Community
Black History
DeKalb offers free workshops for family reunions ....page 3
Five women in media join local legends as DeKalb History Center honorees ....page 8
Serving DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale Counties
Volume 19 Number 45
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Lunch and Learn: Update on Atlanta Streetcar project ....page 10
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february 8, 2014 FREE
King siblings feud deepens over father’s most prized assets By Valerie J. Morgan
ATLANTA—In a 20-minute public address, Bernice A. King, 51, set the record straight on why she’s battling her two brothers, Martin Luther King III, 56, and Dexter King, 53, in court for trying to sell their father’s Nobel Peace Prize and his Bible. Bernice King vowed to do everything in her power to keep her father’s possessions safe, saying the medal and bible would not be sold: “Not on my watch.” She said she is disassociating herself with her brothers, despite her love for them. “From this point on, I would appreciate if you would refrain from grouping me with my brothers. They are my brothers. I do love them, but we are different people, different perspectives and different positions,” King said. The friction, which has gone on for years between the three children of slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., re-ignited this week after Bernice King made it publicly known that her brothers had filed a lawsuit against her to get the Nobel Peace Prize and the Bible. She said her brothers notified her on Jan. 20, the King Holiday and the observance of her father’s 85th birthday, that they wanted
My brothers want to sell my father’s Nobel Peace Prize, his bible: ‘Not on my watch.’ –Bernice A. King Photo by Joshua Smith/OCG News
her to relinquish the medals and Bible that President Barack Obama used when he was sworn into office for his second term. Bernice King won’t say exactly where the items are, only that they are safe. “I take this strong position for my father because Daddy is not here to say himself ‘My bible and my medals are never to be sold—not to an institution
or even a person,’ ” Bernice King said during her address on Feb. 6 at Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in downtown Atlanta. King said she held her address at Ebenezer because of its historic significance. It was the place where her father preached many sermons. “I want it understood in no uncertain terms that this is a sacred and a serious
matter as I share my position with you,” she said. King said the fight is not about money, but about principle. Earlier in the week, Bernice King rebuked her brothers’ decision to sell the sacred items, saying that her father See King, page 6
Cheers, tears mark National Signing Day for local high school seniors
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By Joshua Smith
ears of joy rolled down the faces of parents and staff who attended Rockdale County High School’s signing day on Feb. 5. The day was bittersweet. School officials thought they had a record number of signees–12. But learned after signing in the morning that four of their players had their offers from West Georgia Technical College rescinded. The college announced it will not offer a football program. “After careful consideration, West Georgia Technical College has chosen to withdraw a request that was made to the Technical College System of Georgia to approve football as an additional athletic program for the Golden Knights,” interim President Pat Hannon said in a release. Rockdale High’s Coach Venson Elder is working with Why Not Sports to find other offers for the students. Rockdale’s Salem High and other schools also must find replacements. Why Not Sports is a non-profit that educates student athletes on academic requirements needed for college. Rockdale High Principal Georgi Nour said she is still proud of the hard work by her students, coaches and teachers. “This is the largest group we’ve ever had on National Signing Day, at least during the five years I have been here,” said Nour, who had three students to sign letters of intent in 2013. “It is because we have strong leadership from our coaches that the students have
even slept in two days. I have been so excited about this day.” Hike says he’s just happy to make his mom proud. “She raised three of us on her own. She’s what I call my A1 since Day One,” said Hike, who has received a full ride to Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Alabama, to study healthcare for athletes. “She means the world to me. To sign this scholarship and know she doesn’t have to worry about anything coming out of her pocket means absolutely everything to me.” Photo by Glenn L. Morgan/OCG News
Rockdale County High School Principal Georgi Nour (center) beams with pride as she stands with the school’s signees.
performed on and off the field. They are not only good athletes, but they have excelled academically. I am proud of each and every one of them.” Coach Elder said it was critical for his players to excel off the field in the classroom, as it was to perform well on it on Friday nights. “We spent countless hours working with the kids. We wanted to make sure that they did what they were supposed to do in the classroom and on the field. They all met the new NCAA academic requirements for core classes. None of them made below a ‘B’ in their core subjects,” said Elder. “Today is a special day—a very special day. We are all proud of them.” In October 2013, On Common Ground News reported on an interactive seminar, which focused on the NCAA’s
new academic eligibility requirements including increasing the GPA from 2.0 to 2.3 in core courses and raising the number of required courses from 14 to 16 for Division II schools. The Rockdale team members joined dozens of athletes at the Decatur Taco Mac restaurant, which also hosted the DeKalb County signees as part of the “National Signing Day Frenzy.” Sponsored by SCORE Atlanta, 92.9 FM The Game, and the National Guard, the event was a celebration for families and their athletes to fellowship and reflect. “It was pretty hard, but through prayer, hard work and the grace of God we are here today, standing proud,” said Kimberly Alexander, mother of Ken Hike, Jr., who played Cornerback at Columbia High School. “This is my baby. I’m overjoyed for him. I haven’t
The 12 Rockdale County High School football players who signed on Feb. 5, 2014, National Signing Day are: Linebackers Robert McCray (Indiana University) Kentavius Preston (Southern University) Brandon Harris (Alabama State) Corner Backs Shakym Peters (Alabama State) Anthony Davis (Saint Augustine University) Defensive Lineman Julian McKnight (NC A&T) Offensive Linemen Tyler Seabolt (Centre College) Still waiting: Terrell McLaughlin Malachi Smith Akwesi Mintah Joe Wright Zach Hess See Signing, page 7