NJG | Vol. 124, No. 40 - October 10, 2024

New Wason Poll Shows Harris Leads Trump By 11 Points Among Virginia Likely Voters

NEWPORT NEWS

The Wason Center for Civic Leadership at Christopher Newport University on Monday (October 7) released its first statewide survey for the elections on November 5th.

The survey indicates that Democrat Kamala Harris holds an 11-point lead over Republican Donald Trump, with support at 52 percent to Trump’s 41 percent.

In the U.S. Senate race, incumbent Democrat Tim Kaine leads Republican Hung Cao by 20 points, securing 55 percent to 35 percent. Key issues shaping voter sentiment include inflation, threats to democracy, and abortion.

Summary of Key Findings:

• Democrat Kamala Harris leads Republican Donald Trump by 11 points, 52 percent to 41 percent among Virginia

In the U.S. Senate race, Democrat Tim Kaine leads Republican Hung Cao by 20 points among Virginia likely voters, 55 percent to 35 percent.

likely voters; 4 percent remain undecided, while 3 percent say they will vote for someone else.

• Harris’ lead over Trump is built on an advantage among women (+20), Independents (+15), Black voters (+54) and college educated voters (+20); Trump receives support from Republican voters (94 percent), with a very

narrow lead among white voters (48 percent to 47 percent).

• In the U.S. Senate race, Democrat Tim Kaine leads Republican Hung Cao by 20 points among Virginia likely voters, 55 percent to 35 percent; 8 percent say they are undecided and 2 percent say they will vote for someone else.

• Top of mind issues

Chesapeakeans Show Up For Sunday Voting

PRESIDENT DEBUNKS TRUMP’S LIES ABOUT FEMA’S HURRICANE EFFORTS

By Stacy M. Brown

Senior National Correspondent

@StacyBrownMedia

NNPA NEWSWIRE

As the Biden-Harris Administration mobilizes an all-encompassing federal response to Hurricane Helene, it’s also tackling a growing wave of misinformation being spread by political adversaries, including former President Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans. The White House has labeled this misinformation as “dangerous,” and it poses a threat to mislead hurricane survivors about their access to essential resources and federal assistance.

President Biden recently reaf fi rmed the administration’s commitment to those suffering from Hurricane Helene. “Days before this storm hit, I directed my administration to preposition federal personnel, critical supplies, and more near the storm’s path,” he said. “We’re moving heaven and Earth to make sure that everyone affected by this storm gets what they need. To all those affected, my administration and the nation have your back –

3

OF

More than 6,400 federal personnel are on the ground, delivering more than $110 million in federal assistance, with additional aid forthcoming.

and we will continue to have your back for as long as it takes.”

Under Biden and Vice President Harris’s direction, more than 6,400 federal personnel are on the ground, delivering more than $110 million in federal assistance, with additional aid forthcoming. The largescale operation, outlined in a White House Fact Sheet, re fl ects a “wholeof-government” approach, which began with extensive pre-landfall preparations and continues with

immediate deployment of resources for recovery and rebuilding. However, disinformation is hampering the efforts. Among the falsehoods spreading online is the claim that disaster relief funds are being used to support undocumented immigrants. The administration was quick to debunk this. “No money is being diverted from disaster response needs. None,” clari fi ed a White House of fi cial. see FEMA, page 6A

5 FORMER MEMPHIS OFFICERS

By Stacy M. Brown

NNPA NEWSWIRE

for Virginia likely voters include inflation and the economy (29 percent), threats to democracy (18 percent), immigration (11 percent), and abortion (10 percent).

• Virginia likely voters say Harris would do a better job than Trump handling an array of policy issues with a narrow lead on inflation and the economy (49 percent to 48 percent), a moderate advantage on threats to democracy (54 percent to 40 percent) and a large advantage on abortion (60 percent to 32 percent), racial inequality (61 percent to 31 percent) and climate change (61 percent to 29 percent);

Trump has a narrow advantage over Harris on handling immigration (49 percent to 48 percent).

The Wason Center, located at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, has a 10-year track record of providing citizens and lawmakers unbiased, non-partisan insight into the policy issues shaping the future of the commonwealth. More than 100 students work side-by-side with talented faculty to produce survey research and political analysis that informs decisions by citizens and lawmakers in Virginia, and increasingly around the country.

Souls To The Polls Cast Their Votes

Longshoremen’s Strike Ends After Tentative Agreement Is Reached

By Stacy M. Brown Senior National Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia

NNPA NEWSWIRE

In what appears a swift resolution to the first work stoppage in nearly half a century, the Local International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) has reportedly reached a deal to end its three-day strike, which had disrupted port operations across the East and Gulf Coasts. While specific details of the agreement remain under wraps, numerous media outlets are reporting that multiple union sources confirmed that both sides have agreed to extend the recently expired contract until January 15, allowing workers to return to their posts while the final terms are negotiated and ratified. The ILA’s first strike since 1977 brought major shipping routes to a standstill, halting the flow of essential goods, such as containerized imports and exports, critical to the holiday season supply chain.

Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, was beaten to death by police just steps from his home.

A jury has found three former Memphis police officers guilty in the 2023 fatal beating of Tyre Nichols. Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith were convicted of witness tampering in the case that fueled nationwide protests and renewed calls for police reform. Still, the jury acquitted Bean and Smith of federal civil rights violations. Haley was convicted of violating Nichols’ civil rights by causing bodily injury, though he was acquitted of the more serious charge of causing death.

The verdict came after jurors deliberated for six hours, carefully considering the violent encounter captured on police bodycam footage. Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, was beaten just steps from his home following a traffic stop, as officers repeatedly struck him while he cried out for his mother. Nichols died three days later in the hospital.

The 50,000 union members from ports stretching from Maine to Texas had walked off the job early Tuesday morning, citing the expiration of their six-year contract on October 1. Ships were left stranded at sea, unable to dock and unload cargo, affecting industries ranging from produce to automotive.

The courtroom remained silent as the verdicts were read, and the judge ordered the officers to be taken into custody. see Officers, page 5A

Labor experts have quickly clarified that the strike’s timing – just weeks ahead of the November election – was purely coincidental. see Strike, page 2A

The ILA’s first strike since 1977 brought major shipping routes to a standstill, halting the flow of essential goods, such as containerized imports and exports, critical to the holiday season supply chain. The 50,000 union members from ports stretching from Maine to Texas.

VP Kamala Harris

President Joe Biden

Photo: Courtesy

CHESAPEAKE

A steady stream of Chesapeake voters showed up at the Registrar’s Office on Sunday to cast their votes early.The Chesapeake NAACP, the Chesapeake Coalition of Black Pastors and the Chesapeake Ministers Coalition coordinated efforts to transport voters to the polls.

Photo: Courtesy

Photo: Courtesy

FOR THOSE WHO STILL CAN’T DECIDE WHETHER TO VOTE

By Dr. John E. Warren Publisher

With the November 5th General Election just a few days away, it appears that some people are still trying to decide if they should even bother to vote. This message is for Black people, in particular, who are experiencing that particular indecisiveness.

Let’s remember that other Black people before you, in too many cases, died that you might have the right to vote. Let’s remember that

it took the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, guaranteeing and protecting our right to vote; that people were beaten and killed to stop us from voting; that in this century the U.S. Supreme Court has struck down key provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965; that since 2020, we have seen a number of states try to institute Voter I.D. requirements when many of our older citizens who value the privilege of

Rep Al Green Commends Biden On Launching Review of Tulsa Massacre

WASHINGTON, D.C.

The U.S. Department of Justice recently announced that it would review and evaluate the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, marking the federal government’s first inquiry into the destruction of Greenwood in 103 years.

U.S. Congressman Al Green (D-TX) lauded the Biden administration for the move, and added that further action in Congress could be on the table as well.

Following President Biden’s meeting with victims of the Tulsa Race Massacre in 2021, Congressman Green joined the growing number of people across the country, including the family of Emmett Till, in calling for an investigation into the 1921 tragedy. The call reflects growing concern that the two remaining survivors of the Massacre, 109-yearold Lessie Benningfield Randle and 110-year-old Viola Fletcher, will not live to see justice.

The thriving AfricanAmerican community of Greenwood, popularly known as Black Wall Street, was criminally leveled by a white mob during the Massacre, and hundreds of Black people were murdered. The heinous attack resulted in nearly 40 square blocks being destroyed and thousands of Black American victims left homeless, penniless, and remediless.

“The Survivors experienced one of the most horrific acts of violence perpetrated against Black people in American history; yet, over a century later, they have received no compensation for the material and mental damages incurred or the opportunities they lost,” Rep. Green wrote in letters to President Joe Biden and Attorney General Merrick Garland. “They, after more than a century, have not received the justice we pledge allegiance to.”

In July, the survivors issued a plea for help from the Biden administration following the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s dismissal of their historic lawsuit against the City

Rep. Al Green

of Tulsa for its role in the Massacre. In 103 years since the destruction of Black Wall Street, no court has held a trial addressing the Massacre, and no perpetrator has been held accountable for it.

“Mr. President, I humbly request that you do whatever is in your power to ensure that the Survivors of the Massacre may receive justice,” Rep. Green continued. “The

October 5, 1988

Edition of the Guide

Hold On Lottery Players

RICHMOND

The Virginia Lottery is less than a month old but many of the outlets selling tickets are running out of them.

Over 5,000 outlets in the state deemed as lottery ticket retailers, have sold out of their allotted 500 first issue of tickets, according to Paula Otto of the Virginia State Lottery Office at Richmond.

“We did not expect the first (scratch) game of lottery to do so well,” Otto said. “Over 15 percent of the 5,000 outlets selling the $1 tickets in the state are out of them.”

Otto said retailers who have depleted their supply of tickets will be replenished by the end of the week. A retailer may purchase tickets from the Lottery at $310.00 an allotment, according to Otto.

Since the inception of the Lottery on Sept. 19, according to Otto, over 50 million tickets have been sold. Over 10 million were ordered to be sold. Over 5 million winners have prizes of varying amounts. Most of them have been small “two- and five-dollar prizes.”

But Otto said 1,600 persons have been winners of $5000 prizes.

“But there are many more tickets and prizes out there to be won,” Otto said.

Valentine To Receive Business Award

NORFOLK Herman Valentine, President of Systems Management American Corporation (SMA) has been selected as Regional Minority Manufacturer of the Year by the Washington Regional Office of the Minority Business Development Agency.

Valentine will receive

Make a decision and stay in the game. Your very existence depends on it.

voting can not produce copies of birth certificates which often were not provided for them.

Biden’s action marks the federal government’s first inquiry into the 1921 Tulsa race massacre and destruction of Black Wall Street – 103 years ago.

history of racist lynchings that occurred in America demands accountability. By investigating the brutalities of the Tulsa Race Massacre, we can continue to work toward repairing past harms and achieving a more just America for all.”

Let us not forget that ballot drop boxes have been removed in some states making it harder to return a ballot and that in some places the hours for voting at polling sites have been reduced to create and inconvenience voting times for working people.

Strike

Continued from page 1A

It was, they said, dictated by the long-standing contract expiration date, not political pressures. However, the strike coincided with an already tense political landscape, adding a layer of urgency to its resolution.

While the tentative deal is a positive step forward,

Some of us might be homeless or unsheltered and say that because you don’t have a physical street address, you don’t want to vote and that your vote won’t count. Not so. Every vote counts and you can vote without a street address. Your right to vote is not attached to where you live. In addition to our national elections, we do have local elections

it still requires ratification by the union’s rank-andfile members, a process that could alter the course of events. If the workers reject the deal, the strike may resume, a scenario not unheard of in recent labor disputes. Just last month, a similar situation unfolded when machinists at Boeing rejected a tentative deal despite union leaders’ endorsement. Business leaders and political figures alike had expressed growing concerns over the potential

From The Guide’s Archives

which will affect all of us directly. It’s time to look at each position and make your vote count. If you have not registered to vote, there is still a small window. Remember, although we can’t know who you vote for, we can know whether or not you bothered to vote. Make a decision and stay in the game. Your very existence depends on it.

economic fallout had the strike continued. The work stoppage threatened the availability of key imports, from European luxury cars to food products, when inflationary pressures already weighed on the economy. The situation remains fluid. All eyes are now on the union vote that will determine the future of this labor dispute. Should the deal be ratified, it would mark a major victory in averting a prolonged economic disruption.

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

the award October 20 at the monthly meeting of the Tidewater Regional Minority Purchasing Council at the Newport News City Council Chambers at 8:30 a.m.

The ceremony will feature representatives from civic and business organizations including Brenda H. Andrews, Publisher of the Journal and Guide, who will address the gathering on “Verbal Marketing and Presentation Techniques.”

Last year Valetine received the Regional MBDA’s Minority Supplier of the Year Award.

SMA is ranked seventh among America’s top 100 Black businesses and 46th among the state’s privately- owned manufacturing entities.

Valentine, a native of Norfolk and graduate of Norfolk State University, is not only sole owner of SMA, he is a founding shareholder and director of the TVX Broadcast group, the seventh largest broadcaster in the United States. It has 12 TV stations in the country.

October 4, 2000

Edition of the Guide

Tom Joyner, NAACP Mobilize Voters

A recent four-hour “all talk” broadcast of Tom Joyner Morning Show (TJMS) inspired more than 10,000 listeners nationwide to call a tollfree hotline to register to vote.

During the broadcast, Kweisi Mfume, NAACP President and CEO,stressed the importance of registering and calling the toll-free NAACP Voter Empowerment Hotline.

“We are emphasizing the tremendous need for African-Americans to cast their votes in this all-important November election,” explained Mfume who led a series of spirited discussions on key voting issues, including

Supreme Court Nominees, healthcare reform, educational funding, economic opportunities and racial profiling.”

The Tom Joyner Morning Show, one of the ABC Radio Network’s top-rated programs, broke tradition and partnered with the NAACP to present “Black Agenda 2000,” a live radio ‘Town Hall” meeting from Republic Gardens in Washington, D.C. Instead of its signature sound of laughter mixed with the rich melodies of “old school” music, Mfume, Joyner and Tavis Smiley, Commemorator for TJMS and host of BET Tonight, conversed with a distinguished panel on key election issues that affect people of color.

Local Rally For Million Family March

NORFOLK

The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the Million Family March will hold a rally at Gideon’s Riverfront Plaza (just south of the Campostella Bridge across from Hardee’s) from 1-3:30 p.m. October 7.

Many locally elected officials will be present with special remarks from Dr. Milton A. Reid

Sr., Pastor of Gideon’s Riverside Fellowship, Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee and a member of the Executive Committee of the National Organizing Committee.

Minister Albert Mohammed, the representative of Minister Louis Farrakhan, serves as Co-Chair with Dr. Reid.

Minister Ben Mohammed, National Coordinator of the Million Families March, will be the keynote speaker. All local pastors are invited to attend the rally. Gideon’s Mass Choir will render two selections and choirs and soloists from other area churches are urged to participate.

The Million Family

March will be held October 16 at noon in Washington, D.C. Buses will leave the Riverfront Plaza at 12 midnight on Sunday Night. All participants are urged to bring their own water, soft walking shoes or standing shoes and a folding chair, if possible.

Part 4: NSU

Observes 65 years Returning Vets Helped Growth of NSU

By Leonard E. Colvin

In 1946, the nation was celebrating its victory over the Axis Powers in Europe and in the Asian Pacific in WWII. Thousands of (U.S.) Army, Navy and Marine Corps veterans were returning home.

Along with pride in their roles as part of the war machine of democracy, they were equipped with a new (General Infantry) G.I. Bill to pay for a college education to participate in the nation’s peacetime prosperity.

The Norfolk Unit of Virginia State College would be one of the benefactors of the thousands of dollars from hundreds of Black veterans who found the school to be a welcome opportunity to acquire skills to compete for jobs in the nation’s post-war economy.

Known as ‘Little State,” the Norfolk Unit had secured status as a statesupported institution under the wing of the “Big State” or Virginia State College. With the new infusion of state support and federal money via the G. I. Bill, the days of dispatching students to Church Street to collect money for the school in tin cans were over, though community support was still strong. According to Dr. Tommy Bogger, Norfolk State’s current Archivists and author of a book on the history of the school to be released this fall, new programs were being

added to accommodate the demands of the increasing number of veterans.

Pepper Sprayed Man Dies In Suffolk By

Leonard E. Colvin

For the second time in three months in Hampton Roads an African-American man has died in police custody after being pepper sprayed. This time, it occurred in Suffolk, when Robert “Levern” Wright, 31, was pronounced dead by as yet undetermined means at Obici Hospital emergency room on September 28.

A Suffolk Police account of the incident indicated that Wright, during a confrontation with Suffolk Police, was pepper sprayed in an effort to subdue him.

On July 15, Norfolk police officers pepper sprayed Raymond A. Chandler when they sought to arrest him after his car was stopped when an officer spotted some irregularities with a sticker on his license plate. Officers reported that when they sought to arrest Chandler, a fight ensued and to subdue him, they pepper sprayed him. He was declared dead of asphyxiation at a local hospital. It was later discovered that he was driving with a suspended driver’s license.

According to a Suffolk Police report, an officer spotted Wright at 1:40 a.m. at East Washington and Pinner Streets. Police said Wright was stopped because he had several outstanding felony warrants. He was supposed to appear in court that morning for charges.

When alerted that he was being sought on warrants, police said he tried to flee the scene managing to escape 100 yards to Tynes Street before the officer caught him. The officer said that Wright attempted to stab one of them but the blade of the knife broke on an officer’s bullet proof vest.

This is when police peppered sprayed and handcuffed him.

Dr. John Warren

PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF SOCIOLOGY VIRGINIA TECH

THE PROBLEMATICS OF POLITICAL DEBATES

By Wornie Reed, Ph.D.

I remain opposed to debates between candidates for high office, especially president and vice-president.

The primary reason is that debates are seriously inappropriate for determining whether a person should be president or vice president. They do not reveal what a person in either of those jobs does every day.

I have thought so since the beginning of these televised debates. I did not watch or listen to the first presidential debate between John Kennedy and Richard Nixon. But since they are a permanent part of the election process for these lofty offices, I still watch one or two each cycle.

The recent VicePresidential debate between Senator Vance and Governor Walz provided a second example of the problematic nature of these exercises.

As with the first debate between Kennedy and Nixon, a critical factor in judging these debates is how well the candidates present themselves – their “comeacross.”

The Washington Post’s fact checker, who counted more than 30,000 false or misleading claims by Donald Trump during the four years of his presidency, reported on such statements in the Vance-Walz debate.

The fact-checker noted 20 statements that deserved a response – 15 by Vance and five by Walz. They judged 15 of Vance’s statements as false or mostly false, while two of Walz’s statements were judged true, one false, and two exaggerated. That is a negative, one-sided scorecard, with Vance lying.

One of the two people who called the debate a tie said, “Vance did an excellent job of impersonating a decent man.” That expresses my opinion exactly ...

Yet, according to thirteen New York Times’ columnists and contributors, Vance won 8-2-2. Eight said Vance won, two said Walz won, and two said it was a tie. But what the panel said about each contestant is revealing.

Let’s look at comments from the two panelists who thought Walz won. One said, “Walz won ... Vance’s performance was anemic. Also, he had to contort himself to dodge Donald Trump’s statements and his own past statements.” The other said, “Nobody truly dominated. But I’m giving the slight edge to Walz, since Vance embarrassingly soft-pedaled Jan. 6.” These respondents seemed to base their judgments on content. Now let’s look at some comments from those who judged Vance the winner: “Vance was more effective in presenting a version of his party’s ticket that might broaden its appeal.”

“Vance won this debate ... He is as smooth and practiced as they come. He has no regard for the truth. He lies as easily as he breathes. We saw this throughout the debate.” This columnist went on to list three of Vance’s apparent lies.

“Vance was far nimbler than the nervous Tim Walz, especially in the first half of the debate ... Vance stumbled on two issues – abortion and the 2020 election –where his rhetorical skill

could not salvage the very unappealing material he was working with.”

“For Vance, it was a commanding performance. For Walz, it was a nervous ramble.”

“Vance seemed smoother and more practiced.”

“Vance won ... [He] was facile and light on his feet.”

“Vance won with a stronger start.”

“Vance nimbly reframed questions to his advantage ... [He] ran circles around Walz ... Walz often looked woolly and discombobulated, widened eyes suggesting panic.”

“Vance won. He was sharp and in command and proved he’s an excellent debater ... I came away convinced that he’s a hollow man.”

These comments clearly show that substance is not necessarily what wins a debate. Instead, it is the presentation of oneself –one’s “come across.”

One of the two people who called the debate a tie said, “Vance did an excellent job of impersonating a decent man.” That expresses my opinion exactly, and it shows the problem with regarding debates as meaningful exercises in judging presidential or vicepresidential timber.

GEORGE WALLACE’S GHOST STILL HAUNTS

By Marc H. Morial

To Be Equal

(TRICEEDNEYWIRE.COM)

“Targeting naturalized citizens is the latest move in the playbook for voter intimidation. The state of Alabama illegally took the right to vote away from eligible citizens and must be stopped. We can’t allow registered voters to bear the brunt of these dangerous lies that threaten our democracy.”

– Celina Stewart, CEO, League of Women Voters of the United States

◆◆◆

The law is clear. According to the National Voter Registration Act of 1992, “A State shall complete, not later than 90 days prior to the date of a primary or general election for Federal office, any program the purpose of which is to systematically remove the names of ineligible voters from the official lists of eligible voters.” In defiance of the law, 84 days before Election Day, Alabama’s Secretary of State ordered county election officials to remove the names of people his office had identified as noncitizens.

The tactic is not only a clear violation of federal law. It’s a racist ploy to disenfranchise naturalized citizens who have the legal right to vote while stoking the flame of anti-immigrant hatred.

It’s also part of Alabama’s long history of blocking non-white citizens from the

TOON By Walt Carr

WHAT ABOUT OUR PEOPLE?

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

I have friends from all over the world. I ran a campaign for the U. S. Congress and used some of them in my campaign. I led my opponent by a high number of points during the last week of the campaign. I had great Labor support – even Teamsters, and for the life of me, I cannot understand why the National union has a hard time supporting VP Harris! I had a brilliant Jewish woman as my Issues Director and a law school friend as Campaign Manager who was born in Jordan (a friendly nation) and had not even been an activist Palestinian! Both were my friends. We never made a negative statement about Israel. Yet, AIPAC chose my wellknown racist Republican opponent. I’m a Democrat and most Democrats like the Congressional Black Caucus choose moderate to liberal issues and people to support, standing with Israel over 90% of the time, but don’t get fair campaign contributions like others their loyalty deserves. Most of them rarely or never criticize Netanyahu for so many

ALABAMA

polls, stretching back nearly a century and a half.

The U.S. Department of Justice last week sued Alabama for violating the NVRA, seeking the restoration of the affected citizens’ voting rights in time for Election Day, along with the prohibition of future violations, mailings to educate eligible voters about the restoration of their rights, and adequate training of local officials and poll workers to address confusion and distrust among eligible voters accused of being noncitizens.

The Southern Poverty Law Center, Campaign Legal Center, and Fair Elections Center last month filed similar lawsuits on behalf of Alabamians who were unfairly targeted, the Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice, the Alabama NAACP and the League of Women Voters of Alabama.

Alabama’s hostility to voting rights for nonwhite citizens was largely responsible for passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965. Alabama’s hostility to voting rights

Alabama’s hostility to voting rights for non-white citizens was largely responsible for passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965.

was responsible for gutting the Act’s preclearance provision in 2013. In the five decades in between, the preclearance provision stopped Alabama from imposing racially discriminatory voting restrictions more than 100 times.

Three days after the Supreme Court’s Shelby decision, Alabama announced plans to enforce the restrictive photo I.D. law at the heart of the case. After making driver’s licenses one of the few forms of I.D. required to vote, Alabama announced it would shutter 31 driver’s license offices around the state.

A series of additional laws and policies, including closing polling places in predominately Black counties and purging hundreds of thousands of people from voter rolls, have driven the whitenonwhite voter turnout gap from 6 percent in 2014 to 13 percent in 2020. In some counties, the Black-white voter registration gap has grown to double digits.

Election changes in Alabama have prompted at least 17 lawsuits since Shelby. see Alabama, page 7A

bad acts!

With more than 42,000 Palestinians – many innocent children, we rarely hear a word from too many about those who’ve practically been wiped off the face of the earth. When many leaders go to Israel, they don’t even touch the ground where this tragedy continues to occur.

There’re so many tragic things happening in our country. I remember when many of our Jewish friends came to our support as far back as the Civil Rights Movement, and I did have Jewish supporters for my campaign. They gave me hope that one day Jews and non-Jews would work together for fairness for all people and not have to suffer for the sins of others. I pray for that time again. We rightly regret the

I’m in no way excusing Hamas, but it’s time for Netanyahu to realize enough is enough.

tragedy of what happened in Israel, but don’t the Palestinians who were not in Israel that day deserve at least the same kind of concern as we have for Israel? Shouldn’t people of Lebanon being dislocated because of Hezbollah, now have our concern? They had nothing to do with the tragedy in Israel? I don’t know about you, but as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “There comes a time when we must speak out.” I’m in no way excusing Hamas, but it’s time for Netanyahu to realize enough is enough. It’s also time for AIPAC to stop punishing good people who just want peace and prosperity for all as they do with the courage to speak out. They must be told by good people to cool it, and try to work for peace instead of spreading the war endangering people who’ve committed no crimes against Israel. see People, page 7A

Black Male Voters For Trump Have A Hell of A Lot To Lose

By Michael A. Grant (TRICEEDNEYWIRE.COM)

Looking historically at demographics, Black men in America have for centuries been singled out for the most vicious and dehumanizing attacks on their personhood and their manhood. Without delving too deeply into America’s dark past, one need only to read the Autobiography of Frederick Douglass to capture a glimpse of the atrocious acts perpetrated against Black men that began during slavery and continued unabated with the murders of George Floyd, Michael Brown, Eric Garner and others to understand that the institutional animosity, the stereotyping and the marginalizing is an everyday phenomenon that still defines the day-to-day existence of many Black men struggling to survive in America.

Donald Trump continues to perpetuate a “Guilty until proven innocent” mentality that too many in authority still perpetuate. His record of racist and derogatory behavior toward Black men is well-documented. To begin, he and his father discriminated against African-Americans who wanted to rent Trump apartments in New York.

To add to this record of racial discrimination,

Trump—without hard evidence—asserted that the “Central Park Five” (four young Black males and one Latino) were guilty of the brutal rape of a young White woman and asserted that they deserved the death penalty. Even after the accused were exonerated, Trump has consistently refused to apologize. He doubled down on this false accusation during his recent debate with Vice President Kamala Harris.

When Colin Kaepernick, an NFL free agent, encouraged other players to “Take a knee” in protest of unfair treatment within the NFL franchise, Trump’s answer to their grievance was to call the players “Sons of Bitches.” Recently, Trump ranted that police officers should become even more aggressive, more abusive, when making arrests. Guess who would bear the brunt of this Jim Crow-era policing? You

Trump’s insulting remarks about Black men identifying with him because he now has a “mugshot” represents a new low for this incorrigible con man.

guessed it: Black males. Donald Trump is a politician who knows how to tamp down his racist rhetoric when he stands to gain from creating an illusion of civility but someone has wisely stated: “Lipstick on a pig is still a pig.”

Trump’s insulting remarks about Black men identifying with him because he now has a “mugshot” represents a new low for this incorrigible con man. And marketing gold sneakers is not identifying, it is exploiting.

Benefitting from Black Republicans organizing “Barbershop Meet-ups” and alluring Black men to MAGA rallies is nothing but cheap ploys designed to manipulate the uninformed. see Lose, page 7A

Dr. E. Faye Williams

Michael A. Grant

Marc H. Morial

TEAMSTERS’ LACK OF ENDORSEMENT: VOTING AGAINST THEIR OWN SELF INTEREST

By David W. Marshall TRICEEDNEYWIRE.COM

The residents of Spring fi eld, Ohio are experiencing the full and unfair effect from the politics of lies, division and hate generated from the Trump campaign and their followers.

“We did not have threats” before the claims, said Spring fi eld Mayor Rob Rue, referring to the accusations made by Trump and J.D. Vance that Haitians are stealing and eating pets. “We need peace. “We need help, not hate.”

Hate has become the political policy of choice for the Trump/Vance team. It is unfortunate that for many of Trump’s GOP supporters, it’s effective even when a Republican mayor is pleading for it to stop. The false claims would not be used for political advantage if Trump followers were not driven by hate- fi lled emotions. Many who are White evangelicals claim to be drawn to him because of his policies despite Trump being a man who stirs up racial hate and division which contradicts their Biblical teaching. Union members tend to be the opposite. Trump’s policies are anti-union, yet many union members are still drawn to the candidate of hate.

One in every fi ve voters in swing states is a union worker, according to AFLCIO President Liz Shuler. Therefore, it is safe to say, Shuler’s statement is true in the swing state of Ohio. The Democratic Party has always been a big tent of inclusion with its members signifying a broad spectrum of beliefs and issues.

Despite unions being a key demographic group within the big tent, unions are also a re fl ection of society’s culture wars. The Teamsters union with its 1.3 million members is one of the largest unions in the nation representing truck drivers and a wide-range of other workers, from airline pilots to zookeepers. It is considered a valuable part of the big tent.

During previous presidential election cycles, the union endorsed Joe Biden in 2020, as well as Democrats Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Barack

Officers

Continued from page 1A

Rodney Wells, Nichols’ stepfather, spoke to reporters after the verdict, saying, “A win is a win. They’re all going to jail,” expressing some measure of relief for his family.

The trial highlighted the actions of the former officers, who were part of the nowdisbanded SCORPION crime suppression unit. Prosecutors argued that Nichols was subjected to a “street tax” for fleeing the scene of a traffic stop, a practice where officers use excessive force as punishment. The officers then lied to their superiors, paramedics, and in official reports to cover up the severity of the assault.

Desmond Mills, another former officer involved in

Obama in 2008 and 2012.

The Teamsters said their internal polling data showed that before Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race, members backed Biden 44.3 percent to Trump’s 36.3 percent. In a break with tradition, the Executive Board of the Teamsters chose not to make a formal endorsement for this year’s presidential election. The surprise announcement comes after the union released an internal poll showing 58 percent of members supported Trump, compared to 31 percent backing Harris.

The internal polling is an illustration that a number of White working class men from the Rust Belt who supported Biden were unwilling to support Harris. This becomes another case where White working class voters are willing to vote against their own self interest by supporting the candidate of hate. Between the fi rst and second internal polling, the rank-andfi le Teamsters must have forgotten how the fi rst Trump administration was largely anti-union and antiworker.

During his fi rst term, Trump appointed a continuous fl ow of antiunion, pro-business rightwingers to the federal courts and to the National Labor Relations Board. They forgot how the vice president fought for multiple bills strongly backed by the Teamsters and other unions. This includes the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, which is the labor movement’s primary legislative priority making it easier for the Teamsters and other unions to organized. Trump, by the way, opposes the PRO Act. They forgot how Vice President Harris supported the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, the CHIPS Act and the In fl ation Reduction Act. These are

Trump’s policies are anti-union, yet many union members are still drawn to the candidate of hate.

pro-union legislations which will create hundred of thousands of union jobs for Teamsters and other union members. How could they forget that Trump opposes increasing the federal minimum wage? Harris supports increasing it from $7.25 to at least $15. Did they know that Vice President Harris walked the picket line with UAW workers in 2019? The vice president’s senior advisor, Brian Fallon, noted that a number of Teamsters councils and locals in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and other battleground states unveiled endorsements for the vice president. She also won the endorsement of the National Black Caucus of the International Brotherhood of Teamsterseven as the Executive Board of Teamsters withheld its formal endorsement. If Biden remained at the top of the ticket, he should have received the Teamsters endorsement as well as Harris. The president supported the pension restoration funding under the Butch Lewis Act which was part of the American Rescue Plan. It was Vice President Harris who cast the tie-breaking vote in the Senate for the American Rescue Plan. Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown named the Butch Lewis legislation in memory of the former retired head of the Teamsters Local 100 in southwest Ohio. This legislation saved the pensions for more than 100,000 Ohioans. It is a stark reality in our nation. Many of those Ohioans will be moved more by the lies, hate and divisiveness coming from the Trump/Vance rhetoric rather than the actions displayed by the Biden/ Harris administration which resulted in their pensions being saved. David W. Marshall is the founder of the faithbased organization, TRB: The Reconciled Body, and author of the book God Bless Our Divided America.

Desmond Mills, who took a plea deal, admitted to going along with a cover-up, hoping Nichols would survive and the incident would “blow over.” Mills said through tears, “I made his child fatherless.”

the beating who took a plea deal, delivered emotional testimony during the trial, expressing deep regret for his role in the attack. Mills admitted to going along with a cover-up, hoping Nichols would survive and the incident would “blow over.” Mills, who could face up to 15 years in prison, said through tears, “I made his child fatherless.”

The beating of Nichols reignited debates over the use of excessive force by law enforcement, particularly in Black communities. The five officers involved, all of

whom are Black, were fired shortly after the incident, but the trial showcased the troubling dynamics of police violence regardless of race.

While the witness tampering convictions bring a degree of accountability, the civil rights acquittals for Bean and Smith may leave some questions unanswered for those seeking broader justice. Nichols’ family, however, said they view the guilty verdicts as a step toward closure in a case that has haunted them since the tragic night of January 7, 2023.

David W. Marshall

NORFOLK

The Joint School of Public Health (JSPH), an academic partnership between Old Dominion University (ODU) and Norfolk State University (NSU), has received approval from the State Council of Higher Education in Virginia (SCHEV). The school forges a unique collaboration between students and faculty across three campuses to promote health and wellbeing in Hampton Roads and beyond. The joint school is the only partnership of its kind in Virginia.

The roots of public health in Hampton Roads are deep, with a history of educational programs at NSU and ODU, including Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Eastern Virginia Medical School. The newly SCHEV-approved JSPH is part of Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University –the largest and most complex academic health sciences center in Virginia.

“We have a real opportunity to create and sustain transformational change in Virginia’s communities where, for too long, we have seen serious health inequities,” said ODU President Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D.

By partnering, the institutions will set a standard for collaboration that benefits the entire community. The school brings together the strengths and perspectives of an R1 research institution with a community-founded medical school and a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) recognized for excellence

The JSPH will serve the region by creating long-term sustainability of public health initiatives, educational opportunities and health equity activities.

in health equity, focused teaching, research and community engagement.

“As the second HBCU to provide a school of public health, I am thrilled that our collaboration has reached this critical milestone. One of the many distinguishing characteristics of NSU as an HBCU is a longstanding commitment to health and wellness for everyone,” said NSU President Javaune Adams-Gaston, Ph.D.

According to the Virginia Community Health Assessment, a number of health disparities across Hampton Roads show concerning trends, including elevated rates of avoidable hospitalizations, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, firearm-related injuries, poor outcomes of maternal and child health, and stroke, among others. The JSPH will serve the region by creating long-term sustainability of public health initiatives, educational opportunities and health equity activities.

“The Joint School of Public Health is an opportunity for some of the best and the brightest students, faculty and staff in our region to come together to address our most pressing needs around public health and health equity in Hampton Roads,” said Alfred Abuhamad, MD, executive

vice president, Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at ODU and dean, Eastern Virginia Medical School at ODU.

The JSPH will focus on holistic and preventative perspectives of health for individuals and communities through transformative education, innovative research and proactive community engagement.

Li-Wu Chen, Ph.D., the founding dean of the JSPH, called the approval of the public health school “a historic moment for ODU, NSU and the broader Hampton Roads community.”

“With a goal of transforming public health to promote health equity in mind, we are excited to offer students, faculty and community stakeholders expanded and enriched opportunities under the umbrella of a forwardthinking, collaborative joint school that brings together the expertise from partner institutions with a history of exceptional public health education, research and community engagement.”

Within the JSPH, there will be two departments: the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Environmental Health, and the Department of Health Behavior, Policy and Management.

CONCORD, N.C.

Hundreds of women workers from across the country gathered near Charlotte recently for the Women Lead: Unions for All worker organizing summit hosted by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

During the keynote session, SEIU International President April Verrett announced that the two million-member service and care union will commit at least $50 million between now and 2030 to lean into worker organizing in southern states.

The Women Lead: Unions for All worker organizing summit brought together more than 500 women workers and leaders

FEMA

Continued from page 1A

FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund, which fi nances the agency’s response efforts, is strictly allocated for disaster-related expenses and remains untouched by other initiatives.

Another widely circulated falsehood alleges that FEMA is con fi scating the property of hurricane survivors whose land is deemed unlivable. The administration rebuffed this as categorically false, emphasizing that “FEMA cannot seize your property or land.” They added that applying for disaster assistance does not grant the federal government

from across the country and industries. In her keynote remarks President Verrett called on others to join SEIU in building worker and political power in the South, including by backing worker organizing and creating good union jobs across the South.

“SEIU is proud to commit to organizing in the South – but our commitment alone is nowhere near enough,” Verrett continued.

“We need others to meet us in all of these places where workers are building power and demanding a voice on the job. We’ll be your partner, and we’ll do it together. Because we all know: as the South goes, so goes the nation.”

any claim or control over personal property.

A further claim – that FEMA will provide only $750 in recovery assistance – was also exposed as misleading. FEMA of fi cials clari fi ed that $750 is an initial Serious Needs Assistance payment to cover essentials like food, water, and emergency supplies. It is one of many available support forms, including signi fi cant additional funds to repair storm damage, secure temporary housing, and replace lost agricultural assets.

In another attempt to stoke fear and confusion, misinformation has circulated claiming that FEMA and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are restricting airspace in North Carolina,

thereby preventing private relief efforts. White House of fi cials refuted this, noting that North Carolina has no airspace restrictions. Pilots need only to coordinate with local airports in Asheville or Rutherford for landing permissions, ensuring safe access for all parties involved in relief efforts. The White House said it’s actively working to counter these lies through of fi cial digital channels, emphasizing X, a platform owned by Elon Musk, an avowed Trump and MAGA supporter. For example, MeidasTouch recently collaborated with FEMA to produce a video debunking the misinformation, which received substantial engagement across social media and traditional media platforms.

Alabama

Continued from page 4A

Alabama is where school children peacefully protesting segregation were pummeled with water hoses and savaged by police dogs. It’s where Gov. George Wallace declared in his inauguration speech, “segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever,” and stood in a University of Alabama doorway to block Black students from registering. It’s where white supremacists murdered four little girls in the bombing of Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. It’s where the late John Lewis and other activists were beaten nearly

People

Continued from page 4A

Cong. Rashida Tlaib said, “After displacing 2 million people in Gaza without facing any consequences, Israel’s government has now displaced over 1 million in Lebanon. The Israeli military is using the same tactics in Lebanon as in Palestine, leveling entire neighborhoods with “bunker buster” bombs,

Lose

Continued from page 4A

To be fair, Trump does not limit his selling of snake oil to receptive Black men only. His demagoguery has convinced millions of uneducated, poor White Americans that he is a populist advocating on their behalf. What a joke! The only voters who seem to enjoy Trump’s concern are those who he has called: “Rich as hell.”

destroying roads and other civilian infrastructure like medical centers, killing doctors and rescue workers who had nothing to do with last October 7th.” Does continuing to kill innocent people and destroying all they’ve spent a lifetime building solve the problem?

I think not. It’s time to speak out.

We’ve just witnessed the tragedy of Hurricane Helene in our own country. As much as we might want to continue sending massive amounts of money to help certain people in other

Kamala Harris and Tim Walz have track records worthy of all American voters – including Black males. They are the real “Champions of the People.” Compare their economic agenda with Trump and Vance’s Project 2025 blueprint for more “Trickle-down economics.” The stakes in the election are too high to allow showmanship to prevail. The more American voters – of all stripes – study the priorities of these candidates, it will become crystal clear

to death as they marched from Selma to Montgomery. The savage brutality America witnessed on the Edmund Pettis Bridge galvanized support for the Voting Rights Act in 1965. We can only hope Alabama’s ongoing hostility to voting rights galvanizes support for the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act.

areas, it’s time to turn our attention to the problems at home. Let’s take care of the 9 billion dollars we need, and a question VP Harris is addressing today – “Who will fight for me?”

Yes, Rashida, we’re called to work toward a world built on equal rights, human dignity, and freedom from oppression for all. We can do that by voting November 5th for Kamala Harris who is best equipped and willing to answer the call.

Dr. E. Faye Williams, President of The Dick Gregory Society.

that most White and Black voters share more in common than they might realize. The public record, if thoroughly studied, should cause the overwhelming majority of the electorate to stifle Trump’s pursuit of power and force him to face his day of reckoning.

Michael A Grant, J.D., president emeritus of the National Bankers Association and former assistant professor of political science at Morgan State University, is a columnist with the Trice Edney Newswire.

Blyden Library Celebrates 103-Year Legacy & Famous Namesake

By Leonard E. Colvin Chief Reporter Emeritus New Journal and Guide

For 103 years, the Blyden Branch of the Norfolk Public Library (NPL) has served the city of Norfolk, and it has a unique history.

When it opened its doors in a room in the Historic Booker T. Washington High School, it was the first publicly funded library for Blacks in the city.

But most of the people it serves know little about the history of the man the facility was named for over a century ago.

On October 4, Norfolk celebrated the library’s anniversary at another iconic venue, the Historic Attucks Theater.

With song, oratory, and dance, the legacy of the Blyden Library was brought to life on the Attucks’ stage to the public.

One of the highlights of the event was the presentation of a plaque to Paul Blyden, the greatnephew of Edward W. Blyden, the historic figure the building was named for in 1921.

The presentation recognized the continued connection between the Blyden family, the facility, and the city.

Blyden, 50, lives in Richmond now with his wife and two daughters.

A U.S. Army veteran, he is now a Chaplain in the Reserves.

Like his famous great uncle, he was born in the Virgin Islands, where the Blyden name is still highly regarded. His father, Roy E. Blyden, was in the Navy and later a Missionary in the Caribbean.

While in Norfolk in 1986,

Paul Blyden said he first encountered the Blyden Branch Library during the summer when his father took him and his siblings on a field trip along Princess Anne Road to its location on Chapel Street.

He said, during his acceptance speech at the Attucks, that he was “unaware of our destination, but upon arriving, we were astonished to see the library’s name mirroring our ... last name.”

“My dad informed us that this library was named after a relative, the esteemed Father of Pan-Africanism, Edward Wilmot Blyden,” he said.

“My dad inspired me to read numerous books about Blyden.”

“The library stands like a lighthouse illuminating the past for Blacks in the community who once faced prejudice in their pursuit of knowledge,” he said. “It also is a bridge that connects the past to the future, offering hope to eager minds who aspire to explore the immeasurable

possibilities for their education.”

“Presently,” he said, “this library serves as a home, essential to preserving (his great-uncle’s) enduring legacy.”

“This home ... is truly a catalyst for freeing the minds of everyone who embraces the importance of education,” he continued.

Blyden closed his speech with a quote from his famous relative, “Let us teach our children from their infancy – for they need to be taught – that no course except that which every day follows the impenitent hangs upon us; that it is the force of circumstances, induced, as we have endeavored to show, by our iniquities, that keep us down; and that we have as much right as any other people to strive to rise to the very zenith of national glory.”

In an interview with the Guide, Blyden admitted that his great-uncle, a leading advocate of PanAfricanism in his day, never visited Norfolk. see Blyden, page 8A

Paul Blyden, the great-nephew of Edward W. Blyden, the historic figure the building was named for in 1921, receives a plaque.

Photo: Courtesy

HRCF Awards Grants To Organizations Totaling $970,000

NORFOLK

In separate actions, the Hampton Roads Community Foundation Board and members of the Foundation’s Community Leadership Partners giving circle awarded grants totaling $970,000.

Nine organizations have received grants worth $770,000 from the Foundation Board to support their work toward economic stability and health and wellness in Hampton Roads following approval at the Board’s September meeting. Economic stability grants focus on providing opportunities for people with barriers to success to become stable, self-sufficient, and prosperous. Health and wellness grants focus on improving the health of the region’s residents, including through access to primary, dental, or mental/behavioral health care and programs that encourage healthy behaviors to reduce chronic disease.

Among the Foundation grants awarded was $136,590 over three years to Southside Boys & Girls Club to expand the mental health services provided in the Smart Moves program. Other grantees were Connect With a Wish ($92,560), Families of Autism Coming Together ($90.000), Portco Inc. ($90,000), VB Home Now ($128,988),

Blyden

Continued from page 7A

Blyden explained PanAfricanism as the native African people resisting the oppression of Colonialism and empowering themselves with unity and Independence on the Continent.”

Jewish Family Service of Tidewater ($60,000), St. Mary’s Home for Disabled Children ($75,000), the Virginia Dental Association Foundation ($7,500), and Western Tidewater Free Clinic Inc. ($90,000).

Last year, the Hampton Roads Community Foundation awarded more than $26 million in grants and scholarships to support nonprofit organizations and students throughout the region.

Also, the Community Leadership Partners, a giving circle of the Hampton Roads Community Foundation, awarded $200,000 to 18 area non-profits. Members of the giving circle learn about community needs and combine their resources to tackle them. Grant recipients provide non-clinical programs that support mental health services.

The 2024 grants awarded were to Blakey Weaver Counseling Center Inc. ($3,600), Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters Inc. ($10,000), Communities In Schools of Hampton Roads ($25,000), EVMS Foundation ($10,000) ForKids Inc. ($15,000), NAMI Coastal Virginia, ($12,800), Postpartum Support Virginia Inc. ($2,500), Quality of Life Inc. ($12,000), Safe House

Born in 1832, before he died in 1912, Edward W. Blyden was a noted educator, writer, diplomat, and politician primarily active in West Africa. He joined the waves of Black immigrants from the Americas who migrated to Liberia.

He became a teacher for five years in the British West African colony of Sierra Leone in the early twentieth century. His major writings

Project ($25,000), SIS Sisters in Service Inc. ($7,000), StandUp for Kids-Hampton Roads ($5,000), Survivor Ventures ($9,600), The Chas Foundation ($20,000), The Norfolk Street Choir Project ($7,500), The Sarah Michelle Peterson Foundation ($10,000), Tidewater African Cultural Alliance ($9,000), Virginia Beach CASA ($6,000), Virginia Stage Company ($10,000).

Since 2010, the Partners have awarded more than $3.15 million to organizations to make a difference in Hampton Roads.

The Hampton Roads Community Foundation has roots dating back to 1950. It is a permanent charitable endowment with about $500 million in assets. It has awarded more than $344 million in grants and scholarships since its founding.

The Foundation plays a critical role in community leadership, tackling such regional issues as early childcare and education, homelessness and affordable housing, climate change and disaster responsiveness, and regional economic competitiveness.

For more information about the Hampton Roads Community Foundation and its initiatives, visit HamptonRoadsCF.org.

were on Pan-Africanism, which later became influential throughout West Africa and attracted attention in countries such as the United States. His ideas went on to influence the likes of Marcus Garvey.

“He is mentioned among the names of Garvey, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Malcolm X,” Paul Blyden said. “These leaders provided direction in the effort to overcome Colonialism and Oppression.”

VOTER ALERTS

Important Dates For The November 5 Election Cycle:

• Sept. 20-Nov. 2 – Early voting at all general registrar’s offices. 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

REGISTER TO VOTE

by Deanna Allbrittin

Incumbent Sen. Tim Kaine and Challenger Hung Cao

Photo: RandySingleton NSU president Dr. Javaune Adams Gaston with debate moderators Deanna Allbrittin and Tom Schaad.

Photo: RandySingleton

VAACC HOSTS COMMUNITY FALL FESTIVAL AND BASKETBALL COURT RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY

By Randy Singleton

Affairs

VIRGINIA BEACH

The Virginia AfricanAmerican Cultural Center (VAACC) hosted a “Community Fall Festival and Basketball Court Ribbon Cutting Ceremony” on Saturday (October 5) at Lake Edwards Park. The organization, founded and led by Virginia Beach City Councilmember Dr. Amelia Ross-Hammond, celebrated the opening of a new basketball court at the park with a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by a host of city officials, community activists, and faith leaders.

Youth playing on the basketball court used brand new official NBA balls donated to VAACC by the National Basketball

Association in support of the organization’s outreach in the community. The new basketball court is a major step forward for the VAACC because it will provide the community’s youth with a positive recreational activity area and a safe space to play after school hours and on the weekends. Festival attendees enjoyed arts & crafts, food and live music.

Hello and welcome to The Bridge Corner. Delaying Drawing Trumps.

lower-ranking new suit –2 Clubs. This can show a minimum or medium hand Since responder’s hand is medium, responder (North) might want to play in a game in Spades. Responder would rebid 3 Spades. Opener bids 4 Spades, because opener knows responder has six Spades and 10 or 11 total points.

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

4) East makes the opening lead with the Q Diamond

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.

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

2) North, 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 medium range, opener rebids a

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 October 2, 2024 game: Gloria Brown – Lawrence

THEY SAY IT SKIPS A GENERATION

By Sean C. Bowers

The prison pipeline plantation, The remnants of the Confederacy’s past incantation.

My Grandpa Dewey was a clean-living man, I never met, At 69 he died before I was born a broken-hearted early sunset.

His only son, Bryan, my dad, Is a good man, not all bad.

Yet he ended caught up in the penitentiary game, Never to be the same.

Then came me, lefty, his only son, Vowed to earn playing college scholarship championship winning ball as the oldest grandson.

My not having any kids of my own, All changed when I married my wife, whose kids were grown.

Stephen, Sr. her eldest, Had been locked up since his teens, on his journey’s quest.

His son Stephen, Jr., now my grandson these last 10 years, Was following in his dad and my dad’s generation’s bad examples stripped gears.

Saying boldly, he “didn’t care if he ended up in prison like his mom and dad,”

Owes – Rose Ward

Aldis Raymond – Sandra Starkey – Gillis Watson

Gene Payne – Elva Taylor – Wanda Miller – Lillye Holley

TIDEWATER

BRIDGE CLUB: Richard A. Tucker Memorial Library 2350 Berkley Ave., Extension –Norfolk, VA 23523.

The dates for the next four games are:

1) Wednesday, Oct. 16

10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

2) Wednesday, Oct. 22

10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

3) Wednesday, Oct. 30

10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

4) Tuesday, Nov. 6

10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Game 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. Contact Lawrence Owes at l.a.owes1@gmail.com for additional information.

To my wife, his nana, Threw his big 6’6” 320 lb. butt out on the front porch where the bugs bit some sense into him like heaven-sent bread, mana.

Made Stephen, Jr. see exactly how I became our family’s college graduate first, How he too could use athletics to pay the cost of quenching his educational thirst.

Now 6’8” on full scholarship playing DI college football, Stephen Jr. has turned that deadly prison complex corner, by still standing, most tall.

Yet the circle will not be unbroken, Because about it, this poetry will have come to life and have been spoken.

Yea tho I walk through the valley of death, Tomorrow January 6th 2024, I walk into the exact Petersburg prison that held my dad 54 years ago holding my breath.

I think of being alone 6 weeks in foster care at 5, Just what I did to stay sane and alive.

How I overcame growing up in a one-room garage apartment, poor, How every workout for me was my personal chance to get up from and not end up on lifes floor.

How I couldn’t be Stephen, Jr.’s locked away dad, But I could be the best damn

grandpa, anyone’s ever had.

How now, I had to walk, THAT WALK, Through my own fear’s “real prison,” talk.

I go strong willingly, go of my own accord, So my son, Stephen, Sr., so he sees me here, I’m on record.

Dewey, Bryan, Sean, Stephen Sr. and Stephen Jr. time marches on.

They say it skips a generation, But really nothing ever fully heals prison time’s lost separation.

Only the strong survive, Themselves and others, to revive, To for success strive, With full throttle drive, Thank God I’m alive, And now after 20 years hard time, it is Stephen, Sr.’s last chance third strike, to thrive.

Those who say it skips a generation, Run the White, pre-school to prison complex pipeline, nation.

Hey son, I love you, Coming back here to this place, you know my love for you, Stephen Jr. and your Mom, is true.

Let’s pray for us to all be healed by the grace of our first free together, family meal, All of us together, free at last, past all the past Nothing but love, you know the deal. Skipping generations, More like tripping generations.

I become the granddad, I always wanted, but never had, And now in some ways I become the dad, I can’t be mad, Just for the lost prison’s time, sad.

Stephen Sr. now has to become the grandfather to his yet-to-beborn, grands, Insuring that it STOPS FOREVER with his generation, by FREE willing love, from his hands.

Sean C. Bowers has written for The New Journal and Guide, CHAMPIONING overcoming racism, sexism, classism, and religious persecution. More of his work can found by searching “Sean C. Bowers” on the NJ&G website, on social media at Linkedin.com or by email V1ZUAL1ZE@aol. com NNPA 2019 Publisher of the Year, Brenda H. Andrews (NJ&G 38 years) has always been his publisher.

LOCAL VOICES

Sean C. Bowers

PhotosbyRandySingleton

CELEBRATING DR. MARLENE STUDIVANT-MOORE:

Norfolk Native Earns Ph.D. In Educational Leadership

Special to the New Journal and Guide

Dr. Marlene StudivantMoore, a Norfolk native and Missouri City, Texas resident, has reached a remarkable academic milestone. On August 10, 2024, she earned her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Prairie View A&M University, focusing her dissertation on “The Impact of District Policy on the Efficacious Implementation of Texas House Bill 5.” This research highlights critical insights into how district policies influence the successful implementation of this pivotal legislation that reshaped Texas’s educational landscape.

Dr. Studivant-Moore’s

academic journey began in Norfolk, Virginia, where she graduated from Norfolk State University in 1976 with a Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education. She furthered her education at Texas Southern University, earning a Master of Science degree in Physical Education in 1989. In 1992, she obtained her Master of Arts in Counseling and Certification in Educational Administration from Prairie View A&M University. Her commitment to education extends beyond her own achievements. Specializing in college and career coaching and consulting, Dr. StudivantMoore works with students and professionals to guide

their educational and career paths. Through her expertise, she continues to impact the lives of countless individuals seeking direction in their futures.

Dr. Studivant-Moore’s journey from Norfolk

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF LIFE MRS. LOUISE THOMPSON

PORTSMOUTH

On September 14th, Mrs. Louise Thompson was celebrated by family & friends at Cooper’s Restaurant in Portsmouth, VA in honor of her 100th birthday!

Formerly from Virginia Beach, the now Suffolk resident is the proud matriarch of six children, 18 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren!

Born in Mullins, SC in 1924, Mother Thompson is a longtime member of The Holiness Church. She and her late husband Arthur Thompson were married 76 years prior to his death in 2020.

As an active couple they legally short term fostered over 70 children. He worked at Holsom Bakery as a Maintenance Helper & ran a home barbering enterprise. She was a domestic worker and child care provider. Tributes were read

to earning a Ph.D. is a testament to perseverance and passion for education. Her work not only enriches academic policy but also serves as an inspiration for others, proving that with dedication, extraordinary success is possible.

WORKSHOP:

“Doing Business The God Kinda Way”

CHESAPEAKE

Dr. Apostle Joyce White Tasby will host an informational workshop for existing and start-up business owners entitled “DOING BUSINESS THE GOD KINDA WAY.” It will be held on October 18 at the Hyatt Hotel in Greenbrier off Eden Parkway. Registration is at 9:30 a.m. Facilitators from government will discuss SBA grants and SBA Express Loans.

Also, facilitators will discuss how to get WalMart community grants, sponsors, and military contracts.

For more information and to register, call : (202) 812-2804, Dr. Tasby; (757) 214-4843, Yugonda Jones.

New Grandy Village Walking Trail Provides Resource For Residents

NORFOLK

A new walking trail is being unveiled October 10 in the Grandy Village family community. It is the first trail to be located in Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority’s (NRHA) family communities.

The new Born Learning Trail is designed to promote early childhood literacy and education, and parental involvement.

The United Way of South Hampton Roads, NRHA, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeastern Virginia have partnered in this initiative to provide an educational resource and an opportunity for community engagement.

While walking the Born Learning Trail, residents of all ages will see colorful shapes, images and numbers painted on the sidewalk. Along the trail, there are a series of 10 signs encouraging a specific learning activity such as counting, identifying colors or learning about nature. Each sign also offers ideas for fun, active learning games. Over 750 outdoor trails have been installed in parks, at schools and in communities across the nation. The Born Learning Trail in Grandy

Village will be the fifth established in Virginia and the fourth in Hampton Roads. It’s also the first trail to be located in NRHA’s family communities.

“We sincerely appreciate the opportunity to serve as a host site for a Born Learning Trail,” NRHA Executive Director Nathan Simms said.

“The trail gives our parents the chance to play and have fun with their young children in a way that creates a positive foundation for early childhood literacy and education. The trail will also augment the important work of the Boys and Girls Club in Grandy Village.”

“The Born Learning Trail will give the Grandy Village’s families and children opportunities to connect and learn about nature,” said Raytron White, president of the Grandy Village Tenant Management Council. “It’s a perfect opportunity to have fun learning while improving health.”

“We at United Way of South Hampton Roads are honored to provide families the opportunity to incorporate literacy and family engagement through the Born Learning Trail,” said Lauretta Williams, senior director of United for Children.

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

ENLIGHTENMENT IN CHRIST MOMENTS of MEDITATION

Ephesians 5:1-20

A few years ago, the late Francis Schaeffer wrote a book titled How Should We Then Live? in which he discussed the lifestyle implications of a commitment to Christ. Ephesians 4-6 contains Paul’s inspired instructions along this line, written to the Ephesians, but also, in God’s plan, preserved for all believers.

The first part of chapter 5 continues the admonitions of the last part of chapter 4. They have to do with interpersonal human relationships and the ways in which these are changed because of a believer’s relationship to God. Some commentators see a shift of emphasis from relationships within the body of Christ (chapter 4) to relationships with those outside the church (chapter 5). Such a distinction, however, is not clear-cut, for the injunctions in both chapters between believers and all

people, whether saved or unsaved.

We have seen that this change comes about through putting off the “old self” (4:2223). This brings a whole new understanding of the meaning of life because of the moral and spiritual enlightenment that comes from Jesus. He is the Light of the world (John 8:12), the Creator of all things (John 1:3), “the true light that gives light to every man” (John 1:9).

Apart from personal faith in Him, light that “shines in the darkness” of human hearts (John 1:5) results in futility (Romans 1:20-21). When people open their hearts and minds to Christ, however, His light illuminates every area of life, so that they are able to know what pleases the Lord (Ephesians 5:10). This revolutionizes their entire way of thinking and pattern of living. Enlightenment in Christ results in a life of love (vv. 1-2), purity (vv. 3-7), light-

giving (vv. 8-14), and wisdom (vv. 15-20).

A LIFE OF LOVE. Christians are children of God. We are to be like our Father. “Jesus as” God has forgiven us, so we are to forgive one another (4:32). “Just as” Christ has loved us even to the point of selfsacrifice, so we are to love and give ourselves for each other (5:2). To do this means that we must be willing to sacrifice ourselves for others, just as Christ offered Himself in our place.

A LIFE OF PURITY. To live in the light of Christ also means to live a life of purity – in word and thought as well as in conduct. Those who have been “set-apart” to God (the basic meaning of “holy”) must put aside the obsession with self-gratification that is a part of the unbelieving world. Sexual immorality, impurity, and greed are commonplace among unbelievers, but they are completely out of place among believers (v. 3). Christians are being made into a temple where God dwells (2:22), and there is no room in such a place for any uncleanness.

In addition to inappropriate attitudes and actions, believers must guard their speech. The world’s conversation is filled with words and phrases that are used without hesitation, but which should never be used by Christians (5:4). Paul describes those who habitually practice “unwholesome talk:

(4:29) as ‘immoral, impure [and] greedy” people, who are, in fact, idolaters (5:5).

Each of these behaviors is the result of putting selfgratification ahead of God – and anything that takes the place of God in human life is an idol. How foolish it would be to become “partners” with those who have rejected God (v. 7) when we have been made “sharers” – the same Greek word –“together in the promise in Christ Jesus” (3:6).

This does not mean that we should withdraw from all contact with sinful world. Indeed, we are here to witness to that world, and we cannot do that if we separate ourselves from it. But God has called us to a life of purity in thought, word and deed, even while we live in a society saturated with impurity. Our Lord set the example for us, as He mingled with sinners while maintaining His integrity.

This is a difficult assignment, but not an impossible one in view of the enlightenment that we have in Christ and the sanctifying presence and power of the Holy Spirit.

A LIGHT OF LIGHTGIVING. Those who live in the light of Christ should themselves be light-givers. God is light (1 John 1:5). Believers are also light (Matthew 5:14). We have been rescued from the darkness in which we once lived. How we have the privilege and the obligation

of shining as God’s light in a dark world (Matthew 5:1516). Before conversion we were “sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 5:6, lit.). Now we are “children of light” (v. 8). Light produces fruit (v. 9). Darkness is fruitless (v. 11).

This is an analogy taken from nature and applied to spiritual things. Plants and trees must have light in order to grow and yield fruit. Apart from the light of Christ, there can be no spiritual fruit in our lives.

Not only does light produce fruit, but it reveals the “deeds of darkness” from which Christians are to disassociate themselves (v. 11). Notice that it is not those who do those deed who are to be avoided, but the deeds themselves. Jesus set the example for us of maintaining friendship with sinners (Matthew 11:19) without adopting their standards of behavior, in order that He might win them. His light exposed the darkness in which they lived; as a result, some turned to Him and became “children of light.”

A LIFE OF WISDOM.

Those who have been enlightened in Christ are called to a life of wisdom (Ephesians 5:15). In the biblical context, wisdom does not refer primarily to the accumulation of knowledge or to intellectual sophistication. A wise person is one who has learned that “the fear of

the Lord ... is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding” (Job 28:28). Being wise, then, means that one who is committed to God will seize every occasion to do good by living a consistent Christian life. A life of wisdom has certain outcomes. Paul mentions three of them here. First, drunken debauchery will be replaced by spiritual sobriety (Ephesians 5:18). Second, our communication with one another will be marked by praise and an acknowledgment of God’s goodness (v. 19). Third, we will recognize that God’s hand is in everything that occurs in life. In any circumstances, a committed believer can give thanks to God the Father ‘in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 20). At times this may be difficult to do, but the continual filling of the Spirit can bring about what might otherwise appear to be impossible. Enlightenment in Christ leads to this wise understanding of the will of God. Now that Paul has explained these ways in which a believer’s relationship with God affects relationships with other people, both outside and within the fellowship, he is ready to go into some very down-to-earth matters about our relationships to one another in the family and the workplace. These will be the topics of the next two lessons.

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NICKEL BOYS PREMIERED OPENING NIGHT AT THE 2024 NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL

By Dwight Brown Film Critic

★ ★ ★ (2 1/2 Stars)

It’s a story that needs to be told. But maybe not quite like this. Not in a grandiose flurry of images that overshadow a narrative that is as touching as it is important.

Dozier School, a reform school in Marianna, Florida, on the Panhandle was real. It was founded January 1st, 1900, and closed its doors June 30th, 2011. From the turn of the century, through decades of grotesque Jim Crow laws, it was supposed to provide proper schooling and a controlled environment for the boys in its charge. Yet, youth were segregated by color. Kids and adolescents were emotionally and physical abused. Subject to beatings, rape and mysterious disappearances.

In Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Nickel Boys, his fictional version of that institution is called The Nickel Academy. His central character is Elwood Curtis, a former mistakenly accused juvenile offender, and his recollections from 2010 as an adult reflect on his life. Fond memories in the 1960s, in Tallahassee, FL where he thrived as a student. Then traumatic ones in Eleanor, FL and the degradation at the academy. His jailing at the reformatory was the result

FUN PUZZLE FOR YOUR LEISURE

of the naïve kid taking a ride from a stranger on his first day of college. Didn’t know the vehicle was stolen. Cops arrested the adult driver, Elmwood too and he was sent to reform school. What he witnessed and experienced in the correctional institution haunted him. If it wasn’t for his friend Turner, he might be dead. So, you think.

Writer/director RaMell Ross (Oscar-nominated documentary Hale County This Morning, This Evening) and coscreenwriter Joslyn Barnes put their own cinematic spin on the novel. The filmmakers have an obligation to relay the story in a discernible way. In a style that allows audiences to follow the plot-line, distinguish characters, where they’re going and where they end. Deciding what works in a book and how that is different from what works on screen is part of the job and a big responsibility. But for sure, being faithful to the book is not the assignment. Deciphering the beats, intentions, imagery and gist is nice, but only if what’s on view ultimately makes sense and viewers can follow along without being frustrated and confused.

Elwood (Ethan Herisse, When They See Us) is being raised by his single mom Hattie (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, King Richard). He is studious,

inquisitive and aware of the civil, social and racial issues that make his life as a young Black man more complicated than his white counterparts. That day fate puts him in the wrong place at the wrong time, a curse stalks him. For the rest of his life. There’s sheer hell at the Nickel Academy. Showing kindness makes him look weak. Saving others brings bad luck. Speaking out about conditions marks him. No matter how much Hattie fights for his release, it’s like providence wants him to suffer. His friendship with Turner (Brandon Wilson, The Way Back) gives him solace. The two look out for each other. So, he thinks.

The jigsaw presentation doesn’t make deciphering easy, but with the right attention it might have been a technique that worked. Beautiful as the superfluous visuals can be, they’re a detour that becomes a tedious gimmick. A constant and conflicting one. Also, much of the footage is shot from Elwood’s point of view, without him being on screen. This intermittent POV becomes an odd choice. Awkward. It also gives Turner’s face too much screen time. It shouldn’t.

Regardless, the tech crew gives Ross the assistance he needs. Life below the Mason-Dixon line, in the 60s, is evident in the clothes (costume designer Brittany Loar, She Said), incidentals (set decorator Monique Champagne, The Curious Case of Bengamin Button),

Hattie’s home (production designer Nora Mendis, Passing), evocative colors (art director Elizabeth Herberg, TV’s Treme) and dramatic music (Scott Alario and Alex Somers). The one weak point is the editing (Nicholas Monsour, Us). At 2h 20m the dirge like pace and endless cutaways will test audiences’ patience. Somewhat in a theater. A lot if they’re at home streaming. What’s on view feels like an MFA thesis. “What would happen if pretty but often irrelevant images over-populated footage?” At least, that’s what this experience feels like. Deciding not to guide viewers in a focused, coherent way is a gamble. If the payoff is only measured in box office receipts, this adaptation could struggle. If the payoff is evident in critical acclaim, this adaptation could receive mixed results. That said, to Ross’s credit, he doesn’t shoot graphic scenes of the abuse. This isn’t misery porn, and it could have been. In that way, he’s a griot with integrity. This film adaptation of a Pulitzer-prize winning book seemed like a great endeavor. Pity the overbearing and tedious artistry shrouds the main narrative. A parable about a fictional reformatory based on a real institution that tortured young men and left secret graves in its backyard. It’s a history rich enough for a great tragic novel. Or a great tragic movie. One that could open the 2024 New York Film Festival.

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in the CRHA Central Office, 1468 South Military Highway, Chesapeake, VA 23320. Solicitation no later than Friday October 25, 2024, by 2 p.m. prevailing local time. CRHA contact person: Art Harbin, Procurement Officer, (757) 233-6412 fax: (757) 523-1601, art_harbin@crhava.org. Minority and/ or women-owned businesses are encouraged to submit proposals.

Photo: NewYorkFilmFestival