NJG | Vol. 124, No. 38 - September 26, 2024

NEWJOURNAL & GUIDE NEW JOURNAL & GUIDE

Vol. 124, No. 38 | $1.50 September 26, 2024 - October 2, 2024

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“WE CAN’T NORMALIZE THE DEMONIZATION OF OUR HAITIAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS”

By Bobby R. Henry Chairman, NNPA

The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), representing more than 200 Black-owned print and online media outlets, is outraged by the demonization and blatant lies being spread about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump

Bobby R. Henry

and his running mate, J.D. Vance.

This purposeful defamation and dehumanization of people legally seeking a better life, like so many immigrants before them, has no place in a country that built its success on the backs of enslaved people and immigrants.

We strongly embrace and respect the diversity

and positive contributions of everyone who calls the United States home. This is a core tenet of our values. Let’s be clear –what Donald Trump and J.D. Vance have done by sanctioning and attempting to normalize assaults on immigrants has provided fertile ground for breeding a new generation of hatemongers.

see Henry, page 8A

A Fight For Freedom & Democracy

V-P KAMALA HARRIS RALLIES FOR WOMEN’S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS

By Asia Alexander Howard University News Service

ATLANTA (HUNS)

In the heart of the Deep South, Vice President Kamala Harris took the stage in Atlanta to lead a rally centered on reproductive rights. Harris opened her speech with a poignant story about her high school best friend, who sought refuge with her after enduring abuse from her stepfather. She then connected her best friend’s story with the death of Amber Nicole Thurman, who died due to inadequate care related to medical abortion.

“I started my career as a prosecutor specializing in crimes of violence against women and children,” Harris said. “What many of you may not know is why. When I was in high

I started my career as a prosecutor specializing in crimes of violence against women and children.”

– Vice President Harris told a crowd in Atlanta

school, my best friend was molested by her stepfather and I said, ‘Look, you have to come stay with us.’ And so I made the decision early in my life that I wanted to do the work that was about protecting the most vulnerable.”

Reproductive rights is not only highly controversial but also essential for Generation Z, whose votes are crucial in shaping the outcome of this election.

Youth of color account for about 45 percent of the Gen Z electorate in 2024 and 47 percent of newly eligible voters in this demographic.

Elise Sampson, a Spelman College student, attended the rally as a member of the student government association and as president of Black Girls Vote. She believes that electing a woman as president would have a profound impact on young Black women.

“I just found out about the case with the young woman here in Georgia on Tuesday when Governor Walz visited our campus,” Sampson said, referring to Thurman. see Harris, page 3A

BLYDEN, VA’s OLDEST BLACK LIBRARY, PLANS BIRTHDAY BASH!

NORFOLK

On October 4-5, the Norfolk Public Library will observe the 103rd anniversary of the historic Blyden Branch Library. “Come Home to Blyden” is its theme.

Blyden, located at 879 E Princess Anne Road, became the first municipally funded public library for Blacks in Virginia in 1921.

There will be two parts to the celebration. The first part will take place at the historic Attucks Theater, at 1010 Church Street on October 4

starting at 7 p.m. The program will tell the fascinating story of Blyden’s history, incorporating various milestones which highlight the contributions of Norfolk’s Black community to Norfolk’s history over the years. The Norfolk State Vocal Music Jazz Ensemble, Elbert Watson Dance Company and Vincent Epps are just three of the production’s outstanding cast. Becky Livas, Hampton Road’s first Black female reporter, is the MC. On Saturday, October 5, the

“Community Day/Reunion” takes place on the grounds adjacent to the branch. The community event runs from 12-4 p.m. and is free and open to the public. The event is for all ages and includes a children’s village, live music, vendors, displays/exhibits, book sale, free food, and a special distribution of school supplies, non-perishable goods and clothing by the Young People’s Guild, headed by Apostle Joyce White-Tasby and Arthur Tasby. Come Home to Blyden.

By Rosaland Tyler Associate Editor New Journal and Guide

The Congressional Gold Medal was recently presented to the families of “Hidden Figures” scientists Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson and Christine Darden at the U.S. Capitol.

The highest civilian honor was posthumously awarded to three of the four Black female scientists whose accomplishments were described in the 2017 film, “Hidden Figures.” It was nominated for a Best Picture Oscar and grossed more than $200 million worldwide. They worked in a segregated unit of female mathematicians at what is now NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia.

The awards were awarded posthumously, due to the fact that Johnson died at age 101 in February 2020 of natural causes at a retirement community in Newport News. Vaughn died at age 98 in November 2008 in Hampton. Jackson died in February 2005 at the age of 83. Darden, age 82, watched the recent ceremony from her Connecticut home. Their families accepted the awards on their behalf.

By honoring them, we honor the very best of our country’s spirit.”

– Margot Lee Shetterly

House Speaker Mike Johnson, who delivered opening remarks during the ceremony, described the women as “giants on whose shoulders all of those astronauts actually stood at a time ... when our nation was divided by color and often by gender.” Johnson said, “These women dared to step into the fields where they had previously been unwelcomed. They excelled in science and math and made groundbreaking contributions in aeronautics. But these women didn’t just crunch numbers and solve equations for the space program,” Johnson said. “They actually laid the very foundation upon which our rockets launched and our astronauts flew and our nation soared.”

Meanwhile, Margot Lee Shetterly, author of the book “Hidden Figures,” said, “By honoring them, we honor the very best of our country’s spirit.” see Hidden, page 2A

HEALTH

STUDY SHEDS LIGHT ON BLACK WOMEN AND BREAST CANCER

By Stacy M. Brown

Senior National Correspondent

@StacyBrownMedia

NNPA NEWSWIRE

Despite advancements in early detection and innovative treatments, Black women in the United States face higher mortality rates from breast cancer compared to white women.

A systematic review and meta-analysis led by Mass General Brigham Integrated Health Care System sheds light on the extent of these disparities across different breast cancer subtypes.

The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, aimed to determine the disparities in breast cancer survival between Black and white women according to tumor subtype. Researchers conducted a comprehensive analysis of 18 studies published between 2000 and 2022, including data

The study examines the extent of racial disparities across different breast cancer subtypes.

on 228,885 breast cancer cases – 34,262 of which were in Black women. The different types were determined by the presence of a protein (HER2) that is linked to more aggressive cancer. The results revealed that Black women have a signi fi cantly higher risk of breast cancer mortality across all of the HER2 tumor subtypes. The fi ndings indicate that disparities are present even in the most treatable forms of breast cancer.

see Study, page 7A

Katherine Johnson

Photo: Courtesy

UNCF: HBCU $16.5B Economic Impact Report

WASHINGTON, D.C.

UNCF (United Negro College Fund), the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization, recently unveiled its 2024 HBCU Economic Impact Report. The report, Transforming Futures: The Economic Engines of HBCUs, commissioned by UNCF’s Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute (FDPRI), is a comprehensive, data-driven analysis highlighting the substantial contributions the nation’s 101 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) make to their students, local communities and the nation at large.

HBCUs have long been pillars of educational excellence and economic engines, driving prosperity in their communities and across the nation. Despite these contributions, chronic underfunding threatens their ability to sustain this impact.

Transforming Futures: The Economic Engines of HBCUs, underscores the urgent need for equitable and sustainable funding to ensure HBCUs can continue their vital role in promoting social mobility and economic growth and calls on the public to advocate for these essential institutions.

“As UNCF observes its 80th anniversary, one of the highlights of our yearlong celebration is the release of the sequel to our groundbreaking 2017 report. This report reaffirms what we have always known about the resilience of HBCUs: despite a deadly pandemic, social unrest caused by the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, and the economic uncertainties of the past seven years, HBCUs continue to do more with less – not only in preparing the next generation of leaders but also in contributing to our nation’s economic impact,” said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO, UNCF.

“At this critical moment, with a crucial election on the horizon, we all must immediately actualize our commitment to these cornerstone institutions.”

Key findings in the 2024 HBCU Economic Impact Report include:

• HBCUs generate $16.5 billion in direct economic impact nationally.

• If they were a company, the nation’s HBCUs would place in the top 50 of the nation’s Fortune 500 companies in job creation.

• Collectively, 136,048 jobs exist because of HBCUs.

• On average, for each

New report reveals $16.5 billion in economic impact and calls for immediate action to secure the future of America’s Black higher education institutions.

job created on campus, 1.5 off-campus jobs exist because of spending related to the institution.

• HBCUs are far more accessible to students and more successful at moving students from the bottom 40 percent of a country’s income distribution to the top 60 percent, signaling social mobility.

• The 51,269 HBCU graduates in the class of 2021 can expect work-life earnings of $146 billion, 57 percent ($53 billion) more than the $93 billion they could expect without their degrees or certificates.

The 2024 HBCU Economic Impact Report is a continuation of the landmark 2017 study, HBCUs Make America Strong: The Positive Economic Impact of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, which showed that HBCUs’

September 25, 1954

Edition of the Guide

CORONADO:

Couple Fired Upon NORFOLK

Even though officials ranging from the Sheriff of Norfolk County to the Governor of the State insist real violence is non-existent in the Coronado area of Norfolk County, acts are still being committed which endanger the property and lives of Negro families who have bought and moved into homes in the area.

With bombings, arson, and vandalism already dismissed as “non-violent” acts, residents of the community are now waiting to see how gun-play which entered the picture last Saturday night will be classified by authorities.

Reports that bullets have been fired in the area had been circulated for some time before, but unconfirmed.

In the hands of Norfolk County authorities this week, however, are two .22 caliber bullets taken from the walls of rooms inside the house at 503 Pugh Street which a colored Norfolk mail carrier and his wife moved into early Saturday evening.

T. B. Billups, the mail carrier who purchased the house from its former occupants, a white family – through a local realty company, recently told investigating officers that at least three bullets were fired into his home after he and his wife had gone to bed Saturday night. One of the bullets, Billups said, was fired while he was at a door investigating the first blast.

Saturday night’s gun play follows close on the heels of a warning by Norfolk County Trial Justice Judge Ralph H. Ricardo that courts will not tolerate violence in the Coronado area and will show no sympathy for persons who commit such crimes.

Judge Ricardo issued the warning after finding a white resident of Coronado guilty of throwing a fire cracker onto the lawn of a house occupied by another Negro family in the area.

Negro Borrowers Among The Best Credit Risks NORFOLK

economic benefits extend beyond the students they educate. In addition to the comprehensive report, a website has been launched where users can explore state-specific data and insights for individual HCBUs. This resource allows users to explore the localized impact, emphasizing the critical role HBCUs play in communities across the nation.

“Transforming Futures: The Economic Engines of HBCUs represents the latest chapter in a longitudinal research initiative by UNCF’s Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute.

By leveraging robust methodology and extensive data, we highlight how HBCUs continue to be critical drivers of economic growth and social mobility,” said Dr. Nadrea R. Njoku,

assistant vice president, of Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute, UNCF.

“This report not only underscores the substantial economic benefits generated by HBCUs but also contextualizes the broader challenges they have faced over the past three years, including the far-reaching impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the threats of violence that have been levied against many of these institutions.”

UNCF will soon shift its focus towards voter mobilization efforts, leveraging the findings of the 2024 HBCU Economic Impact Report to raise awareness about the critical role of HBCUs ahead of Election Day, and the need for elected officials to commit to strengthening HBCU infrastructure, safety, and student life. By highlighting the economic and social contributions of these institutions, UNCF aims to inspire voters to support policies and send letters to elected leaders at the state and federal level in support of equitable funding and resources for HBCUs, ensuring their continued impact on communities and the nation.

For more information on how to actualize a commitment and be a voice for HBCUs, visit: UNCF. org/EquityPledge

Hidden Continued from page 1A

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, who also spoke at the recent ceremony, said, “Their legacy will send us back to the moon, and then imagine, just imagine, when we leave our footprints on the red sands of Mars,” he said. “Thanks to these people who are part of our NASA family, we will continue to sail on the cosmic sea to far off shores.”

A medal was also given to all the women who worked as mathematicians, engineers and “human computers” in the U.S. space program from the 1930s to 1970s, according to news reports.

Johnson and her co-workers were relatively unsung heroes of America’s Space Race until President Barack Obama awarded Johnson – then 97 – the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor in 2015.

The recent ceremony was held nearly five years after the passage of H.R. 1396 – the Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act. The legislation was introduced in 2019 by the late Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, who represented Texas’s 30th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1993 to 2023. Johnson died at age 89, after she contracted an infection at a

From The Guide’s Archives

Ceremony held nearly 5 years after the passage of H.R. 1396 – the Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act.

Dallas rehabilitation facility, in January 2024, according to news reports.

Later, her family accused the facility of neglect. On Sept. 21 (about four months before her death in January 2024), her son found his mother lying in her own feces and urine at the rehabilitation facility, according to a news release. Kirk Johnson said later at a news conference that he had gone to the facility after his mother called to tell him she was getting no response from the call button. He said he arrived about 10 minutes later.

“Deplorable,” he said. “She was being unattended to. She was screaming out in pain and for help.”

Johnson, the late Congresswoman, introduced legislation that tasked Congress with awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to Johnson, Jackson, Vaughan, Darden and “all the women who served as computers, mathematicians, and engineers” at NASA and NACA “between the 1930s and the 1970s.”

Archives taken from the pages of the (New) Journal and Guide

M. Cole, Administrator of the Housing and Home Finance Agency, Sept. 8, 1954:

“Now the first and basic essential for a family to acquire a home is their own – individual – credit. The fact has been that without credit no man regardless of race, could buy or remodel a house.

“It has also been a shameful fact that a Negro cannot obtain housing credit from many of our private lending institutions on the same terms and under the same requirements as other American Families. In many places he has not been able to get a loan at all.

“Yet, untold thousands of Negroes have long since taken their rightful place as producers, earners, and investors in our free economy, and are sound financial, moral and ethical risks, just as responsible citizens as anyone who entered the bank’s doors.

Seeks Indefinite Time For State To Adopt Court Ruling

By George N. McCormack Guide Reporter

ALEXANDRIA, VA

Delegate Armistead Boothe, who got himself into the Virginia Democratic Organization’s “dog house” by proposing legislation to abolish segregation on common carriers in the state and also the poll tax – is back in the fold.

Boothe came up with the “Virginia Plan” which he would like to see submitted to counsel to the Supreme Court and which he, no doubt will present to the special session of the General Assembly to be called by Gov. Stanley.

Boothe’s plan calls for 1: The state should strive for court recognition of the fact that the Old Dominion needs time to work out its school problem; 2: No child of either race should be compelled to attend a school with mixed classes and 3: No teacher of either race should be assigned to teach children of another race.

Boothe, lawyer should know where such as plan would end, proclaims that school integration “is a state problem” not a federal one. It is a southern problem, including Virginia. To go

further, ‘it is a local rather than a state problem.”

September 25, 1965 Edition of the Guide

Hampton Grad Assistant at Space Center NEWPORT NEWS

William L. Queen, a native of Louisville KY, was recently appointed assistant Mechanical Engineer supervisor and laboratory safety officer for the Space Radiation Effects Laboratory operated by the Virginia Research Center in Newport News. The center is a state facility specializing in applied aerospace research, basic research on general critical areas and the development of a program related to their activities.

Research activities will include operation of the Space Radiation Effects Laboratory where three particle accelerators are currently being installed. He has done graduate work at other colleges. He was an instructor of technical drawing and basic architecture at Hampton Institute from 1955 to 1964.

EDITORIAL: The Church and Civil Rights

The church’s role in the civil rights crusade has been vigorously and at times violently debated by law and religious leaders. And the involvement of ministers and church officials in the struggle has been as varied as the arguments for and against their participation. There is no consistent pattern of conduct and no consensus of ideology regarding the issue within the church. And so, it may now be said in truth that the church, as a religious institution in our society, is, for or against, involved in the social revolution of the 20th century.

On the other hand, many, many clergy men, church leaders and ordinary members of all denominations, acting in their individual capacities frequently with the consent and encouragement of their churches, have projected themselves into the very forefront of the movement. Many members of the cloth have been brutalized and arrested for their part

The Brain/The Brawn

(left) is shown with his star, Wilie Mays, whose dazzling baseball during the season had a great deal to do with the success of the team.

in demonstrations; some have been murdered. They have God’s blessing and the humble thanks of all mankind.

Bill Cosby In “I Spy” Was Delightful HOLLYWOOD

“I Spy,” the first network prime time entertainment series to co-star a Negro – comedian Bill Cosby –debuted on NBC-TV in an hour of secret agent stuff blending adventure and humor.

Robert Culp and Cosby share the billing as a couple of agents roaming the world pretending to be a tennis bum and his trainer companion. The first show set in Hong Kong was delightful.

The premiere was delightful and immediately revealed the program as more attractive than all the other spy series around. Its strength lies in pleasant human relationships rather than gimmicky tools of the (spy) trade.

Head Start Report Card Rings Bells WASHINGTON, D.C.

Project Head Start, is ringing bells.

The program, financed mainly by federal antipoverty dollars to give disadvantaged pre-school children a better break in the classroom, has received admiring endowments from

newspapers throughout the nation.

President (Lyndon B.) Johnson has ordered the project put on a year-round basis to spread the benefits given on an experimental basis last summer.

“Nearly 560,000 preschools attended 13,400 Head Start centers in 2,500 American communities,” Johnson said.

NAVY Yard Bias Target of ‘March’ PORTSMOUTH Finally, plans are underway for Sunday’s big demonstration for a “March” which is designed to focus “national attention” on complaints (of employment bias) in the Norfolk Naval Shipyard at Portsmouth. The demonstration expected to involve hundreds of Tidewater citizens is being sponsored by the Portsmouth Chapter of the NAACP in cooperation with other organizations. In the first announcement of the “Equal Opportunity Protest Rally” Dr. Hugo Owens President of the Portsmouth NAACP unit, was careful not to refer to it as a “march” because the necessary parade permit has not been obtained. But the GUIDE was informed through reliable sources that the plans call for the rally to blossom into a full-fledged march through the streets and to the

Photo: INPPhoto

COLLEGE STUDENTS FACE 2024 ELECTIONS BARRIERS

By Daryn O’Neal Howard University News Service

College students away from home may face voting challenges due to new state laws that restrict the use of student IDs as valid identi fi cation, and the dif fi culty some students experience with mail-inballots.

Another election season is on the horizon with 8 million young people reaching the age for voter status, but there could be complications that impact these young people who plan to step up to the polls.

States like Texas, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, and Tennessee have enacted regulations that could hinder students’ ability to cast their votes in the upcoming election, according to the New York Times.

Sophomore legal communications major from Atlanta, Cameron Wright said, “For states with strict voter ID laws, there should be free and easy access to necessary identi fi cation so voters can be educated on how to obtain additional required documents.”

Out-of-state college students are also facing dif fi culties regarding this election.

About 60 percent of college students who attend school will likely be on or near campus during the election, according to the Urban Institute. This raises the question of how outof-state students will be able to vote without having access to their hometown polling station.

“First-time voters who are out of state for college may face several challenges that could impact their ability to vote,” Jencih Manhertz, president of Black Girls Vote said. “Being away from home means they have to navigate an already unfamiliar voting process.”

There are voting options that are available for students such as changing voter registration from one’s hometown to their college address, mailin ballots or absentee ballots which can be done from home.

Saiida Webb, second

Harris

Continued from page 1A

“And yes, and I think that reproductive care is health care, and I think that having a woman be able to advocate for things like reproductive care is super monumental, ” she said.

Earlier this week, a report by ProPublica went viral after revealing that Georgia residents Amber Nicole Thurman and Candi Miller died due to inadequate care related to medical abortion.

In Georgia, abortions are prohibited after six weeks of pregnancy, aligning with a wave of restrictive measures across the U.S. Currently, 22 states either ban abortion outright or impose stricter limits earlier in pregnancy than what was allowed under Roe v. Wade.

Georgia Rep. Park

For students who may not be knowledgeable about voter registration and ballot options, organizations on Howard University’s campus hold events that teach students voting requirements.

vice president of the Howard chapter’s NAACP expressed her thoughts on these options for students.

“Registering to vote and getting an absentee ballot, those are things that take a few minutes. They’re not dif fi cult,” she said. “There’s a lot of websites and organizations dedicated to getting people registered to vote.”

The junior honors political science and African-American studies double major from California also shared that awareness of these options is the main obstacle.

“I think the main issue is getting people educated to even know how to access these resources,” Webb said.

There are other options for college students to vote despite restrictive bills. Some out-of-state Howard students, however, face inconveniences when it comes to executing these options.

In an emailed statement to The Hilltop, organizer Dionysius Dodwell at HeadCount, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to increasing voter registration, highlighted a concern.

“First-time voters who are out of state don’t know that they can request a mail-in ballot. This information is not readily available to people and they sometimes have to do some digging to fi nd the correct information,” he said.

Cannon addressed the challenges Black women face in Georgia during the rally.

“I am angry,” Cannon said. “Women are suffering. Women are dying across the state of Georgia, rural communities and good people. They’re struggling because of hospital closures.”

According to the Center of Reproductive Rights, Black women in Georgia are 3.3 times more likely to die from pregnancyrelated complications than white women. Georgia’s own health experts believe that more than half of confirmed pregnancyrelated deaths in the state are preventable.

Candance Johnson is an Atlanta native who is enthusiastic about Kamala Harris being a candidate, but she is also hesitant about bringing a child into this world of political chaos.

“As a Black woman, the mortality rate already is

His first football season, Isaiah told us, ‘Wear a jersey with my name on it. I want everyone to know you’re here for me.’

Darnell and Denna, adopted 16-year-old Isaiah

Like Florida where sophomore sports management major Kaitlin Green is from, mail-in ballots cannot be sent outside of one’s district, so voters in areas similar to Florida must fi nd other means of accessing their ballots.

“When it comes to my mail-in ballot it will be mailed to my house and then my parents will mail it to the school,” Green said. For students who may not be knowledgeable about voter registration and ballot options, organizations on Howard University’s campus, such as Black Girls Vote, HeadCount, and the NAACP hold events that teach students how to register to vote, request absentee ballots, and inform them of the proper documentation one must have in order to vote.

“These resources provide comprehensive guidance on the procedural steps necessary for students to cast their votes while residing outside their home state,” Wright said. To build on this, Manhertz emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts.

“I think by fostering a strong collaboration between administration and student organizations, Howard can ensure that each and every one of their students are informed, equipped, and empowered to vote,” she said. Copy edited by Camiryn Stepteau

high,” Johnson said. “I’m nervous to even attempt to even get pregnant at this point, because, God forbid something were to happen to me, I did an emergency abortion, but the doctor at the hospital might be afraid to even perform it to like because he may think that he or she may get charged for murder or something.”

The phrase “We are not going back” resonated throughout the room, underscoring a key theme of the gathering. Kamala Harris, alongside political representatives, doctors and students, emphasized to the public that this is not an election to take lightly.

“This election is a fight for the future, and it is a fight for freedom,” Harris said. “In America, freedom is not given. It is not bestowed. It is our right.” Asia Alexander is a reporter for HUNewsService.com and business manager of The Hilltop at Howard University.

PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF SOCIOLOGY

VIRGINIA TECH

IF TRUMP WINS

By Wornie Reed, Ph.D.

This is the most important election in our lifetime, a point often made; however, it remains true. If Trump wins the presidency, we will move headlong into an authoritarian form of government.

An authoritarian type of government exercises most or total power over the government and society. It suspends elections and civil liberties. You have probably heard Trump say that – and we should believe him.

An authoritarian type of government is ruled by decree (of a dictator – in this case, Trump). It represses political opponents, and there is no rule of law except what the dictator decrees.

If you vote for Trump, that is what will happen. If you do not vote at all, then that is a vote for Trump and the end of American democracy. So please vote – for Kamala Harris and not for Trump.

Please tell that to anyone you know who thinks this is just another election and we are just hearing political bluster and not what will happen. Tell it to anyone that is on the fence, especially the Black men who are leaning toward Trump.

In this election, voting itself hangs in the balance. Many of us are trying to process Trump’s authoritarian plans and those of his allies. Meanwhile, a cornerstone of democracy, the right to vote, is once again being snatched from under our feet. It began with the 2013 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Shelby v. Holder, which eliminated the pre-clearance statute of the Voting Rights Act (VRA). This provision required specific states and jurisdictions to get approval for any change they make in voting procedures. As a result, we have had a decade of new restrictions on voting for Blacks, Hispanics, and

An authoritarian type of government exercises most or total power over the government and society. It suspends elections and civil liberties.

poor people.

Last year, they went further: a federal Court, undoubtedly influenced by Trump’s Right-Wing appointees, ruled that only the government can sue under VRA, not private parties, meaning individuals can no longer sue over restricted voting procedures. Consequently, we must vote – to elect leaders who will work to restore these lost voting rights before they are completely gone.

The next time, Trump will weed out the people who would be guardrails against his wild impulses. He will hire only people utterly loyal to him – not to the Constitution or the rule of law. How do we know? He keeps telling us so, and we know what he did or tried last time.

Project 2025, spearheaded by the influential Heritage Foundation, a Right-Wing Think Tank founded by the Koch brothers, provides the blueprint. They plan to be ready for the next conservative administration on “Day one.” One year into Trump’s previous presidency, the president of the Heritage Foundation declared, “Trump and his administration have embraced nearly two-thirds of the Heritage Foundation’s policy recommendations.”

Among other antidemocratic plans, Project 2025 specifies that the next Trump administration will weaponize the Department of Justice to go after his perceived enemies, which will include everyone who was involved in prosecuting him or the other January 6 insurrectionists.

Trump and his henchmen will eliminate all federal

efforts at DEI – diversity, equity, and inclusion. They will delete DEI “out of every federal rule, agency regulation, contract, grant, regulation, and piece of legislation that exists.”

DEI efforts are widespread among universities, businesses, and the federal government as a replacement for the outlawed “affirmative action.” Project 2025 calls for “investigating and prosecuting discrimination perpetuated by diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices.” They have already declared that practicing DEI is a crime.

A new Trump administration will change education as we know it. They will eliminate the federal Department of Education, and they will get rid of all teachers’ unions.

They will privatize education by enacting the Milton Friedman proposal of 1955, which called for the elimination of public education and the giving of vouchers to families to use in the marketplace to purchase education for their children.

Medicare has always been on the Republicans’ chopping block. In a new Trump administration, they will chop it. They will privatize Medicare by establishing Medicare Advantage plans. Such plans are problematic as, unlike Medicare, they limit which physicians members can use.

If we do not vote to halt some of this madness, we may not get another chance to vote and stop it. How do we know? Trump keeps telling us. He is not in enough control of his mental processes to avoid revealing it – which is reason enough to vote against him.

Saving The World As A Path To Prosperity

By Ben Jealous (TRICEEDNEYWIRE.COM)

“Made in the USA” is a tagline that should apply to every major piece of the clean energy economy. It is within our grasp. But we need to bust some myths. Clean energy and sustainability leaders from around the country got to tour the site of a new Qcells solar panel factory in Cartersville, Georgia. Once the new facility is up and running, Qcells will maintain the fi rst fully integrated solar supply chain in the U.S. – all right there in Georgia. Not far from Cartersville, the Qcells plant in Dalton, Georgia has already shown how good-paying clean energy jobs can help communities and even give the workers and their families a sense of pride and purpose. The new plant will further demonstrate how onshoring clean energy supply chains can create even more good jobs and help us achieve energy independence, all while helping to meet our climate goals.

Yet there is a myth that seems to live in the minds of many that solving the world’s most critical and overarching problem –the climate crisis – must necessarily be all about sacri fi ce as opposed to widespread economic gain. It is an example of so-called conventional wisdom being, well, nonsense. It is nothing

CARRTOON By Walt Carr

By Dr. E. Faye Williams (TRICEEDNEYWIRE.COM)

I’ve always thought there might be a difference in misleading and lying, but JD Vance has acknowledged that he was lying about Haitian Immigrants when he admitted the story about Haitian Immigrants was intentional knowing it was not true!

Even when one of his constituents came apologized to her neighbors about their taking her cat and presumably had a meal with it. Even though she found her cat in her basement, apologized and admitted she was mistaken, that was not good enough for JD or his boss.

Such despicable behavior from two men who want people to vote for them! They want those children whose school they interrupted and put fear in not only the children, but also their parents, the city and state officials! I thought about my 6-year-old nephew who just spent his first few days in first grade. He has been so excited about leaving pre-K and K and moving up to first grade! To have his school so interrupted so quickly would have been devastating.

It’s very challenging for some of the little ones to leave home, spend the day away from their Mom, and as soon as they find out school

new. But it is a reminder to beware of conventional wisdom pushed by fossil fuel interests over basic common sense and what we see right in front of us. What is happening with Qcells in Georgia was spurred by investments from the 2022 Infl ation Reduction Act (IRA). It is that law, along with the other crucial policies of the Biden-Harris administration – like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and its tariffs against China – that is helping give rise to the boom in clean energy projects across this country and a boom in manufacturing jobs supporting them. The broader picture is of a powerful partnership between the public and private sectors to create a rising economic tide that lifts all boats. A report last year by E2 analyzed job creation from clean energy projects in the fi rst year following passage of the IRA. It found that for every direct job in clean energy, even more

This partnership between the public and private sectors is also a model for how the climate movement must grow to meet its goals.

indirect and induced jobs were created to support clean energy production and its supply chain. The construction industry and the supply chains that feed it benefi ted the most but “sectors ranging from healthcare and hospitality to retail trade and real estate will also benefi t greatly.”

We must continue to onshore our supply chains, to manufacture domestically the steel and other raw materials needed for infrastructure and every aspect of the next economy. Breakthroughs in manufacturing processes make it much cleaner to do here than in China and it is American workers who will experience the economic windfall.

National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi, who joined the group hosted by Qcells in Georgia, describes it as a “manufacturing renaissance,” noting that “for too long, technologies were invented here and manufactured somewhere else.” see Prosperity, page 6A

By David W. Marshall (TRICEEDNEYWIRE.COM)

We are living through Donald Trump’s third consecutive run for the presidency, and nothing should surprise us during this year’s campaign. For those of us who are not Trump supporters, we should be used to the name-calling, lies, racist attacks, bullying, hypocrisy, corruption, and total incompetence displayed by the Republican nominee. I have Trump fatigue, and my personal decision to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris was already made prior to their presidential debate. Before and during the debate, the contrast between Harris and Trump was crystal clear. The contrast was reinforced as Harris made a compelling and powerful case to the American people. People who said they needed to know more about the vice president were given a preview of the future versus the replay of the past. Harris is no longer in the shadow of President Joe Biden. During the debate, potential voters saw a woman poised and ready to serve as the nation’s next president and commanderin-chief. Republicans are also taking note of the relevant contrast between

is not so bad while making new friends, they are told that school is a scary place! Their parents have to admit to them there may be bad people on the way or around the school who want to hurt them!

Do grown men who do that to children deserve to be on a ballot with the possibility of becoming what may be called leaders? We must admit a lot of candidates running for office that we really do have despicable people masquerading as leaders but are only a disgrace to the America they claim to love more than the rest of us who work so hard to be mentors and examples of good behavior. I am talking about their parents, grandparents, their teachers and others.

I can understand why so many young people are confused about what is good and what is bad! Do you remember

Everything about the good old days was not good for everybody, but we had the hope of making things better – not only for ourselves, but for everybody.

when we were taught the 10 Commandments? The Golden Rule? To say Yes M’am and No M’am; Yes, Sir and No, Sir? Please and thank you? You remember when truth mattered and it was less likely to be punished if we did or said something we shouldn’t have, to tell the truth?

Everything about the good old days was not good for everybody, but we had the hope of making things better – not only for ourselves, but for everybody. We were even admonished about throwing away good food by being asked if we knew about all the starving children in China who didn’t have food? We didn’t know the number –and our parents didn’t either, but the question taught us to be thoughtful before we threw away something others might need! see Lying, page 6A

the candidates. Former Vice President Dick Cheney, a fixture in the Republican Party’s establishment wing, made the personal decision to support Vice President Harris for the White House. Cheney was joined by Alberto Gonzales, who served as attorney general in the George W. Bush administration. Cheney and Gonzales are adding to the growing list of Republicans who see the contrast and are willing to step out publically and take a stand. By pointing the finger at ABC moderators Linsey Davis and David Muir, Trump supporters obliviously saw the contrast from the debate in a different light. It is true that the moderators fact-checked Trump five times and did not correct Harris a single time.

Trump was quickly corrected when promoting

falsehoods on abortion, migrants, and the 2020 election. Therefore, Trump supporters are critical of the moderators for being biased against the former president. Trump also added to the bias claim. “It was three to one. It was a rigged deal, as I assumed it would be,” the former president told Fox & Friends. Any untrue comments from either candidate needed to be exposed and clarified for the benefit of potential voters. What they perceive as bias, others see as responsible and accountable journalism. In a post-debate interview, Davis acknowledged that the first presidential debate between Trump and President Biden impacted the fact-checking of Trump. Davis said she only intended to address worries that Trump’s remarks may “hang” there unchecked by Harris or the moderators, just like the June debate. “People were concerned that statements were allowed to just hang and not [be] disputed by the candidate Biden, at the time, or the moderators,” Davis stated. see Checking, page 6A

Dr. E. Faye Williams

David W. Marshall

Ben Jealous

THE PARADOX OF PROGRESS FOR BLACK AMERICANS

By Algernon Austin and Dedrick AsanteMuhammad

As the country moves rapidly toward the 2024 elections, Black Americans are experiencing the best economic conditions they’ve had in generations. Record low unemployment rates, record low poverty rates, and record high levels of income and wealth paint a picture of Black prosperity. Yet African-Americans remain mired in great economic insecurity, reflected in their low opinion of the economy, widespread asset poverty, and ongoing economic inequality between Black and white households.

The best Black economy in generations, in short, isn’t enough. To overcome centuries of inequality, we’ll need dedicated public policy.

Let’s look at some numbers from a new report we put out for the Joint Center and the Center for Economic and Policy Research.

From 1972 to 2022, the annual Black unemployment rate averaged 11.6 percent. Last year, it averaged 5.5 percent, a historic low. That’s good news, but it’s barely put a dent in the gap between Black and white employment.

We calculate that Black America would need an additional 1.4 million jobs for Black people to be employed at the same rate as white people. This employment gap cost Black Americans roughly $60 billion last year compared to what they’d have made if those jobless individuals were working.

So for African-Americans, the racial employment divide remains quite costly. Other indicators tell a similar story.

For example, Black median household income is also at its highest point in a generation,

This is the best economy for Black Americans in generations, but that’s not enough to close the racial wealth divide on its own.

growing from about $41,000 in 2011 to nearly $53,000 in 2022 – a nearly 30 percent increase. That same year, median Black wealth also reached a new high of nearly $45,000, more than double the post-Great Recession low of about $17,000. Still, Black median income today is still nearly $30,000 lower than the white median – it’s not even caught up with the white median income of 1972. And the average Black median wealth of about $45,000 means the vast majority of AfricanAmericans fall well short of the $190,000 to $570,000 estimated as necessary to reach middle-class status.

Will these disparities correct themselves on their own? Not likely.

As the Institute for Policy Studies and the National Community Reinvestment Coalition found in their 2023

“Still A Dream” report, the nation is still moving at a glacial pace when it comes to bridging Black/white economic inequality. If the country continues at the rate it’s been moving since the

1960s, it will take over 500 years to bridge the racial income gap – and nearly 800 years to bridge the racial wealth gap.

So while Black Americans are experiencing significant economic gains, these advances are insufficient to overcome entrenched inequalities. The economic progress we see today is a foundation, not a finish line. It speaks to the need for comprehensive policies that address ongoing barriers to economic security and wealthbuilding.

Investment in quality education, access to affordable health care, affordable housing, job creation targeted to highunemployment communities, and new publicly financed asset building opportunities like Baby Bonds are essential. These measures can help ensure that the economic gains of today translate into sustained prosperity and security for future generations.

As we approach the presidential election, let’s not make this election a contest between individuals but

of policies that can heal our deep wounds of racial and economic inequality.

Addressing these issues with urgency and commitment will not only improve the economic outlook for Black Americans – it will create the basis for a more united country.

Algernon Austin is the Director of Race and Economic Justice at the Center for Economic and

America Must Stop Normalizing Trump’s Criminal Behavior

By Shedrick Byrd

Why is it that every law Donald Trump violates is normalized and becomes a news item for discussion?

He should be summoned and made to go before a judge to explain his reasons for violating the law. Instead his behavior becomes a side show for the media. Just what he wants. The media should not make a week-long news story or discussion of his stupid or criminal behaviors.

A few weeks ago, Trump unlawfully entered Arlington National Cemetery for a photo-op with the family of a person who was buried there. He or one of the members of his entourage pushed aside a cemetery attendant who tried to explain that it was unlawful for anyone who enter the cemetery for photo-ops. Instead of being issued a summons to appear before a judge to explain why he unlawfully entered the cemetery, it was made a news story. Giving Trump more press. Trump never explained why he chose Arlington for his photo-op. But the news people made panel discussions and other excuses normalizing Trump’s behavior and giving him the publicity that he was seeking.

At one of his rallies Trump made the remark that if he

lost the election there would be a bloodbath in the country.

He made that statement without any negative consequences. He should have been summoned by DOJ (Department of Justice) and sent before a judge to explain his meaning for making such a dangerous statement.

His latest lie was a baseless one that Haitian immigrants were eating pets in Springfield, Ohio. The media carried the story for three weeks with panel discussions and accusations about Trump and his lies but nothing or no one has pushed Trump (and his candidate for vice president) to prove those accusations to be true. Just another dangerous Trump lie that has no consequence.

Trump continues to make remarks that are dangerous to America. They become

normalized by the media who make week-long news stories out of his comments. It is just what he wants from the media. He even makes damaging comments on social media to show how he controls the law. He has been so normalized until he has the Supreme Court giving him immunity from prosecution for wrong doings. Can you imagine that?

Had I done a miniscule of the things he has done I would be spending my life in prison or sent to the electric chair. I don’t know whether he does not know how inflammatory his statements are. Or whether he knows and means for them to be inflammatory. He does it so much he may think in his mind it’s a game. It would stop Trump’s behavior if he was summoned to court every time he does something stupid or makes a dangerous or inflammatory comment before a group of his maga followers or the media. Nationwide our citizens are experiencing much violence and anxiety because of ugly statements Trump has made in the past. It’s time for his rhetoric to stop. It seems to be up to DOJ and other government entities to stop him.

Shedrick Byrd is a contributor to the New Journal and Guide.

Algernon Austin Dedrick Asante-Muhammad

Shedrick Byrd

JAMES EARL JONES AND TITO JACKSON: THEY HELPED SHIFT PERCEPTION OF BLACK CULTURE & HISTORY

By Marc Morial CEO National Urban League (TRICEEDNEYWIRE.COM)

“I look at it this way: anybody can carry a picket sign, but I think you should be able to articulate what that sign means ... Don’t get me wrong. I believe in the same things that all those people demonstrating believe in, but I just look for plays or movies that say the same thing and play characters in them.”

James Earl Jones

–

America lost two Black icons of the entertainment industry in recent days.

James Earl Jones was a generation older than Tito Jackson, but both hit the peak of their fame in the 1970s and played a major role in shifting perception of Black culture and history.

Jones’ distinctive bass voice, which brought him his greatest fame in roles where his face was not even seen,

brought a remarkable gravitas and dignity to characters whose race was of pivotal importance.

Jackson, who performed with his brothers as the Jackson 5, was part of the first Black pop band to achieve mainstream teen idol status and paved the way for later “boy bands” of all races and ethnicities like New Edition, Menudo, and Backstreet Boys. Some even cite the popularity of the Jackson 5 as a factor in the election of the first Black U.S. President, reasoning that the children who “got comfortable imitating a Black kid named

Michael Jackson” grew up to be comfortable with voting for Barack Obama.

The second-oldest Jackson brother, after Jackie, Tito was just 17 when “Jacksonmania” exploded into the American pop scene, bringing with it a distinctively Black visual style.

A Rolling Stone review of a raucous Madison Square Garden concert in 1970 noted in particular Tito’s “enormous, hot pink shoeshine boy’s cap with jumpsuit.

Although considered “the quiet one” of the group, it was Tito who was responsible for the formation of the Jackson 5. As a 10-year-old, he risked his father Joe’s notorious

Rivers Casino Portsmouth Observes Company’s 2nd Annual Day of Service

PORTSMOUTH

On Sept. 19, Rivers Casino Portsmouth Team Members partnered with the Armed Services YMCA to observe the casino’s parent company’s 2nd Day of Service.

The Portsmouth Rivers Casino was one of the five Rivers Casino locations in four states participating in the national event.

The Armed Services YMCA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening military families through support services and enrichment programs focused on child development, healthy living, and social responsibility.

Local team members helped with playground maintenance, bus cleaning,

Prosperity

Continued from page 4A

This partnership between the public and private sectors is also a model for how the climate movement must grow to meet its goals. Yet our movement has been stymied by the same sorts of myths that have led some to mistakenly believe the clean energy transition carries more economic cost than benefit.

The urgency of tackling the climate crisis is undeniable. We have just come out of the hottest summer on record. A recent report based on satellite data shows extreme wildfires have more than doubled over the past 20 years thanks to climate change. Just last week, southern California was at the

Lying

Continued from page 4A

At one time, adults were expected to be good examples for children –but so many are failing miserably now. As we approach November 5th, Voting Day, have you noticed how many Republicans are

Checking

Continued from page 4A

The news media is vital in keeping the public informed and safe. The decision by the ABC network to live factcheck the candidates during the telecast marked a departure from recent debates and the first presidential debate hosted by CNN. During the June debate, the moderators did not correct false claims made by Trump and President Joe Biden. CNN’s Political Director, David Chalian, told The Washington Post ahead of the network’s debate in June that the stage “is not the ideal venue for a live fact-checking exercise.” The moderators’ role, he said, was “to plainly facilitate and

painting, and other facility improvement tasks. Team Members also assembled care packages at Rivers Casino for active-duty military families and veterans served by the Armed Services YMCA.

In addition to volunteer support, Rivers Casino Portsmouth presented the Armed Services YMCA with an $18,000 contribution, which includes a donation from Rivers Casino and donations collected from guests on the gaming floor.

More than 6,000 Team Members of all of the five Rivers Casinos in four states and its operating parent company, Rush Street Gaming, banded together for the occasion.

mercy of three out-of-control wildfires – amidst a major heat wave – that closed schools, evacuated residents, and made the air toxic to breathe. We know that fully transitioning from fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy is the only way to save our planet. And we need the most broadbased, inclusive movement possible to get it done. I have spent my entire life deeply embedded in movements for change and justice – civil rights, environmental justice and conservation, workers’ rights. I have seen first hand how much all our movements have in common, how our goals are often the same, and how the few who benefit from an unjust status quo always fight tooth and nail to keep us divided – and promote dangerous myths to do it. Coming together to meet

bad examples? Thankfully, there are a few of them who are truth-tellers, and are not afraid to break the pattern and do the right thing.

JD Vance, Donald Trump, Mark Robinson, Ted Cruz, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Josh Hawley, Jim Jordan, Matt Gaetz aren’t ready to break the chain!

Those who are doing better are the Cheneys, lots of former Trump staffers, Adam Kinzinger, Michael

moderate a debate ... .not to be a participant.”

The ABC network and moderators understood the high stakes involved in allowing lies and misinformation to go unchecked with persuadable voters who could potentially accept a falsehood being true. During the debate, Trump falsely claimed Haitian migrants in Ohio were killing pets and eating them. Muir quickly corrected the claim by Trump. During debates, a slice of the electorate will always be undecided and seek reasons to vote for a particular candidate. As a result, the correction by Muir was needed. The live fact-check can make a difference in voter’s understanding of the truth and a hate-driven lie. Despite Muir’s correction, Trump’s spoken words did damage in

wrath when he broke a string playing Joe’s guitar. But after hearing Tito play, bought him his own guitar, and convinced Tito, Jackie, and Jermaine to form a singing group.

While the Jackson 5 were breaking teenage girls’ hearts in 1970, Jones was already an acclaimed theater actor in 1970 when he astounded film audiences with his performance as Jack Jefferson in The Great White Hope. The film was based on the life of the

first Black world heavyweight boxing champion, Jack Johnson and the furor of racial resentment he ignited with his success, further stoked by his relationships with white women.

He further explored the role of racism in sports with his portrayal of Negro Leagues catcher Josh Gibson in The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings. Though the comedy “sometimes glides over the

obvious pain and injustice these players went through,” according to New York Magazine, Jones conveyed the “rage and hurt simmering underneath.”

Tito Jackson was rarely the frontman, and James Earl Jones was rarely the leading man, but they managed in their own unique ways to influence American culture indelibly. While they are sorely missed, their art lives on and continues to inspire a new generation.

the existential challenge of the climate crisis means doing away with those myths. The myth that the environmental movement is somehow “white,” while people of color are not only among the most impacted by climate change and pollution, we are also the most climate conscious voters. The myth that prioritizing sustainability and pro-environment practices is at odds with the interests of workers, while organized labor essentially helped launch the modern green movement. And, yes, the myth that the transition to the clean energy economy cannot be an unequivocal economic win for our country.

Ben Jealous is the Executive Director of the Sierra Club and a Professor of Practice at the University of Pennsylvania.

Steele, Nicole Wallace, Military Generals, 200 former President George W. Bush’s staff, Black Republicans for Harris and a growing number of others who want to make things better for all of us.

One way to do that is to VOTE as if you really mean to make things better on November 5th!

Dr. E. Faye Williams is President of the Dick Gregory Society.

other ways. Now, the Haitian population in Springfield, Ohio, is a political target paying an unfair price.

City officials and police have said no credible information supports the bizarre claims. Yet, Trump’s untrue statements are being perpetuated by right-wing media figures and Republican leaders. This unnecessary controversy has placed the City of Springfield at the center of the national debate on immigration while putting members of the Haitian community in danger.

The contrast between Harris and Trump is crystal clear. Now, more people, even Republicans, are seeing it.

David W. Marshall is the founder of the faith-based organization TRB: The Reconciled Body and author of the book God Bless Our Divided America.

James Earl Jones (L) and Tito Jackson

Study

Continued from page 1A

Breast cancer remains the most diagnosed cancer among U.S. women and is the second leading cause of cancer death.

“Our findings demonstrate that multiple, interacting factors contribute to disparities in breast cancer survival between Black and White women,” said senior author Erica Warner, ScD, MPH, a cancer epidemiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital. “To achieve equity, intervention is necessary at multiple levels – from community to healthcare systems and individual healthcare providers to patients themselves learning about their disease and what their expectations should be for their care.” Along with Warner and

Chandler, the study’s coauthors were Juliana M. Torres, Michelle O. Sodipo, and Margaret F. Hopkins. The study calls for concerted efforts at all levels of the healthcare system to ensure that Black women receive the quality of care necessary

to reduce breast cancer mortality rates.

Breast cancer remains the most diagnosed cancer among U.S. women and is the second leading cause of cancer death. Reportedly, Black women are around 40 percent more likely to die from breast cancer than white women. Until this study, researchers said it was unclear if this disparity existed across all breast cancer subtypes.

The study contends that several factors, including systemic racism, socioeconomic inequality,

delays in cancer diagnosis, and inadequate access to high-quality cancer treatment, contribute to these disparities. These factors can affect the timeliness and effectiveness of treatment, regardless of the biological nature of the tumor.

The researchers highlight the need for multilevel interventions to achieve health equity. Programs that have successfully reduced disparities in cancer survival include those that help patients navigate the healthcare system,

proactively identify social needs, and connect patients with necessary resources. Additionally, the study points to the potential impact of the underrepresentation of Black women in clinical trials, which may result in therapies not being adequately tailored to specific tumor subtypes. However, researchers concluded that the disparities are not inevitable. With targeted, multilevel interventions, the authors said it is possible to close the gap in breast cancer outcomes and achieve health equity.

J.R. LOCKE TO BE HONORED DURING NON-PROFIT LEADERSHIP CELEBRATION

HAMPTON ROADS

The United Way of South Hampton Roads, in partnership with Norfolk State University, Truist Financial and The Urban League of Hampton Roads are hosting a Nonprofit Leadership Celebration at Norfolk State University on October 8. This gathering will recognize non-profits that are led by people of color, and the impact that non-profits impart to our communities. Notably, UWSHR, NSU, Truist and Urban League will be recognizing J.R. Locke, for his decades of contribution to both UWSHR and non-profits of South Hampton Roads. Locke, the Director

of the award winning United Way of South Hampton Roads (UWSHR) Project Inclusion Board Governance Leadership Development Program, recently retired after 28 years with United Way. As the program’s one and only Director throughout its entire 28-year history, he helped launch and guide Project Inclusion to national acclaim by United Way Worldwide as one of three Best Practice programs for Diversity in the nation. Specifically, Project Inclusion was created to identify, recruit,

train and refer minority members of the community to serve on the board of directors and committees of UWSHR certified agencies. Under Locke’s direction, more than 1,000+ Alumni have completed the program and graduated from Project Inclusion with leadership and management development skills that are beneficial to any nonprofit or company. Virginia Governors have recognized the value of Project Inclusion with the selection of candidates to diversify Virginia’s state boards and commissions.

Recent BTW High School Traffic Mishap Spotlights Popularity of BTW’s Name

By Rosaland Tyler Associate Editor New Journal and Guide

A 21-year-old female driver crashed into Booker T. Washington High School in Norfolk on Sept. 21 and left a gaping hole on the side of the building. According to news reports, a female driver recently slammed into a culinary arts classroom on the school’s northeast corner in Norfolk. She was rushed to the hospital with minor injuries and is recovering. Cleanup crews said the car appeared to be speeding westbound down Princess Anne Road, lost control and then slammed into a culinary arts classroom on the school’s northeast corner. According to WTKR-News, “We’re told the driver was taken to the hospital and is expected to be okay. Norfolk Public Schools’ chief operations

officer was on scene and told News 3 that crews would quickly have the hole patched. He said the incident is not expected to impact classes.”

Construction workers will repair the damage, similar to how 1876 Hampton University graduate Booker T. Washington (for whom the high school is named) aimed to repair slavery’s devastating impact by launching Tuskegee University. Today, the HBCU that was launched in 1881, in Tuskegee, Alabama, currently enrolls more than 3,000 students.

The success story at Norfolk’s Booker T. Washington High “dates back to April of 1911, when the Norfolk School Board agreed to endorse one year of high school learning in connection with elementary school at John T. West School,” according to the website for Norfolk Public Schools. “In 1912, a second year was added and, in 1913, a third year was included. In May of 1914, the State

Board of Education endorsed” the first accredited public high school for Blacks.

Researchers at the New Journal and Guide discovered there are more than 5,000 schools and facilities in the USA named after Booker T. Washington, the trailblazing Black educator. Specifically, in Virginia, Washington’s name now graces schools in Norfolk, Charlottesville, Newport News, and Staunton. Born into slavery in Virginia on April 5, 1856, on a plantation in Hale’s Ford, Washington authored five books during his lifetime from 1856-1915. He died at age 59, from high blood pressure hours after he returned to his home in Tuskegee following a successful fundraising trip in the North.

Washington’s name not only graces thousands of US schools, but also hangs above a bridge, a ship, and a state park in Tennessee.

TOPS Club Offers Ways To Boost Brain Health During Alzheimer’s Month

MILWAUKEE, WI

It’s time to act on Alzheimer’s.

This is the 2024 theme for World Alzheimer’s Month, which occurs annually in September. WorldAlzheimer’s Month is dedicated to raising public awareness around Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, reducing the stigma attached to them, and highlighting the steps organizations take to develop a more dementia-friendly society.

TOPS Club, Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly SM), the non-profit weight-loss support organization, with a “Real People. Real Weight Loss®.” philosophy, recognizes World Alzheimer’s Month and the need for education around cognitive decline. It also emphasizes that making healthy lifestyle changes can lower an individual’s risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s.

Factors like obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes can increase the risk of dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. The following are a few actions for individuals to help slow – and potentially avoid altogether – the effects of cognitive decline:

Increase Blood Flow

To Your Brain

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), regular cardiovascular activity increases blood flow to your brain and can reduce dementia risk factors.

Exercise can do everything from increasing the hippocampus, or the part of the brain associated with memory and learning, to promoting healthy synapses, the space

TOPS also emphasizes that making healthy lifestyle changes can lower an individual’s risk of developing dementia

or Alzheimer’s.

between neurons that send messages from your brain to your body. The oxygen and glucose fed to the brain during movement can also help make the brain more efficient.

TOPS encourages individuals to find a physical activity they enjoy or can seamlessly integrate into their lives. Suggestions include taking the stairs instead of the elevator, parking the car farther from the store entrance, taking a dance class, or going with friends for morning walks or a round of golf.

Feed Your Brain

Eating right nourishes the brain, assisting in critical thinking, attentiveness, and memory.

According to Harvard Health, while no single food, beverage, vitamin, or supplement is proven to cure or prevent Alzheimer’s or dementia, certain foods are more brain-friendly, like:

• Leafy greens, such as kale, spinach, and broccoli, have been shown to slow cognitive decline.

• Fish like salmon, cod, and pollack contain low levels of beta-amyloids that cause unhealthy build-up in the brains of those with

Alzheimer’s.

• Berries, such as strawberries and blueberries, contain a flavonoid that gives the berries their color and helps individuals with memory.

Exercise Your Brain

Apart from healthy habits like moving more and adopting a better diet, remaining mentally and socially active can reduce the risk of cognitive decline. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, regularly socializing can delay the onset of dementia.

Try regularly engaging with family and friends, joining a volunteer group, or making new friends. Consider focusing on your health by checking out a local TOPS chapter – www.tops.org.

About TOPS®

TOPS promotes successful weight management with a “Real People. Real Weight Loss®.” philosophy that combines support from others at weekly chapter meetings, healthy eating, regular exercise, and wellness information.

Today there are about 65,000 members, including men, women, and international members who join chapter meetings online, with thousands of chapters in all 50 states and Canada. TOPS also has an online program for people who might prefer that model or who live too far to attend in-person chapter meetings.

Visitors are welcome to attend their first TOPS meeting free of charge. Membership is affordable, starting at $49 per year in the U.S. and $59 annually in Canada, plus nominal

Continued from page 1A

The NNPA will join forces with, and add our voice to, any organization that denounces and takes action against this kind of open bigotry, hate, and violence. Today, in a country whose foundation rests on a system of true democracy, we

must never vote for those whose self-interests conflict with the greater good. Our most powerful weapon to eradicate this behavior is our vote. We must vote them out, or better yet, not vote for them in the first place. VOTE like your life depends on it – because it does.

Bobby R. Henry is the Publisher of Westside Gazette, Fort Lauderdale, FL.

chapter fees. Visit www. tops.org, or call (800) 9328677 to learn more about TOPS and to find a local chapter.

J.R. Locke

SECTION B

VOTER ALERTS

Important Dates For The November 5 Election Cycle:

• Sept. 20 – Early voting begins at all general registrar’s offices. Some cities and counties offer early voting satellite locations. Dates and times vary by jurisdiction.

• Oct. 15 – Deadline to register to vote and cast a regular ballot

• Oct. 16 – Same-day registration begins. Anyone registering and voting at the same time will have to cast a provisional ballot.

• Oct. 25 – Last day to request an absentee ballot by mail or online

• Nov. 2 – Last day of early voting

• Nov. 5 – ELECTION DAY

REMINDER: If you are already registered, be sure you update any personal information that may have changed since the last election cycle. Visit the Virginia Department of Elections website at www.elections.virginia.gov

REGISTER TO VOTE

Portsmouth To Celebrate Filipino History During Fil-Fest, October 5-6

PORTSMOUTH

Fil Fest USA celebrates its 10th Annual Event in Portsmouth, recognizing Filipino-American History Month. This year’s theme: Innovation & Technology.

The two-day free-tothe-public, family-friendly community event scheduled for October 5 and 6 at Festival Park@Atlantic Union Pavilion celebrates Filipino history, music, food, and the arts. It opens up with Mayor Shannon Glover’s welcome which will recognize teachers from the Philippines teaching in the Portsmouth Public School systems through the Global Teacher Program. Since Portsmouth has been redesignated as the Coast Guard City, Mayor Glover will also recognize Filipinos in the Coast Guard, both Retired and Active.

Fil Fest USA’s “Flavors of the Philippines,” Portsmouth’s rendition of Restaurant Week,

in its second year, will be scheduled from September 27 to October 3, leading up to the opening of Fil Fest weekend. Innovation and Technology awards are to be presented to leading Filipino Americans who have made a difference in industries such as Research & Development, Scientists, Recruitment, Business, Health, Music, Dance and Fashion.

Special Programming Entertainment includes the Children’s Tent, cultural dances, songs, and activities from local and regional talent performers. The Annual Lumpia eating contest is sponsored by Lumpia & Company. The Hampton Roads area is home to more than 120,000 Filipinos/Filipino Americans, many of whom deployed into the area via the world’s largest naval base. For more details, visit www.filfestusa.com.

SMALL BUSINESS DIRECTORY

JAY PHAROAH FINE ARTS SCHOLARSHIP BALL

MAKES AWARDS

By Ernest Lowery Special to the Guide

The Jay Pharoah 2024

Inaugural Fine Arts Scholarship Ball chalked up a successful event at the Rivers Casino in Portsmouth, Va., on Saturday September 21, 2024. The event had a capacity crowd mixed with adults and a handsome group of young and upcoming students. The band Better By Tuesday entertained while the guests were getting situated with their seating and chatting before the program began.

Ramona Farrow, P3H President, brought greetings and the Mistress of Ceremonies was Bonita Billingsley Harris/ Dominion Energy. She later introduced the keynote speaker Phil Thornton, a Norfolk State graduate. After proving himself as an artist, management/ consultant, and co-founder Ten2One Entertainment, he became senior vice president of Capitol Christian Music Group. Now he is focusing on his own media company, Three Diamonds. In his remarks Mr. Thornton stressed the five “R”(s) that help you maintain success; they are Respect, Relationships, Responsibility, Results and Revenue.

The Scholarship winners for 2024 were Ashley Bell from Indian River HS, Jana Simmons from Grassfield HS and Madilyn Simmons from Western Branch HS. For the past 10 years, this scholarship was awarded to Indian River High School seniors pursuing college degrees in the arts. This year, eligibility for the scholarship was expanded

to all public high schools in Chesapeake, resulting in three $5,000 scholarships awarded to students from Grassfield, Indian River, and Western Branch High Schools.

The Pharoah Phamily Phoundation Phoenix Honoree was Mr. James L. Frye, Sr. Mr. Frye, who retired from the Chesapeake Public Schools District, had been an educator in schools all around the city where he was known for his unique style and passion for his students. His last position was principal at Indian River High School, from July 1987 until November, 2024.

A series of short emotional videos were shown from other educators who knew him best, and were very touching to see. A proclamation by Delegate Cliff Hayes

was presented to Mr. Frye for his outstanding commitment to the Chesapeake schools and community at large.

Jay Pharoah was beside Delicate Cliff Hayes as they were both students and graduates of Indian River High School.

The Pharoah Phamily Phoundation is a 501(c) (3) not for profit charitable organization. Over the last 10 years the Phoundation has raised an upwards total of $65,000.00 in awards scholarships to graduating seniors in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Jay Pharoah spent six seasons on “Saturday Night Live” and continues to headline comedy clubs across the country. He is hosting FOX’s game show, “The Quiz With Balls” and has appeared in a number of films.

NEWPORT NEWS’ CUTS RIBBON ON NEW TRANSPORTATION CENTER

NEWPORT NEWS

The City of Newport News recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new $53.3 million transportation center.

The new state-of-the-art facility is located at 500-B Bland Blvd. It offers travelers two daily train trips from Newport News to Richmond, Alexandria, Washington, D.C., and cities in the Northeast, according to a statement on the city’s website.

“The center will also serve as a transfer point for Amtrak Thruway Bus Service extending travel to Norfolk and Virginia Beach, and for Hampton Roads Transit, taxi service and shuttles to and from the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport,” according to a statement on the city’s website.

Officials who attended the recent ribboncutting ceremony included Mayor Jones; Mike McLaughlin, VPRA; Robert Jordan, Amtrak; William Harrell, HRT; and Dr. Pat Woodbury, Newport News City Council.

Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones said,

“As we open this exciting new chapter in our city’s transportation story, I look forward to all the benefits this center will bring to our residents and travelers alike.”

The $53.3 million center, located at 500B Bland Blvd., features a spacious parking lot and bus area, fully illuminated and accessible pathways leading to the building. All entrances are equipped with automatic doors. Customers will enjoy a 3,450-square foot waiting area, vending machines, restrooms, and ticket counter.

3RD ANNUAL EVENING OF HOPE SET FOR OCT. 10

NORFOLK

The 3rd Annual Evening of Hope to honor victims, their families, and survivors of various forms of violence, including gun and knife violence, will take place Thursday, October 10, at 7 p.m. at the Harrison Opera House in Norfolk. The event is presented by the Urban Renewal Center and the Virginia Symphony Orchestra (VSO).

Chesapeake Men Donate Microwave Ovens To Oscar

CHESAPEAKE

Smith High School

As a designated “Proud Partner” of Chesapeake Public Schools, the board of directors and members of The New Chesapeake Men for Progress Education Foundation, Inc., donated six microwave ovens September 17, 2024, to Oscar Smith High School, to assist students in warming their food during the lunch hour. Funding for the microwave ovens were provided by the Micah and Kandi Hall Endowment Fund administered by the Foundation.

that the partnership plays in game. Responder would rebid 4 Spades.

3) The contract is 4 Spades and South is the declarer.

4) West makes the opening lead with the K Heart

5) Declarer needs ten tricks but only has nine sure tricks. The Diamond suit provides the opportunity to develop an additional trick because the third round of Diamonds can be ruffed in dummy.

6) Declarer has to leave a trump in the dummy to ruff the third Diamond.

7) Declarer should make his 4 Spade contract.

Tidewater Bridge Club’s winning players in the September 18, 2024 game:

1) North opens the bidding with 1 Club. North is the describer and South is the responder and the captain.

2) South, the responder, can bid a new suit at the one level, 1 Spade. Responder’s bid is forcing and opener has to bid again. Since opener’s hand is in the minimum range, opener rebids 2 Spades. Since responder’s hand is maximum, responder (South) wants to ensure

Gloria Brown – Lawrence Owes - Rose Ward

Elizabeth Lyons – Barbara Whitfield - Wilma Horne

Aldis Raymond – Leon Ragland - Shirley Nottingham

Sandra Starkey – Gillis Watson - Tonya Copeland

Library

Berkley

Extension

for the

fee is $6 (paid BEFORE the game thru our voucher system. Contact L. Owes at email below). Light snacks and water provided; bring your lunch.

questions,

Evening of Hope will feature the music of the VSO and a special Community Choir comprised of individuals, frontline workers, and church choirs from the local area, aiming to harmonize their voices in remembrance of those lost prematurely and in solidarity with their bereaved families and friends.

Additionally, the Urban Renewal Center will recognize the crucial efforts of frontline professionals who tirelessly work to provide hope amid pervasive violence. This event is free.

Hello and welcome to The Bridge Corner. Developing a Trick by Riffing in Dummy.

Payne

Elva Taylor

Wanda Miller - Patricia Earls

(L-R) Del. Cliff Hayes, Jay Pharaoh, James Frye, Congressman Bobby Scott..

Photo: ErnestLowery

(L-R) Arthur Anderson, Special Education Teacher, OSHS; George F. Reed, Ph.d., Secretary, NCMPEF; Ernest Lowery, Director, NCMPEF; Fred Barber, Guidance Counselor, OSHS; and Paul Joseph, Principal, OSHS; receiving the donated microwave ovens.

Photo: Courtesy

Photo: ErnestLowery

Chesapeake Mayor’s Breakfast Honors Veterans

CHESAPEAKE

The Chesapeake Conference Center was filled with proud military veterans representing all branches of service on September 21. This was the Mayor’s 15th Annual Breakfast to Honor our Veterans.

It was highlighted by speaker Mr. David Huffman Executive Director, Mission POW MIA, Chesapeake. Commissioner Venetta Charles, MCVA., served as Mistress of Ceremony.Remarks were made by Honorable Richard W. West. In photo, Air Force veteran Dr. George F. Reed is presented a pendant by Treasurer Angela Bell.

New Sickle Cell Clinic Opening At

NORFOLK

The new Sickle Cell Clinic at Sentara-EVMS will have its grand opening on October 9 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Hofheimer Hall, 825 Fairfax Avenue, 4th floor, Norfolk, VA. The center is dedicated to serving the needs of adult patients with sickle cell disease.

The official grand opening event marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to enhance support, education, and resources for those affected by this lifelong genetic disorder in the community.

“We are proud to witness the grand opening of this clinic, which is a testament to the power of community advocacy and partnership,” said Dianne E. Creekmore, Chair of the Sickle Cell Family & Peer Advocates

COME JOIN THE VIRGINIA AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER, AS WE CELEBRATE OUR ANNUAL COMMUNITY FALL FESTIVAL ON OCT. 5TH, 12 P.M. -5 P.M., 744 HAMPSHIRE LANE, WITH LIVE ENTERTAINMENT, PRAISE & AFRICAN DANCERS, COMEDIANS, CHILDREN’ ACTIVITIES, BOUNCE HOUSE, VENDORS, AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY, ARTS & CRAFTS, AND FOOD TRUCKS. WITNESS THE HISTORIC RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY FOR OUR RENOVATED BASKETBALL COURTS SPONSORED BY SITW AND THE NBA WITH LOCAL SPORTS CELEBRITIES AND SURPRISE GIVEAWAYS!

of Tidewater. “This clinic will be a vital resource for individuals and families affected by sickle cell.

The new clinic offers a range of services to support the health and well-being of sickle cell patients, including comprehensive care and in-house psychiatry services.

The clinic’s opening is the result of years of dedicated advocacy and collaboration among community members, healthcare professionals, and local organizations. It aims to provide accessible and specialized care to improve the quality of life for those living with sickle cell disease.

Managing the complexities of sickle cell disease requires more than just treating symptoms – it demands a holistic, patient-centered

approach. To meet this need, Sentara Health and Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences EVMS Medical Group at Old Dominion University are joining forces to bring together specialists from general internal medicine, hospital medicine, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and psychiatry and behavioral sciences.

A brief program will begin at 6 p.m. followed by a reception and tours of the space.

Patients can now schedule appointments during the following times: Monday: Afternoon; Tuesday: Morning; Wednesday: Afternoon; Thursday: Morning (with Pain Medicine and Rehabilitation); and, Friday: Morning and Afternoon.

For more information about the new clinic and to schedule an appointment, please visit [www.evmsMedicalGroup. com](http://www. evmsmedicalgroup.com) or contact clinic at (757) 447-8980

About Sickle Cell Family & Peer Advocates of Tidewater

The Sickle Cell Family & Peer Advocates of Tidewater is a community organization dedicated to enhancing, enriching, and enlightening the lives of individuals and families affected by sickle cell disease. Through education, advocacy, and support, the organization strives to improve the quality of life for those living with this incurable genetic disorder.

AKAS, ALPHAS HOSTING CANDIDATES FORUM

NORFOLK

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Upsilon Omicron Omega Chapter, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, Alpha Phi Lambda and Epsilon Pi Chapters, will host a Town Hall and Candidate Forum on Saturday, October 5, 2024 at 1 p.m. at the NSU Student Center, 700 Park Avenue, Norfolk 23504. Dr. Eric W. Claville, Executive

Advisor to the President for Governmental Relations at Norfolk State University, will moderate the Forum. Candidates include those in Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake and Suffolk.

CHESAPEAKE JUNETEENTH FOUNDATION HOSTING CANDIDATES FORUM

CHESAPEAKE

The Chesapeake Juneteenth Foundation is hosting a Candidates Forum on October 5 for city council and school board candidates running in Chesapeake. The forum will take place from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Buffalow Family and Community Center, 2403B Bainbridge Blvd., Chesapeake 23324. Call (757) 737-2180 for questions.

LOCAL VOICES

LIFE’S MUSICAL CIRCLE GAME

By Sean C. Bowers

Occasionally as age’s twilight dims we are catapulted back in time by a certain song, melody, or lyric that was timestamped on our psyche and brain stem with the attached muscle memory of the life trauma and drama we were attempting to scale and overcome at the time.

When the artist of my generation, Prince, passed in 2016, I felt a part of myself from my youth pass and fade away. Knowing there would be no more live performances and concerts from the “Purple One” was a gut punch the whole world is still trying to recover from. It feels similar to what people who lose limbs must feel about their “ghost limb” still being attached with them in spirt.

At least with Prince, we caught a break because “the artist formerly known as,” withheld an estimated quarter to a third of his total musical compositions from being released in real time. Prince danced back and forth across all previously known artist sexual lines.

Like millions of others, I found the rawness of his musical virtuoso versatility virtually impossible to resist, and to not respectfully emulate in my life and my game. I was captured and raptured by that five-footer of maximum musical and fashion style stature.

Since his passing, several excellent compact discs have been released, with more promised to come in the next few years from the Prince (Nelson) family archives at Paisley Park Studios, now a Prince tribute museum.

Like many of you, over my lifetime other artists have also helped me make sense of this nonsensical world. Michael Jackson’s, “Off the Wall” CD with the world mega hit, “Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough,” was one of the first four cassettes I ever bought when I started my own personal musical collection. Michael was the dance sensation in the 1970s as a kid lead singer of the Jackson Five family band. He was the man of the

1980s with unparalleled fame and success. In 1979-1981, Michael’s made me feel the rhythm, feel the beat, feel my power as the only white kid bussed from Seattle’s Central District’s “HOOD.” As I felt his realness, I began to find my own the basketball courts of the Northwest.

Back then there was a running debate as to who was better, Michael or Princewho would last longer, have more hits, sell more records? Both were geniuses in their own right, in their own ways, on their own unmatched levels.

A Seattle former mentor and old Northwestern English literature major friend of mine turned me on to Donny Hathaway and Joe Zawinul of “Weather Report.” My friend’s linguistic input back then helped lead me to my writing career, addressing issues in prose and print. Donny sang, “Someday We’ll All Be Free,” and my personal favorite love song, “I Know It’s You.”

The jazz of Joe Z., who played with legends Cannonball Adderly and Ben Webster, then formed jazz super-group Weather Report, is the only jazz group to ever sell out 60,000-70,000 seat stadiums on their tours in the U.S. and around the world.

His, “A Remark You Made,” from his best-seller “Heavy Weather” CD, may still be the most beautifully composed instrumental of all time. The joy these artists have brought me over the years of listening and reflecting is immeasurable and invaluable.

From my earliest childhood, the Beatles, Crosby, Stills, and Nash and Young, and Joni Mitchell stood atop my

Like many of you, over my lifetime other artists have also helped me make sense of this nonsensical world.

earliest memories of love.

As my Mom raised me by herself in our one-room garage apartment filled with Joni’s clouds and “Chelsea Morning” cheese eggs. Joni had a way, even then, of soothing my angry adolescent self. I was unaware that my Mom was filling my empty broken-hearted hole through my universal input soul. From “A Case Of You,” to “Both Sides Now, to “Woodstock,” Joni Mitchell tapped into the deepest nether-regions of honesty, vulnerability, sensitivity, creativity, grace, healing, and empathic understanding that is relevant to every last one of us. Two recent CD’s released in 2023 with some of the best music I’ve ever heard are Jon Batiste “World Music Radio,” and the “Joni Mitchell at Newport, Joni Jam.” Mitchell played at the famous “Newport Jazz Festival” in 1969 and closed her performance back then and again, on this CD, with “The Circle Game.” We have been blessed by her yet again, musically and spiritually, as we finally come full circle.

Sean C. Bowers has written the last 25 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 email V1ZUAL1ZE@aol. com NNPA 2019 Publisher of the Year, Brenda H. Andrews (NJ&G 35 years) has always been his publisher.

FEATURING: M.C. & COMEDIAN QUINCY CARR AND FRIENDS,

SUAVE! B. MICHELLE, DEE POLITE AND THE PHENOMENAL SOUNDS AND SynHERgi BANDS!

SHARK CITY Drummers | TACA AFRICAN Dancers | A VISION With A Purpose Praise Dancers Vinnie Knight and the Jazz Riders | TRS KIDS | Out the Box Mime | Kween Yakini!

FRIENDLY CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES

Sean C. Bowers

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

MATURITY IN CHRIST MOMENTS of MEDITATION

Ephesians 4:1-16

In the first three chapters of Ephesians, Paul wrote about the power of God and the many things He has done for believers. Consider them; God “chose us in [Christ]” (1:4); “predestined us to be adopted as His sons” (v.5); “made known to us the mystery of His will” (v.9); “made us alive with Christ” (2:5); “seated us with Him in the heavenly realms” (v. 6); “made the two [Jews and Gentiles] one” (v.4); and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near” (v. 17). God has done all this and He “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask for or imagine!” (3:20).

In the last three chapters of this letter, Paul wrote about what believers are able to do because of what God has done for them. They are “in Christ Jesus ... by grace ... through faith ... not by works” (2:7-

9). But they have been “created in Christ Jesus to do good works” (v. 10), and it is to these behaviors that demonstrate God’s workmanship in them that Paul now turns. If we are truly Christians, we have been given new life in Christ. But there is a developmental process that must occur in the Christian life, as a physical life. Without this process we would remain spiritual babies, requiring milk rather than solid food (Hebrews 5:12-14). God’s desire is that His newborn children grow to become spiritually healthy and productive adults. Paul describes many aspects of mature Christian behavior. In today’s lesson, he lays down the foundational principles behind such behavior. Spiritual maturity happens, he says, through the unity of the spirit (Ephesians 4:1-6), the unity of the faith (vv. 7-13), and the unity of the body (vv. 14-16).

THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT.

Paul, who considered himself the Lord’s prisoner – not Rome’s – called on the Ephesians to live up to the high calling God had given them (v. 1). A life that is worthy of God’s calling is characterized by a quartet of personal graces: humility, gentleness, patience and forbearance. These graces manifest agape love –i. e., love that is beyond the power of human effort.

This love in action (v. 2) can unite people of diverse backgrounds and personalities in peace and productivity (v. 3). Paul identifies (vv. 4-6) seven unities to which the church has been called. These fall into groups of three, culminating in a final unity that is expressed in three ways. The first triad is grouped around the Holy Spirit (v. 4). Through the work of the one Spirit, the one body, the church, has been created (see 1 Corinthians 12:13), and through the Spirit, believers are bonded together in anticipation of one hope, which Paul elsewhere calls “the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).

The second triad centers around Christ: “One Lord, one faith and one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5). Paul always looked upon the risen Christ, who appeared

to him on the road to Damascus, as both Savior and Lord – the One to whom he gave absolute allegiance. Through faith in Christ we gain eternal life. As we grow in our relationship with and understanding of Him we become strong in the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints” (Jude 3).

We cannot be dogmatic as to what Paul meant by “one baptism.” This may be the baptism of the Spirit (see Corinthians 12:13). Many expositors think it refers to water baptism, which was the common practice of the apostolic church, and its accompanying witness of identification with the Savior in His baptism. Then follows a reference to “one God and Father of all” (Ephesians 4:6). The work of God the Father is described with three evocative prepositions: over, through and in. God is “overall” in that He is sovereign, unchallenged in power and perfection. He is “through all” in that He is not an “absentee landlord,” but is constantly at work in the universe, completing His eternal purposes; and He is “in all,” being everywhere present, unavoidably a part of our lives.

THE UNITY OF THE FAITH. Paul now emphasizes the particularity of gifts that God has given His people. Every believer has received not only God’s

saving grace (2:8-9), but also His equipping grace (4:7), intended to benefit the entire church.

The gifts that Paul lists here (v. 11) include four given to key persons in the early church: apostles, those personally called by Jesus and sent out to minister in His name; prophets, those who were given messages to edify the church; evangelists, those appointed to carry the Good News to people who had not heard it or needed it; and pastors/teachers, those responsible for “shepherding’ or instructing the flock of God.

The purpose for which God gave these gifted people to the church appears in a fourfold sequence: first, they are “to prepare God’s people for works of service” (v. 12a). Second, this is to result in strengthening, or building up, the body of Christ (v. 12b). Third, the many different people who become part of Christ’s body will thereby come to ‘unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God” (v. 13). Fourth, God’s people will advance toward maturity, “attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (v. 13b)

The word translated ‘mature” (v. 13) means “complete” or “full-grown Christian is the goal to which believers should aspire and which they can increasingly draw near

through the power of the spirit. THE UNITY OF THE BODY. Paul paints a word picture (vv. 14-15) of the contrast between a body of believers who are spiritual infants and those who are “grown up” in Christ. Spiritual infants, like young children, have no steadiness of purpose and are vulnerable to crosscurrents, which buffet their lives from both outside and within. In contrast to unsteadiness and aimlessness is Paul’s picture of mature believers growing up in harmony with Christ, their Head, and with other members of the body. A major component in such growth is “speaking the truth in love” (v. 15). Christ, our Teacher, always spoke and acted in truthfulness, yet with complete and unconditional love (e. g., John 4:4-26). Christ is keeping His promise to build His church (Matthew 16:18), no matter what its appearance at any particular place or time. The picture that Paul gives us here should cause each of us here should cause each of us to reexamine our individual relationship, not only to our Lord, but to one another as, together, we make-up His body in the present age. The question for us is: Are we growing in the Spirit, demonstrating faithfulness to the Savior and building up each other by God’s love?

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Welcoming all to join us in our Bible-based service!

Film Review: The Fire Inside 2024 Toronto International Film Festival

By Dwight Brown Film Critic

“What do you think about girls boxing,” says coach Jason Crutchfield (Brian Tyree Henry). His wife Mickey (De’Adre Aziza) calmly replies, “Don’t see no reason why she can’t. She got hands.”

As a young girl in Flint, Michigan, Claressa Shields keeps stopping by Crutchfield’s boxing gym. Since female pugilists are frowned upon, she can only do exercises and shadow boxing. No stepping into the ring. That’s banned. Years go by, and Claressa gains entrance. She boxes opponents and beats boys’ asses. She’s grown into a young woman (Ryan Destiny) who can bob and weave, throw heavy right crosses and go where girls have never gone before. To the top. How good is she? So good she earns a tryout for the Olympics at age 15 and is destined to compete for a medal in the 2012 games. The rest is history.

Telling Shields breakthrough story has been a dream of director/ writer/producer Barry Jenkins (Moonlight) for almost a decade. His based-on-fact script

Photo:TorontoInternationalFilmFestival

became the blueprint that cinematographer Rachel Morrison (Black Panther, Mudbound) used to mark her feature film directing debut. Visually, with the help of cinematographer Rina Yang (Nanny), she captures the drama in Shields family that includes a reckless mother (Olunike Adeliyi), needy young siblings and a father (Adam Clark) who was out of the picture for various reasons. Until he isn’t. Morrison shows a gift for guiding the main and supporting actors. Nothing seems fake. Not the emotions, upheavals or triumphs. The script puts plenty of hurdles in Shields way, and every problem she conquers seems hard fought.

For viewers, the chance to see how athletes train and compete for the Olympics makes this film an eye opener. It’s even more engaging because females are active in a sport that’s dominated by men – for centuries. All the stress, determination and triumph it takes to win – at the highest levels – is on view. For young girls wondering how pioneers paved the way and what it takes to become a worldwide champion, there’s a road map. Also included is the harsh reality of not making a living from the sport and other hard truths. This well-written sports narrative doesn’t miss a beat and peaks in a third act that is as vital as the

first. Bryan Tyree Henry is Shields’ surrogate father. Nurturing, questioning his inabilities and growing as a person. Ryan Destiny plays the real-life protagonist audiences will admire and is supported by the other young actresses who play Shields in her earlier years (Jazmin Headley, Kylee D. Allen). She exhibits a feisty nature that likely propelled the real boxing champ from inner city Flint to world stages. Idrissa Sanogo and Taytem Douglas portray her love interest Lil’ Zay, as a teenager and a kid respectively. Both show young impressionable Black males how they can be supportive to Black women, and still be manly. Something audiences don’t see enough of in films these days. There are countless sports hero movies out there. This one distinguishes itself by being about a girl who became a woman, a bread winner and a Gold Medal world boxing champ. Jenkins and Morrison have crafted more than just another story about a gifted athlete. They’ve created a bio that’s a handbook for female athletes looking to excel.

STEVIE WONDER

Calls For “Joy Over Anger” on New Tour Ahead of Election

By Stacy M. Brown Senior National Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia

NEWSWIRE

NNPA

Stevie Wonder has announced that he’s bringing a message of “joy over anger” this fall with his “Sing Your Song! As We Fix Our Nation’s Broken Heart” tour.

The 10-show run begins on October 8 in Pittsburgh and concludes on October 30 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This tour arrives at a crucial junction in American politics, and Wonder said he’s seeking to inspire unity and healing.

Wonder, a 25-time Grammy Award winner, will offer free tickets to individuals working tirelessly in their communities to mend what he calls “our nation’s broken heart.” The gesture aligns with Wonder’s long-standing commitment to social justice and humanitarian causes. In his recent release, “Can We Fix Our Nation’s Broken Heart,” Wonder sings about the country’s current challenges, asking, “Can we fix our nation’s broken heart?” The song reflects the nation’s mood, with lyrics like, “Children marching on the boulevard / Tears are streaming down their face,” encapsulating the tension and hope for change. Tickets for the tour go on sale Friday, September 20, at noon local time, available through StevieWonderLive. com. The Wonder Productionsled tour, which AEG Presents is promoting in collaboration with Free Lunch, will visit cities such as New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Greensboro, Atlanta, Detroit, Milwaukee, and Minneapolis.

Wonder’s impact on music and culture remains

unquestionably profound. At just 12 years old, he became the youngest artist to top the charts with “Fingertips, Part 2,” simultaneously reaching #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100, R&B Singles, and Album Charts. Over his illustrious career, Wonder has released numerous iconic albums, including “Songs in the Key of Life,” which is preserved in the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress for its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance. With 49 Top Forty singles and 32 #1 hits, Wonder’s worldwide sales have surpassed 100 million units. Beyond his musical achievements, Wonder is known for his activism and philanthropy. In 1983, he played a pivotal role in establishing Martin Luther King Day as a national holiday, with his song “Happy Birthday” serving as an anthem for the movement. His participation in the 1985 “We Are The World” fundraiser for hunger in Africa is a landmark moment in music history, and his efforts to end apartheid in South Africa are legendary. Wonder has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Kennedy Center Honors, and a U.N. Messenger of Peace designation focusing on persons with disabilities. As Wonder embarks on this tour, he continues to be a vital influence in both the music industry and global activism, using his platform to advocate for social progress and world harmony. With his call for “joy over anger,” Wonder said he’s inviting audiences to join him in “seeking healing and unity during these challenging times.”

Stevie Wonder