton Roads in 2019, the region’s GDP would have been $17 billion higher in 2019.

HU President Marks First Year With Enrollment Surge

HAMPTON

Hampton University recently reported it has experienced an unprecedented surge in enrollment over the past year under the

university’s new leadership. This Fall, the university will welcome a freshman class of 1,292 students, as of June 14 –a 39% increase from the 20222023 academic year.

“This achievement stands as a testament to the transformative power of a revitalized commitment to student success and urgency in execution,” the university’s

International AA Museum Opens

Charleston, S.C. is home to the International AA Museum which has been under development for more than two decades to do justice to all 400 years of the Black experience in America.

see pages 5A and 6B

spokesperson said in a press release. “President Williams has rewritten the narrative of transitions in leadership in higher education. Under his stewardship, Hampton has

experienced an energizing hope and heightened performance. His strategic emphasis on academic excellence, innovation, and delivering the #1 student experience in America has been pivotal in attracting an influx of talented students seeking an exceptional collegiate experience.”

May 1 marked National College Decision Day, commonly regarded as the

deadline for prospective students to formally accept offers of admission and send in enrollment deposits. According to the university students committed earlier and at a historic rate than ever before. University Dean of Admissions, Angela Nixon Boyd, said, “Our goal was 1,200 [incoming students]. We surpassed the goal and have now had to waitlist students.” see HU , page 3A

Sen. Louise Lucas …won in the new 18th District Del. Angelia Williams Graves …won in the new 21st District

Photo: WandaF.Camm

The Black Press is Our Vanguard

By Michael A. Grant, J.D.

I write this brief essay with two goals in mind: First, I want to extend a warm welcome to the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) to its annual convention in Nashville, Tennessee. And, secondly, to try to share with your readers the powerful impact that the Black Press continues to have on our struggle for total equality in America.

From Frederick Douglas’

The North Star to Ida B. Wells’ The Memphis Free Press and all subsequent members of the Black press, the plight of African – Americans was chronicled and a beacon of hope was provided through the journalistic efforts and trials of the country’s heroic Black Press. I cannot begin to capture the countless ways that the Black Press acted as the vanguard and the persistent battering ram against forces of oppression in this country. What I would like to do is to act as an eyewitness to the enormous contribution that NNPA member papers made during the last thirty years where I had a bird’s eye view of their reporting.

It was around 1992, while serving as branch president of the NAACP here in Nashville, that I had cause to contact NNPA’s office in Washington, D.C. We, at the branch, were reaping the benefits of an initiative to restore the voting rights of felons who had served their time and were interested in enfranchisement. I contacted the local Elections Commission Office and requested that it move its operations one Saturday to the branch office. The campaign was a huge success so we decided to broadcast our efforts nationally in hopes that others would follow suit.

After reaching out to Hazel Trice Edney and Rosetta Miller-Perry, the word was disseminated around the country. The rest is history. My next encounter with the NNPA centered on a marketing strategy for Athan Gibbs’ TruVote Voting System. Arguably, Athan Gibbs’ ingenious invention of the TruVote validation and verification voting system saved American democracy. I know this is a bold assertion but after experiencing the debacle that was the 2000 Presidential election, I witnessed (as vicepresident of marketing for TruVote), first-hand, how

85-Year-Old Nebraska Black-Owned Newspaper Boosted By New Owner

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia

Michael A. Grant, J.D

Athan Gibbs’ accounting skills helped the country to move to a voting system where confidence could be restored in the voting process.

Although he was not given credit for revolutionizing voting in America, I shudder to think of how the country could have survived the attempted coup in 2020 if our voting systems were as flawed as Athan Gibbs found them to be during of the 2000 Presidential Election. I also noticed, years after Gibbs’ untimely death, that I voted on a system that looked remarkedly like Gibbs’ invention, which was widely covered by NNPA member papers.

Lastly, and again, I had to tap into the journalistic excellence of Hazel Trice Edney to help raise the consciousness of Black Americans about the need for building intergenerational wealth. Three national organizations, with the help of Congresswoman

Maxine Waters, kicked off a movement called Black Wealth 2020 in 2015. The founding organizations were the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc., the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters and the National Bankers Association. The presidents of these groups were Ron Busby Sr., Jim Winston and Michael Grant, respectively. The coalition expanded to several other organizations.

Black Wealth 2020 set three ambitious goals: To significantly increase the number of Black-owned businesses and their gross receipts; to increase home ownership by two million; and to increase deposits in and loans with Black banks. At its Winter meeting, the goals of Black Wealth 2020 were ratified by the National Black Caucus of State Legislators a year after the coalition was formed. NNPA

newspapers thoroughly covered the movement and led millions of Black Americans to a realization of their buying strength and the power generated by a unity of purpose.

This partial recounting of the great work of the NNPA is not meant to be exhaustive. It is, however, a reminder that the medium is the message and no other media will tell our story with the same passion and desire for Black progress that NNPA members have demonstrated.

Thank you, NNPA, and welcome to the home of Tennessee State University, Meharry Medical College and Fisk University. I hope you enjoy Southern hospitality at its very best! Michael A. Grant, J.D. is president of United Security Financial, Inc., a full-fledge, Black-owned mortgage company. He is also former president of the National Bankers Association.

Publisher Terri Sanders has taken ownership of The Omaha Star, the oldest and only African Americanowned newspaper in the Cornhusker State.

The move marks a new chapter in the publication’s history, as it holds a crucial position in representing and addressing the community’s needs.

Sanders was excited about the opportunity.

“This is more than surreal—this has been a dream for a long time,” she said in an interview with News 6 in Omaha.

Sanders, who follows in the footsteps of Mildred Brown, the paper’s founder, and other notable African American women leaders such as Marguerita Washington, proclaimed her determination to carry forward the legacy of The Omaha Star.

The newspaper is a member of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, the trade association of the more than 230 African Americanowned newspapers and media companies in the United States.

Since its establishment in 1938, the newspaper has been committed to highlighting positive news from the north Omaha community, often

From The Guide’s Archives

June 29, 1940

Edition of the Guide

The Teacher’s Case Is Sent Back

NORFOLK City officials and members of the Norfolk School Board have been studying the decision of the Circuit Court of Appeals in the Melvin Alston Case which favored the teachers but has announced a decision as to not move on the case.

The Appellate Court decision reversed the ruling of the United States District Court in Norfolk, which had dismissed Alston’s suit and instructed the lower court to try the case on its merits. Whether or not the school board would exercise its prerogative to appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme Court couldn’t be detected here Tuesday.

Last week city officials pointed out they would have to have time to study the case before they could complete plans for the next step in the case.

Similarly, the NAACP legal staff which won the appeal in the case for Alston has not shown its next move.

The case Alston Vs. The City of Norfolk School Board was filed on behalf of Black teachers to secure equal pay with white teachers employed by the Norfolk Public School Division.

The city has balked because of the cost. A.H. Foreman chairman of the Norfolk School board, estimated that if the suit is a success the sum of $215,000 will be added to the school board’s budget.

The members also wish time to peruse carefully the ruling of the Appellate Court in order to find out what is to be indicated. Plan 9.5 Percent

made up of Colored troops Lt. Colonel H.L. Twaddle disclosed last week.

With the outlook for a War in Europe involving the United States, such measures to bolster the national security of the nation are being considered. This does not mean that a like percentage of Colored men will be inducted and trained in the peacetime Army.

It simply means that in case of a national emergency it becomes necessary to mobilize, the number of men to be called for army duty will be in proportion to the Colored people in the population of this country.

Race Leaders Active as Republicans Seek Presidential Nominee PHILADELPHIA

With a total of 30 voting Negro delegates and 42 alternatives from 24 states, the Republican National Convention officially opened here with Black members figuring in the early political activities of the body pressing for an interpretation of the Republicans’ plans on Negroes in the coming election.

In the meantime, a special plan presented by Sarah Pelham Speaks and Francis Rivers was recommended by Colored members of the Republican Program Committee and the Conference of Negro Republicans representing all the states for the inclusion in the party platform to be adopted officially by the convention.

Clyde Barrie, a famous concert singer whose programs over the CBS Radio network have attracted wide attention, was the first Colored on the convention program. He sang “America” immediately after Chairman John Hamilton called the meeting to order and drew hearty applause.

Ex-President Herbert Hoover was the principal

overlooked by mainstream media. With the upcoming 85th anniversary of The Omaha Star on July 9th, Sanders said she aims to ensure that the publication’s remarkable legacy endures into the future.

While the historic building that houses the paper will remain intact, Sanders said she would make specific changes to enhance its appeal.

She plans to transform the area where the interview took place into a museum dedicated to honoring Mildred Brown, Black newspapers, and Black journalism.

Sanders emphasized her dedication to keeping The Star firmly rooted in the north Omaha community. She asserted the need to keep it there and avoid having it moved or taken over by outsiders who might need help understanding its significance.

Looking ahead, Sanders has plans to expand The Star’s digital presence, recognizing the importance of embracing new technologies and reaching a wider audience.

She said the newspaper could adapt to the changing media landscape by establishing a more robust digital footprint while staying true to its mission of uplifting the north Omaha community.

Journal and Guide

Teacher Corps Sponsors “Salute to Elaine”

NORFOLK The Norfolk-Chesapeake Teacher Corps Project recently honored Dr. Elaine Witty, head of the Norfolk State College (NSC) Elementary Education Department and Association director of the Teachers Corps; with a “Salute to Elaine” during a workshop held at NSC recently.

In the Top Photo, Dr. Yvonne Miller, Center Director of the Teacher Corps Project, presents a gift to Dr. Witty, (Left Center). Looking on Left to Right are Dr. Sidney S. Boose, Director of Student Teaching; Hilda Tyler, Community Coordinator, Teacher Corps; Mrs. Vivian Johnson, Secretary; Miss Mary Pope, Secretary;

speaker on Tuesday evening.

Ex-Slave, 86, Shows Genius for Painting

MONTGOMERY

At the age of 86, art and Billy Taylor merged and the results of this union, while not finished, are at least genius in the rough. Or else, art critics who are supposed to know what constitutes artistic genius have overstated the case.

Taylor is an ex-slave, who tired of doing nothing some six months ago, took some crayons and began to sketch on the bark of wooden boxes. And behold with no fanfare, an artist was “discovered.”

Taylor’s odd and offtimes grotesque pictures contain an element of genius, something between the case pictures of prehistoric times and the modernistic work of Picasso. It is been added that our Taylor seems to have an innate genius for artists who frequently

study for years.

June 28, 1975

Edition of the Guide Church Street Strives to Improve Image

NORFOLK

“It is our feeling the most advantageous thing the association can do now is to inform the City Council, as a body, and let them know it is not just two merchants who want action,” Curt Saunders of the Norfolk Development Corporation (NDC) told Church Street Merchants June 20.

“Until there is a commitment from City Council that Church Street will be given special priority nothing will be done except additional planning,” Saunders added. He made the comments during a meeting of the Church Street Business and Professional Association regarding a continuing plan to obtain aid from the city to improve the deteriorating business district.

City Council some time ago engaged the NDC to coordinate plans to upgrade Church Street. Saunders attended the Association meeting to explain a proposed NDC plan to revitalize Church Street in four phases.

The NDC proposal is in the final stages of preparation and is expected to go to City Council in the near future, according to Saunders. However, he expressed some apprehensions over the revitalization of Church Street as has been discussed thus far.

“The only feasible way as we (NDC) see it, is to have the city or possibly a public developer do now what is being done in East Ghent. There is money available to assist private developers,” Saunders said The NDC plan was not totally acceptable to those attending the meeting. “It will take five years to do it. No one (business) will still be here in five years,” one merchant declared.

Archives taken from the pages of the (New)

Mrs. Mamie L. Ratliff, LEA Coordinator; Dr. M Sharif Hafiz, Program, Development Specialist; and Dr. Herman Bozeman, Chairman of Teacher Education, NSC.

Photo: SouthhallBassIII

From Frederick Douglas’ The North Star to Ida B. Wells’ The Memphis Free Press and all subsequent members of the Black press, the plight of African – Americans was chronicled and a beacon of hope was provided through the journalistic efforts and trials of the country’s heroic Black Press.

COALITION SETS GOAL TO COMBAT INJUSTICE, INCREASE VOTER REGISTRATION IN FLA.

NNPA Newswire

The Transformative Justice Coalition (TJC) embarked on a 15-city tour on June 19 to combat social injustice, racial inequity, and increase voter registration in underserved communities in the state of Florida.

TJC is partnering with the Florida chapter of the NAACP, The Rainbow/ PUSH Coalition, The League of Women Voters, and Black Voters Matter to help heighten awareness. The tour began in Jacksonville, FL.

“We welcome the TJC and other organizations to Florida to help combat the social and racial injustices taking place here in Florida,” said Florida NAACP President Adora Obi Nweze.

“We look forward to rollingup our sleeves and getting a lot done in the coming days and weeks.” Black Voters Matter cofounder Cliff Albright added, “We want the Governor of

HU

Continued from page 1A

Qualified applicants who would have otherwise received an acceptance letter are now being held on a waitlist. If an admitted student changes their mind, the admissions team will refer to the waitlist on a first come, first served basis to fill any openings for the upcoming school year. The waitlist currently sits at a hefty 1,152. Admitted students took

Locals

Continued from page 1A

She earned a Master’s in Organizational Leadership and Administration at Central Michigan University. During the 1970s, Taylor worked as a structural engineer at Newport News Shipbuilding. Today she promotes the importance of diversity in engineering and the sciences, as well as mentoring young people and early career professionals Smith and Taylor join the list of members of the armed forces, engineers, authors, community leaders, educators, journalists, judges, and politicians who have been celebrated throughout the program’s history.

“Each generation builds on the achievements of the one before. That’s why we are proud to honor Strong Men & Women in Virginia History who have used their talents and efforts to improve communities for the present and future generations,” said Bill Murray, Senior

BLACKS MORE LIKELY TO BE TICKETED BY POLICE

By Rosaland Tyler Associate Editor New Journal and Guide

Police officers are more likely to stop a Black driver and write a ticket in Virginia, Chicago, Rochester, and Buffalo--or in predominantly Black zip codes in Washington, D.C., where lurking cameras keep watch.

A recent ProPublica analysis of millions of citations found that households in majority Black and Hispanic zip codes received tickets at around twice the rate of those in White neighborhoods between 2015 and 2019.

stopped by police (records show Blacks have experienced more than 440,000 traffic stops since July 2020).

In Chicago, about 1 million camera tickets have generated more than $1.3 billion in revenue since the first one was installed nearly two decades ago.

In Buffalo, ticketed Black drivers had to pay $550 for a reckless driving charge. If a resident refused to pay, potential costs over seven years could total $3,850. But the average traffic violation fine in Buffalo ranges from $45 and $600 depending on how far over the limit the river was going.

Florida to know we will not stand by and let him diminish and marginalize our efforts to bring justice, equality, and fairness to our community. We know and fully understand the work we do makes a difference, and that’s what we will continue to do.”

Founded by Barbara Arnwine, President Emeritis of the Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights. Under the Law, the Transformative Justice Coalition seeks to be a catalyst for transformative institutional changes that bring about justice and equality in the United States and abroad.

to social media to announce their college decision, sharing unique videos and photos in a viral storm that lasted days and caused engagement to skyrocket a whopping 351%.

Incoming students aren’t the only ones impressed; current students have expressed their approval of the Williams administration, the University release noted. Retention rates from Fall to Spring semester held strong with freshmen at 96% and continuing students at 93%.

Hampton credited its alumni base for aiding in the positive report. The National Hampton Alumni Association

Florida has become ground zero for suppressing democratic principles, ideas, and academic freedom.

Over the past months, Florida has passed or introduced legislation that has resulted in banning books focused on inclusion education; divested state funds from schools that practice principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion; and criminalized the teaching of American History.

“We must stand up against the hate that Governor DeSantis is promoting,” said TJC President Arnwine.

worked closely with the Office of Admissions to deepen student recruitment efforts, representing the University at events across the country that resulted in an uptick of committed students in several states, namely, Florida, Texas, and California. President Williams and First Lady Myra Richardson Williams prioritized efforts to establish a genuine camaraderie with alumni chapters as they traveled to personally share the Hampton story. “The energy that he and his wife bring to the University has certainly permeated throughout the country,” Dean Boyd shared.

“The consequences have been especially punishing in Black neighborhoods, which have been hit with more than half a billion dollars in penalties over the last 15 years, contributing to thousands of vehicle impoundments, driver’s license suspensions and bankruptcies,” ProPublica noted. Officials plan to stick to this policy due to the fact that it generates millions of dollars especially in Virginia where records show Blacks were twice as likely as Whites to be

In Rochester, N.Y., 40 percent of all traffic violators were Black. Subsequent to being stopped for speeding, Blacks (78 percent) and Hispanics (85 percent) were more likely than Whites (70 percent) to receive a ticket. * In Virginia, “On average, the cost of a typical Virginia speeding violation costs between $350 to $400 if you include taxes and other fees,” Keefer Law Firm noted on its website. “Additionally you may owe fines and court costs.”

Former Norfolk Chief On Traffic Stops, Ticketing, And De-escalating Tensions

By Leonard E. Colvin Chief Reporter New Journal and Guide

Within a few weeks

former Norfolk Police Chief Larry Boone will be moving to Urbana, Illinois where he will lead that city’s department.

Boone, Norfolk’s third Black Police Chief, had a 33-year career with NPD six of which he served as chief from 2016 to 2022.

Boone said Urbana’s city leaders hired him for his progressive and “21st Century policing policies” such as “Procedural Justice” which recently was highlighted in the “Proceedings of the

Library of Virginia will host a traveling exhibition featuring each of the honorees and their biographical information.

National Academy of Sciences” involving policecitizen interaction during traffic stops.

That study looked at the outcome of the first 45 words a police officer utters while encountering a citizen during a traffic stop.

It found that escalating tension is nearly three times more likely to start when the first words are commands, such as “Keep your hands on the wheel” or “Turn the car off.”

However, the chance of escalating tensions, handcuffing, arrests, or violence was reduced when a police officer ’s first words provided a reason for the stop.

Boone said traffic stops are the most “prevalent” police-citizen contact. They are also the most dangerous, he said, and explained there is a sense of “self-preservation” on the part of the officer and the citizen, especially those who live in “marginalized” and “over-policed” urban communities, that has destroyed their trust in law enforcement.

Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Communications at Dominion Energy.

“These amazing men and women have proven that hard work and determination can shape one’s destiny and the world. Throughout time, African American leaders have used their unique skill sets and unwavering passion to mentor leaders of the future. It’s important to honor their efforts and their legacy,” said Sandra G. Treadway, Librarian of Virginia.

The 2023 honorees are Kendall Holbrook, CEO and Mentor, Fairfax County; Ora Scruggs McCoy, Farmer and Community

Activist, Appomattox County; Wendell Oliver Scott (honored posthumously), Stock Car Driver, Danville; Col. Quentin Joseph Smith Jr. (Ret), Air Force Pilot and Mentor, Hampton; Sheila Bowen Taylor, Nuclear Engineer and Mentor, Norfolk; and Rev. Raymond Rogers Wilkinson (honored posthumously), Baptist Minister and Civil Rights Leader, Roanoke.

In addition to attending a special gala, each honoree was provided the opportunity to choose a non-profit to receive a $5,000 grant from the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation. The

In 2013, Strong Men & Women in Virginia History was born when Dominion Energy and the Library of Virginia began a new educational initiative that merged two Black History Month programs: Dominion Energy’s 22–year–old series, Strong Men & Women: Excellence in Leadership and the Library of Virginia’s eight–year–old program, African American Trailblazers in Virginia History.

As part of the initiative, high school students from each region of Virginia are invited to submit essays on outstanding African Americans. Winners each receive an Apple MacBook Air laptop and $1,000 for their schools.

The 2023 Student Creative Expressions Contest winners are Jonah Burton, Henrico HS, Richmond; Alexa Koeckritz, Grafton HS, Yorktown; Lily Vietmeyer, WashingtonLiberty HS, Arlington; and Maria Turner. Patrick County HS, Stuart.

To complicate the matter, a recent ProPublica analysis of millions of traffic citations found that households in majority Black and Hispanic zip codes received tickets at around twice the rate of those in White neighborhoods between 2015 and 2019.

The GUIDE contacted Boone to get a comment about the “45-seconds” study which is similar to one the NPD conducted in collaboration with Old Dominion University (ODU) during his tenure.

A 2017 research article written by ODU’s Department of University Relations defined the study as a “(A) groundbreaking research collaboration between ODU and NPD (which) could provide a template for more positive interactions between citizens and police.

Mengyan Dai, ODU associate professor of sociology and criminal justice, received a grant of nearly $400,000 in late 2016 from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) to examine the impact of “procedural justice” on interactions between police and citizens.

The three-stage study with the NPD was designed to test this concept during police stops in the city. see Chief, page 8A

As Norfolk Police Chief, Boone (at right with activist Bilal Muhammad) frequently met with anti-gun violence activists working in the community to address crime.

Col. Quentin Joseph Smith Jr. (Ret)

Sheila Bowen Taylor

PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF SOCIOLOGY VIRGINIA TECH

RACIAL GERRYMANDERING

By Wornie Reed, Ph.D.

One of the most powerful acts against democracy is gerrymandering which is the political manipulation of electoral district boundaries to create an undue advantage for a party or group within the constituency.

One primary form of gerrymandering is racial gerrymandering, which draws maps that favor White communities over nonwhite communities.

Every ten years following the decennial census, the nation undergoes redistricting. Redistricting draws state, local, and congressional district maps based on census data. The people who draw the new maps vary from state to state; some states use redistricting commissions, while others give the task to state legislators.

The redistricting process is supposed to reflect changes in the population so that every person can have the opportunity for equitable representation in our government. However, gerrymandering makes that impossible.

The redistricting after the 2020 Census was the first one without the protection of the whole Voting Rights Act (VRA), severely limited by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2013. And as expected, some states took advantage of this weakening of the VRA to gerrymander Congressional districts.

States like Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin reverted to their old ways, implementing racially discriminatory maps that dilute the voice of Black, Latino, and Asian American

and Pacific Islander voters, violating the remaining provisions of the VRA.

According to the 2020 census, the population of Texas grew by 90 percent, yet the legislature did not draw maps that reflected this rise. Elsewhere, Louisiana legislators failed to create a second Black-majority district, limiting the voting power of Black voters.

Before the 2020 Census, Alabama had one congressional district that was majority Black out of seven congressional districts--11.1 percent. The 2020 Census showed that the State was 27 percent Black. Yet their new redistricting map limited Blacks to one congressional district.

Three groups of plaintiffs brought suit seeking to stop Alabama from conducting Congressional elections under the legislation specifying the new map—HB1. The first group was led by Dr. Marcus Caster, a resident of Washington County, who challenged HB1 as invalid under Section 2 of VRA, which specifies antidiscrimination. The second group, led by Montgomery County resident Evan Milligan, brought claims under Section 2 of VRA and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Finally, the third group challenged HB1 as an impermissible racial

THE WOKE DERANGEMENT SYNDROME

By Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. (TRICEEDNEYWIRE.COM)

gerrymander under the Equal Protection Clause.

Surprisingly, earlier this month, the U.S. Supreme Court stepped back from the brink of totally gutting the landmark 1965 Voting Rights Act. They upheld the plaintiffs in a 5-4 vote, with Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Kavanaugh voting with the three liberals.

This ruling upheld a 1986 precedent interpreting how legislative districts must be drawn under the landmark voting rights act, as amended in 1982. The court said that in Alabama, a state with seven congressional seats and one in four voters is black, the Republican-dominated state legislature had denied African American voters a reasonable chance to elect a second representative of their choice.

I am in Alabama, and a few days ago, I was invited to participate in a meeting of the Black Democrats of Washington County, where Dr. Marcus reported on developments surrounding the Court decision. This group also discussed the need to fight against the current gerrymandering of local voting districts. In Washington County, this was weakening Black representation.

I applauded these Black Democrats as this is the work we need nationwide to halt the restoration of Jim Crow-era politics.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been touted as the presidential candidate who can win rather than lose. He was supposedly able to forge a majority by uniting Trump’s MAGA base with disaffected Republican suburbanites. In recent weeks, he’s rolled out his presidential campaign platform, promising Americans a “war on woke.” Say what? Americans face declining life expectancy – a product of a health care system that is failing despite costing about two times per person what other industrial countries spend. We suffer a debilitating inequality and increasingly pervasive corruption – a product of the big money that distorts our democracy. We face a literally existential threat in catastrophic climate change already costing lives and billions from extreme weather. We lost over 1 million people to a pandemic and ended with a public health system more discredited than when we started.

We’ve made college education and advanced training more and more unaffordable even as they are more and more important. We are threatened by over 12 mass shootings a week, with schools now doing drills on how to escape. We’re spending more on our military than the next nine countries combined, and still find ourselves in wars without end and without victory.

These are not, however, what DeSantis thinks ails America. Instead, he plagiarizes Winston Churchill taking on Hitler in World War II, saying: “We will fight the woke in education, we will fight the woke in the

corporations, we will fight the woke in the halls of Congress. We will never, ever surrender…”

What is “woke?” Donald Trump complained that half the people who use the term don’t know what it means. DeSantis’ general counsel, Ryan Newman, defined woke as “the belief there are systemic injustices in American society and the need to address them,” adding that DeSantis doesn’t believe there are systemic injustices in American society. Really?

Those who were once sleep, are now “woke” because of the pressing issues affecting their lives. For example, people adjusted to watching “Amos and Andy” until they became acquainted with “The Huxtables.”

Those who were told they could not vote became maladjusted until we were given the right to vote. Now we are voting with deliberate speed.

For DeSantis “waging war on woke” has entailed launching attacks on LGBTQ Americans, purging books from schools, distorting the teaching of history, and taking on businesses like Disney that disagree with him. He wants to cover up the history of slavery, put gays back in the closet, ship out some immigrants (not the Cuban Americans and VenezuelanAmericans who form part of his base), and outlaw

acknowledgement of sexism, racism or nativism, much less doing anything about them. And he expects enough Americans to enlist in his war on woke to elect him president. History, however, can’t simply be erased. And reality can’t simply be ignored. To deny that systemic injustices are part of the American reality is to demand that justice be blind, not equal. DeSantis’ war on woke may succeed in dividing us, but it offers no answer to what ails us. Working people aren’t the cause of our unaffordable health care system – insurance and drug companies are. LGBTQ Americans aren’t the defenders of catastrophic climate change – big oil and King Coal are. Working people aren’t losing ground because African Americans have gained civil rights, they are losing ground because corporations have shipped good jobs abroad with the aid of conservative politicians in both parties that they finance. Immigrants aren’t the cause of the gun violence that terrorizes our children, the gun lobby and politicians like DeSantis, who oppose common sense gun reforms, are far more responsible. Those who object to racism, sexism or nativism don’t cause the injustice; they seek to remedy it.

see Woke, page 5A

Pride Month Marred By Anti-LGBTQ+ Bills In State Legislatures No Systemic Racism?

By Marc H. Morial

To Be Equal (TRICEEDNEYWIRE.COM)

“We are powerful because we have survived, and that is what it is all about- survival and growth.”

- Audre Lorde uuu

Pride Month should be a time for celebrating love, the freedom to love whom we choose, and triumph over the prejudice, ignorance, and fear of the past. The prejudice, ignorance, and fear of the present, however, have cast a dark shadow over this year’s celebration.

In the past few years, there has been an astonishing increase in the bills restricting the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning people of the community (LGBTQ+).

In this legislative session alone, state legislators have introduced a record 491 proposals to undermine and weaken nondiscrimination laws, limiting access to books and performances like drag shows, blocking medically-necessary and gender-affirming health care.

Nearly half of the bills target our most vulnerable young people, attempting to prevent trans students from participating in school activities like sports,

to force teachers to out students, and to censor any in-school discussions of LGBTQ people and issues.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed four bills on May 17th as well as expanded on Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law. This law has restricted sexual orientation and gender identity discussions in the classroom from kindergarten to third grade. The updated law will expand the prohibited discussion to eighth grade.

How will our youth express their authentic selves if it is illegal?

On June 28th, 1969, in New York City, police raided a gay bar called the Stonewall Inn. Such raids were commonplace, as the expression of LGBTQ identity – cross-dressing, holding hands, kissing, or dancing with someone of the same sex – was illegal. This time, however, instead of complying, the crowd fought back. This spark

ignited a fire, which led to five days of rioting to defend LGBTQ rights in America. History is being reversed. Politicians hoping to ride a wave of hatred and ignorance into higher office are driving the nation backward toward the dark days of shame before Stonewall. Black, indigenous, and people of color LGBTQ individual experience far more discrimination than their white counterparts. They already face systemic hurdles in employment and the justice system. They also experience discrimination in situations that impact their basic needs: 24% reported discriminatory treatment from a healthcare provider, 44% share that discrimination has impacted them from renting or buying a home, and 48% have an income of less than $40,000 a year. see Pride, page 5A

By Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq. (Ret.) (TRICEEDNEYWIRE.COM)

I woke up a few days ago expecting, almost hoping, that my day would be sufficiently uneventful so as not to aggravate my spirit. Instead, while listening to “The View,” I heard Senator Tim Scott proclaim, “There is no Systemic Racism in America.” He attempted to justify his assertion by using his home state of South Carolina as an example. He mentioned there being a Black police chief. Just one time, he mentioned America having a Black President. Thoughtlessly, or maybe with full thought and consideration, he didn’t mention President Obama as being only one president out of forty-six in 247 years.

To be fair to him, he named two or three other Black people as examples for his premise, but he was speaking on “The View” where the hosts knew better. His understanding of Systemic Racism was somewhere outside the realm of reality and Joy Behar told him so.

It was clear he was prepared for an adversarial response from Whoopi Goldberg, and he seemed somewhat surprised that he was confronted by Sunny Hostin. She asked him to define what he believed to be Systemic Racism. Responding as I’ve come to expect, Scott gave a solid ‘non-

answer’ to her question, saying, “One of the things I think about, and one of the reasons I’m on this show, is because of the comments that were made, frankly, on this show that the only way for a young African American kid to be successful in this country is to be the exception and not the rule.” He went on to say, “That is a dangerous, offensive, disgusting message to send to our young people today, that the only way to succeed is by being the exception.”

Scott’s other-worldly understanding of Systemic Racism in American history obviously does not include nearly 250 years of enslavement or the empirical data which caused Republican President Nixon to establish The Federal Affirmative Action Program (E.O. 11478 – August 8, 1969) to correct the ills of an uninterrupted pattern of racial discrimination in the Federal sector.

Scott has obviously ignored the history and patterns of personal Black

American achievement in post-enslavement America. On one hand, are the “chosen few” – those Blacks whose demeanor, disposition, and/or unique circumstances present them as non-threatening to whites and acceptable for favorable treatment. On the other hand are those I characterize as indomitable – those who have the talent, courage, confidence, and perseverance to challenge any obstacle that confronts them. Either of these personality types achieves because of their exceptionalism. Unlike the chosen few, those who are indomitable achieve without willingly compromising their principles.

While success is not always measured by wealth or position, opportunity and access or lack thereof are prime considerations. Earl Graves, Ketanji Brown Jackson, and Wes Moore ARE exceptions because of the obstacles they overcame. see Racism, page 5A

Marc H. Morial

Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq.

Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.

Politicians hoping to ride a wave of hatred and ignorance into higher office are driving the nation backward toward the dark days of shame.

To be fair to him, he named two or three other Black people as examples for his premise, but he was speaking on “The View” where the hosts knew better.

DeSantis offers up his war on the woke, seeking to turn us on one another, peddling a big lie in the name of truth, cruelty in the name of morality.

The redistricting process is supposed to reflect changes in the population so that every person can have the opportunity for equitable representation in our government. However, gerrymandering makes that impossible.

OP-ED: Opening of New International AA Museum In Charleston

By James E. Clyburn (SC-06)

Assistant Democratic Leader

In 2019, my daughter Jennifer and I took part in a Congressional Delegation to Ghana that included my good friend, the late Congressman John Lewis. Our visit was to commemorate the 400 years since Blacks were forcibly taken from the continent of Africa and enslaved in America.

During that visit, Jennifer and I stood silently in the “door of no return,” holding hands. I never asked her about her thoughts, and she did not ask me about mine.

Last Saturday, she and her husband joined me at the dedication of the International African American Museum (IAAM) in Charleston. It is fitting that IAAM stands on the site of Gadsden’s Wharf, where nearly half of all enslaved Africans brought to this continent arrived.

When I was asked by then-Charleston Mayor Joe Riley 23 years ago to chair the steering committee

Woke

Continued from page 4A

In the end, DeSantis’ war on woke is an ugly con. He opposes investing in people, lifting the minimum wage, giving workers the right to organize, curbing big money in politics. He opposes taxing the rich and corporations, rolling back subsidies to big oil, cracking down on pervasive corruption. As a congressman, he favored cutting Social Security and Medicare while defending tax breaks for the wealthy. He is the champion of the contented, the protector of the privileged. That isn’t exactly an attractive agenda. So,

to develop his vision of establishing such a museum in Charleston, I thought of the countless slaves that were stolen from their homeland, stripped of their identities, and brought to this strange land in shackles. But I also thought of the African Americans who rose above the circumstances of their ancestors and their countless descendants eager to honor their memories. I said during my dedication remarks that IAAM tells the story of perseverance through the middle passage, resistance to enslavement,

DeSantis offers up his war on the woke, seeking to turn us on one another, peddling a big lie in the name of truth, cruelty in the name of morality.

Despite his multimillion-dollar war chest, his campaign to date has been a dud. In Florida, parents are mobilizing against his attempt to censor the curriculum, ban books, and terrorize teachers. His assault on Disney cost the state thousands of jobs and gave his wealthy sponsors second thoughts. More importantly, voters don’t seem to be buying what he’s selling.

Even as Trump’s legal troubles deepen, DeSantis has lost ground in the polls. Perhaps Americans aren’t as dumb as he thinks they are. Perhaps hate isn’t as potent as hope.

triumphs over Jim Crow, and significant contributions to the greatness of this country.

In the early days of our efforts, there was significant debate about the focus of the museum. But I knew we had to do justice to all 400 years of the Black experience in America. On the day we broke ground on IAAM, another good friend, Congressman Elijah Cummings, was being funeralized in Baltimore, Maryland. Elijah was the great-great-grandson of Scippio Rhame, who, until he was freed in 1868, worked the same land as Elijah’s parents, who were sharecroppers.

Because of his parents’ participation in the great migration, Elijah was born

Racism

Continued from page 4A

Scott and his blackrobed judicial counterpart, Clarence Thomas, exemplify the ‘chosen few.’ Scott echoes the talking points of his handlers and denies the obvious realities of those who must live through the hazards of racism. When appointed to coordinate with Corey Booker to create a bipartisan response to police violence, Scott initially spoke with knowing candor. Somewhere in the process, he was reined in and unyieldingly embraced the qualified immunity doctrine for police which effectively

and grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, where Elijah was placed in special education classes. He overcame that profiling and graduated college, Phi Beta Kappa. He became an accomplished lawyer, rose to serve in the United States Congress, and became Chairman of the powerful Oversight Committee. IAAM tells the story of the ancestors and descendants of Scippo Rhame, and countless others with similar backgrounds and experiences. Those stories are about more than the institution of slavery—they are uplifting experiences that epitomize the varying possibilities of who we are and what we can—and

ended any bipartisan effort.

Since joining the Supreme Court, Thomas has espoused the destruction of the same affirmative action initiatives which provided the lift necessary for his professional development. All appearances suggest that these two ‘chosen ones’ ignore any indignity or violence inflicted upon Blacks and other people of color or upon members of “other out-groups.”

Maybe guilt prevents the Senator from acknowledging his own complicity in the practices of Systemic Racism.

H.E. Ambassador Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq. (Ret) is President of http:// thedickgregorysociety.org/. and author of “Wake Up and Stay Woke”--a tribute to Dick Gregory

have—become. In that spirit, IAAM has established a oneof-a-kind center dedicated to African American genealogy research. The Center for Family History hosts a growing collection of photos, historical documents, and family histories that the public can comb through to find more information about their family trees.

To help bolster their records, the IAAM Center for Family History has issued an open call for obituaries, photos, family histories, and other historical documents. It is not lost on me that at the site where some researchers say half of all African Americans arrived in this country will sit a museum committed to reunifying their descendants with lost histories.

There is significant currency in the museum’s acronym, “IAAM.” In my office is a statue of a sanitation worker holding a sign with a simple message: “I am a man.” This statue tells the story of the 1968 Memphis Sanitation Workers’ strike, born out of anger over the deaths of Black sanitation workers Echol Cole and Robert Walker, who were killed on the job by malfunctioning equipment. The primarily Black

Pride

Continued from page 4A

While not all of the anti-LGBTQ bills will become law, they all have a devastating effect.

In 2022, 41% of LGBTQ youth contemplated suicide.

This rate is twice as high as the general population of youth. Further, 11% of white LGBTQ youth attempted suicide while double the amount of BIPOC LGBTQ attempted suicide.

The legislation that

sanitation force demanded recognition of their union, improved safety standards, and a living wage. It took nearly 2 months and the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., but in the end, their demands were met. The museum’s acronym, “IAAM,” serves to recognize their struggle and ultimate success.

I often quote George Santayana’s admonition, “Those who do not remember past lessons are condemned to repeat them.” African American history encompasses far more than the horrors of those who were enslaved. Their countless descendants include history-making visionaries, and IAAM honors and preserves their struggles and accomplishments and dares us to look toward the future.

I must admit that there were times during my chairmanship, especially in those early days, when I was not sure we would get this project across the finish line. I am proud that after more than 20 years of hard work and dedicated commitment, we are celebrating its opening, and future generations can learn fuller and more accurate stories of America’s greatness.

wishes to ban important conversations about the LGBTQ community will not witness progress, only children’s deaths.

Throughout history, figures such as Audre Lorde, Marsha P. Johnson, James Baldwin, Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, Gladys Bentley, Ron Oden, Lorraine Hansberry, and Phill Wilson have paved a path of hope. They will continue to inspire today’s LGBTQ youth of color and their needed allies. These icons will not be forgotten; we will fight for their history and our youth’s futures.

It is fitting that the International African American Museum (IAAM) stands on the site of Gadsden’s Wharf, where nearly half of all enslaved Africans brought to this continent arrived.

James E. Clyburn (SC-06)

53RD ANNUAL HAMPTON JAZZ FESTIVAL WRAP-UP

By Wanda F. Camm and Annette John Special to the New Journal and Guide

For the thousands of music lovers who flock to Hampton, Virginia each June to attend the Jazz Festival, this year’s loyalists were not disappointed. The weekend long event is more than a series of concerts, it’s an event. It’s a place where old friends meet and greet, people-watch, eat, drink and party.

The Friday night line-up included Jonathan Butler, Stephanie Mills, Trombone Shorty and headliner, Anthony Hamilton.

Saturday night’s performers were The Chuck Brown Band, Avery Sunshine, Chris Botti and Charlie Wilson.

When the Chuck Brown Experience hit the stage, they did what fans expected them to do— burn up the stage with GoGo! They had the people on their feet during their entire performance. Chuck Brown would be proud because they represented his legacy well.

Avery Sunshine was fabulous; outfit, red lipstick and all! Her dynamite presence and her melodic voice had the crowd excited about her performance. She played the keyboard and was amazing. She always talks about how much she loves her man. He is the guitar player in her band. They played off of each other on stage. It was so much fun to watch. Go Avery!!

What can be said about Christ Botti? He played that trumpet!! He and his band sounded crisp and on point. Just what you would expect from the “whitest trumpet player in the world,” as he wanted to be introduced. Well, we disagree! That

man has got soul!! He’s added a violinist to the show whose playing was incredible and so heartfelt.

Botti also introduced a fantastic singer from the Washington, DC area who was amazing. His fans— and that includes us— will be talking about this performance for a while. He will definitely be added to many playlists. But then came along Charlie Wilson better known as Uncle Charlie who was the headliner. He is absolutely timeless. His voice is still strong even though he’s 70 years old. We’re not sure what he does to stay young. But it’s working. Uncle Charlie sounds amazing. His show had incredible energy. He really brought the party and the festival goers loved it.

MORE JAZZ FAVORITES ON SUNDAY

The Sunday concert featured, Peter White, Kenny G, Babyface and Fantasia.

Peter White and his acoustic guitar had the coliseum crowd swaying their bodies and tapping their feet to the 70’s song by the Spinners, “Could It Be I’m Falling in Love.” He even donned shades and played some Bob Marley reggae. (Can you believe it?) Yes, he had us all smiling. He is super talented and was enjoyed immensely by festival attendees.

With just his very presence, Kenny G graced the audience and allowed surprised guests to take pictures before his show. When his set began, he was spotlighted on the floor in the middle of the audience. We were able to enjoy his playing up close and personal. As always, his performance was, well,

very powerful. He gave the attendees the awesome sound of smooth jazz, with his amazing soprano sax. Kenny informed us that he’s been playing that same instrument since high school. (Can you believe that?) Go, Kenny!

Babyface never disappoints. He dazzled the crowd with his energy, and had us all on the floor jamming. Not only did he sing many of the songs that he recorded; he also sang songs that he wrote for other artists. He gave us his all and it was evident that people had a great time.

The electric Fantasia was full of soulful energy from the beginning of her set until the end. She danced all around the stage and sang her heart out. Fantasia let the people know they better get up and dance. In her words “I didn’t come here to sing to dead people so you better get up.” She made it hard for the crowd to sit down. She is a wonderfully talented performer with a beautiful voice.

All in all, Hampton, Virginia was a great place to spend the weekend at the 53rd Annual Hampton Jazz Festival.

Kenny G said he’s been playing that same instrument since high school. Christ

AllphotosbyWandaF.Camm

CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR SOUGHT FOR HENRIETTA LACKS

By Rosaland Tyler Associate Editor New Journal and Guide

If Henrietta Lacks were still alive, the Roanoke native could be traveling to the White House to pick up a Congressional Gold Medal bearing her name.

But Lacks died of cervical cancer at age 31 on Oct. 4, 1951 after she was unsuccessfully treated at Baltimore’s Johns Hopkins University Hospital. Now some federal lawmakers are trying to make sure that her legacy continues.

Members of The Black Congressional Caucus: Maryland Congressman Kweisi Mfume and U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, recently introduced legislation that honors Lacks. Meanwhile, civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump said at the recent press conference held at the U.S. Capitol that a lawsuit is pending to garner financial restitution for Lacks’ descendants.

Mfume said at the recent press conference regarding pending legislation that aims to honor Lacks, “I would urge all of my colleagues

in the House and the Senate to move forward with” the passage of this statute, he told reporters.

Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee said at the recent press conference, “I’m hurt today, filled with joy but hurt. To this family, I want to simply, publicly apologize. This should have never happened.”

CBC Chairman Steven Horsford, D-Nev. said, “It is the highest honor that we can bestow on a citizen from the U.S. Congress. [It] has only been awarded to a few people in our nation’s history and even fewer Black people,” he explained, adding, “The CBC believes Ms. Lacks deserves this posthumous honor.”

Lacks died in Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1951 from a malignant tumor on her cervix. But before her death, some of her cells were harvested and given to Dr. George Gey, a researcher who had been attempting to grow human cells in his lab for decades.

Lack’s cells were discovered to have the miraculous ability to divide and replicate indefinitely outside the

body. Today, 72 years later, Lack’s cells are still reproducing themselves.

Called the HeLa Cells, scientists all over the world have used her cells to pursue and secure medical breakthroughs in the polio vaccine and treatments for cancer, HIV, and Parkinson’s disease.

However, while biomedical firms have made billions of dollars on the outcomes of their research using the HeLa cells, the descendants of Henrietta Lacks have never reaped any financial benefits. They did not even know until 1973 that the cells were being used.

Attorney Ben Crump recently told TheGrio that he and his legal team are involved in an ongoing case to seek financial justice for Lacks’ family.

“We’re in litigation in the federal courts in Baltimore,” Crump said. “We know that Thermo Fischer [a pharmaceutical company] is the defendant now, but we anticipate there will be more defendants, and we believe every ounce of justice that is due to Henrietta Lacks is going to take place.”

Crump said the legal case “will be unprecedented.”

Chuck Brown would be proud of his band because they represent his legacy well.

Avery Sunshine always talks about how much she loves her man. He is the guitar player in her band.

Botti? That man has got soul!!

Babyface never disappoints!

Fantasia, in her own words: “I didn’t come here to sing to dead people so you better get up!”

Kenny G—up close and personal with the crowd.

Chief

Continued from page 3A

Dai, who began researching procedural justice a decade ago while working on his dissertation at the University of Cincinnati, said theory suggests that the use of procedurally fair behavior by police officers will lead to broad positive outcomes in police-citizen relationships.

“Procedural justice focuses on the actions of officers following proper procedure during interactions,” Dai said. “Theoretically, we know that if a citizen feels they are treated fairly during a stop by police, they are more likely to accept the outcome. In the long run, this could result in better relations between the community and police.”

To demonstrate how seriously the NPD took this initiative, the first of three stages of the study was an eight-hour seminar given to every member of the department on the four principles of procedural justice - giving citizens a voice in the process or allowing them to tell their story; remaining neutral in interactions; treating individuals with respect, and demonstrating trustworthiness of motive.

Boone said in 2017, “This project supports my efforts in 21st-century policing, encouraging trust and legitimacy, not only with procedural justice, but also through transparency, accountability, and honest recognition of avenues for improvement.”

Boone said that when he was Norfolk Police Chief, the candidates in NPD’s Academy were taught the art of procedural justice which was designed to deescalate tensions during the policecitizens interactions.

He said that the ODU Department of Public Administration, conducted an analytic review of a similar

Elections

Continued from page 1A

The political analysis said voters should be prepared to see an onslaught of TV, radio, and social media ads, mailers, and possibly automated calls or texts if they live in any of these districts.

What made the primary races the most dramatic and heated were the newly redistricted House and Senate districts.

It caused a large number of political veterans in the Senate and the House to bow out of the primary races because they were drawn out of their districts into clashes with fellow party incumbents.

turn out in Chesapeake was confusion or ignorance of the city’s precincts due to the newly drawn 18th District.

Black voters have complained that the two parties and the state and local election officials did a poor job of indoctrinating the voters on the location of the new precincts.

To break down the numbers despite the low 9 percent turnout in Chesapeake, Spruill won the total ballots count in that city. He also won the election day tally in Chesapeake, and the early mail votes.

He lost by less than .1 percent of the early in-person votes from Chesapeake.

Williams Graves, of Norfolk, won the Senate District 21 election against Norfolk Councilperson Andria McClellan, 7,931 to 4,810.

in an uphill battle against Black Republican A.C. Cordoza in the 86th House District.

police-citizen interaction study based on body cam footage from NPD Officer cams. He said both officers and citizens were allowed to tell their stories of what happened during the interaction.

According to the 2017 ODU article, “No one interaction between police and citizen will erase the suspicion and mistrust that have built up over many years in some communities across the United States.

“But if we use procedural justice properly, the belief is it will change the interactions from that point forward,” Kenter said.

Boone told the GUIDE that along with the utterance of the first 45 words, an officer’s demeanor plays a part in deterring an escalation of tension.

He said that when officers apply procedural justice, including being fair, telling drivers why they were stopped, and not dominating the conversation, trust can be built and tensions deescalated that could lead to negative outcomes.

The most intense one was for the 18th Senatorial District which was redrawn after redistricting. It pitted Black political power Democrat Louise Lucas of Portsmouth who had represented the 18th District before redistricting for over 30 years against Lionell Spruill of Chesapeake, another political power whose 5th District seat was moved out of Hampton Roads, putting him also in the new 18th District.

Lucas collected 9,566 votes compared to Spruill, 8,454 -- a 1,112 vote difference.

Sixty percent of the new Senate 18th District is in Chesapeake which tends to vote Republican. Spruill was optimistic that Chesapeake voters would turn out to keep him in the Senate and defeat Lucas.

In fact, according to the numbers released by the Virginia Department of Elections, Spruill may have been hurt by the low turnout in the city: 9 percent compared to the 15 percent turnout in Portsmouth which helped Lucas.

One factor that may have contributed to low voter

Lucas, with the support of her loyal voter base in Portsmouth, won the election day tally by 1,918 votes in that city; she won the election day voter count, had 808 more early “in-person” votes and 544 more votes via the mail than Spruill.

Lucas is expected to have an easier race against Republican Tony Goodwin, a small business owner in Portsmouth.

Five incumbent senators across the state lost to challengers. The shakeups included the ousting of far-right “Trump in hills” Republican Sen. Amanda Chase and Democratic Senators Chap Petersen and George Barker. Barker’s defeat means that he will not be in line for the powerful Senate Finance Committee, where he is Vice Chair now.

The crown of chairperson for that powerful panel could now rest on the head of Lucas who is now the most senior member.

It is chaired currently by retiring Democratic Senator Janet Howell.

Lucas is sure to be in the thick of things as the legislators and Youngkin try to finalize a state budget.

uuu

State Delegate Angelia

Before she ascended to the House, Graves was on Norfolk City Council, where she represented half the city of Norfolk in Ward 7 and McClellan represented the other in Ward 6. There were 12,741 votes cast in this race, which lacked the barbs and testiness of the Lucas-Spruill dust-up.

Graves’ opponent will be Giovanni Dolmo, who has entered the Senate District race as an independent candidate. He previously ran for office against 93rd House District Delegate incumbent Jackie Glass, who had no primary challenger. She will face Republican John Sitka in the November election.

In the Senate District 17 race Democrat Clinton Jenkins, who did not have a primary challenger, will face Republican Emily Brewer. This is an open seat and one of the four Senate seats deemed competitive by political analysis. Senate District 22, an open seat, will see Senator Aron House, who represents the 7th Senate District, now run against Black Republican Kevin Adams in the General Election this fall. uuu

So far as the House races in Hampton Roads, in the 84th House District Democrat Nadarius Clark will face Republican Michael Dillender. That district includes Suffolk, Franklin and Isle of Wight.

Democrat Jarris Taylor is

Karen Jenkins, a Democrat, will face Republican Baxter Enis in the newly drawn 89th District.

Democrat Cliff Hayes will take on Republican Jay Leftwich in the new 90th House District.

Bonita Anthony, who won the 92nd House District race in Norfolk, is unopposed after defeating Kim Sudderth in the June 20th Primary.

Democrat Phil Hernandez will face Republican Andy Pittman in the 94th District, which is partially in Norfolk and Virginia Beach.

African American Michael Feggans will face Republican Karen Greenhalgh in the race for the New 97th House District race in Virginia Beach.

The political analysis defines it as a competitive district.

House Democrats Marcia Price of the 85th House District, Jeion Ward of the 87th District, Don Scott, who is the Democratic House minority leader, and Alex Askew will not face November challengers this fall.

Democratic Party women and the abortion issue helped Lashrecse Aird defeat incumbent Sen. Joe Morrissey in the Democratic primary for Senate District 13.

Morrissey is the lone Democrat who opposes abortion and his party leader feared he would support the GOP’s effort to roll back abortion rights if he had won this race.

Boone said that when officers apply procedural justice, including being fair, telling drivers why they were stopped, and not dominating the conversation, trust can be built and tensions de-escalated that could lead to negative outcomes.

One factor that may have contributed to low voter turn out in Chesapeake was confusion or ignorance of the city’s precincts due to the newly drawn 18th District.

& MORE ...

Norfolk Cuts Ribbon On 164-Unit Affordable Housing Community

NORFOLK

Norfolk civic and business leaders joined Norfolk city and state officials and partners in celebrating the Grand Opening and ribbon cutting of Market Heights Apartments, a new 100% affordable apartment community in Norfolk’s St. Paul’s District.

“One of the things that’s special about Market Heights is that it’s truly indistinguishable from luxury apartments.”, said Lawson President and CEO, Carl Hardee. “It has a great location, great architecture, great amenities, and will provide great service to its residents.”

Market Heights Apartments

is a 164-unit multifamily community serving individuals and families earning 40%, 50%, and 60% AMI with affordable 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom apartments featuring amenities comparable to nearby market rate apartments. Rents range from $591-$1,290. Seventeen apartments are handicappedaccessible Section 504 compliant units and 80 units include Universal Design components. Lawson partnered with Hope House and Volunteers of America Chesapeake and Carolinas to provide onsite supportive services to residents with developmental

disabilities and mobility impairments. Hope House will also manage a $100,000 grant from LISC Hampton Roads powered by Sentara Health to fund community programming benefitting all residents, including a food pantry and telehealth booth.

Community amenities at Market Heights include a resident community room, secure building access, elevators, fitness center, playground, on-site laundry, indoor and outdoor bicycle storage, and a dog park. Apartment amenities include granite kitchen countertops, in-unit washer/dryer hookups, and modern kitchens. The

buildings were built to energy efficient Earthcraft-certified standards.

“Market Heights is not only a 164-unit complex, it’s an over $34 million investment, it created over 300 construction jobs, and there will be more than eight permanent jobs here on this campus”, said Norfolk Mayor Kenneth Alexander. “Let’s continue to work together to build the city that we want to see in the future.”

Market Heights is the first property approved under Norfolk’s new resiliency code. This code mandates specific resilient measures that apply to flooding, energy efficiency, and building integrity. The project site has been raised out of the flood plain and includes a new public sidewalk that improves safety for students walking to the neighboring Ruffner Middle School.

“Everyone is not going to be a bazillionaire, but everyone deserves quality in their home.”, said 90th State District Del. Angelia Williams Graves. “Lawson, along with these partners, have provided that here at Market Heights. Thank you so much for investing in Norfolk, believing in Norfolk, and helping us solve a little bit of our affordable housing issues.”

(L-R) Councilman, John “JP” Paige; Councilwoman, Danica Royster; Va. Housing CEO, Susan Dewey; Lawson Pres. and CEO, Carl Hardee; Mayor, Kenneth Alexander; Va. Housing and Community Development Dir., Bryan Horn;Virginia Del. Angelia Williams Graves.

Photo:Courtesy

HUNTINGTON HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI HOST 10TH SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS PROGRAM

Special to the GUIDE

NEWPORT NEWS

The Huntington High School Alumni Association, Inc. (HHSAA INC) held its 10th annual reunion June 10. During that event it also held its annual scholarship awards program at the United House of Prayer for All People in Newport News. Over 70 members of the Association attended the joyous occasion where five scholarship recipients were

selected from 10 finalists for a $1,000.00 award. Scholarship Committee Chairman, James Lovett, Jr., said this was the most competitive and compelling group of applicants he has had the honor to review. Collis P. Huntington High School, commonly referred to as just Huntington High School (opened in 1927) was a Black high school located in the East End section of Newport News, Virginia, during the

era of racial segregation. After desegregation, it became an integrated intermediate school (eighth and ninth grades), and in 1981 was converted to a middle school (sixth through eighth grades). The school was named after the shipping and railroad pioneer, Collis P. Huntington, who founded the local shipyards, the Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company, at one time the largest shipbuilding concern in the world.

NEW CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS OPENING ON TCC CAMPUSES

HAMPTON ROADS

Tidewater Community College announced recently it is opening new TCC Child Development Centers on the Portsmouth and Norfolk Campuses starting Fall Semester 2023. The centers will be open Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for children ages 3 to 5 years of TCC students, with afterschool and drop-in care available for children up to 12 years of age of TCC students. Full-time students with a FAFSA on file with the Financial Aid office are eligible to apply for child care scholarships.

In addition, students can use financial aid to cover child care costs. Students can authorize TCC to charge the cost of child care services to their remaining financial aid, after the cost of tuition, fees and any bookstore charges have been deducted.

TCC also is able to offer the Child Care Access Means Parents (CCAMPIS) in School scholarships. Students with children and financial needs can receive reduced or no-cost child care. The scholarship are open for applications between June 15, 2023 - Aug. 25, 2023.

The first center will open on the Portsmouth Campus

in mid-August followed by a second location on the Norfolk Campus opening in January 2024. The Child Development Centers will be staffed by TCC’s Early Childhood Development program alumni and students. They will focus on teaching children school readiness and important skills through play.

Ciera Streeter, director of TCC’s Childhood Development Centers, urges all students with children ages 3-5 to apply for this opportunity. She said, “Parents will be able to attend in-person classes, complete internships or program

Former Hampton Supt. Is New Director At NASA Science Center

By Rosalyn Tyler Associate Editor New Journal and Guide

Dr. Jeffery Smith, the former superintendent of Hampton Schools, will serve as the next executive director of the Virginia Air & Space Science Center beginning July 1. Smith will oversee the 31-year-old visitors center for NASA Langley Research Center, which features interactive aviation exhibits spanning 100 years of flight, more than 30 historic aircraft, a hands-on space exploration gallery, and unique space flight artifacts. It is also home to the Apollo 12 Command Module and the Orion PA-1 Test Vehicle.

During his tenure with Hampton Public Schools, Smith was named Virginia Superintendent of the Year in 2020 and was a finalist for the national honor. Under his leadership, the Hampton system saw all schools become fully accredited. The on-time graduation rate increased from 88 percent to 97.64 percent, and the dropout rate became the lowest in the region. All of the division’s 32 schools and centers became fully accredited without conditions in 2019.

endless.”

requirements and feel relief from financial barriers, all while their children receive high-quality care.”

TCC Child Development Center services are available to any currently enrolled TCC student in need of child care. For information about TCC’s CCAMPIS scholarship, contact LaShell Currie, Childcare Provider liaison by emailing lcurrie@tcc.edu or calling 757-822-1796.

For more information about the child care centers, contact Streeter at cstreeter@tcc.edu or by calling 757-822-1099.

JOHN LEWIS STAMP DEBUTS JULY 21

By Rosaland Tyler

Editor

Associate

New Journal and Guide

A postal stamp that honors Georgia Congressman John Lewis recently became one of more than 100 stamps that honor deceased African Americans.

Recently, Congressional members from both political parties unveiled the new postal stamp during a June 21 ceremony in Statuary Hall at the Capitol. The new stamp shows Lewis’ photo. It was snapped by a Time Magazine photographer in 2013.The price of a Forever stamp never changes once it is purchased. The official dedication ceremony for the John Lewis Forever stamp is scheduled for July 21

at Morehouse College in Atlanta.

Other tributes to Lewis will include an August renaming ceremony at the main post office in Atlanta. It will be named

after Lewis, who died at age 80 in 2020 of Stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

The stamp’s recent debut follows a two-and-a-half year, behind-the-scenes lobbying effort launched by the John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation, which is named after Lewis and his late wife, who was 73 when she died in 2012.

“The Foundation reached out to the postal service a couple of weeks after Lewis’ passing in July 2020 because we saw it as an appropriate and great honor to place John Lewis on a commemorative forever stamp,” said Linda Earley Chastang, president and CEO of the John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation.

Lewis’ new forever

stamp aims to underscore his lifelong commitment to civic participation. Lewis often used the term ‘“good trouble” to describe his involvement in the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. He served as an Atlanta City Council member from 1981-86. He served 33 years as a U.S. congressman before he passed on July 17, 2020.

Lewis’ new postal stamp is one of a hundred or more postal stamps that honor high-profile African Americans including Frederick Douglass, George Washington Carver, Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Harriet Tubman, the Rev. Dr. Martin L. King Jr., Duke Ellington, and Maya Angelou.

“I am looking forward to my next career at The Virginia Air & Space Science Center,” Smith said in a recent statement.

“As the site of the nation’s first Air Force Base and first NASA research center, Hampton has a special connection to advances in flight and space discoveries. The opportunities here are

Smith has received numerous awards including the 2019 Peninsula Humanitarian Award from the Peninsula Chapter of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (February 2019). He was named the Region II Superintendent of the Year and the 2020 Virginia Superintendent of the Year. He was named as one of four national finalists for the 2020 AASA National Superintendent of the Year Award. Additionally, he is the recipient of the 2020 Mary Peake Award for Excellence in Education Equity (School Leadership) and was recognized as the 2022 Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Leader by the Urban League of Hampton Roads. He is also the recipient of the 2022 Virginia PTA Power Partners Award. He is married to the former Lorianne Samuel of Caroline County, a public school educator. They have two children, a daughter who is a graduate of Christopher Newport University and Eastern Virginia Medical School. His son is a graduate of Bridgewater College.

Newport News Vice Mayor Receives Alumni Award: One of “40 Under 40”

NORFOLK

Members of Old Dominion University Alumni Association recently honored Newport News Vice Mayor Curtis Bethany.

Bethany, a 2014 Old Dominion University graduate, was sworn into office by Newport News City Council on Jan.10, 2023. Recently, he was elected vice mayor for a two-year term. At 31, he is the youngest Black to hold an elected office in Newport News. Now in its third year, the ODU Alumni Association’s recognition program was established “to honor graduates who have achieved exceptional feats and have created an indelible legacy all before the age of 40,” the organization noted in a

Vice Mayor Curtis Bethany

recent statement.

“I’m honored to be recognized with my fellow 2023 40 under 40 classmates,” Bethany said in a recent statement. “Learning about all of the amazing things our alumni are doing across the world is truly inspiring.”

Winners (1st row, L-R): Darius A. McCallum (Kecoughtan HS) attending William & Mary; Zariah S. Holloman (Bethel HS) attending Virginia State; Selah Z. Longchamp (Bethel HS) attending North Carolina A&T: Chase A. Dickerson (Woodside HS) attending Old Dominion University; and Natalee M. Jackson (Bethel HS) attending Old Dominion University. Scholarship committee members and contributors are standing in the 2nd-4th rows.

Photo: Courtesy

Dr. Jeffery Smith

TAM Presents Its Coveted $1,000.00 Music Education & Performance Scholarship

By Julius E. McCullough

Special To The New Journal and Guide

In a magnificent display of recognition and honor, the esteemed Tidewater Area Musicians, Inc., a distinguished branch of the renowned National Association of Negro Musicians, Inc., joyfully presents the coveted “Julius E. McCullough Music Education and Music Performance Scholarship” to none other than the extraordinary Mason Windley. This outstanding saxophonist and exceptional graduating senior from Nansemond River High School in the enchanting city of Suffolk, Virginia, is truly deserving of this remarkable

Mason Windley

distinction.

Mason’s remarkable talents and dedication have garnered him acceptance into the prestigious Berklee College of Music nestled in the vibrant city of Boston, Massachusetts. As he gazes into the horizon of his future, he embraces the magnitude

of his aspirations and visions.

The weight of these ambitions lingers at the periphery of his consciousness each passing day, yet they act as a catalyst, igniting his spirit and driving him forward.

With unwavering determination, he sets his sights on a career spanning two decades, where he envisions himself as a maestro of the jazz saxophone and a masterful composer of orchestral, jazz, and film music. While each of these artistic paths possesses the potential to be pursued independently, Mason firmly believes that by mastering them all, he will enhance not only his own musicianship but also open up a myriad of diverse opportunities.

With a deep-rooted commitment to fostering

LOCAL VOICES

musical excellence and assisting budding talents in their journey, the Tidewater Area Musicians, Inc. (TAM) has established this prestigious scholarship program. It serves as a beacon of financial support and encouragement for remarkable high school seniors hailing from the enchanting Hampton Roads region of Virginia as they embark on their musical odysseys, chasing their dreams and aspirations.

For those seeking further information about TAM and its invaluable contributions to the world of music, a visit to their website at www. tamnorfolk.org will provide a wealth of knowledge.

Julius E. McCullough is President of the Tidewater Area Musicians, Inc.

THE GOSPEL OF TRUTH

By Sean C. Bowers

When one claims their own above-the-lawlessness speaking of self-pardons, fall-backs, back-ups, whacked-jobs, hatchetjobs for the unserious, unreasoned, untethered absurdity of their own stupidity, we have come full circle jerk. Having seen “the 45 act” multiple times down to the known facts, 45 is about to be playing defense in at least two New York Civil cases, the Florida stolen nuclear secrets case (Part 1,) the coming Fake Georgia Electors case in the JulyAugust timeframe. With the Jan 6th Insurrection case coming in D.C. Court this fall, 45’s legaldefendant-dance-carddocket is indeed getting full with potential jailtime sentences, (fingers crossed.)

Even if the judge in the Florida Stolen United States Secrets case (who has repeatedly obtusely ruled in 45’s favor in the past) obstructs, slows, or tries to circumvent or prevent transparent impartial legal justice- the 11th court is there as a bogus B.S. back stop. This is where U.S. prosecutor Jack Smith has left himself and the nation’s case an astonishing legal route to-staple-45-to-thecross-of-the-divine-truth in court, using his own incriminating recorded words, and actions against him, under oath, in God We Trust. That key case will be the 45 catch-all later brought in the Bedminster, New Jersey jurisdiction where the most egregious crimes were committed and perpetrated with the stolen secrets casually stored/ shared/disseminated. That jurisdictional last case, other-shoe-to-drop will connect the different

(stated: GA, FL, VA, NJ, NY, DC) dots of criminal conduct unbecoming a public servant, leader, gentlemen, example to future generations, and for sure, President never again.

It is no one’s fault but 45’s that these crimes were committed and charges were brought. He walked right into these charges, unlawfully delaying, obstructing, and never paying attention to the United States official government’s subpoenas, rules, norms, and laws. Pucker up 45, time pay the piper. 45 told us who he is and what he wants: more violence, unrest, anarchy in his name, with a NAZIWhite-supremist mainthemed future for us all.

Americans are smarter and brighter than to fall for the orange circus comb-over-ed automatic bombed-bastic static of “I’m-the-victim-ofall-these-hundreds of (alleged) crimes I admitted to, but didn’t do when not under oath.” 45 is the worst waffler of all time, simply a slimy silly willy nutty putty puppet. 45 misrepresents the old Civil War southern-leaning sentiments of malcontents. That world is one of hate derision, and discontent.

To continue to follow and support 45 shows a desire to break the existing U.S.

government, as it is. The way the South tried to break the Union in the 1861-1865 Civil War, the Republican Right by their silence to speak truth to their own voters, has allowed, “the 45 infection HEADSTOP,” to metastasize to our current epidemic truthlessness. They have ruled with 45 via dog-whistled commands that angrily bark, “it is never our fault or responsibility. We are the only ones who can fix America, or repair what we actually broke and are still attempting to further break.” Endless guns, tax breaks for the wealthy, no choice or voice for woman and non-White Americans comprise the current Republican Party’s PLATFORM’s sacred planks.

We know America to be an honest loving, kind nation, when she wants to be, under fair leadership. We have to want to be more than the pitiful sad future that 45 delivered, and that he once again offers, and sees for America.

We reject 45’s premises: he alone cannot and will not break us and the nation. He alone does not decide what is best for all of us, particularly those 80 million-plus voters in the 2020 election in which Jumping Joe Biden whopped him by 8 million votes. If you want to see experience in positive action, check out Joe’s MO-JO of getting laws voted on and signed into law these past three years of actual governing.

The Gospels tell us repeatedly of the crooked market and temples money

changers; those to whom money and profits have become more important (to them) than the actual people and their will. 45 created the most self-serving, firstAmerican-family of crime in the richest American history and he did it the old(est) fashioned way. He bold-facedly intentionally lied every time he spoke and opened his pompous pie-(in-the-sky-is-fallingWhite-America) hole. Read your Bibles. Nowhere in those sacred texts does it ever say to support and worship illegal stripper payoffs, proven adulterers, convicted (uncivil) rapists, serial abusers of women, minorities and the truth. The highest office in the land requires a candidate that we can trust in 100% to never sell America’s most valuably prized secrets off down the river, to the highest bidders.

Sean C. Bowers has written the last twentyfive years, as a White Quaker Southern man, for the nation’s third oldest Black Newspaper, The New Journal and Guide, of Norfolk, Virginia, about overcoming racism, sexism, classism, and religious persecution. Some of his latest NJ&G articles detailing the issues can found by searching “Sean C. Bowers” on the NJ&G website. Contact him directly on social media at Linkedin.com or by e-mail V1ZUAL1ZE@ aol.com NNPA 2019 Publisher of the Year, Brenda H. Andrews (NJ&G 35 years) has always been his publisher.

Sean C. Bowers

We reject 45’s premises: he alone cannot and will not break us and the nation.

MOMENTS of MEDITATION

By Rev. Dr. Archie L. Edwards, Sr. ABSALOM:

THE REBEL PRINCE CHARMING

Read: 2 Samuel 13-18

From “Dallas” to “Dynasty,” soap operas are seething caldrons of power, greed, lust, adultery, intrigue, and treachery. Nothing is sacred; no one is safe.

Everything and everyone is up for grabs. It’s survival of the fittest, on both a personal and a corporate level. It’s a dog-eat-dog world, and the puppies don’t make it. In these jungles of tangled family relationships, brother is pitted against brother, wife against husband, father against son. Such is the stuff television melodrama is made of.

But scripts like these are not the inventions of imaginative writers fertile with fantasies. They originate in real life, with real people. One such family feud is found in II Samuel, where a son’s imprisoned bitterness toward his father breaks its fetters, allowing rebellion and revenge to run loose, unrestrained. And since this was the King’s son, not only was the King endangered but also the kingdom itself.

This royal family lived in a fishbowl, and their drama became a nightly viewing for the entire nation. Sex, murder,

cover-ups, ambitions, political intrigue, power struggles— they had enough plots, subplots, and counterplots to fill seasons of programming on every major network. Were it a television drama, the family’s story might be titled simply “Israel” or “kingdom,” for the story is centered on David, the greatest King in Israel’s history. Of course, the advertising hype boasts a cast of thousands, but for this episode, the main stars listed in alphabetical order – are Absalom and David.

Professionally, David was enmeshed in the affairs of state and diplomacy. Domestically, with all his wives, concubines, and children, what time he had at home was spread far too thin to be effective. The story of Absalom’s relationship with his father is a tragic one, but we can learn some valuable lessons through their painful mistakes.

(1) An unhappy home breeds unbalanced children. It does bear true that we reap what we sow. Where wheat isn’t planted, tares of indulgence grows in its place,

making for a backbreaking harvest. Are you cultivating a happy home, or are you too tired or too busy to sow the right kind of seed (see Proverbs 24: 30-34)? Remember, if you sow nothing, you can expect to reap only weeds.

(2) An undisciplined family breeds insecurity and resentment. We have no record of David ever disciplining his children for their many wrongs. Children need enforced boundaries to give them a sense of security. They need a degree of freedom, but only within the secure grounds provided by well-constructed fences. When children cut holes in the fences you have erected and you fail to hold them accountable by bringing them back and mending the fences, they question your love for them (see Proverbs 13-24). Eventually, this leads to resentment and, ultimately to rebellion.

(3) An unreconciled relationship breeds sores that never heal. Even the death of the resented person can’t stanch ill feelings. Unreconciled hurt has a way of reaching out from the grave and wagging its bony finger at the one still living. Forgiveness is the only way to restore estranged relationships—not geographical separation or even death.

Paul’s advice here is timely: “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4: 31-32)

Rev. Dr. Archie L. Edwards, Sr., is an Associate Minister at Second Calvary Baptist Church in Norfolk.

Hampton University’s New School of Theology Offers Associate To Doctoral Degrees

By Rosaland Tyler Associate Editor New Journal and Guide

Hampton University recently launched a new School of Theology, at a time when several reports show church attendance is declining nationwide in mainline denominations.

While a 2009 BARNA report showed that in the past 50 years, mainline Protestant church membership dropped by more than one-quarter to roughly 20 million people-while only about 15 percent of all adults said they are associated with a mainline church-- the age of the average Protestant congregant ranges from 89 to 100. This means younger members are replacing graying congregants at a slower pace.

A May 2023 American Bible Society survey showed Gen Z church attendance (those born from the late 1990s to early 2010) increased at in-person worship from 52 percent to 72 percent in 2023. The number of Gen Z who tended to only attend church online dropped from 40 percent in 2022 to 16 percent in 2023.

However, a recent American Bible Society survey showed that last year, 53 percent of those born before 1946 attended in-person worship services, a figure that rose after the pandemic to 60 percent in 2023. This means that last year’s millennials (56 percent), Baby Boomers (58

percent) and Generation X (those born from 1965-1980) said they preferred in-person worship (55 percent).

However, Hampton University President Darrell Williams said in a recent statement, “At this very challenging time in our nation’s history, especially with some of the divisiveness that we can see at both the societal and the political level, we think that broader

thinking about these areas of religion is extraordinarily important.”

Hampton’s new School of Religion will offer associate, bachelor, masters and doctoral degrees. Hampton announced plans to launch its School of Religion on President’s Night at the recent Hampton University Ministers’ Conference, which was held in early June, according to its website.

A Tribute To Lee Wesley Smith, Sr., 87; Entrepreneur, Consummate Public Servant

By Dr. George F. Reed Special to the New Journal and Guide

Lee Wesley Smith, Sr., father, husband, entrepreneur, community servant, community organizer, and civic leader, passed away peacefully June 6, 2023 at age 87. A prominent and respected member of the Chesapeake community, he leaves a legacy of service to God, his church, and community, especially the cities of Chesapeake, Norfolk, but also the greater Hampton Road’s Communities.

Lee Wesley Smith, Sr., was a lifelong resident of Chesapeake. Throughout his life, Lee made significant contributions to various local, regional and state organizations and initiatives aimed at improving the lives of those around him. He actively participated in community outreach programs, mentored young individuals, and championed causes that promoted equality, education, and social justice.

Mr. Smith’s philanthropic work extended beyond community involvement. He was a devoted family man, cherished his role as a loving father, husband, and grandfather. His unwavering support, wisdom, and guidance will forever be cherished by his family members, who remember him for his kindness, compassion, and love as he shared with everyone around him.

I met Lee in the late 1970s, and he had a quiet demeanor, but was very persuasive in presenting an issue or concern to us, and getting support for things

he viewed important, not just for African Americans, but all of the citizens of Chesapeake. He was a trailblazer in mobilizing the Black community in the 1960s, and was a founder of the Chesapeake Forward as well as the Chesapeake Men for Progress. He served four terms as president of the Chesapeake Men for Progress, and during a period that transformed Chesapeake from primarily a rural to an urban suburban city. At that time, the Chesapeake Forward focused on civic matters in the Black community such as organizing civic leagues, voter registration, school board actions and decisions. The Chesapeake Men for Progress focused on political matters related to electing Blacks to city council, school board, and appointing Blacks to city boards and commissions.

Lee Smith helped in leading these initiatives as president of the Chesapeake Men for Progress.

Smith, as president of the Chesapeake Men for Progress, along with several other notables, led the effort in getting the first Blacks elected to Chesapeake City Council. Following the election in 1970 of W.P. Clark, Sr. and Dr. Hugo A.

Owens, election, Lee was appointed to serve as the first African American on the Chesapeake Minimum Housing Standard on the recommendations of Mr. Clark and Dr. Hugo Owens.

Lee’s leadership was recognized by the Chesapeake Men for Progress, Chesapeake Forward and city-wide organizations at the Outstanding Citizens Award Banquet held at the Holiday Inn Scope, in Norfolk on June 3, 1973.

Lee was awarded the organization’s Outstanding Citizens Award for his leadership as president of the Chesapeake Men for Progress successful efforts in community organizations and successful political accomplishments for African Americans in Chesapeake.

Lee was a strong advocate for education, not only in Chesapeake, but throughout the state. He studied business Administration at Norfolk State University and Old Dominion University, and received an honorary degree from Norfolk, State University. He served as a member of Chesapeake School Board from 1984 to 1992, as a member and chairman from 1991 to 1993. He was appointed by Governor Lawrence Douglas Wilder to serve on Board of Visitors and Rector of the Board from 1985-1993 at Norfolk State University. Due to his service and philanthropic, Norfolk State University administration named a new student dormitory in his name, that is “The Lee W. Smith, Sr. Hall Dormitory”.

Lee also served as vice chairman, Board of Directors, Paul D. Camp

Louisiana Army Base Renamed to Honor Black

WWI Hero

Community College in Franklin, Virginia, and the School Board Association. Lee produced the educational program titled “Though My Eyes”, a weekly educational program on TV Channel 40.

Lee’s leadership influence was extensive, comprehensive and seemingly unparalleled as reflected in the numerous policy roles he served. He served on the board of directors for BB&T Bank; Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce; Chesapeake Cares; Chesapeake General Hospital (Advisory); United Way of Hampton Roads(advisory Board); and Vice Chairman SEECEP. Lee also served as member of numerous organizations such as Chesapeake Rotary Club, Fourth Congressional District Education Association; Fraternal Order of Police; NAACP; Virginia Import Export Committee; United Way of Hampton Road Advisory Board; and Federal Executive Association of Tidewater.

Smith was a committed and devoted Christian and served as Ordained Deacon at New Light Baptist Church, chairman of the board of deacons at New Mount Olive Baptist church; deacon at Union Baptist Missionary Church; and vice chairman of the Missionary Sunday School Union of Chesapeake, Virginia.

As an entrepreneur and businessman, Smith owned and operated a Building Maintenance Janitorial Consulting program.

The family kindly requests that any memorial contribution be made to charity of their choice in honor of Lee Wesley Smith, Sr.’s memory.

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia

In an effort to address historic racial injustice, a U.S. Army base in western Louisiana has been renamed to honor the heroic legacy of Sgt. William Henry Johnson, an African American soldier who displayed extraordinary bravery during World War I.

Previously, the base bore the name of Leonidas Polk, a Confederate commander.

This renaming is part of the broader efforts within the U.S. military to rectify past injustices, including the renaming of nine Army posts that had previously commemorated Confederate officers.

Brig. Gen. David Garner, the commanding general of the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Johnson, expressed profound honor in bearing the name of Sgt. William Henry Johnson.

Describing Johnson as the epitome of the warrior spirit, Garner made this announcement via a post on Twitter.

The National Museum of the United States Army recounts the awe-inspiring account of Johnson’s bravery on the front lines of France in 1918, where he valiantly repelled a German night raid near the Argonne Forest.

Wounded a staggering 21 times during the intense confrontation, Johnson fearlessly fought off the attacking forces.

Selflessly, he also safeguarded a fellow wounded Black comrade from being taken captive.

Having exhausted his supply of grenades and

ammunition, Johnson resorted to using his knife to eliminate two German soldiers. His relentless and determined assaults shattered the morale of the German troops, ultimately forcing them to retreat.

After surviving the war, President Theodore Roosevelt saluted Johnson’s bravery by naming him one of the five bravest Americans to serve in the conflict.

However, Johnson humbly dismissed the notion of heroism, stating, “There wasn’t anything so fine about it. Just fought for my life. A rabbit would have done that.”

Despite his outstanding actions, the Army failed to recognize his courage during his lifetime, denying him a disability allowance and neglecting to award him a Purple Heart. Nearly a century later, in 2015, Johnson posthumously received the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Sadly, Johnson’s war injuries took a toll on his life after his return to Albany, New York.

Struggling with his health, he succumbed to a heart condition at 32 in 1929.

In honoring Johnson, the U.S. Army has taken a significant stride towards rectifying historical racial injustices and acknowledging the immense contributions of African American soldiers to the nation’s defense, military officials said. They said the move represents a significant step forward in fostering a more equitable and representative military landscape.

Lee Wesley Smith, Sr.

CHARLESTON’S AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM HOLDS GRAND OPENING

By Rosaland Tyler

Associate Editor New Journal and Guide

In Charleston, history shifted gears and accelerated at the recent June 24 grand opening of the International African American Museum located at Gadsden’s Wharf, an historic 2.3 acre South Carolina waterfront port where most Blacks in shackles first set foot on American soil. But this time, the footsteps that crossed the worn but refurbished wooden planked wharf belonged to Congressman James E. Clyburn, Mayor John Tecklenburg, the Rev. Howard-John Wesley, senior pastor of Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Va, and “BeBe” Winans, who offered a stirring rendition of the National Anthem. Michelle and Barack Obama offered recorded remarks, projected onto a large video display behind the makeshift stage. State Rep. J.A. Moore welcomed visitors

“As Maya Angelou would say if she were here today, it is a morning we have never seen before, and it is a morning we will never have again.” said keynote speaker Johnnetta B. Cole, an anthropologist, educator and former president of Spelman

and Bennett colleges.

Organizers raised $120 million over a span of two-decades to build the 150,000-square-foot (14,000-square-meter) museum. It features nine galleries that contain nearly a dozen interactive exhibits of more than 150 historical objects and 30 works of art. One of the museum’s exhibits will rotate two to three times each year.

“This is a place that will tell a story of trauma,” said Dr. Tonya Matthews, the museum’s chief executive officer. “This is also a place

that will tell stories of joy.”

The program was emceed by award-winning actress and director Phylicia Rashad and included stirring appearances by poet Nikky Finney and the McIntosh County Shouters, who perform songs passed down by enslaved African Americans.

“There’s something incredibly significant about reclaiming a space that was once the landing point, the beginning of a horrific American journey for captured Africans,” said Malika Pryor, the museum’s chief learning and education officer.

FUN PUZZLE FOR YOUR LEISURE

Hundreds of school and tour groups have already made reservations to visit the facility that features landscapes designed by Walter Hood, founder and creative director of Oaklandheadquartered Hood Design Studios.

The new museum in Charleston joins the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture which is located in the nation’s capital and opened in 2016. Officials at both museums said they aim to offer an accurate account of history.

INVITATION FOR BIDS

INVITATION FOR BIDS PR2062-062-23

The Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority will receive bids for the “NRHA-Partrea Mid-Rise Hot Water Boiler Replacements/Hunter Square Stack Replacement.”

The scope of work includes all supervision, labor, material, and equipment necessary to complete the PARTREA HOT WATER BOILER REPLACEMENTS and Hunter Square Boiler Stack Replacement at – Partrea Mid-Rise 701 Easy Street, Norfolk VA 23505 and Hunter Square Mid-Rise, 825 Goff Street, Norfolk VA 23504. The work for this project includes but not limited to replacing existing high efficiency hot water boilers and Kelly Boiler stack at Hunter Square MidRise. Also including items listed in the project scope of work section.

A pre-bid meeting will be conducted on July 13, 2023 at 10:00 AM starting at Partrea Mid-Rise 701 Easy Street, Norfolk VA 23505 (outside main entrance). All prospective bidders are strongly encouraged to attend.

Please contact Randy Hill - NRHA Senior Construction Project Manager at (rhill@nrha.us) for any related questions. All questions must be received by 11:00 AM July 21, 2023.

Sealed Bids will be received, publicly opened and read aloud on July 27, 2023 at 11:00 AM local prevailing time at the office of the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority, 910 Ballentine Boulevard, Norfolk, Virginia.

Contract documents will be available for review by appointment only at the NRHA Office of Economic Opportunities, Calvert Square Envision Center, 975 Bagnall Road, Norfolk, VA (please call (757)314-2026 to schedule); Builders and Contractors Exchange, Norfolk, VA; and on the Virginia Procurement Website (www.eva.virginia.gov). A thumb drive will be available from NRHA, 910 Ballentine Blvd., Norfolk, VA for the non-refundable price of twelve dollars (Company Check Only).

NRHA does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status, disability, source of funds, sexual orientation, gender identity or veteran status in the admission, access to or operations of programs, services or activities. Small businesses and businesses owned by women and minorities and Section 3 certified businesses are encouraged to respond.

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

CONTRACT ID #: C00122982DB125

00286-029-489, P101, R201, C501 FAIRFAX COUNTY PARKWAY WIDENING

SOUTHERN SEGMENT DESIGN-BUILD PROJECT

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is seeking Statements of Qualifications for Fairfax County Parkway Widening Southern Segment Design-Build Project from qualified and experienced respondents with design and construction experience of highway facilities. The Project, located in Fairfax County, Virginia, will widen Fairfax County Parkway from four lanes to six lanes from 0.11 miles south of Route 123 (Ox Road) to 0.25 miles south of Nomes Court for approximately 1.79 miles. The Project includes the widening of the bridges over Norfolk Southern Railroad (NSRR)/Fairfax Station Road and the widening of the bridges over Popes Head Creek. The project also includes intersection improvements, modified signals, and a shared-use path along Fairfax County Parkway to provide better bicyclist and pedestrian access. The proposed project objectives include improving capacity, reducing congestion, improving safety, pedestrian/bicycle accommodations, and improving drainage facilities within the project limits. The work includes but is not limited to: roadway design, structure and bridge, survey, environmental, geotechnical, hydraulics and stormwater management, traffic control devices, landscaping, lighting, intelligent transportation systems, transportation management plan, right-of-way acquisition, utility adjustments/relocations, construction, public involvement/relations and stakeholder coordination, quality assurance and quality control, construction engineering and inspection, and overall project management.

Questions/clarifications regarding the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) should be submitted to Sudha Mudgade, PE, PMP, DBIA (Sudha.Mudgade@ vdot.virginia.gov).

Copies of the RFQ and additional submittal requirements can be found on Bid Express (bidexpress.com)

The Department assures compliance with Title VI requirements of nondiscrimination in all activities pursuant to this advertisement.

The Charleston International African American Museum

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